The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Blackmail won’t stop Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, says APC chieftain

    Blackmail won’t stop Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, says APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Director of Finance at Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso has said that no amount of blackmail or political scheming will prevent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from securing re-election in 2027.

    Kwankwaso stated this in response to the recent political violence, including alleged thug attack on former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the disruption of a meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders’ meeting in Kaduna recently.  

    On Monday thugs were reported to have attacked Malami’s convoy, destroying vehicles.

    Similarly, earlier on Sunday thugs were reported to have disrupted a meeting by the ADC leaders in Kaduna.

    The thugs reportedly invaded the venue of the meeting at NUT Endwell Hotel in Kaduna metropolis, smashing window glasses and throwing chairs at participants.

    Read Also: Tinubu setting new standards for inclusive governance – APC

    But in reaction, Kwankwaso said the incidents were politically motivated schemes aimed at tarnishing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s image and emasculating his re-election ambitions.

    He added that the orchestrated plan to puncture Tinubu’s hard-earned image in the region would not work, saying the president is focused on human capital development.

    According to him: “There were many presidents from northern Nigeria before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recently Buhari did eight years; but of a sudden people are talking about bastardizing the north.

    “We all know what happened under Buhari. The security under Tinubu is fast improving. The Kaduna-Abuja expressway is safe. Bandits in northwestern states are on the run. Boka Haram has been forged from the north east.

    “Thanks to the National Security Advisor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu who is unrelenting.

    “These accusations of thug attacks on opposition leaders being thrown at the APC are but orchestrated plans to blackmail the president ahead of the 2027 election.

    “But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s score card will always speak for him. There are many infrastructural projects going on in various parts of the northern region.

    “Northerners have been appointed into key positions. The national security advisor, Nuhu Ribadu and The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa are from the north, to mention but a few.”

  • AbdulRazaq holds security meeting, commends operatives amid clearance op, arrests

    AbdulRazaq holds security meeting, commends operatives amid clearance op, arrests

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday held a marathon security council meeting to receive updates on various efforts to strengthen public safety.

    The meeting was attended by all the security commanders as well as top government officials in the state, including the Secretary to the State Government and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. 

    The Governor received extensive briefings from the police, state security service, Army, Navy, Air Force, NSCDC, Immigration Service, NDLEA, and officials from the National Security Adviser — while insights were also taken from key government officials such as the Secretary to the State Government, Special Adviser on Security, Senior Special Assistant on Security, and others. 

    Read Also: Abdulrazaq meets Ifelodun stakeholders, speaks on development, security efforts

    The commanders gave details of all ongoing operations across the state, including multiple arrests, prosecutions, and intercepts of arms from hostile nonstate actors.

    The Governor commended the security forces for their sacrifice, saying they deserve all the support that they get as they put in everything to ensure that the people are safe. 

    He called for continued vigilance and support from the public, including giving actionable and timely intelligence.

  • Northeast govs say region’s insecurity requires multidimensional approach

    Northeast govs say region’s insecurity requires multidimensional approach

    • Decry high cost of agricultural inputs

    The Northeast Governors Forum says the security challenges bedeviling the region can be resolved only through a multidimensional approach.

    The Governor of Borno State, Babangana Zulum, while speaking at the 12th rotational meeting of the Forum in Jalingo, Taraba on Saturday, identified the key solutions as education, healthcare, beefed-up security and infrastructural development, among others.

    While commending President Bola Tinubu’s effort at ending insurgency in the region, the governors also insisted that the root causes, such as youth restiveness, unemployment, vocational and technical education, poor road networks and inadequate poverty reduction programmes must be tackled.

    They are also seeking the collaboration of the Federal Government in providing an enabling environment to both local and foreign investors and to promote the establishment of small and medium-scale enterprises.

    Read Also: FG signs one-year performance contracts with para-military agencies

    “We must reiterate our call for non-kinetic solutions to the challenges. This involves addressing the root cause of the problem by tackling youth unemployment through enhanced technical and vocational education, improving our road networks, revitalising agriculture, improving poverty alleviation programmes, security, and healthcare, among others.

