The Katsina State government has again, ordered for the total lockdown of three local government areas to mitigate the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

This was disclosed to newsmen by the Katsina State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Bello Masari during a press conference at his office.

This decision, according to the Governor, is guided by the fact that more than half of the cases of the COVID-19 in Katsina State are currently recorded in Katsina and Daura Local Government Areas.

On the inclusion of Batagarawa LGA in the lockdown order, the Governor said the local government is attached to Katsina LGA and will be very difficult to be separated.

Source:- http://katsinapost.com.ng/2020/05/26/breaking-katsina-govt-renewed-lockdown-order-in-3-lgas/

The Federal Government on Saturday deployed troops to combat bandit attacks and related violent activities in Katsina

Governor Aminu Bello Masari disclosed this during a radio Hausa media chat in Katsina.
Masari said that troops of soldiers from the state and Federal Government will be deployed to Katsina to combat bandit activities in state.

During the chat, the governor also stressed security matters were not under his control but handled by the Federal government, which is in control of the military and other armed forces.
The Federal Government, he added, provides their weapons and logistics needed to defend the country

Investigation by The Nation revealed virtually all six local government areas of Bakori, Batsari,Safana, Sabuwa, Faskari and Kankara are constantly gripped by attacks from unrepentant bandits on daily basis

Masari also hinted the lockdown order will be relaxed from next week for residents to celebrate the forthcoming Sallah.

Source:- https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-deploys-troops-to-katsina-over-banditry/amp/

His Excellency, the Governor of Katsina State Rt. Hon. Aminu bello Masari, CFR, hes directed for the relaxation of lockdown order earlier on imposed across the State due to lockdown pandemic.

The relaxation of the lockdown is to take effective between Monday 18th May to Sunday 24 May, 2020 and it is going to be observed within Local Government Areas while the ban on inter-local government travel remains enforce.

Governor Aminu Bello Manan has further directed a Katsina and Daura Emirate Council to ensure that all Village Heads stay in their domains and conserve the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr Prayer there with their subjects.
The Governor noted that one third of the COVID-19 cases in the State fall within Katsina local Government and therefore warned residents of the area to strictly observe and adhere to all protocols given by Health officials such as wearing face mask, social distancing, regular washing of hands and use of sanitizer.

However, old age people and persons with health challenges were also advised to avoid crowded places.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari said the decision followed the regular review meeting with Religious leaders and other stakeholders emphasizing that it was taken in the best interest of the people of Katsina State.

The Katsina State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Bello Masari said he will order for the suspension of lockdown in the state from next week to enable residents prepare for the upcoming Eid el-fitr celebration.

The Governor made this pronouncement during an interview with a foreign media organization, DW on Friday.

According to the Governor, all lockdown orders and restrictions will be lifted for Katsina State residents to observe the upcoming Eid el-fitr prayers and even the cultural sallah durbar.

Katsina — Members of the Katsina State House of Assembly have lamented what they termed worsening insecurity situation in the state, saying both the state and federal governments had failed woefully in securing lives and property of the citizenry.

The lawmakers, who could not control their emotions during yesterday plenary, said the deteriorating security condition of the state, if not curtailed by relevant security agencies and government, would engulfed the entire citizens soon.

This was coming as bandits massacred 16 persons in a multiple attacks on four local government areas of Safana, Dutsin-Ma, Batsari and Faskari.

The legislators, while citing renewed onslaughts on communities in the state, insisted that the rapprochement between the state government and bandits had collapsed.

Moving a motion under matters of urgent public importance, the member representing Safana constituency, Hon. Abduljalal Runka, said the bandits had last Tuesday invaded two communities in his constituency and massacred six persons.

He said: "They attacked these villages in the night last Tuesday and killed six persons. During the attack, I called security personnel but nothing was done. These bandits carried out their operations successfully."

The lawmaker called on the state government to allow and empower the vigilante groups in the state to protect the lives of the rural dwellers, saying "they perform far better than the military and police."

