IYANDA'SBLOG

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Samson Ebukam is a Nigerian-born American football player who used sport to overcome bullying in US.

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Dorian hit Nova Scotia late on Saturday with winds of 100mph, cutting power to 450,000 homes.

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Nigeria says more people than ever are paying tax - but government revenues are not growing

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Five centuries after the game was banned by the Spanish conquistadors, young Mexicans revive ulama.

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Make-up artist Emmy Burbidge travels to Papua New Guinea to discover the truth about what’s in her make-up, and find out whether there’s a sustainable way of producing the oil used.

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How should firms plan for the death of a worker, when the topic is often taboo?

Muslim pilgrims boarding a Max Airline
 

What would have been another tragedy in the Nigerian aviation sector was averted on Saturday as a Max Air aircraft with 550 passenger crash-landed at the Minna International Airport in Niger State.

The aircraft, a Boeing 747-300 with registration number 5N-DBK, was said to have developed a fault mid-air before the pilot struggled to land it at the airport.

The incident led to the collapse of one of the four engines of the aircraft.

It was further gathered that the aircraft was returning pilgrims from Niger State from Saudi Arabia.

On landing, a source close to the airport confided in our correspondent that the aircraft skidded off the runway.

The reason for the incident could not be ascertained at the moment, but it was gathered that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had been informed of the incident.

However, a source close to the scene told our correspondent that no life was lost, while efforts to get the officials of Max Air to comment on the issue was unsuccessful.
 

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Williams Oyibogare, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has allegedly committed suicide. 

According to a report by PUNCH, two empty bottles of Sniper insecticide was found in Oyibogare's home, hence the suspicion that the operative must have taken his own life. 

The Edo State Police Command said that an investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of his death, stating that autopsy would reveal the fact.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, said, “Investigations are ongoing and it would be too soon to make any conclusions at this stage; it is too early to make any pronouncements. 

"Of course, there will be an autopsy to know the cause of the death and inquire about what happened.”

A colleague of the deceased said Oyibogare recently returned from his annual leave looking emaciated.

He said, “Oyibogare returned from leave recently looking pale.

"He may have died from an illness or it could also have been suicide but we cannot say for sure since we don’t live with him."

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Senator Peter Nwaoboshi

The Delta State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the state capital, on Saturday upheld the election of Peter Nwaoboshi, lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial district.

Doris Uboh, candidate of the All Progressives Congress during the February 23, 2019 National Assembly election in the district, had challenged the election of Nwaoboshi on the ground that the poll was characterised by irregularities.

Delivering the judgement after hearing the argument of both parties, the tribunal headed by Justice E. I. Ngene, dismissed the petition brought by Uboh against Nwaoboshi, saying it lacked merit.
 

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The Niger State Police Command has arrested a soldier for allegedly stabbing one Ali Mohammed to death in Lambatta Market under Gurara Local Government Area of the state.

The name of the soldier was given as Lance Cpl. Attahiru Jibril.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Adamu Usman, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna, the capital, on Saturday.

He said, “The suspect attacked and stabbed the victim to death with a knife, following a misunderstanding at the market.

“We succeeded in rescuing the suspect from a mob attack at the market and notified military authorities accordingly.”

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The Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yussuf Tuggar, says the Nigerian government is hoping that the German police will prosecute the attackers of Ike Ekweremadu. 

Tuggar said this in an interview conducted by Rouna Mayer, a Nigerian journalist living in Germany. 

In an excerpt of the interview published on Premium Times, the ambassador said: "I am waiting to see what is going to happen. For us, this is a litmus test. I cannot sit here and vouch for the German police. I am still trying to understand how they work. This is the first time we are having this experience.

"What I do know is that the German authorities are aware of IPOB, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria. They are aware that IPOB are registered here as an entity and, therefore, it is up to them to decide whether they should take action on such an entity that has registered here and begins to attack Nigerians on German soil. So, we wait to see."