    “We must take practical steps that will attract both local and foreign investments, and promote the establishment of large and small-scale enterprises, further to the recent release of the 2025 flat outlook by the national hydrological services agency and the seasonal climate predictions from the Nigerian meteorological agency.

    Earlier, the Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas, had urged governors of the Northeast region to add their voices to the clamour to the NorthEast Development Commission to expedite action in reconstructing the Namai Bridge, which collapsed since August last year and claimed lives.

    In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the forum also decried the high cost of agricultural inputs, stating fears that the situation might have direct negative consequences on farm outputs in 2026.

    It stated that the impending food crisis could be averted by giving more subsidies to farmers and ensuring adequate preparation for dry season farming.

    “The forum acknowledges the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against the insurgency in the region, but regrets that the sub-region is still confronted with  daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges.

     “Forum took into cognisance the forecast of the credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the sub-region.

    “It therefore calls for proactive measures in confronting the flood and massive sensitisation of settlers along the flood plains.

     “The forum agrees to hold the North East Trade fair in partnership with other organisations in Maiduguri, Borno, in Dec. 2025,” it stated.

    It also tasked its committee on Power and Energy to come up with a power and energy integrated sub-regional masterplan.

  • We are facing persecution, depopulation by armed bandits – Minority Christian groups

    We are facing persecution, depopulation by armed bandits – Minority Christian groups

    A group of Churches of minority ethnic nationalities in North Central Nigeria have alleged that they are facing persecution and depopulation by armed bandits.

    The churches are Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST), Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Christian Association of Nigeria Youth Wing (YOWICAN), Tafawa Balewa (Bauchi), Kaduna and Plateau States.

    “We are disturbed by the continuous killing, destruction of farmland and forceful occupation of our ancestral land in our states.

    “We have realised that bullets, machetes, swords don’t recognise denominational boundaries. Catholic, COCIN, ECWA, Anglican, NKST are not immune from the attacks by the jihadists. It is on this premise that we have come to speak out. Because what we are experiencing is not just insecurity.”

    The groups pointed out that contrary to the narrative that what has been happening in our communities is a case of two people fighting (farmers and herdsmen)…; we believe that they are coordinated and religiously motivated attacks against us the indigenous Christian Communities to forcefully take over our ancestral land and further impoverish the people.

    “These are a part of a broader scheme targeted at depopulating, subjugating, disenfranchising, impoverishing and silencing our people.

    “We have carefully observed the coordinated and systematic way and manner the attacks are carried out on our communities. This points to us that these attacks are religiously motivated. If not so, why the chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ during such attacks? We also view it as persecution, because the targeted communities are mostly Christian communities (with women and children being most vulnerable).

    Read Also: PDP eyes consensus option at national convention

    “We are convinced that the word that aptly describes the reality on ground is persecution. This persecution has manifested in acts of violence such as killings, kidnap for ransom, robbery, rape, abduction, forceful conversion of Christian minors etc.”

    “The destruction of homes, farmlands, and other sources of livelihood has deprived our people of the sources of survival. Displacement of our people from their ancestral lands through forceful takeover and occupation of their lands.”

    They also alleged systemic marginalisation through the denial of opportunities within the public/civil service. Deliberate refusal to implement an already gazetted chiefdom (e.g Zaar Chiefdom) in Bauchi State is a case in point; imposition of a Muslim traditional leader on a predominantly Christian community etc.

    They therefore demanded the immediate return (and NOT just resettlement) of our people who have been displaced from their ancestral lands (homes). We demand that state governments in all affected states issue certificates of occupancy to all displaced persons over their ancestral lands to recognise their genuine titles.

    “We demand that the right of farmers to cultivate their farmlands without harassment from cattle rearers be recognised by law and protected; speedy trials for indigenous Christian youths in detention by security forces. We call on the government at all levels to always ensure the equal distribution of the commonwealth of the people irrespective of religious inclinations.”

  • Ododo to appointees: return to LGAs for grassroots engagement

    Ododo to appointees: return to LGAs for grassroots engagement

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has directed all commissioners and the highest-ranking political appointees in each local government Area as well as all appointed government officials under his administration to immediately return to their respective LGAs to carry out official duties and lead grassroots mobilisation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

    The directive, which takes effect from Monday, September 1, 2025, was issued via a circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Mrs. Folashade  Ayoade

    According to the circular, all the appointees of government are to participate in the exercise under the coordination of the highest ranking appointee from each local government.

