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By Uzair Adam

Kano State Government has shut down two privately owned health training institutions in Nasarawa Local Government Area for operating without the required approvals and failing to meet regulatory standards.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa.

According to the statement, the affected institutions are IBN SINA College of Health Science and Technology, located at Dakata Kawaji adjacent to a Juma’at Mosque, and Life Line College of Health Science and Technology, situated in the Dakata Industrial Area along Bela Road, Tsamiyar Gare, Mai Sikeli Street.

The ministry said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment which found that both institutions fell short of the minimum requirements for the establishment and operation of health training schools in Kano State.

It stated that the institutions were operating without verification and approval from the Kano State Ministry of Health and had not secured accreditation from the relevant professional and regulatory bodies responsible for health education and training in Nigeria.

The assessment further revealed serious shortcomings, including a shortage of qualified teaching personnel, inadequate learning facilities, poor infrastructure and non-compliance with educational and operational standards required for effective health manpower development.

The ministry also observed poor adherence to professional ethics, regulatory guidelines and other mandatory requirements aimed at ensuring quality healthcare education and producing competent healthcare professionals.

Speaking on the closure, K/Na’isa said the ministry remained committed to protecting students, parents and the wider public from institutions that undermine educational quality and professional standards.

“The training of healthcare workers must be conducted only in institutions that meet approved standards and regulatory requirements,” he said.

He added that the government would continue to enforce compliance among health training institutions across the state to safeguard the quality and credibility of healthcare education.

The state government also warned proprietors of health training institutions to strictly comply with all legal and regulatory provisions guiding their operations.

According to the ministry, shutting down non-compliant institutions is necessary to protect students, promote quality healthcare education and maintain excellence in healthcare service delivery across Kano State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The High Court of Justice in Kebbi State has postponed proceedings in the trial of a nurse, Hannatu James, who is facing prosecution over the alleged death of two minors at Martha Bamaiyi General Hospital in Zuru.

Justice Nusirat Ibrahim Umar, who presided over the matter at the Birnin Kebbi Judicial Division on Monday, fixed July 13, 2026, for continuation of hearing after the lead counsel for the defendant was reported to be ill and absent from court.

James is being prosecuted on a one-count charge of “death caused in the act of committing an offence” contrary to Section 196 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

The defendant had earlier entered a not guilty plea.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on March 18, 2026, during treatment of seven-year-old Zulaihat Sale and three-year-old Mufida Sale at the hospital.

Prosecutors alleged that the nurse administered quinine injection intravenously instead of using the approved medical infusion process. The state further claimed that the children lost consciousness after the procedure and died shortly afterwards.

At Monday’s sitting, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice, Aishatu Abbas, led the prosecution team alongside other government lawyers.

A counsel from the defence chamber informed the court that the lead lawyer handling the case was indisposed and requested an adjournment.

The prosecution did not oppose the request. However, state counsel asked the defence team to ensure readiness at the next hearing because witnesses had travelled from Zuru to attend the proceedings.

Justice Umar subsequently granted the application for adjournment. The judge also advised the defence to make proper arrangements ahead of the next sitting, stating that any available lawyer from the chamber could proceed with the matter if necessary.

The court further directed its registry to convey apologies to the witnesses, noting that the postponement resulted from the illness of the defence counsel.

The matter was adjourned until July 13 for hearing.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has suspended a lecturer accused of physically assaulting Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) candidates who reportedly arrived late for their ongoing examinations.

The decision followed the circulation of a viral video on social media which showed the lecturer flogging some students on the institution’s campus.

The Polytechnic announced the suspension in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Hajia Halimat Garba.

According to the statement, the lecturer has been relieved of his duties pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.

“The attention of Kwara State Polytechnic management has been drawn to a viral video circulating on social media in which a lecturer is seen physically reprimanding students.

“The Management wishes to clarify that the students depicted in the video are not Polytechnic students but rather IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board) candidates who arrived late for their ongoing examinations.

“While the intention for which the action was done is not yet known, we must emphasize that the approach taken was wholly inappropriate as the Polytechnic stands firmly against any form of violence or physical punishment as a means of discipline.

“We believe that education should be rooted in respect, understanding, and constructive guidance, and that there are far more effective and humane ways to instill important values in students.

“The Polytechnic Management therefore suspends the concerned lecturer from his duties henceforth, pending the outcome of the findings on this matter.

“We appreciate the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding this incident and assures the public that the matter is being taken very seriously.”

The institution also reaffirmed its commitment to discipline and ethical standards, while assuring members of the public that steps were being taken to avoid a repeat of such conduct.

“We are determining the necessary steps to prevent subsequent recurrence in the future,” the statement added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI under the Joint Task Force, North East, have rescued more than 47 people, mostly women and children, from suspected Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters in Borno State.

