Yobe Police Arrest Four Suspected Drug Dealers, Recover Tramadol, Other Illicit Substances

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

The Yobe State Police Command has arrested four suspected drug dealers during a raid on a notorious criminal hideout in the Kolere community, Fune Local Government Area of the state.

The operation also recovered dozens of tramadol capsules and other illicit substances as part of intensified efforts to tackle crime and drug-related activities across the state.

The spokesperson of the command, Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed the information in a statement issued on Thursday in Damaturu.

According to him, the police have continued to record progress in ongoing operations targeting criminal gangs and drug peddlers operating within communities in the state.

He explained that operatives attached to the Area Command in Potiskum carried out a coordinated raid on May 6, 2026, at about 3:00 p.m. The raid took place at Borno Kichi market in Kolere village, which is allegedly being used as a hideout by criminal elements involved in drug trafficking and other unlawful activities.

The police spokesperson identified the suspects as Nafizu Adamu, 25; Babale Idi, 25; Shuaibu Mohammed, 35; and Shuaibu Musa, 22.

He said the suspects were arrested while in possession of several prohibited substances, including tramadol capsules, assorted hard drug tablets, Indian hemp, and a rubber solution commonly known as “Sholi”.

According to the statement, all four suspects are residents of Kolere Village in Fune Local Government Area.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, commended the operatives for the successful operation and urged officers across the state to sustain the ongoing crackdown against criminal syndicates and drug-related crimes.

The police commissioner also warned individuals involved in unlawful activities to desist or face the full weight of the law.

He added that investigations are ongoing and that authorities would charge the suspects in court upon completion of the investigation.

Sokoto: Encomiums For Aliyu’s Health Impact

By Shuaibu Abubakar

It’s not everyday that international development partners openly pour encomiums on a Nigerian leader. This rare fit is reserved for leaders who made the conscious efforts to put the health of the people first, and where the impact is almost instant. In this situation, the people begin to live again, as once comatose hospitals come back to life. Health facilities that once existed only in name begin to experience a transformation never before believed possible.

That is the quiet revolution unfolding in Sokoto State under Governor Ahmad Aliyu and that’s why he has been receiving commendations from international organisations. In Sokoto, what used to be a grim landscape of dilapidated structures, absent personnel, and empty wards is gradually giving way to something more reassuring. We now have functional hospitals that inspire confidence, and primary healthcare centres that now serve as genuine first points of care that people can trust and rely on.

Unlike the Sokoto of yesterday, where many public health facilities had become shadows of their intended purpose. Where health facilities stood, but healthcare was nonexistent. Where equipment was scarce, and where available, often obsolete. Where health workers were either too few or unevenly distributed, leaving rural communities especially vulnerable. The result, under such circumstances was a predictable system that could neither prevent nor respond effectively to health challenges, particularly among women and children, where the grim numbers piled up.

Today, that narrative is being rewritten through deliberate policy choices anchored on the state government’s 9-SMART agenda on health. It is this framework that is driving a coordinated push not just to renovate structures, but to revive an entire system. And unlike the selective interventions of the past, this one is beginning to show signs of depth and sustainability.

One of the most telling indicators of this shift is the growing confidence of development partners in the state’s health sector. Institutions such as National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Solina Group, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and African Field Epidemiology Network have not only taken note, they have openly commended the state’s commitment to healthcare reform.

Such endorsements are not handed out lightly. They are often the result of measurable actions. They are an endorsement of infrastructure upgrades, improved funding for immunisation programmes, and a clearer policy direction. In the case of Sokoto, these efforts appear to be converging in a way that signals seriousness of purpose.

This commitment was further underscored during the 8th Sokoto State Government Council on Health Meeting that brought together a high-level policymakers, development partners, and health sector stakeholders. The meeting was a working session aimed at positioning the state at the forefront of efforts to accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

While it was organised by the State Ministry of Health, it was the collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that made the meeting which provided a platform to review progress and refine strategies under the health component of the 9-SMART Innovation Agenda for significant. The emphasis, in the end, was clearly to strengthen primary healthcare, improve service delivery, and ensure that even the most vulnerable populations are not left behind.

And it was also at this meeting that one of the most significant announcements was made. UNFPA committed over ₦4.6 billion in funding for healthcare delivery in 2026. Beyond the headline figure, however, was an initiative that speaks directly to one of Nigeria’s most persistent health challenges; maternal and child mortality.

Through a newly unveiled Community Midwifery Scholarship and Bonding Scheme, 500 young women from hard-to-reach communities will receive full scholarships to study midwifery. According to UNFPA’s Assistant Representative, Audu Alayande, 250 beneficiaries will be trained this year, with another 250 to follow next year. Upon completion, they will be deployed directly to rural primary healthcare centres. The government confirm that these health workers will be at their rural posting for at least two years after graduation.

