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…
Author: Bala Muhammad
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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…
THE arrest of a former Kaduna Commissioner of Finance and Local Governments, Mohammed Bashir Sa’idu by the Police over alleged money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds has been confirmed. A security source confirmed to this newspaper that a petition received by the Police accused Sa’idu of laundering N3.96 billion and misappropriating N244 million during his tenure in the Kaduna State government between 2015 and 2023. The allegations include the sale of $45 million in state-owned foreign currency at an undervalued exchange rate of N410 per dollar instead of the parallel market rate of N498 per…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a federal university in Southern Kaduna, marking a significant step towards addressing educational and developmental needs in the region. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who revealed this, also disclosed that there are ongoing discussions to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan, Kaduna State. Shettima gave the hint at the weekend during a condolence visit to the Kukah family on the death of His Highness, Yohanna Sidi Kukah, the Agwom Akulu of Ikulu Chiefdom and family member of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, in Ikulu Kingdom, Kamuru,…
THE Defence Headquarters has denied reports stating that the French military was planning to establish a base in Nigeria. In a statement by the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba on Monday said the clarification was necessitated due to reports doing the rounds, that French soldiers had arrived in the country. “The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to online reports alleging the arrival of the first contingent of French soldiers in Maiduguri towards establishing a French Military base in North East Nigeria. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby state unequivocally that this information is fake, totally…
KADUNA State governor, Uba Sani, has allayed fears that if state police are eventually established, state governors will use them to oppress their political opponents. After the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Governor Sani briefed State House correspondents. He disclosed that 36 state governors had submitted their positions on state police establishment, and all indicated overwhelming support. The development boosts many calls for the establishment of state police. However, there have always been concerns that state governors might misuse them in some quarters. But speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria,…
THE Police Service Commission has approved the dismissal of 19 senior police officers which comprised 10 Assistant Superintendents, six Deputy Superintendents, two Chief Superintendents and one Superintendent. The commission also approved the reduction in rank of 19 other senior police officers, including one Assistant Commissioner of Police, one Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents and 13 Assistant Superintendents. Two Assistant Inspectors General of Police were also punished as one was reprimanded for refusal to carry out lawful instructions while the other received a letter of warning for negligence. The PSC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, who disclosed this in a statement…
GOVERNOR Uba Sani on Thursday said that his administration will be fair and just to everyone in order to achieve lasting peace and development in Kaduna State. The governor gave the commitment in Birnin Gwari when he received the first set of repentant bandits and opened the cattle market, which had been closed for about 10 years due to insecurity. He disclosed that Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with some federal agencies, established the Peace Dialogue Group, which has been engaging stakeholders tirelessly. “Through numerous meetings and extensive discussions, we have built bridges of trust. Several senior bandit leaders have…
CONFUSION has gripped the Keke A community in Kaduna Millennium City as a two-year-old child and three sisters were abducted in the area. It was learnt that the incident occurred around 9pm on Tuesday when their father was on a visit to their mother, who was admitted to the hospital with newly born twins. The victims are aged 2, 9, 12, and 15. The father, Yunusa Sarkin Samarin Keke, said that one of the children was an orphan under his care. “I was not at home when the incident occurred because I was visiting my wife who was taking care…
The Defence Headquarters has applauded the arrest of separatist leader, Simon Ekpa by Finnish Police. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, and the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau in their separate statement, described the arrest as a key victory in the anti-terror fight. The spokespersons said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has expressed happiness over Ekpa’s arrest. “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice,” Gusau said on Thursday. Similarly,…