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IGP’S Ban On FSARS: A Reminder To Revisit NHRC’S Panel Report On Squad.

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Alhassan Bala, Abuja

 

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, Esq. has commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu for banning the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads from embarking on routine searching of laptops and phones vehicle occupants etc. saying his order is in line with the Commission’s recommendations following its report on the Presidential Investigation Panel on allegations of human rights violations against SARS.

Youths Assembly calls for scrapping of SARS

Ojukwu made the remarks while reacting to the recent ban of SARS and other special teams of the Nigerian Police from routine patrol duties saying this is not the first time such a proclamation is made by the Police hierarchy and that compliance to such orders has remained a problem.

 

“It is hoped that this time the directive which is expected to preserve and protect the rights to privacy and dignity of the human person from atrocious acts of some bad eggs in the Nigeria Police will be enforced to the fullest”, Ojukwu added.

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The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria lamented that reported cases of human rights violations against the Police is assuming an alarming proportion and must be curtailed so as to rekindle people’s confidence in the ability of the Police to maintain peace and orderliness in the society, as well as protect their lives and property.

 

The NHRC Chief Executive Officer recalled that in an effort to mitigate such violations, the Vice President in 2018 gave a directive for the setting up of a Special Investigation Panel to look into the activities of the SARS and make recommendations for its reform.

 

The Executive Secretary restated the shocking revelations that came out during the panel sitting’s which report already submitted to government, contained far-reaching recommendations including the establishment of state and local government Police structure and banning FSARS from embarking on routine patrol, stop and search duties etc.

 

He expressed optimism that the recent ban of SARS and other similar Police teams from routine operations will afford the force the opportunity to rejig its operations and refocus it in line with human rights best practices. He regretted that the manner in which some of the officials of SARS operate is inimical to the image of the Police and that of the country in general. This he observed is due to the fact that such officials often operate contrary to the rules of engagement and standard of procedures of the force, adding that most times they do not wear Police uniforms, making it difficult for one to identify them as Policemen

 

According to him, the Commission has continued to record cases of extra-judicial killings, series of extortion, harassment, and intimidation of innocent citizens by FSARS without much being done to change the status quo, thereby tarnishing the image of the country among the global community.

 

The NHRC Boss emphasised that accountability is key in dealing with such cases as nobody should be above the law. He expressed the readiness of the Commission to continue to work with the police especially in the area of training and retraining all FSARS officers to enable them mainstream human rights into their operations and bequeath a Police force that will be noted for respect and protection of lives and property of Nigerians.

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Kano Gov Abba Kabiru Yusuf bags international sports award in UK

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Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf , Saturday was honoured in the United Kingdom for his commitment and support to sports development in the state.

 

Our correspondent reports that the award presentation ceremony took place at the Feel Good Too , Ive Farm sports arena located at the Pavilion Walk in London.

The patron W O. Sports, Moses Andishu , while making the presentation, said the award is aimed at appreciating the governor for his consistency towards the development of sports in Kano.

Moses who doubles as SWAN national patron said “this is our token way of saying kudos to mr governor and our aim is to encourage him to do more for the growth of the industry .

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He added that “ we have noticed the reforms been carried out in Kano Pillars football club , we are aware of the efforts ongoing at the Kano state Sports Commission, KSSC and Kano Pillars is taking a new shape again, the state various sports teams now honor national invitations to major competitions, this is worth encouraging.

“we are very much aware of the plans by the governor, who is investing massively in the area of the provision of infrastructure, likewise we have seen investments made to renovate and upgrade major sports facilities, in the state, we just want to say thank you to his excellency and encourage him to invest more in sports

 

The special adviser to the governor on Youths and Sports, Sani Musa Danja , who received the award on behalf of the state governor said , “we are very delighted and happy, his excellency does not joke with anything that has to do with the development of the youths and he has always assured that he will always do everything possible to support the growth of Kano youths.

“I receive this award on behalf of his excellency with humility and honour for my governor , eng Abba Kabiru Yusuf, his works testify for his passion and commitment to sports development, his agenda is to always ensure Kano athletes competes amongst the best of the best by providing all the requirements that is needed for the state to excel in sports , and be rest assured that with my governor in charge sports development will always remain on the burner of the Kano First Agenda.

