Category: Uncategorized

By Bashir Bello

The Department of State Services (DSS) has granted bail to some officials of the Kano State Government following a petition filed by former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over alleged cyberbullying and defamation on social media.

The officials were invited and detained by the DSS who questioned them for about four hours before they were later released on self-recognition.

Those involved include Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House Kano; Ibrahim Adam, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information; Salisu Yahaya Hotoro, APC Youth Leader in Kano; and Nuhu Dambazau, Senior Special Reporter at the Government House.

The development followed a petition submitted by Sen. Kwankwaso under the Kwankwasiyya Movement, accusing the officials of using social media platforms to harass and defame him and some members of his political camp.

In the petition dated April 10, 2026, Kwankwaso alleged that the officials engaged in coordinated online activities aimed at undermining his reputation.

The petition reads, “We write to formally petition your esteemed office regarding the persistent cyberbullying, online harassment, and coordinated defamatory attacks directed against Senator Rabilu Musa Kwankwaso, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo. Senator Rufai Sani Hanga. Muhammad Samir Hanga and other members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement on various social media platforms, particularly Facebook.

“It has become evident that certain individuals allegedly occupying official positions within the Kano State Government including the Spokesman of the Executive Governor of Kano State SSA Social media.”

However, the release of the officials after a brief interrogation has been interpreted by observers as an indication that the matter is still under investigation, with no immediate findings against them.

The development comes amid ongoing political exchanges on social media between supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and backers of the Kano State Government.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the DSS nor the Kano State Government has issued an official statement on the matter.

The post Alleged defamation: DSS detains, releases Kano govt officials over Kwankwaso’s petition appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released several Kano State Government officials after questioning them over a petition filed by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The officials were invited by the DSS and held for about four hours before being granted bail on self-recognition.

Those involved include Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General of Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House; Ibrahim Adam, Special Adviser on Information; Salisu Yahaya Hotoro, APC Youth Leader in Kano; and Nuhu Dambazau, a senior reporter at the Government House.

Kwankwaso filed the petition under the Kwankwasiyya Movement, accusing the officials of cyberbullying and defaming him and some of his supporters on social media.

In the petition dated April 10, 2026, he alleged that the officials carried out coordinated online attacks to damage his reputation.

Their release shortly after questioning suggests that investigations are still ongoing, with no conclusions reached.

The development comes amid rising political tensions online between supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and those backing the Kano State Government.

As of the time of this report, neither the DSS nor the Kano State Government has issued any official statement on the matter.

DSS releases Kano officials quizzed over Kwankwaso cyberbullying petition

The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the Police as partisan, describing their unsealing of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja as “state-sponsored persecution”.

Read Also: Police unseal PDP headquarters; Wike’s loyalists take over

In a statement on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, said it would take legal steps over the Police action.

Recall that after months of legal tussles, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Wike-backed camp on March 9, invalidating the November 16 Ibadan convention endorsed by the governors.

Today, about five weeks after the judgement, the Mohammed-led PDP faction, backed by Wike, announced that the Police had unsealed both the Wadata Plaza and Legacy House national offices of the party in Abuja.

It is this action that the Turaki-led group called partisan on the part of the Police.

According to the statement, “they tampered with the res and that can render the judgment of the Court of Appeal nugatory, when it is eventually given. It is most shameful that those entrusted with protecting the law are those disobeying the law.

“While it is not surprising that the Police is acting in a clearly partisan manner, we were hopeful that they would act differently under the command of the new Inspector General of Police.

“From the inception of this imbroglio, the officers of the police force have consistently acted in a manner that leaves no one in doubt as to their support for the Wike-backed APC apologists and have continued to double down on their partisan interventions.

“As law-abiding citizens, we admonish our members to continue to maintain peace and not undertake any activity capable of breaching public peace, while we promise to take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to protect the rights and privileges of the genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The public should be assured that we are hopeful that soon this dark cloud of state-sponsored persecution and one-party compulsory drive will end and true democratic experience will return, in the interest of preserving the republic.

“Though pains may tarry in the night, joy and liberation will certainly come in the morning. Let us therefore bear this night with the hope that surely the morning is en route.”

Vanguard News

The post ‘State-sponsored persecution’ – Turaki PDP faults unsealing of secretariat appeared first on Vanguard News.

Wikki Tourists forward, Jonathan Mairiga, has assured that the players will give their all in the matchday 34 clash against Bayelsa United.

The Bauchi Elephants will take on Bayelsa United at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Sunday.

Mairiga said the players are fully prepared for the encounter.

“We are going into this match with determination, focus, and the belief that we can turn things around,” Mairiga told the club’s media.

DAILY POST reports that Wikki Tourists are currently battling to avoid relegation this season.

Mairiga remains optimistic that the team will rise above the pressure and fight to secure a positive result.

“We understand the situation we’re in, but we are not giving up,” he added.

NPFL: Mairiga vows Wikki Tourists will fight to avoid relegation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran had succeeded in “crushing” the Islamic republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Netanyahu’s comments came as Iranian and US officials held two rounds of face-to-face talks in Pakistan in a bid to end the Middle East war, with a third round expected later on Saturday evening or Sunday, Iranian state television reported.

