Dr Ahmed Audi,the Commandant General (CG) of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC), has ordered the immediate deployment of undercover agents to schools and host communities to enhance security in schools nationwide.

The CG gave the order on Friday in Kaduna at the closing  ceremony of a five- day capacity building on Safe School Response.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 200 NSCDC personnel and other stakeholders from the seven states in the North West attended the five-day programme.

The capacity building was organised by the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC).

Audi said that the Corps would partner with the Ministry of Education in each state and Local Education Authorities for the successful implementation of the directive.

According to him, the capacity building is to strengthen the resilience of relevant stakeholders including vigilante groups, retired security personnel, host communities and serving personnel of NSCDC.

He explained that the programme was to imbue in them all strategies and knowledge on how to provide protection for schools and host communities from violence and attacks.

Audi who was represented by ACG Training and Capacity Building,  David Abi, said that the NSSRCC was a critical component of the implementation strategy of the National Plan on Safe Schools.

He said that the plan was developed by government to mobilise synergy among security agencies and relevant stakeholders towards schools’ protection.

The CG acknowledged the rising cases of attacks and violence on schools in Nigeria and its attendant negative impacts, including increasing the rate of out of school children in the country.

“The strategic plan is based on the whole-of-society approach with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as the lead agency.

“The Corps is also hosting the headquarters of the Centre, saddled with the responsibility of coordinating safety and security response for schools and host communities in collaboration with all security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

“The Centre is the first of its kind in Africa; available records indicate that no other country has this kind of facility with the sole responsibility of providing safety and security prevention and protection measures for schools and host communities.”

He CG said in view of the recurring attacks and violence in schools in the country, the task ahead of the centre was enormous.

“It requires effective synergy and collaboration from all stakeholders including the Federal, State and Local Governments.

“It is also pertinent to state that the Standard Operating Procedure of the Centre provides for creation of state coordinating centres and local government response centres for effective and seamless operation.

“It is for this singular fact the I respectfully present on behalf of the centre, the request for the kind consideration for allocation of an existing structure within each of the state capitals in the North-West to serve as the safe school coordination centres,” he said.

The CG told the participants that the task ahead of them was enormous.

“Be reminded that aside being ambassadors of the centre, you are equally the foot soldiers who are in direct contact with the members of schools and host communities,” he said.

He charged them to ensure that the knowledge gained from this training was put into effective practice in the discharge of their duties.“Furthermoreuties.“Furthermore, members of the vigilante groups and private guards company must be ready to collaborate and work in harmony with security agencies to facilitate effective protection of our schools.”

Also, the General Officer Commanding (GOC)1 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Valentine Okoro, said that the national plan for safe schools was a programme developed by government to mobilise synergy among security agencies.

The GOC, represented by Brig.-Gen. Henry Yanet, Commander 51 Signals, said already, the Chief of Army Staff(COAS),Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, had directed enjoined army units and formation to work with other security agencies in protecting the civil populace.

In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, reiterated the state government’s commitment to partnering with all security agencies to enhance public safety.

The governor was represented by the Administrator, Kaduna Capital Territory Authority, Mr Samuel Aruwan

The security situation in Kaduna on Monday degenerated with the killing of 34 citizens, wounding of several others and destruction of valuable property by a horse of rampaging gunmen in Laura Local Government Area, LGA of the State.

A statement on Monday by the state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan says the security agencies have confirmed the attack.

The statement said the report from security agencies said the unidentified gunmen attacked Madamai village in Kaura local government.

It said the troops mobilized to the location and also came under fire, before forcing the assailants to withdraw after an intense exchange.

Some houses were set ablaze by the attackers at one end of the village. The troops put out the fire at three of the burning houses, and rescued six locals from the infernos.

“As of the time of this update, 34 residents have been confirmed dead following the attack.

“Seven others sustained injuries, and were rushed to a hospital in Plateau State.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that the Kaduna State Government will bear the full cost of injured victims’ treatment.

