By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kebbi State Hisbah Board has arrested 25 youths in Argungu town over alleged involvement in immoral activities during an operation carried out at a hotel.

The exercise was conducted by operatives of the board under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The Director of Shariah of the board, Sirajo Kamba, disclosed this in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

He said, “On July 3, the Kebbi Hisbah Board carried out a raid at a hotel in Argungu and successfully apprehended 25 suspects allegedly involved in immoral activities.

“Those arrested include 12 males and 13 females.

“The operation is part of the board’s ongoing efforts to combat social vices, promote moral values, and maintain peace and decency across Kebbi,” he said.

Kamba stated that the board would carry out a detailed investigation in line with the law. He added that anyone found guilty after the investigation would face legal action.

The operation formed part of ongoing measures by the Hisbah Board to address social misconduct and strengthen moral standards in the state.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre has posted an AI-generated image of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, selling akara amid ongoing reactions to her recent remarks about small-scale businesses.

The image appeared on the Presidency’s official social media platforms on Friday. It showed the First Lady at a roadside akara stand wearing an apron with the inscription, “Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love.”

The post came days after Oluremi Tinubu spoke about low-capital businesses during an interview. She had explained that ventures such as akara frying, corn roasting and kuli kuli production could help Nigerians improve their livelihoods.

“We’re trying to give hope, and to start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she had said.

Her comments generated widespread reactions online. While some Nigerians said the remarks failed to reflect the country’s economic challenges, others defended her position and described the businesses as accessible opportunities for many citizens.

The AI-generated image also triggered fresh debate on social media.

Reacting on X, a user identified as @Top_GunM wrote, “Warra country. It’s so unfortunate. This is meant to be the wife of the president of the most populous black nation in the world and this is what she’s being reduced to.”

Another user, #mizmuchstella, criticised the Presidency’s media team. “Whoever is the handler of this account should be sacked. Your job is to position this government as good, but it is obvious you have no basic knowledge of your job.”

Also reacting, #WilverZaddy said, “I hope Nigerians are seeing the man they voted for using them to catch cruise? Is this what a president is supposed to say? A president directly mocking the masses while the economy bites harder with high level of insecurity in the country. Such a big pity and mess.”

Another X user, #ChimaAmako82045, described the post as disrespectful to Nigerians. “Keep enjoying this mediocrity n insult you are giving Nigerians, e just remain months to vote the idiotic family out of aso rock, and na that time when una wan rig am na him una go know Nigerians pain. Enjoy it while it last but remember it won’t last forever.”

A user identified as #outtahighbee also faulted the development, saying the Presidency was damaging its public image. “lol You guys are not helping this president of ours at all. You think you are but you keep dragging the old man down and further down with this cruise. Everybody can’t sell akara and kuli kuli now Abi iru wahala wo leleyi gan sef? Oro yin su mi o.”

Another commentator, #gentrytee22, argued that the image portrayed citizens in a poor light. “This is to show how small the government of the day rates its citizens. You advocate for mediocrity and call it innovation , people who wants better for themselves complain now it has to turn to a nationwide meme being used by the government media team lol. It’s a shame.”

Highlighting rising living costs, #AminJaman wrote, “Even akara has becomes more expensive because beans, oil, and transport costs keep rising. The smile is beautiful, but behind it is the reality of soaring food prices, expensive cooking gas, and declining purchasing power.”

However, some Nigerians defended the post.

A user identified as #SirTimeyin argued that social media users had earlier turned the First Lady’s remarks into jokes and memes. “I find it interesting that so many people are suddenly outraged. When the First Lady’s “Akara” comment became content, Nigerians turned it into skits, memes, and endless cruise. We laughed, and moved on. Now the President has added his own quota to thesame joke, and everyone is wailing. Why the surprise? Once a national issue becomes entertainment, don’t be shocked when those in power start treating it like one too. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

Another supporter, #sto0511M, welcomed the image and encouraged the Presidency to continue with such posts. “Thank you for this image we want more of these kind images to dish out to them so that theh can continue roaming in 1 roundabout,abeg pepper 🌶 dem more for us our body sey sweet us with that PBAT statement.”

President Tinubu had earlier referred to the First Lady as “Iya Alakara” during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House in Abuja on Thursday. The remark came while he acknowledged guests during his speech at the event.

