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We are having a ‘combined service’ today because it is necessary to shine the light on two disturbing issues: the near disastrous performance of the Flying Eagles at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile and the indiscriminate sacking of coaches in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Undoubtedly, these two topical issues are worthy of our attention.

In recent times, there is hardly any respite for the diehard Nigerian football fans. Even as many are consistent in their support for the national teams, what they get in return is mental and psychological torture due to the disappointing performances by the players.

A few weeks ago, the Golden Eaglets failed to qualify for the 2026 AFCON U-17 Championship. Sadly, as Nigerians were trying to absorb the shock of that failure, the Flying Eagles on Wednesday put up another atrocious performance in Chile, where they were sent packing from the U-20 World Championship after a 4-0 thrashing by Argentina in the Round of 16.

Furthermore, at the time of press, the embattled Super Eagles were getting set to tackle Lesotho in South Africa in one of the remaining two 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. The signs are ominous because, in recent times, the former African champions have been anything but convincing. Their performances against even smaller opponents recently have left much to be desired.

However, the emphasis here is the show of shame by the Flying Eagles in Chile. Honestly, after I wasted my hard-earned data to watch the first half of the Round of 16 match between the Flying Eagles and Argentina on Wednesday night, I was angry, disappointed and embarrassed at the same time. It was impossible to understand exactly what the Nigerian boys were doing. Until Zubairu Aliyu walked to the reserve referee to make a penalty review request, it was as if the team was without a coach. No wonder the Flying Eagles conceded four goals in the 90-minute contest.

It is imperative to note that even as Nigeria is yet to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the past squads, including the infamous Chile 1987 team, all played good football typical of Nigerian teams. Therefore, even as Chile ’87 was a disaster, a few outstanding players like Willy Okpara, Nduka Ugbade, Etim Esin, Thompson Oliha, Ene Okon, Victor Igbinoba and Peter Nieketien went on to play for the Super Eagles.

Although the squads of 1989 and 2005 came so close without lifting the elusive trophy, players like Mutiu Adepoju, Dimeji Lawal, Christopher Ohenhen, Jimoh Balogun, Sam Elijah, Chris Nwosu, Mikel Obi, Chinedu Obasi, Taye Taiwo, Onyekachi Apam, Isaac Promise, Sani Kaita and Daniel Akpeyi and others progressed to represent the country at the senior level.

However, it will be hard to find a single player in the present Flying Eagles squad to promote to the Super Eagles. Of course, their family members and agents will disagree, but these average players who produced another Chile disaster in 2025 didn’t do enough to justify their inclusion in that team. As I watched them play against Argentina, I couldn’t help but wonder how former junior national team coaches like Sebastian Brodrick-Imasuen, Chris Udemezue, Willy Bazuaye, Yemi Tella of blessed memories, as well as Tunde Disu and Fanny Amun managed to discover those talented players who put the country on the world map in their days. I concluded that those coaches were patriotic, more honest and transparent in the way they selected their players.

Instead of relying solely on scouts and agents, most of them personally combed the nooks and crannies of Nigeria in search of young, talented players. The diligent coaches didn’t wait in the cities for agents to bring players to them. Indeed, in the past, good players didn’t need recommendations and letters from highly placed government officials to play for Nigeria. Without anyone’s backing, they were scouted and nurtured to stardom by those legendary coaches.

Unfortunately, the good old days are gone, as coaches with little moral fibers now run the show in collaboration with some unscrupulous football agents who put their personal gain over and above national interest.

There is also the problem of age falsification. This is not to suggest that every member of the present Flying Eagles squad is over aged, but the majority of the players are men masquerading as boys. Those in charge can only feign ignorance of this evil. The sad truth is that as we sustain this dubious habit of allowing men to represent us in youth competitions, karma will continue to strike.

The only way forward is to return to grassroots football development while doing away with or reducing the ever-present influence of the greedy agents. So long as the activities of conscienceless coaches and the powerful agents are left unchecked, we would continue to reap football disasters like the one just witnessed in Chile.

After Coach Sani and Ikhenoba, who is next?

It is still early days in the current Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season but at least two coaches have been sacked over poor results and more would suffer the same fate before the end of the first round.

