Tinubu addressing an audience
President Bola Tinubu
Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the brewing crisis in the state over the Court of Appeal ruling on the conduct of the council election.

“We appeal to Mr President to intervene and protect the lives and property of residents in Osun,” he said.

Mr Oyintiloye, in a chat with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, said the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, on Friday had started generating tension in Osun.

The APC chieftain said although the court struck out a request by APC to relist its appeal against the 2022 Federal High Court ruling nullifying the local government elections, the court did not nullify the judgment of February 10, which reinstated the chairs and councillors.

Mr Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said the misinterpretation given to the ruling by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state government may result in a crisis in all the 30 local government areas, if not quickly checked.

He said the interpretation given to the judgment by the ruling PDP government that it is now in control of the local government areas and the planned invasion of the council secretariats on Monday may degenerate into a crisis.

The APC chieftain said, “The crisis is obvious because the elected APC chairmen and councillors would resist any unlawful invasion of the council secretariats, which they are currently occupying.”

Mr Oyintiloye said the only way the crisis could be averted is for Mr Tinubu to intervene by ordering the deployment of more security agencies to the state.

He said the loss of lives during a similar crisis on February 17 was still fresh in the minds of the residents, adding that such a recurrence should be prevented.

“The open declaration by PDP members to invade the council secretariats in the state on Monday can lead to mayhem, and that is not what we need at the moment.

“The state government and the PDP must be cautioned against causing a crisis in the state due to the wrong interpretation of the court ruling.

The Osun government is already before the Supreme Court to challenge its inability to access local government allocation.

“It is therefore expected of the government to wait for the apex court to take a final decision on it,” Mr Oyintiloye said.

The Akure Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an application by the APC seeking to relist an earlier appeal that was struck out on January 13 for lack of diligent prosecution.

While the state government said the Court of Appeal ruling affirmed the Federal High Court judgment that sacked the council chairs and councillors elected in 2022, the APC maintained that the ruling did not nullify the election.

The case originated from a suit filed by the All Peoples Party(APP) against the State Independent Electoral Commission(OSSIEC) at the Federal High Court, challenging the legality of the October 15, 2022, LG election, which featured only APC candidates.

The APC, which later joined the matter at the Federal High Court, had appealed the judgment after the lower court nullified the election.

However, the appeal was struck out on January 13 due to a lack of diligent prosecution by the APC.

APC’s attempt to have the case relisted was also dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Friday.

The chairman, Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue, Melvin Ejeh, has imposed an immediate and comprehensive ban on all forest logging activities in Agatu West.

Mr Ejeh, in a statement on Sunday, said the declaration was another effort to address the escalating security concerns that have beset the LGA.

“The decision to impose this ban is informed by the alarming rate of insecurity that has plagued our area, largely exacerbated by the unregulated activities of loggers,” Mr Ejeh said.

The chairman said the directive takes immediate effect, and it was imperative that all stakeholders and residents adhere to the policy with utmost seriousness.

He said incessant logging had led to severe environmental degradation and created avenues for criminals to operate with “impunity.”

“The resultant effect is a heightened sense of insecurity, which has become a source of grave concern for us all.

“In light of this, it has become imperative for us to take decisive action to safeguard the well-being and safety of our residents.

“The ban on logging activities is a proactive measure aimed at mitigating the security risks associated with unregulated logging,” he said.

Mr Ejeh stated that the ban would also contribute to the preservation of the environment and the protection of natural resources for future generations.

The chairman emphasised that the ban was non-negotiable, and any individual or group engaging in logging activities without proper authorisation would face the full weight of the law.

According to him, all logging activities henceforth require clearance from the local government chairman himself.

He urged all residents to comply with this directive and report any logging activities to the council authorities.

“Your cooperation and vigilance are crucial in our collective efforts to create a safer and more secure environment for all.

“I assure you that the Agatu Local Government Council remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to address the security challenges facing our area and implement measures that promote peace and stability,” he stated

The Emir of Zazzau Ahmed Bamalli
Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli has broken silence over the Zazzau Emirate crisis, saying the former Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Muhammad-Aminu, absconded from duty seven months to the termination of his appointment.

The royal father made this known during a courtesy visit by Bashir Rabe-Mani Kaduna Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria and Yusuf Jidda Kaduna Regional Manager, Media Trust Group in Zaria.

Mr Bamalli said the former Wazirin Zazzau had absconded for seven months before being officially sacked by the state government

He said the council constituted a delegation comprising its members under the leadership of Nuhu Aliyu-Magaji Galadiman Zazzau, to meet Muhammad-Aminu over his absence.

He added that the former waziri intimated the delegation that he would come back to his duties, unfortunately he did not return to the office.

“After some time, I sent the team again to meet the ex-waziri over his persistent absence but there was no response from him.

