Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has called on states in Nigeria to shut down in protest if the next student, after those of Niger and Zamfara, is kidnapped by bandits. Soyinka, who was reacting to the recent spate of abductions across the country, spoke during the launch of his latest novel “Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth” in Abeokuta on Saturday. ChannelsTV reports that the literature professor said such abductions were unacceptable and “drastic, meaningful measures” must be taken in unison. “The abductions of our children, when will it end, how will it end? I don’t think anyone of us…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Barely 12 hours after the release of students and staff of Government Science College Kagara and their arrival in Minna earlier this morning, bandits have in a fresh attack on Kagara and some adjourning villages, stormed some villages, killing four people and kidnapping 25 others. PREMIUM TIMES reports that a community leader in Kagara, Musa Kwabe, said eight persons were kidnapped in Kundu and 11 others in nearby Gunna district, adding that four other people were killed from Katako, a neighbouring village where seven persons are still missing. He also told PREMIUM TIMES the bandits rustled many cows in the…
Governor Abubkara Sani-Bello of Niger on Saturday, received the abducted students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara, who were released by their captors. The 27 students, 12 staff and 12 members of a family in the school were abducted by gunmen on Feb. 17. Bello, while receiving the victims, disclosed that 38 students and staff of the school were released by the abductors “I am happy to announce this afternoon the rescue of the 38 abducted students at about 4 a.m. All rescued victims are here, though one is in the hospital suffering from excessive exhaustion. “They are being…
* Over 50,000 cases pending trial; clearing backlog requires tackling 137 cases per day * Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra states top the charts A joint report by India-based Down To Earth and Centre for Science and Environment, CSE, has revealed that environmental crime cases piling up, with courts disposing the cases at snail-pace in India. The “2021 State of India’s Environment (SoE) report”, which was released on Saturday at an online event, was attanded by over 60 environmental thinkers, activists, journalists and academics from across India, and a copy mailed to ASHENEWS. It observed that though with a drop in the number…
The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to explain why he has failed in protecting Nigerians in the face of insurgency and ba ditry in the country. The group put up the demand in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman made available to ASHENEWS on Saturday. While expressing is excitement by reports that the kidnapped staff and students of Government Science College Kagara, had regained freedom from the armed bandits in Niger, CNG warned “that it is not yet Uhuru and we should not celebrate too early. “Beyond the jubilation, President Buhari owes the nation…
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, has relieved his Special Adviser on Media, Salihu Yakasai of his appointment. A statement by the Commissioner of Information, Mohammed Garba on Saturday said the sack is “over his continued unguarded comments and utterances, which are deemed contrary to the stand of the All Progressive Congress (APC) government which he is serving,” adding that the sack is with immediate effect. “The aide had failed to differentiate between personal opinion and official stand on matters of public concern and therefore cannot be allowed to continue to serve in a government he does not believe.” The…
The Federal government has restated its commitment to partner with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria on fiscal policies formulation. Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning made the declaration in Zaria on Saturday. She said the partnership would enhance the shaping of the Nigerian economy towards sustainable and inclusive growth. She was speaking at the 14th Annual General Assembly Lecture organised by Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association where she presented a paper titled “The Role of Universities in Nation Building’’. She said universities and other tertiary institutions were key drivers for inclusive and sustainable development, especially now…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 11 deaths and 600 new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,902 and155,076 infections in the country. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. NCDC stated that the new infections were registered across 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , in the past 24 hours. It stated that the 600 new cases were reported from 21 states namely: Lagos (169), Taraba (92), Ogun (65), Cross River (57), FCT (38), Rivers (28), Kwara (26), Akwa Ibom (25), Osun (21), Plateau…
President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the release of the abducted students of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State. The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday, commended the nation’s security and intelligence agencies and the government of Niger state for their responses in securing the release. “We are happy they have been released,” he said. Buhari also greatly sympathised with the staff and the students, their parents and friends on this ordeal. He, however, warned that the country would not continue to suffer these attacks that threaten the growth of education, the security…
The released students of Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi local government area of Niger, have arrived Minna, capital of the state. The students who arrived amidst tight security were taken to the Niger State Development Company suite to freshen up before being taken to the Government House to meet governor Abubakar Sani-Bello. They were received by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe. Journalists were barred from entering into the premises of the company, where the victims were being kept. Recall that on February 17, when the students were abducted, one of them was killed and…