BREAKING

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Fresh tragedy was averted in Kaduna State on Monday, January 20, when an electricity transformer that residents described as "consistently troubled", and which serves Ungwan Boro area of ECWA Hausa community in Kaduna,the state capital, exploded thrice and burst into flames. Some panic-stricken residents initially believed the loud explosions came from bombs in the volatile North-Central state capital,which had been the scene of ethno-religious fighting and bloodletting in the past. The explosions immediately threw the community as well as the popular De Jays hotel in the area, both of which had experienced outage since the previous…

Minutes after being sworn in, President Donald Trump harshly criticized his predecessor Joe Biden for failing to manage border security and other crises that occurred on his watch. “We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad. It fails to protect our magnificent, law-abiding American citizens, but provide sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world,” Trump said. “We have a government that has given unlimited funding to…

President Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. He is only the second ever to be elected to serve two non-consecutive terms. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Trump as now-former President Joe Biden looked on in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. Vice President JD Vance was sworn in by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Trump refused to attend Biden's inauguration four years ago after falsely claiming for weeks that he had only lost to the Democrat as a result of widespread ballot fraud in the 2020 election.…

By our correspondent It was a sombre downpour of tears as bodies of scores of victims killed in last weekend's terror attack by Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP) militias in Dumba,near Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State,were buried in a mass grave in Baga in the North-Eastern state of Nigeria on Tuesday evening, January 14. The dead comprised mostly farmers and fishermen even as many persons were reported missing after the attack. The Borno State government had,in a statement, confirmed 40 dead,but independent sources said the death toll from the attack was much higher,with some…

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Three villages in Chibok Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State lie in ruins with many persons feared dead and more missing following another devastating series of attacks by terrorists believed to belong to the Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP). At least three churches,including an EYN church, a pastor's house and an unspecified number of residential buildings also were reportedly burnt down by the rampaging terrorists. ISWAP is affiliated to the dreaded Boko Haram insurgent group. The attacks took place about 2am on Monday,locals said. Recall that Chibok was the scene in April,2014 of…

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Kaduna State Government has revealed plans by those it called "conflict entrepreneurs" to plunge the North-Western state into fresh rounds of blood-letting, ahead of the 2027 general elections. It said the unidentified personalities were recruiting and funding bandits and kidnappers to trigger renewed bloody crises in the state in order to disparage the accomplishments of the State Governor,Uba Sani, who,it noted, had restored relative peace, security and calm to flashpoints across the state in just over a year of his assumption of duties. The state government reminded people of the state and others of the unrelenting…

By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan A new Alaafin of Oyo has been formally approved by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, had been recommended by the Oyomesi (kingmakers) and approved by the governor. According to the commissioner, a statement to this effect had been issued by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademola Ojo, who said the announcement had put to rest all the social and legal bickerings that had ensued since the demise…

By our reporter Intense lobbying has kicked off in Nasarawa state, North-Central Nigeria, for top government positions following the sack of many very senior officials by the state governor, Abdullahi Sule. In a major shake-up on Friday, Gov. Sule sent home the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Muhammad Aliyu-Ubamdoma, all Commissioners, Senior Special Advisers (SSAs), Special Advisers, and Personal Assistants (PAs). The disclosure came during an emergency State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at Government House, Lafia, the state capital, on Friday. The mass sack came after Vice President Kashim Shetima’s departure from the state during which he inaugurated…

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna There are reports that Mr Bashir Saidu, former Chief of Staff to immediate past Governor of Kaduna state, North-Central Nigeria, Nasir El Rufai, has been arrested by security operatives. Sources said he was picked up for alleged money laundering and sale of government properties, during the El Rufai administration. El Rufai enjoyed a two-term tenure, 2015-2019 and 2019-2023. But, friends of the ex-Chief of Staff have raised dust, questioning why an anti-terrorism security outfit should be used in hounding him over alleged political matters. They also maintained that Saidu is innocent, saying he presented many documents…