As the people of Sokoto State, especially those in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, continue to battle insecurity, a group of professionals within the local government, Gobir Development Association, has revealed that the people of the community paid over N160bn in levies and ransom payments to bandits in the area.

According to a press statement signed by the chairman of the group, Idris Alhassan Gatawa, and its secretary, Professor Aliyu Gobir, and made available to newsmen in the state on Saturday, it was said that more than two billion naira was also lost to armed bandits.

The group, while reacting to the recent killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, who was killed by bandits following his abduction along Sabon Birni – Sokoto Road after his official engagement in the state capital, condemned the rising case of insecurity in the area.

The group said, “Over sixty billion naira has been paid as ransom, over a hundred billion naira paid as imposed levies by the bandits, and more than two billion naira lost to armed bandits.

“Likewise, about six hundred thousand heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years.

“About two-thirds of the arable farmlands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances.”

They, however, appealed to the government at all levels to act swiftly to stop the killings, kidnappings, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to restore peace and stability in all areas affected by banditry.

A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has predicted the political future and relationship between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyewom Wike, and President Bola Tinubu.

According to Lamido, Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will soon become a political orphan to President Tinubu.

Lamido made this remark while speaking on the internal crisis rocking the PDP and Wike’s affiliation with the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration.

He acknowledged that the ongoing PDP crisis resulted from its previous actions and because they, the party’s founding fathers, failed to build on the stability that once existed when the party was in power.

The erstwhile Minister of Foreign Affairs noted this during a recent interaction with The Tribune.

When asked what the way forward is for the PDP, having lost serially to the APC in the previous elections, Lamido said: “You are still talking about the mood of the moment. You didn’t reflect on the past. You must look back and ask what is the source of the problem. If you see a raging fire, you must identify the source to be able to control the smoke. You are simply talking about the symptoms; you are not looking at the bigger picture.

“When you say PDP, in 1998, when it was formed, the main focus was to restore unity in Nigeria, to restore people’s confidence, which was undermined by June 12 (1993 presidential election annulment) and a section of the country felt cheated and lost the sense of belonging. After the PDP came to power, the country was stabilised, as against the (previous) feeling of distrust. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from the South West emerged as the president even though they never liked him in his region.

“What is happening now is that we failed to build on that stability. Unfortunately, today, we are only reacting to the consequences of our own actions. Look at this government: all the governors the majority of the lawmakers, are PDP, only a few are from the Lagos axis but the majority of them are PDP. Even the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Tinubu’s administration – George Akume – was in PDP. (President Bola) Tinubu (Vice President Kashim) Shettima and the SGF are former governors, former senators, and up to the Senate President. Isn’t there a team with more experience solving Nigeria’s problems than this team?”

Who Is Wike? He Will Become Political Orphan To Tinubu – Says Lamido

Speaking further, Lamido faulted the speculations and narratives that the PDP has already conceded the political space in the party to the likes of former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

“If Tinubu is not tolerating him, who is Wike?” Lamido asked.

He stated: “Wike is our creation. We made him. Where was Wike in 1999? Somebody who was your own invention, whom you thought you could develop, groom as a future leader now tells you that he is his own person now; what do you do? To me, Wike is not a factor. If Tinubu does not tolerate him, who is Wike? So, Wike is there today because the environment is there for him to manipulate and exploit. Simple. We are putting political expediency over national interest. Wike is being hyped by Tinubu to destroy the PDP but destroying the PDP also means destroying Tinubu.”

Wike Was Never Planted In PDP

When asked to address the speculations by some Nigerians that Wike was planted to undermine the PDP, Lamido said: “No, Wike wasn’t planted. He is PDP. Are you saying Tinubu made him Special Adviser to (former Rivers State governor) Peter Odili or Chief of Staff to (former Governor Rotimi) Amaechi? Are you saying it was Tinubu who made him governor of Rivers State? No, Wike was never planted. He is PDP, but that is the Nigerian character we have been discussing. But ultimately, he will become a political orphan to Tinubu and both of them are going to lose because the entire arrangement is unholy; it is immoral, it is un-Nigerian. This issue of betrayal and undermining your party isn’t part of our culture. No matter how long he serves Tinubu, ultimately, both of them are going to lose because the country is losing. So, Wike was never planted. He was simply identified as a willing character who lacks the morality and good character, and honour not to disown his own party. He has mortgaged his own party.”

