Almost another Black Maria moment, By Mahmud Jega

Nigeria Police is not exactly new to public relations scandal, but last Friday’s episode, when it charged 32 severely malnourished boys before an Abuja Federal High Court for alleged offences including treason was probably its lowest moment in public esteem since March 1980. That was when policemen packed 70 suspects into a Black Maria truck, […]

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Oyenusi, Anini, Shekau and Dogo Gide, By Mahmud Jega

At the weekend, I was relishing a statement issued by Defence Headquarters, saying its troops confirmed the killing of “four notorious terrorist commanders in airstrikes within the week.” It named them as Machika, Haro, Dan Muhammadu and Ali Alhaji Alheri, popularly called Kachalla Ali Kawaje. Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, described […]

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Skip the Campaign, Minds are Made Up, By Mahmud Jega

Two days from today, political parties in Nigeria will be free to flag off presidential, governorship, federal and state  assembly campaigns by sticking posters on every wall, saturating the airwaves with campaign songs and noisy messages, holding mass rallies, knocking on everyone’s door, filling up buses and trucks with “supporters” shouting themselves hoarse, floating support […]

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No Broom, No Umbrella In Heaven, By Mahmud Jega

The catchiest remark I could find on the political scene last week emanated from Kano. In apparent preparation to ditch the ruling APC, make up with his old political foe Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and join him in the fast-emerging New Nigeria Peoples Party [NNPP], former Kano State Governor and current senator Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Sardaunan […]

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