Vreporters

Month: February 2021

  • Abduction of Students: Treat Kidnappers as Terrorists, NANS President Urges FG

    Abduction of Students: Treat Kidnappers as Terrorists, NANS President Urges FG

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the incessant invasion and abduction of students and teachers in the country, urging the Federal Government to declare the kidnappers as terrorists and treat them in the same manner.

    NANS President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, in a statement made available to newsmen, on Sunday, in Abuja, however, said that he was delighted that the 317 kidnapped schoolgirls of Government Girls Junior Secondary Jangebe, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have regained their freedom.

    He said the abduction of the students was an indictment of the failure of the nation’s security apparatus to withstand the threat of terrorists invading the schools to bully and kidnap school children for ransom.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to convene a National Security Summit towards galvanising best brains in providing ideas and innovation for combating the multi-faceted security challenges in Nigeria.

    Asefon, said before the release of girls from captivity, the students’ body early Sunday had decided that the NANS National Secretariat be relocated to Zamfara State, if the schoolgirls were not rescued within the next 72hrs to solidarize with the schoolgirls and ensure that the government at all levels are doing everything possible for the timely release of the schoolgirls.

    “This has become one case too many and the fact that this kidnap happens without any form of opposition from the security apparatus calls for serious concern,” he said.

    Asefon, lamented the emotional trauma the kids would have gone through, saying this might have a lasting influence on their perspective about school and education.

    He said: “Well-meaning Nigerians must be very concerned about this recent development. The nation currently faces multi-dimensional security challenges and continuous threats to the safety and security of our schools and this can no longer be tolerated.

    “The event of recent time has made it expedient for the government to change its approach to the scourge of school kidnap especially in the North, it is therefore imperative for the kidnappers to be declared as terrorists and treated as such.

    “NANS under my leadership will not just fold our arms while these enemies of the nation are allowed to shatter the very fabrics of our educational system and make our schools a no-go area.

    “It is therefore in our mutual interest to realistically design a new approach to fighting this coward terrorism against our very vulnerable school kids,” he said.

    The NANS President called on the goverment at all levels to ensure that there is no repeat of this ugly occurrence anywhere near the schools.

    He also called on the citizens in the most affected states to collaborate with security outfits in the area of local intelligence gathering to forestall the reoccurrence of this ugly incident while encouraging the security agencies to live up to their billings in providing security of life and properties of Nigerians especially making the school safe and conducive for learning security-wise.

  • How Final Year Student Was Beaten To Death in Kebbi Over Alleged Theft of Phone

    How Final Year Student Was Beaten To Death in Kebbi Over Alleged Theft of Phone

    The management of the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA) has shut down the institution indefinitely over the death of a 22 years old final year Biochemistry student who was beaten to death by angry mob over alleged theft of mobile phone.

    Daily Sun gathered that the deceased student, identified as Sharif Sale Kanya, who was awaiting to write his final examination paper, reportedly bought a phone in Aliero town on Saturday and transfered the money through his phone.

    It was gathered that the student, when in examination hall,switch off his phone. But when he put on the phone, he realized that the money bounced back,thereby returned to Aliero town to give the trader the cash which he withdrew from the ATM point.

    A student of the institution who spoke to newsmen, claimed that,” on getting to the place, the mob descended on him when the trader shouted on him ‘thief,thief,thief (barawo). He was beaten to coma and, when they later rushed him to General Hospital, Aliero, he was confirmed death few hours on admission “.

    The Registrar of the University, Alhaji Musa Labbo Jega who confirmed the closure of the school in a statement issued on 27th,February, 2021 stated that, the closure was with immediate effect.

    “This is to inform all students that the university management has directed the closure of the university indefinitely. Therefore, all students are hereby directed to leave the university with immediate effect”.

    While speaking with Daily Sun,the Public Relation Officer(PRO) of the university, Mallam Hussaini Adamu Zuru confirmed the incident.

    He explained that,the school had been closed before the students went on rampage over the death of their colleagues.

  • Jamb Announces Deadline For 2020/2021 Admissions

    Jamb Announces Deadline For 2020/2021 Admissions

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has said that all admissions in the nation’s tertiary institutions for the 2020/2021 Academic Session will end by 15th June, 2021.

    The decision was collectively taken at a virtual meeting with Heads of Tertiary Institutions in the country, a statement issued by the Board’s spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin said on Sunday in Abuja.

    According to the statement, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, in his remark, said the meeting with the institutions was aimed at knowing the level they had reached on the 2020/21 Admissions scale.

    Oloyede said the essence of the interactive meeting was to forestall an endless admission regime generated by the series of disruptions to daily life occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He said the meeting would enable the Board to put necessary machinery in place for the 2021/2022 UTME/DE Registration Exercise.

