By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has approved the appointment of Dr Lawan Ahmed Muhammad Sani as the 17th Emir of Gumel Emirate, three days after the demise of his father, the late Emir.

The announcement was made public by the Secretary to the State Government, Bala Ibrahim, during a press briefing on Sunday at the NUJ Jigawa State Secretariat in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.

“Following due consultations with the Gumel Emirate Council, kingmakers, and in accordance with the Jigawa State Emirate Council Law, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, has approved the appointment of Dr Lawan Ahmed Muhammad Sani as the new Emir of Gumel,” the SSG declared.

Ibrahim said the appointment was immediate and necessary to ensure continuity of leadership and stability in the emirate after the transition period.

“This appointment takes effect immediately in order to fill the vacuum created by the passing of His Royal Highness and to sustain peace, unity and development in Gumel Emirate,” he stated.

The SSG described Dr Lawan as a worthy successor, noting his years of service to the emirate.

“Dr Lawan Ahmed Muhammad Sani previously served diligently as the Ciroman Gumel during the reign of his late father. His experience, education, and deep understanding of the traditions of Gumel make him eminently qualified for this exalted throne,” Bala Ibrahim said.

He added that the new Emir’s background positions him to consolidate the legacies of his father.

“Having served as Ciroman Gumel, Dr Lawan is not new to the people. He understands the challenges and aspirations of Gumel and Jigawa State at large. Government is confident he will provide purposeful and exemplary leadership,” the SSG affirmed.

Governor Namadi, according to the SSG, urged the people of Gumel to rally behind the new Emir.

“His Excellency calls on all sons and daughters of Gumel Emirate to give their maximum support and cooperation to the new Emir for the overall peace and progress of the emirate,” Ibrahim quoted the governor as saying.

The SSG also prayed for the repose of the late Emir and assured the government’s commitment to traditional institutions.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Jigawa State, we pray Almighty Allah to grant the late Emir Aljannatul Firdaus. Government remains committed to preserving our traditional institutions as custodians of culture and unity,” he said.

“In due course, His Excellency will present the staff of office to the 17th Emir of Gumel in a ceremony befitting his status. We urge all stakeholders to cooperate with government for a hitch-free event,” the SSG concluded.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a convicted cocaine trafficker who disguised himself as a herbal tea merchant in Lagos.

In a statement on Sunday, the agency said the arrest occurred weeks after it intercepted a 1.2kg cocaine consignment concealed in phone chargers and destined for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at a courier company in Lagos on 31st July 2026.

“The suspect, arrested in a sting operation at Article Market, opposite Trade Fair Market, Ojo area of Lagos, on Friday, 4th September 2026, while posing as a herbal tea businessman, was identified as 54-year-old Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu.

“In his statement, he admitted being the mastermind of some illicit drug shipments in the past while stating that he discarded his telephone SIM card once he learnt his latest consignment had been intercepted by the NDLEA,” the agency stated.

According to the NDLEA, further investigation revealed the suspect is no stranger to the agency: he was first arrested in 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos after ingesting 900 grams of cocaine and 130 grams of heroin in an attempt to fly to Austria under the name Dunu Chukwuyenre Enoch.

The agency disclosed that the suspect was prosecuted for the crime, convicted and sentenced to five years in jail, adding that he thereafter changed his name to Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu and returned to the criminal trade.

“A search of his residence located at 6 Yemishola Street, Ejigbo, Lagos on Friday, 4th September led to the recovery of phone chargers similar to those used to conceal the intercepted cocaine, with their internal components removed to create space for drugs,” the NDLEA noted.

The NDLEA also said that, in another development, it chased down a 20,000-litre fuel tanker marked MKA 960 XC, notorious for evading arrest in the past, in Ondo on Friday after its driver refused to stop.

“The driver later abandoned the vehicle at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and fled into the bush. A search of the tanker revealed a false compartment concealing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg alongside its legitimate fuel cargo destined for Jos, Plateau State,” it added.

A group of suspected thugs on Saturday attacked journalists covering an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Kano State, smashing the windows and damaging a Radio Nigeria vehicle conveying members of the media.

The incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of a rally held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where the leadership of a coalition of groups supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was inaugurated.

According to eyewitness accounts, the thugs attacked a team of journalists who had gone to the venue to cover the event, targeting the Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM vehicle in which some of the journalists were travelling.

The attackers reportedly used machetes and knives to strike the vehicle repeatedly, smashing its windows and damaging various parts of the bus.

Among the journalists affected in the attack were Abdulbaki Ali Ahmad Sharifai of Guarantee Radio and Yakubu Gwagwarwa of Pyramid Radio.

One of the journalists who spoke to Nigerian Tracker said the presence of security personnel inside the Radio Nigeria bus did not deter the attackers from carrying out the assault.

The journalist said the thugs continued attacking the vehicle despite the fact that security agencies were inside the bus with the journalists.

According to him, the attack created fear and confusion among the journalists, who had attended the political gathering in the course of carrying out their professional duties.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety of journalists covering political activities in Kano, particularly during large political gatherings where journalists are expected to move freely and report events without intimidation or attacks.

The motive behind the attack was not immediately clear, and it was also unclear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the incident as of the time of filing this report.

The attack comes amid increased political activities in Kano and across the country as political groups mobilise support for their respective interests ahead of future elections.