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
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1 under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued two kidnapped victims in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 3:50 a.m. on April 15 when troops deployed at Kyado responded to a distress call on kidnapping activities in the area.
According to the sources, the troops swiftly moved to the scene, prompting the kidnappers to abandon their victims and flee.
The sources added that the troops successfully rescued the two victims and reunited them with their families.
Security operations have been intensified in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further incidents.
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops have arrested the second-in-command to a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Auta, alongside his wife in Gombe State following an intelligence-led tracking operation across multiple locations.
Sources said the suspects, identified as Bala, popularly known as “Pakapaka,” and his wife, Zulaha Bala, were intercepted after fleeing from Dajin Madam Forest in Plateau State.
According to the sources, the arrests were the result of sustained intelligence surveillance and coordinated ground tracking by security operatives targeting fleeing members of the criminal network.
The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to determine their level of involvement in the group’s activities and possible connections with other cells operating within and outside the region.
In a related development, troops conducted follow-up patrols around Bayar village in the Duguri axis after intelligence indicated that the main bandit kingpin had fled into the area.
However, no contact was made during the search operation.
Security sources said troops have continued to dominate the general area with sustained patrols aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of movement and disrupting their operational networks across Plateau, Taraba, and adjoining states.
Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation
Troops rescue 12 kidnapped victims, arrest kingpin’s aides in Plateau–Taraba forest operations
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops conducting ongoing clearance operations under Operation Wutan Daji have rescued 12 kidnapped victims and arrested key associates of a fleeing bandit leader during coordinated offensives across forested areas linking Plateau and Taraba States.
A military source said the operations, carried out on April 15 and 16, involved troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade in conjunction with an Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) tactical team.
According to the source, the operations were conducted in the Dajin Madam and Kumbodoro forest axis, spanning parts of Plateau and Taraba States.
The source said the sustained offensive led to the recovery of 12 kidnapped victims who escaped from their captors during the pressure mounted by troops.
The victims were subsequently taken into custody for profiling before being moved to an Internally Displaced Persons facility in Fukuk.
Troops also recovered a Dane gun, a fabricated AK-47 rifle and a power bank during the operation.
Troops rescue 12 kidnapped victims, arrest kingpin’s aides in Plateau–Taraba forest operations
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
Troops arrest suspected ammunition racketeer in Cross River
Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation
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