Category: Daily Trust

When Senator Saliu Mustapha, the Kwara Central representative at the upper chamber in the National Assembly, entered the APC governorship race, supporters expected that, whatever the outcome, he would remain one of the major beneficiaries of the party’s succession plan.

Weeks after the primary, however, events have taken a different turn.

With Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu emerging as the party’s governorship candidate and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s name now appearing as the APC candidate for Kwara Central Senatorial District, attention has shifted from the governorship contest to a new question. And this is what next for one of the state’s most influential politicians?

Mustapha was among the strongest aspirants in the governorship race.

Long before the primary, he had built a campaign across the state and many of his supporters believed his years of pursuing the governorship would finally pay off.

Even after Governor AbdulRazaq openly endorsed Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, Mustapha remained in the race. He repeatedly said he was focused on becoming governor and dismissed reports linking him with the Senate ticket.

The primary, intriguingly, eventually produced Speaker Danladi as the APC governorship candidate, bringing an end to Mustapha’s ambition to fly the party’s flag in 2027.

Like every major primary, attention quickly turned to reconciliation.

Within APC circles, there was widespread belief that leaders who lost the governorship ticket would be accommodated to keep the party united. Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq had even said the party would compensate those who contested with appointments.

In Mustapha’s case, many party members believed the easiest option was to allow him return to the Senate since he was already representing Kwara Central as a first timer.

That expectation has now faded.

With INEC publishing Governor AbdulRazaq as the APC candidate for the Kwara Central Senate seat, the political calculations have changed completely.

The development means that if nothing changes before the election, Mustapha could leave office in 2027 without the governorship ticket he sought and without returning to the Senate.

That possibility has opened a fresh debate within the APC and among political observers. The situation has also brought back discussions about the relationship between Mustapha and Governor AbdulRazaq. For months before the primary, there were reports of a cold relationship between both men. Supporters on both sides openly disagreed over political issues, while allegations also emerged that some constituency projects linked to the senator faced challenges in the state.

Although many of those claims were never officially confirmed, they have continued to shape public perception of events within the party. Against that background, many observers now see the Senate ticket as more than an ordinary nomination.

To them, it is part of the wider struggle over political influence in Kwara APC after Governor AbdulRazaq leaves office in 2027.

Mustapha is not just another politician within the party.

Before becoming a senator, he had built a political network through years of scholarships, empowerment programmes, support for party members and grassroots mobilisation. Those activities gave him supporters across the state and strengthened his standing within the APC.

His election to the Senate in 2023 further increased his political profile and many believed it placed him in a stronger position to pursue the governorship.

With both opportunities now appearing out of reach, attention has turned to his next move. However, Mustapha and other members of the G15 have refused to accept the outcome of the governorship primary, insisting that the process is not over.

The group, made up of leading governorship aspirants and other party stakeholders, including Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, Senator Oloriegbe, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB) among others, has maintained that the primary that produced Danladi did not reflect the agreement reached before the exercise.

The group has continued to demand that one of its members, which include senator Mustapha, should emerge as the APC governorship candidate.

One of the group’s leaders, Salman Jawondo, recently told Daily Trust that the struggle would continue until September 19, the deadline for the substitution of candidates.

Asked what the group would do if Danladi remained the candidate after that date, he said they would cross that bridge when they got there.

That position shows that, despite the announcement of Danladi as the APC candidate, the internal battle within the party is far from over.

Reacting to the development, an aide of senator Mustapha, Alabi Abdulkareem, told Daily Trust that his principal’s decision would be guided by the collective direction of the G15 coalition and engagements with critical stand the outcome of consultations with his own political structure, supporters, and associates across Kwara State.

‘Senator Saliu Mustapha remains one of the foremost stakeholders in the political landscape of Kwara State. With the 2027 general election shaping up to be a defining moment in the state’s political history, his role in the succession process will remain significant.

‘By the grace of God, regardless of the current developments within the Kwara APC, Senator Mustapha will continue to be a relevant force and an active participant in shaping the future of Kwara State.

‘Senator Mustapha is also a key member of the coalition of APC stakeholders under the banner of the G15, a group advocating far-reaching reforms and a return to the ideals of inclusive, transparent, and responsible leadership in Kwara State.

