MINNA: A combined group of security agencies have rescued five persons who were kidnapped over a month ago by bandits from Chukun, in Kaduna State.
The victims, according to the Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar were rescued during a clearance operation on Gaskiya Bana, the operational base of a notorious bandits kingpin, Alhaji Leyi in Munya local government area of Niger State.
Umar said that the security operatives also succeeded in recovering over 300 cattle suspected to have been rustled from the same area.
“In the continuing effort of Security Forces to clear Terrorist in Niger State, joint security forces mobilized clearance operations at Gaskiya Bana, the operational base of a notorious bandits’ kingpin Alhaji Leyi in Munya LGA.
“Upon the invasion of the terrorist hideout by the forces, the terrorists fled the base and abandoned herds of cattle believed to have been rustled around the axis.
“The Security Forces recovered large herds of cattle and proceeded towards Unguwan Aboki, another community terrorized by the terrorist, there they ran into an ambush but were able to repel, forcing the bandits to retreat and scamper into nearby vegetation and forest belt.
“Nevertheless, the determined forces followed the bandits to another base around Katarma axis, where five kidnap victims who were kidnapped over a month at Chukun village of Kaduna State, were rescued,” the statement read.
Umar noted that the Niger State government has directed security forces to take the fight against the terrorists to their enclaves to allow residents in the affected areas to go about their normal businesses.
Mx Gossip 2
MINNA: Four suspects have been arrested over the invasion of the house of a Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa in Minna, Niger State.
The suspects were identified by the police as Oladele Peter Akano aged 49 of Kuruduma, Abuja, Abdul Salisu aged 31 of Gwagwalada, Abuja, Felix Clarkson aged 47 of Karo Abuja and Babagana Alhaji aged 39 of Chideri-Polo, Maiduguri.
Reports indicate that the Senator’s house was invaded on Saturday night by the assailants who claimed to be operatives from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) Abuja on a search mission.
A statement made available to newsmen by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun on Sunday, also said that the incident was not an assassination attempt because ‘the said Senator was not in Minna as at the time of the incident.’
Giving details about the incident, the statement said ‘During interrogation, the suspects claimed that they were mobilised by one Sherrif, a purported whistleblower who was reportedly claiming to be working with a security agency at Abuja but presently at large.
“The said Sherrif invited Akano, who is a teacher in a private school in Abuja. He also invited Clarkson, an instructor in a private institute ‘INSMO’ Abuja, Salisu who is a plumber from Gwagwalada, provided a hammer and chisel for housebreaking, and Babagana Alhaji, with five others presently at large.
“Suspects confessed further that Sherrif stated there are foreign currency and arms kept in the residence of the Politician, hence they travelled from Abuja to Minna for a purported execution of search without any warrant.
“However, on getting to the residence, the security operatives attached to the house suspected the fake team and raised alarm for reinforcement, while the Police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Division and the Anti-kidnapping team of the Command were drafted to the scene.
“Four among the suspects were arrested with the said Toyota Sienna vehicle, while others took to their heels, on sighting the Police reinforcement teams.”
The police added that the suspects have been moved to SCID Minna for discreet investigation.
MX Gossip 3
The Niger State Government has set up a task force to arrest and see to the prosecution of producers and sellers of fake agrochemicals in Niger State.
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Yusuf Mohammed Gunu, this became necessary following the observed proliferation of fake agrochemicals in the state.
“Adulterated Agro-Chemicals have implications on the farmers and consumers but with this step, farmers and consumers would be protected.
“Recent development had called for control of marketing and use of fake and adulterated agrochemicals. We need to bring sanity to the sales and use of fake and adulterated agrochemicals in the state so that farmers can get value for their money and protect them from the hazards of these fake chemicals. Defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
Gunu said that the government has discovered a wide sale of adulterated insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to farmers adding that this has resulted in low yields for farmers.
The Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Shehu Yusuf Galadima while commenting on the development lamented that farmers in Niger State have been facing difficult times over fake products in the market.
” It (fake agrochemicals) is part of the problems we have been facing for over a decade. Our farmers don’t get the right and correct agro-inputs. We have had a lot of experiences. We have been buying inputs that are not worth it and at the end of the day, farmers record low yield and we won’t even talk of making a marginal profit.” he said.
Last month, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) arrested a suspect who confessed to having been in the business of selling adulterated agrochemicals in Niger State for over a decade.
The NAFDAC had then warned farmers, especially in rural areas to be wary of such products which it said are sold in empty containers of original products
