Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has sharply criticized Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, following his decision to reject the implementation of Sharia law in the Muslim-majority West African nation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Saturday, Gumi questioned the 38-year-old leader’s grasp of social dynamics and international geopolitics, warning that his secular stance could inadvertently strengthen extremist recruitment in the Sahel.

“He Has Armed the Extremists” — Gumi’s Critique

Sheikh Gumi argued that Traoré’s military background leaves him ill-prepared to handle sensitive religious and governance debates. According to the cleric, banning Sharia law hands a powerful propaganda tool to insurgent groups:

“Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, with his anti-Shariah stance at the age of 38 and with nothing but military training on his resume, is too naïve to understand the complexity of the society he is ruling under the gun, let alone contemporary geopolitics.

He has given the extremists the exact weapon they need to conscript more foot soldiers against his secular regime.”

Burkina Faso Leader Defends Secular State

The backlash follows a national address by Captain Traoré, in which he firmly reaffirmed Burkina Faso’s commitment to remaining a secular state where all citizens enjoy freedom of religion.

Key points from Traoré’s address include:

• No Islamic Legal System: Despite Burkina Faso having a Muslim-majority population, Sharia law will not be integrated into the national legal framework.

• Critique of Religious Studies Abroad: Traoré questioned citizens who travel to Saudi Arabia to study Sharia, suggesting the nation needs expertise in technology and science rather than religious law to spur development.

• Entry Ban for Sharia Scholars: The military ruler warned that students traveling abroad for Sharia studies would be barred from returning to the country after completing their education.

Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has voiced strong confidence that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will honor his commitment to serve a single four-year term if elected.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking during an interview on News Central’s 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, Kwankwaso dismissed doubts surrounding the coalition’s power-sharing arrangement.

“Obi Is a Gentleman” — Kwankwaso Reassures Alliance

Kwankwaso emphasized that the alliance within the NDC is rooted in mutual trust, public declarations, and regional fairness.

• Public Commitment: Kwankwaso noted that because Obi made his single-term pledge publicly, there is no reason to question his integrity.

• Regional Balance: He explained that the agreement allows the Southern region to complete an eight-year tenure, ensuring a smooth and equitable political transition.

• Mutual Respect: Kwankwaso stated firmly that he expects all coalition leaders to stand by their word rather than reneging on shared promises.

“I personally believe Peter Obi is a gentleman and I have every reason to trust him… Nobody should have any reason to doubt him. We believe the southern part of the country should complete its second term, and I don’t believe any gentleman would want to renege.”

Governance Beyond Personal Ambitions

Highlighting the broader vision of the alliance, Kwankwaso revealed that the NDC has established comprehensive short-, medium-, and long-term development roadmaps for Nigeria.

He stressed that policy continuity remains the top priority, regardless of whether leadership comes from the Obidient movement, the Kwankwasiyya movement, or another faction within the coalition.

“More importantly, we have collectively gotten a short-term, medium-term and long-term plan for this country… We will ensure that whoever comes, whether it’s Peter, myself, or anyone else, sticks strictly to that governance program.”

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted illicit narcotics worth over ₦10 billion during high-profile operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the Apapa Seaport in Lagos.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency confirmed the arrest of key cartel leaders and the recovery of hundreds of rounds of military-grade ammunition across northern states.

Major Lagos Drug Interceptions

• ₦7.1 Billion Seizure at Apapa Port: On July 20, a joint inspection of an incoming container revealed 2,388.5 kg of Canadian Loud (a potent cannabis strain) concealed inside three imported vehicles.

• ₦2.2 Billion Opioid Shipment at Lagos Airport: On July 24, officers intercepted a massive consignment of Tapentadol 250mg originating from India aboard an Air Maroc flight following intelligence processing.

• Balogun Market Merchant Arrested: Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old trader on Lagos Island, was arrested as the suspected kingpin behind a scheme attempting to export 3.30 kg of cocaine hidden within foodstuff cartons to the UK. His arrest followed the detention of three cargo agents and a middleman, Kenneth Okakpu.

• Cannabis in Soap & US Imports: Operatives intercepted UK-bound tramadol hidden in containers of black soap at a courier facility. Additionally, 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo was arrested in Surulere after receiving 2.80 kg of Loud flown in from the US.

Military-Grade Ammunition Recovered in Katsina and Kaduna

Beyond narcotics, NDLEA patrols intercepted illegal arms transfers:

1. Katsina State: On July 22, 30-year-old Mustapha Sani was arrested in Safana LGA with 323 rounds of ammunition (including 200 rounds of 7.62mm caliber).

2. Kaduna State: On the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, 30-year-old Abubakar Amadu was caught transporting 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside kegs of palm oil.

Both firearms suspects have been transferred to military/police authorities for further investigation.

State Raids & Nationwide Anti-Drug Campaign

In Edo State, an NDLEA raid in the Ilushi community yielded 1,286 kg of cannabis and 86 kg of cannabis seeds from a warehouse, alongside individual arrests involving 73 kg of skunk.

Concurrently, the agency conducted public education outreach under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative at schools in Niger, Kano, and Lagos states.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the officers for their relentless efforts and urged personnel nationwide to maintain the momentum in curbing illicit drug operations.