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

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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.

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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.

 

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Buhari Presidency Book by Lai Mohammed Debuts on Late Leader’s Birthday”

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

The public presentation of a book chronicling the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari will be held on December 17, 2025.

This date coincides with what would have been President Buhari’s 83rd birthday, marking his first posthumous birthday since his passing on July 13, 2025.

The book, titled “Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration,” is authored by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who served as Minister of Information and Culture throughout Buhari’s presidency from 2015 to 2023.

The work offers a detailed account of governance, strategic communication, and nation-building efforts during that eight-year period.

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The event, scheduled to hold at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, by 10am, will be chaired by Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State and pioneer Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, is expected as Royal Father of the Day, leading other eminent traditional rulers.

Her Excellency Aisha Buhari, wife of the late president, will serve as Mother of the Day.

A distinguished line-up of businessmen and industrialists will act as Chief Launchers, including Sir Dr Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Alhaji Abdusamad Rabiu; Alhaji Nasiru Danu, the Sardaunan Dutse; and Aare Kola Oyefeso.

The keynote address will be delivered by Prof Oladapo Afolabi, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, on the topic Nigeria’s Unfulfilled Global Community Expectations.

Mr Segun Adeniyi, former presidential spokesman and Chairman Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspaper, will review the book.

Speaking on the publication, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, “It will serve both as a commemoration of President Buhari’s life and legacy, and as a reflection on the policies, programmes and values that shaped his tenure.”

The book documents Mohammed’s stewardship of the Ministry of Information and Culture, covering information management, cultural development, tourism promotion, and national orientation.

It also provides insight into how major national policies were shaped, defended, and communicated during Buhari’s presidency.

The event is being organised by the Book Launch Committee, which, in a statement, described the publication as “an insider chronicle of governance and communication during the Buhari era.”

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Adamawa State Govt. Imposes 24-hour Curfew on a Community over Communal Clash

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has declared a 24-hour curfew in Lamurde Local Government Area following a fresh outbreak of communal violence.

In a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Hussaini Hammangabdo, on Monday, the governor instructed security agencies to swiftly deploy to affected areas to restore peace and maintain order.

According to the statement, Fintiri directed security agencies to move to the areas threatened by the renewed communal clash to promptly restore peace and order.

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The statement reads:

“The Adamawa State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lamurde Local Government Area with immediate effect following a renewed communal clash that broke out on Sunday evening.

“Signed by Hussaini Hammangabdo, Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, security agencies have been directed to move into the area and restore peace and order without delay.”

The government urged residents of Lamurde to remain calm and cooperate fully with security operatives as efforts are underway to prevent further escalation.

The announcement came in after the news of how heavily armed Chobo-speaking tribal militia from neighbouring Gombe State, joined their counterparts in Adamawa state and launched coordinated assaults on Bachama communities in Lamurde Local Government Area, leaving dozens feared dead.

The fresh violence erupted barely days after Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri brokered a fragile peace deal between the warring Chobo and Bachama groups, according to Dr. Jamila Suleiman, Executive Vice Chairperson of the Adamawa State Peace Commission.

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Press Week: NUJ Trains Members on Translation, Law, and Ethics

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, has organized a one-day capacity-building workshop for its members as part of the 2025 Press Week.

The event, which took place at the Press Center, was in line with the series of activities scheduled for the week-long celebration.

In his welcome address, the State Council Chairman, Comrade Sulaiman Abdullahi Dederi, said the workshop aimed to strengthen members’ capacity in the areas of law and ethics of journalism.

According to Comrade Dederi, participants were selected from different media stations across the state.

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He urged them to apply the knowledge gained during the workshop to advance journalism in the state and the nation at large.

The chairman also thanked the Kano State Government for its continuous support to the council.

In his presentation, veteran journalist and Chief Press Secretary to the Kano State Government House, Mustafa Muhammad, spoke on safety tips in journalism. He elaborated on how journalists can remain safe while covering stories in hostile environments.

Other paper presenters included Adamu Salisu from the National Broadcasting Commission, Kano Office, who spoke on the Code of Ethics of Journalism, and another veteran journalist, Amina Yahaya Deen, who discussed Tools for Effective Translation.

Participants were drawn from both conventional and social media platforms.

 

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