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DEVELOPING: Lecturer accused of rape, dismissed from work, awaiting trial

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Adamu Gambo Hudu, a health lecturer that was arrested for alleged raping of his student has been dismissed from work by Al-Ma’arif College of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences, a private nursing school in Potiskum local government area of Yobe State.

This was confirmed by the school authority on Sunday night where it noted that it did not hesitate to terminate his appointment even before his arrest by the police.

The school also said that they have zero tolerance for such act by any of their employees.

MaidawaArewa had reported earlier how he was arrested by the police on charges of rape, molestation and bridge of trust among other things.

In a letter dated 24th February 2024, which was made available to MaidawaArewa, the accused is also alleged with sexual activities and academic intimidation of three other students.

“Subject: Termination of Engagement with Al-Ma’arif CNS, Potiskum
The Appointment, Promotion & Disciplinary Committee of the College has approved your termination of engagement with the College with immediate effect. The reason for the termination is on the ground of the following established offences:

  1. Illicit affair with one of our students (name withheld for obvious reason)
  2. Moral victimization of our three students (names withheld for obvious reason)
  3. Academic intimidation of one of our students (name withheld for obvious reason)
    The above offences contravene the Laws of the College as contained in Chapter 1, Section 1.3.22 of the CoS.
  4. For these reasons you’re to handover all the booklets and properties belonging to the College that are with you to the Heads of Departments of Nursing and Midwifery respectively and await further action to be taken against you for breach of trust by both the College and the parents of the affected student.
  5. This is for your information,” the letter reads.

According to our sources, Mr. Hudu is currently under prison custody as directed by a court order, pending his trial.

However, this is coming after the lecturer’s other alleged victims were invited by the police for questioning on Thursday as part of their investigation.

Hudu is also an employee of Yobe State government under State General Hospital, Potiskum.

There is however, no official statement from the government on the issue at the time of filling this report.

DEVELOPING: How a lecturer is luring his students for sex and rape in Yobe

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Following the arrest of Mr. Adamu Garba Hudu, a lecturer at Al-Ma’arif, a private nursing school Potiskum, in Yobe State, for alleged raping of one of his students, another victim of his sexual exploitation has revealed how he use to lure his students for ‘sex for grade’.

Also an employee of State General Hospital, Potiskum, Mr. Hudu was arrested by police on Tuesday for alleged ‘rape, molestation and breach of trust and is going further investigation’ as stated by the police command in the state.

The victim of Mr. Hudu who opened up to this reporter said the news of his arrest gave her and others the courage to open up on their experience with him.

For security reasons, she declined her name to be mentioned in the report.

ALSO READ: Health lecturer arrested for raping his student in Yobe

“As I talk to you right now, food is in front of me but I couldn’t eat, I am traumatized by the news of his arrest,’’ she said.

As a student of Al-Ma’arif nursing school, she said Malam Hudu is their Mental Health Psychiatric Nursing lecturer, and it all began when she complained to him about her personal health problem.

‘‘He tried to take advantage of me and asked me to see him in his office at the hospital, that it is the only way to examine my health issue.

‘’When I met him, he only talked about my health issues in less than a minute, then he diverted into a different conversation I was not comfortable with,’’ she narrated.

Explaining further, she said he claimed to be in love with her and that he wants to marry her.

‘’He continue making promises that he will take care of my responsibilities and that I will never fail any course in school,’’ she added.

Few months later after writing his course exams, Research Statistic, she recalled that Mr. Hudu called her and claimed that she had fail woefully in the exam but pledge to help her pass it and that she should not disclosed it to anybody.

‘’He said I should come to his office but if I tell anyone, we will both be in trouble, because he will lose his job and I will be dismissed from the school.

‘’I was scared and gave him the excuse that I won’t be able to leave the school premises without a gate pass, and any of my parents will have to call the school authorities and confirm any of my excuses before I will be granted the pass, but he insisted that I should find any excuse for my parents to make the call but I told him my father is like a police man, he will eventually find out.

‘’That was when he yielded and said I should come to the office when we arrive for our clinical,’’ she said.

Out of fear and uncertainty, she reported the situation to the student affairs division and they assured her that nothing will happened if she can secure any evidence, even if just a recording of their conversation.

She noted that ever since, Mr. Hudu kept pressuring her to visit his office and then came the news of him succeeding on one of the midwifery student.

The latest victim of Mr. Hudu is alleged to have been raped in his office at the General Hospital on Tuesday.

