Author: Sani Nura

THE Yobe State High Court sitting in Potiskum has sentenced a dismissed soldier, Lance Corporal John Gabriel, to death by hanging for killing an Islamic cleric, late Sheikh Goni Aisami. The court also sentenced Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon, an accomplice in the murder, to 10 years’ imprisonment. Aisami, a popular Islamic scholar based in Gashua, was murdered in Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State by a soldier whom he gave a free ride on his way to Gashua from Kano on August 22, 2022. Meanwhile, Justice Usman Zanna Mohammed who gave the verdict convicted Gabriel with service number, N/A13/69/6522,…

THE Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON has expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences to the families of the Maulud celebrants who were tragically affected in the unfortunate accidental bombing by the Nigerian army in Tudun Biri Community of Kaduna State. Governor Inuwa Yahaya extended his condolences to the government and people of Kaduna State during this profoundly distressing time, describing the loss of innocent lives as a heartbreaking tragedy. The Governor emphasized that while the fight against banditry and terrorism remains crucial, it must be executed with the highest level…

ABOUT 2,000 residents in eight communities of the Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State have so far fled to Benishek, the headquarters of the LGA, following a quit notice served to them by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. This newspaper reliably gathered that the insurgents, about 10 days ago, warned residents of the eight villages to leave in three days or face total extermination. At the expiration of the three-day ultimatum, this newspaper further gathered that the terrorists stormed the villages about a week ago, chasing out the residents and killing several. While fleeing, the villagers left behind their farm…

THE Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has proposed N207.7 billion as the 2024 Appropriation Bill. This newspaper reports that the fiscal document is tagged “Budget of Continuity and Consolidation.” The document has N87.2bn as recurrent expenditure, representing 42 per cent and N120.5bn as capital expenditure, representing 58 per cent. Presenting the document at the state House of Assembly on Monday, Yahaya said the budget was geared towards consolidating on the gains of his first term in office, urging the House to scrutinise it in a bid to provide the needed insight. He said, “The Speaker, members, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,…

NO fewer than 20,000 refugees have fled the Republic of Cameroon to seek asylum in Taraba State, Nigeria. The refugees camping in five local government areas of Sardauna, Kurmi, Gashaka, Ussa and Takum, are appealing to federal and state governments as well as non-governmental organizations for assistance to ameliorate their sufferings. The Taraba State government has assured them of their safety and protection pending the return of peace in their country. As at March 2020, over 7,000 refugees had crossed over from the Republic of Cameroon to seek asylum in five local government areas of Taraba State. Three years down…

THE Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Federal University Dutsinma, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, has said the efforts were ongoing for the release of the remaining four abducted students at the university. Bichi disclosed this on Thursday while responding to questions fielded by journalists on the sideline of a press conference as part of the activities of the convocation ceremony of the university to be held on Saturday. He said while one of the students was released recently in Zamfara State by the abductors of their own volition, as nothing was paid as ransom, talks are ongoing for the release of the…

NO fewer than 50 suspected bandits terrorising communities across the Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State have been eliminated in what is a breakthrough in the fight against banditry. While the feat was achieved on Tuesday in the North-East state, the spokesman of the Taraba State Police Command Abdullahi Usman told this newspaper on Thursday that the bandits were killed by police operatives in collaboration with other security agencies. He said the coordinated operation followed an outcry by locals which led to the ambush and killing of the bandits. “Taraba State Police Command received information that some unknown gunmen…

THE International Association Of World Peace Advocates IAWPA yesterday paid a condolence visit to the family of late Amb. Yusuf Yunusa Who died recently. Amb. Yusuf Yunusa before his death at the Yobe State University teaching hospital, was the Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya. He was aged 73. The condolence visit which was initiated by Amb. John Metchie the IAWPA African Director was aimed at identifying and recognizing the contributions of the late Yunusa and also to commiserate with the family of the deceased at this period of mourning. Amb. Metchie who was represented by the International Spokesman of IAWPA…

BANDITS have killed 18 hunters in a separate attacks in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. This newspaper learnt that 15 hunters were killed during confrontation with bandits at a mountain area near Maihula town on Tuesday. It was gathered that the bandits numbering over 200 attempted to attack Bali town the headquarters of Bali Local Government and other surrounding villages but were confronted by the hunters. The bandits, it was further gathered had more sophisticated weapons than the hunters leading to killing of 15 hunters. A source in the area, Musa Umar told this newspaper that 14 hunters…

THE Bauchi State House of Assembly has elected Babayo Akuyam as its new Speaker. He represents Hardawa Constituency in Misau Local Government Area of the state. The House also elected Ahmed Abdullahi, representing Dass Constituency in Dass LGA, as Deputy Speaker. This newspaper reports that this comes barely five days after the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja sacked the then Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, as member representing Ningi Central Constituency. Suleiman, the immediate past Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was declared winner of the Ningi Central Constituency…

