Category: PM News

The police in Kano have rescued three kidnap victims and dislodged kidnap syndicates from their hideouts in two separate operations.

The Kano State Police Command spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said exhibits were also recovered during the operations.

According to him, the achievements demonstrate the Command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.

In the first operation, on 7 October 2025, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad, in conjunction with the Surveillance Team attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Bebeji Local Government Area, conducted a sting rescue operation based on actionable intelligence about an escaped kidnap victim.

The victim, Abdul Hamid Bello, a 21-year-old male, had been kidnapped and severely beaten by his abductors but managed to escape and sought help from passersby.

He later led the police team to the suspected kidnappers’ den in Saya-Saya, Ikara Local Government Area, Kaduna State, where another victim, Musa Idris, a 65-year-old male, was rescued.

The kidnappers fled upon noticing the presence of the police team, leaving behind one motorcycle and a rope, which were recovered as exhibits.

Both rescued victims have been reunited with their family members and are receiving medical attention.

In a related development, on 9 October 2025, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad secured the release of another kidnap victim, Ashiru Murtala, a 19-year-old male, who was kidnapped in Beli Village, Rogo Local Government Area, Kano, on 5 October 2025.

The victim was abandoned by his abductors at a sugar cane farm in Hunkuyi, Kudan Local Government Area, Kaduna State, and was subsequently rescued by police operatives.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has directed that the rescued victims receive immediate medical attention.

He said the Command is working tirelessly to apprehend the suspects and bring them to justice, while reiterating that there is no hiding place for criminals in Kano State.

Mr. Bakori commended the efforts of the officers involved in the operations and appreciated the support of the public in providing valuable information that led to the success.

‘We urge the good people of Kano State to continue to observe personal safety and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station,’ said the Kano police boss.

The Super Eagles’ trip to Uyo took a dramatic twist on Saturday after the aircraft conveying the team suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air, forcing an emergency return to Luanda, Angola.

According to a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the ValueJet aircraft, which had been flying the delegation from Polokwane, South Africa, was forced to turn back shortly after take-off when the pilot noticed the damage.

‘The pilot did well to guide the airplane safely back to the airport in Luanda,’ the NFF said.

The same aircraft had earlier transported some members of the delegation to Polokwane on Thursday night and arrived on Friday morning without incident. However, during the return leg, after a routine refuelling stop in Luanda, the windscreen reportedly cracked mid-flight – a situation that could have ended disastrously if not properly managed.

Efforts are now underway to get the players to Uyo in time for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against the Benin Republic on Tuesday.

‘ValueJet Airline and the relevant Federal Government authorities, including the Ministers of Aviation and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President, are working round the clock to secure necessary overflying and landing permits for another aircraft to convey the delegation from Luanda to Uyo,’ the Federation added.

The incident caused a delay in the team’s scheduled arrival in Uyo, where preparations are already in top gear for the showdown at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

The Super Eagles are set to face the Squirrels of Benin Republic in what many fans are calling a must-win game as Nigeria fights to keep its World Cup dream alive.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described reports on the court order for the arrest of its former chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for disobeying a judgement on a case involving the Action Alliance party (AA) as ‘misleading and a ‘mischievous portrayal of a corporate matter as an individual one’.

INEC said this while also denying allegation that it disobeyed an order from the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State on AA in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Friday in Abuja.

According to INEC, while the reports made reference to the Sept. 29 court order, it failed to acknowledge INEC’s subsequent actions toward compliance.

Olumekun said: ‘In line with its long-established tradition of always obeying court judgements and orders, the Commission on Monday Oct. 6, which was still within the deadline, filed processes at the Federal High Court, Osogbo to show that we had complied with its judgement and order of recognising the AA executive elected on Oct. 7 2023 at Abeokuta, Ogun State

‘The dashboard of the Commission’s website showing compliance was tendered as evidence.

‘However, when the judgement creditors filed a counter affidavit to complain that the Commission partially complied by listing the names of only four national executives without the National Chairman, Rufai Omoaje, the Commission responded.

