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Operatives of the Jigawa State Police Command have arrested nine suspected cattle rustlers and recovered four cows, two goats, and two vehicles during coordinated operations across Hadejia and Auyo local government areas.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 45, were apprehended on September 30, 2025, following intelligence-led raids carried out by personnel of the Hadejia ‘A’ Division and Auyo Division.

Police spokesperson, SP Shiisu Lawan Adam, said the suspects were intercepted at an uncompleted building in Kantin Waje Quarters, Hadejia, and at Kogin Dole near Wailari Village in Auyo.

Recovered from the suspects were a tinted-glass Golf wagon and a Volkswagen bus with registration number UBJ 835 XX, along with the stolen livestock.

One of the cows was identified by its rightful owner, Muhammad Sani of Harbo Sabuwa Village in Miga Local Government Area, who had earlier reported the theft to the police.

Commending the officers for their swift response, the Commissioner of Police reiterated the command’s commitment to eradicating cattle rustling and other criminal activities across the state.

He assured that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations are concluded and urged residents, especially livestock owners, to continue providing credible information to support security efforts in Jigawa State.

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have neutralized two suspected kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunition from them.

It was learned that the incident happened in Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased were reportedly killed in a gun battle with the police in collaboration with vigilantes and local hunters during a bush-combing operation.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Moses Yamu, said the police, acting on intelligence in collaboration with local hunters and a vigilante group, encountered suspected kidnappers during a bush-combing operation along the railway track leading to Ubiaja.

He said the kidnappers, upon sighting the police, opened fire on them, adding that in the process, two suspected kidnappers were killed while others escaped with injuries.

He said the police recovered one AK-47 rifle, 33 rounds of live ammunition, and two mobile phones from them.

He added that the police also recovered an English-made double-barreled shotgun and two live cartridges while combing a forest around Idumogun Community in the Ukoni area of Esan South East LGA during another bush-combing operation.

He appealed to the public to support the command’s community safety partnership initiative and informal policing efforts in ensuring a safer Edo State.

The Abuja Continental Hotel, located in the heart of Abuja, was in a festive mood as the leadership of the North gathered to confront its challenges and unlock opportunities. The theme of the summit was ‘Unlocking Northern Nigeria’s Mining, Agricultural and Power Potential’. The two-day meeting, held under the auspices of the Northern Elders Forum, was attended by state governors, federal government ministers, members of the National Assembly, and a retinue of other officials. Industrialists, university dons, and opinion leaders from across the North were also present to help strategise for the upliftment of the North from its current state of decline.

I almost missed the event and was not present on the opening day. At the close of the first day, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, who was present at the event, was interviewed on Channels TV. He is one governor whom you can’t help but admire for the manner in which he has leveraged his background and exposure to turn the fortunes of his state. And he was always in one studio or the other, engaging with the public. That evening, he spoke with Seun Okinbaloye at length on what was achieved at the summit, which caught my attention.

I read the report of the first day in various print media. I found out that the governors who spoke on the first day, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Dauda Lawan of Zamfara State and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, all dwelt at length on the mineral and agricultural resources that abound in their states and what they are doing to actualise these potentials for the benefit of their citizens. The major problems they face are insecurity and an infrastructure deficit. On insecurity, the Zamfara governor was blunt. He said: ‘Investors, both domestic and international, are not philanthropists; they are realists. They will not commit capital where it is not safe.’

On the infrastructure deficit, the Gombe State governor said: ‘We are blessed with mineral wealth, fertile land, and vibrant human capital, but without railways, roads, power, and storage, the full value cannot be realised.’ The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, spoke on behalf of the President, highlighting the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure in the North, including the delivery of gas as a strategic project for power plants. I have observed that the minister consistently attends events like this and remains engaged with the participants for as long as possible.

The next day, I was among the early arrivals at Ladi Kwali Hall, the event centre. I found the place lively, with all kinds of people milling around as the event was about to begin. Various traditional dance groups were scattered throughout, preparing to be called upon to entertain guests. Towards the sides, there were stalls staffed by representatives of northern state governments, as well as companies and industries showcasing their products. In line with the summit’s theme, the stalls displayed a range of mineral and agricultural products from the states. When I entered the hall, I saw the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Yakubu Dogara, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, preparing to join a group already on stage to discuss and share their views on the earlier presentations.

