News

By Uzair Adam Imam

The 12-year-old Boko Haram insurgency in North-Eastern Nigeria, especially Borno State, has led to a vast humanitarian disaster as it claimed more than 35,000 lives and displaced millions of people, according to local and international reports.

But one side of this catastrophe that is neglected is how hunger forced children orphaned by the insurgency and neglected by the Muslim community to be converted to Christianity.

Some of those children had witnessed how insurgents gruesomely killed their parents, leaving in them the hands of the helpless mothers.

The victims roam the silent streets of the suburb of Maiduguri bare-footed and are poorly and raggedly dressed, with nobody to even voice their frustration to. A large percentage of them have nowhere to call home or someone to brother or sister.

Such children were abandoned or taken to IDP camps to face other forms of abuse, torture, including sexual harassment for girlchild.

Giving an eyewitness account of this tragedy, a Borno-based scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Mustapha, narrated that after the mass killing of people by Boko Haram in Maiduguri, some Christian organizations came and took some of these orphans to their respective states.

Sheikh Muhammad Mustapha, who spoke on Sunday, December 26, 2021, during the graduation of 20 orphans trained and empowered by Khairat Islamic Trust (KIT), said the situation is unimaginable.

The foundation brought the orphans to Kano from Borno to help them open a new chapter in their lives.

He said if Muslim communities fail to take care of their [orphans] responsibilities, they will wake up and see all these orphans converted to Christianity one day.

He said, “Some of these orphans witnessed how their parents were merciless being killed by Boko Haram militant. As a result, they are left with no family – no one to call a brother or sister.

“After the mass killing by Boko Haram in Maiduguri, some Christian organizations came and took some of these orphans to their respective states.”

“Their aim is to convert them to Christianity and send them back to destabilize us in future because they look like us and speak our language. So we should try to stop this from happening.

Speaking also, the former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, who commended the foundation, decried how the orphans were.

Prof. Yahuza Bello lamented that many people do not consider helping orphans as something important.

“That is why Khairat Islamic Trust came up with this idea of supporting these orphans financially and also worked hard to ensure that they acquire moral, spiritual, skilful and academic training which would enable them to progress further,” he said.

Orphans recount ordeal

“I was growing up as an orphan. There was a time I came to my mother crying that I didn’t have new clothes to wear on a Sallah [Eid] day.”

“Pity was my mother who also burst into tears saying had it been my father was alive; I will not have cried for Sallah clothes.”

Many of them recalled how their life became hard after the demise of their parents and how they roamed streets endlessly until the foundation decided to give them a helping hand.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kano based non-governmental organization, Khairat Islamic Trust (KIT), has trained and empowered 20 children who lost their parents to the insurgency in the North East, Nigeria.

At the event titled: “Graduation, Empowerment and Re-integration of Orphans” held at Bayero University, Kano, on Sunday, December 26, 2021, the foundation donated a sewing machine worth N70,000 to each of the orphans.

Also, the foundation offered the students, who have completed their Qur’anic education, admission into western schools to complete their secondary schools.

Speaking at the event, the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alh. Aminu Ado Bayero, represented by Alh. Aliyu Harazimi, Dan Amal, called on the general public to put hands together in helping orphans.

Bayero said that the reward for those who help orphans is Paradise.

Speaking also, the former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, and Chairman KIT Board of Trustees, Prof. Yahuza Bello, said the foundation is a safe haven for orphans.

He added that KIT’s activities are purely humanitarian and has brought many orphans whose parents were killed by Boko Haram insurgents from Borno to Kano.

Prof. Yahuza Bello lamented that many people do not consider helping orphans important.

He added that many Christian organizations went to Borno and took these orphans to their respective states, converting them to Christianity.

“That is why Khairat Islamic Trust came up with this idea of supporting these orphans financially and also worked hard to ensure that they acquire moral, spiritual, skilful and academic training which would enable them to progress further,” he said.

Orphans voice out their excitement

The orphans who looked very excited said that they could not thank Khairat Islamic Trust enough.

“To be honest, I am very much happy today. I couldn’t have expected more than this even if my parents were alive,” one of the orphans Isma’il Salisu, said.

He added, “I call upon Muslim Ummah to join such a foundation in helping those who lost their parents. If good education is not provided for us, our thought [for a better future] might be lost.

“But now, what most of us wish to be are doctors, engineers, lawyers and the like. We think differently.”

While expressing his gratitude, Mustapha Muhammad Ibrahim said, “Not only me, all of us are extremely excited today.”

“We cannot actually thank this foundation enough. People should, en masse, join programs of this kind.”

On her part, Fatima Usman Hassan expressed how happy she was, saying that: “I pray that we will also do the same to other orphans in the future.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Dangi USA Association of Northern Nigerians has lambasted the atrocities of bandits in Nigeria, voicing a clarion call on the government to remember its cardinal responsibility of protecting lives and properties.

The association reiterated that since bandits had transgressed all common senses, they should therefore be treated as an existential threat that must be eliminated.

The call which was in a release signed Sunday by the Director Public Relations of the association, Kabir lsa Jikamshi, disclosed the grievance over the incessant killings of innocent souls.

They said that it is disheartening to witness the ongoing despicable acts of kidnapping, ransom collection and gruesome killing of innocent men, women and children especially in the North-Western part of the country.

The statement reads: “This banditry, presently constitutes a transgression that does not allow room for any negotiation. No previous grievances can justify the wanton destruction of lives and property. 

“Therefore, no one, neither the government nor private parties should negotiate in any form with the bandits.

“We call on the government to remember its cardinal responsibility of protecting life and property. Insecurity is persistent only in an ungovernable situation; Please do not abdicate your responsibilities. 

