Unrestrained anger

When, on August 16, a 34-year-old Rabiu Mukhtar, allegedly opened fire at a wedding ceremony in Kano, it made the headlines. This became big news especially against the reason for the shooting, which left one guest, Aliyu Mustapha, dead and injured at least three others.

The suspect said he released the trigger because the noise from the wedding party was disturbing his sleep.

Spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident. He said the suspect allegedly came out of his house and opened fire on people attending the ceremony.

He said ‘The man, Rabiu Mukthar of Tudun Yola Quarters, used a pump-action gun to sporadically shoot at the gathering of the marriage celebration.’ Kiyawa added that ‘two suspects were arrested during the incident, which happened on Sunday, 16th August 2026, and the pump-action rifle was recovered as well. The case is still under investigation.”

Another example of a wedding that went awry and similar to the Kano incident happened in the Surkh Rod district of Nangarhar Province, Eastern Afganistan in October 2021, when three guests were shot dead at a wedding reception apparently because music was being played at all.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid later told reporters that no law permits killing anyone for playing music. ‘In the ranks of the Islamic Emirate no one has the right to turn anyone away from music or anything, only to try to persuade them. That is the main way,’ Mujahid told the press conference.

Just as in Afghanistan, playing of music is not prohibited in Nigeria. What is prohibited is playing the music too loud in a way that it causes noise pollution.

We sympathise with Mukhtar whose sound sleep was disturbed by the noise from the loud speakers. He is entitled to freedom to sleep soundly without disturbance.

However, he does not have the right to take life simply because his sleep was disturbed. He should have reported the matter to the law enforcement agencies in the area. Good enough, Kano State has enough laws to deal with the matter. These include the Kano State Public Health Law of 2019: Section 7 of which prohibits environmental nuisances and disturbances, including excessive noise from generators, machinery, or business operations that prevent residents from resting or sleeping.

There is also the Kano State Environmental Control Law which empowers authorised officers to act on noise complaints, seize offending equipment, and penalise violators; and the National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations, 2009, a federal law enforced locally that set area-specific noise limits for residential, commercial, and mixed-use zones.

Mukhtar could have taken advantage of any of these rather than resort to self-help.

Unfortunately, he has messed up his case through his uncontrolled anger. Now, he risks being prosecuted for culpable homicide and attempted murder and causing grievous hurt. And, if his pump-action rifle is not licensed, that is another crime: unlawful possession / use of firearm would join the charges.

Many people had overreacted in the past when faced with such provocation. They have had to engage the celebrators physically, resulting into bodily injuries and what have you. Even this is bad enough.

However, amidst what seems a confusion or lack of understanding of where individual rights stop, perhaps what we need to reduce such ugly incidents is sustained enlightenment to educate both those who think they have the right to blare their music anyhow, and the law-abiding citizens.

Many people selling cassettes and disks, or even churches and mosques, are either ignorant of, or simply refuse to respect the right of people in their environment the way they turn up the volume of their speakers. They assume whatever they are playing must interest everybody. They need to be compelled to know that they are not entitled to any such assumption.

As in Kano State, the laws are everywhere; what is lacking is enforcement. So, the law enforcement agencies should help reduce incidents like that of Kano by enforcing extant laws on noise pollution.

Rising football names in the Champions League

The Champions League’s qualifying phases have already begun and the much-anticipated league phase will soon start. Every year, new players emerge as hopes for renewal, and in the 2026/2027 season, this will be covered with even more expectation with several players who appeared as rising stars at the World Cup.

For this reason, this list highlights a few players to watch in the biggest European club competition. Already established names, such as Lamine Yamal, are left out so the focus stays on athletes who still need to prove themselves at the highest level of world football. By getting to know these new faces, sports fans might be able to bet on individual awards at 1xBet and other similar platforms.

Nico Paz

Como was the big surprise of the last Italian Serie A. After all, the team had just been promoted from the previous division and, in its very first season in the top flight, achieved a historic fourth place. The team’s philosophy was based on players with potential for the future, but this already paid off sooner than expected. The biggest standout was Argentine Nico Paz, who ended up being elected the league’s best midfielder.

