Month: August 2025

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Canadian photojournalist Valerie Zink has announced her resignation from Reuters, accusing the news agency and other Western outlets of “justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza.”Zink, who contributed to Reuters for eight years with her photographs widely circulated across the globe, said she could no longer remain linked to the organisation.

She argued that Reuters had failed in its journalistic duty by amplifying Israeli narratives while neglecting the plight of reporters under attack in Gaza.In a statement shared on social media Tuesday, she criticised Reuters’ coverage of the August 10 killing of Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif.

“When Israel murdered Anas Al-Sharif, together with the entire Al-Jazeera crew in Gaza City on August 10, Reuters chose to publish Israel’s entirely baseless claim that Al-Sharif was a Hamas operative – one of countless lies that media outlets like Reuters have dutifully repeated and dignified,” Zink said.

She noted that Reuters’ stance had not shielded its own staff from Israeli attacks.“Reuters’ willingness to perpetuate Israel’s propaganda has not spared their own reporters from Israel’s genocide.

Five more journalists, including Reuters cameraman Hossam Al-Masri, were among 20 people killed this morning in another attack on Nasser hospital.

“It was what’s known as a ‘double tap’ strike, in which Israel bombs a civilian target like a school or hospital; waits for medics, rescue teams, and journalists to arrive; and then strikes again.”

Zink said responsibility for such killings also rested with Western outlets that repeated official talking points without scrutiny.

She referenced journalist Jeremy Scahill’s assessment, stating that “every major outlet – from the New York Times to the Washington Post, from AP to Reuters – has served as a conveyor belt for Israeli propaganda, sanitizing war crimes and dehumanizing victims, abandoning their colleagues and their alleged commitment to true and ethical reporting.”

According to her, this failure of duty has directly contributed to the unprecedented number of journalist deaths in Gaza.

“By repeating Israel’s genocidal fabrications without determining if they have any credibility – willfully abandoning the most basic responsibility of journalism – Western media outlets have made possible the killing of more journalists in two years on one tiny strip of land than in WWI, WWII, and the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, and Ukraine combined, to say nothing of starving an entire population, shredding its children, and burning people alive,” she said.

She also accused Reuters of turning its back on Al-Sharif despite his Pulitzer-winning work for the agency.

“The fact that Anas Al-Sharif’s work won a Pulitzer Prize for Reuters did not compel them to come to his defence when Israeli occupation forces placed him on a ‘hit list’ of journalists accused of being Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants,” she said.

“It did not compel them to come to his defence when he appealed to international media for protection after an Israeli military spokesperson posted a video making clear their intention to assassinate him following a report he did on the growing famine. It did not compel them to report on his death honestly when he was hunted and killed weeks later.”

Zink added that she now felt only grief and shame in carrying a Reuters press pass.

“I have valued the work that I brought to Reuters over the past eight years, but at this point I can’t conceive of wearing this press pass with anything but deep shame and grief,” she said.

She vowed to dedicate her future work to honouring Gaza’s fallen journalists. “I don’t know what it means to begin to honour the courage and sacrifice of journalists in Gaza – the bravest and best to ever live – but going forward I will direct whatever contributions I have to offer with that front of mind.”

At least 20 people, including five journalists, were killed on Monday after Israeli strikes hit al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.

The Guardian reported that the dead included Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman; Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelance journalist with the Associated Press; Mohammed Salam of Al Jazeera; and Moaz Abu Taha, who worked with NBC. Another Reuters photographer, Hatem Khaled, was severely injured.

Footage aired by al-Ghad TV showed civil defence workers and journalists in orange vests attempting to recover al-Masri’s body when they themselves came under fire. In their final moments, the rescuers raised their hands for protection before being struck.

By Anas Abbas

Fear has enveloped residents of Zango Biyu in Rimin Gado Local Government Area of Kano State following the gruesome killing of two children in separate incidents over the weekend.

The daily post gathered that the first victim, five-year-old Muhammad Gambo, was found dead on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said his mother had sent him to a nearby shop to buy powder worth ₦50, but the shopkeeper turned him away because the money was insufficient.

Instead of returning home, Muhammad reportedly set out for his grandparents’ house but was ambushed on the way.

A community member, Laminu Ahmad, described the shocking discovery.

“His mother sent him to buy powder, but the shopkeeper rejected the money. On his way to his grandparents’ house, some wicked people stopped him and slaughtered him like a ram,” Ahmad said.

He added that many residents suspect the killing was ritual-related.

“We suspect ritualists because there was no blood on the ground. They must have collected it in a bowl and even cleaned the knife before fleeing,” he lamented.

