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By Maryam Ahmad

The military government of Burkina Faso says it has thwarted a plot to assassinate President Ibrahim Traore and destabilise the country.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the alleged plot was masterminded by former national leader Paul-Henri Damiba, who was ousted by Captain Traore in a 2022 coup. He claimed the plan was financed from the Ivory Coast.

There has been no immediate comment from the Ivorian authorities or from Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba regarding the allegations.

Captain Traore’s government has reported several attempted coups since he took power, repeatedly accusing Ivory Coast of involvement, claims which Abidjan has previously denied.

To Kannywood audiences, the TV series Gidan Badamasi needs no introduction. It is arguably the most successful comedy series since the industry’s migration to YouTube/TV series production. There have been other popular comedy series, such as Zafin Nema and Jikokin Maigari. However, none has matched the reach and longevity of Gidan Badamasi.

After six successful seasons, Gidan Badamasi now returned with Season 7. Only two episodes have been released so far, yet the new season already shows the potential to surpass its predecessors. This is due to its thematic preoccupation, which tackles the issue of insecurity in Northern Nigeria and the problematic framing of the Fulani ethnic group as terrorists without distinction. The new season rightly reinforces a crucial truth: that terrorism has no religion or ethnicity.

The first episode opens with Alhaji Badamasi (Magaji Mijinyawa) and his aide, Taska (Falalu Dorayi), being abducted by kidnappers. The kidnappers’ kingpin, Dan Tsito, is portrayed as Fulani.  However, the narrative shows that Dan Tsito’s criminal path begins within his own community (Rugga), before extending into the forest, where he operates alongside criminals from other ethnic groups. 

The series obviously avoids ethnic reductionism and offers a more balanced portrayal of terrorists and terrorism in Nigeria. It also dismantles the notion of selective victimhood by presenting Alhaji Badamasi, a Hausa Muslim, and his aide as victims. This challenges how the international community often wrongly assumes that terrorism in Nigeria targets only Christians, and how films like The Herd (2025) subtly reinforce that misleading narrative.

The director, Falalu Dorayi and the creative team deserve commendation for addressing this sensitive issue with courage and clarity. This is the kind of storytelling Northern filmmakers must prioritise – telling their own stories truthfully rather than allowing outsiders to define their realities.

The series is also technically solid. Both picture quality and sound design are commendable. However, based on the two episodes released so far, the makers need to be more restrained with unnecessary comic scenes. A more disciplined approach would allow the series to do full justice to the seriousness of its subject matter.

In conclusion, Gidan Badamasi Season 7 shows strong promise. It remains as entertaining as previous seasons while effectively blending important social issues into its narrative. I highly recommend it.

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By Anwar Usman

Sokoto State Hisbah Board has shutdown a hotel in the state capital over allegations of accommodating underage girls on its premises.

The incidence was confirmed by the Deputy Commander General of the board, Prof. Abubakar Usman Ribah, on Tuesday, saying that the action followed repeated violations by the hotel despite earlier warnings.

Ribah said the hotel was found to have breached regulations prohibiting the lodging of underage persons, describing the act as contrary to the moral and legal standards upheld by the board.

He stated that, the hotel had previously been cautioned and had also entered into an agreement with the Hisbah Board and other hotel operators in the state not to allow underage children to stay in their facilities.

“This is the second time such an offence has been recorded at the Executive Hotel, despite previous warnings and assurances by the management to desist from the practice,” he said.

He further explained that the decision to shut down the hotel was taken due to its failure to comply with the board’s directives and the conditions agreed upon during engagements with hotel owners across the state.

Riba further reiterated the board’s unwavering commitment to enforcing laws and would continue to enforce its regulations in line with the state’s religious and cultural values, emphasising that such measures were necessary to maintain public order and morality.

By Usman Muhammad Salihu

The passing of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi shook the nation in a way words can barely hold. Bauchi witnessed a scene history will struggle to forget, millions gathered, from ordinary citizens to scholars, traditional rulers, state governors, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and even the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, leading the State’s delegation. It wasn’t a crowd built by influence. It wasn’t politics. It wasn’t power.

It was a divine honour given only by Allah to His chosen servants.

One elderly man at the funeral said, “What I saw today with my eyes… if Allah does not honour you, you cannot receive the kind of favour Maulana Sheikh received. This matter is beyond politics or chieftaincy. It is purely from Allah.” And truly, the atmosphere testified to that.

For decades, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi stood as a bridge between generations. The number of people who embraced Islam through him is known only to Allah. The number of students who memorised the Qur’an under his guidance defies calculation. This, more than titles, wealth or recognition, is the legacy of a life well spent.

Yes, we feel the sting of his departure. But even in our grief, gratitude rises. Alhamdulillah for a man whose end came with honour, whose journey was marked by service, and whose impact will continue to shape hearts long after today.

