Category: Local

Abuja, Nigeria — A woman accused of blasphemy was killed by a mob in Niger State, northern Nigeria, over the weekend, police confirmed on Sunday. The victim, identified by local media as a food vendor named Amaye, was reportedly set ablaze following a dispute in the town of Kasuwan-Garba. According to police, the incident began when a man allegedly made a light-hearted marriage proposal to the vendor. Her response was deemed blasphemous by some individuals nearby, sparking a violent reaction. “Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and the victim was set ablaze before a reinforcement of security teams could arrive at the scene,” said Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command. Authorities have condemned the killing, describing it as an act of “jungle justice.” An investigation is currently underway to identify and prosecute those responsible. Police have also appealed for calm, urging the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Mob violence linked to allegations of blasphemy has been a recurring issue in parts of northern Nigeria, where Islamic (Sharia) law operates alongside the country’s secular legal system in 12 predominantly Muslim states. Blasphemy is considered a criminal offence under Sharia law. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have raised concerns about the misuse of blasphemy allegations. The group stated that such accusations are often “weaponised to settle personal scores,” and warned that they frequently lead to extrajudicial killings. “A minor disagreement or argument, often deliberately orchestrated, can escalate into mob violence,” Amnesty said in a recent statement. “The accused are often lynched before any legal process can begin.” The killing in Kasuwan-Garba follows a series of similar incidents in recent years. In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a university student in Sokoto State, was beaten and burned alive after being accused of making blasphemous remarks. In 2023, a butcher named Usman Buda was stoned to death in the same state under similar circumstances. While Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and religion, the country remains sharply divided over issues of faith, justice, and the rule of law. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that blasphemy allegations must be tried in a court of law, not adjudicated through mob violence.

Abuja, Nigeria — Former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Sirika, has alleged that certain domestic airlines were responsible for the collapse of the Nigeria Air project — a proposed national carrier in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Sirika said that domestic carriers, including Air Peace, Azman Air, and United Nigeria Airlines, acted under the umbrella of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to frustrate the initiative. According to him, their opposition stemmed from the proposed ownership structure, in which the Nigerian government was to hold only a 5% stake. Sirika defended the transparency of the Nigeria Air agreement, noting that it was approved by both the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). He emphasized that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model followed all required procedures, including obtaining necessary certifications from the ICRC. “It was not our process — it was the process of the ICRC. It was not a bad deal,” Sirika stated. “Some people went to court to say we cannot establish an airline where we take five per cent. That was what stalled it.” The former minister also rejected allegations that N100 billion was spent on the failed project, clarifying that only N5 billion was budgeted for Nigeria Air between 2015 and 2023, with N3 billion released and about N2 billion spent — largely on consultancy and staffing. Sirika defended the decision to partner with Ethiopian Airlines, citing the lack of capacity among domestic carriers to compete with established international airlines. He argued that Ethiopian Airlines, with nearly eight decades of operational experience, was a logical partner to develop a sustainable national carrier. “Today, 95% of all airlines operating within Africa are non-African — British Airways, Qatar Airways, Air France, and others. Ethiopian Airlines is one of the few successful African carriers, and they came to partner with us to open up the world,” he said. Sirika noted that the lack of a strong national airline contributes to the high cost of international flights from Nigeria. He cited the example of airfare between Abuja and London being more expensive than from Accra to London. He urged the public to invoke the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to scrutinize the details of the agreement, promising to release a book offering deeper insight into his tenure and the Nigeria Air saga. The Nigeria Air project was one of the most controversial initiatives of the Buhari administration’s aviation policy. Though unveiled with much fanfare in 2018 and relaunched again before the end of Sirika’s term in 2023, the airline failed to commence commercial operations before his departure from office.

OSOGBO, OSUN STATE – September 2, 2025 — A civil society group, the Osun Youth Initiative for Good Governance (OYIGG), has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olumide Egbedun, over allegations of issuing a death threat to a traditional ruler. In a statement signed by its National Convener, Dr. Akande Adeyemi, the group urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to thoroughly investigate a leaked audio recording in which a voice, alleged to be Egbedun’s, is heard threatening the Alasi of Asi, Oba Oyewale Olasunkanmi. The speaker allegedly warned the monarch in Yoruba that if he resisted political influence, he could be jailed and “might not come out alive.” The monarch officially petitioned authorities on July 29, after the audio clip went viral on July 23. Describing the Speaker’s alleged comments as “rascality of the highest order,” the OYIGG accused Egbedun of a pattern of disrespect toward traditional institutions, citing previous incidents involving: Dr. Adeyemi emphasized that “no one is above the law,” adding that the alleged threat is not just an insult to a royal father but a direct affront to democratic and cultural values in Osun State. He further warned that “power is transient” and any attempt to shield the Speaker would damage both his image and the integrity of the institutions he represents. The group has also called on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Osun State Council of Obas to ensure the matter is not swept under the carpet. In addition to legal action, the OYIGG is demanding Egbedun’s immediate impeachment, urging the state government to resist any political pressure to protect him. Efforts to reach the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, for comments have been unsuccessful as calls and text messages over the last 48 hours went unanswered.

