By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force, North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have repelled an attack by the Lakurawa Terrorist Group on Forward Operating Base Maiyama in Kebbi State, recovering weapons, ammunition and 17 motorcycles.

In a statement on Thursday, Lt Col Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA, said the incident occurred in the early hours of 7 October 2026, when a large number of terrorists, operating on over 100 motorcycles and armed with assorted weapons including General Purpose Machine Guns and Rocket-Propelled Grenades, launched an attack on the base.

The troops responded swiftly and effectively, repelling the attack and preventing the terrorists from achieving their objective. The terrorists subsequently withdrew, abandoning weapons, equipment and other logistics in their haste to escape.

Following the engagement, troops conducted exploitation and pursuit operations in the surrounding area, leading to the recovery of 17 motorcycles, a PKT machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, assorted ammunition and a communication device believed to have been used by the terrorists during the attack.

The statement said the recovery represented a significant setback to the terrorists’ operational capability in the area, adding that the general area remained firmly under troops’ control.

It added that aggressive patrols, clearance and dominance operations were continuing to track and neutralize fleeing members of the terrorist group.

The Theatre Command, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, restated its commitment to maintaining the security of communities and denying terrorists the freedom to operate within the Joint Operations Area.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government on Thursday announced that NNPC Retail will forgo its petrol retail profit margin and sell at cost for the next 30 days as part of measures to cushion Nigerian households from global crude oil price shocks.

In a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the government said NNPC Retail, which already sells petrol at the lowest price in the market, will offer the discount within the next 30 days. It explained that if NNPC’s landing cost is N1,300 per litre, it will sell at the same price to Nigerians, especially commercial vehicles.

The move, backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was announced by Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele alongside other measures.

Oyedele said he hoped other marketers would follow NNPC’s lead, noting that the sharp rise in crude and petrol prices is not expected to last long. He stressed that NNPC’s decision must not be misinterpreted as a return to petrol subsidy, which ended on May 29, 2023.

He also announced forward sales of crude to domestic refineries. According to him, as production rises and previously committed crude is freed up, pump prices should be shielded from global market volatility.

The government, Oyedele said, is negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol to keep pump prices stable. Where costs rise above the ceiling, refiners and importers will carry the shortfall and recover it later when crude prices or the exchange rate allow, without breaching the cap.

“This is neither a subsidy nor a price control: it is designed to smooth prices over time rather than suppressing them,” Oyedele said. “N1,400 a litre today and N1,400 tomorrow is better than N1,500 today and N1,300 tomorrow, because volatility itself adds to uncertainty and cost. And when fares rise sharply, they rarely fall as fast.”

He said the ceiling would be reviewed monthly, reset as costs require, and the figures published for transparency.

Under the 2025 tax reform laws, Oyedele said the Federal Government, in collaboration with states and security agencies, is reining in road taxes and levies that inflate fares and logistics costs. Funding is also being increased for cash transfers to vulnerable households and subsidised credit for small businesses and consumers.

Other measures announced include:

1· A faster CNG rollout, with the government expecting transporters to pass savings on to passengers. CNG is 60–70 per cent cheaper than petrol.

2· Consideration of an excess profit tax for operators who take undue advantage of consumers along the energy value chain. Proceeds would be used exclusively to cushion fuel prices through transport support or vouchers for urban minimum-wage earners. The government will also work with the National Assembly on enhanced tax relief for low-income earners under the 2027 Finance Bill.

3· Cuts to regulatory costs that feed into the cost of doing business and, indirectly, higher prices of goods and services.

4· Investment in a National Strategic Fuel Reserve. Refined products would be released under clear, published rules whenever global disruption or hoarding threatens supply and price stability. The government said this is not a subsidy and does not fix prices, but secures supply and reduces volatility.

5· Better traffic and logistics management, including improved traffic flow in major urban centres to reduce fuel consumption, and the use of NIPOST’s newly launched address codes to make logistics more efficient and cheaper.

The Presidency said none of the measures restores a blanket subsidy, warning that doing so would create longer-term harm for a short-term cure. It acknowledged the hardship Nigerians face over the high cost of fuel.

