News

By Uzair Adam 

A nurse abducted by ISWAP terrorists in 2018 has regained her freedom after enduring six years in captivity.  

The nurse, Alice Loksha, was taken alongside two other female health workers on March 1, 2018, while working at a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) facility in Rann, Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.  

Speaking to journalists at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri on Friday, Kenneth Chigbu, Deputy Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed that Loksha escaped from captivity and was found in Geidam, Yobe State, on October 24, 2024.  

Chigbu revealed that the 42-year-old endured forced marriages with two ISWAP commanders and faced severe conditions during her captivity.  

“She was initially held in Tumbuma for two days before being relocated to Kwalleram, where she spent seven months and was forced into marriage with a terrorist leader named Abu Umar. 

“This marriage resulted in the birth of her son, Muhammad. Abu Umar was later killed during a gunfight with troops in 2022,” Chigbu said.  

After Abu Umar’s death, Loksha was forced into another marriage with an ISWAP commander named Abu Simak in 2022. However, he was later banished by his fellow terrorists to the Dogon Chukwu camp. 

Loksha managed to escape from this camp through the Diffa axis and reach Geidam, where she reported to JTF troops on October 29.  

“She has since undergone medical evaluation and received humanitarian support,” Chigbu added. 

Chigbu also confirmed the escape of Fayina Ali, the younger sister of the late Samuel Andrew, a soldier who served under the 212 Battalion. 

Fayina was abducted by ISWAP on October 19, 2022, while travelling to Maiduguri to process her late brother’s death benefits.  

“Fayina was held captive in Kangarwa for nine months before being transferred to Tumbuma for four years. She was later returned to Kangarwa, where she remained for another year before escaping,” he said.  

Both women were received by Zuwaira Gambo, Borno State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development. 

Gambo assured that they would undergo psychosocial support and rehabilitation before being reintegrated with their families.  

“This marks a significant step in their recovery and reintegration process,” Gambo said.

By Uzair Adam 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a State Visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday.  

The Daily Reality gathered that this historic visit marks the first time an Indian prime minister has been to Nigeria since Dr. Manmohan Singh’s trip in 2007, during which a strategic partnership between the two nations was established.  

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this development in a statement on Saturday.  

According to Onanuga, the meeting aims to bolster ties between Nigeria and India. Both leaders will discuss avenues for collaboration across critical sectors. 

“Both leaders will exchange signed Memoranda of Understanding to enhance cooperation,” he stated.  

Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday ahead of the talks scheduled for Sunday.  

This visit underscores the commitment of both nations to deepening their longstanding bilateral relationship.

By Uzair Adam 

A 14-month-old baby, Grace Osamagbe, who was abducted in April by her nanny, has been rescued by the Edo State Police Command. 

The Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, disclosed the development during a briefing in Benin on Saturday. 

According to Ozigi, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit apprehended the nanny, Rejoice Chukwu, 24, and her boyfriend, Destiny Uchechukwu, 28, in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. 

The pair had abducted the child in Benin, collected a ransom of N160,000, and subsequently sold her for N500,000 to Doris Chiwendu in Owerri, Imo State.

Police investigations further led to the arrest of Chiwendu and another accomplice, Jane Amaigbo, in Ubomiri, Imo State. 

The baby was rescued on November 9, following extensive questioning and tracking by law enforcement.

The police commissioner confirmed that the suspects would soon face charges in court.

By Uzair Adam

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were among the notable figures who attended the wedding Fatiha of the daughter of former Kano State Governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Kano on Saturday.

The grand event also brought together the groom and bride’s fathers, prominent businessman Dahiru Mangal and Rabiu Kwankwaso, alongside Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his deputy, Aminu Abdusalam Gwarzo.

The wedding Fatiha was held at the Palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, and drew dignitaries from across the country.

The ceremony marked another significant gathering of Nigeria’s political and business elite, reflecting the strong ties among the nation’s leaders.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD, FNSE, National Leader of the NNPP, welcomed Nigeria’s top political dignitaries to Kano for his beloved daughter’s wedding.

The illustrious event, held under the serene ambience of Kano’s cultural heritage, saw the presence of Kano State Governor Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf joined hands with his mentor and received many prominent leaders. Among them were Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, CON, former Governor of Zamfara State; Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi; and His Excellency Adamu Aliero, former Governor of Kebbi State.

Social media commentators praise the politicians’ display of unity. Others add that the occasion transcends political affiliations, bringing together leaders from diverse backgrounds to celebrate a union rooted in love and tradition. The wedding symbolises more than just a family milestone—it has become a testament to the power of unity, respect, and collaboration in Nigeria’s political sphere.

The event was a magnificent display of cultural pride and leadership, leaving a lasting impression on all attendees and further solidifying Sen. Kwankwaso’s role as a unifying figure in the nation.

By Uzair Adam 

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed a suit filed by Kogi State and 18 other states seeking to invalidate the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday by a seven-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the apex court ruled that the EFCC Establishment Act of 2002 did not require ratification by state Houses of Assembly. 

The court emphasized that the Act was a federal law enacted by the National Assembly, which holds the constitutional power to legislate on such matters.

The plaintiffs, through their Attorneys General, had argued that the EFCC was created without compliance with Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, which they claimed mandated the approval of state Houses of Assembly. 

