Category: Daily Trust

The 10-member Independent Committee to Investigate the Reported Deaths of 33 People in NSCDC Custody on September 17, 2026, headed by Mr Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, submitted its report last week, a few weeks after its constitution. In its report, the committee provided a thorough and far-reaching account of the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, leaving no doubt that it painstakingly examined the facts, reviewed available evidence and engaged relevant stakeholders before arriving at its recommendations.

In line with earlier eyewitness accounts, the committee found that the deaths of the detained miners resulted from environmental asphyxia caused by severe overcrowding, poor ventilation, extreme heat and dehydration in an unsuitable detention facility. The panel concluded that the tragedy was entirely preventable and stemmed from unlawful detention conditions, failure of duty of care, inadequate supervision and the disregard of repeated distress calls from detainees who pleaded for help throughout the night. Before the investigation, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State sought to explain the deaths as possibly resulting from an unspecified disease outbreak. They later stated that the cause of death had not yet been established. That position was a disservice to the Nigerian people, who fund the activities of the NSCDC. Rejecting the disease outbreak claim, the committee further established that the arrests and detention of the alleged illegal miners were carried out without proper planning or authorisation.

In its report, the committee made a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring accountability, justice and institutional reform. Foremost among them was that officers found culpable in the deaths of the detainees should be dismissed from service and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Significantly, the committee identified the officers involved and specified the roles each played in what amounted to an unnecessary loss of 37 lives. The committee also urged the federal government to provide compensation to the victims’ families, educational support for their dependants, and medical and psychological care for survivors and affected relatives. In addition, it called for a formal government apology in recognition of the gravity of the tragedy. On the institutional front, the panel recommended a comprehensive overhaul of detention practices within the NSCDC. This should include upgrading detention facilities, ensuring stricter adherence to constitutional safeguards and human rights standards, enhancing the supervision of detainees, improving officer training, and strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms. The committee further stressed the need for proper operational planning, record-keeping and authorisation procedures for future enforcement operations, warning that systemic failures and negligence must never again be allowed to cause such a preventable loss of life.

International human rights law and Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantee the right to life, a fundamental right that does not cease to apply simply because a person is under arrest or in detention. Detainees and inmates remain entitled to the protection of the law, humane treatment, access to medical care where necessary, and the constitutional safeguards of due process and fair hearing. The committee’s findings indicate that the deceased detainees repeatedly cried out for help and showed signs of severe distress before their deaths, yet those warnings were allegedly ignored. No domestic law or international human rights standard permits security personnel to stand by while people in their custody face a life-threatening emergency. The reported failure to respond raises serious questions about the training, judgment and conduct of the officers involved. Whether the neglect resulted from inadequate human rights training, gross indifference or an attempt to conceal wrongdoing, the tragedy represents a profound breach of the duty of care owed to every person in lawful custody.

While the officers directly implicated in the deaths of the detained miners must face the full weight of the law, it would be a grave mistake to treat the Niger State tragedy merely as the misconduct of a few individuals. The findings of the Independent Investigative Committee point to deeper institutional weaknesses, including poor supervision, inadequate detention conditions, operational failures and disregard for established standards of care.

The needless loss of lives has inevitably placed the NSCDC under intense public scrutiny and raised troubling questions about its procedures, oversight mechanisms and accountability structures. The government must therefore go beyond disciplining culpable officers and undertake a comprehensive review of the organisation’s operations nationwide. Such a review should examine detention practices, operational protocols, training standards, command responsibility and compliance with constitutional and human rights obligations. The tragedy in Niger State should serve as a wake-up call and an opportunity for meaningful reform. Anything short of a thorough institutional overhaul would risk leaving the conditions that produced this disaster unchanged, thereby exposing citizens to similar tragedies in the future.

Residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say extreme heat is harming their health, raising household expenses and disrupting businesses and livelihoods.

The residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the intense heat had increased their dependence on electricity, water and other cooling measures, while inconsistent power supply made coping more difficult.

