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CITAD Teams Up with ROSA Luxemburg Foundation to Address Armed Banditry in Northern Nigeria

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The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in collaboration with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, hosted a Knowledge Production Dialogue on Thursday at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The dialogue aimed to shed light on the pressing issues of youth involvement in armed banditry in the region.

Aminu Yunusa, from the Sociology Department of the institution, presented a paper titled “An Appraisal of the Causes and Consequences of Youth Involvement in Armed Banditry in Kaduna State, Northwestern Nigeria (2012-2022).”

The University Don stated that banditry is a serious crime that poses a security challenge to democratic governance and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

“Bandits often terrorize communities in the North West region. Their activities include kidnapping, arson, shooting, rape, cattle rustling, killing, and looting.”

Yunusa emphasized the harmful impact of continuous youth engagement in armed banditry on the residents of Kaduna state. He attributed this involvement to factors such as youth unemployment, greed, poverty, substance abuse, peer influence, and the existence of ungoverned spaces.

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He said, “The highest portion of every conflict or violence that took place in Northwest Nigeria is perpetrated by the youth. All the conflicts, including banditry and kidnapping, are carried out mostly by youth between 16 and 30 years old. Quite often, poverty and inequality, lack of education, unemployment, and lack of economic opportunities, among other issues, have been identified as the main factors leading vulnerable youth into joining violent extremist groups in their communities.”

His recommendations included the establishment of community policing structures, collaboration between media, community leaders, and the government to educate the youth about the dangers of banditry, and fostering law-abiding behavior.

Also in her presentation titled “Youth and Banditry in the Northwest Region: An Insight into the Learning Process,” Dr. Halima Sa’adiya Adamu from the Department of Political Science and International Relations highlighted the widespread impact of banditry on economic and human development in the northwest region.

Dr. Halima also said the effect of banditry is extensive. In addition to complicating the security crisis in the country, it has also increased the incidence of forced migration, food insecurity, cattle rustling, destruction of property, health challenges, displacement, humanitarian crises, and death.

She said the growth rate of these crimes can be attributed to unemployment, poverty, and poor education, stressing that deliberate efforts must be put in place to transform the politics and government systems to be more responsive to the needs of their people.

She noted that parents and the government play pivotal roles in the involvement of young individuals in this menace.

Her recommendations included fostering better communication between parents and children, community-driven initiatives, youth participation in decision-making processes, improving educational quality, creating conducive entrepreneurial environments, and organizing capacity-building seminars.

Some research by international organizations, such as the recent one conducted by Action Aid Nigeria, shows that Nigeria has witnessed about 95 percent of conflicts, including thuggery, banditry, kidnapping, killings, cattle rustling, and thuggery, mainly carried out by youth.

The incidence of banditry in Nigeria is a growing phenomenon that gravely threatens human security. It is prevalent in the North West geopolitical region of the country but has the potential to expand into transnational crime.

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Breaking:Kano Deputy Governor Resigns

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Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo Former Kano state Deputy Governor

 

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has announced the resignation of the Deputy Governor of Kano State Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, stating that the decision was formally communicated to the public in a press release issued on Friday and signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed.

According to the statement, the resignation was taken “in the overall interest of the people and the stability of governance” in the state, with the movement noting that recent developments had significantly limited the Deputy Governor’s ability to fully discharge the responsibilities of the office.

The movement also addressed the ongoing issues involving the Kano State House of Assembly, emphasizing that the Deputy Governor’s decision to step down should not be interpreted as an admission of any allegations raised against him, and insisting that he continues to maintain his innocence.

Describing the move as one of “statesmanship,” the statement said the resignation was intended to reduce political tension and prevent further disruptions to governance and development efforts in Kano State, while demonstrating a commitment to peace and political maturity.

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The Kwankwasiyya Movement further disclosed that the former Deputy Governor plans to redirect his focus toward strengthening the movement’s internal structures and strategies, particularly as political actors begin positioning ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The statement added that this renewed engagement would involve rebuilding party frameworks and pursuing strategic realignments aimed at promoting what it described as people-oriented leadership, social justice, and sustainable development.

The movement called on its supporters and residents of Kano State to remain calm, law-abiding, and committed to democratic principles, assuring the public that additional details regarding the resignation would be communicated in due course, according to the spokesperson.

 

Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo the Deputy Governor has been enmeshed in a political battle with his boss Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf since the Governor defected to the All Progressives Congress without the blessing of the NNPP National leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

 

Recently the Kano state House of Assembly has issued Impeachment notice on Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo over allegation of corruption.

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Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, Mother of Former Kaduna Governor, Passes Away

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, the mother of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has died.

According to family sources, she passed away on Friday afternoon. While details surrounding her death remain unclear at this time, the family has since confirmed the sad event.

The announcement was made public by her grandson, Bello El-Rufai, in a statement shared on Facebook. The statement read:

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“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah SWT we came and to Him we shall all return.

I would like to inform the public of the demise of my grandmother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away a few hours ago.

She is the biological mother of our father, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. We are grateful for the life she lived and pray that Allah SWT bless her gentle soul.

May He bless the souls of the parents we have lost. On behalf of our family, we seek your prayers. Thank you.”

The family is expected to release further details regarding funeral arrangements in due course.

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ASUU Threatens Nationwide Shutdown

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately implement the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers or face a possible nationwide shutdown of public universities.

The union issued a four-day ultimatum on Thursday, with its president, Christopher Piwuna, saying failure to act within the deadline would trigger a strong response.

Speaking at Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State, Piwuna said the government must begin payment under the new salary arrangement without further delay.

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“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the federal government to commence payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.

The warning comes months after ASUU and the federal government signed a renegotiated agreement in January, aimed at resolving long-standing disputes and preventing the recurring strikes that have plagued Nigeria’s university system.

At the heart of the agreement is a revised salary structure designed to improve lecturers’ welfare and finally address issues stemming from the controversial 2009 FG-ASUU pact, which remained largely unimplemented for years.

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