News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade executed a successful rescue operation on Sunday, freeing eight civilians abducted by suspected militants along the Ikang-Cameroon waterways.

Acting on a tip-off from local residents, soldiers from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ikang swiftly mobilized after learning that gunmen had intercepted a commercial boat and seized its passengers—six adults and two minors.

A military spokesman said the troops deployed rapidly, blocking escape routes and dominating the area. Under pressure, the militants abandoned their captives at the Ini-Abasi Fishing Port and fled toward the open sea. All eight victims were recovered unharmed.

After documentation and debriefing at the brigade headquarters, the rescued individuals were released to their families. No casualties were reported during the mission.

Brigadier General PO Alimikhena, Commander of 13 Brigade, praised his troops for their professionalism and thanked the community for the timely intelligence. He reaffirmed the army’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols to deny criminals freedom of action in the region.

The public is urged to continue providing credible information to security agencies.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his heartfelt condolences to renowned sportsman Anthony Joshua, following a tragic accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that claimed two lives and left the athlete injured.

In a personal message, the President expressed his deep sympathies, describing the incident as “an immense tragedy” that casts a shadow on the season. He acknowledged the emotional weight Anthony Joshua and his family are bearing.

President Tinubu praised Anthony Joshua’s qualities as a sportsman, noting his “courage, discipline, and unwavering love for our country,” which have made him a source of national pride.

He emphasised the need for communal support in times of grief, urging citizens to “encourage one another as brothers and sisters with a shared destiny.”

The President concluded with prayers for divine strength, wisdom, and grace for Anthony Joshua, wishing him a speedy recovery and eternal rest for the souls of the departed.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigeria was thrown into darkness on Monday after the national electricity grid experienced another system failure following a sharp drop in power generation.

Findings showed that the disruption occurred at about 3 pm when major power stations supplying electricity to the grid suddenly lost generation, forcing the system to shut down.

Data obtained from industry sources indicated that electricity output earlier rose to about 4,800 megawatts on Monday. The figure later fell steeply to 139 megawatts as of 3 pm, which triggered the collapse of the grid.

The immediate cause of the failure was not confirmed at the time of reporting. However, the incident happened while the Nigerian Independent System Operator was working to increase electricity supply after recent gas shortages that followed cases of pipeline vandalism.

Checks further revealed that as of the time this report was filed, all 22 power plants connected to the national grid had dropped off from electricity generation.

The development left several parts of the country without power supply, as distribution companies struggled to restore electricity to affected areas.

More details are expected as authorities continue to assess the situation.

By Muhammad Abubakar

British/Nigerian-born professional boxer Anthony Joshua has survived a fatal road accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that claimed two lives.

The accident occurred on Monday along the Shagamu Interchange axis of the busy expressway. Confirming the incident, Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, said the crash involved multiple vehicles, resulting in the deaths of two persons at the scene.

Joshua was reportedly involved in the accident but escaped unhurt. Details surrounding the circumstances of the crash and the identities of the victims were yet to be fully disclosed as of press time.

Emergency responders were said to have arrived promptly, while traffic was temporarily disrupted as authorities cleared the scene and commenced investigations into the cause of the accident.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government generated a total of N8.09 trillion from Value Added Tax (VAT) and the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) between January and November 2025, analysis of documents from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shown.

Of the amount, N7.69 trillion came from VAT collections, while N403.68 billion was realised from EMTL during the 11-month period.VAT receipts opened the year at N771.86 billion in January but declined to N654.46 billion in February and N637.61 billion in March. Collections rose slightly to N642.26 billion in April and climbed further to N742.82 billion in May before falling again to N678.16 billion in June.

Revenue improved in the second half of the year, with N687.9 billion recorded in July and N722.61 billion in August. September saw a peak of N872.63 billion, before dropping to N719.82 billion in October and N563.04 billion in November.