Seconding the motion, the lawmaker representing Sabuwa constituency, Ibrahim Danjuma, added that banditry and kidnapping have becoming a daily occurrence in his constituency and other local government areas.

He explained that bandits riding on six motorcycles stormed a village in Sabuwa Local Government Area and kidnapped seven persons, including a four-month- old baby last night, adding that the hoodlums were threatening to kill them if ransom is not paid.

Also contributing, the lawmaker representing Danjume constituency, Haruna Gomma, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of Katsina citizens in order to end what he described as daily bloodbath in the state.

According to him, "Both President Buhari and Governor Aminu Masari have failed in securing the lives and property of Katsina State citizens. Our people are being killed on a daily basis but nothing has been done."

Responding, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Tasi'u Zango, urged the Assmbly Committee on Security to investigate the rationale behind incessant killings in the state and report back to the Assembly.

Meanwhile, bandits have massacred 16 persons in a multiple attacks on Safana, Dutsinma, Batsari and Faskari LGAs.

Residents said the attacks were carried out between 12a.m. and 3a.m. with many people sustaining varying degree of injuries and large number of animals rustled.

THISDAY reliably gathered that in Safana LGA, the bandits killed six persons in Dan Jukka village and five at Salihawar Kalgo.

While one person was killed at Dullu village in Batsari LGA, two brothers were killed at Maitsani village of Dutsinma LGA respectively.

In Faskari LGA, two persons were killed at Gidan Baki village, one at Unguwar Buntu, while at Dogon Awo, one person was shot and presently hospitalised, as well as in other areas.

When contacted, the spokesman of the state Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed that five were killed at Dan Jukku, two at Maitsani and two at Gidan Baki, saying there was no attack or any casualty at Salihawar Kalgo, Dullu and Unguwar Buntu villages.

Source:- https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/05/14/katsina-assembly-kicks-as-bandits-massacre-16-people/

His Excellency, the Governor of Katsina State Rt. Hon, Aminu Bello Mesari, CFR, has directed the lockdown of Malumfashi Local Government Area with effect from Thursday 7th May 2020 at 7:00 am.

This follows a result from the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) which tested and confirmed positive of Covid-19 in the area.

The order placed on the Local Government was in line with the decision already taken by the State Government and other stakeholders to shutdown any area where COVID-19 is established.

The people of Malumfashi Local Government Area therefore strictly advised to stay at home as security agents would be deployed to ensure total compliance in order to curtail the spread of the disease in the State.
As usual, the Governor has directed the COVID-19 Committee to identity and earmark some pharmaceuticals, grains and commodities stores in the local Council that would be allowed to offer skeletal services to the needy.

The decision taken is in the best interest rule of Malumfashi, Katsina State, Nigeria and humanity in general.

Therefore, People are once again advised to strictly adhere to the guidelines against the spread of the virus as provided by the security/health experts and use the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan to fervently pray to Allah to bring an end to the contagious disease.

Some nurses of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun state have been seen wearing polythene bags to prevent themselves from being infected by a suspected case of COVID-19 discovered in the facility.

Recall that two persons, including a pregnant woman who died on Saturday, tested positive for the infection in the hospital. The second case, a 97-year-old man, had been transferred to the Ogun state COVID-19 isolation centre in Ikene. Moreover, some of the health workers who came in contact with those infected have been told to isolate.

This paper gathered that one of the medical doctors who came in contact with the aged man, Mr Ashimi, has also been transferred to Ikene for isolation.

Accordingly, the Emergency Treatment Room (ETR) and the Gynecology Emergency unit, where the confirmed cases were earlier admitted, have been closed down for fumigation.

On Monday, two women admitted at Female Medical ward were suspected to have contracted the disease after showing symptoms. This caused an uproar at the facility with the health workers of the affected unit demanding for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a protective gear recommended for the treatment of infectious diseases.

POLITICS NIGERIA understands that the nurses had to improvise with the waste bags after the management denied them the PPE on Monday afternoon.

Later on, some public health practitioners protested the irregularities when they saw their colleagues on the materials. However, the spokesperson of the hospital, Orisaju Segun, denied knowledge of the incident when this paper contacted him on Monday.

