News

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.

By Anas Abbas

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has spoken of the racist abuse she has faced since becoming the first Black woman to head the party, describing the hostility as “Kemi derangement syndrome.”

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Badenoch said the attacks came not only from anonymous users online but also from a small number of MPs.

She explained: “There’s a certain cadre of people who clearly can’t cope with the fact that I won this, and I’m doing it. The level of personal attacks from anonymous people is hysterical. Not even just from MPs. I actually don’t think it’s that many MPs. I think it’s two to three people out of 120. That’s nothing. But online as well. People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there’s a Kemi derangement syndrome: ‘How could she possibly have done this?’”

She pointed to a rise in ethno-nationalist rhetoric on social media, where critics sought to undermine her achievements because of her background.

“There’s a lot of ethno-nationalism creeping up, lots of stuff about my race and my ethnicity and the tropes around, ‘well, she couldn’t possibly have done this all by herself,’” she said.

Born in Wimbledon and raised partly in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, Badenoch has often resisted attempts to define her by race.

“I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism. I think that is a healthy way to run a society,” she said.

“I remember when I stood up a few years ago and said Britain is not a racist country,ethnic minorities do very well here, it is white working-class boys who are actually struggling on a lot of metrics and I got pilloried for that.

“My view is that there are people out there who will say whatever it is, they will throw whatever kind of mud at you, and they will hope that it sticks.”

As she prepares for her first party conference speech, Badenoch faces questions about her leadership amid speculation of a potential challenge from shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, with the Conservatives polling at just 17 percent.

She dismissed the rumours, however, calling them “wishful thinking” and “sour grapes.”

“When I hear those things, I can tell those people are not focused on the country at all. Many of those people having those conversations think this is a game. But the lives of people in this country aren’t a game,” she said.

By Muhammad Abubakar

In a stunning act of political defiance, nine Dutch ministers have resigned en masse, declaring they could not be complicit in what they described as the “silent endorsement of a humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.

The resignations have sent shockwaves through the Netherlands’ political establishment, shaking the foundations of the coalition government and igniting fierce debate across Europe. In their fiery joint statement, the departing ministers condemned the West’s “selective morality” and accused their own government of “turning a blind eye to mass suffering.”

Crowds gathered outside parliament in The Hague to applaud the move, with activists hailing it as an unprecedented moral stand in modern European politics. Critics, however, warned the resignations could plunge the government into chaos at a time of deepening international tensions.

“This is not about politics; it is about conscience,” one of the resigning ministers declared. “History will not forgive silence in the face of Gaza’s devastation.”

Analysts say the mass resignation marks a rare moment where political survival has been sacrificed for principle—an act many believe will reverberate far beyond Dutch borders.

By Anwar Usman

The All Progressive Congress Forum North-Central has advised President Bola Tinubu to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

The statement was made by the forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, in Abuja on Saturday.

In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum, led by Dominic Alancha, warned Tinubu against a repeat of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, noting that it cost the APC several northern states like Nasarawa, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory in the 2023 presidential poll.

Alancha further warned that the APC would lose more ground in the North, particularly in the Middle Belt, if the party repeats the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the next presidential election.

However, according to the group, calls for the President to drop the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the next election are unnecessary, insisting that the combination worked for the APC in 2023.

Zazzaga explained that the choice of running mate was a political strategy aimed at ensuring victory for the party and should not be seen as an attempt to sideline any religious group.

He further argued that with key positions in government already occupied by prominent Christians from the Middle Belt, including the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the region remains well represented.

 The statement in part read, “The Muslim-Muslim ticket will not affect President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the Middle Belt, which is part of the North-Central, and this is because of the key positions held by Middle Belt Christians in the APC government.

“We can guarantee that Tinubu will get 90 per cent of the votes from the North-Central. Tinubu’s achievements in office will guarantee his reelection, and as a result, there is no need to take the needless risk of changing a winning team.

