Nigeria

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of serving as an informant and collaborator for terrorists in Ngamdu, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

The operation involved troops from the 154 Task Force Battalion, with support from Forest Guards and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

Security sources said the suspect, identified as Bacha Modu Isah, was taken into custody at about 10:10pm on September 2, 2026, after security personnel received credible intelligence.

Some items were also recovered from him during the operation.

“Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect is a native of Gowo Village in Kaga LGA,” the source shared.

“During the operation, troops recovered a charm, lighter, ring and a leather item from the suspect,” it added.

The suspect remains in military custody as investigators continue efforts to establish his alleged links and activities.

The arrest forms part of security operations aimed at identifying and disrupting terrorist informants, collaborators and support networks within communities across the state.

Security agencies have continued to target individuals suspected of providing information or other forms of support to terrorist groups as part of efforts to strengthen security in affected areas of Borno State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of underage candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board said the results are available for candidates and their parents or guardians to check their performance.

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

Benjamin clarified that the release of the results does not mean that all underage candidates are qualified for admission.

He explained that candidates below the age of 16 as of September 30, 2026, are regarded as underage candidates for the 2026 admission exercise.

According to him, the results are mainly for candidates and their parents or guardians to know their UTME performance. They cannot be used for admission or other official purposes unless the candidate meets the conditions for exceptional consideration.

Candidates can access their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 through the same SIM card used during UTME registration.

Benjamin said JAMB had previously made it clear that only underage candidates who record exceptional performances and satisfy all prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.

He warned candidates who fail to meet the requirements against presenting their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.

The JAMB spokesperson said the exceptional admission process involves several stages of assessment. The process is intended to identify candidates with outstanding academic ability and sufficient maturity for tertiary education.

He said candidates must obtain a minimum UTME score of 320 and achieve at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.

“Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts,” he said.

Benjamin said the procedure would help the board separate candidates with genuine exceptional ability from those who only recorded high UTME scores.

He added that the assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates had not been completed.

The board, according to him, must also give candidates who are waiting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) results an opportunity to submit the results for verification.

“The NECO results are yet to be released, and the board would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process,” he said.

Benjamin said JAMB would announce the date for the final assessment once the NECO results are released.

He stressed that admission consideration would not depend solely on UTME scores. Candidates must pass the other stages of assessment and meet all the requirements set by the board.

The spokesperson also advised candidates, parents and guardians to be wary of individuals who claim they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved procedure.

He maintained that sitting for the UTME and obtaining a result do not automatically guarantee admission, especially for candidates who have not reached the stipulated admission age.

Benjamin assured the public that the assessment and admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would be transparent, rigorous and based on merit.

By Uzair Adam

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of downplaying the worsening insecurity in the country.

The opposition party said it was concerned by the government’s claim that the nation’s security situation had improved, arguing that developments on the ground suggested otherwise.

The APM made its position known while reacting to comments attributed to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), that insecurity had reduced under the present administration.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the party described the minister’s claim as a “dangerous distortion of reality,” saying independent reports indicated that Nigeria’s insecurity ranking had deteriorated.

According to the APM, Nigeria moved from sixth position in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index to fourth in the 2026 ranking.

Yusuf said it was “deeply disappointing” for a federal minister to make such claims at a time when Nigerians were still being killed, kidnapped, displaced and terrorised in different parts of the country.

The party further accused the administration of being insensitive to the suffering of victims of killings, kidnappings, rape, ransom demands and attacks by bandits.

The APM also cited alleged data from SBM Intelligence indicating that more than N7.78 billion was paid as ransom between July 2025 and June 2026.

It further claimed that about 600 Nigerians, mostly women, children and elderly persons, were abducted from Dekera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida communities in Niger State in the previous week and remained in captivity.

The opposition party challenged President Tinubu, the Defence Minister and other senior government officials to travel by road without armed security escorts if the security situation had indeed improved.

“It is clear that insecurity is festering under President Tinubu because he lacks the capacity to develop and operate a blueprint to tackle and contain the challenge,” the party said.

The APM maintained that the country could not afford another four years under what it described as an “incompetent administration.”

