​NAPTIP Rescues 25 Bauchi Indigenes Trafficked to North Africa

​By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar ​The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 25 Bauchi State indigenes trafficked to North African countries, including Libya and Morocco, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Bauchi State Coordinator Alhaji Atiku Kalli disclosed this on Monday during a two-day review workshop for the state’s Youth Policy Development framework, organized by the SDGs office and supported by the UNFPA. Kalli lamented that the majority of victims were youths lured abroad by misleading prospects, urging young people instead to…

53,843 Rehabilitated: Marwa Demands Funds for Women, Children to Break Drug-Mental Illness Loop

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has warned of a vicious, reinforcing cycle between substance abuse and psychological distress, stating that “drug use and mental illness feed each other.” Calling for a paradigm shift in how the nation tackles addiction, Marwa cautioned: “If we only arrest the symptoms, we will keep missing the cause.” The NDLEA boss made the remarks on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while presiding as Chairman of the 5th edition of The Conversation…

At UN, NDLEA Showcases Nigeria’s ₦2.5T Drug War Success; Demands Global Intelligence, Collaboration and Action on Illicit Finance

In a bold presentation at the ongoing 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has spotlighted Nigeria’s overhauled drug control architecture as a definitive blueprint for institutional transformation and adaptive threat management. The landmark submission forms part of Nigeria’s national presentation delivered under the UN assembly’s guiding theme: “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.” According to an official statement released by the NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the strategic address…

UNFPA, Partners Train 20 Journalists for Accurate Public Health Reporting in Bauchi

By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar To improve the accuracy and depth of public health reporting, twenty journalists from print, electronic, and online media platforms recently completed an intensive two-day training in Bauchi State. Organized by the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning, and Multilateral Coordination in partnership with the UNFPA and Journalists for Public Health (J4PD), the workshop aimed to equip media practitioners with the skills needed to effectively cover the UNFPA’s 9th Country Programme. Facilitators from UNFPA offices across Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Bauchi led technical sessions focusing on…

Stigma to Support: Psychiatrist Demands End to Mental Health Abuse, Urges Policy Enforcement

By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar ​To mark World Mental Health Day, Dr. Yakub Fauwaz Farouq, Senior Registrar in Psychiatry at Abubakar Tabawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, called on Nigerians to stop using derogatory labels like “mad” when referring to persons living with mental health conditions. Speaking at an event organized by PLAN International and the Bauchi State Government with funding from Global Affairs Canada, he stressed that mental illnesses—such as depression and anxiety—are common, treatable medical disorders that require empathy, financial support, and timely medical care rather than societal…

From Captivity to Choice: Freed Corps Members Offered Safe South-West Postings

The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who recently regained their freedom following a highly publicized abduction in Imo State have reportedly been granted an exclusive option to undergo their mandatory national service within any of the six South-West states. Moving swiftly from an arduous captivity to a position of secure choice, the affected graduates—originally deployed to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states before being intercepted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha highway—are being integrated into the current batch within a region widely considered a safer…

Police Shake-Up: IGP Disu Redeploys 7 Spokespersons across Commands

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered a major structural reorganization, redeploying seven new Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) and Public Relations Liaison Officers to strategic commands and formations across the country. The strategic shake-up is part of ongoing institutional efforts to strengthen the Force’s public communication architecture, optimize media engagement, and give the public seamless access to credible police data. In an official statement released on Friday, October 9, 2026, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, confirmed the immediate postings and released the direct…

Unsung Heroes: Bauchi Honors 83 Community Volunteers Anchoring Local Healthcare

By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar A total of 83 community health volunteers have been honoured with awards of excellence for improving access to healthcare services in Bauchi State in 2025. The award ceremony was organized on Thursday by the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board in collaboration with the Bauchi State Emirate Councils Committee on Health and Mobilization (BASECCOH). The recipients comprised 48 Ward Heads selected from across all Emirates and Chiefdoms, several community resource groups comprising: 20 Mama2Mama members, and 15 agents of the Community Reorientation Women Network (CRoWN).…

Cargo Logistics Boost: Dantsoho, Hassan Bello, Others Meet Over Dry Ports Integration

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched a high-stakes campaign to fully integrate Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) into the nation’s modern maritime architecture. Managing Director Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho is demanding aggressive infrastructure upgrades, deep-ticket private sector investments, and seamless digital connectivity to revolutionize Nigeria’s hinterland cargo logistics chain. Dr. Dantsoho finalized the commitment at the NPA corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos, on Thursday, October 8, 2026 during a strategic executive session with the Executive Director of Dala Inland Dry Port, Mr. Ahmad Rabiu, and other prominent representatives from the Funtua…

Operation Blackout: FBI, Ghana Forces Smash Cyber-Scam Hubs; 130 Arrested Over $10M Fraud

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has collaborated with Ghanaian authorities to dismantle an international network of cyber-scam compounds, resulting in the arrest and detention of over 130 individuals. The high-impact crackdown exposed nearly $10 million in financial losses and led to the seizure of more than 300 electronic devices used to target unsuspecting American citizens. FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed the landmark operation in an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), characterizing the Ghanaian raid as a vital piece of “Operation Blackout,” a relentless global offensive engineered…