Paradise News

Tag: World

  • I Won’t Spare Corrupt APC Members — EFCC Boss Olukayode Declares

    Bola-Tinubu-Appoints-New-EFCC-Chairman-

    Ola Olukoyede, the newly confirmed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has vowed to prosecute corrupt politicians irrespective of their party affiliations.

    Olukayode stated this during his screening alongside Muhammad Hammajoda who was also confirmed as the Secretary of the anti-graft agency.

    The confirmation came about one week after their appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

    During his screening, Olukoyede said the EFCC under his watch will be impartial and relentless in the fight against corruption.

    He said whether an individual is affiliated with the ruling party or not, they will be investigated if linked with financial crimes.

    Olukoyede further explained what the agency’s approach will look like under him.

    “In this issue of investigating political opponents, there are two salient questions that must be answered. Number one, has the person committed financial crimes? If he has, then I have cause to investigate him.

    “If you are in the ruling party, and you dip your hands into what you are not supposed to, you will be called to question.

    “If you are in the opposition and you swallow sandpaper that did not digest, you will also be called to question,” he said.

    President Tinubu had on June 14 suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa, the then EFCC boss, to pave the way for investigation into allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

    After Bawa’s suspension, the President directed Abdulkarim Chukkol, the Director of Operations at the Commission, to assume the role of acting EFCC chair, while the Department of State Services (DSS) took Bawa into custody as part of the investigation process.

    Meanwhile, the Senate also confirmed the appointment of Halima Shehu as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) during Wednesday’s plenary.

    Source

  • It’s only if you live under the rock that you won’t know who Phyna is

    It?s only if you live under the rock that you won?t know who Phyna is - BBNaija stars Christy O and Kess defend Phyna after Davido said he doesn

    BBNaija stars, Christy O and Kess have come out to defend their colleague, Phyna. 

     

    This is coming after singer Davido said he doesn’t know Phyna while apologising to her after she called him out for liking a post on X that was disrespectful to her.

    It?s only if you live under the rock that you won?t know who Phyna is - BBNaija stars Christy O and Kess defend Phyna after Davido said he doesn
    It?s only if you live under the rock that you won?t know who Phyna is - BBNaija stars Christy O and Kess defend Phyna after Davido said he doesn

     

    Reacting to Davido’s comment, Christy O said it is only people who live under the rock that do not know Phyna. Kess on his part said Phyna has trended more than A-list celebrities.

     

     See their comments below…

     

    It?s only if you live under the rock that you won?t know who Phyna is - BBNaija stars Christy O and Kess defend Phyna after Davido said he doesn

    Source

  • Gunmen In Military Uniform Assassinate Federal Polytechnic Registrar In Imo State

    Armed men in Imo State have shot dead the Deputy Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State, Innocent Obi, throwing the community into panic.

    Obi was reportedly killed in Ezeala/Ezike autonomous community in Umuezeala, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state by gunmen operating under the guise of Biafran agitators.

    The deceased, popularly known by villagers as Onye Army, was said to have retired from the military before joining the services of the Federal Polytechnic, Uwana.

    He was said to have also applied to be the next substantive registrar of the institution before his untimely death.

    According to the villagers, he travelled home to his Umuoboama village for the burial of a relative killed in the North-East (a soldier) who was abducted and killed.

    According to Vanguard, sources claimed that no sooner had Obi retired to his family house in the village after the funeral weekend than over six hoodlums invaded his home around 10 pm.

    The assailants were said to have operated in military and police uniforms.

    One of the sources said: “They broke through the main door and started using machetes and axes on him. His cry for help attracted villagers to the scene, but the boys who were operating on three motorcycles, started shooting consistently into the air. The shooting forced everybody who had come out for his rescue back. And they abducted Dee Onye Army from that Friday night, leaving heavy blood stains in the house.

    “The villagers summoned a search party for him the following day on Saturday. It was late Sunday afternoon that we got information about a decomposing corpse lying between Ehime Mbano and Ahiazu Mbaise.