Now, it’s time for him to prove himself in the Champions League. This will be Como’s first appearance in the competition, and the fact of qualifying for the European elite has already secured Nico Paz a prominent role among the club’s historic players. The Italian team is doing everything it can to keep him on the squad, considering it has already turned down offers of 70 million euros for the player, having paid only 6 million euros for him in 2024. Besides Como, Nico Paz has every chance of being one of the standouts of the Argentine national team in the next World Cup cycle, with the potential to be one of Lionel Messi’s successors on the team.

Johan Manzambi

The wider football public did not yet know Swiss player Johan Manzambi before the World Cup. The athlete did not start the competition as a starter for Switzerland, but coming on during matches he was able to resolve games and took over the spot in the main lineup. By performing at a very high level in the world’s biggest competition, Manzambi showed that he is ready to prove himself as one of today’s great rising stars. At the World Cup, he scored 3 goals and provided two assists in 4 matches, being considered one of the tournament’s standout emerging players.

Last season, he stood out at European level playing for Freiburg, of Germany, a standout team in the Europa League. Now, he has transferred to Aston Villa and will make his Champions League debut seeking to prove he can already be decisive at the highest level. The English team acquired the player for 60 million euros, which shows how much the club believes in his potential.

Ayyoub Bouaddi

Bouaddi played for Lille, of France, last season, and those paying closer attention to football were already certain that he is one of the world’s great prospects. After the World Cup, everyone got to know him. He could choose to play for France or Morocco, and after not getting the expected opportunities with the European national team, he decided to represent Morocco. The choice proved to be right, since he was an absolute starter for the team at the World Cup and showed himself ready to perform at every level. The athlete is a modern midfielder fully aligned with the sport’s biggest tactical trends, being everywhere on the pitch with extreme intensity.

Now, in a massive deal worth around 100 million euros, Bouaddi will play for Manchester City. He is expected to be one of the pillars of the team’s renewal after Pep Guardiola’s departure and could establish himself as the face of the team’s new generation. The Champions League will be a trial by fire for the midfielder and, if he has a good performance, he will firmly establish himself as a candidate for one of the standout emerging players in the world.

Yan Diomandé

Ivorian Yan Diomandé was elected the Best Rookie of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, and deservedly so. Playing for RB Leipzig, the athlete scored 12 goals and provided 8 assists during his breakout season. Right in the first World Cup match, in which Ivory Coast faced Ecuador, the player introduced himself to the world with a playing style that favors dribbles toward goal capable of breaking through any defense.

Proof that he is one of the world’s biggest rising stars is that he will now play for Real Madrid. After almost signing with other teams, he chose to play for the Merengues in a deal worth 125 million euros, which is impressive for being the biggest signing in Real Madrid’s history, a club known for always seeking to sign the best players in the world. However, he is not expected to be a starter right upon arrival, considering the team’s attack is already well established. So, he will have to make the most of any opportunity that comes up, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he soon took on a role in the main team.

For a few years now, Endrick has been considered one of the biggest prospects in world football, but the fact of having gone to Real Madrid ended up giving the Brazilian striker few opportunities to prove himself at the highest level. After all, it’s not at all easy to compete for a starting spot with Mbappé. When he played for the Spanish team in domestic cups, he performed very well, but some choices ended up not pleasing the coach at the time, Carlo Ancelotti.

For this reason, he was loaned to Lyon of France and finally performed at a high level in European football. Right from the first matches, he completely changed the way the French team played and had an enormous impact, even though he went through ups and downs after the excitement of his debut. In 18 matches for the team, he scored 6 goals and provided 7 assists, excellent numbers that qualified him to return to Real Madrid. The confidence is even greater than expected, since José Mourinho requested that the Brazilian stay with the team and even gave the striker the number 9 shirt.

Rodrigo Mora

Rodrigo Mora has already been standing out for some time at Porto, of Portugal, and positions himself as the biggest prospect in the European country. So far, he has only proven himself in the domestic league, and in 2026/27 he will have the chance to show himself in the Champions League. Due to Portugal’s strong squad, he ended up not being called up for the World Cup, and so he has not yet been able to show his credentials on a world stage. Evidently, everything will depend on Porto’s performance in the Champions League, which is unknown considering Portuguese teams have been marked by inconsistency in recent years, alternating between surprises and disappointments.

