A Kano Upper Shariah Court is expected to deliver its verdict today in the case of Shafiu Abubakar Gadan, who is accused of setting fire to a mosque in Gezawa Local Government Area during early morning prayers, leading to the deaths of 25 people. The tragic event took place on May 16, 2024, initially killing 17 people at the scene. The death toll later rose to 25 as more victims succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire. Gadan is facing three serious charges, including causing grievous harm and culpable homicide. He had earlier pleaded guilty, and the presiding judge, Khadi…
Author: Hassan Haruna
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced plans to begin the cultivation and export of flowers and vegetables tailored to international customer specifications. The Governor made this known during an inspection visit to the greenhouses at one of his farms located along the Minna-Bida road, on Sunday. He said the goal is to use greenhouses to produce vegetables all year round and supply nurseries to other greenhouses for further production. He explained that modern farming techniques such as hydroponics and drip irrigation will be employed to meet the target. According to him, the pilot phase will focus on meeting…
In recent times, Nigeria has been plagued by rising insecurity, particularly in the North-East region of the country, yet political leaders appear more concerned with political endorsements and preparations for the 2027 general elections than with the lives of their citizens. While ordinary Nigerians face daily threats from terrorism, banditry, and communal violence, politicians are preoccupied with power plays and self-interest. It is deeply unfortunate and disheartening that while Boko Haram and other terrorist groups continue to launch deadly attacks, especially targeting military bases in the North East, politicians are engaging in activities that show a lack of empathy and…
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago officially launched a 20-year development plan on Saturday aimed at modernizing Bida town. The unveiling took place during a town hall meeting and stakeholders’ engagement organized by the Ministry of Lands and Survey in collaboration with the New Niger Development Project. Governor Bago described the New Bida Development Plan as a short to medium-term initiative designed to fast track development and enhance socio economic activities in the area. One of the major highlights of the plan is a proposed 44 kilometer dual carriage ring road, intended to divert traffic around the town. The Governor…
The Nigeria Police Force, through INTERPOL NCB Abuja, has extradited a Nigerian fugitive, Abubakar Aboki Muhammed, from the United Arab Emirates on Friday, May 23, 2025. Muhammed was wanted for fraud, forgery, and money laundering, An INTERPOL Red Notice was issued after a businessman in Abuja filed a report in July 2023. According to the report, Muhammed posed as a shipping agent and convinced the businessman to pay $307,500 for the shipment of ten luxury vehicles from the UAE to Nigeria. He received the money through a third-party account at FCMB, owned by Anas Usaini from Kano, which was then…
Just weeks after security forces brokered a peace agreement between farmers and herders in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, fresh violence has broken out, leading to deaths, destruction, and rising instability. According to reliable intelligence sources, despite security agencies holding three separate meetings with local youth and community leaders to promote peace and restraint, some youths in Badanwa broke the agreement by attacking Fulani herders grazing near their farms. Troops under Operation Lafiyan Jamaa responded to a distress call around 2:50 p.m. on Friday, May 23. On arrival, they found that fleeing Fulani herders had retaliated, killing…
A video circulating on Saturday morning shows bandits learning how to operate anti-aircraft weapons in an undisclosed location in Northern Nigeria. The one-minute clip captures a group of suspected Fulani bandits practicing how to shoot down aircraft. In the video, one of the men asks another, “Ibro, have you ever used an anti-aircraft gun before?” Ibro replies, “Yes, I shot down three jets with the anti-aircraft weapon in Northern Nigeria.” The video has sparked concerns over the increasing sophistication of weapons in the hands of armed groups in the region.