“We have succeeded in crushing the nuclear programme, and crushing the missile programme,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement, adding that the war against Tehran had also weakened Iran’s leadership and its regional allies.

“We have reached a situation in which Iran no longer has a single functioning enrichment facility.”

Netanyahu said the United States and Israel had prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb by launching a war in June 2025, followed by the current campaign that began on February 28.

He said the latest war was launched after intelligence indicated that the now deceased Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei had sought to expand the country’s nuclear and missile programmes even after the June 2025 war.

“He sought to bury both missile production and nuclear production deep, deep beneath a mountain, in a way that even B-2 aircraft could not reach. Once again, we could not stand by. We acted,” Netanyahu said.

“Most of its missile production capacity has disappeared. They still have missiles, they still have stockpiles, but it is shrinking.”

He said there were “enormous achievements” in the war effort.

“They are reflected in this weakened regime, which is now even seeking a ceasefire,” he said.

Netanyahu added that, for decades, Iran’s leadership and its allies had threatened Israel.

“They wanted to strangle us, and (now) we are strangling them. They threatened us with annihilation, and now they are fighting for survival.”

– Israelis rally against wars –

On Lebanon, Netanyahu said the country had approached Israel regarding a potential peace deal.

“In the past month, it has reached out several times to begin direct peace talks,” Netanyahu said.

“I have given my approval, but on two conditions: we want the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations.”

On Friday, Lebanon’s presidency said that a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and the potential start of negotiations between the neighbours.

Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been clashing since March 2, two days after the start of the Iran war, following rocket fire by the Lebanese armed group at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei.

Since then, Israel has killed at least 2,020 people in Lebanon, including 248 women, 165 children and 85 medical and emergency personnel, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Israel carried out its largest air attack this week on Lebanon since March 2, which it says left hundreds of Hezbollah fighters dead.

Even as Netanyahu spoke, around 800 Israeli protesters rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against the wars in Iran and Lebanon, accusing Netanyahu of attempting to derail the ceasefire with Iran.

“In Bibi, we don’t trust,” read one banner, using Netanyahu’s nickname, as protesters chanted: “No to endless wars, no to a government of death”.

Protester Martin Goldberg said Netanyahu was not in favour of a ceasefire with Iran.

“What happened immediately after the ceasefire in Iran, Israel launched one of its largest attacks in Lebanon, which in my opinion, was an attempt to try and sabotage the ceasefire with Iran,” the 61-year-old demonstrator told AFP.

“Israel is pretty openly saying that they’re not interested in a ceasefire in Iran, and they don’t want a peaceful solution in Iran.”

The post Netanyahu says war succeeded in ‘crushing’ Iran nuclear, missile programmes appeared first on Vanguard News.

Female journalists in Northern Nigeria have raised concerns over increasing cases of gender-based harassment, intimidation and violence encountered while covering elections, warning that the trend could undermine effective reporting in the 2027 general elections.

The concerns were raised on Saturday at a roundtable discussion organised by Mata Media under the Mata Media Foundation, held at the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Kano.

Facilitator of the session and Editor of Mata Media, Hafsat Bello, said the engagement was designed to provide a safe space for women journalists to share their experiences and prepare for election coverage.

“We wanted a safe environment where women journalists can openly talk about what they go through and how best to prepare for election reporting,” she said.

Representing the Mata Media Foundation, Fauxiya Kabir Tukur said the organisation remains committed to supporting journalists, especially women, through training and capacity-building ahead of the polls.

A journalist, Samira Zakirai, revealed that female journalists are often subjected to gender-based discrimination, harassment and intimidation that affect their work and mental wellbeing.

“Women journalists face constant harassment especially while covering elections. They face four threats: harassment, gender bias, discrimination and intimidation,” she said.

Another participant, Zainab Mai Agogo of Kakaki 24, alleged that some female reporters also experience inappropriate behaviour from political actors while on assignment, a situation she said discourages families from allowing women to pursue careers in journalism.

She said, “When women are covering elections, female journalists sometimes intimidate themselves by accusing those covering elections of things the journalists are not even doing.”

Hajiya Maimuna, who joined virtually from Niger State, said many female journalists avoid election coverage due to fear of violence and insecurity in volatile areas.

She noted growing threats of online harassment and the lack of legal action against perpetrators, describing it as a rising danger for women in the media space.

She called for regular safety training, stronger institutional support, and improved digital security awareness for journalists.

Northern female journalists decry gender-based harassment ahead of 2027 elections

Sunshine Stars have dedicated their victory over Edel FC to the club’s supporters.

The Owena Waves edged out Edel FC 2-1 in their final game of the 2025-26 Nigeria National League, NNL, season in Akure on Saturday.

Sunshine Stars recorded seven wins, four draws and five defeats in 15 matches during the season.

“We rounded off the season with a home victory, dedicated to our passionate fans and the wonderful people of Ondo State.” Sunshine Stars wrote on the social media after the victory.

