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518 Killed, 20 Villages Displaced In 6 Years, Community Cries Out

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By Israel Bulus, Abuja

The Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA) has said that about 518 people have been gruesomely murdered while over 20 villages have been ransacked by terrorists since 2017.

According to the association, thousands of residents have been displaced while 18 villages burnt down completely from 2017 till date.

The President, ACDA, Samuel Achi stating this on Monday while addressing a world press Conference.

He said the persistent attacks are the handwork of some criminal elements in their midst that need to be apprehended and punished in accordance with the provisions of the criminal law.

Achi said the systematic attacks, killings and burning going on in Atyap land in Southern Kaduna by armed militias with the collaboration of the locals is pathetic.

He said the people leaving within their communities are the ones aiding and sheltering the terrorists in Zangon Urban, adding that the goal is is to take over their ancestral land.

Even though Achi said they shall resist further attacks with their last drop of their blood, many believed that the unabated killings in Southern Kaduna is one too many.

“We call on our people to exercise their natural, fundamental and constitutional right of self defence against any further unprovoked attacks, stressing enough is enough. We also want to make it very clear that henceforth any attack on any of our communities will attract a total no go area for rearing cows,” Achi vowed.

Achi, who alleged that there is a conspiracy within the military circle operating in their area, said their presence in the area is not helping to stop the carnage.

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He explained that instead of performing their primary assignment of securing all lives and properties of the communities, that some of the officers are selective and taking sides.

“This is evident in the 2023 first quarter Security Report presented to the Kaduna State Government by the Sector Commander, Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna, Brigadier General Timothy Opurum on the recent killings in Atyap land.

“In his doctored submission, the Sector Commander gave an unbalanced, lopsided report and was very economical with facts which prompted the Governor to note “with concern the continued failure of the traditional and community leaders in Zangon Kataf Chiefdom to prevent resort to self-help by recalcitrant youths.

“His report did not convey the positive role played so far by the Traditional Council and other community leaders in persuading the youths not to take the laws into their own hands.

On his part, the Executive Chairman of Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Hon. Francis Sani (Zimbo) called on the Federal Government and the International Community to support the vulnerable communities.

He said the displaced persons are in dire need of medical assistance to help treat their ailments and rebuild their burnt communities.

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Jubilation in Edo APC as Leaked Tribunal Judgement Shows 2-1 Majority in Favour of Gov. Monday Okpebholo

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A storm of excitement swept through Edo APC circles late Sunday evening after what appeared to be a draft copy of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment surfaced in a WhatsApp group populated by senior party stakeholders.

The document, which seems to mirror an official format, complete with judicial language, cited authorities, and even a breakdown of the votes in contention indicates a 2-1 majority ruling affirming the declaration of Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State.

After a rocky weekend where Gov. Okpebholo had his hands full managing a national crisis caused by the killings in Uromi, this must come as sweet music to his ears.

The draft judgment appears to have dismissed the petition filed by PDP’s Asue Ighodalo and his party on grounds of insufficient proof that non-compliance substantially affected the outcome of the election. Citing cases like Oyetola v. Adeleke and Atiku v. INEC, the judgment stated that while there was some evidence of irregularities, it wasn’t enough to overturn the INEC-declared result.

However, the leaked document also includes a fiery dissenting judgment by one of the Justices who found in favour of the PDP candidate, stating that substantial non-compliance had indeed occurred across over 500 polling units and that the recalculated votes clearly put Ighodalo ahead. His minority verdict called for INEC to nullify the current certificate of return and issue a new one to Ighodalo.

This tantalising peek behind the judicial curtain comes after the Tribunal Secretary had, on March 31st, formally notified all parties that judgment would be delivered on Tuesday, April 2nd. While it is uncommon, though not unprecedented, for judgments to leak, the ubiquity of social media apps like WhatsApp and Telegram has made such “accidental” document sharing nearly impossible to police.

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For the APC, however, the mood is nothing short of triumphant. Sources say the party has already issued quiet directives to its acting Local Government Chairmen to mobilize five loyalists each from the state’s 18 LGAs to Abuja ostensibly for a “solidarity visit” but widely believed to be preparation for a full-blown celebration once the judgment is officially read in open court.

Meanwhile, within the PDP camp, the mood is said to be somber, with key figures choosing not to respond to inquiries about the upcoming judgment. One aide to the PDP State Chairman Aziegbemin privately expressed concern over “judicial mathsmagic,” adding cryptically, “We’ll wait for what is read in court, not what is forwarded on WhatsApp. APC are masters of propaganda. We will wait for the court to rule on Wednesday, then take it from there.”

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Eid-el-fitr: PDP governors call for peaceful coexistence

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The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has called on Nigerians to continue to live together in peace and harmony.

The forum Chairman, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, made the call in his Sallah message, issued by the forum’s Director-General, Emmanuel Agbo, on Monday in Abuja.

Mohammed urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers and support for the leaders.

He also urged them to continue to pray for the peace, security and unity of the country.

He congratulated the Muslim faithful on the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, which signified the completion of a month-long Ramadan fast.

The governor advised them to continue to reflect on the lessons of tolerance, love and sacrifice that the period represented.

“The forum felicitates with Muslims from across the world on the dawn of another Eid-el-fitr.

“We pray that the Almighty Allah would accept our worship and keep us all alive and healthy to witness many more.

“Though the Ramadan season is over, we urge all Muslim faithful to continue to practice the lessons taught in the Holy Month.

“We must remain pious and close to Allah and deny ourselves in total submission to His will,” he said

Mohammed said that as one of the key pillars of Islam, the Ramadan was important for developing the virtues of self-renunciation in every true Muslim.

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Katsina State, beacon of hope, opportunities, says Radda

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Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda has said his administration remains dedicated to fostering security, economic prosperity and infrastructure development to make the state beacon of hope and opportunity for all.

Radda stated this while addressing dignitaries at the “2025 Hawan Bariki” durbar, at the Government House, on Monday in Katsina.

He said that opportunities abound in the state in the area of agriculture, commerce and tourism among others.

“My administration remains dedicated to fostering an environment of security, economic prosperity, and infrastructural development.

“This is to ensure that Katsina State remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for all.

“We are investing in education to empower our youth, strengthening our healthcare system to ensure the well-being of our people, and enhancing security to protect lives and property,” he said.

The governor described this year’s traditional homage, as a historic occasion, marking the first time the state hosted 10 international ambassadors and their families.

“The iconic Sallah Durbar is not merely a festival; it is a testament to our deep-rooted culture, resilience, and unwavering commitment to peace and harmony.

“The magnificent display of horsemanship, the vibrancy of our traditional attire, and the melodies of our folk music all reflect the beauty of our identity and the pride we take in preserving our heritage,” he said

Radda, therefore, urged the guests and investors to explore numerous opportunities that the state offer in agriculture, commerce and tourism among others.

“Our fertile land presents vast opportunities for agribusiness, while our markets serve as hubs of trade and cultural heritage,” he said

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In his remarks, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman, commended the governor for the numerous development projects executed across the state.

The Emir also cautioned the people against taking laws into their hands following the unfortunate killing of some travellers in Edo state recently.

He urged them to exercise patience and allow the government to handle the matter.(NAN)

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