By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the suspension of the Office of its Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, alongside the office of the Director of Radio Biafra.

The decision followed a meeting of the group’s Directorate held on Wednesday. IPOB said its leadership examined intelligence reports linked to communications allegedly sent by Kanu from Sokoto prison. The position of the group was contained in a statement released on Thursday by Mazi Chikadibia Edoziem, who heads the Directorate of State.

According to the statement, the Directorate of State will now supervise the affairs of the organisation and coordinate its activities.

The group stressed that IPOB was “formed and nurtured by a group of Biafrans in the Diaspora (not by any singular individual)” and insisted that no individual possesses the authority to disband the Directorate of State, which it described as the highest leadership body of the movement.

IPOB explained that the action became necessary after it observed that “mindful that certain unguarded communications from Sokoto prison to those in Biafraland has caused unnecessary arrests and death of IPOB family members in Biafraland.”

The leadership also claimed that visitors and activities connected to Kanu remain under close monitoring by the Department of State Services, DSS. It further raised concerns over alleged plans by some persons to establish another militia group that could spark renewed violence in the South-East.

The statement added that the suspension would “prevent unchecked actions, reckless assumption of authority and unguarded utterances from resulting in the reckless arrests, torture and needless death of Biafran youths.”

IPOB also distanced itself from future actions linked to the suspended offices. The group stated that “IPOB shall hence forward not be held accountable for actions of individuals or groups of Individuals not holding any active position within IPOB.”

The development came shortly after reports emerged that Kanu had dissolved the third administration of the Directorate of State and introduced a new leadership structure.

Reports said Kanu appointed United States-based Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ as the head of a newly formed fourth administration of the Directorate of State.

A statement credited to IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful said Nwaọgụ had been directed to immediately oversee the administration and coordination of the group’s activities under Kanu’s authority.

The Directorate of State was created by Kanu in 2012 as the administrative arm of IPOB. Previous heads of the body included Dr. Justin Akujieze in the United States, Mazi Uchenna Asiegbu in Spain, and Chika Edoziem in Switzerland, who assumed office in March 2017 during Kanu’s detention at Kuje Prison.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said he believes President Bola Tinubu will continue to receive God’s guidance to lead Nigeria until 2031.

Umahi made the remark on Thursday during an inspection of ongoing bridge projects in Lagos State. The projects included the Carter Bridge, which is expected to undergo reconstruction from next week.

The minister said the current administration would continue to enjoy divine backing as it works to address national problems, especially insecurity.

“The same God that brought him is going to be there to solve all the problems,” Umahi said.

He also appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the Federal Government and support efforts aimed at restoring security across the country.

According to him, every government desires peace and stability, but leaders must take action whenever challenges emerge.

“There is no leader who will not want his reign to be peaceful, but when crises come, the leader must confront them. That is exactly what we are doing,” he stated.

Umahi added that regardless of the cause of insecurity in the country, he remained confident that Tinubu would receive the wisdom and strength needed to handle the situation and other national issues.

The minister also expressed confidence that projects initiated by the administration would be completed successfully.

“Your hands that have started this will complete it,” Umahi stated.

Speaking on the reconstruction of Carter Bridge, Umahi disclosed that the project is expected to last for about three years.

“It is within our five-year plan,” he added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness as part of efforts to prevent a possible outbreak in the country.

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the committee on Thursday in Abuja. He said the initiative was designed to ensure Nigeria takes preventive action early and avoids a repeat of the Ebola outbreak recorded in 2014.

“We did the inauguration today on the preparedness of Nigeria for the Ebola virus disease. We’ve covered a lot of ground.

“Right now, there’s no reported case, which is good news, and that’s why all hands have to be on deck to make sure the measures we are taking are preventive, not curative,” he said.

Gbajabiamila explained that the government intends to act ahead of any emergency instead of waiting until the virus enters the country.

“We don’t want to be in the situation we were last time, where we had a carrier in the country and we’re all running helter-skelter,” he added.

According to him, the task force has already created teams that will focus on disease surveillance, border monitoring and emergency coordination.

He stated that the new strategy extends beyond airport checks and now includes stronger monitoring at land borders and informal travel routes.

Gbajabiamila noted that authorities are expanding surveillance because of the high level of movement across land borders. He said agencies such as Immigration, the Border Control Development Agency and border communities are involved in the operation.

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, also confirmed that health screening measures have been strengthened at major entry points across the country.

He added that the preparedness plan connects federal ministries and state governments to ensure coordinated action against any possible Ebola outbreak.

By Uzair Adam

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned motorists that possessing a permit for tinted vehicle windows will not shield them from arrest as authorities intensify enforcement against the use of heavily tinted vehicles across Abuja.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, issued the warning while speaking in a video shared by the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, on X.

