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‘Mentor young Nigerians to emulate Abba Kyari’, Customs CG charge family, friends

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The Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), has tasked friends and family of Abba Kyari to mentor the next generation of Nigerians to uphold the values of the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Col. Ali gave the charge at a book presentation in Kyari’s honour on Thursday at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

The book titled ‘The Man Abba Kyari’ was written by David Onmeje, a UK-based author and lecturer.

In his remarks, Col. Ali said the late journalist, lawyer and businessman was often misunderstood by many because of his integrity and deviation from the norm.

He said, “Anyone that undertakes the challenge of passing through the road of credibility, honesty, and integrity will end up being the most controversial and misunderstood person, and that is what Mallam Abba Kyari was.

“He passed through that path. And in the course of doing so, you would agree that one would roughen some edges. That was happening in the course of his life as a private citizen.

“And when he found himself in government, it was rough, in the sense that when he choose to say ‘yes’ to the left and ‘no’ to the right, the chances were that he had a lot of controversies and enemies”.

The Customs boss, who said he knew Kyari for over two decades also said that the late Chief of Staff to President Buhari stood for what he believed and was uncompromising.

“Mallam Abba, whom I knew closely for 22 years, was someone who does not hold back his views. He was ready to take up a fight when you decide to deviate from the norms. He doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer,” he added.

“The issue with regards to the controversy is normal, some of us are into it and will continue to be in it. Some of us are being hated, but we would continue to do what we believe in. That was exactly what Abba did until his death.”

Col. Ali, however, urged the family and friends to pass his legacy to young Nigerians.

Similarly, Governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum said the late Kyari was not a controversial man, instead, he discharged his duties to President Buhari with dedication and loyalty.

Represented by his Chief-of-Staff,  Professor Isah Hussein, he said, “Abba Kyari was a typical technocrat. He excelled in all the disciplines or organizations he found himself. He was a people’s person.

“Abba Kyari, some have said, was a controversial person. He was not. He was just doing his job. To be a chief-of-staff you must have certain qualities. Abba had all of those. One of them is dedicated to his job. But most importantly, is loyalty to your boss, and it must be total.

“People tried to get to Mr. President or had their own agenda found that Abba Kyari was always there. They could not bend him. That’s why a lot of people say he was controversial. He was just doing his job.”

Reviewing the book, Prof. Udenta Udenta, said the book portrayed Kyari’s character and its contradictory assessment by the people.

“The book would open a floodgate of commentaries, and accounting about the life and times of this very complex individual (Abba Kyari),” he said.

On his part, Onmeje described the late Chief of Staff as a patriot and committed public servant who was widely respected for his loyalty and commitment to the goals and aspirations of President Buhari.

Parents deny knowledge of students in Boko Haram video

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Some parents of the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina and residents have dismissed the video purportedly posted by the Boko Haram sect on Thursday morning, showing some youths in captivity in a forest.

A father of one of the students Aminu Dayyabu said none of the youths showed in the video was a student of the school.

Mr Dayyabu, whose 12-year-old son, Farouq Aminu, was among the abducted students, however, prayed that the bandits did not kill the students in retaliation for any other steps taken by the government apart from negotiation to secure the release of the students.

“None of the students shown in the video, including the older one, who spoke in Hausa, was a student of the school.

“I will appeal to the government not to use violence to get the students freed. The bandits and members of the Boko Haram sect are parents too and would not want to harm the students. But Almighty Allah knows the best,” he said.

A woman Murjanatu Danja who is a mother of another abducted student, Hussaina Nasiru, said the faces in the Boko Haram video were not that of abducted students.

She said, “The faces in that video are not that of the abducted students. Even if I cannot identify other faces, I should be able to identify Hussaina’s face. But the faces are strange.

“I appeal again that government should secure the release of our children before their abductors take them far from home.”

Their reactions came before the state government announced the release of the boys on Thursday night.

Governor Aminu Masari said the boys were safe at Tsafe, Zamfara State, and would be transported to Kankara on Friday.

QED

Sanwo-Olu gives scholarship, N10m to best graduating LASU students

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced a cash prize of N5 million to Oladimeji Idris Shotunde and Olusola Aanu Olabanjo, who emerged as Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo best graduating students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.95 and 5.0

He also announced a scholarship award to Oladimeji Idris Shotunde.

The governor made this known yesterday during the investiture of chancellor and award of doctoral degrees at the 24th convocation.

