The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Man gets life jail for molesting 10-year-old boy in Kebbi

    Man gets life jail for molesting 10-year-old boy in Kebbi

    From Ahmed Ahmed, Birnin Kebbi

    A Kebbi State High Court has sentenced one Suleiman Jidda, a 30-year-old man to life imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old boy.

    The convict was arraigned on November 8, 2024, on a one-count charge of unnatural offence, punishable under Section 260 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

     Justice Shamsudeen Jafar said he had examined the evidence before him and found that the prosecution’s evidence is very cogent and corroborative and the prosecution had proved the ingredients required in proving the commission of unnatural offence against the boy.

    The Judge, citing the testimonies of PW1, PW2, PW3, and medical report, which showed that the convict had committed the offence on three separate occasions.

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    He said: “The defendant, Suleman Jidda, is hereby found guilty of committing the offence of unnatural offence, punishable under Section 260 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.The court has no option than to apply what the law requires. The convict is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment”.

    The defence counsel, Mr. S.M. Dan-Yaro, had pleaded for leniency, citing the convict’s clean record and family background, but the court ruled that it had no discretion in the matter, as the law prescribes life imprisonment for the offence.

    The state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Junaidu Bello Marshal, led the prosecution team, while the defence was handled by S. M. Dan-Yaro.

  • Kano govt signs agreement on 500MW solar project

    Kano govt signs agreement on 500MW solar project

    The Kano State Government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Tricell Solar to fast-track development of a 500-megawatt solar power project.

    The Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Dr Gaddafi Sani-Shehu, made this known while receiving a Tricell Solar delegation to review the agreement.

    This is contained in a statement by the ministry’s spokesman, Saad Umar.

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    He said the meeting reviewed progress and discussed accelerating renewable energy projects across the state.

    Sani-Shehu explained that the project showed government commitment. “It will diversify the energy mix and meet rising electricity demand,” he said.

    Tricell Solar’s chief executive, Ali Kobeissi, said the company would deliver 500MW, stimulate innovation, attract investment and create jobs.

    He added that improved supply would boost economic growth and support small businesses and households across Kano State.

  • 20 -year-old boy kills father’s stepmother in Plateau

    20 -year-old boy kills father’s stepmother in Plateau

    A 20-year-old boy, Ibrahim Mutari, yesterday allegedly killed his father’s 70-year-old stepmother, Hauwa Abubakar, in Yanbula community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    Residents of the community and police men from the Laranto Division, who converged on the deceased’s residence, said the suspect attacked the deceased around 3 pm.

    Abubakar Shuaibu, husband of the deceased, condemned the killing, describing the incident as cruel and inhumane.

    He accused Ibrahim of strangling and stabbing his wife before fleeing the scene.

    A daughter of the deceased, Ummi Ahmed, also accused Ibrahim of killing their mother. She alleged that before the killing, the suspect had vowed to take revenge for a fight that ensued between him and their elder brother, Musa, after he was stabbed with a knife last year.

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    She said: “Ibrahim and our younger brother, Musa, fought last year and, in the process, Musa stabbed him in the stomach. He was rushed to the hospital. While in hospital, Ibrahim vowed to take revenge on either the deceased’s children or their mother, and today he’s actualised his threat.’’

    One of the nurses warned that visitors be cautious, saying his utterances were dangerous. Ummi further explained that their mother had taken care of Ibrahim while he was hospitalised.

    She said: “The deceased was his caregiver; she took care of him until he was discharged. Despite her kindness, he went ahead and killed her.

    The suspect’s father was raised by the deceased, whose mother died when he was a baby. The deceased took him in and cared for him like a mother until he reached adulthood. To reciprocate, the father of the suspect took her into his house and cared for her as a mother until the father of the suspect died.

    Spokesperson of the state police command, Superintendent of Police Alabo Alfred, is yet to respond to inquiry by The Nation on the incident.

