The Kano State Police Command has established a specialised Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to tackle rising cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
The command assured that the unit’s operations will be guided by discipline, integrity, and respect for human rights.
The Kano Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu-Bakori, gave the assurance as the command formally announced the creation of the unit in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police and in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Kano by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa.
According to the statement, the VCRU is a specialised, intelligence-driven tactical unit designed to address violent crimes across the state decisively.
“The VCRU is established to respond to, suppress, investigate, and prosecute all cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, and related violent crimes through strictly intelligence-driven approaches,” the PPRO said.
He noted that the formation of the unit underscores the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to professional, effective, and accountable policing capable of earning public trust.
Haruna-Kiyawa further revealed that officers deployed to the unit underwent rigorous vetting processes, alongside mandatory training in human rights and professional conduct, in line with global best practices.
The Command also appointed a VCRU State Media Liaison Officer, while also making provisions for a dedicated public complaints hotline and a physical complaints desk at the unit’s operational base. These channels, he said, will be publicised for easy access.
“All complaints will be acknowledged and responded to within 24 hours,” he assured.
The PPRO called on residents to support the initiative by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities, stressing that community cooperation remains vital to the success of the unit.
He added that the Command would provide regular updates on the activities and achievements of the VCRU as part of its transparency drive.
“The VCRU represents our renewed commitment to intelligence-led, professional policing that respects the rights of all citizens. It is indeed a new dawn in crime prevention, management, and control,” Adamu-Bakori stated.
He further pledged personal oversight of the unit’s operations, saying, “I take personal responsibility for its conduct, performance, and public image. I call on all residents of Kano State to cooperate with and support the VCRU. Together, we will make Kano safer.”
Troops of 13 Brigade, working alongside operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have destroyed a large illegal cannabis farm in Cross River State.
In a post shared on X, security analyst Zagazola Makama cited security sources who said the joint operation was carried out at about 10:30 a.m. on April 25 during a routine patrol under Operation UDO KA.
The farm, located in Uwét community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, was estimated to cover about three hectares of land.
“Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 10:30 a.m. on April 25 during a routine patrol under Operation UDO KA,” Makama said.
According to the sources, the troops and NDLEA operatives came across the plantation during the patrol and immediately moved to destroy it.
“The illicit farm, located in Uwét community in Akamkpa Local Government Area, was estimated to cover about three hectares,” Makama added.
The sources further noted that the discovery was followed by the destruction of the entire cannabis plantation at the site.
“According to the sources, the troops and NDLEA operatives discovered the plantation during the patrol and subsequently destroyed it,” Makama noted.
However, no arrest was made in connection with the illegal cultivation.
The operation, authorities said, forms part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to clamp down on drug-related crimes and dismantle illegal networks operating within the region.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has intensified high-level consultations with key political stakeholders, former officeholders, and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary for the 2027 general elections.
THE WHISTLER understands that he held separate meetings with key party figures between April 13 and April 25. These meetings are understood to be part of a strategic push by Hamzat, who is widely seen as a contender to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to consolidate support among influential party figures.
He said discussions with GAC members focused on “honest, thoughtful conversations” about the state’s direction and the leadership required to sustain its growth, stressing that the engagements are anchored on listening, learning, and collaboration.
“This is about listening, learning and working with others to build a stronger Lagos,” he wrote on X.
As part of the outreach, Hamzat met with former deputy governors Femi Pedro and Sarah Adebisi Sosan, as well as former governor and ex-minister Babatunde Fashola. He also consulted prominent figures including Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, Shakiru Akanni Seriki, Senator Tokunbo Abiru representing Lagos East, immediate past Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and elder statesman Femi Okunnu, alongside former deputy governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. Within the GAC, he engaged its chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, and other leaders such as Adeseye Ogunlewe and Biodun Ogunleye. He also met with the Lagos APC leadership, including state chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, and held talks with Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on his policy direction.
Meanwhile, APC aspirant and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Abdul’Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has also stepped up consultations and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the party’s anticipated direct primaries.