Sanwo-Olu, connected to the event through Zoom, installed Prof. Gbolahan Elias as the fifth chancellor.

Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Education Commissioner Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo were present.

The governor hailed the university for rising above the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to exercise its mandate.

“I am conscious of the need to invest resources that will fuel entrepreneurship and provide quality education. The quality of graduates will eventually determine the future of our society. In that respect, we are embarking on a number of projects, including a new Faculty of Education building,” he said.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, though absent, was conferred with an honorary doctoral degree for her contributions to the development of humanity through people-oriented schemes.

Outgoing Vice Chancellor Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN), praised the governor for his support.

“When the Coronavirus pandemic broke out in the country, it was with the support of our amiable Visitor that we were able to go virtual. You also provided our institution with a Governing Council made up of brilliant minds, who make running the university seamless.

“Mr. Governor also ensured the completion of projects and when there was agitation for the payment of the new minimum wage last October, promptly, you intervened and today, the foundation of an 8,230 bed space hostel accommodation for students was laid,” he said.

The Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo, hailed Fagbohun and his team for raising the bar of excellence in LASU.

“I find it hard to describe the Vice-Chancellor as the outgoing VC. He has done well and I see him as a sort of a statesman in the academic community,” he said.

Some eminent Nigerians were also conferred with honorary doctoral degrees in fields.

They included Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals; Oba Otudeko, entrepreneur and philanthropist; and Justice Opeyemi Oke.

Prof. Martins Anetekhai was made a Distinguished Professor of the institution.

Nigeria’s daily COVID-19 cases cross 1,000 for first time

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For the first time, Nigeria on Thursday recorded over a thousand new cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 1,145 fresh COVID-19 cases in several parts of the country.

The centre, which disclosed this on its Twitter handle, said the new COVID-19 cases were recorded in 23 states of the federation and Abuja.

It added that the number of COVID-19 fatalities in Nigeria stood at 1,201 as of Thursday night.

Also, the total number of confirmed cases increased to 76,207.

Meanwhile, 67,110 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from various isolation facilities in the country.

The breakdown of the figure on a state-by-state basis revealed the following: Lagos (459), FCT (145), Kaduna (138), Plateau (80), Katsina (70), Gombe (52), Niger (31), Kano (23), Bayelsa (21), Bauchi (18), Ondo (18), Rivers (17), Ogun (12), and Oyo (12).

Others are – Edo (8), Nasarawa (8), Ebonyi (7), Osun (6), Ekiti (5), Kebbi (5), Borno (4), Jigawa (3), Akwa Ibom (2), and Anambra (1).

“Total confirmed COVID-19 cases: 76,207.

“Discharged: 67,110 AND Deaths: 1,201.”

333 Kankara pupils regain freedom from abductors

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By Tajudeen Adebanjo, Lagos; Augustine Okezie, Katsina; Gbade Ogunwale, Jide Orintunsin, Bolaji Ogundele; Abuja and Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

  • Boys for medical exam before release to parents

  • Buhari, Masari excited

The 333 boys of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State regained their freedom last night.

They were abducted when bandits invaded the school a week ago.

Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, confirmed the release of the boys in a statement.

He said they were being transported from the Zamfara State forest where they were taken by their abductors, to the Government House in Katsina, from where they would be made to undergo medical examination before being handed over to their parents and guardians.

Governor Aminu Masari told the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) during its primetime news last night that the boys would be reunited with their families Friday.

Masari said the government would increase security personnel in the schools to avert a re-occurrence.

“We have protected and secured all our schools. We are going to increase the number of security operatives in our schools to make sure that we don’t experience what we have experienced in the past six days.

“We want to encourage communities around those schools to form another security unit around the schools,” he said.

Earlier, dozens of people, including parents and guardians of the abducted students marched through the streets in response to a call from the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), a civil society body that focuses on the welfare of northern Nigerians. Some chanted “Save Northern Nigeria.”

No ransom paid to free Katsina schoolboys – Masari

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Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari said on Thursday night that no ransom was paid to free over 300 abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.

The governor had earlier said the boys were at Tsafe, Zamfara State, and would be transported to Kankara on Friday.

In an interview with DWTV Hausa at 10pm on Thursday, Masari said no ransom was paid before the boys were released.

“We did not pay ransom to the kidnappers, it was purely negotiation,” he said.

Explaning how the boys were released, he said: “One hour ago, Nigerian soldiers and government officials that were involved in the negotiation for the release of the kidnapped schoolboys have told us that the whole school children have been released, 344 of them.