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has attacked Ekweremadu when he visited Germany to attend a programme organised by the Igbo community in the country. 

The ambassador said the attack was not a protest but an attempt to cause bodily harm to a Nigerian official. 

"There is no political protest that will push the supposed protesters into physically touching and assaulting another human being. Anywhere that happens in the world, it is a crime and some people need to be brought to book.

"So, quite honestly, I fail to understand how the issue of peaceful protest comes into this. If they were on peaceful protest, they would have come to my office with placards and said what they wanted and left.

"And the police are there. But you cross that line in any country and place your hand on any individual trying to cause harm. What I do know is that in some countries, first and foremost, they would be arrested and they have the right to bail. 

"But when the police are there and witness something like that, one would expect arrest will be made and thereafter bail can be arranged and the investigation goes on, and if there's the need to prosecute, then they get prosecuted," he said.
 

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Nigerian police in Edo State have arrested a 49-year-old man, Raphael (surname not provided), for raping his 15-year-old stepdaughter.

Activist Harrison Gwamnishu sharing the story on his Facebook page said the victim was physically assaulted by her stepfather whenever she refused to have sex.

According to the victim, her mom and her stepfather agreed that the man would have sex with her to widen her vagina.  

52-YEAR OLD MAN ARRESTED FOR DEFLOWERING STEPDAUGHTER WITH MOTHER'S APPROVAL

The victim said her stepfather had sex with her about three times and had planned to take her to Lagos to feature her in a porn movie, after which she would be flown to Italy to engage in prostitution.

Harrison said the suspect had been arrested and detained.

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South African police say 497 persons have been arrested in connection to the xenophobic attacks in the country.

This was disclosed by Mathapelo Peters, the police spokesperson, on Friday.

She said 74 persons were arrested in Katlehong on Thursday, which brought the total number of arrests since the violence erupted in Johannesburg to 497.

However, the police said the looting that began one Sunday had not stopped, especially in the Gauteng Province.

Peters said 11 people were killed during the period but only seven deaths were directly linked to the xenophobic violence.

Meanwhile, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lt.-Gen. Elias Mawela, has called on South Africans to respect the law while warning them to stop spreading fake news in the social media.

Mawela added, “We must work together to make sure that no one gets to undermine the authority of the State and together condemn the violence and criminality, towards ensuring the safety of everyone in the province.”

 

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Police have arrested Samuel Sopehinman, a university student and one Olaide Tajudeen for burglary and selling of stolen properties.

The suspects were arrested separately following a petition by one Adeniran Adeyemi.

According to the police, one black headgear, one cutlass, one chisel, two gold pendants, two gold chains, gold earrings were recovered from the suspects.

Tajudeen said he broke into the house through the ceiling at about 9:30 pm and stole gold necklace with the pendants, earring, laptop valued at N560,000.

He said: "The flat I burgled is in the next street called Church Street, Ijoko area of Sango, Ogun state. I am married with a child. My wife did not know that I am a burglar until I was arrested.

"I live in Ijoko while my wife lives in Ikirun, a town in Osun state. She relocated to Osun State when she lost her mother, while I stayed back in Ogun State to do my burglary work.

"I was an aluminum fabrication before I ventured into robbery. I did not have enough customers and patronage. I was pushed into burglary by extreme financial stagnation coupled with my desire to buy keke,( tricycle) on hire purchase with the little deposit I made but, before I know it,  I was arrested in my first attempt."

In his confession, Sopehinman said:  “I am from Abeokuta. I had an accident which led to the amputation of my right leg. I had the accident on my way to the Lagos State University (LASU) this year where I am a 300 level Business Administration student.

"I have deferred my studies but I can go back if given a second chance. When I came back from hospital I started music downloading business at Ijoko. I became part of this crime because Tajudeen works as a ticketer of a transport union at the bus stop where I have a stall. He told me that he wanted to sell some items but he did not tell me that they were stolen. 