Also, the head of the nursing department claimed the information about the non-provision of PPE is false. "That is not true. They were not denied PPE," She told POLITICS NIGERIA.

Meanwhile, when she could not explain what led to the nurses putting on a polythene bag, she promised our reporter that the issue will be investigated.

Reacting to this, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Adeniji AbdulRafiu expressed surprise in a telephone interview with POLITICS NIGERIA.

"I am surprised that a nurse will agree to wear a polythene bag. This really baffles me," He said.

Mr AbdulRafiu also promised to do a thorough finding to get more information about the situation.

He then stated that nurses who allow such are doing that at the detriment of their lives. " We have told them not to work if adequate preparations are not made," the national President emphasised.

Access Bank Plc on Monday debunked reports that it plans to sack 75 per cent of its workforce and as well close more than 300 branches.

The bank in a statement signed by the Company Secretary, Mr Sunday Ekwochi, obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange website described the news as malicious and a distraction from the genuine and compassionate plan to protect its workers and help keep jobs in the unfolding macroeconomic environment.

It said the closure of a bank branch was an action that required the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

According to the bank, it has neither applied for this nor obtained the approval of the CBN for the closure of its branches as widely speculated.

“The bank has only suspended operations in some branches following the directive by the CBN.

“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, we suspended in-branch operations at different locations as directed by the CBN and in line with business continuity plans at vulnerable spots; whilst we continued to provide services through our alternative digital platforms.

“In line with the phased re-opening of the economy effective May 4, following the Presidential directives, we will be resuming in-branch services in some of our affected branches in a programmed manner to ensure the health and safety of our employees and customers.

“This is also necessary to provide relevant contingency should there be any incident arising from the pandemic.

“We deny in its entirety the baseless and twisted speculation that the bank is sacking 75 per cent of its workforce,” said the statement.

It noted that based on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, not all its branches would be fully open for in-branch services until later in the year.

“This has made it impossible for many of our outsourced workers to perform duties as usual.“We have commenced engagement with various stakeholders with a view to ensuring that they provide the relevant services and optimum manpower as may be required by the bank on an on-going basis,” it added.

The bank, however, assured its esteemed stakeholders that it would continue to ensure that its actions and decisions are guided by fairness, justice, equity and good conscience.

Source :- https://punchng.com/access-bank-denies-sacking-75-workers-closing-branches/

A 70-year-old man, Lawal Izala, arrested for allegedly insulting President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he spoke out of anger when he visited his village and found out that bandits had killed his family members and rustled 15 of his cows.

The police had on Thursday paraded Izala and two others for insulting President Buhari and Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State in a viral video.

He said, “I was coming back from my village where my 15 cattle were rustled and my family members killed. I was passing by when I was asked about how life was going on for me.

“Then I said, our leaders, Buhari and Masari have failed us. I then threw insults out of anger from my agony. I did not even know I was being recorded on video.

“I was just saying my mind with all honesty. It was after the video went viral that I was arrested by the police. I was accused of committing a crime under Penal Code.”

SaharaReporters gathered that many communities in Katsina State have been sacked by gunmen, who killed wantonly and roamed around with audacity in the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, the trio have remained in police custody without an option of bail.

Source:- http://saharareporters.com/2020/05/03/i-spoke-out-anger-after-bandits-killed-my-family-rustled-15-cows-%E2%80%9370-year-old-man

The Katsina state police command said it has arrested three people “contemptuously insulting the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina state, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, CFR”.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah made this known in a press release gotten by Katsina Post.

According to the statement, those arrested are Lawal Abdullahi, alias “IZALA”, ‘m’, aged 70yrs of Gafai Quarters, Katsina, Bahajaje Abu, ‘m’, aged 30yrs and Hamza Abubakar, ‘m’, aged 27yrs all of Gafai Quarters, Katsina, Katsina state.
The statement further said that in the course of investigation suspects confessed to the commission of the offences.

