By Muhammad Aminu

No fewer than 45 suspected thugs were arrested by police in Kano metropolis trying to cause mayhem and rob unsuspecting passersby, thereby disrupting public peace and stability in the state.

In a statement on Monday, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa said they recovered weapons and illicit drugs from the thugs.

According to Kiyawa, the suspects were planning to terrorise the public when Operations Puff Adder sorrounded the area after a distress call from good-spirited individuals.

The statement read in part: “Forty-five (45) suspected thugs (‘Yan Daba) were arrested with dangerous weapons and large quantity of illicit drugs. Suspects confessed that, they were invited from different parts of Kano Metropolis in name (sic) of attending a wedding ceremony, and converged at “Filin Mahaha” smoking and taking different types of illicit drugs.

“On the 26/06/2022 at about 1300hrs, reports were received through the command’s emergency numbers; 08032419754 and 08123821575, that groups of thugs (‘Yan Daba) in large number with dangerous weapons were sighted blocking Kofar Na’isa and Kwanar Diso, Gwale LGA Kano, in an attempt to attack and rob members of the public especially passersby and road users.

“On receipt of the reports, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, raised and instructed teams of Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Bashir Musa Gwadabe to proceed to the scene. The area was immediately cordoned off and the thugs trapped at “Filin Mahaha.”

Kano City has been witnessing upsurge of thuggery including phone snatching and attacks on passersby although police claims to be taking control of the situation.

Analysts say thug activities are likely to increase in the State as we approach 2023 general election as politicians exploit jobless youths in advancing their political interests.

According to SP Kiyawa, the Commissioner of Police directed for discreet investigation into the activities of the thugs prior to their prosecution in the Court.

While commending residents for volunteering information to the Police, he called for support from the general public to rid the State of criminals and their criminalities.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Ansaru terrorist group reportedly took over communities in the eastern part of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State and banned political activities.

The Daily Reality gathered that this was not the first time the terrorists conquered the area, recruited young residents and married up their young girls.

According Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union (BEPU), who spoke through its chairman, Ishaq Kasai, the terrorists have camps in seven political wards in the eastern part of the Local government area.

He added, “In fact, the group continue to gain acceptance from many members of the communities, particularly in Old Kuyello and Damari of Kazage Ward. Even this week, two members of the group were engaged to wed two girls and will be tying the nuptial knots by the coming Saturday.

“The Ansaru (grooms) laid down some rules to the in-laws for the wedding. They ruled that, after the wedding, they would take the brides to the forests and live there with them and do not want the brides to go along with any furniture except plates (coolers) and mattresses because anything other than that is not in tandem with their beliefs and convictions.

“A disturbing scenario is where the group banned all political activities in many communities such as Damari of Kazage Ward. Politicians from these communities have to go far away secretly to the neighbouring communities before they hold political meetings.

“For instance, this week, an Okada rider who lives in Unguwar Makera of Kazage Ward was seen with a sticker of one of the candidates vying for the Kaduna State House of Assembly, and he was thoroughly beaten by the Ansaru.

“People in these communities are now disenchanted and frustrated about participating in political activities.

“We don’t know how the coming Elections will take place in those areas because even the last Local Government Election did not hold in the Area due to the escalating insecurity, which made the election results be declared inconclusive, and a Sole Administrator was appointed overseeing the affairs the Local Government up till now.

“In short, the Ansaru are now in charge of many of the communities in the area, and the group is expanding its occupation. They now call the shot and determine what is to be done in the villages they are dominating,”‘ he said.

No intervention from the government

Kasai decried that there has been no government or military intervention in these communities long since the attack.

He lamented, “our communities are being attacked, people kidnapped and killed daily without a response, acknowledgement or report from Government.

“We call on the Government to please organise a coordinated security operation both aerial and ground to the hideouts of these criminals in our forests in order to flush them and stop daily killings of our people by the unchallenged terrorist groups surrounding our communities,” he said.

However, the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Jalige, stated that he needed to study the statement before comments.

By Muhammad Aminu

Kano State Government has said that all students who passed its qualifying examination would write the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination organised by the National Examination Council (NECO).

Kano State Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, told journalists in Kano on Monday that the Kano State Government had settled part of its debt with the examination body.

Malam Garba further debunked what he called “erroneous reports” that the State owes NECO N15 billion naira.

