News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Military forces operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have recorded multiple successes across five local government areas in Katsina State, neutralizing three terrorists, recovering stolen livestock, and dismantling a drug ring, authorities said on Sunday.

According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North West), troops of the 171 Battalion laid an ambush along the Matazu–Dutsin-Ma axis on Saturday, May 9, 2026, following intelligence that terrorists were fleeing recent military operations in Dikawa.

During the ensuing firefight, troops killed three terrorists and recovered two AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, one motorcycle, three cutlasses, and assorted charms.

In a separate clearance operation across Matazu, Musawa, and Kankia LGAs, troops supported by the Katsina State Community Watch Corps cleared terrorist enclaves in Torcachi, Giginya, and Tashar Ganji villages. The terrorists abandoned their camps under sustained pressure, and troops recovered 175 rustled livestock. The animals are now in military custody awaiting handover to local authorities in Matazu LGA.

Additionally, troops from Forward Operating Base Malumfashi, working with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), raided Kauyan Dawo in Malumfashi LGA, arresting six suspected drug peddlers: Sani Rabiu (25), Umar Nasiru (22), Abulkubus Aminu (35), Abdullahi Halilu (27), Abubakar Rabiu (22), and Abubakar Dahiru (33).

Seized narcotics included 82.5 grams of suspected Cannabis Sativa, 15.7 grams of Exol-5, and 1.8 grams of D5. The suspects and drugs have been transferred to the NDLEA Malumfashi Area Command for prosecution.

The Theatre Command called on the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command says it has arrested a suspected armed robber in connection with an attack on a residence in Bara Village, Kirfi Local Government Area of the state.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib.

According to the statement, the incident occurred in the early hours of May 9, 2026, when a group of five armed men reportedly stormed the home of a resident identified as Ibrahim.

The police said the attackers, who allegedly carried sticks and cutlasses, assaulted the victim before taking away several valuables from the house.

Items reportedly stolen during the operation included a bow and arrow, five mobile phones, two solar panels and cash amounting to ₦422,000.

The statement noted that the victim later reported the matter to the Bara Police Out Station at about 6:00 a.m. on the same day.

Following the complaint, police operatives attached to the outpost and Kirfi Division launched an investigation that led to the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect, Naziru Alhaji Usman, from Tudun Sullubawa Hamlet through Bara Village in Kirfi LGA.

Police said officers recovered some exhibits believed to be connected to the robbery, including a bow and arrow, a cutlass and one solar panel.

“The suspect is currently in custody at the Out Station and is providing useful information to aid investigations,” the statement said.

The command added that efforts were ongoing to track down other suspects linked to the crime and recover the remaining stolen property.

It also stated that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for further investigation before prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, praised the operatives for their swift response and restated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

He also appealed to residents to continue assisting security agencies with credible information, which he described as important in tackling crime across the state.

By Anwar Usman

The Islamic republic of Iran on Monday said it had executed a man by hanging convicted of spying for Israel and the United States, the latest in a wave of executions during the war with the two foes.

“Erfan Shakourzadeh… was hanged for collaborating with the US intelligence service and the Mossad spy service,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.

Iran did not specify when he was executed or when he was arrested, but said he worked at one of Iran’s “scientific organisations active in the satellite field”.

Recall that, Iran has long faced Western accusations that its satellite programme is being used to advance ballistic missile capabilities.

Mizan said Shakourzadeh had “knowingly and willingly” passed classified information to the CIA and Mossad.

Iran is the world’s second-most prolific executioner after China, according to rights groups.

Norway-based group Iran Human Rights says the Islamic republic executed at least 1,500 people last year, one of the highest numbers worldwide.

Iran has been at war with Israel and the United States since late February, with a ceasefire in place since April 8.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has carried out executions, particularly in cases involving alleged espionage or security-related charges.

Last week, three men were executed in Tehran convicted of involvement in anti-government protests that rocked the country in December and January.

By Uzair Adam

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it cannot successfully conduct elections in Nigeria without the support of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as it formally requested the deployment of more than 1.4 million corps members for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made this known on Monday during a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at the scheme’s headquarters in Abuja.

He emphasised the critical role corps members play in election operations, describing them as the backbone of the commission’s fieldwork.

According to him, their neutrality and dedication continue to inspire public trust at polling units across the country.

Amupitan disclosed that 707,384 corps members would be needed for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, with the same number required for the governorship and state assembly elections slated for February 6, 2027. This brings the total to 1,414,768 personnel.

He added that an extra 52,446 corps members would be deployed for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano states.

The projected figures mark an increase from the 2023 general elections, where about 1.2 million ad hoc staff were engaged, with over 70 percent drawn from NYSC members and student volunteers.

