News

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmed

Kano is the centre of commerce. Kano is the state where you find the complete structure of Nigerian cultures coexisting. The state gives potentialities of what Nigerians should envisage in peaceful coexistence. That includes interrelationship between marketers of different ethnic backgrounds to the various categories of people in the market system and beyond.

The Kano market system remains one of the most organised in Nigeria. The market structure sees room for you to decide your scale of preference as a buyer or seller. In addition, there are distinctions as to where and what you can obtain from a particular place in a specific setting.

These markets range in various products. Kano is known to harbour the sales of everything saleable, and this is why this essay intends to highlight to you a Kano resident or someone new to Kano the focus of some of the major markets.

Sabon Gari is the largest market in Kano state. In this market, you can get anything you wish to, irrespective of your preference. Though the market has sections of varieties from kitchen wares, shoe wares, body wares, home appliances, and many more, the most common segment exemplified as the rowdiest remains the perishable foods section (Yan Kura). You find fresh from farm tomatoes, veggies of various types, seafood, and many more in this part of the market. This market section has different Nigerian tribes. However, the most prominent remains the Igbos and the Edos. The sweet ambience that comes out of this market section is when you hear every tribe speaking in Hausa to form a unification.

Another prominent produce you can get in Yan Kura is raw food. You get rice, beans and even Garri at cheaper rates. This is because, in this market, the packaging of produce is not a celebrated thing. Therefore, lower-class, average and high-class people can access this market and find the prices very affordable.

Kasuwar Rimi is a market located around Kofar Nassarawa. It focuses on the sales of kitchen utensils. In this market, you get to be thrilled by the number of people that can hoard the same business and yet live on common grounds. Kasuwar Rimi is also a big market that can harbour newcomers asking about the routes if they do not know the ways of the markets; this is because the market is also very large.

 In this market, there are Kano indigenes, and the ambience that comes with the native speakers is so beautiful. However, you find out that those not from Kano find joy in communicating using the tone of the native speakers.

Kasuwan Wambai is more of a farther affiliation to the route of Sabon Gari market. To go to this market from Yan Kura, you get to board a specially organised tricycle generally known as “Keke Napep” that is different from the common yellow ones. In this market, you get to see the actual definition of runners and plastics with a preference for quality. You get to have wholesales in this market for almost every seller of the rubbers, plastics, jerry cans, and gallons sell in dozens or more. In this market, you hear a name like “Yan rubber”, and you know there are other boundaries to help you understand the market more according to the categorisation.

A sequel to this article will give you hindsight on navigating the various major markets in Kano state. This is to help you map out the way to go and the way not to go. This will also help curb if insecurity, as sometimes an unknown route becomes a danger zone.

A 25-year-old man, identified as Nasiru Muhammad, was arrested by the police in Jigawa State for allegedly having sex with a goat.

This was confirmed to newsmen in Dutse by the Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Lawan Shi’isu Adam.

Mr Shi’isu was quoted as saying, “On 09/09/2021 at about 0100hrs, Police officers from Gwaram divisional headquarters, while on patrol within Gwaram and its environs, arrested a 25-year-old man, Nasiru Muhammad of Kunnadi quarters while having intercourse with a goat.”

He added that an investigation was ongoing and the suspect would be prosecuted subsequently.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has clarified that its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who received medical attention is now “hale and hearty.”

This is coming after he had nearly slumped when delivering a speech during an event at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The anti-graft agency made the clarification in a short statement it posted on its Facebook page.

“The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa is hale and hearty. This clarification became necessary following an incident today September 16, 2021, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he was giving a goodwill message to the National Identity Day celebration, felt unwell and had to return to his seat.

“He has since received medical attention and is due back at his desk,” the statement read.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, collapsed while delivering a speech during a programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Mr Bawa was said to have suddenly stopped talking when giving a goodwill message and was later held by the Minister of Communications and other individuals.

He later fell and was hurriedly rushed to the hospital.

As of the time of filing this report, no details have been provided as to why the anti-graft agency’s boss collapsed.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State has asked its students to vacate the institution before 12 pm on Wednesday over a protest that had taken place on Tuesday.

