News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Armed bandits have reportedly killed a teacher at Federal Government College, Anka, in Zamfara State, Mustapha Yahaya Maru, after collecting ransom from his family.

Maru was kidnapped earlier this month while travelling to Anka alongside other passengers after gunmen intercepted their vehicle on the road.

Following the abduction, the attackers reportedly contacted the victim’s relatives and demanded a large ransom. Family members later gathered the money after negotiations with the kidnappers in the hope of securing his release.

However, the teacher was reportedly killed on Tuesday despite the payment.

The incident has left residents of Maru community and members of his family in grief. It has also renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West.

Cases of kidnapping and attacks by armed groups have continued across several communities in the state.

In another incident, suspected bandits reportedly attacked travellers along Tashar Lawali Road in Talata Mafara Local Government Area on Monday, May eighteen.

Security sources said the assailants blocked the road near Jangebe District at about eleven twenty in the morning before opening fire on motorists and commuters.

The attackers reportedly targeted a vehicle conveying local government officials and abducted two occupants.

The victims were identified as Jamilu Sani, Director of Planning in Talata Mafara Local Government Area, and Muslimu Habibu, a councillor representing Jangebe Ward.

Another official, Samaila Ladan, who works with the Hajj Affairs Unit of the local government council, reportedly sustained a gunshot injury to his right hand during the attack.

The driver of the vehicle, Lawali Hakimi, was reportedly killed at the scene.

By Uzair Adam

A Nigerian pilgrim participating in the 2026 Hajj exercise has died in Muzdalifah shortly after arriving from Arafat during the early hours of Wednesday.

The deceased, believed to be from Bauchi State, reportedly collapsed during the overnight movement of pilgrims between the two holy sites.

Witnesses said Saudi security personnel and emergency medical officials swiftly evacuated the pilgrim from the area after the incident.

He was seen being wheeled away by security officers alongside members of the emergency response team.

Two officials attached to the Bauchi State pilgrims contingent were also present during the evacuation.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not officially confirmed the identity of the deceased, while the cause of death remained unknown pending an official statement.

The incident occurred during one of the most physically demanding stages of the Hajj pilgrimage, as millions of pilgrims move between holy sites amid large crowds and intense weather conditions.

Thousands of Nigerian pilgrims had earlier arrived in Muzdalifah after observing the Day of Arafat, regarded as the spiritual climax of the annual pilgrimage.

By Uzair Adam

As part of efforts to ensure an inclusive Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the Kano State Government has donated Sallah cows to persons with special needs and vulnerable homes across the state.
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The intervention, coordinated by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, saw six clusters of persons living with disabilities receive one cow each alongside N20,000 transport support.

The benefiting groups include persons with spinal cord injuries, persons living with albinism, persons affected by leprosy, the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, and persons with physical disabilities.

Speaking during the distribution ceremony at the Nassarawa Children’s Home, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi Sani, said the gesture reflects Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable residents in the state.

She noted that the administration considered it important for persons with special needs and other disadvantaged groups to celebrate the Sallah festivities with joy and dignity alongside their families.

According to her, the donation is part of the government’s broader humanitarian and inclusive governance agenda aimed at supporting vulnerable members of society.

The Director of Persons with Special Needs, Dr. Binta Bala, commended the ministry for sustaining initiatives targeted at improving the lives of vulnerable persons in Kano State.

In a similar gesture, the state government also presented one cow each to Nassarawa Children’s Home, Remand Home Goron Dutse, Kwalli VVF Centre, and Tudun Maliki Torrey Home to enable residents celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.


Representatives of the benefiting associations expressed appreciation to the governor and the ministry for the support, describing the intervention as timely. They also offered prayers for continued guidance and protection for the governor.

By Muhammad Abubakar

A major crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State following the emergence of former minister Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

One of the aspirants, Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, alongside other contenders including Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Usman Aliyu Garry, and Monica Kaltho, rejected the outcome of the PDP primary held on Tuesday. Pantami was declared winner through a voice vote after delegates affirmed him as the party’s sole candidate.

