Author: Bala Muhammad

A DEVASTATING fuel tanker explosion on Monday morning in Dan Magaji, Zaria, has left multiple people dead and several others injured, in what witnesses describe as one of the most harrowing road disasters the community has seen in years. News Point Nigeria reports that the incident occurred around 8:30am near Rochas Foundation School, along the Kaduna–Kano expressway bypass between Kwangila and Dan Magaji. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the accident involved two fuel-laden tankers and two passenger-filled Volkswagen Golf cars. Eyewitnesses say the collision triggered a chain reaction of five successive explosions, sending fireballs into the air and…

IN a startling development, the Kaduna State Police Command has uncovered military-grade unexploded bombs and a cache of ammunition hidden inside a consignment of scrap waste transported from Borno State—a region known for persistent insurgency threats. The explosives and arms were discovered at a scavenger company situated in the Kudandan Industrial Area of Kaduna South Local Government Area, according to a statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, on Wednesday made available to News Point Nigeria. The recovery was made on August 2, 2025, after the police received credible intelligence regarding suspicious items being stored at…

SIX years after the mysterious disappearance of political commentator and university lecturer Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, human rights organisation Amnesty International and the activist’s family have sharply criticised the Federal Government over what they describe as a “shameful silence” and lack of accountability in resolving the case. Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna to mark the sixth anniversary of Dadiyata’s abduction, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, described the incident as symbolic of Nigeria’s increasing hostility toward dissent and free expression. “His family waited that night, hoping he’d walk back in. They waited the…

A HIGH-LEVEL two-day interactive session hosted by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) has concluded in Kaduna with a strong call for deeper government-citizen engagement and renewed national unity. Held from July 29 to 30, 2025, at Arewa House, Kaduna, the session themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity” brought together leading voices from government, traditional institutions, academia, civil society, the private sector, and the security architecture. The forum was attended by top government officials, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who led the federal delegation. Also present were the…

FORMER presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has received several defectors into the party in Kano State. News Point Nigeria reports that the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement disclosed this on Friday via his official X handle. Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State is of the NNPP. “Yesterday was a momentous occasion, as I received thousands of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP),” he stated. Speaking at the event, he promised the defectors “equitable treatment and cooperation” in NNPP. Kwankwaso promised the defectors “equitable treatment and cooperation”…

KADUNA State Governor, Uba Sani, on Monday commissioned newly built homes for victims of banditry under the Phase 1 of the Qatar Sanabil Project, a partnership between the Kaduna State Government and Qatar Charity. The project, which also includes a school, a clinic, and a shopping complex, is aimed at restoring dignity and rebuilding lives of families affected by years of insecurity in the state. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Governor Sani declared the initiative as one of the most meaningful actions of his administration. “This is not just about unveiling buildings,” he said. “It is a solemn act of…

THE Kaduna State police command has arrested a 34-year-old suspected bandit kingpin, Mati Bagio, after eleven years of being trailed by security agencies. In a statement, the spokesman of the command, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the suspect, a resident of Unguwan Galadima in Shika District of Giwa local government area, had been on the wanted list of the police for eleven years, and also said to have led a criminal gang that terrorised communities across Kaduna and Katsina States for years. According to the police, Bagio was said to have carried out multiple attacks in Giwa, Hunkuyi, Faskari, Dandume and…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through its Special Control Unit against Money Laundering has sealed Hampton Hilton Hotel and Apartments in Kaduna for failing to comply with key provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism regulations of the Financial Action Task Force for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions. In a statement on Monday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that the action followed repeated infractions by the hotel, uncovered during compliance evaluations conducted by SCUML. He said the first evaluation carried out on June…

KANO State has thrown its weight behind the creation of an additional state from its current boundaries and the establishment of 26 new local government areas, as part of far-reaching proposals submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review. Presenting Kano’s position at the North West zonal public hearing of the Constitution amendment exercise in Kaduna on Saturday, Deputy Governor Comrade Aminu Abdulssalam Gwarzo said the moves were necessary to bring governance closer to the people and address rising developmental demands. He argued that with Kano’s burgeoning population and vast landmass, carving out another state was long overdue,…

FORMER President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and dismissed speculation of a strained relationship with President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Trust TV’s 30 Minutes programme on Tuesday, Buhari’s spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu, said there is no formal disagreement between the two leaders or between their respective administrations. Quoting Buhari, Shehu said, “I will never be ungrateful, I will never betray the party that gave me two terms in office.” He stressed that Buhari remains grateful to the APC for providing the platform that led to his election after three failed attempts. “APC came…