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President Tinubu Salutes Hon. Kabir Bichi, Chair Appropriation Committee Of The House Of Representatives On His 45th Birthday

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrates the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, on his 45th birthday today.

President Tinubu describes Hon. Bichi, who represents Bichi Federal Constituency of Kano State, as a vibrant, resourceful and dedicated lawmaker whose commitment to legislative duties and national development stands out.

President Tinubu remarks: “ As Chairman of one of the most strategic committees of the House, Hon. Bichi has demonstrated uncommon capacity, grit, and leadership in steering the consideration, scrutiny, and passage of the nation’s annual budget, a role central to implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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“I commend him for his effective representation of his constituents and his impactful interventions in education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment, which have endeared him to his people.

“Bichi has distinguished himself since his first election to the House in 2019, where he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Works in the 9th Assembly and now as Chairman of Appropriation in the 10th Assembly.

“ As he marks his birthday today, I urge him to rededicate himself to serving his people and his fatherland.

“ And I pray to Almighty God to continue to bless him with good health, wisdom and strength.”

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
October 3, 2026

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Yari Urges North to Respect Power Rotation, Back Tinubu’s 8-Year Presidency

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The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar, has called on Nigerians in the North to respect the informal power-rotation arrangement and allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his constitutionally permitted eight-year tenure.

Yari made the call while addressing journalists at the Kano Government House after a meeting with Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The former Zamfara State governor said the North should understand and respect the political arrangement that brought the presidency to the South in 2023, arguing that the presidency had been held by a northerner for several years before the emergence of Tinubu.

Yari said, “66 years ago since independence, the country was led by northerners for 47 years,” adding that Nigerians should recognise the importance of maintaining unity and understanding how the country’s political system operates.

According to him, Nigeria remains a country that all citizens must work together to protect, regardless of regional or political differences.

“As we love this country, we don’t have any country other than Nigeria. Nigerians should come and understand how this country works. It is also better than many nations,” Yari said.

The APC chieftain explained that his role as Director-General of the campaign council was not limited to promoting President Tinubu but also included promoting national unity and understanding among Nigerians.

Yari said the current political arrangement should be respected, noting that former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, governed the country between 2015 and 2023 before power shifted to Tinubu from the South in 2023.

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“Having said this, this country, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2023 was led by a northerner, and now from 2023 to 2026 it is led by a southerner,” he said.

He therefore appealed to northerners not to seek to overturn the existing zoning arrangement on the basis of the region’s population, saying the political understanding was important for national stability.

“If we say we want to uproot the zoning arrangement because of our numbers, then my call for northerners is to understand how it works. They even understand more than I do,” Yari said.

He acknowledged that President Tinubu’s administration, like every government, was not perfect, but argued that the challenges facing Nigeria should not solely be attributed to the administration.

“Nobody is perfect. The southerners have also experienced what we are complaining about today when President Buhari was in power,” he said.

Yari also argued that insecurity was not peculiar to Nigeria, saying countries across the world, including the United States, continue to grapple with security challenges despite their level of development.

“On problems, no problem of a country is solved by any government, including even in the United States. They are managing insecurity as we are managing it,” he said.

The APC campaign council director-general further cited gun violence in Chicago as an example of the security challenges faced by other countries, stressing that every nation has its own problems that require continuous efforts to address.

Turning to the economy, Yari said Nigerians should assess the Tinubu administration based on economic indicators and compare the situation at the time the president assumed office in 2023 with the current position.

“When you look at when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to power in 2023, go and check what was the state of our reserves and what it is today, and what was the rate of inflation in 2023 and what it is today,” he said.

Yari maintained that the administration was making efforts to address the country’s economic and security challenges, while acknowledging that governments at both federal and state levels were working to improve the situation.

He urged Nigerians, particularly those in the North, to give the political arrangement time, arguing that the presidency would return to the region after Tinubu’s tenure if the existing rotation principle was maintained.

“I am calling on northerners to note that by the time Bola Ahmed Tinubu finishes in 2031, it will definitely come back to the North. So, this is how the arrangement is,” Yari said.

He added that federal and state governments were making efforts to address the challenges confronting the country and urged Nigerians to support measures aimed at strengthening national unity and development.

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