They said the situation had resulted in food spoilage, increased operating costs, changes in working hours and health-related discomfort, particularly among households and people whose occupations exposed them to direct sunlight.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in an Oct. 23 advisory, had warned Nigerians to prepare for hotter days, increased heat discomfort, dust and possible water scarcity as the country transitions from the rainy to the dry season.

The agency identified dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke among the health risks associated with excessive heat, warning that prolonged exposure could affect people’s health and productivity.

To reduce heat-related risks, NiMet advised Nigerians to drink water regularly, wear lightweight and breathable clothing, and limit prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, particularly during the hottest hours of the day. (NAN)

It also recommended scheduling strenuous outdoor activities for cooler periods.

In Sokale community, Bwari Area Council, Mrs Patient Ndidi said coping with the heat had become an additional financial burden, particularly as a mother trying to keep her children comfortable while managing household expenses.

‘The sun was so intense that it felt as though it was draining my blood.

‘Even when the children returned from school, I had to tell them to go and take their baths because the heat was so much,’ she said.

Ndidi said the situation had increased her household’s electricity consumption because the family needed to run its fans for longer periods whenever power was available.

‘We use more units now because whenever there is electricity, we tend to leave the fan on throughout the day.

‘As a result, we are constantly recharging our prepaid meter,’ she said.

She explained that inconsistent electricity supply had also made food preservation difficult, as cooked meals could easily spoil during prolonged power outages.

According to her, foods such as egusi and groundnut soup, beans and other cooked meals were particularly difficult to preserve, forcing her to prepare smaller quantities that could be consumed at once.

She said the adjustment had increased the frequency of cooking and sometimes resulted in food wastage, additional expenses and stress.

Ndidi added that when electricity was unavailable, members of her household sometimes poured water on their bodies for temporary relief.

‘Actually, it has not helped us at all because once there is no electricity, you return to square one,’ she said.

She called on the government to improve electricity supply and consider reducing electricity tariffs to ease the financial burden on households.

Similarly, Mr John Anthony, a resident of Kubwa, said coping with the heat was more challenging at home than in his workplace, where air-conditioning provided a comfortable environment.

‘Office is not a problem at all; there is AC, so everywhere is always cool until we go home,’ he said.

Anthony said his family sometimes opened their windows and doors to improve ventilation, while drinking sufficient water to cope with the heat.

He, however, urged the government to ensure stable electricity supply to enable residents to use cooling appliances.

‘Government should please help us to ensure there is stable light so that we will be able to cope and it will reduce it,’ he said.

Another Kubwa resident, Mr Ignatius Ikechukwu, a Point of Sale (POS) operator who works under the sun, described coping with the heat as challenging.

He said drinking sufficient water was his major strategy for managing the situation while carrying out his daily activities.

‘I do not joke with water at all,’ he said.

The effects of the extreme heat have also extended to traders and other business owners, particularly those dealing in perishable goods and products requiring refrigeration.

In Jikwoyi, Miss Lovina Obiyi, a trader dealing in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry, said the excessive heat had resulted in the loss of considerable quantities of poultry.

‘We specialise in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry.

‘Due to the heat, we have lost quite a good amount of chickens and turkeys to the point that we need to open the place for ventilation,’ she said.

Obiyi stated that the heat had also influenced consumer preferences, increasing demand for cold drinks and frozen food products.

‘There is a rise in the purchase of cold things. Nobody buys normal temperature water; it has to be cold water.

‘When it comes to foodstuffs, people prefer frozen food rather than smoked ones,’ she said.

She explained that while perishable products were preserved in freezers, tomatoes and peppers were kept in open spaces to allow ventilation, adding that goods that could no longer be salvaged were discarded.

According to her, the heat had reduced profit margins because some food items ripened faster than expected, resulting in losses.

‘The heat affects a lot of things. Profit margin is low because things get spoilt a lot.

‘When you keep plantain, they all get ripe at once. There is a lot of loss and risks now due to the heat and also the death of livestock,’ she said.

