The Kaduna State Government has rejected allegations by former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai that the administration of Governor Uba Sani paid ₦1 billion to bandits.

The state described the claims as false, politically motivated, and devoid of any credible evidence.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shu’aibu (SAN), the government said El-Rufai’s comments, made during a Channels Television interview, were “a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility.”

According to the Commissioner, El-Rufai’s remarks amount to “recklessly weaponising a sensitive security matter for political grandstanding,” behaviour he said falls short of what is expected from a former governor.

The government reaffirmed that Governor Uba Sani has never approved, negotiated, or released funds to any criminal group.

“Not one naira, not one kobo,” the statement insisted, noting that the governor has consistently maintained this stance in public engagements.

Shu’aibu also reminded the public that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had earlier dismissed similar allegations by El-Rufai, saying they were unfounded and inconsistent with national security protocols. “ONSA affirmed that neither the Federal Government nor state governments pay ransom to criminal elements,” he said.

The state government emphasized that its security approach is anchored on community engagement, reinforced military operations, and socio-economic improvements such as expanded access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

“The State engages communities, not bandits,” the statement stressed.

Shu’aibu added that local watchdog groups, such as the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, which witnessed severe insecurity during El-Rufai’s tenure, have publicly debunked the former governor’s claims as misleading.

He further noted that some senior officials who served under El-Rufai previously accused him of releasing public funds to appease certain groups, making his current allegations “deeply paradoxical.”

Since assuming office, Governor Sani has focused on reopening markets, schools, and farmlands, and restoring trust across communities that suffered years of insecurity, the statement said.

The Kaduna State Government has challenged El-Rufai to provide concrete evidence, such as bank records, internal memos, or official security documents, if he possesses any.

It also pointed out that similar allegations he made in September 2025 were never substantiated.

Consequently, the government has demanded a full retraction and an unreserved public apology within one week.

Failure to comply, it warned, would force the state to initiate legal proceedings to “safeguard public order and institutional integrity.”

Reaffirming its commitment to transparent governance, the administration stated that it would not allow itself to be distracted by “politics of bitterness, fearmongering, or orchestrated falsehoods.”

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has spoken publicly for the first time since he was sentenced to life imprisonment, breaking his silence through a statement conveyed by his younger brother.

Kanu was convicted of terrorism by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and handed a life sentence earlier in the week.

By the next day, it was confirmed that he had been transferred to the Sokoto Medium Security Prison, a development that sparked national reactions and widespread criticism.

Among those who condemned the verdict was former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

DAILY GAZETTE reports that Kanu’s first response to the judgement was delivered through his brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, who visited him in Sokoto in the company of lawyer, Dr. Maxwell Opara.

Prince Emmanuel, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the IPOB leader insisted he was denied the chance to present his final written address, a key component of his defence.

He emphasized that Kanu considered his conviction to be legally unsound.

The statement began:
“I Prince Emmanuel Kanu and Dr Maxwell Opara have had a meeting with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, at the Sokoto medium security prison.

It continued:
“He has instructed me to inform the public that his conviction was without legal basis, as no individual can be convicted under a repealed law.

Kanu also maintained that his right to fair hearing was violated:

“His final written address which anchored on fair hearing was also denied, emphasized that the evidence relied upon by the court was not included in the charge sheet or presented as evidence against him.”

“Additionally, the court’s reliance on struck-out charges from Justice Binta Nyako was a significant issue.”

The statement further noted:
“Upon reviewing the judgment, he identified numerous errors that undermined the validity of his trial.”

Kanu urged members of the judiciary and legal profession to scrutinize the judgement:

“He urged well-meaning Nigerian justices, magistrates, and lawyers to carefully examine the judgment and uphold the laws of the land and the Nigerian Constitution.”

He also raised concerns about the inconsistency between his conviction and earlier favourable rulings from various courts and bodies:

“He questioned the disparity between the favorable rulings in Umuahia High Court, Enugu, Appeal Court, United Nations, and Supreme Court, which stated that the laws under which he was charged are repealed and must be amended, yet were ignored.”

The statement concluded by noting that Kanu appreciated those who had spoken out against what they saw as injustice.

His message to supporters read:
“I am Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who will reject injustice, unfairness, and evil against anybody regardless of your tribe, faith, and ethnic background. Injustice to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is injustice everywhere. I remain thankful for all your supports, prayers, and your good thoughts. Elohim, bless you all.”

