News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Three pilgrims from Jigawa State taking part in the 2026 Hajj in Saudi Arabia have reportedly fallen victim to theft in separate incidents involving cash and personal belongings.

One of the affected pilgrims, an elderly Fulani man identified as Baba Katanga from Katanga village in Kiyawa Local Government Area, said he lost 400 US dollars after boarding a taxi from Masjidil Haram to Mahabbat Al Akhawin Hotel in Makkah.

The pilgrim alleged that the taxi driver stole the money while he was checking his Nusuk card during the journey.

“I was surprised when I later checked and discovered that my 400 dollars had disappeared. I became confused because that was the money I intended to use throughout my stay,” he said.

In another incident, a Fulani pilgrim from Jahun Local Government Area reportedly lost all his dollar notes to a suspected taxi driver. His identity was not made public.

A female pilgrim popularly called Hajiya also reportedly lost a handbag that contained two mobile phones and cash meant for her upkeep during the pilgrimage.

The incident happened at Miqat in Madinah, where pilgrims usually prepare for Umrah by performing ablution, wearing Ihram and making Niyyah before travelling to Makkah.

Sources said the woman left the bag unattended briefly before she discovered that it had disappeared.

The incidents have reportedly generated sympathy among other pilgrims from Jigawa State, with some of them contributing money to assist the victims while awaiting possible intervention from relevant authorities.

The Director-General of the Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Ahmad Umar Labbo, expressed concern over the incidents and assured the affected pilgrims of support from the board.

He said the board had earlier warned pilgrims before their departure from Nigeria to remain alert and protect their money and valuables from criminals who target crowded places.

Labbo also advised pilgrims not to hand over their belongings to strangers or leave valuables unattended, especially around holy sites and transport locations.

He further prayed for the safety and protection of all pilgrims throughout the Hajj exercise.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the death of former House of Representatives member, Hon. Abba Anas Adamu, who reportedly died while in the custody of bandits after his abduction along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Reports indicated that the former lawmaker was kidnapped on May 3, 2026, and died nine days later despite efforts by his family to secure his freedom.

Reacting to the incident, Atiku described the development as another sign of the growing security challenges facing the country under the current administration.

“His death is yet another grim reminder of the worsening collapse of security under the Tinubu administration,” he said.

The former vice-president spoke through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

According to Atiku, the death of a former federal lawmaker in the hands of kidnappers reflects what he described as the government’s inability to fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.

“Let us be brutally honest: Nigeria is under siege, and the Tinubu administration appears either overwhelmed, indifferent, or dangerously incompetent in the face of this national emergency.

“When a former member of the National Assembly can be abducted on one of the country’s most strategic highways and die in captivity, what hope remains for the ordinary Nigerian who lacks visibility, influence, or protection?

“This is no longer about isolated incidents. It is now a horrifying pattern. Nigerians are being kidnapped from highways, farms, communities, and even their homes, while the government continues to issue sterile statements and recycled assurances that bear no resemblance to the lived reality of our people.

“Under this administration, insecurity has evolved from a crisis into a cruel national routine. Citizens now travel with prayers instead of protection. Families sleep with one eye open. Businesses are shutting down, farmers are abandoning their land, and entire communities are being surrendered to criminals.

“A government that cannot secure its highways cannot claim to govern. A government that watches citizens get hunted like prey has failed the most elementary test of leadership.

“It is particularly tragic that the Abuja-Kaduna corridor and surrounding routes have remained notorious theatres of terror despite repeated promises, security budgets running into trillions, and endless propaganda about progress.

“Nigerians deserve answers. What exactly is the security strategy of this administration? Where is the urgency? Where is the accountability? How many more deaths must be recorded before this government realises that press releases do not defeat bandits?

“No amount of political spin can deodorise this failure. A nation where former lawmakers die in captivity while criminals operate with audacity is a nation in distress.

“At this point, what Nigerians need is not another hollow condolence message. They need decisive leadership, coherent action, and measurable results.”

Atiku also sympathised with the family of the deceased, the people of Jigawa State and Nigerians affected by insecurity across the country.

He urged the Federal Government to address the worsening security situation with urgency and take stronger measures to protect citizens.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A fire outbreak has destroyed several shops and goods worth millions of naira at the popular Mandate Market in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday and caused panic among traders and residents in the busy market.

Residents and traders reportedly tried to control the fire before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Eyewitnesses said many shops were affected, while traders lost large quantities of goods to the inferno.

The Babalola of Mandate Market, Alhaji Murtala Tambaruku, said the destruction left many traders devastated.

“Several properties were destroyed running into several millions of naira. Some of the traders fainted and we are talking about those selling rice, vegetable oil, drinks, drugs and gadgets. One of the rice sellers just got over five million naira supply yesterday and everything is gone.

“The walls and the shops were completely razed without the affected traders salvaging anything”, he said.

The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident and said it received a distress call around 4:44am before firefighters were deployed to the market.

According to the agency, the affected section belongs to a market that contains more than 200 shops, while 24 shops were destroyed by the fire.

The Fire Service blamed the scale of the destruction on the late reporting of the incident, stating that the fire had already spread before emergency officials arrived.

“Nevertheless, the gallant firefighters of the Kwara State Fire Service displayed exceptional courage and professionalism in combating the inferno and successfully averted further destruction across the market,” the agency’s spokesperson, Hassan Adekunle, said.

Adekunle disclosed that preliminary findings showed that the fire started as a result of a power surge.

“The fire was said to have started from a shop dealing in phone accessories and phone charging services before spreading to adjoining shops where foodstuffs and other goods were stored,” he said.

He added that the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, later visited the market to assess the level of damage and sympathise with the affected traders.

“During the visit, he met with leaders of the market associations and reassured them of the agency’s support.

“He also urged traders and market operators to prioritise fire safety measures, including the installation of fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, fire alarms and electrical protection devices,” he noted.

Adekunle also said the agency reminded market leaders about its yearly fire safety awareness campaigns across markets in the state and urged traders to follow safety guidelines to avoid future incidents.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned opposition parties against zoning their 2027 presidential ticket to the South, warning that such a decision could undermine their chances of unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olusola Sanni, Atiku described the push for a southern candidate as “self-defeating and intellectually dishonest.” He argued that political strategy and “hard electoral arithmetic” should guide the opposition, not “emotional talking points.”

“The first and most obvious question is this: how does a Southern opposition candidate realistically unseat a sitting Southern president?” the statement queried, noting that no incumbent president has ever lost to an opponent from the same region.

Atiku’s camp further pointed out that by 2027, the South would have spent approximately 18 years in power since the return of democracy in 1999, compared to about 10 years for the North. This, they argued, makes the zoning argument difficult to justify “under the guise of equity.”

The former vice president also accused some politicians of hypocrisy, recalling that they supported Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency in 2011 following the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, yet now defend zoning as a sacred principle.

However, Atiku maintained that the Southeast region deserves “a sustainable and credible pathway to national leadership,” not “symbolic tokenism.”

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.