While the community was still mourning Muhammad, tragedy struck again.

A 13-year-old girl, Fatima Sule, was found dead in her family’s residence at Dandinshe Quarters, Dala Local Government Area.

Witnesses said she was strangled, her neck broken, and her body hanged on a window.

Her distraught mother told reporters that she had left her children at home and asked them to join their elder sister later.

“Before I returned, I received a call that Fatima had been killed,” she said in tears.

The back-to-back killings, which occurred between Saturday and Sunday, have left residents in shock and fear, as such incidents are unprecedented in the area.

The Kano State Police Command reportedly allowed the immediate burial of the victims after preliminary investigations.

Security operatives have since launched a manhunt for the culprits.

Efforts to reach the command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off at the time of filing this report.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has signed a bill into law creating 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Speaking during the signing ceremony at the Government House on Monday, Governor Yahaya explained that the initiative aligns with the 1999 Constitution and was designed to address the growing population while promoting grassroots development.

The new LCDAs and their administrative headquarters are: Akko North (Amada), Akko West (Pindiga), Balanga South (Bambam), Billiri West (Taal), Dukku North (Malala), Funakaye South (Tongo), Gombe South (Bolari), Kaltungo East (Wange), Kwami West (Bojude), Nafada South (Birin-Fulani), Pero-Chonge (Filiya), Yamaltu East (Dadinkowa), and Yamaltu West (Zambuk).

Governor Yahaya stressed that the long-term advantages of creating the new councils outweigh the costs involved.

He said, “Like the creation of Gombe State in 1996, these LCDAs will usher in a new era of progress for our communities and the state at large.”

An interim management committee and a transition technical team led by the deputy governor will oversee the establishment of the councils.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has refuted reports alleging the diversion of N6.5 billion from the state treasury, dismissing them as “false narratives orchestrated by the opposition to tarnish the image of the administration.”

The rebuttal follows a report by Daily Nigerian on August 22, 2025, which claimed that the Director-General of the Government House Protocol Directorate, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, was linked to an alleged diversion of public funds already before the High Court.

In a statement issued on Monday, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General of Media and Publicity at the Government House, maintained that all financial dealings of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) strictly adhere to budgetary guidelines and established financial regulations.

“Every cash outflow into MDAs is duly budgeted with clear codes in the state’s fiscal policy. No government official accesses public funds without a defined purpose,” Bature stated.

He noted that the Protocol Directorate is responsible for logistics, welfare, and official engagements of the governor and visiting dignitaries, explaining that about 95 per cent of its functions involve financial transactions conducted with government approval.

The statement stressed that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration would not allow the integrity of its officials to be undermined by political propaganda.

“The Yusuf administration remains committed to financial prudence, transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption. We will not allow our aides’ reputations to be destroyed by deliberate blackmail from unpatriotic elements,” it said.

The government reaffirmed confidence in Rogo’s credibility, describing the allegations as unfounded. It added that all officials, including the Director-General of Protocol, are open to scrutiny by anti-graft agencies when required.

It further accused political opponents of sponsoring the allegations as part of a smear campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

“These claims are nothing but fiction designed by desperate politicians relying on propaganda to remain relevant,” the statement noted.

The government also pointed to alleged financial mismanagement under former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration, citing withdrawals of over N20 billion between February and May 2023. It referenced the dollar-video scandal as evidence of what it called “eight years marred by corruption.”

While pledging transparency, the government warned it may pursue legal action against those spreading misinformation.

“No propaganda, fabricated claims, or media trials will derail our determination to serve the people with honesty and accountability,” the statement added.

It concluded by noting that it would not comment further on the matter since it is already before a competent court.

By Anwar Usman

The Peoples Democratic Party has officially confirmed Umar Damagum as its substantive National Chairman.

At the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee meeting on Monday, the party agreed that Damagum, who has served as Acting National Chairman for over a year, be elevated to substantive Chairman ahead of the National Elective Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Kamaldeen Ajibade, administered the oath of office to him.

Details shortly…

By Anas Abbas

A Magistrate Court sitting in Normansland, Kano, has convicted four men for engaging in illegal tree felling at Sharada Municipal.

The convicts, Jibril Adamu and three others were prosecuted by the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change under the provisions of the Kano State Forestry Law, which prohibits cutting down trees without official authorization.

The case was heard by His Worship Auwalu Yusuf, who found the defendants guilty after reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution counsel, Barrister Bahijjah H. Aliyu.

The court sentenced the four men to three months imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦40,000 fine.