A wave of concern has spread across Nigeria’s security community after Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, claimed that some Nigerian politicians and military officers are secretly helping Boko Haram by leaking sensitive information. Governor Zulum also condemned the military for not having enough equipment and claimed that the insurgents are more technologically advanced. His comments have triggered strong reactions from security experts and former defense officials. Retired Major General Chris Olukolade, former Director of Defense Information, shared his concerns in an interview with TV360 Nigeria on Friday night. He warned that while there might be some individual cases of collusion…
Tertiary institutions owned by the Bauchi State government are facing a growing crisis as senior lecturers and experienced non-academic staff continue to leave for federal institutions and neighboring states offering better pay and benefits. The Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of Academic and Non-Academic Staff Unions in Bauchi, Engineer Abubakar Ahmad, raised the alarm and urged the state government to take immediate action. In an interview with Newsmen on Friday night, Engineer Ahmad appealed to the government to implement the salary increase previously agreed upon with the unions. He warned that if nothing is done, the quality of education…
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin taking possession of 4,794 properties in Abuja from Monday, May 26, 2025, due to non payment of ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years. The affected properties are located in key districts, including Central Area, Garki I & II, Wuse I & II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape. This was made known during a press briefing on Friday by the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka and Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima. The FCTA…
Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has raised concerns that the ruling party is no longer following its original progressive values. He believes the APC is now operating more like a centrally controlled organisation. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, Lukman condemned the party for no longer allowing internal competitions, saying leaders are now chosen automatically without proper contests. Reflecting on his role in helping to form the APC, he expressed disappointment, saying the party has strayed far from the values it was founded on. “Right now, APC has…
Amnesty International has raised serious concerns about the treatment of Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif, who the Zamfara State Police Commissioner is currently holding. Despite needing urgent medical attention following her recent abduction, she remains in police custody. At the same time, police in Sokoto State are demanding that she be transferred to their custody. Hamdiyya’s life is in danger, and Amnesty is calling on Nigerian authorities to act quickly to ensure she gets the medical care she urgently needs. This case has also brought attention to broader concerns about the growing crackdown on dissent in Sokoto State, led by Governor Ahmed…
Boko Haram terrorists launched an attack on Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State early Friday morning. A resident confirmed to The News Chronicle that the attack lasted for about four hours. According to the eyewitness, four people were killed during the assault. “They killed several people, including my brother-in-law’s younger brother,” she said. The incident adds to the ongoing insecurity in the region, where Boko Haram has continued to carry out violent attacks on local communities. Details Later!!!!
The acting chairman of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, has denied allegations that he is secretly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). These accusations, he claims, are the result of internal party tensions and attempts to discredit him. In an interview with the BBC Hausa on Thursday night, Damagun rejected the notion that he is a puppet of the APC and responded by invoking divine justice. “Allah is enough between me and those spreading these lies,” he said. “I have never joined the APC not during Buhari’s time or now.…
Senior military leaders, including several Major Generals, gathered in Maiduguri for the 2025 First Bi Annual Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Conference, led by Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. The meeting comes as Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks increase again in the North East. The conference took place on Thursday at Maimalari Cantonment and included the unveiling of new “Vanquish Armoured Tankers,” which have features like night vision and 360-degree protection. These were officially handed over to Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, who leads Operation Hadin Kai. General Oluyede stressed the need for better planning and stronger cooperation between security agencies. He…
The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her claims on national television that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello plotted to assassinate her. The charges, based on her April 3, 2025 appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, include defamation under Section 391 of the Penal Code, punishable by Section 392. During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan stood by her claims, questioning the removal of her security and suggesting it was a setup to make her vulnerable. She also alleged that a secret meeting took place where plans to recall or eliminate her…
Four people, including three children, have died from suspected food poisoning in Kaga Hassan Quarters, Magama Jibia, Katsina State. Police sources confirmed the incident on Thursday morning. The victims were identified as Hussaina Ayuba, Ahmed Ayuba, and Nana Ayuba. They died while receiving treatment at Jibia General Hospital after eating what is believed to be poisoned food. A fourth victim, 12-year old Hafsat Ayuba, is currently recovering and still under medical care. Authorities arrested a 20 year-old woman, Fatima Abdulkadir, who prepared the spaghetti noodles suspected to have caused the poisoning. Two other individuals were also detained in connection with…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the claim by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, that the party is an “incurable virus” and unfit for a 2027 political coalition. The PDP described Lawal’s statement as baseless, saying his time in office was marked more by controversies than meaningful achievements. The party also accused him of speaking out of political frustration and irrelevance. The PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, responded through his media aide, Yusuf Dingyadi, on Wednesday night. The statement came after Lawal suggested that the PDP should not be considered for…
A Nigerian man reportedly fainted after mistakenly transferring N500,000 to his wife instead of the intended N50,000. The incident occurred after he had lied to her, claiming he only had N20,000 in his account but borrowed an additional N30,000 to make up the N50,000 he promised her. According to sources, the man realized his error shortly after sending the money and was overwhelmed with shock, leading him to collapse. The drama reportedly unfolded in Lagos over the weekend when the man, whose identity has not been confirmed, tried to use his mobile banking app to fulfill his wife’s financial request.…
Some residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, have shared their opinions on Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s recent statement on News Central, accusing politicians and security agencies of supporting Boko Haram terrorists. In an interview with The News Chronicle on Wednesday, residents expressed mixed reactions. An anonymous activist stated, “We all know that top politicians are sponsoring Boko Haram. “Even the military has informants working with them, former President Goodluck Jonathan said the same thing in 2013, but nothing was done. The truth will come out eventually.” Mr. Obadiah, a businessman in Maiduguri, supported the governor’s claims, saying, “Governor…
The Bauchi State Police Command has shut down a large illegal fertiliser production and distribution network. Five suspects were arrested, and police recovered fake fertiliser, counterfeit herbicides, and equipment used for the illegal operation. In a statement released on Wednesday, Police Public Relations Officer CSP Ahmed Wakil said the crackdown began after reliable intelligence was received on May 10, 2025. Officers arrested Muhammad Abubakar at his home in Magaji Quarters, Bauchi. He was found with six bags of suspected fake fertiliser and 46 bottles of counterfeit herbicides. A search of his home uncovered more items including 38 empty cartons of…
Hamdiyyah Sharif, a vocal critic of Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, has gone missing. Her lawyer, Abba Hikima, announced her disappearance in a Facebook post on Wednesday. According to him, Hamdiyyah left her home to buy food in Sokoto on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. but has not been seen since. Barrister Hikima confirmed that the Sokoto State Police Command has been notified about the situation.