  • Birnin Gwari community decries fresh killings, farm invasions

    Birnin Gwari community decries fresh killings, farm invasions

    •Farmers lose 182 hectares

    The Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) in Kaduna State has warned that the fragile peace achieved after government-backed negotiations with armed groups in 2024 is under fresh strain following renewed killings, thefts and destruction of farmlands across the local government area.

    The group said the resurgence of isolated attacks and crop losses recorded during last year’s farming season is sending worrying signals that the hard-earned stability in the area might be slipping.

    In a statement, BEPU noted that the improved security which defined much of last year had encouraged farmers to return to their land and resume full agricultural activities before the latest incidents began to unsettle communities.

    The statement signed by BEPU Chairman, Dr Isah Muhammad, cited the killing of a former councillor of Gayam Ward, Auwal Magaji Kwaga, on the Birnin Gwari–Kwaga Road as one of the incidents that has shaken residents.

    According to the union, the attackers not only killed the former councillor but also made away with his motorcycle, in a pattern similar to other recent attacks on residents across the emirate.

    BEPU described the incidents as provocations by criminals who have refused to renounce violence and are bent on destabilising peace.

    The union recalled that the state government’s peace engagements with armed groups in 2024 brought remarkable stability that lasted through most of last year.

    However, it said during the harvest season, cattle invasions of farmlands were recorded in several communities, leading to crop destruction and severe losses for farmers.

    The BEPU chairman said a documentation among affected farmers showed that no fewer than 173 farmers were impacted across multiple wards and settlements.

    The affected areas, it said, include Gayam, Magajin Gari I and II, Tabanni, Kuyello, Dogon Dawa, Kakangi, Damari, Kazage, Kutemeshi, Bugai, and Samaru and Doka.

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    It added that heavily impacted farming locations include Farm Centre, Fadama Bino Tabanni, Dajin Barmo, Falwaya Reserve, Damari agricultural zones, Dogon Dawa farmlands, Gangaren Fadama Bino and Dajin Ganda.

    According to BEPU, reports confirmed that at least 182 hectares of cultivated farmland were destroyed, warning that the actual scale may be higher due to traditional land measurements not captured in the data.

    The destroyed crops include maize, beans, sorghum, millet, soybean, rice, tomatoes, potatoes and pepper, which are the backbone of food supply and rural income in the area.

    The union said farmers reported losses ranging from hundreds of thousands of naira to over  N4 million, with cumulative losses running into hundreds of millions.

  • Sokoto governor: I won’t condone misconduct

    Sokoto governor: I won’t condone misconduct

    •Gets report of inquire into state management

    Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto has been presented with the report of the Justice Muazu Abdulkadir Pindiga (retired) Commission of Inquiry into the activities of the administration of former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal between May 29, 2015 and May 29, 2023.

    Receiving the report in Government House, Sokoto yesterday, the governor vowed that his administration will not entertain misconduct by any of his executive members, insisting that the government was elected based on trust, public confidence and service to the people of the state.

    According to him, the Commission of Inquiry under the Chairmanship of Justice Pindiga(rtd) was not directed at promoting an act of vendetta nor targeted at witch-hunting any individual but in the interest of the people of the state and in fulfillment of his administration’s commitment to running a transparent, honest and accountable governance with respect for the yearnings and aspirations of the state.

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    “It is not to drive an act of vendetta, settle political scores or target any individual but to dignify the constitutional provisions and to adequately discharge our civil responsibility in the interest of good governance  and genuine concerns raised by the people of the state in line with the constitutional provisions,’’ he said.

    He explained that it was intended to examine certain aspects and activities of the state management to ascertain facts, examine records, testimonies through findings for proper recommendations by the Commission based on evidence.

    “This is not alien. It is anchored within the cold mines of the rule of law and not man and we will treat the document according to due process.

    “A committee of trustees will be constituted to study and come up with a White Paper in line with the principles of justice inorder to shape the development of Sokoto state and for the generation yet unborn”, the governor stressed , thanking and and appreciating members of the commission for what he described as diligent and enormous work done by the Commission to the government of Sokoto State,’’ he said.