On April 15, he addressed ward and local government executives across the 377 wards in Lagos, urging them to begin rallying support at the grassroots. He subsequently met with GAC chairman Olusi and other influential figures, including Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and also held separate meetings with Speaker Obasa and GAC member Abayomi Finnih.
In a statement, Adediran emphasised grassroots strength as the backbone of his ambition.
“As I continue consultations with respected elders across our great state, I am reminded of a fundamental truth: a movement that is deeply rooted in the grassroots is one that cannot be shaken. Our strength does not lie in noise or momentary momentum, but in the enduring support of the people across every ward in Lagos State.
“These engagements reinforce the importance of wisdom, experience, and responsibility in shaping a path forward that is inclusive and people-centered,” he said in a statement on X.
To reinforce his structure, Adediran recently approved a 2,690-member grassroots committee drawn from wards, local governments, and the state level to drive mobilisation, voter education, and compliance with party processes.
The committee is designed to ensure operational efficiency, message consistency, and voter engagement across all strata of the party, with members assigned roles ranging from media and communications to security coordination and grassroots canvassing.
Endorsements have also begun to shape the emerging contest. A key APC bloc, Justice Forum, has reportedly endorsed Hamzat, directing members to support his candidacy, while a member of the House of Representatives, James Faleke, publicly backed his ambition and urged party faithful to rally behind him.
The endorsement, however, drew criticism from Ibile Parapo, which described the move as provocative and questioned Faleke’s neutrality over his alleged role in an APC screening committee.
On his part, Adediran has secured backing from Team Jagaban-Jandor 2027, which also endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 election.
Other figures reportedly eyeing the Lagos governorship race include Sanwo-Olu’s Chief of Staff Tayo Ayinde, Senator Abiru, and Commissioner for Environment Tokunbo Wahab, although they have yet to match the level of visible stakeholder engagement by Hamzat and Adediran.
Amid the growing political activity, the Lagos chapter of the APC has warned against premature endorsements. In a statement on April 19, state chairman Cornelius Ojelabi described such actions as unauthorised and a violation of internal democratic principles, stressing that the party had not released any guidelines or timetable for the primaries.
He warned that disciplinary measures could be taken against erring officials, while assuring all aspirants of a level playing field.
Meanwhile, early political alignments are also emerging beyond the governorship race, as council chairmen in Ikorodu Division, led by Ameen Apanisile, endorsed lawmaker Babajimi Benson for another term in the House of Representatives, citing his performance and impact across the constituency.
The Offa Security Committee in Kwara has called for direct allocation of security votes to local governments, saying the current structure has left communities overstretched amid rising security threats.
A member of the committee, retired AVM Abdul-Ganiyu Olabisi, made the call on Sunday.
He spoke against the backdrop of renewed attacks in some parts of Kwara North and Kwara South.
Olabisi said several communities had come under severe attacks in recent times, resulting in loss of lives and displacement of residents, thereby putting pressure on locals to resort to self help.
He noted that while many communities had stepped up efforts to support security agencies, lack of government funding remained a major constraint.
“As first responders to any breach of security, communities have a critical role to play.
“However, this responsibility cannot be sustained without government support,” he said.
The retired senior officer disclosed that Offa community had established a vigilance structure to complement security agencies through intelligence gathering and patrol operations, using limited arms permitted by law.
According to him, the initiative funded entirely by contributions from well-meaning individuals, takes care of salaries, vehicles, motorcycles, fueling and other logistics.
“Monthly, the community spends over N10 million on security operations without any form of government support.
“This is not sustainable,” he told NAN.
Olabisi stressed that the primary responsibility of government remained the protection of lives and property, urging the authorities to match calls for community participation with concrete financial backing.
He explained that such a framework would enhance transparency and accountability in the use of security funds, while also improving the capacity of local communities to respond to threats.
“There is an urgent need for government to allocate security votes directly to local governments to support community-based security initiatives.
“If security votes are channelled directly to local governments, it will strengthen grassroots security and ensure timely response to incidents within communities,” he said.
