Author: Sani Nura

ZAMFARA State Governor Dauda Lawal has rejigged his cabinet and assigned a portfolio to a newly sworn-in commissioner. Governor Lawal chaired the Zamfara State Executive Council on Monday during which the new commissioner was sworn in. A statement by the governor’s spokesperson Sulaiman Idris revealed that the governor made a minor cabinet reshuffle in the portfolios of commissioners. Idris added that Kaura’s appointment follows Mannir Haidara’s resignation as commissioner and his subsequent election as Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area. During the swearing-in, Governor Lawal stressed that Kaura’s selection to represent Kaura Namoda Local Government Area in the cabinet…

THE Katsina State Police Command has foiled two separate kidnap attempts in Jibia and Faskari Local Government Areas of the state. The command also rescued 20 kidnapped victims during the operations on Saturday in these areas. Briefing newsmen on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, said the first incident occurred on December 7th, 2024, at about 19:00 hours at Kwanar Makera along the Katsina–Magamar Jibia road in Jibia LGA. A group of armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, opened fire on a moving vehicle, attempting to abduct the occupants. “However, operatives of the command…

GUNMEN suspected to be bandits have attacked the mother of the Taraba State governor, Jumai Kefas, and his sister, Atsi. The incident occurred yesterday along the Wukari-Kente road in Wukari Local Government Area of the state. The chairman of Wukari Local Government confirmed the attack in a telephone interview with this newspaper. He said some men on motorcycles attempted to stop the vehicle conveying the governor’s mother and sister, adding that one of the police escorts fired a warning shot into the air during the incident. “It is difficult to say if the men on motorcycles were bandits, kidnappers or…

NOT less than two explosive devices went off at separate locations in the Dansadau District of Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State. According to PremiumTimes, the two explosions occurred on the road between Dansadau and Malamawa and another on Malele Road, all in the Dansadau district A resident, Nuhu Babangida, was quoted as saying passengers in a Canter Truck going to the Dansadau weekly market on Friday escaped death after the truck, loaded with grains, ignited the bomb. Babangida said the explosions on Malamawa and Malele roads went off simultaneously but recorded no casualties. This is the third…

THE Zamfara state police command has accused the newly identified terror group, Lakurawa, of being responsible for the recent explosions that rocked highways in two villages in Dansadau district, Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. CP Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, the state Police Commissioner, made the claim during a telephone conversation with our correspondent. News Point Nigeria had earlier reported that bandits on Wednesday planted a fresh set of explosives along Dansadau-Gusau road in Zamfara state, killing travellers. Gory pictures seen by News Point Nigeria showed victims of the blast lying lifeless by the roadside as passersby looked on…

BANDITS on Wednesday planted a fresh set of explosives along Dansadau-Gusau road in Zamfara state, killing travellers. Gory pictures seen by News Point Nigeria showed victims of the blast lying lifeless by the roadside as passersby looked on in shock and despair. Residents of Dansadau told this newspaper that the suspected terrorists planted the explosives along the road that connects Dansadau to other parts of the state. Abdullahi Dansadau, a resident of the area said a Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle stepped off the planted bomb and exploded, killing six persons and injuring eight others. “It was this morning, one golf…

A NEW wave of insecurity has gripped residents of Dansadau Emirate under the Maru local government area in Zamfara State following reports that armed bandits operating in the region are now deploying explosives as part of their tactics. A resident of the area Bello Dansadau revealed that the use of explosives by these criminal groups marks a dangerous escalation in their activities in the area. According to him, the bandits group had planned to attack Yar Galadima village early hours of Sunday and to prevent the troops and local vigilantes stationed at Dansadau Town from assisting the village, the terrorists…

TROOPS of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, successfully conducted a fighting patrol in response to a distress call from the residents and vigilantes of Yar Galadima village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. According to a statement by the Coordinator, Joint Media Coordination Centre, Operation Fansan Yanma, Lt-Col Abubakar Abdullahi, the development occurred in the early hours of 1st December 2024 when the troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Hanutara were alerted at about 5am that terrorists were attacking the village. He further added that the troops responded promptly to provide assistance and restore…

ARMED robbers have ambushed El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club team bus at Rijiyar Malam village along Jos-Bauchi road in Bauchi State, injuring many players and officials. This newspaper gathered that the team were travelling for a league match when the ugly incident happened. Personal Assistant to the Technical Adviser of the Club, Suleiman Abdullahi, told this newspaper that the incident occurred around 12:45 midnight on Saturday. “We were on our way from Jos to Maiduguri when the armed robbers ambushed our two buses. They fired sparodically, stopped the buses and a saloon car. They ordered all the occupants out of the…

THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reopened its orientation camp in Zamfara State after a sixteen-month closure due to security concerns. The reopening ceremony which was held on Friday at the temporary camp in Gusau also marked the swearing-in of Batch C Stream 1 corps members deployed to the state. The Permanent orientation camp situated in Tsafe town, headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area is under renovation and reconstruction by the state government. The closure of the camp in 2023 had caused disruptions for prospective corps members posted to the state, while many were posted to Kebbi and other…

