Governor visits pilgrims, gives each 300 Riyals gift

Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has given each pilgrim from the state performing the 2026 Hajj 300 Saudi Riyals to support their welfare during the pilgrimage.

The governor announced the gesture on Thursday night while visiting Kaduna pilgrims at their tents in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Ibraheem Musa, said the amount was equivalent to about N114,000 at the current exchange rate.

According to the statement, the governor commended the pilgrims and the management of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency for the successful conduct of the Hajj exercise.

He also praised the Kaduna State Hajj Delegation Committee, led by Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, for ensuring a hitch-free pilgrimage.

Sani said his administration made every effort to ensure the success of the pilgrimage and the comfort of the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

The governor, however, apologised for any minor challenges experienced during the exercise, saying such lapses were unintentional.

“As human beings, we can only plan, but Allah determines the final outcome,” he said.

Narrating his experience before arriving at the pilgrims’ camp, Sani said he trekked for several hours after roads leading to the area were blocked.

“The distance between my tent and the pilgrims’ camp is about two to three kilometers, and ordinarily, I would have arrived quickly.

“However, all roads leading here were blocked, and I had to trek for about four to five hours before reaching this place,” he said.

The governor urged the pilgrims to continue praying for peace, unity, and development in Nigeria, stressing that meaningful development would only thrive in a peaceful environment.

He also prayed for divine guidance and transformation for individuals causing unrest in society.

According to him, politics and the quest for public office should never be valued above human lives.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Salihu Abubakar, commended the governor for his continued support and commitment to improving pilgrims’ welfare.

He noted that the governor had consistently approved requests aimed at enhancing Hajj operations and ensuring the comfort of Kaduna pilgrims.

Also speaking, the Auditor General of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, said no governor of the state had visited pilgrims in their tents since 1999 except Gov. Uba Sani.

Abdullahi urged the pilgrims to continue supporting and praying for the governor, and for sustained peace and development in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. (NAN)

Governor Makinde reveals why Lagos State opted out of Amotekun Security outfit

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged the Federal Government to end what he described as delays and “deception” over the proposed establishment of state police, insisting that the ongoing debate is wasting Nigerians’ time.

Makinde made the remarks on Monday at a joint mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Peoples Party (APM) held in Ibadan.

He argued that states already have the capacity to establish their own policing structures if there is political will, noting that the South-West region had earlier advocated for state police but later settled for a regional security outfit, Amotekun, as a temporary measure.

“We wanted state police. It was because we couldn’t get the state police that we established Amotekun as a stop-gap,” the governor said.

He added, “They should stop wasting Nigerians’ time.”

The governor explained that the creation of Amotekun was achieved through coordinated legislative actions across South-West state Houses of Assembly, without waiting for federal bureaucratic approval.

According to him, state governments can replicate similar frameworks if empowered to do so.

Makinde also claimed that Lagos State was the only South-West state that did not adopt the Amotekun security structure, attributing the decision to political leadership at the time.

“The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos state, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to grant constitutional backing and authority to state assemblies to establish state police, arguing that such structures could be operational within a short period if political obstacles were removed.

Makinde, who described insecurity as a central focus of his administration, said Amotekun was introduced early in his tenure after it became clear that state policing at the federal level would take time to materialise.

His comments come amid rising security concerns in Oyo State, following the recent abduction of pupils, students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

On May 15, armed assailants attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esin-Ele/Yawota axis, reportedly abducting about 32 persons, including 18 primary school pupils, seven secondary school students and seven teachers.

One of the abducted teachers was later killed by the kidnappers.

Two Soldiers arrested, detained over assault on vigilantes, woman

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have arrested two military personnel over their alleged involvement in an attack that left three vigilante members and a woman injured in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Kugiya area of Bukuru following a dispute linked to the seizure of a motorcycle and reports of suspected armed men in the area.

Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Thursday night.

According to security sources, operatives attached to Sector 6 of Operation Safe Haven responded to a distress call at about 4:00 p.m. and discovered that four persons had sustained varying degrees of injuries during the confrontation.

The injured victims included three members of a local vigilante group and a woman identified as Mrs. Kaneng Nyang Bot.

The two soldiers allegedly connected to the assault were subsequently taken into custody by military authorities.

They were identified as Private Adam Saheed of the 123 Special Forces Battalion, who was said to be on pass at the time of the incident, and Gunner Mohammed Shuaibu of the 351 Artillery Regiment attached to the 376 Artillery Regiment in Damaturu.

Sources disclosed that Shuaibu’s official pass had reportedly expired on April 24.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the altercation began during an attempt to confiscate a motorcycle at the scene.

The soldiers are currently being detained and are expected to undergo disciplinary and administrative procedures in line with military regulations.