Olabisi also expressed concern over the slow pace of efforts to establish state police, noting that while the initiative was commendable, it could take years to fully implement.
He added that empowering communities financially would not only improve their defensive capacity but also deter criminal elements from exploiting vulnerable areas.
“We cannot wait for years while communities are under attack.
“Immediate intervention through direct funding is necessary.
“Once communities are better equipped and organised, it will significantly reduce the ease with which attackers operate,” he said.
Mali’s Defence Minister General Sadio Camara has been killed amid coordinated attacks on military sites across the West African country, sources told Al Jazeera.
The news on Sunday came a day after Camara’s house in the garrison town of Kati came under attack.
Brant Philip, a security analyst, disclosed this is his X handle.
“Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara and some of his relatives were killed by the JNIM SVBIED (some say a truck was used) that struck his house yesterday morning according to Le Figaro and Jeune Afrique,” Philip wrote.
The blast is said to have destroyed much of Sadio Camara’s residence in Kati.
DAILY POST gathers that this was not the first attempt on his life.
On April 25th jihadists from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg rebels launched a coordinated assault on the capital and several other cities.
Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti, has clarified that every appointment made by his administration has been guided strictly by meritocracy.
Governor Otti who made the clarification on Saturday at the International Conference Center, Umuahia during the wedding ceremony of his Ade-De-Camp (ADC), ASP Emeka Charles Ogbonna, and his bride, Trinity also reaffirmed his stance on merit-based appointments in public service, stating that what influences his choice of appointments of people to serve the State in various capacities is what they can offer and not where they come from or their political affiliations.
Clarifying the appointment of Dr. Ezinne Chinyere Benjamin-Kalu, as the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Management Board (ABSUTH) the State Chief Executive said, “Recently, we made an appointment for the chairman of Abia State University Teaching Hospital Board. And somehow, I think I hear some noise left, right, and center. I’m sure the people don’t know that I personally interviewed and had chats with seven people for that role. And the lady that we chose did not only come first, but the difference between her and the person that came second was so wide.
“And this happened last year. So, we were waiting for an opportunity to reconstitute the board, given that the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Teaching Hospital was leaving. So, having now reconstituted the board, we believe that it was only proper for us to give the job to the person that came first.
“And, that’s what we did. We don’t care whether she’s APC or PDP or YPP or whatever. Those are not important. We don’t even care whether she’s from Abia or from Delta or from anywhere. We are interested in what is in her brain. We are interested in the contacts that she has. And one of the things that stood her out from the other six was the international contacts she has.”
“So, in Abia here, we are open to anybody. Just come with what is inside your brain. We don’t want to know where you come from. We don’t want to know your political affiliation. When the time comes for voting, you can go and vote for whoever you want to vote. But here, we want results. We want performance,” Gov. Otti added.
The Governor noted that this principle applies across board – from the appointment of Permanent Secretaries to the recruitment of the 5,394 teachers, as well as the ongoing process to employ additional 4,000 teachers. He emphasized that place of origin is not a criterion; rather, the determining factors are what individuals can offer and their ability to deliver effectively on the job.
Governor Otti noted that his approach to appointment ensures that the right people are entrusted with responsibilities that impact governance and service delivery.
The Governor, who commended his ADC for choosing a wife from Cross River State said, “You can see that it’s a cross-cultural union. That is what the world should be. When I heard that ASP Emeka was taking a wife from Cross River State, Obudu to be precise, I was very happy about that. Because, it was also on the basis of that, that he was selected as my ADC. I had interviewed seven people, and he came first. At the time, I decided to give him the job, I didn’t know where he came from. What gave him the job is merit.
He also congratulated his ADC and his beautiful wife, Trinity, and prayed that God would bless their union with the joys and blessings of marriage. He asked for divine blessings upon their home, including the gift of children and the resources to nurture and raise them to become individuals of great impact in society, both locally and globally.
The Governor also recognized in Absentia and paid tribute to a former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, who went out of his way to host all the Abia people that went to Cross River State to take Trinity.
