News

By Uzair Adam

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old housewife over the alleged killing of her co-wife during a domestic incident in Bauchi metropolis.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Bauchi.

According to Habib, the suspect, whose name was withheld, was arrested on September 27 following the alleged killing at Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate in the state capital.

He said the Police C-Division, Bauchi, received credible information at about 4:05 p.m. that a domestic incident had occurred between two wives living in the same household.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the 33-year-old suspect, who is the second wife, allegedly, acting under hallucinations, struck the first wife with a pestle on the forehead, and the victim fell unconscious,” Habib said.

He added that detectives attached to the division immediately mobilised to the scene after receiving the report.

Habib said the victim was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where a medical doctor certified her dead.

He said the victim’s remains had been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy, while the police recovered the pestle allegedly used in the incident.

The spokesperson said the suspect was being investigated for alleged culpable homicide.

He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, as directing that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and prosecution.

The commissioner condoled with the family of the deceased and warned against domestic violence.

Aliyu also advised families to seek timely medical and psychosocial support for members experiencing mental health challenges.

By Uzair Adam

Africa Academy, an Islamic online learning platform under Africa Media Network, on Saturday graduated 3,500 students who completed its free Diploma programme in Islamic studies at a ceremony held at Bayero University Kano (BUK).

The graduation marked the academy’s second convocation, established to make Islamic education accessible to Muslims regardless of location, occupation, or level of formal education.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Africa Media Network, Dr Habib Tijjani Tahir, said the academy was created to give people the opportunity to acquire Islamic knowledge despite their busy schedules.

He explained that the initiative was driven by the need to help Muslims understand how to worship Allah correctly, stressing that people were created to worship Him.

According to him, the academy provides free online lessons that enable students to learn at their convenience from anywhere.

Tahir said the curriculum covers various areas of Islamic studies, including Fiqh, Seerah, Tafsir and Hadith, among others.

He said the academy also encourages academic excellence by rewarding outstanding students.

Tahir said top-performing students would receive incentives, including Umrah packages and cash rewards, while other outstanding students would also receive financial rewards.

He further announced that the academy would sponsor the marriages of four students by covering major wedding expenses, including dowry, wedding trousseau, rent and other associated costs.

“We want to encourage our students not only to acquire knowledge but also to remain committed to their studies and strive for excellence,” Tahir said.

He said the academy initially offered short one-week Islamic courses with certificates but later introduced its free Diploma programme, known as “Tsangaya,” following increasing demand from learners.

Tahir noted that 2,200 students graduated in the previous edition, while the number rose to 3,500 this year.

He said the academy was targeting between 50,000 and 60,000 graduates in subsequent years, or even more.

According to him, any Muslim who can read and write and meets the required level can enrol in the programme without presenting a previous academic certificate.

He added that the initiative therefore gives students of Qur’anic and Tsangaya schools, as well as people with conventional academic backgrounds, an opportunity to acquire further Islamic knowledge.

Representing the teachers, Prof Abdulqadir Ismail congratulated the graduates and prayed that Allah would make the knowledge they acquired beneficial to them and society.

He urged the graduates to put their knowledge into practice and use it to benefit others.

“Knowledge becomes more valuable when it is practised and used to benefit other people,” Prof Ismail said.

He also appealed to the graduates to continue praying for the academy as it works towards introducing online degree programmes similar to those offered by universities around the world.

Also speaking, Sheikh Abubakar Abdussalam Baban Gwale said opportunities to acquire Islamic knowledge through platforms such as Africa Academy were not readily available in the past.

He recalled that even people with the financial means sometimes struggled to find accessible opportunities for Islamic education.

“Today, Allah has made it easy for people to acquire this knowledge,” Baban Gwale said, urging parents to encourage their children to participate in such programmes.

He added that even people with conventional academic qualifications could benefit from the opportunity, describing access to Islamic education as a blessing.