The party urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying its presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde, had a blueprint capable of addressing insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.

By Uzair Adam

The Hills and Valleys recreation centre in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State has been transformed into a centre for Qur’anic education, Islamic learning and humanitarian activities through the Zam-Zam Islamic Initiative associated with Sheikh Ibrahim Aminu Daurawa.

The Daily Reality reports that the development was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Head of Training and Discipline of the Kano State Hisbah Command, Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman Fagge, on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

The facility was formally handed over on Thursday in the presence of officials and leaders of the Kano State Hisbah Command, following its donation by a philanthropist to the Zam-Zam Islamic Initiative for the promotion of Qur’anic education, humanitarian activities and other programmes undertaken by the initiative.

The development marks a significant change in the purpose of the facility, which was previously known as a recreation centre but is now being positioned as a place for religious learning and community-oriented activities.

Through the new arrangement, children and young people are expected to have access to an environment dedicated to learning the Qur’an and gaining a deeper understanding of Islamic teachings.

The initiative also provides an avenue for nurturing good character, discipline and moral values among learners.

Beyond Qur’anic education, the facility is expected to support humanitarian activities carried out by the Zam-Zam Islamic Initiative, creating a platform through which charitable and community-based interventions can be undertaken for the benefit of people in need.

The establishment of the centre also reflects the broader objectives of the Zam-Zam initiative, which places emphasis on making beneficial knowledge accessible while promoting moral uprightness and community service.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Hisbah Command has deployed personnel to the facility following the handover, with officials present during the ceremony.

The transformation is expected to give residents of Dawakin Kudu and surrounding communities greater access to Qur’anic learning, Islamic education and humanitarian activities in a dedicated environment.

The new centre thus brings together religious education, moral development and community service, giving the Hills and Valleys facility a renewed purpose under the Zam-Zam Islamic Initiative.

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has apologised to Nigeria’s security and enforcement agencies over comments he made at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The activist tendered the apology in a video posted on his Facebook page on Friday after reflecting on his remarks during a panel session at the conference.

During the session, VDM referred to personnel of the Nigerian military, police, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service as “unknown gunmen.”

He also alleged that some police officers stationed at checkpoints provide information about travellers to kidnappers and terrorists. The police subsequently invited him to present evidence to support the allegation.

In his latest video, however, VDM admitted that his remarks were unfair to many security personnel, particularly those who risk their lives to protect Nigerians.

“I don’t think I was fair to a lot of people, particularly the speech where I said that the military are the unknown gunmen, the police are the unknown gunmen, you know, the immigration, the customs.

“I know exactly what I was trying to say because, I mean, I have evidence to back up my claim, but I wasn’t fair to a lot of people in that speech,” he said.

He said his comments were especially unfair to soldiers deployed to areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

“That speech was not fair, especially to the soldiers that are in the bushes fighting Boko Haram to protect our lands, to protect our lives, and to protect our families.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say they are also the unknown gunmen, to be very honest, because these people have laid down their lives,” he said.

According to the activist, his intention was to draw attention to alleged corruption, information leaks and sabotage by some individuals within the security agencies, rather than accuse every officer of wrongdoing.

“My speech was not to discourage you. My speech was entirely to talk about the bad eggs in our security operative, our security forces, is to put attention on the bad eggs, so that the leaders in these security settings will look inward and to see that sometimes information are being leaked and their own people are sabotaging them,” he said.

VDM acknowledged that although he stood by the concerns raised in his speech, the manner in which he presented them amounted to an unfair generalisation.

“But by passing that speech, like I said, it seems like I was generalising and it’s not fair to the fallen soldiers,” he said.

He added: “(There’s) a lot of corrupt generals, a lot of high-ranking police officers are corrupt, a lot of junior officers are corrupt, a lot of them are there.

“But there’s still a lot of more good people, a lot of more good people, and I know a lot of them.”

Apology To Defence Chief

VDM also directed a specific apology to the Chief of Defence Staff and the leadership of the country’s security agencies.

“So I will go further to say to the Chief of Defence Staff. Sir, I really want to apologise for that speech, and I don’t want to discourage your boys.