He further explained that INEC responded by attaching the Notice of Appeal filed by the same Omoaje at the Supreme Court, challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal sacking him as the National Chairman of the party.

Olumekun said that the judgement of the Court of Appeal was superior to that of the Federal High Court, hence, the commission could not list Omoaje’s name as the Chairman of the AC when the judgement of the Appeal Court was still subsisting.

He appealed to media organisations to fact-check their reports before publication to avoid misleading the public.

Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has reacted to the suspension of Ademola Lookman ahead of Nigeria’s final World Cup qualifying match.

Lookman will miss the game against Benin Republic after receiving a yellow card in the 64th minute during Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Lesotho on Friday. It was his second booking of the qualifiers, which, according to CAF rules, means an automatic one-match suspension.

Chelle substituted the Atalanta forward in the 71st minute for Samuel Chukwueze.

Speaking after the match, the coach said there was no cause for alarm despite Lookman’s absence. He explained that the team has enough quality players to step in and perform well.

‘The suspension is unfortunate, but the team has the strength and character to win,’ Chelle said.

He added that Lookman would still play a role by supporting his teammates from the sidelines.

Chelle stressed the importance of focus, teamwork, and taking their chances in the crucial match against Benin Republic.

‘Every player must be ready-whether starting or coming off the bench. We must control our own destiny,’ he said.

Nigeria currently sits third in Group C, behind Benin Republic in first place and South Africa in second.

After their neat 2-1 victory over Lesotho in Maseru, the Super Eagles have given themselves a fighting chance, but the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains narrow.

The win, Nigeria’s second in the qualifiers, keeps them third in Group C, behind Benin Republic and South Africa. With only one automatic ticket available to the group winner, and the second-placed team possibly forced into a tense playoff route, the Eagles must now depend on more than their own performance to secure qualification.

Their next and final group match against Benin Republic has become the ultimate decider. For Nigeria, nothing short of victory will do and not just any win, but a convincing one. A two-goal margin, not just winning, could prove crucial as goal difference may decide who tops the group if teams end level on points.

But even a win may not be enough. The Eagles also need South Africa to drop points in their final fixture against Rwanda. If the Bafana Bafana win, Nigeria’s path to automatic qualification vanishes, leaving them to rely on the uncertain fate of the playoff system reserved for the best runners-up across all African groups.

The situation became more complicated after FIFA recently docked South Africa three points for fielding an ineligible player, a twist that briefly reopened Nigeria’s chances and reshuffled the group standings.

For now, José Peseiro’s men can only do their part: beat Benin, and beat them well. Anything less, and the Super Eagles could miss the World Cup for the second consecutive time.

Truth is, the Eagles have one last chance to soar or fall from the skies and miss out from the World Cup consecutively.

Dansol High School, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, joined the global observance of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, reaffirming the call to empower young girls through education, health, and equal opportunities.

This year’s celebration, themed ‘Empowering the 21st-Century Girl,’ centred on issues of health, safety, and overall well-being, key areas considered vital to ensuring that girls reach their full potential.

Speaking at the event held at Dansol High School Hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi, said that good health remains the foundation upon which girls can build successful and meaningful lives.

According to her, a healthy girl is better equipped to make informed choices and pursue her dreams with confidence and clarity.

‘You must be healthy to reach your dreams. Health is not just the absence of disease but a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being,’ Ogunyemi said.

She urged the girls to prioritise personal, hand, and food hygiene while maintaining healthy relationships with others, describing good health as ‘a source of energy, confidence, and focus.’

Ogunyemi also underscored the importance of self-love, saying it helps girls resist peer pressure, abuse, and discrimination while empowering them to aspire for leadership and innovation.

She called on leaders, parents, and mentors to model confidence and fairness, ensuring inclusion and gender balance in all spheres of life.

Reaffirming the Lagos State Government’s commitment to promoting gender equity, she noted that under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state continues to lead with programmes that protect, educate, and uplift the girl child.

In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs Risqat Jimoh, described the 2025 theme as a ‘call to action,’ stressing that a healthy, confident, and valued girl has the power to transform her world.

