News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has condemned the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his public confrontation with a soldier, calling it a threat to national security that requires an apology.

Buratai’s statement comes after videos circulated online showing Wike in a heated argument with military personnel over a disputed plot of land in Abuja on Tuesday.

He described the minister’s “verbal assault on a uniformed officer” as a profound act of indiscipline that undermines the nation’s command structure and disrespects the authority of President Bola Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief.

“The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less,” Buratai stated, insisting Wike must immediately apologise to both the President and the officer involved.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

A regular contributor to The Daily Reality’s opinion section, Aisha Musa Auyo, has successfully defended her PhD dissertation in Educational Psychology at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

Dr Auyo’s doctoral research, titled “Influence of Achievement Motivation, Academic Self-Concept, Emotional Regulation and Locus of Control on the Academic Achievement of Public Secondary School Students in Kano and Jigawa States of Nigeria,” marks a significant contribution to the study of learning behaviour and student performance in northern Nigeria.

Her achievement comes after six years of rigorous academic work and dedication. Described by her husband, Dr AC Abdullahi Maiwada, as “an authentic product of BUK,” Dr Auyo was born, raised, educated, and married within the university community, where she obtained all her degrees.

Academia also runs deep in her family. Her parents, Prof. Musa Auyo and Dr Hadiza Umar, both serve in BUK’s Department of Library and Information Science, while her husband, Dr Maiwada, holds a PhD in Mass Communication. Her parents-in-law are also accomplished academics, making the Auyo-Maiwada family one deeply rooted in scholarship.

The Daily Reality congratulates Dr Auyo on her outstanding achievement and wishes her continued success in her academic and professional pursuits.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a significant escalation in its counterterrorism operations, conducting precision airstrikes that eliminated Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and destroyed several bandit enclaves across multiple states.

According to a statement from the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the coordinated missions targeted ISWAP terrorists in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram, Borno State.

The operations also destroyed bandit hideouts in Garin Dandi and Chigogo, Kwara State, as well as Zango Hill in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The statement indicated that these strikes represent a decisive phase in the ongoing joint military operations, known as Operation HADIN KAI and Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which are aimed at dismantling terrorist and criminal networks across Nigeria’s northern region.

The success of these missions underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s renewed operational tempo, following directives from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

Each mission reaffirms the NAF’s commitment to deploying smarter, intelligence-driven airpower to neutralize insurgents and criminals, thereby protecting the lives and property of citizens and enhancing national security.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A former Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, over what he described as a clear display of bias.

Dr. Tilde made the call in a post on his Facebook page where he wrote: “TINUBU: INEC Chairman Should Resign or be Kicked Out. This is too gross and partial for his chair.”

His comment followed the resurfacing of a 2020 publication authored by Professor Amupitan, in which he described the violence against Christians in Nigeria as “genocide.”

The document, titled “Nigeria’s Silent Slaughter: Genocide in Nigeria and the Implications for the International Community,” was part of a legal brief submitted to international organisations.

In the publication, Amupitan stated that crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity were being committed in Nigeria, adding that the victims were “mainly the Christian population and minority ethnic groups.”

The resurfacing of this document has triggered heated reactions across the country, with critics saying the position taken by Amupitan before his appointment raises serious questions about his neutrality as the nation’s electoral umpire.

Dr. Tilde, in his post, expressed concern that such views could undermine public trust in INEC, insisting that the chairman’s past statements make him unfit to preside over Nigeria’s electoral process.

Neither Professor Amupitan nor INEC has officially responded to the criticism.

However, some of his supporters argue that his earlier legal opinion was written in his capacity as an academic and lawyer, not as an election official.

The controversy has continued to generate debate among political observers, with calls for President Tinubu to address the matter to safeguard the credibility of future elections.

By Maryam Ahmad

In a development few could have imagined a year ago, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. The visit marks the first time a Syrian head of state will be officially received in Washington — a remarkable turn for a man who, until recently, was wanted by the United States.