"But because he was offering the items at cheap prices and I felt that I could get small money to help myself. I sold the jewelry to one Mallam but I did not follow him to burgle. My father is a retired naval officer and he is not yet aware of my case. I regret being involved in this case."

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A 77-year-old retired teacher, Lydia Ebunoluwa, says she is homeless after losing her home to unlawful demolition. 

Ebunoluwa, who now sleeps in a kiosk near the popular Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) (Agbala Itura) at Ile Epo bus stop along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, said her home was demolished while she was not around. 

In an interview with The Nation, the native of Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State said she got a notice from a local government demanding her to demolish her home within 48 hours for violating building setback regulations.

She claimed her home was not built close to the road. 

Ebunoluwa, however, said the concerned council authorities denied sending any notice to her, noting that land-grabbers might have forged the said notice to intimidate her.

She said she suspected the land-grabbers were conniving with some state officials, adding that she had made several entreaties to the police to save the situation but to no avail.

She said: "My traducers had been disturbing and harassing me to the extent that they stopped me from finishing work on a soak-away facility I was constructing in my house.

"When I was alerted to the unlawful demolition on November 29, 2018, I quickly rushed home only to discover the building had been pulled down without caterpillar (bulldozer). I also saw the hoodlums who carried out the demolition drinking and rejoicing in front of my property.

"I reported the matter to the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos and some suspects were arrested but they have since been released.

"Since then, they have not been able to come back to the property while I cannot also live in the house because it has been destroyed and reduced to rubble.

"I worked for 28 years as a teacher in various schools in Agege Local Government Area. I retired in 1995 at Orile Agege Primary School with N13,000 monthly pension that is not enough to take care of my needs. I had been taking care of myself from the rent I collected from my tenants until the house was demolished. I want justice, so my house can be reconstructed by the same people who attempted to annex it by force."

The septuagenarian who has since resorted to selling pure (sachet) water in front of her wooden shelter said her two surviving children had no job and lacked the means to get better accommodation for her.

She added, "Life has been very unfair to me. I lost the only building I spent my retirement benefits to build. I was collecting rent from the house until it was pulled down by some lawless land grabbers. As you can see I sit here all day selling pure (sachet) water to passers-by to eke a living."

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A division of the federal high court in Abuja has condemned the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for the illegal detention of one Sunday Agu, a tricyclist.

Justice Nkeonye Maha also ordered the security agency to release Agu if not charged to court within three days.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Agu had on August 29 dragged Abdullahi Gana, Commandant General, NSCDC, before an Abuja federal high court over alleged illegal detention.

Also joined in the suit are three officers of the corps; Abdulmajeed Imam, Agili Chinedu and Yebage Adamu who are first, second and third respondents, respectively.

While the NSCDC Niger State command's commandant is the fourth respondent, Gana, NSCDC, Christy Ojide, and Alex Ojide are fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth respondents, respectively.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Ifeanyi Igwe had told Justice Maha that the matter was brought in pursuant to section 35 (1) to (6), 34(1), 37, 41, 44, and 46(1) of the 1999 constitution, Articles 4,5,6,12(1) and 14 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

Igwe told the judge that since the applicant was detained on July 16, he had been in the corps’ detention at David Mark Road, NSCDC Headquarters, Minna, for no justification.

According to him, his client was accused and detained by the NSCDC for allegedly standing as a guarantor to a hire purchase agreement between one Mr. Chibuike Agu (hirer), a tricyclist, and Mrs. Christy Ojide (owner).

Justice Maha had on August 29 ordered the release of Agu from NSCDC detention if not arraigned within three days and adjourned the case until September 6.

She said the NSCDC was not at liberty to bring a charge against a person under the Advance Free Fraud Act which is under the jurisdiction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

She warned that if such conduct continued, the Corps would let lawbreakers go free.

