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Eight Feared Dead In Shi’ites, Police Clash In Abuja …Security Agents Detain 57 Protesters …As Death Toll In Southern Kaduna Attacks Rises To 45
At least, eight people were feared killed, yesterday, after unidentified gunmen in uniform opened fire at some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), who staged the annual Arbaeen trek at Gwarinpa District of Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It was gathered that the gunmen attacked the sect members near the tricycle park at 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa around 10:00am.
Eyewitnesses said that the armed men, who came in security patrol vans, stormed the area without prior notice to residents.
Although details of the attack were still sketchy, one of the sources said that the suspected operatives killed about eight people, including passers-by.
One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “It was around 10:00am, we started hearing gunshots along the road. The shooting lasted about 10 minutes. But after the shooting, the gunmen appeared to have succeeded in thoroughly dispersing the Arbaeen trekkers.
“I can’t say how many people were killed but the corpses we have counted were eight. What I can tell you is that up to eight people were killed in the incident. Some of the passers-by who had nothing to do with the Shi’ites may have also been involved.”
When contacted, the Secretary of IMN’s Academic Forum, Abdullahi Musa, confirmed the incident but could not provide casualty details.
Musa, in an interview, simply said, “The Arbaeen trek is an annual street demonstration by Shi’ites globally. Since the military authorities demolished our centre in Zaria, we have been leading the religious trek from here (Abuja). It began on Monday. However, we had hoped to conclude the activities today (Tuesday).
“So, we assembled at the Galadima Gate (Charly Boy Bus Stop) in Gwarinpa around 9:00am, and staged our religious walk peacefully for about an hour. We neither made any demand on the government nor criticised anyone during the trek. It was purely a spiritual exercise for us.
“But as we were about to disperse, security operatives arrived at the scene, and opened fire on our members, injuring many and killing some people. As for the casualty figures, I need to verify the numbers and get back to you, please.”
Earlier, the Shi’ites staged a similar street procession in Nyanya – Mararaba axis of the FCT.
The trek, which kicked off from Masaka and terminated in Mararaba, caused a major gridlock in the area.
Some members of the sect were seen with placards, including portraits of the sons of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who were killed during the ‘Zaria Massacre’ of December, 2015.
Speaking to journalists after the trek, IMN’s Sheikh Sidi Sokoto, said, “Today, the general public has witnessed how the Arbaeen trek like those before ended without any attempt to curb the right of safe passage to other road users. No panic was created by our Arbaeen trek.
“Though we started with few people and confined ourselves to a particular place and recited some supplication, we thank Allah now; we trek in millions globally.
“This is the handwork of Allah, and not the trick or influence of anybody as no one forced us to trek, it is out of the free will and love for the family of the Prophet.”
Investigations show that there was no incident of violence during the Mararaba rally as passers-by and residents were seen going about their normal businesses.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 57 suspected members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites who stormed the Gwarinpa area of the nation’s capital, yesterday morning.
A statement by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adeh Josephine, revealed that the joint security operatives have restored normalcy to the area.
However, contrary to earlier reports, the Police PRO, in a statement, said there was no casualty recorded during the incident, stressing that the security team were able to foil attacks launched on them.
She said items recovered from the suspects include, a vehicle, flags, petrol bombs, weapons, mobile phones, charms and other exhibits.
The statement reads, “The FCT Police Command in a joint intervention with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies have restored normalcy to the Gwarinpa area of the FCT and other parts of the capital where miscreants identified to be members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites, caused unnecessary hardship to motorists and other road users as well as individuals going about their businesses.
“The miscreants who were found in their numbers were promptly intercepted by the security operatives and dispersed to prevent them from causing further disruption of public order and peace and damage to public and private assets.
“The miscreants attacked the security forces with petrol bombs, weapons including stones but were adequately rounded up by the security teams without any casualty.
“A total of 57 suspects, including 39 male and 18 female were arrested and currently being profiled at the State Criminal Investigations Department of the FCT Police Command.
“A vehicle, flags, petrol bombs, weapons, mobile phones, charms etc are some of the exhibits recovered from the miscreants.
“The command, while calling on residents to be calm, warns any individual or group who may want to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the capital to desist or be ready to face the consequences of their actions. Residents and commuters are also advised to go about their lawful endeavours without any fear or apprehension”.
Meanwhile, with yesterday’s recovery of the lifeless bodies of three victims of suspected bandits attacks on Southern Kaduna communities, the death toll in those attacks had risen 45 officially.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, last Monday, had said 34 persons were killed by suspected bandits at Madamai, Kaura Local Government Area of the state.
He had also said eight persons were killed in Zango-Kataf.
However, yesterday, in a statement shortly after his visit to the scenes of the attacks, the commissioner said three additional corpses were recovered by security agencies.
The statement is titled, ‘Three corpses recovered in Kaura, Zangon Kataf LGAs’.
The commissioner said, “Following weekend attacks in Madamai and Kacecere villages of Kaura and Zangon Kataf local government areas, security agencies on Tuesday recovered three more corpses.
“According to security agencies, two corpses were recovered in Madamai while one was found in Kacecere. The search-and-rescue operation is still in progress and the government will continue to update the public.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.