“The government should do more by taking the war to the bandits and enact the necessary legislation that will allow individuals to defend themselves without any reservation.

“This is a collective responsibility and all hands should be on deck. Thus, the general public must also remember that they have a very important role to play by supporting the efforts of the security agencies. “if you see something suspicious, say something”.

“Informants and any other individual or group enabling the activities of the bandits should be treated as one them.

“The catch and release of some of these criminals without trial is totally wrong and must stop,” the statement added.
Dangi Association also commiserated with the families of the victims of these atrocities.

“We pray the Almighty Allah will offer solace to the victims and their families. We feel the frustrations and anger of the Nigerian citizens.”

“We empathize with you for enduring these harsh conditions of insecurity and constrictions in the liberty of movement and performance of other daily activities,” they added.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Nigerian Army’s 32 Artillery Brigade said on Tuesday that it had begun a field training exercise in Ondo State to address any security concerns.

The “Exercise Crocodile Smile IV” training was also part of the Nigerian Army’s response to security concerns and civil disobedience in the state, Major Victor Olukoya, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, said in a statement.

The drill, according to Olukoya, was also in line with the army’s constitutional mandate of assisting civil authorities.

He stated that the exercise, which began on November 8 and will end on December 23, 2019, would be completed.

He said, “The exercise will be conducted in conjunction with other security agencies to further sustain the existing synergy between the Nigerian Army and other sister agencies in the state.

“This is a military exercise aimed at curbing various security threats such as kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, pipeline vandalism, hooliganism, and banditry.

“The exercise which is people-oriented shall be conducted in line with the Nigerian Army rules of engagement and code of conduct, guiding exercises of this nature.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Aisar Fagge

Surge Africa – a non-profit organization that advocates for policy implementation on climate change and resilience building laments how media in Northern Nigeria underreport climate change despite its apparent effect on agriculture which the North relies on as the major source for living for its people.

This was revealed on Thursday, December 23, 2021, at a workshop held at Chilla Luxury Suites, Kano. The workshop titled: “Media Workshop on Reporting Climate Change” brought Northern Nigerian journalists across print, broadcast, and online media to educate and sensitize them about the importance and necessity of climate change reporting in their respective media organizations.

In her presentation, Nasreen Al-Amin, the founder and Executive Director of Surge Africa, introduced participants to climate science and communication. She tasked them to spread knowledge on climate change, what causes it and its effect on the socio-economic activities of Northern Nigerians.

Another expert, Salihu Hamisu, who is researching how climate change is affecting the agricultural ecosystem in Nigeria, lamented, “Africa is not responsible for the climate change but suffers the most.” He recalled how in 1963, when Lake Chad was at its peak, over 30 million people from Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Nigeria depended on it. But now, as a result of climate change, the Lake has less than 10% of what it has, with over 70 million people earning a living from it. Hamisu added that with the current pace of drought and floods, Northern Nigeria faces an imminent food crisis.

Also, Adejumo Kabir, multiple award-winning journalists, presented papers on “Climate Reporting: Shaping Inclusive Narratives” and “Media for Climate Justice: Developing Stories for Social Change.”

Some participants spoke to The Daily Reality about what they learned at the Workshop. Mustapha Hodi, said:

“As a participant, I have learnt a lot about climate change, particularly the fact that Africa is the one bearing the brunt of emissions from developed countries. As a journalist, the workshop has helped me identify key areas to concentrate on reporting climate change.”

“By and large, the training has become a wake-up call to me to be reporting climate change frequently in a bid to create awareness to the general public about its dangers and even the opportunities it creates.”

Hannatu Sulaiman Abba was another participant from Arewa Media who said, “This workshop has shaped my mind on climate change. It develops my passion to advocate for climate change in our community, engage the government in policymaking and sensitize the public on the effect of climate change. This is indeed a big milestone in my journalism career.”

At the end of the workshop, participants were grouped into three to brainstorm and write a report on improving climate change reporting. Misbahu El-Hamza expressed his satisfaction saying: “My expectations were sufficiently achieved. What’s, even more, was how we worked as a group to brainstorm ideas that could be effective in steering social and policy change. Through this workshop, I now am equipped with the know-how to see the dangers as well as opportunities presented by climate change in my region of northern Nigeria and how to engage the public to mitigate and get the best out of it.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Kano State Hisbah Commission has debunked media reports making the rounds that it had invited the 44th Miss Nigeria, Shatu Garko, for questioning alongside her parents.

Hisbah Director, Dr. Aliyu Musa Aliyu Kibiya, confirmed the development to Freedom Radio, Kano.

He added that the commission, through its Commandant-General, Sheikh Harun Ibn Sinah, has never made such an invitation; it only tried to show the implications of such an event and contest in Islam to both Garko and her parents.

The 18-year-old Shatu Garko became the first Kano-born lady to be crowned Miss Nigeria at an event in Lagos on Friday, December 17, 2022.

However, Garko’s victory has sparked controversies, especially on social media. Many people, mainly among northern Muslims, describe the event as indecent, adding that it’s against the teaching of Islam and Hausa culture.

By Uzair Adam Imam

In celebration of Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year, The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th December 2021 and Monday, 3rd January 2022 as public holidays.

The declaration made by Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, was contained in a release signed Wednesday, 22nd December 2021, by Dr Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary of the ministry.

Aregbesola also stated that peace and security were two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity.

He urged Christians and Nigerians to “make the best use of this festive period” and pray for the total eradication of the lingering issue of insecurity that is bedevilling the country

Speaking about Corona virus pandemic, the minister urged Christians to “moderately celebrate the festival without large groupings and observe all the protocols stipulated by medical authorities.

“Take it as a point of personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus,” he added.