Nation
Emir, Others Condemn Kidnapping, Selling Of Minors
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, has condemned the trend of kidnapping and selling children, mostly northern minors, to southern parts of the country.
The TIde’s source reports that the Emir expressed his concern on Saturday in Kano while addressing newsmen.
Represented by Dan Malikin Kano, Amb. Ahmad Umar, the first class traditional ruler said the Emirate would no longer condone abduction and trading of children in the state.
He said the issue has gotten out of hand that proactive action must be taken to curb it.
“This ugly trend must stop. We have to rise up against it. We will no longer condone a situation whereby our children are kidnapped, sold and their tribe and religion were changed.
“This illicit act must stop. We have to rise up to check the situation as it is going out of hand. The situation cannot stop itself, it is we that will make it stop. It happened few years ago and now it has happened again. Only God knows how many of our children had been kidnapped and sold”, he said.
The source recalls that the Kano state Police Command on December 27, 2023, said it had dismantled a human trafficking syndicate that specialised in abduction, buying and selling of minors.
The Command added that nine suspects had been arrested from the syndicate, which was operating around Kano, Bauchi, Lagos, Delta, Anambra and Imo States.
It also rescued seven children, majority from Bauchi state, from the suspects.
He said the emirate had expressed great disappointment over the abduction of minors.
Describing the situation as disturbing, he called for punishment on the perpetrators to serve as a lesson to others.
The royal member noted that Kano had been accommodating visitors for hundreds of years, emphasising that the visitors should not take the advantage of the hospitality received by the state to commit crimes.
“Kano, for hundreds of years has been welcoming visitors and take them as its sons. Recently we have seen a disturbing and unfortunate incident of rescuing children trafficked to Lagos through Kano.
“The Emir expressed serious disappointment of Kano and northern Nigeria about the incident and wants to see a lasting solution to the problem”, he said.
In his remarks, the leader of Igbo community in Kano, Eze Ndigbo, Boniface Igbekwe, alao condemned the act and called on authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.
Represented by Prime Minister of the Igbo Community, Chief Nwaimo Efanyi, he said the Igbo community had received the news of the kidnapped children rescued by the police with shock and disbelief.
He said the entire Igbo community in Kano had dissociated themselves from the suspects and any kind of heinous acts committed in their name, stressing that they are always committed to live peacefully with one another.
“We condemned the act in its entirety in whatever guise and call for punishment on the perpetrators. We Igbo dissociate ourselves from this criminality. We call for peace with one another”, he stated.
The Eze Ndigbo commended the Kano Police command for dismantling the syndicate and rescue of the victims, urging it not to rest on its resolve until all kidnapped children were rescued.
Speaking earlier, the state Chairman of the ACF, Dr Goni Faruk Umar, lauded the political commitment demonstrated by Gov. Abba Yusuf and the Police Commissioner, Mr Hussaini Gumel, for their commitment and support to the victims and their parents.
“Our call is to Police to double up their efforts in searching and bursting these criminal gangs.
“We really commend the police for this breakthrough. We thank them immensely.
“Our call is also to the judiciary. They should fear God. At times these suspects would be charged to court by police but later on you see them released and moving freely.
“We therefore call on the judiciary to be diligent and ensure the perpetrators face the wrath of the law.
“To legislators, we urge you to make robust legislation against this act of kidnapping and abduction of people. All hands must be on deck to check this ugly trend”, he said.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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