Jimoh identified health as the first pillar of empowerment, noting that proper nutrition, access to healthcare, and accurate knowledge about reproductive and mental health are essential to building confident and capable young women.

She also addressed menstrual hygiene, calling for an end to the stigma that prevents girls from attending school.

‘No girl should ever have to leave school because of her period. Her education and dreams must not be interrupted by stigma or lack of resources,’ Jimoh said.

On security, she maintained that every girl deserves safety at home, in school, and online, urging parents and educators to teach personal boundaries and digital awareness.

Jimoh further advocated for the inclusion of boys and men in the empowerment process, describing them as crucial allies in fostering respect, equality, and protection for girls.

‘True empowerment is not about competition but collaboration built on respect and equality,’ she concluded.

The event featured discussions, educational presentations, and interactive sessions designed to inspire girls to embrace leadership, self-awareness, and resilience in shaping their future.

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has hit back at critics questioning the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, dismissing the ongoing debate as mischievous and technically uninformed.

During an inspection of the Abuja-Keffi expressway project on Saturday, Umahi said the Federal Government is partnering with the Nasarawa State Government to clear roadside markets causing traffic gridlocks along the highway, The Nation disclosed.

He assured motorists that additional carriageways will be constructed once the areas are freed.

‘We have market trading on the road in a number of locations. Our inspection today is with the Governor of Nasarawa State. If the Governor does the demolition to create additional carriageway, we will fix it immediately. That will solve the traffic problem there,’ Umahi stated.

The Minister, addressing public concerns about the ?73 billion project cost, of the Lagos-Calabar Highway said the figures are often taken out of context, noting that different construction materials and techniques naturally attract different costs.

‘This controversy about cost per kilometer is being fueled by mischief. This project was 43 kilometers, but we’ve extended it to 45 kilometers using the same ?73 billion approved by the last administration.

‘If we’re using asphalt, the cost differs from concrete. If we’re doing surface tracing, it differs too. People must understand the technical realities,’ he explained.

Umahi clarified that project estimates include contingencies and Variation of Price (VoP) components, which may not even be used by the end of the project.

Responding to remarks reportedly made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on project costs, saying he would not ‘join issues’ but urged the governor to seek proper guidance.

‘When I heard my brother and friend, Governor Makinde, talk about this, I didn’t want to join issues. I think he is an engineer – Elect-Elect, they call it. But road construction, Elect-Elect no reach there,’ Umahi said pointedly.

‘I’m his senior in governance and engineering. So, if there’s anything he doesn’t understand, he should call me and ask. I respect him, but he should withdraw the statement that I’m dancing around. If he insists, let’s have a debate.’

The Works Minister further mocked some of his critics who resorted to artificial intelligence platforms for explanations on cost analysis.

‘When someone without knowledge goes to ask AI about the difference between cost per kilometer and average cost, I’m happy AI told him exactly what I said,’ he quipped.

Umahi reaffirmed his expertise, describing himself as a ‘professor by practice’ in field engineering.

‘You can become a professor by reason of your practice. I think God has made me one when it comes to field engineering and you can’t take that from me,’ he said confidently.

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Johnny Drille, has opened up about his struggles with acceptance within the church community despite starting his musical journey there.

Speaking during a recent podcast appearance, the Mavin Records artist revealed that although he once served as a music director in church, he never truly felt that his unique sound belonged there.

‘I didn’t feel like my music was predominantly in church. Every now and then, I get invited to churches to sing, which is kind of interesting,’ he said.

Johnny Drille also shared that his transition from gospel to mainstream music attracted backlash from some members of the Christian community, who questioned his new musical direction.

‘I’ve gotten a bit of backlash from my Christian community every now and then when they invite me to churches. But at the end of the day, the music is positive. It speaks to good things that sometimes the church doesn’t want to talk about,’ he explained.

The ‘How Are You (My Friend)’ crooner further criticised how some churches avoid singing about love, despite it being a core part of human relationships and faith.

