Yobe APC Social Media Forum calls for Massive Party Registration, Promises to Monitor Process

Hassan Achinai, Organizing Secretary, NEASMF, Yobe State

By  JOE Hemba

 Yobe State Chapter of Northeast APC Social Media Forum has called on members of the party to come out emasse for the new party registration and revalidation exercise across the country.

 The State Organising Secretary of the Forum, Mr. Hassan Anchinai in an exclusive chat with IMPACTONLINENIGERIA in Damaturu said the exercise is an opportunity for old and new members to revalidate their membership and also become official card carrying members of the party respectively.

 Mr. Anchinai noted that the party in the state should concentrate on hundreds of thousands of new decampees that have recently joined the party and those that have attained voting age in the state that would want to join the APC.

“The APC in Yobe State as you are aware has hundreds of thousands of decampes into her fold. There are young men and women that are now up to eighteen years of age and are legally required either to vote or be voted, such population need to come out massive to register and become official members of the APC in the state,” Mr. Anchinai appealed. 

He noted that the massive registration of people into the APC also places the party on advantage against other political parties in the coming general election in 2023 as it will directly affect the northeast region and Yobe state in particular.

“This revalidation and registration has immediate and long term benefits to us as a state, the northeast as a region because it will further reinforce our fortunes in the party in the scheme to things at the national level come 2023,” the secretary said.

 He added that; “There is this thing we need to consider, that is the security of our Zone, the northeast. We all know what it was and how it is now. What our dear President, Mohammadu Buhari and our governor Mai mala Buni has done is visible. The support that our governor has received from the Federal government to fight the security challenges in the state is enough for all of us to mobilise support for this all important exercise of our great party”.

 He said that "what the people of Yobe have witnessed during the administration of Gov. Mai mala Buni in every aspect of human life should be reciprocated by the massive turn out of the people from all nooks and cranies of the state for the registration". 

 He called on party leaders and those entrusted with the exercise to create a level playing ground and process for to get their membership card without hitches, stressing that, “The forum won't just watch irregularities in any form but monitor every process for the development and growth of our great party, APC”.

The National Care taker Chairman of the APC, Chairman Extra-Ordinary National Convention, Gov. Mai Mala Buni at the inuaguaration of the national committee warned against any form of registration by proxy.

IMPACTONLINENIGERIA gathered  that, President Mohammadu Buhari will to carrying out his revalidation membership at his home town in Daura, Katsina state.

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Courts Orders Army To Produce Two Civilian Detainees For Trial

By Melvin Ibe, Maiduguri 

 Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court Maiduguri, yesterday ordered that Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Damasoku and Sabo Yahaya, applicants in a law suit for the enforcement of their Fundamental Rights be produced beore the Court on Thursday February 4, 2021 for an accelerated hearing on their matter.

 The Matter of Fundamental Rights enforcement was brought pursuant to Section 46(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between the applicants and (1) The General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Nigerian Army, (2) The Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, (3) The Nigerian Army and (4) Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria seeking relief on five grounds.

 The reliefs sought are: a declaration that the continued detention of Applicants at the detention cell of the 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri from 24th of November 2020 till date without being brought before a Competent Court and tried by the Competent Court is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void.  An order compelling the Respondents to either arraign the Applicants before a Competent Court of Law or to immediately discharge the Applicants from unlawful detention forthwith and Damages in the sum of N100 million (One hundred million Naira). 

 Other reliefs sought are written apology and for such further or other as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

 The Applicants are seeking the reliefs on the ground that the arrest and detention by the Respondents without charging them to a Competent court of Jurisdiction violate the Applicants Right of dignity of human person and Right of personal liberty as guaranteed by section 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended). 

 That the said arrest and detention of the Applicants is not in accordance with any procedure permitted by law and not justifiable in any circumstances stated under the constitution. 

 Citing facts in support, the Applicants said they are Nigerian citizens and resident in Damaturu, Yobe within the jurisdiction of the Court, that the Applicants were arrested within Maiduguri locality on 24th of November 2020. 

 The applicants have not been arraigned before any Court of Competent Jurisdiction.

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Borno : NDLEA Seizes 16,904.313.8kgs Of Assorted Illicit Drugs, Arrests 544

By Melvin Ibe , Maiduguri 

The Borno State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)  on Saturday said it recorded seizures of 16, 904. 313.8kgs  of assorted illicit drugs and arrested 544 suspects in Borno state between January to December 2020.

The State Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr. Joseph Icha disclosed this while summarising the successes recorded by the Agency within the year under review to our correspondent in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. 

Mr. Icha noted that of the 544 suspects arrested, 537 are males, while 7 others are females , adding that 44 seizures was recorded without the suspects who fled the scene of operations.

