News
President Tinubu Firmly Committed To Youth Empowerment – VP Shettima
President Tinubu Firmly Committed To Youth Empowerment – VP Shettima
*** As NYCN invites VP to unveil 60th anniversary
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has restated the commitment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to supporting Nigerian youths to reach their potentials and contribute to the growth and development of the country.
VP Shettima stated this in his remarks when he received on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, the National Executive Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), led by its President, Comrade Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo.
This is just as the NYCN is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary in November 2024.
Commending the Council for its support of the programmes and activities of the Tinubu administration, VP Shettima said, “We cannot thank you enough for keeping the hope alive for the Nigerian youth. We identify with you; we empathize with you because the future of this nation belongs to you.
“We are one of the youngest nations on the planet and the youths constitute nearly 75% of our population. Once we engage the youths, once we give them hope for a better tomorrow, all the madness pervading this land will dissipate.
“60 years for an organization to remain vibrant and still standing on its feet deserves commendation. I want to thank you for believing in the Nigeria Project. A lot of members of your generation have left the country but you resolved to stay on, and together we are going to salvage the ship of this state,” he added.
On plans of the Tinubu administration for young Nigerians, the Vice President noted that President Tinubu created a ministry for the youth under the current dispensation and appointed two young people to head the ministry, while he (VP) has complemented this by appointing a lot of young persons into key positions in his office.
Assuring the NYCN delegation that the administration is aligned with their aspirations, Senator Shettima said, “We hold you in the highest esteem. We have a series of opportunities lined up for you such as the iDICE project that will create digital jobs, including the ones in the creative industry. So, let’s hope for the best, let’s believe in Nigeria because this is our country.”
Earlier, the National President of NYCN, Comrade Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, expressed the Council’s readiness to collaborate with the federal government in addressing the issue of illegal oil bunkering.
“We have decided to see how we can help this country in areas of oil theft that have been ravaging this nation,” Sukubo stated, adding that “the NYCN has decided that it’s a collective effort, and we are ready to partner with the government to address this illegality.”
Sukubo announced that the NYCN which was established on August 28, 1964, in Lagos is gearing up to commemorate its 60th anniversary this year.
On behalf of the Council, he extended an invitation to the Vice President to officially unveil the anniversary events, which are expected to draw participants from across the country.
“This year, we are celebrating our 60th anniversary, and we want you to officially unveil the anniversary events. The event will have nothing less than 100,000 participants across the country, and that is the day we want to give insight into the activities of this government,” Sukubo said.
Acknowledging the administration’s efforts in appointing a significant number of young people to government positions, the NYCN delegation also appealed to the federal government to construct a Youth House.
Also speaking, Comrade Rikki Nwajiofor, the National Deputy Secretary General of the NYCN, highlighted the council’s role as the apex youth body representing all youth organizations in Nigeria as stipulated in the National Youth Policy.
“NYCN is made up of 104 affiliate member youth organizations, a 27-member national executive council, 36 state chapters, and an FCT chapter, as well as 774 coordinators in all local government and area councils in Nigeria. That is why the NYCN is the vehicle through which the government passes its policies to the grassroots,” Nwajiofor explained.
President Tinubu Firmly Committed To Youth Empowerment – VP Shettima
Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Zamfara says its operatives have recovered 15 cows rustled by armed bandits during an attack on Gidan Kwagiri village in Damba District of Gusau Local Government Area.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 when the bandits invaded the community and carted away cows and sheep belonging to residents.
According to the sources, upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Damba Division mobilised personnel alongside patrol teams from the Department of Operations to pursue the attackers.
The team was said to have successfully recovered 15 cows, which were subsequently handed over to their owners.
Efforts, however, are ongoing to track down the suspects and recover the remaining rustled animals, while security patrols have been intensified in the area to forestall further attacks.
Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation WHIRL STROKE have arrested suspects linked to cattle rustling in Benue State, following two separate security incidents in Guma Local Government Area.
Security sources said that on Feb. 15, troops responded to an attack on herders at Amua Village, located between Daudu and Umenger/Ukpiam. The attack left one herder dead, while another sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to Keana in neighbouring Nasarawa State for urgent medical attention. The remains of the deceased were handed over to community representatives for burial according to local customs.
In a related operation on the same day, troops stationed at Ukpiam acted on intelligence provided by vigilant youths concerning suspected cattle rustling. The troops arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Terngu Aondohemba, who reportedly confessed to killing two cattle belonging to Fulani herders. He also implicated two accomplices, Akpehe and Ashinge, who are still at large.
Further investigation led security operatives to Korje Village in Daudu, where Mrs. Mercy Onban, wife of the alleged buyer of the stolen meat, was apprehended along with the recovered meat exhibits. Both suspects remain in custody pending further investigation.
The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, condemned the attacks and criminality, affirming the commitment of Operation WHIRL STROKE to halting killings and cattle rustling in the Joint Operations Area.
He urged community leaders to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, stressing that timely intelligence sharing is critical to restoring lasting peace. Major General Gara also reassured law-abiding residents of the strong resolve of the Joint Task Force to protect lives and property across the region.
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Government has charged former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents showed that El-Rufai, 65, appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on Feb. 13, 2026, where he reportedly admitted to involvement in the interception and to knowing individuals who carried out the act without reporting them to security agencies.
The charges, filed under TABU DET CR/99/2026, include: Count One, Allegedly admitting during the television interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, contrary to Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two, Allegedly stating that he knew individuals who unlawfully intercepted the same communications but failed to report them, in violation of Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. Count Three, Allegedly using technical systems to compromise public safety and national security, and instilling apprehension among Nigerians, in breach of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The case, filed by a team of Federal Government lawyers led by ME Ernest, OM Owan, UM Bulla, CS Eze, and VE G. Orubor, is set to proceed with investigations and trial proceedings.
Authorities said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, where the accused will be required to respond to the charges.
The trial is expected to attract significant public attention given the high-profile nature of the accused and the sensitive security issues involved.
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
Troops intercept suspects with N37m cash in Borno
Chairman of hunters killed in checkpoint attack in Kwara
Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News10 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
