Alleged APC Card Seizure Sparks Tension Ahead of Yobe Governorship Primaries

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

Tension is mounting within the Yobe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations that party officials are forcibly collecting members’ registration cards ahead of the upcoming governorship primaries in Damaturu.

The claims were made by a group, Yobe State Concerned Citizens (YSCC), which warned that the development could undermine internal democracy and disenfranchise delegates expected to participate in the exercise.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Damaturu, the group’s coordinator, Musa Ali Baba, alleged that the ongoing collection of membership cards was part of a broader scheme to influence the outcome of the primaries.

“We received disturbing reports that the APC leadership in Yobe is currently forcing members to surrender their registration cards,” Mr Baba said.

He added that the situation is unfolding barely days before the primaries scheduled for the end of April, raising concerns about transparency in the selection process.

Mr Baba further alleged that some party leaders had earlier attempted to promote a preferred governorship aspirant without conducting primaries, a move he said was resisted by party members and other aspirants.

According to him, the alleged seizure of membership cards—particularly from grassroots members—has triggered widespread concern across the state’s 17 local government areas.

He warned that the move could be a strategy to restrict participation in the primaries to a select group of loyalists, especially if the party adopts a direct primary system.

“If this suspicion proves true, it would amount to outright electoral manipulation, denying party members the right to freely choose their candidate,” he said.

The group called on the APC’s national leadership to intervene and halt the alleged practice, while urging members not to surrender their cards.

It also threatened legal action against anyone found confiscating membership cards from party members.

However, the APC in Yobe has denied the allegations.

The party’s State Youth Leader, Musa Muhammad Gulani, described the claims as false and politically motivated.

“No directive has been issued for the collection of membership cards from any APC member in Yobe State,” Mr Gulani said.

He accused unnamed individuals of attempting to create tension within the party and mislead the public.

Mr Gulani reaffirmed the party’s commitment to conducting a transparent and credible governorship primary, urging members and the public to disregard what he described as baseless allegations.

Police Bust Phone-Snatching Ring in Damaturu, Arrest Seven Suspects

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu 

The Yobe State Police Command says it has arrested seven suspects linked to a string of burglary and phone-snatching incidents in Damaturu, the state capital.

The police said the arrests followed a coordinated operation targeting criminal activities in Nayinawa, Bindigari, One Million Road and Pompomari communities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said operatives of ‘A’ Division carried out the operation between April 16 and 19, leading to the dismantling of a suspected criminal syndicate.

“In a coordinated operation carried out by operatives of ‘A’ Division, Damaturu, a notorious criminal syndicate operating within the affected communities was successfully dismantled,” Mr Abdulkarim said.

He identified the suspects as Usman Mohammed (20), Abubakar Adamu (20), Mohammed Ibrahim (22), Mohd Goni (19), Khalifa Mohammed (19), Abubakar Mohammed (19), and Ali Mohammed (23).

The police spokesperson said the suspects confessed during interrogation to their involvement in multiple cases of burglary, theft and phone snatching across the affected areas.

“They admitted to stealing seven Android phones and two keypad phones. Six of the stolen phones have already been recovered,” he added.

Mr Abdulkarim said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, commended the operatives for their efforts and professionalism.

He directed sustained operations against criminal hideouts across the state and emphasised the need for intelligence-led policing.

The police also urged residents to support security agencies with credible information to strengthen ongoing efforts to tackle crime.

NEDC Hands Over Upgraded Water Scheme in Yobe, Promises Relief for Gujba Communities

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has transferred an upgraded water supply project in Buni Gari to the Yobe State Government, in a move aimed at tackling water scarcity in Gujba Local Government Area.

The intervention extends potable water from Buni Gari to Buni Yadi and neighbouring communities, many of which were severely affected by years of insurgency that destroyed critical infrastructure.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the NEDC’s Yobe State Coordinator, Ali Abbas, said the project reflects the commission’s commitment to rebuilding essential services in the North-East.

“This intervention is part of our mandate to support recovery and improve living conditions in communities that have suffered infrastructure damage due to conflict,” Mr Abbas said.

He noted that although the project had earlier been inaugurated by Governor Mai Mala Buni, it is now fully completed and ready for operational use.

The facility comprises four boreholes fitted with high-capacity submersible pumps and powered by a solar hybrid system, alongside connections to the national grid to ensure uninterrupted supply.

Other components include large-capacity water storage tanks, a booster station, an administrative building, and security structures. An extensive pipeline network has also been installed to enhance water distribution across the affected communities.

Mr Abbas added that an additional 6.01-kilometre pipeline network was constructed in response to demands from residents of Buni Yadi and surrounding areas.

“Today, we are formally handing over the facilities to the Yobe State Water Corporation and the Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene Agency for sustainable management,” he said.

He reiterated the commission’s resolve to continue investing in infrastructure that supports livelihoods and stabilises communities recovering from conflict.

Mr Abbas also disclosed that the NEDC had supplied equipment, including pumps, solar accessories and pipes, to facilitate repairs of damaged boreholes across the state.

According to him, the intervention followed assessments conducted in over 100 communities where water facilities were found to be non-functional.

Receiving the project on behalf of the state government, the General Manager of the Yobe State Water Corporation, Alhaji Ba’Abba Habu, described the project as a major boost to water supply in the area.

“This project will significantly improve access to clean water for residents of Buni Yadi and neighbouring communities,” Mr Habu said.

He assured that the state government would ensure proper maintenance of the facilities to guarantee long-term sustainability.

Residents who spoke to reporters expressed optimism that the project would ease water shortages, reduce the risk of waterborne diseases, and lessen the burden on women and children who often travel long distances in search of water.