Findings by this reporter also suggested that Hudu is a husband of two wives and has several children.

Sources also revealed Hudu has since been dismissed Al-Ma’arif. However, there’s is no comment from Yobe state government yet.

Health lecturer arrested for raping his student in Yobe

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A health lecturer was arrested on Tuesday for alleged raping of his student in Potiskum local government area of Yobe State.

The lecturer, one Adamu Garba Hudu, is an employee of State General Hospital, Potiskum and Al-Ma’arif, a private nursing school in Potiskum, where the alleged victim is schooling.

DSP Abdulkarim Dungus, the public relation officer, Yobe State police command confirmed the arrest of Mr. Hudu to MaidawaArewa on Wednesday, noting that further investigation is being carried out on the issue.

“The culprit is in our custody. He was arrested yesterday for alleged rape, molestation and breach of trust. Further investigation is ongoing,” Dungus said.

Usman Alhaji Saleh, Al Maarif registrar declined to make further comments on the case when contacted via phone call.

A source close to the victim in Potiskum confirmed that the alleged rape took place in Mr. Hudu’s office at Potiskum general hospital.

“He came and picked her from home to his office,” the source, who did not authorize his name to be mentioned said.

However, the accused is also alleged of sexually exploiting his other students for grades.

Our source noted that Mr. Hudu use to lure his victims to his office using excuses of them failing his courses and offering to help them pass it, resulting to engaging in sexual relationships.

‘’He will say you have failed my course. Go and collect a gate pass from the school and meet me in my office in general hospital,’’ the source noted.

More details later…

EXCLUSIVE: IDPs, thousand others rendered jobless, plunged into poverty in Abuja demolition

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An Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Abuja, Ali Ibrahim said that the days of sleeping with empty stomach in his family has returned again.

He said this while reacting to the demolition of Area One mini market by the federal government in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja where he owns a shop.

Standing beside his temporary food stall near the remains of his former shop while granting an interview to this reporter, Ibrahim said his only source of income is selling local food in the market, and that a day without it will mean no food to eat in his house for that day.

Ibrahim, a husband of two and father of six, is a local food vendor, who relocated to the city about two decades ago, after his community in Gwoza local government area of Borno State was ransacked and occupied by the dreaded Boko-Haram terrorist group.

‘’I started selling local food in this market about 18 years ago, it is my only business since coming here. I came straight from Gwoza when Boko-Haram took over our community and if you look around, you will find many IDPs like myself in this market who come from Gwoza and other places, doing all kinds of petty jobs here,’’ he said.

He also said that he earned not less than N5,000 profit daily, which he used to take food home every day, but the demolition has plunged him into extreme poverty.

Like Ibrahim, eight of his employees were also rendered jobless among thousand others at the market.

The demolition exercise started on Wednesday Morning, January 17, and continued the following day.

According to several sources interviewed in the market, over 300 shops, containers and temporary stalls were destroyed, including a Mosque and a commercial bathrooms and toilet, popularly known as ‘Gidan Wanka’ in Hausa dialect, meaning ‘bath-house.’

They also noted that over ten thousand people work or do businesses in the market.

‘’It is not a large market but it will be hard to capture the accurate number of business people in it because many comes every day to do their businesses and go without having any physical structure like a shop, stall or shade and hundreds of people also spend their nights in their shops,’’ Wakil Babagana, another victim of the demolition said.

A barber at Area One mini market, Mr. Wakil, aged 30, is another IDP from Borno State, whose shop was demolished on Wednesday.

Also a graduate of Higher National Diploma (HND), he said he came to Abuja two years ago after he failed to secure a job, four years after his graduation and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.

‘‘My ambition was to join force after graduation, but I have tried several times, including enrolling in training and screening but all in vein, and at some points, bribes were demanded from us to be enlisted,’’ Wakil explained.

He said that his decision to come to Abuja is not only to earn a living but to prove to the federal government that they are not ‘’lazy youths’’.

Another victim of the demolition, Blessing John said she is thinking of going back to her town in Niger State because she cannot survive in the city after losing their shop.

Blessing is a mother of two who also runs a local restaurant in the market with six other workers and some of them use the shop as shelter.

‘’Now that it has been demolished, we have not only lost our source of income but the roof over our heads,’’ she said.

While they continue to spend their nights in the street, Blessing said they are still hesitating to see what will happen next in the area for few more days.

The victims said that this is about the sixth time the market is demolished but would later be revived.