Dro Fernandez

Dro Fernandez is another player of Barcelona’s academy who decided to transfer to another club before establishing himself in the Spanish team’s professional squad. The choice proved to be a good one, since Dro went to Paris Saint-Germain, current back-to-back Champions League champions. While on one hand he will have the best possible environment to show himself as one of today’s great rising stars, it’s hard to imagine that the Spanish player will get opportunities in the main team, even though he has already played a few minutes in the competition last season.

Considering all the expectations surrounding the player, his minutes in the Champions League and French Ligue 1 will be especially relevant, since the domestic competition should offer more opportunities to play. Teamwork can greatly help Dro stand out. Anyone who considers going through the 1xBet registration will see that the French are once again the clear favorites to win the Champions League title.

Antonio Nusa

Norwegian Antonio Nusa is another example of RB Leipzig’s excellent scouting work. In the last Bundesliga, he scored 4 goals and helped the team qualify for the Champions League. At the World Cup, he was extremely useful for the Norwegian national team, even scoring the goal that helped the team qualify for the round of 16. Now, it is time for the winger to take a bigger step in his career and show at European level that he is one more player to join the great stars who have emerged from Norway in recent years.

Lennart Karl

While Bayern Munich has an extremely valuable squad filled with top-tier stars from around the world, the team is also known for giving many chances to new players. One of the main names of the new generation is Lennart Karl, a German attacking midfielder from Bayern’s emerging group. In the last Bundesliga season, he got his first big opportunities and, between games coming off the bench and starting, he has already reached the mark of 5 goals and 5 assists. The player was even called up by Germany for the World Cup, but ended up being cut before the debut due to an injury.

In addition to his good performance in the Bundesliga, Karl’s performance in last season’s Champions League drew even more attention. He has already scored 4 goals and provided two assists in the continent’s biggest competition, surprising numbers for a player still at the beginning of his senior career. Now, he can firmly show that he will be the standout player of the new German generation, a country that has been very disappointing on the world stage lately.

Ondo records Nigeria’s highest debt reduction in 18 months, says Aiyedatiwa

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said his administration has reduced the state’s domestic debt profile by 82.6 per cent within the first 18 months in office.

Aiyedatiwa disclosed this on Friday at the maiden edition of the quarterly media briefing of his administration held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure.

He also described the reduction as the highest recorded by any state in Nigeria.

The governor, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, also presented the administration’s scorecard since he assumed office on 24 February 2025.

According to him, the reduction in the state’s domestic debt was achieved through prudent financial management, fiscal discipline and effective debt management strategies.

He stated that the administration had also cleared outstanding salary arrears owed to workers and former political office holders, as well as gratuity arrears owed to pensioners.

‘These have been made possible with prudent financial management that has led Ondo State to recording an 82.6 per cent reduction in its domestic debt profile, the highest percentage in the country, reflecting fiscal discipline and effective debt management strategies,’ the governor said.

In December 2025, the data released by the Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) shows that Ondo has the lowest domestic debt profile, standing at approximately at 8,415,296,774.51.

Meanwhile, Aiyedatiwa noted that his administration had created more than 6,000 direct employment opportunities in less than two years, particularly in education, healthcare, security and agriculture.

‘It is on record that no governor has created more direct employment opportunities for the people of the state than Governor Aiyedatiwa.

‘In less than two years, more than 6,000 workers have been recruited into critical sectors such as education, healthcare, security and agriculture to improve service delivery and reduce unemployment,’ he said.

Affirming that healthcare had remained a major priority of his administration, the governor revealed that more than 2,000 health professionals had been recruited to strengthen the healthcare workforce of the state.

He said the state had also improved the remuneration of health workers to retain skilled personnel and expanded health insurance coverage to vulnerable groups.

‘More than 2,000 health professionals had been recruited, while Ondo State became the first state in the South-West to implement enhanced CONMESS and CONHESS allowances for health workers,’ he said.

