News

Criminals Take Over Public Schools in Sabon Gari – Investigation

Published

4 days ago

October 18, 2024

By Salisu Baso

Three public schools in the Sabon Gari area have been taken over and turned into hideouts for criminals and thugs. The schools in question are Maikwatashi Secondary School, Zawa’i Junior Secondary School, and Government Girls Secondary School Maikwatashi, all located along Igbo Road in Sabon Gari quarters.

These schools have been occupied by criminals wielding dangerous weapons, threatening the safety of students and staff, and disrupting the learning environment. The situation has led many parents and guardians to withdraw their children, severely affecting student enrollment. Currently, only four students are attending Zawa’i Junior Secondary School due to the security risks.

Our reporter, who visited the schools, observed that they have become hideouts for criminals and thugs. The schools are in a state of complete disrepair, with no roofs, windows, or doors, and the buildings themselves are cracked and crumbling.

When contacted, school authorities, the Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board (KSSSMB), and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) said that several letters had been sent to the concerned authorities about the security and infrastructural issues affecting the schools.

Mr. Samuel Mbadwe, a member of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) at GSS Maikwatashi, expressed concern over the critical condition and insecurity facing the school. He stated that the SBMC had tried its best to intervene but had failed due to the overwhelming security challenges.

He called on the state government to come to the aid of the school by rehabilitating the facilities and providing security.

The situation has caught the attention of the State House of Assembly, which directed its education committee to investigate the motion brought by Hon. Yusuf Bello Aliyu, the member representing Nassarawa Constituency. The motion called for the relocation of the schools to Kaura Goje Ward, as most of the students come from neighboring areas like Brigade, Tudun Wada, and Gwagwarwa.

The committee’s findings, submitted to the house, revealed that the schools lack proper security, with cases of vandalism, including the theft of windows, washbasins, and the destruction of toilet facilities. Out of ten classroom blocks, only three are currently in use, while criminals and thugs have occupied the remaining space.

The committee recommended that the government address these critical issues and ensure the safety and proper functioning of Maikwatashi Secondary School.

In a related incident, it was reported that the ceilings of the classrooms were being used to store weapons. On January 25, 2024, police recovered an AK-47 rifle from the premises, along with live ammunition.

After receiving the final report and recommendations, the House reassigned the education committee to investigate why the state government was unaware of the dire situation.

It was understood that one of the major issues affecting the schools is the lack of student enrollment. The schools fall under Fagge Zonal Secondary Education, while most of the students come from Nassarawa Zone.

News

President Tinubu May Change Cabinet This Week

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

There are strong indications that the long-awaited cabinet reshuffle may be announced this week.

It was gathered that President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, held a closed-door meeting with his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, Hadiza Bala-Usman.

The policy coordination office was saddled with the responsibility of coming up with the criteria to determine who to go and those to be retained.

Before his two-week vacation, Tinubu had announced a cabinet reshuffle in the offing last month.

He was expected to announce it in the Independence Day broadcast on October 1. A day after, the President embarked on a working leave abroad.

With his return at the weekend, indications emerged, yesterday, that some of the ministers were in a panic mode over the looming reshuffle.

Sources close to the Presidency had claimed that before the President travelled to the United Kingdom for the vacation, a list containing the performances of the ministers had been compiled by Bala-Usman. One of the sources said the task of compiling the performances of ministers rested on her and that she had diligently done her work.

Guardian

News

Court Orders AIG To Investigate Allegations of Infidelity Involving Suspended Jigawa Commissioner

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Kano State Upper Shari’a Court has ordered AIG Zone One to investigate suspended Jigawa Commissioner, Auwalu Danladi Sankara, over allegations of enticing married woman, Tasleem Baba Nabegu

The Judge Ibrahim Sarki Yola gave the order following a Direct Complaint filed before his court by Husband to the 1st Defendant; Nasir Buba, praying the court to order police to conduct an investigation over the alleged relationship between his wife and Auwalu Sankara.

During the court session today, Tuesday, Counsel to the Complainant, Barrister Haruna Magashi, holding the brief of Barrister Sa’id Muhammad Tudun Wada told the court that they have overwhelming evidences to prove the allegation against the two Defendants, including vedio, pictures, phone conversation, transfer of fund between them among other evidences.

On his side, counsel to Tasleem Baba Nabegu, Barrister Rabi’u Shuaibu Abdullahi dismissed all the allegations against his client.

The counsel informed the court that the couple has been separated for over a year, citing allegations of repeated mistreatment and abuse during their time together.

The defendant claimed that his relationship with the complainant was strictly commercial, as she owned a restaurant and he was merely a customer purchasing food from her

Similarly in his submission, Counsel to Auwalu Danladi Sankara, Barrister Aliyu Usman Hajji alleged that the issue was politically concocted by complainant to tarnish the image of Sankara being a politician.

News

KEDCO Says National Grid Disturbances, Vandalism causes for Power Shortage

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has attributed the ongoing power supply shortage in its franchise area to disturbances on the national grid and vandalism of critical transmission lines.

In a press conference held in Kano on [Date], Dr. Abubakar Jimeta, KEDCO’s Chief Commercial Officer, and Engineer Kassim Abdullahi Bukulor, Chief Technical Officer, explained that the unstable power supply was due to damage caused to two towers along the 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines 1 and 2. These lines are the primary sources of bulk power transmission to the region.

According to reports from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), towers T133 and T136 were found badly damaged at several points, leading to the tripping of the lines. Efforts are underway to reclose the lines after repairs.

To address the situation, KEDCO is engaging with stakeholders, including TCN and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to expedite the repair of the vandalized transmission lines and restore power supply. The company acknowledged the efforts of TCN in emergency restoration of the lines.

KEDCO reiterated its commitment to providing reliable and adequate electricity supply to its customers. The company’s core investor, Future Energies Africa (FEA), is investing in renewable energy projects, network capacity improvements, and MiniGrid solutions to reduce dependence on the grid.

While apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the power shortage, KEDCO urged customers to report any suspicious activities on electrical infrastructure to the company’s hotline at 070055551111. The company has recorded success in apprehending and prosecuting vandals and will continue to collaborate with security agencies to combat this crime.