Metro

Bauchi Communities Decry Inadequate Pipe Born Water Supply

Published

4 years ago

January 2, 2020

Editor

The people of Bakin Kura and Kankarofi communities in Bauchi metropolis have decried shortage of pipe borne water supply in their areas, saying the situation has rendered them prone to water borne diseases.

Khadija Mohammed, woman leader of the two communities, while speaking with newsmen in Bauchi on Thursday, said the residents have been living without clean source of water supply for the past five years.

She said they only get water supply once in a week and that has led their children scooping for broken water pipes as a source of water supply, an action she said was making them exposed to waterborne diseases.

“We people of Bakin Kura and Kankanrofi communities only get water supply once in every week; and that is on Tuesdays.

Residents of Bakin Kura scooping water from a leaking pipe.

“This is why our children look for broken water pipes to fetch water to be used in our various homes; this is how we do struggle from December till April during rainy season arrive.

“This problem is denying our children from going to school, because they need to fetch water and married women who are in purdah are also forced to come out as well.

“I’m using this opportunity to appeal to all relevant authorities to come to our aid, in order to avoid outbreak of pipe borne diseases, especially cholera,” she said.

Another scene of water scooping at one of the communities

Bashir Umar, another resident, expressed displeasure over the situation, stressing that it must be taken care of in order to avoid cholera outbreak in the areas.

Aminu Aliyu, the Managing Director, Bauchi State Urban Water, Sewerage Corporation (BSUWSC), however, said that government was aware of the situation and was doing everything possible to tackle it.

He said previous administrations have done their best to solve water problems in the state, but still persist due to one or two reasons.

Aliyu, assured that the present administration was already taking steps which would completely solve the problem.

Residents trying to scoop water

“Work is in progress to uplift water situation in the state, particularly in Bauchi metropolis.

“I assure you that when it is completed in July 2020, all residents of Bauchi, including those living in the high level areas, will get regular and pipe borne water supply,” he said.

Metro

Bandits Abduct Newly-weds, Islamic Cleric, Others In Kaduna

Published

7 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Editor

Some bandits have raided the Dan-Honu community in the Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped a new-wedded couple, Muslim leader and scores of others on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the hoodlums decked in dark dresses and wielding AK47 rifles in large numbers stormed the area around 9pm.

A source who is also a resident of the area told our correspondent that the bandits took away no fewer than eight residents of the community including the couple, the Imam and others.

However, the source added that the Imam and one other escaped while they were being led out of the community into the bush.

He said, “The bandits suspected to be kidnappers came on Tuesday night, attacked Dan-Honu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnappied eight persons.

“Among those abducted were a new couple who got married last Saturday, Imam of the community mosque, his wife and three children, including a 10-month-old baby.

“The bandits who stormed the community around 8:50pm numbering about 10, with AK47 rifles and other weapons, were in black, with one of them masked.

“We escaped being abducted. The bandits started by picking the Imam and his family who they met outside the community Juma’at Mosque before proceeding to other houses where they abducted the newly-wedded.

“I was inside my apartment when the bandits stormed our compound. At first, when they started banging the new couple’s door, because they went to their apartment straight, I thought they were security people who came to arrest my neighbour.”

He added, “They started banging his door and shouting ‘Dan Iska ba za ka fito ba?’, meaning ‘idiot, will you not come out? That was when I realiaed that they were kidnappers. So, when they could not force the door open, they broke his window and broke the burglary proof.

“On gaining entrance into the apartment, the bandits tried to open the door, they could not open it. So, they brought the couple out through the broken window. They injured the husband and blood was dripping from his body.

“They attempted to enter my apartment too. They broke the glass window, but as they were busy hitting the burglary proof to break into my apartment, one of the vigilantes in the community fired a shot into the air. On hearing the gunshot, the bandits became uncomfortable and left our compound.

“The new bride was also abandoned in the bush by the bandits when she could not cope with the pace of the movement. The Imam’s wife was freed when her baby’s cry almost exposed the bandits to vigilantes around Kakura area.

“The bandits were able to go with the new groom and two children of the Imam .They were yet to establish contact with the family.”

Meanwhile, the Imam, who escaped from the bandits, while narrating his ordeal, told newsmen that two out of the seven bandits that attacked the community were armed with AK47 rifles with chains of bullets.

“They beat the 10-month-old baby because he was crying. They even threatened to kill him because his cry was disturbing them. But I thank Almighty Allah my wife and the baby later escaped after I had escaped but the bandits went away with my two sons,” he said.

While confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, told our correspondent on the telephone that operatives of the command repelled the bandits and rescued the victims.

“What we know was that as they entered, police repelled the attackers and rescued those that were kidnapped,” he said.

Metro

NSCDC Officers Shoot Abuja Students During Examination

Published

7 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Editor

The Nigeria Police, on Wednesday, arrested and detained three personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for shooting two students of Senior Secondary School, Life Camp, within the Jabi and Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory.

The PUNCH reports that the two students shot by the NSCDC operatives are currently receiving treatment at the Gwarinpa Hospital.

Following the shooting, some irate high school students vandalised three patrol vehicles belonging to the NSCDC in protest against the attack on their injured colleagues.

It was gathered that the incident occurred around 11.20am on Wednesday.

The NSCDC personnel attached to the FCT Command of the NSCDC were at the school to provide security during an ongoing examination on the premises.

When contacted, the FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, while noting that the police had restored peace in the affected area.

Adeh said, “The incident happened, but our operatives intervened in time to restore law and order, and the environment is now peaceful. Two injured students are currently receiving treatment, and the CP, Haruna Garba has ordered the commencement of an investigation into the incident.”

Meanwhile, the FCT Command of the NSCDC has yet to comment on the development.

When contacted for comments, the spokesperson for the FCT NSCDC, Comfort Okomanyi, said she was indisposed, while noting that she would make inquiries from the command and revert.

“I’m sorry, I’m currently indisposed. However, I’ll reach out to the command for an update on the matter, and I’ll get back to you,” Okomanyi noted.

Metro

Gunmen Shoot Ogun Gov Office’s Finance Director Dead

Published

7 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers on Wednesday afternoon reportedly shot dead one Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, a Director of Finance and Accounts attached to the Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Oyekanmi was said to have been gunned down on top of NNPC Bridge, while coming from a bank where he had gone to make withdrawals in preparation for Thursday’s budget presentation by the governor.

He was said to have been rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta where he was pronounced dead.

Contacted, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, said she was yet to be briefed about the development.

Two top civil servants at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta who spoke to our correspondent, confirmed the incident saying that the secretariat is currently in a mourning mood.

Details later…