Obiyi added that the heat had also affected her personal comfort, causing heat rashes and making it difficult to sleep without a fan.

Mr Chimezie Samuel, a business owner in Dutse, said the increased demand for cold drinks and other chilled products had created additional pressure on his business because of unreliable electricity supply.

He said customers seeking relief from the heat sometimes could not find cold drinks when power was unavailable.

Although he had not recorded significant losses from spoiled goods because most of his products were not highly perishable, Samuel said maintaining adequate cooling remained a challenge.

He disclosed that he had invested more than N1.7 million in a solar power system to keep his business running despite electricity challenges.

He urged the government to improve electricity supply, noting that the effects of extreme heat extended beyond business operations to residents’ ability to rest comfortably after work.

He also highlighted the importance of adequate water supply, saying electricity challenges could affect access to water and make coping with the heat more difficult.

For Mr Henry Chinonso, a welder and fabricator, the heat had forced changes in working hours to reduce exposure to direct sunlight.

‘I come out in the morning. I rest immediately it is 12 o’clock during the hot weather. When the heat reduces, then I will start again,’ he said.

Chinonso said he and his workers now suspend activities during the afternoon and resume in the evening when temperatures become more bearable.

He expressed concern that prolonged periods of extreme heat could affect work schedules, reduce customer patronage and slow productivity.

He identified adequate shade as one of the measures that could help outdoor workers cope with the situation.

Beyond its economic consequences, extreme heat has also raised concerns among residents and healthcare workers over its possible effects on health.

Mr Jeffrey Onu, a nurse at Olohi Gocho Pharmacy, Sokale, said some people visiting the facility had complained about the hot weather.

He advised residents to drink sufficient water regularly, get adequate rest and maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the risk of heat-related health problems.

Onu also urged people to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, and to seek shade or remain in cool, well-ventilated places whenever possible.

He further advised residents experiencing skin irritation to avoid scratching affected areas and using harsh creams or skincare products that could worsen the condition.

‘My advice is that in this hot weather, people should drink enough water and take their rest.

‘Excessive heat causes a lot of sicknesses in the human system, some of which may not even be detected on time,’ he said.

Ms Tope Ayoola, another FCT resident, said the intense heat had left her exhausted, caused excessive sweating and made it difficult to sleep comfortably at night.

‘The heat is too much. It makes me feel tired and weak. I sweat a lot and I can’t sleep well at night,’ she said.

Ayoola said she coped by drinking more water, staying indoors during the afternoon and taking cold baths.

She added that she had experienced headaches and heat rashes, which she attributed to the excessive heat.

Similarly, Ms Tolu Idayat said the hot weather had affected her concentration and productivity, sometimes leaving her with headaches and tiredness.

She said she coped by drinking plenty of water, wearing light clothing and bathing regularly.

Idayat appealed to the government to improve electricity supply and access to clean water, while creating public awareness on measures residents could adopt to protect themselves from excessive heat.

Mr Israel Bulus, a resident of Apo, described the hot weather as a seasonal experience to which residents had continued to adapt.

He said he sometimes took baths up to three times at night to obtain relief from the heat, adding that he remained concerned about its possible health implications.

Across the communities, residents called for improved electricity and water supply, saying reliable access to both services would reduce the financial pressure on households and businesses while making it easier to cope with extreme temperatures.

There is something deeply troubling about the ease with which grave allegations are made in Nigeria, the speed with which they harden into public verdicts, and the reluctance of those making them to accept the scrutiny they routinely demand of others. The recent incident involving Omoyele Sowore in Ado Ekiti shows why credibility, consistency and evidence matter, particularly when the allegations concern political violence and security agencies.

Let me be clear. No citizen, regardless of politics, should be subjected to violence, intimidation or unlawful restraint. If Sowore and his team were attacked at Tawakalitu Restaurant, those responsible must be identified and prosecuted. If the attack was politically sponsored, the sponsors must face the law. But these are matters for credible investigation, not social media declarations.