Among the graduates, Fatima Usman, 40, emerged as the best-performing student.

A mother of nine, she said she learnt about the academy through a television announcement and continued following its activities until registration opened.

“I was determined to study despite my responsibilities as a mother of nine children,” she said, adding that she remained committed to her studies throughout the programme.

Muhammad Saminu, who came second, attributed his success to consistency and effective use of the academy’s learning materials.

He said he listened to audio lessons while travelling or working and studied the PDF materials more thoroughly whenever he had time to sit down and concentrate.

Amira Nuhu Umar, who emerged third, described her success as a source of immense joy, saying the lessons had significantly influenced her life.

“My joy cannot be described. The lessons have had a great impact on my life,” she said.

She thanked her parents and teachers for their support and dedication throughout her studies.

By Uzair Adam 

The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Kano State Command, has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area to track and contain dogs suspected of carrying rabies after one dog reportedly attacked and bit 18 people in the area.

The State Commander, Abdullahi Al’ameen, disclosed this in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abdullahi-Umar, on Sunday in Kano.

Al’ameen said the command received a distress report at about 2 p.m. that a dog suspected to be rabid had attacked residents in Garko town.

According to him, the dog initially attacked and bit 11 people in Garko town before moving into neighbouring communities, where it attacked seven additional residents.

“The dog had so far bitten 11 persons in Garko town before moving to neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai,” he said.

The commander added that the command had received another report indicating that two more dogs were suspected to have contracted rabies in the area.

He said personnel from the NFSS Garko Division, led by the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, had been deployed to the affected communities to track and contain the suspected rabid dogs.

Al’ameen urged residents of Garko and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and promptly report sightings of stray or suspected rabid dogs to the nearest NFSS office or other security agencies.

He also advised anyone bitten by a suspected rabid dog to seek immediate medical attention, stressing the importance of prompt treatment.

Al’ameen assured residents that the NFSS would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to prevent further attacks.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Energy policy expert Izielen Agbon claims the Tinubu government intends to reduce federal ownership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to a minority 35% stake shortly after the 2027 general election, warning it would effectively privatise the nation’s oil resources.

Speaking at a webinar organised by the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) and chaired by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Agbon said the alleged plan dates back to 2023 and would see the government’s controlling stake in NNPCL transferred to private investors once electoral pressure has passed.

“The Tinubu government is planning to sell the shares of NNPCL immediately after the election,” Agbon said. “The plan they made in 2023 was that after the election, before 2030, they are going to sell the shares of NNPCL to private investors… so that the government will only own 35% of the shares.”

He described the intended model as one already applied to Nigeria LNG (NLNG), where international oil companies hold a 51% majority stake. “They call it the energy model,” he said. “They claim that the Nigerian liquefied gas model is sufficient because the government owns less than 50%.”

Agbon outlined NNPCL’s current ownership structure under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), with 50% held by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and 50% by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, a portfolio held by the President. He said the company is presently “100% owned by the Nigerian government.”

He warned that selling shares to private hands would amount to privatising the nation’s resources, given NNPCL’s statutory role in managing government oil revenues. “If you control NNPCL and the law says NNPCL is the one in charge of all our government resources, then you actually have access to our government resources,” he said. “That will be very, very terrible for us. Because we will have no government-owned oil-producing company, no government-owned refinery… Anything belonging to NNPCL will be privatized.”

Agbon alleged that opacity has shielded similar arrangements from scrutiny, pointing to NLNG as a precedent. “Nobody hears about all this corruption with our LNG because it’s run by private sector business,” he said.

Falana, responding to the presentation, said the alleged plan was not new but should be elevated as a campaign issue ahead of the 2027 election. He also disputed aspects of the NLNG comparison, stating that Nigeria owns 49% of NLNG shares while IOCs hold 51%.