He listed variety of the seized drugs to include cannabis sativa, variety of psychotropic substances, cocaine and heroin. 

He said nine different types and models of cars and one urvan mini bus were seized from drug peddlers,  adding that the command secured three interim forfeiture of three of the vehicles. 

According to him, the Command is also processing an interim forfeiture of three bedroom flat and two room boy's quarters used by suspected drug dealers to stockpile over 10,500kgs of cannabis sativa.

" We also secured interim forfeiture for N1.95 million within the period under review . A total of 397 offenders went through counselling by interim intervention while 14 others went through residential counselling, " Icha said. 

The Commandant said more worrisome is the alarming rate of drug abuse in some of the internally displaced persons ( IDPs ) camps, adding that since the Agency don't conduct raids in the camps in order not to compound the situation of the displaced persons, a surveillance is usually mounted in the camps in collaboration with the security agencies there to track down suppliers of illicit drugs to the camps.

He however, said despite these successes recorded, the Command is facing some challenges such as poor infrastructure , logistics challenges,  lack of vehicles for patrol and operational funding. 

" With the security challenges in Borno,  indeed Northeast and considering the quantity of drugs and seizures, there is need for more funding to the command. We have already set a record that we need to improve upon. At no time has Borno recorded seizure of over 16,000kgs of variety of illicit drugs if not now. For us to maintain and sustain this record, we need government attention both from state and federal government. 

" Most of our vehicles previously at the liberated communities have been burnt by the Boko Haram terrorists,  including our speed boat at Baga. So we need more vehicles to patrol around," Mr Icha said. 

Our correspondent reports that in August last year, the Command conducted a public destruction of illicit drugs exhibits weighing about 19,234.58kg comprising cocaine, heroin, tramadol,  cannabis sativa among others. 

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Gender: Female caller on live phone-in radio program protest over male marginalization

GM, YBC 

 

By JOE Hemba

 

A female caller, Amina on a live Radio phone in program in Yobe yesterday accused a presenter of marginalising female callers on the program in favour of men.

 

Our correspondent who monitored the program which is aired in Hausa Language on Yobe State Broadcasting Corporation(YBC) observed a female caller, one Amina who called from Tsamia Lilo, one of the suburb settlements within Damaturu metropolis said the presenter left the female phone line and was busy attending to  calls from the male phone lines.

 

“You allow us to call and wait for too long and you are busy receiving calls from men. You left our line ringing without answering us but you are answering the men,” Amina said.

 

The radio program which is christened NISHADIN KARSHEN MAKU literally translated from Hausa as “Weekend Relaxation” is a one hour program of the State Radio Station which starts at 7 pm in the evening and terminates at 8.pm every Sunday. Two separate  phone lines are provided  and dedicated  for male and female  listeners to phone in and greet their loved one.

 

The General Manager of the State, Musa Galadima when asked how his station intends to correct such complaints from listers like Amina said he was happy that the station is now being widely listened to by the people of the state.

 

Galadima was particularly delighted for sensitive listeners like Amina who are phoning into live programs and advocating for their rights.

 

This is a good development for our Radio Station, I am extremely delighted to hear from our esteemed listeners and particularly you as journalists to take interest in listening to our program. I am also happy that female listeners are calling on the phone in programs to voice their complaints on some of our programs.

 

“This is really a thing of special interest to me as the Manager of the station because there is this consciousness among the female folk that they also want to be contributing. That she has lodged a complaint will even spur more of her female counterpart to phone in”, the GM said.

 

The GM also added that the investment of the State  under the leadership of Gov. Mai Mala Buni in the station has made it possible for their listenership to increase, stressing that, “YBC is now live on radio garden broadcasting 24/7”.

The GM promised to sit with the management and review the complaint of the female caller and address the matter.

He also encourages more female listeners to be involved in the phone in programs so as to air their views on matters affecting their communities to help the government to serve them better.

 

But in her view, The Executive Director, Women and Youth Empowerment Initiative,  Hajiya Hussaini Ibrahim,  an advocate of women’s right  said the discrimination has already started from the two lines provided for the program.

 

According to her, providing two different lines and dedicating one to the female is already a clear case of gender discrimination which shouldn’t be so.

 

“My point is very clear that, providing two lines and separating them for women and men suggests the discrimination and the marginalisation of women in the society. The women should be giving equal opportunity on the same phone line that the men are also calling. Separating them will make the presenter to clearly know that a woman is calling and he could decide not to pick up the call from the woman's phone line. So you can see the conflict here,” Hajiya Hussaina explained.

