Author: user user

Vigilantes have arrested a 32-year-old motorcycle mechanic, identified as Danladi Gambo, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in Pegni community in the Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

A member of the vigilante in the area, Samson Iliya, confirmed the incident to our reporter via telephone on Thursday, saying the assault occurred on Wednesday.

He said the suspect allegedly lured the girl, who hawks groundnuts, from his workshop to his house around 5:34 pm and defiled her.

SPONSOR AD

The incident occurred after the girl went to collect money for the groundnuts he had bought. The suspect then asked her to follow him to his house to collect the money. According to Iliya, the suspect convinced her that he didn’t have any money on him and asked her to follow him to his house.

‘Even though the girl refused to follow the mechanic to his house to collect the money, he convinced her and lured her to his house, where he succeeded in raping her,’ he said.

The vigilante member said a neighbour heard the girl screaming inside the suspect’s room and became suspicious, which prompted the neighbor to quickly raise an alarm that attracted the attention of others.

‘It was at that point that some neighbors quickly alerted the vigilantes who mobilized to the house and forced the door open. The suspect was discovered half-naked while the girl was in tears,’ he said.

The vigilante member said the suspect was immediately arrested and handed over to the police in the area.

‘The girl’s parents later came, and the vigilantes accompanied them and the girl to the hospital where doctors confirmed that the suspect penetrated the girl,’ he said.

A police source at Pegni Division also confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect, saying he will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Two suspected bandits have been killed during a midnight raid on Effan community in the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The incident occurred around 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday when the armed men invaded the community near Gbugbu, shooting sporadically as they attempted to abduct two women.

However, the attack was swiftly repelled after local vigilantes and youth volunteers mobilised to confront the assailants.

SPONSOR AD

Confirming the incident to Daily Trust on Thursday, the vigilante commander, Gina Gana, said the ensuing gun battle left two of the attackers dead. ‘The bandits abducted two women, but our men pursued them into the forest. We shot two of them – one died on the spot, while the other later succumbed to gunshot wounds,’ he said.

He added that two members of the vigilante group sustained gunshot injuries during the operation and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.

According to him, the kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt after the vigilantes combed the surrounding bushes in pursuit of the fleeing bandits.

Following the attack, soldiers and local security operatives have intensified patrols around Effan and neighbouring communities under the Lafiagi Emirate.

Security sources said the area remains under close surveillance amid reports that some of the fleeing attackers may still be hiding in nearby forests.

Normalcy has since been restored to the area, with additional troops deployed to reinforce security and reassure residents.

Community leaders commended the combined efforts of the Nigerian Army and local vigilantes in repelling the attack.

They also thanked the state government for its continued support in the fight against banditry and called for the provision of more equipment and logistics to strengthen local security operatives in rural areas.

As part of the measures to empower Nigeria’s oil and gas services sector, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoriong Board (NCDMB), and Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) have disbursed about $42 million (about N62bn) to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to boost their participation in the sector.

The Head, Specialized Business at NEXIM, Muhammed Z. Awami, who disclosed this yesterday at the panel session during NCDMB stakeholders sensitization and Engagement Forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, stated that though the working capital of Capacity Fund is $30 million, but they have exceeded the amount in other to attract more Nigerian players in oil and gas sector.

The stakeholders’ Sensitization and Engagement Forum which has as its theme: ‘Deepening Local Content through Certification, Compliance and Financing Support’ brought together key players in the oil and gas industry to deliberate on the involvement of Nigerian players.

SPONSOR AD

Awami urged the duly registered Nigerian oil service providers with viable contracts with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and National Oil Companies (NOCs) to take advantage of the NCDMB Working Capital and Capacity Fund, managed by NEXIM bank.

He said the fund offers flexible financing and tailoring solutions to meet their business needs, and catalyse business growth, help to access markets, expand global footprint and unlock new opportunities.

He said: ‘Once you meet pre-disbursement conditions, we disbursed the funds to you, and after disbursement, we also monitor sometimes jointly with NCDMB, sometimes, we just do spot check assessment of utilization of the funds, to make sure the funds are being utilized for the purpose it was disbursed.

