By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new Nigeria Police Academy campus in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area, Ogun State, with a N15 billion special take-off grant.

The approval fulfils the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, which provides for the expansion of the academy’s main campus in Wudil, Kano State, into multiple campuses across the country.

The intervention fund will be drawn from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) 2026 allocation. It will finance priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and core training assets.

A high-level consultative meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommended the Erinja location.

The meeting considered student intake capacity, funding realities, academic quality assurance, and the long-term needs of the Nigeria Police Force, which is currently recruiting more personnel.

President Tinubu said the expansion would strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education, and national security.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the unconditional release of Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria, a prominent Islamic cleric, whose detention and bank account restriction were declared a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.

Delivering judgment on Monday, April 20, 2026, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/55/2026, Justice Peter O. Lifu held that the actions of the security agencies contravened several provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The court ordered the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the State Security Service (SSS) – the 2nd and 5th respondents – to pay the sum of N4 million jointly and severally to the applicant for the “gross violation of his fundamental human rights.”

Justice Lifu further directed both agencies to issue a written apology to the cleric through publication, in accordance with Section 35(6) of the Constitution.

The court also declared as “unlawful” the restriction placed on the applicant’s bank account – number 0005620270 domiciled with Jaiz Bank Plc – by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the bank itself, noting that the action was taken without a court order.

Consequently, the court ordered Jaiz Bank to lift the restriction on the account forthwith. Each of the two respondents (EFCC and Jaiz Bank) was ordered to pay N1 million to the applicant.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, the 3rd respondent, was mandated by the court to ensure full compliance with the judgment.

The applicant was represented by a team of lawyers led by Sunusi Musa, SAN, while the EFCC was represented by O.O. Adeola, Esq. Jaiz Bank had A.S. Gobir, Esq., as its counsel. The 2nd and 3rd respondents were absent and unrepresented.

The party seeking to be joined was represented by Prof. Yemi Akinyeye George, SAN, and A.T. Kehinde, SAN.

The judgment, signed by Justice Lifu and certified true copy issued by Registrar Olagunju Toshi, takes immediate effect.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana

In recent times, Kannywood, the Hausa film industry, has continued to evolve with productions that spark both entertainment and reflection. Kaddara stands out as one such seasonal series that is profoundly produced and emotionally engaging. Although I have only watched two episodes so far, the quality and depth are already evident.

What makes the series particularly compelling is its bold attempt to explore complex human behaviour within marriage. It presents not just a story, but a mirror through which society can examine itself. The character of Haidar, played by Adam A. Zango, introduces a troubling but important conversation.

If a woman, by fate or circumstance, finds herself married to someone like Haidar, her life may gradually become defined by suspicion. No matter how responsible, careful, or committed she is, she may still live under constant scrutiny. This raises a sincere question. Do such men still exist in our society today?

One cannot help but ask why a man would choose to marry a woman he does not trust. Marriage, by its very nature, is built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect. When suspicion becomes the foundation, the relationship is already standing on fragile ground.

Another striking element of Khaidar’s character is his decision to prevent his wife, Maimuna (played by Nafisa Abdullahi), from working. This is not just a personal preference. It directly dismisses the years of effort, sacrifice, and resources invested in her education. It reduces her potential to nothing more than a perceived threat.

His justification is rooted in fear. He claims that allowing her to work would expose her to the gaze of other men, including her employer. This line of thinking raises an important concern. Is this truly protection, or is it insecurity disguised as control?

This leads to a deeper question about the purpose of knowledge. Is education only valuable when it results in employment? Is impact measured solely by financial contribution or professional visibility? These are questions that go beyond the storyline and touch on societal values.

The truth is that knowledge is never wasted. Even outside formal employment, an educated person contributes meaningfully to family, community, and society. However, denying someone the opportunity to apply that knowledge based on unfounded fears is neither fair nor balanced.

Haidar further justifies his actions by referencing a hadith about the concept of dayyuth. According to his interpretation, a man who lacks protective jealousy over his wife risks severe spiritual consequences. This is where the conversation becomes even more critical.

The concept of protective jealousy in Islam is often misunderstood. It is meant to preserve dignity and moral boundaries, not to justify oppression or excessive control. When taken out of context, it can easily be weaponised against those it is supposed to protect.

Scholars have long clarified that a dayyuth is a person who knowingly accepts clear immorality without concern. It does not refer to a man who simply allows his wife to live, grow, and function within ethical boundaries. There is a clear difference between awareness of wrongdoing and baseless suspicion.

What Kaddara presents, whether intentionally or not, is a reflection of how religious teachings can be misapplied. It highlights a reality where some individuals use fragments of knowledge to justify actions that contradict the broader principles of justice and balance.

If Maimuna were a sister, the advice would be simple yet firm. Marriage should not strip away dignity, purpose, or peace of mind. There must be room for dialogue, understanding, and growth. Where suspicion replaces trust, there must be honest reflection and, if necessary, intervention.

