Bandits kill two, injure six in Katsina village attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected armed bandits have killed two persons and injured six others during an attack on Naino village in Naalma Ward of Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

NoSecurity sources said the bandits, who were said to have entered the village from the direction of Musawa, struck at about 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, shooting sporadically and injuring about eight residents.

The sources said joint security teams were immediately deployed to the area, while the injured victims were evacuated to the Malumfashi General Hospital for medical attention.

They added that two of the victims, identified as Kamala Lawal, 35, and Tijjani Umaru, 35, were pronounced dead on arrival by a medical doctor, while the remaining six were admitted for treatment.

Following the attack, patrol teams established blockades along anticipated escape routes, while cordon-and-search operations were launched to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.

The sources said security presence had been reinforced in the area to prevent further attacks, as investigations into the incident continued.

Bandits kill two, injure six in Katsina village attack

2027: Youth group asked Kolo Geidam to contest the governorship in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

As the winds of the 2027 general elections are blowing up. Youth groups in Yobe State have endorsed Hon. Lawan Kolo Geidam, Permanent Secretary of Youth Development, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Abuja, to contest the 2027 governorship.

The endorsement was announced on Wednesday in Damaturu, the state capital, by the Democratic Enlightenment for Good Governance, a youth-based organization operating across Yobe State.

The coordinator of the group, Alhaji Adamu Hussaini Yunusa, citing the experience of Lawan Kolo Geidam in public service, grassroots leadership, and youth mentorship, noted that the decision followed wide consultations and deliberations involving 178 coordinators drawn from the state’s local government areas.

According to Hussaini Yunusa, the youths agreed that Yobe required a leader with proven capacity in public administration, politics, and grassroots mobilization to sustain development.

He maintained that Lawan Kolo Geidam had served at local, state, and national levels of government, including as a local government chairman and a civil servant, and currently, Kolo Geidam serves as permanent secretary, Youth Development, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Abuja.

Yunusa further said, “Geidam consistently supported youth education, self-reliance, and skills development, leading many young people into business, civil service, and non-governmental organizations.”

The coordinator revealed that the endorsement was also driven by the desire to sustain gains in human capital development and inclusive governance recorded in the state.

Adamu Hussaini Yunusa described Kolo Geidam as accessible, adding that he continued to mentor and guide youths, even after leaving the state, thereby earning their confidence and loyalty.

He said youths believed Kolo Geidam possessed the capacity to attract investment and partnerships required to consolidate infrastructure and economic growth.

“The endorsement represented a collective call to service by youths across the state, who adopted Geidam as their preferred candidate for the 2027 elections,” he added.

In his remarks, a close associate of the endorsed aspirant, Alhaji Adamu Yahaya Alabura, a former chairman of the Nangere local government area, assured the youths that their message would be conveyed to Hon. Lawan Kolo Geidam at the appropriate time, inshallah.

2027: Youth group asked Kolo Geidam to contest the governorship in Yobe

Zulum Hosts Kanuri Kinsmen from 10 African Countries

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Thursday hosted thousands of Kanuri kinsmen from across Africa as Maiduguri played host to this year’s Kanem-Borno Cultural Summit.

The gathering attracted Kanuri delegates from at least 10 countries, including Ghana, Sudan, Gabon, Niger, Central African Republic, Senegal, Libya, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.

In attendance were 161 emirs, senior government officials and traditional leaders, underscoring the historic and cultural significance of the summit.

The event was conceived as a platform to revive transnational kinship ties rooted in shared Kanuri heritage, while fostering cooperation in education, economic development and social advancement among Kanuri communities spread across borders.

Colourful cultural displays and traditional dance performances by delegations from the participating countries highlighted the rich heritage of the Kanem-Borno civilisation, one of Africa’s longest-surviving empires which thrived for over a millennium around the Lake Chad region.

Addressing participants in the Kanuri language, Zulum called for renewed commitment to educational exchange, entrepreneurship and collective socio-economic initiatives that would uplift Kanuri communities globally. He announced the award of scholarships to 150 students from countries that once formed part of the historic Kanem-Borno Empire, describing the gesture as a step towards strengthening unity and fraternity.

The Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, was represented at the summit by the Governor of Lac Province, Major General Saleh Haggar Tidjani.

Other prominent personalities at the event included Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; former Vice President, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno and Mohammed Ali Ndume; and Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan.

Also present were members of the House of Representatives, speakers of the Borno and Yobe State Houses of Assembly, traditional rulers from different parts of Nigeria, members of the Borno State House of Assembly, commissioners and senior officials of the Borno State Government.

The summit concluded with a renewed call for collaboration among Kanuri descendants worldwide to preserve their cultural legacy and channel shared identity into sustainable development for future generations.

Zulum Hosts Kanuri Kinsmen from 10 African Countries