Saidu, who was sworn in as council chairman on July 15, 2026, reportedly died in the early hours of Friday, October 9.

His death marks the second time a Fufore council chairman has died in office in less than two years. His predecessor, Alhaji Shuaibu Babas, died on April 23, 2025.

As of the time of filing this report, the family had yet to announce burial arrangements.

Reacting to the development, the member representing Fufore/Song Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Aliyu Boya Wakili, described Saidu as a dedicated public servant whose contributions would be greatly missed.

Army Neutralises 16 Terrorists In Adamawa Operations

In a related development, troops of the Nigerian Army operating under Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly neutralised 16 terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition during coordinated military operations in Adamawa State.

The operations were conducted around the Boima general area of Gombi Local Government Area and other locations within Sector 4 of the operation’s area of responsibility.

The Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a post on the Nigerian Army’s X account on Thursday, October 1.

According to the military, the operations involved airstrikes against suspected terrorist targets and efforts to repel attacks on military positions.

The Army stated that troops had ambushed a terrorist enclave in the Boima area of Gombi Local Government Area, killing 16 suspected terrorists during the operation.

The military also reported the recovery of arms and ammunition as part of efforts to weaken terrorist activities in the area.

The veteran entertainer, also known as the Maverick, made the disclosure during an interview with Leadership.

When asked about his favourite drink, Charly Boy said he preferred water, while admitting that he smokes despite abstaining from alcohol.

“Water. I have never taken alcohol. I don’t drink, but I smoke,” he said.

Speaking further, the entertainer urged men to prioritise their health and stop suffering in silence whenever they experience medical challenges.

Charly Boy recalled how he publicly discussed his health struggles after being diagnosed with cancer, stressing that men should not feel pressured to conceal their health conditions to appear strong.

He criticised the belief that men must endure pain without expressing their emotions, describing the mindset as harmful and unnecessary.

“It has become a pandemic. You know how reckless men are now. For a long time, men have borne their pains silently, because ‘men don’t cry’. Men erroneously believe that’s what shows that they are strong. But all of that is nonsense and rubbish,” he said.

The entertainer explained that he had openly discussed his cancer diagnosis on national television rather than pretending to be unaffected by the condition.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer, I went on national TV and announced that my John Thomas had died (laughs). I am not the one to pretend that I am that strong,” he added.

Charly Boy noted that some men were afraid to speak about illnesses affecting their sexual and reproductive health because of embarrassment and societal expectations.

He emphasised that prostate cancer should not be ignored and encouraged men to undergo regular medical check-ups to improve the chances of early detection.

“But prostate cancer isn’t something that kills anybody instantly if you do the right thing by checking yourself up. It is said that prevention is better than cure. From as early as 35-40, you will start checking your prostate for early signs,” he stated.

The entertainer’s comments highlight the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding men’s health and encouraging early medical attention for potentially serious conditions.

The governor made the remarks in an interview with Nigerian Tribune on Saturday, insisting that his position against negotiating with bandits had remained unchanged since he assumed office.

He argued that paying ransom had turned kidnapping into a lucrative criminal enterprise, enabling bandits to finance further attacks.

“My stand has always been no negotiation with the bandits, from day one. And I still maintain that stand,” he said.

The governor explained that money paid to secure the release of abducted victims could be used by criminals to purchase weapons and sustain their operations.

According to him, continued ransom payments only strengthen the capacity of bandits to carry out more kidnappings and other violent crimes.

“Kidnapping people and asking for ransom is empowering the bandits. For every naira that you pay, that is what they use to acquire sophisticated weapons,” he stated.

He questioned how bandits could afford such weapons if they were unable to obtain ransom payments from the families of their victims.

The governor also revealed that he had personally experienced the trauma of kidnapping in 2025 when two of his biological brothers were abducted by bandits.

According to him, the kidnappers demanded ₦300 million for each of his brothers, bringing the total ransom demand to ₦600 million.

Despite the enormous amount demanded, the governor said he refused to pay, maintaining that he would not provide criminals with money to finance further attacks.

“It happened to me in 2025, when two of my blood brothers were kidnapped. The first thing they asked for was a ransom of ₦300 million per person. I said I was not going to pay a dime,” he disclosed.

He explained that the kidnappers had gone directly to his brothers’ homes and taken them away, questioning why he should pay money to secure their release.

“You already have these people under your custody. You came to pick them yourselves. They did not go there. They even came to their houses and picked them. And you expect me to pay money to secure their freedom? I said no. I will not do that,” he said.

The governor maintained that he was determined not to pay ransom, even when the lives of his relatives were at stake.

“I am a very strong believer that if they are meant to die within that period, they will die. Nobody will do anything. But I will not give my money to a criminal and empower him to do more,” he added.

He also questioned the effectiveness of negotiations with bandits under the previous administration, arguing that the approach had failed to produce meaningful results.

“Secondly, if you look at the history of all the negotiations that took place under the previous administration, did they yield any positive results? The answer is no,” he stated.

The governor further argued that bandit groups lacked a unified leadership structure, making it difficult to negotiate agreements that would be respected by all factions.

He explained that reaching an agreement with one group could provoke another to launch attacks in an attempt to demonstrate its influence and demand similar recognition.

“Remember, these people are not organized. If you decide to negotiate with A, another person will feel that you are underrating him. He will show you that he is also somebody to recognise. So, how do you negotiate with these kinds of people?” he asked.

He added that the absence of central leadership among the groups made it difficult to hold them accountable for agreements reached during negotiations.

“Nobody takes responsibility. Nobody takes leadership. They operate in isolation,” the governor said.