MINNA: The Niger State House of Assembly has asked the Niger State Government to provide immediate support to victims of the boat mishap in the Mokwa local government area of Niger State last week.
This recommendation was part of resolutions reached by the House following a motion moved and seconded by Legislators representing Edati and Mokwa local government areas of Niger State, Sai’du Tamar, and Abdullahi Shaba Gbara during plenary on Thursday.
The House also resolved to investigate the utilization of funds set aside for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) through the provision of the law on 0. 1 per cent of total revenue to the Agency.
This is in addition to a call for lawmakers at the National Assembly to support Communities living in riverine areas with modern means of water transportation.
Recall that the ill-fated boat transporting about 30 passengers from the Lanchitagi community, in Lavun local government area to Gbara in Mokwa local government area had capsized, with about seven dead bodies recovered.
According to Gbara, 20 survivors were rescued while over five persons were still missing.
MX GOSSIP 2
2 Killed, Several Abducted as Bandits Storm Gulu General Hospital
GULU: Two people have been confirmed dead and over 20 others including the Head of Clinical Services have been abducted by bandits who invaded the Abdulsalam Abubakar General Hospital in Gulu, Lapai local government area of Niger state.
The attack took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Security and government report states that the bandits entered the hospital and the staff quarters while shooting sporadically to scare people off.
While the Police reported that eight were abducted, the niger state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello states that the number of persons abducted was unspecified.
However, correspondence from the Gulu Hospital stated the number of staff who were abducted as it was added that relatives of patients were also abducted by the bandits.
“Those kidnapped include the head of operations and his wife, the Head of clinical services, Dr John, Head of haematology Usman Zabbo, the wife and two daughters of the Head of Nursing, the Head of Medical Laboratory, the wife and daughter of the Chief Pharmacist and other relatives of patients”, the correspondence stated.
The Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has decried the attack and abduction of the staff of the Gulu General Hospital as ‘callous, inhuman and condemnable’.
He directed the Joint Security Taskforce in the state to urgently put an end to the incessant armed banditry, kidnappings and wanton attacks on several communities in Lapai Local Government Area which is becoming a concern to the state government.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent rise in armed banditry and kidnappings in Gulu communities when we are rejoicing and consolidating in the successes so far recorded in other affected areas, but as a responsible government we’ll not rest on our oars until we triumph over evil”, he said.
The Governor announced that the state government is already collaborating and supporting the Joint Security Apparatus in its drive to launch a sporadically coordinated onslaught to overcome the bandits and sanitize the area as soon as possible.
He then commiserated with the families of the deceased and assured that the state government, in close collaboration with security agencies, will do everything humanly possible to secure the release of those abducted.
The Niger state Police Command, in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun said that eight persons were abducted adding that one of the female victims was later abandoned with her two years old baby by the abductors.
Abiodun disclosed that the Niger state Commissioner of Police, Ogundele Ayodeji led a reinforcement team from Minna to the area for an on-the-spot assessment.
He added that other tactical teams and vigilante members had been deployed to the area stating that effort is ongoing to rescue the remaining seven abducted victims.
MX GOSSIP 3
Niger Gets New Commissioner of Police
MINNA: Following the retirement of the 35th Commissioner of Police in Niger State, Monday Bala Kuryas, the Nigeria Police Force has deployed CP Ogundele J. Ayodeji as the new commissioner of Police in the state.
Ayodeji, who assumed duty on Monday, was formerly the Commissioner of Police Admin, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
A statement by the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun revealed that Ayodeji is an indigene of Oyo State who started his career in the Nigeria Police Force in 1990.
The statement revealed that the new CP had worked in Niger State as the AC SCID Minna in 2017 and as Area Commander, Kontagora Area Command between 2017 to 2018.
“He hereby solicits for support of all stakeholders, residents, and Nigerlites to continue giving useful information to the Command, to build on successes of his predecessor towards ensuring a peaceful environment in the State for economic growth and development.”