According to Sanusi, the command has adopted a strict approach to the enforcement exercise, stressing that officers will not differentiate between drivers with tint permits and those without.

“There is a total ban on the usage of tinted vehicles. We are not looking at whether you have a tinted permit or not. If we find you with a tinted vehicle, you will be arrested,” he said.

The police chief explained that criminals frequently use tinted vehicles to conceal their identities and facilitate crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking and other unlawful activities.

He added that even motorists who present valid permits would be subjected to investigations to determine whether they were genuinely qualified to obtain such approvals.

“Even if you show us a permit, we will investigate whether you qualified to apply for it in the first place,” Sanusi stated.

The commissioner noted that some criminal elements may obtain permits and use them as a cover for illegal operations, adding that the command would not allow such practices to continue.

“We will not allow criminals to hide behind tinted permits while committing offences such as kidnapping and the transportation of drugs, arms and ammunition,” he said.

Addressing claims by some motorists that they require tinted vehicles for medical reasons, Sanusi said such exemptions must be supported by verifiable medical evidence.

“If you provide medical reports recommending the use of such a vehicle, we will verify them with the issuing hospital. What we need is evidence,” he said.

Sanusi also distinguished between factory-fitted tints and heavily darkened aftermarket modifications, noting that many factory-installed tints still allow visibility into a vehicle’s interior.

He maintained that deeply tinted vehicles have featured prominently in several criminal investigations handled by the command, including kidnapping and one-chance cases.

“People have been transported in tinted vehicles without attracting attention. That is why we have decided to act. We will go after all tinted vehicles equally, regardless of whether the owner has a permit or not,” he said.

The renewed crackdown is part of the police command’s ongoing campaign against tinted vehicles, covered number plates and unregistered vehicles, which authorities say are commonly used to aid criminal activities and hinder investigations.

Residents and motorists have been urged to comply with the regulations or face sanctions, including arrest, prosecution and the impoundment of affected vehicles.

By Uzair Adam

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath aimed at preventing elected officials from leaving the party after securing victory at the polls.

The party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, where he defended the policy against allegations that it conflicts with constitutional provisions.

Enekweizu explained that the loyalty oath is backed by the NDC constitution and was introduced to protect the party from the growing trend of defections that has affected several political parties across the country.

He said members who voluntarily join the party are bound by its constitution and decisions made by its duly constituted authorities.

“First and foremost, a political party is like any other association, and every member who subscribes to the membership of the party is bound by the provisions of the constitution of the party and decisions taken by the party’s properly constituted authorities.

“Within NDC, the decision to make people sign that affidavit is provided for in our constitution,” he said.

The NDC secretary rejected claims that the policy is unconstitutional, maintaining that members of voluntary organisations are obligated to abide by the rules governing such bodies.

Although the party’s constitution requires all candidates contesting on its platform to sign the oath, Enekweizu said the party had taken an administrative decision to exempt Obi and Kwankwaso.

“The constitution says everybody running under the platform of the party has to sign, but the party has taken the administrative decision that those required to sign in this instance do not include the presidential candidate and his vice,” he stated.

According to him, the measure is primarily targeted at lawmakers elected into the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly who often defect shortly after assuming office.

“Our main focus is not the governor; it’s not the president. It’s the national and state assembly members elected on the platform of our party,” he added.

The NDC recently unveiled the anti-defection policy as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s institutional stability. Party leaders said the frequent defection of elected officials from the platforms that sponsored their elections informed the decision.

Enekweizu stressed that the party was committed to building a sustainable political institution and would not allow politicians to use it merely as a platform for winning elections before moving elsewhere.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops attached to Forward Operating Bases (FOB) AUDU and BABANNA have destroyed a suspected terrorist hideout during a patrol operation in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a report shared on his official X account on Wednesday.

According to the report, the operation was carried out around 10:30 a.m. on June 14, 2026, after security personnel received credible intelligence about the presence of a suspected terrorist camp within the Saminaka–Kanau axis.

The troops conducted a fighting patrol across the area and searched locations linked to criminal activities.

Although the soldiers did not encounter any suspected terrorists during the mission, they reportedly located and dismantled the hideout. They also destroyed a logistics and administrative facility believed to have been used by the criminal group.

Military sources cited in the report said the operation was executed successfully and without any incident.

The report added that security forces are continuing efforts to maintain a strong presence in the area and prevent criminal elements from operating freely within the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has commenced a statewide operation against vehicles without valid registration and those using concealed or fake number plates, with mobile courts deployed to facilitate the speedy prosecution of offenders.