‘Their engagement is driven by a shared commitment to strengthening the party, safeguarding the values of the Otoge movement, and ensuring that the 2027 political transition reflects the collective aspirations of party members and the people of the state.

‘Accordingly, Senator Mustapha’s political decisions ahead of the 2027 elections will be guided by two overriding considerations: the collective direction ultimately adopted by the G15 coalition following its ongoing consultations and engagements with critical stakeholders, and the outcome of consultations with his own political structure, supporters, and associates across Kwara State. It is these collective deliberations, rather than personal ambition alone, that will shape his eventual political direction for 2027, by the will of God’, he submitted.

For his part, the President of the Nigerian Society of International Affairs (NSIA), Prof. Hassan Ajisafe Saliu, said the political space is gradually closing for the senator and other members of the G15 to actualize their ambitions.

Although he did not completely rule out last minute political developments before the September 19 deadline for substitution of candidates.

According to him, many had expected the crisis within the Kwara APC to be resolved through political reconciliation, but recent developments suggest that such expectations may no longer be realistic.

‘All along the expectation was that some miracle would happen and somebody would be reconciled with somebody. But now that the miracle has failed to happen, it means we have to take it from there,’ he said.

Saliu said although the G15 still believes there is room for changes before the September 19 deadline, every passing day is making such a possibility more difficult.

‘Let us not rule out any possibility. But if anything will happen, it will happen in the last two months. To the extent that nothing happens, one may want to think that it will be too risky for any contrary thing to happen,’ he said.

The political scientist also said the options outside the APC appear limited, noting that major opposition parties have already produced their candidates, making it difficult for any of the aggrieved aspirants to secure governorship or other tickets elsewhere.

He said the most realistic option, if the current situation remains unchanged, could be for the aggrieved politicians to align with another political platform rather than seek fresh nominations.

Asked whether the G15 leaders would remain in the APC, Saliu said it was too early to reach a conclusion because the group still believes the struggle is not over.

‘For now, there is a coalition, there is an agreement and there is an alliance among them, believing that the door is not yet closed. They are entitled to that. But by the time the chips are down, it is likely we will see another scenario,’ he said.

However, it appears Mustapha and the G15 are already considering options outside the APC.

The group has initiated moves to explore alternative political platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development is significant because it potentially gives the aggrieved APC stakeholders a platform through which they can continue their political engagement even if the internal battle within the ruling party does not produce the outcome they are seeking.

The new alignment also suggests that the group’s options are no longer limited to waiting for a change in the APC’s candidate list before the September 19 substitution deadline.

While its members have continued to insist that their struggle within the APC is not over, the emergence of TOP provides a possible vehicle for a wider political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.

For Mustapha, the development could therefore prove crucial in determining what comes next.

Whether he ultimately remains within the APC, seeks accommodation through a political settlement, or joins a broader opposition arrangement may depend not only on the outcome of the substitution window but also on the direction eventually taken by TOP and the political structures behind it.

What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that the question of Mustapha’s political future can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of the APC governorship primary.

With the senator’s return ticket now in question, the G15 expanding its political reach, the coming weeks could determine whether the current crisis ends in reconciliation, a fresh internal battle or a broader realignment of political forces in Kwara.

Forty days after suspected bandits killed the Chief Imam of Kuda-Kuda village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, eight members of his family remain in captivity as relatives struggle to raise the N30 million ransom demanded by their abductors.

The family said they could not afford even a fraction of the amount and had pleaded with the kidnappers to accept between N2 million and N6 million, but the offer was rejected. They said the abductors threatened to kill the victims before cutting off communication.

‘We begged them to reduce the ransom. We even offered to pay up to N6 million, but they insulted us, switched off their phones and have not contacted us again.

‘Even when we called, the lines no longer went through,’ a relative of the slain cleric, who requested anonymity, told Daily Trust.

The eight victims were abducted during a deadly attack on Kuda-Kuda village on June 23, when suspected bandits invaded the community, killing the Chief Imam, Liman Audu, and three other residents, while leaving several others with gunshot injuries.

Recounting the attack, the relative said the gunmen stormed the family compound while everyone was asleep.

‘I was inside my room when I heard people entering the house. I flashed my torchlight and saw men wearing security uniforms. Immediately, I knew they were bandits.

