By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In a coordinated response to attacks on Shanono and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas, troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), supported by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, neutralized at least 23 armed bandits who fled Kano State.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Major Zubairu Babatunde, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, the bandits carried out attacks from Thursday night into early Friday morning. Ground troops successfully repelled the assaults, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers before pursuing them into neighboring Katsina State.

Intelligence reports indicated that the fleeing bandits later gathered at Dan Marke in Matazu Local Government Area, Katsina, to bury members killed in the initial engagement. Following aerial surveillance, the Air Component tracked the group’s movement to Karaduwa village, where they conducted a precision air strike.

“The strike neutralized at least 23 terrorists, with several others believed to have sustained injuries,” Major Babatunde stated.

He added that the operation, supported by aerial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), also led to the destruction of several weapons and equipment belonging to the assailants.

The Commander of the 3 Brigade commended the Air Component and ground troops for their bravery and resilience, emphasizing that their actions helped restore stability to the affected areas.

Major Babatunde confirmed that the security situation in Kano State remains calm, with troops maintaining robust patrols and surveillance. He reported high troop morale and operational readiness, while also acknowledging public support in the ongoing fight against banditry and terrorism.

The Nigerian Army urges citizens to continue providing timely information to security agencies and reaffirms its commitment—in collaboration with other security forces—to protect lives and property and ensure national security.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has expressed his willingness to contest either as President or Vice-President in future elections, depending on agreements with like-minded political allies.

Speaking in Hausa to party members and supporters in Kano, Kwankwaso stressed that his priority is to align with trusted partners who share his political vision, rather than to pursue power for its own sake.

“What matters first are those who agree with me and whom I respect—whether I lead as number one or number two,” he stated.

He explained that his movement is considering multiple political pathways to ensure transparency and avoid accusations of hidden negotiations.

“To prevent any false accusations or claims of collusion, we are preparing several options—option A, option B, and so on,” Kwankwaso noted.

The former governor revealed that his recent consultations have focused on grassroots mobilisation, particularly within Kano State, where he said lingering disputes from past elections are being resolved from the bottom up.

“Whether we are engaging at the grassroots, moving across Kano, or consolidating support in key areas, we will do what is necessary to succeed,” he affirmed.

Kwankwaso also appeared to take aim at political dealings that fail to deliver concrete benefits, especially for the youth, emphasising that vague promises are no longer acceptable.

“When people offer to bring us youth or supporters, we ask: how many, and in what form? What have they actually brought to the table?” he remarked, indicating a more cautious and deliberate approach to coalition-building.

He disclosed that high-profile political figures—whom he described as “people of status and dignity”—have held serious talks with his camp in recent times.

According to Kwankwaso, his political strength is rooted in the grassroots, and discussions are ongoing about potential alliances, whether within the NNPP or with other parties.

“We have a strong grassroots base, and we are hopeful of joining a political party—whether the NNPP or another—together with others,” he said.

Reflecting on the 2023 elections, he acknowledged that controversies emerged but insisted they are being addressed locally, particularly in Kano.

“Many things were said in 2023, but we are resolving these matters at the grassroots. In Kano, God willing, there will be no problem,” he assured.

Kwankwaso framed his political journey as one marked by resilience, dignity, and strategic patience.

“This struggle is based on strength, firm determination, and dignity,” he stated.

Notably, ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the NNPP and the Labour Party, led by Peter Obi, attempted to form an alliance. The talks ultimately broke down after both sides could not agree on whose candidate would run as president and who would be the running mate.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following what he termed a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela—an assertion that has triggered global alarm and official denials from Caracas.

Shortly after Trump’s audacious claim, Venezuela’s Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, delivered an emotional audio statement broadcast on state television, revealing that the government had lost contact with the presidential couple. “We do not know the whereabouts of our President and First Lady,” Rodríguez said. “The Venezuelan government demands evidence that they are alive.”

The claim follows reported U.S. air and naval operations across the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, which Washington described as counter-narcotics actions targeting smuggling vessels and Venezuelan military docking areas.

If verified, Maduro’s capture would represent the most significant U.S. military intervention in Latin America in decades, evoking a controversial history of American-led seizures of foreign leaders.

Historical Precedents

The announcement draws immediate parallels to two past operations: the 1989 invasion of Panama to capture General Manuel Noriega and the 2003 capture of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

In December 1989, the U.S. launched Operation Just Cause, its largest military action since the Vietnam War, to remove Noriega—once a Washington ally—on charges of drug trafficking and election fraud. Noriega was tried and imprisoned in the U.S. before being extradited to Panama, where he died in prison in 2017.

In 2003, Saddam Hussein was seized by U.S. forces months after the invasion of Iraq, which was justified by since-debunked claims of weapons of mass destruction. He was later convicted by an Iraqi court and executed in 2006.

More recently, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was extradited to the U.S. on drug-trafficking charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison, only to be pardoned by Trump in December 2025—a move that sparked outrage in Honduras.

The Ongoing Uncertainty

Towards the late hours of Saturday night, the U.S. released images purporting to show Maduro handcuffed upon arrival in New York. The Venezuelan government, however, continues to insist that his fate remains unknown, deepening a crisis of verification and escalating diplomatic tensions.

The situation remains fluid, with Venezuela demanding international accountability and proof of life, while Washington presents the operation as a targeted action against a leader long accused of narco-terrorism and authoritarian rule.

Meanwhile, analysts have opined that Venezuela having the world’s largest oil reserves is main reason for the attacks.