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When Danger Rides Beside You: The Evolving Face of ‘One Chance’ Crime in Abuja”

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Habib Yakoob

Bad boys are getting more strategic and daring in Abuja these days. The “one chance” phenomenon is being redefined. It’s no longer just about jumping into a vehicle with four suspicious-looking men or women and finding yourself the lone “customer.” These days, even when you’re surrounded by strangers who look like regular passengers, you never can tell, you could still be walking into a trap.

A couple of weeks ago, a colleague of mine was robbed in a small Golf car along the Airport Road on his way to work. When he boarded the vehicle, only the driver and a man pretending to be asleep were inside.

He entered and took a seat. Another man immediately joined him behind, while a young man entered the front seat, bringing the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver, to five. They still needed two more passengers.

The driver drove a short distance, pretending to pick up passengers. Each time someone approached, he either asked if they had change or dismissed them for flimsy reasons. It all seemed normal. Until it wasn’t.

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Eventually, he picked one man who claimed to have change. That man entered and sat behind, making four passengers in the back. Another man slipped into the front seat. They are seven now: three at the front and four behind.

A few kilometres down the road, the driver suddenly veered to the shoulder, saying he needed to check the air in his tyres. That was when the man in the front turned to the other passenger beside him and asked for his phone. The passenger looked confused, until he noticed that his once innocent-looking co-passenger was clutching a dagger tightly.

My colleague, who sat behind, was about to raise the alarm when he felt something cold and hard pressed into his ribs: it was a locally made pistol held by the half-asleep man he had met earlier behind the driver. Now fully alert, the man growled, “Oya, your phone, laptop, anything.”

Only his phone and some cash were taken. The driver had parked in a way that somehow shielded the scene from passersby. At the same time, the man who had entered last in the back was now brandishing a small knife at the third passenger, demanding his belongings too.

And that was how four bad guys including the driver strategically positioned at every exit point of the vehicle, robbed my colleague and two other passengers. After collecting their phones and money, the bandits pushed them out of the car, while the man with the gun kept pointing it at them, daring anyone to make a sound. Then they zoomed off.

Till now, I doubt whether my colleague has recovered from the shock. He still isn’t sure how he could have avoided the trap. He has since reported the incident to the police. But as he told me, “Hmm, this country? We just have to be more cautious and prayerful these days!”

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Holds Exclusive Prerogative to Choose Deputy – Malam Inuwa Waya

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Malam Inuwa Waya, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, has reaffirmed that the constitutional prerogative to appoint a new Deputy Governor rests solely with His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Speaking to journalists in Kano, Malam Waya cautioned against undue interference from individuals on social media who have been attempting to dictate the Governor’s choice following the resignation of the former Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam.

“It is only Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who has the prerogative to choose his deputy. People should stop coming to social media to tell him who to appoint. The constitution does not mandate him to select from any particular zone; it is entirely his decision,” Malam Waya stated.

He further explained that while political balancing may encourage consideration of candidates from Kano North or South since the Governor hails from Kano Central, such arrangements remain political strategies rather than constitutional requirements.

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Malam Waya also commended Governor Yusuf’s infrastructural strides, noting that within two years, the administration has revived water projects, advanced public-private partnerships in power, and accelerated development across education, agriculture, and investment.

“The Governor has revived the glory of Kano. With the infrastructure projects ongoing, it will be an easy sail for all of us as we prepare for 2027. He has put Kano first, and that is what matters,” he said.

On the issue of inclusivity, Malam Waya emphasized that all stakeholders, including former APC members, are being carried along in governance. He urged the people of Kano to unite behind the Governor’s vision.

“We, the old APC members, have no problem with Governor Yusuf. We are knit together in Kano, and our priority is Kano first, not any individual. The Governor knows who he will pick as his deputy, and we trust his judgment,” he concluded.

Malam Waya also extended prayers for the acceptance of Ramadan fasting and congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Kano for celebrating Sallah peacefully.

 

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ADC Reports Surge in Membership Following Kwankwaso’s Defection, Calls Him ‘Game Changer’

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially welcomed former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into its fold, touting his defection as a pivotal move that strengthens a growing coalition for political realignment in Nigeria.

In a statement released for immediate effect, the party described Kwankwaso as a “game-changer,” announcing that he has directed his network of supporters nationwide to join the ADC. According to the party, this call has already triggered a significant uptick in registrations on its online platform over the past 24 hours.

The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, framed the defection as part of a broader recognition among Nigerians of the need for a credible political alternative. The statement emphasized Kwankwaso’s experience in governance, grassroots influence, and capacity to unify as assets to the party’s ambition to “rebuild Nigeria.”

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Notably, the ADC highlighted the presence of several high-profile leaders at the defection event, including the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark; National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and leading presidential aspirants such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. Their attendance, the party stated, reflects a united front and growing momentum.

The party characterized the surge in online registrations as evidence that Nigerians are aligning with what it called a “different path forward.” In its appeal to Kwankwaso’s supporters and the broader public, the ADC positioned itself as a vehicle for restoring dignity, opportunity, and public trust in governance.

“Change does not happen by chance,” the statement concluded. “It happens when people come together with purpose.”

The development marks a significant realignment in Nigeria’s opposition political landscape, with the ADC seeking to position itself as a converging point for influential politicians and their followings ahead of future elections.

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Foreign Affairs Minister Resigns to Pursue Bauchi Governorship Election

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has resigned from his position in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pursue the governorship of Bauchi State in the 2027 election.

Tuggar submitted his resignation on Monday, in compliance with a presidential directive requiring all political appointees with electoral ambitions to vacate their posts by the March 31, 2026, deadline.

The directive, issued through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, aligns with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It affects ministers, advisers, and heads of federal agencies intending to contest in the 2027 general elections.

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Reports have it that his resignation positions him to seek the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Bauchi State gubernatorial race.

Tuggar’s entry is expected to significantly reshape the state’s political landscape, intensifying an already competitive contest for the APC nomination. His background as a career diplomat and serving minister is seen by political observers as a potential advantage, offering national visibility and extensive political networks.

With less than 24 hours remaining before the deadline, additional resignations from the Federal Executive Council are anticipated as other appointees move to formalize their electoral ambitions.

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