By Sabiu Abdullahi

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the alleged killing of a 16-year-old boy, Bishir Malam Dauda, who reportedly died in police custody in Katsina State.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Saturday, the human rights organisation alleged that the teenager was “tortured to death through severe beating with iron rod” at the ‘Yankara police outpost in Faskari Local Government Area.

According to Amnesty International, Bishir was taken from his tsangaya school on May 7, 2026, after another boy reportedly mentioned his name during an investigation into the alleged theft of a bag of soya beans.

The organisation claimed that the teenager was detained without the presence of any family member or adult guardian and was pressured to confess to the allegation.

“The victim was picked by police from his tsangaya school on 7 May 2026 after a friend mentioned his name in relation to an investigation of theft of a bag of soya beans,” Amnesty International stated.

“Unaccompanied and without the presence of any adult relation, Bishir was tied by the police and asked to make a confession. He refused. Then he was tortured more until he became lifeless.”

Amnesty International further alleged that police officers later deposited the boy’s body at the ‘Yankara Primary Healthcare Centre.

The organisation said the incident reflects what it described as a broader pattern of human rights violations by some members of the Nigeria Police Force.

“What happened to Bishir Malam Dauda exposes a pattern of ruthless human rights violations in which victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released,” the statement added.

Amnesty International accused the police of operating with impunity and urged authorities not to ignore the incident.

“This incident must not be swept under the carpet. Police officers involved in this atrocity, directly and indirectly, must be held to account,” the organisation said.

The group also noted that its research since 2016 has documented cases of alleged police brutality and abuse across the country.

As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police Command had not issued an official response to the allegations.

By Uzair Adam

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in collaboration with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), has rewarded outstanding participants at the end of its North-West Regional Capacity Building Programme in Kano, following a competitive assessment designed to test their knowledge of financial management and business practices.

The programme, which focused on bridging the livestock agribusiness finance gap, concluded on Friday with participants drawn from Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Speaking at the closing session, the Capacity Building Manager of DBN, Fortune Tamunokuro Granville, said the assessment was conducted to evaluate participants’ understanding of key training modules, particularly financial literacy and financial management.

He explained that the test, which comprised 50 multiple-choice questions, was aimed at ensuring that livestock entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge required to formalise their businesses and become eligible for funding.

“The essence of the programme is to ensure access to credit for livestock farmers, and that can only happen when they understand financial management and properly structure their businesses,” he said.

Granville noted that the process was transparent, as scripts were independently marked without interference from project officials.

According to him, the top-performing participants from each of the four states received grants of one million naira each to support their businesses.

He added that two female participants who emerged among the highest scorers were also awarded N250,000 each, in line with DBN’s commitment to gender inclusion.

“In total, we had six winners. This is to encourage them to apply what they have learned and continue improving their businesses,” he said, adding that the bank is also considering a mentorship programme to support beneficiaries beyond the training.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Sunusi, who represented the Commissioner, Dr. Danjuma Mahmud, said the workshop had provided a platform to address critical financing challenges affecting the livestock sector.

He noted that discussions during the programme highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions and private sector actors to unlock opportunities across the livestock value chain.

Sunusi reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to supporting agricultural transformation and creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive.

“The insights generated here must be translated into concrete actions that will benefit farmers, processors and other stakeholders,” he said.

On their parts, some of the participants described the training as impactful, noting that it had equipped them with practical knowledge to improve their businesses.

One of the winners, Dr. Mu’iz Bakari from Kaduna State, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying the training had exposed him to better ways of managing and expanding his livestock enterprise.

“What we have learned will be applied directly to our business. We will correct our mistakes and expand, especially in poultry production,” he said, adding that the grant would be used to grow his farm and create employment.

Similarly, Usman Abdullahi Usman from Kano State said emerging among the top participants out of over a hundred attendees was both surprising and motivating.

“This support will help me expand my business and should encourage others to take such opportunities seriously and work hard,” he said.

Other winners include Nasiru Lawal from Sokoto State and Idris Umar from Zamfara State, while the additional female awardees are Fatima Sani from Sokoto and Hafsat Ololade Akin from Kaduna.

The programme brought together stakeholders across the livestock value chain, including farmers, financial institutions and development partners, as part of efforts to improve access to finance and promote sustainable agribusiness growth in the region.

By Anas Abbas

Siyako Anthony Yaro, a Senator Representing Gombe South Senatorial District has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic party ( PDP)  after rejecting the party’s reported consensus arrangement ahead of the 2027 political activities.