He confirmed that 15, 313 students would sit for the examination as planned.

Mal Garba also hinted that the examination would not hold on Monday as it is only the Test Interpretation Practical for teachers to come up with modalities for the practical exams that would be held Monday.

He said the State Government also paid examination fees for over 1000 students with special needs in public schools to enable them to write this year’s examination.

He said: “We have settled for 15,313 Students with nine credits and the essay part of the exam is commencing on 4th July while the State still paid for 1,018,000 Disabled Students, which means that the story that Kano is holding N15 Billion Debts is untrue”.

According to the Commissioner, 7,500 female students’ registration fees had been also settled as part of a special intervention to promote girl-child education in Kano State.

He added that LGAs cumulatively also sponsored 5,400 students for the examination.

“15,313 students that had 9 credits from qualifying examination; 1,018 students living with disabilities, as well as 7,300 for Special Intervention which is basically for Girl Child Education; and local government councils paid for 5,400 students,” the Commissioner explained.

The Daily Reality reported earlier that Kano students may not write the examination due to debt settlement conflict between Kano State Government and the examination body.

The examination body demands settlement of N700m of the N1.5bn before the students will be allowed.

He said the state government had paid NECO N356m last week and would finalise their discussion any moment to resolve the impasses.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports reaching The Daily Reality have indicated Justice Tanko Muhammad, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, has resigned.

According to sources, Justice Muhammad announced his resignation on Sunday night and gave his reason as being ill.

Arrangements are reportedly being made to appoint Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the next-highest ranking justice on the Supreme Court, as interim Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Sources disclosed that there would soon be a formal statement about the resignation.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Residents living in the Mada district of the Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, have lamented that gunmen operating in the area have now taken complete control of the region.

According to available information, the district’s residents had abandoned their communities as a result of the men of the underworld’s relentless terror strikes.

A source states that numerous peasants have set up camp along the route between Kotorkoshi and Mada town as refugees after the robbers defeated the security personnel.

“We have not taken our baths for some days now because the notorious bandits have hijacked the entire area as they have overpowered the security operatives.

“As I am talking to you now, I don’t know the whereabouts of my two wives and children and I don’t know whether they have been kidnapped or they escaped to another area.

“We have no other means of livelihood except farming but we have been banned from our farming activities by bandits. The only wife and children with me now have entered Kotorkoshi village to beg for food for us to survive,” a resident identified as Mallan Ibrahim Mada was quoted as saying.

Recall that the Zamfara State government through its commissioner of information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara and that of Security and Internal Affairs confirmed that Mada district has been witnessing incessant terror attacks.

This forced the government to close all the markets and gas stations in the affected areas due to the increasing frequency of banditry operations in the axis.

“The State government is aware of the plight of the people due to banditry activities bedevilling the entire area; we, therefore, decided to shut down all the markets and filling stations to reduce the incessant terror attacks in the axis.

The incessant attacks appear to be one of the reasons the Matawalle-led administration seeks the Federal Government’s approval to legalise the use of firearms by residents of the affected communities.

The commissioner said, “We engaged the Federal Government into dialogue so that it can approve our request for everyone that is qualified to be carrying weapons for self-defense to reduce the tension.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A young man reportedly passed away after donating kidney to his ailing mother who needed a transplant.

According to Ahmed Muntaqa, who announced the young man’s demise on Facebook, the mother is doing well after the transplant but the young man died.

“This young man died shortly after donating kidney to his mother. What a heart touching death. 💔💔The mother survived the surgery and she’s alive as we speak now. May the soul of this gentleman rest in peace and may Jannatul Firdaus be his last abode..” Muntaqa wrote on Facebook.

The identity of the donor who is now reportedly dead is sketchy at the time of fielding this report, however, many have taken to their social media account to pray for the dead donor and commend the wonderful gesture.

Baffa Sanusi, a lawyer who shared Muntaqa’s post prayed that God should give people the strength to take care of their parents.

“Ya Allah give us the strength to take care of our parents, like they took care of us when we were little,” Sanusi wrote.

By Muhammad Aminu & Uzair Adam Imam

Kano State students from public secondary schools may not write the 2022 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) due to the failure of the Kano State Government to settle outstanding debt of N1.5bn to the National Examination Council (NECO).

Sources familiar with the matter in the Kano Ministry of Education and NECO office confirmed to The Daily Reality.