Human rights activist and former 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the national summit of opposition parties held in Ibadan, Oyo State, declaring that Nigerians deserve a credible alternative rather than what he described as “recycled failure.”
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Sowore disclosed that he declined an invitation to attend the summit because he viewed it as a gathering of political actors who had previously presided over Nigeria’s decline.
THE WHISTLER reports that opposition leaders from several parties converged in Ibadan on Saturday where agreements were made ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting drew prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Also present were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President David Mark, and other leading opposition figures.
However, Sowore was conspicuously absent from the summit.
In his post, Sowore argued that those behind the initiative could not credibly reposition themselves as champions of progress after years of alleged involvement in stagnation, corruption, and systemic decay.
“There is no need to pretend that the same men (and a few women) who held Nigeria to ransom for years can suddenly reinvent themselves as defenders of the people,” he said, adding that Nigerians were not suffering from amnesia.
He stressed that his party, AAC, would not participate in what he described as a “charade” designed to repackage discredited political figures under the banner of opposition politics.
“Instead, we are committed to presenting a formidable, people-driven alternative, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation,” Sowore said.
The activist also criticised major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing them of embodying “decadence and deception.”
According to him, Nigeria requires a decisive break from its past political order, not what he described as a mere “rearrangement of the same broken pieces.”
A team of poliovirus vaccinators gathered under a shaded neem tree at Kwannawa, a bustling community in Dange/Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto, North-Western state, Nigeria.
They are all surrounded by leagues of playful children whose laughter and screams resonated with the determined strides of the polio workers. Among them were; Shahuda Idris, 22, and Nabila Tambuwal, 19. They are part of the vaccinators engaged in the state to take the lead role at the frontline of Nigeria’s fight against polio.
Shahuda Idris vaccinating a child
While Nabila is tasked to carefully review any missing child who has not received the oral polio vaccine to ensure they are accounted for during the immunization drive, Shahuda is moving from one house to another at a brisk pace, hanging on to her cooler, containing oral polio vaccine.
“I see this work as a service to humanity. If I do it well, I believe it will count for me in the hereafter,” Nabila said, as she prepared to vaccinate the first eligible child of the day.
In between her immunisation duty, she laughed with more children who surfaced, coaxed the hesitant ones, and handed out small gifts to them, an action that literally turned their fears into comfort and trust.
Nabila’s volunteering journey started in 2024, when she joined the immunization campaign through a neighbor. Since then, she has been making more of an impact in the community.
She recalled how she used her first payment of N66,000 from the immunisation exercise to buy a laptop, a tool she still uses in advancing her academics as a Diploma student of Community Health.
Looking inwardly today, Nabila said the immunisation fieldwork has given her life experience to everything she learned in school.
“I didn’t expect to love this work this much,” she said, smiling as she adjusted a child on her lap. “But now, I feel proud knowing I am part of something meaningful in my community.”
THE HOUSE-TO-HOUSE JOURNEY
While Nabila sat for hours attending to the children who volunteered to turn themselves in for immunization, Shahuda was on the move with her vaccine carrier balanced on her right shoulder.
She enters from one compound to another using her most soothing voice to talk to unwilling mothers to remind them of the need for immunization.
Oftentimes, the mothers are willing to allow her administer the oral vaccine to their children. Afterward, her teammate marked the child’s finger and recorded the details.
On her exit, she picked up a piece of chalk and marked the house wall, a quiet but critical sign that the house had been reached.
NOT EVERY ENCOUNTER ENDED IN SMILES
Occasionally, not every polio vaccinators’ encounter with parents ends in a smile. “Sometimes, they came with both resistance and rejection,” says Shahuda after she encountered resistance in one of the households.
“I told them I was immunised too, and nothing happened to me still, the women stood firm. “It hurts. Because this is something that can protect their children.” She admitted.
Standing outdoors, Shahuda quietly marked the house wall with a code: ‘RX’, meaning Non-compliance.
The house would be revisited with the support of the community and religious leaders.
Many field Immunization officials say elites in the rural areas had, in many instances, rejected the vaccines for their wards, with no or flimsy reasons given to the local vaccinators in their areas.