  • Mutfwang engages key U.S. agencies on economic development, bilateral trade

    Mutfwang engages key U.S. agencies on economic development, bilateral trade

    As part of Plateau State’s commitment to deepening sub-national international  engagements and aligning with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has arrived in the United States on a strategic economic, development and bilateral trade mission.

    The visit is aimed at engaging key U.S. institutions, including the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the United States Export-Import Bank (EXIM), senior officials of the U.S. State Department, and other policy and investment stakeholders, to explore investment, trade and development opportunities that will benefit Plateau State and Nigeria at large.

    As part of his early engagements, Mutfwang met with U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, where discussions focused on strengthening the growing partnership between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in the areas of economic cooperation, investment, security and democratic governance.

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    The governor highlighted the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises the welfare, security and prosperity of Nigerians. He underscored the significant progress being recorded in the fight against insurgency, noting that the President’s decisive leadership and commitment to national security are beginning to yield positive and measurable results across the country.

     Moore commended Mutfwang for the visit and expressed his strong interest in deepening U.S.–Nigeria relations. He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Nigerian Government to promote a comprehensive partnership that will be mutually beneficial to both nations.

    Mutfwang, in turn, thanked Moore and the U.S. Government for their continued support and partnership, and reaffirmed Plateau’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation in investment, development, security and people-to-people relations.

  • Governor Sani inaugurates Kaduna’s longest road in 20 years

    Governor Sani inaugurates Kaduna’s longest road in 20 years

    Governor Uba Sani has inaugurated the longest road constructed in the last two decades.

    The road cuts across three local governments and links more than 76 farming communities in Kaduna State.

    He said the road, which stretches from Igabi, to Kajuru and Chikun local governments, includes a 130-metre bridge over River Kaduna, which serves several rural communities.

    The governor said the 35-kilometre asphaltic road linking Gadan Gayan through Gwaraji to Kujama Junction, will transform mobility, agriculture and rural economies in those communities.

    At the opening of the road on Monday, Sani described the project as historic in the state’s infrastructure development, adding that it reflects his administration’s inclusive and people-centred development model.

    The governor recalled that when the project was kicked off in January 2024, his administration had pledged to deliver a durable and efficient transport corridor.

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    He maintained that ‘’through disciplined planning, professional execution, and collective commitment, that promise has been fulfilled.’’

    He explained that the road provides an alternative route that reduces reliance on the often-congested Kaduna metropolis, thereby cutting travel time and transportation costs for commuters and traders.

    “Emergency services will be able to respond faster, schoolchildren will reach their classrooms with greater ease, and families will enjoy improved access to healthcare, markets, and social services,” he noted.

    The governor emphasised the road’s agricultural importance, stressing that agriculture remains the leading contributor to Kaduna State’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth.

    “By traversing agriculturally productive rural communities across three local government areas, this road directly links farms to markets, aggregation centres, processing facilities, and urban consumption hubs,” he said, adding that it would reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen agricultural value chains.”

  • Bauchi @50: Mohammed sets 2033 deadline to crack Nigeria’s Top-10 Economies

    Bauchi @50: Mohammed sets 2033 deadline to crack Nigeria’s Top-10 Economies

    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has declared that the state is targeting a place among Nigeria’s top 10 economies by 2033, with ambitions to emerge as the leading economy in the Northeast within the next eight years.

    The governor made the declaration yesterday during a statewide broadcast to mark the 50th anniversary of Bauchi State, unveiling a 10-year development roadmap designed to drive long-term growth beyond the lifespan of his administration.

    Mohammed said the vision is anchored on the Bauchi State Development Plan 2033, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), following the extension of the state’s 2021–2025 Medium-Term Development Plan into a comprehensive 10-year framework that also stretches beyond the timeline of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    According to him, the long-term plan is aimed at ensuring policy continuity, consistency and predictability, regardless of changes in government.

    “The Bauchi State Development Plan 2033 builds on the State Medium-Term Plan 2025, with expanded focus on security and social inclusion, especially women, youths, children and other vulnerable groups,” Mohammed said.

