The Reporters Gang

  By Ali Mohammed The latest exposes surrounding Governor Dauda Lawal's purported complicity in financing banditry in Zamfara State have sparked widespread astonishment and demands for clarity. Presently, Zamfara State is grappling with an unprecedented surge in banditry and insurgency, with communities being increasingly besieged, and Governor Lawal's actions and decisions have come under intense scrutiny. The governor's alleged entanglement in funding banditry, ostensibly to perpetuate his interests in illicit mining operations, raises fundamental questions about governance, ethical standards, and accountability. Governor Lawal, who initially vowed to adopt a hardline stance against bandits, appears to have reneged on his promise by engaging in a contentious scheme involving substantial financial transactions with bandit leaders. Recent revelations indicate that Governor Lawal has allegedly allocated over N1.3 billion to bandits and media propagandists, a move that stark...

The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) condemns in the strongest terms the disgraceful and thuggish threats issued by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike against Bauchi State.  In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG said that Wike's "recent bandit-like outburst on live television is a stark reminder of the dangerous and unrefined attitude he has consistently displayed in his political career.  "It is shocking and deeply unfortunate that a figure of such notorious repute holds a position in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. "Wike’s behaviour is not only an affront to the people of Bauchi State but also a direct challenge to the peace and stability of Northern Nigeria. The CNG wishes to make it clear that we do not take such threats lightly.  The Coalition warned that "No one has a monopoly on thuggery or intimidation. We are fully prepared to confront Wike and anyone who believes they can bully or destabilize our re...

High Court in Nsukka, Enugu State, has granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) from proceeding with a hostel project, citing environmental degradation concerns.  The project, which involves the construction of an 11,900-room hostel, has been a subject of controversy, with the host community, Obukpa, alleging that it poses a significant threat to their environment. In a landmark judgment delivered by Justice Hyacinthia Urunwa Ezeugwu, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Hon Nnaemeka Aleke, who represented the Obukpa community.  The court held that the evidence presented by the plaintiff's eight witnesses was "incontrovertible" and that a visit to the project site revealed significant environmental damage. The court ordered the defendants, UNN and Viagem Property and Investment Limited, to stop further development of the project pending the implementation of erosion control measures.  Additionally, the court awarded N20...

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has strongly condemned the recent call by 180 members of the House of Representatives Minority Caucus for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government. Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, National Coordinator of the CNG, described the lawmakers' demand as "reckless" and "a betrayal of the trust reposed in them by their constituents."  He noted that the CNG had reported Kanu to the UN for his acts of terror against innocent Nigerians in 2017 and advocated for declaring his group a terrorist organization. "This is a slap in the face of the Nigerian people, and a brazen attempt to subvert the rule of law and undermine the authority of the Nigerian judiciary," Charanchi said. "We are shocked that lawmakers, including those from Northern Nigeria, are supporting the release of a terrorist being held on charges...

  The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has issued a stark warning to the Nigerian government, cautioning against an imminent collapse of the nation due to escalating economic hardship, poverty, and insecurity.  In a strongly worded statement read by Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, at a press conference, the CNG urged President Tinubu to reassess his economic team and adopt a more humane approach to address the suffering of Nigerians. "The suffering of Nigerians is palpable across every stratum," the CNG stated. "The current economic indices and data from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics paint an ugly picture of our reality, with 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and 20 million people either unemployed or underemployed." The CNG criticized the government's economic policies, describing them as "anti-people" and "trial-and-error."  They lamented the increase in interest rates, which they believe will further devastate t...

By Dattijo Sani Rano PhD The grand conspiracy from Northern Nigeria against the reemergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term that was hinted at by the President's loyal political allies in the region is gradually but surely coming into the open. The recent open declaration by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the North would work against Tinubu in 2027 is a clear indication that there are powerful forces at work to undermine the President's second term  chances and  set the stage for a carefully orchestrated plot against him. This bold and unequivocal statement by the NEF has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as it reveals a clear intent to thwart Tinubu's ambitions.  The fact that such a group has openly declared its opposition to Tinubu's bid speaks volumes about the deep-seated opposition and resistance he faces from outside and within his own political circles.  It is further evidence that there are powerful forces at play who ar...

The recent visit by the Minister of Defence, Bello Matawale, to the United States of America has been commended by several Northern groups under the North Central Stakeholders Forum for its immense significance in addressing the fight against terrorism and other security challenges in Nigeria.  The Stakeholders Forum, in a statement signed by its Convener, Mohammed A. Mohammed noted that the visit, which involved engaging in discussions with members of the US Congress, was meant to strengthen bilateral cooperation, share intelligence, and seek support in combating terrorism.  "The importance of this visit cannot be overstated, as it holds the potential to bring about positive changes in Nigeria's security landscape" they said.  The Forum said first and foremost, the visit by Minister Matawale signifies the commitment of the Nigerian government to tackle the issue of terrorism head-on.  "By reaching out to the United States, a global superpower with extensive experien...

A Coalition of SouthWest Groups, under its umbrella body, the Coalition Of The Yoruba Youth Network (YYN), comprising the South West Blossom Brigade (SBB), the Odua Youth Frontiers (OYF), the Yoruba Youth Empowerment Forum (YYEF), the Voice Of Yoruba Youths (VOYY), the Odua Progressive People Assembly (OPPA) and no fewer than fourteen other youth organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) have reacted to the Court of Appeal judgment on the Kano State governorship election petition between Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as it relates to the integrity of the Nigerian Justice System.  The Coalition urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as the highest judicial authority in the country, to exercise its responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary by thoroughly reviewing the case.  They noted that “by conducting a thorough review of these rulings, the Supreme Court can demonstrate its com...

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said that it is deeply worried about the current state of affairs within the Nigerian judiciary, describing the current trends of verdict emanating from the elections petition courts as a significant threat to the country's democracy.  In a press statement, NEF's Convener, Professor Ango Abdullahi, stressed the need for the judiciary to be cautious in its actions to prevent the erosion of its integrity, public trust, and confidence.  Professor Abdullahi expressed dismay at the controversies surrounding several recent judicial decisions, particularly those concerning elections. Such occurrences, he noted, are disheartening and pose a significant threat to the future of democracy in Nigeria.  "The potential consequences of these actions may ultimately validate the concerns raised by Retired Supreme Court Judge Dajjito Mohammed in his valedictory remarks about corruption and undue compromises within the judiciary.  “The Northern Elder...