News

By Anwar Usman

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Katsina Command, has killed four suspected terrorists in the Dutsinma Local Government Area of the state.

This was confirmed in a statement released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SC Buhari Hamisu, on Monday, stating that two separate attacks were foiled.

According to him, operatives repelled an attack by suspected armed bandits who stormed the permanent site of the Federal University Dutsinma on February 21.

“The gallant men of the NSCDC attached to the university successfully neutralized three criminals, including the notorious Ayuba Buzaru, who stormed the institution using it as their route”.

The spokesperson further revealed that the team also rescued three kidnapped victims and recovered some rustled goats.

He added that NSCDC personnel, in a joint operation with the police, repelled another attack on Sunday, February 23, at the Federal Government Special Grains Reserve (Silo) in Darawa.

NAN reports that the bodies of the suspected criminals had been deposited at General Hospital Dutsinma.

“The armed bandits have been attempting to attack the silo, which stores grains distributed to people in Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto,” he added.

The corps personnel also dispersed another group of suspected armed bandits at Gago Village, near Isah Kaita College of Education in Dutsinma.

“The command remains dedicated to promoting safety and security for the people of the state and Nigeria as a whole while protecting critical national assets and infrastructure,” he said.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Ugandan police are investigating the tragic death of Nigerian footballer Abubakar Lawal, who fell from the third floor of Voicemall Shopping Arcade in Kampala early Monday.

The 29-year-old striker, who played for local club Vipers, had been visiting a Tanzanian friend residing in one of the mall’s apartments. According to the friend, she left Lawal alone shortly before the incident occurred.

Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and conducting interrogations to determine the cause of the fall.

The Vipers Sports Club issued a statement expressing their grief, saying: “We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden and untimely passing of our beloved player, Abubakar Lawal.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, fans, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Lawal joined Vipers in July 2022 after two years with AS Kigali in Rwanda.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Young education advocate Zuriel Oduwole has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote girls’ education worldwide. 

The 22-year-old filmmaker and activist has spent over a decade championing access to education, meeting with world leaders to push for policies that keep girls in school.

Oduwole, who was born in the United States to Nigerian and Mauritian parents, began her advocacy at the age of 10 through documentary filmmaking. 

Oduwole’s work has influenced discussions on education policy and earned her numerous accolades, including the Forbes Woman Africa Young Achiever Award.

While the Nobel Committee does not disclose nominations, news of Oduwole’s recognition has sparked widespread praise. If she wins, she would become one of the youngest recipients of the prestigious award. 

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate will be announced in October, and the official ceremony will be held in December in Oslo, Norway.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State has been closed following violent protests by students over the alleged killing of one of their colleagues.

Reports indicate that two students were shot by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operating in the area.

It was claimed that the CJTF members mistakenly shot the students, believing they were bandits’ informants.

One student died on the spot, while the other was injured and has since received medical attention.

In response to the incident, students took to the streets of Dutsinma, protesting violently. They blocked roads, set tyres on fire, and vandalized property.

The protests escalated, reaching the Dutsin-Ma–Katsina highway, where the students clashed with security forces.

Military and police personnel arrived to restore order, using a diplomatic approach to calm the situation without resorting to force.

The university’s Senate announced the closure of the institution, with students directed to go on a one-week mid-semester break starting from Monday, February 24, 2025.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, urged students to vacate the campus by 6:00 p.m. the same day.

The Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the incident, stating that an official statement would be issued soon.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, has stated that his political ambition is to become the governor of Kano, not to remain the party’s chairman.

He made the remark in an interview with the BBC while reacting to recent comments by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, who had threatened to leave the party.

Ata had warned that he would quit the APC if Abdullahi Abbas was re-elected as the party’s chairman for a fourth term.

The Daily Reality reports that the minister’s strong remarks, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, have further heightened political tension in Kano.

However, Abbas dismissed Ata’s stance, stating that the minister was never a party member.

“For us in the party, he was never a member. In the whole of Kano, in his local government, we came third,” he said.

“We didn’t even know when he was appointed as a minister. We even told the president that he is not our party member, that he engaged in anti-party activities.”

Abbas expressed surprise over Ata’s ministerial appointment, adding, “We are really surprised at how this happened, honestly. He is just a politician at the local government level.”

By Ishaka Mohammed

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, has suspended its indefinite strike action following an agreement with the state government.

The decision followed the congress meeting held on February 22, 2025 and the approval of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC). 

In a statement released on Sunday, the branch leadership headed by Dr Peter Adamu appreciated the Kaduna State government for demonstrating goodwill towards resolving the issues that prompted the strike. 

According to the statement, the government is releasing funds immediately to pay the 60% withheld September 2017 salaries and the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) supervision allowances for five sessions. It has also set a timeline for the payment of five months’ withheld salaries (May – September 2022), promotion arrears, Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), pension remittances from 2009 to 2019, as well as death benefits and Group Life Assurance.

The statement also featured the government’s commitment to implementing a wage award and granting full autonomy to KASU.

The Daily Reality last week reported the above issues as the causes of the strike.

The KASU chapter of ASUU praised Governor Uba Sani for deviating “from the dark days of the past where members [of ASUU] were victimized for participating in lawful strike actions”.