The judge invited the NSCDC counsel, Imam, and counsel to Agu, Ifeanyi Igwe, on September 13 to balance justice between the applicant and defendant.

She, however, granted Agu bail on the terms of providing a surety with the sum of at least N500,000 in his bank account, alongside a landed property in Abuja.

She added that he should afterward depose to an affidavit verifying the terms of compliance.

Counsel to NSCDC, Imam, said that in view of NSCDC Act I, the corps is empowered to prosecute on behalf of the attorney general of the federation.

“By the charge, the accused person is being charged by the name of the AGF in line with section 3 of the NSCDC Act,  the Act empowers the corps to prosecute on behalf of the AGF.

“NSCDC is a special prosecutor under the AGF, section 3 (1), paragraph H; the Corps shall have the power to prosecute, criminal activities aimed at depriving people of their properties."

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The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested five kidnappers in Kano State.

Ahmed Illyasu, the police commissioner in the state said 100 persons were arrested for other alleged criminal offences. 

The police added that the suspects were arrested by its anti-kidnapping squad through Operation Puff Adder.

He said: “On August 21, a letter of complaint was received from one Ibrahim Muhammad of Sani Majnagge Quarters, Gwale Local Government Area Kano that an SMS was sent to him threatening him that his son would be kidnapped.

“Puff Adder operatives attached to the command’s anti-kidnapping squad were immediately drafted and swung into action.

“One Hamisu Abdullahi, alias Baban Gandu, aged 37 years and Yusuf Abubakar 48 years were arrested. Suspects confessed to have conspired and extorted the sum of N120,000 from the complainant and would soon be charged to court.

“Based on technical intelligence, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of operation Puff-Adder, Miyyetti Allah arrested one Saidu Abdullahi and four others at Falgore forest, Doguwa Local Government Area.

“Suspects confessed to have been involved in a series of armed robbery and kidnapping and mentioned other members of their syndicate now at large.”

 

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The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) says there are about 256 dead teachers were on the payroll of the state.

Mathew Mnyam, Chairman of the board, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi on Friday.

He said the government is carrying out a total clean-up of the system to rid it of ghost workers.

“256 deceased still on payroll have been removed from the PVC. We have also removed others who retired and are still on payroll receiving a salary,” he said. 

The board chair mentioned that three directors were sent on compulsory leave so as to aid investigation into the issue.

He added that one of the board staff in charge of payroll who was caught reinstating certain names on the payroll was suspended alongside another staff transferred out of the board for being unable to give an account of the assignment given to him. 

Mnyam stated that the board would soon clamp down on local governments executive secretaries performing below average just as he warned headmasters charging parents the various amount of money before enrolling their children to desist or face sanction because the board embarking on school enrolment drive would not view such acts lightly. 

“The board under my watch will soon clamp down on local government executive secretaries who are performing below expectations and any headmaster who is caught charging parents before enrolling their children will be shown his or her way out because public primary school are meant to be free. We will be doing strict monitoring,” the chairman warned.

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A middle-aged man, Mr. Okon Samson Udofia, has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government for protection against his mentally deranged son. 

The man claimed his son has become a threat to him and the community.

In an interview with The Nation, the man claimed his 20-year-old son burnt down his house while everyone was asleep.

He said: ‘’My son, Iniobong, is mentally unwell and I have been crying and asking the police to apprehend him and take him to a psychiatric hospital, but they (police) keep telling me it is not their responsibility to arrest mentally-deranged people.

‘’My son has been very violent to the extent of threatening to kill me and other villagers. Last night, he set ablaze my house while I was sleeping at about 9 pm.

‘’The fire burnt the house and my belongings worth over N500,000. It is by the grace of God that I managed to escape. This is not the first time he has committed this kind of atrocity,

‘’I am taking this opportunity to call on the police and the government to arrest Iniobong and take him to a psychiatric hospital, otherwise, he will wreak more havoc.”

