News

By Uzair Adam

A violent confrontation between personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State has resulted in the death of a police officer, Constable Ukasha Muhammed.

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, who said the clash occurred on October 10, 2025, in the Bayan Gari area of Bauchi metropolis.

According to Wakil, the command received a distress call reporting a serious altercation involving a police patrol team led by Inspector Hussaini Samaila during a routine operation.

“The patrol team encountered an assault on one of its members, Constable Ukasha Muhammed (F/No 533164), by two individuals in front of Padimo Hotel.

“The remaining members of the team responded swiftly, resulting in the arrest of one suspect while the other escaped,” the statement read.

The arrested suspect was later identified as Private Usman Mubarak (23NA/84/5346), a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, in Jos, Plateau State.

Wakil added that the situation escalated when two other soldiers — Private Yakubu Yahuza (23NA/85/10185) and Private Godspower Gabriel (23NA/84/5654) — arrived at the scene armed and partially dressed in military uniform.

“They approached the team and fatally shot Constable Ukasha Muhammed in the left chest before fleeing the scene,” he stated.

The injured officer was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by medical personnel.

His remains have been deposited in the hospital mortuary.

The police spokesperson said the command has taken the detained soldiers into custody and launched a full-scale homicide investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has constituted a team of seasoned homicide detectives to conduct a professional, diligent, and timely investigation to ensure justice is served,” Wakil noted.

He appealed for calm among officers and men of the command and urged them to exercise restraint pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police also extended condolences to the family of the deceased officer, praying for the repose of his soul.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may Aljannatul Firdausi be his final abode. May Almighty Allah grant his family the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” the statement concluded.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, former Vice President of Nigeria, was on Saturday turbaned as the Sardaunan Zazzau.

The historic ceremony was performed by the Emir of Zazzau, His Highness, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, at his palace in Zaria.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, presided over the event as the Special Guest of Honour and Chief Host, underscoring the significance of the chieftaincy title.

The event attracted a gathering of the nation’s political elite. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was in attendance, alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

The ceremony also drew the presence of the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, as well as former Governors from Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Jigawa states.

They joined a host of other dignitaries, traditional rulers, and well-wishers to honour the former Vice President.

The title of Sardaunan Zazzau is a prestigious traditional title within the Zazzau Emirate, and its conferment on Arc. Sambo marks a significant milestone in his post-vice presidency life.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a presidential pardon to several inmates across the country, including Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in 2017. Sanda, aged 37, had spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before her release.

Her family had earlier appealed for clemency, citing her exemplary conduct in prison, genuine remorse, and commitment to a reformed lifestyle. They also argued that her release would serve the best interests of her two young children.

The presidential pardon, announced by the Ministry of Interior, also included other notable inmates such as former lawmaker Farouk Lawan and businessman Herbert Merculay, among others.

Officials stated that the decision was part of President Tinubu’s broader initiative to decongest correctional facilities and promote restorative justice, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration of reformed inmates into society.

By Anwar Usman

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed nine terrorists and rescued two people carrying ransoms to the insurgents in Gagiram and Magumeri areas of Borno state.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesperson of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Uba Sani, said the terrorists were neutralised in separate operations.

Sani noted that aside from the recovery of weapons, many of the insurgents also suffered significant injuries, dispersing in disarray.

The statement in part reads “In continuation of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) conducted a successful fighting patrol in response to credible intelligence on the movement of Boko Haram terrorists around Goni Dunari in Magumeri LGA of Borno State on October 10, 2025.”

“The terrorists, reportedly moving on two vehicles and 24-foot fighters, were observed setting houses ablaze and terrorising locals. Acting swiftly, our troops launched an aggressive fighting patrol to intercept the threat.”

He said as the troops advanced towards the objective, the terrorists attempted to flee towards Damjiyakiri village.

The statement further revealed that “a frontal attack was immediately launched, and troops engaged the terrorists with a heavy barrage of fire, resulting in the neutralisation of five terrorists, while the remaining 19 dispersed in disarray.