“Please extend my apologies to your boys, to the ones that are in the bush protecting our lands,” he said.

The activist said he was concerned that soldiers and other security personnel who were genuinely committed to protecting the country could feel discouraged after watching his comments from the NBA conference.

He also disclosed that he has maintained contact with the police and sometimes passes information to officers.

“Me and the police, we work steadily. I give, sometimes I share police information, tell them, ‘Oh, this is what is happening here, please, can you intercept,” he said.

He appealed to security personnel who are committed to protecting Nigerians not to be discouraged by his comments.

“We’re there behind you now, and we’ll always support you. You know, and we are part of this thing, security is for all of us,” he said.

Warning To ‘Bad Eggs’

Despite his apology, VDM maintained his criticism of security personnel whom he accused of undermining their colleagues through sabotage, arms supply and the leakage of information to terrorists.

“But then again, to the bad eggs, your days are numbered. To all of you in the military that are sabotaging and causing deaths to your officers, your days are numbered,” he stated.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Concern over the circulation of fake and substandard products has intensified across Nigeria, with consumers, medical experts, lawyers and public affairs commentators demanding tougher action from regulatory authorities.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have faced renewed scrutiny after Nigerians used social media platforms to share reports of suspected counterfeit food, medicines, cosmetics and other household products.

Although some of the claims circulating online have not been independently verified, the reports have heightened fears about the safety of products available in Nigerian markets and raised questions about the effectiveness of existing regulatory measures.

Social media users on X, TikTok and Instagram have recently posted videos comparing suspected fake products with original ones. The posts have covered toothpaste, yoghurt, palm oil, drinks, medicines and other commonly used items.

Doctors, content creators and other members of the public have also shared tips on how consumers can identify suspected counterfeit goods.

One widely circulated case involved Oral-B toothpaste. A Nigerian doctor, Somto Okonkwo, posted a comparison of genuine and suspected counterfeit tubes, pointing to differences in packaging, seals, texture, transparency and taste.

Okonkwo said he visited between five and seven shops where counterfeit versions were available, with some sellers unaware that the products were fake.

He also explained that genuine toothpaste commonly uses safe glycerine, while some counterfeit products could contain diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical.

The video received further attention after it was shared by UK-based Nigerian physician, Dr Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya.

Similar concerns emerged over Hollandia yoghurt after videos circulated online that purportedly showed the product being packaged in unhygienic conditions.

Other social media users also compared genuine and suspected fake yoghurt by examining differences in thickness, creaminess and barcodes.

On September 4, Ogunsanya shared photographs of two paracetamol tablets allegedly produced by the same company but showing noticeable differences in colour.

He warned that consumers might only identify the difference when the tablets were placed side by side, stating that “one is fake, or both are fake”.

He also criticised NAFDAC, alleging that the agency “has killed thousands of people by failing to do their job.”

Other complaints circulating online have included allegations of dyed palm oil, painted apples, fake soy sauce and olive oil, substandard chicken and fish, fake water and soft drinks, counterfeit alcoholic beverages and suspected fake toothpaste.

An X user, Oluwole Olofintuyi, @OluOlofin1, described the reported scale of counterfeit products as disturbing.

“Wherever you go: fake milk, fake yoghurt, fake bread, fake palm oil, fake/plastic rice, fake medicines, fake toothpaste, fake baby formulas, fake beverages, fake toothbrushes, fake bottled and sachet water, fake vehicle parts, fake tyres,” he wrote.

Olofintuyi alleged that some regulatory officials, distributors and importers could be involved in the circulation of counterfeit goods. He also accused NAFDAC and SON of failing Nigerians.

Another X user, Chinedu Samuel, @Chimextech, questioned the effectiveness of NAFDAC.

“Where is NAFDAC in all of this? What they are concerned about is sachet alcohol, no focus. That’s the result of nepotistic appointments,” he wrote.

Uche Samuel said reports about counterfeit toothpaste had increased his concerns about the safety of ordinary consumer products.

Mac Araga also alleged that regulatory agencies were placing greater emphasis on revenue generation than their primary responsibilities.