Aiyedatiwa said the State Executive Council had approved a N1 billion Hospital Intervention Fund to expand and modernise healthcare facilities across the state.

He added that 100-bed capacity upgrades were ongoing at hospitals in Ikare-Akoko, Ore, Irele and Igbokoda, while more than 100 primary healthcare centres had been renovated within the period under review.

The governor also said the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) had also received modern diagnostic equipment, including a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine, a 160-slice CT scanner, 3D digital mammography equipment, 4D ultrasound machines and digital X-ray machines.

According to Aiyedatiwa, a pharmaceutical-grade warehouse had been completed in Akure to ensure a steady supply of medicines across the state.

He said the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) had also been expanded to cover public servants, workers in the informal sector and, for the first time, retirees and pensioners at no cost.

Aiyedatiwa revealed that the interventions had begun to yield positive outcomes in maternal and child healthcare.

He, however, said the latest Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey ranked Ondo as having the best under-five mortality indicators and placed the state among those with the lowest maternal mortality ratios.

Sokoto govt reaffirms commitment to improve condition of medical health workers

Sokoto State government has restated its commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of medical and health workers in the state.

The state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, stated this when he received the national president of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and his delegation on a Kabir Ado Minjibir visit.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Idris Mohammed Gobir, described health workers as frontline personnel providing essential services to the people, often under difficult conditions.

He said the success of the administration’s healthcare reforms largely depends on having a motivated, competent and adequately supported workforce.

Aliyu disclosed that health workers were among the 3,000 workers recently recruited by the state government.

He added that the government had introduced a two-year compulsory rural posting policy for health workers to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in rural communities.

The governor also announced that arrangements were underway for the recruitment of 2,400 community health workers in the state.

He said the government has renovated the state specialist hospital and general hospitals in the 23 local government areas, as well as more than 160 primary healthcare centres out of the 244 in the state.

Aliyu assured MHWUN members of the government’s readiness to partner with the union and other stakeholders to address challenges confronting the health sector.

He commended the national leadership of MHWUN for its contributions to healthcare development in Nigeria and the state council for maintaining a cordial relationship with the government.

The governor urged health workers to reciprocate the government’s efforts through commitment, discipline, professionalism and dedication to duty.

Earlier, the national president of the, Comrade Kabir Ado Minjibir, said they were in the state for the inauguration of the ultra-modern secretariat of the state branch of the union.

Comrade Minjibir expressed appreciation for the state government’s efforts towards improving the welfare of health workers in the state and hoped that the tempo will be sustained.

He commended the personal intervention of Governor Aliyu, which led to the amicable resolution of the union’s crisis about two years ago.

The national president said the union has 17 professional associations under its umbrella, whose members work at the local government, state and federal levels.

Minjibir stated that he had discussed with the Commissioner for Health some of the challenges being faced by members of the union in the state, which will be presented to the state government for necessary action.

Also, former national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba presented an award to Governor Aliyu and his deputy for their giant strides towards improving the health sector in the state.

10 Africa’s strongest currencies in August 2026

Africa’s strongest currencies in August 2026 remain dominated by North African economies, with Tunisia, Libya and Morocco holding the top three positions against the US dollar.

According to exchange rate data from Forbes Advisor’s Currency Converter, the Tunisian dinar remains the continent’s strongest currency, trading at 2.96 dinars to one US dollar. Libya’s dinar ranks second at 6.41 per US dollar, while Morocco’s dirham ranks third at 9.38 per US dollar.

Ghana’s cedi ranks fourth at 11.64 per US dollar, followed by the Seychelles rupee at 13.52 and Botswana’s pula at 13.77. Eritrea’s nakfa ranks seventh, while South Africa’s rand, Eswatini’s lilangeni and Namibia’s dollar complete the top 10.