“Furthermore, Mr El-Rufai was briefed by security agencies on the roles played by his HRH Chief of Kagoro, Ufuwai Bonet and the member representing Kaura Federal Constituency, Gideon Gwani in dousing the tension and preventing a breakdown of law and order following the unfortunate incident. The governor commended their efforts and sterling leadership.

“The governor ordered an urgent assessment of the area by the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, towards the provision of succor to the affected households.

“The governor received the reports with intense grief, and expressed his condemnation of the gruesome attack, which he described as an unspeakable display of wickedness, meriting the severest form of punishment.

“He sent his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, and the affected communities, as he prayed for the repose of their souls.

“He appealed for calm and charged security agencies to intensify their efforts in the campaign against the gratuitous killing of innocent citizens.

“He further tasked security agencies to ensure urgent and precise investigations into the horrific incident.

“At this time, two suspects are being questioned in connection with the attack.

“Security agencies are conducting operations in the general area, and the Government will update citizens accordingly,” the statement added.

The Kaduna State Government said suspected bandits have killed 13 people and injured seven others in separate attacks in Zango Kataf, Kauru and Chikun Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed the incidents in a statement on Friday in Kaduna.
Aruwan also said that 56 houses and 16 motorcycles were razed in Kauru LGA.
He said: “13 people have been killed and seven others injured in a series of attacks across communities in Zangon Kataf, Kauru and Chikun LGAs.
“The attack was reported to the Kaduna State Government by the Military under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).
”According to the report, bandits attacked a man and his brother as they were returning from their farm in Gora Gan village of Zangon Kataf LGA. The man was killed while his brother escaped”.
The commissioner further said that in another incident, bandits attacked Kizachi village of Kauru LGA, and killed 10 people, leaving four others injured, and several houses and barns raided and burnt.
“The injured are receiving treatment in hospital”, the commissioner said.
He also said that Masaka village in Chikun local government was attacked, leaving one person dead and two others injured.
“Troops mobilised to the location to eventually repel the attack.
“Similarly, bandits killed one person in Kurmin Kaduna of Chikun local government area and left one injured,” Aruwan added.
The Commissioner said that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness over the report and prayed for the repose of the souls of the slain, while sending condolences to their families.
He wished the injured citizens quick recovery.

Gov. Nasir El Rufai on Wednesday received the Kaduna State 2020 Annual Security Report, in which 937 people were said to have been killed by bandits and 1,972 kidnapped within the period.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, presented the report at a ceremony in Kaduna.

According to Aruwan, victims of the kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities cut across all ethnic and religious groups in the state, contrary to skewed narratives from some quarters.

‘’Victims of criminal acts like banditry and kidnapping are to be found across ethnic, religious or political leanings and persuasions,’’ he pointed out.

The commissioner said the total number of deaths linked to banditry and other forms of violence in 2020 in the state was 937.

‘’Of this number, Igabi LG has the highest figure of 152, followed by Kajuru with a figure of 144.’’

He added that Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun local governments in Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounted for 468 of the deaths out of the 937 people that died in 2020, representing over 50% of the fatalities recorded in the state.

‘’The southern senatorial district accounts for 286 deaths, which is about one third of the total, due in large part to sporadic clashes, alongside banditry which triggered attacks and counter-attacks, especially between June and November 2020,’’ he added.

Aruwan further said, ‘’out of 1,972 people kidnapped in the period under review, Kaduna central senatorial district accounts for 1,561, and out of the total, 1,461 were kidnapped within Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun local government areas.’’

In his speech after receiving the report, El-Rufai said that state has been using its limited tools to address the security challenges.

The governor paid tribute to the victims of insecurity and reiterated his administration’s resolve to protect the people and stop all criminals.

El Rufai said the government has invested in technology to help secure the state, adding that ‘’a CCTV network is being deployed in Kaduna metropolis while options for consistent operations of its drones are being explored.’’

The governor added that the state had been collaborating with neighboring states to tackle the wave of insecurity.

‘’Together with Niger State and our neighbours in the North-west, we put together resources to fund military operations against bandits in the Kamuku-Kuyambana forest range that straddles the region.”

