kidnap victim rescued in jigawa, five suspects killed, five arrested

By: Zagazola Makama

The Jigawa State Police Command said it has rescued an 80-year-old woman kidnapped in Kano State, neutralized five suspected kidnappers, and arrested five others in a coordinated operation in Garki Local Government Area.

The rescue operation followed intelligence and technical analysis led by the Commissioner of Police, Jigawa Command, CP A. T. Abdullahi.

The operation was carried out on May 16 at about 1:30 a.m. after the police received information that a group of about 12 armed criminals riding five motorcycles had kidnapped one Hajiya Hajara, 80, from Minjibir LGA of Kano State.

Acting on the intelligence, a joint team of police operatives from Gagarawa, Gumel, Garki, Sule-Tankarkar Divisions, supported by Fulani vigilantes and forest hunters under the leadership of ACP Bala Umar, Area Commander Gumel, launched a raid on criminal hideouts.

The hideouts included Wadi Fulani Settlement, GGW Tagwayen Fage, Wusada Fulani Settlement, and Katoro Fulani Camp all in Garki LGA.

“During the raid, a fierce gun duel ensued, which led to the neutralization of five suspects, while five others, including the alleged kingpin, Yahaya (35), of Katoro Fulani Camp, were arrested with gunshot injuries to their legs,” he said.

The kidnapped victim, Hajiya Hajara, was rescued unhurt.

Items recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifles, one fabricated LAR rifle with 14 rounds of live ammunition, two motorcycles, and two handsets.

All recovered items, corpses, and arrested suspects were taken to Gumel General Hospital for treatment and autopsy.

Sources from the command confirmed that no ransom was paid and no casualties were recorded among the security operatives.

kidnap victim rescued in jigawa, five suspects killed, five arrested

Zulum Signs Executive Orders to Prohibit Indiscriminate Felling of Trees, Mandate Sanitation Exercise

By: Michael Mike

In a significant move to protect the environment, improve public health, and reduce public nuisance across Borno State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has signed two executive orders aimed at addressing these critical concerns.

The first executive order prohibits the indiscriminate felling of trees, while the second mandates a monthly statewide sanitation exercise.

At a brief event on Friday at the Government House, Governor Zulum noted that the measures were taken in response to the alarming levels of environmental abuse, particularly the unchecked felling of trees. He emphasised the need to safeguard the ecosystem and protect future generations.

“Pursuant to the powers vested in me by Section 14 (2) and Section 20 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Felling of Tree Law, Cap 53, Laws of Borno State, 1994, and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE, the Executive Governor of Borno State, do hereby declare the felling of trees as prohibited forthwith,” Zulum declared.

“Therefore, by this declaration, any individual caught unlawfully cutting down trees shall, for a first offence, face a fine of N250,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years. For subsequent offences, the penalty shall be imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding N500,000, or both,” he added.

In the same vein, the Governor also signed an executive order granting additional powers to the Sanitation Court and declaring the monthly sanitation exercise mandatory.

This initiative is intended to enhance the overall well-being of the people, strengthen the public health system, and reduce the spread of diseases within communities.

“I, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, do hereby declare the first Saturday of every month as Sanitation Day, forthwith,” he stated.

“Going forward, those found to have violated this order shall be punished with sentences not exceeding two years’ imprisonment and a fine of N100,000 for first-time offenders. Subsequent offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years,” Zulum stressed.

The Governor also announced that, in the coming days, he will sign another executive order stipulating strict penalties for violations of existing laws on scrap metal scavenging and trading. He further directed the Borno State Police Command and other relevant agencies to enforce the two executive orders and ensure full compliance.

Zulum Signs Executive Orders to Prohibit Indiscriminate Felling of Trees, Mandate Sanitation Exercise

ORODJE UNDER FIRE OVER OKPE UNION

By: Our Reporter

The Orodje of Okpe, Orhue 1, on Friday drew flaks from Okpe Union leaders who described his Urhobo agenda as a betrayal of the Okpe Nation.

‘’There are two contending trends in contemporary Okpe polity. Okpe Union represents the first trend that agitates for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality and not a sub-group of any other ethnic nationality in Nigeria. The second trend, currently championed by HRM Orhue l (after he opted to abandon his earlier position), regards Okpe as Urhobo.

The President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe commented on the contending trends in Okpe polity during the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Okpe Union.

‘’This is a reflection of the current position of HRM Orhue l, which, for selfish reasons reverted to the British colonial policy that classified “Okpe as Urhobo”, in order to secure the support of the Urhobos in his aspiration to be the Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council’’.

The Union took a swipe at Orhue 1, accusing him of working against the campaign of Okpe as a distinct ethnic group.

‘’While we are here today in Okpe House, Obalende, Lagos, the officially recognized Registered Office and headquarters of the Okpe Union, celebrating the 95th Anniversary Celebrations of the Okpe Union, a pack of renegades are said to be in Udogun Hall, the Palace of Okpe Kingdom, claiming to be celebrating the 95th Anniversary of the Okpe Union, but are in reality, according to their own posters, celebrating Okpe as “the largest Urhobo Ethnic Nationality”.

The Union recollected an encounter of the Arc. Ralph Karieren-led National Executive Council of the Okpe Union in 2010 with His Royal Majesty where Orhue 1 wanted the Union to retract a statement published by the Okpe Union that Okpe was a distinct Ethnic Nationality.

‘’The union then had published that position so as to prepare the ground for a demand for the Delta State Government to recognize Okpe as a distinct Ethnic Nationality under the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). But that dream was truncated as HRM Orhue I got the then Unu Okpe to sign a counter publication in the Vanguard Newspapers to the effect that Okpe was Urhobo. To put it bluntly, this position is a betrayal of Okpe Identity and a betrayal of the Okpe Nation’’.

The Okpe Union vowed to continue its advocacy of Okpe Identity, irrespective of the internal and external hostile forces.

‘’We count on the resilience and steadfastness of our members across the several branches in Nigeria and in the Diaspora as well as various Okpe groups which identify with the struggle for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct Ethnic Nationality and language. The panic that enveloped the Palace in the past couple of days regarding the listing of our Keynote Speaker demonstrates the hollowness of the renegades’’.

ORODJE UNDER FIRE OVER OKPE UNION