Nation
Probe Sheikh Gumi Over Inciting Comments On Bandits, SOKAPU Insists
The spokesman of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU), Mr Luka Binniyat, has strongly advocated for the arrest and prosecution of the influential Islamic preacher, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, for allegedly telling Fulani kidnappers that soldiers killing them are not Muslim soldiers.
He alleged that the Muslim cleric, in a recent video in a meeting with the suspected criminals, told them that when they (criminals) attack a community in vengeance, they should choose their targets well, telling them that a group recently kidnapped a group of travellers, and among them was a woman in the Islamic hijab carrying a small baby.
Binniyat questioned the integrity of the Islamic preacher, saying that Gumi’s attribution that “Such act dents the work of kidnappers, insinuates that the cleric is making himself like the spiritual leader of the bandits.”
He added, “We have always suspected that there was something that the Islamic cleric is doing with these people that we do not understand.”
The spokesman said in Kaduna that it was very unfortunate, condemnable and unacceptable under this government human beings were stolen daily like animals.
He noted that Niger and Kaduna states share a border in the West and East axis which form part of Kamuku forest, where the bandits are, describing it as the most dangerous and lawless forest, as the infamous Sambisa forest in the North-East.
Describing Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s negotiation with the suspected Fulani kidnappers as curiously dubious, he said, “It is a disgraceful way of succumbing to the wiles and evil of a band of violent criminals who are more feared and respected by the state, not really because of their capacity for bloodletting, but because they are seen as kinsmen of the number one man of Nigeria. SOKAPU is totally against Sheikh Gumi in that project.
“Such wicked, heartless and unprincipled criminals must not be dignified in that matter. We have always suspected that there was something that the Islamic cleric is doing with these people that we do not understand.”
The spokesman wondered, “Why is the Islamic cleric not interested in justice and restitution for thousands of the surviving victims of their evil but the welfare and freedom of those who killed others?
”In Southern Kaduna, we have over 50,000 IDPs and over 100 communities that have been captured and occupied by these evil men that our people confirmed to be Fulani armed men. We have mass graves dotted all over our area as a result of their wickedness.
“Last year alone, our poor people paid nothing less than N1billion as ransom for the freedom of their abducted people. Why is the cleric not negotiating with relevant authorities for justice? His proposition is irrational and dumbfounding. SOKAPU wants Sheikh Gumi investigated for his role with these people.”
On amnesty for the suspected Fulani kidnappers, Binniyat observed that the kidnappers have killed, raped, received ransom, and have succeeded in displacing many communities from their ancestral lands, but in the case of the Niger Delta, he likened them “To the goose that laid the golden egg, yet, it is one of the most deprived, degraded and marginalised areas in Nigeria. The agitation for fairness and equity for Niger Delta region dates back to the fifties.
“Who does not know Adaka Boro? Who does not know the slain Ogoni freedom fighter, Ken Saro-Wiwa? The youth of the Niger Delta had a legitimate right to use violence to seek attention in the manner they did theirs. They kidnapped foreign oil workers to seek international attention. They didn’t kill them. They sabotaged oil pipelines to hurt the economy so that a deaf government will take them seriously.”
He explained that “the Niger Delta militants never invaded any community, talk of raping, killing, abducting citizens, and setting the communities ablaze. They were civilised in their approach of expressing their grievances to the concerned authorities, and the world agreed that they had a legitimate cause”.
The SOKAPU spokesman asked, “What are the Fulani armed men looking for? Even the Sultan of Sokoto has said that out of 10 bandits caught, between eight and seven are Fulani. In what ways have the Nigerian state and peaceful, vulnerable communities been against their interests? What is their contribution to the economy? Do you know how much harm they are doing to agriculture and chasing away investors from the Middle Belt and the North?
“What are their grievances? Why must they be so rewarded after such massive destruction of lives and property? Then, let all the armed robbers, rapists, arsonists and every criminal be forgiven and granted amnesty!”
On Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed’s comment that all forests belong to Nigerians, and as such, there was no need evicting any Fulani herdsman from Ondo State forest, Binniyat argued, “The Presidential Villa, Abuja, belongs to Nigerians, let the governor of Bauchi State go and tell his relatives to move there and live.
“The FCT and Bauchi State belong to Nigerians, why was he officially allocating land as the FCT minister and signing Certificates-Of-Occupancy when everyone could as well just occupy any space he wanted. When it comes bigotry and favouritism, sentiments becloud their reasoning”, he lamented.
Youths from five local government areas in Northern Cross River State have concluded a one-week warning protest and blockade of the dilapidated Ikom-Wula-Obudu federal highway over the weekend.
They have vowed to resume the road blocks if by this week the authorities do not intervene to fix the road.
More than five thousand locals, mostly youths from Obanliku, Etung, Obudu, Ikom and Boki LGAs trooped out everyday for one week, used palm trees to block the highway to draw state and federal government’s attention to their plights, requesting the repair of a road has has been unmotorable for about 40 years.
They warned that if they do not see any actions from the state or federal governments, they will resume their Plan B protest, stop revenue collections and make governance unpalatable.
The youths also warned that without interventions on the road which has claimed several lives, including that of last week when a pregnant woman died with her baby in the full glare of the protesters because of the terrible road, no election can hold in the area next year.
One of the leaders of the No Road , No Election protest, who is also the Abo Youths in Boki LGA, Dr Martins Assam said both the federal and state governments have neglected the region, which generates more than 70 percent state revenue from agriculture.