    “When our people visited the scene that Sunday, it was the dead body of our brother, Dee Onye Army, that we met. They gruesomely butchered him beyond recognition.

    “Dee Onye Army was a man who ensured that any youth who wanted to go to school got admission. So many youths were given admission in his school. He never lived like a rich man, always unassuming. It was now that he started building his house in the village, and that building is just within the decking stage before his death.”

    Source

  • INEC blames high number of pre-election litigations on parties’ inconsistencies, lack of internal democracy

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given reasons behind the high number of pre-election litigations before the 2023 polls.

    INEC Director, Legal Drafting and Clearance, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, said this in a presentation at a two-day capacity workshop for journalists in Akwanga Nasarawa State.

    The presentation was titled, ‘Effects of Litigation on INEC’s Preparations for Kogi, Imo, And Bayelsa Governorship Election.’

    According to Babalola, the commission faced more than 1,000 pre-election litigations due to factors such as primaries conducted by political parties, substitution of candidates, and failure of parties to adhere to their constitution and timetable for the conduct of the election.

    She claimed that the majority of the instances resulted from political parties failing to follow their own rules and constitutions due to a lack of internal party democracy.

    Babalola said that the special circumstances surrounding pre-election issues could not be disregarded because decisions in that area may have a detrimental effect on the preparation, organisation, financing, and confidence of participants in the election.

    She said that those judgments were sometimes delivered on the eve of the election, thereby prohibiting INEC from conducting elections for certain positions, replacing candidates after the printing of ballot papers, etc.

    Read Also: Dele Momodu responds to allegations he betrayed his £500 vow to President Tinubu

    This, according to her, in turn, affected logistics and caused an eventual colossal waste of resources.

    “Beyond the impact of pre-election matters on preparation for the election, the commission is sometimes ordered to withdraw the certificate of return issued to a candidate who emerged winner and issue a fresh certificate of return to a judgment creditor.

    “After the 2019 general elections, the commission was ordered to issue 94 certificates of return in pre-election matters.”

    She stated other impacts of litigation on the preparation for the three governorship elections to include, the uncertainty of candidates and parties participating in the election.

    Others were colossal waste of public funds and resources, waste of manpower; and tendency to create confusion among the media and electorate.

    To reduce pre-election cases and their impact on the electoral process, Babalola suggested adherence by political parties to the principles of internal party democracy.

    “Proposal for Constitutional amendment to reduce the timelines for hearing and determination of pre-election matters.

    “Proposal for a variant of the provision of Section 138 of the Electoral Act, to the effect that persons elected shall remain in office until the final determination of any appeal in pre-election matters except where there is no appeal against the decision of the trial court.

    “Amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022 to accommodate new developments in the electoral process.

    “More training and collaboration with the judiciary on the commission’s processes,” she said.

     

    Source

  • Governors back call for state of emergency in education sector

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed support for a call for a state of emergency in the education sector.

    Speaking at the National Conference on the Learning Crisis in Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, the NGF chairman, Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara, said resources must be provided for sustainable and promising education.

    The conference, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, has the theme: “Scaling Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Nigeria.”

    Represented by the NGF vice chairman, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr Abdulrahman said education is in crisis and a state of emergency should be declared in the sector.

    He stressed the need to remove all barriers, such as gender, poverty, location, disabilities, language, and ethnicity, that could hinder children from accessing foundational literacy and numeracy.

    “We must follow the UNESCO standard for an education system that is progressive and sustainable. Governors in the various states must commit above 15 per cent of our budget to education.

    “I support the call for a state of emergency, but it must be backed by actions, the resources must be provided, and we must look at issues that have mitigated against achieving sustainable growth,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, said the learning crisis had been a challenge the education sector is faced with, which needs urgent solutions.

    “In recent years, Nigeria has been grappling with a severe learning crisis that hinders our youth from achieving their fullest potential.

    “A significant portion of our school-aged population, especially those in underserved communities, face barriers to access quality education.

