THE FRAME

  By Prof. Usman Yusuf Saturday 29 November 2025 I have seen, lived and benefited from a Nigeria led by patriotic and selfless leaders that cared deeply for the country and its citizens; they managed the country’s diversity and resources with the fear of God.   A few days ago, my friend and I were reminiscing about our good old days in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria from 1976 to 1982. We remembered coming from all four corners of this beautiful land, from the edges of the Sahara in the north to the creeks of the Niger Delta in the south. Ours was a beautiful mosaic of humanity. Our parents sent us to ABU Zaria to mix with and learn from each other, an experience that has enriched our lives immeasurably.  Fast forward to today’s Nigeria, where there is mayhem and mistrust all across the land. Today, we are told we are enemies because we look, dress, eat, talk, and worship differently. But we that have lived through a better Nigeria know differently, f...

By Samuel Aruwan In the annals of a nation’s history, the spotlight rightly falls on those who have held its highest offices. Yet, to understand the true essence of a leader like General Christopher Gwabin Musa, one must journey back to the sacred soil from which he sprang. It was a soil fertilized by faith, service, and an unwavering commitment to God. His story is a profound testament to the legacy of two remarkable individuals: his parents, Musa Sukwai Gwabin and Asabe Mallam Sabanet, whose own lives were shaped by divine calling and clear destiny. Musa Gwabin was born in Masukwai village in the then Zangon Kataf District on 13th May 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War. Asabe Sabanet was born later, on 25th November 1945, in Samaru Atyap, also in Zangon Kataf District, two months after the war ended. Both were born during the reign of Emir Ja’afaru Dan Isyaku, the Emir of Zazzau, who reigned from 1937 to 1959. Their births also fell under the administr...

INTRODUCTION   Banditry has grown into one of Nigeria’s most persistent security challenges, especially across the North-West and parts of the North-Central region. What started as localised disputes over cattle rustling has transformed into a multi-layered criminal economy involving kidnapping for ransom, rural terrorism, illegal taxation, and territorial control. The central question many Nigerians ask is: “When will this end?” While no conflict ends overnight, Nigeria’s trajectory shows that banditry can be significantly reduced — and eventually defeated — when its root causes are addressed alongside effective military, economic, and governance reforms. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the situation, timelines, solutions, and the realistic path toward ending banditry. 1. Understanding the Nature of Banditry in Nigeria Banditry in Nigeria today is not random crime — it has evolved into an organized system. Key features include: a. Fragment...

1 . The Incident: What Happened According to the Army On 14 November 2025, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 25 Task Force Brigade, led by Brigadier-General M. Uba, were returning from a patrol mission around Wajiroko in Damboa LGA, Borno State, having just conducted an operation near the fringes of the Sambisa Forest.  During the return, the convoy came under a heavy ambush by insurgents, reportedly ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province).  In that clash, at least two soldiers and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) died.  The Army says that under Brig-Gen. Uba’s leadership, the troops “fought through” the ambush using “superior firepower,” causing the insurgents to withdraw in disarray.  Importantly, the Army denies that Brig-Gen. Uba was ever abducted.  2. The Rumors and Viral Narrative Almost immediately after the incident, viral reports began circulating claiming that Brig-Gen. Uba had been captured by ISWAP.  Some versions o...

A recent move in the National Assembly would remove the word “Technology” from the name and status of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi — effectively converting it from a specialised university of technology into a conventional (comprehensive) university. The proposal has prompted public debate: supporters argue it will broaden access and programmes; opponents fear dilution of a hard-won technological mandate. Below I set out a balanced, evidence-based view of the advantages and disadvantages of that change, then give a recommendation tailored to the people of Bauchi and to Nigeria within the wider context of a technology-driven, AI-centred world. (Recent coverage: the Senate moved the bill and it has been reported in national papers; ATBU management later issued clarifications distancing itself from some steps in the process).  QUICK BACKGROUND  ATBU was established as a Federal University of Technology in 1980 and has long carried a practical, appl...

The recent post by the U.S. President Donald J. Trump, accusing the Nigerian Government of allowing the killing of Christians and threatening U.S. military action, has once again stirred a painful narrative — one that dangerously distorts the reality of Nigeria’s complex insecurity. While we respect the concern for the sanctity of human life and freedom of worship, we, the Muslims of Northern Nigeria, must speak clearly: We are not the authors of this violence — we are its primary victims. For over a decade, the North has been bleeding. From Borno to Zamfara, Sokoto to Katsina, Yobe to Niger, Muslim communities have endured unspeakable horrors at the hands of the same terrorists falsely claiming to represent Islam. Entire villages have been destroyed, mosques bombed, and scholars murdered. Millions of innocent Muslims live as refugees in their own country — in overcrowded, forgotten IDP camps where survival itself is a daily struggle. This is the truth that global observers...

By Ahmad M. Salihu A Cry Lost in Silence “Unless you blow your trumpet, nobody will blow it for you.” This timeless proverb mirrors the tragic reality facing many Muslims across Northern Nigeria. For years, communities in Plateau, Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States have endured massacres, mass displacements, and destruction at the hands of terrorists and bandits. Yet, beyond the immediate pain and sorrow, another tragedy unfolds quietly—the tragedy of silence and invisibility. Each time a village is attacked, we lament. Survivors flee to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, where life is reduced to survival and dependence. But soon after, the world moves on. There is little record, no structured data, and no credible report to capture the true scale of what has been lost. The deaths become numbers that were never counted, and stories that were never told. The Power of Data — and Our Absence in It In today’s world, data drives recognition, justice, and ac...