    Read Also: FG signs one-year performance contracts with para-military agencies

    All appointees are expected to coordinate registration mobilisation efforts at the ward level and submit a comprehensive report at the end of the mobilisation period, detailing the number of new voters registered in their respective wards and local government councils.

    The Governor emphasised that the era of governance being conducted solely from the state capital must give way to direct engagement with the people at the grassroots.

    He noted that government officials must remain accessible and responsive to the needs of their communities.

    The directive also stipulates that any appointee who wishes to leave their LGA during this period must obtain prior written approval from the Secretary to the State Government, or face disciplinary action.

    The directive was contained  in a statement  made available to newsmen on Saturday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo.

    The commissioner reaffirmed Governor  Ododo’s administration’s commitment to deepening grassroots governance and ensuring massive voter participation in the electoral process.

  • Police foil assassination plot in Niger

    Police foil assassination plot in Niger

    An alleged plot to kill a man in Beji, Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, has been uncovered by the police, following the arrest of two suspects who confessed they were hired to carry out the assassination.

    The suspects, 40-year-old Muhammad Mohammed and 35-year-old Mohammed Usman, both of Beji community in Bosso local government area of Niger State were intercepted at about 12:45 a.m. on August 23, 2025, by a police patrol team working with local vigilantes at the Beji railway crossing.

    A search on them led to the recovery of a locally made pistol, a live cartridge, and the sum of N13,000.

    During interrogation, the men admitted they were contracted by one Dogo, also of Beji, to assassinate a man who had married his former wife revealing that Dogo promised to pay them N100,000 for the operation.

    Read Also: PDP eyes consensus option at national convention

    According to the suspects, the N13,000 found on them was part of a transport fee given in advance by Dogo as they claimed they were on their way to collect the full balance before carrying out the task when they were apprehended.

    Police immediately took them into custody at Maikunkele Division and later transferred them to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation and prosecution.

    The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Wasiu, who confirmed the incident said that security operatives have intensified efforts to arrest Dogo, who is said to be on the run.

    In another development, the command said its operatives arrested nine suspected thugs with dangerous weapons in Minna.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria NAN, PPRO Abiodun said their arrest is in continuation of the fight against thuggery and other vices in the state.

    The spokesperson added that based on credible information, on Aug. 26, between the hours of 2 am and 5am, the command’s Anti-thuggery Squad stormed the areas of Soje A, Soje B and Kpakungu.

    “During the sting operation, nine suspects were arrested and found with two suspected stolen solar batteries, five knives, cutlasses, and a digger.

    “They have been detained and being investigated by State Criminal Investigation Department of the command,” he said

  • 900 mothers to benefit from health initiative in Niger

    900 mothers to benefit from health initiative in Niger

    At least 900 mothers across Niger State are set to benefit from this year’s ‘Support a Mother’ health initiative organised by the Zainab Mohammed Bima Initiative (ZMBI).

    The founder, Hajiya Zainab Mohammed Bima, disclosed at the flag-off ceremony in Minna that the programme will cover mothers in Zones A, B, and C of the state, adding that the project, which distributes maternal kits and provides support, is designed to promote dignity and ease the burden of women during childbirth.

    Read Also: FG signs one-year performance contracts with para-military agencies

    According to her, the initiative complements the efforts of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago, in improving the welfare of women and families.

    She commended partners and volunteers for their contributions and urged more stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that investing in mothers translates to healthier families and stronger communities.

    Some of the beneficiaries applauded her support saying that it will go a long way in easing their challenges especially in the face of economic hardship.

  • NUJ FCT condemns alleged harassment of NTA journalist by NRC MD, demands public apology

    NUJ FCT condemns alleged harassment of NTA journalist by NRC MD, demands public apology

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council has strongly condemned the alleged harassment and intimidation of Comrade Ladi Bala, former President of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Transport Reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Kayode Opeifa.