The reigning Federation Cup champions, Kwara United, have asked Coach Tunde Sani, who masterminded their historic victory, to step aside. His ‘sin’ is that the ‘Afonja Warriors’ exited the CAF Confederation Cup in the first preliminary round against the famous Asante Kotoko of Ghana. They also suffered a 0-1 home loss to Abia Warriors in the NPFL.

Similarly, Coach Greg Ikhenoba of Bendel Insurance has been ‘suspended’ and a member of the Board of the Edo State Sports Commission, and former Nigerian international, Baldwin Bazuaye, has taken over in acting capacity.

And going by the precarious positions of their teams, the Technical Advisers of Kano Pillars, Barau FC, Kun Khalifat, and Plateau United may be asked to step aside very soon.

Step aside is the new language the club chairmen, who are as guilty as the coaches, have adopted to avert any punishment from the NPFL Board and the Nigeria Football Federation (NPFL). So, instead of sacking the coaches outright, they simply ask them to step aside for a new coach to take over.

This indiscriminate sacking of coaches is not new, but how it has become a pastime of club chairmen is worrisome. Some of us are left to wonder if these clubs actually entered into contracts with their coaches. If indeed there are contractual agreements, it wouldn’t have been so easy for clubs to sack their coaches without consequences.

Ruben Amorim should thank God that he is not coaching in the NPFL. He would have been sacked long ago. His saving grace is that in the English Premier League (EPL), there is respect for contracts, and Manchester United will pay heavily if they decide to terminate his contract without following due process.

The story in the NPFL is different. The coaches themselves are always desperate to work, so even when they are engaged verbally, they don’t perceive the danger ahead. Therefore, they make themselves vulnerable for sack at any given time. So, after Coach Sani and Ikhenoba, who is next?

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for a unified national approach to empower women and girls across all sectors.

Speaking at a meeting of the Presidential High-Level Advisory Council (P-HLAC) on the Support of Women and Girls in Nigeria in Abuja, Pate stressed the need to align fragmented initiatives under one coordinated framework.

‘We must break silos and collaborate across ministries, the civil society and the private sector under one unified agenda,’ he said, noting that the establishment of the P-HLAC is aimed at revitalising and harmonising existing efforts.

According to him, empowering women and girls is essential, not only for gender equity but also for unlocking Nigeria’s demographic potential, improving health outcomes and driving economic growth.

He emphasised the administration’s ‘whole-of-life-course’ approach under the Renewed Hope Agenda, citing Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rate responsible for nearly one in five global deaths as a preventable tragedy.

The minister also highlighted challenges such as gender-based violence, child marriage and limited access to education and health care, urging stronger data systems and accountability mechanisms to monitor progress.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the forum as ‘a bold step toward ensuring every Nigerian woman and girl can dream, learn, earn and lead with dignity.’

She noted that while Nigeria has made progress, systemic barriers continue to hinder women’s full participation in nation-building.

Despite comprising more than half of the population, women represent only 33 per cent of the labour force and less than 10 per cent of senior management positions, she said.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim unveiled the Strategic Roadmap for the Advancement of Women, Children, Families and the Vulnerable, anchored on 9 programmes under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention 774, requiring N1.6 trillion over five years. The roadmap aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focuses on economic empowerment, social protection, digital inclusion and child wellbeing.

She added that the P-HLAC, approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2022, would drive policy implementation through four thematic subcommittees and measurable performance indicators.

‘The success of this Council will be judged by the number of lives changed, not meetings held,’ she said.

Other speakers, including Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, and Rinmicit Temlong-Abokei of Albright Stonebridge Group, underscored the importance of coordination, accountability, and data-driven reforms to sustain recent gains in women’s inclusion and leadership representation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said the National Assembly will not allow any member to undermine its integrity or hold its proceedings hostage, stressing the need for discipline, respect for rules, and institutional order in the conduct of legislative business.

Akpabio stated this in a statement released on Saturday by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh.

In the statement titled, ‘The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate’, Nigeria’s number three citizen said the enforcement of parliamentary rules was not intended to stifle dissent but to safeguard the values and traditions that sustain democratic governance.

‘The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members. Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld,’ Akpabio said.

Although he did not name any senator, the comment follows renewed tension surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who recently returned from a six-month suspension.

Akpabio said maintaining order and discipline in the chamber was essential to the credibility of any legislature, drawing parallels with democratic parliaments in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

‘The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilisation. In the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged. No member, regardless of party or popularity, may openly defy the Speaker’s ruling without consequences,’ he said.

