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Court Orders Police Investigation Into Defamation Allegations Against Zamfara Governor’s Aide.
A Magistrate Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, has ordered the Commissioner of Police to investigate a criminal complaint filed by a former member of the State House of Assembly, Yusuf Alhasan Kanoma.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The case is against Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, a media aide to the Zamfara State Governor, and includes allegations of defamation, threat to life, and incitement of public disturbance.
Presiding Magistrate, Murtala Abdullahi, issued the directive during proceedings, instructing the police to carry out a detailed investigation into the allegations.
At the hearing, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulaziz Sani, SAN—represented by the Director of Litigation—applied for the case to be transferred to the Ministry of Justice under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
However, counsel to the complainant, Barrister Surajo Garba Gusau, opposed the application, arguing that it was not appropriate given the circumstances of the case.
He alleged that the defendant had evaded service of court processes and allegedly used thugs to block court officials from serving summons at his residence, insisting that the Attorney-General should focus on ensuring justice rather than taking over the matter.
While acknowledging the constitutional role of the Attorney-General, the complainant’s counsel maintained that such powers must be exercised properly and in line with due process, especially in a case involving serious allegations.
The court thereafter ordered the police to investigate the matter, with further proceedings expected after the outcome of the investigation.
The people of Kwara South have rejected claims that banditry and kidnapping have left large parts of the region deserted or reduced its voting strength.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement issued on Sunday by Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair on behalf of the Joint Security Watch Kwara South, the group described such claims as misleading and politically motivated ahead of the upcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship election.
They maintained that insecurity in the region is largely linked to unregulated forest areas and vulnerable border communities, stressing that the perpetrators are not indigenes of Kwara South and do not represent the people of the area.
According to the group, most violent incidents have occurred along remote routes and in settlements with limited security presence.
They further noted that where intelligence gathering and coordinated security operations were swiftly implemented, attacks were successfully prevented, and displaced residents have since returned to farming and normal economic activities.
Oyin-Zubair also cited electoral performance data to highlight the region’s political relevance within the APC. He referenced the 2019 and 2023 elections, stating that Kwara South recorded a higher success rate for the party compared to other zones.
He claimed the APC achieved about 68 percent success in Kwara South, compared to 35 percent in Kwara Central, which he said has been promoting the narrative that Kwara South has weakened politically due to insecurity.
The group also outlined ongoing security efforts, including community-led patrols, early warning systems across wards, aerial surveillance of hotspot areas, and joint operations involving the police, NSCDC, and local vigilante groups across Irepodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Isin, and Offa.
“Kwara South is defending its territory, protecting its people, and restoring normal life and economic activities. We will not allow insecurity to be used as a tool for political marginalisation,” Oyin-Zubair said.
The group urged the public to rely on verified information and reaffirmed that Kwara South remains safe for living, farming, trading, and voting.
Pharmacists under the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) have warned that it is highly risky for Nigeria to depend on imported drugs for about 70 per cent of its medicine needs.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The association described the situation as troubling and urged the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently support local pharmaceutical production. According to them, boosting domestic drug manufacturing will reduce reliance on imports and help position Nigeria as a leading pharmaceutical hub in Africa.
The National Chairman of NAIP, Pharmacist Bankole Ezebuilo, made the remarks at the 29th Annual National Conference and Training held in Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme “Collaboration and Innovation to Build Local Solutions for the Future of Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry.”
The event had in attendance key stakeholders, including Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru; Commissioner for Social Welfare, Dr Mariam Nana Fatima Imam; Commissioner for Communication, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju; and the Executive Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Abdulraheem Abdulmalik.
Also present were past Presidents of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), including Mohammed Yaro Budah, Azubike Okwor, Olumide Akintayo, Ahmed Iyakassai, and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, as well as the current PSN President, Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim (represented by Gafar Lanre Madehin), and the Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed.
In a statement issued after the conference, Ezebuilo stressed that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported medicines has placed the country at a critical crossroads.
He warned that a nation unable to produce its own medicines is effectively “negotiating with its health,” adding that such a situation is dangerous for both healthcare stability and economic sustainability.
Ezebuilo called for a shift toward pharmaceutical sovereignty through aggressive local production and urged the Federal Government to declare a national emergency in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
He said: “No nation can outsource its health security. Nigeria currently imports more than 70 per cent of its medicines, a situation dangerous to national healthcare stability and economic sustainability.
“Nigeria is now at a critical crossroads where it must choose between continued dependence on imported medicines or the pursuit of pharmaceutical sovereignty through aggressive local production.
“The Federal Government should declare a national emergency on pharmaceutical manufacturing and implement policies capable of transforming Nigeria into the definitive pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Africa.
“A nation that cannot produce its own medicines is a nation negotiating with its health, and negotiation is not where you want to be when lives are at stake.”
The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that its troops set houses on fire during a two-month operation in Odonget community, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The military presence in the community began on March 12, 2026, when personnel from the 13 Brigade, Calabar, and 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks, Ikom, were deployed following distress calls linked to suspected illegal mining activities. The miners had accused local youths of attacking them over alleged refusal to pay a ₦1,000 toll.
However, after the deployment, residents accused the soldiers of destroying over 50 houses, including stalls, shrines, and community halls. Reports also claimed that more than 200 people were displaced, while others were allegedly beaten or killed.
As displaced villagers gradually return from hiding in nearby bushes and communities, they are calling for compensation for destroyed properties and alleged killings.
Reacting to the accusations, the Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Yemi Sokoya, dismissed the claims, insisting that no houses were burnt by soldiers.
He challenged residents to provide evidence supporting their allegations and suggested that rival communities, long involved in local conflicts, may be responsible for the destruction.
According to him, troops responded to a distress call in Odonget but were ambushed by local youths during the operation, leading to the death of one soldier.
He explained that during a cordon-and-search operation, troops discovered arms and ammunition allegedly hidden within the community.
Sokoya maintained that the Army operates to protect lives and property and could not have engaged in burning houses, either intentionally or accidentally, as alleged.
He added that senior commanders of both the 13 Brigade and 245 Battalion were present during the operation, stressing that those making the accusations should provide photographic or video evidence to support their claims.
He also noted that the area has a history of communal conflict, particularly between Odonget (part of Ochon) and neighbouring Alesi, suggesting that such tensions could have been exploited by others during the crisis.
Earlier military accounts of the operation indicated that four people were killed during the engagement, while the Army reported losing one soldier.
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