‘When it’s time to repay, we expect that repayments are made by the beneficiaries so that we can also lend again to other people, the fund Working Capital and Capacity Fund is $30 million but so far, we have disbursed about $42 million.

‘So, I’m sure a lot of challenges could be around collateral in terms of how the funds operate, so what we have done is to water down the requirements without compromising the bank or the board, so we use things like the assignments of receivables, we use things like insurance and other forms of collateral which make it easy for the beneficiaries to access the funds, though we are transactional about it, so we look at the transaction itself and build the finances structures around the transaction in such a way that the loan becomes self-liquidity without the need for physical collateral,’ he said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Dr. Osa Uchendu, said the forum offers the board an opportunity to deliberate with the stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

He said the conversation will boost more participation of Nigerian players in the oil and gas industry and encourage their business growth.

Also speaking, the Group Head Oil and Gas, in the Bank of Industry, Gabriel Yemidale, said the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund) which started in 2017, with N200 million had grown to N300 million in 2023.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified two contenders from its governorship primaries in Ekiti State slated for next year.

APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Duro Meseko disclosed this to newsmen after the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held yesterday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

He said the incumbent governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, and another aspirant, Mrs Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo, were cleared for the primaries, while Engr Kayode Ojo and Mrs Abimbola Olajumoke Olawunmi were disqualified.

SPONSOR AD

Analysts say the move has cleared the path for Oyebanji to secure the party’s ticket, as Ojo-considered his strongest challenger-has been eliminated from the race. The APC primary election is scheduled for October 27, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed July 20, 2026, for the main election.

Meseko said the two aspirants were disqualified for failing to comply with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended). Efforts to get their reactions were unsuccessful.

He also announced that the party’s reconciliation committee, headed by pioneer national chairman Chief Bisi Akande, would be inaugurated soon.

In a related development, the NWC dissolved the APC executive in Enugu State, a move political observers believe is aimed at paving the way for the anticipated defection of Governor Peter Mba from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted presidential pardon to foremost nationalist and champion of anti-colonial struggle, Sir Herbert Macaulay; former Federal Capital Territory minister, Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, Former Reps member, Farouk Lawan and others.

Others pardoned are the Ogoni nine: Ken Saro Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.

After the Council of State meeting, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani briefed newsmen.

SPONSOR AD

Governor Uzodinma said President Tinubu acted on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) which has 12 members, with the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, as chairman. The committee’s final report was presented to the Council of State on Thursday in Abuja, as required by the constitution.

Those pardoned

Herbert Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist and co-founder, along with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). Macaulay was the party’s first president, which played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s struggle for independence.

However, in 1913, Macaulay was convicted by the British colonialists and banned from public office. Macaulay died in 1946, but the stigma of being an ex-convict was not exorcised from his records until now.

Vatsa, a poet, was sentenced to death over a treason charge in 1986, during the administration of military president, Ibrahim Babangida, and was executed with nine others by firing squad. The circumstances leading to his conviction and execution have been a subject of debate for long.

Farouk Lawan was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for receiving a $500,000 bribe while serving as the chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the fuel subsidy fraud in 2012. He served the sentence and got out of prison in October, 2024.

Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists were sentenced to death and executed in 1995 by the Nigerian military government headed by General Sani Abacha for ‘inciting the murder of four Ogoni chiefs.’

Others are; Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu who were granted pardoned according to the presidency, to enable them integrate into society, ‘having demonstrated sufficient remorse’.

Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine, was pardoned, along with Dr Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 out of his 17-year sentence for fraud.

At the same time, the president awarded national honours to the Ogoni four- Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage.

In exercising his constitutional power of mercy, President Tinubu granted clemency to 82 inmates and reduced the prison terms of 65 others. He gave a reprieve for seven inmates on the death row by commuting their sentences to life imprisonment.

The committee’s final report was presented to the Council of State on Thursday in Abuja, as required by the constitution.

The report noted, ‘A total of 175 inmates were interviewed, and 62 applications were received on behalf of 119 inmates considered by the committee, making it a total of 294.

‘One hundred and sixty of the inmates interviewed were male, while 15 were female. Eighty-two inmates were recommended for clemency; two (2) for pardon; sixty-five (65) inmates for reduction of their terms of imprisonment, and seven (7) inmates on death row for commutation to life imprisonment.

