Banditry attracts death sentence, cattle rustling gets life sentence –Ganduje Warns

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has warned herders in the state to desist from banditry and cattle rustling or face dire consequences.

Speaking at the launch of state-wide mass vaccination for cattle and small ruminants, held in Kadawa, Garun-Mallam LGA of the state on Saturday, February 26, Ganduje noted that his administration has provided modern alternatives to improve the businesses of herders.

The Governor said any herder found involved in banditry would get the death sentence, while those involved in cattle rustling would be sentenced to life imprisonment.

He said;
“I call on you, the Fulani herders, not to engage in cattle rustling or banditry. Let me tell you that cattle rustling attracts life imprisonment while banditry is a death sentence.

“I, therefore, caution you to shun these crimes. “We have provided an enabling environment for you to run your business in tandem with modernity.”

Revealing that a total of 703 cattle and 364 sheep and goats were vaccinated in 021 with no infectious disease recorded, Ganduje further added that Kano state is targeting one million cattle and small ruminants for the vaccination.

He said 220 youths had been employed by the state to render veterinary services, free of charge to herders in all the 44 LGAs of the state.

Ganduje said; “Vaccination is free of charge. We have provided food and water for the animals free of charge, aimed at improving animal production.

Anyone caught will get a death sentence? Ganduje warns herders against banditry”Open grazing is now an old modern system, that is why we introduced the RUGA system where the herders are kept in one place, under good condition and care in order to produce quality milk, meat, oil, among others.”

How gunmen attacked communities in Niger State, killed father, son

Armed groups have killed many people, including a father and his son, in separate attacks in Mashegu, Lavun, and Wushishi local government areas of Niger State.

Many residents were displaced in the attacks which occurred between Friday and Saturday.

Residents said that in Mashegu Local Government Area, the villages attacked were Sahon-Rami, Igbede, Chekaku, Ubegi, Maishankafi, and Poshi.

The media aide to Mashegu local council chairperson, Mohammed Isah, confirmed that the Chief of Staff to the council chairperson, Umar Ubegi, and his father were killed during the attack.

He said the village head of the Poshi community was also killed as well as seven others in Sahon-Rami and Maishankafi.

“They moved from one village to the other on motorcycles, killing and kidnapping people. They also rustled cows belonging to villagers. About 13 communities were sacked and people have fled.

“Tension is high in our local government now. These people have been operating since Friday. But only one village was attacked on Friday which was Sahon-Rami. The remaining villages were attacked today (Saturday),” he told the newspaper.

In the Lavun council area, ten villages were reportedly attacked, leaving no fewer than three persons dead while three others were kidnapped.

The villages attacked in Lavun Local Government Area were Egbako, Dabban, Kupa, Ndaruka, Tsogi, Mawogi, Yemi, Managi, Kanko, and Gogaga.

A resident of Egbako, one of the communities attacked, Yakubu Mohammed, said “they started the operation around 12 p.m., moving from one village to another unchallenged.”

For now, we have only discovered the dead bodies of three persons. They also went away with three others, a source told the newspaper.

NDLEA sensitize Imo youths on dangers of drug abuse

The latest attack in the state followed that of Shiroro Local Government Area where four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Galadiman Kogo community after they ran over an explosive.

The known phone contact of the police spokesperson in Niger State, Wasiu Abiodun, did not connect Saturday and Sunday morning to comment on the latest incidents.

Attacks by armed groups have continued in the North-west and in Niger State despite repeated assurances by the government to address the challenge.