By Uzair Adam Imam

The abductors of Hajiya Hauwa’u Adamu, mother of famous Hausa musician Dauda Adamu (Rarara), have demanded a ransom of N900m for her release.

The abductors initially demanded N1bn but reduced the amount after a brief discussion with a family member.

According to a source close to the family, the abductors called the family with a phone they stole during the abduction and confirmed that Hajiya is in good condition.

The family is still waiting for the abductors’ call to continue with the negotiation.

The abduction was a well-coordinated operation, with the bandits using a photograph of Hajiya to identify her.

They woke up all the women in the bedroom and compared their faces to the photograph before taking Hajiya away.

The entire village of Kahutu is in shock over the kidnapping, as Hajiya is known for her generosity and kindness to many families in the village.

The family is still waiting for the abductors’ call to continue with the negotiation.

No arrests have been made, and the family is still waiting for the abductors’ next move.

The incident has left the community in shock and fear, with many calling for the safe release of Hajiya.

 By Anwar Usman 

The troops of the Nigerian Army killed a kidnap kingpin and arrested two other notorious terrorists during multiple raids of IPOB hideouts in the state, the army said in a statement on their X account formally known as twitter on Monday. 

One of the operations was conducted at a suspected IPOB hideout in Ezeinyen Okwe Umucheke, a community in Onuimo Local Government Area of the state.

The operation was targeted at the suspected IPOB Bigwig identified as Chinemerem, popularly known as “Bam Bam” in the community. 

“The operation led to the neutralisation of Chinemerem, as he attempted to reach for his weapon and the arrest of several of his accomplices,” the army said on their X handle. 

“A substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, and IPOB/ESN equipment were seized, and the hideout was subsequently destroyed.” 

The statement said the troops subsequently intercepted other suspected IPOB/ESN members at another hideout in Ama Hausa in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state. 

Tyey added that, “Overpowered in the ensuing shootout, the (suspected) terrorists were forced to flee in unruliness, abandoning a collection of ammunition and motorcycles”. 

Seventy-two rounds of 7.62 x 51mm NATO ammunition, four rounds of 7.62 mm (special), three rounds of 5.56mm, one FN rifle, a pair of military desert boots and one green beret were recovered from the hoodlums, according to the army. 

Though the army did not identify the security operatives who took part in the operations, it said the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies. 

A similar operation was conducted in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, which targeted two other notorious Bigwigs – Izuchukwu Emejuru, otherwise known as “Kingkong,” and Chibuzor Chikwe, also known as ‘’Onyema.” 

During the operation, some valuables reportedly belonging to Ugonna Iriele, the traditional ruler of Ogberuru in the Orlu Council Area, were recovered by the troops. 

Furthermore, “The raid resulted in the arrest of these suspects and the confiscation of a variety of weapons, including a Semi-automatic pump-action gun, a locally made gun, and a pistol,” it said. 

IPOB, a group seeking the independent state of Biafra to be carved out of the South-East and some parts of south-south, Nigeria, has been linked to the deadly attacks in the regions.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of Kano State High Court has, on Tuesday, adjourned until July 4, hearing an application in the ongoing Kano Emirship tussle case. 

The Attorney General of Kano State, Speaker Kano State House of Assembly and Kano State House of Assembly, through their counsel Ibrahim Isah Wangida Esq, filed a motion ex parte dated May 27 seeking an order restraining court the 15th emir, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye from parading themselves as traditional rulers. 

The respondents are Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, Bichi Emir; Dr Ibrahim Abubakar ll, Emir of Karaye; Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, Emir of Rano and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya, emir of Gaya. 

Others are the Inspector-General of Police, Director of the State Security Service, Nigeria Security and civil defence and Nigeria army. 

During the hearing on Tuesday on all pending applications, Counsel to the applicants, Mr Eyitayo Fatogun SAN, informed the court that he was served with five processes on July 1, at about 6:30 p. m by the first respondent, adding that the responses have been filed accordingly. 