In a move to address the ongoing traffic problems around Maiduguri’s Monday Market, the General Manager of the Borno State Traffic Management Agency (BOTMA), Engr. Baba Shehu Tijjani, and the General Manager of the market, Alhaji Mustapha Loskuri, carried out a joint inspection of the area on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The inspection was aimed at finding solutions to the traffic congestion caused by traders who set up their stalls on access roads and by commercial drivers, especially trailer and pickup truck operators, who park their vehicles carelessly and block the roads. During the visit, Engr. Tijjani expressed serious concern…
The Nigerian Senate began investigating claims that people who are not originally from Bauchi State were wrongly listed as Bauchi indigenes in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) basic military training programme. Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, submitted a petition from Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, during the Senate’s plenary session, on Tuesday. In the petition, Governor Mohammed expressed concern over the inclusion of non indigenes as candidates representing Bauchi State, describing it as unfair and not in the state’s best interest. “This is a serious issue. People who are not from Bauchi are being listed as Bauchi indigenes…
Thirteen inmates at the Bauchi Correctional Centre were released after a Nigerian based abroad, Uchechukwu Emmanuel Obioha popularly known as “Papiwater DXB” paid their fines totaling N1 million to celebrate his birthday, On Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Obioha’s friend, Taye Abdullahi, who helped organize the release, said the freed inmates would be enrolled in skills training programs, including shoemaking, carpentry, and plumbing. The goal is to help them rebuild their lives and avoid returning to prison. Obioha expressed hope that the freed individuals would use this second chance wisely, become responsible citizens, and successfully reintegrate into society. One of the…
Security personnel escorting the convoy of Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, clashed with Boko Haram terrorists on their way back to Maiduguri from Gomboru Ngala. The governor had just completed a three-day tour of the area following recent terrorist attacks. The gunfight occurred between 12:50 pm and 1:30 pm after the convoy encountered the terrorists, whose intentions were unclear. Security forces immediately engaged them in a firefight that lasted nearly 30 minutes. It is unclear whether Governor Zulum was in the convoy at the time. A source traveling with the group confirmed the incident, stating that the attack…
Niger State has called on journalists to always provide accurate information, as they play a key role in maintaining peace in the state. The Commissioner for Homeland Security, Muhammad Bello Abdullahi, made this appeal during a media roundtable discussion with journalists in Minna on Monday. He described the media as a crucial partner in the state’s security efforts and urged reporters to uphold professionalism in their work. Abdullahi warned against spreading unverified news that could cause panic and assured that the state government would continue to collaborate with journalists to achieve a safer Niger State. He also discussed the upcoming…
Security expert Kehinde Giwa from SBM Intelligence has expressed serious concerns over the increasing number of Nigerian soldiers and security operatives being killed. According to SBM Intelligence, at least 152 security personnel have lost their lives in just five months. Giwa blames this on weak intelligence gathering and insufficient support during military operations. Giwa explained on Monday night that attacks on security forces are no longer limited to the North. “These attacks are happening across different regions, North Central, Northwest, Southeast, and even parts of the Southwest and South-South,” he said. He warned that the situation has reached a crisis…
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has announced that the scheme is working with agencies like WAEC, JAMB, and NIMC to improve the verification process for prospective corps members. He made this known while speaking at an investigative hearing organized by the House of Representatives joint committees on certificate fraud. The hearing was chaired by Honourable Abubakar Fulata. Nafiu explained that NYSC has partnered with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to link certificates submitted by prospective corps members with their National Identification Number (NIN). This, he said, will make the verification process…
Farmers in Borno and Yobe states have expressed deep concerns over their safety as the rainy season approaches, citing the persistent threat of Boko Haram terrorist attacks in the region. Many have already abandoned their farms, fearing for their lives, while others are considering alternative livelihoods to survive. In interviews with The News Chronicle on Sunday evening in Maiduguri, several farmers shared their struggles and fears. Among them was Bakura Abubakar, who has decided to give up farming altogether due to the escalating violence. “I won’t risk my life just to farm because Boko Haram has taken over the area,” …