He added that while 95% of NLNG’s staff are Nigerians, dividend accounting has remained contentious. “The federal government, or rather the NNPC, collects the dividends on behalf of Nigeria. It has always stolen. That money is not paid into the federal account,” Falana alleged, citing NEITI’s repeated position that the funds ought to be paid into the federation account.

Falana said NLNG has made about $49 billion in dividends, with only about $22 billion reaching the federal government.

Agbon called for the matter to be forced onto candidates ahead of the 2027 election, alongside demands for lower petrol prices and a higher minimum wage. “There is a need for us to stop and use this opportunity, not only to fight to sell lower petrol prices, but to fight them to increase minimum wage, and to fight them to say you cannot sell the shares of NNPCL,” he said.

He described the company’s assets as the inheritance of the Nigerian people. “It’s not for sale. People are just elected to be leaders for four years, at maximum eight years. You cannot sell the whole house because you’ve been elected to serve the people for eight years.”

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has allocated plots of land to more than 1,000 party marshals, volunteers and members of community-based support groups as part of efforts to empower young people and provide them with assets to build their future.

The Daily Reality reports that the land allocation ceremony took place on Saturday at the Government House, Kano, with beneficiaries, government officials, party supporters and other stakeholders in attendance.

Speaking at the event, the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the beneficiaries had contributed their time, energy and efforts to their communities and the development of the state, describing the allocation as an opportunity for them to build more secure futures.

The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk, said the government’s decision to allocate the land was based on the belief that young people should be given opportunities to own assets and become economically productive.

“Today, we are giving you land because land can change the life of a person. It can become a home. It can become a business. It can become security for a family. And with time, it can become wealth that you leave for your children,” he said.

Governor Yusuf urged the beneficiaries to protect and develop their plots, stressing that the allocation should not be regarded merely as a piece of paper but as an opportunity to build something meaningful.

He cautioned them against selling the land, urging them to use it to establish homes, businesses or other productive ventures that could benefit their families.

“Do not waste this opportunity. Do not sell your future cheaply. Make something out of what the Government has given you,” the governor said.

The governor also urged youths in the state to channel their energy towards productive activities and shun violence and unnecessary conflicts.

He called on the beneficiaries to help promote government programmes in their communities, calm tensions and discourage young people from engaging in activities capable of undermining their future.

“Where there is misunderstanding, help people understand. Where there is tension, help calm it down. Where young people are being led in the wrong direction, call them back,” he said.

The governor said the land allocation was part of his administration’s broader development agenda, which includes investments in education, healthcare, roads, water supply, agriculture, power, housing, urban development and youth empowerment.

He said the government would continue to create opportunities for young people, noting that empowerment should go beyond providing temporary financial assistance.

“We want young people to have something to protect, something to develop and something they can proudly call their own,” Yusuf said.

He added that the ultimate objective was to ensure that the beneficiaries turned the allocations into homes, businesses and other productive assets that would contribute to the development of their communities.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Muhammad Umar, said the exercise was part of the state government’s policy of using land as an instrument of empowerment, housing development and economic inclusion.

Umar said the administration had previously allocated land to various categories of beneficiaries, including political appointees, grassroots supporters, polling agents and youths drawn from the 44 local government areas of the state.

He described the latest allocation as a continuation of the government’s effort to give citizens tangible assets around which they could plan their future and improve the economic security of their families.

The commissioner said the economic impact of the allocations would extend beyond the beneficiaries because the development of the plots would create jobs for professionals, artisans and businesses involved in the construction sector.

“When land is allocated and development begins, an entire chain of economic activity follows. Surveyors are engaged. Architects and draftsmen get work. Masons, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders and labourers are employed,” he said.

He added that construction activities would also increase demand for building materials and transportation services while creating opportunities for businesses around the new layouts.

Umar said the government was committed to developing properly planned settlements with roads, drainage systems, schools, health facilities, markets, mosques, open spaces and other basic amenities.

According to him, the aim was to ensure that new settlements were properly planned and capable of supporting economic activities rather than becoming future challenges due to inadequate infrastructure.

