News

By Uzair Adam Imam

On orders from President Bola Tinubu, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will return seized food items to their rightful owners, on the condition that the items must be sold in Nigerian markets.

NCS Comptroller Adewale Adeniyi made this announcement yesterday in Katsina during meetings with residents of border communities at the Kongolam and Mai’Adua border posts.

The Customs chief mentioned that President Tinubu had made a decision to use his authority, not based on legal guidelines, “but rather reflecting the deep sense of generosity he holds toward Nigeria.”

Adeniyi said: “In doing so, he has directed that those food items that were going out of the country that have been seized in various border areas should be returned to the owners on the condition that those goods would be sold in the Nigerian markets.

“So, we will be monitoring you to know if there is a violation of this. Those food items will be returned, and it is a directive that we will pass them back into the Nigerian markets,” Adeniyi said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Bandits have reportedly abducted 15 tsangaya students in a fresh attack Saturday at Gada local government area of Sokoto state.

The Daily Reality learned that several other students are currently missing.

The students were said to have been abducted from their school around 1:am on Saturday.

The attack was coming after President Bola Tinubu on Thursday vowed to crush insecurity in the northern part of the country.

The President was said to have directed the security agents to fish out the perpetrators of these abductions.

The proprietor of the school, Liman Abubakar, told journalists that 15 students were unaccounted for so far after the early morning attack.

Abubakar narrated how the bandits invaded the town around 1 am, shot one person and abducted a woman.

“As they were leaving the town, they sighted our students rushing into their rooms and they kidnapped many of them.

“We have so far counted 15 who are missing and we are still searching for more,” he said

He added that this was not the first time the village was attacked by bandits.

Speaking with the journalists, the member, representing Gada-East Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Kabiru Dauda while has confirming the attack.

He stated that he received a call from the village around 2 am that it was invaded by bandits.

“I reached out to the local government authorities and security agencies and I am sure they are doing something about it,” he said.

However, the Sokoto State Police Command has denied awareness of the attack.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in a demonstration of respect and commitment to bolstering positive relations, yesterday paid a visit to the Palace of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. 

During the meeting, CGC Adeniyi stated the importance of fortifying the bond between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Kano community, noting a deeper dedication to collaboration and mutual understanding. 

Expressing a resolve to facilitate trade in the region, CGC Adeniyi pledged to implement policies aimed at simplifying business processes and engaging with stakeholders effectively. 

Moreover, CGC Adeniyi revealed the NCS’s plans to address the pressing challenge of food scarcity in Kano by distributing food items to the state’s citizens, aligning with the upcoming season of Ramadan. 

In his address to the Emir and members of the Emirate Council, CGC Adeniyi stated, “We are here in Kano for two reasons: first, as we approach the season of Ramadan, it is good for us to come around and extend our felicitations to the Emir and join him in the prayers that Almighty God will make this month a blessed and glorious one for us and our country.”

Highlighting the agency’s responsibility in tackling national challenges, CGC Adeniyi stated the NCS’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts in achieving food sufficiency. 

He further reiterated the NCS’s readiness to collaborate with the Emirates Council, acknowledging the significance of traditional institutions in preserving cultural heritage. 

In response, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero warmly welcomed CGC Adeniyi and commended the NCS’s initiative to alleviate the suffering of Kano citizens amidst prevailing hardships. 

Expressing gratitude for the gesture, Emir Bayero underscored the importance of effective partnerships between governmental agencies and traditional authorities in fostering shared prosperity. 

The Emir assured CGC Adeniyi of his palace’s unwavering support and cooperation, reaffirming a commitment to initiatives that would yield positive outcomes for Kano and Nigeria as a whole.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has unveiled plans to provide shelters for Customs officers and men. 

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the NCS housing scheme in Kaduna on Thursday, CGC Adeniyi emphasised the significance of the initiative, stating, “This ceremony is not the last episode of what we have planned. There are projects similar to this in Kano, Asaba, Yola, Abuja, Enugu, and Uyo ready for flag-off.” 

Highlighting the service’s commitment to addressing the housing needs of its personnel, CGC Adeniyi recalled a similar project launched in Ibadan in December 2023 aimed at serving officers and men of the NCS.

He stated the importance of providing suitable housing options, especially for retired personnel. 

The CGC indicated that the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of providing affordable housing to Nigerians and commended Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State for his support for the success of the exercise. 

Addressing officers interested in the housing scheme, CGC Adeniyi urged them to remain steadfast, announcing plans for the service to collaborate with Cooperative Mortgage Bank to streamline the payment process. 

George Anih, Portfolio and Assets Manager of Family Homes, reiterated his firm’s commitment to providing affordable housing solutions, pledging to partner with the Nigeria Customs Service to deliver 5000 houses for its officers and men. 

Mr. Musa Abubakar, Managing Director of Cooperative Mortgage Bank, affirmed his dedication to ensuring the timely completion of the housing project, assuring the Comptroller-General of Customs of his bank’s support. 

The NCS housing scheme represents a significant step towards enhancing the welfare and livelihoods of customs personnel, reflecting the service’s dedication to serving its workforce and contributing to national development.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

There has been outrage over the abduction of over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State, by bandits on Thursday. 

The bandits reportedly invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.

The secondary school had been relocated to the primary school due to insecurity in the council. 

Various organisations and authorities, including the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Amnesty International, the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and the House of Representatives, have condemned the attack, calling on the government to rescue the victims immediately. 

This incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.

The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State, while fetching firewood in the bush. 

Sani Abdullahi, a teacher at Government Secondary School Kuriga, narrated the attack, stating that about 280 pupils and teachers were taken by the hoodlums.

He recounted the chaos that ensued as the bandits surrounded the school premises, forcing them to flee into the bush. 

