Category: Daily Trust

The testimony was made by both Most Rev(Dr) Timothy Yahaya, the Arch Bishop of Kaduna Province and Sheikh Haliru Maraya, Northern Coordinator of Global Peace Foundation.

The two religious leaders praised the Governor for buying a house for both Mrs Sarah Achi and Malam Usman Aliyu who lost their spouses at different times recently.

It will be recalled that Ven Edwin Achi, the husband of Mrs Achi, lost his life after his abduction and Malama Ummulkhairi Aliyu, an Islamic teacher, was mobbed to death at Maraban Jos last June.

Governor Uba Sani visited the deceaseds’ families and promised to buy each of them a house and to cater for the education and upkeep of Ummukhairi’s four children.

The Governor fulfilled the promise and the title documents were handed over to both Mrs Achi and Malam Usman at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House last Monday at a brief ceremony.

Expressing his gratitude to the Governor, Rev Yahaya said that he lacked words to express his joy, adding that ‘the lexicon of words look very inadequate to express our feelings from our heart of hearts, and to express our thanks.”

He argued that ”it is one thing for leaders in our clime to make a promise, and it’s another thing to keep that promise. But God has so blessed us with a Governor that when he says something, he follows his promise and keep his words.”

The clergyman further said that ”we are most grateful for your putting smiles on the faces of these families. And it is our heart’s desire and prayer, as you put smiles on the faces of this family, the Lord will put smiles on your government in the name of Jesus.”

”We equally pray that there will be lasting peace in Kaduna State. That this type of troubles will never come around again-that is our heart’s desire.

As a man of peace, a man of unity, all you have been doing, the Lord will bless it. And it will become a lasting legacy in your own regime,” he added.

Speaking also, Sheikh Maraya recalled that Ummulkhairi was murdered by a mob at Maraban Jos and Governor Uba Sani displayed his usual kindness and mercy by visiting and condoling with the family.

The Islamic cleric recalled that the Governor ” made a pledge of monetary donation, which you subsequently fulfilled. We were told that the family has indeed received a donation of N10 million.”

According to him, Governor Uba Sani also promised to continue funding the children’s education and he has directed relevant officials ”to look for a befitting quality school in Kaduna State for the children to get enrolled.”

”The Governor equally pledged to get a befitting house for the family of the Ummukhairi and befitting three-bedroom bungalow has been obtained. We thank you immensely for always ensuring that your words are in tandem with your actions,” he added.

Sheikh Maraya who is also a member of the Special Hajj Committee of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, said that ” we thank the Almighty Allah for giving us a compassionate Governor.”

”Since you assumed the mantle of leadership, you have become a fountain of mercy to we, the good people of Kaduna State. And consequent upon that, the Almighty Lord will keep on rewarding you richly. And Insha’Allah, Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala will elevate you to a position you have never expected,” he maintained.

In his remarks, Governor Uba Sani reiterated that Kaduna States has a policy of supporting the families or the victims of banditry and insecurity since he assumed office.

He recalled that last year his administration also handed over 50 houses to the families of victims of banditry attack in the Kaduna State, adding that ” I’m also happy today we are continuing with that very important policy. ”

”As a government, we will not let the families of the victims of insecurity in Kaduna State down; we will always be with them. I’m happy today Mrs. Aichi have recovered. She was in the hospital for many months.”

In a bid to mend internal rifts and fortify its ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has set up a seven-member National Reconciliation Committee to resolve grievances stemming from its recent primary elections.

The initiative was formally announced in a joint press statement signed by the NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, and National Secretary, Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, which was released to the press by the National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director.

According to the leadership, the committee has been charged with engaging party aspirants across all 36 states to resolve outstanding disputes and foster party cohesion.

Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has been appointed to chair the committee, with veteran politician, Engr. Buba Galadima serving as Co-Chairman.

Other members of the committee are Mohammed Sanni Takori – Vice Chairman, Babatunde Alli – Secretary with Mrs. Dudu Mamman Manuga, Salvador Adegoke Moshood and Alhaji Haruna Pai as members.

To ensure thorough outreach, the NDC also announced the creation of three zonal sub-committees specifically assigned to oversee reconciliation efforts across the North, South-South, and South-East regions.

Our correspondent reports that the main committee will be inaugurated at the NDC national secretariat at 12pm on Thursday.

Party leadership expressed strong confidence that the panel’s work will smooth over internal disagreements, unite members, and build a solid foundation for the party’s upcoming national campaign.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to take over investigations into the controversial deaths of Mary Habila and Babatunde Tanimola, warning that both cases must not be ‘swept under the carpet.’

