By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In a pre-dawn assault on Saturday, armed bandits launched a coordinated attack on Agwara town, setting fire to the local police division and a church while abducting at least five residents.

The assault began around 3:40 a.m. when the attackers engaged police personnel in a fierce gun battle. After overpowering the officers on duty, the assailants used explosives to ignite the Divisional Police Station. They then proceeded to the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the community, setting part of the building ablaze, before moving through the area to carry out kidnappings.

Local resident Mallam Hussaini Mohammed reported that the violence has sparked widespread panic, causing many inhabitants to flee the town.

Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident but noted that no fatalities were recorded among security personnel or civilians. He stated that police tactical teams are actively monitoring the situation and that further details will be provided as the investigation progresses.

The attack underscores the continuing security challenges in parts of Niger State and has raised urgent concerns over safety in the region.

The Best Medix Pharmacy and Store, a leading pharmaceutical brand in Kano State, has marked its end-of-year activities alongside its 4th anniversary, celebrating four years of uninterrupted 24-hour healthcare service, steady expansion, and commitment to people-centred pharmaceutical practice.

The company, which commenced operations on January 1, 2022, has grown into a trusted healthcare provider, expanding from a single outlet to three fully operational branches, with plans underway to open a fourth branch to further improve access to essential medicines across the state.

Speaking during the anniversary celebration, the General Manager of Best Medix, Pharmacist Ibrahim Muhd Mujittafa, described the milestone as a journey marked by resilience, teamwork, and remarkable growth.

“Best Medix began operations on January 1, 2022, and today we are celebrating four years of uninterrupted, 24-hour service. Within this period, we have recorded tremendous success and notable achievements, with relatively minimal challenges. This is a testament to our planning, teamwork, and commitment to quality healthcare delivery,” he said.

According to him, the company’s 24-hour service model has remained a cornerstone of its operations, ensuring that residents of Kano State have access to life-saving medicines at all times, including during emergencies and late-night hours.

He stressed that the company’s achievements would not have been possible without the dedication and professionalism of its workforce.

“The success of Best Medix depends largely on the contributions of our staff. Their dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice are the foundation of everything we have achieved. That is why we consider it important to honour and motivate them,” he added.

As part of the anniversary programme, outstanding staff members were honoured with awards and commendations for excellence in customer service, pharmaceutical practice, night-shift operations, stock management, and community engagement.

Also speaking at the event, the Head of Human Resources at Best Medix, Pharmacist Abdulmalik Muhd, highlighted the company’s strong focus on efficiency, staff welfare, and ethical service delivery.

According to Abdulmalik, Best Medix has deliberately invested in creating a supportive work environment that not only improves productivity but also positively changes the lives of its staff.

“At Best Medix, we place high value on efficiency, staff welfare, and ethical conduct. We believe that when staff are well supported and motivated, they are better positioned to provide ethical, compassionate, and professional services to customers,” he said.

He added that the company’s human resource policies are designed to promote fairness, continuous learning, career growth, and a strong ethical culture in dealings with customers and the community.

Best Medix continues to prioritise regular staff capacity-building programmes, aimed at strengthening professional competence and service quality. These programmes cover areas such as patient counselling, drug safety, customer relations, product knowledge, and leadership development.

Management noted that these efforts have contributed significantly to improved service standards and customer satisfaction across all branches.

Meanwhile, the anniversary celebration also featured customer appreciation initiatives, promotional activities, and health-focused engagements designed to strengthen ties with customers and the wider community.

According to the management, building trust and long-term relationships remains central to the company’s healthcare delivery philosophy.

In the same vein, with three branches currently in operation and a fourth branch in the pipeline, Best Medix’s expansion drive is expected to create more employment opportunities and widen access to healthcare services in Kano State.

In addition, the General Manager disclosed that the company is exploring long-term plans to venture into pharmaceutical drug manufacturing, subject to regulatory approvals, as part of efforts to contribute to local drug production and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.

As Best Medix enters its fifth year of operation, the management reaffirmed its commitment to ethical pharmaceutical practice, staff welfare, customer satisfaction, and community health development.

Customers, partners, and stakeholders have congratulated the company on the milestone, describing the four-year anniversary as a reflection of consistency, innovation, and a strong people-focused approach to healthcare delivery in Kano State.

The ceremony was in attendance the chairman of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Kano state chapter Pharmacist Murtala Isa Umar, Kano state coordinator of Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria Pharmacist Hasiya Ladan, the chairman of Association of Community Pharmacists in Nigeria, Kano state chapter Pharmacist Muhammad Tukur, representative of MGK Pharmacy, representative from Best Choice Hospital among others stakeholders in the prophession.

The ceremony was co-sponsored by Young Focus Ventures led by Alhaji Nafi’u Ibrahim, PSN, ACPN, PCN and others.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja on Saturday evening, concluding a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye aimed at deepening bilateral relations.

The President’s aircraft arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 8:55 p.m., as confirmed in a brief statement issued to State House correspondents.

During the visit, which began on Tuesday, President Tinubu held extensive discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The talks focused on enhancing cooperation in areas of shared interest, including defense, energy, and security.

The presidential delegation included Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Defence Gen. Christopher Musa (retired), and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The diplomatic engagement culminated in the signing of nine bilateral agreements, covering strategic sectors such as defense, energy, security, and research. These pacts are expected to bolster collaboration between the two nations.

The visit underscores the administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s international partnerships and advancing national interests through strategic diplomacy.