A road accident which occurred along a village in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State has claimed the lives of six Islamic clerics and thrown the ancient city of Kano into a state of mourning.
Officials close to Cornerstonenews ,indicated that the accident, involving a lone vehicle which was conveying eight passengers, occurred as a result of loss of control by the driver.
“As at the time we arrived at the scene, five of them had died. We rushed the other three to Sumaila General Hospital where, unfortunately, one later gave up, bringing the number of deceased people to six,” said an official.
It was gathered that the Islamic clerics, led by one Sheikh Alkassim Zakariyya, were on a religious tour of the area, under the umbrella of Imam Malik Islamic Foundation.
Those who died, according to official account, included Sheikh Alkassim, Malam Isiya Tela, Mustapha Musa Sa’ad, Malam Ishaq Rummawa, and Malam Zakariyya Alkassim Datak
Meanwhile, Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has commiserated with the immediate families of the deceased clerics.
He described their passage as painful and heartbreaking even as he prayed to Allah for the repose of their souls.
“On behalf of the government and people of Kano state I am extending our condolences to their families, Imam Malik Islamic Foundation and their friends for the great loss,” he stated.
May Allah forgive all their shortcomings and reward their good deeds with Jannatul Fiddaus,” he said.
The deceased have been buried according to Islamic rites.
Security: IGP procures additional assets for strategic deployment
In a bid to restrategise for better security networking in Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali, has acquired 55 additional lorries, five water tankers, two coaster buses and 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to aid strategic deployment of tactical squads, to tackle insecurity across the length and breadth of the country, especially in the crisis affected areas.
Acting Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IGP, who has reiterated his commitment to continually provide necessary welfare and safer environment for police operatives at the forefront in crisis areas, immediately directed that the logistics and assets be made available for the ongoing serial operations being executed by the police at strategic locations in the county.
“In the same vein, IGP Baba has released adequate funds to upgrade the police ICT platforms to the required status capable of combating the present security issues and realities in Nigeria, as such will go a long way in alleviating the operational challenges of police troops on various tactical operations in Nigeria.
“He equally directed the police Airwing to step up its platforms and logistics to provide air support to the ground troops whenever they are on operation in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.
“The police boss, however, appealed to the general public not to panic in view of the heavily armed police tactical squads who have been deployed for various operations, as they have been warned to be professional, civil and operate within the ambits of the law. He also sought maximum cooperation with the police operatives in many areas, especially information sharing, in order to make the operations successful.
“The IGP emphatically restated his zeal to fight criminal elements who are bent on neutralising and truncating the security system, peace and harmony we deserve in this country.”
