Author: Bala Muhammad

AHEAD of the start of the Ramadan fast, the Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Engr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje (Abba) has flagged off the distribution of 3,627 bags of rice to the people of Dawakin-Tofa Local Government area of Kano state. Ganduje, in a statement, explained that the gesture was to support the people and to bring succour during Ramadan adding that the palliative includes 1,133 bags of 50kg and 2,494 bags of 25kg. Addressing the mammoth crowd during the flag-off ceremony, in Ganduje town, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government on Thursday, he assured the crowd that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration…

THE Nigerian Army has dismissed claims that the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has introduced automatic promotion for personnel who have served in their current ranks for five years or more. This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Nwachukwu described the claims as misleading and baseless, saying it was a deliberate misinformation calculated to mislead personnel as well as members of the public. He explained that promotion in the army was a structured, merit-based exercise governed by clearly defined statutory regulations and provisions, adding…

THE Chairman of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Hajj Special Committee, Salihu Abubakar, has announced that the agency has so far registered 3,409 intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj exercise. According to him, the figure is part of the over 6,000 seats allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). Abubakar made this known when he received two newly appointed members of the Hajj Special Committee, appointed by Governor Uba Sani, at his office, on Thursday. The newly appointed members, Sheikh Haliru Maraya, and Malam Abdullahi Bayero, are Hajj experts with years of experience in…

THE former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Bashir Saidu, has been released after spending 50 days in detention over alleged money laundering charges. El-Rufai confirmed Saidu’s release on Wednesday, describing his detention as an “unjustified incarceration” and claiming it was politically motivated. “Bashir has been my friend for over 53 years — a Barewa College classmate, former Commissioner of Local Government and Finance, and former Chief of Staff,” El-Rufai said in a tweet on X. “That is the main reason behind his persecution, and the payback to those behind it will be known on or before…

SENATOR Aminu Tambuwal yesterday came under fire for attacking defectors to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ruling party said it is erroneous for the former Sokoto State governor to blame PDP’s woes on another party, stressing that the main opposition party is assailed by trust deficit. APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru said the party would continue to enlarge its coast to accommodate defectors from opposition parties. He said although the defections are painful to the PDP, the trend would continue because the main opposition party has failed to put its house in order. Basiru, who reacted to Tambuwal’s…

GOVERNOR Uba Sani of Kaduna State has assured the 50 political stalwarts that defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State that they will enjoy the same rights and privileges like every other party member. Prominent amongst those who decamped to the APC are former Governor of Kaduna State, Muktar Ramalan Yero, Senator Shehu Sani, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, the gubernatorial candidate of NNPP in the last election and Alhaji Sani Shaaban, a former gubernatorial candidate. Others are Senator Danjuma Laah, who represented Zone 3 at the upper legislative chamber on the platform of PDP, Abubakar Mustapha, the…

THE Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) has acknowledged its partnership with the Dangote Group, describing it as the Unique Selling Point, and a major competitive advantage of the 46th Kaduna International Trade Fair. Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna, Director General of the Chamber, Alhaji Usman Saulawa, described the Dangote Group as a conglomerate that is helping to drive the Nigerian economy. He stated that the company has not only made a positive impact on the business community in Kaduna State, but has also contributed immensely to the growth of both the Nigerian and global economy. He…

THREE members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Kaduna State House of Assembly have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the impressive performance Governor Uba Sani as their reason for leaving PDP. The three lawmakers are Henry Mara representation Jaba state Constituency, Emmanuel Kantiok, Zonkwa Constituency and Samuel Kamabai, representing Zangon Kataf Constituency. They made their defection to the APC at their various wards on Thursday. Their defection came just two days after the member representing Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Amos Magaji also decamped to the APC from PDP. According…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has stated that the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company (KDPRC) has attained more than 60 per cent mechanical completion. NNPCL Executive Vice President (Downstream) Isiyaku Abdullahi dropped the hint yesterday in Abuja during the NNPCL Workshop/Engagement session with Kannywood artistes. He said the company has been working assiduously to deliver the refinery this year, adding that the state-run oil firm was simultaneously working on the pipelines with its in-house capacity. Abdullahi said: “Kaduna in sha Allah should come on stream this year. We are working tirelessly for the pipelines. We are working on…

THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Monday disclosed that 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing deradicalisation for onward integration into the society. The Chief of Defence, Operations, Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, made this known on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria. According to him, one year is enough time to re-orient and reintegrate the ex-terrorists into the larger society. He said though about 129,000 Boko Haram fighters have been arrested so far, only 800 former fighters were carefully selected to participate in the rehabilitation and reintegration project tagged…

A DEPUTY Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi State, Adam Imam Yusuf, has been arrested over the alleged diversion of more than ₦3 billion. Yusuf was arrested by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). ICPC disclosed this in a statement on its website, without indicating when he was nabbed. “Yusuf, who was at large until now, was taken into custody from his Gwagwalada, Abuja residence and is set to face prosecution,” the statement read. He was accused of conniving with a Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman…

