**** Senator Sani Musa lamends, says his people are being killed like animals

Gunmen numbering over 50, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram on Thursday invaded Bassa community in Shiroro local government area of Niger State unleashed terror on the people, killing 20 people.
This was just as ten of those killed, all young men were beheaded by the Gunmen.
It was gathered that the Gunmen after beheading the victims, forced members of the community to carry the bodiless heads while they made video skits and took snap shots of the scene
The suspected Boko Haram members who invaded the community in broad daylight were said to have gathered the people together from where 20 adults were selected and shot at close range.
Our source indicated that ten of the youths who refused to be recruited by the Boko Haram into their fold, were gruesomely beheaded as the people watched helplessly.
“They told us that anybody who refused to be recruited into their fold will be given similar treatment. They said they used the ten beheaded youths as example.
“They said they had warned that everybody should vacate the community but they refused. It’s either we joined them or we vacate the community”, our source stated further.
It could be recalled that two months ago, the Boko Haram sects beheaded nine people in Allawa community in the same Shiroro local government area after they (Boko Haram) successfully dislodged the Military from it camp in the community.
The nine victims were said to have defied warnings from the gunmen that no member of the community Should come back after they had flee during the attack on the Military Camp in the community.
The deceased had gone to the community with their wives to get some food stuff when they were rounded up and beheaded, asked the women to take the message to the people, warning that anybody who ventured to return to the community will suffer similar faith.
Although no statement from the state government or the state police command over this latest massacre, the senator representing Niger East Senatorial district Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa while reacting to this development described the gruesome murder of the 20 harmless villagers as barberic, heartless and inhuman, saying that “my heart bleed for them.
“This is my darkest moment as the representative of the people of Niger East Senatorial district. I am very helpless at the moment. My people, including men, women and children are being killed like animals.
“The question is, what do they want from the people. These are harmless and innocent peasant farmers. Do they want to chase my people away from their lands”, Sani Musa queried.
According to him “only three weeks ago a group of Bandits invaded Kuchi Community, killing seven security agents and went away with about 150 persons. Up till this moment the entire Kuchi Community remained deserted”, he added.
Most worrisome, he said these latest attacks are coming when the people are preparing to return to the farm which is their only occupation”, he lamented.

About 50 Miners have been trapped underground after a mining pit collapsed in Galkogo community, Shiroro local government area of Niger State.
The mining site which belongs to a company, “African Minerals and logistics limited” collapsed on Sunday evening after a heavy downpour, leaving the 50 Miners buried underground.
Among those being trapped since Sunday night is the site manager of the mining company, Alhaji Ibrahim Ishaku.
It was gathered that a middle age man whose name was given as i i Kuta and who is the Chief security officer to the mining company, died while trying to rescue some of the victims.
Six people were eventually rescued with various degrees of injuries and are said to be receiving treatment at a government health facility in the area.
It was further gathered that while manual rescue operation was ongoing, another portion of the mining pit caved in, forcing the rescuers to abandoned the rescue operation to save their lives.
As at the time of filing this report (Tuesday) all the 50 victims are still being trapped underground, fueling fears that they may have been killed by the collapse pit.
The Public Relation officer (PRO) of the state emergency management agency, Mallam Hussaini Ibrahim who confirmed the incident in a statement in Minna on Tuesday said “due to the unacceptable nature of that environment as a result of banditry, the information of the incident is very scanty, including rescue operations”.
The PRO however disclosed that excavators have been deployed to the scene for the rescue operations.
He also confirmed bandits attacks on Adogo Mallam village in Mashegun local government area of the state on Sunday night where six persons were kidnapped and Tunga Kawo village in Erena ward of Shiroro local government where over 20 persons were also kidnapped with hundreds of cows rustled.

***Accuses women affairs Minister of misleading the public

From John Adams Minna

The Niger State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji has withdrawn his involvement in the mass wedding of over 100 girls in his Constituency, Mariga local government area of the state following controversies sorrounding his earlier decision to foot the bills.
The speaker however said that all the expenses already incured and the materials purchased towards the success of the marriage will be handed over to the parents of the brides insisting that “If the parents wished to go ahead with the marriage of their daughters so be it, but I have removed my hands”.
The speaker announced the withdrawal of his involvement in the mass wedding in Minna on Tuesday when he addressed the media to further clarify the controversies generated by his intention.
He described as unfortunate and embarrassing the actions of the honorable minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy Ohanenye for blowing the whole matter out of proportion without first finding out from him (the speaker) the motive behind his kind gesture.
“I am highly disappointed in the minister of women affairs and it is unfortunate that she allowed herself and her office to be misled by social media reports without finding out from me the true situation on ground concerning this mass wedding.
“She never bothered to get across to me to even find out the motive behind this Humanitarian gesture because I didn’t force any girl into marriage, it was the parents of the girls that approached me and solicited for my support and I gladly accepted to assist them.
“Again this was done after due consultations with religious leaders, traditional leaders and other critical stakeholders before the Brides were carefully selected. They were 270, but I told them that I can only provide support for 100 of the intending Brides for now.
“So for the minister to be threatening me with court action on the issue that she knows nothing about and never bothered to find out the true situation of things is quite unfortunate. My action has the blessing of the parents, religious and traditional leaders, including key stakeholders from my Constituency.
“The minister should know that both my religion and tradition do not allow girls of marriageable age to roam the street. We don’t allow prostitution or promiscuity in the north. This thing is being done with good intentions but some people decided to make issue out of it”.
Sarkindaji pointed out that it is disheartening to hear a minister of women affairs who has never visited any Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps as a result of bandits activities in Niger state to see the plight of women and children but sat in Abuja to be threatening to stop marriage of orphans whose parents are victims of bandits attacks.
“This is politics taken too far by the minister. She should be properly educated on the culture and tradition of the north where girls of marriageable age are not allowed to roam the streets.
“But I have decided to distance myself from participating in the activities, and if the parents of the girls allowed the minister to stop the marriage of their children so be it.
“I have provided the material support needed from me, and I will not go beyond that if the parents like let them stop the marriage of their children because a minister sitting in Abuja has threatened to go to court
“I will leave the minister with the parents of these girls. Let the minister go to Mariga and stop the parents from marrying out their girls. People playing dirty politics over what they know nothing about”, he added.