News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In an act of integrity, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Katsina State has handed over ₦6.2 million in cash and personal effects recovered from a fatal accident to the family of the deceased victim.

The incident occurred on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Dikke along the Funtua-Sokoto road. A white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number SRZ 112 LG was involved in a crash after a tyre burst, exacerbated by excessive speed.

Preliminary reports indicate that of the 18 passengers on board, one adult male died, while 17 others sustained injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Funtua for treatment.

Following the crash, FRSC operatives recovered a bag containing ₦6,200,000 and other personal belongings valued at over ₦100,000 from the scene.

The Funtua Unit Commander later presented the items to the victim’s next of kin.The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and reiterated the FRSC’s commitment to accountability and compassion.

He used the opportunity to advise motorists to prioritize vehicle maintenance, especially tyre checks, and to avoid speeding to prevent similar avoidable tragedies.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting a posthumous pardon to the late Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, a former Nigerian Army officer and acclaimed poet.

In a statement signed by ANA President, Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi, and General Secretary, Dame Joan Oji, PhD, the Association described the gesture as a “commendable act of national healing” and a recognition of Vatsa’s enduring contributions to Nigerian arts and literature.

General Vatsa, who was executed in 1986 over alleged involvement in a coup plot, was one of ANA’s early leaders and a strong patron of the literary community. He was instrumental in securing the land for the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Abuja, a landmark project of the Association.

While expressing appreciation for the pardon, ANA maintained that Vatsa was wrongfully convicted, noting that his trial and execution were the result of “deliberate malice orchestrated by a perceived close associate.” The Association said the presidential pardon serves as a vindication of Vatsa’s innocence.

ANA further appealed to President Tinubu to direct that all the rights, privileges, and entitlements due to the late General be paid to his family as a gesture of justice, closure, and recognition of his service to the nation.

The Association concluded by thanking the President “for finally wiping the tears of the Mamman Vatsa family,” adding that the act will forever immortalise the legacy of the distinguished poet-soldier and patron of Nigerian literature.

By Anwar Usman

The Federal Government on Sunday night threatened to implement the no-work-no-pay policy on the Academic Staff Union of Universities due to its failure to comply ongoing negotiations.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education Folasade Boriowo, says the ministry accused ASUU of not being cooperative despite efforts by the government to avert the strike that was declared by the union.

“The Ministers further stressed that the government has continued to prioritise the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“According to them, dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.

They, however, emphasised that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities.

While the government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.

The statement also reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal Government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.

The statement further revealed that, “Ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.”

On Sunday, the university lecturers declared a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike starting from Monday, October 13.

ASUU is currently demanding the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement including the release of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of public universities, and cessation of the victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.

Others factors include the payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of promotion arrears for over four years and release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, union check-off dues)

By Anwar Usman

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday declared a two-week comprehensive warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the National President of the Union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, at an ongoing press briefing in Abuja on Sunday at the University of Abuja.

“Compatriots of the press, it goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice given on the 28th September 2025.

“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025.

“The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting” the president said.

The controversy between the university lecturers and the Federal Government comes despite ongoing negotiations aimed at thwarting another round of industrial action in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed in Abuja that the government had entered the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve lingering disputes over welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

The minister noted that, the Tinubu administration had already made significant progress with the release of N50bn for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, while another N150bn had been captured in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in three tranches.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A coalition of over 1,000 lawyers has raised objections to President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Vanguard newspaper, the lawyers conveyed their position in a letter dated October 10, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong.

The letter was signed by the group’s secretary, Jesse Williams Amuga.

The lawyers argued that Professor Amupitan is unfit for the position, alleging that he previously served as legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court.

They contended that such political involvement disqualifies him from heading an institution expected to remain neutral and independent.

“The Senate must not confirm Professor Amupitan. Instead, it should inform the President that his nominee fails to meet the constitutional requirements for impartiality,” the letter stated.

Citing a precedent, the group reminded the Senate of its 2021 decision to reject the nomination of Lauretta Onochie for the same position due to her ties with the APC.

“The Amupitan case mirrors that of Onochie,” Amuga emphasized.

Amuga, who represents the Association of Legal Defenders for Rule and Accountability in Politics (ALDRAP), noted that Nigeria has over 200,000 lawyers—more than half of whom have no political affiliations—arguing that the President could have selected any of them to avoid controversy.

The group also warned that it would challenge the nomination in court if the Senate proceeds with confirmation.

“If the Senate confirms Professor Joash Amupitan, our organization will take legal action to enforce the constitutional principle of non-partisanship in the appointment of the INEC Chairman,” Amuga declared.

However, further findings have shown that Professor Amupitan is not affiliated with the APC and was not among the lawyers who represented President Tinubu in the 2023 election case.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In a significant blow to criminal elements, Nigerian Army troops have rescued three kidnapped victims, including a young mother and her toddler, during aggressive clearance operations in Kwara State.

