Gunmen have again struck in Kogi State, abducting three members of a family in Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba East Local Government Area. The victims — a mother and her two children — were taken away while the husband narrowly escaped with gunshot wounds. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Friday when the attackers invaded the home of one Mr. Tokpe Gody at Bareke-Egbe in Yagba West. Witnesses said the assailants shot Gody as he attempted to flee, leaving him critically injured. He is currently receiving treatment at Egbe Hospital, though medical personnel say he may need to be transferred…
Author: National Update
By***As SUBEB Blames “Decades of Neglect” By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse The Emir of Hadejia and Chairman of the Jigawa State Council of Chiefs, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Maje, has raised alarm over the dilapidated state of primary schools in the state, describing the situation as “worrisome and unacceptable.” The monarch made the remarks after an unscheduled visit to several schools in Ayama District, Auyo Local Government Area, where he found leaking and cracked classrooms, pupils sitting on bare floors, and a severe shortage of desks and learning materials. He urged Governor Umar Namadi to embark on similar surprise visits “to see…
The launch of a new book by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (Rtd), on Friday in Abuja turned into a lively exchange on religion, governance, and insurgency, as Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, offered sharply different perspectives. Reviewing Irabor’s book “SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum”, Bishop Kukah described the fate of abducted schoolgirls such as Leah Sharibu and the Chibok students as enduring wounds on the nation. “As long as Leah Sharibu is unaccounted for, every missing child remains a scar on the face of Nigeria,”…
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has moved to correct long-held misconceptions about Islam and Jihad, declaring that the faith promotes excellence and good governance, not extremism or violence. Speaking in Abuja at the launch of “SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum” — a new book by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (Rtd) — the Sultan stressed that Islamism in Nigeria is geared towards building a just society rather than the pursuit of political power. “Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim by…
The Labour Party (LP) has announced the launch of a nationwide civil society directory, the Nigeria Civil Rights Yellow Page (NCS-YP), in response to last week’s airport altercation between activist Ms. Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, and the party’s former national chairman, Julius Abure. Interim National Publicity Secretary, Prince Tony Akeni, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, describing the project as a tool to protect activists, journalists and citizens ahead of the 2027 elections. According to him, the directory will compile contacts of human rights, women’s rights, environmental and IDP advocacy groups across Nigeria. “Its purpose is…
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over its handling of the recent clash with Dangote Refinery, warning that the union’s tactics risked crippling Nigeria’s economy. Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, the former Labour leader said while PENGASSAN was right to defend sacked workers, it went overboard by shutting down critical oil sector operations. “In protecting one group of workers, you must not endanger the jobs of many others,” Oshiomhole said. “Disputes should be fought without hurting tomato sellers who can’t move their goods because fuel is scarce.” PENGASSAN had…
Adamawa North senator who represented the district in the 9th and partly 10th senate, Ishaku Elisha Abbo, has dismissed reports that he was arrested by police over the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl, describing the story as a smear campaign by political enemies. Viral reports on Thursday claimed Abbo was in police custody after a teenager’s mother accused him of sexually assaulting her daughter at his Katampe residence on June 29, 2025. Speaking to journalists by phone on Friday, Abbo insisted he was never detained. “I was never arrested. I was in my house. The whole story is the…
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse Over 100 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in Jigawa State have closed ranks under the Open Government Partnership (OGP), creating a powerful platform to champion transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in governance at state and local government levels. The coalition emerged from a general meeting convened by the newly formed OGP leadership in the state, headed by Comrade Isah Mustapha. The gathering set the stage for activating the third phase of Jigawa’s OGP Action Plan, a roadmap designed to bring openness into everyday governance. Mustapha, who now serves as the Non-State Actors’ Co-Chair, told…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on Friday, October 3, 2025, joined prominent Nigerians in celebrating the 60th birthday of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor (Rtd), and the unveiling of his new book, “SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum.” The event, held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, had the Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar representing the President as Special Guest of Honour. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, chaired the occasion, which drew an impressive roll call of dignitaries, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Sultan of Sokoto,…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Kogi State Government has announced strict enforcement of its ban on trailer parks across the state beginning October 29, as part of measures to curb criminal activities. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said on Thursday that intelligence reports linked some trailer parks, particularly those in Zariagi and Osara, to criminal hideouts. “From October 29, the state will begin full enforcement of the ban. Intelligence at our disposal shows that some of these parks harbor criminals who threaten the peace and security of our people. This is a proactive and preventive measure,” Fanwo…