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Tag: Kaduna

Abuja–Kaduna Train Derails Near Asham, Passengers Evacuated Safely

Fola Badmus01 mins

A passenger train traveling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed on Tuesday morning, prompting panic among commuters as several coaches went off the track near Asham along the rail corridor. The train, which departed the Nigerian capital at approximately 9:45 AM, encountered the derailment en route, forcing passengers to evacuate in a hurry. Eyewitnesses report scenes of confusion as travelers scrambled to safety from the affected coaches. As of the time of filing this report, no casualties have been confirmed. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. The cause of the derailment remains unknown, but authorities are expected to launch a formal investigation into the incident. This is a developing story.

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Rigging Fears Grip Edo, Kaduna Ahead of August 16 By-Elections

Fola Badmus02 mins

Tensions are rising in Edo and Kaduna States ahead of Saturday’s by-elections, with opposition parties and election monitors alleging prewritten results, compromised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, and recruitment of armed thugs to intimidate voters. In Edo, the Coalition of Observer Groups warned of plans to manipulate results in Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency. The group alleged tactics similar to those seen in the disputed September 2024 governorship poll, including duplicate result sheets prepared before collation and police harassment of opposition agents. A senior Peoples Democratic Party figure claimed results are already being written in Government House, with controversial INEC officials from Rivers State deployed to oversee the vote. The coalition urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to ensure a peaceful, violence-free process. In Kaduna, the African Democratic Congress and Social Democratic Party accused the ruling APC of mobilising 4,000 thugs, bribing INEC staff, and raising billions for vote buying and security compromise. They named a serving commissioner and a former senator as alleged key actors. Opposition groups in both states called on INEC to replace questionable officials, guarantee transparent collation, and secure polling centres. INEC and the police are yet to respond.

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NSA Ribadu Boasts of Killing Terror Leaders Along Abuja-Kaduna Highway

Fola Badmus02 mins

By Kamal Yalwa: August 1, 2025 Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has revealed that several notorious terrorists responsible for insecurity along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway have been eliminated. Speaking at an interactive session hosted by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, Ribadu identified the slain terrorists as Kachalla Boka, Dogo Isah, and Kachalla Shekau, noting that their deaths have significantly improved security along the once-deadly highway. “You can drive from Abuja to Kaduna now because we killed those bastards,” Ribadu said bluntly. “Kachalla Boka, Dogo Isah, and Kachalla Shekau were in control of those areas.” He added that the renewed confidence in the route’s safety has prompted federal officials, including ministers, to abandon air travel for road trips. “Even last night, we drove from Abuja. It’s a statement we want to make. All the ministers — we stopped everyone from flying,” he declared. Ribadu’s remarks highlight the federal government’s ongoing efforts to reclaim key transportation corridors from criminal control and restore public confidence in the nation’s road networks.

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SDP Expels El-Rufai, Bans Him from Party Activities for 30 Years

SDP Expels El-Rufai, Bans Him from Party Activities for 30 Years

Fola Badmus02 mins

Kaduna, Nigeria – July 28, 2025The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has officially expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and banned him from all party-related activities and membership rights for the next 30 years. The announcement was made on Monday in a statement issued by the SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba. The party accused El-Rufai of falsely presenting himself as a member without undergoing proper registration processes, a violation of party protocols and Nigeria’s electoral regulations. According to the statement, El-Rufai allegedly forged documents to claim membership in Unguwar Sarki Ward of Kaduna North LGA and assigned himself membership number “001”. Despite making public declarations on social media that he had joined the SDP, investigations by the party revealed that he never completed the required registration at the ward level. The SDP also accused the former governor of using the party’s name in unauthorized political dealings, attempting to pull the SDP into coalition arrangements without the consent of its leadership, and destabilizing party structures with “obscene inducements, misinformation, and manipulation.” “Effective immediately, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is excommunicated from the Social Democratic Party, with a 30-year ban from applying for membership or associating with the party in any capacity,” the statement read. The party said it has notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies of the decision. The SDP reaffirmed its commitment to internal discipline, ideological clarity, and ethical political engagement, urging all prospective members to adhere strictly to its constitutional procedures.

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2027: Martha Agba South-South APC Stakeholders Endorse Tinubu for Second Term

Fola Badmus02 mins

Prominent political leader Martha Agba joined key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin City for a high-level South-South Stakeholders Meeting, where the region formally reaffirmed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of the 2027 general elections. The strategic gathering brought together a formidable coalition of APC faithful, including Governors of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Cross River States, zonal party executives, and former governors—most notably Senator Ben Ayade of Cross River State. The President of the Senate led a robust delegation of National Assembly members from the region, underscoring growing internal unity and the APC’s preparedness to retain national leadership. Addressing the gathering, Martha Agba restated her unwavering support for President Tinubu and Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, pledging to continue mobilizing grassroots support for their re-election efforts. She also used the platform to encourage young women across the South-South to take active roles in politics, urging them to prepare for elective positions in 2027. “Inclusive participation is essential for a truly representative democracy,” she said. The meeting concluded with the Senate President delivering the closing remarks and reading a communiqué in which the APC South-South leaders unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their candidate for a second term. With this endorsement, the APC aims to consolidate its base across the South-South, rallying support amid a tightening race as opposition forces also mobilize nationwide.