Another contributor, Abou Opeyemi, called for cooperation among relevant government agencies.

“We blame only NAFDAC, what is SON doing? What about CPC? Let them collaborate, even with NDLEA and the police. They should declare a state of emergency on fake drugs,” Abou Opeyemi wrote.

NAFDAC’S RECENT SEIZURES

NAFDAC has carried out several operations against counterfeit and unregistered products.

In February 2026, the agency said it confiscated more than 10 million doses of fake malaria medicines and other pharmaceutical products at the Lagos Trade Fair Market.

The agency also discovered warehouses inside an uncompleted building in Apapa, Lagos, where banned, counterfeit and unregistered medicines valued at more than N3bn were stored.

Among the items reportedly discovered were prohibited injectable anti-malaria drugs, antibiotics, sachet medicines and blister-packed drugs, alongside perfumes, body oils and cooking oils.

NAFDAC had also stated in 2025 that about 30 per cent of medicines sold in open markets were fake or substandard.

In March 2025, the agency seized and destroyed confiscated medicines estimated at N1tn during operations in major drug markets, including Onitsha, Ogbo-Ogwu and Aba, Ekumi/Tenant Road.

‘COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS CAN DAMAGE ORGANS’

The Director of Medical Services at the Medical Centre of the Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos, Dr Rotimi Adesanya, warned that fake medicines, food and drinks could contain harmful substances capable of damaging vital organs.

He said, “Some of the health hazards, such as liver failure, kidney failure, heart problems and even infertility and low sperm count, that are endemic in our society now are as a result of the usage of counterfeit products because of the chemicals in them.”

Adesanya attributed part of the problem to economic hardship, saying poverty could push consumers towards cheaper products.

He also explained the difference between an expiry date and a “best before” date.

“Most of them put ‘best before’ on the products, which is different from an expiry date. The expiry date means that once it is expired, it cannot fully perform the purpose for which it was produced. Whereas, best before means you get the best part of that product before the particular day.

“The reason for this is that some products disintegrate if they are left for some time. Some of them may lose moisture or the chemicals in them, depending on how they are stored.

“While expired drugs may not actually kill a person, they will not do the work they were intended to do because the potency of the drug will have reduced with time.”

He urged NAFDAC to increase surveillance and conduct regular checks on products displayed for sale.

“As a result of counterfeiting that is happening in the public, including local products like palm oil, the chemicals used for them are destroying organs. Some of them cause renal failure, which is shutting down the kidneys. They can shut down the liver, and that’s why NAFDAC has to be on top of its game.

“NAFDAC should do routine checks and analyses of these products, which they normally do in their industry. They must go on surveillance from time to time. They must check all the products on the shelves randomly. They must continue to see if they have expired or are still effective.

“Also, counterfeiting usually happens with expensive products because they are not affordable to people. The public should look for products from different brands,” Adesanya said.

A former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State, Dr Saheed Babajide, blamed weak enforcement for the continued circulation of fake medicines.

He said, “It is unfortunate that governments have allowed this issue to go on for a very long time. You will recall that NAFDAC recently went to Idumota in Lagos and Aba in Abia State to close some shops. Despite that, it still continues because there is no regulatory body whatsoever and the law enforcement agencies are not doing what they are supposed to do.”

Babajide said counterfeit medicines could result in renal damage, kidney and heart complications and mental health problems.

He added that ineffective medicines could worsen pressure on Nigeria’s already strained healthcare system because patients might not respond to treatment.

“The use of ineffective or partially effective antimalarial drugs, for instance, can prolong illness and increase the likelihood of hospital admission. This ultimately places an additional financial burden on patients, who may end up spending more on treatment than they would have if they had initially obtained effective medicines. The problem is largely driven by greed and the quest for financial gain by unscrupulous individuals,” Babajide added.

He urged lawmakers to introduce tougher measures against those involved in the distribution of counterfeit medicines.

“What the government should do is to ensure the relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies like NAFDAC and SON carry out their duties. There should be no bail and fine because anybody can be a victim of these counterfeit drugs. This should be treated as a matter of urgency,” he added.