“Those who are calling on President Bola Tinubu to change Vice President Kashim Shettima, basing their agitation on the Muslim-Muslim ticket, if you check, you will notice that in 2023, most of their communities voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

“Now, if Peter Obi is to come out again in 2027, as expected, what is the guarantee that they will vote for Tinubu even if he drops Shettima and replaces him with a Christian? Does it mean that these people will now leave Peter Obi and vote for Tinubu?”

The Forum maintained that Tinubu’s performance in office would play a decisive role in determining his chances of re-election, adding that the President should focus on consolidating his achievements rather than altering the political structure that brought him victory in 2023.

 The statement concluded, “We advise Mr President not to change what worked in the last election. Maintaining the same team will further strengthen the chances of the APC in 2027″.

By Uzair Adam 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, says it has arrested a 27-year-old man in possession of nine kilograms of Cannabis Sativa (Colorado) valued at more than N10 million.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari.

He explained that the suspect, a resident of Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State, was arrested on August 6 along the Zaria–Kano Road by operatives of the Kiru Area Command while transporting 19 parcels of the substance from Lagos to Kano.

According to Muhammad-Maigatari, the suspect confessed to his involvement in the illicit trade and had been on the command’s watchlist before his arrest.

He noted that the seizure inflicted a major financial loss on the drug network, disrupting their supply chain and denying them revenue for further criminal activities.

“Removing this quantity from circulation also helps protect vulnerable communities from the social and economic harms associated with the trade in narcotics,” he said.

The spokesperson added that under the leadership of Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, the Kano Strategic Command will continue to strengthen patrols and intelligence-driven operations to curb drug trafficking in the state.

By Uzair Adam 

The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), in collaboration with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the Al-Balsam Association from Saudi Arabia, has successfully conducted free open-heart surgeries for patients in Kano.

Speaking to journalists about the development, the Head of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit at AKTH and team lead for the local medical team, Dr. Jamil Ismail Ahmad, said the initiative has brought relief to many patients who cannot afford treatment abroad.

“Normally, open-heart surgery costs between eight to ten million naira in Nigeria. But here, patients are getting it almost free of charge. 

“Outside the country, it would cost between 25 to 30 million naira, including logistics. This partnership is therefore very important,” Dr. Ahmad explained.

He noted that patients with heart diseases who require surgery but have no high-risk complications are usually considered for the program, stressing that safety remains a top priority.

“Some patients are excluded because their cases were neglected for too long, and operating on them would be too risky. Our key watchword is safety — we want to ensure that after surgery, patients are in much better condition than before,” he said.

Dr. Ahmad commended the partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, describing it as highly supportive in both service delivery and local capacity building.

“Such collaborations are important globally, not only for providing services but also for building local capacity. The visiting team shares its expertise, which enhances our training and helps us sustain these services,” he added.

On patient outcomes, he revealed that survival rates in previous missions with the same team ranged between 80 and 90 per cent, and similar results are expected this time.

Dr. Ahmad also called on the government, philanthropists, and the private sector to support such initiatives, noting that investment in infrastructure, human resource training, and collaboration would strengthen healthcare delivery.

On his part, Dr. Abdullah, the team leader of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, emphasised the challenges of delivering such care in underserved regions like Nigeria, Sudan, and Yemen.

“Patients often present late because they were neglected for years. Some should have undergone surgery 10 or 20 years ago before developing complications that now make operations riskier. 

The best approach is continuous local services and proper screening. This saves lives and is more cost-effective than patients spending millions abroad in Europe, India, or North Africa,” he said.

He disclosed that so far, five patients had undergone surgery in Kano, with plans for six more cases in the following days. 

Dr. Abdullah praised the dedication of AKTH staff, including doctors, nurses, technicians, blood bank staff, and even cleaners, saying their support was crucial to the success of the program.

One of the beneficiaries’ relatives, Fatima Muhammad, expressed gratitude, saying her family could not have afforded the surgery if they had been asked to pay.