A FORMER Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has revealed why previous efforts to withdraw police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) failed, noting that such directives issued solely by police chiefs lacked presidential authority and the political will required for enforcement. News Point Nigeria reports that Baba spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the public presentation of his two biographies, “Giant Footprints” and “A Policeman Personified”, where he praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for breaking new ground on a long-debated national security issue. According to the former police chief, earlier attempts by successive Inspectors-General to recall officers from…
Author: Bala Muhammad
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THE Department of Road Traffic Services, also known as Vehicle Inspection Officers, has said it will “certainly” appeal a judgment barring it from imposing fines or impounding vehicles of offending motorists. The Acting Director of the DRTS, Deborah Osho, in an phone interview with this newspaper on Thursday, lamented the growing “lawlessness” in the Federal Capital Territory since the High Court ruling. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, affirmed the lower court judgment barring the DRTS and VIO from stopping motorists, confiscating vehicles, or imposing fines on road users. In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel,…
PANIC has engulfed Ungwan Nungu community in Bokana Ward of Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State, after gunmen abducted 11 farmers on Saturday evening as they made their way home from their farmlands. News Point Nigeria reports that the victims, mostly young villagers returning from harvesting beans, were intercepted along a remote bush path and forcefully taken to an unknown location. Eyewitnesses said the attack occurred just before sunset, throwing the community into chaos. According to residents, the attackers initially targeted about 15 people. Several farmers managed to flee, while a few others were released shortly after the ambush. However,…
THE Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board has released the approved list of physical verification centres for the 2025 recruitment exercise. News Point Nigeria reports that this followed the completion of last month’s computer-based tests. The board announced that the list of shortlisted candidates for physical screening and document verification will be published between Monday, December 1, and Wednesday, December 3. According to the board, the physical verification stage is a key part of the recruitment process, as candidates’ identities, documents and physical fitness will be thoroughly authenticated before they progress to the final selection phase. This newspaper…
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigerians have the right to seek help from the international community if the government fails in its constitutional duty to protect them. News Point Nigeria reports that Obasanjo stated this during the 2025 Plateau Unity Christmas Carol, held at the Ten Commandments Altar in Jos, where he attended as a special guest on the invitation of the Plateau State Government. “If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do, and we should have no apology for that,”…
A FORMER governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Peoples Democratic Party to resolve its ongoing internal crisis, calling for the cancellation of the recent national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State and the appointment of a caretaker committee to run the party. News Point Nigeria reports that Lamido called on the Turaki Taminu-led National Working Committee of the party, which emerged from the Ibadan convention, to step aside for a caretaker committee to take charge of the party. Lamido made the call on Thursday while addressing hundreds of his supporters—including former local government chairmen,…
FORMER Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress, months after leaving the All Progressives Congress. News Point Nigeria gathered that the former governor registered with the ADC and collected his membership card at the party office in U/Sarki Ward, Kaduna State. The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory was accompanied by his loyal supporters, including former appointees and local government chairmen. Recall that on March 10, El-Rufai cited a widening disconnect between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his defection. In his resignation letter,…
THE Kaduna State Government has issued a one-week ultimatum to former governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai to provide evidence backing his allegation that the administration of Governor Uba Sani paid ₦1 billion to bandits as part of a security arrangement. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Sunday by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu (SAN), described El-Rufai’s comments as “false, reckless, baseless, politically motivated and deliberately misleading.” El-Rufai had made the allegation during a televised interview on Channels Television, suggesting that a huge ransom was paid to criminal groups under the current administration. The…
LAGOS State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has declared that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, no governor or local government chairman in Nigeria has any excuse to complain about a lack of funds to drive development. He said allocations to states and local governments had significantly increased since Tinubu assumed office, reflecting the administration’s commitment to strengthening fiscal federalism and empowering subnational governments to deliver tangible results. Governor Sanwo-Olu made the statement on Tuesday in Kaduna during a one-day public lecture organized by the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary. The event, held at the…
A MAJOR crack in the leadership crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Wednesday after the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of the party’s elective National Convention earlier scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. News Point Nigeria reports that at a press briefing in Abuja, the Acting National Chairman of the faction, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammed, said the decision became necessary to avoid violating an existing judgment of the Federal High Court, which had ruled on matters relating to the party’s leadership and convention plans. Mohammed explained…