“I have no option than to formally write to the state government over the matter, subsequently his appointment was terminated. Unfortunately, a different thing has been portrayed from a section of the media; some of them went to the extent of showing that the ex-waziri was victimised or witch-hunted,’’ Mr Bamalli said.

He, however, said that despite the anomalies in the process of selecting the new Emir of Zazzau, Mr Bamalli said he remained very pleased with the kingmakers even though none of them voted for him.

The emir said he expected some people, especially the media to dig deep and find out the 2020 process of selecting the emir of zazzau.

According to him, the process took place at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, the then Secretary to the State Government, Kaduna State, now the Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas.

The emir stated that the then commissioner of police and Director of SSS were also observers of the process.

“While at ABU in the waiting for the kingmakers, the ex-waziri approached the SSG with the list of three people as nominees for the throne of the emir of Zazzau. But the then SSG told the former waziri that they were observers from the state government with a view to ensuring that due process and transparency were followed in electing the new emir

“The former SSG further enquired from the former waziri on how they arrived at the three names and scores on each candidate, but no tangible explanation was offered by the former Waziri,’’ the emir said.

Mr Bamalli said that the kingmakers rated Bashir Aminu (Iyan Zazzau) as scoring 89 and Munir Jafaru, (Yariman Zazzau), as second with 87 marks.

He added that he was rated third having scored 62 on the ground that he didn’t have a national honour and district headship while Aminu Shehu Idris (Turakin Zazzau) scored 53.

“As at that time, I was a serving Ambassador in Thailand and Myanmar, is there any national honour other than being a President of your country in another country? I was a former Magajin Garin Zazzau for 19 years,’’ the emir said.

The royal father queried that national honour was not part of the criteria for appointing the emir and district headship; saying,” on these the kingmakers scored me zero.

The emir noted, “But to my dismay, the kingmakers excluded my name and submitted the names of the late Bashir Aminu, Munir Jafaru and Alhaji Aminu Shehu-Idris who was number four on the list. Remember from the outset, my application was flung by the former waziri. He also refused to collect the application of my nephew, Bunun Zazzau, District Head of Kaduna and the applications of a few other applicants. This is what they did, and the records are there for anybody to verify.”

Mr Muhammad-Aminu petitioned the Kaduna State House of Assembly, seeking the reversal of the appointment of Ahmad Bamalli as the 19th Emir of Zazzau.

The deposed waziri made the petition after losing the legal battle at the Kaduna State High Court and the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division.

The ECOWAS Court has pledged to deepen its engagement with the subregion’s youths and academic institutions to ensure a robust legal culture of justice, human rights and rule of law.

The President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, said this at the end of the maiden edition of the Moot Court competition of the Community Court on Saturday in Abuja.

The event, which began on Wednesday, had as its theme: “Promoting Regional Integration and Human Rights through Judicial Processes in West Africa.”

The competition brought together West African law students to simulate proceedings before the court, offering them firsthand exposure to an international tribunal’s working and the opportunity to refine their advocacy skills.

Mr Gonçalves said that the community court resolved to make the competition an annual flagship programme.

He also said that future editions of the competition would be expanded to include universities from ECOWAS member states to truly reflect the bloc’s diversity and unity.

The court’s president explained that through such engagement, the court would demystify its work and plant the seeds of a robust regional legal culture that values justice, human rights, cooperation and rule of law.

He added, “This event has made one thing abundantly clear; that the time has come for the ECOWAS Court of Justice to deepen its engagement with academic institutions and the youth of our region. In light of the overwhelming success of this pilot edition, I am pleased to announce that the court has resolved to make the Moot Court Competition an annual flagship programme. Future editions will expand to include universities across all ECOWAS Member States, truly reflecting the diversity and unity of our region.”

Earlier in a vote of thanks, the court’s Vice President, Justice Sengu Koroma, said the event aimed to create a platform for legal education, engagement and excellence among the region’s future legal minds.

He also said that mooting was a portal through which students could fully immerse themselves in the environment of ethical considerations and protocols of a real courtroom.

Koroma lauded the participating universities and their students, adding that their intellect, composure, and advocacy made the institutions proud and gave the court great hope in the future of regional justice.

He added, “Today, as we conclude the finals of this historic competition, we do so with immense pride and gratitude, having witnessed the vision come to life in a truly remarkable fashion. To the students—you are the stars of this event. Your hard work, enthusiastic participation, dedication and legal acumen have made this moot competition a success. We wish each of you success in your future endeavour and hope that this competition has fostered not only legal proficiency but also a lifelong commitment to justice.’’

The highpoint of the event was the announcement of the winners of the competition and award of certificates to various categories.