    The Registrar had earlier informed the gathering of eminent scholars that only 30 per cent of institutions had started admissions into the 2020/2021 Academic Session.

    ALSO READ: Watch your public utterances not to overheat the polity, Leaders advise

    He stated that there was the need to collectively decide when to close the 2020/2021 Admission Exercise, adding that the proposal was for Public Universities to end admissions four weeks ahead of Private Universities, the Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and IEIs.

    “After a robust and insightful deliberation, members collectively agreed that all public universities are expected to finish their admissions on or before 15th May, 2021, while the private universities and all IEIs, polytechnics and COEs would complete theirs at the agreed date of 15th June, 2021,” he said.

    Prof.Oloyede reiterated that the chosen deadlines remained sacrosanct and binding on all institutions as the Board would not tolerate any breaches of the collective decision reached at the meeting.

    He said the Board would announce in a week’s time the commencement date for the sale of application documents for the 2021/2022 Academic Session.

    Meanwhile, the Board has urged all institutions to adhere strictly to all advisories issued to them on inter/intra-university transfers, foreign inter-university transfers and fresh foreign candidates, change of programmes and institutions and other essential processes related to admission in order to avoid unnecessary bickerings that could endanger the future of innocent candidates and their subsequent mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    He added these advisories and procedures were to serve as guides for them on how to handle the various issues as they arose.

    The Registrar disclosed that transfer of candidates within institutions locally or internationally is an acceptable process as approved by the senate or council of the respective institutions but said that due process must be followed.

    He pointed out that the Board, as a responsible organisation and gate keeper, would not allow the process to be circumvented to allow unqualified candidates to gain access to our institutions.

    He said, “JAMB would not be a party to any improper transfer or breach of set guidelines adding that adequate measures or checks must be done to verify if such candidates meet minimum requirements or possess the prerequisite qualifications to be in the institution in the first instance.”

  • Teachers’ Recruitment: Kwara Govt Releases Cut-off Mark For Indigines, non-indigines

    Kwara State Government on Saturday released the cut-off marks for the ongoing teachers’ recruitment exercise at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).

    A statement by Yakubu Ali-Agan, the Press Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, said that a total of 40,652 applicants sat for the examination for the two categories.

    ”The cut-off for SUBEB is 50% for Kwara indigenes from across the 16 local government areas except (applicants from) Baruten, Edu, Kaiama, and Patigi whose pass mark is pegged at 40%.

    ”The cut-off for non-Kwarans in the SUBEB category is 60%.

    ”Similarly, Kwara applicants who scored 50% in the TESCOM category are to proceed to the results verification stage, but candidates who posted 40% from Baruten, Edu, Kaiama and Patigi will also have their results screened for interview.

    ”The cut-off for non-Kwara applicants for TESCOM is 65%.

    “These cut-off marks are products of thorough deliberations by various education stakeholders, predicated on the number of applicants, their performances in the CBT (examination).

    ”There were considerations for disadvantaged areas of the state without necessarily jettisoning acceptable degree of competence,” the statement said.

    It added that out of the 40,652 that sat for the examination across the 16 CBT centres, only 9,991 applicants hit the cut-off mark and qualified for results verification stage of the exercise.

    ”The figures include 5,116 (SUBEB applicants) and 4,875 (TESCOM applicants) respectively.

    ”Only applicants whose certificates are found to be genuine in the verification exercise will be invited for the interview stage which begins on March 15,” it stated.

    ”Candidates for the interview will be required to bring original and photocopies of their certificates,” the statement read.

  • DSS Makes U-turn Confirms Arrest of Sacked Ganduje’s Aide

    DSS Makes U-turn Confirms Arrest of Sacked Ganduje’s Aide

    The Abuja headquarters of Department of State Services (DSS) finally confirmed that Mallam Salihu Yakassai, the recently sacked Media Aide to the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje was in its custody.

    The secret police made the disclosure in a statement made available to news men in Abuja on Saturday around 9:50 pm by the Spokesperson of the Service Dr Peter Afunanya.

    The statement reads: “this is to confirm that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai is with the Department of State Services.

    “He is being investigated over issues beyond the expression of opinions in the social media as wrongly alleged by sections of the public”.

    The confirmation put paid to controversy rounding the whereabout of Mallam Salihu Yakasai since Friday.

    The Service had earlier issued a statement claiming that it was still expecting official reaction from its Kano State Command as regards to the arrest or otherwise

    Mallam Yakasai is the son of the Elder Statesman, AlhajiTanko Yakasai was said to have been picked up by the Kamo Command of the Service in a controversial manner and whisked away to its Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja Headquarters

    However the Kano State Command of the Service debunked the reported arrest while his father, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai was said to have insisted that his son was “arrested on his way to barbing salon in Kano”.

