News

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated President Bola Tinubu’s determination to end the terror caused by criminals in the South East region. 

Shettima also stated that certain people are exploiting the security situation to further their dangerous political agendas. 

He said the criminals are only interested in their own personal gain, and they don’t care about the suffering they cause. 

The Vice President’s statement is a strong condemnation of these criminals and their activities. 

Senator Kashim Shettima made this statement at the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) launch, hosted by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. 

The event was held in Bende, Abia State. Senator Shettima’s remarks were focused on the ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in the South East region. 

Delivering his speech titled “Why We are all Umunna,” VP Shettima said, “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been concerned about the extensive economic devastation inflicted by non-state actors on this beautiful region since we took office.  

“He is acutely aware that our commitment to Nigeria’s future remains incomplete as long as we grapple with the sinister operations of economic saboteurs who masquerade as advocates for Ndigbo. 

“That’s why he’s determined to utilize all available resources to ensure that the peace we’re establishing in this region is not cosmetic, and we can’t guarantee it unless all of us see through the falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against our unity.” 

He was also quoted to have said, “The problem we are here to solve as a community, as an Umunna, is a creation of self-serving criminals who do not represent the interests of Ndigbo and Nigerians. 

“Mr. President knows this better than all of us, and that’s why he has never held any group accountable for the infractions of law-breaking individuals who identify as their members. This, I believe, is the democracy we have all chosen.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

A deadly bandit attack occurred in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Niger State, leaving four people dead and 39 others kidnapped.

The attack took place in Kuduru, a town in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, as well as Garam and Azu, two communities in neighbouring Niger State.

According to a witnesses, the bandits had on Saturday, December 23, invaded Garam in Niger state, which is a five minute drive from Bwari in FCT, killing a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG, while kidnapping 13 others.

On Thursday December 28, the bandits struck Kuduru in FCT, which shares a boundary with Garam, and kidnapped 18 persons.

The following day, Friday, December 29, the bandits invaded Azu still in Niger state, killing three people and kidnapping eight others.

A resident of Garam, who identified herself as Mrs. Juliana said, “The bandits entered the wrong house, kidnapped two boys who later led them to the house of their target.

“When they got there, they kidnapped the entire family, but while leaving the house, they shot the man (their target), who is a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in the presence of his wife and their three children.”

As the bandits prepared to leave with their captives, the wife of the deceased pastor realized that she had left her six-month-old baby behind.

She bravely asked the bandits for permission to retrieve the child, and they agreed. One of the female bandits escorted her back to the house and stood guard while she picked up the baby.

“However, when the female bandit ran out of patience, she left the woman, joined the others and went with the other kidnapped persons who were 13 in number”, an eyewitness said.

Another eyewitness said the bandits made their way to the house of a military personnel, asking for his rifle and uniform from the wife.

“The wife told them that her husband is on duty. They, however, kidnapped two of his children,” she said.

The eyewitness added that 13 people were kidnapped during the attack, and that a five-year-old boy belonging to the murdered pastor was left behind by the bandits at the river because he was unable to cross it.

However, he was rescued by a local vigilance team who tracked the bandits.

This harrowing event has left the community traumatized and afraid for their safety.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Kano State Police Command apprehended nine suspects accused of engaging in inter-state trafficking, abduction, and the illicit buying and selling of minors. 

The arrests were announced by the State Police Commissioner, Usaini Gumel, during a press conference held at the Bompai command’s headquarters on Thursday. 

Gumel revealed that the suspects were captured following a series of intelligence-led operations, successfully dismantling long-standing inter-state trafficking syndicates operating in Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra, and Imo states. 

The commissioner highlighted the commendable efforts of the police’s dedicated team in identifying and neutralising these criminal networks that had evaded authorities for over a decade. 

A total of seven victims, predominantly minors, were rescued from the clutches of these criminal activities, shedding light on the dark underworld of child trafficking. 

Gumel disclosed that rescued children, aged between three and eight, were reportedly sold at prices ranging from N300,000 to N600,000, depending on their ages. 

During investigations, it was revealed that a victim named Mohammed Ilya, originally abducted from Bauchi but renamed Chidiebere, was recently sold in Nnewi, Anambra State. 

The police commissioner noted the gravity of the situation and pledged to collaborate with the state government to ensure the safe return and reunification of all abducted children with their families. 

He reassured the public that the Kano State Police Command, under his leadership, had implemented reinforced security measures to eradicate this menace once and for all.

By Uzair Adam Imam

In a joint operation, the Bauchi State Police Command and local hunters from Ahmed Ali Kwara have neutralized six suspected bandits terrorizing communities in Ningi LGA.