The first question is how a kidnapping became an attack at a restaurant. Sowore reportedly posted that he had been kidnapped and that his whereabouts were unknown. Within 39 minutes, he posted that he and his team had been attacked. Less than an hour later, he announced that they were receiving treatment at the Police Hospital in Ado Ekiti. The account then settled on Tawakalitu Restaurant, where he said they had gone to eat after a radio programme.

A kidnapping can precede an attack, and an attack can cause confusion. The question is why the first account spoke of an abduction to an unknown location, while the next named a specific place and described an assault.

A report made in confusion differs from a deliberate misrepresentation. We do not yet know which applies. That is why the chronology needs clarification.

The police describe the incident as an altercation; Sowore insists it was an attack. The distinction matters, but neither description should be accepted as final. The police cannot assume their preliminary view settles the matter, and Sowore cannot expect his account to become definitive merely because he is an activist and opposition politician.

The police have since arrested 11 suspects. Arrests are not convictions. They do not establish who started the confrontation, whether it was politically motivated, or whether others were involved. Then comes the allegation against the Department of State Services. Sowore reportedly accused the DSS of tracking his movements and supplying his location to the attackers. Yet, by his own account, he was sitting in a restaurant.

A restaurant is a public place, not a secret location. What would tracking someone already seated there achieve? Is there evidence that the DSS monitored him or tipped off the attackers? Or is the allegation built on the assumption that because an attack occurred, a security agency must have facilitated it? These are different propositions requiring different standards of proof.

The DSS has been in litigation with Sowore for over a year. That history is relevant, but it proves nothing either way. Litigation does not make unlawful conduct impossible, just as an activist’s history of confrontation with security agencies does not make every allegation credible. Until evidence connects the DSS to the incident, the allegation must remain an allegation.

There is also Sowore’s relationship with the police. He has previously described the police as irresponsible and accused officers of breaking his hand. Yet in Ekiti he reportedly had police protection, was rescued by police officers and was treated at a police hospital. Deji Adeyanju reportedly confirmed that officers were with him but were overpowered.

An injured citizen deserves treatment, and a person in danger deserves protection, whatever his past criticisms. It does, however, expose the weakness of sweeping condemnation. If the police are beyond redemption, why is their intervention accepted without qualification when convenient?

Perhaps institutions can be flawed without being worthless. The same force can contain officers capable of both misconduct and professional service. That nuance is missing from the blanket denunciations dominating public discourse. Sowore’s accusation against the Ekiti State Government and the Commissioner of Police deserves similar scrutiny. The Commissioner reportedly rejected the kidnapping account, which Sowore sees as an attempt to minimise the attack. He may be right. But a preliminary assessment is not proof of complicity. If the investigation is compromised, the evidence must show it.

Sowore was recently involved in public confrontations at the Federal High Court in Abuja, including one with a lawyer who allegedly called him a tout and another with correctional officers. These incidents do not prove he started the Ekiti confrontation. They do underline the need to examine his conduct with the seriousness he demands of others.

Human rights advocacy cannot be a shield against scrutiny. Nor should controversial conduct become an excuse to deny anyone protection. The danger in our politics is that allegations are treated as verdicts, with evidence expected to catch up later. Once an agency, a government or an opponent is accused, supporters rush to condemn, opponents rush to celebrate, and the facts become secondary. That is not accountability. It is the politics of accusation.

The police must publish a credible account of their investigation. The suspects must be treated according to law. CCTV footage must be preserved and examined. The allegations against the DSS and the state government must be investigated independently, and anyone found culpable prosecuted.

Sowore, too, must clarify the chronology of his statements and substantiate the grave allegations he has made.

A democracy cannot assume that the loudest accuser is the most truthful, or that the most powerful institution is the most culpable. The right to speak is fundamental. So is the responsibility to speak truthfully.