    Salihu Yakasai had tweeted on Friday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed to secure Nigerians.

  • Niger Governor Reveals Those Behind Release Kagara Schoolboys, as Students Recount Experience

    Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello has said that the 28 students of Government Science College Kagara, four teachers and six family members of the staff were released through joint efforts of security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders after an extensive dialogue with the bandits.

    Speaking while receiving the victims Government House, Minna, on Saturday, the governor cleared the air that no ransom was paid for their release but added that a lot of resources were put into the rescue because ‘we have to involve so many groups, our local vigilantes, security agencies and traditional [rulers].

    ‘So, it was a difficult task, very demanding but at the end of the day it yielded results and we thank God. The children were released exactly 4:00am this morning (Saturday),’ the governor said.

    He said that the abductees went through torture at the hands of their abductors and directed that ‘they should be put thorough medical examination for the next two days before they will be reunited with their families.’

    The governor pointed out that though the government has secured the release of the victims, there is still a lot of work to be done, stressing that ‘going forward, we have to put in place, a system to look at the causes of the criminal activities, and I hope we will find solution to these dastardly acts.’

    The circumstances surrounding the release of the former abductees still remain unclear but our correspondent has learned that ‘serious dialogue’ between the bandits and government took place for almost six days which yielded results with the release of the victims.

    According to sources, the release of the victims was made possible because the government team was able to reach out to the kingpins of all the bandits in the Allawa forests where the children are said to have been held for 12 days.

    According to a source who is a top government official involved in the negotiation, the government agreed that the bandits will drive the agreement reached while the administration will provide all the enablements.

    ‘We are still working on the trajectory, they agreed they will drive the agreement reached as long as government will continue to assure them; it is an element of trust on both sides,’ the source said.

    It was also learned that the release of the victims almost ran into hitches as another set of bandits in the bush reportedly waylaid the victims on their way to Kagara and held them for some hours, demanding their own share of ransom if any was paid.

    It was the intervention of a government official and one of the bandit leaders that was responsible for the freedom of the school boys and others.

    Under heavy security they were brought to Minna and lodged at the Niger State Development Company NSDC hotel, opposite Government House, where they were profiled and made to undergo medical checks, feeding and debriefing.

    Meanwhile, some of the boys who recounted their experiences to our correspondent under serious resistance from security agencies told the ugly story of how they were fed with only beans for 11 days.

    The only source of drinking water, the victims said, was water from a shallow stream, the same waiter that the cows drink.

    One of the students who gave his name as Ezekiel Danladi gave a pathetic account of how they were made to walk for over 10 hours on the day they were kidnapped before arriving at their destination without water or food.

    According to him: ‘We slept in the open field without blankets or any covering cloths, despite the chilly harmattan winds.

    ‘Some of us were beaten, but they didn’t touch the girls among us, and we were threatened with guns, warning us that if our parents didn’t bring money they will kill us all.

    ‘In the night, we were separated from the girls when it was time to sleep. The girls were the ones cooking for us while we went out to look for firewood for the cooking,’ he said.

    Also speaking, a relation of one the victims, Mr John Paiko, who gave his son’s name as Emma, thanked God for the release of his son.

    ‘The Principal called me to come to Minna that my son has been released. In fact, I couldn’t believe it until I arrived here,’ Paiko, who is a father of three, said, adding that Emma is the only child that has gone to school among his children.

    He vowed that the development will not stop him from returning him (Emma) to the same school to continue his education. 19-year-old Emma is currently in a Senior Secondary II (SSII) student.

    How we secured release of Kagara school boys, others – Governor Bello
    Another parent, Alhaji Aliyu Isah, said his wife and five children were among the victims who regained their freedom on Saturday, saying that the past 11 days has been traumatising for him as father.

    ‘I just want to thank God for the safe return of my wife and children. I went through sleepless nights because I didn’t know the condition they were in,’ Isah said.

    Another parent, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, whose six children were among those abducted, expressed happiness over the release of the victims, saying, ‘six of my children are among the victims, even though I am yet to meet with them, I am optimistic that I will meet them in good health.

    “I want to thank God for the safe return of the children, I am happy and glad that they have been released,’ the father said.

  • Video: How I Used ‘Alert Sim Card’ To Transfer Money From My Victims’ Bank Accounts, Fraudster Opens Up

    A suspected internet fraudster better known as Yahoo boy, has revealed how he used ‘alert sim card’, that’s, sim card linked to bank accounts to defraud members of the public.

    In a trending video, the young man recounted he uses the BVN on a stolen sim card to transfer money to an “untraceable” account. He said he looks for the bank code of the bank attached to the sim card and then begins his operation.

    On how he gets the BVN number, the suspect said he has a code he dials to access that on any sim card he lays his hands on.

