Author: Bala Muhammad

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…

FORMER Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s Special Adviser/Counsellor Olajimi Lawal has been dragged to court for abuse of office, money laundering and fraud. He has been accused by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of collecting N64.8 million from the state government and paying same to the account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited of which he was a sole signatory. Lawal is to face trial with a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Yusuf Inuwa, a former Accountant-General, Umar Waziri and Solar Life Nigeria Limited. According to the ICPC, there was no evidence of…

SECURITY personnel, believed to be from the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested activist, Mahdi Shehu. This newspaper gathered that Mahdi was picked up by plainclothes security operatives at his clinic in Unguwar Dosa around 11:00am. There has been no official statement from security agencies regarding the arrest of the Kaduna-based activist and political commentator. However, Buhari Mahdi, the activist’s son, stated that they had not been able to establish contact with his father. “We don’t know if it was an arrest or an invitation. But they (DSS) picked him up at his clinic in Unguwar Dosa, Kaduna, around…

THE Nigerian Air Force has stated that the country has the competitive and comparative advantage to maintain and restore its fleets to airworthy conditions. In a statement issued by the spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, on Wednesday, its engineers and technicians have reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft grounded for 23 years. According to Akinboyewa, the reactivation serves as a morale booster for the NAF engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to undertake complex projects that otherwise would be outsourced to foreign entities. He said: “The success of this project carries significant strategic implications, bearing in mind that, beyond enhancing…

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged former Chief of Staff, to former Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, to the Federal High Court. Saidu who was also a one-time Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State during the El Rufai’s administration, was charged along with one Ibrahim Muktar, ‘a public officer in the employment of Ministry of Finance,’ on Tuesday. According to charge No FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants are being accused of a two-count charges of Money Laundering, contrary to earlier claim that Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu had been exonerated of all…

FORMER Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has debunked the rumour that he has left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and has decamped to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A close aide to the former governor told this newspaper that the rumour is the handiwork of mischief makers, noting that El-Rufai, being a prominent political figure, couldn’t have decamped to the PDP without making it public. Also reacting to the rumour on his verified X handle, formerly known as Twitter, El-Rufai asked the public to disregard the rumour and patent lies about his political affiliation. He also said…

FORMER Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday visited the Kaduna State Correctional Service Facility to see his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu, who was remanded in the facility. The former Chief of Staff was arrested on Monday and taken to a magistrates’ court at Rigasa which remanded him at a correctional facility in the state on allegations of money laundering and other charges. This newspaper’s correspondent, who was at the correctional centre, reported that the former governor, accompanied by three of his former commissioners, arrived at the facility around 10:19 am and left around 10:47 am. The…