In the end, Kaddara is more than a series. It is a conversation starter. It challenges viewers to question not just the characters on screen, but the norms and beliefs that exist within society. And perhaps that is its greatest strength.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Nigerian Army troops have dealt a significant blow to terrorist logistics networks in Kogi State, capturing multiple couriers and intercepting a large stash of ammunition in two separate operations over the past three weeks.

The first strike occurred on March 29, 2026, along the Jamata–Owara road in Lokoja LGA. Soldiers stopped a motorcycle whose rider was flagged as a suspected terrorist supply agent.

Recall that The Daily Reality had reported that troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have stepped up operations over the past three months.

A detailed search revealed the bike had been fitted with a secret compartment designed to smuggle ammunition. That arrest, which intelligence sources linked to a high-profile terrorist cell, paved the way for deeper penetration into the network.

The breakthrough came on April 20, 2026. Acting on a tip, troops set up a snap checkpoint on the Obajana–Kabba road. There, they flagged down a Toyota bus traveling from Makurdi to Obajana. Inside were two suspects—Mallam Zubairu Abubakar and Adamu Abubakar Abdullahi.

A meticulous search of the vehicle turned up a sack containing 314 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, hidden with the apparent aim of reviving a previously dismantled supply chain.

Behind the driver’s seat, soldiers also found three AK-47 magazines. Other items seized included two mobile phones, a driver’s license, a National Identification Number slip, and an ID card.

Both suspects were taken into custody along with the recovered materials and handed over to the 12 Military Intelligence Brigade for further investigation.

The army noted that these interceptions follow the earlier capture of Mathew Elisha (alias Nasara), a known ammunition courier on security watch lists.

Together, the operations have seriously disrupted terrorist freedom of movement and logistics in the region, according to Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, acting army public relations officer for 12 Brigade.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have stepped up operations over the past three months. The efforts focused on disrupting terrorist activities and breaking their supply chains across the brigade’s area of responsibility.

As part of the operations, soldiers on 29 March 2026 stopped a suspected logistics courier along the Jamata–Owara Road in Lokoja Local Government Area. The suspect was riding a motorcycle. A search of the bike showed it had been altered to include a hidden compartment used to transport ammunition and other materials. Early findings linked the suspect to known terrorist elements. This development prompted further action by the troops.

The crackdown also led to the earlier arrest of a wanted ammunition courier, Mathew Elisha, also known as Nasara. He had been on security watch lists.

In a separate operation on 20 April 2026, troops recorded another breakthrough. The mission followed credible intelligence about the movement of suspected terrorist couriers within the brigade’s operational zone. Soldiers set up a snap checkpoint at Oshokoshoko along the Obajana–Kabba Road in Lokoja Local Government Area.

During the exercise, troops stopped a Toyota bus traveling from Makurdi to Obajana. A detailed search led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Mallam Zubairu Abubakar and Adamu Abubakar Abdullahi.

Troops recovered a sack containing 314 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition. They also found three AK-47 rifle magazines hidden behind the driver’s seat. Other items recovered included two mobile phones, a driver’s licence, a National Identification Number slip, and an identity card.

Authorities believe the items were meant to help rebuild a disrupted terrorist network.

The suspects and the recovered items have been handed over to the 12 Military Intelligence Brigade for further investigation and necessary action.

The Nigerian Army said the operation highlights the alertness and proactive approach of its troops in restricting the movement of terrorists and weakening their supply systems within the area.

By Anwar Usman

Retired police personnel and their families, under the umbrella of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, on Monday blocked one of the gates of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in protest.

The retired officers are demanding the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme, which they described as “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane and obnoxious.”

Protesters carried placards reading “End CPS,” “If military, DSS were removed from PENCOM, why not police?” while many were chanting, “Police dey work, PenCom dey chop.”

The retired officers said the aim of the protest is to call on President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Police Exit Bill passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026.

They reiteratedthat, the bill, if signed into law, would exempt police personnel from what they called a “slavery and untimely death-inducing pension scheme.”

Speaking in a video of the protest posted by Channels Television, a retired ASP, Nurudeen Dahiru, said, “We are not begging anybody. We have come to fight for our rights. We have suffered.

“We are not here to fight anybody. We are just here to demand for our rights. We have served for 35 years.

“According to the Constitution of the country, when you serve your country for 35 years, you should go home and rest. But see us suffering now. We are not able to take care of our children.

“We have no food to eat. We are dying. Silent killing. So this contributory pension scheme is a killer disease. 35 years is not easy. We are not here to fight anybody.”

Addressing news men, the National Coordinator of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, CSP Raphael Irowainu (retd), who led the protest, said the group was at the Villa to press for the President’s assent to the bill exiting the police from the CPS.

“Our major aim here is to prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign our bill by removing police from the Contributory Pension Scheme passed by the National Assembly on 4th December 2025 and transmitted to him on 16th March 2026, into law, nothing more than that.

“The soldiers have been exited, the SSS has been exited, the Air Force has been exited, the Navy has been exited, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has been exited. The police, who are the father of them all, are trapped in this obnoxious Contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.