One of the major presentations of the day was Mohammed Hayatuddeen’s paper on harnessing technology as a driver of development in Northern Nigeria. A well-regarded technocrat, Hayatuddeen served as the Group Chief Executive of the NNDC in the 1980s and later the Managing Director of FSB International Bank. It was a well-researched and well-written paper that was widely appreciated by the audience. Hayatuddeen envisions a situation in the near future- ‘a Northern Nigeria where a farmer in Mambilla can send fresh milk to Singapore in 72 hours; where our miners in Jos export not raw ore but high-value products stamped ‘ethically sourced in Nigeria,’ and our young people are building companies that compete on the world stage. This is not a fantasy; it is a choice.’ To prove that this was no whimsical thought, he took us along the path.

From Hayatuddeen’s perspective, technology is the key to unlocking the North’s potential. It would be necessary to integrate mining, agriculture, and power into a value-creating ecosystem where each sector strengthens the others. The region can then utilise emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, among others, to position the North for digital-first readiness. The North must also invest in region-wide broadband and affordable devices to connect everyone.

The presentation by Professor Ibrahim Garba on solid minerals was another high point of the summit. The professor, a geologist, had served as the Director-General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office and later Vice-Chancellor of ABU Zaria and Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil. His paper, given his expertise, was similarly well received. One thing I took away from his presentation was his assertion that during the Indigenisation Decree in the 1970s, foreign miners took their expertise and technology with them, leaving the carcass of their set-up to be taken over by their cooks and stewards. Our mining efforts have remained at that rudimentary level since then.

I left the summit with many takeaways. For the North to prosper, mining and agriculture must be modernised. The infrastructure deficit must be fixed. And the governors of the North must unite under one cover.

There was palpable fear at the weekend in Bwari town, the headquarters of the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, as well as other communities that border Niger State, when gunmen suspected to be kidnappers shot two persons to death.

Abuja Metro learned that the victims, who were killed on Friday night, were returning from Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, where they had attended a wedding ceremony.

Locals told our reporter in Abuja that the wedding guests, four in number, were on two motorcycles heading back to Garam, a community near Bwari town in the FCT but under Tafa LGA of Niger State.

They were reportedly flagged down by the gunmen around 10:30 pm at Rafin-Azum, which is not far from the Garam community, after the bandits noticed their movement as they were approaching them with the flash from the motorcycles’ light.

Dantani Daniel, Commander of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) in Garam, while chatting with Abuja Metro on the phone yesterday, disclosed that the gunmen had earlier abducted a herder from Jinkasa village, located within Dogon-Daji forest, also in the council.

He said one of the four wedding guests was able to escape at the spot, while two others were shot by the gunmen as they were attempting to escape too. ‘One of them died instantly, while the other one died at the Bwari General Hospital where he was rushed to. The remaining one person is yet to be heard of and is feared to have been taken away by the kidnappers,’ Daniel added.

He further stated that the herdsman who was first abducted by the gunmen also used the advantage of the confrontation to escape.

It was gathered that the two deceased were buried on Saturday, after a funeral prayer in the community in accordance with Islamic rites.

When contacted, the Suleja Police Area Commander, Muhammad Sani Musa, who was said to have attended the prayers, confirmed the incident to our reporter.

Palpable fear in Bwari

Meanwhile, there has been heightened fear among residents of Bwari following the resurgence of banditry activities in the council recently.

It would be recalled that the council had witnessed several attacks in many communities with many deaths and a greater number kidnapped.

Last Monday, kidnappers reportedly attacked Kungabokun, a remote community located near Byazhin-Across on the outskirts of Kubwa in the same council, killing a veterinary doctor and abducting three of his children.

A community leader in Bwari, Danteni Alhassan, said many people are now scared, fearing the return of the old situation when bandits were killing and abducting residents.

He said, ‘Let me be frank with you, there is fear among the residents now; we can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed. The situation is gradually escalating and something needs to be done urgently.’