    “The factors contributing to this crisis are multifaceted and include inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortage, unequal

    distribution of resources, outdated curricula, and socio-economic disparities,” he said.

    Mr Sununu expressed the political will of President Bola Tinubu to raise education budgetary allocation from eight to 25 per cent in the next few years.

    In the same vein, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, said the conference was from the outcomes of the UN General Assembly in September, where countries were urged to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 4.

    Ms Munduate said this is to regain ground lost during the COVID-19 pandemic that saw unprecedented school closures globally.

    “Just as Nigeria has galvanised significant support around the out-of-school problem, so too must it give attention to the learning crisis that is, in fact, fueling the out-of-school problem in Nigeria.

    “Three out of four children in basic education in Nigeria cannot read with meaning or solve simple math problems,” she said.

    (NAN)

    Source

  • China’s Xi eyes victory lap for Belt and Road on its 10th anniversary, despite criticism

    This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.

    Despite criticism that it has saddled some countries with unsustainable levels of debt since being launched 10 years ago, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to tout the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a foreign policy success while showcasing it as an alternative development model to the West at a major summit in Beijing.

    The third Belt and Road Forum will begin on October 17 and is set to be attended by representatives from around the world as China looks to cement the program championed by Xi as a key part of the country’s foreign policy.

    “This is the 10-year anniversary for the first big foreign policy idea that Xi pushed out,” Raffaello Pantucci, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told RFE/RL. “Everyone always focuses on individual projects, but [BRI] is ultimately a Chinese vision for how to engage with the world and Beijing is looking to celebrate that idea.”

    Formally launched in 2013 following speeches by Xi in Kazakhstan and Indonesia shortly after he became China’s leader, the BRI has financed the construction of ports, power plants, railroads, highways, and other infrastructure projects and invested hundreds of billions of dollars in dozens of countries to boost trade and investment by improving China’s transport links with the rest of the world.

    Ahead of the upcoming Belt and Road Forum — the first since 2019 — the Chinese government released a report praising the program’s accomplishments as a sustainable development model and framing it in opposition to the West, with Li Kexin, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s director for international economics affairs, telling reporters on October 10 that the BRI “transcends the old mindset of geopolitical games and creates a new paradigm of international cooperation.”

    Many experts say the BRI has directed much-needed funding to poorer countries, but that this has also come with a cost. Over the past decade it has grappled with scandals over corruption, environmental degradation, and contributing to a rising debt crisis in the Global South.

    The BRI has seen the amount of financing decline since 2016 and fewer projects being funded following numerous high-profile scandals over soaring debts tied to projects that left host governments unable to make repayments, such as a nearly $1 billion highway in Montenegro and a port in Sri Lanka.

    Analysts say these problems have led to Beijing becoming more risk-averse.

    A study earlier in October by Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center said the BRI had delivered more than $330 billion in loans to developing countries through 2021, lending more than the World Bank in some years. But the study also noted that many recipients of Chinese loans are now struggling with their overall debt and that many Chinese-funded power plants abroad are greatly adding to greenhouse gas emissions.

    Despite these obstacles, the BRI is far from fading away, Pantucci said, adding that Xi is likely to use the Belt and Road Forum to respond to these criticisms while enshrining the program as a “foundation within Xi’s foreign policy vision” for a “new global order where China is at the center.”

    “The BRI was always a concept with very fluid goals and very fluid goal posts,” Pantucci said. “So, Beijing can move the goal posts and redefine what success looks like.”

    What To Look For At The Forum

    The BRI has been central to Chinese efforts to raise its international stature over the years and experts say Beijing will be looking to carefully manage the optics of the Belt and Road Forum.

    Central to that will be ensuring a large delegation of attending officials from around the world.

    Beijing has not released an official guest list yet, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry said “representatives from more than 130 countries as well as many international organizations” will attend. However, it’s unclear how senior these officials will be.