Asked whether the PDP has conceded that Tinubu is unstoppable in 2027, Lamido said: “No. You see, the domestic cat fed on small chickens, but one day, the mother of the chickens stood up to the cat. Tinubu is that cat. What I am saying is that even Pharaoh’s empire collapsed. So, no matter how daring you are, it won’t end well. So, Tinubu today is somebody who has a grip on Nigeria, who owes obeisance to nobody in Nigeria, who believes that God made him and he made himself, and he is now lording it over the Nigerian people, and nobody can challenge him. He was adept at studying the system and manipulating it. He exploited it, and he did it well. I wish he could use his sagacity and talent to help Nigeria’s development. It would have been wonderful. But he is using it negatively. He has everything but not for the development of Nigeria, and it is affecting you; it is affecting me.”

Napoli boss, Antonio Conte has expressed regret over the club’s failure to sell Victor Osimhen this summer.

The Italian also appeared to confirm he has no plans to reintegrate the Nigeria international in the squad.

Conte spoke about the Osimhen situation after he led his side to a 2-1 win over Parma with Osimhen’s replacement, Romelu Lukaku coming off the bench to score one of the goals. 

Osimhen failed to complete his transfer to Chelsea on transfer deadline day on Friday over the Blues failure to meet his salary demand.

With the coming of Lukaku, it means it would be difficult for the Super Eagles striker to find minutes under Conte.

“I’m happy with the work the club did on the market,” Conte said via Fabrizio Romano.

“If there had been the sale of Victor Osimhen, we would have completed the situation… but I’m happy”.

Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, has approved the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to civil servants under the employ of the state.

Nwifuru, who made the announcement on Saturday at the grand finale of the Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival 2024, said he has directed relevant government authorities to draft out modalities for the payment of the new minimum wage commencing in September.

The governor, however, frowned at the lackadaisical manner by which government projects awarded as contract to prominent leaders of the state were handled, especially the housing estates at Izo Autonomous Community in Ishielu Local Government Area.

He gave a marching order to the Commissioner for Housing to ensure the painting of the houses immediately.

He further called on the people of Ebonyi State not to hesitate to report government projects being delayed by contractors.

The Katsina State command of the Nigeria Police Force has confined the arrest and detention of three individuals suspected to be gunrunners.

According to the force, the individuals were arrested while transporting a significant quantity of ammunition intended for terrorists within the region.

During a press briefing at the Katsina police headquarters on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed that on August 29, 2024, at approximately 12:45 PM, law enforcement officials apprehended three individuals known for their involvement in gunrunning and seized a substantial amount of live ammunition.

He indicated that the suspects were captured in Dutsinma town, located in the Dutsinma Local Government Area, while they were in the process of delivering 740 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition to alleged bandits in the Yauni forest, situated in Ummadau village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Initial investigations suggest that the suspects had obtained the ammunition from Nasarawa State, intending to deliver it to a certain Harisu, a suspected leader of bandits who is currently evading capture.

Naija News understands that the three individuals have admitted to their roles in the operation and have implicated Harisu as the orchestrator, Aliyu further stated.

In a separate incident, three suspects confessed to the police regarding their method of transferring N6 million from a victim’s bank account by utilizing the victim’s mobile device.

The police spokesman said: “The fact of the case is that on 3rd August 2024, the command received a complaint that on the same date at about 0130 hrs, a three-man gang of suspected armed robbers criminally conspired and attacked the residence of one Ukashatu Isah, of Kofar Arewa quarters, Baure Local Government Area, Katsina State, where they robbed him of his two mobile phones at gunpoint.

“The suspects, using the stolen mobile phones, criminally transferred a total sum of N6 million naira from the victim’s bank account into three different bank accounts.

“Upon receipt of the report, detectives swung into action, and they successfully traced and arrested the trio in connection with the offence.

“During investigations, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offence and they will soon be charged to court.

“The Command is working tirelessly to apprehend more suspects and bring them to justice.

“This achievement demonstrates our commitment to combating banditry and gunrunning in Katsina State and beyond.”

Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has called on the Federal Government to save Nigeria, expressing concern over what it described as the near collapse of the nation since the administration of President Bola Tinubu took over.

In a communique by its Deputy Leader, Oladipo Olaitan and the Deputy Secretary General, Alade Rotimi-John after a regular quarterly meeting held in Ogun State, Afenifere maintained that the state of the nation has left the people perplexed.

According to the group, the Nigerian people are sorely troubled by the pervasive hardship, crippling hunger, unremitting insecurity in the land, runaway inflation, and massive unemployment all of which have left the people worse off than they were at the beginning.

It also observed the reckless, obstinate and indifferent attitude of the government to the long-term effects of the lack of forethought or purpose regarding the handling of the public revenue.