Rank Country Exchange Rate per US$1 Currency

1. Tunisia 2.96 Tunisian Dinar (TND)

2. Libya 6.41 Libyan Dinar (LYD)

3. Morocco 9.38 Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

4. Ghana 11.64 Ghanaian Cedi (GHS)

5. Seychelles 13.52 Seychellois Rupee (SCR)

6. Botswana 13.77 Botswana Pula (BWP)

7. Eritrea 15.00 Eritrean Nakfa (ERN)

8 South Africa 16.74 South African Rand (ZAR)

9. Eswatini 16.80 Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)

10. Namibia 16.80 Namibian Dollar (NAD)

2027: APC targets total victory in Kano – Jibrin Kofa

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, is set to deliver 60 boreholes to provide potable water to communities across the three senatorial districts of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Kayode Odunaro, Media Adviser to the lawmaker, which was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Friday.

According to Odunaro, the water supply projects, which were based on communal requests, priority and technical feasibility, are ongoing and at various stages of completion, ranging from site assessment and surveying to drilling, casing, pump installation and testing.

He said the projects were expected to be completed within the next 10 days, as contractors had been fully mobilised.

‘I am happy to announce that in the next few days, some of our people in communities in need of potable water across our senatorial districts will start enjoying the commodity, complementary to the major waterworks of the administration of our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

‘The projects were facilitated based on requests to my office and prioritised on the basis of urgent need and expected numbers of beneficiaries,’ the senator stated, while urging the handlers of the projects to deliver them on schedule.

The distribution of the projects indicates that Ogun West will receive 21 boreholes, Ogun Central 20 and Ogun East 19, with Yewa South, Abeokuta North and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Areas having the highest numbers, with seven and five respectively. All other LGAs will also benefit in varying numbers.

Among the communities and townships benefiting from the water projects are Obasanjo Hill Top, Alubarika, Bode Olude, Opeji, Omida Community, Moriwi Community, Pahayi Police Station in Ilaro, Ijado and Ijako townships, as well as Owode Obafe Township.

Other beneficiaries include Ogijo Market, Igbore Community in Ikenne, Odo Alere Quarters in Ososa, Ibiade Community and Imakun Community, among others.

Senator Adeola stated that all the boreholes would be powered by appropriate generators for maximum efficiency and management.

He added that he hoped the projects would not only serve domestic and economic purposes but also complement preventive healthcare programmes for the people.

It was recalled that Senator Adeola had previously completed several similar borehole projects across Ogun State, including projects in ultra-modern markets, school buildings, primary healthcare centres and other projects he facilitated.

Shettima to NEC: Sustain reforms until Nigerians feel economic gains

Vice President Kashim Shettima has charged the National Economic Council (NEC) to sustain ongoing economic reforms until improvements recorded at the macroeconomic level translate into jobs, stronger purchasing power, increased business confidence and better living conditions for Nigerians.

Shettima, who spoke at the 160th meeting of NEC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, said the Federal Government and states must remain focused on implementing policies beyond their announcement, stressing that continuity and measurable outcomes were critical to earning public confidence.

The Vice President, who chairs the Council, said a government should be judged not merely by the policies it initiates, but by its determination to follow them through until they produce tangible result

‘There is no doubt that a serious government is measured by the matters it refuses to abandon. While attention may reveal a problem, continuity determines whether the problem yields to policy’, he said.

Shettima noted that improvements in revenue, debt management, production and investment would be of limited significance unless they ultimately ease the cost of living and improve conditions at the household level.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said the gains of the administration’s reforms must increasingly become evident in the daily experiences of ordinary Nigerians.

‘Macroeconomic progress must therefore continue its passage into jobs, purchasing power, business confidence and stronger subnational economies, because numbers become politically meaningful when citizens recognise themselves in their improvement’, the Vice President said.

He urged NEC to ensure sustained follow-through on existing programmes and commitments, warning that emerging priorities must not displace unfinished responsibilities of government.

‘Continuity is a form of accountability: yesterday’s promise still deserves a place on today’s table, and no new priority absolves us of an old responsibility’, Shettima said.

He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed on NEC the responsibility of making cooperation among the different tiers of government productive and ensuring that policies were converted into outcomes Nigerians could see and feel.

‘A government that remembers earns the confidence of its people because its promises do not expire when the microphones are switched off’, the Vice President added.

Meanwhile, NEC endorsed the Revised National Social Protection Policy, NSPP 2026-2030, presented by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s social protection architecture.

