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Residents express concern over return of Turji, as DHQ officials keep mum

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The Defence Headquarters has remained silent following the return of terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, which has sparked panic among residents of Sokoto State.

In separate operations conducted in January 2025, the military announced the killing of Aminu Kanawa, the second-in-command to Turji, along with 31 other fighters and Turji’s son.

The DHQ also reported that troops inflicted serious injuries on some of Turji’s close allies, including his younger brother.

The military stated that Turji fled during one of the operations, calling him a coward for abandoning his son and fighters during the gun battle.

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However, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing Sabon Birni Local Government, Aminu Boza, told journalists last week that Turji had resurfaced in Sokoto State and imposed a N25m levy on villages.

He also revealed that Turji had set up camp in a forest in the Isa Local Government Area.

“Bello Turji is currently in the Isa and Sabon Birni axis of Sokoto. He has even imposed a N25m levy per village in some communities,” Boza said, adding that Turji had been collecting taxes from the local population.

Turji’s re-emergence has heightened fears among residents who have long suffered from the activities of bandits in Sokoto and neighboring areas.

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Efforts to reach the Director of Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, for comments on what the military is doing to allay residents’ fears proved abortive.

Calls and messages to his line from last Thursday through Sunday had yet to be answered at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, has reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling insecurity in the state.

Speaking on Saturday at a security summit organised by the Movement for Social Justice in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government, Aliyu emphasised the need for accountability and transparency in security management.

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He acknowledged the widespread security challenges facing Nigeria, which have significantly hindered the country’s economic, political, and social development.

According to him, every region in the country faces distinct security threats, with Sokoto and other North-West states grappling with banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling—especially in the eastern part of the state.

Governor Aliyu stated that upon assuming office, his administration swiftly implemented decisive measures to improve security through collaboration with conventional security agencies.

“Before we came into office, several communities were under the control of bandits, who dictated the terms of daily life to residents,” he said.

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To address the situation, the governor outlined several proactive steps taken by his administration, which includes, “restoring security allowances previously owed to security personnel and procuring and distributing over 140 Buffalo and Hilux vans to security agencies for enhanced surveillance.”

“Providing motorcycles to the Department of State Services to improve intelligence gathering, sharing, and surveillance as well as upgrading DSS tracking equipment from 2G and 3G to 5G technology.”

Furthermore, Governor Aliyu highlighted the establishment of the Sokoto State Security Guard Corps to complement conventional security forces.

The corps, he said, had been equipped with Hilux vans, 700 motorcycles, and fully operational offices in the 13 local governments most affected by insecurity.

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Additionally, the government has facilitated the full operationalisation of the Sokoto State Air Force Base by providing essential facilities, including hangars and other logistical support, to strengthen aerial surveillance and neutralise bandit hideouts.

Governor Aliyu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promptly addressing the needs of security agencies, emphasising that these efforts had led to a noticeable reduction in banditry.

He noted that security forces have successfully repelled several attacks, demonstrating the effectiveness of the measures put in place.

“Our administration is fully committed to ensuring the safety of Sokoto State. We are prepared to spend every last kobo in the state’s account to protect our people,” he declared.

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Credit: PUNCH

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JUST IN: Fire engulfs Lagos airport’s Terminal 2

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Fire has engulfed Lagos airport’s Terminal 2.

FAAN said its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) had been deployed to contain the fire.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that a fire incident has occurred at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” the statement read.

“The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation.”

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FAAN said there were no reported casualties or loss of life.

“There have been no reported casualties or loss of life,” the authority stated.

It added that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

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Photos: NDLEA nabs notorious drug dealer in Rivers Island, bandits’ supplier in Zamfara

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…as China, Italy-bound cocaine concealed in local mortar, backpack intercepted in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine concealed in local mortar and false bottom of a backpack packaged for shipment to China and Italy respectively through a logistics company in Lagos.

The seizures made by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations (DOGI) on Thursday 30th July 2026 include 250grams of cocaine factory fitted into the base of a local mortar packed in a carton for export to China, and 500grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack being shipped to Italy.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Rivers state have arrested a 38-year-old notorious drug dealer, Ugo Gift Okonkwo, at Eagle Island Port Harcourt, following credible intelligence.

The suspect was nabbed with various quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, swinol, tramadol and codeine syrup at the time of his arrest on Sunday 26th July.

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NDLEA officers on a stop and search operation at DMGS roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra state on Monday 27th July intercepted a truck marked XK 131 BDG loaded with 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 3,960kg while the truck driver Chinedu Nwanze, 40, was arrested.