‘Also, fifteen (15) ex-convicts were recommended for presidential pardon, eleven (11) of them are deceased (including Ogoni 9). The Ogoni four (4) were also recommended for the Posthumous National Honours Award.

‘On the whole, a total of one hundred and seventy-five (175) beneficiaries are recommended.”

The committee had acted on the following criteria: old age (60 years and above); ill health likely to terminate in death; young persons (16 years and below); long-term convicts who have served prison terms of 10 years or more with a good record; and convicts serving three years or more

‘Those who have been in Custodial centres, learnt sustainable vocational trades capable of keeping them away from crime; those who are adjudged remorseful; those who Correctional Officers recommended for exemplary behaviour and Nigerian prisoners deported from other countries.

Farouk Lawan reacts

In his reaction, former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, who is one of those granted the presidential pardon was full of gratitude to Allah and President Tinubu.

Lawan, in a statement issued shortly after the announcement described Tinubu as a fatherly, compassionate, and decisive political leader who will be remembered.

He said, ‘Mr. President has cast a warm blanket over me, pulling me back from the harshness of yesterday’s cold. A day like this is not for a long treatise. I lie, prostrate utterly humble in my heart and entire being, grateful for the mercy which Allah (SWT), through Mr. President and my country have shown me.

‘During the eclipse at noon of my life, a path designed by destiny, a past with which I am fully reconciled, my family, friends and associates stood by me through thick and thin, their light became my singular unfailing beacon. I remain eternally indebted to you. May Allah (SWT) recompense you.

‘Throughout those moments of sober reflection, my faith in the greatness of our Fatherland never wavered, nor did my resolve to contribute to it ever weaken. A re-dedication to the ideals of Nigeria is upon me. My hope is renewed.’

Those that benefited in the past

Other politically exposed persons in the past who benefitted from presidential pardons include former head of states Yakubu Gowon who was pardoned, along with, erstwhile Biafra leader, Emeka Ojukwu, during the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari.

In 2013, former president Goodluck Jonathan also extended similar gesture to former Chief of Staff of the Supreme Military Council, Major General Shehu Musa Yar’adua; former Chief of General Staff, Oladipo Diya and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Others granted pardon are: Major Bello Magaji (rtd), Mohammed Lima Biu, Shettima Bulama, Major Geeneral Abdulkareem Adisa (Posthumous) and Major Segun Fadipe (rtd) respectively.

In 2021, then president Buhari granted presidential pardon to former governor of Plateau State Joshua Dariye and former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame.

Reacting, a lawyer, E.M.D. Umukoro Esq said under Section 175 of the Nigerian Constitution, the president has the power to grant the presidential or executive pardon on alleged federal offences.

‘So, when a person or group of persons, who have been convicted under federal offences or alleged to have committed a crime under the Act, and may have been sentenced, the president has the power to reduce, pardon or suspend the sentence on the person, in consultation with the Council of State.

‘These powers allow the president to review, where it was discovered that there were procedural errors or new facts that are not available at first, which emerged to warrant the president’s intervention,’ he said.

He said presidential pardon helps to heal the wounds in the country, especially the case of the Ogoni 9.

Other climes

In 1973, following the Watergate scandal that compelled President Richard Nixon to resign, he was pardoned by Gerald Ford for any federal crimes he ‘committed or may have committed,’ even though Nixon hadn’t been charged with a crime at the time.

While President Joe Biden pardoned several family members, including his brothers James and Frank Biden, and sister, Valerie Biden Owens, saying the gesture was intended to shield his family from politically motivated attacks and should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment of any wrongdoing.

The committee

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, inaugurated the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) on January 15, 2025, as a significant step towards promoting justice, rehabilitation, and human rights in Nigeria.

The other members are Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, CON; Prof. Alkasum Abba; Prof. (Mrs.) Nike Y. Sidikat Ijaiya; Justice Augustine B. Utsaha; and the Secretary, Dr Onwusoro Maduka, a former Permanent Secretary.