“We urge the court to give us 30 minutes to stand down to enable us to serve the respondent with our responses.” Counsel to Aminu Ado Bayero, Abdul Muhammed SAN, opposed the 30 minutes stand down and sought for an adjournment to enable him reply and file all their applications. 

The court then adjourned the matter to July 4, for hearing of all pending applications and originating motion. 

The court had on May 27, granted an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th respondents by themselves, servants, privies, from parading themselves as Emirs in the interest of peace in Kano. 

The State House of Assembly on May 23, dissolved all the four newly created Emirate council’s in the state and Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, reappointed Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Freeman Charles Ogbonna, a Delhi, India-bound passenger, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug trafficking. 

Ogbonna was arrested on Sunday, March 31, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine. 

He was taken into custody by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the screening point of Terminal 2 of the airport.

Preliminary checks revealed that Ogbonna was using a Liberian international passport named Carr Bismark. 

However, further investigation revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna. He was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody, where he exhibited discomfort.

Ogbonna eventually vomited and excreted the drugs over four days, passing out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus. 

He claimed that he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives and was promised N300,000 if he successfully delivered the consignment in India.

The NDLEA arraigned Ogbonna before Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court in Lagos on a charge of committing an offence contrary to section 20(1)(b) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004.

In his judgement, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ogbonna to 25 years in prison without an option of a fine. 

The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the MMIA Command and the prosecution team for their diligent case handling.

Marwa stated that the judiciary remains a strong pillar in the effort to curb substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. 

He added that Ogbonna’s conviction would send a strong signal to drug barons and their mules that there would be no hiding place for them.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Tragedy struck in Katsina State as bandits killed Dr. Tiri Gyan David, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA), and abducted his two children. 

The attack occurred at the lecturer’s residence in Yarima Quarters, Low-Cost Estate, Dutsinma Local Government Area, around 1:30 am on Tuesday.

The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, shot sporadically to scare residents. 

An eyewitness reported that the hoodlums invaded the community, causing chaos and fear.

Dr. David was the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension, and Rural Development at FUDMA. 

His killing is the latest in a series of bandit attacks in the state, despite efforts to restore peace.

The Katsina Police Command confirmed the incident, promising a detailed statement soon. 

The command’s spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, acknowledged the attack but did not provide further details.

Dutsinma is one of the ten security frontline local government areas grappling with frequent bandit attacks almost daily, despite efforts by both the state government and security agencies to restore peace in the state.

The incident has sparked outrage and concern among residents, with many calling for increased security measures to protect lives and properties.

By Abdulrahman salihu

Electricity is one of the most crucial factors in the development of every industrial country, which factories, financial hubs, and technological companies rely heavily upon for their operations.

In Nigeria, on 1st April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased the price of Kilowatt per hour by 300% from N68 Naira to N225 Naira to urban Customers popularly known as “Band A” customers, who are 15% of the total number of Electricity Consumers in the country.

The electricity tariff increment comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in his inauguration speech on 29 May 2023, which triggered massive hyperinflation in Nigeria that resulted in hikes on almost every commodity and inflicted severe suffering among Nigerians.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has claimed that the hike in the electricity tariff will only affect the “Band A” customers. Therefore, the remaining 75% of customers (Band B-C-D-E) who get less than 20 hours daily will not be affected.

However, the multiplier effect of the tariff increment dramatically influences the cost of production of foodstuff processing companies, manufacturers and other producers of goods that the masses use, thereby affecting the price of commodities.

Moreover, some artisans and small business owners have been put out of business because the financial institutions will increase the interest rate to meet the electricity tariff hike, making it unaffordable to businesses that take loans from them, rendering the artisans jobless. Businesses will collapse in the long run.

On the other hand, the government may not be able to generate revenue from the businesses that shut down, so also the artisans and craftsmen will not get customers as a result of lack of adequate electricity in their “Band”, which will make them unable to pay taxes to the government. 