The operation was carried out in response to complaints from local residents about increased bandit activity in the area.

The police and local hunters are continuing to work together to keep the community safe and bring peace to the region.

The Commissioner of Police Auwal Musa Muhammad, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Ningi.

He said the operation was also a response to the brutal killing of eight people, including the traditional ruler of Kada and Gamji village in the LGA in July.

CP Muhammad explained that following the brutal killing of the eight people, the command raised a team of detectives in conjunction with the quasi-security outfits of Ahmed Ali Kwara.

He reported that a joint team of police officers and local hunters engaged suspected bandits in a gunfight on December 26 at 4:03 AM, resulting in the deaths of six of the suspected bandits.

CP Muhammad noted that two AK47 rifles, 55 live ammunition, four empty magazines, the sum of N4.5 million, one Golf 3 vehicle, seven new SIM cards, and six keypad phones were recovered from the bandits.

The commissioner further revealed that stolen items recovered from them included 11 Android phones, four keypad phones, 24 pieces of mobile batteries and 190 pieces of recharge cards.

He added that, “preliminary investigation revealed that the bandits, within two weeks, invaded four villages around Ningi, including Bukutumbe, Iyayi, Kayadda and Gamji, where they shot four people and killed one member of the vigilante at Bukutumbe.

“They proceeded to Kiyawa Local Government Area in Jigawa State where they kidnapped two wives of the Chairman Kiyawa LGA, Jigawa State,” He added.

The joint team is continuing its efforts to secure the community and apprehend any remaining suspects.

By Aliyu Nuhu

I saw a post by a friend advising people not to check their symptoms on internet and should go to hospitals for all their complaints. He was partially correct, but wrong in underestimating the power and importance of internet-based knowledge.

Medicine recognizes home treatment for non emergency medical conditions. But there is a caveat that you should consult a doctor if symptoms persist or get worse.

Always remember that doctors themselves know a lot about their speciality, but they also know little in a vast ocean of knowledge in other fields of medicine. You can know better than them if you choose to read.

My son was given about fifteen medications to take after heart surgery. But because I have knowledge of the disease and drug options,I was able to engage the doctor and at the end the drugs were reduced to four. Take note that I did not reduce the medication on my own. I only used my knowledge of pharmacy to engage the doctor and get him to reduce them himself. Some of the drugs were to be taken for few weeks and to be discontinued. Some were doing the same job and one of them has to go. Some were to alleviate symptoms, and if the child didn’t have the symptoms what was the need for them? Some were for pains from surgery and if the wound was healed there was no need for them. I once educated a doctor for asking a child to take calcium for bone strength, but he obviously didn’t know that the body would need vitamin D to successfully process calcium. Medicine is so vast that doctors must also read the internet to keep abreast.

There are treat-at-home symptoms you can learn from internet. I successfully treated myself for common illnesses through internet and over the counter medications. Why should I for instance go to hospital to treat nail fungus? You are your own best doctor. Arm yourself with knowledge before approaching your doctor.

There are symptoms that you know you need professional help. You know the red flags for potentially life threatening symptoms. When you can’t breathe you don’t need anyone to tell you to rush to get medical help at the hospital. When you have severe headache and other symptoms you never had before you should know that you need an immediate medical emergency.

I know when to see a doctor. The important thing for you is to also know when to see your own doctor. Even when meeting with my doctor, my vast knowledge of medicine prepares me for drug options and procedural choices. Internet makes you even choose the right doctor. If you have blood in your urine check for the possible causes. The regular GP may not detect if your condition is postate cancer. Oncologist knows what other tests to do and confirm if you have the condition. If you have shortness of breath, painful arm, etc, the cardiologist is the person that will know that you need angiogram to know if there is blockage in the circulatory system.

We have good doctors no doubt but always know that we have imposters, some that did not even read medicine in the university. Our hospitals are populated with half-baked professionals that only knowledge could save you from their deadly mistakes.

A whole teaching hospital treated a relative of mine for cerebral malaria when she actually had tuberculosis of the spine. My son was diagnosed with truncus ateriosis when in actual fact he had tetralogy of fallot. Without internet I would have been lost. However, a careful check gave me better understanding of the symptoms and led me to the right laboratory that identified the right disease. Internet led me to the right doctors abroad.

It will be suicidal just to rely on doctors without having elementary knowledge of your symptoms and treatment options. Drugs have side effects and also, interaction issues with other drugs or foods. If you don’t read you won’t know. Your doctor is human and has many patients and will not have time to educate you. Educate yourself. Knowledge is not only power, but in medicine it can be a life-saver.