    The first Belt and Road Forum in 2017 had 30 heads of state or government in attendance and the second gathering, in 2019, had 37. Beijing will be looking to grow that figure as it celebrates the BRI’s 10th anniversary, but it may face some difficulties, especially as many top officials around the globe find themselves dealing with the crisis between Israel and Hamas.

    Ensuring strong representation across Europe may also be difficult. While pro-Beijing governments in Hungary and Serbia have said they will send high-profile delegations led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic, it’s unclear who else will attend, particularly among European Union members.

    European countries formed some of the largest contingents of leaders at the previous meetings, but fallout from China’s handling of the pandemic, its support for Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and numerous scandals related to BRI projects have seen Beijing’s standing fall and ties fray. Italy, which was the only Group of Seven country to join the BRI, announced its intent earlier this year to withdraw from the program.

    “A lot has happened since 2019 and many countries have been shocked by China’s leadership and how it’s navigated certain issues,” Niva Yau, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, told RFE/RL. “This shift has now changed how China can use and market the [BRI]. It’s no longer seen simply as this public good that China is providing to the world.”

    One world leader who confirmed his attendance long ago is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will be making his first trip to China since his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and is expected to raise a variety of issues with Xi, including the future of the much-sought-after Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline.

    In an October 15 interview in Moscow with the state-owned China Media Corporation, Putin praised Xi and the BRI and took aim at the West’s own history of development assistance across the world, saying the main difference for BRI is that “no one imposes anything on others” and that the program doesn’t have the same “colonialist flavor” as other projects.

    Adapting For The Future

    The BRI’s official goal since its launch a decade ago has been to boost trade and investment by improving China’s transport links with the rest of the world and to build up China’s economic and political influence in the process.

    Yau says that while the BRI’s main narrative has been about building and funding infrastructure, the project itself shows that “China feels so confident about its own practices that it is ready to offer them to the world.”

    “The BRI is much more than a global infrastructure and connectivity project. The BRI has instead communicated a clear Chinese conviction that China believes it’s ready to articulate its own vision and values to the world,” Yau said.

    This attitude was on display ahead of the Belt and Road Forum, with a new Chinese government report on the BRI saying the program offered a new approach that wouldn’t look to “dominate world economic development, control economic rules, and enjoy development fruits.”

    But Chinese officials also looked to respond to criticism against the BRI in the report, saying China would adhere to “the principle of sustainable debt” and work with indebted countries toward “a sustainable and risk-controllable investment and financing system.”

    Christoph Nedopil, director of the Asia Institute at Griffith University in Australia, told RFE/RL that in response to debt crises in multiple countries and also because China has less money to lend as its own economy slows down, Chinese banks have become more selective of projects and partners and are increasingly prioritizing investments in renewable energy and digital initiatives that are seen as more likely to bring a return on investment.

    Nedopil adds that this shift away from large-scale lending by Chinese policy banks seen in the early years of the BRI has coincided with an uptick of involvement from Chinese private companies in recent years that looks set to continue into the future.

    “This is partly because Chinese banks might be turning their attention away from developing countries and toward the domestic market,” Nedopil said. “But lots of these private companies are now investing because they are far more competitive globally than they were when [the BRI] was originally launched.”



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  • Jada Takes Over As OGFZA MD, Promises Expansion Of Oil & Gas Free Zones To All States

    … Plans Foreign Investment Offices To Attract Potential Oil & Gas Investors

    The newly appointed Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zona Authority, Bamanga Jada Usman, on Wednesday officially took over the mantle of leadership at the Authority promising to implement reforms that will enable OGFZA achieve the economic agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

    Usman who took over from former MD, Senator Tijanni Kaura, who was removed last week by the President vowed to uniquely position OGFZA to enable it cater predominantly to international clientele through advancements that are tailored to their needs.

    To achieve this, he promised to implement his vision for the Authority through seven major strategic approach which according to him will be simple, yet effective.

    They are efficiency and trust, infrastructure excellence, regulatory modernisation, local content empowerment, sustainability and resilience, investor focused environment and welfare pf workers.