The aggrieved aspirants argued that Pantami was ineligible to contest the PDP primary because he had only recently left the ruling All Progressives Congress after participating in its internal political process. They claimed electoral laws do not permit a politician to contest in two different party primaries within the same election cycle.

Saleh also questioned the sudden postponement of the PDP primary from Sunday to Tuesday, describing the process as unfair and unlawful. He confirmed that his legal team had begun preparations to challenge Pantami’s emergence in court and urged his supporters across Gombe State to remain peaceful while the matter is resolved legally.

Pantami, who recently defected from the APC after criticising the party’s consensus arrangement that produced Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as a candidate, said his decision to join the PDP was driven by a desire to tackle poverty and improve governance in Gombe State.

By Uzair Adam

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has won the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries held in Kano State.

Announcing the outcome, chairman of the electoral committee, Dr. John Ayuba, said the exercise was successfully conducted across the 44 local government areas and 484 wards of the state.

The collated results showed that Atiku polled 155,595 votes to emerge ahead of other contenders. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen secured 15,914 votes, while Rotimi Amaechi received 9,994 votes.

Dr. Ayuba explained that the results would be forwarded to the party’s National Coalition Centre in Abuja for ratification and official confirmation of the party’s presidential candidate.

He urged party members to remain united and committed ahead of the 2027 general elections to ensure the ADC produces Nigeria’s next president.

Meanwhile, the party has delayed the announcement of results for the Kano governorship primaries pending further directives from the national leadership.

The governorship race is being contested by Ibrahim Ali Amin Little and Malam Ibrahim Khalil, with the party reportedly considering a consensus arrangement to choose its candidate.

By Uzair Adam

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed grief over a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of 12 persons along the Kano–Katsina highway.

The fatal crash occurred on Monday night at Gidan Mutum Daya and involved a head-on collision between a trailer and a vehicle operating under a Public–Private Partnership arrangement with the Katsina State Transport Authority.

According to reports, six victims, including the driver, died instantly at the scene, while another six later lost their lives while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Two injured passengers are currently undergoing treatment at Katsina General Hospital, while five others who sustained minor injuries have been treated and discharged.

Governor Radda described the incident as heartbreaking, saying the state had lost valuable citizens in a painful and unfortunate circumstance.

He noted that the tragedy happened during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, a sacred period in Islam, which has further deepened the sorrow among grieving families and the Muslim community.

“We have lost precious lives in a heartbreaking and unfortunate circumstance. This tragedy is a painful reminder of the fragility of life and has plunged our state into mourning,” the governor said.

Radda prayed for Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased and grant them Al-Jannah Firdaus, while also asking God to give their families the strength and patience to bear the loss.

He further urged motorists to obey traffic regulations and exercise caution on highways to prevent similar incidents.

The governor also extended condolences to the families of the victims, the management and staff of the Katsina State Transport Authority, and all those affected by the tragedy.

By Uzair Adam

Operatives of the Kano State Police Command have arrested four suspected drug dealers during coordinated raids across parts of Kano metropolis.

The operation, carried out by the Command’s Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and officers from the Gezawa Police Division, followed directives from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on intelligence-led and community-oriented policing.

Police said the arrests were made after credible intelligence gathered from public tips and surveillance operations.

On May 23, 2026, SIS operatives arrested Abdulsalam Muhammad, 30, of Hotoro in Nassarawa Local Government Area, and Murtala Sani, 34, of Zangon Dakata in Ungoggo Local Government Area, along Nassarawa GRA.

The suspects were allegedly found with a Bagco sack containing suspected illicit drugs.

During interrogation, Abdulsalam reportedly confessed that the sack contained Tramadol supplied by two accomplices who are currently on the run.