‎By Fatih Lawal-Garu  

‎Across Nigeria today, an allegation can become a death sentence long before any investigation begins. Increasingly, crowds, not courts, decide who lives and who dies. Whether the accusation is theft, blasphemy, kidnapping, or even a perceived cultural offence, many Nigerians are willing to dispense instant “justice,” replacing the rule of law with the rule of the mob.  

‎On December 28, 2025, filmmaker Don Pedro Obaseki was abducted, beaten, stripped naked, and publicly paraded through the streets of Benin City over allegations that he had insulted the Oba of Benin while abroad. He survived the ordeal and later filed a ₦500 million fundamental rights suit, which he withdrew after receiving a public apology. Barely three months later, on March 19, 2026, during the Alue-Do Festival in Ozoro, Delta State, viral videos showed coordinated sexual assaults on women. Large groups of men chased, groped, and tore the clothes of women in broad daylight under the guise of an ancient fertility rite. In Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, an Islamiyya school teacher named Ummulkhair was lynched and burnt alive after being accused of kidnapping a child. Four years earlier, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was beaten, stoned, and burnt alive by fellow students over allegations of blasphemy.  

‎These incidents reveal that mob violence is neither regional nor confined to a single grievance. It cuts across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, religions, cultures, ethnicities, and genders. Crowds arrogate to themselves the powers of the police, the courts, and the executioner without evidence, due process, or regard for human life. Amnesty International documented 555 victims of mob violence between 2012 and 2023, averaging about 55 deaths annually.

A Daily Trust editorial reported that between June and December 2025 alone, 60 people were killed while 20 others were brutally assaulted by mobs. From January 2026 to date, another 27 people have reportedly lost their lives to jungle justice. These victims were not killed by bandits, terrorists, armed robbers, or even security agencies. They were ordinary Nigerians killed by fellow Nigerians over allegations of theft, kidnapping, blasphemy, cultural violations, ethnic prejudice, unverified suspicions, and deliberate mischief.  

‎There was a time when the cry of “thief!” prompted citizens to alert the police. Today, shouts of “Ole,” “gbomo gbomo,” or “barawo” often signal the beginning of a public execution. Within minutes, a crowd gathers, accusations replace evidence, and an alleged offender is beaten, stoned, or burnt alive. The rise of jungle justice reflects a growing loss of confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. Many citizens believe suspects handed over to the police will regain their freedom through bribery, political influence, or endless judicial delays. Although these concerns are genuine, they cannot justify abandoning the law. Ironically, many Nigerians now fear jungle justice almost as much as they fear criminals or even state policing. A misunderstanding or mistaken identity can be enough to trigger a murderous crowd.  

‎Equally disturbing is the erosion of human dignity. Jungle justice has become less about punishing alleged offenders than humiliating them. Victims are stripped naked, tortured, filmed, mocked, and sometimes burnt alive while spectators cheer or record videos. The spectacle suggests that many participants are motivated not merely by anger but by an opportunity to humiliate another human being. Social media has become an accomplice to this violence. Videos of lynchings and public humiliation are often recorded, shared, and circulated within minutes, turning human suffering into entertainment. Rather than provoking outrage, such videos frequently attract applause, jokes, or calls for even harsher punishment, encouraging copycat violence and further normalising mob justice.  

‎‎The mob is also deeply hypocritical. Petty thieves often help lynch suspected thieves. Political thugs, extortionists, and habitual lawbreakers suddenly become defenders of public morality. Those whose daily lives violate the law frequently present themselves as its most passionate enforcers. Jungle justice, therefore, is often less about justice than the intoxicating feeling of exercising unchecked power. Crowds also create a dangerous sense of anonymity. Individuals who would never assault another person on their own often participate in extreme violence once responsibility is diluted among hundreds of people. Protected by numbers, ordinary people can become willing participants in acts they would otherwise condemn.  

‎This hypocrisy reflects a broader national habit of rationalising wrongdoing. Nigerians often seek excuses for actions they already wish to commit. Ask a Yahoo boy why he engages in cybercrime, and he may invoke colonial exploitation or slavery. Ask a voter why he sells his vote, and he may describe it as his chance to “eat from the national cake.” Ask a supporter of jungle justice why he approves of mob executions, and he will likely argue that the suspect would simply bribe the police and walk free. While these grievances expose genuine institutional failures, they cannot excuse criminality or justify replacing the justice system with mob rule. Corruption in public institutions should inspire reform, not lawlessness.  