The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the land and avoid disposing of the allocations carelessly.

He said the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning would continue to support the administration’s efforts to expand land ownership, housing development and planned urban growth across Kano State.

Governor Yusuf said the success of the programme would ultimately be measured not by the number of plots allocated but by what the beneficiaries were able to achieve with them.

“When the history of this programme is written, I do not want people to remember only that we allocated more than one thousand plots. I want them to say that from these allocations came new homes, new businesses, stronger families and more peaceful communities,” he said.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State has emerged as the leading state in Nigeria based on the number of candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

The development was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, on behalf of the Kano State Government.

According to the statement, Kano recorded 74,413 candidates who secured at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, ahead of Lagos State, which placed second with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo came third with 55,543 candidates.

The result marks the second consecutive year Kano has recorded the highest number of candidates meeting the five-credit benchmark, including English Language and Mathematics, after achieving a similar feat in the 2025 NECO examination.

Reacting to the development, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf congratulated the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders, describing the performance as an indication of the progress being recorded in the state’s education sector.

Governor Yusuf said the back-to-back performance demonstrated that the government’s sustained investment in education was producing measurable outcomes.

He assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise education through increased funding, improved learning facilities, recruitment and training of teachers, scholarships and support for indigent students.

The governor said the state government spent more than N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination, particularly students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

According to him, the intervention was aimed at removing financial barriers that could prevent students from participating in the examinations and ensuring they sat for the examinations under improved conditions.

Yusuf said the latest NECO performance was part of the broader improvement being recorded by students in the state under his administration.

Education has continued to receive a significant share of Kano State’s budget under the current administration. In 2024, about 29.95 per cent of the state budget was allocated to the sector, while the allocation rose to N168.35 billion, representing 31 per cent, in the 2025 budget.

For 2026, the state allocated N405.35 billion to education out of a total budget of N1.478 trillion, representing about 30 per cent of the overall budget.

The governor said the government’s investment in education extends beyond examination sponsorship to include classroom renovation, recruitment of teachers, provision of learning materials and uniforms, scholarships and other interventions aimed at improving the quality of education.

The statement also highlighted several awards and recognitions received by Governor Yusuf for his administration’s education-related policies.

In 2024, Leadership Newspaper named him Governor of the Year for Education, while New Telegraph recognised him as its Education Development Governor of the Year. The Nigeria Union of Teachers also named him Teachers’ Friendly Governor of the Year in the same year.

In 2025, Blueprint Newspaper recognised Yusuf as Governor of the Year for Education at its national conference in Abuja, while ThisNigeria honoured him as its Courageous Governor of the Year.

The statement further said the administration received education-related recognition internationally in 2026, including an international literacy and learning award and an education spending award attributed to Universal Learning Solution and City University, Paris.

Other recognitions listed in the statement include the Vanguard Governor of the Year Award for Good Governance in 2024, the BusinessDay Governor of the Year Award in 2025 and the African Governor of the Year Award presented by African Leadership Magazine in Casablanca, Morocco.

Yusuf dedicated the latest NECO achievement to the students, teachers, parents and people of Kano State, assuring them that his administration would sustain its investment in the sector.

He said the ultimate objective was to build an education system capable of equipping young people in the state with the knowledge and skills needed for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership.

The governor also referenced the scale of the state’s education system, noting that Kano recorded more than five million schoolchildren in the latest annual school census.

By Uzair Adam

Asia Mohammad Ahmad, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed claims that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was the subject of her husband’s recent remarks about the silence of some of his friends and associates.

Ahmad made the clarification in a post on her verified Facebook page on Saturday while reacting to a column by Professor Farooq Kperogi titled, “Sanusi and the Betrayal of El-Rufai,” published in the Saturday Tribune.

She said Sanusi remained with the family and urged the public to stop linking the Emir to El-Rufai’s statement.

