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Moscow Concert Hall Attack: Fani-Kayode, Pantami Say Russia is Not Alone

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Moscow Concert Hall Attack: Fani-Kayode, Pantami Say Russia is Not Alone

By: Michael Mike

As the Russian Republic continues to mourn the killing of its citizens in an attack on Moscow concert hall, some prominent Nigerians including a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and the immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami paid a condolence visit on Russian Embassy in Nigeria with a message that the European country is not alone.

With Fani-Kayode and Pantami on the visit were a former Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Senator Basheer Mohammed; Senator Mohammed Hassan who represented Yobe South Senatorial District, a former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon Farouk Aliyu, and the Campaign Spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Eastern part of the country during the 2023 presidential election, Joseph Onoh.

In his remarks, Fani-Kayode expressed condolences to the Russian Federation over the attack, assuring the Russian Federation envoy, Alexey Shebarshin, that Russian is not alone in its difficult moments.

Fani-Kayode said: “It saddens our hearts that such a terrible thing could have happened at this time in our history in your country.

“As you said earlier, we suffer from similar atrocities here in the recent past. And we join our faith with you and we also reach out to you with our hearts to commiserate with you and express our condolences on behalf of millions of Nigerian people and we stand with you from beginning to end; we acknowledge the critical role that you have played in the development of our country in terms of collaboration and we need to do far more.

“We want you to be rest assured that at this difficult time and indeed, over the months and years, Russia is not alone and has not been alone. You have many, many friends here in Nigeria. As you can see, people that came here today are not just ordinary people; these are people of high calibre and they represent millions of others and we thought it was appropriate to come and express our solidarity with you.

“We believe strongly that those that were behind this, those we know already that the Russian security services have so quickly brought to book and have caught outside of those ones that have been caught, we believe strongly that we have every faith in your system that you will get to the bottom of it and know those who were really behind it.”

Fani-Kayode further told the Russian envoy that it was not just those that the Russian Federation sees that it has to respond to and brings to justice, but even those that were behind the attack needed to be identified and opposed.

He said: “And in that quest, in the advocacy of that position, we stand with you 100 percent. Not just Nigeria, if you look around the African continent, you have many, many friends and I am proud to say that I am a friend of Russia and all of us seated here, friends of Russia, we stand with you at this difficult time.

“May the souls of those who passed, rest in peace. And may God bless the President of Russia, may God bless Russia, may God be with us all,” Fani-Kayode said.

Also speaking, Pantami conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the delegation to the President and good people of Russia over the tragedy.

He said: “We stand by you, we stand by humanity, we stand always for peace, we stand for justice and we do hope that this is the last calamity that will happen in the country and we will continue to pray for your country, for our country and also for peace, stability and prosperity all over the world.

“What happened is condemnable. No any responsible person irrespective of religion, tribe or geographical location will support it. It is a clear indication of humans’ inhumanity to humans and it stands condemnable. And we will continue to be with you to support you, to encourage you to overcome the challenge and we have witnessed so many support of Russia in Nigeria and in other African countries. Your country remains a good friend of Nigeria and other African countries. So, whatever happens to you, it happens to us as whatever happens to us also happens to you.

“Once again, accept our heartfelt condolences and we will continue to pray for you and wish you all the best,” Pantami said.

Speaking earlier, Shebarshin said the attack was the will of God, saying “it happened to us, it happened to you before as many places which have been joined.”

Shebarshin expressed the appreciation of the Russian Federation to its Nigerian friends, particularly President Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar and other government officials who expressed condolences over the unfortunate development.

He however said Russia would overcome this.

Moscow Concert Hall Attack: Fani-Kayode, Pantami Say Russia is Not Alone

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Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge

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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

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Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

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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

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NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

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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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