The victims regained freedom during a military operation carried out in Kangarwa area of Kukawa Local Government Area.

The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement released on Monday.

According to the military, the rescue operation took place on June 20, 2026, after troops intensified attacks against terrorist hideouts around the Lake Chad region.

The statement explained that coordinated land and air assaults forced the insurgents to flee their camps, which created an opportunity for the captives to escape.

“The successful rescue operation was made possible through sustained aggressive pressure and relentless offensive operations conducted by OPHK troops against ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region,” the statement said.

Military authorities stated that the continuous offensive weakened activities within the terrorist camps and helped the victims regain freedom.

“The unrelenting ground and air offensives forced the terrorists to abandon their positions in confusion, enabling the victims to escape from prolonged captivity,” the statement added.

The military also confirmed that the rescued individuals have been relocated to a secure facility, where they are currently receiving medical care and humanitarian assistance.

Authorities added that relevant agencies are already working on plans to reunite the victims with their communities.

“This rescue further highlights the commitment of OPHK troops to not only degrade terrorist capabilities but also to secure the release of innocent civilians held against their will,” the statement said.

Operation HADIN KAI further reaffirmed its resolve to continue military offensives across the North-East until terrorist groups operating in the region are dismantled and peace is restored in affected communities.

By Uzair Adam

No fewer than 18 farmers were killed and several others injured following a fresh attack by gunmen on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attack, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, was confirmed by the Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, on Monday.

Luka said he received a distress call from a youth leader in the area shortly after midnight, informing him that armed attackers had invaded the community and opened fire on residents.

“A youth leader called around 12 a.m. and reported that gunmen had attacked the community and shot more than 20 people. So far, 18 deaths have been confirmed,” he said.

According to him, security personnel stationed in Bokkos were immediately alerted after he received the report.

“I contacted the security agencies, and they confirmed that they had already been informed and were heading to the affected community,” Luka added.

He described the attack as unprovoked and urged security agencies to take decisive measures to prevent further violence in the area.

The latest incident comes less than a week after the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos LGA, Saf Samuel Alaket, was killed in an ambush along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community.

Alaket was reportedly returning home from a traditional council meeting when he encountered the attackers.

As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack.

Efforts to reach the spokespersons of the Plateau State Police Command and Operation Enduring Peace, SP Alfred Alabo and Captain Polycarp Auta, were unsuccessful.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States government has announced a temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil exports and related transactions until August 21, 2026.

According to a statement released on Monday by the US Treasury Department, the measure will allow Iran to produce, sell and transport crude oil and associated petroleum products during the period.

The Treasury Department, which oversees US economic sanctions, stated that “All transactions” that had previously been restricted in connection with Iranian-origin crude oil “are authorized through 12:01 am eastern daylight time, August 21, 2026.”

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington decided to ease the restrictions due to commitments made by Tehran during ongoing talks with the United States and its allies.

Bessent explained that Iran had agreed to support “free and open transit” through the Strait of Hormuz. He also cited Tehran’s decision to permit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to enter the country.

The latest development comes amid continuing diplomatic efforts between both countries over regional security and energy-related concerns.

AFP reported that the temporary relief could affect global crude oil supply and international energy markets in the coming weeks.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the termination of admissions into affiliated degree programmes offered by colleges of education across the country.

The decision appeared in new registration guidelines released for Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and agriculture-related National Diploma (ND) programmes by the office of the JAMB registrar.

Under the new policy, admissions into affiliated degree programmes in colleges of education will no longer take place from the 2026/2027 academic session.

JAMB also stopped direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in colleges of education. The board stated that all candidates seeking admission into such institutions must now enter through the NCE route.

“With effect from the 2026/2027 session, no admission into the 100 or 200 level is allowed into any college of education. All entrants are through NCE,” the policy document reads.

The examination body, however, introduced measures for candidates who had earlier selected affiliated colleges of education for degree programmes through Direct Entry.

According to the board, affected candidates may change institutions without payment or transfer to the parent universities affiliated with the degree programmes.

JAMB added that candidates may also upgrade their second-choice institutions to first choice for admission processing. The board directed those interested in changing institutions to complete the process before June 22.

“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated,” the board noted.

The board also listed three options for candidates seeking 100-level admission into affiliated colleges of education through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The candidates may change institutions, promote their second-choice institutions to first choice, or move to the NCE programme.

JAMB explained that candidates who choose the NCE option must obtain an O’ level verification code from the appropriate examination body and pay a registration fee of N700 on the board’s portal.

“The candidate may be moved to the NCE programme of the institution, on the understanding that the choice of the college of education indicates an interest in pursuing the NCE qualification,” JAMB said.

