Author: Bala Muhammad

AS the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party persists, new factional acting National Chairman Yayari Mohammed has challenged the rival National Working Committee led by Umar Damagum to act on their security threats. The acting National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi of the Damagum-led NWC faction, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday warned of potential security measures against Mohammed’s faction in order to uphold the rule of law during the ongoing internal disputes. The opposition party has been embroiled in an internal crisis since 2022, which has polarised its NWC. The crisis rocking the PDP took a twist on…

THE Federal Government, through the Nigerian Customs Service, will on Monday (today) ground over 60 private jets owned by very important persons in the country over unpaid import duty running into several billions of naira, this newspaper can authoritatively report. According to documents exchanged between the NCS and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, which were exclusively sighted by this newspaper on Sunday, the enforcement exercise will commence on October 14th, 2024. There are reports that duties are not being paid on the majority of private jets currently in the country with the NCS seeking to recover unpaid import duties running…

AS the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party persists, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has charged the factional acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, to revert to the status quo. A senior party member informed this newspaper that the PDP Governors Forum has called for an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss various concerns regarding the party’s future. The source, who wished to remain anonymous due to not being authorised to comment, also revealed that PDP stakeholders were considering the establishment of a caretaker committee to guide the party toward…

THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, over the tragic loss of his beloved daughter Fatima Kyari. In a message signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the National Chairman, Edwin Olofu, Dr Ganduje described the passing of Mallam Kyari’s daughter as a great loss, not only to the family but also to all who knew and loved her. He conveyed the collective grief of the APC family, stating that no…

THE Defence Headquarters stated on Thursday that it chose not to go after former Niger Delta militant warlord, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, to avoid being accused of acting “undemocratically.” The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, made this remark in Abuja while responding to a recent report about Asari-Dokubo’s alleged threat to shoot down a military helicopter that had reportedly hovered around his residence. Addressing journalists, the DHQ spokesman described Asari-Dokubo’s threat as laughable, challenging him to confront soldiers on the battlefield if he was bold enough. Buba said, “Now, the comment by an individual that he can shoot…

THE Nigerian Army has opened its portal for 88 Regular Recruit Intake Exercises for trades/non-trades men and women. Interested candidates have been directed to apply by clicking on the Nigerian Army Recruitment Portal to complete the free online application form, submit it online, and print a copy until November 8, 2024 when the application will close. Applicants are then directed to print and complete the Guarantor Form. Eligible applicants must be single, be Nigerian citizens by birth, possess a National Identity Card/NIN slip/BVN, and a valid certificate of state of origin. Applicants are also expected to be medically, physically, and…

THE Kaduna State government has described as false and misleading a media report alleging that the state has borrowed the sum of ₦36 billion on the past six months. Instead, the government said it is paying nearly three times the size of loans taken by the past administration due to the massive devaluation of the Naira. In an official statement by the Commissioner of Planning and budget, Mukhtar Ahmed, the state government explained that the exchange rate fluctuations would affect the ongoing repayment of the inherited loan. The statement noted that the inherited debt burden from the previous administration consisted…

TENSION is escalating between Russia and Ukraine, as both countries exchanged sharp statements over allegations of interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs. The Russian Government on Friday issued a stern warning to the United States, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom for accusing it of sponsoring protests in Nigeria. Russia, in a release, said the countries should rather be blamed for attempting to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs and undermine its bilateral relations with Russia. The warning comes amid growing concerns over foreign influence following the October 1st protests across Nigeria. The protests followed earlier demonstrations on August 1, which were sparked…

THE Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Musa, has said that wanted terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, is in a state of panic following the renewed military onslaught on terrorists in the North West. Mr Musa said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of NAN’s maiden Annual International Lecture on Thursday in Abuja. The CDS explained that the killing of Halilu Buzu and many other terrorist commanders had sent panic to the camp of Turji and his gang, adding that his latest actions were signs of panic. “He used to be emboldened…

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced that over ₦13 billion in diverted public funds was recovered in September 2024 alone. The Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this during the launch of the commission’s 2024-2028 strategic action plan in Abuja on Wednesday. Aliyu, who emphasised that the anti-corruption agency has been working relentlessly to fulfil its mandate, did not disclose where exactly these funds were recovered from. “Over the past year, the ICPC has made significant progress in discharging its mandate; for example, we recovered over ₦13 billion in diverted public funds in…