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Gov. Buni tasks APC Social Media Forum on regional development

 

Hon. Abdullahi Bego(middle in blue), Dr. Mustapha Geidam (immediate right) in a group photo with the group in Damaturu

By  JOE HEMBA, Damaturu 

 Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has called the Northeast Social Media Forum to get more involved in the development of the region through massive publicity of the activities of the governors in their states.  

According to the governor, the backwardness of the region now aggravated by the Boko Haram insurgency needs all hands on deck to change the narratives by promoting the good works and initiatives of the Federal Government and the governors toward the development of the region. Governor Buni who was represented by his Honorable Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture Abdullahi Bego at the maiden conference of the Forum over the weekend in Damaturu tasked the young social media advocates to also channel their youthful energies and time to changing negative narratives of the region both in history, culture, religion and social co-existence.

 The governor was particularly happy with the forum for coming together as an organised group to promote the activities of their various state government to the outside world.

 He thanked them for forming such a formidable front and called on them to intensify their campaign for the APC to take over the other three states(Bauchi, Taraba and Adamawa) in the region which are in the hands of the ruling PDP come 2023. Gov. Buni equally enjoined them to obtain basic journalism skills to understand the ethics of the profession so as not to land themselves into trouble. 

Hon. Comm info, Yobe State, Hon. Abdullahi Bego(right) with the PS Ministry of Transport & Energy, Dr. Mustapha Geidam at the event.

 Earlier, the chairman of the Forum in the State and the chief host, Abubakar Kachalla Zaid thank Yobe State Government for the support given to them to organize the event. He announced that the meeting of the forum in Damaturu is part of their coordinated approach to come up with a campaign that will ensure the APC in the next general election wins the other states in the region. 

 Alhaji Zaid who expressed happiness over the reality of the meeting also announced that their members will soon embark on a visits to all the APC governors in the region to unveil their plans for the region.

 Participants at the meeting were drawn from Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno and host state Yobe.

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Rapists on Rampage in Yobe, Gang Rape Minor, Nursing Mother

Members of Yobe State Human Right in a campaign against Rape

By JOE Hemba

 

The Police Command in Yobe has raised concern over the increase of rape cases in the state.

 

The State Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim in a statement issued to the press in Damaturu said, the state command recorded a spike in the cases just in December of 2020 with about 9 cases at different police divisions across the state.

 

Most disturbing of the cases according to the PPRO is the gang raping of a 13 year old girl at Potiskum on Christmas Day by three adults, while another dastardly one took place in Gashua where the rapist broke into a house with criminal intent but instead decided to rape a nursing mother who was recovering a few days away  from childbirth.

 

All the culprits are in police custody.

Details of the rape cases as contained in the statement of the PPRO is here below.

 

“In its efforts to curb crime and criminality in the State, it has been observed that Rape cases recorded a slight increase. In the last month of year 2020, Yobe State Police Command recorded more than nine (9) cases of Rape in different Divisional Police Headquarters across the State. 

 

“On 26th December, 2020 at about 16:30hrs detectives from Geidam Divisional Police Headquarters  arrested one Mal. Bako Umaru 35 years old of Hausari ward, who lured an 11 year old girl, molested, raped her and as a result she suffered serious major injuries and lost more than three pints of blood according to the medical facility here in Damaturu. The case is currently under discreet investigation at the State CIID for subsequent prosecution.

 

“Similarly, on 25th December, 2020 at about 1100hrs detectives from Yindiski Divisional Police Headquarters apprehended one Musa Mohammed 25 years old, Mohammed Dahiru 27 years old and one Adamu Saidu 46 years old all of Potiskum LGA. The trio were arrested having Gang Raped a 13year old girl. 

   

“In another development, on 26th November, 2020 at about 13:00hrs one Mohammed Alh. Jagere 27 years old was apprehended by Gashua Divisional Police Headquarters for intruding into a house with the intent to rob the inhabitants but rather, the culprit raped a nursing mother who was recuperating from child birth. 

 

“As Rape cases seem to be taking a new dimension in the State, Yobe Sate Police Command has equally committed more resources in the fight against such heinous crimes and this cannot be achieve without the support and cooperation of the Communities,” the statement explained.

 

Section 282 of Yobe  State Penal Code Amendment Law 2018 prescribed punishment for rape, kidnapping and unnatural offences. Under the section,  “The law stipulates clearly that whoever commits rape, where the victim is a minor, shall be punished with imprisonment for life and where the victim is an adult, shall be jailed for a term of 25 years.”

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Petitioners Slam N100m Suit Against Army , AGF Over Unlawful Detention

By Melvin Ibe, Maiduguri 

The General Officer Commanding (GOV )  7 Division, Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Army and the Hon. Attorney General  and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria have been sued at the Federal High Court Maiduguri over unlawful of Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Damakosu and Sabo Yahaya. 

