Benue

The police in Benue State yesterday confirmed the
killing of 82 people in Egba community of Agatu LGA by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen who attacked the village on Sunday.
State Police Commissioner, Hyacinth Dagala, told our correspondent shortly after an assessment of the damages in the area that the death toll had risen to 82 while 25 others were receiving treatment in hospitals.
“I went there today to see things for myself and I can tell you that 82 people were killed while 25 others are in the hospital,” he said.
Dagala said calm had returned to the area with security operatives on the watch out to avoid further break down of law and order.
The PDP deputy governorship candidate, John Ngbede, a native of the area who accompanied the police commissioner on the visit lamented the extent of destruction and appealed to the federal government to assist the community.

Borno

The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin
El-kanemi, yesterday urged the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba to justify the confidence repose in him by Nigerian workers.
The Shehu said the election of Wabba was an honour to the Borno Emirate Council and its people.
Wabba is the Zanna Ma’amalama of Borno, (Ambassador of Borno Emirate)
A statement by Alhaji Zanna Laisu, Secretary of Borno Emirate, said with a track record of selfless service and dedication, the new NLC chair had all it takes to lead the congress.
“We congratulate you on your recent victory which did not come as a surprise. While we would continue to pray for you to succeed, we urge you to see this rare opportunity as a call to service.
You must set the pace for a reinvigorated civil service that will ensure peaceful working relationship and job satisfaction among various stakeholders,” the statement said.

Kaduna

Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has
commenced distribution of 4.6million Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) to households in the state.
Speaking at the flag-off at Kujama in Chikun LGA yesterday, Yero who was represented by his deputy, Ambassador Nuhu A. Bajoga, said the gesture was aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality.
According to him, the state government in year 2010 distributed mosquito-treated nets to about 80% of the women, assuring that his administration would ensure that every household gets the net this year as part of efforts to fulfil the Roll Back Malaria crusade.
The governor’s media aide, Ahmed Maiyaki, also at a news conference in Kaduna yesterday said the administration was struggling to fund about 76 road projects inherited from previous administrations.
About 31 of the projects he said were awarded by late governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, while the rest were approved by governors Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and Mohammed Namadi Sambo.

Kano

The Kano State High Court has fixed March 31 for
ruling on a no- case application filed by the lawyer of the teen bride, accused of killing her husband and three others.
Wasila Tasi’u, 14, was arrested for allegedly killing her husband, Umar Sani and three others by adding poisonous substance to their meal.
She is being charged with culpable homicide, an offense punishable  by death under Section 221(a) of the Penal Code.
During the court sitting yesterday, the defence counsel, Barrister Hussaina Ibrahim Aliyu, in an application requested the court to discharge the accused person, saying the witnesses presented by the prosecution lack credibility.
She said the witnesses failed to prove to the court how the accused killed her husband, as there was no evidence on record as required by Section 21(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
However, the prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, countered the application of no case submitted by the defence counsel.

Kebbi
Secretary to the Kebbi State Government and Chair
man, State Agency for the Control of AIDs (SACA), Alhaji Garba Rabiu said yesterday that the state has recorded a steady reduction in HIV/AIDS infection.
Speaking at the inauguration of HIV/AIDS State Management Team (SMT) by Governor Saidu Dakingari, the SSG said government would work to eradicate the disease.
He said the inauguration of the SMT was a clear evidence of the government’s commitment to health care delivery.
“We are grateful to the governor for his support which led to reduction in the prevalence rate of the disease.
“Recall that the president directed the National Agency for the Control of AIDS to come up with a plan that will guide the nation in owning HIV/AIDS response without much reliance on international donors. Against this background, a presidential comprehensive response plan was developed and states were directed to constitute SMT to move HIV/AIDS response forward to ensure ownership and sustainability of response”, he said.

Kwara

Wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presi
dential candidate, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, yesterday called for proper education of the party’s supporters on its symbol and logo, saying the APC’s support base is the masses.
Mrs. Buhari who paid a courtesy visit to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State as part of her two-day citizens outreach and town hall meetings in Kwara State noted that the masses who make up the party’s backbone include illiterate and rural people who have no access to television or the social media.
She recalled that many people who joined the APC were from different political parties where they used different slogans. She said, “The illiterate can hardly identify where they are now. So it is so important for us to educate the electorate about the broom (the APC logo). Our major supporters are the masses, masses, masses and masses, especially knowing the presidential candidate of the mega party. He was in ANPP, then CPC and now APC which is not easy for people that are not literate to identify easily”.
Mrs. Buhari who noted that the forthcoming election revolves around women who according to her constitute 55 per cent of the registered voters, said they must be educated on how to vote.

Lagos
Doctors in Lagos State government-owned hospitals
yesterday began an indefinite strike, saying however that it was not meant to make people suffer but to communicate their grievances to government on unpaid salaries and welfare.
The doctors only partially attended to patients in some hospitals yesterday but full activities were on at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja when Daily Trust visited.
Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Biyi Kufo, said the industrial action was precipitated by the action of the state government which withheld the doctors’ May 2012 and August/September 2014 salaries.

Oyo

Members of the Arewa community in the South-West
converged in Ibadan yesterday to declare support for the candidature of retired General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo of the APC.
As early as 8 am, the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan was filled with the supporters who sang and danced as they chanted: ‘Sai Buhari! Sai Baba!! Sai Buhari! Sai Baba!!’
Their leader, Alhaji Hassan Isiaka, the Sarkin Kudun Yamma, said the Arewa community was supporting Buhari’s election bid in their belief that the former military Head of State had the qualities to restore sanity in national life which according to him, is presently at its lowest ever.
He lamented the spate of corruption in the country, saying the nation needs an urgent positive change.
“We are very hopeful that General Buhari is sincere and capable of leading the country out of its present messy situation,” he said.

Plateau

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
said yesterday that the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State and Gwong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, are ready.
INEC Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Osaretin Imahireyereobo, who spoke at a workshop on violence-free election, organized by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Jos, said the PVC of the governor had arrived the state alongside that of  the Gwong Gwom Jos.
“The cards are part of the PVCs for Kanke, Jos-North and Jos-South Local Government Areas of the state,” he said.
Imahireyereobo, who led demonstration of the card reader, said, “The PVC of Governor Jang is in my possession and is ready for delivery anytime from now. They arrived today (Monday) and we will distribute all the cards to the owners.”
Sokoto

Over N3.8 billion has been expended in the payment
of allowance to 6,866 physically challenged persons in the Sokoto State in  the past  seven years, Governor Aliyu Wamakko said.
He said the beneficiaries include lepers, deaf and blind people, who receive N6,500 monthly allowance.
The governor, who spoke  during the payment of monthly allowance to 340 physically challenged persons in Silame Local Government Area of the state, said the government spent  N45.8 million monthly on allowances  to members of the group across the 23 local government areas.
The governor pointed out that the gesture had had positive impact on families and society.
“The introduction of monthly allowance to physically challenged persons has brought succour to their families and reduced the number of people begging on the streets,” he said.
He stressed the need for them to ensure judicious use of the monthly allowance.

L-R: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, assisted by Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolaham Lawal in presenting agricultural products to beneficiaries, Mrs Adenike Bolaji and Mrs Esther Abraham, at the 2015 Agric Value Chain Empowerment Programme in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN