News
Bishop Kukah urges FG to interrogate persons with ties to bandits
By Francesca Hangeior
The Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr Matthew Kukah, has urged the federal government to interrogate individuals with claims of having close ties with bandits.
He spoke against the backdrop of recent questioning of renowned cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, by security agencies over his comments on bandits’ activities.
Kukah also expressed worry over the spate of kidnappings across schools in the country, adding that the abduction could have a psychological effect on the cchildren.
The clergyman, who raised questions about the federal government’s failure to investigate individuals claiming close ties with bandits in an interview with Channels Television, said: “It is clear that the federal government at the highest level knows what is going on, at least the intelligence community has an idea.
“There are key Nigerians who are saying openly that they know more than they think the rest of us know, and I think it is the business of the federal government to find out those who claim to know where the bandits are, those who are collaborating with the bandits.”
His statement came shortly after 137 schoolchildren who had been kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State, were released from captivity.
Recall that the Federal Government said Monday that the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, had been invited for questioning over his comments on the activities of bandits in the country.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and Orientation, who disclosed this while addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meetIng at State House, had said: “The security agencies are up and doing. Sheikh Gumi or any other person is not above the law.
”If his suggestions that are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take but if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.
Meanwhile, Gumi yesterday confirmed his interaction with security agencies, saying there was no cause for alarm.
The cleric, who said he was treated with courtesy during the questioning, did not, however, state the security agency concerned or the specifics of the meeting but affirmed that only the innocent should be above the law.
In a statement issued yesterday, titled “Only One Person is Above The Law: The Innoccent!” Dr Gumi said: “Last night I got many frantic calls from well-wishers and journalists about a news item that I was interviewed by security. There is absolutely no cause for alarm.
“Yes, we had a productive interaction on how to curb banditry as we are all trying, each in his own sphere, to tackle the monster bedeviling the nation. There was no animosity but courtesy and full of respect.
“We all need as a nation to unite and work in synergy to achieve an everlasting peace. I thank you for your concern.”
On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would delay ruling on President Trump’s controversial claim that the Constitution does not guarantee birthright citizenship. The justices will hear arguments in the case on May 15, with a final decision expected by late June or early July.
The Court made no mention of addressing other concerns raised by the Trump administration, particularly its frustration with single district court judges issuing nationwide rulings in such cases.
Since Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship, every court that has reviewed it has blocked the order. Despite repeated legal defeats, Trump has remained adamant that the constitutional guarantee of citizenship to all born on U.S. soil is invalid—an idea long dismissed by mainstream legal scholars. The Supreme Court affirmed birthright citizenship 127 years ago, and that ruling still stands.
A coalition of states has challenged Trump’s order, arguing there’s no legal ambiguity about the 14th Amendment. In their brief to the Court, they wrote: “For over a century, it has been the settled view of this court, Congress, the Executive Branch, and legal scholars that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship to babies born in the United States, regardless of their parents’ status.”
The amendment itself reads: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” Trump, however, insists this does not apply universally.
Federal judges in three states have blocked Trump’s executive order, and appeals courts have upheld those decisions. Notably, Judge John Coughenour—appointed by President Reagan—was the first to rule the order “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Even Trump’s legal team seemed to recognize the legal challenges. Rather than pushing for a total reversal of lower court decisions, they asked the Supreme Court to narrow the rulings, hoping to at least begin implementing parts of the new policy.
The Ondo State Police Command has said that the convoy of the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was not involved in an auto crash that led to the death of a seven-year-old girl in Akure, the state capital on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
The spokesperson for the Command, Olusola Ayanlade, in a statement, said the president’s wife was on a visit to the state on Thursday to distribute empowerment kits and equipment.
“Eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations conducted by the Ondo State Police Command have confirmed that the incident was caused by a hit-and-run driver operating an unregistered white Lexus vehicle — not by any vehicle belonging to or associated with the First Lady’s convoy,” the police said.
The statement further said, “A witness who observed the hit-and-run pursued the fleeing vehicle on a motorcycle immediately after the incident, which occurred around the Oba Ile area of Akure. These accounts have been corroborated by several individuals at the scene as well as by the parents of the deceased.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, was personally present and met with the grieving family to ensure a full and transparent investigation. At no point was the First Lady’s convoy involved in this tragedy.
“The command commiserated with the bereaved family and urged the general public to cooperate with us as we bring the perpetrator of the hit-and-run to justice.
Former DELSU VC, Sowore, Deji, other activists hit hard at Agbor Nursing School provost as query to student nurse goes abuzz on social media
“Also, we urge anyone with any useful information to please come forward or report to the nearest police station or security post nearest to them while we hunt for the killer
Credit: Channels Television
Several persons have lost their lives in another terrible accident that occurred on Karu Bridge, inward Karu Site, Abuja on Friday.
According to Daily Post report, the accident was caused by a truck laden with cement which failed its brakes while descending the Kugbo hill.
It was gathered that the truck, after crushing about several vehicles and their occupants, attempted to escape but was intercepted around Karu Roundabout by commercial motorcyclists.
The accident came barely a month after a similar fatal accident occurred on the same Karu Bridge in March, when a Dangote trailer powered by CNG lost its brakes, crashed into several vehicles and claimed multiple lives.
More details to follow
-
News14 hours agoTinubu Remains Engaged In Governance From Europe, Will Return After Easter – Presidency
-
News23 hours agoAbuja light rail project must be commissioned on May 29-Wike vows
-
News23 hours agoJust in: Alleged Herdsmen Armed With AK-47 Rifles Take Over Communities In Benue State
-
News13 hours agoFirst Lady Convoy Kills Seven-Year-Old Girl In Ondo State
-
News24 hours agoSEYI Tinubu Speaks On Alleged Abduction, Brutalization Of NANS President Atiku Abubakar Isah
-
News5 hours ago
Emergency Rule: We should be thankful to President Tinubu -Wike
-
Foreign14 hours agoTrump To Close US Embassies In South Sudan, France, Others
-
News4 hours agoSenator Natasha on FB listed 3 politicians that should be arrested if anything happens to her