EMTL collections followed a similar fluctuating pattern. Revenue stood at N21.40 billion in January, rose to N36.63 billion in February, and fell to N26.01 billion in March. April recorded N40.48 billion, while N28.82 billion was collected in May.

Collections increased to N30 billion in June and N39.16 billion in July before declining to N33.68 billion in August. September recorded the highest EMTL revenue at N53.83 billion, followed by N49.86 billion in October and N43.4 billion in November.

Meanwhile, EMTL will be replaced by stamp duties from January 1, 2026, in line with the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) 2025. Under the new regime, a N50 stamp duty will be charged on transfers of N10,000 and above, with the sender bearing the cost, as mandated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Digital payment firm PalmPay, in a notice to customers, said the charge would not apply to transfers between a customer’s own accounts where names and BVN or NIN match, stressing that the duty is remitted directly to the Federal Government.

Daily Trust reports that EMTL has become a growing source of non-oil revenue, generating N219.11 billion in 2024, exceeding its N174.24 billion projection. The growth was driven largely by the extension of the levy to fintech platforms such as OPay, PalmPay and Moniepoint.

Under the new stamp duty regime, government revenue is projected to rise to N456.07 billion in 2026, N579.82 billion in 2027 and N752.45 billion in 2028, figures already factored into the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

While officials insist no new tax has been introduced, analysts note that the N50 charge, though small individually, could generate hundreds of billions of naira annually due to the high volume of digital transactions, even as concerns persist over its impact on small businesses and POS operators.

By Anwar Usman

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has shared evidence proving that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, received N50 billion from the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu.

According to Fayose, the money was approved as emergency support after the deadly explosion that occurred in Ibadan in January 2024.

Governor Makinde had earlier denied this accusation and challenged Fayose to provide proof.

Sequel to that, Fayose released the documents and claimed that only N4.5 billion from the funds was given to people affected by the explosion.

He alleged that the remaining money was used to support Makinde’s alleged plan to run for president.

In a statement signed by Fayose said, he made the documents available to public so Nigerians could decide for themselves whether the Oyo State Government has been truthful.

Fayose also dared Makinde to take legal action against him, while insisting that there are records showing that other financial support sent to Oyo State by Tinubu’s administration was never disclosed to the public.

More over, Fayose claimed he has documents revealing the true Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, which he said is different from what the governor has publicly stated.

The statement in part reads, “Meanwhile, only N4.5bn was released to victims of the Ibadan Explosion. Rather, he diverted this fund and many others to his Presidential ambition, which is the reason for the crisis in the PDP and his attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government.‎‎

“Also, there are documentary evidences on the actual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, as against Governor Makinde’s claim, but we will keep our gunpowder dry for now. My name is still Ayo Fayose, I don’t say what I can’t prove.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Zamfara State Police Command has successfully thwarted an attempted invasion of Maru metropolis by armed bandits who reportedly planned a mass abduction in the early hours of Sunday.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

“Acting on timely intelligence, a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Community Protection Guards, and Vigilante Groups swiftly engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat with suspected gunshot injuries. No casualties or abductions were recorded,” the statement read.

It added, “However, Security has since been reinforced in Maru and the surrounding areas.”

The State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Maikaba, commended the professionalism of the operatives and assured residents of the Command’s dedication to protecting lives and property.

He also called for continued public cooperation to enhance security.

By Abdulsalam Alkali

Haruna Muhammad, known on the streets of Maiduguri as ‘ABALE BORNO’, had always chased greener pastures. His journey from his hometown to the bustling Nigerian capital, Abuja, was a familiar blur of hope and hardship. For a long time, he sold apples on Abuja’s streets, dreaming of the day he could return home to his mother and family.

When the month of Ramadan arrived, Abale felt a pull stronger than any market stall could offer. “I travelled from Abuja to Maiduguri, my heart light with the thought of sharing Eid al-Fitr with my loved ones. The journey was long, but the anticipation of reunion kept my spirits high”. Abale recounted with tears.

