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STANLEY MSHELIA: REQUIEM TO THE PEN GENERAL
STANLEY MSHELIA: REQUIEM TO THE PEN GENERAL.
By: Inuwa Bwala
In 1993, when I was a contributor on Network Africa/Focus on Africa programme of the BBC, I went to the Lake Chad Basin in search of details, following a deadly encounter between Nigerian troops and a splinter of Chadian rebels, around the area.
I returned to Maiduguri to file the report, but was denied the use of the Government House telephone, which most correspondents relied upon to send reports.
I was frustrated on the queue at NITEL which was the only available alternative then.
I retired to the NUJ on Lagos street almost defeated, when Stanley Mshelia and his good friend Mohammed Ahmed, now of the University of Maiduguri met me.
Stanley suggested the use of a private line in the residence of a friend, who was working with NITEL.
He took me to the house in the GRA, but cautioned me that, the report could cause trouble for me if I reported exactly what he saw in the copy.
I took the risk and went ahead, after giving his friend’s telephone line to my editor in Bush House to call me back for voice over.
The story actually landed me in Military detention, for nine days and Stanley was available for me, to get out.
The NUJ house on Lagos Street was not only a rhendezvous for journalists it was a giant intellectual warehouse. It was there, that, most journalists; including those with offices outside, develop ideas of how to build their reports.
Every one of us would come up with his or her own lead to a particular story from the same event.
For the correspondents, we often look for the sensational angle, and for the government own media houses, they often prefer the promotional angle.
Stanley Mshelia belonged to the latter, but was a blend in professional news judgement. Although older in age and on the job, he was somehow a blend between the two generations of journalists in Maiduguri during the military regency.
Knowing that, NTA where he worked would not tow some lines of reportage, Stanley could give a beautiful sensational opener to those of us who preferred that angle and go back to take his report from the Govetnmental house style.
After giving a fantastic opener, he would equally give a caveat, that we should avoid trouble.
We often satirically conduct ourselves as mock troops, given the regimented mentality of the Military, who were then in Government. Stanley treated even the younger ones as his compatriots and joking gave orders in the fashion of the military, which earned him the nick name “General.”
And when he was sure we had beaten the dateline for submission of stories to our various media houses, Stanley would lead the way to any of the relaxation spots, where we further debate the suitability of the various leads we gave the stories of the day.
On the tube, Stanley Mshelia was the man with the baritone voice. Most reporters could file reports, but Stanley was often preferred to voice over their reports.
He was the notable voice on NTA at 7 and most network reports from the Maiduguri center.
We had been friends since our days at the Federal Low-cost in Maiduguri, culminating into our days in journalism.
We were both circumstantial politicians, having been conscripted from journalism into image makers.
I was the pioneer occupant of the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the Governor of Borno State and Stanley took over from me. But even when I was there, we were running the office together, as he gave me very useful insights and connections in the electronic media.
I recall that, even when I left and our bosses were at loggerheads, Stanley still visited me in Kaduna and we did many things together as professional colleagues.
Immediately he retired, he briefly joined me in National Trail newspaper, which I founded.
Beyond these, we have been together on so many professional committees and had always offered each other useful inputs from professional angles. I dare say that, he was a dedicated and passionate professional and his demise remains a great loss to me, to journalism and to Borno state.
Adieu the pen generalisimo.
End
DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta
By: Zagazola Makama
The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and two social media companies, X Corp and Meta Incorporation, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Zagazola reports that the charges followed Sowore’s refusal to delete alleged false and inciting posts about President Bola Tinubu from his verified X and Facebook accounts.
The DSS had, on Sept. 8, issued a one-week ultimatum to Sowore to remove the posts, which it described as “false, malicious, and inciting.” The ultimatum expired without compliance. X Corp and Meta, owners of X and Facebook, also declined a DSS request to deactivate Sowore’s accounts.
The charges were filed on behalf of the DSS and the Federal Government by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, and four other counsel to the DSS – M.E. Ernest, U.B. Bulla, Dr. C.S. Eze, and E.G. Orubor.
According to the charge sheet, Sowore, on Aug. 25 and 26, 2025, allegedly published posts on his official handles describing President Tinubu as a “criminal” and accusing him of lying about corruption in Nigeria during an official trip to Brazil.
