The Delta State Police command have arrested five suspected vandals with 170 pieces of six inches pipes in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of the state

This was contained in a statement by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, which was made available to newsmen stated that, the suspected vandals were arrested on Saturday May 8, 2021 at about 1745hrs by the Anti-Crime Patrol of ‘A’ Division, Warri while on routine patrol.

The statement reads in bits; “Men of the Anti-Crime Patrol team intercepted the lorry with Reg. No. BDG 358 YA with five (5) suspects

“On searching, the lorry was loaded with one hundred and seventy (170) pieces of 6inchs already cut to various sizes.

“The suspects are allegedly experts in the act of vandalizing Federal Government Pipeline at Ogulagha town in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

“The five occupants Lukeman Jimoh ‘m’ 40yrs, Shola Bimigo ‘m’, Yahaya Ikane ‘m’ 55yrs, Ebi Yeregha ‘m’ 41yrs and Lawal Aliyu ‘m’ 35yrs were arrested while the lorry with Reg. No. BDG 358 YA was impounded’, the statement further read.

Thousands of residents of Jiddari Polo and other surrounding communities near Federal High Court, Maiduguri have started returning to their respective homes following drastic reduction in the sounds of gunshots and explosions that rocked the area at about 5:30pm on Tuesday.

It would be recalled that some suspected armed members of dreaded Boko Haram sect invaded some parts of Maiduguri metropolis, and caused tension amongst residents, who were about to break their Ramadan fast.

Although some sources said, quite a number of residential houses were set ablaze by the insurgents with unspecified number of casualties, Newsfocusng gathered that the prompt response from the military and team of the Police Anti Robbery Squad succeeded in repelling the attack.

We also gathered that with assistance from the airstrike ad and helicopter which were hovering the entire city as well as support from members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) greatly helped to quell the situation.

One of the resident who fled into the town with his wife and four children, Ali Yakubu said, “We are currently in our way back home following the restoration of calm in our area.

“We had to fled into the town for safety, as we could no longer bear the sounds of heavy gunshots and explosions near our house which is located at the outskirts of the metropolis “, he said.

As at the time of filing in this report, the helicopter fighting jet which took off from the Nigerian Air Force Base (NAF) in Maiduguri about an hour after the attack is still hovering the entire city, even as no any official statement from the security authorities.

The Nigerian Army has revealed that it will partner with its counterpart in the Niger Republic to track fleeing bandits and rescue their victims.

The Army high command has also said that troops of 17 Brigade, in conjunction with the police, averted a planned attack by bandits on Magama Central Mosque in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State where people had gone to observe the late-night Ramadan prayers.

It said the situation was under control as reinforcements had arrived the area.

The bandits had on Monday abducted 45 worshippers, but the police said 35 of the victims were recovered while 10 were still with the bandits.

This was contained in a statement signed by army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima, said the army was collaborating with Niger Republic military to track the kidnappers, with a view to rescuing the victims.

It said the bandits were forced to withdraw following the superior firepower from a combined team comprising troops and police personnel, who were tactically deployed in the town following earlier intelligence received on the planned attack.

“On getting the information, the combined team mounted a pursuit on the bandits, forcing them to abandon most of the hostages while fleeing with an unknown number. The rescued victims have since been reunited with their families while further efforts are ongoing to rescue the others in collaboration with neighbouring military establishments, including those of Niger Republic,” the army said.

The Former Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, has revealed how he was confirmed as Khalifa of Tijjaniyya in Nigeria by Sheikh Mahy Ibrahim Nyass when he paid him a visit in Senegal on Monday.

There are counter claims trailing the status of the Khalifa of the Tijjaniyya sect in Nigeria, the legality of the appointment of the former Kano emir, and whether the protégés of other senior clerics of the sect would pay allegiance to Malam Sanusi even if he had received his letter of endorsement from Kaulaha.

Two prominent clerics- Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi and Sheikh Sheriff Ibrahim Saleh- are seen as the torchbearers of the Tijjaniyya sect in Nigeria.

Former Emir Sanusi had in an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC, on Tuesday, said a delegation of prominent scholars was sent to Nigeria by Khalifa Sheikh Mahy Nyass to consult Nigerian clerics on their  preferred choice to lead the sect in the country.

He said that 98 per cent of the clerics selected him as their choice.

His words; “As people already know, this was my grandfather’s position… The late Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi I and all my life, I have no ambition than to inherit him. I inherited him and became the Emir of Kano and today, Almighty Allah has made it possible for me and I inherited him as Khalifa of Tijjaniyya.

“I have nothing to say but to thank Almighty Allah and seek for his guidance to help me discharge my responsibility,” he said.

However, while followers of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi said they were not aware of the latest endorsement of Sanusi from Senegal and were not consulted before the decision was taken, there was no information from the side of Sheikh Sheriff Saleh on how they view the appointment.

Tijjaniyya sect has millions of followers in West Africa, particularly in Senegal, The Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Ghana, and some parts of Sudan.

Its leaders are highly revered and they also exude influence in terms of religious, cultural and social decisions.

I’ve no rift with Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi

While reacting to a question on whether Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi is aware and agreed with his confirmation as Khalifa, Malam Sanusi said he has no problem with the Sheikh and that he is his grandfather.

“Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi has never said anything bad about me other than love and support. He is my father and close friend to my grandfather Emir Muhammad Sanusi I.

“What happened was that Khalifa Sheikh Mahy Nyass sent his brother Sheikh Quraish to Nigeria and he went round and consulted many clerics and Muqaddims. He went to southern Nigeria part of the country and sought for their opinions and they agreed.

“Even though they (Nyass family) used to just select the person they want, but the grand Khalifah requested that clerics should be contacted in Nigeria and they went round all parts of the country and I was recommended,” he said.

Malam Sanusi said he will now face his work as Khalifa of Tijjaniyya to bring about development and unity among Muslims.

“The first victory is how 98 per cent of our people unite and decided to select one person as a leader. Once people trust your leadership then there is unity. We will now come and see how we can figure out the challenges that the Tijjaniyya is facing and how we can address them.

“We will also look at the challenges facing entire Muslims particularly in Northern Nigeria. Tijjaniyya followers are Muslims and indigenes of Nigeria. There are problems in education, family crisis, children, Tsangaya and Zawiyyas; these are some of the issues we will look and come up with a system that will show we are in the 21st century,” he said.