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Fifty-one-year-old man, Ikidi Innocent, has been sentenced to three months imprisonment for using an expired Union Bank ATM card to buy food.

Innocent was sentenced by an Oredo magistrate's court in Benin, Edo State, on Friday.

Patrick Agbonifo, the police prosecutor, had informed the court that the convict bought fried meat worth N1,500, beer worth N9,000, Origin Bitters worth N300, and other alcoholic drinks worth N3,430.

Ikidi, who committed the offence on June 27, 2019, was said to have bought the items from one Blessing John and Dorothy Amaka.

He was arraigned on three counts of obtaining under false pretences.

Agbonifo said: “The offences are punishable under sections 516, 421 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria now applicable in Edo State.”

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A man has been sentenced to four years in jail after attacking a woman
with the intent to rape her.

Jamel Nwokoye, 30, of Coronet Street, Hackney was found guilty of
assault with intent to commit a sexual offence following a trial at
the Central Criminal Court in July.

On Friday, 6 September, he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment
with an extended licence period of four years. He is also required to
sign the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard that shortly after 02:00hrs on 27 April 2018, Nwokoye
began following a 28-year-old woman as she walked alone along Pitfield
Street, Hackney.

As they reached the pedestrian entrance to Shoreditch Park, he ran up
behind her and grabbed her hair, dragging her into the centre of the
park.

The victim fought against Nwokoye but he responded by repeatedly
punching and kicking her in the face and body while continuing to pull
her into the darkness.

Several members of the public overheard the woman’s screams and
entered the park to try and find her, while also calling the police.

After several minutes, she managed to wrestle free and was able to run
away, following which Nwokoye also fled the scene.

Detectives from the Met’s Central East CID began an investigation and
extensive CCTV analysis showed Nwokoye as he began following the
victim.

Analysis of his movements showed him wandering the surrounding area
for 45 minutes and later led to the identification of his home address
where he was arrested on 2 May 2018.

He was later charged with assault to commit a sexual offence (rape).

Analysis of his mobile phone also revealed an extensive history of
accessing extreme pornographic material with specific themes of forced
sex and violence towards women.

In his sentencing remarks, HHJ Dodds stated that Nwokoye was sentenced
on the basis that the sexual offence Nwokoye was intending to commit
was rape.

Detective Constable Mark Longley, who led the investigation, said:
“Nwokoye is a sexual predator and the CCTV footage demonstrates that
he was prowling the streets of Hackney in the early hours of the
morning before he alighted on his victim.

“He subjected her to a truly terrifying ordeal which has caused
lasting psychological harm. I hope that with the conclusion of this
case she is now able to move forward with her life.

“This case also raises legitimate questions about the availability of
so-called ‘rape porn’ and the extent to which this may have
contributed to Nwokoye’s offending.

“This is commercially produced material which is specifically themed
to depict forced sex and violence towards women. It is notable that
Nwokoye was accessing this material in the days leading up to this
incident some of which bore striking similarities to the assault he
would eventually commit.”

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The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board has said that it has removed about 256 dead teachers from the payroll of the state

Mathew Mnyam, Chairman of the board, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi on Friday.

He said the government was carrying out a total clean up of the system to rid it of ghost workers.

He said, “256 deceased still on payroll have been removed. 

"We have also removed others who retired and are still on payroll receiving salary.”

Mnyam mentioned that three directors have been sent on compulsory leave so as to aide investigation into the issue.

He added that one of the board staff in charge of payroll, who was caught reinstating certain names on the payroll, was suspended alongside another staff transferred out of the board for being unable to give account of the assignment given to him.

