🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Ganduje links rising street begging in Northern Nigeria to neglect of persons with disabilities
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Abdullahi Ganduje, former Governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, expressed concern over the increasing number of beggars in Northern Nigeria, attributing it to the long-standing neglect of persons with disabilities. Speaking at the 10th anniversary documentary premiere of Let’s Talk Humanity, an organization addressing the educational needs of the Deaf and Blind, Ganduje highlighted the systemic marginalization of persons with disabilities in the North. He noted that this marginalization has led to a visible increase in street beggars across major cities and urged government and development partners to support initiatives that empower persons with disabilities. Ganduje also commended the organization's founder, Fatima Ganduje Abiola-Ajumobi, for her commitment to humanitarian service. Bernard Doro, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, emphasized the importance of including persons with disabilities in technological development, advocating for accessibility by design. Abiola-Ajumobi reported that Let’s Talk Humanity has empowered over 1,000 beneficiaries in the past decade and aims to establish a national resource center for those with sensory impairment. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, praised the documentary and called for state governments to replicate such initiatives nationwide.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadFifty elders from Magamin Diddi village in Zamfara State were abducted by bandits during a peace meeting. The elders, from the Magami/Faru Ward of Maradun Local Government Area, were reportedly taken captive on Sunday after being delegated to meet with the bandits in the forest for dialogue. A local resident, Musa Sani, stated that the community sought reconciliation to allow residents to return to their farms, but the bandits instead kidnapped the elders. The Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident on Monday, noting that the community did not inform authorities about the reconciliation effort. Dosara expressed concern, emphasizing that both local and state governments oppose reconciliation with bandits, citing Governor Dauda Lawal's stance. He also mentioned that bandits had recently blocked roads to the community market due to the killing of their members by security operatives. Dosara questioned the community's decision to meet with the bandits, who he suggested were seeking retaliation. He confirmed that 11 of the abducted elders have since been released, while 39 remain in captivity.
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The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits as part of ongoing investigations into criminal activities in the Bagudo Local Government Area, including the recent killing of three Federal Road Safety Corps personnel. The arrests, made on June 5, resulted from intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks in the Soda Forest axis and surrounding border communities. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, stated that Mobile Police operatives intercepted three suspects, Muhammadu Bande, Aliyu Abubakar, and Muhammadu Aliyu, on a motorcycle from the Soda Forest area, allegedly on a mission to procure food supplies for criminal elements. In a separate operation, four other suspects, Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar Lawali, Anme Shehu, and Yahaya Shehu, were arrested along the Bakin Ruwa–Ka’oje axis. All suspects are in custody, and investigations are continuing to determine their full involvement in criminal activities, particularly the attack on FRSC personnel. The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, CP Umar M. Hadejia, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in combating banditry and violent crime, commending the operatives and public for their support. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to intelligence-driven operations to restore peace and urged residents to remain vigilant.