As recently as December, al-Sharaa carried a $10 million American bounty on his head for his alleged role as an al-Qaeda commander. Now, following a stunning political transformation and rise to power in Damascus, he is being welcomed as a foreign leader and potential partner in the Middle East.

In anticipation of the visit, the U.S. Treasury Department has lifted sanctions against al-Sharaa and his intelligence chief, signalling a major policy shift. Meanwhile, Congress is debating the repeal of the Caesar Act, the 2019 legislation that imposed sweeping sanctions on Syria’s construction, energy, and financial sectors. The Senate has already voted to rescind the law, though the House of Representatives has yet to follow suit.

Inside Syria, reactions are mixed. While some citizens express frustration over al-Sharaa’s secretive governance and reliance on a close inner circle, others see his global rehabilitation as a point of national pride.

For many observers, al-Sharaa’s journey embodies one of the most dramatic reversals in modern diplomacy. Once a U.S. prisoner in Iraq, he will now step into the Oval Office — a symbol of how swiftly global politics can change.

By Uzair Adam

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, the House of Representatives member for Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano State, has officially returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Kofa disclosed this in a statement he personally signed on Monday, noting that he received a warm reception from thousands of his supporters in his hometown of Kofa, Bebeji Local Government Area.

The gathering reportedly resolved to leave the NNPP/Kwankwasiyya movement and join the APC in solidarity with the president’s agenda.

According to him, the event was attended by approximately 2,000 Islamic clerics who offered special prayers for the president, as well as for peace, development, and progress in Kiru/Bebeji, Kano State, and Nigeria at large.

Kofa’s defection comes two months after his expulsion from the NNPP, which sources say was due to alleged anti-party activities and unpaid membership dues.

His departure underscores the ongoing internal challenges within the NNPP in Kano and marks a significant political realignment in the state.

A former APC member and ex-Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group, Kofa’s return to the ruling party strengthens the APC’s foothold in Kano ahead of the 2027 elections.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A former Nigerian presidential aide has raised a stark alarm, claiming that terrorist groups are actively attempting to seize a vast swath of territory across four nations to establish a new global headquarters for terrorism.

Hakeem Baba Ahmed, who previously served as a Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, made the declaration in a televised interview.

He asserted that intelligence circles are aware of the threat to carve out a large territory encompassing parts of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.

“There are attempts by interests to take over huge territory… and turn it into the global headquarters of terror,” Baba Ahmed stated.

“Those in intelligence circles know this. I’m saying this publicly now. A lot of people know this.”

He emphasized the dire consequences of such a takeover, stating, “We must never allow that kind of thing to happen. We don’t want to live under ISWAP. We don’t want to live under Boko Haram.”

While his warning included a critique of US policy, Baba Ahmed also stressed the importance of the Nigeria-US relationship.

He called for more constructive American support, suggesting targeted sanctions on corrupt leaders instead of broad policies that negatively impact citizens.

He described actions that sow division among Nigerians as the “worst possible approach” to tackling the nation’s challenges.

By Uzair Adam

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Joint Task Force North East, have rescued 86 civilians, mostly motorists and passengers, who were abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents around Dutsen Kura along the Damaturu–Buratai–Biu road in Borno State.

According to a senior military officer who was not authorised to speak to the press, the incident occurred on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

The troops also destroyed 11 makeshift structures belonging to the terrorists during the operation.

The officer disclosed that troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion under Sector 2, OPHK, encountered the insurgents after discovering they had abducted civilians and seized vehicles along the Buratai–Kamuya road.

“The troops immediately engaged the terrorists, pursued them towards Mangari, and overpowered them in a follow-up encounter near their camp, forcing them to flee in disarray,” the source said.

A thorough search of the area led to the rescue of 86 victims, including men, women, and children.

Items recovered from the scene include one AK-47 rifle, five magazines loaded with 73 rounds, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles.