While 331.84 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number KUJ 26 DV along Kwale/Ughelli expressway, Delta state on Sunday 26th July, NDLEA officers in Nasarawa state on Tuesday 28th July arrested a 64-year-old man Joseph Nwaeke with 68kg skunk and 29grams of methamphetamine at Asso Angwan Muazu, Karu area of the state.

In Zamfara, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Zaria- Gusau highway on Monday 27th July intercepted a suspect, Sani Umar, 27, conveying 7,400 pills of tramadol 225mg suspected to be supplies for criminal elements.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Hausawa Special Primary School, Kano; Royal Crown School, Oluyole, Ibadan; Government Secondary School, Ibi, Taraba; and drivers at Challenge Bus Terminal Park, Ibadan, Oyo state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Nasarawa, and Zamfara Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

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ADC Southwest Leaders Demand Removal Of Aregbesola As Interim National Secretary

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Leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the South West have asked the party’s national leadership to immediately remove Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as Interim National Secretary, accusing him of brazen constitutional violations that are threatening the party ahead of 2027.

The South West leaders, in a petition dated July 28, 2026, signed by state chairmen from across the zone and addressed to the National Chairman, said they resolved during an emergency meeting in Ibadan that Aregbesola’s conduct had plunged the ADC into avoidable crises.

According to DAILY POST, the copies of the letter signed by Olusoji Adebiyi, Ogun State Secretary; Abideen Okanlawon, Osun State Acting Chairman; Adesola Akitunde, Osun State Youth Leader; Yinka Olona, Oyo State Chairman; Adebimpe Adelowo, Oyo State member; Ilesanmi Olaiya, Ekiti State Chairman, among others, were copied to the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, the vice-presidential candidate, and the National Legal Adviser.

The chairmen alleged that Aregbesola created a parallel structure across South West states under the name “Omoluabi Progressive” and began parading officers of the splinter group as legitimate ADC executives from the ward to the state level, asserting that this directly contravenes the ADC constitution.

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They cited Article 22, Section 1 (2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11) of the party’s constitution, listing offences including breach of the constitution, acts likely to bring the party into disrepute, disobedience to lawful directives, creation of parallel organs, and collusion to convene unauthorised meetings.

The petitioners also accused the former Osun State governor of using his office to interfere in the party’s candidate selection process, alleging that on the last day for uploading National Assembly candidates, Aregbesola “colluded with some cohorts within INEC” to remove duly elected ADC candidates who emerged from INEC-monitored primaries and replace them with members of his Omoluabi Progressive group who never purchased nomination forms.

They also blamed Aregbesola for the lingering crises in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, alleging that he usurped the functions of the National Organising Secretary by appointing parallel primary election committees and submitting them to INEC.

Part of the petition reads:
“We, the undersigned State Chairmen of the South West Zone of the ADC, on behalf of the ADC South West Zonal Stakeholders, write to officially transmit our resolutions reached during the South West Zone emergency stakeholders’ meeting held on July 28, 2026, in Ibadan and equally request urgent action regarding the ceaseless, blatant violations and brazen breaches of our party’s constitution by OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA.

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“OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA acted directly in contravention of our great party’s constitution by creating parallel party structures across the South West states, including local government areas and wards, under the name and style of Omoluabi Progressive, and parading the so-called officers of this splinter group as the legitimate structures and officers of our great party across the South West, contrary to the provisions of the party constitution.

“His actions and activities do not in any way befit the status, carriage, disposition and character expected of any person occupying the high-ranking and sensitive position of National Secretary of a great party like the ADC.

“We equally learnt from reliable sources that OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA used his position as National Secretary to collude with some of his cohorts within INEC to, on July 14, 2026, the last day for uploading National Assembly candidates, unlawfully infiltrate the party’s system and fraudulently substitute the names of successful National Assembly candidates who emerged through INEC-monitored primary elections across the South West and other zones of the country with members of his Omoluabi Progressive splinter group, who did not even purchase nomination forms in the first place.”

The South West ADC leaders demanded that the coalition leadership review Aregbesola’s appointment and relieve him of his position, urging it to present a new, “competent, loyal and patriotic” replacement.

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“OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA is not fit to hold the position of Interim National Secretary. His continued stay in office will spell doom for the party.

“We therefore request the coalition leadership to review the appointment of OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA as Interim National Secretary, relieve him of this position, and request the APC extraction of the coalition to present a new, suitable person who is competent, loyal, amiable, patriotic and possesses the native intelligence required to lead the South West zone and the ADC to victory in 2027,” the petition added.

They urged the NWC and NEC to act urgently to stem the crisis and save the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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