El Rufai however regreted that this collaboration which was done in 2015, ‘’was not sustained or expanded into a campaign of continuous, simultaneous operations against the bandits across our vast region.’’

‘’Failure to contain and defeat them in one place has emboldened them to develop a national footprint and endanger national cohesion,’’ he noted.

The governor also said that the state has been supporting federal security agencies with vehicles and other logistics since 2015, but added that “the military and police still need modern technology and equipment and more boots on the ground”.

‘’The security of our communities depend on the robust projection of state power, and that can only be done with sufficient security numbers to overawe and deter criminals,’’ he maintained.

The governor called for the decentralisation of policing, arguing that ‘’there are simply not enough police officers in Nigeria and the idea of policing such a vast, federal republic in a unitary manner is not pragmatic.”

The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned the burning of a pavilion arranged for a church conference in Zangon Kataf local government.
Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna, said in a statement issued on Friday in Kaduna that the Government of Kaduna received security report detailing the incident.
He said that a pavilion erected by the leadership of the ECWA Church ahead of its conference was set ablaze by unknown persons at a location near the Palace of the Agwatyap.
Aruwan said the Governor who frowned at the incident, has directed security agencies to carry out diligent investigation towards identifying and punishing the culprits.
“Investigations into the incident are in progress.”Aruwan said.

– NAN

The Kaduna State government says it has arrested two Islamic clerics for conducting congregational prayers in the state.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, made the disclosure in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna.
He said that the clerics were apprehended in Malali and Ungwan Kanawa communities of Kaduna North Local Government area of the state.
Aruwan, while warning against violating the restriction of movement order in the state, said that the conduct of the arrested clerics violated government’s orders as well as the advice given by leaders of faith in the state.
“The state government is especially grateful to religious and community leaders who have joined in appealing to the public to abide by public health warnings.
“We thank the media for amplifying the message of prevention and the security agencies that are enforcing the extraordinary measures.
However, government has also sadly noted that certain individuals, including clerics, are violating the restriction of movement, large gatherings, trading and congregational prayers.
“This is patently an illegal and irresponsible conduct, especially at a time like this which requires sober and rational conduct to protect our people from Coronavirus.
“Therefore, the state government has arrested two clerics for conducting congregational prayers on March 27, in two communities.
“Their conduct violated government orders as well as advice given by leaders of faith and they will be prosecuted accordingly,” he said.
Aruwan said government expected compliance with the restriction of movement orders and would continue to enforce them.
“Anyone who decides to jeopardise his/her prestige and social standing through wanton violation of orders made to protect public welfare and good health should expect a firm response.
“It should be clear that the inconvenience associated with the preventive measures, while being regretted, is nothing compared to the sufferings and deaths that Coronavirus will cause, if it is allowed to get to the state and spread,” he said.
According to the commissioner, security agencies will continue to enforce government orders and uphold the 24-hour curfew, until further notice.
“Those who seek to defy the directives stand the risk of arrest and prosecution,” he warned.

Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i on Tuesday denied issuing fresh orders for the rationalisation of more civil servants under the Kaduna State Government.

The governor who had sacked thousands of civil servants since assuming office in 2015, said the document in circulation that he directed the State Head of Service to rationalise the work force and convert some of them to casual staff, was entirely fake and did not emanate from him.

The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, alleged that the document was being circulated by the opposition to score cheap political goals ahead of Saturday governorship election.

He stressed that it was sheer mischief by the opposition who have sensed clear defeat in the forthcoming election.

“Our attention has been drawn to a document suggesting rationalization and conversation of civil servants to casual staff by the Kaduna State Government.

“To set the record straight, the document in question is fake, forged and never emanated from the Governor.

“It emanated from the opposition who have no selling points, instead have outrightly resort to mundane and gutter politics ahead of Saturday election…

“It is on this note, that we wish to disassociate the Governor and Government of Kaduna State from this criminally minded document by the drowning opposition.

“By this notice, we wish to inform our work force and citizens to disregard the entire contents of the fraudulent document.

“We also wish to alert members of the general public to be vigilant of this nefarious activity of drowning political mongers .”