The Council also urged states to align their social protection policies, laws, budgets and implementation plans with the revised national framework.

The NSPP 2026-2030 provides a national policy framework for strengthening social protection coordination, financing, implementation, monitoring and accountability across the federation.

Under the revised policy, a National Social Protection Council is to be established to provide overarching oversight for the coordination and implementation of social protection interventions nationwide.

The council will be chaired by the Vice President, while the Ministers of Budget and Economic Planning, Labour and Employment, and Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction will serve as vice chairmen.

The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will serve as the secretariat, while six governors, representing each of the country’s six geopolitical zones, will serve as members.

In another development, the Federal Government informed NEC that it had awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 13 police training institutions across the country.

The rehabilitation exercise, expected to be completed within three weeks, is intended to prepare the institutions for the commencement of training programmes by the Nigeria Police Force.

The update on the rehabilitation programme was presented to the Council during Thursday’s meeting.

The 160th NEC meeting brought together governors, ministers and other statutory members of the Council to deliberate on economic, security and social development issues affecting the federation.

Buji council distributes improved seeds to 140 farmers to boost food production

Buji Local Government Area of Jigawa State has distributed improved seeds of cowpea, sesame and groundnut to 140 selected farmers as part of efforts to boost agricultural production and strengthen food security in the area.

The intervention is aimed at supporting farmers affected by delayed rainfall and the dry spell experienced during the early and middle parts of the current farming season.

The intervention is expected to enable the beneficiaries to undertake immediate planting and multiply the seeds for future use, thereby improving farmers’ access to quality planting materials in the local government area.

Speaking during the distribution of the inputs, chairman of the local government area, Najeebullah Falalu, said the council was committed to supporting farmers and ensuring that government agricultural interventions translated into tangible benefits for rural communities.

Falalu said the council distributed 140 bags, each weighing 10 kilogrammes of improved cowpea, sesame and groundnut seeds to selected farmers in the local government area.

He said the seeds were provided by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) under the Renewed Hope Seed Support programme of the Federal Government.

The chairman described the intervention as timely, particularly in view of the challenges posed by irregular rainfall and the dry spell recorded by farmers at the beginning of the farming season.

He said the initiative will not only help farmers sustain production, but also contribute to increase agricultural productivity, improved food security and enhanced livelihoods for farming households in the local government area.

Falalu said the intervention was also in line with the 12-Point agenda of the Jigawa State government under Governor Umar Namadi, particularly its emphasis on agricultural development, food security and economic empowerment.

He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the NASC for providing the improved seeds, describing the support as an important contribution to strengthening agricultural activities at the grassroots.

He assured farmers that the council will continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies and development partners to attract more agricultural interventions to Buji and ensure that such support reached genuine farmers.

Falalu urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the improved seeds, stressing that their successful multiplication will help create a sustainable source of quality planting materials for farmers in subsequent farming seasons.

He also called on farmers in the local government area to remain committed to agricultural production, assuring them of the council’s continued support in efforts to increase food production and improve the economic wellbeing of rural communities.

The distribution is expected to provide immediate support to the selected farmers while contributing to the broader objective of increasing the availability of improved crop varieties and boosting agricultural output in Buji Local Government Area.

Woro abductees reunite with families after months in captivity

The Woro abductees kidnapped by terrorists in February 2026 have been reunited with their families in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The victims, who were rescued by a joint security operation on August 4, 2026, were on Thursday transported from Ilorin, the state capital, to their ancestral communities in Kaiama.

They had been receiving medical attention in Ilorin since their release from captivity.

The spokesperson to the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, M.D. Baniya, disclosed the victims’ return in a statement on Thursday night.

Baniya said the victims were escorted to Kaiama by the council chairman, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, alongside the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Shehu Muazu, and the Kiwazi of Wojibe, Hon. Ahmed Ibn Mohammad.

He said the delegation ensured the victims, some of whom were still recovering, returned to their communities safely and with dignity.

According to the statement, the homecoming was marked by emotional scenes as families welcomed their loved ones after months of uncertainty.

The chairman expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for their intervention and efforts towards securing the victims’ release.