Another resident, Kilani Jimoh, pleaded with the security agencies to monitor the boundaries around Niger and Kaduna states, from where he said bandits often come to attack Bwari and its villages.

FCT is safe-Wike

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reassured residents that Abuja is a safe and secure city.

The Minister gave the assurance while responding to a question about security concerns in the nation’s capital during a project inspection at the weekend.

Wike emphasized that there is improved security in the FCT compared to what was obtained in the past, stressing that isolated incidents of insecurity do not define the city’s overall safety.

‘If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is that city,’ the Minister stated, noting that the ‘Light Up Abuja’ program, which involves installing solar streetlights across districts and expressways, is also a strategic initiative to further enhance security.

He said, ‘The problem we have here is that when one incident happens, we forget that three months ago, nothing happened. You should give us and the security agencies credit that we are doing quite a lot to make Abuja safe, and Abuja has been safe.

‘We do agree that something may happen but that does not mean that Abuja is not safe. I don’t want us to take that to mean that the city is not safe. If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is that city,’ Wike added.

For the second straight year, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, has won the 2025 Golden World Award (GWA) from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).

The prize was presented at the body’s 70th anniversary in Ghana.

The historic event featured the inauguration of IPRA’s new President, Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, the first African woman to assume the role.

She succeeds Natasa Pavlovic Bujas.

Established in 1990, the Golden World Awards – regarded as the ‘Oscars of Public Relations’ – celebrate campaigns that exemplify excellence, ethics, and impact. The 2025 gala, the first-ever hosted on African soil, coincided with Ghana’s Institute of Public Relations’ 50th anniversary.

The NCS-IMPR partnership topped the Publication category with a book titled ‘Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management,’ which highlights innovative PR strategies implemented under the leadership of Comptroller-General Wale Adeniyi.

It comprises practical case studies and engagement tools, and illustrates how strategic communication can enhance an institution’s reputation through transparency, boost revenue through stakeholder engagement, and reinforce national security through effective crisis communication.

orsed by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), the 162-page publication co-authored by Kabir Abdulsalam and Maryam Na’Allah also received commendation from Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Receiving the award in Accra, Nigeria Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, remarked, ‘This honour reaffirms the power of communication in building institutional credibility. Under CG Adeniyi, our service has embraced transparency, innovation, and accountability.’

Dr. Sule Yau Sule, Chairman of IMPR’s Board of Directors, described the honour as a testament to public-private collaboration in strategic communication: ‘This recognition proves that Nigerian agencies can compete globally. PR is not just for publicity; it is a tool for reform and public trust.’

The latest accolade came after the 2024 GWA win in Belgrade, Serbia, where the ‘100 Days of Impactful PR at Customs Service’ campaign triumphed in the Crisis Management category, positioning the NCS as a global benchmark for reform-driven government communication.

Led by CEO Yushau Shuaib, IMPR has secured IPRA awards for nine consecutive years since 2016. It was named the Most Creative PR Agency Worldwide in 2020 by the Global Creativity Index (GCI) published by PRovoke Media, organisers of the SABRE Awards.

National Vice Chairman (South South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, has disclosed that state governors, senators and many other members of the party are leaving because of its leadership failure.

Orbih spoke yesterday in Benin while addressing delegates at the parallel congress conducted by his faction loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Recall that Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, and Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori,

had dumped the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Federal and state lawmakers as well as other key figures in the PDP have left the party following its prolonged internal crisis.

‘As members of our great party, there is no doubt that PDP is going through a leadership crisis, both at the national level and several other states,’ he said.

‘Let us not deceive ourselves. For the first time in the history of our great party, we have elected governors of PDP and founding leaders, founding members, leaving the party every day for one simple reason, failure of leadership.

‘Elected governors are leaving. Elected senators are leaving. Elected members of the House are leaving in Edo State; we know the root of our problem,’ he added.

The faction elected Barr. Nosa Ogieva and Hilary Otsu as state chairman and secretary and 12 other executive members.

Recall that the faction loyal to Dr. Tony Azeigbemi, had conducted its congress on September 28, where it reelected Azeigbemi as chairman and Henry Tenabe as secretary to lead a 15-member executive.