They were also ordered to pay ₦50,000 in compensation for the damage caused.Reacting to the judgment, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru M. Hashim, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for environmental protection in the state.

“Every tree cut down illegally robs our city of clean air, shade, and climate resilience,” Dr. Hashim said.

“This ruling sends a strong message that Kano will not tolerate environmental vandalism.”

The Ministry further urged residents to report cases of illegal logging and other environmental offences through its official channels, assuring that it remains committed to preserving a greener and healthier Kano State.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Chadian authorities have arrested Muslim Muhammad Yusuf, identified as the son of Boko Haram’s late founder, Muhammad Yusuf. Muslim, believed to be 18 or 19 years old, was captured along with five others while leading an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cell.

Analyst Bulama Bukarti confirmed Muslim’s identity after speaking with family friends and relatives, who said he is the son of Bintu, Muhammad Yusuf’s first wife. His arrest reportedly followed a tip-off from Nigerian intelligence.

The development comes in the same week Nigeria announced the capture of two top leaders of Ansaru, a Boko Haram offshoot, and the head of the Mahmuda Group, active in parts of North Central Nigeria.

Security experts describe the arrest as a turning point, marking the first time a major faction leader has been taken alive. They warn, however, that Nigerian authorities must now focus on dismantling bandit groups wreaking havoc in the North West and North Central regions.

By Uzair Adam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, popularly known as Bello Karama, along with five members of his syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

The arrest followed investigations that linked the group to the shipment of illicit substances that led to the detention of three unsuspecting Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia on drug trafficking allegations.

The Agency disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, addressed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, alongside Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, and Theresa Asuquo, Director of Prosecution and Legal Services.

NDLEA explained that the development came after its Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), received complaints from three families whose relatives—Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq—were detained in Jeddah following their lesser hajj pilgrimage.

The detainees were accused of trafficking drugs after being linked to six additional bags not belonging to them, three of which contained illicit substances.

Investigations traced the bags to the syndicate led by Abubakar, who checked them into an Ethiopian Airline flight ET940 on August 6, 2025, the same flight boarded by the three innocent pilgrims.

Members of the group, including staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company, were said to have illegally tagged the bags against the names of the pilgrims without their knowledge.

Six suspects are currently in NDLEA custody, with four already charged to court. Confessional statements revealed that the bags were checked in for monetary rewards, with transfers of N200,000 linked to the operation.

The NDLEA said it has initiated discussions with Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to secure the release of the detained Nigerians.

Marwa is also expected to personally meet with Saudi authorities during an international drug conference to press for their exoneration.

The Agency assured that while it remains committed to fighting drug trafficking, it will not allow innocent Nigerians to suffer for crimes they did not commit.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Ulama Forum in Nigeria has condemned the reported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and the State of Israel on security cooperation, describing it as “a dangerous and insensitive diplomatic move.”

In a statement signed by its Convener, Aminu Inuwa Muhammad, and Secretary, Engr. Basheer Adamu Aliyu, the Forum accused the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, of unilaterally engaging Israel despite global outrage over its alleged genocide against Palestinians.

“At a time when the world of conscience is against Israel, Nigeria should be at the forefront of supporting South Africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice, not courting a state increasingly isolated for human rights violations,” the statement read.

The Forum warned that involving Israel in Nigeria’s internal security would erode national sovereignty, risk human rights abuses, and entrench dependence on foreign powers. It argued that “internal security issues require homegrown solutions that prioritise community engagement, social cohesion, and inclusive governance.”

Instead of seeking external assistance, the group urged the government to strengthen security institutions, address poverty and corruption, and ensure justice for offenders. It further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “call the erring minister to order” in the interest of national unity and public sensitivity.

The Forum reaffirmed its confidence in Nigeria’s security personnel and pledged continued prayers for “Allah’s guidance and support to our gallant forces.”

By Uzair Adam

The National Commission for Colleges of Education has discovered and closed 22 unapproved tertiary institutions operating in different parts of the country.

The move followed a nationwide crackdown on illegal institutions, according to details contained in the commission’s achievement report obtained by Punch Newspaper.

“The NCCE identified and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country. The commission also conducted personnel audits and financial monitoring in all 21 federal colleges of education,” the report stated.

President Bola Tinubu had recently directed regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, and the NCCE, to intensify efforts in eliminating illegal higher institutions undermining the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.

Speaking at the 14th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, warned against compromising academic standards.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the synergy among educational agencies, including the NYSC, JAMB, NUC, NBTE, and NCCE, to ensure the quality of education and eliminate certificate forgery and unrecognised institutions within and outside the country.