Sunshine Stars registered 25 points in the season.

DAILY POST reports that Inter Lagos secured promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, from the NNL Conference A.

NNL: Sunshine Stars dedicate final day win over Edel FC to fans

Maduka Okoye made history after keeping a clean sheet in Udinese’s 3-0 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro on Saturday.

It’s the first time Okoye has kept three consecutive clean sheets at club level in his career.

The Nigeria international also prevented Genoa and Como from scoring in Udinese’s previous two league outings.

The 26-year-old put up an impressive performance against AC Milan, showing sharp reflexes and strong command.

The shot stopper made two great saves in succession, early in the second half to keep the visitors at bay.

Udinese moved to 10th position on the table with 43 points.

Serie A: Okoye sets personal clean sheet record in Udinese’s win over Milan

By Jeff Agbodo

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has described the passing of the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Chukwu, as shocking.

Nwifuru said that Bishop Chukwu distinguished himself as an icon of faith, a promoter of peace, and a tireless advocate for justice, unity and love.

He said that the Bishop was not only a revered shepherd of God’s flock but a spiritual colossus whose life embodied humility, sacrifice, and undiluted devotion to the service of God and humanity.

The governor, in a condolence message he personally signed, said that the voice of the late Catholic Bishop in times of uncertainty and his counsel were a source of divine wisdom to leaders and the faithful alike.

It read: “It is with a heart weighed down by deep sorrow, yet comforted by the eternal promises of God, that I received the news of the passing unto glory of His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Nworie Chukwu, the 3rd Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki.

“I am compelled to assert that his transition marks the end of an era of profound spiritual guidance, moral clarity, and fatherly leadership in Ebonyi State and beyond.

“As a true son of Ebonyi State, Ededeagu Umuezeokohu in the Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi State, Bishop Chukwu distinguished himself as an icon of faith, a promoter of peace, and a tireless advocate for justice, unity, and love.
“With and through his pastoral mission, he touched countless lives, strengthened families, and nurtured the spiritual growth of our people.

“While I mourn his sad transition to eternity, I take solace and believe very strongly and convincingly in the eternal sacred truth in the Holy Scriptures, particularly found in the book of 2 Timothy 4:7, which reminds us: ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.’
Indeed, Bishop Chukwu lived a life worthy of this testimony. He ran his race with grace and finished strong in the vineyard of the Lord.

“On behalf of the Government and good people of Ebonyi State, I extend my deepest condolences to the Supreme Pontiff, Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, the clergy, religious, and lay faithful, as well as the immediate and extended family of the late Bishop.

“We share in your pain, even as we celebrate a life well spent in the service of God and humanity.

“As a government, we recognize the role Bishop Chukwu played in fostering moral discipline, rectitude and social harmony.

“His passing is not only a loss to the Church but to the entire state and nation.

“We pray that the Almighty God, in His infinite mercy, will grant his gentle soul eternal rest and give all who mourn him the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

The post Gov. Nwifuru mourns Bishop Chukwu appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the 3rd Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Nworie Chukwu, describing his death as a profound loss to the Church, Ebonyi State, and the nation at large.

In an official condolence statement issued on Saturday through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor, the Governor said he received the news of the Bishop’s transition “with a heart weighed down by deep sorrow, yet comforted by the eternal promises of God.”

Nwifuru noted that the late Bishop was not only a revered shepherd of the Catholic faithful but also a spiritual leader whose life was defined by humility, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the service of God and humanity.

He described the late cleric as a “spiritual colossus” whose tenure marked an era of moral clarity, fatherly guidance, and steadfast commitment to peace and unity in Ebonyi State and beyond.

According to the Governor, Bishop Chukwu, who hailed from Ededeagu Umuezeokohu in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, distinguished himself as a tireless advocate of justice, love, and social harmony. He added that the Bishop’s pastoral ministry positively impacted countless lives, strengthened families, and deepened the spiritual growth of the faithful.

“The voice of the late Catholic Bishop in times of uncertainty, and his counsel was a source of divine wisdom to leaders and the faithful alike,” the Governor stated.

While mourning his passage, Governor Nwifuru drew consolation from the Holy Scriptures, referencing 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

He said the scripture aptly reflects the life and ministry of the late Bishop, who “ran his race with grace and finished strong in the vineyard of the Lord.”

On behalf of the Government and people of Ebonyi State, the Governor extended condolences to the Supreme Pontiff, the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, the clergy, religious, lay faithful, and the immediate and extended family of the deceased.

Nwifuru further acknowledged the Bishop’s contributions to moral discipline, social stability, and peaceful coexistence in the state, noting that his passing represents not only a loss to the Church but also to Ebonyi State and Nigeria as a whole.

He prayed that Almighty God grants the late Bishop eternal rest and gives all who mourn him the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

“Adieu, faithful servant of God. Rest in the bosom of the Lord,” the statement concluded.

Governor Nwifuru mourns passing of Abakaliki catholic Bishop, Most Rev Chukwu