News

By Uzair Adam

His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity across Nigeria.

He also reiterated that traditional rulers are more troubled by the spate of killings than most politicians.

Speaking during the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council held Tuesday in Maiduguri, the Sultan emphasized the collective resolve of traditional rulers to address security challenges through dialogue and collaboration.

“We are over 86 traditional rulers in the North, and we have come together to say enough is enough of the senseless killing of innocent people. We have made countless condemnations, but how many times must we speak out before real change happens?” he said.

He emphasized the need for sincerity and unity among political leaders, traditional institutions, and the citizenry to tackle insecurity effectively.

“Our role is not to compete with state governors but to support them. We feel the pain when our people are killed, and we are committed to advising our leaders and working together to bring an end to these attacks,” he added.

Addressing speculations on renewed Boko Haram activity, the Sultan prayed for divine strength to overcome the insurgency and urged the public to avoid ethnic or religious profiling in attributing criminal acts.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, represented by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, opened the meeting, which had the theme “Enhanced Security As Panacea For Stability and Development of the North.”

Governor Zulum advocated for youth empowerment, warning that a lack of opportunities creates a fertile ground for radicalisation.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by AIG Kenechikwu Onwuemelie, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to working with traditional leaders to ensure safety in the region.

Meanwhile, Governor Zulum raised fresh alarms over the resurgence of Boko Haram in parts of Borno State, warning that recent attacks and the loss of military positions could reverse hard-won gains.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al Amin El-Kanemi, also lamented that three local government areas remain under insurgent control, blaming infiltration by individuals posing as Islamic students or traders.

Despite assurances from the federal government, including Information Minister Mohammed Idris, that security agencies are working tirelessly, the recent wave of attacks has raised fears of renewed instability in the region.

A timeline of recent killings shows disturbing trends: from the April 14 massacre in Plateau State where over 40 people were killed, to the April 12 IED blast along Maiduguri–Damboa highway, and other violent incidents in Katsina, Borno, and beyond—underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action to halt the violence.

By Uzair Adam Dangote Petroleum Refinery has once again reduced the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, cutting it by 3.5 per cent.

The new rate is now N835 per litre, down from the previous N865, following a steady decline in global crude oil prices, which recently dropped to $64 per barrel from over $70.

This marks the second price cut in recent weeks, after the refinery earlier brought the price down from N880 to N865 per litre.

However, marketers reportedly failed to reflect the reduction at retail outlets.

With a daily refining capacity of 650,000 barrels, the Dangote Refinery continues to shape Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and influence market trends.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has pledged to take firm action against any teacher or school staff member found guilty of sexually harassing students, warning that such offenders will face legal prosecution.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Student Matters, Ibrahim Ma’ajiyi Sumaila, at a high-level stakeholders meeting organized by the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA).

The event aimed to address the growing concern of sexual harassment in educational institutions.“As an Islamic state, Kano will not fold its arms and watch our daughters suffer abuse and humiliation. Any teacher who dares to violate a student will be flushed out and prosecuted without delay,” Sumaila declared.

He also assured full government support to NGOs championing advocacy and reform in the education sector.

The meeting, which included students, legal experts, journalists, and civil society groups, marked the launch of a six-month project by CAJA focused on curbing sexual harassment through strategic institutional policy-making.

Kabiru Sa’id Dakata, CAJA’s Executive Director, explained that the initiative aims to develop clear, stand-alone policies for tertiary and secondary schools, noting that many institutions either lack such policies or bury them in vague student handbooks.

“We spent three years pushing for a national law on sexual harassment—it’s a slow process. Now, we are pursuing individual institutions to adopt clearer policies,” he said.

Dakata pointed out that many victims suffer in silence, with some dropping out or failing academically for resisting the advances of predatory lecturers.

“Students often don’t even know where to report these incidents. That’s a failure of the system,” he added.

Delivering a paper on the topic, Barrister Maryam Ahmad Abubakar defined sexual harassment as any unwanted verbal, physical, or psychological behavior of a sexual nature that disrupts the learning environment.

She reiterated the importance of education, moral guidance, and religious teachings in tackling the issue.

Among the strategies proposed were enforcing strict penalties, adjusting admission and employment ages, and incorporating moral instruction into general studies curricula.

Supported by the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund and other partners, CAJA also plans to empower survivors as advocates, conduct outreach in selected schools, and produce awareness materials to amplify the campaign.

By Uzair Adam

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting in Abuja with Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila and House of Representatives members Kabiru Alhassan Rurum and Aliyu Sani Madaki — all currently of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

According to a post by Aminu Dahiru, the Senior Special Assistant to the APC National Chairman on Visual Communication & Events, the meeting was confirmed via his verified social media handle.

It was gathered that the meeting is part of ongoing preparations for the lawmakers’ anticipated defection from the NNPP to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The opposition lawmakers have had a long-standing disagreement with the leader of the NNPP and Kwankwasiyya movement, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

By Uzair Adam

A Kano State High Court has reserved ruling in the case involving former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who is facing an eight-count charge of alleged bribery, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds running into billions of naira.

The charges were filed by the Kano State Government against Ganduje and seven others, including his wife, Hafsat Umar.

Others listed in the suit are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the court entertained several applications from counsels representing the defendants.

Counsel to Ganduje and his wife, Offiong Offiong, SAN, sought an extension of time and filed a preliminary objection dated November 18, 2024, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

He also submitted a 28-paragraph affidavit, a written address, and a reply on point of law dated April 4, 2025.

Responding, state counsel Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the objections, describing them as lacking merit.

His response, dated October 22, 2024, was supported by a seven-paragraph counter-affidavit and a written address filed on December 13, 2024, along with attached exhibits.