The senator, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to party officials, citing dissatisfaction with internal decisions and the alleged imposition of candidates through a consensus process.

He maintained that the arrangement was contrary to democratic principles within the party.

The senator stressed that his return to the PDP should not be viewed as political desperation or inconsistency, but as a demonstration of responsibility and commitment to the people he represents.

“To my supporters and constituents, I ask that you see this return not as a sign of confusion, but as an act of courage and accountability. My loyalty has always been, and will always be, to the people first,” he stated

The senator expressed concern over what he described as a lack of transparency and inclusiveness in the party’s internal affairs, stressing that members should be allowed to participate freely in competitive contests rather than adopting imposed agreements.

Sources within the party said the development has generated fresh political tension in Gombe State, especially as consultations and alignments ahead of future elections continue to intensify.

The resignation is seen as another setback for the APC in the state, with political observers suggesting that the move could influence emerging alliances and future political calculations in the region.

By Anas Abbas

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has welcomed the renewed investigation into the disappearance of social media activist, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

Kwankwaso described the move by the Nigeria Police as a positive step toward uncovering the truth surrounding the activist’s disappearance, which has remained unresolved since 2019.

Senator Kwankwaso also called for justice for Dadiyata and his family, stressing the need for a transparent and thorough probe into the matter. He further urged security authorities to ensure that individuals linked to the allegations do not interfere with the investigation process.

The renewed attention on the case followed reports that the Inspector-General of Police had directed the Police Monitoring Unit to investigate fresh allegations connected to Dadiyata’s disappearance.

Dadiyata, a lecturer and outspoken social commentator, was abducted in Kaduna in August 2019 by unknown gunmen and has not been seen since then. His disappearance has continued to attract national concern and demands for accountability from civil society groups and political supporters.

By Aiman Fodio

As a concerned rank-and-file student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), let me say this. Look around this group. We are on different levels: some have been here for nearly a decade, some for five years, some for six. It is a whole spectrum of experience. But I want you to pause and ask yourself one question: What have you observed about student leadership over your time here?

Aren’t these complaints we are lodging day in, day out, the same old tunes we have grown familiar with? What tangible change have you witnessed across the number of administrations you have seen come and go? The script, sadly, never changes. The concerns are always the same: school fees increment, access to accommodations, and, just recently, the NELFUND refund joined the party. And let’s not forget the usual guest stars—water and light issues—making their regular appearance.

The most painful part? The approach to these problems remains the same every time, so much so that you could write the Students’ Union Government’s response in your sleep. “We are in dialogue with management.” “We implore students to remain calm.” “We are aware of your plight.” It is a tired liturgy. But let us be fair—exempt that issue of protest. The real tragedy is that the SUG is often not given proper regard by the management. An SUG President will struggle to secure a simple appointment with the VC. If a concession will not work out, then… wallahi, this daily complaint cycle will never work out. Nothing will change.

This is precisely why people like me, who once stood a chance, withdrew our interest from the beginning. I speak from the inside: from my time in Gamji Memorial Club to serving as a serial senator, Chief Whip, and even Deputy Senate President in the SUG Parliament. I’ve seen the engine room. I have been asked so many times by those who saw this trajectory. “Why not run for SUG President?” They ask. The answer is these limits and the remote control. They make you lose interest because you know, no matter your passion or plan, you will ultimately fail those who gave you their loyalty and support. The structure is designed to frustrate genuine agency.

Why do our student leaders fail? Or, rather, why does the system ensure they cannot succeed? Both questions are intertwined. Off the top of my head, I can identify at least three (out of one hundred) reasons. One, a leadership selection process based on popularity and empty promises, not pragmatic skill. Two, a university management structure that sees student leadership as a necessary nuisance to be managed, not a partner in welfare. Three, the domination of the SUG space by the politically ambitious, rather than the service-oriented.

In this matter, I will dwell on the first: our own role as students in choosing the wrong pilots. It could be emotional: we vote for the most charismatic orator, the one who throws the biggest parties, the one with the slickest posters. It could be tribal: we vote based on faculty, department, or state of origin. It could also be a result of a poor understanding of the depth of the challenges ahead. We set our leaders up for a verdict of failure from the campaign period onward. We want them to fix in one semester what has been broken for a decade, and when they cannot perform magic, we brand them as sell-outs.