Falana also called for a speedy autopsy in Habila’s case and urged authorities to ensure transparent investigations into politically motivated killings in Osun State, arguing that every suspicious death deserves a thorough and independent probe.

The senior lawyer made the demands in a statement on Monday.

Falana expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the death of Habila, who was found dead and unclothed on June 27, 2026, in a room at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Although Umahi has publicly denied any foul play, insisting that the deceased had an existing medical condition and that the matter was reported to the police, Falana questioned the handling of the incident.

He also criticised the delay in conducting an autopsy after the Nigeria Police Force rejected a request by Habila’s father to release the body for burial.

While sympathising with the family, he maintained that suspicious deaths are matters of public interest.

Falana also called for an independent investigation into the death of Tanimola, whom the Presidency recently identified as a principal suspect in the alleged establishment of a fake government agency.

He noted that the police said Tanimola died in a hotel fire in Abuja on October 22, 2025.

Falana argued that since the terms of reference of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission investigation into the alleged fake agency did not cover Tanimola’s death, the Inspector-General of Police should immediately take over the matter.

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has released the final list of successful candidates for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, announcing that 3,852 applicants were selected from 573,680 applications received nationwide.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the successful candidates were recruited into the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory represented.

Adeniyi also announced that the Service would henceforth conduct recruitment annually to ensure predictable and efficient manpower planning.

‘The Nigeria Customs Service is moving to an annual recruitment cycle. Recruitment will no longer be an occasional event undertaken every several years. It will be a standing, predictable, yearly process,’ he said.

According to him, the 2026 recruitment exercise will begin later this year and be concluded within the same calendar year, from advertisement to publication of the final list.

He said the new system would enable unsuccessful applicants to know when the next recruitment exercise would take place instead of waiting for years without certainty.

The Comptroller-General explained that the screening systems, verification processes and recruitment architecture developed during the just-concluded exercise had now been fully established, making future recruitment faster and more efficient.

‘The delays experienced in this cycle were largely due to the time required to build this system. That process has now been completed,’ he said.

Adeniyi said all applicants underwent several stages of screening, including computer-based tests and verification of credentials against the National Identity Database.

He attributed the delay in concluding the exercise to the large number of applications received and the high rate of retirements among senior management officers.

The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, says the Service has resolved the operational challenges of inadequate water and fuel supply and is now better positioned to respond effectively to emergencies.

He stated this on Tuesday after unveiling a quarter guard at the FFS headquarters and another at the Wuse Area Command in Abuja.

Adeyemi said that when he assumed office a year ago, he pledged to reposition the Service and restore public confidence in its ability to protect lives and property.

‘I was asked what would be part of my legacy, and I said I want Nigerians to have trust in the Federal Fire Service in terms of saving lives and property. They must have that trust in us.

‘A report came to me last week about one of our officers in Plateau State who entered a diesel tank to save someone. He risked his life and, though he ended up in the hospital, he was able to save a life.

‘Gone are the days when people would call the Fire Service and we would say there was no water or no diesel.’

The Controller-General said the quarter guards are more than physical structures, describing them as symbols of discipline, professionalism, unity and the spirit of the Service.

Commending the officers who funded the projects, he said their contributions reflected the enabling environment created by his administration.

‘You will recall that when I assumed office about a year ago, one of the major commitments I made to our officers and men was to prioritise their welfare,’ he said.

He added that staff motivation had improved significantly through enhanced welfare packages, medical interventions and access to loan facilities.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a statement said the accident occurred when the driver of a Mack flat-bed articulated trailer allegedly lost control due to excessive speed and rammed into a moving Toyota mini truck.

The impact caused the mini truck to somersault before crashing into one of the motorcycles, leaving one person dead at the scene and two others with varying degrees of injuries.

LASTMA officials, who were on routine traffic patrol along the Coastal Road corridor, responded to the incident alongside other emergency responders. The injured victims were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The agency also secured the accident scene, managed traffic around the affected area and coordinated the evacuation of the damaged mini truck, helping to restore the free flow of vehicles.

According to LASTMA, the response of emergency personnel prevented prolonged traffic disruption despite the severity of the collision.

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the loss of life and blamed the crash on excessive speeding.

He urged motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, to comply with speed limits and traffic regulations, warning that reckless driving continues to be a major cause of fatal road accidents in the state.