Recall that students of the institution embarked upon a protest due to the late registration fee the school had imposed on them.

The students, however, dismissed the fee, saying it would be hard for them considering the economic situation of the country.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the university’s registrar, Mr Ademola Bobola Salami.

“The Vice-Chancellor has reviewed the agitation by a section of the students’ body on Tuesday.

“After due consultation and in the overall interest of all students’ body, the Vice-Chancellor has, on behalf of Senate, approved the immediate closure of the University.

“This is based on security reports to avoid the students’ action being hijacked by hoodlums, and thereby prevent any form of breakdown of law and order within and outside the campuses of the University,” the statement said.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The United Arab Emirates has declared thirty-eight individuals wanted, of which six are Nigerian citizens.

The declaration is in connection to allegations of involvement in terrorism and related activities, which had the names of the individuals included on the country’s terror designation list.

A foreign news platform, Al Arabiya, reports, “The decision, WAM stated, comes within the framework of the UAE’s efforts to target and disrupt networks associated with the financing of terrorism and its associated activities.”

Other individuals on the UAE’s terror list are from Iran, Iraq, India, Russia, Jordan, Britain and others.

According to the Daily Trust newspaper, the six Nigerians are Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports coming from Zamfara State, in Nigeria’s northwest, have indicated that at least seventy-five students, who were kidnapped at Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, have finally regained their freedom after spending twelve days in captivity.

The released students were received by Governor Muhammed Bello Matawalle at the state’s Government House in Gusau.

Confirming the release, Nigeria’s national television, popularly known as NTA, posted on Facebook that, “The seventy-five students of Government Day Secondary School Kaya in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State abducted about two weeks ago regained freedom.”

This is coming amidst a military onslaught against the terrorists operating in the region, who are notorious for killing and kidnapping.

The Matawalle-led Zamfara government had since taken measures to halt the violent activities of the terrorists by intercepting the supply of foodstuffs and petroleum products to their respective camps.

The military onslaught has reportedly forced a number of them to flee their camps amidst suffering heavy casualties.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The alleged murder of a taxi driver by some men of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) for allegedly flouting the 10:00 pm curfew imposed on some parts of Plateau State is going to be investigated.

This was disclosed on Saturday by the spokesperson of the operation, Maj. Ishaku Takwa, in Jos.

Recall that the taxi driver, identified as Abdullahi Karafa, was alleged to have been beaten to death by soldiers around the Farin Gada axis in Plateau State.

During a condolence visit paid to the family of the deceased, the Commander of the Task Force, Ibrahim Ali, gave assurance that any soldier culpable of the murder would be punished.

The statement reads, “OPSH received with shock a report that its personnel deployed at Farin Gada beat and murdered a commercial taxi driver, Mr Abdullahi Karafa.

“Immediately we received the report, our commander visited the deceased family and condoned them over the unfortunate incident.

“The commander has since constituted a board of enquiry to unravel those behind the heinous act.”

Since after the murder of some 30 Muslim travellers in the Rukuba community of Plateau State, there has been tension which is as a result of attacks and reprisals, and that forced the Plateau State Government to impose a night curfew on some parts of the state.

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

Professor Umar Farouk of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano and a former Kano State Commissioner of Information during the second tenure of Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso spoke with The Daily Reality on the possibility of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s return to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the possible emergence of the Third Force before 2023 elections.

Prof. Farouk said that “Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau’s decamping to APC didn’t help him. They don’t respect him. Someone as eloquent as Shekarau is now missing in the headline tells you there is a problem in APC. His silence tells you he is not happy with the manner he is treated. He is just waiting for an opportunity to break his silence.”

“When he was at PDP, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso visited him, sought for his support and made him many promises when they form a government. But Shekarau thought differently and decamped to APC. Even though people see him as our arch-rival, look at how Kwankwasiyya supporters received him at the airport without any hard feelings. Look at how they escorted him to his car, and also those at Nassarawa Local Government look at their pictures with him. This is the discipline instilled in them by our “Jagora” [Kwankwaso].”