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2027: ADC Coalition Leaders Begin Grassroots Mobilisation Nationwide

Fola Badmus05 mins

Published: July 6, 2025 | By Kamal Yalwa As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections draw closer, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition has officially begun grassroots mobilisation efforts across the country. The coalition’s interim national chairman, Senator David Mark, and national secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have returned to their respective states—Benue and Osun—to galvanise support from local political bases. According to sources within the party, each coalition leader has been assigned a geo-political zone for mobilisation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will lead mobilisation efforts in the North East, Mark in the North Central, and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai in the North West. In the southern regions, Peter Obi will coordinate activities in the South East, Rotimi Amaechi in the South-South, and Aregbesola in the South West. While Mark’s presence in Benue coincided with a family event, insiders say he is expected to meet local political stakeholders. Aregbesola, meanwhile, was welcomed by loyalists as he transited through Lagos to Osun State. Atiku reportedly met with ADC leaders from Gombe State in Abuja last Friday, indicating an intensifying momentum. Confirming the developments, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said coalition leaders had been directed to consult widely within their zones and would reconvene in Abuja in two weeks to assess progress. Other key politicians such as Maina Waziri in Yobe and Emeka Ihedioha in Imo have also begun rallying support in their respective states. The official unveiling of the ADC-led coalition in Abuja last Wednesday sent ripples across Nigeria’s political landscape, especially as the PDP and Labour Party remain entangled in internal leadership crises. Prominent political figures—including Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, and Senator David Mark—attended the coalition’s unveiling, signalling a serious opposition challenge to the ruling APC. While APC officials have downplayed the coalition, Senator Mark declared that the ADC alliance is committed to rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges. Political watchers are divided. While some believe the coalition’s political heavyweights still wield considerable influence, others warn the ruling party not to underestimate the opposition’s grassroots potential. Former APC Abuja chairman Sunny Moniedafe noted that widespread hardship could make the 2027 elections unpredictable, while Senator Abubakar Girei dismissed the coalition as a group of “disgruntled politicians” with no clear ideology. Still, groups like the Arewa Youths for the Sustenance of Democracy caution the APC against complacency, describing the coalition as politically savvy with nationwide reach. Responding to critics, Atiku’s aide Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi maintained that the coalition has strong grassroots appeal and national credibility, backed by the political clout of its members. As mobilisation accelerates, one thing is clear—Nigeria’s political scene is heating up fast, and the ADC coalition is shaping up to be a formidable force in the 2027 race.

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EFCC Arrests Ex-Government Contractor for Alleged N30b Fraud in Kaduna

Fola Badmus06 mins

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested one Bashir Bello Ibrahim, a former Kaduna State government contractor and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Formal Act Legacy Limited for alleged multiple fraud to the tune of N30 billion. Though his contract with the state government had been terminated, no less than 251 complaints received by the Commission against the suspect pointed to the allegation that Ibrahim is parading himself to unsuspecting victims as consultant for the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State as well as that of the United Charity Foundation, UCF, FICCORD with affiliation to Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs Office. It is also alleged that he informed his victims that he had a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Kaduna State government for the purpose of sourcing intervention grants from global donor agencies for the funding of LGA projects in the state and supporting the actualization of SDGs within the state. While investigations revealed that the suspect is not a consultant to UCF, his 2020 MoU with Kaduna State government was terminated by the state government in October 2023 as a result of default on the terms of the MoU by the suspect. However, despite the termination of the MoU, the suspect intentionally engaged in unauthorised award of fictitious contracts to the tune of approximately N30 billion (Thirty Billion Naira) by convincing his contractor victims to supply items meant for construction of hospitals, motorised boreholes, hospital beds and mattresses, drugs and vaccines which he would allegedly receive on behalf of the Kaduna State government, sold some and diverted their proceeds to his personal use. From investigations, it was further discovered that when he took delivery of the supplies, he would warehouse them, kept the LGAs in the dark about their delivery and furthermore, failed to pay he contractors the value of what they supplied. It is also alleged that the suspect was selling contract award papers using proxies with whom he shared the proceeds. These fraudulent acts coupled with his unilateral alteration of the nature of the contracts and their terms, allegedly led to the termination of the MoU he had with the state government in 2023. Items recovered from him include Toyota Hilux pick up vans, ambulances, buses, dispatch motorcycles, caches of drugs and vaccines for children, stacks of hospital beds and mattresses and heavy duty generators. Found in his office store are large quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, infusions, ointments/creams; medical consumables that include hand gloves, syringes, and mucus extractor. The Commission is collaborating with NAFDAC and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health in the evaluation of the cache of medicines found in his storage facilities as well as in carrying out qualitative analysis on them. Following the inspections, Umar Ahmad Suleiman, Investigation and Enforcement Officer, Federal Tax Force, NAFDAC said some of the drug manufacturers registered with NAFDAC and that while some of the medicines are still within shelf life, some have expired with some being outright counterfeits and their manufacturers, unregistered with NAFDAC. Corroborating the position of the NAFDAC official, Abubakar Isa Balarabe, a pharmacist and Team Leader, Ministry of Health Kaduna State observed that some of the medicines have expired, noting also that the warehouse where the medicines were stored fell below standard. “The storage is not fit for any medicine because of the way and manner it was kept,” he said. The suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

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