Connect with us

News

Kaduna Communities Pay Millions Of Naira To Bandits Before Accessing Farms-BEPU

Published

on

Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-rufai

 

Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (Union) observes how farmers in various communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have became so helpless and resorted to negotiations with Armed bandits for them to be allowed to access their farmlands and cultivate crops. Investigation revealed that the armed have been contacting these Communities for negotiations for about three years ago but did not accepted until all hopes for help from the Government were lost.

In the last three years, farming activities in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area have been seriously crippled whereby about 70 percent of farmlands were not accessible by farmers. In many Communities in the area, farmers have paid millions of Naira individually and in groups before they were allowed to access their farmlands. This has continued up to present in some Communities.

In other situations, locals have to go for free labour in the farms of some bandits warlords for their freedom to live in their Communities and access to their farmlands. This despite several calls by the people to the Government to come to their help.

These communities are presently being governed by armed bandits. The armed bandits are seeing going round freely wielding different types of riffles unchallenged. Infact, the non-presence of democratic Government in the area is undoubtable.

Reject Atiku, Tinubu At 2023 Poll — Ringim.

Advert

It therefore based on this situation that the helpless locals were left with no other option than to accept the offer by the bandits for negotiation on access to farmlands.

These negotiations have allowed farmers in various Communities that were sacked before by the armed bandits (such as Katakaki, Ganda, Mashigi, Ginsa, Biskin, Layin Mai-Gwari, Kwasa-Kwasa and many others) access to their farmlands that were not accessible for about three years ago.

However, many farmers are in a state of uncertainty on whether these negotiations will last to allow all the farmers to harvest their crops at the end of the season.

Some of the agreements reached at the negotiations on the side of the farmers include allowing the farmers to access their farmlands without kidnapping or any form of intimidation or harm by the armed bandits while the armed bandits should be allowed to be coming to towns and villages where the peace deals were entered for healthcare, buying and selling as well as any other normal business.

Investigation revealed that, many bandits also farm in those Communities where these peace deals were entered. For instance, the notorious bandits warlord, Dogo Kachalla Gide, farms in Mashigi area where about five Tractors harrowed his large farm in the area. The farm, though under Birnin-Gwari soil, is neighbouring Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Findings also revealed that, despite the negotiations, though bandits may be said to have suspended kidnappings and attacks in some of these Communities, there are many cases where the armed bandits continued to snatch motorcycles and other valuables they found from farmers; though, with continuous consultations and discussion between the two sides’ negations teams, the breach of agreements are being addressed gradually by both sides.

However, BEPU observes these negotiations as temporary short time measure because the helpless Communities entered it on the side of weakness which is also tantamount to total anarchy.

In a statement by BEPU Spokesperson Ishaq Usman Kasai said they wouldn’t relent on our continuous call to Government to adopt any measure, carrot or stick, it finds suitable and capable in controlling and preventing criminal and terrorist activities vis a vis bringing an end to anarchy in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area and other parts of Nigeria.

 

News

Court Restrains Anti-Corruption Commission, Others from interfering in MAAUN’s Affairs

Published

on

Court Sign

 

A Kano High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and four other parties from interfering in the internal and external affairs of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (AAUN), Kano.

Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the High court of Kano Judicial Division issued the order, while ruling on a motion of ex parte filed by the management of the university.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, PCACC, Kano State House of Assembly and the state’s Attorney-General and concerned parents of the institution.

Justice Ma’aji in the court order dated December 11, 2025, restrained the respondents or any other person acting on their behalf from inviting officials of the institution or interfering in the administrative and academic activities of the intuition, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Advert

The court also directed all the parties to maintain status quo in relation to the matter between the applicant and the first respondent, pending the determination of the originating summons.

Speaking after the ruling, MAAUN’s counsel Zahraddeen M. Bello, said that the court’s decision reaffirmed the rule of law and the need for due process, saying the university will continue to operate within the confines of law, while the case is pending.

However, the court granted leave to the applicant to serve court processes on the fifth respondent at its office located at No. 224 Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano.

The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025 and the order was given under the hand and seal of the presiding judge and was duly endorsed by the Principal Registrar of the court.

Continue Reading

News

Jigawa Trains Local Government Chairmen on 2025 Tax Reform Act

Published

on

 

The Jigawa Joint Task Committee has commenced a two-day capacity-building training for local government chairmen and policymakers. The two-day capacity program focused on the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act (NTA) 2025, which is scheduled to take effect nationwide on January 1, 2026.

The training gathered a contingent of state and local revenue stakeholders, including all 27 local government chairmen of Jigawa State, led by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), revenue officers, and key policy and tax experts.

The core objective of the session was multifaceted: to enhance understanding of the NTA 2025 and its specific implications for local government administration, strengthen collaboration between state and local tiers for revenue harmonization and joint administration, and improve the technical capacity of local government leaders in deploying modern revenue processes and digital systems.

During the event, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), Dr. Nasir Sabo Idris, commended the state government’s leadership for its commitment to fiscal autonomy.

“I wish to acknowledge the immense support of His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA,” Dr. Idris said.

Advert

According to Dr. Idris, Jigawa Governor’s commitment to revenue generation has been unwavering, ensuring a consistent improvement in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Dr. Idris pointed out that the upcoming launch of JigiTax, a wholly digital platform designed to streamline and modernize revenue collection across Jigawa State, is underway.

He said the move is seen as a direct response to strengthening transparency and blocking revenue leakages.

On his part, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Local Government, Ibrahim Graba Hannun-Giwa, whose address was delivered by the Director of Research, Malam Samaila Yusuf, said:

“The Ministry of Local Government is doing all it takes to continue supporting the visionary policies of Governor Namadi and driving policies that will shore up the revenue base of our local governments,” Malam Yusuf stated, emphasizing a unified approach to fiscal strength.

The dividends of the collaborative efforts were highlighted by the ALGON Chairman, who also serves as the Chairman of Dutse Local Government.

Speaking to newsmen, he asserted that the state’s disciplined approach had fundamentally altered the financial landscape at the grassroots level.

“With the commitment shown by Governor Namadi and the diligent efforts of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee, no local government in Jigawa now seeks intervention,” the ALGON Chairman declared.

He said, “Revenue loopholes are being systematically blocked, and improved compliance by different stakeholders, including markets and motor parks remitting their taxes, has significantly boosted our revenue drive.”

He further confirmed that the local governments had already undertaken a series of awareness trainings for all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition to the NTA 2025.

Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said the in a paper presentation titled “State and Local Government in the Law,” by a legal practitioner. The paper specifically called for the legislative institutionalization of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee by the State House of Assembly. This institutional backing, the practitioner argued, would solidify the collaborative framework for revenue harmonization and ensure its longevity beyond the current administration.

 

Continue Reading

News

Former President Obasanjo Endorses Turaki’s Faction of PDP

Published

on

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted the national working committee (NWC) of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The PDP faction visited the former president on Saturday, and Kabiru Turaki led the delegation.

Advert

Those among the delegation are: Muazu Aliyu, former Niger governor; Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and many more.

Interacting with the delegation, Obasanjo commended the faction’s effort, adding that its members should “soldier on”.

The former president also urged the faction to remain steadfast in instilling discipline in the party, adding that:

“anybody who wants to belong to a political party must adhere strictly to its rules and regulations”.

Continue Reading

Trending