News
Governor Zulum sacks Bama camp chairman for collaborating with humanitarian officials to divert 30 borehole tanks, ion stands
Governor Zulum sacks Bama camp chairman for collaborating with humanitarian officials to divert 30 borehole tanks, ion stands
By: Zagazola Makama
Governor Babagana Zulum has sacked the camp Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency, Abbah Tor, over his alleged involvement in the diversion of the water sanitation and hygiene (WASH)facilities in Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.
Governor Zulum chased the camp chairman out of the camp during his recent visit to Bama IDPs camp where he supervised the distribution of relief materials.
Zulum informed the IDPs that Mr Abbah Tor was one of the people that had been stealing from them and told him never to return to the camp amidst shame.
Zagazola had reported how some of the humanitarian officials working in Bama IDPs camp connived to divert about 30 units of the water tank and iron stands meant for the installation in the camp.
The items, provided by UNICEF which were essentially aimed at making life easy for the distressed IDPs, had forced women and children in the camp to engage in open defecation due to the scarcity of water.
A UNICEF report seen by Zagazola indicated that it had provided access to safe water for 11,5204 IDPs in Bama and a total of 2,800 IDPs accessed sanitation through construction of 16 VIP latrines with handwashing stations,
40 emergency latrines and 20 bath shelters in Bama Primary Health Care and MCH clinics in Bama LGA.
Zagazola however, understands that despite efforts made by UNICEF towards increasing access to safe water, rehabilitating WASH facilities, restoring critical WASH infrastructure and promoting good hygiene practices to reduce the risk of WASH-related morbidity in Bama, there are people who have been sabotaging the efforts.
Zagazola checks also indicated that out of the 40 boreholes that were earmarked for installation, only 10 were installed with most of them currently not dispensing water. The rest of the 30 tanks that were kept at the UNICEF clinic were diverted and currently under the custody of the police in Bama.
HOW IT HAPPENED
One Umar, a staff of UNICEF, working in the WASH Department in Bama, collaboration with Ali Mala, from the Borno State Borno Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), approached Abbah Toh, the SEMA camp Chairman of Bama IDPs camp and Bakura Shettima of SEMA, with the deal to divert and sell the water facilities.
Both Abbah Tor, Ali and Bakura Shettima accepted the deal but one of the camp officials who did not accept to be part of the deal questioned them why the items meant for the IDPs should be taken out of the camp to somewhere else.
Umar (UNICEF official) told him that he was sent from the office to investigate the boreholes that were not working. The camp official took him around and told him that three among the newly constructed boreholes were not dispensing water.
He then told the camp official that he was going to transfer about 30 water tanks and iron stands to Shettimari Primary school in Bama town, and that others will be taken to Maiduguri while some of the items will be sold to pay the transporters conveying the items to the destinations.
The SEMA staff, expressed fear and asked him to rethink the decision, but
Umar insisted that the official should not worry himself over the issues as they had already concluded discussions with his boss, the camp Chairman, Abbah Tor and Ali Mala from RUWASA.
At about 2:43pm, Umar and his collaborators came into the UNICEF clinic to pick up the borehole facilities.
One Kaka Lawan, was already on standby waiting to pay in cash before the news started going round that some individuals had taken the tanks out of camp.
The Councilor of Bama, Abdulrahman Busu, immediately swung into action and reported the case to the Police Divisional Office in Bama who immediately intercepted the stolen items and arrested Kaka Lawan.
The DPO, later invited the suspects where a full investigation was carried out. They were, however, released on bail while the investigation into the matter continued.
Governor Zulum sacks Bama camp chairman for collaborating with humanitarian officials to divert 30 borehole tanks, ion stands
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
No fewer than nine persons were injured on Monday following a clash between farmers and herders in Loko community, Nasarawa State.
Zagazola report that the incident occurred at about noon on Dec. 15 in Bakono village, Loko area, after a dispute over alleged damage to farmland.
The source said the farmland involved belonged to one Bako Usman.
According to the source, the clash resulted in injuries to five farmers and four herders.
Security forces stormed the scene to restore order, while the injured persons were rushed to the General Hospital, Loko, where they were admitted and are responding to treatment.
Sources said that a stakeholders’ meeting had been convened in the community to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
According to the sources, confidence-building patrols are ongoing, the situation is being closely monitored and the area remains relatively calm.
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
By: Zagazola Makama
A soldier has been killed, while two others are missing following an attack on troops escorting farmers in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Monday during a security operation in a bush area of Takum, which has been prone to clashes involving militia elements.
The source said soldiers from a special forces unit along with police, NSCDC were deployed to provide security for Tiv farmers harvesting their farm produce when they were attacked by hoodlums suspected to be local militia in Taraba state.
According to the source, one soldiers was killed during the attack.
The source further disclosed that following the incident, soldiers cordoned off the venue of the Miyetti Allah executives’ election at the FGR Samsokwa Hall, in Takum, and arrested male executives of the association present at the venue. Though it was yet to establish if they were involved in the attack.
Another sources pointed accusing finger at the Taraba state special adviser on security allegedly to be behind the Militia. Though, Zagazola cannot independently verify the claim.
Meanwhile, security forces have arrested a group of suspected armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The suspects were caught with AK-47 rifles during an operation carried out on Friday.
After their arrest, the suspects were taken into custody. In a video that later surfaced online, the men were seen lying face down with their hands tied while security operatives questioned them about where they got the weapons.
One of the suspects alleged that some officials of the Kwara State government gave them both the vehicle and the rifles. He claimed they had been operating in the area under the cover of patrol duties.
According to him, the weapons did not belong to them personally. He said their leader collected the rifles and that they often went on patrol together with some individuals he mentioned by name. He insisted that the guns belonged to those officials.
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted five workers at a construction site along the Sabaja/Owa-Onire Road in Kwara State.
Zagazola report that the incident was reported at about 4:30 p.m. on Monday by Alhaji Suleiman Abdullah Olanrewaju, manager of Fix Contracting Engineering Company.
The source said Olanrewaju reported that the abduction occurred earlier in the day at about 11:40 a.m. while the workers were on site when the gunmen attacked and whisked them away.
Those abducted were identified as Engr. Ademola Afolabi, Engr. Umar Lade, Fatai and Akin, both labourers, as well as a driver identified as Yusuf.
According to the source, the complainant said he had earlier reported the incident to the military before notifying the police.
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oreke mobilised a team of police operatives who linked up with the military and local vigilantes to comb the surrounding bushes in a bid to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing, while security agencies said further developments would be communicated.
End
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
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