CALLS FOR REFORM OF REGULATORY AGENCIES

A Lagos-based commentator, Segun Odunewu, called for a major reform of NAFDAC, alleging that the agency was no longer doing enough to protect consumers.

“We have not had it this bad until inefficiency crept into NAFDAC. The agency needs a complete overhaul for effectiveness. If not, we will all die of cancer and kidney disease.

“NAFDAC is not the NAFDAC of Dora Akunyili’s era. Her efforts are being wasted,” Odunewu said.

He also demanded greater accountability from the agency’s leadership.

“The NAFDAC Director-General should resign. NAFDAC is now becoming a money-generating agency while neglecting its primary responsibility,” Odunewu alleged.

However, public affairs analyst Adebayo Abubakar argued that abolishing NAFDAC or SON would not address the problem.

“We have NAFDAC to protect us from fake and dangerous food, drugs and other regulated products, and SON to enforce standards and protect consumers from substandard and counterfeit goods.

“These are not ornamental agencies; the law gives them precisely the powers required to police the marketplace,” Abubakar said.

He said counterfeit products remained widespread across Nigerian markets.

“Walk through Nigerian markets and the uncomfortable truth stares you in the face: counterfeit medicines, adulterated foods, fake electrical products, substandard building materials and imitation consumer goods are everywhere.

“NAFDAC itself has identified counterfeit and falsified products as a continuing problem, while the National Assembly has had to call on NAFDAC and SON to intensify surveillance and enforcement,” Abubakar said.

Another public affairs analyst, Musa Aliyu, advocated a review of the National Policy on the Contamination of Drugs and Unwholesome Practices of Pharmaceuticals.

He said the issue was not limited to medicines and required cooperation among government institutions and communities.

“The National Policy on the Contamination of Drugs and Unwholesome Practices of Pharmaceuticals is quite overdue for review because the issue extends beyond that.

“What we need is partnership in ensuring that communities are aware of the effects of contamination of drugs and unwholesome practices, and that people take the issue of drugs seriously because it is a very big challenge in Nigeria,” Aliyu said.

Aliyu also called for greater decentralisation of NAFDAC’s operations to improve monitoring at the community level.

LAWYERS SEEK TOUGHER PENALTIES

A Lagos-based dispute resolution lawyer, Muhammed Adam, urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on counterfeit and substandard products.

He described the situation as an organised threat to the economy and public health.

“A group of greedy, organised criminals cannot keep poisoning this country while they smile to the bank. What is happening in our markets is not petty trading. It is organised economic and public-health sabotage.

“It should be treated with the seriousness we reserve for terrorism because the outcome is the same: Nigerians are being killed slowly, quietly and profitably,” Adam said.

He said counterfeiters were targeting products that Nigerians depend on for their health and daily needs.

“That means the things we put on our skin, put in our children’s mouths and swallow when we are sick are among the products being most heavily faked,” he said.

Adam referred to seizures by the Nigeria Customs Service involving expired medicines and products with allegedly fake NAFDAC labels. He also cited a reported N53.4bn seizure in the Apapa area and an interception of fake anti-malaria medicines worth N1.2bn.

“People die from malaria that the ‘treatment’ never treated, from antibiotics that never fought infection, from cosmetics loaded with mercury and steroids, and from electrical and auto parts that fail when lives depend on them,” he said.

He warned that the problem could undermine public confidence in essential goods.

“When citizens cannot trust medicine, food or water, the social contract itself is damaged,” he said.

Another lawyer, Ibrahim Adebayo, accused regulatory agencies of losing some of the momentum that characterised earlier campaigns against counterfeit products.

He recalled a period when NAFDAC conducted what he described as a “total war” against counterfeiters, with raids, seizures, arrests and prosecutions.

“What we have now is an alleged collusion between some NAFDAC officials and these criminals. They only issue directives, bark sometimes, and nothing is done afterwards,” Adebayo alleged.

He said Nigerians should see greater results from the public funds allocated to regulatory agencies.

“This is an agency that receives billions of naira yearly through the Federal budget. Nigerians deserve to see the impact of that funding in terms of enforcement, prosecution and the protection of public health,” he said.