He explained that the Senate’s Standing Orders were not symbolic but the foundation of fair and stable legislative practice.

‘The Nigerian Senate’s Standing Orders are not ceremonial relics from the past. They are the living constitution of the institution, carefully designed to preserve fairness, consistency, and the sanctity of the legislative process,’ he said.

Akpabio maintained that it was within the Senate’s right to apply sanctions when members violate parliamentary decorum, noting that suspensions and expulsions were normal features in other respected parliaments.

Describing the 10th Senate as ‘a chamber of resilience and balance,’ Akpabio said the legislature must continue to project stability and discipline as the true test of democratic strength.

‘When the chamber asserts that it will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any single member, it is affirming the primacy of collective responsibility over individual grandstanding. This is how strong legislatures endure – not by silencing dissent, but by ensuring that dissent respects the bounds of procedure,’ he said.

Akpabio added that his leadership style combines firmness with inclusion, saying the Senate’s commitment to its rules was a demonstration of institutional maturity.

‘Leadership of this sort does not seek applause; it seeks stability. By upholding its Standing Orders, the Senate has reclaimed its moral authority and shown that rules, properly enforced, are shields against institutional decay,’ he said.

The statement comes amid ongoing debate about the balance between free expression and discipline within Nigeria’s legislative institutions.

Maryam Sanda, the woman sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of former PDP National Chairman, Haliru Bello, in 2017, is among those recently pardoned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Her case was one of Nigeria’s most talked-about domestic violence cases.

Sanda, aged 37, was sentenced to death by hanging after the court found her guilty of culpable homicide for stabbing her husband during a domestic dispute in their Abuja home in November 2017.

According to the statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, she h spent about six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before being considered for mercy.

Daily Trust reports that Sanda was arraigned before the FCT High Court in Zuba, where she maintained her innocence throughout the trial.

After a prolonged legal battle that drew nationwide attention, Justice Yusuf Halilu, in January 2020, found her guilty of killing her husband and sentenced her to death by hanging.

For now, Sanda is expected to reunite with her two children, who have lived with relatives since her incarceration.

Other Popular names on Tinubu’s Pardon List

While Maryam Sanda’s release grabbed the public’s attention, she is not the only high-profile beneficiary of Tinubu’s clemency. Among the 175 names are:

Farouk Lawan

A former Nigerian lawmaker, Farouk Lawan was convicted in 2021 for corrupt practices. He h served his sentence and was among those pardoned by President Tinubu as part of the 175 convicts granted mercy.

Ken Saro-Wiwa

An environmental activist and writer, Ken Saro-Wiwa was one of the Ogoni Nine executed in 1995.

His name featured posthumously in President Tinubu’s pardon announcement, restoring a sense of historical justice for a figure once condemned under oppressive regimes.

Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa

A military officer tried and executed during a political crisis in 1986, Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa is another posthumous beneficiary of the presidential pardon.

His case has long been cited in debates about political trials and executions in Nigeria.

Professor Magaji Garba

Convicted in recent years for obtaining money under false pretence, Professor Magaji Garba h alrey served part of his sentence.

He is among the living convicts whose sentence was commuted or forgiven under the prerogative of mercy.

Sir Herbert Macaulay

A noted nationalist and legendary figure in Nigeria’s anti-colonial history, Sir Herbert Macaulay was convicted by colonial authorities in 1913. His pardon comes nearly a century later.

Following the resurge of insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes in the last one month, in some parts of Nigeria, there have been renewed calls for the declaration of state of emergency in the affected states.

The federal government has at various times used the emergency rule to stem violent conflicts, arrest breakdown of law and order as well as ensure the rule of law in cases where groups have taken up arms against the state. But the question now is whether that is the solution to the problem, what format it will take and what other ways can be adopted to find solution to the problem.

There has been noticeable increase in cases of violent crime in the North West, North East, North Central and South Eastern parts of Nigeria with states such as Borno, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kwara, Niger, Benue, and Plateau recording high and frequent cases.

Some top military officers both retired and serving at the public presentation of a book by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), titled, ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ were of the view that the declaration of a state of emergency is the best way to deal with the security situation in the country.