The institutional representatives on the Committee are: the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs; representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

A suspected motorcycle thief, simply identified as Dan Baba, has been reportedly lynched by an irate mob in the Kwaita village market in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

A resident of Kwaita village, Usman Yunusa, said the incident happened on Wednesday around 4:12 p.m. at the village market.

He said the suspect allegedly stole a bike from where the owner parked it and he tried to escape through Pukafa village.

SPONSOR AD

He said in the process, a large number of Okada riders (motorcycle drivers) pursued him and flagged him down near the neighboring Pukafa village, where they descended on him. He said the Okada riders used firewood and other hard objects to hit the suspect until he gave up.

Yunusa said the suspect had been arrested on different occasions for snatching motorcycles around Kwaita market, Kwali market, Piri, and Bako as well as Dagiri in the area council.

According to him, the suspect had died before the arrival of the vigilantes at the scene.

A member of the vigilante, Ibrahim Musa, confirmed the inciden.

A police source at Kwali Division, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying the police are investigating the matter.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Wednesday, intensified enforcement at River Park Estate, Abuja, by stopping what it described as illegal development in the estate.

The Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who led the operation, said the exercise was against those who defied a ministerial directive halting further construction on the property.

He added that the exercise was to ensure total compliance with the ministerial order.

SPONSOR AD

Galadima recalled that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Aug. 8, inaugurated an ad-hoc committee on the review of controversies surrounding the River Park Estate. He said the committee, while submitting its reports to the minister, explained that the revocation of the undeveloped plots was necessitated by the expiration and beach of the Development Lease Agreement (DLA).

Galadima added that the revocation was carried out to reassert administrative control over the affected plot in line with Clause 9.2 of the DLA. (NAN)

A psychiatrist at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr Emmanuel Abayomi, says about 60 million are currently battling mental illnesses.

He spoke on Friday in Abeokuta at a workshop organised by the NAS Medical Mission under the aegis of the National Association of Seadogs in commemoration of this year’s World Mental Health Day.

The programme put together by Ash Montana Deck in collaboration with Atlantis, Americana 1 and Longhorn Deck, attracted police and other paramilitary operatives in the state.

SPONSOR AD

Speaking on the ‘Access to services-mental health in catastrophes and emergencies,’ Abayomi expressed concern over growing cases of mental struggles among Nigerians. Quoting WHO statistics, the medical expert said one in eight persons suffer from mental health conditions.

But in Nigeria, Abayomi said the figure is higher with about 60 million citizens estimated to be battling mental health conditions.

‘For Nigeria, the figure is higher. As a matter of fact, about 60m Nigerians, according to the latest estimate, have a mental health struggle. And if you put our population to 200m or 240m , that is one in five, one in six people who have mental health conditions.

‘So, it’s quite much and it is a thing of concern in Nigeria,’ he said.

The expert identified anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress, alcohol and substance use as some of the behind-the-scenes of mental struggles.

‘Staying too long in isolation with a phone thereby reducing interaction with people also has an effect on people’s mental wellbeing,’ he said.

He called for regular sleep, balance diet, water intake, physical activity and connection as part of moves to improve mental health

‘It is important that we talk about mental health so that people who are suffering can get access to treatment because mental illness is actually treatable. When people get help, they can get better, recover from their mental illness and live life to their full potential,’ Abayomi said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board (OGAMB), Balogun Nurudeen Olaleye, represented by Dolapo Junaid, the Press Officer of the board, said traditional and cultural approaches to mental health in catastrophes involve recognizing and leveraging existing community structures, spiritual beliefs, and traditional healing practices to provide psychological support.

This, he said, includes integrating mental health into primary care, implementing community-based, locally adapted programs, educating the public on self-care and resilience, and ensuring culturally sensitive responses that empower local populations to take ownership of their mental health recovery.

‘There are a lot of powers and solutions embedded in our traditional setting and institutions to so many problems that are confronted by human beings only if we shun sentimental western lifestyle cultural imperialism beliefs,’ Olaleye said.

The Capoon of Ash Montana Deck of Ogun State, Ganiyu Omitogun, said the workshop is crucial to driving the advocacy required to change the narrative and challenge the government to improve access to mental health services in Nigeria and your community around the globe.