The exercise began on Wednesday following a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu. Authorities said the initiative is intended to improve security and promote safer roads across the state.

In a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, the command disclosed that mobile courts have been positioned at the headquarters of the state’s five area commands and at key locations within Bauchi metropolis.

According to the police, the enforcement drive focuses on vehicles operating without proper registration, those with hidden or covered number plates, and vehicles displaying unauthorised or fraudulent registration numbers.

Commenting on the operation, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, said, “Unregistered and unidentifiable vehicles remain a major security risk. Such vehicles are often used to perpetrate violent crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery. This enforcement is not aimed at harassing motorists, but at protecting lives and property.”

He warned that any vehicle found to be in breach of the law would be impounded, while offenders would face immediate trial before the mobile courts. He added that penalties could include fines and other sanctions stipulated under the country’s vehicle registration and licensing regulations.

The command advised motorists to ensure that their registration documents are up to date, display number plates appropriately, and avoid any form of alteration or concealment.

Police authorities also appealed to residents to cooperate with personnel involved in the operation, noting that the exercise would continue across the state without exception.

According to the command, the campaign is part of broader efforts to prevent criminals from using untraceable vehicles and to strengthen public safety throughout Bauchi State.

Amnesty International has denounced a deadly attack carried out by armed men on the Irigwe community of Angwan Magaji in Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where nine people lost their lives and 11 others sustained injuries.

According to the human rights organisation, the attack took place late on June 16, 2026. It stated that among those killed were two children aged five and four.

The organisation also reported that several victims were killed during the assault, while three women were allegedly attacked inside their homes during the night.

Amnesty International disclosed that efforts were still underway to locate some residents who remained unaccounted for after the incident.

Reacting to the development, the organisation described the attack as one of the most severe recent incidents recorded in Southern Kaduna.

“This is perhaps one of the deadliest recent attacks in the southern part of Kaduna State, with yet another rural community shattered by an attack in the later hours of the night,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation expressed concern over the continuing security challenges in the area. It noted that communities in Southern Kaduna have continued to face killings, abductions and other violent attacks.

Amnesty International called on authorities to take immediate action to safeguard residents and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

It further warned that repeated attacks and the inability to prosecute suspected perpetrators remain a major threat to the right to life of people living in the affected communities.

By Aisha Musa Auyo 

Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. I am still struggling to absorb the shock of Baba Ahmad’s passing. Saying goodbye to a father, mentor, and teacher whose impact on my life cannot be overstated is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

I owe my Doctorate in Educational Psychology entirely to him. Among all the paths I could have taken in life, he was the one who steered me toward this field.

I was sixteen, in my first year, when I walked into Educational Psychology 001 and met Prof. Ahmad for the first time. Back then, I resented studying education when all I had ever wanted was medicine. But his intellectual energy, his rigour, and his sheer passion changed something in me. I remember thinking, so there’s a medical side to education, a psychology that isn’t strictly clinical. This is it. This is what I should specialise in. The workings of the human mind had always fascinated me, and the learning theories he introduced us to were captivating, made simple by his rare gift for turning abstract ideas into something anyone could grasp.

That evening, I told my father about this brilliant professor. He smiled. “We went to secondary school together, in Hadejia,” he said. “Prof. Abubakar, too, from educational psychology, also from Hadejia. They’re your fathers as well. You should go and greet them sometime.”

When I finally did, before I could even say a word, he looked at me and said my name. “You’re Aisha Auyo. Your resemblance to your father is striking.” We wouldn’t cross paths again until I returned for my master’s.

He was nothing short of supportive through it all. During my defence, he could be stern, but it was the kind of sternness that steadied rather than shook you. “Aisha, kinga, dukanmu nan mu iyayenki ne. Ki kwantar da hankalinki.” Aisha, look, all of us here are your parents. If there’s anything you don’t understand, we will always be here to help and guide you.”

Whenever Prof. Ahmad spoke about psychology and research, you understood immediately that you were in the presence of someone who had mastered his craft. There was no corner of educational psychology, no angle, including its Islamic dimensions, that he hadn’t explored. He designed curricula, taught, researched, supervised, and mentored thousands. How he managed to keep expanding his knowledge alongside everything else he carried never ceased to amaze me. Dedication, commitment, grit, passion….. that rare combination made him a force wherever he stood.

His mind absorbed and retained information in a way few others could. Many of us in educational psychology drew our energy from him. He pushed people to study even on the days they had no will left to. His influence stretched across Northern Nigeria and beyond.

Students called him the “Dodo” of every defence session because if you tried to cut corners or talk your way around a gap in your work, he would catch it from a single glance. He could smell unpreparedness from a mile away, and he had no patience for laziness or carelessness, which led some to assume he lacked warmth. He didn’t. He was simply a principled man who valued hard work and honesty. Behind that exacting exterior was a humble, selfless, generous soul who helped more people than most of us will ever know.