Afenifere, therefore, rued some of the Tinubu administration’s profligate predilection or inclination to waste resources, stating that $100m or N 240 billion as the purchase price for an Airbus A330 jet for the President and a further $50m to retrofit it was uncalled for.

In addition, Afenifere noted that N950m each as purchase price of a new set of armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUVs as befitting vehicles for the President, N21 billion for renovating a new mansion for the Vice President, N90 billion as subsidy for religious pilgrimage and N10 billion to renovate the Presidential Lodge at Ribadu Road, Lagos, among others, gave an insight of a wasteful nature of the administration.

“Afenifere is scandalised or shamed by the odium and poor international or global image which have attended these profligate or prodigal expenditures.

“We are puzzled that a government can be so masterful at diversionary tactics just to lull the people to sleep and confuse them as they wake amid grave national circumstances and of a strident or sustained debate of its desultory or unmethodical handling of governance,” the group stated.

Declan Rice was controversially sent off for the first time in the Premier League as Arsenal were held to a contentious 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side were leading through Kai Havertz’s first-half strike when Rice saw red after the interval at the Emirates Stadium.

In a bizarre incident, the Arsenal midfielder earned a second booking for gently kicking the ball away and failing to retreat after fouling Brighton’s Joel Veltman.

Rice looked bewildered by the decision, while Arteta sought an explanation from the fourth official as Arsenal fans chanted “you’re not fit to referee” at Chris Kavanagh.

The Premier League said Rice was sent off for “delaying the restart”. VAR was unable to intervene because it was a yellow card and not a straight red.

Brighton took advantage of Rice’s dismissal to equalise through Joao Pedro, ending Arsenal’s 100 percent start to their bid to win the title for the first time since 2004.

The Gunners had won their opening two games of the season against Wolves and Aston Villa, but this was the first blow to their hopes of dethroning champions Manchester City.

Arsenal will be without the suspended Rice when they return to action after the international break with a north London derby trip to Tottenham on September 15.

“If it happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine but it didn’t. It is the inconsistency,” Arteta said of Rice’s red card.

“We started the game really well. We scored the goal, 1-0. We started the second half really good but then there is the decision that changes the game completely.”

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler inevitably saw it differently to Arteta, saying: “First of all he shoots the ball away so it is a clear yellow card, it changes the momentum of the game.”

Hurzeler has made an impressive start with Brighton, who are unbeaten in three games after building on last weekend’s win over Manchester United.

Arsenal new-boy Raheem Sterling watched from the stands following his deadline day loan move from Chelsea.

Sterling, who was frozen out by new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, wasn’t registered in time to feature but his name was cheered by Arsenal fans when he was welcomed to the club in a stadium announcement.

 Rice sees red

Bukayo Saka tormented Brighton defender Jack Hinshelwood with his pace and movement in the early stages, easing into space for a pair of shots that Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen repelled.

Arteta’s belief that the inconsistent Havertz can be an adequate striker for a team with title ambitions looked well placed in the 38th minute as the German broke the deadlock.

Havertz came in for criticism after scoring just 13 times last season following his move from Chelsea.

But he showed composure and quality to deftly chip over the on-rushing Verbruggen from the edge of the area after Saka punished Lewis Dunk’s hesitancy with a clever flicked pass.

Rice escaped with only a yellow card after the Arsenal midfielder crunched into Veltman, a decision that saw Hurzeler booked for protesting.

But Rice wasn’t so fortunate in the 49th minute when he was dismissed after kicking the ball away and failing to retreat before a Brighton free-kick.

Rice had just conceded a foul with a challenge on Veltman, whose kick out at the midfielder in the aftermath looked the more significant offence.

Pedro rubbed salt into Arsenal’s wounds with his 58th minute equaliser.

Dunk’s superb pass split the Gunners defence and Yankuba Minteh sprinted clear for a shot that was pushed out by David Raya to Pedro, who fired home from close-range.

It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded this season, but they should have regained the lead when Havertz broke free for a low shot that was too close to Verbruggen, who saved Saka’s sliding effort seconds later.

In a frantic finale, Raya saved Yasin Ayari’s close-range effort and Carlos Baleba smashed over the bar as 10-man Arsenal held on.

Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a second consecutive hat-trick in a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.

The Norwegian put Ipswich to the sword last weekend and followed up with another treble to take his tally to 70 goals in 69 Premier League games since joining City from Borussia Dortmund.

City have started the defence of their title in ominous fashion for those looking to depose Pep Guardiola’s men after winning the league for four consecutive seasons.