Sowore deserves protection. His allegations do not deserve automatic acceptance. Credibility is not conferred by activism, opposition or the history of one’s grievances. It is earned through consistency, evidence and a willingness to face the scrutiny one demands of others.

Ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial poll in Kwara State, an African research and strategy consultancy specialising in opinion polling, NU Northstar Research, has reported that 31 per cent of voters have not undecided or declined to disclose their preference in the governorship race.

However, the poll reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, is leading his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, Bolakale Kawu, by 63 per cent to 34 per cent among voters who have expressed a voting preference, according to a new opinion poll.

The findings, signed by the Head of Research, NU Northstar, Mr Ebuka Iloh, are based on a survey of 30,000 registered voters across the state’s 16 local government areas and 193 wards.

Iloh said the survey was conducted between September 2 and October 20, 2026.

The report also puts the ruling APC candidates ahead of their PDP counterparts in all three senatorial districts.

Among the entire electorate surveyed, Danladi recorded 43 per cent support, compared with Kawu’s 24 per cent, while 31 per cent were undecided or declined to disclose their preference.

Zakari Mohammed of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled one per cent, while Ridwan Apaokagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) recorded less than one per cent.

A breakdown of the governorship findings showed that Danladi led in all three senatorial districts and all 16 local government areas.

His highest margin was recorded in Kwara North, where he polled 71 per cent against Kawu’s 26 per cent among decided voters. In Kwara Central, the figures were 56 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.

The closest local government contest was recorded in Ilorin West, Kawu’s home local government, where Danladi led by 51 per cent to 46 per cent. The poll, however, identified 58 of the state’s 193 wards as too close to call, while Danladi recorded clear leads in 135 wards.

Kwara South accounted for the largest concentration of undecided governorship voters, with 43 per cent yet to identify a preferred candidate.

The corresponding figures were 28 per cent in Kwara Central and 24 per cent in Kwara North. All six local governments where undecided voters exceeded 40 per cent were in Kwara South.

Young voters aged between 18 and 29 also recorded the highest level of uncertainty, with 37 per cent yet to make a choice.

Undecided voters were also more concentrated in Kwara South, where 36 per cent had yet to identify a preferred senatorial candidate, compared with 25 per cent in Kwara Central and 19 per cent in Kwara North.

On voting patterns, 64 per cent of respondents said they intended to support the same political party in both the governorship and senatorial elections, while 15 per cent indicated a possibility of splitting their votes. Another 21 per cent were uncertain.

The survey also examined public assessment of the incumbent administration.

Bad roads emerged as the most frequently identified problem statewide, cited by 25 per cent of respondents. However, priorities differed across the senatorial districts, with electricity prominent in Kwara Central, road infrastructure in Kwara South and insecurity in Kwara North.

According to the research team, the exercise combined telephone interviews, street surveys and online questionnaires to capture voters’ preferences, perceptions of government performance and concerns across different communities.

Daily Trust reports that the controversial outcomes of the APC’s candidate selection processes have deepened divisions within the ruling party in Kwara State.

Fifteen influential party leaders, operating under the aegis of the G-15, had rejected candidates backed by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and warned the party’s national leadership of the potential consequences of the internal crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The G-15 which later rebranded as ‘The Otoge Progressives,’ comprising former ministers, serving and former lawmakers, party chieftains and grassroots mobilisers, has reportedly thrown its weight behind the PDP governorship candidate, further complicating the APC’s political calculations in the state.

One of the group’s members, Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central, has since defected to the PDP and secured the party’s senatorial ticket.

His emergence as the PDP’s senatorial candidate sets up a direct contest against Governor AbdulRazaq, who is also seeking election to the Senate on the APC platform.

Some prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Albasu Local Government Area of Kano State have accused the member representing Albasu state constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly Hon Musa Tahir Hungu and the council Chairman Garba Aliyu Hungu of supporting the NDC Kano South senatorial candidate Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya.

The APC members also petitioned Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the party’s State Working Committee, calling for disciplinary action against the party chieftains for alleged anti-party activities.

