Kano

By Uzair Adam

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has addressed the growing speculations regarding the potential defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), to the APC.

During a press conference held at the party’s state headquarters in Kano on Friday, APC State Chairman Hon. Abdullahi Abbas acknowledged that the party, under its renewed hope agenda, is actively receiving defectors from various political parties.

However, Abbas expressed concern over what he described as strategic attempts by certain political actors, particularly those with controversial pasts, to seek refuge within the APC.

“We are fully aware that some individuals are desperate to join the APC because they have squandered their political goodwill and are looking to the APC for relevance,” Abbas stated.

He stated that joining the APC should not be seen as a means to evade accountability or to escape scrutiny from anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC.

“Joining the APC is not a shield from anti-corruption scrutiny or consequences,” Abbas asserted.

The party also called on prospective defectors who have previously made derogatory statements against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to offer public apologies as a sign of remorse and respect for future relationships.

“We unequivocally call on all those prospective defectors who have earlier made derogatory statements against our leaders to offer a public apology,” Abbas said.

Furthermore, the APC Kano chapter reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice, and a transparent political process, urging prospective members to align with the party’s principles rather than use it as an escape route.

This development comes amid ongoing political realignments in Kano State, with both the APC and NNPP experiencing defections.

Notably, the APC has recently received former NNPP members, including ex-NNPP National Chairman Prof. Rufa’i Alkali and other chieftains, who cited the APC’s accommodating platform as a reason for their defection.

By Uzair Adam

A late-night fire outbreak has razed the shop of a popular TikToker, Rahama Saidu, located along UDB Road in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.

The incident occurred just hours after officials of the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) demolished parts of the shop, citing illegal structural extensions.

Although the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, an eyewitness who spoke to journalists at the scene on Thursday night alleged that the blaze may have been triggered by a spark from welding activities in a nearby shop.

According to the eyewitness, a neighbouring shop owner had engaged welding engineers to carry out repairs on his property, which was also affected by the demolition.

“After the demolition, Rahama came and cleared all her belongings from the shop. Unfortunately, this fire broke out not long after,” the source added.

Aside from Rahama’s shop, a photographer’s store in the same area was also affected by the inferno.

Security operatives were later seen cordoning off the area to prevent any possible looting.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Kaduna State Government has rescued a 7-year-old boy, Abubakar Sani, after his father, Sani Tanimi Maishago, allegedly poured hot water on his legs as punishment for stealing biscuits in Lere Local Government Area.

According to reports, the father tied Abubakar’s legs before scalding him and, with the help of the boy’s stepmother, locked him in a room for over 20 days without proper food or medical care.

By the time authorities intervened, the child’s legs had become severely infected, with maggots infesting the wounds.

Hajiya Rabi Salisu, Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, visited Abubakar at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where doctors were forced to amputate both legs below the knee to save his life.

“We will ensure justice is served as a deterrent to others,” Salisu stated, confirming that the father and stepmother have been arrested and will face prosecution.

Dr. Abdulkadir Musa, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, said Abubakar will need artificial limbs to aid his mobility, urging parents to avoid extreme punishments that cause irreversible harm.

The case highlights Kaduna State’s zero-tolerance policy toward child abuse, with officials vowing to pursue strict legal action.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has pledged to take firm action against any teacher or school staff member found guilty of sexually harassing students, warning that such offenders will face legal prosecution.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Student Matters, Ibrahim Ma’ajiyi Sumaila, at a high-level stakeholders meeting organized by the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA).

The event aimed to address the growing concern of sexual harassment in educational institutions.“As an Islamic state, Kano will not fold its arms and watch our daughters suffer abuse and humiliation. Any teacher who dares to violate a student will be flushed out and prosecuted without delay,” Sumaila declared.

He also assured full government support to NGOs championing advocacy and reform in the education sector.

The meeting, which included students, legal experts, journalists, and civil society groups, marked the launch of a six-month project by CAJA focused on curbing sexual harassment through strategic institutional policy-making.

Kabiru Sa’id Dakata, CAJA’s Executive Director, explained that the initiative aims to develop clear, stand-alone policies for tertiary and secondary schools, noting that many institutions either lack such policies or bury them in vague student handbooks.

“We spent three years pushing for a national law on sexual harassment—it’s a slow process. Now, we are pursuing individual institutions to adopt clearer policies,” he said.

Dakata pointed out that many victims suffer in silence, with some dropping out or failing academically for resisting the advances of predatory lecturers.

“Students often don’t even know where to report these incidents. That’s a failure of the system,” he added.

Delivering a paper on the topic, Barrister Maryam Ahmad Abubakar defined sexual harassment as any unwanted verbal, physical, or psychological behavior of a sexual nature that disrupts the learning environment.

She reiterated the importance of education, moral guidance, and religious teachings in tackling the issue.

Among the strategies proposed were enforcing strict penalties, adjusting admission and employment ages, and incorporating moral instruction into general studies curricula.

Supported by the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund and other partners, CAJA also plans to empower survivors as advocates, conduct outreach in selected schools, and produce awareness materials to amplify the campaign.

By Uzair Adam

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting in Abuja with Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila and House of Representatives members Kabiru Alhassan Rurum and Aliyu Sani Madaki — all currently of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

According to a post by Aminu Dahiru, the Senior Special Assistant to the APC National Chairman on Visual Communication & Events, the meeting was confirmed via his verified social media handle.

It was gathered that the meeting is part of ongoing preparations for the lawmakers’ anticipated defection from the NNPP to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The opposition lawmakers have had a long-standing disagreement with the leader of the NNPP and Kwankwasiyya movement, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

By Uzair Adam

A Kano State High Court has reserved ruling in the case involving former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who is facing an eight-count charge of alleged bribery, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds running into billions of naira.