They asserted that the EFCC Establishment Act originated from an international convention and should have been subjected to a domestication process involving the states.

Rejecting these claims, the Supreme Court held that the National Assembly acted within its legislative competence in creating the EFCC. 

The court further noted that the EFCC Act, along with other anti-corruption laws, is binding on all states, as it does not conflict with the Constitution.

The Federal Government, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as a challenge to the country’s anti-corruption framework. 

Fagbemi argued that the EFCC and related agencies were validly established under Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the state to abolish corrupt practices and financial crimes.

The ruling affirms the legal standing of the EFCC, ICPC, and NFIU as critical agencies in Nigeria’s fight against corruption and financial crimes.

By Anwar Usman 

The All Progressives Congress Zamfara State chapter on Thursday applauded President Bola Tinubu for ignoring calls for the dismissal of his Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, making it clear that the allegation he sponsored some of the bandits terrorising the state was unfounded. 

The party also called on the current governor, Dauda Lawal, to consider deploying both the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches used by his predecessor to combat the worsening insecurity in the state. 

The appeal came two days after hundreds of women and youths from the state partake in a protest at the Department of State Services headquarters in Abuja over the worsening insecurity in Zamfara. 

The protesters also suspect the immediate past governor of the state for the activities of the bandits, which they said were a result of his alleged collaboration with them during his administration. 

The angry protesters, who arrived in about 12 long buses, were restricted from accessing the premises of the security agency. 

While addressing journalists in Abuja, the Zamfara APC Youth Coordinator, Ubaidullah Kaura, expressed concern that Lawal, who won the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, had failed to build on the progress made by his predecessor, particularly in the area of security. 

Kaura further reiterated that allegiance to different political parties should not be an excuse for not seeking continuity in governance.

He said, “We want to use this opportunity to extend our gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for trusting Matawalle and allowing him to continue serving as the Minister of State for Defence in his cabinet. 

“Those protesters going from the EFCC to DSS alleging that Matawalle is involved with bandits and demanding his sacking are sponsored groups. We thank God the presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, has denied this. Even the NSA to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, has also cleared the air after his investigation. 

“During the Matawalle administration, security challenges were tackled effectively with a balanced approach that combined both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies. We urged Governor Lawal to revisit the handover notes left by the minister and do all that is necessary to tackle insecurity in the state.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has achieved its 2024 revenue target after collecting N5.07 trillion with over a month left in the fiscal year. 

This is contained in a statement released by the service today via its spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada. 

According to the statement, this milestone reflects the service’s ongoing dedication to trade facilitation and economic growth.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, hailed this exceptional achievement as a testament to the strategic engagements and collaborative efforts that have been the cornerstone of the service’s approach this year. 

The NCS’s success story in 2024 demonstrates a clear alignment with the Federal Government’s economic growth agenda, which proved that strategic reforms, technological advancements, and stakeholder collaboration are pivotal in driving Nigeria’s economic progress.

The Service’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment has garnered significant recognition, with a remarkable leap of 33 places in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) rankings. 

Adeniyi stated that the NCS’s achievements are a result of sustained reforms, which are aligned with global best practices.

These reforms have improved the efficiency of customs processes, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and optimised revenue CVcollection methods.

The NCS has also made big strides in trade facilitation, with Nigeria’s first shipment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which made the country’s practical commitment to continental trade integration.

By Uzair Adam

A petrol tanker burst into flames near the Jigawa-Kano border, causing alarm among nearby residents and travelers in Jigawa State, Northwest Nigeria.

Aliyu M. A., Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Jigawa State Command, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

He stated that on November 12, 2024, around 10:43 a.m., the FFS received an emergency call from Kuho Village Head, Zubairu Ahmad, reporting a tanker accident at Tsaida, Kwanar Kalle, near Gamoji village along Maiduri Road.

“The FFS responded promptly, arriving at the scene at 10:50 a.m. The fire was contained and brought under control,” Aliyu said.

This incident follows a similar accident just one month prior, on October 15, 2024, in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, which tragically claimed over 170 lives when a petrol-laden truck exploded while traveling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State.

By Uzair Adam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against two individuals, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, accused of impersonating the commission’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in an attempt to extort $1 million from former Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko.

The Daily Reality gathered that the suspects appeared on Wednesday before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja.

According to EFCC reports, Joshua and Hashim allegedly contacted Bello-Koko, claiming they could influence a supposed investigation against him.

They demanded $1 million to secure favorable treatment, threatening him with arrest and prosecution if he did not comply.

The defendants face a four-count charge under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, which includes allegations of impersonation and attempted fraud.

Court proceedings revealed that on September 28, 2024, the duo allegedly sought $700,000 from Bello-Koko to halt a non-existent EFCC investigation.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty. EFCC counsel Elizabeth Alabi requested that the suspects remain in custody until their trial, while the defense applied for bail.

Justice Onwuebuzie granted bail to Joshua under stringent conditions, including a bond of N100 million and two level-16 civil service sureties.

Both defendants are to be held at Kuje Correctional Centre until bail conditions are met, with the second defendant’s bail hearing scheduled for November 18, 2024.

The two suspects, allegedly part of a four-man syndicate posing as EFCC officials, were arrested on August 28, 2024, in Abuja’s Garki and Apo areas.