Category Nigeria News

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed profound sadness over the passing of former Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo served as the vice president of Nigeria under President Buhari from 2015 to 2023.

Buhari’s death was confirmed by President Bola Tinubu, who directed national flags to be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the late leader.

In a statement he personally signed, Osinbajo said that Nigeria has lost a true patriot—a man whose life was marked by unyielding devotion to the nation he loved.

READ ALSO: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Dies At 82

The statement reads, “Dolapo and I received, with profound sadness, the news of the passing of His Excellency, former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon.

“In the moments that followed, we spoke with Her Excellency Aisha Buhari and their son Yusuf Buhari to express our heartfelt condolences and to share in the deep grief of their beloved family—one with whom we had the honour of serving our nation for eight memorable years.

“Nigeria has lost a true patriot—a man whose life was marked by unyielding devotion to the nation he loved. President Buhari’s legacy will endure as a testament to the nobility of public service, defined by honesty, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the public good.

Barely a few hours after the death of Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Kashim Shettima and President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will head to the United Kingdom to accompany the late former president’s body back to Nigeria.

The ex-president, who had battled a prolonged illness, died in London at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the age of 82.

Buhari’s former special adviser, Garba Shehu, confirmed the news of his passing in a statement.

In a separate release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu confirmed the death of his predecessor and revealed that he has conversed with Buhari’s wife, Mrs Aishat Buhari, while expressing condolence.

The statement further disclosed that President Tinubu has directed national flags to be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the late leader.

Buhari was twice elected as Nigeria’s president, serving from 2015 to 2023.

The Taraba State Police Command said on Sunday that it foiled a kidnap attempt by hoodlums along the Wukari Katsina-Ala Highway. 

Disclosing this in a statement, the Command’s spokesman, James Lashen, said the police swung into action after receiving a distress call that an 18-seater bus belonging to a private company was intercepted by suspected armed kidnappers along the highway shortly after Federal University Wukari.

The white vehicle with registration number 26G-17-TR carrying 17 passengers was en route to Adamawa from Enugu State. 

“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Anthony Jerry, immediately mobilised his patrol team in conjunction with the military who were within the environment and advanced to the scene,” Lashen stated.

READ ALSO: Tinubu’s Intervention In Restoring Order Timely — Ibas

It added, “On July 12, 2025, at about 2345hrs, the DPO, Wukari Division, received a distress call stating that, a Toyota bus belonging to the People’s Choice company with plate NO: 26G-17TR, white in colour carrying 17 passengers, coming from Enugu en route to Yola, Adamawa State, was intercepted by suspected armed kidnappers along the highway after Federal University Wukari.

“The kidnappers, on sighting the security teams, took to their heels into the bushes and the passengers were rescued except for one Sadiq Usman, 22 years ‘m’ and Chamba by tribe, who was not seen at the time of the intervention.

“The joint security team combed the bushes and later rescued him unhurt. All passengers are  hale, hearty, and safe.”

He stated that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and prevent further occurrences.

On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Bretet, commended the operatives for their uncommon feat and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment, in collaboration with sister security agencies, to fighting the menace of kidnapping in the state.

An Air Peace aircraft veered off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, on Sunday after landing.  

Air Peace spokesman, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday but said all passengers disembarked safely. 

PRESS STATEMENT: 13/07/2025#BetterDealWithAirPeace pic.twitter.com/rYkFcGhNav

“Air Peace confirms that its Flight P47190, operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt this morning, had a runway excursion after landing safely at the Port Harcourt International Airport,” the statement read. 

“The aircraft veered slightly off the runway without any damage. All passengers disembarked safely and calmly, and no injuries were reported.”

READ ALSO: Nigeria Secures Heathrow Slot For Air Peace

The airline reassured the public of its “unflinching commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety in all our operations.”

As of the time of publishing this report, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has yet to comment on the recent incident.

The incident is coming years after a similar one in the same airport. It happened in 2019.

In May, an Air Peace flight was grounded at the Asaba International Airport in Delta State following a collision with an antelope.

Operatives of the Kaduna Police Command have arrested ten suspected armed robbers and four illegal gun manufacturers during various operations across the state.

A statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the police also recovered eight locally made guns with sixteen cartridges, three vehicles, and a motorcycle from the suspects.

According to the statement, two suspects, Sanusi Bala from Zamfara State and Nura Bala from Zaria in Kaduna State were suspects were apprehended while attempting to rob a victim of his tricycle.

During an investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of a syndicate known for targeting and robbing commercial tricycle riders of their tricycles. They further revealed that the stolen tricycles are usually sold to one Jamilu Zurmi from Zamfara State.

The police also said that further investigations led to the recovery of three other vehicles from the syndicate.

The recovered vehicles include: a Golf III Wagon, dark blue, with registration number ABC-152-AL, a Golf III Wagon, green in colour, with registration number ABJ-900-RE, and an unregistered Golf III Wagon, dark blue.

The police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices, including the identified receiver of stolen tricycles.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest 50-Year-Old Suspected Bandit, Others In Zamfara

Similarly, operatives of the Kaduna police command arrested a group of suspected armed robbers who have been operating in other neighboring states.

According to the statement, the five suspects, Ahmed Umar Isah Musa, Zailani Sa’adu, Abdulrahman Mukhtar, and Ibrahim Sa’adu, were apprehended while they invaded the house of one of the residents of Unguwan Sanusi, in Kaduna South Local Government Area, and robbed him of his Toyota Corolla and other valuables.

Further investigation revealed that the stolen vehicle was sold to one Garba Yaro, of Maradi, Niger Republic, presently at large.

Intelligence further revealed that Yaro is a known receiver of several robbed vehicles from the syndicate and other accomplices who were also arrested and will soon be prosecuted.

In another operation, police operatives arrested four suspects involved in the illegal fabrication of firearms and ammunition.

The suspects, Hassan Ibrahim, Murtala Yakubu, Shuaibu Abubakar, and Ismail Shuaibu, were apprehended following credible intelligence regarding their illegal activities in a building at Giroji village in Makarfi Local Government Area.

Several exhibits, including three locally fabricated rifles, three incomplete skeletal frames of rifles, fourteen cartridges, five rounds of live T.06 ammunition, and one bench vice machine, were recovered from the building.

The police anti-kidnapping unit operative, acting on credible intelligence, also arrested three suspects at Doya Village in Makarfi Local Government Area for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of the wife of one Alhaji, a resident of Kwatakore village.

During the operation, the police recovered two locally made guns and two live cartridges from the suspects, Rabilu Lawal, Sirajo Shuaibu, and Shehu Sarki.

The suspects are currently in police custody as further investigation continues to uncover the full extent of their involvement in criminal activities, while efforts to apprehend other accomplices are ongoing.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kebbi State Chapter, has condemned the recent killing of police officers and civilians by armed assailants in Zogirma village, Bunza Local Government Area, describing the attack as gruesome and unacceptable.

In a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary in Kebbi, Abubakar Atiku, the ADC, expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and the entire Zogirma community.

The party lamented that the attack occurred at a time when residents of the area are living in fear and desperately seeking government protection. It accused the Kebbi State Government of insensitivity, alleging that while communities cry out for help, political leaders are preoccupied with parties and political meetings aimed at retaining power in 2027.

READ ALSO: Kebbi Community Declares Support For Gov Idris

“The ADC strongly condemns this culture of neglect, indifference, and insensitivity towards the lives and welfare of ordinary citizens,” the statement said. “This tragic event further proves that many in leadership have forgotten their core responsibility to protect lives and improve the well-being of the people.”

The party called on the state government to act swiftly to restore law and order in Zogirma and other affected communities. It also demanded compensation for the families of the victims and the implementation of serious security measures to prevent further attacks.

“The lives of our citizens must come first, above all political interests,” the ADC added.

In the meantime, the people of Junju/Fada community in Birnin Kebbi, birthplace of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader and former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, have distanced themselves from him and pledged their full support to Governor Nasir Idris.

The position of the community was made known during a solidarity visit to Governor Idris at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.