By Mohammed Munirat Nasir

Police in Zamfara have confirmed Killings of six persons, while several others were Injured by dreaded bandits in Badarawa village of Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara state, Northwest of the country.

The Command Spokesman, SP Mohammed Shehu who confirmed this to AFRICA PRIME NEWS put the figure of those Injured at twelve.

He said on receiving a distress call, the Command mobilised its men to the area forcing the bandits to flee, but were still being trailed by the police.

However, an eye witness and resident of Badarawa village, who claimed to have escaped, Usman Sani, said, the bandits in their dozens stormed the village and began shooting sporadically, which resulted in the death of about 20 people, while several others were seriously injured.

A health worker in Shinkafi town, the local government headquarters, who prefers anonymity also said that many dead bodies were brought to the hospital in Shinkafi town from the village where the attack took place..

He added that at least 12 people, some of whom were seriously injured were referred to Gusau the state capital for proper medical care in view of the severity of their injuries.

The latest killing is coming barely three days after a special Town Hall Meeting on security organised by the federal government was held in Gusau, the State capital.

By Amos Tauna

Determined to ensure peaceful and harmonious relationship among the citizenry, an international organization which promotes interreligious and cultural coexistence globally , KAICIID, Dialogue Centre has  organized a one day sensitization programme.

The programme brought together religious and  traditional leaders, political parties, youth and women in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria to fashion out a common ground of understanding.

  It had resource persons chosen from  both the Christian and Islamic scholars to educate participants on the teachings from the two Holy books and for  enhanced interreligious and cultural coexistence in the various communities.

The convener, Samaila Yahaya, said as a member who had been trained by the KAICIID Dialogue Centre for the promotion of peace among diverse nationalities ,the programme was to pass the message of peace, love and unity to the people in the local government towards ensuring peaceful coexistence among the people.

He noted  that though  the 2015 general elections was peaceful, there was still  the need to further educate the people not to allow politicians use them for their selfish desires to kill and destroy in the name of politics.

Yahaya stated that peace and unity is the only weapon that could fight enemies of progress that have nothing to offer the people but to devise their selfish means of actualising their evil schemes.

Earlier, an Imam,  Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, co-Executive Director interfaith mediation centre enjoined the  people to be aware of politicians that have nothing to offer  but come in the name of religion to cause disaffection among the electorates.

He explained that Nigeria is the most religious nation, but the most corrupt country in the world, stressing that there was no practical adherence to the Holy books.

“We will continue to deceive ourselves with all that we are doing until we come to our senses of the reality of life. In every street in Nigeria, you find Churches and Mosques with people calling unto God but yet our attitudes to one another does not portray what we are learning in our various places of worship,” he wondered.

“Until such time that we practically apply what the Holy books demand from us, we will continue having problems as a people in all spheres of life because we lack knowledge and understanding of the Holy books.”

On his part, Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa, who spoke on the role of dialogue in the electioneering process, noted that the only way for Nigerians to get it right, is through dialogue with one another, adding that until we come to a round table in accordance with the Holy scripture,  there would be no better understanding and way forward for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

Imam Sani Isah Mohammed who spoke on dialogue , emphasises on respect and understanding for one another irrespective of religion, tribe or political affiliations as the only panacea for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

Other speakers enjoined Nigerians to always be mindful of politicians have nothing to offer the people and advised that the electorate should always vote people of integrity that could be held accountable.

By Peter Usman

The family of Arazim Shaibu from Kadijin village in Gujba Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria’s North East Region, has solicited the assistance of the Federal Government to facilitate the release and repatriation of their son, Arazim, said to have been detained since 1999 by the Authorities of the Niger Republic.

Speaking to AFRICA PRIME NEWS in Abuja, a close relation to the family, Mrs. Ummy Zahraha ShaibuDeen, stated that all efforts put in place to bring back home Arazim Shaibu since he left home for his dear life after his father, mother, brothers and sisters were killed, proved abortive.   

Mrs. Ummy explained that Shaibu’s sudden disappearance from his home town at the age of 16 since 1999 to unknown destination was as a result of family persecution, which she said later led to the death of 5 members of the family.

She explained further that after searching for the where about of the young man for years, it was discovered that he travelled to Niger Republic where he was arrested and charged as an illegal alien.

According to her, “The sudden disappearance of Arazim Shaibu from his family’s home in 1999, to unknown destination as at the time the activities of Boko Haram started newly in Borno state was as a result of family persecution.

“He accommodates and assists people, both Christians and Muslims, but little did he know that his kind gesture in helping humanity had generated hatred and envy against him by the Kanuri tribe.

“Ahmad and his wife, Abdullahi and Nancy, who are both brother and sister to Arazim were killed by the Kanuri people when the issue of Boko Haram started newly in Borno state.      