‘They entered one of the rooms and found my younger brother’s wife carrying her baby. They removed the baby from her back, handed the child to an elderly woman and dragged the mother outside.

‘They later brought out other women from different rooms before forcing their way into another room by repeatedly shooting at the door. They killed three members of our family there before moving to the imam’s section of the house.

‘I kept hearing gunshots from that direction. It was only later that we realised they had killed the imam,’ he said.

According to him, the attackers also shot three children in another section of the compound before rustling the family’s livestock.

He said those injured are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Goronyo.

‘Two of them were shot in the hands, while another sustained gunshot wounds to the hand and chest,’ he said.

Another family member, a younger brother of the slain imam, confirmed that eight people were abducted during the attack and have remained in captivity for about six weeks.

He identified the victims as Mallam Shehu na Barayar Zaki, Surajo, the late imam’s son; Surajo’s wife; Umma; Hawwau; Hadiza; Safina; Maryamu; and Hairatu.

He said the kidnappers had insisted on N30 million despite repeated appeals from the family.

‘None of us has ever handled N100,000 of our own before. We don’t have the capacity to raise such an amount,’ he said.

He disclosed that one of the abductees was scheduled to get married this month, but the wedding plans had been thrown into uncertainty following the abduction.

‘We had completed almost all the wedding preparations before this tragedy happened,’ he said.

The family also lamented that they were struggling to care for relatives injured during the attack.

‘We cannot even afford their treatment. It is kind-hearted people who have been assisting us. Sometimes, we don’t even have enough food to eat,’ he said.

Appealing to the public for support, he said the family had exhausted all available options and now depended on the generosity of Nigerians and prayers for the safe return of the abductees.

A resident of Kuda-Kuda village said community members had imposed a levy of N5,000 on every household head and N2,000 on every married woman to raise funds for the victims.

He, however, said the contributions would not amount to N1 million because many residents had fled the village following repeated attacks on the community and neighbouring settlements.

‘Even if the kidnappers eventually agree to accept N6 million, we will still have to continue seeking donations in mosques and from members of the public because the community cannot raise the money alone,’ he said.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said such cases were often not reported to the police.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that suspected bandits attacked Kuda-Kuda village on June 23, killing the Chief Imam, Liman Audu, and three other residents before abducting eight members of the community.

Nile University of Nigeria hosted the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of The Gambia, Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez, as part of a National Universities Commission (NUC)-coordinated study tour to strengthen institutional learning and knowledge exchange in higher education.

Selected as one of the universities for the official engagement, Nile University provided the Gambian delegation with first-hand insight into its approach to academic delivery, innovation, digital learning, entrepreneurship and student development.

The Gambian delegation was led by Hon. Prof. Gomez, accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms Isatou Auber. Also participating in the visit were Engr. Suleiman Adebayo, Deputy Director/ Team Lead, University-Industry Linkage Division at the National Universities Commission (NUC), alongside other officials from the NUC.

In his welcome speech, the Vice-Chancellor of Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Dilli Dogo, FNAMed, DFMC, described the visit as an important opportunity to deepen collaboration among African higher education institutions and strengthen the exchange of knowledge and practices capable of advancing the continent’s university system.

‘We are honoured that Nile University was selected as one of the institutions to host this distinguished delegation. Universities have an important role to play in Africa’s development, and that requires us to look beyond our individual institutions and countries to build partnerships, exchange knowledge and learn from one another. We welcome opportunities such as this to contribute to the continued advancement of higher education across the continent,’ Professor Dilli Dogo said.

The visit built on longstanding educational ties between Nigeria and The Gambia, strengthened over the years through academic exchanges, scholarships, capacity development and the contributions of Nigerian academics to The Gambia’s university system.

Speaking during the visit, Hon. Prof. Gomez described Nigeria as a longstanding and valued partner in The Gambia’s higher education development, acknowledging the significant contribution Nigerian academics have made to the country’s university system. ‘It is always good to come back to our roots because Nigeria has been a trusted partner in our educational journey for many years. Most of the faculty members in our universities are Nigerians, and the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University of The Gambia was also Nigerian. That reflects the depth of the relationship our two countries have built over the years,’ he said.

He added that the study tour was designed to enable the delegation to examine institutional systems and practices that could provide useful lessons as The Gambia continued to strengthen its higher education sector.

A key part of the visit was a guided tour of Nile University’s facilities and learning ecosystem. The delegation visited the University’s state-of-the-art Virtual Reality room, which supports experiential learning in business, leadership and decision-making.

The tour provided insight into the University’s integrated approach to teaching and learning, executive education, digital learning, innovation and entrepreneurship, and student support, as well as its continued investment in creating an environment that prepares students for the evolving demands of the workplace and society.

The visit also provided a platform for broader discussions on institutional development and the evolving role of African universities in strengthening academic quality, expanding research and innovation, embracing technology-enabled learning and equipping graduates with the knowledge and capabilities required to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.

By hosting the delegation, Nile University reinforced its commitment to advancing higher education through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnerships that extend beyond institutional and national boundaries, while strengthening its contribution to developing future-ready graduates and the wider transformation of higher education in Nigeria and across Africa.

The delegation, before departure, solicited cooperation and collaboration with the Education Sector in The Gambia and promised to forward workable proposals for MoUs towards the advancement of the newly established University of Science and Innovation and Technology in The Gambia.

They believe Nile University has what it takes to support a workable partnership with the University of The Gambia

The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry into a major export-driven sector, identifying Cross River State as a strategic hub capable of supplying the South-South region and international markets.

Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Muktar Maha, disclosed this during a visit to Cross River ahead of the commissioning of Nigeria’s first Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility at Mfum in Ikom Local Government Area.

Maha said the facility, the first of 12 planned along Nigeria’s international borders, is designed to strengthen livestock health certification, prevent the entry of diseased animals into the country and enhance confidence in Nigeria’s livestock value chain.

He said the Federal Government was determined to build a modern livestock economy capable of creating thousands of jobs while boosting non-oil exports, noting that Nigeria’s red meat export market is valued at about $3.4 billion.

According to the minister, Cross River is strategically positioned to become the country’s livestock export gateway because of its coastal location, proximity to Gulf markets and ongoing investments in transport infrastructure.

‘We believe Cross River can dominate the red meat industry in the South-South. With Calabar’s access to the coast, we are only a few hours away from Gulf markets,’ he said.

Maha disclosed that the ministry plans to establish a modern abattoir ecosystem in the state capable of processing about 500 cattle daily, a project expected to generate about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs through meat processing, transportation, cold-chain logistics, feed production and other value chain activities.

To address supply challenges in the poultry sector, the minister announced plans to facilitate the importation of about 60 million hatchable eggs as a short-term intervention while licensing more operators to reduce delays experienced by livestock farmers.

He also urged investors to explore opportunities in commercial fodder production, including Napier grass, alfalfa and ryegrass, saying demand for quality animal feed remains high in Gulf countries.

He added that the proposed Obudu livestock facility would incorporate cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and a dairy centre in partnership with a university.

Maha further disclosed that the ministry would inspect the Obudu Ranch and other livestock assets during the visit to evaluate investment opportunities and accelerate the development of the state’s livestock sector.

Responding, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, represented by Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Odey, reaffirmed the state’s readiness to partner the Federal Government.

He said the Obudu Cargo Airport, now about 85 per cent completed, together with ongoing investments at Obudu Ranch, would support livestock exports and position the state as a major agricultural and trade hub.

The Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility at Mfum is expected to play a critical role in safeguarding animal health, facilitating cross-border livestock trade and supporting the Federal Government’s broader economic diversification agenda through agriculture.

Yet, 102 deaths per 1,000 is still more than four times the Sustainable Development Goal target of 25. For policymakers and stakeholders gathering to shape the next phase of maternal and child health in Nigeria, the question is less whether progress is possible and more what it takes to make it routine.

One part of the answer lies in how the country has delivered child-survival programmes at scale. More than 16 million children have now been reached through the SARMAAN (Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Children) Project across northern Nigeria, a milestone that says as much about system strength as it does about operational scale.

SARMAAN, is a child-survival initiative that delivers supervised azithromycin to children aged 1-59 months in high-mortality communities, through trained health workers and state primary health-care systems, as part of a wider child survival package that still includes immunisation, nutrition, clean water and basic care. Its experience offers practical lessons for the wider maternal, newborn and child health agenda.