I have been there before. In my first year, I was a staunch supporter of a particular SUG presidential candidate. He spoke like Fela, promised like Obama, and had a slogan that was on everyone’s lips. Upon visiting our hostel to campaign, he was wowed by our living conditions. He said if a student could live like this, then he had his work cut out for him. I started promoting him as the leader who would finally make management listen. At the time, I saw management’s deaf ear as our only problem. I did not take kindly to any criticism of my candidate. But less than three months into his administration, I had turned to his critic. It was a case of disappointed love.

For one, I couldn’t stand some of his executives. I said if this man really wanted to fight for us, as he staunchly promised in his manifesto, some persons should not have been in his cabinet. When he started talking about “understanding management’s constraints,” I was incensed. All my life as a student, I had argued that students, being the reason the university exists, should enjoy basic dignity. I refused to evaluate or accept any administrative arguments. I concluded he had been compromised, as I was more interested in the militant implications. Meanwhile, our water situation got worse. I held him liable for failing to lead a strong protest as he had promised during his campaign.

That was how our dear messiah began to unravel. Ahead of the next election, I had found another messiah in a final-year student known for his fearless critiques of management on social media. I said this was the fighter we needed! By then, I was already in the parliament, seeing the gap between fiery speeches on the floor and actual results from the executive. I remember arguing for him in a hostel lounge. My friend, who was in the School of Environmental Technology, called to ask me, jokingly: “So how much did he pay you for this?” With that candidate’s dream going nowhere, I gave up on my search for a student messiah. Instead, I started thinking: “Let’s make do with what we have.”

That was why, when the next candidate was being marketed as the “bridge-builder” and “technocrat,” I was calm. I had become a realist. My worldview had evolved. Even later, as Chairman of the Bauchi Axis for NAUS, I saw how student politics at every level face the same structural walls. I had looked deeply at ATBU’s power dynamics and its complications. I said this candidate, relatively connected, would only try, but not much would change. The water problem he inherited only worsened as more hostels were built. Rather than face this common threat, the SUG and management resorted to politicking and finger-pointing. Meanwhile, frustration grabbed us by the neck, but only the SUG President carried the blame.

As we later saw, all the politicking was geared towards securing a peaceful tenure and a good recommendation letter from management. The cycle continued. That is how overmarketing begins again every election. People who previously abused and rejected a candidate become pilots of their campaign, creating fables and fantasies. I am so worried for the next set that I will say this: God help the next SUG President if, by their second semester, hostels still lack water; if the electricity is more off than on; if the NELFUND issue is still unresolved; and if accommodation is still a blood sport. They won’t find it funny!

Let me be very clear: there is nothing wrong with having expectations. In fact, to expect nothing will be a tragedy. However, ATBU will not change overnight—no matter what any SUG candidate promises, or how their supporters sell them. The management structure is rigid. We can’t reduce fees or increase water supply within the twinkling of an eye. Many good things take time and persistent, intelligent pressure. We don’t need to be deceived, or to deceive ourselves, at election times.

What then? We need to temper our pre-election expectations and sharpen our post-election engagement. We need to vote for the gritty pragmatist with a three-point welfare plan (Water. Light. Health.) over the flamboyant orator with a 50-page manifesto. We must look out for signs of diligent pressure and creative advocacy to avoid concluding within a month that a leader has failed. A President who fails to secure a fee reduction but installs and maintains 10 new boreholes has not failed entirely. Selling every candidate as a messiah is the issue, but even if they were the messiah, could they succeed in this system? That is the question.

But we must also demand that management stop seeing the SUG as a kindergarten government. A student leader who must beg for three weeks to see the VC is set up for ridicule and failure. Until that relationship is recalibrated into one of respectful engagement, we will remain here, singing the same songs of lament. It is all politics—and, sadly, politics in which the most important voters, the students, often empower the very system that frustrates them.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

THE CV CANDIDATE

We must be wary of the candidate whose entire campaign seems designed to add a glossy line to their CV. You can spot them by their focus on “organising flagship events” and “international partnerships” while being vague on hostel water pressure. Their tenure is often a series of photo-ops with management, culminating in a glowing reference letter while the student’s condition remains unchanged. Ambition.

THE QUIET LOBBYIST

Conversely, let us not discount the quiet lobbyist. The one who may not be great on Twitter but is always in the Dean’s office, presenting costed proposals for water tankers or negotiating small but real wins on exam deadlines. This approach lacks drama and doesn’t fuel the “activist” brand, but it sometimes yields the only tangible results we see. Pragmatism.