Aliyu Nuhu writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

By Ishaka Mohammed

In its latest recruitment exercise, which commenced on December 18, 2023, Kaduna State University (KASU) is demanding ten essays from every applicant seeking a lecturing position. 

The Daily Reality gathered from an applicant that the writing section is one of the ten steps in the application process. The essay topics revolve around technology in education, teaching philosophy, assessment formats, critical thinking development and journaling.

KASU opened its recruitment portal on December 18 for qualified individuals seeking lecturing jobs in the various departments. The positions include contract, internship, graduate assistant, assistant lecturer, lecturer II, lecturer I, senior lecturer and professor.

The application is completely online, and interested individuals are to create accounts at https://recruitment.kasu.edu.ng and submit their applications on or before December 31.

Founded in 2004, KASU has about 40 academic departments and is the only state university in Kaduna.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Today, Ondo State acting governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will officially be sworn in as the new governor of Ondo State.

A reliable source at the state House of Assembly said that “it’s true that the acting governor would be sworn in today by 4 p.m.

The swearing-in ceremony for Ondo State’s new governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, comes after the recent passing of the previous governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

He added that, “He is presently out of the state. As soon as he’s back, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, will swear him in as the governor.”

Recall that the state Information and Orientation Commissioner, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, announced the death of the governor via a statement in Akure.

The statement read: “With a heavy heart, the Ondo State Government announces the tragic passing of our beloved Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

“Mr. Governor peacefully departed from this world in the early hours of today, Wednesday, December 27, 2023.

“This tragedy has left behind a profound void in our hearts. Governor Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany.

“He succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.

“A letter has been sent to President Bola Tinubu to officially inform him of this devastating news.

“The Family and the Ondo State Government appreciate Mr. President for his support for Governor Akeredolu during his illness.

“The family and the state government will release further details regarding the funeral arrangements.

“Governor Akeredolu was an extraordinary leader whose unwavering dedication to the state and its people was both commendable and unparalleled.

“He not only served as the Governor of Ondo State but also emerged as a prominent advocate for the entire Southwest region and the nation.

“Governor Akeredolu was a courageous leader and an exemplar of integrity. The weight of this loss is truly unbearable.

“However, we find solace in the knowledge that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu lived a purposeful life, devoted to the service of God Almighty,” the statement added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Ondo State is in mourning as Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, aged 67, succumbed to health challenges in Lagos.

Despite efforts to secure medical treatment abroad, the governor remained in Lagos under State House doctors’ care until his demise. 

Returning to Nigeria in September after a three-month medical leave in Germany, Akeredolu faced persistent health issues.

Recently on medical leave again, he handed over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who has been acting as governor.

The late governor’s decision to govern remotely from Ibadan, Oyo State, sparked public outrage.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Ghali Umar Na”Abba, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, passed away early Wednesday in Abuja.

Sources indicate he succumbed to a brief illness at an Abuja hospital. 

Born on September 27, 1958, into the family of businessman Umar Na’Abba in Tudun Wada, Kano City, Na’Abba, a political science graduate from Ahmadu Bello University in 1979, left a notable mark on Nigerian politics. 

His early education at Jakara Primary School, Kano, and later at Rumfa College and the School of Preliminary Studies, Kano, paved the way for admission to Ahmadu Bello University in 1976.

In 2004, he capped his educational journey with a postgraduate programme on leadership and good governance at Harvard University.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A wave of outrage and grief swept through Plateau State as news broke of a brutal attack on Mushu village in Bokkos Local Government Area, leaving 16 innocent lives lost.

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, in a swift and scathing response, condemned the “barbaric, brutal and uncalled for” act, pledging swift justice and proactive measures to curb further violence. 

The attack, details of which remain unclear, has plunged the community into mourning and heightened anxieties across the state.

While the perpetrators remain unidentified, Governor Mutfwang’s strong stance served as a beacon of hope amidst the tragedy.

He directed security agencies to “promptly apprehend those responsible” and ensure they face the full weight of the law. 

Expressing deep concern over the incident, the governor urged communities to remain vigilant.

“Reporting any suspicious activities to security forces” was emphasised as a crucial step towards preventing future attacks.

He assured the public that the government would take “proactive measures” to curb the ongoing violence that continues to plague the state. 

Beyond promises of action, Governor Mutfwang extended his heartfelt condolences to the affected families.

He urged them to “find solace in God” as the government diligently works to end the cycle of violence that has claimed far too many lives in Plateau State. 

This latest attack calls for the urgent need for effective intervention and sustainable solutions to address the complex security challenges plaguing the region.