The operations, conducted on Saturday, October 11, 2025, by troops of 2 Division/Sector 3 under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, targeted bandit hideouts and routes within the Babanla Forest.

According to an army statement, acting on credible intelligence, soldiers deployed at the Patrol Base Babanla stormed a suspected bandit camp.

There, they successfully rescued 25-year-old Mrs. Oluwabusayo Taiwo and her three-year-old son, Taiwo Irayomide.

The duo was among those abducted from the Oke-Ode community on September 28, 2025.

In a separate incident on the same day, troops on a routine patrol along a suspected bandit escape route encountered kidnappers with another victim.

The bandits fled upon sighting the military patrol, abandoning 40-year-old Mohammadu Sani, a local tea seller popularly known as Mai Shayi from Garkarima.

The troops found Mr. Sani in a pool of blood. They recovered one dane gun and a cutlass left behind by the fleeing assailants.

All three rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention at the Patrol Base sick bay and are reported to be in stable condition.

The army stated they will be reunited with their families in due course.

The Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, commended the troops for their “swift response and professionalism.”

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens and intensifying operations to restore peace and stability across Kwara State.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false a viral social media post claiming to reveal the number of shortlisted candidates per state for the final stage of its 2025 recruitment exercise.

In a public disclaimer, the Service clarified that the publication did not originate from any of its official communication channels and urged the public, especially applicants, to disregard the information entirely.

According to the NCS, the ongoing recruitment process began with an official advertisement on December 27, 2024, attracting a total of 573,523 applications across the Superintendent, Inspectorate, and Customs Assistant cadres. After an initial documentary screening, 286,697 candidates were shortlisted for the first phase of the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

The Service further explained that while all cadres took part in the CBT, only successful applicants under the Superintendent Cadre were invited for the second phase, which will be conducted across the six geopolitical zones in line with candidates’ states of origin.

The NCS reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, fair, and merit-driven recruitment process, in accordance with the Federal Character principle. It also advised applicants to rely solely on official updates via the NCS Recruitment Update Portal at https://updates.customs.gov.ng for verified information.

By Uzair Adam

A violent confrontation between personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State has resulted in the death of a police officer, Constable Ukasha Muhammed.

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, who said the clash occurred on October 10, 2025, in the Bayan Gari area of Bauchi metropolis.

According to Wakil, the command received a distress call reporting a serious altercation involving a police patrol team led by Inspector Hussaini Samaila during a routine operation.

“The patrol team encountered an assault on one of its members, Constable Ukasha Muhammed (F/No 533164), by two individuals in front of Padimo Hotel.

“The remaining members of the team responded swiftly, resulting in the arrest of one suspect while the other escaped,” the statement read.

The arrested suspect was later identified as Private Usman Mubarak (23NA/84/5346), a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, in Jos, Plateau State.

Wakil added that the situation escalated when two other soldiers — Private Yakubu Yahuza (23NA/85/10185) and Private Godspower Gabriel (23NA/84/5654) — arrived at the scene armed and partially dressed in military uniform.

“They approached the team and fatally shot Constable Ukasha Muhammed in the left chest before fleeing the scene,” he stated.

The injured officer was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by medical personnel.

His remains have been deposited in the hospital mortuary.

The police spokesperson said the command has taken the detained soldiers into custody and launched a full-scale homicide investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has constituted a team of seasoned homicide detectives to conduct a professional, diligent, and timely investigation to ensure justice is served,” Wakil noted.

He appealed for calm among officers and men of the command and urged them to exercise restraint pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police also extended condolences to the family of the deceased officer, praying for the repose of his soul.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may Aljannatul Firdausi be his final abode. May Almighty Allah grant his family the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” the statement concluded.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, former Vice President of Nigeria, was on Saturday turbaned as the Sardaunan Zazzau.

The historic ceremony was performed by the Emir of Zazzau, His Highness, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, at his palace in Zaria.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, presided over the event as the Special Guest of Honour and Chief Host, underscoring the significance of the chieftaincy title.

The event attracted a gathering of the nation’s political elite. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was in attendance, alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

The ceremony also drew the presence of the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, as well as former Governors from Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Jigawa states.

They joined a host of other dignitaries, traditional rulers, and well-wishers to honour the former Vice President.

The title of Sardaunan Zazzau is a prestigious traditional title within the Zazzau Emirate, and its conferment on Arc. Sambo marks a significant milestone in his post-vice presidency life.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a presidential pardon to several inmates across the country, including Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in 2017. Sanda, aged 37, had spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before her release.

Her family had earlier appealed for clemency, citing her exemplary conduct in prison, genuine remorse, and commitment to a reformed lifestyle. They also argued that her release would serve the best interests of her two young children.

The presidential pardon, announced by the Ministry of Interior, also included other notable inmates such as former lawmaker Farouk Lawan and businessman Herbert Merculay, among others.

Officials stated that the decision was part of President Tinubu’s broader initiative to decongest correctional facilities and promote restorative justice, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration of reformed inmates into society.