Omitogun also said the theme highlights the critical need for mental health and psychosocial support for those affected by crises, including conflicts, public health emergencies, and natural disasters.

‘It is pertinent to note that mental health is a priority not just during major crises but in our everyday life. Our collective well-being is vital, and creating access to care is important in sustaining our mental health and well-being,’ he said.

The Kano State’s Hisbah Board remains one of Nigeria’s most talked-about moral and religious institutions. Established to uphold Islamic values and promote moral discipline, the agency has become a central feature of life in Northern Nigeria’s most populous state. To its supporters, Hisbah represents a force for good – a guardian of decency and order in a society struggling with moral decline. But to its critics, it is an institution that sometimes blurs the line between religious guidance and personal freedom.

The Kano State Hisbah Board was officially established in 2003 under the administration of then-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau as part of the broader Sharia implementation in the state. The aim was to institutionalize Islamic ethics by creating a body that would assist in moral education, social regulation, and community mediation. Over the years, Hisbah has expanded its role from enforcing decency to offering humanitarian services, settling family disputes, and rescuing abandoned children.

On the streets of Kano, Hisbah officers are a familiar sight. Dressed in khaki uniforms with green berets, they patrol markets, motor parks, and public events to discourage acts considered un-Islamic – such as public intoxication, prostitution, or indecent dressing. They also intervene in domestic conflicts and are known to mediate between quarrelling spouses or neighbours. For many, this community-level engagement makes them an important part of Kano’s social fabric.

SPONSOR AD

However, Hisbah’s activities have not been without controversy. Critics often accuse the agency of overstepping its boundaries, especially when its operations clash with individual rights protected under Nigeria’s constitution. Instances such as the destruction of alcoholic beverages, the arrest of youths at entertainment events, or the confiscation of musical instruments have sparked public debate and drawn attention from national and international observers. Civil rights groups argue that such actions amount to moral policing rather than lawful enforcement.

Despite these criticisms, many residents still believe the board plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and morality. ‘If not for Hisbah, our children would have lost their values,’ says Hajiya Maryam, a shop owner in Sabon Gari. ‘They teach us how to live according to Islam and help settle disputes without violence.’ This sentiment reflects the board’s deep cultural roots and its popularity among conservative segments of Kano society.

In recent years, Hisbah has also become involved in humanitarian and social development efforts. During crises – such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 flood disaster – Hisbah officials assisted in distributing relief materials and ensuring orderly conduct at emergency centers. The board also works with local scholars and imams to educate the public about drug abuse, domestic violence, and youth immorality. These programs have earned it praise even from some of its critics.

Still, the balance between moral enforcement and modern governance remains a delicate one. Kano is a rapidly changing city, where traditional norms now coexist with global media, technology, and urban youth culture. Hisbah’s challenge is how to remain relevant and respected in a generation increasingly exposed to digital influences, pop culture, and diverse worldviews. Some young people view Hisbah’s approach as outdated and too harsh, arguing for moral education rather than public arrests or punishments.

The government of Kano State continues to defend the existence of the board, emphasizing its role in promoting peace, social order, and community service. Officials argue that Hisbah’s activities align with the state’s commitment to preserving Islamic identity while ensuring social harmony. However, analysts suggest that the agency must undergo reforms that focus more on enlightenment, counselling, and youth engagement rather than punitive actions.

Troops of 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army Jalingo have foiled bandit attack at Tapga Ngssawa village in Ibbi Local Government Area of Taraba state.

Confirming the development on Friday in Jalingo, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Leutenant Umar Mohammed, said the Troops received credible information from locals around Majebiyu Village about the attack by armed men who were suspected to be bandits.

He stated that the invaders shot sporadically, vandalising properties and dispossessing residents of motorcycles and other valuables.

SPONSOR AD

According to the Army spokesperson, the Troops responded swiftly, mobilised to the location and confronted the assailants. However, on sighting the advancing troops, the armed men withdrew hastily and fled into a nearby bush, with possible gunshot wounds sustained in the process.

Lieutenant Umar further disclosed that the Troops conducted search and clearance operation within the area, recovering five dane guns and two motorcycles.

The Commander 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their professionalism, courage and swift response.