    According to a statement signed by the Council’s Secretary, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, the incident occurred on August 27, 2025, while Bala was on assignment covering the aftermath of a train derailment along the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

    The NUJ said the NRC boss disrupted Bala’s live reporting, hurling derogatory remarks at her, including “you are stupid, your management is stupid, foolish woman,” and other demeaning language.

    He allegedly ordered security operatives to bundle her out of the scene and threatened to report her to security agencies, the Presidency, and NTA management with the intention of getting her dismissed.

    Other journalists present at the scene confirmed that Opeifa verbally assaulted Bala, questioning her appearance, professionalism, and right to cover the incident.

    Read Also: FG signs one-year performance contracts with para-military agencies

    “When NUJ officials contacted the Managing Director, he claimed he was acting on security grounds but went further to threaten that Comrade Bala would never again be allowed to cover NRC events,” Oyekunle said.

    The NUJ FCT Council described the conduct as a flagrant violation of the journalist’s fundamental rights and an affront to press freedom as guaranteed under Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    “This behaviour is not only dehumanising but also undermines democracy and the rule of law. It represents growing hostility against the media in Nigeria and the increasing intolerance of some public officials to accountability and scrutiny,” the Council stated.

    The union expressed solidarity with Bala, insisting it has zero tolerance for the harassment and intimidation of journalists, especially women in the profession.

    “The NUJ demands an immediate and unreserved public apology from Mr. Kayode Opeifa and calls on the Nigerian Railway Corporation to take decisive steps to prevent a recurrence. We also urge relevant authorities to support a safe and respectful working environment for media practitioners,” the statement added.

  • Experts validate social protection draft bill for Adamawa

    Experts validate social protection draft bill for Adamawa

    Experts across various sectors are reviewing and validating a draft bill aimed at establishing a law to guarantee social protection for the people of Adamawa State.

    The proposed Adamawa State Social Protection Bill seeks to provide sustainable interventions for the poor and other vulnerable groups, empowering them to live more secure and dignified lives.

    Technocrats in the state civil service, lawmakers, representatives of NGOs, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, and members of vulnerable communities converged for a week-long workshop to scrutinise and refine the bill. 

    By Thursday, the fourth day of deliberations, participants agreed the draft was ready for presentation before the Adamawa State House of Assembly for possible passage and executive assent.

    Read Also: Adamawa Govt hands over 14 trafficked children

    The bill, developed under the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria (SEPIN SUSI) project, is being implemented by the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, which also convened the validation workshop.

    Highlighting the importance of the legislation, GIZ Just Transition and Inclusion Cluster Coordinator, Duke Benjamin, said the bill was designed with a clear understanding of the urgent need to transform lives across the state.

    The Adamawa Social Protection Bill, like similar frameworks worldwide, aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability, protect households from shocks that could plunge them into destitution, and promote equity and inclusive growth by addressing long-standing social and economic inequalities.

  • Insecurity: Acting governor seek military’s assistance, meets Chief of Defence Staff

    Insecurity: Acting governor seek military’s assistance, meets Chief of Defence Staff

    Katsina State Acting Governor, Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, yesterday in Abuja called for stronger military support to step up ongoing  security operations and curtail banditry attacks in the state.

    Jobe who made the appeal during a side meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) function, said the call is an urgent one for enhanced collaboration between security agencies and the Katsina State Government

    He further noted that banditry attacks has escalated and threatened the peace and safety of rural communities in katsina

    READ ALSO; What does Remi Tinubu want?

    He said ‘’the situation requires a more coordinated response and stronger synergy between state authorities and the military high command’’

    “Many rural dwellers have suffered displacement, loss of livelihoods, and disruptions to farming activities due to the menace of banditry, ensuring their safety is not just about restoring peace, but also about reviving the socio-economic fabric of the state’’

    The Acting Governor also assured that his administration is determined to work tirelessly with all security stakeholders until the crisis is brought under control.

    He said “Our people deserve to live in safety and dignity. We will continue to work hand in hand with the Armed Forces and other security agencies until this menace is defeated,”

    In response, General Musa assured the Acting Governor of the Nigerian Armed Forces’ total commitment to the fight against banditry. He emphasized that restoring security in Katsina and across the country remains a shared priority, one that the military is fully invested in achieving.