News

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

An Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has faulted the final report of the European Union observer team on Nigeria’s 2023 general election. MURIC described the report as an imperialist agenda.   

The group spoke on Tuesday, 4^th July 2023, through its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

His full statement:

“The Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM), Barry Andrews, at a news conference in Abuja last week presented its final report on the 2023 general election in Nigeria. The report was an undisguised indictment of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“We are nonplussed by this blatant attempt to push an imperialist agenda down the throat of Nigerians. The report is a premeditated attempt at inciting anarchy in the country with the hope of gaining political and economic influence at the outbreak of commotion.

“The EU EOM final report is the odd one out when juxtaposed with those of other election monitoring groups. We saw nothing close to this in the report of the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). NDI/IRI came with 40 observers from 20 countries led by Dr. Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi. They did not sow any seed of confusion.

“229 different observer groups deployed 146,913 domestic and international monitors. 33 of these were international observer missions which deployed 2,113 observers and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INED) threw its doors wide open for them.

“Why is the EU EOM report a different cup of tea? Is this group trying to tell the world that the Commonwealth Observer Group led by Thabo Mbeki which also covered the elections is blind? The African Union had its team and so did the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) observer team led by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.

“Nigerians should not allow the EU EOM to destabilise the country. Imperialists will never teach you what will benefit your country but what will make you despise it. The aim is divide et impera. MURIC rejects this EU EOM report. It is jaundiced.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A German-based Nigerian lecturer at the University of Cologne, Germany, Dr Muhsin Ibrahim, has taken to his social media handles to question some Nigerian governors for donating a huge amount of money to Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The Daily Reality understands that some of the governors who made the donations include Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Dikko Radda of Katsina State and Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State.

According to reports, Governor Kabir gave 6,166 Kano pilgrims N65 million; Governor Radda gifted N278 million to Katsina pilgrims, while Governor Bala gave over 300 pilgrims 300 Saudi riyals each.

Questioning the governors’ actions, the lecturer asked what the essence of this is, looking at Nigerians’ critical situation.

His words, in Hausa, and translated into English: “For God’s sake, what is the essence of donating millions of naira to pilgrims by some governors?

“Giving out is good, but is this gift a “priority”, especially at this critical moment people are in? Hmm.”

Nigerians are in a critical situation characterised by the inflation of almost every consumable product nationwide.

Recall that an announcement of fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration triggered an increase in the prices of petrol by over 100%, leading to a significant increase in transportation fares and the prices of commodities.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Gunmen has shot and killed a vigilante in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State. The victim, simply identified as Mustapha, was gunned down by unknown persons in the late hours of Saturday at the Ejeh Palace gate.

The attack is believed by many residents of to be politically motivated. A resident of who spoke to the Daily Reality on the ground of anonymity said: “Some powerful persons in the state want to instill fear in the voting population in the eastern part of the state.”

Another resident who spoke out of fear and sought not to be in print, disclosed that attacks on individuals have been on the increase since the conclusion of party primaries and as the state prepares for December gubernatorial election.

Daily Reality has gathered that the residents have threatened to arm and defend themselves if the culprits are not brought to justice by the government. As of the time of writing this report, the police is yet to comment on the issue.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Taraba State on Saturday was thrown into pandemonium and fear as fresh communal violence erupted in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the state.

It was reported that the clash also brought tears to the eyes of many families who lost their relatives in the violence.

A witness who preferred anonymity told journalists that over 50 people were murdered and several houses burnt to ashes.

But police said the number of casualties cannot yet be ascertained due to the inaccessibility of the terrain at the time of the findings.

Usman Abdullahi, the State’s Police Command Spokesperson, said the new crisis between the Wurkuns and the Karimjos started around 3 a.m. as “guerilla attacks.”

“In the last few days, there have been pockets of guerilla attacks in some communities in the area whereby the Karimjos attack the Wurkuns, and the Wurkuns also attack in return, or the Wurkuns attack the Karimjos, and they also attack in return,” he said.

According to the police spokesperson, a joint security team of military and police personnel are already in the area to restore order.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A mother of four in Cross River State, Mrs. Martina Itagbor, was murdered by some frustrated youths over accusation of a witchcraf in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased was accused of witchcraft following the death of two brothers in a motor accident. It was on the heels of the accusations that the mother of four was beaten to death and her fingers chopped off.

It was reported that the frustrstrated youths also set her dead body ablaze, a development many people described as horrible.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah, directed that the perpetrators be tracked down, arrested and prosecuted according to the law.

This was relayed Saturday in a statement by the Command’s PPRO, SP Irene Ugbo, and made available to journalists in Calabar, the state’s capital.

The statement reads in part, “The issue of jungle justice is one crime that the Police does not take lightly and, as such, we have already commenced manhunt for those responsible for the dastardly act.

“Those responsible, no matter how highly placed, will be arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

“We are going to treat them like the criminals that they are, and no stone would be left unturned on this matter.

“They can only run but won’t hide. Enough is enough. Jungle justice is not the solution.All those involved in the murder of Mrs Itagbor would be brought to book, and the law will take it’s full cause. We won’t relent until they are in our custody,” CP Grimah assured.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A man identified as Abdullahi Isa has been arrested by the police for locking up and starving his wife for nearly two years in Maiduguri, Borno State.

His arrest Friday followed a distress call by the neighbours, who said they used to sneak and feed the woman when the husband was not around.