The DSS said Sowore knew the claims were false but circulated them to incite disorder and disaffection among Nigerians.
One of the counts read: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult male, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X handle page, @YeleSowore, to send out a message which you know to be false but posted for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”
The second count alleged that Sowore repeated the same post on his official Facebook account on Aug. 26, in breach of the same cybercrime law.
The third and fourth counts accused him of publishing defamatory material against the person and office of the President on both X and Facebook, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
The fifth count alleged that Sowore, with intent to cause fear and public disturbance, published false information on both platforms, an offence contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.
The DSS maintained that the posts were capable of undermining national security and causing a breakdown of public order.
Zagazola reports that the case is expected to be assigned to a trial judge for hearing in Abuja.
DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta
Two notorious bandits neutralized in Katsina forest by troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have neutralized two notorious bandits in Dutsen Ma, Katsina State, during an operation to curb criminal activities in the area.
Zagazola learnt that the bandits, identified as Iliya and Dan Yahaya of Banga, were reportedly responsible for multiple attacks and led criminal operations in Rafi Forest, Wonaka, Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
They were key commanders in the gang led by Alhaji Ummaru Dan Najeriya.
The sources confirmed that the operation was carried out following credible intelligence on the bandits’ movement and that further patrols and monitoring have been intensified in the region to prevent any resurgence of criminal activities.
Two notorious bandits neutralized in Katsina forest by troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA
Bandits Kingpin Leading Peace Deal, Ado Allero, Slaughter Traditional ruler in Tsafe, Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits led by Ado Allero, a top Bandit Kingpin Leading in the Peace Dialogue in the North West have slaughtered traditional ruler in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, in a shocking escalation of violence in the North West region.
Intel reports indicate that at about 1609hrs on September 15, a gang led by Ado Allero slaughtered a traditional ruler, the Hakimi of Dogon Dawa, in Keta village, Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State. The same group who reportedly kidnapped 40 civilians from a mosque in the LGA.
The attack, described as brutal and unprovoked, also saw 40 civilians abducted from a local mosque in the area.
The sources further revealed that the bandits have continued their campaign of terror, killing four farmers in Barikin Daji, Ruwan Gizo, Zamfara State, and two Customs officers in Fingilla village, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Zagazola report that Armed bandits in the North West have continued to terrorize communities across the North West, killing, kidnapping, and maiming civilians, amidst the highly publicized peace dialogue in Faskari, Katsina State, aimed at ending banditry in the region.
While the peace deal was taking place, bandit were said to have ambushed a convoy of the Commanding Officer of 382 Army Regiment at Ruwan Godiya crossing point along Sheme- Kankara Road in Katsina, but the attack was successfully repelled. Same day, the troops of 17 Brigade ambushed some bandits near Gatawa village in Kankara LGA, recovering motorcycle and mobile phone. Again, troops repel bandits attack at Sabon Massallaci village, Katera ward of Kankara LGA, they later move toward Gidan Dufe village in the same LGA, kill one woman, injuring several and rustling livestock.
On the same day, bandit ambushed NSCDC personnel along at Dafa village Yantumaki- Danmusa road killing one and inuring four other officers.
In the same vain, the bandits strikes and abducted 12 people in Godai village in Bukuyum, in Zamfara state. They abducted another four in Tudun Moriki.
In Kebbi State, another armed gang, known as the Lakurawa group, killed two Customs officers in Fingilla village, Dandi Local Government Area. Further, four civilians were reportedly shot dead while harvesting crops in Barikin Daji around Ruwan Gizo, Zamfara State.
Allero, the notorious bandit kingpin, had on Sunday expressed optimism that peace would be restored in Katsina State, Zamfara and beyond following the dialogue in Faskari. He claimed that previous disruptions of peace initiatives, including the arrest of his son, had led him to resume criminal activities.
Despite the claims of a “historic” and inclusive dialogue, the spate of attacks had continued by the bandits.
Bandits Kingpin Leading Peace Deal, Ado Allero, Slaughter Traditional ruler in Tsafe, Zamfara
DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta
Two notorious bandits neutralized in Katsina forest by troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA
Bandits Kingpin Leading Peace Deal, Ado Allero, Slaughter Traditional ruler in Tsafe, Zamfara
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