ELEVEN persons have lost their lives in a fatal motor accident along the Maiyama/Koko Road in Kebbi State, police authorities said on Tuesday. The accident which happened on Monday involved a DAF Trailer with registration number SKK837X driven by a yet-to-be-identified driver. Onboard the ill-fated vehicle were 65 passengers – all males – from Sokoto State, Kebbi State police spokesman, Nafiu Abubakar, said in a statement. Besides the passengers, the trailer was also conveying bags of onions, bags of beans and six motorcycles and travelling from Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto to Niger State. “On reaching a point near…

SECURITY operatives have neutralised three suspected bandit leaders along the Kwakare Area in the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. Other bandits, however, escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries. The suspects were said to have been neutralised by a combined team of police officers and vigilante members around 10:30hrs on Saturday. The success was, according to the Spokesman of the Command, Abubakar Aliyu, part of the command’s determination in the ongoing fight against banditry in the state. The joint patrol team upon reaching the Kwakare Area, clashed with some suspected kidnappers who opened fire on the team. But…

NO fewer than 11 local wood-cutters better known as loggers have been reportedly beheaded by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. It was learnt that the incident occurred on Monday near Bale, a remote village in Damboa lga. According to local vigilante sources, the bodies of the victims were recovered at the scene around 5 pm. “Yes, six persons were recovered from the scene yesterday’s (Monday) evening and they were dismembered. They were found in a pool of blood because all parts of their bodies were cut into pieces. “We have buried them this…

THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, affirmed the election of Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State. The appellate court dismissed a petition that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Saidu Umar, filed to challenge the declaration of Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the bonafide winner of the governorship election that held in the state on March 18. In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of Justices of the court said it found no reason to disturb the verdict of the Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had earlier validated Governor Aliyu’s…

TARABA State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas has received with utmost shock the horrific attacks on Yangtu by suspected gun men that reportedly claimed many lives. It is the latest in the dastardly acts of worrisome banditry in the area. According to a statement by the Special Adviser Media and Digital Communications, Emma Bello, Sunday, Kefas, who extended his heartfelt condolences to the people of Yangtu, called on security agents to double their efforts in ridding the troubled area of all forms of terror. He  promptly directed the Deputy Governor and top security heads to visit the troubled area with a…

THE Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, have eliminated a key Boko Haram terrorist leader, Abu Asad and several others in air strikes on their hideout at Tagoshe on Mandara Mountains in Borno. The Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. Gabkwet said the air strikes which was conducted on Friday, was one of the most successful strikes undertaken by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai in recent time. He said the NAF discovered a massing of terrorists in an isolated location consisting…

THE Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the March 18 election of Nasir Idris as the lawfully elected governor of Kebbi State. The Court in a judgment delivered on Friday evening dismissed the appeal brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate, General Aminu Bande for lacking in merit. In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Ndukwe Anyanwu, the Appellate Court resolved all the five issues formulated for determination in favour of the governor and against the PDP. Justice Anyanwu held that the allegations of forgery of testimonial brought against the Deputy Governor of…

MORE details emerged on Tuesday night’s attack on the headquarters of the Adamawa State Command of the Nigeria Police in Yola, which led to the death of a police inspector. This newspaper had reported how residents of the Adamawa State capital were thrown into panic following heavy gunshots fired around the state police command’s headquarters with early reports suspecting a possible attack by Boko Haram terrorists. A source who pleaded anonymity told News Point Nigeria that the soldiers stormed the Police Headquarters in commando-like attack over an alleged assault by men of the police force on a soldier days ago.…

THREE persons were feared killed when bandits attacked Kaura-Namoda town, the headquarters of Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State. According to an eyewitness, the bandits invaded the town around 9pm on Tuesday and shot sporadically, forcing residents to scamper for safety. A resident of Kaura-Namoda town, Ismaila Kaura, told News Point Nigeria that three persons were killed during the attack including a 10-year-old female pupil identified as Ni’ima who was on her way to Islammiyya school at that time He said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji deployed to the town engaged the bandits in a gun duel and…

TROOPS of the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) have rescued 31 kidnapped victims in Sokoto State. This is as the Northwest Operation under the command of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Major General Godwin Mutkut, intensified the onslaught and conducted a series of clearance operations to terrorists/bandits’ enclaves in its areas of operations in the North-West. In a statement made available to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday in Gusau, the spokesperson for Operation Hadarin Daji, Captain Yahaya Ibrahim, said the troops in a recent clearance operation conducted on Tuesday in the Tangaza Local…