“To this end, the Command wishes to warn members of the general public that the Police will not fold its arms and watch while disgruntled elements violate the sacred laws of the land.

“Any person found taking undue advantage of the social media to insult others, contrary to the provisions of Cyber Crime Act, will face the wrath of the law”, the statement said.

Source:- http://katsinapost.com.ng/2020/04/30/police-in-katsina-arrest-3-for-insulting-buhari-gov-masari-on-social-media/

Lockdown: Blind people in Katsina vows not to elect politicians who didn’t support them

Lockdown: We’ll not elect politicians who abandon us again, says the blinds in Katsina

Physically impaired persons in Katsina have called on politicians and philanthropists to include them in the palliatives being shared to residents and constituents, Daily Trust reports.

The Sarkin Makafin Katsina, Alhaji Garba Mohammed Nahuta, in an interview with Arewa Trust said the politicians have abandoned them at this critical period.

He said they were aware of what leading politicians were sharing out to their party executives and other people in their respective constituencies.

According to him, it is disheartening to see that the most vulnerable people, those who are in urgent need of these palliatives, are being left out.

He said only one philanthropist has distributed grains to them in the whole state.
“Most of our members have to go out to beg for their daily needs and the lockdown has forced all of us into our houses. We cannot go anywhere and people do not see the need to reach and help us.

“People should know that we are humans and have families to feed and cater for. This holy month gives opportunity to sow seed for heavenly reward,” he added.

Nahuta, who is also the National Secretary, Nigeria Council for the Blind, said his members would not vote for any politician who failed to assist them during this difficult time.

He said the association was in talks with the state government on the issue and was optimistic that the members would be put on the list of beneficiaries.

Source:- http://katsinapost.com.ng/2020/04/30/lockdown-blind-people-in-katsina-vows-not-to-elect-politicians-who-didnt-support-them/

The Federal Government has declared Friday, May 1, 2020 as public holiday to mark this year’s International Workers’ Day Celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barrister Georgina Ehuriah, Aregbesola commended Nigerian workers for their resilience, patience and understanding.

He particularly praised the workers for their support of the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration’s efforts at stemming the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Aregbesola, who further thanked Nigerians and the labour force for their sacrifices in the present period of trial, assured that their commitment and patience will complement the efforts being made by Government and other stakeholders to ensure the speedy control of the virus.

He said that with the cooperation of every citizen as well as strict adherence to the measures being put in place by relevant authorities, the challenges being faced by Nigerians as a result of the disease would soon be put behind.

The Minister expressed optimism that the economy of the country will rebound and be stronger after the COVID-19 experience, taking cognizance of the various economic stabilisation efforts by the Federal Government. He therefore, called on Nigerians to remain calm and be hopeful.

Source :- https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-fg-declares-may-1-public-holiday/

IgbereTV reports that the Nigeria police force has dismissed two of its officers captured in a viral video assaulting a woman at the Odo Ori Market in Iwo, Osun State.

In the video, the two officers named Ikuesan Taiwo and Abass Ibrahim is seen flogging a lady who had tendered that she was running errands for drugs and food supplies amidst the lockdown in the state.

In a statement released by the Force Public Relations Department on twitter, the two officers have been dismissed and would be arraigned for persecution for their unprofessional conduct.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/PoliceNG/status/1253739717146955778

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Katsina State Emergency Response Committee on COVID-19 said it has earmarked N10,254,000 for the monthly allowance of medical personnel deployed at the isolation centers at the Federal Medical Center.

This according to Katsina Post checks amount to N341,800 daily for the month of April.

This was disclosed to newsmen in Katsina by the Chairman of the Committee and State Deputy Governor, Mannir Yakubu during a press briefing.

“We want to avoid what is happening elsewhere where medical personnel refuse to attend to the Covid-19 patients due to poor renumeration.

“We are also taking good care of the patients for the general good of all of us.