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    He stressed that the plan does not replace existing policies but complements them through governance, legislative, social and policy reforms to strengthen the state’s capacity to achieve its development vision.

    The governor explained that the plan is driven by four key pillars: a coherent policy thrust, a realistic macroeconomic framework, a prioritised and sequenced programme of projects to guide annual budgets, and a robust implementation, monitoring and evaluation framework.

    By 2033, Mohammed said Bauchi aims to become “the leading economy in the Northeast and one of the top 10 most economically and socially developed states in Nigeria,” noting that the vision is to build a secure, prosperous and inclusive society for citizens.

    He added that the strategy relies on collaboration between skilled human capital, efficient governance, the private sector and development partners, while leveraging the state’s human, natural and man-made resources to drive inclusive economic transformation.

  • Kaduna community cries out over killings, kidnappings of kinsmen

    Kaduna community cries out over killings, kidnappings of kinsmen

    •’59 in bandits’ captivity since Oct 2025’

    Akurmi community in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State has raised the alarm over sustained killings and kidnapping by bandits, lamenting that 59 of its people have remained in captivity since last October.

    Leaders of the community said no fewer than 12 residents were killed while dozens were abducted in a string of attacks that have left villages deserted, farmlands abandoned and families traumatised.

    At a press conference in Kaduna, the Akurmi Development Association (AKURDA) painted a grim picture of life under siege, saying the wave of violence across their settlements in the last four months has pushed the people to the brink.

    AKURDA President, Yakubu J. Maigamo, at a press conference, questioned the seeming neglect of the community in the face of repeated attacks.

    “Are we still part of Nigeria? Or have Akurmi lives become disposable?” he asked.

    Maigamo said what used to be thriving ancestral farmlands have now turned into “graveyards and forests of fear,” as gunmen invade villages at will, killing men and whisking away women and children.

    He said the attacks have been systematic and devastating, affecting several communities across Lere and neighbouring local governments.

    He cited Karku-Ningi in Kauru Local Government where four persons were killed and nine kidnapped during an October, last year raid.

    He also listed Gidan-Waya, Jan-Tsauni and Mai-Yamma in Lere Local Government Area where another four people were killed and 13 abducted last November.

    According to him, more abductions and killings were recorded in Majagada, Gurza, Garun-Kurama and Biman-Kurama communities within the period under review.

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    Maigamo disclosed that many of those abducted since October last year are still in captivity, with families forced to sell off harvested grains meant to sustain them through the year to pay ransoms.

    He described the bandits as operating with “absolute impunity,” alleging that the attackers strike repeatedly without resistance or consequence.

    While acknowledging efforts by the Federal Government and state government to address insecurity, the community leader said the response has been grossly insufficient to stem the tide of attacks on Akurmi settlements.

    He said the continued silence and slow response from authorities have emboldened the attackers and deepened the people’s sense of abandonment.

    The association appealed to Governor Uba Sani to order the deployment of security personnel to Akurmi communities to prevent further attacks.

  • Plateau offers free anti-snake venom drugs

    Plateau offers free anti-snake venom drugs

    The Plateau State government has offered free Echitab Polyvalent Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) drugs to victims.

    In a statement, Director-General, state Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA), Kim Jerry Bot, emphasised that snakebite is an emergency, the reason the government is giving out the drug free.

    The statement highlighted adequate quantities of the drug in strategic hospitals, general hospitals, and designated treatment centres.

    ‘’This ensures prompt treatment for victims in remote villages and urban areas, without any financial burden on patients or their families.

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    The statement says key assurances include sufficient stock of Echitab ASV is available as well as ongoing distribution to all 17 local government areas and treatment centres.

    The statement added that Health workers have been instructed to administer the anti-venom drug upon diagnosis.

    The agency warned that any health facility, staff member, or individual found withholding, diverting, or charging for the life-saving drug would face decisive action.

     “The lives of Plateau citizens are priceless,” the statement declared.