Therefore, as a matter of urgency, the federal government and the stakeholders in the power sector should suspend the electricity tariff increment and invest in modern solar power plants. This will generate more power for the country and will go a long way in mitigating global warming and climate change.

The federal government should also find ways to improve the electricity supply, as the current supply is insufficient to make things work effectively. 

The governors of hydroelectric power-producing states should initiate policies and partner with international investors to boost power generation for their states and the country. At the same time, the other states should also render support where necessary.

This will encourage foreign investors to troop to Nigeria for investment, bringing job opportunities and facilitating unprecedented revenue flow into the accounts of both the federal and state governments.

Abdulrahman Salihu wrote via abutalatu72@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The National Assembly on Tuesday, granted full financial and administrative autonomy to all 774 local council authorities across Nigeria by amending Section 124 of the nation’s constitution. 

The section provides a consequential provision for the making of the local councils a full third tier government without undue interference from the state governments. 

The amendment was one of 22 others approved by the House of Representatives last week and ratified by the Senate on Tuesday. 

Both chambers had, through a conference committee, harmonised versions of the amendments to the constitution carried out by each of them last month. 

By this development, the National Assembly had ratified all the 23 clauses and sections that had been amended by both chambers. 

The newly amended document, which would be sent to the State Houses of Assembly for approval, also approved the creation of the Office of Auditor General of the Local Government as well as the State Local Government Service Commission. 

The section equally deleted the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) from the constitution, thereby vesting the powers to conduct council elections on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

It, however, retained the immunity clause in the constitution for the President and Governors by adopting the Senate version of the amendments on the issue and rejecting the House of Representatives version, which removed the immunity clause. 

The National Assembly also made provisions for independent candidature in future elections in Nigeria by amending sections 65 and 106 of the 1999 constitution.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said no fewer than 25 persons died while 53 persons were injured in an accident that occurred along the Kano-Kaduna highway on Monday. 

The corps’ public education officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said this in a statement in Abuja. 

He said the crash involved a trailer conveying about 90 persons at about 03:15 a.m. Mr Ogungbemide said the accident was caused by a speed violation that eventually led the vehicle to lose control. 

“However, the FRSC emergency and rescue team was able to rescue 12 persons without injury from the crash. 

“The rescued victims have been taken to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano for proper medical attention,’’ he said. 

Mr Ogungbemide said the truck driver had been arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution. 

The spokesman, however, quoted the FRSC corps marshal, Shehu Mohammed, as calling on traditional and religious leaders to join FRSC in the campaign against conveying humans, goods, and animals by trailers. 

Mr Shehu also implored them to caution their subjects against travelling on such trailers.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The governing councils of federal universities, polytechnics, and other tertiary institutions are scheduled to be officially inaugurated on July 4, 2024. 

On Monday, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, shared this information during her acceptance speech as she assumed leadership of the institution. 

A combined total of 560 people have been appointed by President Tinubu to serve on the governing councils and boards of tertiary institutions owned by the Federal Government.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made a significant seizure of arms and ammunition at the Port Harcourt Area II Command in Onne, Rivers State.

According to the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the seizure was made on June 21, 2024, following credible intelligence. 

The intercepted container from Turkey contained 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition, concealed among other items.

The total duty-paid value of the seized items is ₦4,171,710,000.00. Three suspects have been detained in connection with the seizure, and an investigation is ongoing. 

The CGC stated, “This interception underscores our commitment to national security and public safety. We remain vigilant and committed to our duty.”

The seizure is a result of the NCS’s robust Risk Management System and collaboration with local and international intelligence communities. 

The container will be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution.

Licenses and permits for warehouses and terminals involved have been suspended, and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions. 

The Comptroller General commended the Customs Area Comptroller Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede, and his team for their professionalism and acknowledged the support from local and international partners and other government agencies.

He warned, “This seizure serves as a strong warning to others contemplating similar misadventures. We will run you out of business; the NCS continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the security of its citizens.”