    Speaking in Yoruba, the suspect while being interrogated, said he uses the bank codes on any sim card that receives bank alerts to transfer money to another account which he has access.

    He also mentioned that he takes loans from the empty salary banks accounts by using the sim cards to request loan from the owners’ bank.

    Watch the video of him giving his account of how he carries out the crime below.

  • Father of Sacked Ganduje’s Aide Confirms Son Arrest by DSS

    Tanko Yakasai, father of Governor Abdullah Ganduje’s media aide Salihu Tanko-Yakasai a.k.a Dawisu has confirmed that his son was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Recall that there’s been an outcry on social media after it was alleged that Salihu was arrested by the DSS, barely 24 hours after he called for the resignation of Buhari-led administration over increased insecurity.

    Tanko, a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), confirmed the arrest of his son, stating that his son was arrested while on his way to a barber shop. He told The Punch that he could not tell if his son is within Kano or has been taken elsewhere.

    Tanko said;

    “Yes, Salihu is with the security operatives since yesterday (Friday).

    “He was arrested on his way to a barbing saloon. But I cannot confirm to you whether he is here in Kano or somewhere else.”

  • DSS Breaks Silence Over ‘Arrest’ of Ex-Ganduje’s Aide, Yakasai

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has denied reports of arresting or even inviting the just sacked Media Aide to Governor Ganduje, Salihu Tanko Yakasai over his comments against the government of President Buhari and the ruling APC.

    Recall that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, had on Friday, February 26, via his Twitter handle, called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to either deal with bandits in the Country or resign from office. He stated this on Twitter while reacting to the abduction of 317 schoolgirls in Zamfara.

    ”Clearly, we as APC government, at all levels, have failed Nigerians in the number one duty we were elected to do which is to secure lives & properties. Not a single day goes by without some sort of insecurity in this land. This is a shame! Deal with terrorists decisively or resign.

    Each time another tragedy happens, we lament, condemn, create hashtag, the govt pretends to do something, no concrete steps to prevent reoccurrence, and then we repeat the process. To what end? Where are those saddled with the responsibility?

    Just last week, it was #freekagaraboys, today we have a new hashtag #RescueJangebeGirls, who knows tomorrow what hashtag we will come up with? Perhaps one for ourselves when we get caught up in one of these daring attacks. This is sad & heartbreaking; I feel helpless & hopeless.”he tweeted

    Shortly after tweeting, his whereabouts became unknown, causing many of his friends to come on Twitter to demand answers.

    This morning, one of the aides of the Kano state governor who handles the official handle of the state, Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed on Twitter, that Tanko-Yakassai was with the DSS.

    The DSS has however denied this claim, saying it did not arrest or even invite Salihu.

    The DSS State Director Muhammad Alhassan, who denied the reports, said

    ”The DSS State Director Muhammad Alhassan said that, “we have not arrested or even invited Yakasai. don’t forget he is our friend, sometimes, he advise us on issues of critical Security situations in the state”.

  • Ganduje Fires Aide For Carpeting President Buhari

    Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has sacked his Special Adviser on Media, Salihu Tanko Yakasai over his comments on deplorable state of insecurity, particularly the incessant abductions in some parts of the country.

    The commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who communicated the governor’s directive through a statement on Saturday, said the dismissal was based on Yakasai’s “continued unguarded comments and utterances which are deemed contrary to the stand of the All Progressive Congress (APC) government which he is serving.”

    Salihu had called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to either deal with bandits in the country or resign.

    Tanko-Yakasai spoke on Friday while reacting to students’ abduction at Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    A report then emerged on Saturday that he has been arrested by the Department of State Services which was however denied.

    Shortly after his comments, Salihu Tanko Yakasai went under, and his whereabouts according to his friends could not be ascertained, resulting to many insinuating that the DSS must have whisked him away.

    According to him, the fact that the development comes about a week after bandits also abducted some schoolboys in Kagara, Niger State, shows that the government has failed its primary responsibility.

    Below are series of tweets that spurred his sack by his principal, Governor Ganduje:

    “Clearly, we as APC government, at all levels, have failed Nigerians in the number 1 duty we were elected to do which is to secure lives & properties. Not a single day goes by without some insecurity in this land. This is a shame! Deal with terrorists decisively or resign.

    “Each time another tragedy happens, we lament, condemn, create a hashtag, the govt pretends to do something, no concrete steps to prevent re-occurrence, and then we repeat the process. To what end? Where are those saddled with the responsibility?

    “Just last week, it was #freekagaraboys, today we have a new hashtag, #RescueJangebeGirls; who knows tomorrow what hashtag we will come up with? Perhaps one for ourselves when we get caught up in one of these daring attacks. This is sad & heartbreaking; I feel helpless & hopeless.”