Reports of death in Yankari Games Reserve are false, dirty- Bauchi State Govt

The Bauchi State Government has debunked reports of death in Yankari Games Reserve, describing them as false and dirty. A section of the media had reported that a 400 level student of the Department of Electrical Electronics at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, drowned in the resort.

A statement by the State Government read, “We hereby debunk the rumour of death of an individual in Wikki Warm Springs of Yankari Games Reserve. “Yankari Games is safe and open to all tourists. Wikki warm spring is not a pool but a natural warm spring suitable for swiming. “We urge the public to disregard the rumours as they are false. We also urge the press to take note and verify stories before posting. “We have formally notified the Police and the administration of ATBU to get to the immediate and remote cause of the matter. Reacting also, Engr. Habu Mamman, Sole Administrator, Yankari Game reserve, described the report as very serious and dirty allegations that are false. His words: “we saw some postings on Twitter and Facebook on some very serious and dirty allegations of death in Yankari wikki warm spring. These things are false. They are lies. “Nothing of such ever happened in Yankari. We have taken measures now to inform the police to start looking for those spreading these false information. “I want to inform the public and every one that matters that Yankari is very safe and bubbling”.

Official admits taking $27m in bribes
Beijing – Former senior Chinese official on Thursday admitted taking bribes of more than 27 million dollars (170 million yuan), the latest casualty of President Xi Jinping’s unrelenting war on graft. Sun Zhengcai, 54, was abruptly removed in July from his post as Communist Party chief of southwestern Chongqing, one of China’s most important cities, to be replaced by Chen Miner, who is close to President Jinping. Until then, Zhengcai, one of the youngest of the 25 members of the ruling party’s decision-making Politburo, had been considered a contender for top leadership.

Zhengcai said in videos of his statement to a court in the city of Tianjin released by state broadcaster CCTV: “I severely violated discipline and the law, and have been solemnly tried by law. I have only myself to blame and deserve my punishment. I completely accept the charges. I sincerely admit my guilt and express regret.” Prosecutors in February had charged Zhengcai with accepting “huge sums” in bribes during various posts going back 15 years in Chongqing, Beijing, the northeastern province of Jilin, and during his term as minister of agriculture. At a hearing on Thursday, Zhengcai was charged with illegally accepting cash and gifts. The court said on its official social media account that its verdict would be released later. Zhengcai is certain to be found guilty as courts are controlled by the party and will not challenge the accusations against him. Reuters was not able to reach Zhengcai or a representative for comment since he was put under investigation in 2017. Since coming to power in 2012, Jinping has presided over a sweeping corruption crackdown, vowing to target both “tigers” and “flies”, a reference to elite officials and ordinary bureaucrats. Zhengcai’s case is testimony to the “fearless spirit and unwavering resolve” of the campaign against graft, the party’s official People’s Daily newspaper said. “It again sends a clear signal: there is no such thing as a special party member in the face of party discipline and national law,” it said in a commentary.(Reuters/NAN)