“Some were wounded as blood trails were observed at the contact scene,” he said.

He listed the recovered items to include 1 x AK-47 rifle (Reg. No. 06798), 5 x Magazines (3 empty, 2 loaded), 31 x 7.62mm rounds, 1 x Itel mobile phone, 1 x dagger.

The spokesperson also stated that, in separate operations, troops mounted on motorcycles engaged Boko Haram fighters along the Gajiram–Bolori–Mile 40–Gajiganna axis near Zundur village of the state.

He said during the firefight, four terrorists were neutralised, while others dispersed into the surrounding bush.

“Troops also successfully rescued Mr Modu Kinnami (55 years old) and Mr Bukar (57 years old), both from Guzamala, along with a sack containing Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N750,000),” he noted.

On Friday, four soldiers were killed and five others injured when Boko Haram fighters attacked a military stand in Ngamdu, along the Damaturu–Maiduguri Road in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

He noted that, operations are ongoing on all fronts to maintain pressure on the terrorists and deny them freedom of movement.

By Maryam Ahmad

An explosion at an ammunition plant in Tennessee has left at least 19 people unaccounted for, authorities said on Friday. The blast occurred at Accurate Energetic Systems, a company that manufactures test explosives, and completely levelled the facility.

Police confirmed that the death toll remains unclear, but early reports indicate that several employees were killed in the explosion. Emergency crews and investigators have been working at the site since the blast, searching for survivors and assessing the damage.

Officials said the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. The investigation is ongoing.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Presidency has dismissed the latest World Bank report estimating that 139 million Nigerians are living in poverty, describing the figure as “unrealistic” and disconnected from the nation’s true economic situation.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, stated in a post on his official X handle on Thursday that the World Bank’s statistics must be “properly contextualised” within the framework of global poverty measurement models.

“While Nigeria values its partnership with the World Bank and appreciates its contributions to policy analysis, the figure quoted must be properly contextualised. It is unrealistic,” Dare said.

According to the Presidency, the figure of 139 million Nigerians was derived from the global poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, set in 2017 using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

It stressed that the benchmark should not be taken as a direct count of citizens living in poverty.

The statement explained that when converted to local currency, the $2.15 daily poverty threshold amounts to about ₦100,000 per month—significantly higher than Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000.

“There must be caution against interpreting the World Bank’s numbers as a literal, real-time headcount,” it added.

“The measure is an analytical construct, not a direct reflection of local income realities.”

The Presidency also noted that poverty assessments using the PPP methodology rely on outdated consumption data—Nigeria’s last major survey being in 2018/2019—and often fail to capture the informal and subsistence economies that support millions of Nigerians.

It emphasised that the World Bank’s estimate should be viewed as a modelled global projection rather than an empirical representation of present-day conditions.

“What truly matters is the trajectory,” the statement concluded, “and Nigeria’s is now one of recovery and inclusive reform.”

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has granted posthumous pardons to historical figures including Major General Mamman Vatsa and nationalist Herbert Macaulay, while also approving clemency for 82 current inmates.

The pardons were approved on Thursday following a recommendation from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), which was endorsed by the National Council of State.

Among the most notable beneficiaries are Major General Mamman Vatsa, executed in 1986 for a treason plot, and Herbert Macaulay, a founding father of Nigerian nationalism who was convicted by British colonial authorities in 1913.

The President also formally pardoned the “Ogoni Nine,” including activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were executed in 1995.

For the living, the President commuted the death sentences of seven inmates to life imprisonment and reduced the prison terms of 65 others. A total of 82 inmates were granted clemency.

Notable individuals receiving pardons include former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan and three others, allowing them to fully reintegrate into society.

The 12-member committee, chaired by the Attorney General, reviewed 294 cases, interviewing 175 inmates and considering 62 applications before making its final recommendations.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The National Council of State has unanimously approved Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The nomination of Prof. Amupitan, a 58-year-old legal scholar from Kogi State, was presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 until October 2025.

