Author: Sani Nura

TRAGEDY struck in the Tungar Kara community under Gidan Goga district of Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, on Saturday evening, as an accidental airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) mistakenly hit members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), local vigilantes and residents, leaving at least 16 people dead. According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred shortly after armed bandits raided the area and fled. Local vigilantes and residents, who were defending their community against the attackers, were reportedly caught in the airstrike. A lawmaker representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly Maharazu Salisu Gado…

TOP bandit commanders have been killed in a series of airstrikes in Zamfara State, the Nigerian Air Force said on Sunday. In a statement, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, said the strikes which were conducted in collaboration with ground troops left several other bandits injured. Though Akinboyewa didn’t give an exact number of casualties, he said local intelligence reports confirmed that the bandits, loyal to notorious leader Kachallah Bello Turji, suffered heavy casualties. He stated that despite the airstrikes, the whereabouts of notorious bandits leader, Kachallah Turji, remain unknown. “Scores of bandits were…

BARELY a week after killing two police officers, terrorists belonging to Lakurawa group have killed three staff of a leading telecommunication firm. The insurgents were said to have invaded a construction site at Gumki village in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State. It was gathered that the deceased were installing a surveillance mast for the Nigeria Immigration Service in the area when the terrorists struck and killed them and one other person who is yet to be identified. Though the police report said three of the deceased were Airtel staff, the locals said they were immigration staff. A staff…

THE Presidency has reacted to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s recent comments about the president not listening to the people, asking him to face governance in the northern state and stop playing irresponsible politics. Earlier in the week, Mohammed had a talk with the National Chairman Council of Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah, Sheikh Sani Jingir, over the state of the nation. Jingir was a staunch proponent of the Muslim-Muslim Ticket that brought President Bola Tinubu to power in May 2023. “It is true that we are not on good terms with him (Tinubu) because our brothers and sisters…

A NOTORIOUS bandit leader, “Baƙo-baƙo” along with his fighters, was neutralised on Thursday by Joint Security Forces in a clearance operation conducted on Batsari Forest in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. Security sources said the operation was meticulously planned and executed by the troops of the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Katsina Security Watch Corps with troops advancing into the bandits’ stronghold under the cover of dusk. In a fierce gun battle, “Baƙo-baƙo” and his men were overwhelmed by the superior firepower and strategy of the combined forces. Baƙo-baƙo…

GOMBE State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has flagged off the distribution of a 1.5 billion Naira intervention fund to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and households affected by the devastating floods during the past rainy season in Gombe State. The intervention covers 10,000 beneficiaries identified from across various communities, including members of associations, the physically challenged, and other vulnerable groups. Speaking at the event, the Governor restated that the welfare of the people remains at the center of his administration’s focus, with a strong emphasis on supporting livelihoods and businesses. “The welfare of the people of Gombe…

GOVERNOR Dikko Radda of Katsina State on Monday reshuffled the State Executive Council to ensure optimum performance of the administration’s ‘Building Your Future’ agenda. This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed. Kaula-Mohammed said Alhaji Malik Anas, a newly appointed commissioner, would now head the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. “Anas holds a Masters in Business Administration from Bayero University, Kano. “He was equally a one-time Katsina State Accountant-General; and member of different professional bodies, including Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Financial Reporting of Nigeria, among others,” Kaula-Mohammed said. Alhaji…

BAUCHI State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has reshuffled his cabinet and sacked five commissioners. According to a press release issued to journalists on Tuesday by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado, the reshuffling is to reinvigorate governance and ensure optimal service delivery to the people of the State. The statement revealed that “In that respect, five commissioners were dropped. This move reflects the administration’s commitment to injecting new ideas and energy into governance, in line with the governor’s vision of strengthening the machinery of government and addressing emerging challenges effectively. “The commissioners affected by this development…

FORMER President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled the demise of Hajiya Hauwa’u Abubakar, mother of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, describing her as an “inspiration to everyone.” In a telephone call on Sunday to Minister Dingyadi, who had served as Minister of Police Affairs in the Buhari administration, the former president expressed his deep sorrow and offered prayers for the repose of the deceased. “Her long life teaches us about commitment to family and community, and a life committed to values. These are lessons that will guide future generations. I pray for the peace of her soul,…

A FIRE disaster in Sokoto metropolis has caused the death of four persons, a daughter to Secretary to the State Government of Sokoto, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, and her three children. The deceased mother was also the wife of the Permanent Secretary of the Sokoto State Ministry of Sports and Youths Development, Muhammadu Yusuf Bello. Only the husband survived the fire which affected the entire 6-bedroom flat while family was sleeping. Personnel of the state fire service were unable to put out the fire as it had already consumed the house before their arrival. The remains of the 4 deceased members…