“Removing the fuel subsidy came at a price. But the alternative has been tried. Nigeria has already lived through that cycle: scarcity, smuggling, a collapsing currency and a fiscal crisis. We cannot afford to live through it again, least of all in response to a temporary disruption, and at the very moment the results of reform are gathering pace,” it said.

The government said it was not reversing a necessary reform, but ensuring its gains reach more Nigerians faster and in more tangible ways. It added that it is working on a comprehensive package of fiscal measures to bring inflation down to single digits sustainably in the near term.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has suspended the implementation of its recently revised student charges following mounting demands and complaints from the Student Representative Council (SRC).

The decision, announced in a special bulletin signed by the university’s management, aims to allow for further consultations with students and other relevant stakeholders. The suspension comes just as the implementation of the revised fees was about to commence.

According to the bulletin, the initial review of the charges was necessitated by a pressing financial challenge, compounded by a loss of nearly N2.5 billion following a court ruling in March 2026.

The management stated that the revised charges were introduced to bridge the gap between available resources and the rising cost of essential services, including welfare, security, transportation, and utilities.

However, the move sparked additional demands from the student body. “Management has carefully considered the submissions made to it by the students and Management found them to be legitimate, responsible and deserving of further consideration,” the statement read.

In the spirit of mutual respect and responsible governance, management has opted to halt the implementation. The university praised the students for their mature and constructive approach to the matter, describing the suspension as “a demonstration of Management’s commitment to listening to its students and ensuring that decisions with significant implications for them are subjected to the fullest possible consideration.”

While acknowledging the institution’s financial realities and the urgent need to strengthen resources for essential services, management emphasized the importance of balancing these constraints with the need to provide a conducive environment for teaching, learning, and research.

The management reiterated its commitment to student welfare and appealed for calm and cooperation as the consultation process continues. The university expressed confidence that a responsible and sustainable resolution will be reached through constructive engagement with the SRC. Further communication on the outcome of the consultations will be issued in due course.

By Hajara Abdullahi

A nine-year-old boy has allegedly set his family home on fire in Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, killing two women and two girls.

Police said the incident occurred on 21 August 2026 at Rugan Badali Fulani. The victims were trapped inside the house and sustained severe injuries, which led to their deaths.

The police said investigation revealed that the nine-year-old son of Idi was suspected of starting the fire. The command added that the boy confessed to setting the house ablaze, saying he did it for revenge after his father beat him over an allegation that he stole a chicken.

By Hajara Abdullahi

A 20-year-old man, Lawisi Safiyanu, has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his 25-year-old friend, Muhammad Abba, to death over a N500 debt in Jigawa State.

The incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on October 1, 2026, in Chamo village, Dutse Local Government Area.

The Jigawa State Police Command said preliminary investigation showed that the deceased bought a mobile phone from the suspect for N1,500. He paid N1,000 and was left owing N500.

Reports said an argument broke out between the two men over the outstanding N500. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly used a knife to stab Muhammad Abba.

Muhammad was rushed to Rashid Shekoni Teaching Hospital, Dutse, for emergency treatment, but doctors confirmed him dead while efforts were being made to save his life.

Police said Lawisi Safiyanu was arrested, and the knife allegedly used in the attack was recovered and kept as an exhibit.

The command added that investigation into the case has been completed, and the suspect will be arraigned in court for prosecution.

Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijjani Murtala, urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their hands.

He advised members of the public to always report any suspect or dispute to the police or other relevant security agencies.

The commissioner assured residents that the police would continue to take appropriate action against criminal acts and ensure that offenders are prosecuted to reap what they sowed.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Gombe State High Court has sentenced two men, Buhari Sule and Muktari Ali Hilami, to death by hanging for armed robbery and the murder of a 35-year-old man, Murtala Rabi’u.

Justice Muhammad-Auwal Haruna, who presided over Court No. 5 on Wednesday, found the two defendants guilty of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

The case followed the September 18, 2025, attack on Rabi’u at Garin Galadima village, near Pindiga in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

The prosecution alleged that Sule and Hilami conspired before arming themselves with dangerous weapons, including sticks and hoes, and attacking Rabi’u.

According to the prosecution, the men robbed the deceased of his mobile phone and N7,400 before inflicting injuries that resulted in his death. His body was later dumped in a maize farm.

