National News
Caritas Nigeria condemns rape of Aisha Umar by NGO

Caritas Nigeria condemns rape of Aisha Umar by NGO
By: Sam Kayode
The Catholic Caritas foundation of Nigeria has condemned in strong terms the recent rape and exploitation of the late Aisha Umar by a nongovernmental organization NGO staff in Maiduguri.
Stressing it’s disdain on what he described as an act of wickedness in a news conference in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of Caritas, Rev father Uchechukwu Obodoechina represented by Rev father Peter Audu stressed that the conduct of rape was a sickening betrayal of the trust of the people the accused swore to serve.
“It is also a betrayal of our colleagues who put themselves in harm’s way to serve others including those who have paid the ultimate price and those killed by insurgents in the north east region of Nigeria while rendering humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced IDPs and vulnerable people”
Audu called for a thorough investigation of the incident adding that “it is our top priority to ensure that the perpetrators of sexual abuse and exploitation are not excused or condoned but held to full account under the law.
He appealed to all humanitarian organizations to put in place adequate mechanism to guard against the perpetration of sexual exploitation and abuse by their employees and agents beginning from its recruitment process to on-boarding and service delivery.
“I appeal to all humanitarian and development organizations in Nigeria, not to be negligent in the management of, nor treat with levity reports of sexual exploitation and abuse.
“This would be tantamount to professional misconduct on the part of the top management of such organizations. We must have zero tolerance for inaction against it” he posited.
Also speaking Audu said “we do not want this case to be swept under the carpet. Our aim is to see that at the end of the day, justice is served to the family of the late minor that died.
“If the state is overwhelmed with rape cases, the only way to go about reducing it is to make the laws stiffer like the Asians have done to stem impunity.
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. “First the late victim must have been a resident IDP and that makes the crime more grievous.
“If Borno and Nigeria had made its law stiffer, the prevalence of rape would have been going down by now.
“Government has to be more proactive about this law. If you make a law that is not working, the people will not get redress against such laws. At the end of the day don’t be surprised that selective Justice may be applied.” He stressed.
The man of God said that rape was a criminal act adding that the people of Borno must come together as one body against the wrong acts of rape that has been perpetrated.
“Women should not be afraid to walk the streets of the town because of the possibility of being raped.”
Caritas is a Catholic agency with about 160 branches worldwide with headquarters in Rome focusing mainly on development and humanitarian services.
Meanwhile the Commissioner of Police Borno state Abdu Umar has vowed to get to the bottom of the matter until justice is served.
He has since arrested and paraded the suspected rapist who is an NGO staff in Maiduguri.
Caritas Nigeria condemns rape of Aisha Umar by NGO
National News
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge

Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
By: Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the sudden death of an unidentified man who collapsed and died at Government House Lodge, Minna. Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 2, 2025.
Sources said that the deceased had visited House No. 8, Government House Lodge, in an attempt to see Mr. Sammy, Chairman of Niger Foods. However, upon meeting his host’s absence, the man suddenly took ill.
Medical doctors were reportedly contacted from the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, for urgent attention. Unfortunately, by the time the doctor arrived, the man had already passed away.
Following the report, a team of police operatives from GRA Division visited the scene. The body was photographed and evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital Mortuary for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
National News
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
By Amina Ahmed Dankawuwa
The Senator representing Bauchi South at the national assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has accepted the calls by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial District to contest for Governorship come 2027.
The Director General of the campaign for the actualisation of Sen Buba’s Gubernatorial ambition, Alhaji Muhammad Sade (Usman) accepted the calls on behalf of the Senator during a town hall meeting held on Saturday by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial in Azare.
He appealed to members of APC to maintain peace with all other aspirants within the party.
“Let’s respect other aspirants, such that anybody who win the primary election can have will be assisted by others, so we must value and respect each other”, he reasoned.
Muhammad Sade also called on party members to commence looking for delegates for ahead of the party primaries.
“It is now that we have to look for those that have votes. I call on our esteemed supporters to start mobilizing for delegate”, he emphasized.
He also advised social media handlers (citizens journalist) to avoid creating problems for personal gain, adding that social media some times create a lot of problem within and out side the party endorsed Senator representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Buba Umar for Bauchi Governor come 2027.
Baushe Daily Times reports that members of the APC gathered in thousands during the meeting in Azare during which they unanimously agreed to support Senator Shehu Buba for Governor come 2027.
Earlier in a welcoming address, former majority leader in the Bauchi state house of assembly, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, the choice to support Sen Shehu buba Umar’s Governorship ambition was due to his concern and care he has for the people of Bauchi state.
“He respects us, he values our people politically and he also call on party members to respect each other because politics shouldn’t be considered as a do or die affair”, he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam charged the youth to cast their votes for the youth only and avoid voting older politicians who will always be going abroad for medical attention.
He therefore, appealed to members of APC to mobilised people to support Sen Shehu Buba for Governor.
Among those who attended the town hall meeting include state assembly member Azare/Madangala Hon Zakariyya sale maigero, comr sabo Mohammed S A to Sen Shehu Buba on media and communication, Hon kasuwa Shehu Damana, Hon Adamu Fanta Misau, Hon maiwada Misau,Hon Mohammed Hassan, Barr Muktar Umar, Alhaji Nura Adamu among others.
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
National News
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the closure of Badeggi Radio in Niger State by the State Governor Mohammed Bago, discribing it as not only a suppression of press freedom but an affront to democracy.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the action while reacting to the ugly incident. He said the governor’s decision to shut down the radio station without following due process is disappointing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ojukwu noted that the consequences of suppressing press freedom are far-reaching and can lead to increased government opacity, reduced citizen participation, creat obstacles to accountability, and weakening of democratic institutions.
He said: “The arbitrary shutdown of media outlets undermines the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy.”
He called on Governor Bago to immediately unseal the Radio Station and allow it to resume full operations, asking him to channel issues concerning any alleged unconstitutional operations of the Radio Station to the appropriate authority and not act with impunity.
He said: “This is both a moral imperative and a democratic requirement.”
Ojukwu who is also the president of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa ( NNHRI-WA) urged the governments to protect journalists and media freedom, foster a culture of tolerance, and support independent media. “Journalists must be able to operate without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” He emphasized.
He lamented that the media has severally come under attack in various forms, a situation he termed as unacceptable in a civilized society.
He called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be firm in carrying out its Statutory mandate which must not be abused at any slight opportunity.
He used the opportunity to ask media practitioners to be professional at all times in order to prevent needless censorship by political office holders.
He also called on Nigerian Guild of Editors to provide professional guidance at regular intervals as this will curb the use of hate speech, fake news and other unprofessional conducts capable of adversely affecting the media houses.
He insisted that the Commission remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria and would continue to monitor the situation closely.
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
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