The camp was later destroyed after clearance operations.In a separate operation, troops deployed at Mangada arrested 29 individuals suspected to be logistics suppliers for Boko Haram while en route to Chilaria.

The suspects were found with two pickup vans and a tricycle loaded with over 1,000 litres of petrol, four gallons of engine oil, two new gun truck tyres, a cache of medical supplies, and large quantities of foodstuffs and provisions.

The source confirmed that all operations were conducted successfully without any casualties among the troops.

The Military High Command commended the soldiers for their gallantry and professionalism and urged them to sustain the momentum to deny terrorists any freedom of action in the North East.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Professor Charles Soludo has been re-elected as the Governor of Anambra State after a decisive victory in Saturday’s governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the winner on Sunday.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, announced that Soludo polled 422,664 votes.

The results placed Chief Nichols Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a distant second position with 99,445 votes.

Mr. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) followed in third place with 37,753 votes.

Notably, the Labour Party, which is associated with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, finished in fourth place.

Its candidate, George Moghalu, received 10,576 votes. John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) trailed with 8,208 votes.

The declaration was made at the INEC state headquarters in Awka, solidifying Soludo’s continuation in office for a second term.

By Uzair Adam

Residents of Dangoro community in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State on Saturday held a special prayer session, seeking divine intervention over what they described as the continuous takeover of their farmlands and plots by the state government.

The residents said they were thrown into panic following the government’s plan to relocate the Yan Lemo Fruit Market and Yankaba Vegetables Market to their area, an action they fear will lead to another round of land seizures and displacements.

Speaking during the prayer session, one of the affected landowners, Sadik Muhammad Abdullahi, expressed frustration over what he called repeated loss of property to government projects.

He stated that, “This is the fourth time such an incident is happening in Dangoro. I was a victim of the previous one. I had eight plots of farmland, but when the government came, it took them and gave me only one and a half plots as compensation. I later sold it and bought another land, which is now being targeted again.”

Abdullahi added that many residents could suffer the same fate if the plan goes ahead, saying the area consists of individually owned plots, which would make fair compensation extremely difficult.

“If what happened before happens again — where someone loses eight plots and gets one or one and a half plots — some people might collapse or even die of shock. The situation is becoming unbearable,” he lamented.

Another landowner, Comrade Nuraini Adabayo, said the community had been devastated since hearing of the government’s plan.

“I even encouraged others to buy land here, assuring them that the government would not carry out any further measurements since it had done that three times before.

“Now, we have over forty plots belonging to me and others who trusted me. Some people have even laid foundations for their buildings. I don’t know what to tell them,” Adabayo added.

He also complained that the government gave them very short notice, with the land measurement for compensation expected to start on Monday.

He added that many of the affected landowners do not live in Kano, making the process more complicated.

He appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to consider relocating the markets to Kano Economic City, where, according to him, there is ample space to accommodate both the fruit and vegetable traders, similar to how the medicine sellers were relocated.

A respected community member, Alhaji Gambo Saminu Adamu, also urged the state government to urgently address the situation to prevent what he described as a looming humanitarian problem.

“I call on His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to personally visit this community and see the situation himself rather than relying on reports.There is enough space at the Economic City to accommodate all these traders without taking away people’s lands,” Alhaji Adamu added.

When contacted, the District Head of Dangoro, Ishaq Yusuf Ishaq, declined to comment, saying the issue did not originate from his office.

“As a traditional titleholder, we have our protocols. But you can contact the relevant government officials; they are aware of the development,” he said.

Similarly, when reached for comment, the Director of Public Enlightenment at the Kano State Ministry of Land, Murtala Shehu Umar, said he was not aware of the plan.

“Well, I am not aware of this ongoing plan. However, once I get any information, I will let you know. Maybe we can meet on Monday at the community during the exercise or before that time,” he stated.

The residents vowed to continue seeking divine intervention and called on the government to halt the planned relocation to prevent what they described as a threat to their livelihoods and ancestral heritage.