The first lesson is that saving children’s lives is a systems task, not just a clinical one. The improvement in under-five mortality and service indicators is happening in a context where Nigeria’s health system remains fragmented, with federal, state and local authorities sharing overlapping responsibilities that can lead to duplicated efforts and disjointed delivery. SARMAAN’s operations show what it looks like when that fragmentation is managed rather than ignored. In the second quarter of 2026 alone, nine states successfully implemented house-to-house administration. Those rounds were only possible because procurement, logistics, financing, data systems, regulatory oversight, health-worker training and state-level coordination were aligned in advance.

The second lesson is that the ‘unseen work’ is as important as the visible outputs. Public-health success is often narrated in terms of bottles distributed or children reached. SARMAAN’s numbers are impressive on those terms, but the deeper value lies in how doses get from a central warehouse to a child’s mouth without eroding trust. Behind each round are state alignment meetings, last-mile route planning, community dialogues, information materials, safety and pharmacovigilance systems, and fast feedback loops on rumours and concerns. Those are the same ingredients required for better antenatal care, safer births and stronger newborn care, which means the systems ‘muscle’ built for one intervention can strengthen the MNCH agenda.

Finally, SARMAAN raises a constructive challenge for all of us: what happens when a child-survival intervention proves it can be delivered at scale? Does it remain a time-bound project, or does it become part of the permanent toolbox? As Nigeria’s under-five mortality continues to decline, and as national plans and guidelines for maternal and newborn health are updated, the experience from SARMAAN suggests three collaborative priorities. First, integrate proven child-survival tools into routine primary health-care and child-health strategies, so they are planned and budgeted for alongside immunisation, nutrition and WASH. Second, strengthen domestic financing so that continuity does not depend solely on external support. Third, keep investing in community trust, safety monitoring and data, so scale never outruns science or consent.

The improvements in child survival, breastfeeding, antenatal care and skilled birth attendance show that change is possible when policy, practice and partnership line up. SARMAAN’s delivery record is one piece of that picture, not the whole answer but a practical example of what coordinated, country-led effort can achieve.

As Nigeria determines its next strategies for maternal and child health, the most powerful signal we can send is that programmes that work, and the systems that support them, are not temporary successes but building blocks for a future where mothers and children survive as a matter of course, not of chance.

Telecommunications services provider Airtel Nigeria has further extended its national retail footprint with the rollout of 350 out of a planned 500 premium experience centres, which are designed to bring its service closer to millions of Nigerians.

The new retail shops, officially unveiled at a symbolic launch at City Mall, Onikan, Lagos, mark the latest phase in Airtel Nigeria’s grand retail strategy.

They significantly expand the company’s extensive network of over 9,000 exclusive shops across every local government area, more than 350 premium experience centres, and over 73,000 retailers in all top towns and cities nationwide.

Built as compact, high-efficiency touchpoints, the newly launched shops are designed to enable subscribers complete all transactions such as Home Broadband, Fiber and Outdoor Units Subscription, Postpaid Plan Subscription, Enterprise Applications Enquiry and Subscription, as well as Prepaid Product services such as SIM registration and Data Plan purchase, other enquiries and comprehensive account support.

Simultaneously, several shops commenced operations at Purple Mall, Lekki; Marina, Lagos Island; Magodo, Lagos; Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta; Trend Setter Mall, Benin; Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Kano City Mall, Kano; Carpenters Mall, Gwarinpa, Abuja; and other parts of the country.

The rollout emphasises the company’s continued investment in customer experience and responds directly to feedback from customers seeking quicker access to everyday services without the longer waiting times that may be associated with larger retail centres.

Speaking on the company retail objectives, Joypratip Sengupta, Director, Sales and Distribution, Airtel Nigeria, explained that quality retail experience ultimately drives customer satisfaction.

‘Our goal is to demonstrate our dedication to exceptional quality of service, and these new shops, by their design, location, and equipment fit right within our goal to deliver superior service to every one of our customers,’ he said.

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 16 suspected kidnappers, three alleged gunrunners and six suspected counterfeit currency dealers, while recovering firearms, stolen property worth millions of naira, livestock and hard drugs during operations conducted across the state in the last two weeks.

Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad disclosed this during a press briefing in Kaduna, saying the command also neutralised notorious kidnappers in separate operations within the period under review.

