16/04/23

SHINA J.O

Terrorists in the early hours of Sunday terrorists attacked Runji village in the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of the Kaduna State and left 26 people dead including women and children.

The Councilor of Gora Ward Manasseh Gora told news men that the terrorists came in large numbers shooting sporadically and burned down over 30 houses and many were missing.

He said most of the people that were killed are women and children and some were burned beyond recognition and those who sustained injuries were taken to Hospital for treatment.

The Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai has condemned the attack in strong terms and prayed for the repose of the departed souls, this was contained in a statement released by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan.

16/04/23

Shina J.O

Confusion has erupted in Adamawa as Suspended REC Assumes Role of Returning Officer, Announces APC’s Aishatu Ahmed Winner.

There is tension at the INEC state collation centre in Yola where the final collation of results from last Saturday’s supplementary governorship election was expected to be concluded Sunday morning

The Resident Electoral Commissioner Hudu Ari, who had been asked to step aside due to controversies that trailed his conduct in the March 15 substantive poll, suddenly turned up at the collation centre on Sunday morning at around 9am to announce APC’s Aishatu Ahmed as winner

The INEC returning officer for the election is Prof Mohammed Mele who was in charge of the process of collation at the conclusion of the supplementary election on Saturday, along with two supervising INEC National Commissioners

Results from supplementary elections from polling units in 10 local government areas were announced until the exercise was adjourned at around 1am on Sunday to resume again by 11am

However, by the time journalists arrived the state collation centre, they were informed that the REC had come in around 9am to announce a winner, amid protests by party agents who challenged the powers of the REC to usurp the position of the returning officer

As at the time of filing this report, the returning officer Prof. Mohammed Mele and the two supervising National Commissioners are yet to arrive and could not be reached

Security has been beefed up as tension is high already in the area

15/04/23

Shina J. O

The United Nations Children Emergency Funds UNICEF says the recent abduction of 80 children in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State in Northwest Nigeria reinforces the urgent need for action to Protect children in Nigeria.

It called on all parties to the conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law, human rights law and protect the rights and well-being of children.

This is contained in a statement signed and released by UNICEF representative Nigeria, Cristian Munduate said, it stands committed to working with government partners to ensure that every child in Nigeria can enjoy their rights and live in a peaceful and prosperous Society.

UNICEF lamented that, Nine years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted in the middle of the night from their dormitory in Chibok, Nigeria, 96 girls remain in captivity, and thousands more children have been subjected to grave violations of their rights.

“The statistics are disturbing; the reality is devastating. It has been 9 years since the horrendous abduction of the Chibok girls, yet the nightmare continues as children are still being kidnapped, forcibly recruited, killed and injured– their futures torn away,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of Nigeria’s children. We must do everything in our power to ensure they grow up in safety, with access to education and the opportunity to fulfill their potential.”

It noted that since 2014, there have been over 2,400 incidents of grave violations verified, affecting over 6,800 children in the North-east. The most common violations are recruitment or use of children by armed groups with 700 verified cases, followed by abductions of children, with 693 incidents, and killing and maiming, with 675 incidents.

The impact of the conflict on education is alarming, with repercussions that will likely affect generations. The Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TCN) reports that, between 2009 and 2022, around 2,295 teachers were reportedly killed in attacks, over 19,000 teachers were displaced, more than 1,500 schools closed because of insecurity, and 910 schools were destroyed.

UNIICEF welcomes the Government of Nigeria’s signing of the UNICEF-supported handover protocol and its commitment to invest N144.8 billion ($314.5 Million) towards the Safe Schools Financing Plan in 2022 and stands ready to support the Government in its implementation to ensure that all children encountered in the course of armed conflict in Nigeria or released from armed groups are quickly reunited with their families and benefit from reintegration programmes.

The Amnesty international says Nine years after Chibok girls were abducted, the authorities is still failing to protect children In a Statement,by the Acting Director of Amnesty
International Nigeria, Isah Sanusi
says about 98 Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram are still in captivity, More than 61 children are still being held in captivity two years after they were
abducted by gunmen and Lack of accountability for crimes against children emboldens impunity

Nine years after Boko Haram abducted 276 students from a girls’school in Chibok,98 girls are
still being held by Boko Haram

The organization adds that the slew of abductions which have been taking place since the 2014 incident, reveals the utter failure of the Nigerian authorities to learn from the heartbreak of Chibok and, ultimately, to protect children

Amnesty say Since the Chibok school girls were abducted by Boko Haram, a plethora of schools have been
targeted, with girls being abducted, raped, killed or forced into “marriages noting that The Nigerian authorities, however, have not carried out a single credible investigation into the security
failures that left children vulnerable to the atrocities committed by Boko Haram and gunmen.

It adds that Parents of the 98 Chibok school girls who are still being held by Boko Haram —as well as other
children abducted by gunmen are living in anguish, knowing that their children are in the
hands of ruthless individuals who subject their loved ones to chilling brutalities,

The statement adds that It is beyond time that the Nigerian authorities took meaningful action to counter armed
groups like Boko Haram and gunmen whose activities has led to the closure of over 600 schools in the northern part.