Danladi also thanked the Emir of Kaiama and members of the Kaiama Emirate Council for their prayers, guidance and support throughout the period.

Da’u Aliyu and fair representation in Jigawa

BY any fair assessment of grassroots politics and community development in Jigawa State, Hon. (Engr.) Magaji Da’u Aliyu, PhD mni, stands out as a politician whose influence has been built not only on political office but also on years of selfless services and humanity in the locality. For those who may not be familiar with him or have had the opportunity to interact with him, Dr Magaji Da’u Aliyu is a qualified engineer, grassroots politician, philanthropist and indigene of Birnin Kudu in Jigawa State. He is a former member of the House of Representatives, where he represented the Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency. During his tenure in the National Assembly, he chaired the House Committee on Power and Mines, giving him an opportunity to contribute to policy and legislative interventions in two critical sectors of the Nigerian economy. Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, Magaji Da’u Aliyu remains one of the longest-serving representatives of the Birnin Kudu/Buji constituency, having represented the people for more than two terms. His longevity in office, supporters argue, reflected the confidence many constituents placed in his style of representation.

One of the major areas associated with Magaji Da’u Aliyu’s tenure was infrastructure development. During his time in the House of Representatives, several communities within the constituency were connected to the national electricity grid. Feeder roads were constructed across various communities, while solar-powered water schemes and numerous hand-pump boreholes were also provided to improve access to water. For many constituents, these interventions represented more than political projects; they were attempts to address some of the everyday challenges confronting rural communities.

Perhaps more significant was the emphasis placed on human capital development. As a federal lawmaker, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu PhD mni was said to have facilitated employment opportunities for thousands of young people across various ministries, departments and agencies, as well as in the private sector. Some constituents also secured opportunities in the military and paramilitary services. His educational support programmes and scholarship schemes have similarly benefited students from Birnin Kudu and Buji local government areas. Beneficiaries have pursued studies in universities, colleges and other institutions, including medical training institutions. Beyond formal education, he supported vocational and skills-acquisition programmes targeting women and young people, particularly those who had limited opportunities for formal education.

Economic empowerment also formed part of his intervention programmes, with constituents receiving financial assistance, business capital and materials to enable them to establish or expand small-scale enterprises. Politics, for Magaji Da’u Aliyu, has also been about maintaining relationships with people at the grassroots. Supporters say political party members across polling units, wards and local government areas benefited from his assistance. Such support reportedly extended beyond political activities to include assistance during religious festivities, marriages, childbirth, bereavements and other emergencies. Whether one agrees with this style of political engagement or not, it has helped him maintain a strong network of supporters across the constituency.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of Magaji Da’u Aliyu’s political career is that his intervention programmes did not end with his departure from the National Assembly. Even outside elective office, he has continued to support education, youth empowerment and employment initiatives. In a recent intervention, he reportedly sponsored 42 orphans and children from less-privileged backgrounds, the majority of them girls, to study at a private College of Nursing Sciences. He also facilitated employment opportunities for 20 people in a power company and supported the recruitment of more than 40 youths into the Nigeria Police Force. These interventions, according to his supporters, demonstrate a belief that political influence should translate into tangible opportunities for the people. His activities have also attracted recognition within the political establishment. He was appointed Director-General of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also appointed Deputy Director-General (North) of the Tinubu Support Group.

He has equally served in various capacities and committees within the All Progressives Congress (APC), including responsibilities connected with the conduct of National Assembly primary elections. For a politician who has spent considerable time in public service, such appointments could be viewed as recognition of his experience, political network and capacity to mobilise people at the grassroots.

The question now is not simply who Magaji Da’u Aliyu is, but what his political experience means for the future of Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency. His supporters insist that the constituency needs a return to the type of representation they associate with his tenure, representation that combines infrastructure, education, employment, empowerment and direct engagement with constituents. For many of them, the call for his return is therefore driven by a belief that his experience remains relevant to the challenges confronting the constituency. Politics, however, is ultimately decided by the people.

As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. For the people of Birnin Kudu/Buji, the debate over Magaji Da’u Aliyu’s legacy may well become part of the wider conversation about what they expect from their political representatives in the years ahead.