Adebayo called for closer cooperation among NAFDAC, SON, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and security agencies.

He also urged the government to strengthen surveillance at ports, warehouses, markets and online platforms, while improving intelligence-sharing among agencies.

According to him, counterfeiters were exploiting gaps between regulatory institutions and increasingly using digital platforms to reach consumers.

NAFDAC, SON YET TO RESPOND

Efforts to obtain NAFDAC’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful.

The agency’s Head of Enforcement, Dr Martin Iluyomade, reportedly declined to comment. Calls to his mobile lines were not answered or returned, while WhatsApp messages seeking his reaction had not received a response as of press time.

Attempts to obtain a response from SON were also unsuccessful. A senior official of the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, directed enquiries elsewhere.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigerian-born legal scholar, Dr. Ibironke Odumosu-Ayanu, has been appointed dean of the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

She will serve a five-year term that begins on October 1, 2026.

Odumosu-Ayanu currently serves as the college’s associate dean of research and graduate studies. She joined the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law in 2008.

The university announced her appointment on September 1 in a statement issued by Patti McDougall, interim provost and vice-president, academic, who also chaired the search committee for the new dean.

McDougall praised Odumosu-Ayanu’s academic record and leadership qualities.

“Dr. Odumosu-Ayanu’s appointment as dean reflects a distinguished record of academic excellence, collaborative leadership, and dedication to advancing research and graduate education,” McDougall stated.

“Her work as dean will continue to build on the College of Law’s strong reputation for excellence in legal education and research, while strengthening its leadership in Indigenous legal scholarship and engagement with local and global communities.”

Odumosu-Ayanu will take over from Martin Phillipson, who served two five-year terms as dean before proceeding on administrative leave on July 1.

FROM LAGOS TO CANADA

Odumosu-Ayanu was raised in Lagos, where she developed an interest in reading and writing from an early age.

She initially considered a career in communications. However, encouragement from her teachers and support from her parents influenced her decision to study law.

She subsequently enrolled at the University of Lagos, where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree.

Her academic career later took her to Canada, where she pursued a master’s degree at the University of Calgary. Her choice was influenced by the university’s research strengths in natural resources, energy and environmental law.

“Since I started law school, I always knew that I wanted to do a master’s and to do one abroad. But I always thought I would go to England.”

Odumosu-Ayanu initially intended to return to Nigeria after completing her master’s degree and practise as a lawyer. However, she continued her education with a PhD programme at the University of British Columbia.

She said a doctorate was not part of her original plan.

After obtaining her PhD, she began to consider a career in academia and applied for academic positions.

Her academic journey eventually took her to Saskatchewan in 2008, where she joined the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law.

Before her move, a mentor at the University of British Columbia, who was raised in Saskatoon, had advised her to prepare for the harsh Canadian winter.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over reports that some young Nigerians are resorting to kidney sales because of worsening economic difficulties.

Atiku made the remarks in a post on X on Thursday, where he linked the reported development to the rising cost of living under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The former Vice President said he had received what he described as “disturbing stories” about young Nigerians who were considering the sale of parts of their bodies as a means of raising money.

“I have heard disturbing stories about the extent to which young Nigerians are being driven simply to survive. Perhaps the most horrifying are the growing reports of young people selling parts of their bodies: kidneys in particular, in desperate attempts to raise money,” Atiku wrote.

He maintained that young Nigerians should have opportunities to develop their talents and pursue their ambitions instead of considering the sale of their organs.

According to him, they should be “selling dreams, ideas and innovation, not their body organs,” and described the reported situation as something that should “offend the conscience of every Nigerian.”

Atiku further alleged that some young Nigerians were being pushed to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7m. However, the figure was not linked to a specific report or government agency.

The reported amount could not be independently verified.

Atiku attributed the alleged trend to the pressure caused by the increasing prices of basic necessities, including food, transportation, accommodation, education, healthcare and electricity.

He said, “In Tinubu’s Nigeria, almost everything required to live with dignity is becoming more expensive by the day: food, transport, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity.

“Yet young Nigerians are reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million.