THE troops of 1 Brigade, Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma has neutralised a notorious terrorist, Sani Russu in Zamfara. The troops also succeeded in various operations against terrorists in the state and recovered arms. This is contained in a statement in Gusau on Monday by the Coordinator, Joint Media Coordination Centre Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi. “On January 4, the troops conducted a fighting patrol to Bamamu village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara and had an encounter with terrorists in the area. “Consequently, a notorious kingpin, Sani Rusu, was neutralised in…

THE Acting Chairman of the Katsina State Chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Surajo Rufa’i, has been killed by some suspected bandits. He was killed on Saturday at his residence located in the Mai-Rana village in the Kusada Local Government Area of Katsina State. A source told our correspondent that two other persons were also killed and several others wounded during the attack which took place at 11:30 pm. Although, the remains of Rufa’i and the two other persons have been buried on Sunday morning according to Islamic rites, the source revealed that the hoodlums kidnapped…

AT least 18 kidnap victims have been rescued from the hands of bandits in Katsina State after the state police command foiled kidnap attempt along the Funtua-Gusau highway in Zamfara State. The Command also succeeded in recovering an unspecified number of rustled animals after foiling cattle rustling attempt at Gidan Gada village in Kafur Local Government Area of the state. The kidnapping attempt occurred on January 3rd, 2025, at about 21:30 hrs, after an information was received at the Faskari Divisional Police Headquarters that some suspected armed bandits armed with AK-47 rifles, shooting sporadically, ambushed 4 vehicles at a point…

GUNMEN suspected to be members of the Lakurawa terrorist group have killed two policemen and rustled over 200 cows from Natsini village in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. It was learnt that the incident happened on Thursday at about 11 pm. According to sources at the village, the policemen were manning a checkpoint along the Augie/Kangiwa road when the terrorists numbering over 50 on motorcycles attacked and killed two of them before rustling cows in the village. Natsini village is along Augie/Kangiwa road and about 5 kilometres from Argungu town. A local, Abubakar Augie, told this newspaper that…

NASARAWA State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has dissolved the Nasarawa State Executive Council. He announced the dissolution during an executive council meeting on Friday, 3rd January 2025. The governor appreciated the outgone commissioners and the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State for the services rendered to the Government and people of Nasarawa State and wished them the best of luck in their future endeavours. The outgone commissioners have been directed to hand over the affairs of their Ministries and all government property in their possession to the Permanent Secretaries of their respective Ministries. In the same vein, the outgone Secretary…

THE Bauchi State Chapter of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has described plans by the Bauchi State Government and the state House of Assembly to spend over N3.4bn on fueling of vehicles, generators and travels in the 2025 fiscal year as a shameful display of mismanagement of public funds and greed. The party stated this in a statement on Friday signed by its state Secretary, Hon. Wada Abdullahi, saying it was time to shine a light on the disturbing priorities of those in power and to hold them accountable for their greed amidst growing economic struggles faced by the people of…

THE Adamawa State governor Umaru Fintiri has approved the selection of seven new Chiefs and Emirs for recently created Chiefdoms and Emirates. The approval is with immediate effect according to the governor. The names and domains of the newly selected traditional rulers were disclosed in a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Humwashi Wonisikou, and made available to News Point Nigeria on Friday. Governor Fintiri, who congratulated the new traditional rulers, said their selection is based on merit and their popularity among their people. He, therefore, urged them to be fair, honest and responsible in…

BANDITS have abducted passengers and burnt their vehicle in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. This newspaper learnt that the incident occurred at Kwanar Jalab village in Zungeru Ward, Shinkafi LGA. The notorious bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji, had threatened to launch attacks in response to the arrest of his relatives. It is not clear if this incident is as a result of the threat. A resident of Shinkafi, who craved anonymity, said the bandits ambushed the vehicle around 8am, on Tuesday, while conveying passengers to Shinkafi from Gusau, the state capital. “The bandits abducted all the passengers on board…

GOMBE State Governor,  Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has expressed immense pride in the outstanding performance of the state’s contingents at the recently concluded 39th edition of the National Quranic Recitation Competition held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. The Governor commended the overall winner in the Female Category, Rumaisa’u Dahir Ibrahim and other victors for their exceptional performance, especially given that six out of eight Gombe State representatives secured prizes in various categories. Rumaisa’u was crowned the Overall Winner in the Female Category having claimed first place in the 60 Hizb with Tafsir and Qiraat. She scored a total of 95.6%…

A CHIEFTAIN of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara state, Dr. Sani Shinkafi has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the escalating security threat posed by the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji. Speaking to journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, Shinkafi expressed grave concern over Turji’s latest threats to turn towns and villages in Sokoto and Zamfara states into ghost communities if his demands are not met. The alarm was raised following the release of a video by Turji where he boldly challenged security agencies to release his ally, Bako Wurgi, who was recently apprehended by security…