The board further stated that any candidate who accepts the NCE option and receives admission recommendation will have any existing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

“Anyone who chooses NCE and is proposed/recommended would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,” the board said.

JAMB disclosed that details of candidates who had already applied for changes of institution through the 2026 UTME would automatically move to their preferred first-choice colleges of education or agriculture-related non-technology ND programmes.

The board also introduced compulsory O’ level verification for all NCE applicants. It fixed the fee at N1,500 for one sitting and N2,000 for two sittings.

Earlier in March, the Federal Government exempted candidates seeking admission into colleges of education from writing the UTME.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had said candidates with four credit passes in relevant subjects could apply to colleges of education without sitting for the examination.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Nigerian Army, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have destroyed terrorist camps during a military operation in Sambisa Forest within Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The operation took place around 8:26 a.m. on June 19. Troops attached to the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison carried it out during a raid on suspected terrorist enclaves in the forest.

According to sources quoted by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the joint security team targeted locations believed to serve as hideouts for terrorists operating within the Sambisa axis.

The troops reportedly encountered suspected fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Disa and Balangaje villages. The suspects fled after sighting the advancing troops.

Security operatives later destroyed camps and logistics facilities allegedly used by the insurgents for shelter and operational planning.

Military authorities said the mission forms part of ongoing efforts to weaken terrorist networks and restrict their movement within the Sambisa Forest area.

No casualty was recorded among the troops during the operation.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A human rights activist has called on the Inspector-General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into allegations that police officers in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, handed over a female suspect to an angry mob that subsequently lynched and burnt her to death.

In a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Human Rights Activist Hamza N Dantani, Esq, demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ummulkhair, an Islamic school teacher accused of child theft.

According to the petition, the deceased was apprehended by members of the public and taken to the Maraban Jos Police Division for her protection and to facilitate proper investigation. However, reports indicate that a large crowd later stormed the police station, demanding that the woman be handed over to them.

The situation has been further complicated by allegations from the deceased’s husband and another woman who publicly testified that Ummulkhair was alive while in police custody. They further alleged that the Divisional Police Officer personally took custody of the woman before she was allegedly handed over to the mob.

If these allegations prove true, the activist argues, they constitute a “shocking violation” of constitutional and statutory responsibilities imposed upon members of the Nigeria Police Force.

The petition cited Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, and Section 34, which guarantees the right to dignity of the human person. It also referenced the Police Act, 2020, which places a clear obligation upon police officers to protect lives and property.

“Every person accused of a crime remains entitled to the protection of the law and is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law,” the petition states.

The activist cited several Supreme Court decisions, including Nasiru Bello v. Attorney-General of Oyo State (1986) and Fawehinmi v. Abacha (2000), which reaffirmed the sanctity of human life and the supremacy of fundamental rights.

The petition also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly Articles 4, 5, and 7, which guarantee the right to life, respect for human dignity, and the right to a fair hearing.

“The deceased, irrespective of the allegations against her, was entitled to these protections. No allegation of criminal conduct can justify mob justice or extra-judicial execution,” the activist stated.

The petition called for the preservation of all station records, detention registers, occurrence books, communication records, and any available CCTV footage. It also requested that all officers on duty, including the DPO, be invited to make statements and account for their actions.

The activist further demanded that witnesses, including the husband of the deceased and other persons with material information, be provided adequate protection to ensure they can assist investigators without fear of intimidation.

“This matter goes beyond the death of one individual. It touches on the integrity of the criminal justice system, the constitutional obligation of the Police to protect lives and the fundamental principle that no citizen should be condemned or executed without due process of law,” the petition concluded.

The activist has urged that the outcome of the investigation be made public and that any officer or individual found culpable be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Kaduna State Police Command has launched a manhunt for suspects involved in the brutal killing of a woman who was lynched by a mob after being accused of child stealing in Maraban Jos.

The victim, a native of Maraban Jos, was attacked by residents on Sunday, 21st June, 2026, over allegations that she was involved in child theft. Police officers who arrived at the scene rescued the woman and moved her to the station for safety and investigation.

However, shockingly, a large crowd numbering hundreds later stormed the police station, overwhelmed officers on duty, forcibly removed the woman from custody, killed her, and set her body ablaze.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mandir Hassan, described the incident as “barbaric, criminal, and a direct assault on the rule of law.”

The Command warned that no person or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands, stressing that jungle justice would not be tolerated.

Several suspects have already been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend others who participated in the mob action. The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, assured that a comprehensive investigation has commenced and that all culprits would face the full weight of the law.

“The Command will not tolerate jungle justice, mob action, or attacks on police formations and personnel,” CP Muhammad warned.

Residents have been urged to report suspicious persons or activities to the Police and allow due process to take its course.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and upholding justice in accordance with the law.