Back in Maiduguri, Abale slipped into his usual routine, posting short videos on TikTok. ‘’I voiced out my neighbourhood’s frustrations over an unfinished road project and the dilapidated Wadiya Primary School in Gomari Kostin’’ Abale stated. Residents slogging through potholes and the school’s crumbling walls quickly garnered attention.

One morning, seeking a quieter spot to rest during the Ramadan fast, Abale spread his mat under a lone tree inside the school, where he had earlier raised concerns about its dilapidated condition, offering some respite to the neighbourhood. As he lay there, three men approached—a Civilian Joint Task Force member and two policemen in traditional kaftans. “I felt relaxed even after seeing them, as I never thought the videos I made could trigger such a response from security,” Abale recounted.

While in Police Custody

“I was sceptical and confused about my arrest. I was first taken to the G.R.A Police Station, where I was temporarily detained until the Commissioner of Police, now-retired Yusuf Muhammad Lawan, arrived and ordered my transfer to the CRACK Division’’ Abale stated. Crack Division of the Nigeria Police is a unit specialised in tackling armed robbery, theft, and other capital offences.

“While in custody, I was denied access to my phone. I begged the policeman at the counter to help inform my mother. He agreed but charged one thousand naira for a call that lasted less than a minute,” Abale recalled.

At the CRACK Division, “I was informed that my offence was criticising the state government on TikTok, and I was arrested by ‘orders from above.’ There was no proper explanation. I was subjected to a thorough interrogation by scores of policemen, all asking the same question repeatedly: ‘Who is sponsoring you to attack the government?’ They took my phone, tripod, and microphone, searched them, but found nothing. The disappointment on their faces was visible,” he stated.

Abale recalled being treated like a criminal for expressing his community’s frustrations. “A policeman threatened my mother, telling her I was a criminal who would be jailed for no less than 20 years.” He was held for six days, despite laws requiring that an accused person be charged in court within 24 hours, or 48 hours if no court is within proximity, as stipulated by section 35 of the Nigerian Constitution. 

Abale had not initially engaged legal services. “However, a human rights lawyer, Hamza Nuhu Dantani, came to me. He was God-sent.” Abale stated

The Court Case

Abale was charged at Magistrate Court Number 2, popularly known as ‘Koton Madam,’ in Maiduguri. However, the court was in recess, and the case was referred to another magistrate. “The court found no significant reason for my arbitrary detention, and I was released,” Abale said.

Legal Struggle

After his bail was granted, Abale returned to Abuja to recover from the losses and expenses caused by his detention. However, the case was continuously adjourned. “I travelled from Abuja to Maiduguri three times to seek justice and retrieve my gadgets—two phones, pods, and a microphone—but to no avail. There was no conviction, no acquittal. The case was swept under the carpet,” he lamented.

Violations Continued

Suleiman Usman, 26, known as Sultan, was arrested and detained for three days simply for disagreeing with a public office holder on Facebook. “Even after promising my lawyer, I would be released within 24 hours, I spent three days in the cell,” Sultan recounted.

He was arrested after criticising the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Geographic and Information Service on Facebook. “The complainant insisted it amounted to criminal defamation, even though there was no proof. My words were harmless,” Sultan stated. After three days in the CRACK Division, he was released unconditionally.

Similarly, Alhassan Musa, 40, a father of nine, was arrested and detained for five weeks on the orders of Governor Babagana Zulum. “I was carrying passengers near the newly built flyover bridge in Bolori Store when a white Hilux vehicle drove into our way. It was Governor Zulum. He immediately ordered the police to arrest me,” Alhassan stated.

Detained at the CRACK Division for what was clearly a civil matter, Alhassan was repeatedly refused bail. Without formal charges, and only after his lawyer’s intervention, he paid N100,000 to the Borno State Traffic Maintenance Agency (BOTMA) for a traffic violation. “Five weeks of detention went under the carpet, unexplained,” he said.