Two Nigerian universities, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and the University of Jos, won the overall best prize and runner up prize, carting home N5 million and N3 million respectively.

Two of the students, Nicholas Ochojila and Diretkinan Dashi, both from the University of Jos, Plateau State, expressed their gratitude to the ECOWAS Court for the opportunity to participate in the competition.

They said that the event was a good outing for the university, which came second, narrowly losing to ABU by one point, and producing the overall best oralist award winner through Ochojila.

About 100 persons including toddlers were “locked up and burnt in their bedrooms” in an overnight attack by suspected herdsmen in Yelewata and Daudu communities in Benue State, Amnesty International claimed in a statement on Saturday.

Community leader Matthew Mnyan put the death toll at 200, noting that the number of wounded people exceeded 40.

Children’s throats were slit, and petrol was poured on some residents before the attackers set them ablaze, said Mr Mnyan who is among the community leaders in Yelewata and previously worked as acting chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board.

The suspected herdsmen attacked Yelewata from two ends between late Friday and early Saturday, killing everyone in their path including youths and security agents who tried to fend them off. The herdsmen, in their large numbers and coordinated attacks, overpowered them.

Mr Mnyan said the herders attacked the communities around 11:00 p.m. on Friday from the Western part and met fierce resistance from the youth and other security agents.

He explained that another group of herdsmen attacked Yelewata from the Eastern part and overpowered the youth before launching the attacks on the residents, most of whom were internally displaced persons from other parts of the state who sought refuge in market stalls due to their proximity to police stations.

“They killed our people, poured petrol on the stalls in the market and burnt them,” Mr Mnyan said. “In those stalls, we had people who moved from places such as Branch Udei and people displaced from nearby villages, who slept in them because of the proximity of the police and soldiers there. And we learnt no soldier came out to defend the people.”

The community leader said the death scenes were gruesome as families of 12 and 15 were burnt beyond recognition.

“As of now, from the names they are putting together, and the number of families and people that were burnt and killed are running to over 200 now. They killed and burned people in the houses. They will pour petrol and burn the whole place where people were sleeping. We had a family of 15, some families of 12, men with their two wives, children and every one of them burnt. It is a terrible sight,” said the community leader.

The killings sparked protests as residents stormed the streets asking the government to intervene, claiming their attackers were killer herdsmen who sought to grab their fertile lands and chase them out of their communities.

“It is heartbreaking, everybody is aware that the people want to take over Benue state. There are no two ways about it. They only want to grab the land,” explained the Yelewata community leader.

“If you go to the east side of Yelewata, Fulanis have taken over the land and given it to some of their people to be farming. And they do not want anybody to go there,” he added.

A similar attack on Daudu community was unsuccessful as youth and security agents fought back to repel the attackers. The incident ended in a bloodbath that reportedly claimed the lives of security agents.

“Fortunately, that same day, the ones at Daudu were dislodged, and we learnt five soldiers and police personnel were killed sadly. From the information I received, I think one of them was of the rank of a Captain,” Mr Mnyan said. “We learnt more than 300 terrorists were camped close to Daudu.”

When he opened the All Nigerian Judges Conference in February 2003, then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Lawal Uwais, who died on June 6, 2025, six days short of his 89th birthday, lamented the fact that state chief judges in Nigeria “go begging for funds from their governors”; a practice pioneered by the military. It was part of a wider complaint about the historical legacies of judicial corrosion inherited from military rule. It also reflected the values of a man for whom judicial integrity was a way of life and an independent judiciary was a constitutional mandate of the highest salience.

In 1976, Mohammed Lawal Uwais secured a loan from the Nigerian Building Society to enable him build a modest home in Kaduna for his mother, Hajiya Hajara. At that point, Uwais had served as a judge of the High Court for over four years, including a stint as Acting Chief Justice of the North Central (later Kaduna) State. Yet he had only one bank account with Union Bank.

Nearly thirty years later, entering his tenth year as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Uwais, as CJN, suffered what looked like a mysterious burglary. The Chambers of the Chief Justice is a sanctuary inside the Supreme Court of Nigeria from where the CJN presides over the judicial shrine. It is one of the most protected spaces in the country. The idea of a burglary on that office is so ordinarily implausible as to make the provenance of such an act easily predictable.

The burglary coincided rather conveniently with a period of intense judicialisation of the political antipathy between then vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, and his principal, Olusegun Obasanjo, over the latter’s attempt to succeed himself by lifting constitutional term limits that he had sworn to preserve and protect. That political conflict spawned a succession of high-profile cases which ended up at the Supreme Court, resulting in decisions that constrained the caprice of the president. Entirely characteristic of CJN Uwais, the court, in case after case, handed President Obasanjo a judicial shellacking with neither flash nor flourish.