State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, led senior government officials and heads of security agencies to the scene of the attack, assuring the community that efforts were underway to rescue those abducted.

The governor stated that security operatives had swung into action to search for the kidnapped pupils. 

Efforts to identify those kidnapped are ongoing, with the head teacher of the school and some staff members among those abducted.

According to reports, a pupil identified as Ahmed, who sustained gunshot wounds during the attack, succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at Birnin-Gwari General Hospital.

The community is reeling from the shock of the incident, with residents describing the bandits as wielding dangerous weapons and taking their victims into the forest.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Civil society organisations have unleashed strong criticism against Governor Nasiru Idris of Kebbi State following his decision to bestow brand new SUVs upon members of the state House of Assembly, executive members, and heads of parastatals. 

The move, initially perceived as a gesture of appreciation, has ignited widespread condemnation due to its ill-timed nature amidst prevalent economic hardship and hunger among residents. 

Comrade Ibrahim Ngaski, Secretary of the Coalition of Civil Society in the state, articulated the collective sentiment, noting that while the governor’s intent might have been noble, the gratuitous distribution of the vehicles, funded by taxpayers’ money, is contentious.

He advocated for either monetizing the vehicles or deducting their cost from the recipients’ transport allowances to ensure prudent use of public funds. 

Ngaski also underscored the populace’s discontent with the timing, stating that the distribution of luxury vehicles to government officials fails to address the pressing needs of ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet. 

Gurusa Abubakar, Secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisation, echoed this disappointment, stating that the gesture fell short of people’s expectations, stating their desire for essential services like stable electricity rather than lavish gifts to already affluent individuals. 

In the midst of this outcry, Abubakar Aliyu, a vulcanizer in Birnin Kebbi, expressed his disillusionment, highlighting the disparity between the officials’ windfall and the citizens’ dire circumstances. 

Governor Idris defended his actions, asserting that the vehicles were essential tools to facilitate officials’ duties, citing previous allocations to security agencies and commissioners.

However, he faced further scrutiny as critics questioned the necessity of such extravagance amidst the state’s challenges. 

In response to mounting criticism, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, clarified that the vehicles were not gifts but rather loans extended to officials to enhance their operational efficiency.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A mother of three has committed suicide due to incessant economic hardship after abandoning her children at a police station in Enugu State.

It was gathered that the woman went to Ogui Road police station with the children, handed them to officers, stripped herself naked and run under the moving vehicle which crushed her to death.

The ages of the three children are reportedly six, four, and two. Her husband allegedly ran away from home months ago due to increased hardship, abandoning his wife and children.

When asked about their father, the eldest of the children simply said he was lost. She could not provide any other information about their family, town, or residential address.

The wife of Enugu State Governor, Nkechinyere Mbah, who rushed to the police station upon learning about the incident, was told that the woman might have been suffering from depression.

Mbah was touched by the development. She said she would take care of the children and educate them from nursery school to university.

She announced that sponsorship for the children would be undertaken by her Custos Care Foundation.

Mbah also directed the immediate relocation of the children from the station to a home where the state government could take care of them.

She urged people who suffer from depression to seek counseling and avoid rash decisions.

She also urged the Commissioner, Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Development, Ngozi Enih, to intensify sensitisation and counselling, especially for the depressed.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram, faced a widespread outage today, disrupting access to its popular social media platforms worldwide.

Internal system failures within Meta are believed to be responsible for the outage, leaving millions of users unable to log in or refresh their feeds.  

Users across the globe experienced difficulties accessing Meta’s Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram platforms as the tech giant grappled with a significant outage on Tuesday.

The outage, believed to have been triggered by internal system failures, resulted in frustration for users unable to access their accounts or engage with the platforms. 

Reports indicate that users were forcibly logged out of their Facebook and Messenger accounts and encountered issues logging back in, despite inputting correct credentials.

Similarly, Instagram users experienced difficulties refreshing their feeds, rendering the platforms unusable for many.

By Uzair Adam Imam

According to reports from Turkish TRT World, a recent aid mission to two hospitals in northern Gaza by the World Health Organization (WHO) has uncovered horrifying scenes of children dying from starvation. 

Dire shortages of food, fuel, and medicines exacerbate the situation.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the findings as “grim,” particularly highlighting the dire conditions at Al Awda Hospital, where one of the buildings has been destroyed. 

The Kamal Adwan Hospital, the only paediatrics facility in northern Gaza, struggles to cope with the overwhelming number of patients. Tedros revealed that the lack of food has tragically led to the deaths of 10 children.

Meanwhile, the Geneva-based organization Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has released a statement presenting disturbing evidence of Israeli tanks deliberately running over Palestinians. 

Describing these actions as part of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Euro-Med reported several cases of Israeli forces intentionally running over Palestinian civilians, including incidents on February 29, January 23, December 2023, and February 20.

The organization has called for an independent international investigation committee to address Israel’s ongoing military actions in the Gaza Strip.

The deadly offensive initiated by Israel following a cross-border incursion by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties. 

As the Israeli bombardment continues into its 150th day, TRT casualty counts estimate that at least 30,534 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed, with 71,980 others wounded due to mass destruction and shortages of essentials.

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reconciled with the Commander General of the State Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, who had resigned his appointment last week.

Daurawa, who resigned from his position through a video that went viral while attending a retreat organized in Kaduna, stated that his decision was influenced by the public’s criticism of the Hisbah operatives and their actions.

Speaking to journalists about the development, the spokesperson to the governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed the reconciliation on Monday.

Dawakin Tofa said the reconciliation was achieved through the intervention of respected Islamic clerics and a meeting with the governor that lasted for hours.

Some of the people in attendance include Prof. Salisu Shehu, Dr. Saidu Dukawa, Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdallah, among others.