A subsequent search of the sack led to the recovery of 23 rolls of Tramadol, with each roll containing 10 packs.

Police said both suspects confessed to the crime, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplices.

In a separate operation, officers attached to Gezawa Police Division arrested Sama’ila Ado, 40, from Dabi Village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, at a known black spot in Bangare Village for allegedly selling Cannabis Sativa openly.

Police recovered 130 wraps and half a block of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa from the suspect. Authorities said he would be arraigned before a Magistrate Court.

Similarly, Umar Salisu, 25, of Yunbu Village in Gabasawa Local Government Area, was arrested at Gezawa Mesanda black spot.

Recovered from him were 10 wraps of suspected Cannabis Sativa and two bottles of rubber solution.

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the officers involved in the operations for their professionalism and dedication.

He also appreciated residents of the state for providing useful information that aided the arrests, urging members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.

Bakori reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a fresh message that centred on reducing American influence in the Middle East and promoting a new regional order.

The statement came through Iran’s state television. Khamenei has not appeared publicly on video since he became the country’s supreme leader.

In his latest remarks, Khamenei said countries in the Middle East would no longer serve as “a shield” for American military installations. He also declared that the United States would no longer enjoy a “safe haven” in the region.

The comments reflect one of Tehran’s long-standing positions during the conflict in the region. Iranian authorities have repeatedly argued that the American military presence in the Middle East should come to an end. Iran has also maintained that it would respond to any threat it identifies against its interests.

Khamenei also praised what he described as the success of the “axis of resistance”, which includes groups allied with Iran in countries such as Lebanon. According to him, Iranian-backed forces have delivered lessons to both the United States and the “Zionist entity”.

He further urged Muslim nations and other countries to build partnerships that would influence the future political and economic direction of the region and the wider world.

“With sincerity and purity, I invite all Islamic countries and governments to friendship and cooperation for the common good,” Khamenei stated.

The message strongly emphasised Iran’s desire for a new balance of power in the Middle East that would reduce Washington’s role in regional affairs.

By Ibrahim Abubakar Diso 

The Kano State Police Command has arrested several suspects in a series of intelligence-led operations targeting illicit drug distribution across the state.

In one of the operations carried out at Nasarawa GRA, operatives of the Special Intervention Squad intercepted two men allegedly in possession of a sack containing 23 rolls of Tramadol, each made up of multiple sachets. 

The suspects, identified as Abdulsalam Muhammad, 30, and Murtala Sani, 34, reportedly admitted involvement in the illegal trade, while police say efforts are ongoing to track down additional suspects linked to the supply chain.

In a separate operation in Gezawa Local Government Area, officers raided a known black spot in Dangari Village, where they arrested a 40-year-old suspect allegedly selling Cannabis Sativa. 

Police recovered 130 wraps and a half-block of suspected cannabis from him. In another arrest in Gezawa Misanda, a 25-year-old suspect was found with 10 wraps of suspected cannabis and bottles of rubber solution, believed to be used as inhalants.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the operatives for their professionalism and praised residents for providing timely intelligence that aided the operations. He reiterated the Command’s commitment to intensifying the crackdown on drug-related crime in the state.

The police said all suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Governor of Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved a special Eid-el-Kabir goodwill package of N20,000 for civil servants in the state and across the 44 local government areas.

The gesture, announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Press Secretary to the Office of the SSG, Musa Tanko Muhammad, is intended to support workers ahead of the Sallah celebration. Beneficiaries include civil servants on Grade Levels 01 to 14 in state ministries and local government councils.

According to the statement, the intervention comes shortly after the payment of May 2026 salaries and reflects the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare amid current economic challenges. The governor said the package is intended to ease financial pressure during the festive period and enable workers to celebrate with their families in comfort.

Governor Yusuf also reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to improving workers’ welfare and maintaining a productive public service, while extending Eid-el-Kabir greetings to the people of Kano State.