“Mr. Ahmad was born to the family of Shaibu in Kadijin village in Gujba Local Government Area of Borno State. Ahmad, a Kanuri by tribe was married to Zuwera and gave birth to Nancy, Abdullahi and Arazim. They were both Muslims and Mr. Ahmad don’t discriminate religiously.

“Shaibu was assisting Christian to escape and as such, he was targeted by the Kanuri people of Borno and later, he was killed with the wife, Arazim and other two siblings.

“Arazin however ran away for his life and since then, the closed family relations have not set their eyes on him until recently somebody told us he is Niger Republic.

“Recently, according to Mr. Wakilu Adimo, a close friend of the family revealed to us that he sighted Arazim at Agades, somewhere in Niger republic” she narrated.

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has appealed to members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) not to be complacent but to prepare, strategise and win 2019 elections, to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party from taking Nigeria backwards.

He made the appeal at the APC national Secretariat Wednesday in Abuja while submitting his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the presidency in 2019.

Although Buhari did not mention PDP in his short speech, the reference was unmistakable as he referred to those who ruled Nigeria between 1999 and 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forms were purchased for the president by the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors’ Network on Sept. 6th at the cost of 45 million.

Buhari had in April declared his intention to seek re-election at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC).

President Buhari while submitting the forms, said; “I m here in person among friends and colleagues to put my name forward to my party, the APC, seeking nomination to contest the presidential election in 2019.

“I am taking this step with all humility, sense of responsibility and unquestionable desire to serve and protect the interest of all Nigerians.

“Let me today, appeal to party members not to be complacent but to pre,strategize and win 2019 elections.

“We must not allow those who brought the country to its kneels from 1999 to 2015 to come and take us back”.

National Co-coordinator Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors’ Network, Sunnsi Musa, said the group paid for the forms because the President is not a multi-millionaire cash wise.

“But he has millions of supporters who are always ready to come together to pay for his nomination form.

He said the group embarked on the project based on the recognition that the President has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria and deserves a second term in office.

He expressed gratitude to those who contributed towards the purchase of the forms.

He assured them and Nigerians generally that if nominated, and re-elected in 2019, hr would continue to serve the people to the best of his abilities.

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman used the opportunity to present to President Buhari his new party membership card.

He also told the president that the APC under his leadership, took advantage of modern technology to come up with a new membership data base, saying that the party currently has 15.6 million registered members.

“Today to talk about the size of our party, the largest party in the world and in Africa, we need to have evidence that can be verified by a third party or by members.

“We have taken advantage of technology to produce what I believed is the best or the first in Nigeria.

“We now have as at last week when they started printing of membership register, about 15.6 million registered APC members across the country “he said.

The APC national chairman added that the party membership data base was designed to ensure that the membership status of anyone could easily be verified at the touch of a bottom.

Oshiomhole further added that with the development, the party had credible and verifiable persons to conduct direct primaries on the basis of its membership register.

However, he said the party would not in any way nullify or change the decisions of its National Executive Committee (NEC) at its sixth meeting, which allowed for indirect primaries, for logistics reasons

He said the APC will strive to give practical expression to its decision as transparently as possible.

This, he added, would ensure that the APC would not only be the largest, but the smartest, most democratic and most cohesive party in the country.

A 28-year-old man, Mr Nurudeen Lliyasu, has climbed a telecommunication mast in Abuja, to protest the poor economy in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the man was seen on top of the mast at about noon on Wednesday at AYA, Abuja , the nation’s capital.

NAN also reports that posters with different inscriptions were seen along the AYA road and at the foot of the mast, which read: `Another hope betrayed battered, mutilated with collapsed economy.

Others include, ‘inflation and hunger is killing Nigerians’, ‘unemployment continues unabated’, and ‘Nigeria is on the precipice of collapse’ among others.

Lliyasu said he would remain on the mast for the next seven days, adding that he was ready to sacrifice his life for the progress of the country.

“I am on hunger strike to protest and register my grievances on the condition of the country; I will remain here for the next seven days and I do not mind if I die here.

“If my dying on this mast will change the economy of this country, then I choose to die for others to live a good life.

“ I have not eaten for days and also other Nigerians, if I die on this mast I am not worried, no roads in the states only in the city of Abuja you can see good roads.

‘’The doctors have said that a man can survive only on water without food for some days, I believe I can and if I cannot I will die.”

Lliyasu said that there was nothing working in the country, adding that the education, health system, infrastructure are all in bad shape.

He said that he was into transport business and other businesses.

Mr Ayuba Luka, the security man in the area, told NAN that Lliyasu approached him that he wants to climb the mast he warned him against it.

“He came to me I warned him not to climb that mast, but when I left the site he sneaked in and climbed it.

“I was shocked when I came back and saw him on the topmost part of the mast, I have called my supervisor to come and take necessary action’’.