“I want to clarify that HH is with us and Mallam’s post has nothing to do with HRH SLS, so pls stop alluding to things that you don’t know!” she wrote.

Kperogi’s column examined whether Sanusi was among those El-Rufai referred to in a September 23 statement in which the former governor reflected on the silence of some friends, family members and associates whom he had previously supported.

El-Rufai did not mention any individual in the statement but said some people who had benefited from his support were now free to decide whether to speak out or remain silent over his current circumstances.

He also said the experience could make him reconsider some relationships, while stressing that he held no resentment towards those who chose not to support him.

Kperogi argued that Sanusi could be one of the people referred to, citing the longstanding relationship between the two men and the support El-Rufai offered Sanusi following his dethronement as Emir of Kano in 2020.

However, Ahmad has now rejected that interpretation, saying El-Rufai’s remarks had nothing to do with the Emir.

“I am glad to note that Kperogi mentioned that there may be things people don’t know,” she added.

Kperogi had acknowledged in his column that El-Rufai did not name anyone and that attempts to identify the people referred to in the statement remained speculative.

He nevertheless pointed to the history between El-Rufai and Sanusi, particularly the events that followed Sanusi’s removal from the Kano throne in March 2020.

Following Sanusi’s dethronement, El-Rufai appointed him Vice Chairman of the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency board and later Chancellor of Kaduna State University.

El-Rufai also visited Sanusi in Awe, Nasarawa State, where the former Emir had been taken after his removal from the throne.

Kperogi cited those events while questioning whether Sanusi could have been among the people El-Rufai had in mind when he spoke about individuals he had previously supported during difficult periods.

The professor, however, cautioned against reaching a definitive conclusion, noting that there could have been private conversations or interventions that were not known to the public.

He also argued that Sanusi’s current position differs from El-Rufai’s circumstances in 2020, when the former governor wielded executive authority, while Sanusi, as a traditional ruler, does not exercise comparable political powers.

The clarification from Ahmad has now added a different account to the speculation surrounding El-Rufai’s statement, with the former governor’s wife insisting that Sanusi was not the person being referred to.

El-Rufai is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with investigations into his administration. He has denied wrongdoing.

His September 23 statement generated widespread discussion over the identity of the people he referred to, particularly after he said adversity had enabled him to see some relationships differently.

Neither El-Rufai’s original statement nor Ahmad’s latest clarification identifies who the former governor specifically had in mind.

Ahmad’s intervention has, however, sought to end speculation linking Sanusi to the remarks, insisting that the Emir remains with the family and that Kperogi’s interpretation does not reflect the circumstances known to them.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the state of the Nigerian economy, calling on the President to apologise to Nigerians and leave office.

Atiku made the demand in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

The former vice-president described the Tinubu administration as one of the most ruinous governments Nigeria has experienced and accused it of making life increasingly difficult for citizens while continuing to accumulate debt.

“A government that says more money is coming in must explain why it keeps borrowing and why the people paying for its policies cannot see the promised gains.”

He cited figures from the Debt Management Office, which put Nigeria’s public debt at ₦166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026, compared with ₦49.85 trillion in March 2023.

“After more than three years of demanded sacrifice, Nigerians are left with higher food, transport and energy bills, strained public services and a recorded public debt of ₦166.79 trillion as at 30 June 2026, according to the Debt Management Office.

“Nigeria’s recorded public debt stood at ₦49.85 trillion in March 2023 and ₦166.79 trillion by June 2026.

“I expect President Tinubu to put the full account before Nigerians. He should identify the old debt newly recorded, the foreign debt whose naira value rose with the exchange rate, and every new loan contracted since he assumed office. He should show what has been repaid and what remains outstanding. Accounting explanations must not become a hiding place for fresh borrowing,” he said.

Atiku also criticised what he described as a gap between official claims of economic recovery and the experience of ordinary Nigerians.