Bakare-Oki called on all road users to adopt safer driving habits, avoid dangerous manoeuvres and obey traffic laws to reduce road crashes and protect lives.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has disclosed that its members are yet to receive salary payment alerts despite the Ondo State Governor approval of a special intervention fund of over N1.1 billion to offset outstanding salary arrears owed to workers in the institution.

The union said the ongoing indefinite strike, which has grounded academic activities at the university since July 10, 2026, will not be suspended until lecturers and other affected workers receive payment notifications in their bank accounts.

Chairman of ASUU-AAUA, Comrade Bolu Oshodi, said the union had been informed that the state government released the intervention fund to the university, but the institution was still awaiting the credit of the funds into its account.

‘As we speak now, the latest information is that the government has released the money to the university, but then the university is still waiting for the money to drop into its account. They said the problem is with the bank, but as far as we are concerned, what our members are waiting for is the alert,’ Oshodi said.

The lecturers are currently owed three months’ salaries covering May, June and July, a development that triggered the industrial action.

Oshodi stressed that ASUU would not rely on assurances or promises, insisting that the strike would only be suspended after members confirm receipt of their outstanding salaries.

He, however, noted that the salary arrears dispute is only one aspect of the challenges facing the university, warning that another round of industrial action may be imminent over the Ondo State Government’s failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU agreement on the new salary structure for university lecturers.

According to him, the agreement, which took effect in January 2026, has already been implemented in federal universities and several state-owned institutions, including Ekiti State University (EKSU), Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), and Kwara State University (KWASU).

Oshodi lamented that lecturers in Ondo State-owned universities, including AAUA, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), have yet to benefit from the new salary package.

He also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate monthly subvention to the university, revealing that while the institution receives about N223 million monthly from the state government, its salary obligation stands at about N550 million.

‘The N223 million has never been enough for salaries alone. The salary bill is about N550 million. The university has consistently been forced to source additional funds to bridge the gap,’ he said.

The ASUU chairman appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to not only ensure prompt payment of the outstanding salaries but also implement the new salary structure and settle arrears dating back to January 2026.

‘It is more depressing and annoying that all the universities around us are already enjoying the new package. We are passionately appealing to the governor to do the needful. We are not asking for anything extraordinary; we are asking for what is due to us,’ Oshodi stated.

He disclosed that the AAUA chapter of ASUU has concluded internal consultations regarding a possible fresh strike over the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement and is awaiting approval from the union’s national leadership before taking further action.

A former Nigerian international squash player, Longdi Dasbak, on Monday has called for increased efforts to encourage girls to take up squash, saying female participation in the sport remains very low.

Dasbak made the call on Monday during the second edition of the Squash Premier League at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long tournament, themed ‘Breeding the Next Generation of Champions,’ began on Monday and will end on Aug. 8.

Dasbak described the league as a positive initiative that would significantly contribute to grassroots development and the growth of squash in Nigeria.

‘I would say this is a very good development, especially for grassroots squash, because that is where every successful sport begins.

‘We want to develop young players who will take the game to the next level while making squash more popular across the country. This league is another important way of promoting the sport,’ she said.

She said that participation had increased considerably since the league was introduced in 2025, adding that the growing number of children taking part showed that awareness of the sport was improving.

‘The first edition did not attract this number of participants, but now you can see many more children taking part. That shows awareness is increasing, and I believe it is a very positive development,’ she said.

Dasbak, who participated as one of the instructors at the coaching and officiating clinic organised by the tournament, said it was her first time that she will be speaking at the event.

She said she established the Dasby’s Sports Development Association in Plateau to create opportunities for girls, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, to participate in sports.

According to her, the association also runs Dasby’s Squash Academy, where boys and girls aged six years and above receive training, with special emphasis on encouraging female participation.

‘Female participation in squash is still very low, and we have very few women actively playing the sport. That inspired me to establish the foundation in Plateau State,’ she said.(NAN).

No fewer than 21 persons were feared dead, 37 others abducted, while thousands of residents fled their homes after heavily armed bandits launched an attack on Tsamaye community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attack, which lasted from about 9:00 p.m. on Monday until after 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, also left two homes burnt, livestock stolen and the entire community deserted, witnesses told Daily Trust.

Residents said the attack also triggered another tragedy when scores of villagers attempted to escape across a river after receiving information that the bandits were approaching.

According to locals, the overloaded boats capsized, with about 25 people, mostly women and children, swept away by the water. While seven persons were rescued alive, 18 others are feared to have drowned, as families continued searching for their missing relatives.