MANAGEMENT’S BLIND SPOT

The university management often forgets that a frustrated, disrespected student body is a tinderbox. By neutering the SUG and denying it genuine agency, they create an environment in which peaceful channels are seen as useless, making spontaneous, unmanageable unrest more likely. It is a profound failure of strategic thinking. Shortsighted.

OUR COLLECTIVE AMNESIA

Finally, we, the students, suffer from collective amnesia. Every new election cycle, we get swept up in new promises and forget the lessons of the past three administrations. We refuse to hold candidates to their predecessor’s failed promises. Until we develop an institutional memory and vote based on record and realistic plans, we will be forever disappointed. Cycle.

Aiman Fodio is the former Executive Chairman of the National Association of University Students (NAUS) Bauchi Axis and a serial legislator during his time in ATBU Unionism. He is currently a final year student of ATBU.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted.

The anti-graft agency issued the declaration on Friday following Farouq’s repeated failure to appear for a scheduled arraignment. She is facing 21 counts of alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and the diversion of public funds totalling billions of naira.

Central to the investigation is the alleged laundering of over N37 billion through a contractor, James Okwete, during her tenure under the Buhari administration. While Farouq had previously honoured some invitations for questioning, the EFCC moved for her arrest after she reportedly stopped complying with summons and became unreachable.

In April, a Federal Capital Territory High Court issued bench warrants for both Farouq and the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, after they failed to appear in court.

The EFCC has urged anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or commission office, as the manhunt for the former cabinet member intensifies.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered an investigation into allegations linking two senior police officers to the disappearance and alleged killing of social media activist and lecturer, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

The officers named in the allegations are CSP Hussaini Gimba and CSP Hassan Gimba.

The directive followed petitions submitted on Friday by a Kano-based activist and human rights lawyer, Abba Hikima.

According to the petitions, Muhammad Musa Kamarawa, a former Senior Special Assistant to former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, accused the officers of making threats against him. Kamarawa also alleged that the officers claimed they killed Dadiyata and other persons in his presence at Operations Yaki in Kaduna.

The petitions urged the police authorities to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the claims.

One of the petitions stated that if the accusations were untrue, the investigation would clear the officers involved.

However, the petition added that if the allegations were established to be true, justice should prevail “irrespective of rank, office or influence.”

The petitions also expressed concern over the prolonged uncertainty surrounding Dadiyata’s whereabouts. They called for the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the matter.

The IGP acknowledged receipt of the petitions through his Principal Staff Officer, CF Lateef Adio Ahmed.

In a response, the police leadership confirmed that the case had been transferred to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Monitoring Unit for immediate investigation.

The letter also assured the petitioners that the Nigeria Police Force remained committed to justice and accountability.

Dadiyata was abducted from his residence in Barnawa area of Kaduna State in August 2019.

Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown. The case has continued to attract national attention and repeated calls for accountability.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A police inspector identified as Abdulkadir Garba has died after a lightning strike hit him in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The incident happened on Wednesday opposite the headquarters of the Borno State Police Command.

Garba, who was widely known as “Buratai,” was said to be controlling vehicle parking with a senior officer, ASP Wazani Adamu, when the tragedy occurred at about 2:19 p.m.

The spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed the incident in a statement.

According to him, the officers noticed strong winds that suggested rainfall was approaching and tried to move to safety before lightning struck them.

“Rain often comes with its own blessings, but this one arrived with a heartbreaking streak of tragedy,” Daso said.

“It was on a quiet Wednesday, May 7, 2026, at about 2:19 p.m., when Inspector Abdulkadir Garba, popularly known as ‘Buratai,’ a police officer widely respected for his dedication, commitment and passion for duty, was carrying out his routine responsibility of coordinating vehicle parking opposite the Borno State Police Command headquarters alongside his senior colleague, ASP Wazani Adamu.”

Daso stated that a loud thunder sound was heard moments before the lightning struck the two officers.

He said ASP Adamu survived the incident, while Inspector Garba sustained partial burns and died from the impact.

“Unfortunately, Inspector Abdulkadir Garba, who was directly impacted, sadly lost his life,” Daso said.

The police spokesman described the deceased officer as diligent and committed to his work.

“He lost his life, not to violence or conflict, but to the force of the storm,” he said.