    He also vowed to introduce offshore banking services, ensuring seamless, 24/7 international financial transactions that would further cement OGFZA position as a key global player in the industry

    Usman said, “Aligned with President Tinubu’s ambitious economic agenda, I envisage expansive future for OGFZA. It is my firm intent to champion the establishment Oil and Gas Free Zones in every state of our great nation, both oil-producing a non-oil-producing.

    “This expansion aims to offer more investment avenue considering some of our current zones that face saturation from limited opportunities for fresh activities.

    “Our unique positioning in the oil and gas sector, catering predominantly to international clientele, warrants advancements tailored to their needs.

    “Recognizing this, I am committed to introducing offshore banking services, ensuring seamless, 24/7 international financial transactions, further cementing our position as a key global player in the industry.

    “Having stood strong for over two decades as the sole Oil and Gas Free Zone beaconing across the West African coast and Gulf of Guinea, the time is ripe for OGFZA to undergo a transformative rebranding.

    “This is not merely a cosmetic change but a strategic move to resonate with our multinational stakeholders and reflect our global ambitions.

    “A pivotal aspect of this rebranding will be the establishment of foreign investment offices overseas, ensuring that potential investors have immediate access to us, and fostering smoother coordination and correspondence.”

    In the area of efficiency, he said that OGFZA, under his leadership, will commit to transforming the Oil and Gas Free Zones into economic catalysts by streamlining processes, promoting transparency, and reducing bureaucracy.

    “Our goal is to instill trust, attract investments, and contribute to Nigeria’s GDP by ensuring operational efficiency.

    “We will commit to elevating our infrastructure to international standards, working alongside stakeholders.

    “Addressing existing challenges, such as deteriorating roads and inconsistent power supply, is paramount to fortifying Nigeria’s global industrial stance and resilience against economic upheavals,” he added.

    In the area of regulatory modernization, Usman noted that under his guidance, OGFZA will commit to revisiting and updating the regulatory framework to resonate with the evolving industry needs, ensuring alignment with global best practices.

    On his vision for local content empowerment, the OGFZA Boss said, “In adherence to the Nigerian Content Act, we edge our unwavering commitment to promote local content across the value chain.

    “Our focus remains on technology transfer, skills acquisition, and bolstering local businesses, thereby amplifying the nation’s talent pool and benefits.

    “As stewards of the environment and local communities, we will commit to a growth path that balances industry advancements with ecological mindfulness. In alignment with the President’s economic vision, we pledge to cultivate a production-based economy resilient to global uncertainties.

    “We will dedicate ourselves to fostering an environment conducive to investors, simplifying business operations within our zones.

    “Recognizing Nigeria’s potential in gas reserves, we pledge to capitalize on this resource, anchoring our free zones as hubs for refining, utilization, and development in line with Nigeria’s energy transition goals.”

    On staff welfare, the OGFZA Boss assured workers that he will commit to prioritizing their welfare.

    “I will be open to suggestions on improvement of our processes and procedures, and I charge you to respond positively to changes as we seek to reposition the Authority for more efficient performance. In the coming days.

    “OGFZA’s journey forward will be one of collaboration, innovation, and dedication. With your unwavering support, we will carve a stronger path that future OGFZA will tread upon with pride, ” he added.

    Earlier, the former MD in his brief remarks at the event described the new MD as a humble, vibrant and very committed man.

    Kaura said, “I congratulate you on your appointment. I wish you God’s guidance. OGFZA is an important agency of government. I will like to say that the challenges the MD is taking from today is a daunting one but I am confident he will lead the agency to greater heights.

    “I pray for you to succeed and I call on my staff that I worked with in the last 14 months to extend the support you gave me to the new MD so that together, we can achieve the objective set for this agency by government.”

    Source

  • US President Biden lands in Tel Aviv to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu after 500 people died in Gaza hospital strike (Photos)

    US President Biden lands in Tel�Aviv to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu after 500 people died in Gaza hospital strike (Photos)

    US President Joe Biden has arrived in Israel in a desperate bid to prevent the war with Hamas from spiralling into a wider conflict after a devastating blast on a Gaza hospital killed 500 people. 