“Many people of a religious sect refused to allow their kids to participate in the exercise despite persuasion from traditional, religious, and opinion leaders,” a community leader said.
Shahuda said most of our women believed in and wanted the vaccine for their children, but the marital burden placed the final say on the husband.
“This has made so many of them lose interest and now find the exercise frustrating, especially in the northern States,” she maintains.
THE MOTIVATIONS
For Shahuda, the work is personal. She remembers meeting a polio survivor who is a talented handball player. From his wheelchair he plays wonderfully, but “his body could not fully match his ability”
“He was so good, but he couldn’t move properly.” She paused, then continued, ” I kept thinking, what if he had been vaccinated in his childhood?”
That question stayed with her, it still does. And it is why she keeps knocking on doors.
Before this, Shahuda had dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. But after secondary school, that path slipped out of reach.
Immunisation, she said, brought her closer to that dream. “Sometimes people call me ‘Doctor Shahuda,’” she said with a soft laugh. But beyond the nickname lies something deeper.
In her community, she is no longer just a young woman but a reference point. “Parents even point at me when advising their daughters, It makes me want to do more.”
Though she is not yet married, her convictions are firm that she will never joke about her children’s vaccination when she becomes a mother.
Nabila also shared the same belief. For her, she has a broader ambition to build a youth-led initiative that will strengthen awareness and mobilize more young people into immunisation campaigns.
She also said that, like Shahuda, her motivation runs deeper beyond the academic gains. “These children belong to all of us,” she said. “Protecting them means protecting our future, and it goes beyond any monetary gains.”
Hassan Nuradeen UNICEF-SBC facilitator, describes both Nabila and Shahuda as guardians of optimism, striving to protect the children of their community from a disease that has, ever so silently, endeavored to reverse Nigeria’s relentless march toward eradication.
POLIO, STILL A BURDEN
In November 2020, the WHO officially certified Nigeria as polio-free. It was the last endemic country in Africa to receive this status. The last case of polio in the country was recorded in Sokoto State in 2012.
Despite national efforts, immunisation with the full series of polio vaccines in Nigeria stands at just 62%. That’s well below the threshold for herd immunity and in some parts of the country, coverage is thinner still. Vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and cultural beliefs remain major challenges.
Nigeria, with a population exceeding 232 million, has more than two million children who have not received a single vaccine. It has the highest number of children with zero doses in the world.
In the north, due to problems accessing healthcare services, a lack of information among families, and religious beliefs, immunization rates remain dangerously low.
To help Nigeria’s polio eradication, the Gates Foundation committed over $7 billion to support routine immunisation across Africa and targeted eradication efforts in northern Nigeria.
The Foundation says it remains actively involved in addressing the resurgence of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2), which saw over 122 confirmed cases between January 2024 and March 2025.
Popular American actress and singer Megan thee stallion has announced the end of her relationship with NBA basketball player Klay Alexander Thompson.
She confirmed the split in a post via her official instagram handle on Saturday.
Megan accused the Dallas Mavericks star of cheating on her.
“Cheating, had me around your whole family playing house, got “cold feet”. Holding you down through all your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season now you don’t know if you can be “monogamous”????
“bitch I need a REAL break after this one ..
“bye yall omg love you frenn praying for you,” she wrote.
In a follow up, the basketball player had gone live recently reacting to the said allegations, he said “She cheated on me first of course, I’m gonna cheat back. I’m just mad I spent over 4 million on her. I will never do that again.”
The duo first made their relationship public late July 2025.
Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka is up for the Coventry City’s Goal of the Season award, DAILY POST reports.
Onyeka’s stunning strike in Coventry’s 3-2 win over Derby County at the CBS Arena in March is among the nine goals nominated for the individual accolade.
The goal was the defensive midfielder’s first for Frank Lampard’s side.
The 28-year-old last scored for his parent club, Brentford against Sheffield United in March 2024.
Onyeka linked up with Coventry City on loan from Brentford in January.
The move is expected to be made permanent this summer.