‎Fear sustains this culture. Witnesses seldom identify perpetrators because they fear violent reprisals. Authorities, meanwhile, often conduct weak investigations that end without meaningful prosecutions. This silence emboldens future attacks and creates the impression that mob violence carries little or no consequence. The long-term consequences extend beyond the victims themselves. Every lynching weakens confidence in state institutions, deepens public fear, and normalises violence as a legitimate means of resolving disputes. Communities become less trusting, public spaces feel increasingly unsafe, and every stranger becomes vulnerable to suspicion.  

‎Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees the right to life, fair hearing, and protection from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. No citizen or crowd possesses the legal authority to arrest, prosecute, convict, and execute another person. The criminal justice system is founded upon the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It is better that guilty persons occasionally escape punishment than that innocent people are condemned without trial. Nigeria cannot build a just society upon instant punishment and collective vengeance. Restoring public confidence in the police and the judiciary, ensuring swift and impartial justice, prosecuting those responsible for mob violence, and rejecting vigilantism are essential to reversing this dangerous trend.  

‎Until jungle justice is condemned not only in speeches but also through consistent enforcement of the law, the cry of “thief!” will continue to signify not the pursuit of justice, but the beginning of another preventable tragedy. When a crowd becomes judge, jury, and executioner, no Nigerian is truly safe, not even those cheering from the sidelines. 

Fatih Lawal-Garu is a Mass Communication graduate from Bayero University, Kano, and writes at ibnkamilgaru1@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The World Bank has said Nigeria’s main fiscal challenge is poor revenue generation rather than excessive borrowing.

Mathew Verghis, the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, stated this during an interview on Channels Television on Friday.

He explained that Nigeria’s debt burden remains moderate when compared with many countries of similar economic size.

“From our assessment, Nigeria doesn’t have a high indebtedness problem, it has a low revenue problem,” Verghis said.

According to him, the country’s debt level, when measured against the size of the economy, is lower than that of several neighbouring nations and should not be likened to countries facing serious debt crises.

“When we looked at the numbers, Nigeria is a moderately indebted country, meaning it has less debt relative to its economy than most of its neighbours and many other countries,” he said.

“Nigeria is in a very different situation than Ghana, for example, which is going through a debt restructuring.”

Verghis argued that borrowing remains necessary for governments seeking to finance major projects that require large investments before long-term benefits can be achieved.

“Nigeria borrows for the same reasons that all countries borrow. If you want to get results, if you want to deliver results to people, then the money that you have on an annual basis is not enough,” he said.

“So you borrow, you get results, and that will improve your ability to pay back.”

The World Bank official cited the expansion of electricity access as one of the areas where Nigeria would need substantial funding.

“To be able to connect, to give energy to 32 million Nigerians, Nigeria needs to borrow money now,” Verghis said.

“But that money, with that increased access to energy, Nigeria will become a wealthier country, and it’ll be then possible to pay back.”

He, however, warned that weak government revenue could create challenges for debt repayment if authorities fail to improve revenue collection.

“Nigeria’s debt is not particularly high, and in fact, it’s quite moderate by international standards,” he said.

“Its revenues are very low by international standards, and unless those revenues are raised, then it will not be able to pay back debt.”

Verghis added that stronger revenue generation would help government invest more in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and human capital development. He said such investments would support job creation and reduce poverty over time.

The World Bank recently introduced a new six-year Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria. The programme focuses on employment generation through investments in critical sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and digital connectivity.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has overturned an earlier judgment that permitted female Muslim students of the University of Ibadan International School (ISI) to wear hijab with their school uniforms.

The appellate court delivered the ruling on Friday in a split decision of two-to-one.

Justice Biobele Georgewill, who delivered the lead judgment, alongside Justice K.I. Amadi, held that ISI operates as a private institution and not a public school.

The court ruled that the students had voluntarily accepted the school’s regulations after signing an undertaking to comply with its rules on dressing.