“Those involved in the negotiation include my adviser, some top military and police operatives, members of Miyetti Allah; (they) were all involved in the negotiation.”

He also said those who abducted the boys were not Boko Haram fighters.

“They are bandits who kidnapped the schoolboys, not Boko Haram,” he said.

Boko Haram had released a video earlier on Thursday claiming to have the boys in their custody.

QED

Abducted Kankara school boys released, to return home Friday

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Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari has announced the release of Students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, kidnapped last Friday.

Governor Masari Thursday night said the boys were at Tsafe in Zamfara State, and would be transported to Kankara on Friday.

The Special Adviser to the Katsina Governor on Security, Ibrahim Katsina, who also confirmed the release of the students said:

“Alhamdulillah. The boys have been rescued and are now at Tsafe, Zamfara State. But, we shall be moving them to Kankara tomorrow (Friday),” Kastina said.

He said the students were at Tsafe (82.5km via road) from Kankara town in Katsina.

He, however, refuted the allegation that the students were kidnapped by Boko Haram.

Although the government did not give a specific figure of students released by their captors, over 300 of them were unaccounted for before the news of their freedom broke.

Shortly after their release was reported, President Muhammadu Buhari described the safe return of the schoolboys as a big relief to their families, the entire country and the international community.

He commended what he called the spirit of partnership and the collaborative efforts of the governments of Katsina, Zamfara and military which led to the release of the students

Those undermining President Buhari in the north will not go unpunished – Bishop Ogbaji

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Foremost northern cleric, Bishop Pinot Ogbaji, has condemned the attempt by some unpatriotic elements in the northern part of the country to undermine the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari by sabotaging the efforts of the administration in the area of security.

The fiery preacher said those trying to sabotage the efforts of the government will not go unpunished as they will soon be exposed.

Bishop Ogbaji who spoke at a media chat with selected journalists in Abuja, said the punishment on those behind such plots would be devastating unless they repent as he said Nigeria has been ordained as a land where  citizens shall live in peace with one another and no arrow from the kingdom of darkness shall counter that.

While making some revelations concerning the security of the country, the renowned preacher said it has come to his notice that some politicians are working round the clock trying to undermine the efforts of the current administration despite the much achieved in the war against insurgency and banditry.

He said part of the plot involves reenacting some of the security breaches recorded during past administrations to make it look like the current one has not done anything different.

He said, “If you look at what is going on in the country, you will see that virtually all the security issues of the past administration are being replicated with a near or worse parallel.

“The massacre at Zabarmari in Borno was reenacted to give the impression that something gory on the scale of the murder of students at Buni Yardi which happened during the last administration has also happened now while the abduction of students at Kankara in Katsina State, is to also tar the image of the Buhari administration with something as gruesome as the abduction of the Chibok girls in the last administration. ”

The Bishop said while it is easy for people to latch on the infrequent security breaches to call out the current administration, there is no denying the fact that the Buhari administration has drastically reduced the level of insecurity in the country.

The Cleric said the current situation where bandits launch attacks on soft targets cannot in any way be compared with the sacking of communities and the taking over of territories by terrorists as was the case in the past.

He said, “Nobody said that insecurity is going to be wiped out in one day as there are bound to be occasional glitches which is what we are witnessing from time to time but there is no gainsaying the fact that this administration has done so much to secure the lives and property of citizens that it should be commended.

The Bishop said both the swath of  territory the President Buhari administration has recovered from the terrorists and in terms of po is bigger than many African countries while the population of people rescued is equally.

Bishop Ogbaji said his interaction with people in Northeast Nigeria revealed deep appreciation of what President Buhari has done to secure the lives of citizens.

“Go to the epicentre of the war against insurgency which is the Northeast and hear what the people are saying about how Buhari has helped secure communities and you won’t fail to commend this administration for what it has done to improve security in the country.

The Bishop maintained that those saying nothing has been achieved im terms of security are those colluding with saboteurs to give the current administration a bad name.

He said mischief makers seated in the comfort of their houses in areas far away from the theatres of war do not understand the gravity of the problem hence are not capable of appreciating the much that have been done.

The Bishop said it is not for  nothing that all the governors  of Borno State from Kashim Shettima to Prof. Umara Zulum are always full of praises for Mr President saying this is because they experienced first hand the difference between what was obtainable in the past and what currently obtains.

He said after the Zabarmari attack, the Borno State governor while lamenting the incident, made it clear that the current administration has achieved a lot on the area of security.