SECURITY Watch Network for Good Governance, chaired by Abdullahi Maikano, has commended the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Nigerian Military for their continued efforts in combating insecurity across the country. In a statement on Monday, the group praised the NSA’s strategic coordination of Nigeria’s national security architecture, which has continued to yield tangible results in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and violent crime. This commendation followed the latest nationwide operations by the Nigerian Army between June 25 and 26, 2025, which led to the arrest of multiple suspects and the recovery of a large cache of weapons…

NO fewer than 7,646 inmates have been released from correctional centres across the country between January 2022 and June 2025, as federal and state governments intensify efforts to address chronic overcrowding in the custodial centres. Our correspondent gathered on Friday that the releases, which were carried out by state and federal authorities, chief judges, and non-governmental organisations, reflect a growing trend in decongestion initiatives. According to data from various media reports by our correspondent, 707 inmates were released in 2022, 4,678 in 2023 and 1,843 in 2024. A total of 418 inmates have been freed as of mid-2025. The mass…

NIGERIA has been ranked the third most powerful military force in Africa, according to the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index. The report, which evaluates the military capabilities of 145 countries worldwide, places Nigeria behind only Egypt and Algeria on the continent. The ranking, cited by VANGUARD, uses over 60 indicators to assess a country’s military strength. These include active and reserve troop numbers, diversity of weapon systems, defense budget, logistics, and geographical positioning. Egypt retained its position as Africa’s top military force, ranking 19th globally, while Algeria followed at 26th. Nigeria climbed to 31st place globally, reflecting ongoing efforts…

GOVERNOR Uba Sani of Kaduna State has disclosed that 22 suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of 12 indigenes of the state in neighbouring Plateau State last Saturday. The governor stated on Monday this when he visited the surviving victims of the attack at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna. He described the killing of the 12 Kaduna-born wedding guests in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State as barbaric. He said he has been in touch with Plateau’s Governor Caleb Mutfwang and President Bola Tinubu to ensure that all those involved in the…

GOVERNOR Uba Sani of Kaduna State has condemned the killing of some indigenes of the state by a suspected mob in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. The victims were said to be travelling from Zaria in Kaduna State for a wedding in Quan Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State when they were intercepted by the mob at Mangun district. The travelers were killed instantly, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries during the attack. Expressing shock and sadness over such an act of savagery, Governor Sani, in a statement, called on security agencies to immediately arrest…

THE Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has said that contrary to opinions, the reported formation of a coalition party does not pose a threat to President Bola Tinubu. He also said that it did not suggest that trouble was looming for the ruling All Progressives Congress. “I can tell you today, but go and write it down and remember this day. Asiwaju has no threat,” the governor said during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday while reacting to the formation of a group, National Opposition Coalition Group, chaired by a former Senate President, David Mark. Speaking…

THE Kaduna State Police Command has said that the fellow who breached security protocol during the commissioning of projects at Murtala Mohammed Square by President Bola Tinubu was born with “psychiatric disorders”. The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, in a statement, said the individual, Umar Mohammed, a native of Anguwan Muazu in Kaduna, The police admitted that the fellow was screened and admitted into the stadium as an All Progressives Congress (APC) supporter, wearing the standard campaign T-shirt and carrying banners bearing the images of the President and Governor Uba Sani like every other supporter admitted into the stadium. The…

GOVERNORS from across Nigeria are currently gathered in Abuja for an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), amid growing concerns over national security. The meeting, which is taking place at the Forum’s secretariat in Abuja, has in attendance several state governors and deputy governors from all 36 states of the federation.. Although the official agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed, the presence of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, strongly indicates that pressing security issues are at the heart of the discussions. The emergency session comes at a time…

THE Federal Government has delivered additional relief materials to the Tudun Biri community in Kaduna state following the tragic drone strike that occurred in December 2023. This newspaper reports that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and Commander Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso made the presentation on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu. This newspaper reports that the federal government presented two motorcycles, a Corolla generator, two wireless microphones, a Single power amplifier mixer and 500 watts flood lights to the beneficiaries, including Isuwa Haruna, Ridwan Yakubu and Isah Ahmed.…

FORMER Vice President Namadi Sambo has refuted claims by a former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, over the 2013 power sector privatisation. In a statement signed by his Personal Secretary, Yinka Ibrahim, in Kaduna, on Tuesday, Sambo described the allegations as “false, mischievous, and hypocritical,” asserting that they were intended to tarnish the image of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the National Council on Privatisation. The former vice president was the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation and he supervised the sale of the power sector to distribution and generating companies. Usman, at a recent…