Zamfara Government announced on Tuesday that it would donate N20 million to families of victims of the recent boat accident in the Uban Dawaki community in the Gummi Local Government Area.

The Deputy Governor, Malam Mani Mummuni, announced the donation during a sympathy visit to the Emir of Gummi, retired Justice Lawal Hassan, and families of the victims in Gumi.

Mummuni said the gesture was to cushion the hardship encountered by the victims’ families.

He said Gov.Dauda  Lawal directed that the amount be disbursed to the affected families.

The deputy governor assured of the state government’s commitment to preventing the mishap from reoccurring.

He said the state government would collaborate with the  Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA)to provide lifejackets in all the water transport stations in the state.

“Experts will also be deployed to sensitize operators and users on prevention and safety measures.

“The use of lifejackets would be made compulsory for every passenger and operator.

“Violators of these measures would be sanctioned accordingly”, Mummun said.

In his remarks,  the emir appreciated the state government’s gesture, saying it was timely.

He said the idea of enforcing the use of lifejackets was  very critical and advised the  government not to spare anyone who failed to comply with the directive

The emir said that 13 bodies had been recovered while seven people involved in the accident were rescued.

 The Emir said 20 persons, not 40, were involved in the accident.

…Logistics suppliers, Usman Waikili and Salisu Idris also arrested, at Kagarko village in Kachia Local Government Area

Troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully raided yet another terrorist stronghold and rescued students kidnapped at Chigbolu village, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Nigerian army in a post on its official X Handle on Friday, said the feat was achieved on Thursday in a highly coordinated operation aimed at rescuing abducted persons from violent extremist camps.

The post revealed that troops also captured a significant cache of arms and ammunition and eliminated some insurgents, while others were captured alive.

It added that the troops engaged the terrorists in an intense firefight and overpowered them, forcing them to flee and abandoning their captives.

According to the post, a thorough sweep of the area led to the rescue of 13 victims, comprising six males and seven females, as well as the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, 87 rounds of 7.63mm ammunition, 4 magazines, a locally fabricated rifle and the sum of ₦192,220.00.

“Additionally, five solar panels, five mobile phones, dry rations, and clothing items were recovered. The rescued victims have been promptly evacuated to 1 Division Medical Services and Hospital for medical attention,” it added.

Army said that its troops had in another decisive operation, intercepted two notorious terrorist logistics suppliers, Usman Waikili and Salisu Idris, at Kagarko village in Kachia Local Government Area of the state.

It added that the troops confiscated the sum of ₦1.3 million, three SIM cards, two mobile phones, three national identity cards, eight ATM cards, two Moniepoint POS machines, an MTN MiFi and other items from the suspects.

“In a separate operation in Suleja, Niger, troops stormed a terrorist hideout, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.

“The troops’ overwhelming firepower led to the neutralisation of three terrorists, while three others, identified as Mallam Halalu, Mallam Suleiman, and Mr Musa, were captured alive.

“The suspects led the troops to a hidden armoury, where three AK-47 rifles, 121 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, and the sum of ₦4.07 million were recovered.

“These decisive operations, which culminated in the rescue of abducted persons and the dismantling of terrorist networks, reaffirm the Nigerian Army’s unwavering resolve to eliminate banditry and terrorism, marking a significant victory in the ongoing fight for peace and security across the nation.

“The Chief of Army Staff commended the troops and urged them to sustain the tempo of the offensives across all theatres,” it added.

…Bade Chairman begs for Federal Government intervention, as the number of displaced persons continues to rise 

The Bade Local Government Area of Yobe may have helplessly watched, as devastating floods which began, in early August, killed 20 residents. 

The Bade Local Government Area Chairman, Alhaji Babagana Ibrahim, who highlighted this to newsmen, on Friday in Gashua, also noted that most of the deceased were people trapped under the debris of collapsed mud houses.

Ibrahim equally said that the flood destroyed more than 10,000 houses and farmlands across 200 communities.

He identified villages worst hit by the disaster including Misilli, Lawan Musa, Dagona, Dala, Katuzu and Sabongarin Gashua.

He revealed that 2,000 persons displaced by the flood were currently taking shelter in three camps in Gashua, listing the camps as Goodluck, Zango 2 and Babuje.

Ibrahim said the council, despite its meagre resources, had been feeding the displaced persons since they came to the camps.

He said that Sen. Ahmed Lawa, former Senate President, recently donated N10 million to the victims, while the state was already distributing non-food items to the victims.

He urged the federal government to come to the aid of the flood victims whose population was increasing by the day.

“The magnitude of this disaster is so enormous and Bade cannot manage it.

“That is why I am appealing to the federal government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to come to our aid as the number of displaced persons continues to rise,” he said.