Kano

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A brazen car thief infiltrated the Kano State Government House in the early hours of Monday, successfully stealing a Toyota Hilux from the deputy governor’s convoy.

According to security sources, the suspect entered the secure compound through Gate 4 and later exited unchallenged through the main gate.

The audacious theft went completely unnoticed by security personnel at the time.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the major security lapse.

It was confirmed that CCTV footage from the area is being scrutinized and the official driver assigned to the vehicle has been taken in for questioning.

By Uzair Adam

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday launched a major enforcement operation in Kano State, targeting warehouses and retailers accused of selling under-measured fabric materials to unsuspecting buyers.

The exercise, which took place in the Sharada Industrial Area and other commercial hubs, focused on companies including LGR Products, UME Products, Nana Textile Products, Mama Africa Products, and UE Products, among others.

Speaking during the operation, the Director of Surveillance and Investigations at the FCCPC, Boladale Adeyanka, said the move followed verified intelligence and weeks of discreet surveillance that exposed deceptive sales practices by some fabric dealers.

“The enforcement exercise carried out today at this target location is in response to verified intelligence. This is just one of the many targeted businesses or warehouses involved in this alleged infraction,” Adeyanka explained.

According to her, the Commission discovered that several traders were selling fabrics below the stated measurements printed on their labels.

“You will recall that we took measurements right before us—fabrics labelled 10 yards were found to be only 9 yards, while those labelled 5 yards were as short as 4 and a half,” she said.

Adeyanka emphasized that such conduct violates multiple provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which prohibits false, misleading, or deceptive representations concerning product quantity or quality.

“Under Section 123 of the FCCPA, no retailer or trader shall make any false or misleading representation about the quantity or price of goods supplied.

“Similarly, Section 125 prohibits any supplier or distributor from engaging in conduct that implies a false or misleading representation to a consumer,” she stated.

She added that such deceptive practices not only exploit consumers but also disrupt fair market competition.

“These acts undermine honest traders and businesses that comply with lawful standards. They can drive legitimate retailers out of the market, thereby reducing consumer choice and entrenching anti-competitive behaviour,” she noted.

Adeyanka further disclosed that following verified findings, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, approved the sealing of several shops under Sections 27 and 28 of the Act to allow further investigation.

Samples of the implicated materials were also seized for measurement and quality verification.

She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to protecting Nigerian consumers from fraudulent practices, stressing that the operation reflects the FCCPC’s statutory duty to promote fairness and integrity in trade.

“This enforcement operation demonstrates our commitment to ensuring a fair marketplace and safeguarding consumer welfare—both economic and social. It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting consumers’ rights in Nigeria.”

The Commission urged consumers to stay alert and report any suspected cases of deceptive trade practices through its official complaint channels.

“We encourage consumers to insist on their rights and to report any unscrupulous practices. The Commission will continue to deploy lawful enforcement measures to deter exploitative and obnoxious business conduct across the nation,” Adeyanka concluded.

By Uzair Adam

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation MESA, in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, have successfully repelled a bandits’ attack, safeguarding vulnerable communities in the area.

The operation, conducted by personnel of the 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, followed a credible tip-off on the movement of bandits around Ungwan Tudu, Ungwan Tsamiya, and Goron Dutse axis of Shanono at about 5 p.m. on November 1.

According to a statement issued by Capt. Babatunde Zubairu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, the troops, supported by other security agencies, engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, forcing them to flee.

“It was confirmed that the bandits, who arrived on motorcycles, sustained several casualties during the encounter,” Zubairu stated.

He added that troops stationed at Tsaure community made contact with the attackers, leading to an exchange of fire that resulted in the recovery of several motorcycles and two mobile phones.

Zubairu disclosed that 19 bandits were neutralised in the operation, while two soldiers and a local vigilante lost their lives.

He said further operations were ongoing in the area to ensure the safety of residents and to prevent future attacks often linked to cattle rustling and other criminal activities.

“The Nigerian Army urges citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movements to security agencies,” Zubairu added.

Meanwhile, the Commander of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Tukur, reassured residents of the Army’s unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security across Kano State in collaboration with other security agencies.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Nigerian academic, Dr Muhsin Ibrahim, a lecturer at the University of Cologne, Germany, has refuted claims made by United States President Donald Trump that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria.

In an article published recently on his Facebook handle, Dr Ibrahim said that framing Nigeria’s insecurity as a case of religious persecution is “a very simplistic narrative” that ignores the complex realities behind the country’s crises.

He expressed satisfaction that several Christian leaders, associations, and public figures had publicly rejected Trump’s claim.

He also commended Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore for putting aside his opposition to the current administration and “saying the truth” about the issue.

According to Dr Ibrahim, terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and violent bandits do not discriminate between Muslims and Christians in their attacks.

“Boko Haram’s bullets do not differentiate between Muslims and Christians,” he wrote, noting that the extremist group has “killed more Muslims than non-Muslims,” including during their deadly assault on the Kano Central Mosque.

He further pointed out that victims of banditry in states such as Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger are mostly Muslims and that many mosques and worshippers have been attacked without anyone framing it as religious persecution.

Regarding the recurring clashes between farmers and herders in parts of the Middle Belt, Dr Ibrahim argued that the conflicts are primarily driven by territorial, ethnic, and resource-based disputes, rather than religion.

Dr Ibrahim also warned that any sanctions the U.S. might impose on Nigeria over Trump’s claims would likely worsen the country’s situation.

“The sanctions, or some aid withdrawal, will eventually impact everyone, just as the violence does not spare anyone,” he said.

He urged Nigerians not to celebrate Trump’s statements, describing them as politically motivated rather than a genuine concern for human rights.