It later turned out that the convenient burglar appeared to have been desperate to find non-existent material with which to dent the record of an uncompromising CJN and probably afflict him with indelible ignominy. Instead, all that they could find were records indicating that the man had maintained the same bank account for over four decades and with impeccable integrity.

Few would have predicted this turn of events in the relationship between Uwais and the man who preferred him to the Supreme Court as a sprightly 43-year-old in August 1979. On 11 August 1979, the country had voted in a contentious presidential ballot in preparation for return to civil rule after 13 years and nine months of bloody military rule. Five days later, on 16 August, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) announced Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) the winner.The previous day, on 15 August, army general and departing military ruler, Olusegun Obasanjo, appointed two new Justices of the Supreme Court. One was a pharmacist-turned-lawyer and Attorney-General of the Federation, Augustine Nnamani. The other was something of a judicial prodigy, Mohammed Uwais. The following week, Obasanjo also appointed a new CJN in Atanda Fatayi Williams was to oversee the adjudication of the dispute over the 1979 election.

As Attorney-General of the Federation, Nnamani had authored the Electoral Act at the centre of the presidential election dispute. That precluded him from sitting on the dispute and catapulted Uwais onto the bench that would ultimately decide the destination of the presidency in 1979.

For Uwais, this guaranteed that his Supreme Court career would begin at the very deep end. It was a new high in a career that was destined for the very top. He had the good fortune of being born in Zaria, home to some of the most elite schools in the country.

The son of a railway worker from Zaria, Abdullahi Uwaisu and his wife, Hajara, Mohammed Lawal Uwais was bereaved of his biological father at the age of six in December 1942. When his mother remarried two years later to a headteacher, Mohammed Jumare, Mohammed Uwais acquired a stepfather who inspired his educational pursuits under the watchful eyes of a doting mother. His high school education was at the elite Barewa College where he was junior to Yakubu Gowon and in the same class and good friends with Gowon’s nemesis, Murtala Mohammed.

A graduate of the Institute of Administration at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Uwais did his vocational legal training at the Inns of Court in London before becoming part of the pioneer set of lawyers graduated by the Nigerian Law School in 1963.

After his admission to the Nigerian Bar, Uwais returned to his civil service career, this time in the Ministry of Justice, first of the Northern Region, and then of the North Central (later Kaduna) State. Mohammed Bello, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under whom he worked as State Counsel, became his colleague at the Supreme Court and immediate predecessor in the office of CJN. In the Ministry of Justice of the North Central State, he became Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in 1971.

The following year, under the government of his high school senior, Yakubu Gowon, Uwais was appointed Acting Judge of the High Court of the North Eastern State. He was only 36.

In 1975, when his high school mate, Murtala Mohammed, emerged as military ruler after overthrowing Gowon, Uwais was offered the office of Chief Justice of the North Central State but turned it down in favour of a more senior serving expatriate judge, A.W.E. Wheeler. When the military established the Court of Appeal the following year, Wheeler appointed him from Kaduna State to the bench of the new court at 40. When he got to the Supreme Court three years later, Uwais was only 43. He went on to serve as Justice of the Supreme Court for 27 years, setting a record of apex court durability that is unlikely to be threatened.When Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999 after another 15 unbroken years of military rule, Uwais had already been in office as the eighth indigenous CJN for four years. He was well-placed to stabilize the judiciary through the teething years of institutional adaptation.

Uwais spent 11 of his 27 Supreme Court years as CJN, making him the second longest in that office after Adetokunbo Ademola, the first indigenous Chief Justice, who logged a record 14 years in that office until 1972. He instituted and oversaw rigorous standards of judicial discipline and performance. A mere four years into civil rule, by the beginning of 2004, over 20 judicial officers had been relieved of their positions for judicial malfeasance. Under him, the Nigerian judiciary was voted “Man of the Year” in 2005.

Two years after his retirement as CJN, Uwais came out of retirement to head a blue-ribbon panel on electoral reform in Nigeria. His characteristically thoughtful report continues to suffer neglect to the detriment of democratic sustainability in the country.

Uwais was quietly uncompromising on judicial integrity. In a profound set of interviews with Princeton University in 2009, CJN Uwais underscored the need to eliminate bribery, corruption, nepotism and political interference within the judicial systems. A committed institutionalist with a peerless recall on the evolution of Nigeria’s judiciary, Uwais declined to write any memoirs.

The father of a very senior lawyer and husband to a wife both capable and experienced as a lawyer, Uwais did not nominate any members of his family to the bench. Many of his successors in the office of CJN, who served for less than a fraction of his tenure, were compulsive nepotists in favour of family members with less than marginal qualification or ability.