This is more than a training programme; it is a targeted intervention designed to bridge a critical gap, the shortage of skilled birth attendants in underserved areas. By linking training to deployment, the scheme avoids a common pitfall where trained personnel cluster in urban centres, leaving rural communities exposed.

Complementing this is the state government’s own effort to address workforce shortages. Governor Aliyu has confirmed the recruitment and deployment of over 1,500 nurses and midwives to underserved communities. This move is backed by a two-year mandatory rural posting policy, designed to ensure a more equitable distribution of healthcare workers across the state.

Policies like this often face resistance, especially from health workers who prefer urban posting, but they are necessary in contexts where urban bias has long undermined rural healthcare delivery. To make the policy workable, the state has introduced incentives aimed at encouraging compliance. The idea behind this initiative is an acknowledgment that policy must be matched with practical support.

Beyond personnel, the state is also investing in essential medical supplies. The distribution of sexual, reproductive, and other essential drugs to all 23 local government areas is a critical step in addressing maternal and child health challenges. These supplies have been targeted at high-burden primary healthcare centres, where the need is most acute.

The involvement of the First Lady, Fatima Aliyu, in this aspect of the intervention adds another layer of visibility and advocacy, particularly around issues affecting women and children. While symbolism alone cannot drive change, it often helps sustain attention on critical social issues, especially in communities where awareness can be as important as access.

Taken together, these efforts point to a government that is not merely reacting to health challenges but attempting to anticipate and systematically address them. The focus on primary healthcare is especially significant. Globally, strong primary healthcare systems are the backbone of effective health delivery, serving as the first line of defence against disease and the foundation for achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Of course, it is still early days. Healthcare reform is a long-term endeavour, and sustaining momentum will require consistency in funding, monitoring, and policy execution. The gains recorded so far must be protected from the familiar pitfalls of political transitions and bureaucratic inertia. This is where the people of Sokoto must make a statement at the polls, and return Gov. Aliyu for another term.

But for now, there is enough evidence to suggest that Sokoto State is moving in a direction that prioritises people over optics. The transformation of once-neglected facilities into centres of hope, the deliberate investment in human resources, and the strategic partnerships with global health institutions all point to a model that, if sustained, could redefine healthcare delivery in the state.

Clearly, this is a signal that the state government remains fully committed to the protection of women and children. And in a country where healthcare often competes with other priorities, Aliyu’s commitment is not just commendable, it is necessary. Yet, everything crumbles if he’s not re-elected. The people of Sokoto clearly have their jobs cut out for them. Vote for continuity and progress, or return to the days of ghost healthcare. The choice is theirs!

Abubakar writes from Sokoto.

APC Picks Ex- KEDCO Gwamna as Consensus Candidate for 2027 Gombe Governorship Race

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State has settled for Dr Jamilu Ishiyaku Gwamna, a former Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), as its consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.

The decision was reached at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday and presided over by the party leader in the state and governor of Gombe, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

Party insiders said the meeting, which drew participation from key stakeholders, including party executives and elected officials, unanimously endorsed Gwamna as the party’s preferred flagbearer ahead of the polls.

The gathering also ratified consensus candidates for other key positions, including the three senatorial districts, six House of Representatives seats and all 24 State House of Assembly constituencies.

As part of the resolutions, Governor Yahaya was endorsed for the Gombe North Senatorial District, while DCP Ahmed Jarman Deba emerged for Gombe Central. Hon. Jerry Damara was adopted for Gombe South Senatorial District.

For the House of Representatives, the party selected Hon. Fatima Binta Bello for Kaltungo/Shongom, Hon. Ali Isa JC for Billiri/Balanga, and Hon. Sadam Bello for Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye. Hon. Jamilu Shabewa was picked for Dukku/Nafada, Inuwa Garba for Yamaltu/Deba, and Hon. Usman Bello Kumo for Akko Federal Constituency.

However, notable political figures were absent from the meeting. Those not in attendance included the minister of transport, Sa’idu Ahmad Alkali, and the former minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, both of whom are believed to be aspirants for the governorship seat, as well as Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, who currently represents the Gombe Central Senatorial District.

Their absence has fuelled political speculation within party circles, with observers suggesting it may reflect ongoing consultations and differing interests ahead of the party’s final alignments.

Party sources, however, maintained that the consensus arrangement was designed to strengthen unity and minimise internal disputes, noting that consultations were still ongoing to ensure inclusivity across all blocs of the APC in the state.

The move signals an early consolidation strategy by the ruling party as it prepares for what is expected to be a competitive 2027 electoral contest in Gombe State.