The examination body has been in touch with the Kano State Government for the settlement of the debt, but the feedback remained negative.

At least 15000 students from Kano State public secondary schools are expected to sit for the examination, whose fees are paid by the Kano State Government.

Insiders in the NECO Office said that due to the indebtedness, which affects logistics and other obligations, it is less likely for the exam to commence tomorrow, June 27, as scheduled nationwide.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary Kano State Ministry of Education, Hajia Lauratu Ado, told Solacebase that the state government is already discussing with NECO.

Hajia Lauratu said the state government had paid NECO N356m last week. Still, the examination body insisted that N700m must be paid before the state students would be allowed to write the examination.

“We are surprised with the stand of NECO because apart from the payment of N356m, the state government also wrote a commitment letter to the body stating that N50m would be released to the examination body monthly.

“The examination body did not inform us that it did not accept our commitment and the payment of the N356m not until yesterday. Since then, we have been in discussion with NECO so as to address the issue,” quoting the Permanent Secretary.

Hajia Lauratu said the state government is committed to releasing another N300m to enable Kano students to participate in the examination, but the NECO’s portal was not available as at Sunday evening.

NECO’s Public Relations Officer, Azeez Sani, said he is unaware of the development between NECO and Kano State Government.

Meanwhile, parents and teachers lament the lackadaisical attitude with which Kano State Government is handling the education sector in the state.

“Look, I paid the fees for my children and I was told they may not be allowed to write the examination starting tomorrow due to the government owing NECO, how is that my problem?

“As I speak with you, my children are disturbed about the situation,” said a parent.

A secondary teacher who spoke in confidence to The Daily Reality said: “The development is very traumatic. The Kano State Government has failed both teachers and students, let alone parents.

“Government shouldn’t have allowed this to happen. The debt of about N1.5bn should be paid, so our students do not miss this year’s exams.”

It can be recalled that NECO withheld the 2021 results for Kano students due to the outstanding debt the state owed the Council.

Similarly, in 2022, Kano State Government drew public outcry for declining to pay NECO fees for students that failed the Qualifying Examination.

By Tijjani Muhammad Musa

Our primary problems in Northern Nigeria (Arewa) as far as the media landscape is concerned are a lack of support and patronage for our own media outlets, shallow-mindedness of our Arewa celebrities and self-centeredness of our social media influencers. Let me briefly explain these.

When a media outlet is floated, whether physically or online, many of our intelligentsia would choose to ignore it and refuse to contribute to its development, survival or sustenance. Some even find it offensive to see their writings featured on such platforms. So how can you imagine them making any effort towards reaching more people via such channels with their brilliant ideas?

This lack of encouragement by the intellectual elites of the Arewa region eventually quashes the zeal of the owners of the medium. So they end up laying their medium to rest, and nobody bothers to ask them why.

Next, our Arewa celebrities are primarily uneducated, digitally unsophisticated or advanced in thinking enough to realize the importance of their newfound status.

Instead of leveraging their popularity to drive home the concerns and aspirations of their people, their region and religion across the country or even globally, most of them just let the star status get into their heads. Thus, they end up as an ill wind that blows nobody good.

Finally, our Social Media influencers, most of them except for a minute few, are more or less acting like local champions, without any focus on using their influence to change the mindset of their followers.

These so-called influencers are constantly striving to create and upload content that only keeps the fire of attention from their followers burning, thereby getting them more and more Likes, comments, and emotes.

Very few among the influencers bother to target being a voice of the masses they represent. In contrast, their voices could be heard echoing the primary issues that concern their embattled region on a national and global scale so that something is done about it.

And they also would refuse to echo and make a trend of burning matters that affect their people, region and religion. A typical example is the acquisition of PVC for the 2023 elections. Have you seen any Arewa Social Media influencers making it a topic of importance? Almost none!

That attitude is unlike that of their counterparts across the divide and globe, who would each lend their support and credence to any trending topic of local, state, regional, national and global concern. Create and add their voices to any other SMI’s effort, so it assumes a loudness nobody can ignore.

Ours would instead choose to write or talk about what will keep their fans entertained, no matter how mundane that is.

