3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Kano, has emerged overall winner of the 2026 One Division Inter-Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition held in Kano.

The brigade secured the first position with 565.5 points, while 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, Niger State, came second with 539 points. 1 Division Garrison, Kaduna, placed third with 534 points.

The three-day competition featured various military exercises aimed at testing the combat readiness, tactical awareness, physical fitness, leadership skills and professional competence of participating junior and middle-level officers.

The events included weapon handling, combat training, map reading, shooting and obstacle crossing, providing participants with opportunities to sharpen their skills and improve their preparedness for contemporary security operations.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Commander, 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Kano, Brig.-Gen. Saka Jimoh, said the exercise was part of the numerous training programmes organised by Army Headquarters to ensure troops remained adequately prepared to tackle evolving security challenges.

Jimoh said continuous training and improved welfare of personnel remained key components of the Nigerian Army’s efforts to enhance operational effectiveness.

He added that the competition demonstrated the commitment of the Army to developing officers with the required skills, discipline and leadership qualities needed for effective command responsibilities.

“Welfare is one of the pillars of our command philosophy, and one very important aspect of it is the soldiers’ health concept. That is what we, as commanders in the Nigerian Army, are after to ensure the welfare of both our officers and men,” he said.

On security challenges within the brigade’s area of responsibility, including Kano and neighbouring states, Jimoh said criminal elements were feeling the impact of sustained Army operations.

He attributed the progress recorded to the training of troops and effective use of credible intelligence, assuring that the Army would continue to work towards eliminating criminal elements within its area of responsibility.

Earlier, the Special guest of honor, the Commandant, Nigeria Navy Logistics College, Dawakin Tofa, Kano, Commodore Abubakar Madawaki, commended participants for demonstrating courage, discipline, leadership, tactical awareness, physical fitness and commitment to duty throughout the competition.

Madawaki said continuous training remained critical to preparing officers for the complex demands of modern military operations, adding that the competition provided an avenue for junior and middle-level officers to improve their combat skills and decision-making abilities.

He congratulated the winners and encouraged other participants to regard the experience gained as an opportunity for professional growth.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Bank of Ghana has appointed Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar, a distinguished Islamic scholar from Nigeria’s Bayero University, Kano (BUK), as chairman of its newly constituted council for interest-free (Islamic) banking operations.

Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama formally inaugurated the council members during a brief ceremony in Accra. Professor Umar, a seasoned lecturer in Islamic studies at BUK, will lead the body in ensuring that Ghana’s non-interest banking sector operates in full compliance with Sharia law and its associated ethical principles.

The appointment marks a significant step for Ghana’s financial sector, underscoring the central bank’s commitment to diversifying its banking landscape amid the rapid global expansion of Islamic finance.

Umar’s selection also highlights the increasing reliance on expert scholarly oversight to maintain regulatory integrity and religious adherence within this growing alternative banking model.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has formally requested permission from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to visit former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in the custody of the anti-corruption agency.

MURIC made the request in a letter submitted to the ICPC on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, by the chairman of its Abuja branch.

The group said the visit was intended to enable its representatives to meet with the former governor and assess his condition while in custody.

According to the organisation, a three-man delegation has been nominated to undertake the visit. The delegation comprises MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola; the chairman of the Abuja branch, Ustadh Yunus Salahudeen; and the branch’s assistant secretary, Shehu Ahmad Lemu.

MURIC urged the ICPC to grant the delegation access to El-Rufai, stressing that the request was made in line with its civil liberties advocacy and concern for the welfare and rights of persons in detention.

The group noted that Mr El-Rufai had been in ICPC custody since Monday, February 16, 2026, following his detention by the anti-corruption commission.

MURIC said that, as of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the former governor had spent approximately six months and two days in the custody of the commission.

The organisation did not disclose the specific conditions it intended to assess during the proposed visit, nor did it state whether the request was prompted by any particular complaint concerning El-Rufai’s treatment in custody.

The former Kaduna governor has been under scrutiny by anti-corruption authorities over allegations linked to his administration in the state. His continued detention has also attracted public attention, particularly given the length of time he has spent in custody.

MURIC’s latest request adds a civil liberties dimension to the ongoing case, with the organisation seeking direct access to the former governor through a formally constituted delegation.

The group said it was awaiting the response of the ICPC to its request.