AS the strike by workers of Kaduna Electric enters its third day, residents in the state continue to groan in darkness amid appeals by the electricity authorities that power will soon be restored. Most inhabitants of the suburbs in the metropolis, like Ungwar Romi, Sabo, and Ungwar Maijero, among other places, are facing water shortages as children are seen on the streets with buckets, rushing to neighbours with borehole facilities and nearby streams. However, the management of Kaduna Electric (KAEDCO) has again appealed to citizens for calm, assuring them that the current industrial action will soon be resolved. In a…

TRAGEDY struck in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as a fire outbreak at an Islamiya school claimed the lives of at least 17 Almajiri students. Eyewitnesses say the fire started late on Tuesday night and raged for about three hours, leaving 17 students dead and 16 others injured. A resident of the area, Abdulrasaq Bello Kaura, told Channels Television that the cause of the fire was reported to be some stored sticks locally called kara. “It happened at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, inside their study hall. There are about 100 of them in the house, after they evacuated…

A DISTRICT head in the Zazzau emirate council of Kaduna State slumped at an occasion, on Thursday, and later died at the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Kofar gayan Zaria. The Sarkin Yakin Zazzau, Alhaji Rilwan Yahaya Pate, slumped attending an occasion along with the Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli. Confirming the incident in a statement, Abdullahi Aliyu Kwarbai, the Media and Publicity officer of the Zazzau. said “It is with great sadness that the Zazzau Emirate Council announces the passing of Sarkin Yakin Zazzau Alhaji Rilwanu Yahaya Pate, a Council Member of the Emirate. “Alhaji Rilwanu Yahaya, who…

GUNMEN suspected to be bandits have invaded the private residence of the Executive Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Area (LGA), Katsina State, Matazu Deyi, killing his security aide. This newspaper gathered from reliable sources that the incident occurred late Tuesday night and led to the killing of a police corporal attached to the LG boss, Shamsudeen Lawal. It is not clear if there were injured victims, but it was gathered that the attempt to break into the private residence by the hoodlums was thwarted. A source said the executive chairman and his family were in the house when the incident…

GOVERNOR Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the move to dialogue with terrorists was suggested by the people of the state, who pleaded for an end to the violence as wanton destruction of lives and property continued unabated and he had no option but to heed. Speaking on BBC Hausa service, Sani defended his decision to reach a compromise with the bandits because his administration was determined to stop bandits from unleashing terror in some parts of the state. He added that the Emir of Birnin Gwari visited his office with his subjects pleading for dialogue due to the loss…

BANDITS have reportedly abducted 22 locals in fresh separate attacks in the Kugauta community of Kusheka, Kumana Chiefdom, and Kitanda community of Geshere, Kumana Chiefdom in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A student pastor and a resident, Emmanuel Johnson, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with this newspaper on Saturday. He said the assailants invaded the two communities in separate attacks on Friday at about 10:30 pm, kidnapping 22 locals, mostly women and children. He explained that 12 locals were kidnapped in the Kitanda community of Geshere, Kumana Chiefdom, while 10 locals were also whisked away in…

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down a warehouse in Kaduna for stocking expired food and cosmetic products worth over N75 million. NAFDAC explained that the feat was achieved following information gathered from a concerned citizen. The agency shared this development on its official X handle on Tuesday, revealing that the warehouse is located at PP2A Bayajidda Street by Kano Road, New Ogbomosho Road. “During the raid, workers were caught repackaging expired biscuits into sacks and other expired items, including dairy milk, vegetable oil, soft drinks, and detergents, were also discovered,” the agency…

THE Department of State Services (DSS) has filed five terrorism-related charges against a self-styled activist Muhammad Mahdi Shehu before a Federal High Court in Kaduna. According to PRNigeria, the move followed Mahdi’s rearrest by security operatives last week at his clinic in Unguwar Dosa, Kaduna. A Kaduna State High Court had granted Mahdi Shehu bail in the sum of N3 million two weeks ago, with the condition that he provides two reputable clerics as sureties. Shehu’s initial arrest stemmed from allegations of disseminating misleading videos that went viral on social media. On January 2, 2025, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in…

GUNMEN suspected to be bandits have killed at least seven people who were mostly traders and injured 11 at Ngalda cattle and main market in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State. The suspected bandits stormed the weekly market in Ngalda the headquarters of Fika LG around 6pm Monday shooting sporadically and robbing shops and cattle marketers. Dauda Yakubu Damazai, a social media aide to Fika LG Chairman, told this newspaper that over seven local traders in both the main market and cattle market lost their lives in the unfortunate incident. ‘‘Yesterday evening (Monday), the Ngalda cattle and main market…