News

Muslims boycott Sahara Reporters in protest of publication

Following Sahara Reporters’ publication of Afenifere article wherein the famous migration of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Mecca to Medina was likened to that of Sunday Igboho, many Muslims on social media sever ties with the controversial online news medium.

Many Muslims describe the comparison as horrendous, awful and disrespectful. Sanusi Lafiagi, a lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, criticises the article, adding that Sunday Igboho is “NOTHING compared to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)”.

The Muslims hurt by the article’s publication register their anger by “unliking” and “unfollowing” Sahara Reporters social media handles. The Daily Reality has been following the development closely and can confirm that Sahara Reporters has already lost several thousand fans.

Although the media house has tendered an apology and deleted the report from their website and all other social media handles, thousands continue to protest. Online petitions are being signed, hashtags created, and protest-themed profile photos added.

Dollar price skyrockets as CBN bans BDC forex operators

The move to ban the Bearue De Change was announced by the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emifele. He added that the action was necessary and was taken due to the violation of the country’s monetary policies by the Bureau De Change operators in Nigeria.

Some experts commend the decision, saying it would bring sanity to the system, while others see it as another way to give others a chance and stop others.

But shortly after the ban was announced, the price of Dollar has already gone up, and many marketers are shocked at what may happen in the forex markets, which are primarily known as “Black Markets”.

Again, bandits launch attacks on Zamfara settlements

Jaya settlements in Boko District, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State was raided by suspected bandits yesterday.

Reports have indicated that several people have been killed and many injured in yesterday’s attack.

A resident of the settlements, who goes by the name Aminu, told Daily Trust newspaper that animals, including cows and others, have been rustled by the attackers.“I saw three injured persons being ferried to a hospital in Boko community. They were shot on arms, legs and thighs,” he said.

“[A] few days ago, the armed men had attempted to attack one community there but were ambushed by vigilantes otherwise known as Yan Sakai, who had got the wind of attack by the armed criminals. The armed bandits retreated after several of them were killed.

“This apparently angered the bandits. They, therefore, reinforced and invaded the communities. Reports say they came on more than 100 motorcycles, and when they laid siege, it was drizzling, and people were taking shelter inside their houses.

“Several women and children had fled the communities, and some of them arrived at Boko community this evening, despite the incessant rainfall,” Mr Aminu told Daily Trust newspaper.

The state’s police command has not made any comment on the incident.

Zamfara State, alongside other northwestern states, is known to have been badly hit by killings and kidnappings virtually daily despite the efforts being made by security agents.

JUST IN: Gunmen abduct First Class ruler in Kaduna, Kpop Ham, Danladi Maude

The traditional ruler of Jaba, the Kpop Ham of Jaba Chiefdom in Kaduna State, Jonathan Danladi Gyet Maude, has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

The brother of the kidnapped monarch, Anthony Maude, has confirmed the development. He said the victim was kidnapped on his farm located at Gitata community in Nasarawa State.

Kpop Ham Jonathan Danladi Gyet Maude is among the first-class monarchs in Kaduna State.

JUST IN: Police arrest Sowore at venue of Nnamdi Kanu’s trial

The Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoleye Sowore, has been arrested by officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in Abuja.

The incident happened at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the venue of the trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore confirmed the incident on his Twitter handle that he was “Just arrested by @PoliceNG at the Federal High Court in Abuja!”

Husband beats wife to death over N1000 in Adamawa

By Muhammad Sabiu

A 41-year-old man, identified as Hammawa Usman, in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State has been apprehended by the police for beating Rabiyatu Usman, his wife, to death in a fight involving N1,000.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported that this was coming almost one week after a similar incident happened in the same state.

“The suspect angrily reacted by hitting her head against the wall… she fell unconscious and was rushed to the hospital where she was later confirmed dead,” Sulaiman Nguroje, Police spokesman, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Yola.

Mr Nguroje added, “The suspect was apprehended by the police following report received from a relative of the deceased and a good Samaritan.”