On all occasions they said, there was never any compensation for their lost and that notice to vacate the place usually comes only 24 hours before the demolition.

While nursing for their losses during the demolition, the victims said they are not ready to leave the premises as they are hoping to accommodate and rebuild it again.

‘’You cannot snatch people’s job just like that without providing an alternative or any compensation and expect them to just go home and stay idle.

‘’We are still squatting around doing our regular businesses but out of fear of being chased by the police because they usually come unannounced and when they are gone, we come back again,’’ a POS agent who wants to stay anonymous said.

HISTORY OF THE MARKET

Area One mini market is an extension of Gwagwalada motor park, located around Area One roundabout, Central Area District, Abuja.

The market has several shops, containers, and other small stalls and shades where people engage in trading activities.

The business at the market includes local food vendors, provision stores, tailoring, mechanic workshops, car washing, phones and other electronics sells and repairs, barbing saloons, POS operators, cooking gas refilling, tea joints, shoe making, laundry services, herbal medicines and others trading activities.

According to the occupants, the market is more than three decades old and has witnessed several demolitions by government, but would later be revived by the same occupants gradually, while further expansions were made within the years.

‘‘I came to this place and setup my mechanic workshop around 1992 and it was bushy at that time. I just cleared some space and started hosting customers, except for few houses, I was the only business person here at that time,’’ Garuba Lawan, a father of nine narrated.

He explained further that getting a spot at the market was initially free and undocumented but was later organized and allocation fee, annual rent, monthly and other taxes were introduced by official of the market and the name ‘Area One Mini Market’ was introduced.

‘‘I came to this place 22 years ago and I didn’t pay any money for allocation but when the market became formal about ten years ago, I paid N600,000 for registration and N5,000 monthly charges,’’ a car wash owner who wants to be recognized as AY said.

The food vendor Ibrahim also said he pays N100 daily, N5,000 monthly and N45,000 annually as rent fee and tax to the market managers.

‘’The market officials are not government workers but private people who told us they have partnership with government agencies on the market management,’’ AY added.

REASON FOR THE DEMOLITION

Area one is recognized as one of the hot-beds for criminal activities in Abuja, particularly drugs trading.

It is one of the black spots in the city that has drawn security attention for many years, within which several raids were carried out by security officials to fish out drug dealers and other criminal elements.

Therefore, many believes that the demolition is not unconnected to the criminal activities associated with the area.

‘’It is true that some bad elements engage in drugs in this place, it has been going on for years and the authorities knows that, but it is not enough excuse to destroy other people’s means of livelihood because of a few,’’ another victim maintained anonymity for security reasons said.

He added that, ‘’what the authorities do not understand is that those drug dealers do not have shops or any physical structure here, they walk around and operate with their products on themselves.’’

However, efforts to get information from officials on the reason for the latest demolition prove abortive as an officer who is said to be in-charge of the exercise declined to comment to this reporter.

According to the market people, they heard rumors that the Jabi Motor Park would be relocated to the Gwagwalada park, hence the need for expansion for adequate space.

Also, some of them believe that their services are essential to the park with or without the expansion.

‘’Food is an essential need in any motor park, so I don’t see the reason for demolishing our restaurant,’’ Madam Stella Ogba said.

Like many others, Mrs. Stella is also not ready to leave the market for whatever reason, therefore she will ‘‘continue to stay around and wait for any eventualities, because right now, I don’t know where to start looking for another place to continue my business.’’

Boko Haram ‘reportedly’ Executes Two Red Cross Staff, Woman in Borno

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The unconfirmed video clip, yesterday, indicated that some armed members of Boko Haram have gruesomely murdered two Red Cross staff, in Ngoshe Community of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Vanguard had recently reported killings of farmers and abduction of many people in the community and Kirawa town of Gwoza, with looting of unripe crops on farmlands by terrorists.

In the video clip obtained yesterday, the leader of the terrorists who did not mention his name, said in Hausa language: “Many of our elders and children have been molested by security agencies, but Allah (God), in his infinite mercy to our struggles, has successfully led to the arrest of some staff working with Red Cross as well as some elderly women, including one of my sisters.

“This is in addition to the successful killing of many security agencies and infidels and our great enemies.

“With these saboteurs we have captured, one of the females is my sister but because these women appear to be old in age, we will allow them to go free, while we execute the remaining enemies to indicate that we are fully on ground and to show the world that God Almighty is on our side as true Muslims,” the leader of the group said in the video.