Current CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, paid tribute at his death to the capacity of Mohammed Uwais to “lead without pretence, and to mentor without fanfare.” He made his earthly exit on Friday, June 6, 2025, entirely in keeping with how he lived his life—without fanfare.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall, has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in tackling plastic pollution to strengthen sustainable environmental protection.

Mr Fall made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at a one-day sensitisation campaign titled “Ending Plastic Pollution,” on Saturday in Abuja to commemorate World Environment Day 2025.

The event was organised by UN entities including the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), and other partners.

According to Mr Fall, plastic pollution is at a crisis level.

He noted that the recent passing of the UN resolution to curb plastic pollution marked a historic step toward environmental protection.

He stated, “Every piece of plastic that litters our soil or blocks our waterways threatens ecosystems. More dangerous still are microplastics contaminating our food, health, and bodies. Across our agencies, the UN is supporting Nigeria to tackle these challenges by promoting sustainable growth and boosting job creation. UNDP is strengthening national and state efforts to promote inclusive models, while UNIDO is investing in eco-friendly industrial solutions, among other initiatives.’’

Mr Fall also highlighted the partnership between the UN, Green Hub Africa, and NES, which was increasing advocacy efforts focused on building global treaties to end plastic pollution.

“Ending plastic pollution is not only an environmental imperative; it is a human right to health, dignity, and a planned future,” he said.

Programme Officer at the UNIDO Regional Office Hub Abuja, Osu Out, decried ineffective waste management, which often resulted in greenhouse gas emissions.

“In Nigeria, plastic accounts for 13 per cent of total waste. Proper management of plastic waste can boost job creation, private sector investment, and foreign direct investment in the country. It will also reduce plastic leakage into the environment,” he stated.

President of the Nigerian Environmental Society, Dr Efegbidiki Okobia, said the organisation had evolved beyond environmental campaigns to achieve meaningful goals.

Mr Okobia stated, “There is a gap between separation, collection, and distribution of waste during disposal, which remains a challenge. Our work involves serious research and engaging responsible stakeholders, which we have done over the years.’’

He added that NES’s partnership with Green Hub Africa and the UN Information Centre had helped advance measures to end plastic pollution.

Jordan Football Academy beat Flamingo FC 2-1 in the opening match of the maiden edition of the six-team football event of the Elite Super League Lokoja on Thursday in Lokoja.

The tournament, sponsored by Afriskcaut/Ozi-Bako Foundation, serves as a scouting platform for young players with great talents and potential.

The participating teams include Jordan FA, FC Bako, Flamingo FC, FA Bako, Royale Base FC, and Reigners FC.

Aliyu Akorede and Ahmed Salihu scored the two goals for Jordan FA.

The team’s CEO/Founder, Jordan Haziel, commended the organisers for the initiative and praised Jordan FA players for their brilliant performance, attributing it to hard work and team spirit.

According to Haziel, Jordan FA was established to provide a platform for young players to participate actively in sporting activities.

He believed the initiative would help the players become professionals who can represent the national team and play for top football clubs globally.

Mr Haziel said, “The academy is seeking partnership and sponsorship from the government, financial institutions, private sectors, corporate organizations, media outlets, and individuals.’’

The event organiser, Ibrahim Bako, stated that the initiative aimed to take football to the next level within the local environment and build young talented players for both local and international football.

“The tournament will collate data of talented players and assist them in getting national and international recognition,” he said.

Mr Bako expressed optimism about extending the tournament to the North-Central region in subsequent editions.

The Elite Super League Lokoja has set a promising tone for the development of young football talents in the region.

With the support of sponsors and partners, the tournament is expected to provide a platform for young players to showcase their skills and potentially secure national and international recognition.

As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more exciting matches and thrilling performances from the participating teams.

The National Orientation Agency, Jigawa State Directorate, has emphasised the importance of voluntary blood donation in saving lives and ensuring access to safe blood.

The agency’s state Director, Ahmad Tijjani, said on Saturday in Dutse, during the 2025 World Blood Donor Day, that Nigerians needed to cultivate the habit of voluntary blood donation.

As part of the day’s activities, he said the agency visited General Hospital Dutse, where its team engaged health personnel on duty and relatives of patients, advocating the life-saving benefits of voluntary blood donation.

Mr Tijjani explained that World Blood Donor Day, celebrated annually on June 14, recognised and appreciated the contributions of voluntary blood donors.

He stressed that a single donation could save more than one life.

He said, “This year’s theme, ‘Give Blood, Give Hope. Together We Save Lives,’ aims to raise awareness, encourage voluntary blood donation, and appreciate donors for their selfless contributions.’’

The director added that the campaign also encouraged community participation and support for blood donation initiatives.

According to Mr Tijjani, feedback from the health facility indicated a shortage of voluntary blood donors, largely due to low public awareness and institutional challenges.