Bishop Ogbaji blamed selfish politicians and people with narrow interest for the numerous security issues in the country.

“These are the people behind what we are witnessing recently as they do not want people to continue commending the current administration due to their selfish agenda.

Bishop Ogbaji also commended the Service Chiefs for their relentless efforts towards keeping Nigeria safe saying the motivation passed to troops has helped in the fight against insurgency.

He said if not for the right decision the President made in the choice of the service chiefs, the entire Northeast and many parts of Nigeria  would have been overrun by terrorists and hoodlums.

“These set of service chiefs are the best because they have been tested and tried and have given good accounts of themselves,” he stated.

The Bishop said Nigerian troops have tried and are still trying in the war against insurgency saying it is to their credit that no Nigerian territory is under the control of the insurgents at the moment.

He recalled that immediately after the Zabarmari attack, troops were able to launch a counter and neutralised some of the terrorists.

He said it is obvious from the recent abduction of students at a secondary school in Kankara in Kastina State, that there is an orchestrated plan to paint the Buhari administration in bad light and not necessarily because it has not done much in the area of security.

He said one of the bandits involved in the Kankara attack has even confessed that theywere sponsored to carry out the acts in order to put the current administration in bad light.

The Cleric called on well meaning Nigerians to be vigilant and to expose all forms of sabotage to the relevant security agencies.

Buhari welcomes release of kidnapped Kankara students

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President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed release of kidnapped students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, describing their safe return as a big relief to their families, the entire country and international community.

In a short remark shortly after their release was announced, President Buhari expressed the nation’s appreciation for the steps taken by all involved to make their release possible.

President Buhari specifically cited what he called the “spirit of partnership and the collaborative efforts of the government of Katsina, Zamfara and military leading to the release.’’

He commended the nation’s intelligence agencies, the military and police force for providing the environment for safe release of the hostages.

“The Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, and the army worked extremely hard. As soon as I got the information I congratulated them. The Armed Forces know their job. They have been well trained and properly motivated.”

On the issue of detainees held elsewhere in the country by either terrorists or bandits, the President gave assurances that his administration is aware of its responsibility to protect the life and property of the Nigerians.

President Buhari urged the citizens to be patient and fair to the administration as it deals with the problems of security, economy and corruption.

He noted that the administration was fully aware that it was elected to resolve challenges.

“When we came, we made efforts that yielded the return of the Chibok Girls. When a similar incident of school abduction happened at Dapchi, we successfully returned all but one of the more than one hundred abductees. When this latest incident happened, we put in our efforts and today we have this result to show.”

The President pointed to the successes of the administration in dealing with security in the South South and North East.

He said the North West now presents a challenge which his administration is determined to deal with.

“We have a lot of work to do, especially now that we have re-opened the borders. It is unfortunate that the bandits and terrorists continue to get weapons even under the circumstances of the border closure. We are going to dare them. We will deal with all that,” the President further assured.
He prayed for the full recovery of the students, whom he said had endured significant hardships in the course of their six-day ordeal.

The President assured of the determination of his administration to return to safety all citizens held against their will.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

December 17, 2020

EXCLUSIVE: Abducted Katsina schoolboys freed

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The abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State have been rescued.

Our sources said the schoolboys regained freedom on Thursday and are on their way to Tsafe in Zamfara State.

According to our insider, who pleaded anynomity, the children were rescued in sound health and are in stable condition.

“They were asked through phone if they are complete and they said yes,” our sources added.

The lastest development further affirms Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s earlier claim.

In a now deleted tweet, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) had announced that the school children have all been rescued.

“Yaaaay. The 333 boys captured in Katsina have been rescued. Allhamdulilah! @MBuhari administration has brought back our boys. #BringBackOurBoys. Our boys are back,” a tweet from her handle read on Thursday before being deleted.

The tweet came hours after Boko Haram released a video showing boys believed to be the abducted students.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, however, tweeted afterwards that she briefly lost control of her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

“Pls don’t credit any post on katsina boys to my Twitter handle. I lost control of my handle in the last couple of minutes, along with my Instagram. I have recovered and changed my password”.

Recall that hundreds of students were abducted by suspected bandits in Katsina last Friday.

With suggestion of a potential negotiation with the armed group filling the air, the military said it is against its rules of engagement to enter into such with perceived criminals.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, on Wednesday, however, assured troops would continue its ongoing kinetic operations, noting that the armed forces were reviewing strategies to ensure the safe rescue of the children.