According to the judgment, the Supreme Court ruling that recognised the right of female Muslim students to wear hijab applied to public schools in Lagos State and not to private institutions.

Georgewill said freedom of religion remains a personal right that individuals may choose to waive.

“In public schools, you can wear hijab on school uniforms based on the judgment of the supreme court,” the judge said.

“But the supreme court is yet to make any decision on the use of hijab in private schools.

“The judgment of the lower court allowing female Muslim students to wear hijab on their school uniforms in ISI, a private school, is set aside.”

However, Justice Fadawu Umar disagreed with the majority judgment. In his dissenting opinion, he upheld the earlier ruling of the Oyo State High Court, which allowed female Muslim students of the school to use hijab.

The dispute over the use of hijab at the school dates back to November 2018 after some Muslim female pupils arrived at the school wearing headscarves.

The development sparked tension among parents and school authorities. The management later shut down the school temporarily to prevent a breakdown of order.

Before the closure, parents under the umbrella of the International School Muslim Parents’ Forum had written to the school management on November 9, 2018, informing the authorities that their daughters would begin wearing hijab to school.

At the time, the then Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Ibadan, Abideen Aderinto, maintained that ISI is a private institution and that parents had agreed to the rules governing students’ dressing before admission.

Some Muslim parents later approached the court on behalf of their children to challenge the restriction. Those involved in the suit included Taofeek Yekinni, Idris Badiru, Sikiru Babarinde, Muideen Akerele, Abdur-rahman Balogun and others.

The Oyo State High Court had earlier ruled in favour of the parents and declared that banning hijab violated the fundamental rights of the pupils.

The issue of hijab in schools has remained a subject of legal and public debate in different parts of Nigeria.

In July 2022, the Supreme Court upheld the right of Muslim female students in Lagos State public schools to wear hijab as part of their school uniforms.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across Nigeria by an additional two weeks.

The electoral body announced that the exercise, which was earlier scheduled to conclude on July 10, 2026, will now end on July 24, 2026.

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by Mohammed Haruna, chairman of the commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee.

According to the commission, the decision followed an assessment of the ongoing registration exercise as well as feedback received from state offices, political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.

Haruna said the extension would allow more eligible Nigerians who have not registered to take part in the exercise before the deadline.

“The extension underscores the commission’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has a fair and reasonable opportunity to be included in the register of voters ahead of future electoral activities,” Haruna said.

INEC also announced the introduction of an online self-service registration platform for Nigerians seeking to register as first-time voters.

The commission said the service will become operational on July 8, 2026, through its dedicated portal.

“In furtherance of its commitment to innovation, accessibility, and improved service delivery, the commission is pleased to announce the introduction of a self-service registration option (online) for eligible first-time voters,” he said.

“The new service will become available from Wednesday, 8th July, 2026 through the commission’s dedicated CVR portal – cvr.inecnigeria.org where the step-by-step guide is also provided.”

Haruna explained that the online option would allow eligible citizens to complete their voter registration process without visiting INEC offices physically.

He added that the platform includes measures aimed at protecting the credibility of the voter register.

According to him, the system contains identity verification features, biometric validation, and integrity checks to ensure accurate registration records.

“The commission urges all eligible Nigerians who are yet to register to take advantage of this extended window and explore the new voter registration technology option,” Haruna said.

“The commission remains committed to a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process, and to advancing the use of technology to improve citizens’ experience in the electoral process.”

INEC had resumed the nationwide CVR exercise in January 2026 after the completion of the first phase of the process in December 2025. The commission began online pre-registration in August 2025 before launching physical registration at centres nationwide later that month.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Public affairs analyst Mahdi Shehu has faulted the Presidency’s response to the controversy surrounding an alleged fake federal agency, saying the explanation raised more concerns than answers.

In a post shared on his official X account on Thursday, Shehu described the Presidency’s position as inconsistent and doubtful. He questioned how an agency said to lack proper legal backing allegedly operated within government structures without detection.

According to him, the issue goes beyond allegations that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter. He argued that several government institutions should explain how the agency reportedly functioned openly.

“Assuming without conceding that Ajibade forged his appointment letter, which is a criminal offence, who is responsible for the following bigger crimes?” he asked.

Shehu said the agency allegedly secured about N1.3 billion through the national budget process before President Bola Tinubu signed the appropriation bill into law.