He assured that the agency would continue to create awareness among the public about the need for voluntary blood donation.

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya
Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, on Saturday declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Mr Yahaya made the announcement during the ground-breaking ceremony for a 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone in the state.

He praised Mr Tinubu’s administration for introducing initiatives that have brought positive change and development across the country.

The governor highlighted the livestock sector as one that has seen significant improvement since Mr Tinubu assumed office in 2023.

Mr Yahaya said Mr Tinubu’s investments in the livestock value chain were aimed at economic growth, job creation, and improving citizens’ welfare.

He stated that the agro-livestock industrial zone in Gombe State was supported by Mr Tinubu’s administration, which approved ₦120 billion and released 50 per cent of the funds.

He said, “I assure the President that for what he has done, is doing, and will do, Gombe people will follow him to the battlefield blindfolded. We will work for his success in 2027. By God’s grace, his re-election is assured.’’

The governor noted Mr Tinubu’s support for the livestock sector, a largely northern business long overlooked, reflected his care for the people.

He stated, “If not for a President who loves his people and has the capacity and will, this transformation would not have happened. No northern leader in 47 years of power considered investing ₦120 billion to transform the livestock sector, despite it being a predominantly northern industry.’’

Mr Yahaya commended Mr Tinubu’s commitment to fully developing the agricultural sector in Gombe State and across the country.

He assured Nigerians that in spite of temporary hardships from ongoing reforms, better days were ahead under Mr Tinubu’s leadership.

President Donald Trump has urged his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to end the bloodbath and ongoing “war” in Ukraine.

Mr Trump stated this on Saturday after a one-hour phone conversation with Mr Putin, on the tension in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to the US President, during the discussion, Mr Putin gave assurances on the ongoing prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.

He noted that both leaders also discussed Israel’s blistering attacks aimed at decapitating Iran’s nuclear programme and Iran’s retaliatory strike.

“We talked at length. Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week. He is doing the planned prisoner swaps — large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides. The call lasted approximately 1 hour. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” he added on his Truth social platform.

Last week, both leaders spoke at length and discussed Mr Putin’s plans to respond to Ukraine’s drone strike on Russia air bases.

This development followed Mr Trump’s position to the European leaders that Mr Putin was not ready to end the war in Ukraine because he believed he was winning.

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, on Friday urged members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed to the state to make a positive impact on the people’s lives.

He gave the charge during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch A Stream II orientation exercise at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Wamakko.

Mr Aliyu assured the corps members that his administration would prioritise their welfare and security throughout their service year in the state.

He encouraged them to view Sokoto as fertile ground for upholding the ideals and objectives of the NYSC scheme.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor warned corps members against cultism and other social vices.

He praised the NYSC management for its role in guiding Nigerian youths in line with government policies and developmental goals.

Mr Aliyu noted that the NYSC had greatly contributed to national development through various sectors across the country.

He emphasised the scheme’s importance as a unifying platform for youths of different ethnic, religious and academic backgrounds.

He also commended the NYSC for promoting patriotism, hard work and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths.

Mr Aliyu highlighted the scheme’s role in driving socio-economic growth through community-based projects and initiatives.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to corps members’ safety, calling on security agencies and community leaders to support them.

The governor also reiterated his focus on youth empowerment through skill acquisition programmes to boost innovation and drive economic growth.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Usman Yakubu-Yaro, urged corps members to maintain discipline and adapt to the camp’s structured environment.

He stated that the orientation programme was intended to prepare them physically and mentally for national service.

Mr Yakubu-Yaro encouraged participation in the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme for future self-reliance.

He expressed appreciation to Mr Aliyu and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, for their continued support of the scheme.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Sa’aidu Sifawa, represented by Magistrate Hadijia Muazu-Jodi, administered the oath of allegiance.

The police command in Anambra State has arrested a male suspected to be involved in the kidnap and murder of George Onwurah in the Ndiukwuenu, Orumba-North Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Awka, said that the incident occurred in May 2024.

Mr Ikenga said that police operatives attached to the Awgbu Division, based on community support on June 12 by 10.20am, arrested 19-year-old Chimaobi Mbonu.

He explained that Mbonu was suspected to be a member of a kidnap gang involved in the abduction and murder of Mr Onwurah.

According to Mr Ikenga, preliminary information reveals that Mbonu and other gang members kidnapped and tortured their victim to death, after collecting ransom.

He stated, “The criminal gang is also responsible for the vandalisation of the community health centre, where they stole electrical materials and other valuables. The operatives have emplaced operational plans to arrest other gang members currently at large.’’

The Ijaw National Congress has described Senator Seriake Dickson, (PDP-Bayelsa) and senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District as a true son of the Ijaw cause.

This is contained in a statement by President, INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba and made available in Abuja on Saturday.