Tijjani Muhammad Musa, alias Poetic Tee, is the Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Kano Chapter. He can be reached via mmtijjani@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Abdulhadi

Math phobia, as from the name, means fear of mathematics or a mixed feeling of tension and apprehension towards mathematics. When dealing with mathematics, many students feel like they are in the middle of a battle with little or no chance of surviving. Thus, such feeling interferes with the atmosphere of their emotional and intellectual status, hindering them from understanding the concept.

I will begin this article with a true story that happened to me when I was in secondary school. I told myself that mathematics is a gift, but I was left to believe that I lacked that gift. Hence I would not even practice what I was taught in mathematics class, even though I don’t know how to simplify simple fraction addition.

The real journey began when I secured admission to a university to study in the Faculty of Sciences. Among the prerequisite courses I had to take, mathematics was among, and in the university, the fear of carry-over will hunt someone to his sleep. So, naturally, the student will try every possible means to see that he is free from such prison; that was what I did.

When I absolutely realized that I had to pass those elementary mathematics and other elementary courses that require the application of mathematics, like Chemistry and Physics, I decided to face my fears. I firstly installed in my mind that mathematics was no gift. Then, I started practising every topic taught in mathematics class, solving numerous examples, and going to tutorials and group discussions. In less than three months, I realized mathematics was not a gift. All it needs is the morale to learn and the time to practice where you have missed.

After I paid the price of time sacrifice, I began to enjoy mathematics more than any course. Moreover, understanding mathematics helped me significantly pass other elementary courses like Physical Chemistry and Mechanics with A grades, including mathematics which was almost every 100-level student’s headache.

In short, I face my fears, and I surely did see wonders in less than three months, and so does everyone that thinks mathematics is a gift to certain people. If only you can face that fear hidden inside of you and pay the little price you have to pay, I’m more than sure that you, too, will see wonders    

Ahmad Abdulhadi wrote via bnabdulhadee@gmail.com.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

Every 26th day of June is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as identified by the United Nations. This year is not unprecedented due to the menace that keeps rising, which sadly causes untold hardship to our communities and the world in general.

The date is to commemorate Lin Zexu’s dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, ending on June 25, 1839, just before the First Opium War in China. The observance was instituted by General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of 7th December 1987. The global observance of the day aims to raise awareness of the major dilemma that illicit drugs represent to society. Indeed, the aim is an expression of the United Nations’ determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

Justice and health are two sides of the same coin when it comes to addressing drug problems. The pertinent question is: what have we done in our immediate communities to address this situation that is posing a danger to our survival as a society and a nation? Are we to maintain silence while the future of our children and that of unborn children is on the brink? No! Most of the crimes committed were done after the criminals took drugs and illicit trafficking caused, according to sociological trumpets.

In Nigeria, the Boko Haram in the Northeast, ungodly bandits and kidnapping in the North West, and the IPOB terrorists in the southeast have something in common, which is criminality, havoc and destruction. However, the acts were mostly committed after taking unprescribed drugs, which are injurious to the health and well-being of the people.

Perhaps, those taking illicit drugs don’t know the dangers and injuries they create for their lives and, at the same time, for society. It’s the drug that impels them to commit crimes against humanity, which, of course, triggers instability in the world. However, there has never been a better time to convert this serious threat into a human cooperative existence than now. But, to achieve this, we must destabilise the sources of illicit drugs.

For one thing, you can’t discourage and combat illegal drugs and trafficking without addressing irresponsible parenting; how could God bless you with juveniles and then neglect their proper upbringing? In our society, you see someone with ten youngsters or more without taking care of their full responsibility. We must take the bold step and tell ourselves the truth. Never produce what you can’t take care of. Their moral upbringing is a primary responsibility of every parent. The association of pair groups in such a way trains your wards to be good ambassadors to society. for them to be productive citizens of the country and the world. 

The Nigerian drug law enforcement agencies must take their obligations with all seriousness. Indeed, perpetrators must be punished according to the law of the land. This is the only way that will serve as a deterrent to all with similar horrible intentions, and of course, at the same time, our justice system must be overhauled.

It’s clear in the northern part of the country, some hawkers go round selling illicit drugs, expired and villagers are taken with their hard-earned resources without doctors’ prescriptions, which post hazards to the health care system. This and similar illegal actions should be properly checked. Indeed, health is wealth. We should all play our part in spreading awareness to make our environment clean and live in a prosperous world.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani wrote from Galadima Mahmoud Street, kasuwar Kaji Azare, Bauchi State.