The police in Ekiti State have arraigned two persons, Oloso Bamidele Fatiu (64) and Ishola Sikiru (27), at the Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti over an alleged stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendants, in the month of July 2025 in the Aramoko-Ekiti Magisterial District, stole two live goats valued at N200,000, belonging to one Akinleye Florence.

Counsel to the defendants, Barrister Michael Olaleye, urged the court to grant his clients bail in liberal terms.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Abayomi Adeosun, granted each of them bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety each in like sum.

The case was adjourned until November 6, for hearing.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday, assured the timely completion of ongoing road projects across the FCT.

Wike gave the assurance in Abuja, while inspecting the ongoing constructions of the Wuye to Ring Road II and the dual carriageway from Airport Road to Kuje.

He reassured residents of Kuje and its environs that the ongoing Airport-Kuje dual carriageway would be completed before the third anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration.

He said that the project has recorded significant progress, especially in rock blasting and landscape preparation.

He commended Arab Contractors for the quality of work, stressing that upon completion, the road would transform transportation and housing options for Kuje residents.

‘By the time this road is commissioned, which is not less than eight lanes, it won’t take 15 to 20 minutes to reach the city centre,’ he said.

‘That means residents of Kuje no longer need to relocate to the city before enjoying urban living.

‘That is what development and the Renewed Hope Agenda are all about,’ Wike added.

The Minister also vowed to improve security and waste management in the city and satellite towns.

UAC of Nigeria PLC (UAC) says it has completed the acquisition of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited).

This followed approval from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The transaction, first disclosed on July 30, 2025, involved the transfer of ownership of CHI Limited, a leading Nigerian food and beverage company best known for its market-dominant Chivita juice and Hollandia dairy brands, to UAC.

The Managing Director of CHI Limited, Eelco Weber, expressed optimism about the company’s future under UAC’s ownership.

‘We are pleased to have received regulatory approval for this transaction. We look forward to a smooth transition and to seeing Chivita|Hollandia thrive under UAC’s ownership,’ he said.

Group Managing Director of UAC, Fola Aiyesimoju, highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition.

‘We are excited to officially welcome the Chivita|Hollandia team and brands into the UAC family, and we are eager to work together to build on their strong legacy and market leadership,’ he stated.

The acquisition is expected to strengthen UAC’s position in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, expanding its footprint into the growing juice and dairy markets.

UAC of Nigeria PLC (UAC) had announced an agreement to acquire Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) from The Coca-Cola Company.

The deal represents a strategic milestone for UAC, aimed at strengthening its position in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

CHI Limited is one of Nigeria’s leading food and beverage companies, with strong brand portfolios across value-added dairy products, juices, nectars, still drinks, and snacks.

Its Hollandia brand dominates the evaporated milk and drinking yoghurt categories, while Chivita leads the fruit juice market.

The federal government has announced plans to take over the Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, to enhance training and local production of anti-snake venom.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at the weekend during an inspection visit to the centre as part of his working tour of the state.

He highlighted the regional and international importance of the centre, especially during farming seasons when snakebite incidents are most common.

‘This centre treats between 2,000 and 3,000 patients annually, many of whom come not only from Gombe but also from across the North East and neighbouring countries.

‘The Federal Government, in partnership with Gombe State, will formalize arrangements to expand its role, not only as a treatment hub but also for training, research and, ultimately, local production of anti-snake venom,’ Prof. Pate said.

Speaking after commissioning a new Accident and Emergency (AandE) unit at the General Hospital, Kaltungo, the minister commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for spearheading the transformation of the state’s health sector, describing it as a model for health system strengthening in Nigeria.

Prof. Pate lauded Governor Yahaya for comprehensive health reforms spanning primary healthcare revitalisation, hospital upgrades, human resource development, and the establishment of specialised medical centres.

The minister also praised the recent approval of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers, describing it as a bold step toward retaining skilled personnel.

On his part, Governor Yahaya attributed the success to teamwork and collaboration.

‘All the credit goes to the team. Infrastructure alone is not enough, which is why we prioritized motivating our health workers so that all facilities, from primary to tertiary, can function effectively,’ he said.