Mr Okaba noted that despite visible attempts to intimidate or entice the lawmaker into compromising his and ljaw collective values and principles premised on justice and the rule of law, he remained standing and firmly with the Ijaw people.

According to him, Mr Dickson remained unshaken, consistent, dogged, sagacious and courageous in defence of the Ijaw nation, especially amid recent political and economic challenges.

He said, “I recall Senator Dickson’s stance during the Rivers State political crisis, including his bold face-off with the Senate president and his walkout during the vote to affirm the ill-fated emergency rule-acts; that reflect his unwavering commitment to justice and democratic values. We commend Dickson for also recently drawing the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the worsening economic realities in Ijaw land and the glaring absence of federal presence or developmental projects in the region.

“His outspokenness continues to resonate with the aspirations of the Ijaw people. The Ijaw Nation is proud of his relentless pursuit of equity, justice, and the development of the Niger Delta. We urge other leaders to emulate his example of principled leadership and courage in the face of adversity.’’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano Strategic Command, promised to partner with Mazaje Traditional Sport Promotion Limited (Kungiyar Dambe) to combat drug abuse in the state.

This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Agency, Mr Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, on Saturday in Kano.

The decision was part of discussion between the two parties when the king of Traditional Boxing (Sarkin Damben Nigeria), Bashir Muhammad-Danliti, led his team on a courtesy visit to the NDLEA in Kano.

The event was part of activities lined up ahead of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, marked annually on June 26.

The Strategic Commander, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, said that the collaboration was aimed at using traditional sports, particularly popular traditional boxing (dambe) to engage the youth and raise awareness on drug abuse and illicit trafficking to promote a drug-free society.

Mr Idris-Ahmad, represented by the Head of the NDLEA Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Hajiya Maimuna Garba, expressed appreciation to the Mazaje group for its support in the fight against drug abuse.

He lauded the Officer in Charge of Sports, Jamilu Uba-Adamu, for his innovative approach in leveraging sports as a platform to disseminate crucial messages on drug awareness and prevention.

Mr Idris-Ahmad emphasised that the collaboration would feature sensitisation activities and sporting events aimed at educating the public on the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of seeking help and support where necessary.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with community-based organisations and traditional institutions to address the menace of drug abuse across the state.

“As we approach the UNODC, the NDLEA Strategic Command calls on all stakeholders and members of the public to support this initiative. Together, we can create a lasting impact in the fight against drug abuse and promote a culture of wellness and resilience in our communities,” the official said

Earlier, Mr Muhammad-Danliti, emphasised the importance of deepening partnership between the two organisations.

He commended the NDLEA for its doggedness in the fight against drug abuse in the state.

He said his visit was to synergise with NDLEA in addressing security challenges, emphasising that a significant number of crimes were committed under the influence of drugs.

Mr Muhammad-Danliti said, “We will continue to work with the agency to tackle the root causes of drug abuse and prevent same from spreading in the state,”

The Police Command in Kaduna State said its operatives detained 182 suspects within Kaduna metropolis, recovered a vehicle, one AK-47 rifle, 31 rounds of ammunition and 30 bags of Indian hemp after various raids.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, issued on Saturday in Kaduna.

Mr Hassan said, “In its continuous efforts to rid Kaduna State of criminals, safeguard lives and property, the state command launched an aggressive manhunt and clampdown on criminal hideouts and blackspots across the state.”

He said that operations were coordinated by Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the metropolitan areas, particularly Rigasa, Kawo, Tudun wada, Sabon Tasha and other communities in line with the directives of the state commissioner of police.

According to him, a total number of 183 suspects were detained after the successful raids.

Mr Hassan said, “The crackdown, which is part of ongoing efforts to restore public confidence and enhance internal security, led to the recovery of dangerous weapons and hard drugs. As part of this operations, on Friday, police carried out raids in Rigasa, which resulted in the recovery of hard drugs and 30 bags as well as about 1,600 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and other dangerous weapons.

“On the same day, at about 11:45 p.m., residents of Rafin Guza discovered a bag abandoned during a police hot pursuit of suspected criminals. The bag contained an AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 31 rounds of live ammunition. Investigations are currently underway to trace the culprits and soon they will be apprehended and brought to justice.”

Mr Hassan also disclosed that on Sunday, at 11:00 a.m, Kakuri Divisional Police operatives, acting on a tip-off, posed as buyers and arrested one Ziya Abdullah, who was attempting to sell a vehicle suspected to have been stolen.

According to him, Abdullahi’s arrest led to the arrest of his accomplice, one Bashir Usman, (aka) Yellow.

Mr Hassan said that the suspects confessed to robbing a resident using knives and cutlasses while they snatched a Honda Accord car.

