News

By Muhammad Sabiu

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) publicly apologized on Friday for its inability to transport 1,500 pilgrims for the 2022 Hajj.

Mrs Fatima Usara, the commission’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs Division, issued a statement on the unfortunate drama on Friday in Abuja.

She stated that there would be nine pilgrims from Bauchi, 91 from Plateau, and 700 from Kano State, who were supposedly travelling to the holy country.

Usara also expressed regret for the commission’s inability to transport an estimated 750 intending pilgrims from the Private Tour Operators sector.

She stated that the commission accepted responsibility for the hardships and disappointments experienced during outbound airlift operations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by intending pilgrims for the 2022 Hajj.

Usara was quoted in the statement as saying, “Sadly, in spite of all efforts to transport all Nigerian intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj, NAHCON was incapacitated in discharging this responsibility.

“Majorly due to last-minute setbacks that frustrated its plan to conclude transportation of pilgrims by June 27.

“Unfortunately, the chartered flights option that gave so much hope to NAHCON and the Private Tour Operators’ leadership also became a failure as their IBAN accounts failed accreditation by the respective authorities in Saudi Arabia.”

Meanwhile, a video of some aggrieved intending pilgrims who also didn’t make it to the 2022 Hajj has gone viral on social media, airing their grievances and cursing anyone who has a hand in their ordeal.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has joined millions of music fans to partake in the ‘Buga Challenge’, the development that took many by surprise. 

Bello was seen displaying several dance moves to the trending song of Nigerian Act, Kizz Daniel, after he alighted from a vehicle.

This was in a video he posted on his Twitter handle with the caption, “after a hard day’s work…. we buga,”

His dance had thrown his followers into wild jubilation as he danced in excitement.

The trending song is said to have been one of the most popular songs in Africa that continues to enjoy massive streaming from fans/followers at the moment.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has passed on after sustaining injuries after he was shot in the neck.

NHK and Jiji news agency reported confirmed that Abe died in hospital

NKH stated, “According to a senior LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) official, former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara region, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 67.”

This is coming a few years after Abe stepped down as the Asian democracy’s prime minister due to his ailing condition.

Media reports have quoted the President of France, Emmanuel Macron to have been “profoundly shocked by the despicable attack” on Mr. Abe.

The National Youth Service Corps has denied reports that 21 female corps members were raped during a robbery on Wednesday.

The scheme confirmed that, contrary to the reports, no physical harm was inflicted on them, and no corps member was raped.

In a statement obtained by journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Chinyere Ekwe, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of NYSC, clarified the matter.

She was quoted as saying, “In the said story making the rounds, it was alleged that gunmen attacked, raped, robbed and dispossessed Corps Members of their valuables at Udo Ekong Ekwere Street, off Information Drive, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where they reside.

“To put the unfortunate incident in proper perspective, the State Coordinator, NYSC Akwa Ibom State, Chinyere Ekwe in the company of the State Police Commissioner, Olatoye Durosinmi, visited the Corps Members for an on-the-spot assessment.

“While there, it was confirmed that 21 corps members occupy the said property. The interaction with the corps members further revealed that an attack on them was actually carried out by thieves at about 1 am this morning.

“In the process, the invaders took their valuables including phones, laptops and some cash. They confirmed that no bodily harm was meted on them, and no corps member was raped.”

Violent attacks are not only quotidian in the Northern part of the country; the South also suffer from activities of hoodlums and terrorist organisations like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast.

By Muhammad Aminu

The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 24-year old ex-convict for burglary alongside his accomplices in Tudun Murtala Quarter of Nasarawa LGA in the State.

The Police said at least 32 phones had been recovered, mostly Android phones, from the suspect.

According to a statement from the Police Spokesman Abdullahi Kiyawa, the suspect, 24-year old Umar Salisu who had been previously convicted for similar offence, confessed to breaking a shop and stealing the phones.

The statement said: “Sustained efforts coupled with intelligence-led follow-up resulted in the arrest of the principal suspect, Umar Salisu, ‘m’, 24 years old, of Tudun Murtala Quarters Kano.

Two other suspects were arrested for buying thirteen (13) of the stolen mobile phones from the suspect, with an effort for more recoveries.

Kiyawa said “He was arrested two years ago for theft of ten (10) Mobile Phones, charged to court and sentenced to two years in the correctional centre without an option of a fine, where he served for the period and was recently released.

“He begged not to be charged to the same court because the Magistrate warned him.”

According to Kiyawa, the Police has earlier received a complaint of burglary in the area where around 40 mobile phones were stolen.

“On receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi raised and instructed a team of Detectives led by SP Abubakar Abdulmalik, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Zango Division to trace and arrest the perpetrator(s).