A similar incident brought Senator Kwankwaso and the Minister of Communication, Dr Isa Aliyu Pantami, at the same Malam Aminu Kano Airport in 2019. At that time, some Kwankwasiyya supporters shouted at the latter, a few others attempted to wrestle him. Recalling this regrettable incident, Prof. Farouk responded, “Dr Isa Pantami was only unlucky because of the political climate at that time. And that brawl was mainly premeditated by a lot of issues.”

Since 2003, supporters of Kwankwaso and Shekarau dominated political programmes on Kano radio stations with talks and counter talks on the two political giants. But it seems that is no longer the case.

Prof. Farouk argued, “To the best of my knowledge, it is infrequent now, that is if even it happens to see a bona fide Kwankwasiya supporter criticising Shekarau on both social media and conventional media. Considering how the leadership of APC in Kano and at the national level treats him, we sympathise with him. A Kano State governor for eight years; a former minister and presently a senator of Kano Central, but his party, APC, doesn’t see his worthiness.  He is not contacted about the party’s activities in most cases as he was not considered in the previous local government elections.”

“There is a possibility that both Shekarau and Kwankwaso will forget their differences and form a formidable alliance to bring the change people have been aspiring for because we all tested the bitterness of APC’s administration. Shekarau was from PDP, and certainly, he will return. We, the Kwankwasiyya bloc, have an existing structure that is waiting for him. It is not a shame if he comes back to his home, PDP. His return will certainly boost the strength of PDP,” said Prof. Farouk.

The Third Force is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria’s politics, especially when there are crises in the ruling party and things are not faring well. Both politicians and the governed look for an alternative. Prof. Farouk added, “Though it is a bit late, Third Force is inevitable considering the political unrests in the country. Both APC and PDP have internal crises with many cases in the court about the leadership structure and other issues.”

“There would be a lot of movements to and from both parties depending on where the wind blows. Therefore, governors, senators, and state and federal representatives need to be the third force to cause any change. Without these people, it is a futile exercise to talk about the third force. This is the reason why, often, some people stay in the ruling party because it has the resources to win elections, legitimately or otherwise.”

“But naturally, there must be an opposition. Those members who stay and nurse their ambition to fruition will win. This is what President Muhammadu Buhari did for many years, and in the end, APC won. So you must be patient,” Prof. concluded.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of the Uyo Zonal Command has apprehended no fewer than 33 suspects, alleged to have been involved in Internet fraud, in different places in Calabar, Cross River State.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the anti-graft agency via its official Facebook account.

According to the commission, “The suspects aged between 22-35 years are Modey Terrence Akong, Detoo Bem Daniel, Godson Topbie, Moses Valentine Nkpung, Idang Confidence, Chinagorom Edward, Enwereuzo Chidiebere, Obioma ThankGod, Richard Reinhard, Clinton Christopher, Raymond Samuel, Etim Paul, Okechukwu Caleb and Joseph Akobo.

“Others are Morayo Jerry, Ogar Jemyford, Emmanuel Chika, Okpubeku Prosper, Onedo Caleb, Enajemo Oghenekaro, Great Asume, Ebuka Uzokwe, Obikwelu Ugochukwu, Oloko Pius Monshe, Gideon Ani, Effiong Akaninyene, Agoh Oscar, Agu Favour, Abang Godswill, Amalam Micheal, Luka Kaben, Ifeanyi Enwereuzo and Achilonu Moses.”

Not only the arrests were made, but the commission also recovered mobile phones and computers in the course of their raid on the locations the suspected fraudsters were nabbed.

“At the point of arrest, several laptops and mobile phones were recovered from the suspects. Also recovered from them are three Lexus saloon cars with registration numbers: LAGOS AKD 56 FQ, ABUJA KUJ 79 BM and IMO UMG 956 KU; a Toyota Camry and a Honda Accord with registration numbers LAGOS -APP 368FY and OYO-BDJ 476AQ respectively,” the commission stated

It also added that “The arrested suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”