Irabor is of the view that the lack of political will to take drastic actions had hindered Nigeria’s response to insurgency. He said the proclamation of emergency backed by the National Assembly would have rallied round all elements of national power towards ending the war.

The former CDS in the book, ‘The government had not yet mustered the political will and instruments to declare a war against Boko Haram. With an emergency proclamation, backed by the National Assembly, there will be greater and more focused attention by the government to galvanise all the elements of national power towards the war’.

Only last month, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) also urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Northern Nigeria, citing escalating insecurity that has devastated lives, crippled economic activities, and threatened national stability.

In a communiqué signed by its spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, the forum expressed grave concern over what it called the ‘relentless wave of violent attacks, abductions, and killings’ across the region, stressing that the Federal Government can no longer afford to delay decisive action.

The NEF observed that the security architecture remains inadequate, overstretched, and in some cases complicit through inaction and silence, leaving citizens vulnerable and helpless while eroding public trust in government institution and warned that if the worsening situation is not urgently addressed, communities may resort to ‘self-help,’ which could trigger anarchy and undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability and regional peace.

Other security experts and groups support position

A group, Kwara South Youth Congress (KSYC) recently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Kwara State following worsening insecurity in the state.

In an open letter to the president, signed by Dr Oluwatobi Afolayan, president of the KSYC, and Mr Bashir Adejare, the group’s public relations officer, the KSYC said many communities in Kwara South have been forced to relocate due to repeated bandit attacks. Some are, however, of the view that there are better approaches.

In an interview with Trust TV, Major General U.I. Muhammed, (rtd), who had worked in many hostile environments across the country, said: ‘It is an option. When a state of emergency was declared in three North East states in the past (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa), insecurity reduced but was not solved.

‘There are many other problems that need addressing. One is proliferation of small arms and light weapons; there are millions and no one can explain exactly how many. Our borders are porous: Nigeria is 923,768 square kilometres with long land borders and 852 kilometres of coastline – about 4,047 kilometres of borders in total. Weapons come in through the sea and bush daily. If you declare a state of emergency and do not secure the borders, you will be limited in effect.

”We need science and technology at the borders and committed staff to prevent weapons inflow. We must also address poverty, which is an enabler of insecurity. Government, businesses and well-to-do individuals should invest in human capital and skills to get miscreants off the streets and reduce the pool of people who can be drawn into criminality, insurgency and kidnapping,’ he said.

A national security analyst and former Assistant Director, Department of State Security (DSS) Dennis Amachree, in an interview with Weekend Trust, said he supports a declaration of state of emergency in the North East and North West because of the protracted cases of terrorists’ attacks and banditry. He, however, added that the mode of implementation should vary from what obtained in Rivers State. He said he does not support the sack of democratic institutions under emergency rule.

He said, ‘I have always advocated for a state of emergency in the North East and North West as the protracted terrorists and bandits crises in the regions have resisted conventional military solutions.’

State of emergency

The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended empowers the country’s president in section 305 to declare a state of emergency in the whole country or any part thereof if the country is involved in any crisis situation caused by either human being or natural phenomena such as earthquake, floods, erosion etc. The essence of this provision is to enable the president to restore peace and order during that period of emergency after which normalcy will return.

Affected states

In Borno State, within the last one month, Boko Haram terrorists have attacked many places, targeting both civilians and security locations. The most recent major attack happened in Kirawa, a border town to Cameroon, where two people were killed, over 50 burnt including the palace of the district head.

In another night attack, the Boko Haram terrorists killed more than 60 people in Darul Jamal village, Bama Local Government Area. The insurgents who came in large number ransacked the town, carted away food items and burnt down several houses on September 5, 2025.

The Nigerian Air Force said it killed 30 militants in strikes after receiving reports of the raid on the village, where displaced residents had recently returned.

Also, the insurgents attacked a military barrack in Banki, a border town to Cameroon, where they engaged soldiers and civilians JTF for almost one hour. Weapons were said to be carted away by the terrorists. The terrorists also ambushed Civilian JTF escorting passengers on Kirawa-Pulka road, killed one and set ablaze six passenger vehicles.

Members of the Lakurawa terror group have been on the prowl carrying out attacks across Kebbi state. Many local government areas of the state have come under attacks in recent months with many residents fleeing their homes. Also in Niger, bandits have taken over many communities. They carry out frequent attacks killing residents and destroying properties. At the moment, many communities in the state have been sacked.