ABUJA, NIGERIA – September 2, 2025 — In a major stride toward modernizing Nigeria’s education system, the Federal Government has announced that the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will transition from the traditional paper-based format to Computer-Based Testing (CBT). The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who hailed the shift as a transformative step to enhance examination integrity, curb malpractice, and align Nigeria’s assessment processes with international standards. “For over seventy years, WAEC has led education innovation in the subregion. The adoption of CBT is another historic milestone,” Dr. Alausa said, referencing the West African Examinations Council’s recent digital initiatives, including WAEC Konnect, the Digital Certificate Platform, and e-Learning services. The move is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes sweeping reforms across all levels of education — from basic to tertiary and vocational training. Dr. Alausa noted that investments in modern classrooms, updated curricula, and institutional upgrades are laying the groundwork for a more resilient and globally competitive education system. Beyond improving exam standards, the Minister emphasized that CBT will equip Nigerian students with vital digital skills needed in today’s knowledge-based economy. “Education is the greatest legacy we can give our children. With this step, we are securing its future,” Dr. Alausa stated, assuring stakeholders that the Ministry will work closely with schools to provide the necessary infrastructure and support for a smooth transition. The reform is expected to be rolled out in phases, with extensive collaboration between government agencies, WAEC, and education partners nationwide.

By Kamal Yalwa: August 31, 2025 Gummi, Zamfara State – Tragedy struck over the weekend in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as at least 15 people lost their lives and three others remain missing after an overloaded boat capsized in the Nasarawar Kifi community. According to eyewitness accounts, the victims were among dozens of residents attempting to flee a bandit attack when their boat overturned while crossing a river near Birnin Tudu ward. The vessel, designed to carry a maximum of 16 passengers, was reportedly carrying far more due to the panic caused by the attack. Most of the deceased are said to be women and children from the communities of Danmaga, Tungar Maigunya, and Nasarawar Kifi. Confirming the incident, the village head of Nasarawar Kifi, Alhaji Muhammadu Chigari, described the mood in the area as somber and heartbroken. He noted that among the dead were eight housewives, three toddlers, and four youths. Local divers are still combing the waters in search of the missing persons. Chigari made a passionate appeal to both federal and state governments for humanitarian support, including the provision of adequate and safe water transport to aid communities whose livelihoods depend on river crossings. A resident from one of the affected communities, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented the recurring loss of lives due to lack of transport infrastructure, especially during emergencies like bandit raids. “The boat had already made two trips. It capsized on the third when two women, out of fear, forced themselves onboard, despite the boat being clearly overloaded,” the resident said. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also confirmed the incident through the Head of its Sokoto Field Office, Aliyu Shehu. He stated that NEMA, in collaboration with the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), is already mobilizing relief efforts and will visit the site to assess the situation and support affected families. “We learned about the tragic incident today. Our team, along with ZEMA, will be visiting the community tomorrow to verify details and deliver assistance,” Shehu said. This latest tragedy echoes a similar incident in August 2024, when 20 people died under comparable circumstances in the same local government area while fleeing a bandit attack. The deceased have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

The Federal Ministry of Education has issued a clarification regarding recent remarks made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on the status of agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In a statement released by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Dr. Alausa addressed concerns that his comments from August 28, 2025, were misinterpreted. The Minister reaffirmed that the last officially signed agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU remains the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement. The Ministry further noted that in 2017, the then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, initiated a renegotiation process that led to the creation of the Nimi Briggs Agreement draft in May 2021. However, the draft was never formally signed by the Federal Government, and as such, it does not constitute an official agreement. “When the Honourable Minister mentioned that there had been ‘no new signed agreement’ with ASUU, he was specifically referring to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which has not been executed by the government,” the statement clarified. While the 2009 agreement remains binding, the Ministry emphasized that the 2021 draft serves only as a framework for ongoing negotiations. The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to resolving the longstanding issues with ASUU through a sustainable, constitutionally supported process, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. The Ministry urged the public to disregard any misinterpretations of the Minister’s comments and reassured stakeholders that the government’s primary focus remains on ensuring that Nigerian universities continue to operate for teaching and research, while working towards lasting industrial peace in the education sector.