“Inspector Abdulkadir Garba was more than a police officer to many; he was a familiar face, a hardworking officer and a symbol of dedication to service.”

Daso added that the officer’s death had thrown colleagues, friends and residents into mourning.

“Sometimes, life reminds us how fragile and unpredictable it can be. One moment, duty calls. The next moment, eternity answers,” the statement added.

By Bilyamin Abdulmumin, PhD

The politics of the Jega/Gwandu/Aleiro federal constituency fascinate me for several reasons: All three major contenders hail from Jega, and for three consecutive election cycles, they have contested in tightly fought primaries and elections.

Now, another cavalry, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, threw his hat into the foray. The addition of Alhaji Jafar Jega to the list has dramatically changed the calculations and trajectory of the constituency politics. Because Ahmad Jafar enjoys the massive goodwill of the people in Kebbi State. Unlike some politicians who claimed that people called on them to contest, Ahmad Jafar genuinely enjoys that goodwill. 

By virtue of the high office he held, the former CG secured a number of jobs, especially in this contingency. Community leaders, clerics, and politicians drove to his house to pay their respects and to appreciate his gesture. Therefore, such a person joining the race must add dynamics to the game. 

The incumbency of officials can either be a tool for success or a vehicle for their downfall. Honourable Mansur Musa (Dan Jamiah), the current House representative, unarguably used this opportunity to his advantage. He used his position and oversight function as deputy chairman of the Federal Road Safety Commission in the lower chamber to bring infrastructure development never seen in this constituency. The citizens left in awe, reduced to asking this burning question: Can an NA member carry out such development? 

It should never be forgotten in a hurry that Dan Jamiah overcame all odds against him, coming from the PDP to defeat the then-incumbent and ruling party, the APC. Now, after getting into office, he consolidated the people’s goodwill even further.

Ahaji Kabiru Labbo Ajiya delves into the current battle as energetically as always. He is a populist, which is why he commands significant goodwill among voters. The part that particularly sets Ajiya apart is his initiatives in business and job creation. It’s without a doubt that Ajiya will hustle through the NA position to bring the developmental projects in this constituency to equal levels. The hurdle that had been standing before Ajiya was the primary elections. The political scheming and calculation were previously against him.

Alhaji Umar Danbuga’s political trajectory is seen as elite-driven. So, in this region where candidates’ emergence highly depends on elite goodwill, this is to the face of Alhaji Umar. In addition, the job opportunities and sponsorships through his office, as well as his personality, are part of his legacy. However, the odds against Alhaji Danbuga, Secretary, are that he has no benefit of doubt. He was the longest-serving member for this constituency. This makes different voters express different views about his candidacy.

I think Dan Jami’ah and Ajiya belong to the Senator Aleiro camp within the APC, while Jafar Ahmed and Danbuga Secretary belong to the Dr Nasir Idris/ Senator Atiku Bagudu camp. This factor may ultimately play a crucial role in deciding who emerges as the ticket-bearer come 2027.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A legal practitioner, Abba A. Hikima, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, demanding what he described as an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into allegations surrounding the disappearance and alleged killing of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

Hikima made the disclosure in a petition dated May 8, 2026, which he also shared on his Facebook page alongside copies of the document.

The petition was addressed to the IGP at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.

In the letter, the lawyer referred to allegations reportedly made by Muhammad Musa Kamarawa, a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle.

According to the petition, Kamarawa allegedly accused CSP Hussaini Gimba and CSP Hassan Gimba of involvement in Dadiyata’s alleged killing.

The petition quoted Kamarawa as saying: “…they threatened to kill me as they killed Dadiyata and Saminu S/Fada Gusau amongst others in my presence at Operations Yaki Kaduna…”

Hikima described the allegation as “an extremely grave matter” that should not be ignored by the police authorities.

He stated that Dadiyata has remained missing since August 2019 and noted that the case has continued to generate public concern and unanswered questions.

“Accordingly, where a citizen expressly claims that he witnessed the killing of Dadiyata and directly linked same to named police officers, there is an urgent need for a thorough, independent and credible investigation into the allegation,” the petition read.

The lawyer further argued that if the allegations are false, a proper investigation would clear the officers’ names and reassure the public.

“However, if there is any truth whatsoever in the allegations, then justice must be allowed to take its full course irrespective of rank, office or influence,” he added.

Hikima urged the IGP to immediately set up an independent investigative panel to probe the claims against the two senior police officers and make the findings public.