     

     

    Biden was received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he touched down at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv this morning amid warnings the war is ‘spiralling out of control’ following the deadly fireball explosion at the hospital.

     

    US President Biden lands in Tel�Aviv to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu after 500 people died in Gaza hospital strike (Photos)

    A huge blast ripped through the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City last night while it was being used to treat and shelter thousands of civilians who were trying to avoid Israel’s relentless airstrikes. 

     

     

    Earlier on, President Biden was left outraged and deeply saddened” by hospital explosion in Gaza.

     

    US President Biden lands in Tel�Aviv to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu after 500 people died in Gaza hospital strike (Photos)

    “I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted,” he said. 

     

    US President Biden lands in Tel�Aviv to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu after 500 people died in Gaza hospital strike (Photos)

    “Immediately upon hearing this news, I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and have directed my national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened. The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict and we mourn the patients, medical staff and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy.”

     

    US President Biden lands in Tel�Aviv to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu after 500 people died in Gaza hospital strike (Photos)

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  • Ex-Governor, Ortom Opened More Than 600 Bank Accounts But Released Only 25 At Handover – Benue State Government

    The Benue State government has accused the immediate past administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom of operating more than 600 bank accounts for the state but only releasing 25 to his successor, Father Hyacinth Alia.

    Speaking when the State Correspondents’ Chapel members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a visit at his office in Makurdi, on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Michael Oglegba, said this was why Governor Hyacinth Alia froze all government accounts on assumption of office.

    The finance commissioner said the governor was shown only 25 accounts when he took over office but information at the Nigerian Inter Bank System, however, showed that the state had over 600 accounts.

    “When we came in, we asked for the accounts and bank statements and we were presented with about 25 bank accounts. A causal look at the Nigerian Inter Bank System showed that Benue Government had more than 600 accounts.

    “So the Governor needed to freeze those accounts to know exactly what was happening,” he said.
    Oglegba while commenting on the state debts profile, insisted that the Alia government inherited over N359billion debts which included that of the Local Government Arrears.

    He said, “The debts owed by the state itself were in excess of N200billion. This includes local and foreign debts. However, the LGAs also have their own debts, unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities and local contractors that made up the other N150billion.

    “So the Alia administration has no reason to lie about the state debts. We will be doing ourselves a great disservice if we say we own monies that we do not own. When we need loans for example who will give us?”

    Ortom, who exited office in May this year, had denied leaving a debt of N359billion.

    The former governor, who spoke through his media aide, Terver Akase, had said the allegation was a mischief levelled against him and his eight years’ administration.

    “The present government of Benue State is selling a narrative to unsuspecting people of the state that they inherited N359 billion as debt from the previous government led by Chief Ortom. This narrative is not only false but is also a deliberate stratagem to snooker the people. Governor Ortom was explicit in his handover speech that though the debt situation of the State Government at the time of his exit from office might appear to be on the high side (N187.56 billion).”

    Source

  • Gunmen reportedly kill three people, abduct village head, 50 others in Zamfara

    Gunmen kill seven in fresh attack on Plateau community

    Gunmen have abducted a village head, and about 50 others, including women and children in an attack in Bagega, a mining village in Zamfara.

    The bandits, according to reports, also killed three others in the community.

    Residents, who confirmed the authenticity of the incident, said the gunmen who rode motorcycles, on Tuesday morning, stormed the village, shot indiscriminately and set several houses ablaze.

    Read also: Borno lawmaker’s daugther strangled to death in her house

    According to a resident, Abubakar Uba, the gunmen kidnapped the district head before proceeding to kidnap dozens of others in the village.

    “They stormed the village on dozens of motorcycles, and their first stop was the district head’s residence. A few of them took him away with three members of his household before they entered the town and unleashed more harm,” Uba stated.

    The Zamfara State Police Command is yet to make any official statement of the attack.

    Source