THE Defence Headquarters said investigations are actively underway into allegations of banditry sponsorship in the North-West region. The DHQ’s Director of Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Abuja, affirming that relevant agencies tasked with such responsibilities were diligently investigating the matter. The development comes on the heels of accusations and counter-accusations between the Minister of State for Defence and immediate past governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, and his successor, Dauda Lawal, over banditry sponsorship. On Tuesday, Matawalle challenged Lawal to swear by the Holy Qur’an that he had no involvement in…

JUSTICE Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court has found the five suspects involved in the Offa robbery incidents guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide. According to the judge, the offences are punishable by death. The incident happened in April 2018. Delivering the judgement which lasted three and half hours, the judge said all evidence submitted by the prosecuting team found them guilty. On the possession of firearms, the judgement pronounced judgement of three years in prison. The convicts are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran. Briefing journalists, the…

AT least three persons have been reported killed and many others kidnapped by bandits who attacked two churches at Bakinpah-Maro Community in the Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. Eyewitnesses said that the incident occurred on Sunday morning when the bandits in large numbers invaded the ECWA and Catholic Churches in the area during church services. A former chairman of Kajuru LGA, Cafra Caino, said the bandits took away 30 persons including a pastor, Bernard Gajera, from both churches. Confirming the incident to News Point Nigeria, a spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, said…

NO fewer than 23 people have died in a road accident that occurred in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The accident which occurred around 1pm on Sunday involved mostly children who were travelling to cerebrate Eld El Maulud, a Muslim festival to mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). An eyewitness told this newspaper that about 15 children died in the tragic accident. Confirming the incident to News Point Nigeria, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kaduna State, Corps Commander Kabiru Nadabo, said the driver of the J5 bus carrying the children…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged any governor or leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to publicly call him a mole. Wike, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria, dared anyone to come forward and accuse him of being a mole. The FCT minister said, “Before I accepted my appointment as Minister, I wrote a letter to the PDP in my state, I wrote a letter to the PDP in my Zone, I wrote a letter to the PDP national, who in PDP is saying I’m a mole,…

GUNMEN suspected to be bandits have kidnapped two healthcare workers during an attack on a primary health centre in Kuyallo Ward located in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The bandits were said to have stormed the village on Monday during which they attacked the primary health centre and took away the two community extension workers. A community leader told this newspaper that the bandits had planned to attack a nearby government primary school, and when they could not find any pupil in the school, they attacked the healthcare facility and kidnapped the two workers. The source said…

TROOPS of 6 Brigade/Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have apprehended notorious female kidnappers’ informant, Grace Markus, recovered an AK-47 rifle, and a vehicle in two separate operations. Grace Markus was arrested for reportedly aiding kidnappers and criminal elements in the area. A press statement by the Acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade Army public relations, Captain Olubodunde Oni, said she was arrested on September 6th 2024 following the abduction of one Mallam Saidu in his place of abode at Vesee community of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State in an intelligence led operation. “She is confirmed to be…

OPERATIVES of the Kaduna State Police Command have apprehended 11 notorious suspected kidnappers and recovered several arms and ammunition in various operations across the state. In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, the arrest of the suspects was linked to the abduction of a District Head on August 14 who was released two days later. He explained that police operatives in collaboration with local hunters raided three villages in Lere Local Government Area, during which they arrested five persons suspected to be kidnappers and also recovered a local made single-barrel gun, a vehicle, one motorcycle…

THE Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, has condemned the recent attack in Mafa, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State. This newspaper reports that gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents looted and set ablaze shops and houses in the local government. Yahaya, in a press statement signed on Wednesday by the Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, described the attack as a senseless act of violence that has caused immense grief to the affected families and communities. He commended the security forces for their efforts against the remnants…

FORMER Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai took to his official X handle over the weekend to share his personal thoughts on what he termed ‘envy’ among Nigeria’s political class. His lamentation follows allegations of corruption and misappropriation of government funds during his eight years as governor of Kaduna State. However, in a long post on his on X handle on Saturday, El-Rufai who described envy as an ‘incurable disease’ said he doubted if it could be cured among the political class. He said, “WEEKEND REFLECTION: “NONE of us has to fail for ALL of us to succeed. And in unity…