The English champions are the only side so far to win all three of their opening fixtures before an upcoming international break, helped in no small part by Haaland’s electric start.

Guardiola could again afford the luxury of leaving Rodri, John Stones and Kyle Walker on the bench after their exertions in reaching the final of Euro 2024, while Phil Foden missed out for the second successive game through illness.

In contrast to most of his team-mates who were in action at the Euros and Copa America, Haaland had the summer off from international duty and looks as refreshed as he has been ruthless.

After scoring in the opening weekend win at Chelsea and hitting his 10th City hat-trick against Ipswich, Haaland is now up to a Premier League record seven goals in the first three games of a season.

West Ham only had themselves to blame for the opener as they coughed up possession deep inside their own half and Bernardo Silva picked out Haaland to coolly slot beyond Alphonse Areola.

City looked set to put the game to bed in the opening stages as Areola denied Kevin De Bruyne before the Belgian smashed a shot off the crossbar.

But with West Ham’s first purposeful attack they were level thanks to a helping hand from the visitors.

Julen Lopetegui has promised a more attractive style of football after the Hammers fans grew tired of David Moyes’ reign despite impressive results.

At the end of an impressive move from one end to the other, Jarrod Bowen drove into the City box and his low cross was turned into his own net by Ruben Dias.

City quickly restored their grip on proceedings and restored their lead with an intricate move of their own that ended with a resounding finish.

Rico Lewis’ pass found Haaland, who then picked his spot and smashed the ball high past Areola.

Haaland should also have had an assist before the break as Lewis fired over from his deft lay-off.

City left the door open in the second half as they failed to find the killer third goal and could have been punished.

A lightning counter-attack saw Bowen play in Mohammed Kudus, who cannoned a powerful effort back off the post.

Haaland, though, fittingly had the final say to seal the three points.

The 24-year-old was played in by Matheus Nunes and confidently scooped the ball over substitute ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

And the veteran Polish stopper was called into action to deny Haaland a fourth in stoppage time.

A second defeat in three games for West Ham leaves Lopetegui’s men down in 14th.

Sule Lamido, an ex-governor of Jigawa, says former President Muhammadu never wanted Bola Tinubu to be his successor. 

Lamido said Buhari wanted Ahmad Lawan, a former senate president, to succeed him.

In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Lamido said Buhari was “naive and absurd” in his political calculation, adding that the former president wanted a northern successor after he had spent eight years.

The former governor said Buhari did not trust his vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, to succeed him.

“Prior to the convention, he (Tinubu) was in Abeokuta, Ogun state, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was watching,” Lamido said.

“He never liked Tinubu. There was somebody he wanted. He didn’t even trust his own vice president, Professor (Yemi) Osinbajo; he wanted Ahmed Lawan, but his calculation was absurd. 

“You have done eight years for the north, and you wanted another northerner for another eight years! No. Maybe later, but there are some dynamics which you can’t alter, not in Nigeria of today.

“The president of Nigeria, after being in office for eight years, lacked the courage to push through his anointed choice.

“He was there at the convention, and Tinubu, that he never liked, and never believed in, emerged.

“Tinubu knows that his victory wasn’t from Buhari; therefore, he owes him nothing.

“He wasn’t the choice of Afenifere; Obasanjo never liked him, but he became president. All the other groups, including the governors, were there, but he won. He was determined to demolish all obstacles, and he crushed them.”

The former governor said it will be “very difficult” for Tinubu to be defeated in the 2027 presidential election. 

He added that Tinubu defeated all obstacles to become president in 2023, including a sitting president, who did not want him.

“We are working hard, but it is a huge task. It is going to be difficult with Tinubu, with his hold on the country, on the economy, and his audacity to say this is where I stand against Nigeria’s interest. It is something else,” he said.

“Tinubu is very daring; he is his own creation, he is a self-made man, right from Chicago, what he went through on the streets.

“Look at how he was able to fight the Alliance for Democracy and Afenifere and then Obasanjo.”

Four travellers have died as twenty others sustained injuries including two corps members in a multiple accident in Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State.

The accident along Osun/Ondo road via Joseph Ayo Babalola University(JABU) involved three vehicles.

A video circulating on social media showed many wounded passengers lying down on the floor, some of them dead.

Reacting to the accident, the Osun State Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC), Taofeek Sokunbi, blamed the incident on the carelessness of the drivers.

He said, “The accident occurred three days ago. Four people died and twenty people were injured. The accident occurred when there was a speed breaker.

“I want to urge drivers to drive carefully on the road because the accident was caused by over speeding. The accident was carelessness on the path of the driver.“