“We already discussed our plans with the the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center, Katsina and he expressed his satisfaction and also ensured the judicious use of the funds”, he said.
Alhaji Mannir Yakubu also said their committee expended N24.6 million in fumigation of mosques and churches and procurement of hygienic materialswhile N5.4 million was used in the purchase of hygienic materials that were distributed to the mosques and churches.

While giving a breakdown of the expenses regarding the over N207 million donations received by the government, he said training of 66 medical personnel and 102 Disease Surveillance Nursing officers further gulped N3.7 million.

He said additional N3.5 million has been approved for sensitisation of members of the state traders’ association.


Source :- KATSINA POST NEWS

Mallam Abba Kyari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff is dead.

He died of COVID-19 on Friday. He was in his early 70s.
The Presidency confirmed his death in a statement early Saturday.

Media adviser, Femi Adesina made the obituary announcement.

“The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari”, he said.

The Katsina State Government on Friday confirmed four new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases in the state to nine.

The Chairman of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee and Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, who disclosed this while briefing journalists, said the four new cases were recorded in Daura and Dutsin-Ma Local Government Areas of the state.

He said: “We have received four additional positive cases in the state on 16th of April, 2020, making a total of nine. Out of the four new cases, three were from Daura, a community transmission from one of the contacts to the deceased doctor. The other person is from Dutsin-Ma.”

Yakubu, however, said the committee has received a whooping sum of N207.6 million donations from organizations and individuals to tackle the spread of the global novel coronavirus pandemic in the state.

He explained that the state COVID-19 Emergency Respond Committee was pursuing financial pledges amounting to the tune of N33,500,000 from individuals and corporate organizations.

He noted that the training of 66 medical personnel of the 10 proposed isolation centres and training of 102 DSNOs from the 34 local governments gulped the sum of N3,775,850.00.

According to him, “Funding of activities of sensitization and enlightenment committee, N4,535,000.00; procurement of hygienic materials distributed at Juma’at mosques and churches in the state, N5,464,000.00; and fumigation of mosques and churches, N19,01,960.00.

“Procurement of medical equipment for the isolation centre at GARSH, Lot 1,2 and 3 is N106,663,561.00. The total committed and approved expenditure of the committee is N172,712,347.00.”


Source :- Katsinabeat.com.ng

It’s the 5th anniversary of the Nollywood Creative Minds Forum NCMF in 2020. And we had planned to make more short films. Feature films by some of our chapters and the parent chapter in Lagos. We had big plans for content creation and for collaborations.
Founder/President – Ijeoma Richards

Katsina State has recorded another positive case of Corona Virus also known as Covid-19, Katsina Post learned.

This was announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) – the Federal Government agency saddled with the responsibility of curtailing spread of diseases in Nigeria.

The agency, in their daily update made the announcement via their social media handles some minutes after 9pm on Sunday.The additional case recorded in Katsina is included in the five cases recorded nationwide.

Katsina State now recorded five cases of the dreaded viral disease.

Source :-Katsina Post

Governor Aminu Bello Masari has announced total lockdown of Daura town to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from seven o’clock in the morning of this Saturday.

Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari was addressing newsmen on the outcome of the samples of people that intereacted with the deceased Dr in Daura.

Out of the 23 samples sent to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control-NCDC in Abuja, Governor Aminu Masari revealed that 3 have tested positive to Covid-19 and they are the widow of the deceased Dr and his two children.

Following this development, he said a meeting held with security Agencies, Emergency Response Committee under the Deputy Governor and other stakeholders and deliberated on the steps to be taken to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

Source :- Katsina Post

Three more people has been tested to contracted the dreaded noble Corona Virus in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, Katsina Post learned.

Those who tested positive for the disease are the late doctor’s wife and two of his children.

Katsina Post learnt that the three positive cases were among the 23 people who had contact with the state’s index case who died recently.

Briefing newsmen on Friday, the state governor, Aminu Masari, said a total of 23 samples were sent for testing after the death of index case and three, including his wife and 2 of his children turned up positive.



He added that: “Already, the patients are being evacuated to an isolation center located at the Federal Medical center, Katsina for treatment.”

Details later.

Source :- Katsina Post