President Tinubu highlighted that Amupitan is the first individual from Kogi State to be nominated for this position and described him as apolitical.

The nomination received strong support from council members, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State endorsing the professor as a man of integrity.

In accordance with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will now forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

A professor of law at the University of Jos, Amupitan specializes in Company Law, Evidence, and Corporate Governance.

He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014 and currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos. He is married with four children.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the arrest and imprisonment of the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for contempt of court.

Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi issued the order on Monday, September 29, 2025, after ruling that Yakubu and the electoral body had disobeyed a prior court judgement mandating the relisting of national officers of the Action Alliance political party on INEC’s website.

The court ruled in favour of a suit filed by members of the Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje-led executive of the Action Alliance.

The plaintiffs alleged that INEC unlawfully removed the names of 30 state chairmen aligned with their faction from its official portal.

In suit number FHC/OS/194/2024, the plaintiffs — Action Alliance, Professor Julius Adebowale, Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, and Araoye Oyewole — sought an order compelling INEC and Professor Yakubu to reinstate their names and respect previous court judgments recognising their leadership.

The court granted the request and further ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest and initiate contempt proceedings against the defendants within seven days.

Justice Demi-Ajayi also imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against INEC and Professor Yakubu, ruling it be paid to the plaintiffs for injuries suffered due to the acts of contempt.

The order was issued just before Professor Yakubu stepped down from his role as INEC Chairman on Tuesday, having completed his tenure.

He has been succeeded in acting capacity by Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.

This latest development marks a legal and reputational setback for Yakubu, who had overseen Nigeria’s electoral body for two full terms.

By Uzair Adam

A PhD student from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), Hidaya Lawal, has called for greater recognition of the role played by Islamic scholars (ulama) in shaping Kano’s traditional healthcare system, saying their influence remains central to public health and community well-being.

The call was made on Wednesday during the second day of a two-day conference organized by the Faculty of History and Development Studies, Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

The conference, themed “Ulama and Politics in Nigeria: Historical Perspectives,” brought together scholars, clerics, and political leaders from across the country.

Presenting her paper titled “The Influence of the Ulama on the Traditional Healthcare System in Kano Metropolis,” Lawal said her study seeks to rediscover the contributions of Islamic scholars to healthcare in Kano, particularly in the post-colonial period.

She explained that traditional medicine in Kano is often misunderstood, noting that it combines Islamic medicine with refined local Hausa practices aligned with the Qur’an and Hadith.

“When we talk about traditional healthcare, people usually think of pre-jihad practices. But in Kano, traditional medicine is an integration of Islamic and Hausa medical practices that have been tested and confirmed to be in line with Islamic teachings,” she said.

Lawal added that while early scholars such as Uthman Dan Fodio and others influenced the health system in the past, modern-day ulama have not received adequate academic attention.

She said the traditional medical system in Kano is holistic and covers mental, social, and moral well-being, not just physical health.

“Unlike Western medicine, which focuses mainly on curing diseases, our traditional medicine emphasizes total well-being—what we call lafiya,” she explained.

Lawal also noted that preventive health practices found in Islam align with modern medical guidelines.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, practices like handwashing and avoiding overcrowding were already part of Islamic public health principles,” she said.

According to her, collaboration between the ulama, the government, and research institutions has strengthened public trust in traditional medicine.

“Some herbal medicines have been tested by Bayero University Kano’s Department of Pharmacognosy and found to be up to 80 percent safe,” she said.

She added that the ulama also play a key role in addressing harmful superstitions and beliefs that affect mental health.

“Their sermons have helped reduce anxiety and discrimination, especially against women, by correcting false beliefs rooted in tradition,” she said.

Lawal said her research aims to promote greater understanding of the ulama’s influence on public health and encourage the integration of traditional and modern healthcare systems in Kano.