Headlines
Emir Bayero, ACF condemn abduction of Kano children
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano emirate council and Arewa Consultative Forum (AFC) have expressed concern over increasing rate of kidnapping of children from North, warning that the ugly act must stop to ensure a peaceful co-existence amongst all the tribes.
kANO FOCUS reports that this was part of the resolution of stakeholders meeting organised by the ACF on Saturday in Kano to proffer solution to the crime.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero who was represented by Sarkin Shanun Kano Alhaji Muhammed Shehu, vehemently condemned the act and called for a lasting solution to the ugly act.
Also speaking the state chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum ACF, Dr Goni Faruk Umar called on those people who engage in this satanic act and inhuman treatment of innocent children to desist.
He also called on the Nigerian government, traditional institutions, security agencies, community leaders, judiciary, and legislature to put hands on deck to arrest the situation once and for all.
According to him,” We called for this stakeholders meeting to show our concern with the way children are abducted and sold in the state. Not even abducted, some were sold by their parents, some were sold by doctors in the hospital after delivery, as confirmed to us by the police commissioner when we visited him.
“We visited the Police Commissioner and thanked him when he rescued eight children recently.
“The children were from Bauchi, they bring them to Kano, collaborate with warheads to give them certificates of birth, backdate them and then sell the children.
“One of them who bought a child at N480,000 was arrested and the police commissioner told us that she said she bought the child because in the Igbo culture if you don’t have a male child you will not inherit your husband.
“That was the purpose and similar others, not that they are using the child for rituals.
“We are concerned with the situation that is why we called the Igbo leaders and other stakeholders to this conference. There is also the issue of drug abuse associated with Sabon Gari, we are not just getting them to condemn the situation, but to also work with them in fighting the menace” the ACF leader stated.
The representative of the Igbo Community, Chief Uwaimo Ifeanyi who represented Igwe Igbo of Kano, Igwe Boniface Ibekwe, condemned the act and called for the wrath of the law on the perpetrators.
“We received with shock and disbelief the abduction of children that were recovered by the police in Kano. We condemn this criminal act in its entirety.
They all called on “the law to deal with the perpetrators as we dissociate with the act and remain law abiding”.
Other ethnic leaders present at the meeting include the Sarkin Edo of Kano, Fred Akhigbe of Kano, the leader of Igala community, Abubakar Ibochi and the Youruba leader in Kano, Yunus Salahuddeen Olanrewaju, represented the Oba of Yoruba, Alhaji Murtala Alimi Otisese all condemned the act and dissociate from it while promising to guide their communities against it.
KANO FOCUS recalled that in 2023, some people were arrested by the Kano state police command over an allegation of kidnapped seven teenagers from Bauchi and Kano states and selling them to people in the Southeast and Lagos
The police paraded the 11 people attested in connection with the abduction of the seven children and sold them at prices ranging from N400,000 and N500,000.
However, these children have been reunited with their parents, who were mostly from Bauchi state.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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