The aggrieved APC members alleged that the two officials were working against the interests of the APC and its senatorial candidate, Senator Kawu Sumaila.

In a petition signed by more than 300 party officials and leaders across the wards and local government, the APC members called on the governor and the APC leadership in Kano to investigate the allegations and determine whether the actions of the two officials violated the party’s constitution.

According to them, the relationship between the two officeholders and Bataiya dates back to their previous political affiliation, alleging that the NDC candidate played a role in assisting the two officials, before their present position in the APC.

The petitioners further alleged that some elected councillors, political appointees and local government party officials had continued to participate in activities organised by the NDC senatorial candidate, with some allegedly attending his campaign rallies and encouraging support for his candidacy.

They accused the Albasu Local Government Chairman of making available the local government town hall to Bataiya for political meetings and the launch of his senatorial campaign despite being a member of the opposition NDC.

They said a fact-finding committee had been set up by the political leadership of Albasu Local Government, under Dr Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, to examine the allegations.

However, the petitioners alleged that the two officeholders denied the committee the opportunity to carry out its assignment.

On the distribution of government empowerment programmes, the petitioners alleged that benefits intended for party members and supporters had frequently been diverted to individuals they described as loyalists of the NDC senatorial candidate.

They expressed concern that genuine APC members in Albasu had been marginalised in the distribution of such benefits, calling for greater accountability in the implementation of state government programmes at the grassroots.

They further alleged that while other local governments provided 30 buses or more to transport party members to the Kaduna rally, Albasu chairman provided only 17 buses.

The stakeholders argued that the allegations, if established, could undermine party discipline, unity and the APC’s electoral prospects in Albasu and the wider Kano South Senatorial District.

They therefore called on Governor Yusuf, as the APC leader in Kano State, and the party’s State Working Committee to examine the relevant provisions of Article 21 of the APC constitution and determine whether the alleged activities of Garba Aliyu Hungu and Musa Tahir Hungu constitute anti-party conduct punishable under the party’s rules.

The petition was signed by Hon. Adamu Abdu Fanda, Caucus Chairman; Hon. Wada Ibrahim Daho, Caucus Secretary; former member of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunusi Usman Bataiya; Isyaka Danyaya, Albasu APC Deputy Chairman; and several other local government and ward party officials.

All efforts to contact Hon. Garba Aliyu Hungu and the council chairman Musa Tahir Hungu for their response was not successful.

US President Donald Trump has agreed to facilitate a visa for the Ghanaian mother of Javits Frimpong, a teenager killed while walking to school in New York.

New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, announced Trump’s intervention on Saturday, as Ghana demanded justice for 15-year-old Frimpong, whose killing has shaken the Bronx.

‘The murder of a child is a pain no parent should have to endure, let alone from thousands of miles away,’ Mamdani declared.

The mayor said Trump agreed during their telephone conversation to grant a visa immediately to the teenager’s mother, Doris Gyamfi, who lives in Kumasi, Ghana.

However, the White House had not independently confirmed the arrangement, and it remained unclear whether the visa had been issued by Saturday evening.

Frimpong was shot in the abdomen around in the morning in Bronx’s neighbourhood.

Police officers rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead while investigators began searching for three suspected teenage assailants.

The teenager had moved from Ghana in October 2025 to reunite with his father, Thomas Frimpong, hoping to pursue his education and build a promising future.

‘He was very clever, so he always says he wants to be a physician,’ his grieving father told newsmen in New York.

The elder Frimpong said his son had complained of persistent bullying at DreamYard Preparatory School, where two students were reportedly suspended, although police have not established any connection to the killing.

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, subsequently contacted the bereaved father, conveying condolences from President John Dramani Mahama and promising government support.

‘We will pursue justice, and we will make sure that those who did this do not get away with it,’ Ablakwa declared.

Ghanaian diplomats in New York visited the family while the government demanded a thorough investigation and pledged legal and consular assistance to secure accountability.