He stated, “The stolen vehicle was later recovered in Zaria. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members. Some of the suspects have been charged while others are currently undergoing thorough investigation by the police. The remaining suspects found culpable will be arraigned in court soonest in accordance with the law.’’

He said the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, reiterated the command’s unwavering resolve to combat crimes and urged the residents to continue providing timely and useful information to assist the police in their routine and ad hoc operations.

The CP assured the residents that the state would continue to be peaceful.

The Council adjusted its original schedule to address the rapidly evolving crisis and also heard from the head of the UN-backed international nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Overnight from Thursday into Friday, Israeli military strikes targeted nuclear facilities across Iran, including the Natanz enrichment site.

Media reports indicated that the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, as well as several prominent nuclear scientists, were among those killed.

The strikes also caused significant damage, including reportedly dozens of civilian casualties, while airspace in the region has been largely closed and security forces are on high alert.

Additional Israeli strikes were reported late Friday local time as well as ballistic missile launches by Iran which have reportedly struck parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv.

Briefing the Council, Director General of IAEA, the UN-backed international nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, warned of the grave risks to regional stability and nuclear safety.

Mr Grossi said his agency was in constant contact with the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to assess the status of affected facilities and determine broader impacts on nuclear safety and security.

He said, “Iran has confirmed that at present, only the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant site has been attacked in today’s strikes. This facility contains the Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. At Natanz, the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60 per cent U-235, has been destroyed.”

The IAEA chief stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment.

He added, “Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security. Grossi said IAEA had consistently underlined that “armed attacks on nuclear facilities could result in radioactive releases with grave consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the State which has been attacked. I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, emphasised Israel’s determination to dismantle Iran’s nuclear programme.

Mr Danon stated, “We know our enemies. We know their ideology. And when a regime builds ballistic missiles, enriches uranium to near weapons-grade, and openly declares its intent to destroy us, we believe them.”

UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, said Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities marked a dangerous new escalation in the Middle East.

The top UN official told ambassadors that the repercussions of the attacks were already reverberating.

“I reaffirm the Secretary-General’s condemnation of any military escalation in the Middle East,” she said.

Ms DiCarlo urged both Israel and Iran to exercise maximum restraint and “avoid at all costs a descent into deeper and wider regional conflict.’’

Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA)
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has reaffirmed its preparedness to respond effectively to any flood related emergency in the state.

Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made this known on Friday during the flag-off of the 2025 Flood-Free Lagos Campaign.

The campaign included strategic visits to the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs.

He stated that the campaign was in response to early warnings from the Federal Government indicating that Lagos was among states at high risk of flooding during the rainy season.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said, “We have mapped out all vulnerable areas including Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Lekki, Apapa and Amuwo-Odofin. We are well prepared for any form of eventuality.’’

The permanent secretary highlighted significant improvements in the state’s emergency preparedness and infrastructure.

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has formally condoled with the Niger State Government and families of victims of Mokwa flood disaster.

The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Enugu on behalf of the body’s President-General, Senator Azuka Mbata, on Friday.

According to Mr Chukwu, the news of the flood in Mokwa was received with sadness.

He said that the organisation saw the unfortunate incident, which occurred on May 28, killing over 200 people as “heartbreaking.”

Conveying the organisation’s condolences to the bereaved families, government and people of Niger State, Mr Chukwu quoted Mr Mbata as urging the government to adopt measures that could help to avoid or mitigate such disasters in the future.

He stated, “Mbata calls on the Niger State Government and all other governments to implement the recommendations from experts on environment and weather. The Igbo leader, therefore, prays God Almighty to grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear this painful loss.’’

It further urged them “to take solace in the will of God.”

President Bola Tinubu’s government has directed civil servants at the ministry of agriculture to observe mandatory prayer and fasting within three weeks as part of spiritual exercise to tackle food insecurity in the country.

The ministry of agriculture and food safety issued the directive in a circular dated June 11 sent to its board members and staff, inviting them to participate in prayer sessions against nationwide hunger.

The weekly spiritual programme has been scheduled to hold every Monday for the rest of the month.

The circular noted, “This is to invite all staff of the federal ministry of agriculture and food security to a solemn prayer session for God’s guidance and success in supporting the government’s efforts to achieve food security. The prayers will hold at Conference Hall ‘B’ of the FMAFS headquarters in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 16, June 23 and June 30.’’

According to the circular, staff are expected to show up at work fasting on the selected dates, starting from next Monday through to the remainder of June.

Many Nigerians have been plunged into acute hunger in the past two years after harsh economic policies by President Bola Tinubu caused a significant hike in food prices across the country.

Under Mr Tinubu’s administration, attacks on farms continued to increase, with farmers often forced by terrorists to abandon their lands, causing nationwide food shortages.