THE National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month. The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention. News Point Nigeria reports that National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja. Ologunagba noted that the suspended…
COURTS in Kaduna State were shut on Monday as Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria began an indefinite strike to press home several demands, including the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary. News Point Nigeria reports that the Federal and State high courts, Upper Shari’a court, Customary and Magistrates’ courts were under lock and key with banners on the gate reading: “JUSUN Kaduna state chapter embarks on strike.” At the Shari’a court Magajin Gari, the situation was not different as court rooms were also closed. However, some staff members of the court were seen outside the court premises, attending to…
THE International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) says 11 high-level members of terrorist groups have been arrested in Nigeria. News Point Nigeria reports that the arrests were part of Operation Catalyst, a landmark operation targeting terrorism financing and related criminal activities across six African countries. According to INTERPOL, the three-month operation, conducted between July and September 2025, led to 83 arrests and identified 160 persons of interest. Countries that participated in the operation include Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, and South Sudan. In Nigeria, INTERPOL confirmed that 11 suspected terrorists, including senior members of various terrorist groups, were apprehended. The operation…
TROOPS of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have defeated terrorist attacks on multiple locations across the joint operations area in Borno and Yobe states. The Nigerian Army, in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Thursday, explained that between midnight and 4 a.m., the terrorists launched coordinated assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, situated in Sector 1(Borno ) and Sector 2 (Yobe ), respectively. It said that in all instances, the troops stood firm, fought gallantly, and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a “heavy, decisive, and bloody blow”. The army stated that the coordinated…
JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31 for judgement in a suit seeking to stop the 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the grounds of alleged violations of the party’s rules. News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Omotosho fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party. At Tuesday’s proceedings, the judge reaffirmed his earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the planned convention, warning that the order must not be flouted. He cautioned that…
THE Nigerian Army says troops of Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade on 17 Oct 2025 successfully foiled an attack planned by Boko Haram terrorists around the Kashimri general area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State. It said that the troops had successfully located and destroyed identified Boko Haram camps in the area, thereby frustrating the terrorists’ plans to attack civilians and disrupt socio-economic activities in the area. It, however, said that a lieutenant colonel and a few other valiant soldiers paid the supreme price during a fierce gunfight. “During the operation, the…
THE death toll in the violent clash between bandits and illegal gold miners in Kaduna State has risen to 17, according to an updated report by AFP, citing a confidential security briefing. Earlier reports by News Point Nigeria had placed the figure at seven, but subsequent findings revealed that the confrontation was far bloodier than initially believed. The deadly confrontation unfolded on Thursday in the Birnin Gwari district of Kaduna State, a region long plagued by the twin scourges of banditry and illegal mining and has reignited fears of renewed violence in an area that had only recently enjoyed a…
PANIC gripped Zonkwa town in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Friday evening after gunmen launched a daring attack on the Zonkwa Divisional Police Station, killing at least two police officers on duty. Residents were thrown into confusion as gunfire shattered the calm of the evening, sending people running for safety. According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers stormed the station located a few metres from Kamyim Hotel, Kurmin-Bi Zonkwa and opened fire indiscriminately. “They came in shooting sporadically. Everyone around started running. It was terrifying,” said a witness who requested anonymity. Sources told this newspaper that the…
THE United States Army War College (USAWC) has posthumously honoured Nigeria’s late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, with his induction into the institution’s prestigious International Hall of Fame (IHOF), one of the highest distinctions accorded to its international alumni. In a statement issued on Monday sent to News Point Nigeria, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, described the recognition as historic and deeply symbolic, marking a milestone in Nigeria’s military history. According to the statement, the induction ceremony took place during the opening session of the Association of the United States…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has congratulated former Vice President Namadi Sambo on his turbaning as the Sardaunan Zazzau by the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, scheduled for Saturday. In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga received by News Point Nigeria, President Tinubu said the prestigious title reflects the Emirate’s confidence in Sambo’s integrity, wisdom, and lifelong commitment to public service. “The title of Sardaunan Zazzau, a position of great cultural and historical significance in Northern Nigeria, reflects the Emirate’s confidence in the former Vice President’s wisdom, integrity,…