The video clip showed the gruesome murder of victims with an axe, as watchers or collaborators shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) during the incident.

Speaking on the recent video clip, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents the area in the Senate, said: “I just watched the video too, and am trying to verify its authenticity.

“Notwithstanding, this has confirmed all my cries to the federal government and the whole world in my interviews with, especially Vanguard and other media platforms, that the resilient people of Gwoza, especially farmers who have resettled back to their ancestral homes after decades of Boko Haram atrocities, are still undergoing various forms of renewed attacks”.

All efforts to get confirmation from Yuxia JIANG, Communication Delegate, International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, proved abortive at press time.

Naira among worst performing currencies in Africa – World Bank

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The Nigerian Naira is among the worst-performing currencies in sub-Sahara Africa at the end of August 2024.

The World Bank disclosed this in its latest edition of Africa’s Pulse report.

Report showed that the Naira is at par with the Ethiopian Birr, and South Sudanese Pound in terms of decline in the region.

The report blamed the continued increase in the demand for dollars and limited dollar inflow for Naira depreciation in the last months.

According to the report, the Naira lost about 43 percent as of August.

“By August 2024, the Ethiopian birr, Nigerian naira, and South Sudanese pound were among the worst performers in the region.

“The Nigerian naira continued losing value, with a year-to-date depreciation of about 43 percent as of end-August.

“Surges in demand for US dollars in the parallel market, driven by financial institutions, money managers, and non-financial end-users, combined with limited dollar inflows and slow foreign exchange disbursements to currency exchange bureaus by the central bank explain the weakening of the naira,” it said.

Reports indicates that the Naira weakened significantly on Tuesday to N1658.97 per dollar from N1552.92 exchanged on Monday.

In the past months, the Naira has continued to fluctuate against the dollar in the foreign exchange market despite interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Nigeria’s inflation rose to 32.70 percent in September from 32.15 percent recorded in August 2024.

Despite this, the World Bank’s Economic growth in Nigeria is projected at 3.3 percent in 2024 and 3.6 percent in 2025–26.

Over 90 persons confirmed dead as explosion rocks Jigawa

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No fewer than 90 people were confirmed dead following a petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura local government area of Jigawa State on Tuesday.

Mr Shi’isu Adam, the Police Spokesperson in Jigawa, confirmed this in an interview with NAN on Wednesday.

He also said that 50 other persons had been hospitalised for various degrees of injuries due to the explosion.

”At about 11:30pm on Tuesday in Majia Town, Taura local government area of Jigawa, the tanker driver lost control near Khadija University and exploded.

“The driver left Kano and was heading to Nguru in Yobe when the accident happened,” Adam said.

He said: ”we are worried that in spite of police warning people to stay clear from scenes of accidents involving fuel tankers, they still engage in such acts.

”People gathered around the accident scene, that is the reason for the mass casuality”.

The spokesperson said that a mass burial of the victims would hold by 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

He added that the injured were receiving medical attention at the Ringim General hospital.

FG, Zulum to upgrade Maiduguri airport to international

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Muhammadu Buhari Airport in Maiduguri is set to become an international airport, marking a significant milestone for the Northeast region of Nigeria.

This upgrade is expected to boost economic growth and connectivity in the area.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State assured Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation of his administration’s support for the upgrade during a visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

‘As the chairman of Northeast governors, and this is our first international airport, I want to assure you of the political will needed to ensure the implementation of this laudable stride,’ Gov. Zulum said.

The aviation minister confirmed that all preparations for the airport’s international status have been completed, and relevant government agencies have been notified.

‘Muhammadu Buhari Airport will take off as a full international airport on January 1, 2025. All the takeoff preparations have been concluded,’ the minister assured.

Gov. Zulum emphasised that Maiduguri’s strategic location as a gateway to countries surrounding Lake Chad and Central Africa makes this upgrade crucial for stimulating economic development in the Northeast region.

Mr. Keyamo expressed gratitude to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the upgrade, noting that the North East was the only geopolitical zone without a full international airport.

The governor was accompanied in the visit by senators Muhammad Ali Ndume, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, and Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno South, North, and Central, respectively.

This development is a welcome boost to the region’s economy and infrastructure, positioning Maiduguri as a vital hub for domestic and international travel.

9News Nigeria Set To Launch Northeast Bureau In Maiduguri

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All is set for the launching of 9News Nigeria Northeast Bureau in Borno State capital, Maiduguri.

The program will mark the official commencement of the media organization’s operation in the Northeast region, Nigeria.