He said police recovered 10 firearms of different calibres, 190 solar inverters valued at about N69 million, one stolen vehicle, 83 packs of hard drugs, 32 stolen mobile phones, two plasma televisions, 410 cattle and 170 counterfeit United States dollar notes.

According to him, the successes were recorded through intelligence-led operations carried out in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups.

‘Within the two weeks under review, the Kaduna State Police Command neutralised notorious kidnappers, arrested 16 suspected kidnappers, six suspects found in possession of 170 counterfeit US dollar notes, three suspected gunrunners and recovered 10 firearms of different calibres,’ he said.

Muhammad said operatives arrested a 20-year-old woman, Aisha Barau, in Ramin Kura village on July 21 while she allegedly attempted to exchange counterfeit US dollar notes for naira.

He said the suspect confessed that the fake currency was supplied by Abdullahi Muhammad and Danbala Jibrin, leading to the arrest of other members of the alleged syndicate.

The commissioner also disclosed that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested three suspected gunrunners in Jos, Plateau State, following credible intelligence.

The suspects, identified as Luka Samuel, John Paul and Musa Elisha, were allegedly found with two locally fabricated pistols and reportedly confessed to supplying arms and ammunition to bandits.

In another operation, Muhammad said security operatives arrested Abdullahi Mohammed, popularly known as ‘Aala’, during a joint operation involving police personnel from Anchau Division and members of the Yan Sa Kai in Kargi village.

He alleged that the suspect confessed to masterminding several kidnappings in Kuzuntu village in Ikara Local Government Area and parts of Kano State, as well as participating in the killing of two Yan Sa Kai members last year.

Police said an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the investigation.

The commissioner further said detectives from the Anti-Car Theft Section recovered a stolen Toyota Sienna in Zaria shortly after it was stolen from the premises of a Juma’at Mosque in Ungwan Rimi.

He said the arrest of one Mohammed Shehu led to another suspect, Zakari Abubakar, who allegedly specialised in producing duplicate vehicle keys for car thieves.

The police commissioner also announced the recovery of 190 solar inverters and 10 lithium batteries from a store in Zaria, adding that investigators suspect the items were stolen from a container in transit.

A security source disclosed that the operation, one of the largest and most successful, also included officers and men of the Nigeria Police, as well as other unnamed security agencies.

The operation, the source stated, happened on the same day, leading to the rescue of the victims kidnapped victims across the states.

Of the 308 rescued, said the source, were 163 victims abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama LGA, Kwara State, and 145 from Niger State.

He added that the rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention at the Military Medical Facility, Wawa Cantonment, New Bussa LGA of Niger State.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, stated this while responding to reactions following President Bola Tinubu’s last week meeting with the leadership of CBCN, during which the bishops raised concerns over rising insecurity, economic hardship, democracy and the conduct of elections.

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who was part of the delegation, said on Arise TV that the President disagreed with their assessment, insisting that his administration was making progress.

Two presidential spokespersons, Temitope Ajayi and Daniel Bwala, tackled Onaiyekan, saying it was inappropriate for the cardinal to publicly give his own account and interpretation of what transpired at the private meeting between the bishops and Tinubu.

The Adamawa State Police Command has launched an investigation into the shooting of Suleiman Abubakar, allegedly by a soldier attached to the Tactical Command, Sector 4 of Operation Hadin Kai, Mubi.

The shooting occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on August 2 when the victim was riding his electric motorcycle in Yelwa Quarters, Mubi.

He was said to have hurried home after sighting military personnel on patrol to avoid arrest over the restriction on motorcycle movement between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in the area.

The incident sparked widespread protests and condemnation.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, in a statement on Wednesday, said the incident was reported to the police on August 3 by Mallam Muslim Abubakar of Yelwa Ward, Mubi North, who alleged that his younger brother sustained a gunshot injury during an encounter with military personnel.

‘Upon receipt of the report, police operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mubi North Division, immediately visited the scene and ensured the victim received prompt medical attention.

‘He was initially taken to a medical facility in Mubi before being referred to a higher medical facility in Yola for further treatment,’ the statement said.

Nguroje said the Commissioner of Police, Kabiru Umar Hassan, had directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to conduct a thorough, discreet and impartial investigation into the incident.

He added that the command had contacted the relevant military authorities to ensure their cooperation.

The police appealed for calm and assured residents that the investigation would be conducted professionally and transparently.