Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate

By: Michael Mike

The bill outlawing infanticide in the country would soon be sponsored on the floor of the Senate, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory has promised.

The lawmaker made this promise at the weekend in Abuja during a visit to Vines Heritage Home (VHH), a home that host scores of children who were saved from infanticide from community within and around the Federal Capital Territory.

The children were declared not worthy of living for being born as twins and were to be killed before being rescued by the Home and taken care of.

Speaking after having interaction with children of the Home, including the proprietor, Olusola Stevens, Senator Kingibe said it was absurd for children to be blamed for the misfortune of their parents or be killed for coming as double blessings.

She said she will be presenting a bill to the Senate to end this scourge and called on the members of the public to come out and speak against infanticide and help the children of the Home.

Speaking earlier, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Mamedu who led Senator Kingibe to the Home, said the organisation was happy to welcome the Senator to the Home, where children rescued from harmful traditional practice of infanticide within the FCT currently reside.

Mamedu, who was represented by the Deputy Country Director of AAN, Hajia Suwaiba Dankabo, said: “Through the co-funding by European Union (EU) and AAN, a three-year project designed to raise awareness and mobilize action towards the abolition of infanticide in the FCT, these children were relocated here. The project established mechanisms to safeguard unborn babies and infants susceptible to being victims of infanticide, as well as those that are currently ostracized.”

He noted that: “A core component of our work involves amplifying the voices of children- particularly girls- to ensure their meaningful participation in decisions that affect their lives. With the support of the European Union, we have implemented child protection programme in 57 communities across five Area Councils of the FCT, focusing on the eradication of harmful traditional practices such as infanticide.”

He added that: “We are deeply grateful for the generous funding support provided by Sony Entertainment through ActionAid Sweden. As a globally recognized organisation, Sony Entertainment understands the crucial role of investing in education and securing a brighter future for children. This invaluable support will significantly impact the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society, particularly the 74 girls from Vines Heritage Home (VHH) and the 219 children under our care.”
End

Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate

Katsina Police Foil Banditry Attack, Rescue Kidnapped Victims

By: Zagazola Makama

Police in Katsina State foiled a banditry attack on May 8, 2025, and successfully rescued two kidnapped victims in Matazu Local Government Area. The attack took place around 1400hrs when armed men, suspected to be bandits, targeted farmers working in the Ilali village area.

The bandits abducted two individuals, Sada Maraya, 45, and Basiru Magaji, 47, both residents of the village.

Upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) mobilized a team of patrol officers and swiftly responded to the scene. The police engaged the bandits in a gunfight, forcing them to flee into a nearby forest.

The victims were rescued unharmed, and efforts to apprehend the fleeing bandits are ongoing.

Katsina Police Foil Banditry Attack, Rescue Kidnapped Victims

Six Military personnel, two civilians arrested over death of suspect in kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

Atleast Six Military personnel and two civilians were arrested in connection with the alleged torture and death of a 65-year-old man, Surajo, popularly known as “Alhaji M,” in Millennium City, Kaduna.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident reportedly occurred on May 3, 2025, when two civilians, Alhaji Adamu Jinjiri, of Shehu Laminu Road, Unguwan Rimi, and Ibrahim Yakubu, of Maladanga Road, Unguwan Rimi, apprehended the deceased over allegations of conspiracy and theft.

The suspects accused the victim of aiding one Yahaya Aleiru, currently at large, in stealing a cow and an electrical distribution box. They allegedly handed Surajo over to operatives of the Millennium City Strike Force, a military security unit in the area.

According to a police sources, the victim was severely tortured at a checkpoint by the military personnel, including one Lieutenant Alhassan Musa and five others, leading to his collapse.

Surajo was later rushed to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

Sources from the Kaduna State Police Command said all eight suspects, including the six soldiers and the two civilians who initiated the arrest, have been taken into custody.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Kaduna, for discreet investigation,” a police source told Zagazola Makama.

Six Military personnel, two civilians arrested over death of suspect in kaduna