Thirty-eight worshippers kidnapped from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, Eruku, have been released, the Kwara State Government announced on Sunday, five days after the deadly attack that claimed three lives.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed the release of the abducted church members but did not disclose the circumstances surrounding their freedom.

According to the statement, the governor credited the rescue to the “hands-on approach” of President Bola Tinubu, saying the President “personally led the efforts” and even cancelled his scheduled trip to the G20 Meeting in South Africa to address the security breaches in both Kwara and Kebbi states.

“The governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu for his direct initiative that made this happen,” the statement read, adding that the President ordered additional security deployments to Kwara as part of the rescue effort.

AbdulRazaq also expressed appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force for their roles in securing the release of the victims.

He lauded religious leaders, community members, and security operatives for their support during the crisis.

The incident occurred last Tuesday when armed bandits stormed the CAC parish during an evening service.

The attackers shot indiscriminately, killing three people and abducting 38 worshippers.

Residents reported that many fled into the surrounding bushes to escape the gunfire.

Eyewitnesses described the invasion as sudden and overwhelming.

“They came at nightfall, heavily armed. Two people were killed instantly,” one resident said.

The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦3 billion, later reducing it to ₦760 million.

Following the attack, youths in Eruku blocked the Ilorin–Kabba highway in protest, accusing security personnel stationed in the community of failing to respond during the assault, which lasted nearly an hour.

Their demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions as they demanded greater protection and accountability from security agencies.

In the wake of the attack, President Tinubu also postponed his planned trips to Johannesburg and Luanda, awaiting further security briefings on both the Eruku attack and the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.

He directed security agencies to pursue the perpetrators.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has revealed that more than 24 million Nigerians tested positive for malaria between January and September 2025, reflecting a steady rise in infections across the country.

Figures contained in the 2025 National Health Statistics Report, obtained by DAILY GAZETTE, show consistent increases in both testing and confirmed cases over the three quarters.

According to the document, 10,517,416 people underwent malaria testing between January and March, with 7,301,279 found to be positive.

Testing rose further in the second quarter to 11,449,804 individuals, producing 7,841,483 confirmed cases.

The trend peaked between July and September when 12,878,508 Nigerians were tested and 9,324,470 were diagnosed with malaria.

Altogether, the nation recorded 24,467,232 cases within nine months.

Health analysts note that the surge aligns with Nigeria’s seasonal malaria pattern, particularly during the rainy months when mosquito breeding intensifies.

Experts warn that without stronger interventions, infection numbers could climb even higher before the end of the year.

Treatment numbers also followed an upward curve. In the first quarter, 7,144,538 patients received Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).

This increased to 7,663,106 in the second quarter and 9,043,786 in the third, bringing the total number of treated persons to 23,851,430.

Speaking at the 2025 Joint Annual Review in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the National Malaria Eradication Programme has continued to strengthen malaria-control strategies but acknowledged that challenges remain.

Delays in seeking treatment and infrastructural gaps across the healthcare system still contribute significantly to the country’s heavy malaria burden.

The report calls for sustained public health action, improved access to treatment, and greater community involvement if Nigeria is to reduce malaria incidence in the coming years.

In related developments, world leaders have pledged $11.34 billion to support the Global Fund’s fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, a figure that falls below the organisation’s $18 billion target for the 2027–2029 cycle.

The announcement was made during the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Summit in Johannesburg, held ahead of the G20 meeting.

Executive Director Peter Sands admitted that the shortfall presents challenges to global health financing.

“Money will be tight, so we must be smarter,” he said, stressing the need for countries to transition towards greater self-reliance while warning that abrupt funding cuts could jeopardize essential programmes.

The Fund plans to reduce operational costs by 20 percent in 2026.

The United States remains the largest contributor with a pledge of $4.6 billion, although some commitments from previous administrations are yet to be fully released.

Based in Geneva, the Global Fund cautioned that the funding gap could force reductions to existing grants through late 2026.

Since its creation in 2002, the organisation estimates that it has helped save around 70 million lives by supporting national efforts to combat infectious diseases through measures such as malaria nets, HIV treatment, and tuberculosis therapy.

Previous replenishment cycles have also struggled to meet targets — in 2022, the organisation raised $15.7 billion out of a projected $18 billion.

The summit highlighted the ongoing tension between dwindling global contributions and growing expectations for countries to scale up domestic healthcare investments.