The event is expected to host media stakeholders in Maiduguri and other parts of the northeast region, where they would be introduced to 9News objectives, mission and vision among other things.

Also, the organization would present Abubakar Haruna Muhammad, as the Bureau Chief, of the regional body.

Part of the program also is an interactive panel discussion between media practicioners on ‘Reporting Conflict and Disaster’.

According to Bureau Chief, the choice of the panel discussion topic is in line with recurrent trends in Borno State and the Northest region.

Yobe State is one of the most hit states by flood disaster in Nigeria for several years, while Borno State witnessed a devastating flood disaster in September this year, the worst in it’s history.

”Borno and Yobe States as well as the whole of Northest has witnessed several conflicts and crisis over the recent decades.

”The Boko-Haram crisis and other natural disasters has severely affected communities in the region and media practicioners continue to struggle with the management of information during these periods.

“It is in this regard therefore that we think a panel discussion on the topic, would help journalists and other media practicioners and organizations on the best practices during such periods,” Mr. Muhammad explained.

More details shortly…

Court rejects Binance executive’s fresh bail plea

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A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed a fresh bail application filed by the detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, dismissed the application on the ground that it constituted an abuse of court process.

Justice Nwite held that Gambaryan’s request could not be granted when he was still challenging the earlier bail ruling at the Court of Appeal.

The judge, who stressed that the defendant failed to withdraw his pending appeal against the earlier ruling on his bail application before filing another motion, said such act amounted to an abuse of court process.

“There is no gainsaying on this leg alone that this application is bound to fail,” he said.

He further held that Gambaryan had not shown to the court that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) does not have enough facilities or had failed to take care of his ill health.

“Therefore, the facts before the court have shown that the Nigerian Correctional Service can treat the second defendant,” he said.

The judge, however, ordered the NCoS to refer Gambaryan to any standard hospital in Abuja for a period of two to three days.

He subsequently adjourned the matter until October 18, November 22 and November 25, for continuation of trial.

Justice Nwite had fixed Friday, October 11, for the ruling on the second bail application due to his absence in court last Wednesday.

NAN reports that counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, had, on September 4, vehemently opposed the bail application moved by Mark Mordi, SAN, on Gambaryan’s behalf.

Iheanacho, who argued that the Binance executive was being given the best medical treatment by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), alleged that Gambaryan, at one time, rejected the medical intervention by the State House Clinic in Abuja.

The lawyer drew the attention of the court to the State House Clinic’s medical report.

He stated that despite that Gambaryan’s ill-health was not as bad as it was being portrayed, the report showed that the defendant was dissatisfied with the medical attention being offered and rejected it.

The anti-graft agency’s lawyer urged the court to dismiss the fresh application. He explained that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, wrote to the management of the NCoS, requesting Gambaryan’s medical records.

He said that a response from the NCoS was received by the NSA on August 29 with the attached report of Nizamiye Hospital, among others.

According to him, the report indicated that Gambaryan has been receiving adequate medical care from the NCoS and has been taken to several hospitals, including the State House Clinic.

Iheanacho insisted that NCoS could take Gambaryan to any hospital in Nigeria, adding that surgeons cannot force surgery on the defendant without his consent.

He said Gambaryan “cannot suddenly become sick,” as is allegedly commonplace with some suspects facing trial.

Earlier, Modi had prayed to the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, or alternatively, to admit him to bail for six weeks on the basis of ill health.

He argued that though the EFCC purportedly denied Gambaryan had a serious health issue, the exhibits, including the medical reports, showed that he needed medical care.

The lawyer argued that Gambaryan’s health challenge cannot be adequately managed in Nigeria.

Corruption root of all criminal acts – ICPC

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The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has declared that corruption is the root of all criminal activities, urging all Nigerians to combat it collectively.

The ICPC chairman said this in Abuja on Friday, stressing that corruption poses a severe threat to national security by undermining a nation’s stability, prosperity and sovereignty.

Represented by the ICPC Deputy Director, Dr. Oluwasina Babasola, he said, “Under Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu’s leadership, the ICPC has made significant strides in just a few months, earning respect and securing critical partnerships across Nigeria.”

He told the gathering comprising of military and para-military officers that the Commission would remain committed to minimizing corruption, expressing gratitude for the recognition, which he said would inspire further efforts.

it can be recall that Aliyu had vowed to enforce the verdict of the Supreme Court on Local Government Autonomy at all costs.