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently hosted the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at his residence in Adamawa State. Atiku disclosed this in a video shared on X.com on Saturday. His caption read, “It is breakfast time with my friend, #PeterObi, in the ‘land of beauty.” The video featured the two leaders, alongside others, seated together at a dining table, ready to have their meal. This is not their first meeting after the 2023 election, as the two met earlier in May this year. Obi had similarly visited the former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and the former…

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities at Bauchi State-owned Sa’adu Zungur University has declared an indefinite strike. Announcing the decision on Friday during a press conference held after a congress at the university’s Yuli campus, ASUU SAZU Chairperson, Auwal Nuhu, cited several reasons for the action. These include the absence of pension and retirement schemes, poor working conditions, and unpaid earned academic allowances. Auwal, who stated that the strike commenced on Friday, November 29, 2024, explained further that “The branch, at its congress meeting held on Friday, November 29, 2024 at the presence of the NEC visitation team reviewed the…

GOMBE State has once again cemented its reputation as a model of good governance and accountability under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. The state has achieved an impressive 5th position in the 2024 Transparency and Public Integrity Index ranking among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It also secured the highest spot in the northeast. This top ranking was indicated in the 2024 Transparency and Public Integrity Index report released by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity Watch (CeFTPIW). CeFTPIW is a non-governmental organization established in 2016 to promote good governance by strengthening transparency…

GOMBE State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has congratulated Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi on his election as the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed profound joy over Alhassan’s resounding victory at the just concluded 8th Triennial Delegates Conference in Owerri,  Imo State, describing it as a remarkable achievement and a source of immense pride for the state and the entire journalism community. The Governor praised Comrade Alhassan’s journey and impressive rise in NUJ leadership. “From your humble beginning at the chapel level to your stellar service at the state, zonal, and national levels,…

THREE senior lecturers of Taraba State University (TSU) lost their lives within 78 Hours. The lecturers are Prof. Akporido Samuel, former head of department of Chemical Sciences, who slumped and died in his office on Thursday; Dr. Kiliobas Sha’a, former Head of Department Biological Sciences, and Dr Ibrahim Saleh Bali who died in the early hours of Sunday. This newspaper learnt that Prof. Samuel slumped and died in his office while Dr. Sha’a died in his house after struggling with high blood pressure and Dr Ibrahim Saleh Bali died at FMC Jalingo after suffering from a protracted illness. The death…

A VICTIM of kidnapping for ransom has reportedly succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment following gunshot wounds by armed bandits in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. The deceased was among two rescued victims who had suffered gunshot injuries and were rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention by the police in the state. The incident occurred yesterday, at about 1955 hrs, after some suspected bandits, armed with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, attacked two commercial vehicles at Dan’arau village along Magama Jibia road in Jibia LGA, Katsina State, in an attempt to kidnap the occupants. In…

THE total rehabilitation of the 39 kilometres Shargalle-Dutsi-Ingawa Road in Katsina State commenced on Friday with Governor Dikko Radda calling on the residents to work together and ensure that the standards are met. Governor Radda while flagging off the exercise at Shargalle town in Dutsi Local Government Area of the State announced that 40 percent of the contract amount has already been paid to the contractor. He attested that the poor condition of the road has not only hampered the movement of people, goods, and services but has also adversely affected the trade, agriculture, and socioeconomic activities in the area.…

THREE persons have died as a result of a clash between farmers and herders in the Dogon Duste community of Nasarawa State. The community is between Nasarawa and Toto Local Government Areas of the state. The Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, CP Umar Nadada, disclosed the incident in Lafia on Thursday. “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) received a report that there was a clash between farmers and herders on Monday, November 18 at about 4:30 pm,” he said. “On reaching there, it was discovered that two people were killed on the farm while four were injured and they were rushed to…

THE Zamfara State Police Command has achieved another breakthrough in its fight against banditry by arresting a notorious regional gunrunner, a local gun manufacturer, and several suspected bandits during a series of coordinated operations. The State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, disclosed the arrests during a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Gusau on Tuesday. He commended the officers and men of the state police command for their relentless efforts in tackling criminal activities across the state. According to the CP, a notorious regional gunrunner was apprehended while transporting a cache of arms and ammunition intended for delivery…

GOMBE State Governor,  Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON has presented a Budget Proposal of Three Hundred and Twenty Billion, One Hundred and Ten Million Naira (N320,110,000,000.00)  to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law. The proposed budget, tagged “Budget of Resilience and Sustainability,” is aimed at addressing socio-economic challenges and promoting sustainable development across the state. Presenting the appropriation bill, the governor emphasized that the budget’s contents align with current local, national, and global economic realities. The Governor explained that of the total budget, N111,087,215,000 has been allocated for recurrent expenditure, accounting for 34.70%, while N209,022,785,000 has…