Presenting the case, the state counsel, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, told the court that the offences violated Sections 97, 297 and 221 of the Penal Code Law.

“The defendants agreed among themselves at Garin Galadima village, armed themselves with dangerous weapons and attacked the deceased, Murtala Rabi’u.”

The prosecutor further said the defendants took the deceased’s Itel keypad phone without a SIM card and “the sum of N7,400 cash, which they shared among themselves after dumping his corpse in a maize farm.”

The charges were read and explained to the defendants, who pleaded not guilty.

During the trial, the prosecution presented two witnesses, while the defence called one witness. All the witnesses were cross-examined by the opposing sides.

In his judgment, Justice Haruna said he had examined the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defence.

“The court has gone through all the charges brought by the prosecution, the evidence of the witnesses and the testimony presented by the defence.”

The judge held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, with particular reliance on the testimony of the first prosecution witness.

“The prosecution has established its case and proved the allegations against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.”

Justice Haruna further ruled that the defendants “failed to establish their defence against the charges brought against them.”

The court consequently convicted both men on the charges.

Justice Haruna sentenced Buhari Sule and Muktari Ali Hilami to death by hanging, ordering that they be “hanged by the neck until they are dead.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has predicted that the President will record a wider margin of victory in the 2027 presidential election.

Bwala expressed confidence that Tinubu would outperform his 2023 presidential election result when he seeks another term in office.

He made the prediction during an interview reported by Channels Television on Wednesday.

“Let me tell you and let me say it categorically and I will be happy to come back. The margin of gap that President Bola Tinubu will give each and everyone of these candidates will be so much that you won’t believe it,” Bwala said.

Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election with 8,794,726 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by 1.81 million votes and the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, by 2.69 million votes.

Bwala linked his confidence in Tinubu’s prospects to what he described as increasing support for the President among governors elected on opposition party platforms.

Several governors have moved from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress since the 2023 election.

The presidential aide said he expected more governors to back Tinubu in the 2027 election than did during the previous presidential contest.

His prediction comes as political parties and their candidates step up preparations for the 2027 general elections.

However, Bwala’s comments are a political assessment of the forthcoming election and do not constitute an established outcome of the 2027 presidential contest.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted while travelling from Oyo State to their orientation camp in Abia State have regained their freedom after seven days in captivity.

The victims were kidnapped on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, confirmed their release in a statement on Wednesday, saying the victims had been taken for medical examination and necessary medical attention.

The prospective corps members were rescued at about 4:28 pm at Amakohia Ubi Village, Imo State, following sustained search-and-rescue operations by a joint team of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

The circumstances surrounding the rescue were not immediately disclosed. There was also no confirmation of any arrest in connection with the abduction, as the perpetrators were still at large as of the time of the report.

The police statement read, “Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, have successfully rescued the 20 prospective NYSC corps members who were abducted in Imo State on 1st October, 2026.

‘’Following their safe recovery, the victims have been taken for medical examination and necessary medical attention as part of the post-rescue process.”

Iniedu said security agencies had intensified efforts to track down those responsible for the abduction and bring them to justice.

“The Nigeria Police Force appreciates members of the public for their cooperation and support and reiterates its commitment to the protection of lives and property and the prompt response to threats to public safety,” the statement added.

The police said further information would be released as the investigation progresses.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, also confirmed the release of the victims.

“The kidnapped graduates have been released. The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, confirmed this in a telephone conversation at about 5.00 pm today (Wednesday),” he said.

The statement was issued in Ibadan by his media aide, Adeola Oloko.

A parent of one of the victims, Alhaja Alimot Akande, expressed relief over the development but said the families were still waiting to see or speak with their loved ones.

“We cannot say anything for now. We are extremely overwhelmed. We received the news with happiness. I cannot say anything for now, please. We are truly happy. Let’s see them first or speak with them on the telephone.”

Meanwhile, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, commended the security agencies for their intervention, saying the government deliberately maintained discretion during the operation to avoid compromising the rescue effort.

‘’Because the issue involved the security of lives, the government was cautious about releasing too much information to the public; hence the discreet manner in which it was handled.”

The governor said he was “particularly grateful to the security agencies for the discreet and collaborative manner in which they tackled the challenge.”

Uzodimma also thanked the parents and relatives of the victims for their patience and understanding throughout the period of the abduction.