Usman Muhammad Salihu writes from Jos, Nigeria, via muhammadu5363@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A suspected missile warhead has been discovered in a bush in the Zugurma area of Mashegu Local Government, Niger State.

The device was found by local residents on Monday afternoon, who immediately alerted security forces. Authorities have cordoned off the area.

Confirming the incident, Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit has been deployed to the scene for investigation and safe recovery.

“The item is under investigation and further development will be made public,” Abiodun said.

While unconfirmed local sources speculated the object could be a Tomahawk missile warhead linked to U.S. military operations, official identification is pending the EOD unit’s assessment.

Security forces are currently securing the area.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A directive from BBC News editors instructing journalists not to describe the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a “kidnapping” has sparked controversy, placing the broadcaster at odds with U.S. President Donald Trump’s own terminology.

Socialist commentator Owen Jones revealed an internal BBC memo on X, which stated that while journalists could use “captured” (if attributed to U.S. sources) or “seized,” they must “Avoid using ‘Kidnapped.’

“This editorial guidance clashes with comments from President Trump. When asked about Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s use of the term “kidnapping” for Maduro’s detention, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “It’s alright. It’s not a bad term.”

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in a New York court to narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges.

During the hearing, Maduro declared he was “kidnapped” and “a prisoner of war,” while Flores asserted her status as Venezuela’s first lady.

Following the operation, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, was sworn in as Venezuela’s new leader in Caracas. Trump asserted the U.S. was now “in charge” of Venezuela, warning its interim government to cooperate or pay a “very big price.”

By Ibrahim Yunusa

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has called on the European Union to impose sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel, citing what it described as a “war of genocide” in Gaza and an ongoing pogrom against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Speaking on Tuesday, Iskandar Majlton, a local coordinator of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel a WCC-affiliated initiative said the council was deeply shocked by the relentless violence and human suffering unfolding in the region.

Majlton emphasized that the WCC’s position is grounded in international law and human rights, condemning all attacks on civilians regardless of the source. He described the situation in Gaza as an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster,” with thousands killed mostly women and children and nearly the entire population displaced amid destruction, hunger, and disease.

He further stressed that the ongoing crisis did not begin in October 2023 but is rooted in decades of occupation, the blockade of Gaza, and structural inequality, urging global actors to address the deeper causes behind the cycle of violence.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a direct order to the nation’s security chiefs to track down and bring to justice the terrorists responsible for the deadly attack on Kasuwan Daji community in Niger State.

He also mandated the urgent rescue of all abducted victims. The directive, given on Sunday, follows reports that terrorists, possibly fleeing from military pressure in Sokoto and Zamfara states, carried out the assault, killing villagers and kidnapping women and children.

President Tinubu strongly condemned the attack, extending his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Niger State.”These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people.

They must, therefore, face the full consequences of their criminal actions,” the President declared. “No matter who they are or what their intent is, they must be hunted down.”

He warned that not only the perpetrators, but also their accomplices, would be caught.

The President assured Niger State residents that security operations would be intensified around vulnerable communities, especially those near forest areas used as criminal hideouts.

Calling for national unity, Tinubu urged citizens to remain resolute and avoid divisive rhetoric that could undermine security.

“These times demand our humanity. We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison,” he said, emphasizing the goal to reclaim peace and security in the affected communities.

The orders were issued to the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

By Anwar Usman

No fewer than thirty people are feared dead as a canoe capsized in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

An eye witness revealed that the incident happened Saturday evening when the canoe conveying passengers from Garbi village, Nguru local government of Yobe state to Adiyani village of Guri Local Government of Jigawa State mishaped He said sixteen people died, fourteen still missing while people were able to rescue ten.

When contacted, SP. Lawan Shiisu Adam, the police public relations officer in the state confirmed the incident saying, “On Saturday evening around 7pm there was a report of a capsized Canoe at Adiyani village of Guri Local. The incident happened when the canoe carrying about forty passengers capsized.

“Sixteen people were reported dead, ten rescued, while fourteen are still missing after a canoe capsized in Adiyani village, Guri LGA.”

He said that personel on rescue mission are still going on to find the missing bodies while investigating is ongoing on the cause of the incident.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Governor Alex Otti has signed the Senior Citizens Bill into law to improve the welfare of elderly residents in Abia State. The legislation forms part of a broader set of executive bills recently assented to by the governor.

The new law establishes a framework to support senior citizens aged 60 and above, granting them access to monthly stipends, free medical care, and other social welfare benefits. The initiative is designed to enhance the quality of life of older persons and provide sustained social protection.

The policy has been widely commended by stakeholders and civil society groups, who describe it as a progressive step toward inclusive governance and social responsibility. Government officials say implementation modalities are being developed to ensure the effective and transparent delivery of benefits.

Governor Otti’s action reflects his administration’s commitment to social reforms and the strengthening of welfare systems for vulnerable groups in the state.