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Love is the focal point of this year's conventions of Jehovah’s
Witnesses holding in several cities across Nigeria. In Ilorin, the
convention series will start on Friday, November 1, at the Assembly
Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tanke, Ilorin. The three-day
conventions featuring the theme “Love Never Fails” will be concluded
in the city on Sunday, December 8. The conventions will be held in
English and Yoruba.
“These events will illustrate the positive influence that love can
have to bring people together from diverse backgrounds,” Gill
Adekannbi, a local representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses, said in a
statement.
On the convention programme highlights, Adekannbi said: “The
convention programme will examine how Bible principles help people in
practical ways.
The Friday programme will address how love can help people surmount
obstacles such as a troubled upbringing, chronic illness, or poverty.
Saturday’s programme will consider how Bible principles help husbands,
wives, and children to show love for one another. Sunday’s programme
will include a public Bible discourse entitled “True Love in a
Hate-Filled World—Where?” that will address overcoming prejudice and
hatred.”
The statement stressed that conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses are
free to the public and that no collections are taken.
It noted that “Love Never Fails” is one of the largest global
conventions in 2019, spanning six continents and over 200 countries
and presented in over 400 languages.  A complete programme schedule, a
video about conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses, times and locations
for these public conventions can be found on the official website of
Jehovah’s Witnesses, jw.org,” the statement said.

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Bethany Shipsey died from a diet pill overdose. Her father confronts the man who sold her the drugs.

 

The Kogi State Government has received a bailout of N30.8 billion from the Nigerian GOvernment to clear backlogs of unpaid salaries. 

This was confirmed by the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday while addressing journalist after the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC.

He said: “As regards the issue of news making the round that Kogi State is owing salaries, I want to categorical state that, my two predecessors inherited salary arrears.

“It is a problem I inherited when I assumed office. But I want to announce to you today, that Kogi is not owing any worker’s salary at all. We have been able to clear all workers’ salaries and we are up to date. As a matter of fact, the last primary election that was held on August 29, we paid the salaries of August. That is to tell you that we are up-to-date as far as salary is concerned.

“The issue of us owning up to 38 months’ salary arrears before we cleared it was all false and lies. We did owe up to that, what we were owing at that time was between four to five months.

“As I speak with you now, Mr. President graciously approved a bailout of N30.8 billion for us and our national chairman seated help me to facilitate the release."

He also denied being the mastermind behind the disruption at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I am a member of the APC and not PDP. We gave a level playing ground to all the aspirants from all political parties to carry out their activities freely within the state. They moved around the entire state and we provided security for them and ensure that they were safe.”

 

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The Nigeria Police Force says it has recovered about 19 rifles and other firearms from repentant bandits in Zamfara State.

Usman Nagogo, Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, said this during the display of the arms that were presented to the state Governor, Bello Matawalle.

He said the firearms were recovered between August 30 and September 5.

Matawalle said the police rescued about 375 hostages from Zamfara, adding that 90 percent of the bandits are ready to surrender and submit their weapons under the ongoing disarmament programme. 

He said: “The firearms recovered from Yellow included a light machine gun (LMG) rifle with breech number erased, an AK47 rifle with batch number 35372, FN rifles with numbers 167119 and 212108 as well as 10 rounds of live ammunition and military camouflage.

“On September 4, one Kachalla Halilu, a repentant bandit from Sububu forest in Maradun LGA submitted four deadly rifles to the commissioner of police, a sign of receiving government's offer of amnesty wholeheartedly without any condition.

“They include two AK47 with empty magazine, FN and LMG rifles. These are rifles that were received from remorseful bandits who have also promised to surrender their arms and ammunition without government paying a dime.

“Similarly on September 5, the same remorseful bandit surrendered six calibers of different assorted automatic rifles to the commissioner of police including general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) and five AK47 rifles.

“It is instructive to note that all these rifles were received as the tip of the iceberg. The real disarmament has not even started. The contacts we made gave us a hint that more than 90 percent of the repentant bandits are ready to surrender their arms.

“They are interacting with the people and security agents about their future plans. This itself has proven that the amnesty offered by the government is working and actually it will boost the economic activities of the state.”

 

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Officials hope the long-awaited exchange may help improve relations between the neighbours.