Following Mamdani’s announcement, Ablakwa welcomed Trump’s intervention and disclosed that Ghana would finance the mother’s travel, assist with visa arrangements and support funeral expenses.

‘The Government of Ghana welcomes your intervention and President Trump’s timely decision,’ Ablakwa said, acknowledging the cooperation between the American and Ghanaian authorities.

Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres also expressed grief, saying: ‘Our entire borough is mourning a young man who should have had his whole future ahead of him.’

The New York City Department of Education offered counselling and cooperation with investigators, stating: ‘Our hearts are with this young person’s family and school community during this unimaginably difficult time.’

Meanwhile, vigils brought together Ghanaian residents, religious leaders and neighbours demanding justice on Saturday as police continued investigating the killing without announcing arrests or establishing a motive.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has conferred traditional titles on two of his sons, a renowned philanthropist, an Islamic scholar and other prominent personalities.

The two sons, Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar and Shehu Usman Abubakar, were turbaned as Sarkin Dawaki Tsakar Gida and Fagachin Sokoto, respectively, at a colourful ceremony held in Sokoto on Sunday.

Also turbaned were renowned philanthropist and Islamic scholar, Alhaji Murtala Abdulkadir Dan’iya, as Dallatun Sokoto, and Prof. Mansur Ibrahim as Danmasanin Sokoto.

Others included Alhaji Abubakar Hussain as Sarkin Bai; Alhaji Aminu Isa-Buhari as Danmalikin Sokoto; Prof. Ishaq Oloyede as Kuliyan Sokoto; Dr Peter Igoh as Kakakin Daular Usmaniyya and Hon Almustapha Rabah as Bauran Sokoto.

Others were Dr Balarabe Kakale as Wakilin Makarantar Daular Usmaniyya; Alhaji Bello Abbas; Alhaji Gandi Umar as Sarkin Galmar Sarkin Musulmi; and Alhaji Abdulqadir Bello-Jeli as Sarkin Fulotin Sokoto.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Sultan said the traditional titles were conferred on the recipients based on merit, their contributions to society and the recognition of their individual achievements.

The monarch urged the newly turbaned title holders to regard their appointments as a call to greater service, commitment and responsibility, rather than merely as symbols of honour.

He also encouraged them to use their positions to promote peace, unity, religious tolerance and the development of the Sokoto Caliphate and the country at large.

Speaking to journalists after his turbaning, Dan’iya expressed appreciation to the Sultan for finding him worthy of the traditional title of Dallatun Sokoto.

He described the honour as a great privilege and recognition, pledging to continue contributing to the development of society, particularly in the areas of philanthropy, religious activities and support for the less privileged.

The ceremony attracted prominent personalities from within and outside the country, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, among other dignitaries.

Nigeria has advanced into the semi finals stage of the U17 Women’s World Cup following a 1-0 victory over Venezuela in Morocco on Sunday.

The Flamingos overcame the tough Venezuelans in the quarter-final encounter thanks to a late penalty by Azeezat Oduntan in a match of few chances.

Giant-killing Venezuela came into the match at the Mohammed VI Football Complex after pulling off a shock win over Germany in the round of 16.

However, they were kept at arm’s length by Akeem Busari’s side, restricted to counter attacks that led to four chances that were well saved by Nigerian goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho.

Nigeria, on the other hand, continued to probe the South Americans for an opening until the spotkick arrived minutes before the end.

Olubebe Umejiaku was the player fouled in the sequence, the impressive striker was brought down in the box and referee Hyeonjeong Oh pointed to the spot.

The decision was upheld despite a VAR review, and captain Oduntan sent the Venezela goalkeeper the wrong way to seal Nigeria’s return to the last-four stage since 2022.

The win is Nigeria’s fourth consecutive in the competition, setting a record of four regulation-time victories for the first time.