He said if machinery is not deployed by next week, they will not have any option than to embark on unpalatable and disastrous protest, and stop revenue collections in the area.
“Last week we had only a warning strike for one good week. We’ll embark on a more elaborate, disastrous one-month blockade of this highway until they intervene. We call on our Governor and representatives in the National Assembly to act now by impressing on the federal government to immediately fix this road else. We’re not asking for two much but to be treated as human beings.”
Another protester, Clinton Obi from the Etung axis said, “We’ve been neglected for 40 years. This Ikom-Obudu federal highway had been impassable. The government has removed its concentration from our plights. By this one week protest, we want action on this road otherwise the next phase of protest will be costly.”
Reverend Father Francis Amaozo, priest in charge of St. Nicholas parish in Nashua, Boki LGA said, “I have also been a victim of this very deplorable road. Enough is now enough. We’ve been betrayed by our representatives and other leaders, so that we in this axis have become endangered species on this road. I have lost some many members on this road.”
Member, representing the Boki-Ikom federal constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Bisong Victor Abang had pleaded with the locals to be a bit more patient with the government as action will commence shortly.
Nation
UNIPORT VC Receives Inaugural Lecture Brochure As Professor Highlights Urgent Need For Drug Repurposing In Malaria Fight
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Owunari Georgewill, last Thursday received the inaugural lecture brochure from the Inaugural Lecturer, Professor Udeme Georgewill, during a ceremony at the university’s Centre of Excellence attended by academics, researchers, students, and distinguished guests.
Delivering her lecture, Professor Udeme Georgewill described the occasion as the culmination of years of dedicated research, teaching, and service to humanity. He explained that his work as a pharmacologist has consistently focused on finding practical, affordable, and scientifically sound solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly malaria, which remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health concerns.
She noted that Nigeria continues to bear one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally, accounting for a significant percentage of worldwide cases and deaths. The disease, largely caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and transmitted through Anopheles mosquitoes, remains especially dangerous for children under five years and pregnant women, threatening not only present populations but unborn generations. Despite years of intervention efforts, malaria continues to strain families, health systems, and the national economy.
Prof Georgewill empha-sised that while Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies such as Artemether-Lumefantrine remain the gold standard for malaria treatment, emerging resistance patterns pose a serious challenge. He explained that drug resistance is a survival mechanism of the parasite, enabling it to adapt and reduce the effectiveness of medications designed to eliminate it. According to her, instances where patients do not feel better after initial treatment sometimes lead to repeated dosing or the search for injectable alternatives, practices that can worsen resistance and complicate treatment outcomes.
Against this backdrop, she advocated strongly for drug repurposing as a strategic and urgent response. Drug repurposing, he explained, involves identifying new therapeutic uses for already approved and widely available medications. He likened the concept to “old wine in new wineskins,” stressing that medicines already proven safe for certain conditions can be carefully re-evaluated and optimised for new roles in malaria management. This approach, she argued, offers advantages such as reduced research timelines, lower development costs, and faster clinical application compared to developing entirely new drugs from scratch.
She disclosed that her research had progressed from laboratory investigations to clinical evaluations, where his team is studying combinations involving Artemether-Lumefantrine and Ivermectin to determine their effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes and possibly reducing transmission. Clinical trials are ongoing, and findings will be communicated upon completion of regulatory processes. However, he cautioned strongly against self-medication, warning that misuse of drugs without proper diagnosis and prescription can lead to organ damage, treatment failure, and increased resistance.
Referencing global health commitments, Prof Georgewill highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which seeks to end epidemics of malaria and other major infectious diseases by 2030. She questioned whether the goal remains attainable under current realities, especially with growing resistance and funding gaps. He also referred to strategies of the World Health Organisation aimed at drastically reducing malaria incidence and mortality while pushing toward elimination in several countries.
Looking ahead, she revealed that her team is building comprehensive research databases to support artificial intelligence-driven drug repurposing. He stressed that the integration of artificial intelligence, molecular docking, and advanced screening technologies is transforming global drug discovery, and Nigerian researchers must be equipped to participate competitively in this evolving scientific landscape.
In her recommendations, she called for the establishment of a National Centre for Drug Repurposing to coordinate research efforts and leverage artificial intelligence in identifying new indications for existing medicines. He urged policymakers to simplify and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical application, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs benefit the public more efficiently. She also appealed to the university and relevant authorities to increase funding and modernise laboratory infrastructure, including high-throughput screening facilities, to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global biomedical research.
The lecture concluded with expressions of gratitude to God, the university leadership, colleagues, students, and guests, as the event underscored the University of Port Harcourt’s commitment to research excellence and its role in addressing critical public health challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State Chapter, has rejected the proposed Niger State Hisbah Directorates Bill, describing it as controversial and capable of deepening religious division in the state.
In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and made available to The Tide’s source yesterday, the association urged Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago not to assent to the bill if it is passed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, seeks to establish a Hisbah Directorate in Niger State.
CAN warned that the legislation could be perceived as discriminatory against Christians and may heighten tension in the religiously diverse state.
“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, we, the entire Christendom in the state, wish to draw your attention to what could easily create division among the people you govern,” the statement read in part.
The association questioned the necessity and benefits of the proposed law, asking what economic or social value it would add to the state.
It further argued that existing security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, already have constitutional mandates to maintain law and order.
The Christian body also faulted the legislative process, disputing claims that it was consulted during a public hearing on the bill.
It insisted that it was neither invited nor notified of any such engagement, despite being a critical stakeholder in the state.