“The Tinubu economy is producing two Nigerias: one in which ordinary citizens are suffocating under rising food, fuel, transport, electricity, education and housing costs, and another in which those with wealth, access and privilege are far better positioned to protect and multiply their fortunes.”

“That is the fundamental contradiction at the heart of these reforms. Government celebrates macroeconomic indicators while millions of citizens struggle to translate those statistics into food on the table.

“An economy cannot be declared successful simply because government revenue is rising, reserves are improving or official statistics look better while the purchasing power of ordinary citizens is being destroyed. The true test of economic policy is whether Nigerians can afford food, transportation, housing, education, healthcare and electricity,” he said.

He further pointed to rising fuel prices, saying petrol had sold for about ₦1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja and as high as ₦1,500 in parts of northern Nigeria in September. He also said diesel prices had exceeded ₦2,000 per litre.

“The philosophy of an economic reform cannot be that the poor surrender more and more while those already insulated from hardship become increasingly comfortable. Nigerians were promised that today’s pain would produce tomorrow’s gain. After more than three years, they are entitled to ask: gain for whom?

“A mother cannot feed her children with a government revenue announcement. A worker cannot pay transport fare with a speech about reform. Nigerians do not eat GDP figures, FAAC allocations or PowerPoint presentations. The numbers must eventually arrive at the dinner table,” he said.

Atiku also raised concerns over the amount of government revenue being used to service Nigeria’s debt.

“BudgIT reported that by the third quarter of 2025, debt service had reached ₦12.52 trillion against ₦18.63 trillion in revenue — 67.2 per cent. In practical terms, roughly ₦67 out of every ₦100 of the revenue reflected in those figures went to debt service.”

“Money committed to debt service is money unavailable for competing public needs. Nigerians were told to endure the pain because there would be gains. Where are those gains?”

He referred to remarks made by Tinubu at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi in May, where the President reportedly said Nigeria expected to spend about $11.6 billion on debt servicing in 2026.

“If President Tinubu understands abroad what debt payments are taking away from Nigeria, then he must explain at home why the borrowing bill continues to grow.

“History warns us where this road can lead. Fiscal distress does not begin on the day a bailout is announced. It develops when borrowing becomes routine, debt service consumes an ever-larger share of available revenue and governments repeatedly borrow to finance gaps that previous borrowing failed to close.

“Nigerians should not have to wait for creditors to tell them what their household budgets already reveal.”

Atiku also called for greater disclosure of the country’s external debt-service obligations for the second quarter of 2026.

He said the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC) should apologise to Nigerians over the hardship he attributed to the administration’s economic policies since 2023.

“President Tinubu should apologise to the families who can no longer afford decent meals; to workers whose wages disappear on transportation before the month has properly begun; to parents struggling to pay school fees; to pensioners whose incomes have been destroyed by inflation; and to businesses fighting daily to keep their doors open.

“Nigerians were asked to sacrifice. Fuel subsidy was removed. The naira was allowed to depreciate sharply. Electricity and transportation costs rose. Government revenues increased, yet borrowing continued. After all of this, the Nigerian people are entitled to ask one simple question: what exactly did our sacrifice buy?

“An apology is not too much to ask from a government under whose watch millions of Nigerians have been pushed into deeper economic distress. Leadership must have the humility to admit when policies have inflicted enormous pain on the people they were supposed to serve.

“Good economics must ultimately improve human life. If government revenue rises while families become poorer; if debt rises while public services remain inadequate; if citizens surrender subsidies, pay higher prices and endure declining purchasing power while government continues borrowing, then Nigerians have every right to demand a full account of where their sacrifice has gone.

“President Tinubu and the APC owe Nigerians that account and they owe them an apology. Apologise to Nigerians. Account for the money collected. Reconcile the borrowing. Explain the charges. Show the people what their sacrifice bought. Then make a solemn pledge to step away from governance rather than ask Nigerians for another mandate to endure this suffering.