In many states, corps members made up nearly 90 percent of registration area officers and presiding officers.

Reflecting on their performance, Amupitan noted that corps members not only facilitated voting but also upheld the integrity of the electoral process across thousands of polling units, even in challenging terrains.

He acknowledged the risks involved in election duties and assured that the commission is improving welfare and insurance packages to better protect and support them.

Looking ahead, the INEC chairman said the commission is preparing for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti on June 20 and Osun on August 16, describing them as important tests for new innovations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In his response, NYSC Director-General Nafiu recalled that the partnership between both institutions dates back to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2011, which has been renewed over time.

He maintained that corps members remain dependable and adaptable, noting that the transition to a new generation of digitally skilled participants would further enhance election processes.

He assured that the NYSC would continue to provide full support for upcoming elections, including both the off-cycle polls and the 2027 general elections.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has announced that candidates who seek admission into colleges of education will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the development on Monday during the admission policy meeting for the 2026 UTME held in Abuja.

Alausa explained that applicants with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects can now apply directly to colleges of education without taking the UTME.

He, however, stated that such candidates must still register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for proper documentation and processing.

According to him, the applicants’ credentials will undergo screening, verification and certification before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), in line with existing regulations.

The minister also said the new policy will take effect from next year.

The move is expected to widen access to teacher education and encourage more students to enrol in colleges of education across the country.

By Uzair Adam

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish a transparent system for monitoring and auditing the use of federal security funds across the country.

This position was made known by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, while reacting to the president’s recent visit to Plateau State and his remarks at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos.

The party stressed the need for heightened security alertness through improved coordination between military and police forces, with active participation from local and state security structures.

It also urged the president to adopt a culture of accountability by providing regular public updates on security incidents and the measures taken to address them.

Referencing the persistent security challenges in states such as Plateau, Zamfara, Benue, Niger, Kaduna and Kwara, the ADC further advised the president to engage directly with affected communities, local governments and state authorities, listen to their concerns and explore their suggestions for lasting solutions.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A 30-year-old person living with disability (PWD), Mahmud Sadis Buba, has successfully passed the screening organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the election for the House of Representatives seat in Kaduna State.

Buba, who is widely known as Abin Al-Ajabin Zazzau, is contesting to represent the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency.

The aspirant lives with dwarfism, a condition that affects physical growth and development.

He recently attracted attention on social media after a video from his APC screening exercise circulated online.

During the screening, Buba disclosed that he is the first child in a family of nine and possesses a senior secondary school certificate.

He explained that people from his constituency encouraged him to join the race and represent them at the national assembly.

“I am not doing this for myself. It is from the people. People called me to serve them, and I will serve,” he said.

Buba is seeking to unseat Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, who won the constituency seat in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before later defecting to the APC.

Abdullahi is also contesting for another term under the ruling party.

By Uzair Adam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three persons living with disabilities, including a 60-year-old man, over alleged involvement in drug trafficking during separate operations in Anambra and Kwara states.

The agency also disclosed that it uncovered a cannabis stash house valued at N5.8 billion in Lekki, Lagos, and dismantled a skuchies production factory within the state.

This was made known in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

According to the statement, Romanus Nwabara, 60, was apprehended on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, after operatives tracked him to Akpaka Forest in Onitsha, Anambra State, where he was allegedly found in possession of 250 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets.

Babafemi said in a separate operation at Ogbunike in the same state, NDLEA officers on Thursday, May 7, arrested another suspect, Amos Kenneth, 25, with 160.3 grams of Tramadol (225mg and 100mg), 80 tablets of Diazepam, 38.23 grams of Exol-5, and 176.93 grams of skunk.

He added that in Kwara State, operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu on Friday, May 8, intercepted a commercial vehicle, where a passenger identified as Usman Salisu was found with 6.3 kilograms of skunk concealed in a brown school bag.

In a major breakthrough, the NDLEA Special Operations Unit on Friday raided a mansion in Lekki, Lagos, allegedly used as a drug warehouse.

During the operation, 4,000 parcels of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis weighing 2,326 kilograms and valued at over N5.815 billion, were recovered.

The agency said two Mercedes-Benz buses and branded sachets used for packaging illicit drugs were also seized from the property located at 36 African Lane, Lekki Phase 1.

Elsewhere, Babafemi revealed that Emmanuel Osita Okeke, 38, was arrested with 129 kilograms of skunk at Nyanya in Karu, Nasarawa State, on Monday, May 4, 2026.

He further disclosed that operatives on patrol along the Okene–Lokoja highway in Kogi State on Friday intercepted a white commuter J5 bus heading to Abuja.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 76 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 766 kilograms, while three suspects — Mathew Omohove, Ebuka Desmond, and Babangida Musa — were taken into custody.