Other defence counsels, including Mr Adekunle Taiye-Falola (3rd and 7th defendants), Mr Sunusi Musa, SAN (5th defendant), Mr Ashafa Yusuf (6th respondent), and Mr Faruk Asekone (8th defendant), filed separate preliminary objections supported by affidavits, written addresses, and further affidavits in response to the prosecution’s submissions.

All urged the court to grant their respective applications.

Presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted the application for an extension of time and adjourned the matter for ruling on the preliminary objections.

A new date will be communicated to the parties.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Following a series of violent attacks in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State that left scores dead, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has visited the state to assess security measures and pledge justice for the victims.

The IGP was accompanied by senior police officers, including the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Police Mobile Force, AIG Funsho Adegboye, and other top commanders.

During his visit, he met with Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the State Government House, where he condemned the attacks and assured residents that the police would intensify efforts to restore peace and apprehend the perpetrators.

Egbetokun also held a strategy session with tactical commanders to review security deployments in the state.

He directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Kwazhi Dali Yakubu, to oversee ongoing efforts to stabilize the region.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and restoring lasting peace to Plateau State.

By Anas Abbas

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has assured candidates that they will not be required to take the upcoming examination outside their registered states.

Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, provided this assurance during a recent telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

He clarified that while some candidates for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were assigned to mock examination centers outside their states due to limited availability, this will not be the case for the main examination.

Benjamin explained that if mock examination centers in a state, such as Abuja, are fully booked, candidates may be redirected to nearby centers in other states, like Nassarawa.

However, he noted that the main UTME will have a wider array of centers available, ensuring that all candidates can take the exam within their state of residence.

He added that early registration plays a crucial role in determining the proximity of a candidate’s examination center. If a closer center is filled, candidates may be assigned to any available center within the same state.

In a statement released on Sunday, Benjamin acknowledged the delays and challenges faced by some candidates during the mock examinations and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.

He attributed these issues to new features being tested to improve the overall conduct of the UTME.

“The mock examination serves as a trial run for the UTME, allowing us to implement innovations while helping candidates acclimate to the Computer-Based Test (CBT) environment,” he stated.

“This initiative has consistently met its goals over the years, addressing identified shortcomings and providing candidates with essential experience for the main examination.”

JAMB encourages all candidates to continue making necessary preparations to ensure a smooth examination experience that meets their needs.

The 2025 UTME is set to commence on April 25.

By Anwar Usman

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria has condemned the recent killings of innocent people in Plateau State, urging the federal government to take immediate and decisive action to thwart the crisis.

The council, in a statement released on Tuesday in Kaduna, expressed deep alarm and distress over the tragic pattern of bloodshed that has devastated communities and robbed families of loved ones in Plateau State.

“We call on the federal government to take immediate and decisive action to halt this crisis. It is imperative that the authorities prioritize the safety of citizens by not only condemning these heinous acts but also by ensuring that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice,” said Isah Abubakar, National President of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria.

The Daily Reality reports that, the council’s demand for action comes after President Bola Tinubu’s condemnation of the killings in Plateau State, which claimed the lives of over 40 citizens.

Tinubu urged Governor Caleb Mutfwang to summon the necessary political will to resolve the crisis and establish enduring peace.

The council further reiterated the need for unity and solidarity among northern youths to advocate for peace and demand accountability from those in power.

“We urge Northern Nigeria to unite against these menacing forces that threaten our peace, stability, and future. It is crucial that we come together, regardless of our backgrounds, to stand firm against the evil that seeks to divide and destroy our communities,” the president revealed

By Uzair Adam

The police in Niger State have confirmed the death of two individuals following the collapse of a mining pit in the Farin-Doki area of Shiroro Local Government.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, told journalists in Minna on Monday that the tragic incident occurred on Sunday night, trapping two miners later identified as Buhari Kano and Mallam Tasiu, both natives of Kano State.

He explained that officers from the Erena Division, alongside local residents, rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts.

However, the victims were eventually found dead and their remains were taken to the Zumba hospital for further examination.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the miners were operating illegally at the site at the time of the collapse.

Abiodun stated that a full investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

In a striking example of how far young people are willing to go for online fame, a TikTok content creator known as Kabeer 2Pack has taken social media by storm with bizarre, often repulsive stunts—drawing the attention not only of millions of followers but also of serious academic inquiry.

Kabeer, dubbed the “April 2025 sensation,” has garnered over 5.2 million likes and 618,300 followers on TikTok by performing antics such as bathing himself in filthy gutter water and covering himself in dust and charcoal. His goal, he insists, is not madness but “glory”: “Ba hauka ba ne, ɗaukaka na ke nema,” he says—“I’m not mad, I seek glory.”

While his popularity soars—one of his videos reached 30.3 million views—critics question why such extreme behaviour overshadows respected Islamic scholars like Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, whose most viewed video stands at 2.4 million. In comparison, controversial influencer Murja Ibrahim Kunya boasts 3.1 million followers and 59.4 million likes.

Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu of Bayero University, Kano, argues that these influencers, despite their antics, are crucial subjects for academic study. “Influencers, trenders, even sickos and weirdos are all part of the data to harvest in order to fully understand contemporary society,” he wrote in a recent commentary.

According to Adamu, the phenomenon reflects what scholars now term the “Attention Economy,” where digital content, no matter how outrageous, is exchanged for social capital, influence, and often money. He compares this with global TikTok stars like Khaby Lame, who silently mocks life hacks and has amassed over 162 million followers—earning $20 million in 2024 alone.

“Even the most ridiculous trends can be read as resistance, escapism, or social commentary,” Adamu notes, urging researchers to see past the surface and explore the deeper meanings behind online behaviour.

In a digital age where clout is currency, young people like Kabeer 2Pack are not just chasing fame—they’re reshaping the culture, one like at a time.