Katsina State has been experiencing severe attacks unleashed by bandits. Almost on a daily basis, there are reported cases. Many of the communities have been deserted just as schools and businesses have been shut. At the last count, about nine local government areas of the state have gone into peace deals with the bandits to enable the residents go to their farms and carry out other activities. Despite all these, residents of the state still live in fear as the attacks persist. In Zamfara, the case is not any different as bandits continue to attack the communities. Many schools and businesses have been shut. Also in Sokoto State, the attacks have continued. Farmers cannot go to their farms just as schools have been shut.

And in Plateau State, at least six local government areas, Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, and Bassa have been experiencing attacks. Despite the deployment of security personnel in some communities, no-go areas persist within the affected LGAs, where farmers and herders are too afraid to work due to fear of attacks. The situation has become dire, with attacks and killings becoming a daily occurrence.

A fact-finding committee inaugurated earlier this year to investigate the violence submitted its report in September. The committee’s chairman, retired Major General Rogers Nicholas, disclosed that over 11,000 people, including men, women, and children, have been killed, and property worth millions of naira destroyed in 13 LGAs, including farms, cattle, and homes destroyed.

He said ‘We established that 420 communities across 13 LGAs have suffered violent attacks between 2001 and May 2025. The human cost has been staggering, with 11,749 lives reported lost within the period. These figures represent only those officially reported to us; we believe the actual number may be higher. Beyond the loss of lives, we documented widespread destruction of livelihoods.’

Kwara State has also been in the news over attacks by bandits despite onslaughts by the state government and troops. Many of the affected residents are still living in constant fear. A recent report by this newspaper showed that many local government areas are under attacks with residents fleeing to other areas and states for safety.

Benue is not left out as attacks have consistently hit at least 17 of the 23 Local Government Areas across the state. Our correspondent reports that Benue State continues to witness a resurgence of violence, with fresh cases of communal clashes, assassinations, and armed invasions reported despite ongoing military operations.

Resolving the situation

Several persons have said that the way to finding solution to the problem is through a state of emergency. Some of them have argued that if Rivers State could be placed under a state of emergency, same should be done with the states under attacks by bandits. But the question is; is that the solution to the problem and what form should such a declaration take? Also, has emergency solved such problem is the past and aside that, what other way can be used to solve the problem which has practically grounded many states across the country.

Indeed, various governments have taken some measures like the deployment of military in areas affected; setting of inquiries and engaging with the leaders of the affected areas but the problem persists.

Speaking on the issue, Brigadier General John Sura (rtd) suggested the use of mercenaries as the Goodluck Jonathan administration did. He said that way, neutrality will be maintained in the fight against banditry and insurgency.

Previous cases of emergency rule

In May 1962, then Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first to declare a state of emergency when he suspended the Premier, cabinet, and legislature in the Western region and appointed Dr. Moses Majekodunmi as Administrator.

During President Shehu Shagari’s administration, Nigeria experienced the Maitatsine riots in four states of Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Gongola. They were later subdued and the situation did not degenerate to a state of emergency. It was under President Olusegun Obasanjo that emergency rule was revived with the declaration in Plateau State in 2004 due to the outbreak of violence. Then governor, Joshua Dariye and the legislature were suspended and General Chris Alli (rtd.) was appointed as administrator.

Ekiti State was to follow in 2006 when the then governor, Ayo Fayose and the state legislature were suspended and General Tunji Olurin (rtd) appointed sole administrator. But that case was different from the current situation as the issue then was political.

In December, 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Plateau over ethno-religous crisis. And a state of emergency was declared Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states following escalation of violence in May 14, 2013. But it that instance, he left the governors and state assemblies in place.

The most recent case was when President Tinubu on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to rising political tension and the governor, deputy, and legislature were suspended while Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.) was appointed sole administrator.

Many, including civil society organisations, governors and other political leaders have criticised the resort to emergency rule at any given time while some maintain that the president is so empowered by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Hope Abbah, Makurdi; Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi; Abubakar Akote, Minna and Hamisu Matazu, Maiduguri

A Police Constable, Ukasha Muhammed (F/No 533164), has been allegedly shot dead by soldiers.