The statement also noted that NDLEA officers uncovered a skuchies production site, where suspects were caught processing cannabis mixed with other illicit substances.

A total of 270 litres of the substance and 106 grams of Tramadol (225mg) were recovered.

Babafemi added that NDLEA commands nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, places of worship, workplaces, and communities during the week.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to maintain the agency’s momentum in drug supply reduction and public awareness efforts.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the alleged killing of a 16-year-old boy, Bishir Malam Dauda, who reportedly died in police custody in Katsina State.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Saturday, the human rights organisation alleged that the teenager was “tortured to death through severe beating with iron rod” at the ‘Yankara police outpost in Faskari Local Government Area.

According to Amnesty International, Bishir was taken from his tsangaya school on May 7, 2026, after another boy reportedly mentioned his name during an investigation into the alleged theft of a bag of soya beans.

The organisation claimed that the teenager was detained without the presence of any family member or adult guardian and was pressured to confess to the allegation.

“The victim was picked by police from his tsangaya school on 7 May 2026 after a friend mentioned his name in relation to an investigation of theft of a bag of soya beans,” Amnesty International stated.

“Unaccompanied and without the presence of any adult relation, Bishir was tied by the police and asked to make a confession. He refused. Then he was tortured more until he became lifeless.”

Amnesty International further alleged that police officers later deposited the boy’s body at the ‘Yankara Primary Healthcare Centre.

The organisation said the incident reflects what it described as a broader pattern of human rights violations by some members of the Nigeria Police Force.

“What happened to Bishir Malam Dauda exposes a pattern of ruthless human rights violations in which victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released,” the statement added.

Amnesty International accused the police of operating with impunity and urged authorities not to ignore the incident.

“This incident must not be swept under the carpet. Police officers involved in this atrocity, directly and indirectly, must be held to account,” the organisation said.

The group also noted that its research since 2016 has documented cases of alleged police brutality and abuse across the country.

As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police Command had not issued an official response to the allegations.

By Uzair Adam

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in collaboration with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), has rewarded outstanding participants at the end of its North-West Regional Capacity Building Programme in Kano, following a competitive assessment designed to test their knowledge of financial management and business practices.

The programme, which focused on bridging the livestock agribusiness finance gap, concluded on Friday with participants drawn from Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Speaking at the closing session, the Capacity Building Manager of DBN, Fortune Tamunokuro Granville, said the assessment was conducted to evaluate participants’ understanding of key training modules, particularly financial literacy and financial management.

He explained that the test, which comprised 50 multiple-choice questions, was aimed at ensuring that livestock entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge required to formalise their businesses and become eligible for funding.

“The essence of the programme is to ensure access to credit for livestock farmers, and that can only happen when they understand financial management and properly structure their businesses,” he said.

Granville noted that the process was transparent, as scripts were independently marked without interference from project officials.

According to him, the top-performing participants from each of the four states received grants of one million naira each to support their businesses.

He added that two female participants who emerged among the highest scorers were also awarded N250,000 each, in line with DBN’s commitment to gender inclusion.

“In total, we had six winners. This is to encourage them to apply what they have learned and continue improving their businesses,” he said, adding that the bank is also considering a mentorship programme to support beneficiaries beyond the training.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Sunusi, who represented the Commissioner, Dr. Danjuma Mahmud, said the workshop had provided a platform to address critical financing challenges affecting the livestock sector.

He noted that discussions during the programme highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions and private sector actors to unlock opportunities across the livestock value chain.

Sunusi reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to supporting agricultural transformation and creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive.

“The insights generated here must be translated into concrete actions that will benefit farmers, processors and other stakeholders,” he said.

On their parts, some of the participants described the training as impactful, noting that it had equipped them with practical knowledge to improve their businesses.

One of the winners, Dr. Mu’iz Bakari from Kaduna State, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying the training had exposed him to better ways of managing and expanding his livestock enterprise.

“What we have learned will be applied directly to our business. We will correct our mistakes and expand, especially in poultry production,” he said, adding that the grant would be used to grow his farm and create employment.

Similarly, Usman Abdullahi Usman from Kano State said emerging among the top participants out of over a hundred attendees was both surprising and motivating.

“This support will help me expand my business and should encourage others to take such opportunities seriously and work hard,” he said.

Other winners include Nasiru Lawal from Sokoto State and Idris Umar from Zamfara State, while the additional female awardees are Fatima Sani from Sokoto and Hafsat Ololade Akin from Kaduna.

The programme brought together stakeholders across the livestock value chain, including farmers, financial institutions and development partners, as part of efforts to improve access to finance and promote sustainable agribusiness growth in the region.