He warned those plotting to go against the law to check his records.

The ICPC boss had also revealed that the Commission had recovered about N4 billion stolen by public office holders within 24 hours.

The ICPC boss wondered why some government officials would keep billions of public funds in their possession.

According to him, ICPC would deploy technological measures, especially Artificial Intelligence, AI, to unravel corrupt practices easily.

Court summons ex-gov, Yahaya Bello over alleged criminal breach of trust

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The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has summoned Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, over allegations of criminal breach of trust.

The former governor, who was earlier declared wanted by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegations of money laundering, is also accused of possession of the unlawfully acquired property.

The summons, issued by Justice Maryann E. Anenih and made available to the public on Friday, alleged that Bello committed the offences between 2016 and 2023.

According to the summons dated October 3, 2024, Bello is accused of violating Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, which deals with criminal breach of trust and is punishable under Section 312.

The document, which was posted by the anti-graft agency via its official X handle, indicated that Bello is also charged under Section 319A, for allegedly possessing property suspected to have been obtained through unlawful means.

79m girls, women experience rape, sexual assault – UNICEF report

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A report by UNICEF released on Thursday says more than 79 million women and girls across sub-Saharan Africa have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood.

According to the report, the region ranks among the most dangerous places globally for girls.

It estimated that worldwide, around 370 million girls and women have endured sexual violence, with approximately one in five in sub-Saharan Africa suffering abuse before the age of 18.

The UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, explained that sexual violence against children is a stain on their moral conscience.

Claudia Cappa, UNICEF’s chief statistician, explained that the new data, presented for the first time, was compiled from national statistics and international surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022, saying that despite inevitable gaps and underreporting, the figures aim to bring visibility to the scale of the crisis.

Nankali Maksud, a regional child violence specialist based in Nairobi said, “It’s terrifying, it is generations of trauma, the far-reaching impacts of the abuse.”

She stated that the trauma endured by survivors has significant consequences on development efforts, especially education, saying that they are pushing to get girls into school, but a girl who has been raped or assaulted struggles to learn.

Aid agencies have raised alarms about the heightened risks for women and girls due to ongoing conflicts, adding that the regions are facing conflict and insecurity, such as Sudan, see the highest rates of sexual violence.

The report explained that children in fragile settings are especially vulnerable to sexual violence, stressing that in conflict zones, sexual violence, including rape, is often used as a weapon of war, further compounding the trauma.

Gov. Kefas interacts with Principals made new promises

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Taraba State Governor Dr Agbu Kefas has met with School Primcipals and Head Teachers at the Jolly Nyame Stadium Jalingo where he made new promises

Dr. Agbu Kefas said the pursuit of free and compulsory education is essential for shaping the future generation and the commitment will not be reversed.

“There is no going back on my free and compulsory education policy as education remains key to progress in all areas of human endeavours.” Kefas declared.

The Governor disclosed that his administration is working tirelessly to ensure that not only the young people get the best but also their teachers
and urged the Teachers to interact with parents to ensure that all children are enrolled into schools.

The Governor disclosed that deserving teachers would be promoted and instructed the State Ministry of Education to constitute a committee to assess enrollment and submit recommendations for further actions.

“Outstanding Teachers’ salaries arrears will be paid before December 2024, as well as work on the review of the running costs of schools, among others.”the Governor assures.

Dr. Kefas revealed that about 100,000 School uniforms, bags, sandals and other materials are ready and will soon be released to schools for distribution to students.

“We are working tirelessly with the Civil Defence Service to work on the physical Security of the school environment to ensure a safe atmosphere for learning.” He added.

Earlier, Taraba State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin said the the efforts of Dr. Agbu Kefas have successfully transitioned the State from educationally disadvantaged to educationally competitive State.

She said the free and compulsory education policy of the Governor has led to significant increase in school enrollment across the state
and assured that the Education Ministry will remain committed to supporting the Governor’s vision and pleaded for the implementation of Teachers’ promotions to boost their morale.

The Acting Chairperson of Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board Mrs. Rabi Samuel and the Acting Executive Secretary of Taraba State Post Primary Schools Management Board, Mrs. Elizabeth Zakaria Yoruta noted that the emergence of Dr Agbu Kefas brought unprecedented transformation to the education sector.

” The Governor has intervened in vital ways that have kept the school running as well as empoweref Head Teachers and Principals to deliver our services.” they said.

They declared that because of the commitments of the Governor Teachers are responding with renewed commitment and dedication for service delivery.