As the investigation into the incident is ongoing, the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Alhaji, has commended the police and people of the community for facilitating the arrest of the culprit. He added that he would soon be prosecuted.

Esu Chikun Danjuma Barde dies

The Esu Chikun, Chikun Chiefdom area of Kaduna State, His Royal Highness, Dr. Danjuma Barde, passed on this morning. The late monarch died at an Army 44 Reference Hospital in Kaduna after a short admission, according to palace sources.

In a condolence message, Governor Nasiru El-Rufai described late Dr. Barde as “a peacemaker who did not flinch from the challenges of modernity but who fully embraced the possibilities of diversity”.

Tributes and condolence messages have been pouring in nationwide over the death of the Chikun Chiefdom paramount ruler.

Sunday Igboho arrested in Benin Republic

Reports have indicated that security operatives have successfully apprehended the self-styled Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) and his wife.

SaharaReporters, an online newspaper, has reported that Igboho was nabbed Monday night after fleeing Nigeria to circumvent arrest by the secret police in Nigeria.

A source in the know of the matter told SaharaReporters that, “Sunday Igboho has been arrested in Cotonou. He was arrested about an hour ago.

“He was supposed to travel to Germany through Cotonou this night. He wanted to leave Africa through Cotonou. He was arrested by security operatives in Cotonou.

“They are planning to bring him back to Nigeria.”

Recently, Nigeria’s secret police had declared Sunday Igboho wanted and was advised to turn himself in after a raid on his home in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The self-styled activist is known for his secessionist agenda and his agitation for the creation of a Yoruba nation, a move the federal government warned against.

This is coming weeks after another separatist, Nnamdi Kanu, was arrested and repatriated to Nigeria after he jumped bail in 2017 on treason charges.

Eid al-Kabir: Prices of rams skyrocket in Bauchi

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Slaughtering of animals on the tenth day of Zul-hijja is one of the core forms of worship for that day. Those animals include rams, sheep, goats, cows, camels. However, the ram is always preferable to the other animals, especially with respect to the tradition of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In Islam, this tradition of slaughtering originated since Prophet Abraham (AS), when Allahu (SWT) commanded him to slaughter his son as a form of sacrifice. However, on laying him to the ground to slaughter him, the divine command changed. Then the Almighty sent him a ram to slaughter instead of his beloved son.

With the coming of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the final Messenger sent by Allah to preach to humankind, the tradition of slaughtering got attached a full-fledged form of worship.

As part of “ibadat”, it’s highly recommended for every sane, financially capable Muslim to get any of the animals mentioned above—preferably a ram—to slaughter on the tenth day of Zul-hijja.

Looking at how the nation has plunged into an economic quagmire that bites harder, ram buyers are groaning over the high prices of ram in Bauchi. We, therefore, tried to survey the cost of rams and a comparison as to how they were sold in 2020 and how they are sold this year.

A buyer of ram, who bought a ram from Durun market in Bauchi State alongside his other two friends and who pleaded anonymity said, “Rams that ranged from ₦30,000 to ₦31,000 now cost from ₦48,000 to ₦50,000 thereby amounting to an increment to the tune of ₦20,000 each. Each of us bought rams, whose prices were ₦48,000, ₦49,000 and ₦50,000.”

Also, a seller of rams, who also wanted his name not to be mentioned, said, “First of all, I am engaged in the business of selling animals, and Eid el-Kabir is just around the corner. But there is one problem.”

When asked what the problem was, he added, “The animals have become untouchable because their prices are too high. Money is not circulating among people. Only those that are financially strong come to buy. Common people no longer come; they can only buy a goat worth like ₦12,000 or ₦13,000 and get back home. Last year, people had money, unlike this year.”

He confirmed that there had been an increase of about ₦20,000 when compared to last year. “And again, a ram that was worth ₦30,000 last year would now cost up to ₦50,000,” he added.

Tuesday, July 20, was declared Eid Day and, thus, a public holiday in Nigeria.