The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress also welcomed the release.

The party’s publicity secretary, Dr Jones Onwuasoanya, said, ‘’We rejoice with the family and relatives of these young patriots for their successful rescue, and commend all the gallant security personnel who took part in this audacious and well-coordinated rescue operation for their professionalism, bravery and patriotism.”

The APC said efforts should continue to ensure the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.

The victims were among 30 graduates travelling in two buses from Ibadan to an NYSC orientation camp in Abia State when suspected gunmen abducted 20 of them.

The abductors reportedly demanded N50 million for each victim before later reducing the ransom to N5 million per person, bringing the total demand to N100 million.

The victims’ families had earlier appealed to the Olubadan and government authorities to intensify efforts to secure their release.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has said the party will follow electoral rules but will resist any attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections or prevent it from participating fairly.

Mark spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development at the ADC national headquarters.

The delegation, led by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was at the party’s secretariat as part of consultations with political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mark said the ADC was committed to observing the rules governing the elections as well as its internal code of conduct.

“We hold ourselves to the highest standards of good conduct as a political party. We will play by the rules. But we will not accept rigging or allow ourselves to be rigged out.

“We are committed to playing politics in a manner that promotes public confidence in democracy,” he said.

The ADC chairman said the party would also abide by the guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the provisions of its Orange Book, which outlines the party’s code of conduct and governance principles.

Mark had previously cautioned against the use of state institutions to influence the 2027 electoral process, stressing the importance of protecting the credibility of the elections.

Speaking during the visit, Ariwoola said the Savannah Centre was seeking commitments from political parties and their candidates towards peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

He urged the ADC leadership to ensure that its candidates and supporters adhered to INEC regulations and avoided actions that could contribute to political violence.

The engagement is part of the ongoing consultations by the centre’s Council of the Wise with political actors and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

The council, chaired by Ariwoola, was reconstituted in June with a mandate to promote peaceful and credible elections while engaging political parties, government institutions and other key stakeholders.

Its engagements have included meetings with political candidates and other political actors, with emphasis on compliance with electoral rules, issue-based campaigns and efforts to prevent violence and hate speech.

The delegation to the ADC included members of the Council of the Wise, among them Professors Abdullahi Shehu and Azeez Dankano, Executive Director of the Centre, Ambassador Sani Bala, Tunji Lardner and Ambassador Godswill Ighali.

The centre had earlier disclosed plans for the council to engage President Bola Tinubu, INEC leadership, political parties, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders before the 2027 elections.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reconciled the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abubakar Kabir Bichi, following their differences over political matters.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.

The reconciliation meeting, which took place in Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday, lasted for about two hours, according to the statement.

It said the meeting provided an opportunity for Barau and Bichi to discuss their differences and the need to work together for the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Yusuf urged the two politicians and their supporters to put aside their grievances, saying unity was necessary for the success of the party.

He also appealed to members of the two camps to desist from making inflammatory statements and engaging in actions capable of deepening the disagreement.

“Henceforth, I do not expect any of your supporters to come out and abuse one another. We must put a stop to this unnecessary distraction,” the governor was quoted as saying.

Yusuf said political disagreements were part of democratic engagement but should not be allowed to affect the unity and progress of the APC.

He urged the party’s members in Kano to work together for the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the state government and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The governor also expressed confidence that the reconciliation would strengthen the party ahead of the elections.

The Daily Reality recalls that the relationship between Barau and Bichi had come under strain in recent months, with supporters of the two politicians engaging in exchanges over political differences and allegiances ahead of the 2027 elections.

The disagreement had raised concerns among APC stakeholders in Kano over its possible effect on the party’s preparations for the elections.

The statement said the reconciliation received the endorsement of President Tinubu and had brought an end to the disagreement between the two politicians.

Yusuf also assured the President, the APC national leadership and other stakeholders that the party would work towards winning all elective positions in Kano in 2027.

Speaking separately after the meeting, Barau and Bichi appealed to their supporters to stop actions capable of worsening the crisis within the party.

The two leaders also thanked Governor Yusuf for intervening in the matter and facilitating the reconciliation.

The development is expected to ease tension among supporters of the two politicians as the APC begins preparations for the 2027 elections.