Author: Bala Muhammad

THE Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, has assured the public that the report on investigation into the Kaduna bombing will be out very soon and made public. Over a 100 people were confirmed dead in the accidental air strike in the Igabi council area of the North-West state some weeks back with scores injured. In the wake of the incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered a probe into the matter with the CDS saying the outcome of the investigation is expected soon. “Very well. It [report] is going to be made public. The Federal Government is already in charge,…

THE governors of the 19 Northern states have asked the Federal Government to redouble its efforts to tackle the menace of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other related security challenges bedeviling the region. The governors under the aegis of the Northern Governors Forum also said they are working collectively to ensure that the tragic accidental military airstrike in Tundun Biri, Kaduna State is thoroughly investigated with a view to compensating the victims and taking corrective measures so as to prevent future occurrence. In his opening remarks at the governors meeting in Kaduna on Friday, the chairman of the forum and governor…

THE Defence Headquarters says it has opened an investigation into the December 3 accidental bombing of Tudun Biri community in Kaduna State, which claimed over 100 lives. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, in a telephone interview with this newspaper on Wednesday, said the investigation panel has eight senior officers. This was as the leadership of the Tudun Biri community in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State disowned the claim that the community had filed a N33bn lawsuit against the Federal Government. This newspaper reports that the villagers were said to be celebrating Maulud when…

THE immediate past governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, has approved the appointment of 64 aides across the local governments in his constituency. Tambuwal, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development, announced the appointment of Constituency and Local Government Aides for the Sokoto South Senatorial District in a press statement made available to journalists  on Monday by his media aide, Muhammad Bello. Bello said, “This initiative is part of the Senator’s efforts to empower his constituents and drive the his development agenda.” The newly appointed aides consist of some of his former commissioners and special…

WHEN the Nigerian Navy signed a contract with the Nakura International Ltd, for the supply of 12 units of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, otherwise called UAVs, little did they know that the man behind the company, Alhaji Ahmed Nakura, has a very high passion for excellence and a niche for the pre-eminence of the Nigerian Navy in modern ways of reconnaissance as well as navigation. And indeed yesterday, 8th December 2023, history was made by the Nigerian Navy, as it commissioned the UAVs at the Ojo Naval base Lagos, to the applause of many serving and retired naval officers. In…

THE National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and senators from northern Nigeria have passed a vote of confidence on the country’s security agencies despite the accidental military drone strike in Tudun Biri village of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. While 85 persons were confirmed dead in the strike and scores were injured in the most recent military mishap, Ribadu and the lawmakers are commending the commitment of security agencies to reducing the security challenges in the region. The NSA who gave the commendation when he visited Tudun Biri village on a fact-finding mission, also assured that the bombing…

THE Sultan of Sokoto Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has demanded justice for the victims of military airstrikes that killed over 100 people in Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Sultan said this at the Silver Anniversary of the 11th Emir of Jama’a, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Isa Muhammad (CON) on the throne, at the Emir’s Palace in Kafanchan, Kaduna, on Friday. “We are here not only to celebrate the emir, but to also pray for the emirate and the lives of those killed in Kaduna State. We are going to push for it until justice…

VICE President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Kaduna State to commiserate with the victims and families of last Sunday’s military airstrikes at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of the state. He was welcomed on arrival at the Nigerian Air Force base, Mando by Governor Uba Sani and top officials of the Kaduna State Government. The Vice President was accompanied by the Speaker, Abbas Tajuddeen, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Thursday’s condolence visit comes four days after the deadly airstrike that killed over 85 persons and injured several…

GOVERNOR Uba Sani of Kaduna State has ordered a full investigation into Sunday’s tragic military air strike at Tudun Biri village which claimed the lives of over 50 people. The villagers were observing Maulud celebration and were mistakenly killed and many others injured following a military drone attack targeting terrorists and bandits. In a statement issued to condole with the people of Tudun Biri community over the tragic incident, the governor said his administration is determined to prevent a repeat of the incident. He reassured the citizens that their security and protection will be prioritised in the sustained fight against…

MEMBERS of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Friday unanimously elected, Danladi Jatau, representing Kokona West Constituency as Speaker of the House. Similarly, the position of the Deputy Speaker went to Mohammed Oyanki, member representing Doma North Constituency. The newly occupied positions followed Tuesday’s sack of the former Speaker, Ibrahim Abdullahi at the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja. Our correspondent reports that the new Speaker, Jatua, a member of the All Progressives Congress, collaborated with Oyanki, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party to emerge as leader of the assembly in order to maintain its existing peace.…

THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State has deepened as executives of the party, on Thursday, passed a vote of no confidence in its Chairman, Babayo Misau. The APC Legal Adviser, Rabi’u Garba, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of an emergency meeting held at the Next Level Secretariat of the party. He said that 27 out of the 37 executives of the party took the decision during the meeting because Misau failed in his responsibilities as state chairman pointing out that this has caused the party losses at the last general election, especially the…

THE Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has rejected over 30,000 applicants who applied as cadets of the 75th Regular Course of the prestigious military institution. NDA Commandant, Major General John Ochai, who made the disclosure at the matriculation of 441 cadets into the various degree programmes as members of the 75th Regular Course of the NDA, said the 441 cadets including one allied student from the Gambia were selected after a competitive screening exercise. He explained that the selection of just 441 cadets out of the over 30,000 applicants, underscored how the academy prioritise competence and compliance with international best standards.…

INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police, Kayode Edbetokun, has said that the Police is not at war with the military. Egbetokun said this during a visit to the Yola command of the Nigeria Police Force, where he offered his sympathies to the family of the late Inspector Jacob Daniel, who was murdered during an invasion of the police quarter guard by soldiers. He told his men that the recent clash between the police and army was being addressed by the highest security authorities in the country. Edbetokun condemned the attack and assured the family of the late officer that justice would be served.…

TROOPS of the Nigerian Army and local vigilantes have rescued six hostages abducted by bandits in a forest in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The all-male hostages were rescued in good condition on Friday and had been reunited with their families. This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir Idris on Media and Publicity, Malam Yahaya Sarki. “The victims have been reported missing, I mean kidnapped for some time now. Security operatives in the area comprising the army and the local vigilante were alerted and they swung into action inside the…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, on Thursday, said it would end the importation of refined petroleum products by December 2024 as all the country’s refineries would be operational by then. It also projected that the national oil firm would grow its revenue to N4.5tn at the end of 2023 adding that the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, under NNPCL’s management, would be completed by December this year. The Group Chief Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, disclosed this when he led officials of the company to a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen…

THE Federal Government has said plans are underway to conduct head counts of Almajiris in the country and enroll them into the homegrown school feeding programme by the present administration. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Schools Feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, revealed this during a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi A. Sule in Lafia. A statement by Special Assistant to the SSA, Mr Oyedokun Oyewumi indicated that the programme targets children in public schools, adding that her office is open to suggestions. She said her interactions with relevant authorities demonstrates President Bola Ahmed…

OPERATIVES of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday stormed the Kaduna State Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the arrest of some suspected Internet fraudsters. The suspects included some serving military personnel. The soldiers arrived at the EFCC office sited at Number 4, Wurno Road in the Kaduna State capital around 10 am in about three Hilux patrol vans and surrounded the main gate of the anti-graft commission office thereby preventing the EFCC officials from going in or out of your offices. In what resembled a combat scenario, the Air Force soldiers and policemen…

AMINA Hassan, a 20-year-old bride from Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, has been arrested for reportedly setting her husband’s newly built house on fire. Amina’s action was reportedly triggered by her husband’s refusal to grant her a divorce. The couple were said to have made the agreement before their marriage. According to reports, Amina had informed her parents that she was no longer interested in the marriage a few days before the wedding. However, they insisted that the wedding must go ahead as they had already distributed invitation cards. After the wedding, she sought the help of…

THE National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has named Setonji Koshoedo the party’s acting National Secretary. Until his appointment, Koshoedo was the Deputy National Secretary of the party. PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced the appointment after the NWC meeting on Tuesday, Damagum explained that Koshoedo’s appointment is pending the determination of the case before the Enugu High Court. “We decided that the Deputy National Secretary should take over in an acting capacity pending the resolution of the Court case. We also direct parties involved in the Court case to stand down action for the party’s due…

PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero on Friday said that he was arrested in Owerri by the Police and was handed over to waiting thugs that got him thoroughly beaten. He said that the thugs who were about seven in number dragged him on the floor like a common criminal. Briefing journalists in Abuja, the NLC president said the NLC wrote to all the security agencies before they went to the state for the protest on November I. According to him, workers who arrived at the venue of the protest on that day around 7 am…