In the suit No. FHC/MU/CS/1/2021, in the matter of Application by Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Damakosu and Sabo Yahaya being the petitioners , are seeking for the enforcement of their fundamental Human Rights pursuant to Section 46(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The petitioners are also seeking a declaration that the continued detention of the Applicants at the detention cell of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maimalari Cantonement,Maiduguri , from the 24th of November, 2020 till date without being brought before a competent Court and tried by a Competent Court is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void.

The duo are as well seeking for an order compelling the Respondents to either arraign the Applicants before a competent court of Law to immediately discharge the Applicants from unlawful detention forthwith.

Also sought for in the suit is payment of damages in the sum of One Hundred Million Naira ( N100 million ) ,  written Apology and any further orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

No date has been fixed for hearing yet. End 

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Despite COVID -19, Yobe achieved over 94% budget performance for 2020 – Bego

Yobe State Hon. Com. Min for  Information, Home Affairs and Culture Abdullahi Bego @ the Press briefing in Damaturu

 By JOE Hemba, Damaturu 

 Despite the challenges that came with the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020, Yobe state government has finished the year strong by achieving over 94% performance of last year’s budget.

 The Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture, Abdullahi Bego disclosed this yesterday at an end of year press briefing to recap the major activities carried out by the state government in the year under review. 

According to him, the corona pandemic has brought a lot of challenges but did not deterred the doggedness of Gov. Mai Mala Buni to make some progress in delivering democratic dividends to the state.

 “The 2020 is a roller-coaster of a year, a year of the Corona Virus pandemic and global economic recession. It’s a chequered year, one in which Yobe State has made some major progress but was held back by equally major challenges.

 “There is no question, however, that the Yobe State Government under H.E Gov. Mai Mala Buni has implemented its socio-economic agenda for the people robustly well. Our budget performance for the year stands at 94.92 percent,” Bego said. 

 He noted that the state has witnessed unprecedented progress in sectors such as commerce, agriculture, education, health, as well as infrastructural development through massive construction of rural and urban roads.

 In the area of commerce, Mr. Bego explained that the state government was able to resuscitate erring companies like Yobe Investment company, Yobe Aluminium etc and embarked on the construction of ultra-modern markets across the major towns of Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashua, Geidam and Nguru and well as the construction of Potiskum Trailer Transit Park which will provide 5,000 direct job upon completion.

Both agriculture and education enjoyed massive attention according to Bego as the state government organised two submits for the sectors to attract pool of ideas to revitalise agriculture in the state and reverse the negative disadvantage education position of the state on the nation’s educational map. Bego also announced that several road projects have been completed by the administration, just as many ongoing roads are under construction. 

The commissioner gave a list of completed and ongoing roads to include:

 ➢ Township Roads and concrete drainages across Buniyadi, Damagum, Jajimaji, and Babbangida

 ➢ Construction of 16km New Roads from Nguru to Balanguwa, 

 ➢ Continuation Of 25.5km Dual Carriage Damaturu to Kalallawa 

 ➢ Construction of 3.6km Runway for cargo airport 

 ➢ Construction of Link Road to Cargo Airport 

 ➢ 2.4km Concrete Drainage and 1.2km road linking Mallummatari with Gujba road

 ➢ 1.0km road and 2.0km concrete drainage linking Obasanjo estate to Mallumatari 

 ➢ Construction of Damagum-Gubana 12km road

 ➢ Construction Of 40km Gujba-Mutai Road

 ➢ Continuation of 18km road construction of Garin Bingel to Garin Abba and Danchuwa 

 ➢ Completion of construction of 4.5km dual carriage from Abattoir to new bypass potiskum road

 ➢ Construction of 1.6 road and 3.2 km concrete drainage at Damagum 

 ➢ Construction of 1.5km road and 3.0km concrete drainage Babangida 

 ➢ Concrete drainage and laying of interlock in ministry of finance headquarters

 ➢ Reconstruction of damaged areas of Nguru Irrigation Scheme 

 ➢ Award of contracts for flexible pavement and reinforced concrete drainage in Nguru, Potiskum, Gashu’a and Gaidam 

 ➢ Rehabilitation of all township roads in Gashu’a, Potiskum 

➢ Rehabilitation of Katarko – Goniri road 

 ➢ Repairs of damaged areas and potholes along Jajimaji to Karasuwa 

 ➢ Repairs of flooded sections and potholes along Damaturu Ring road 

 ➢ Repairs of flooded sections and potholes along Gari Alkali and Girgir Ring road 

 Mr. Bego among other things noted that the Gov.Mai Mala Buni’s administration in the year 2021 will consolidate on the achievement of the previous year to deliver all on going projects including the Yobe International Cargo Airport and the over 3,000 housing projects under construction across the state.

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