The team immediately swung into action,” it added. Kiyawa said that the suspects would be charged to the Margistrate Court that once convicted him after discreet investigation. He called on the residents to continue supporting the Police in discharging their responsibilities diligently

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

Ibrahim Adamu, a Microbiology student from the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina, Nigeria, has won the 2022 Wellcome Sanger Institute Prize. Ibrahim, who hailed from Ingawa Local Government of Katsina State, became the second person in Nigeria to win the prize.

The Sanger Prize is an outreach competition aimed at undergraduates studying genomics relevant courses who live and study in low or middle-income countries. This year students from 138 countries of different universities and faculties participated in the competition.

As usual, the winner of the Sanger Institute Prize will be offered a three-month internship with a research group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom. The internship prize will cover all essential expenses, including travel costs, visa costs, training and research costs, accommodation and reasonable food costs during the three-month internship. The winner will also receive support and mentorship from the Institute, the scientific programme they work with and the team that administers the fund.

When contacted by The Daily Reality on how he knew and applied for the competition, Adamu explained that: “A friend shared a link with me in December 2021. I then contacted my academic advisor, and he encouraged me to apply. He connected me with Dr Adesoji Ayodele Timilehin and Dr Aminu Ado. These two wrote reference letters for me.

“I was also supported and mentored by Dr Adesoji throughout the process. I spent many sleepless nights reading research papers, books and reports to prepare for the essay competition. My Mentor rejected my first essay trial. So I wrote another one, and he suggested some edits for me.

“Anybody willing to apply should have a broad understanding of genomics, read a lot, and seek professional mentorship in all the application processes! Mentorship is the key! Without it, I would not have made it even to the first stage! So be focused and PRAY hard”, Adamu said.

Ibrahim concluded, “I will be available to guide any potential applicant in the future.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports coming from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, have disclosed how suspected gunmen stormed Kuje Prison last night, leading to the escape of no fewer than 900 inmates.

The Daily Reality learned that high-profile Boko Haram and bandits were among the 900 inmates that escaped from the prison.

Our reporters gathered that there had been sounds of explosives and gunshots from the attackers around 10 pm on Tuesday.

The attack which lasted for good two hours claimed the lives of many officials of the correctional facility and dozens of security operatives were seriously injured.

According to a source, “the Kuje prison has been compromised with explosives by the invading terrorists. They stormed the facility around 10.05 pm. They were heavily armed. At least 900 inmates escaped.

“The invaders used dynamites and destroyed the heavily fortified facility, including the Central Terrorism Unit (CTU), freeing all the terrorists there,” the source said.

However, the Nigerian Correctional Service commandant, Umar Abubakar, disclosed in a statement that the armed squad of the service in collaboration with other security agencies responded to the attack.

He said, “I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded, normalcy has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control.

By Muhammad Aminu

Kano State Police Commissioner, Samaila Dikko, has donated N8, 900,000 to families of the deceased police officer who lost their lives while serving the Force.

The next of kin to the seven families of the late police officers were given cheques of the money on behalf of the benefitting families.

In a statement sent to The Daily Reality, Police spokesman in Kano, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the gesture was to ease the suffering of families before the entitlements of the deceased are paid.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi presents cheques amounting to Eight Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N8,900,000:00) to seventeen beneficiaries under the Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman, psc(+), NPM, fdc Family Welfare Scheme.

The beneficiaries that were presented with the cheques are the Next of Kin of deceased Police Officers.”

CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi famously known by the good people of Kano State as “Nagari-Nakowa” urged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the money for the upkeep and welfare of the families.

He further stated that “the IGP’s welfare scheme was meant to ameliorate the suffering or hardship faced by the deceased immediate family before the benefits of such officers are paid. CP concluded his remark by praying for the departed souls,” the release noted.

The beneficiaries promised to make good use of the money as it comes at the right time for the families.

SP Kiyawa, however, did not mention how much each family received.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu, disclosed that the Advance Security Team of President Muhammadu Buhari was attacked near Dutsinma, Katsina State, on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

“The Presidency has described as sad and unwelcome, the shooting incident near Dutsinma, Katsina State, at the convoy of cars carrying the Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah.” Mr Garba wrote in a statement .

Mr Garba assured Nigerians that the attack was repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy.

However, he also stated that two persons in the attacked convoy were receiving treatment after sustaining minor injuries.

“Two persons in the convoy are receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered. All the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura.” Mr Garba wrote

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Hours after meeting President Muhammad Buhari, GCFR at the State House, Abuja, the outgoing Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo has passed away.

Mele Kyari, the NNPC GMD, announced Barkindo’s demise in the early hours of Wednesday .

“We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022. Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly.” Mr Kyari tweeted.

Barkindo who was received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House on Tuesday died at the age of 63. The president had described him as a worthy ambassador of Nigeria during Barkindo’s visit to the State House

Barkindo was appointed as OPEC Secretary General in 2016 and his tenure comes to an end on July 31.