One resident, who was preparing to flee from the village, told Daily Trust that the attackers themselves disclosed that they had abducted 37 people after relatives called the victims’ phones.

‘When we called our relatives, the bandits answered the phones and told us they were the ones who abducted them. They said they had taken 37 people,’ he said.

He explained that while some victims were seized inside the village, many others were captured in nearby farms where they had gone to sleep for fear of recurring attacks.

‘Because of the frequent attacks, many people no longer sleep in the village. They spend the night in farms and bushes to avoid being attacked. This time, the bandits searched through the farms, woke people up and took them away.

‘Most of those abducted were women and children. I personally saw three infants placed on the ground by the bandits while they led their mothers away.’

The resident lamented that despite informing security personnel about the invasion, no reinforcement arrived before the attackers completed their operation.

‘We excused them during the previous attack because the bandits had surrounded them and were firing at them. But this time, they were informed early enough, yet nobody came to rescue us.’

Another resident who fled to Sokoto metropolis in the early hours of Tuesday said their village had been completely dispersed and everyone ran for their lives.

‘We fled to Sokoto because we have never experienced terror like what happened on Wednesday night. About 40 of us escaped here, and everyone is now staying with relatives.’

A local vigilante member, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the bandits first entered the village around 8:00 p.m., moving from house to house while forcing residents to identify wealthy households and locations where livestock were kept.

‘Some people managed to escape and alerted us. We informed the security operatives stationed in our village and asked them to support us so that we could confront the bandits, but they told us they did not have adequate equipment. We also contacted our traditional leader, but there was little he could do apart from sympathising with us.

‘When the gunfire intensified, we had no option but to hide.’

According to him, the security personnel urgently require Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to effectively respond to attacks across the difficult terrain.

He added that fewer than 20 residents now remain in the community after the attack, with over 100 vehicles transporting displaced villagers from yesterday evening to now.

‘From yesterday until today, nobody has eaten because of the trauma and panic caused by the attack,’ he said.

Residents also said the bandits razed two houses belonging to Lawwali Ta’u Mai Chaji and Hassan Hasken Halara, a vigilante member.

‘Our colleague was with us defending the village when his house was burnt. We only found ashes afterwards. We cannot even determine how many members of his family or livestock died in the fire because everything was reduced to ashes.’

Those confirmed killed during the attack, according to residents, include Kabiru Mallam Tanimu, Ayuba Mallam Hashim and Yakubu Mu’azu, while many others remain missing.

The attack has also forced residents from numerous surrounding settlements to flee. The affected communities include Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu, Bukka Hamsin, Turkawa, Rumbukawa, Dutsin Na Umma, Zangon Mu’azu, Arawa, Kuru, Zangon Mallam, Mai Hurde, Zugun, Gidan Na Birni, Mashaya, Marina and several others.

The displaced residents appealed to the federal and Sokoto State governments to urgently deploy additional security personnel and provide APCs to enable security operatives reclaim the area and allow displaced families to return home safely.

The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed that the incidents occurred but said he could not independently verify the casualty figures.

‘The incidents indeed happened, but I was not there myself. Therefore, I have to verify the figures before I can confirm them,’ he said.

The spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, confirmed the attack, saying additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace and prevent further attacks in the affected communities.

Daily Trust recalls that on Wednesday, bandits attacked Tsamaye community in the same local government area, killing eight residents, including three worshippers inside a mosque, highlighting the worsening insecurity in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

Sabon Birni remains one of the worst-hit local government areas in Sokoto State and the wider North-West, where armed groups have continued to carry out deadly attacks, mass abductions and widespread displacement despite ongoing security operations.

Someone, somewhere, is pressing his palm against his chest right now after a meal. He tells himself it will pass. It usually does. So he eats the same way tomorrow and the next day. After a few years, he quietly accepts the burning as part of his life. He is not alone. Across the world, hundreds of millions do the same, reaching for antacids the same way others reach for paracetamol. They manage a condition they rarely name and almost never treat properly.

Chronic indigestion, known medically as functional dyspepsia, is not a fancy term for overeating. It is a persistent, recurring condition affecting the upper digestive tract. It is characterised by pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, uncomfortable fullness after meals, early satiety, and sometimes nausea. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports put the global prevalence in adults at approximately 8.4%. That translates to hundreds of millions of people. Yet functional dyspepsia remains underdiagnosed, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where symptoms tend to be blamed on stress, bad food, or spiritual causes rather than investigated properly.

