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Gunmen Free 93 Islamiyya Students Three Months After Abduction

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Gunmen have freed 93 pupils kidnapped from an Islamic seminary in Niger State nearly three months ago, the school’s head teacher said on Thursday.

But one of the pupils died in the captors’ den.

The head teacher, Abubakar Alhassan did not say if any ransom was paid and how the pupils were released.

The gunmen had abducted the schoolchildren from their school in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State on May 30th.

They demanded a ransom of ₦110 million and threatened to kill the victims but eleven of the students were released later, according to the Niger State Government.

Niger state Governor Sani Bello had earlier ruled out paying ransom to the abductors.

“Even though we have ruled out payment of ransom, it is time for the government to take decisive measures towards ending the bandits’ activities that are forcefully changing the lives of the people, especially in the rural areas,” he said during a meeting with the parents of the abductees.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in the wake of the attack urged security agencies to go after the kidnappers and ensure the schoolchildren were released.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the nation’s security and intelligence agencies to expedite efforts towards the recovery of the 200 children kidnapped from an Islamic school in Niger State,”  presidential media aide, Femi Adesina, said in a statement issued after Buhari received a briefing about the incident.

The North-West and central parts of the country have seen a surge in attacks, looting and mass abductions by bandits.

Bandits this year began targeting schoolchildren and students, demanding more ransom.

Gunmen who kidnapped more than 100 students from a Baptist high school in Kaduna State released 15 more of those hostages.

Around 1,000 students have been kidnapped since December after gunmen started to hit schools. Most have been released after negotiations, but scores are still being held in forest camps.

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Uba Sani To PDP’s Ashiru: Join Hands With My Govt For Kaduna’s Development 

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Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has hailed the judgement of the Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which upheld his victory in the March 18 gubernatorial election in the state.

Sani, in a statement on Thursday, September 28, 2023, urged his challenger in the election, Isah Mohammed Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join hands with his government to develop Kaduna State.

Sani contested the gubernatorial election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor, who commended Ashiru for challenging his victory in the court, stated: “I am extremely delighted and humbled by the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal affirming my victory in the 2023 Kaduna State Governorship Elections.

“The judgement is an unequivocal affirmation of the popular mandate graciously given to me by the good people of Kaduna State. I commend the Tribunal for their thoroughness and lucidity. They have enriched our jurisprudence and practice of electoral democracy.

“I also commend my dear brother, Hon. Isah Ashiru Kudan for approaching the Tribunal to ventilate his grievances. This is a clear demonstration of his belief in the principles of democracy and the imperative of civility in the conduct of political actors.

“I call on Hon. Isah Ashiru and members of the opposition parties in Kaduna State to join hands with us as we strive to move our dear state to a higher level. We are all stakeholders in Project Kaduna.

“It is not about personal glory. Our people want all hands to be on deck to address the myriad challenges confronting the state. If political actors are united, a clear signal will be sent to our people that the quest for peace, security, progress, and development of our state are the driving forces of our participation in politics.”

He, therefore, enjoined the APC members in Kaduna State to moderate their celebration of his election victory, saying they should extend an olive branch to other members of political parties in the state.

“Instead of celebrating, we should bow down in prayers to the Almighty God for His continued guidance and protection. Let us focus on the tasks ahead,” Governor Sani added.

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Subsidy: NLC, TUC Declare Indefinite Strike From October 3

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The leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) will commence an indefinite strike on Tuesday, October 3.

This followed a joint press briefing held by both leadership of the union in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Tuesday (today).

The unions also asked their state chapters to mobilize for protests across the country.

It was gathered that the leaders of the two labour centres have resolved their differences that made only NLC embark on a two-day warning strike without the participation of TUC.

According to the notice of meeting signed by the NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the meeting is holding virtually.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong has appealed to the NLC leadership to shelve the planned strike, assuring them that the Federal Government is determined to address the concerns raised.

The minister also noted that one of the major demands of the NLC in their last meeting has been met, which has to do with the release of the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport workers.

A statement signed by the spokesman of the spokesman of the ministry’s Olajide Oshundu, urged the workers’ unions to give the government a little more time to address other issues.

On Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday 6, 2023, NLC embarked on a two-day warning strike to force the government to address the mass suffering of Nigerians, especially workers.

Sources privy to the matter said the two sides after their separate organs’ meetings, commenced a joint press briefing at 3 p.m. on Tuesday to announce an indefinite nationwide strike following the Federal Government’s failure to address the suffering and other socioeconomic hardships occasioned by the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

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Three Injured As Gunmen Kidnap Nasarawa Poly Student

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Three students have been injured following an attack by gunmen in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

A student of the Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic in Lafia was abducted by gunmen who struck on Monday night.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed this to Channels Television in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

He said the abduction was during a robbery raid at Ombi 1 in Lafia, a student village where most of the enrollees of the polytechnic reside.

According to the police spokesman, a distress call was received by 10 p.m. on Monday over an armed robbery taking place at a house at Ombi 1, Lafia.

“Upon receipt of the report, policemen were immediately drafted to the scene; on arrival, it was discovered that three people were injured,” the police spokesman said.

“The victims were rushed by the police to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital for treatment. Upon their return to the scene of the incident, it was later discovered that one person named Jumoke (surname withheld) was missing.”

The police spokesman assured the public that the command had launched an investigation as the Commissioner of Police had deployed all tactical teams of the command to the area.

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