According to sources, a soldier attached to the Joint Military/Police Operation Safe Haven maintaining peace in Plateau State, part of Bauchi and Kaduna States, was involved in an argument with policemen at a checkpoint.

Commenting on the incident, a relative of the deceased, Rashida Muhammed, told Daily Trust that the unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, 10th October, 2025, at the popular Tudun Wadan Dan Iya popularly known as Bayan Gari in Bauchi metropolis.

She said a police patrol team was stationed at the place, which is used for social gathering.

She explained that the problem started at about 9pm when the patrol team stopped to search cars and asked questions from those on motorcycles.

Rashida said that at some point, one of the persons refused to cooperate and obstructed the patrol team, causing commotion in the process.

According to her, about one hour later, the soldier returned to the scene with two of his colleagues and before anything could be said, the constable was shot on the chest.

She added that as they tried to run from the scene, people around rose and held him until the police reinforced arrived and took them away.

Meanwhile, Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the incident.

Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has urged his men to remain calm, emphasizing the importance of a thorough and discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ukash’s death.

In a statement, Public Relations Officer of the Command, CSP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, said, ‘On 10th October 2025, at about 22:35 hours, information received by the Command indicated a serious incident involving a patrol team led by Inspector Hussaini Samaila during a routine patrol in the Bayan Gari area.

‘The patrol team encountered an assault on one of its members, Constable Ukasha Muhammed (F/No 533164), by two individuals in front of Padimo Hotel. The remaining members of the team responded swiftly.’

The PPRO said that the detained individual had been identified as Private Usman Mubarak (23NA/84/5346), assigned to the STF Operation Safe Haven in Jos, Plateau State.

‘Subsequently, at about 23:05 hours, Private Yakubu Yahuza (23NA/85/10185) and Private Godspower Gabriel (23NA/84/5654), both partially dressed in military uniform and armed with rifles, approached the team and fatally shot Constable Ukasha Muhammed in the left chest before fleeing the vicinity.’

Wakil said the victim was evacuated to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, where he was pronounced dead.

Wakil added that the remains of the deceased have been transferred to the mortuary, and the detained soldiers Private Yakubu Yahuza and Private Godspower Gabriel, were currently in Police custody.

The Command has constituted a team of homicide investigators, comprised of seasoned detectives, tasked with conducting a professional, diligent, and timely investigation to establish evidence, clear all doubts, and ensure that justice is served through a meticulous process that will deploy all requisite protocols vital to the detailed investigation.

The military had not issued a statement on the development as of the time this report wad filed.

Two men have confessed to stealing and selling railway electrical cable for N90,000, following their arrest by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Railway Command, attached to the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS).

The suspects – Ibrahim Abdullahi, 22, of Hayi, Rigasa, and Sani Ibrahim, 24, of Layi Turaki, Rigasa – were arrested at the Rigasa Train Station in Kaduna after a section of cable wire was discovered missing from one of the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s (NRC) cranes stationed at the facility.

This is coming amidst the seemingly unending vandalism of railway equipment and facilities.

Their arrest, which took place on Friday, October 10, 2025, followed quick action by a patrol team led by ASP Abdullahi Bwajin, an Administrative Officer at Rigasa.

It was learnt that the team tracked the suspects after noticing that the cable had been cut and removed.

During interrogation, the duo admitted to the crime and revealed that they sold the stolen cable to one Musa, popularly called ‘Musa Major’, for N90,000.

The NRC, in a statement confirming the incident, stated that the suspects confessed that each of them received N30,000, while another accomplice, Abdulwahab Yakubu of Rigasa, is currently on the run.

The statement described the rising incidents of vandalism across the Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and Warri-Itakpe rail corridors as a serious threat to safe and efficient train operations.

The Corporation added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and recover the stolen materials.

It also commended the Railway Command for its professionalism and swift response.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, expressed concern over the increasing vandalisation of railway electrical and signalling infrastructure, describing them as Critical National Assets.

Daily Trust reports that the NRC had earlier last week uncovered the vandalism of electrical and signaling equipment in Lagos corridor.

However, Opeifa warned that henceforth, such acts would be treated as economic sabotage with severe legal consequences, adding that the Corporation is working closely with security agencies to strengthen protection of railway assets.

He also urged residents of communities hosting railway facilities to support efforts to safeguard public infrastructure, noting that the rail system plays a vital role in promoting national development and improving livelihoods.