“The real test of this economy is not whether the numbers look good in government presentations. It is whether ordinary Nigerians can afford to live.

“Reconcile the borrowing. Explain the charges. Show Nigerians what their sacrifice bought. Apologise for the hardship. And leave governance to those prepared to make life affordable again.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred on Saturday amid heightened tension in parts of the state.

The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attack and said it occurred at about 1pm.

He said, “Five persons were killed while two others sustained injuries in the attack. It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence.

“We condemn this attack and call on the security agencies to urgently take steps to protect our communities and prevent further attacks.”

A member of the community, Simon Mundat, also confirmed the incident and described the loss of lives as devastating.

Mundat said, “We are deeply saddened by this attack. Five people have been killed and two others injured.

“This is a very painful situation for the community. We appeal to the authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear.”

Attempts to obtain comments from the spokespersons of Operation Enduring Peace and the Plateau State Police Command, Captain Polycarp Oteh and SP Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as of press time.

The attack came days after the Plateau State Government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in three local government areas, including Barkin Ladi, following a series of attacks and killings.

The state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, had on Friday condemned the continued attacks in affected communities and urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding.

Meanwhile, security operatives, with support from local hunters, reportedly repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on Latok community in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area.

A resident, Danat Noel, said security personnel and local hunters responded to the attack and engaged the assailants, forcing them to retreat from the community.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied allegations that he betrayed the confidence placed in him by the President, saying investigations into the accusations against him have been made public.

Gbajabiamila spoke on Saturday at the 2026 Gbajabiamila Mega Empowerment Programme held at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

The allegations against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives were linked to a probe into the activities of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a body described in the report as fictitious.

Gbajabiamila said investigations, including an inquiry conducted by the House of Representatives, had cleared him of wrongdoing.

According to him, the investigations were allowed to run their course despite calls from some quarters for him to be condemned before the process was completed.

He said, “The past few months have tested me in ways I never expected. Stories were written, strange accusations were made, lies were told, and my integrity was questioned. Three years ago, the people of Surulere, the people of Lagos State, and those who love me in Nigeria, stood me in their prayers and spoke up for me when it mattered.

“I will never forget that. I thank you all. The investigative reports are in the public domain.

“Many people wanted me to rush to judgement and give a verdict before the investigation. They refused and insisted on due process. Let me also say, Mr. President knows his Chief of Staff very well. Having worked closely with me for many years, he was therefore supremely confident that I was not in any way involved in those nefarious things.”

Gbajabiamila said the controversy had not affected his commitment to his duties in the Presidency.

He also warned those he accused of orchestrating attacks against him that he would not be distracted from his responsibilities.

“Let me speak plainly and directly to all those behind the attacks. No amount of money, no amount of blackmail or lies, whether sponsored from within or outside, will detract me from my work and the work Mr. President has given me to do.

“And to anyone using my name to defame people or misrepresent me, know that the law will always catch up with you.”

The Chief of Staff also spoke about his relationship with Tinubu, saying his loyalty to the President had remained intact despite occasions when he might disagree with some political decisions.

“In politics, loyalty is the currency we spend the most. I have been with Mr. President for many years…I did not question his leadership and never betrayed his trust in me. I stayed loyal then and I remain loyal now. My commitment to his Renewed Hope agenda is unshaken,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the empowerment programme was designed to support about 5,000 residents from communities across Surulere.

He listed cash assistance, vehicles, electric tricycles, buses, security patrol vehicles and an ambulance among the items provided under the programme.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, commended Gbajabiamila for maintaining close ties with his constituents.

Hamzat also called for support for President Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that other candidates he described as politically unstable could not match the President’s political experience and capacity.

He said a politician who could not manage a political party would struggle to manage a complex country such as Nigeria, while describing Tinubu as a politician who had remained with his party and helped build it from its foundation into what he called the largest political party in Africa.