By Uzair Adam  

On Sunday, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, distributed 61 cars and 1,137 motorcycles to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.  

The distribution, held at Meena Event Centre on Lugard Road near the Kano State Government House, was attended by key party stakeholders, including the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.  

The vehicles and motorcycles were allocated to party chairmen in the 44 local government areas and 484 wards of the state as part of efforts to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structure.  

Speaking at the event, the Kano State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, lauded Barau for consistently supporting the party since the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) took over the state in 2023. 

He emphasized that ahead of the 2027 elections, aspirants would be assessed based on their contributions to the party’s development.  

Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, expressed confidence in the APC’s resurgence, predicting that the NNPP would be defeated before 1 p.m. on election day in 2027.  

In his remarks, APC National Chairman Dr Ganduje commended Barau for the initiative, describing it as a step towards consolidating the party and improving the livelihoods of its members. 

He also highlighted the increasing defections from the NNPP to the APC, suggesting that the opposition party’s influence in Kano was waning.  

Senator Barau, while addressing the gathering, described the empowerment initiative as just the beginning of a broader program targeting various sectors, including youths, students, farmers, women, traders, and clerics. 

He reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the initiative and urged continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.  

He noted that Tinubu’s policies were beginning to yield positive results, citing the gradual reduction in fuel prices, stabilization of the Naira, and improvements in food prices.  

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. We will empower all spheres of society. Let’s continue to support Mr. President for the success of his programs,” Barau said.

By Uzair Adam

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its recent decision to increase Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fees, calling it “unlawful, unfair, unreasonable, and unjust.”

The CBN recently introduced a new charge of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal from an ATM not located within a bank’s branch premises.

Additionally, withdrawals at shopping centers, airports, and standalone cash points will attract a N100 fee along with a surcharge of up to N500 per N20,000 withdrawal.

In a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking a judicial review of the CBN’s decision, arguing that the policy contradicts the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018.

The organization wants the court to declare the fee hike illegal and issue an injunction preventing its enforcement.

According to SERAP, the increase disproportionately affects low-income Nigerians, creating financial barriers for those who rely on ATMs for daily transactions.

The group further claims that the move violates constitutional provisions, consumer protection laws, and international human rights obligations.

SERAP’s legal team, led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, asserts that the new charges should be borne by banks and their shareholders rather than being passed onto consumers.

They argue that the CBN is acting in a manner that prioritizes banks’ profits over the welfare of Nigerians, with many banks declaring substantial annual profits.

The lawsuit also challenges the CBN’s authority to unilaterally impose such fees without the consent of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). SERAP is urging the court to nullify the CBN’s circular on the fee hike and restrain banks and financial institutions from implementing the charges.

A date for the hearing of the case has not yet been set.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Four people, including three children, were burnt to death, while 10 others sustained injuries when a commercial Hummer bus caught fire in Gwaram, Jigawa State, on February 22, 2025. The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m., near the Government Girls Unity Secondary School.

The bus, a white Hummer with registration number ZAK 382 XA, was driven by 40-year-old Dalha Saleh from Saldigal Village, Bauchi State. The vehicle was carrying 44 passengers—25 adults and 19 children—from Zaki LGA in Bauchi State to Rabadi Village when the fire broke out.

Sources indicate that the fire originated from the bus’s exhaust system after a mattress tied to the back of the vehicle caught fire due to sparks from the exhaust.

The victims, all from Saldigal Village, Bauchi State, have been identified as Ziwaira Hassan, Fatima Hassan, Iyatale Hassan, and Halima Muhammad (10 years old). Ten other passengers were rushed to Gwaram Cottage Hospital with varying degrees of burns. The remaining passengers escaped unharmed.

The charred remains of the victims will be released to their families for burial after medical examination.

In related news, the issue of reckless overloading of commercial vehicles continues to be a serious safety concern in the region. Buses and vans meant for passengers are often stuffed with goods meant for trailers, creating dangerous hazards on the roads. Despite numerous security and road safety checkpoints, many of these vehicles pass unchecked due to bribery, exacerbating the risks of road accidents.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police, and other security agencies have been criticized for their failure to effectively enforce regulations. The lack of proper oversight contributes to the deterioration of road infrastructure and increases the likelihood of deadly accidents. It also opens the door for criminal activities, such as terrorists smuggling weapons and fuel under the guise of commercial transport.

There is an urgent need for stronger enforcement of vehicle safety regulations, weight limits, and more thorough inspections at checkpoints to prevent further tragedies. The government must take decisive action to ensure that safety standards are upheld and that security personnel are empowered to carry out their duties without compromise.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A Nigerian Army Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO), Abdulfatai Odutola, has been killed by kidnappers after a delay in the payment of his ransom.

Odutola, who was traveling to Yola, Adamawa State, was abducted on February 15, 2025, along the Abuja-Jos highway.

The kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of N20 million for his release.According to a military internal memo, Odutola had been en route from Ilorin and was staying in Abuja before continuing his journey when he was abducted.

The memo requested urgent assistance from the appropriate authorities to secure his release.

However, a subsequent update revealed that Odutola’s lifeless body was found by police in the Jos forest.

The kidnappers had reportedly killed him after the deadline for the ransom payment passed.

His car was also recovered at the scene.