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 Kidnap Victim in Edo During Search Operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation MESA, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police, local vigilantes and hunters, have rescued a kidnapped civilian in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Security sources said the troops, deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Udomi, responded to credible intelligence at about 9:00 a.m. on April 21 regarding the abduction of a civilian in the Amendokhian general area.
The troops immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation and successfully secured the release of the victim.
The victim has since been reunited with family members, while efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend the perpetrators.
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victim in Edo During Search Operation
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victim in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), have rescued a kidnapped victim following a swift response to a suspected terrorist attack in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources disclosed that the troops, deployed at Abaji, acted on a report at about 1:45 p.m. on April 21 regarding an attack at Tumataa community.
On arrival, the troops engaged the suspected terrorists in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon the victim and flee the scene.
The victim was successfully rescued and has since been reunited with family members.
The sources added that troops are sustaining operations in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks.
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victim in Benue
Troops Arrest Illegal Arms Manufacturers, Recover Weapons in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops have arrested two suspected illegal arms manufacturers during a raid on a criminal hideout in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources disclosed that the operation was carried out at about 5:00 p.m. on April 22 at Gwandanu Village, following credible intelligence on illicit arms production in the area.
According to the sources, the suspects were apprehended while actively engaged in the fabrication of weapons.
Items recovered during the operation include two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, two generating sets, a welding machine, a drilling machine, a hand filer and a toolbox, among other items.
The suspects are currently in military custody pending further investigation.
The sources added that troops have intensified efforts to mop up illegally fabricated arms in the general area as part of ongoing operations to curb criminal activities and enhance security in the state.
Troops Arrest Illegal Arms Manufacturers, Recover Weapons in Plateau
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victim in Edo During Search Operation
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victim in Benue
Troops Arrest Illegal Arms Manufacturers, Recover Weapons in Plateau
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News1 year agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