The charges were filed by the Kano State Government against Ganduje and seven others, including his wife, Hafsat Umar.

Others listed in the suit are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the court entertained several applications from counsels representing the defendants.

Counsel to Ganduje and his wife, Offiong Offiong, SAN, sought an extension of time and filed a preliminary objection dated November 18, 2024, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

He also submitted a 28-paragraph affidavit, a written address, and a reply on point of law dated April 4, 2025.

Responding, state counsel Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the objections, describing them as lacking merit.

His response, dated October 22, 2024, was supported by a seven-paragraph counter-affidavit and a written address filed on December 13, 2024, along with attached exhibits.

Other defence counsels, including Mr Adekunle Taiye-Falola (3rd and 7th defendants), Mr Sunusi Musa, SAN (5th defendant), Mr Ashafa Yusuf (6th respondent), and Mr Faruk Asekone (8th defendant), filed separate preliminary objections supported by affidavits, written addresses, and further affidavits in response to the prosecution’s submissions.

All urged the court to grant their respective applications.

Presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted the application for an extension of time and adjourned the matter for ruling on the preliminary objections.

A new date will be communicated to the parties.

By Uzair Adam

The police in Niger State have confirmed the death of two individuals following the collapse of a mining pit in the Farin-Doki area of Shiroro Local Government.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, told journalists in Minna on Monday that the tragic incident occurred on Sunday night, trapping two miners later identified as Buhari Kano and Mallam Tasiu, both natives of Kano State.

He explained that officers from the Erena Division, alongside local residents, rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts.

However, the victims were eventually found dead and their remains were taken to the Zumba hospital for further examination.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the miners were operating illegally at the site at the time of the collapse.

Abiodun stated that a full investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

In a striking example of how far young people are willing to go for online fame, a TikTok content creator known as Kabeer 2Pack has taken social media by storm with bizarre, often repulsive stunts—drawing the attention not only of millions of followers but also of serious academic inquiry.

Kabeer, dubbed the “April 2025 sensation,” has garnered over 5.2 million likes and 618,300 followers on TikTok by performing antics such as bathing himself in filthy gutter water and covering himself in dust and charcoal. His goal, he insists, is not madness but “glory”: “Ba hauka ba ne, ɗaukaka na ke nema,” he says—“I’m not mad, I seek glory.”

While his popularity soars—one of his videos reached 30.3 million views—critics question why such extreme behaviour overshadows respected Islamic scholars like Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, whose most viewed video stands at 2.4 million. In comparison, controversial influencer Murja Ibrahim Kunya boasts 3.1 million followers and 59.4 million likes.

Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu of Bayero University, Kano, argues that these influencers, despite their antics, are crucial subjects for academic study. “Influencers, trenders, even sickos and weirdos are all part of the data to harvest in order to fully understand contemporary society,” he wrote in a recent commentary.

According to Adamu, the phenomenon reflects what scholars now term the “Attention Economy,” where digital content, no matter how outrageous, is exchanged for social capital, influence, and often money. He compares this with global TikTok stars like Khaby Lame, who silently mocks life hacks and has amassed over 162 million followers—earning $20 million in 2024 alone.

“Even the most ridiculous trends can be read as resistance, escapism, or social commentary,” Adamu notes, urging researchers to see past the surface and explore the deeper meanings behind online behaviour.

In a digital age where clout is currency, young people like Kabeer 2Pack are not just chasing fame—they’re reshaping the culture, one like at a time.

By Uzair Adam

More than twenty medical personnel of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) who had direct contact with a Lassa fever patient have all tested negative for the disease.

Others who were screened through contact tracing also returned negative results, except for the patient’s husband who tested positive.

The update was made known by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Professor Muhammad Abba Suwaid, in a statement issued by the Chief Information Officer, Maryam Aminu Usman, on Saturday.

Prof. Suwaid said the affected staff were immediately isolated and had their blood samples taken for testing.

The results, he confirmed, indicated that none of them contracted the virus.

He attributed the outcome to the diligence and professionalism of AKTH staff in handling patients.

It was gathered that the hospital’s management acted swiftly after a confirmed case of Lassa fever involving a 22-year-old pregnant woman, who was admitted to the facility on April 5, 2025.

Prof. Suwaid said precautionary measures were taken to prevent further spread of the disease within the hospital and the surrounding community.

Meanwhile, the hospital management promptly alerted the Kano State Epidemiology Unit, which has been conducting contact tracing in Garum Malam Local Government Area, where the patient was brought from.

The patient’s husband, who tested positive for Lassa fever, is currently receiving treatment under the care of the Kano State Epidemiology Unit.

By Anwar Usman

The Governor of Edo State Monday Okpebhlo, on Monday said he would contact his Kano State counterpart, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to decide the financial compensation for the families of the hunters who were killed by members of a vigilance group in Uromi.

The governor, who spoke through his Press Secretary, Fred Itrua, on Friday, said an agreement would be reached by the governments of the two states, adding that such agreement would be made public.

Receiving the delegation on Thursday, Okpebholo disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the state government, had also set up a fact-finding committee to look into the circumstances surrounding the recent killings.

Okpebholo said President Bola Tinubu was sad over the happening in Uromi, adding that he (Tinubu) was determined to ensure the state and nation were safe for everybody to live and do business.

He further stated that, “I can’t say what the financial compensation will be. The Kano State Government delegation arrived in Benin on Thursday and submitted a report that only the Edo State governor has seen.

“What I think will happen is that the governor will contact the Kano State governor on what financial compensation would go to the family of the deceased. What is clear is that an agreement will be reached, and it will be made public.”

He said the recommendations of the Kano State Government would be looked into, adding that Governor Yusuf would be contacted on the next line of action.