Nigeria will play their second-ever semi-final in the tournament against Brazil, conquerors of China PR, on Wednesday, November 4.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the APC Presidential Campaign Council of seeking to obscure President Bola Tinubu’s ‘unfulfilled electricity promise with a long recital of laws, committees, bonds and projects’.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said: ‘The APC should spare Nigerians the spectacle of celebrating paperwork while homes and businesses remain in darkness. After three and a half years, families still struggle to keep their homes lit. Traders and small business owners spend scarce resources on alternative power, yet struggle to keep their businesses alive. Nigerians are billed for electricity they cannot rely on. President Tinubu promised steady power and an end to estimated billing. That promise has not been kept.

‘Across Nigeria, consumers are placed in Bands A, B, C, D and E and charged different rates. In many areas, Band A customers pay about ?209.50 per unit before VAT. Rates for the other bands vary by state and electricity provider. Yet across every band, the same hardship endures: the power fails, but the bill arrives. No family should have to weigh the cost of electricity against the cost of food. No business should be left to pay more while receiving less.

‘The government now says it plans to end electricity subsidies from 2027, even as it insists there will be no immediate tariff increase. Nigerians are entitled to a clear answer: what will happen to their bills when the subsidy ends? I will work with state governments and regulators, within the law, to abolish the present band system and replace it with a fair, transparent and affordable framework that protects households and holds power companies accountable for the electricity they deliver. Steady power that Nigerians can afford will be a national priority.

‘When President Tinubu campaigned in 2022, he made an unmistakable commitment. He said: ‘If I don’t give you constant electricity for four years, when I come back for a second term, don’t vote for me.’ Nigerians have lived through those four years. They do not need his campaign council to interpret his words for them. They need him to answer for them.

‘His administration has not built a single new generation infrastructure of its own to increase Nigeria’s power capacity. Yet it has floated a multitrillion naira bond programme to settle legacy debts owed to generation companies, without showing Nigerians how this financial intervention has produced the steady electricity they were promised. Paying old debts is not the same as building new power infrastructure. Bonds cannot be presented as a substitute for power in people’s homes.

‘Meanwhile, Nigerians face VAT on electricity, and the Nigeria Tax Act provides for a 5 per cent surcharge on certain fossil fuels, including petrol and diesel. The government says the surcharge has not been activated and would require a ministerial order. At a time when families already struggle to meet the cost of energy, Nigerians deserve to know why another potential charge has been placed before them.

‘Dele Alake’s statement cannot light a home. Signing a law is not electricity. Raising a bond is not electricity. Approving a project is not power delivered. Nigerians cannot cook, study, work or sustain a business on announcements. President Tinubu invited Nigerians to judge him by his performance. They have done so. What they seek is simple: reliable electricity they can afford, and a government that keeps its word.’

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said Nigeria’s security challenges predate the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that terrorism, insurgency and banditry had been entrenched in the country before 2023 when Tinubu assumed office.

Dogara, who is the Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, spoke at the institution’s 16th convocation ceremony, where 836 graduands received various academic qualifications.

He said the country’s security problems were rooted in years of porous borders, illegal arms proliferation, youth unemployment and the spread of extremist ideologies.

‘Insecurity in Nigeria did not begin with this administration. This is no excuse, because the facts need no defence. Terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence did not arrive in 2023,’ he said.

Dogara added that the challenges had developed over several years, stressing that their roots went deep before Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

He, however, noted that Tinubu had consistently identified national security as a major responsibility of his administration. He also congratulated the graduands, saying the country needed their talents, creativity and innovation.

In his address, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, said Nigeria had made significant progress in expanding access to tertiary education but expressed concern about the prospects of graduates after leaving school.

Ayorinde cited figures from the National Universities Commission, which put the number of universities in the country at 312 as of June 2026, comprising 77 federal, 67 state-owned and 168 private institutions.

He said the institutions represented a huge investment in human capital, with parents, governments and lecturers making sacrifices to produce skilled professionals, but questioned what opportunities awaited graduates after completing their studies.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Omolola Irinoye, said the university had remained committed to providing quality education that combines intellectual development, practical skills, character building and social responsibility since its establishment.