Now, part of what makes this condition frustrating is that it does not always manifest the same way. For some people, it is a distressing, burning sensation in the middle upper abdomen, which shows up without an obvious cause. For others, it is a heaviness that starts before a meal is even done or a bloating that lingers for hours afterwards. Most people feel consistently uncomfortable in a way that is difficult to explain to a doctor, especially when the endoscopy comes back normal.

By definition, functional dyspepsia is diagnosed when structural abnormalities like active Helicobacter pylori infection or ulcers have been excluded. It is categorised as a disorder of gut-brain interaction. The brain amplifies signals from the gut in ways that produce real pain without any visible tissue damage. A scan does not detect any of that.

In Nigeria, the picture is complicated by one particularly striking fact. According to data cited by the World Gastroenterology Organization, Nigeria has the highest recorded prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection globally, at approximately 87.7% of the population. This is driven by poor sanitation, contaminated water, and overcrowded living conditions. The bacteria do not always produce symptoms, but when they do, they are clinically indistinguishable from functional dyspepsia without proper testing. In most Nigerian primary healthcare facilities, testing is simply not available. This means many people with a curable infection are instead handed antacids and sent home.

Diet matters too, though not in the way people assume. Traditional Nigerian ingredients are not the problem. The issue is habit. Eating quickly. Going long hours without food and then eating a very large meal in one sitting. Lying down within an hour of eating. Drinking heavily carbonated drinks with meals. All of these impose real mechanical and chemical stress on the stomach. So does the widespread, unguided use of ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs sold cheaply and without prescription across the country and taken routinely for pain and fever. Most people who take them do not know that they are a significant risk factor for upper gastrointestinal irritation.

Psychological stress is another factor that gets overlooked. The gut-brain axis is highly sensitive to anxiety and chronic mental strain. Research coordinated through the Rome Foundation, which sets international standards for diagnosing gut-brain disorders, has consistently shown that people with untreated psychological distress are significantly more likely to experience persistent digestive symptoms. In a context where mental health support carries stigma and is largely out of reach for most people, it creates a loop that is difficult to break without addressing both ends.

Now, none of this means chronic indigestion is entirely a systemic failure, though the system does fail people. The specialist shortage is real. Diagnostic equipment is scarce. Primary care is overstretched. However, functional dyspepsia is also, in a meaningful part, a lifestyle condition and a matter of personal choices. Eating smaller meals more frequently reduces the burden on the stomach. Chewing slowly gives digestive enzymes time to work before food reaches the stomach. Not eating within 2 to 3 hours before lying down reduces the incidence of acid reflux. Cutting back on alcohol and carbonated drinks removes common chemical irritants. None of this requires a prescription or a hospital visit.

The self-medication problem deserves particular attention. Many Nigerians take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids, or H2 blockers daily for years without medical guidance, managing symptoms they have never properly investigated. Long-term unsupervised use of proton pump inhibitors carries real risks. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued formal warnings about low magnesium levels associated with prolonged use of PPIs, and there is growing evidence of links to intestinal infections, including Clostridium difficile. More fundamentally, suppressing symptoms without addressing their cause leaves treatable conditions untreated. Helicobacter pylori, which affects nearly 9 in 10 Nigerians, can be cured with a short course of antibiotics. However, many people are living with it without knowing it.

The truth is that knowing when to see a doctor is itself a form of personal responsibility. New indigestion in someone over 55, or symptoms that come with unintentional weight loss, difficulty swallowing, blood in vomit, or black, tarry stools, are red flags that need urgent medical attention. They may point to something far more serious. Nigeria has among the lower recorded incidence rates for gastric cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, but the disease exists here, and patients overwhelmingly present with advanced disease. The years of self-treatment that precede that presentation are not secondary to this outcome.

We will not solve the problem of chronic indigestion by building more endoscopy units alone, though we need them. We will not solve it by training more gastroenterologists alone, though we need them too. A large part of the solution lies in how we respond to our own bodies. This includes understanding that persistent discomfort is not a character test to be endured, making different choices at the dinner table and the chemist counter, and not letting pride stand between us and a clinic.

If you constantly press your palm to your chest after a meal, it is high time you looked for a lasting solution. The means to improve your situation exist, many of them free and many of them within your reach. You just have to listen to your stomach and act urgently on the message you get.

Ojenagbon, a health communication expert and certified management trainer, lives in Lagos.