General
Blasphemy: Group Renews Call for Probe, Prosecution in Deborah Yakubu’s Demise
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) has renewed its call for the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the death of Miss Deborah Samuel Yakubu at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.
Miss Deborah, a 200-level student of the institution, was slain on May 12, 2022, after she was accused of blasphemy. The incident occurred within the school premises and was captured on video, with footage of the killing subsequently circulated widely.
In a statement signed by Mr Tunde Agunbiade on behalf of NCAMKI, the coalition questioned why the case had not led to the prosecution of the alleged principal perpetrators despite the availability of video evidence.
Two suspects, Mr Bilyaminu Aliyu and Mr Aminu Hukunci, were arrested and arraigned before a Sokoto Chief Magistrate’s Court in May 2022 over their alleged involvement in the incident. They were reportedly charged with criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbance.
However, the case was later struck out and the two suspects discharged after the prosecution failed to diligently pursue the matter. Reports on the proceedings said the prosecution was absent from court, prompting the Chief Magistrate to strike out the case.
The Sokoto State Police Command also said in May 2023 that it was still pursuing some prime suspects allegedly involved in Deborah’s killing.
Against this backdrop, NCAMKI called on the Nigeria Police Force, Sokoto State Government, Ministry of Justice and other relevant authorities to provide a comprehensive update on the status of the investigation.
The coalition demanded clarification on the identities and status of all suspects and persons of interest, an explanation for the collapse of the prosecution against the two arraigned suspects, and details of whether other suspects identified during investigations had been arrested, prosecuted or cleared.
It further called for the preservation and forensic examination of video and other digital evidence connected to the killing.
NCAMKI maintained that an allegation of blasphemy, or any other offence, does not give individuals or mobs the authority to impose punishment outside the law.
It warned that failure to prosecute perpetrators of mob killings could erode public confidence in the justice system and encourage further acts of mob violence.
The coalition said the deceased’s family deserved more than condolences, stressing that her death should not become merely an anniversary issue.
“Condolences cannot replace justice. Outrage cannot replace prosecution. Arrests cannot replace conviction, and four years cannot erase a crime,” the statement said.
NCAMKI urged the authorities to determine what further investigative and prosecutorial steps remain possible and to hold accountable any official whose failure, neglect or obstruction contributed to the collapse of the case.
The coalition also appealed to the authorities and Nigerians not to turn Miss Yakubu’s killing into a religious confrontation, insisting that the matter should be treated as an issue of human rights, the rule of law and accountability.
It said the central question remained whether a person could be publicly killed by a mob and the perpetrators subsequently escape the reach of the law.
NCAMKI l, therefore l, urged the government to ensure that the victim’s case was not forgotten and that every person found responsible was brought before a competent court to face the law.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has regained control of its official X account, @DHQNigeria, after the platform was compromised in an unauthorised cyberattack.
The development comes a few days after the military authorities alerted the public that the account had been compromised and warned Nigerians to disregard suspicious or misleading posts published from the handle.
The account was reportedly taken over on Saturday, with unauthorised cryptocurrency-related content appearing on the platform.
The incident prompted concerns because the account is an official channel used by the Nigerian military to communicate information on security operations and other defence matters.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the incident was being treated as a cybersecurity matter and that technical measures had been activated to secure the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account,” Mr Uba said.
He urged members of the public to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that might have been posted from the account during the period of the breach.
The DHQ also directed Nigerians to rely on its verified accounts on other platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and its WhatsApp Channel, while efforts were made to restore control of the X account.
The military has now confirmed its return to the platform.
In a brief post on the recovered account, the DHQ wrote: “WE’RE BACK.”
“Thank you for your patience and continued support,” the military authority added.
The recovery effectively restores one of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s major channels for communicating directly with the public.
The DHQ has not disclosed details of those behind the cyberattack or how the unauthorised access was obtained.
Authorities had earlier said the incident was under investigation as a cybersecurity matter.
The incident has also highlighted the growing cybersecurity risks facing official government and security institutions, particularly social media accounts with large audiences and the capacity to influence public perception during sensitive security operations.
General
Edo Assembly Gets New Speaker as Blessing Agbebaku Quits
By Dipo Olowookere A new Speaker has emerged for the Edo State House of Assembly, and he is Mr Osamwonyi Atu, representing Orhionmwon East constituency. His assumption of office followed the resignation of Mr Blessing Agbebaku, representing Owan West Constituency, on Monday. The leadership change in the legislative arm of government in Edo State was […]
By Dipo Olowookere
A new Speaker has emerged for the Edo State House of Assembly, and he is Mr Yekini Oisayemoje, representing Akoko Edo Constituency II.
His assumption of office followed the resignation of Mr Blessing Agbebaku, representing Owan West Constituency, on Monday.
The leadership change in the legislative arm of government in Edo State was not what was seen coming too soon.
This development, according to observers, could further restructure the political dynamics within the state’s tier of government.
According to reports, Mr Agbebaku decided to step down from the exalted position because he suspects he could be impeached as Speaker, and to avert denting his political image, he quickly resigned.
The lawmaker was elected as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly in June 2023 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but in 2025, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party of the Governor of Edo State, Mr Monday Okpebholo.
There have been speculations that he may still be loyal to the immediate past governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki. This may have prompted rumours of his purported impeachment.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has unveiled plans to accelerate Nigeria’s journey to sugar self-sufficiency, with a target of producing about two million metric tonnes of sugar locally under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) 2.0.
NSDC Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kamar Bakrin, disclosed this when he received members of the Abuja Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mr Bakrin described NSMP 2.0 as an “acceleration mandate” designed to compress Nigeria’s timeline to sugar self-sufficiency and reduce the country’s dependence on imported sugar.
Nigeria currently consumes about 1.8 million metric tonnes of sugar annually, while approximately $1 billion is spent on sugar imports each year.
The NSDC said increasing local production would help retain this value within the Nigerian economy while creating jobs, supporting rural development, saving foreign exchange and driving industrialisation.
Mr Bakrin said the council’s ambition goes beyond sugar production, noting that sugarcane can also support the production of ethanol, animal feed and electricity, thereby creating a broader bio-industrial ecosystem.
He identified governance and implementation as major challenges facing the sector, saying Nigeria has adequate policies but has struggled with effective execution.
The council is also strengthening the Backwards Integration Programme (BIP), noting that companies seeking import quotas must demonstrate genuine commitment to the integration programme, while major refiners are required to submit audited production commitments linked to their quotas.
He said the organisation plans to use satellite imagery and physical inspections to verify activities at project sites and enforce compliance.