‘The church shies away from talking about love. A lot of times you go for some Christian weddings and you hear Davido and Wizkid. What if the church decides that we want to start doing our own Christian love songs?’ he added.

Reflecting on his early years, Drille said his time as a choir director shaped his skills as a musician, even though he rarely performed before congregations.

‘There’s a place for worship music, right? But there’s also music about so much more that the church could be singing about. I was a music director, directing the choir, but I never really sang in front of the church. I think it helped me become the musician I am today in terms of my musicianship and performances,’ he said.

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has admitted written statement of Mr. Samuel Aruwan, the third prosecution witness in the ongoing money laundering case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Mr. Jimi Lawal and three others.

Mr. Lawal, a former Senior Special Adviser/Councilor to the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is standing trial alongside the former Accountant-General of the State, Mr. Umar Waziri, and the former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Yusuf Inuwa, over allegations of abuse of office and diversion of public funds through fraudulent estacode payments.

Also joined in the suit is Solar Life Nigeria Limited, a company whose account allegedly received the diverted funds.

In the case marked FHC/KD/16C/2025, ICPC accused the defendants of conspiring to divert the total sum of ?64.8 million in three tranches of ?10,000,000.00, ?47,480,000.00, and ?7,320,562.00 into the account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, where Mr. Lawal is believed to be the sole signatory.

During the proceedings, the prosecution presented three witnesses, including former Kaduna Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Aisha Dikko Kalil, Former Head of Service in the State, Mrs. Bariyatu Yusuf, and Aruwan.

The three witnesses have so far denied receiving estacodes from Mr. Lawal, who had claimed that the contentious ?64,800,562.00 were earmarked as estacodes for the trainings embarked on by the former Senior officials of the Kaduna State government.

Mr. Aruwan, in his testimony, specifically stated that his professional trainings were sponsored by the United States Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and not the Kaduna State Government.

He further clarified that although he was professionally acquainted with Mr. Lawal, he neither received estacode allowances from him nor from the State Government.

Following his testimony, ICPC’s prosecution team sought to tender Mr. Aruwan’s written statement as evidence. The defence objected on procedural grounds, arguing that the statement was obtained during the pendency of the trial.

In his ruling, Honourable Justice R. M. Aikawa dismissed the objection, holding that PW3 was not an interested party in the matter.

The Court therefore admitted the statement as evidence, marked Exhibit 9, and allowed the prosecution to conclude its examination-in-chief.

Subsequently, when the matter was called for cross-examination, counsel to the 2nd defendant, J. J. Usman, SAN, who was represented by a junior from his chambers, sought an adjournment on the ground of his absence.

The Court consequently adjourned the case to 3rd November 2025 for cross-examination and continuation of hearing.

The ICPC is prosecuting the case as part of its sustained efforts to promote integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of public funds across all levels of government.

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested 168 suspected criminals in connection with 105 reported cases across the state in September, the Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed on Friday.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Katsina, Aliyu said the arrests cut across various offences including robbery, murder, rape, vandalism, and drug peddling.

According to him, the suspects comprised 12 robbers, five individuals arrested for murder or culpable homicide, and over 20 suspected rapists.

Others included nine vandals, two gunrunners, three persons for unlawful possession of firearms, and 14 suspected drug dealers.

Aliyu revealed that police operations during the period also led to the foiling of several bandit attacks, the neutralisation of five suspected bandits, and the rescue of more than 80 kidnapped victims.

Recovered exhibits included 1,298 rounds of live ammunition, four cartridges, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), two AK-47 rifles, one locally fabricated firearm, five suspected stolen vehicles, and five motorcycles.

Also recovered were 1,096 tramadol tablets, 42 exol tablets, quantities of dried cannabis, and vandalised electric cables.

The Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, commended residents for their cooperation and urged continued support for the fight against crime.

‘We sincerely express our deepest appreciation for the support, collaboration, and assistance we’ve received from members of the public. We urge everyone to continue reporting suspicious activities through our emergency lines,’ he said.

Residents were advised to reach the police through emergency numbers 08156977777, 09022209690, and 07072722539.