“It’s about politics, not genuine concern for humanity,” he wrote, questioning Trump’s silence on humanitarian crises in Gaza, South Sudan, Congo, and Haiti.

The academic concluded by expressing hope for peace in Nigeria and across the world, writing: “May there be more peace in our fatherland, Nigeria, and everywhere else, amin.”

By Uzair Adam 

Three scholars from Bayero University, Kano (BUK), have been named among the top 2% of the world’s most influential scientists in the 2025 global ranking released by Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier.

The Daily Reality reports that the list, which draws on data from the Scopus database, recognises researchers whose work is among the most cited worldwide. 

The ranking evaluates research impact using standardised metrics, including total citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted index (hm-index), and a composite indicator (c-score), across 22 fields and 174 subfields.

The BUK academics featured in the 2025 ranking are Professor Abdulrazaq Garba Habib of the Department of Internal Medicine, who ranks 82nd globally in Clinical Medicine, subfield Tropical Medicine, with an h-index of 11 and an hm-index of 5.

Dr. Sunusi Marwana Maniadan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, ranked 4,131st in Enabling and Strategic Technologies, subfield Materials, with an h-index of 14 and an hm-index of 4. 

Dr. Isah Baba Abdullahi of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, ranked 142nd in Physics & Astronomy, subfield Mathematical Physics, holding an h-index of 8 and an hm-index of 4.

The Stanford-Elsevier ranking is widely regarded as one of the most credible indicators of scientific influence, spotlighting researchers whose work is highly cited and influential in their fields.

Commenting on the achievement, BUK Vice Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa, described the recognition as a reflection of the university’s academic growth and research excellence on the global stage. 

The inclusion of these three scholars’ positions BUK among the select Nigerian universities with multiple entries in the prestigious annual ranking.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Police Command has arrested five members of a criminal syndicate that specialized in impersonating police officers to extort unsuspecting citizens across Kano, Kaduna and Katsina States.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Command’s Spokesman, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the suspects were apprehended on Thursday, October 16, 2025, around 1:00 p.m., following credible intelligence.

Those arrested were identified as Aliyu Abbas (35), Sani Iliyasu (47), Ashiru Sule (41), Abubakar Yahaya (45), and Adamu Kalilu (45).

They were nabbed by operatives of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) while parading themselves as police officers.

According to the statement, several incriminating items were recovered from the suspects, including a fake police warrant card, handcuffs, CFA 2,500, mutilated naira notes of various denominations, and a blue Peugeot 406 with registration number NSR-188-BD used for their operations.

“During investigation, the suspects confessed to engaging in a series of impersonations using the fake warrant card to extort innocent citizens and carry out other criminal acts in Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna States,” the statement added.

SP Kiyawa said the suspects would be charged to court upon the completion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that the police would not tolerate any form of criminal impersonation or illegal activity in the state.

He further urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police station.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has announced plans to host the 11th edition of the Nutritious Food Fair (NFF), tagged “Kano 2025,” on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Meena Event Center, Nasarawa GRA, Kano.

The state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Musa Suleman Shanono, disclosed this during a media briefing on Monday in Kano.

He said the event, themed “Our Food, Our Heritage,” aligns with the agricultural transformation agenda of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration and aims to promote nutritious and locally produced foods.

Hon. Shanono explained that the fair is being organized by HarvestPlus, in collaboration with its global office in Washington, the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Health, the Kano State Government, and the UK Government-funded Propcom+ Programme.

According to him, the fair will bring together policymakers, researchers, farmers, and food processors to showcase innovations, share knowledge, and discuss issues in the nutritious food sector.

He added that over 100 commercial exhibitors and more than 2,000 participants are expected at the event, which will feature exhibitions, sales of nutritious food products, panel discussions, business deal rooms, quiz and cooking competitions, as well as capacity-building sessions.

A key highlight of the fair, according to the Commissioner, will be the decoration of the Kano State First Lady as the Smart Mother of the State, who will champion nutrition awareness and education among women across Kano.

Shanono further noted that the fair will create employment opportunities for youths and strengthen business linkages in the nutritious food sector.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with partners like Propcom+ and HarvestPlus to ensure that people across Kano State continue to have access to nutritious food.

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.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has expanded its hypertension prevention and treatment services to 208 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities across the 44 local government areas of the state, according to the Ministry of Health.

The initiative, which builds on an earlier pilot phase, was launched under the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to strengthen early detection and management of hypertension — a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, and premature deaths in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa, said the expansion followed the successful implementation of the programme in 52 PHCs under the National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI).

He explained that the initiative, with technical support from Resolve to Save Lives and Project HOPE, has now been scaled up to 208 facilities to ensure more residents have access to regular blood pressure checks, treatment, and follow-up care within their communities.

Quoting the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, the statement noted that the government’s decision reflects its commitment to strengthening the primary healthcare system and addressing non-communicable diseases across the state.

Dr. Yusuf commended the dedication of health workers participating in the programme and urged them to sustain their efforts to ensure lasting success in hypertension prevention and control.

“The scale-up of hypertension services across 208 PHCs demonstrates Kano’s leadership in improving access to essential care. This should serve as a model for other states in advancing equitable and sustainable health services,” the commissioner said.

The Ministry expressed optimism that the initiative will help prevent costly complications, reduce hospital admissions, and promote healthier, more productive lives for Kano residents.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove the state’s Commissioner of Police, accusing him of incompetence and lack of professionalism.

The governor made the appeal on Wednesday during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebration at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Governor Yusuf emphasized that Nigerians deserve security officers who are fair, transparent, and dedicated to safeguarding lives and property without bias or political interference.

His call comes at a time of heightened debate over the management of security in Kano, especially the role of the police in the state’s political affairs.

Details later…….