“That should break the heart of a nation.

“Young Nigerians should be building careers, starting businesses, raising families and pursuing their dreams, not calculating how much parts of their bodies can fetch simply to stay alive.

“When young Nigerians begin to see their kidneys as emergency savings, we are no longer talking about ordinary economic hardship. We are talking about desperation at its most frightening.”

The ADC presidential candidate acknowledged that Nigerian laws prohibit the commercial sale of human organs and organ trafficking.

He, however, argued that “laws alone cannot cure the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable young people easy prey for criminal networks.”

Atiku called for economic measures that would address the difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians. He listed affordable food, lower transportation costs, accessible healthcare, decent employment opportunities and “renewed hope for the next generation” among the measures he said were needed.

He concluded with a criticism of the President, saying, “Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again.”

His comments came amid recent reports of alleged organ trafficking activities in some parts of Nigeria.

The Nigeria Police Force recently paraded four suspects, including two nephrologists, over an alleged organ-trafficking operation.

The police alleged that one of the suspects, Emmanuel Ode, admitted to recruiting victims. Investigators also alleged that a 22-year-old man was taken to a hospital in Abuja in April, where his kidney was allegedly removed for $1,250, said to be about ₦1.7m.

According to investigators, the suspected syndicate targeted vulnerable young people facing financial difficulties in Nasarawa and surrounding areas.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed the death of six people in a road accident along the Yola-Girei Road on Friday.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the preliminary report, six victims were involved in the fatal crash and were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

“The victims were rushed to a hospital where they were confirmed dead.

“Police operatives from Girei Divisional Headquarters, Federal Housing and the Central Motor Traffic Division were immediately mobilised to the scene to evacuate the victims and restore the normal flow of traffic.”

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Kabir Hassan, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of their souls.

Hassan also urged motorists to remain calm and exercise caution on the road. He advised drivers to obey traffic regulations and avoid excessive speed to reduce the risk of further accidents.

The latest crash has raised concerns over the safety of the Yola-Girei Road. Four accidents have reportedly occurred on the route within less than a month, with more than 10 people killed in the incidents.

By Uzair Adam

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has urged state governors and lawmakers to stop distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the motorcycles eventually find their way into the hands of terrorists and bandits.

Musa gave the warning on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism and other security challenges confronting the country.

According to him, motorcycles provided to vulnerable Nigerians sometimes end up being used by terrorists to facilitate their movements and carry out attacks.

“We try to appeal to even governors to stop giving motorcycles out as palliatives. Because these motorcycles are the same ones that still end up with these terrorists,” he said.

The minister advised that where motorcycles must be distributed, authorities should consider smaller-capacity models that would be less useful to terrorists operating in difficult terrains.

“Even if you have to give, don’t give them the big capacity motorcycles; give them the small capacity ones that they won’t be able to use to run around, because that gives them leverage. They can easily enter and then disappear,” Musa said.

He also warned that motorcycles distributed by lawmakers under constituency projects and other intervention programmes could eventually be diverted to bandits and terrorists.

“Those bikes… before you know it, they’re already back to the bandits, and that’s what they’re using. So we must stop that,” he added.

Musa further disclosed that security agencies had identified illegal markets and motor parks as major channels through which terrorists transport arms and ammunition to their areas of operation.

“What we realise from experience is they establish illegal markets or illicit motor parks. They go to those motor parks; that’s where they move arms and ammunition into those areas,” he said.

The defence minister also called for greater involvement of local governments in the fight against insecurity, arguing that local authorities are better positioned to identify criminal activities within their communities.

“We must allow our local governments to work. Failure of local government is what is aggravating what we’re dealing with, and if we want a better solution, a quick fix, our local governments must work,” he said.

According to Musa, local government chairmen should regularly convene security meetings and monitor developments within their respective areas.

He also urged state and local authorities to strengthen surveillance around markets, motor parks and other locations that could be exploited to transport drugs, weapons and ammunition.

“If we’re able to make sure that we man all the markets, all the motor parks, all these areas where drugs, weapons, ammunition move, it will make it difficult for them,” the minister added.