It was gathered that the woman has been taken to the hospital for treatment and the medics are currently working on her.

Comrade Lucy D. Yunana, the Women and Childrens’ rights activist, told the Daily Trust that the incident occurred in the Gwange Three Area of Maiduguri, the state capital on Friday.

According to her, Bulama of Gwange (3) took her staff to the suspect’s resident where the woman had been locked up for nearly two years.

“The suspect by the name Isa Abdullahi of Gwange (3) in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council is the husband of the survivor (name withheld).

“Thankfully, our staff were conducting some awareness on SGBV in Gwange when Bulama of the area took our staff to the house where she was locked in and what they saw was indeed terrible and prompted us to inform the relevant authority to save the woman’s life.

“We went there along with the Zonal Coordinator of the Human Rights Commission, Barr. Jumai Mshelia and saw her in the room, what we saw in the room was in a bad and dehumanized condition. The man was arrested by men of the Gwange Division of Police and he is currently in the police station,” she added.

However, the suspect argued that his wife has been tormented by an evil spirit which was the reason he lock her up.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Samuel Ortom, the former governor of Benue State, has refuted rumours that President Bola Tinubu had proposed him for a ministerial position. 

It has been observed that Internet users have been spreading rumours that the former governor made the anticipated ministry list. 

The governor, however, referred to the story as false and misleading and urged people to ignore it in a statement issued by Terver Akase, his media assistant. 

The statement reads, “The attention of the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has been drawn to the speculation on social media that he has been nominated for a ministerial appointment. 

“We urge members of the public to disregard the report as it is false and misleading. 

“Chief Ortom deeply appreciates those who have taken time to call and verify the information”.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Engr. Munnir Atiku Lamido, the National Vice President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), is declared missing by the association.

The National PRO, MACBAN, Alh. Muhammad Nura, disclosed this in a statement he made available to journalists on Friday.

According to the statement, Lamido left his house in Katsina State on Friday with the intention of traveling to Kaduna and has been missing since then.

Lamido’s car was discovered on Thursday between Jos and Kaduna road near Mararraban Jos town, parked with all his telephones inside but all efforts to trace him proved abortive so far.

The statement said, “We wish to bring to the notice of the general public and the security agencies that Engr. Munnir Atiku Lamido is missing. Engr. Munnir is the National Vice President of MACBAN.”

“He left his house in Katsina State on Friday 23th June, 2023 with the intention of traveling to kaduna. He has been missing since then.

“Anyone with useful information on Lamido’s whereabouts should kindly contact the nearest Police Station or reach out to its offices across the nation,” the statement read.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has offered N100,000 relief to over 125 Nigerians returning from Sudan to flee the incessant conflict in the country.

The returnees flown into Abuja on Saturday by Tarco Airline where each of them received N100,000 and dignity packs as a relief.

A statement by the foundation on Friday disclosed this, saying that the purpose was to enable the returnees address some of their problems.

The statement read, “One Hundred and Twenty-Five (125) persons including many disabled, flown into Abuja by Tarco Airline on Saturday, June 24th, each received N100,000 naira and dignity packs courtesy of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

“It will be recalled that over 2,278 returnees received N100,000 Naira each in May, with care packs to help with their immediate needs, and enable them reunite with their families all across the country.

“ADF reactivated its intervention to help ease the return of stranded nationals evacuated from Sudan amongst them, older people, disabled persons- visually impaired, physically challenged, youth, women and children.

“Two men in their 70s who had planned to go on lesser Haj (umrah) by road through Khartoum got caught up in the war. Even though they tried another route, they were unable to reach their destination having lost all their belongings and their money.

“Several returnees had lost their various businesses to the war. Those businesses included leather, hides and skin, tailoring, shoe making, buying and selling scrap metal.

“An aged man, Muhammad Saidu Ahmed, said, “I came back from Sudan without a dime’, now I have N100,000 Naira! This is a welcome surprise – we never knew we would even survive the bombings.

“An aged woman narrated that when relatives in Sudan reported that they had lost her son while fleeing, she went in search of him only to discover that he died during a bomb blast.

“The 80 year old lady, said most of her family managed to escape death traps, bombings all the while desperately fighting hunger, the loss of their homes and livelihoods and displacement.

“They thanked the Aliko Dangote Foundation, ADF, for the intervention, which they described as unexpected, timely, and life-saving,” the statement added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, denied the social media allegation that he asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to probe him and other ex-government officials.

The social media report had it that when Buhari and Tinubu met in London last week, the former pleaded with his successor not to probe his cabinet members.

However, Buhari who denied the allegation through his spokesperson on Thursday, Malam Garba Shehu, said the story was not true.

Shehu in a statement he titled ‘What Buhari didn’t say to President Tinubu’ said: “If social media is to be believed, former President Muhammadu Buhari is requesting his successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to investigate some former officials of his government.

“It is fake, let us not discuss it or give it energy or air of publicity. This is fake news, and nothing more. Thankfully, there was no one other than the two leaders in the room in which they met, so no one was there to report their conversation.

“As much as possible, the former President wishes to remain outside the spotlight so as not to distract the new administration.

“He chose to go home in Daura hoping to find the type of quiet he wished for himself but realizing that this was not the case, visitors trooping in morning, day and night, he moved out to a more distant place.

“It remains his wish that he be allowed to have his needed rest, and for the Tinubu administration to have the right atmosphere to work on the realisation of the promises they made,” he added.