Fulani not responsible for killings by herdsmen - Northern governors

The 19 governors from the northern states under the umbrella of the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF have decried the labeling of Fulanis as the brains behind atrocities being committed by herdsmen across the country.

The Chairman of the NSGF and Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima said after a meeting of the forum in Kaduna on Friday that it is an insult to consider criminals as Fulani.

“We want to unequivocally condemn the recent killings in Enugu and other parts of the country. But we equally condemn the politicization or permit me, the ‘ethinicisation’ of the whole crisis.

“It goes beyond Fulani. If anything happens, they say Fulani herdsmen. To me, it is an insult.

“Kidnapping in this country originated in the Southeast, were they called Igbo kidnappers? We have a great national challenge and we want to call on all and sundry to come and let us solve our common challenges as a people, because the blood of paternity that binds us together supersedes whatever differences that might divide us,” he said.

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El-Rufai set to end kidnapping in Kaduna

Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has expressed his determination to ensure the safety of lives and property in Kaduna State by putting an end to the rampant kidnappings in the state.

During a town hall meeting in Kachia, Kachia Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, El-Rufai said the frequent abductions in the state have been giving his administration sleepless nights.

“We have put in place as part of our statutory function, security measure to put an end to the menace once and for all,’’ he said.

He added that a kidnap kingpin was recently arrested by police in the state while several arms were recovered from his gang.

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PINE donates relief materials to Borno IDPs in Taraba

The Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE, has donated relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs from Borno State being camped at different locations in Taraba State.

The materials were received on behalf of the displaced persons by Gov Darius Ishaku from the Secretary of PINE, Alhaji Umar Gulani,

Gulani assured the IDPs of Federal Government's commitment to put an end to insurgency and communal clashes across the country to enable them return to their communities.

"The materials we have brought for you today are meant to alleviate your sufferings at the moment.

"Government is working tirelessly to put an end to all forms of insurgency and crisis across the country so that you go back home.

"I, therefore, urge you to be at peace with your host community and among yourselves as a mark of appreciation and support to government’s efforts."

The relief materials according to News Agency of Nigeria included bags of maize, beans, millet,  mattresses, buckets, plastic cups and cartons of soap.

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Buhari receives Gov Ambode in Abuja (Photo)

Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode was at the State House, Abuja on Friday on a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

He lauded Buhari on his purposeful leadership, especially his recent trip to China where he secured investment agreements worth over $6b.

Ambode said the agreements would benefit Lagos especially as regards the Lagos-Kano rail line and the Lagos metro project.

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FRSC personnel conducting tyre watch at Banex Junction, Abuja (Photos)

Men of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC on Friday 29 April conducted a tyre watch at Banex Junction in Wuse area of Abuja.

The Corps used the occasion to call for a change of attitude among Nigerians on the use of expired tyres.

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Referees chairman wants foreign coach for Super Eagles

Owing to what he described as the failure of Nigerian coaches to separate coaching from business, the President of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, Tade Azeez has advised the Nigeria Football Federation to hire a foreign coach to rebuild the Super Eagles.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in a telephone chat that a foreign coach is the only way forward for the NFF.

"If the board believes they can get a foreigner that will work very well and they know that they have a way of paying the salaries without affecting them, I support the agitation for a foreign coach.

"This is because our indigenous coaches cannot separate their coaching abilities from business.

"They are all businessmen, who have interest in one player or the other and because they want to make money, they force such players on Nigerians.

"That has been the problem with them. They are not after the best players representing us and I think as professionals, they should be able to differentiate between coaching and business. I doubt if any of them can do that,’’ he said.

The Super Eagles have not had a substantive coach since the shock resignation of Sunday Oliseh on February 26, 2016.

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Federal government must take action to disarm cattle rearers - Murray-Bruce

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP Bayelsa East) has called on the Federal Government to disarm cattle rearers in the country.

He said while speaking on the floor of the Senate in the wake of Monday's killings at Nimbo community in Enugu State that if the activities of Fulani herdsmen were the checked, the situation could lead to reprisals and ultimately plunge the country into war.

"That day is here and that day is now when retaliation begins. The civil war was fought in a conventional fashion with one army facing another army.

"You are going to have a guerrilla warfare; it is not a war anybody can win; it will cause a destruction of Nigeria.

"We must urge the Nigerian government to take action to disarm cattle rearers.

"As far as I am concerned you need a license to own a gun; nobody has a right to own a gun without a license.

"This is a very serious issue. Motion after motion has been presented here. From the North, from the South, from the East to the West, everybody is affected.

"What is going to happen now people are going to read religion and ethnicity into this fight.

"Once that happens illiterates who do not have the knowledge that we have will start retaliating and that day is now,” he warned.

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