I remember a conference in Gombe, when he learned I was staying with family friends instead of with him. He was furious and immediately tried to change the arrangement. “Aisha ba ki da inda ya fi cancanta ki zauna fiye da gidana a garin Gombe”. Aisha, there is nowhere more fitting for you to stay in Gombe than my house. He was on sabbatical at the time. When my hosts came to collect me, he kept insisting, “Diyata ce fa. Babanta yana nan” …She is my daughter. Her father is right here. Eventually, we compromised: two days with my hosts, two days with him. He opened his home to so many students, and those days were full of warmth and laughter.

When I finished my master’s defence, relieved and overjoyed that I was finally done, he called my father to congratulate him and urged him to push me back for a PhD. My father called and said, “Babanki Dr Kaugama ya ce ki dawo PhD”. Your father, Kaugama, says you should return for your PhD. I told him I would, just not yet, in sha Allah, someday soon.

My father never let it go. Every time we spoke, while I was in Ogun, he reminded me about the PhD. Your father, Ahmad, says you will have all the support you need. That was how I found myself buying the form and sitting the aptitude test. When he saw me in the exam hall, he lit up. “Aisha, I know you’ll ace this,” he said. “Kina da ƙoƙari da himma” Those words carried me through. I told myself I would not let down everyone who believed in me. Alhamdulillah, I passed and was given admission number 00001 that year.

During my PhD coursework exams, he once noticed my hands trembling and asked what was wrong. “I’m hungry, sir, I haven’t eaten,” I admitted. I had been reading and lost track of time. He told me, plainly, that as an educational psychologist, I ought to know better that the brain runs on food. He said, You need it to read, to understand, to recall, to organise your thoughts. He asked what I wanted to eat and went out himself to arrange it. I couldn’t write a word until I had eaten. Once I was full, he said, “Now continue your paper. I won’t add a single second for you. Time off is time off, for everyone.” I wrote as fast as I could and managed to answer every question. I never made that mistake again.

After my PhD viva, I asked to take a photo with him. “Aisha, ba ni da lokaci,” he teased. “Baba, you forced me to come back for this program,” I reminded him. “Remember how you called my father?” He laughed. “Yes, I remember everything.” “Then I’m forcing you to take this picture with me,” I said. “You’re part of my academic journey. You’re the reason I fell in love with educational psychology.” We took a few photos together and said our goodbyes.

Baba Ahmad was a father to many. His home was always full of orphans and relatives from Kaugama. He was a comrade, a tireless community man, a teacher in the truest sense. His death is an immense loss to his immediate family, to the NISEP family, and to every endeavour he poured himself into. May his contributions to academia continue to benefit him in this life and the next.

When I heard the news, my first thought was: Will he meet my father there? Allah ya yi musu rahama da gafara duka. Allah ya kula da bayansa. Allah ya hada mu duka a Aljanna.

May Allah grant them mercy and forgiveness, watch over those they left behind, and reunite us all in Paradise.

Aisha Musa Auyo, PhD, is an Educational Psychologist, author, and media professional passionate about translating research into practical, everyday impact. She writes on parenting, family dynamics, and education, drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience. Aisha is also a parenting and relationship coach and the founder of Eesher Auyo’s Empire. She is based in Abuja, Nigeria.

By Anwar Usman

The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance has debunked reports suggesting it plans to introduce new taxes on telecommunications services and petroleum products, saying the claims are false and misleading.

This was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement signed by Maryann Duke, senior special assistant on communications and press secretary to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.

The statement stated that, the reports, which linked the proposed taxes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV Consultation on Nigeria, do not reflect its position.

The ministry reiterate that, the recommendations contained in the IMF report are advisory and do not constitute policy decisions or binding actions for Nigeria.

The statement in parts reads “the Federal Government is not considering the introduction of any new taxes on telecommunications services or petroleum products,”

The statement further clarified that existing tax arrangements on petroleum products remain in place.

It said the Value Added Tax (VAT) waiver on fuel has not been removed and is still active.

It also explained that any fuel surcharge can only take effect through a ministerial order published in the Official Gazette, adding that no such action is being considered.

On telecommunications, the government said the excise duty introduced before 2023 has already been cancelled under the new tax laws.

It added that the tax is, therefore, no longer in force.

The ministry urged Nigerians, media organisations and businesses to disregard claims about new telecoms and fuel taxes.

It said Nigeria’s tax policy remains focused on improving revenue collection, supporting economic growth, and attracting investment, rather than increasing the tax burden on citizens.