Amnesty International Nigeria

In August 2025, Amnesty International Nigeria raised concerns over allegations of human rights violations by the Borno State government. “Borno, based on our initial findings, is increasingly becoming a bastion of repression, abuse of office, and unlawful attacks on the right of the people to disagree with those in power. People have the right to agree and disagree with those in power,” the statement read.

It further attests, “People who criticise the governor are being arbitrarily arrested and detained for months or more, without trial or access to a lawyer or family. A detention centre run by the police has now become a den of unlawful detention and ill-treatment. Some are even refused bail in utter disregard for due process.”

The statement was necessitated by the sentencing of five young people to five years imprisonment for organising and participating in an #EndBadGovernance protest.  Efforts to locate them proved abortive, but a relative of one of the sentenced individuals, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed ‘’they are still in Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Centre”.

Similarly, Ibrahim Muhammad of the National Human Rights Commission in Maiduguri acknowledged the commission’s awareness of such claims but clarified its role. “We must receive a formal complaint, either in person or through other means of communication, before we can act. We have established protocols, and no violation has been officially reported to us,” he stated.

The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahun Kenneth Daso, declined to comment, insisting on a physical meeting. However, he neither picked up calls nor replied to messages at the appointed time.

What the Law Says

According to lawyer Barr. Alkali Adamu Askira, “No individual, whether a governor or anyone acting under his authority, has the power to arrest and detain any person beyond the constitutionally permitted period of 24 hours, or at most 48 hours where applicable, without either granting bail or arraigning the person before a court of competent jurisdiction.” He further clarified, “Any directive or action that results in unnecessary arrest or prolonged detention outside these legal limits constitutes a gross abuse of power and an act of lawlessness.”

Barr. Askira noted that the remedy is to file fundamental human rights enforcement suits. “Otherwise, we will have rights we cannot enforce,” he stated.

Commenting on Abale and Sultan’s detention, human rights lawyer Barr. Hamza Nuhu Dantani said, “Abale and Sultan’s cases exemplify the endemic abuse of power, suppression, and denial of access to justice by people in authority.” He advised, “Security agencies should respect the rights to freedom of expression,” and urged public office holders to “refrain from using their office to oppress citizens. 

By Uzair Adam

Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have rescued an abducted victim following a gun battle with suspected armed bandits in the early hours of Sunday around the Kano–Katsina border.

The operation took place around Yankwada after security operatives received intelligence on the movement of armed bandits advancing from Daurawa and Kira areas of Katsina State towards the Kano axis. Acting on the tip-off, the troops mobilised swiftly and engaged the suspects in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

It was gathered that one kidnap victim, identified as Rabiu Alhaji Halilu, 38, was rescued during the operation. Halilu, who sustained a gunshot injury to his leg, was evacuated to the JTF Faruruwa Medical Centre for treatment.

During the encounter, two motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing bandits were recovered, while an undisclosed number of cattle were also retrieved.

Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Brigade, Major Babatunde Zubairu, told journalists that the troops intercepted the bandits at Ungwan Dogo and Ungwan Tudu areas along the Kano–Katsina border.

According to him, a fighting patrol was deployed to the area, where the troops engaged the bandits and forced them to retreat in disarray towards Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Major Zubairu added that the troops remain on high alert as operations continue to secure the border communities and prevent further incursions by criminal elements.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A deadly ambush by bandits on the Dansadau–Magami highway in Zamfara State has left at least two people dead, with fears the toll could rise as more reports emerge.

The attack began when bandits detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) against travelers. As emergency responses mobilized, a second IED was detonated in what security analysts describe as a deliberate “double-tap” attack aimed at causing maximum casualties and panic. The blast sent surviving passengers scrambling for safety.

Authorities report that the attackers are actively planting additional explosives along the route in a new tactic aimed at sabotaging the military escorts assigned to protect civilian travel.

This development marks a dangerous escalation in the region’s security challenges.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for clearance operations as travel along the highway remains extremely hazardous.