He also questioned how the organisation reportedly employed about 300 staff members from the federal civil service, opened accounts with both a commercial bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria, and obtained office accommodation inside the Federal Secretariat.

According to him, such developments could not have taken place without the awareness or involvement of several authorities and institutions.

He further expressed concern that security and anti-graft agencies such as the Department of State Services, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission allegedly failed to uncover any irregularities during their screening and monitoring processes.

“Even if Ajibade is culpable, many more ‘big men’ are very much,” he said.

The commentator maintained that the Presidency’s explanation exposed deep weaknesses within public institutions.

“If anything, the explanation coming from the Presidency regarding the ‘fake’ agency is questionable, doubtful, suspect, contradictory, inconsistent, selective and indeed exposes the system, top to bottom, as being sufficiently and extensively vulnerable,” he wrote.

Shehu also stated that countries with stronger institutions would hold officials accountable in similar situations.

“In a normal society, nothing close to this will ever happen and if per adventure it does, decent heads will bow out and many more heads will role into prison,” he said.

The Presidency had earlier accused Adeyemi of forging official documents, creating non-existent presidential agencies and presenting himself falsely as a government official.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency announced that Adeyemi would appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 27 over charges bordering on forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Police in Kano State have taken a suspect into custody after the body of an unidentified man was discovered inside an abandoned house in the Badawa area of the state.

Residents said the victim, believed to be around 28 years old, had a severe neck injury which was suspected to have caused his death before assistance arrived.

According to a resident, Yusuf Da’u Ibrahim, the incident became known after a neighbour informed the ward head that a seriously injured man was lying inside a vacant building and required urgent attention.

He explained that security operatives responded quickly after receiving the report.

“Before emergency responders arrived, the police had already been informed. They quickly came to the scene, arrested a suspect and evacuated the body to the hospital,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim also stated that people in the area could not identify the deceased. He noted that the community had never experienced a similar incident before.

“We don’t know who the deceased is. This is the first time we have witnessed such a tragic incident in our community,” he said.

The spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed that the matter would be investigated, although he said the command was still awaiting complete details about the case.

“I have not received the full report yet, but the command will investigate the matter to establish exactly what happened,” Kiyawa said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has disclosed what he told Croatian midfielder Luka Modric after Portugal’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Portugal recovered from a goal down to book a place in the Round of 16 after a tense encounter against Zlatko Dalić’s side.

Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute through experienced forward Ivan Perisic. Portugal later responded in the 68th minute when Ronaldo converted a penalty to level the score. The goal marked Ronaldo’s first strike in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup.

The match appeared set for extra time before substitute Goncalo Ramos scored a late winner with a header in the 94th minute to seal qualification for Portugal.

Croatia thought they had forced the game into extra time after Josko Gvardiol found the net in the 103rd minute. However, the effort was ruled out for offside.

After the final whistle, Ronaldo was seen speaking with Modric, his former teammate at Real Madrid. The Portuguese star later explained that he praised the Croatian midfielder for continuing to compete at the highest level despite his long career in football.

Ronaldo said, “I played many years with Modrić, it’s great to see him still playing at top level.

“I told him: congrats Luka, good luck for the future of your career”.

By Uzair Adam 

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing factory allegedly linked to terrorist activities in Kebbi State, arresting two suspected arms manufacturers and suppliers.

The operation was carried out by troops of Sector 2 following credible intelligence, which led security personnel to a secluded compound allegedly being used as a covert production and distribution centre for locally fabricated firearms.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, said troops recovered five locally fabricated AK-47 rifles during a thorough search of the premises.

He described the operation, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics and dismantle criminal networks operating across the North-West.

“The successful operation represents another major step in the ongoing campaign against the proliferation of illicit weapons, which have continued to fuel insecurity and violent activities in parts of the region,” Danja said.

He added that the suspects are currently in military custody and undergoing preliminary interrogation, while investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate, uncover its sponsors and collaborators, and dismantle the wider arms supply chain.

The Theatre Command commended the professionalism and commitment of the troops and partner security agencies involved in the operation.

It also urged residents across the North-West to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that public support remains essential to sustaining security operations and eliminating criminal elements threatening peace and security in the region.