The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations by retired police officers over the CPS.

By Uzair Adam

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned proceedings in the Kano Emirate dispute until April 17, 2027.

The Daily Reality reports that the case, presided over by Justice Adamu Jauro, was deferred to the new date for further hearing.

More details are expected to follow.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has opened an investigation into a soldier accused of damaging a Christian religious symbol in southern Lebanon after a viral image showed him smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a hammer. The military described the act as a serious violation of its standards and values.

The IDF confirmed the authenticity of the image in a statement posted on X on Sunday. It said:

“The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops,”

The army said the matter is already under review and has been escalated within its command structure.

“The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings,”

The military also stated that it is engaging efforts to assist in restoring the damaged statue. It insisted that its operations in southern Lebanon are not directed at religious or civilian sites.

“The IDF is operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols,”

The image first appeared online after Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi shared it, a development that triggered widespread reactions on social media. Tirawi said the incident took place in southern Lebanon. A local community page identified the site as the outskirts of Dibil, a Christian-majority town in the Bint Jbeil District near the Israeli border.

The official Dibil page also published a photo of the damaged statue alongside a biblical verse: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” reflecting the community’s grief over the incident.

International reactions followed. Former U.S. congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene criticised continued American support for Israel while sharing the image. She wrote, “Our greatest ally that takes billions of our tax dollars and weapons every year,”

Former U.S. lawmaker Matt Gaetz also reacted to the image and described it as “horrific.”

The incident has intensified scrutiny of military conduct in conflict areas, especially regarding the protection of religious and cultural heritage sites.

In earlier conflicts involving Gaza and Lebanon, Israel has faced similar criticism over damage linked to religious landmarks. In 2023, an Israeli airstrike struck a building next to the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza, which led to at least 18 deaths. In 2025, shrapnel from a tank shell hit the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the enclave, and caused three deaths.

By Anwar Usman

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has not banned airtime borrowing or data advance services in Nigeria.

The statement comes few days after MTN Nigeria said it was suspending its airtime and data credit advance service, popularly known as “Xtratime” in compliance with the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) consumer lending regulations, 2025. The regulations were officially gazetted and took effect on July 21, 2025.

In September 2025, FCCPC said the rules, issued under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (2018), would serve as a comprehensive framework for registration, transparency, and ethical loan recovery.

Also in November 2025, FCCPC set January 5, 2026, as the deadline for full compliance with the regulations.

In an effort t clarity the issue, the commission in a statement on Friday said claims circulating in some media reports and social media posts suggesting it shut down such services are “incorrect”.

“The commission has not prohibited airtime borrowing or data advance services, and no directive was issued preventing consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services,” the statement reads.

The commission further revealed that, its intervention in the sector was as a result of complaints from consumers over opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery practices, and poor disclosure standards.

According to the commission, the issues led to the introduction of the Digital Economy and Online Lending (DEON) consumer lending regulations in July 2025 to address abuses in the market.

“The regulations were introduced to curb the excesses of abusive service providers whose practices had generated persistent consumer harm and undermined confidence in the market,” the FCCPC said.

“The primary aim is to promote a fairer and more transparent system by mandating proper registration, responsible lending conduct, clear disclosure of fees and terms, accessible consumer complaint channels, data protection safeguards, stronger accountability for third-party partners, and effective regulatory oversight.”

The agency said some telecom operators engaged in exclusionary arrangements in violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, noting that the regulations were designed to open up the market and encourage fair competition.

Furthermore, the commission accused some vested interests of spreading misinformation to undermine regulatory efforts.

“Attempts to misrepresent temporary service inconvenience as the result of lawful consumer regulation are mischievous. Nigerians deserve accurate information, not sensational claims,” the agency said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Mahmud Abubakar, the Sonfada Etsu Nupe, has passed away, sparking mourning across Niger State and the Nupe Kingdom.

Governor Umaru Bago expressed sorrow over the development and sent his condolences to Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers.

In a statement released on Sunday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Bago described the death as a “colossal loss” not only to the Nupe Kingdom but also to the entire state.

He extended his sympathy to the Bida Emirate as well as the immediate family of the deceased, and prayed for Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the late Sonfada and grant him Aljanat Firdaus.

The governor also called on the family to remain committed to prayers for the repose of the deceased’s soul and to uphold his legacy through acts of service to humanity.

Bago recalled the contributions of the late Abubakar to the growth and development of the Nupe Kingdom and Niger State, noting that his impact “will always be acknowledged and re-echoed for many years to come”.

The statement added: “He prays that the immediate family of late Alh. Mahmud will continue to be steadfast in praying for the repose of his soul even as he urges them to emulate his good deeds in serving humanity.”

It further stated: “The farmer governor recalls the numerous contributions made by the late Sonfada in the development of the Nupe Kingdom and the State in general and adds that, his efforts will always be acknowledged and re-echoed for many years to come.”