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NANS apologises to Aisha Buhari, demands explanation from police over student’s arrest

Published

3 years ago

November 29, 2022

Aisha Buhari

National Association of Nigerian Students has apologised to Aisha Buhari, wife of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), over the arrest of a student of the Federal University, Dutse Jigawa, Aminu Mohammed, by the police.

Condemnations had trailed the reported arrest of Mohammed over a tweet on the First Lady. Notable Nigerians including social activist, Aisha Yesufu, knocked Aisha for allegedly using her power against the student.

While initial reports were that Mohammed was arrested by the Department of State Services, NANS revealed that he was rather arrested by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, who traced Mohammed to Jigawa where he was picked up.

NANS in a statement on Tuesday by its President, Usman Barambu, apologised on behalf of the Nigerian students to the First Lady, while also calling for Mohammed’s release.

“The leadership of NANS received with concern the news of the unlawful arrest of Mohammed by the Nigeria Police on the instruction of Aisha Buhari. Upon receiving the news, I, Mohammed’s family and friends swung into action to trace the whereabouts of Mohammed. After some days of searching, we got the information that he was at the police unit in Wuse Zone 2. I met with Mohammed at the police custody.

“It was alleged that Mohammed some weeks back posted Aisha Buhari’s picture on Twitter with the caption “Su mama anchi kudin talakawa an koshi” (translated from Hausa to ‘the mother has gotten fatter by eating masses’ money’).

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“Just like the normal way angry citizens have different ways of expression on the social media. On November 18, 2022, the police from Abuja tracked Mohammed to the Federal University Dutse and picked him without any written/verbal invitation or informing the school management or his family,” Barambu narrated.

The NANS President said Mohammed was taken straight to the Presidential Villa where he was allegedly brutalised, beaten, maltreated and humiliated by the police “on the orders of Aisha Buhari, after which he was unlawfully detained at a police facility at Wuse Zone II till date. I, alongside our team of lawyers, met with Mohammed at the police facility where he confirmed the incident to me. Until now, Mohammed has not been arraigned by any competent court of law or granted bail by the police.”

“We want to, on behalf of all the Nigerian students, tender our unreserved apology to the First Lady Aisha Buhari, for the action of Mohammed which might have caused her and her family pains. However, as leaders and public office holders, we must overlook some criticisms if we want to really forge ahead and do the right thing,” Barambu said.

“We demand a detailed explanation by the Nigeria Police on why they will go to the school premises and ‘kidnap’ a student without due process and took him straight to the Presidential Villa where he was brutalised which violates his fundamental human rights,” the statement said.

NANS said Mohammed had sustained various injuries and had not accessed any proper medical attention. “We call on the police as a matter of national interest and urgency to release Mohammed unconditionally or be prepared to face the Nigerian students.

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“However, we are calling on our teeming students to be careful and apply decorum in dealing with people especially our leaders. They should be mindful of what they post on social media.

“We want to inform the general public to be patient as we await response and actions from the Inspector General of Police on a letter earlier sent to his office,” the president added.

Disagreeing with the national body, the South-West zone of NANS, in another statement by its Public Relations Officer, Giwa Temitope, condemned the alleged action of the First Lady, saying Mohammed’s rights were grossly violated.

“The conduct of Aisha and the security officers involved in the brutality meted out to Mohammed is highly condemnable and shows that Aisha does not tolerate dissent. In a democratic dispensation, one would have expected the wife of the President to have instituted a case against the student (if at all there is any) rather than resort to violence.

“In so far it has been established that the student was ‘abducted’ by the police and then ferried to the Presidential Villa where he was tortured on the order of Aisha and then locked up at a police facility at Wuse II, the wife of the President and everyone involved have erred and violated his (Mohammed’s) right to dignity of human persons as guaranteed under Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“Our position as an association is that the wife of the President has exhibited conduct against the provisions of the Nigerian law which has therefore invalidated whatever case they might have against him,” Temitope said.

Punch

Related Topics:Aisha Buhari Featured NANS

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Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Published

13 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Tehran, March 11, 2026 – Iran has officially announced that it will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing security concerns and strained relations with the United States.

The announcement came from Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Sports Minister, who said the current circumstances make it impossible for the national team to compete. “Given that this corrupt government has murdered our leader, there are no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali stated. “Two wars have been imposed on us in the past eight or nine months, and several thousand of our citizens have been killed. Therefore, we have no chance of participating in this way.”

Iran had qualified for the tournament, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with group stage matches set in U.S. cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle. The Iranian team was drawn into Group G, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Iran would have been welcomed to compete, and U.S. authorities confirmed the team would have been allowed entry. However, Iran’s leadership rejected participation, citing ongoing conflict and security concerns.

The withdrawal leaves FIFA with the task of determining how to fill Iran’s spot in the tournament and adjusting the group stage schedule accordingly. Officials are expected to make an announcement in the coming days.

This marks the first time Iran has voluntarily withdrawn from a World Cup after qualifying, highlighting the growing tensions in the region amid recent military and political escalations.

Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

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FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

Published

17 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

Some Nigerians have been escorted out of Iran by officials of the Federal Government through the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran as part of efforts to ensure their safety amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

This was confirmed by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri‑Erewa, who disclosed that Nigerian embassy officials are currently coordinating the movement of citizens willing to leave the country.

Dabiri-Erewa explained that the evacuees are being escorted from various locations in Iran to the border with Armenia, where they will await further arrangements for their return to Nigeria.

According to her, the evacuation became necessary following the escalating security situation in the region, which has raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals, including Nigerians residing in Iran.

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She noted that officials of the Nigerian Embassy are working round the clock to ensure that Nigerians who wish to leave the country are safely moved out of the conflict-prone areas.

The NiDCOM boss also assured that the Federal Government is closely monitoring the situation and is collaborating with relevant authorities to facilitate the safe evacuation and eventual return of the affected citizens.

Dabiri-Erewa further stated that no Nigerian casualty had been reported so far, adding that the government remains committed to protecting the welfare and safety of its citizens abroad.

The evacuation effort forms part of contingency measures being implemented by the Federal Government as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, prompting several countries to make arrangements for the evacuation of their nationals from high-risk areas.

Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities have urged citizens in the affected region to remain in contact with the Nigerian Embassy and follow official directives as the evacuation process continues.

FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

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Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

Published

1 day ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to immediately deploy 100,000 vehicle conversion kits nationwide, a bold move aimed at easing the burden of rising global fuel prices and promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) as a cheaper, cleaner alternative to petrol.

The directive was issued during a closed-door meeting between the president and PiCNG Executive Chairman Ismaeel Ahmed at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ahmed disclosed that the president requested updates on the initiative’s progress, particularly regarding measures to cushion Nigerians from the impact of fuel price volatility driven by tensions in the Middle East.

“The president is concerned about the effect of global petroleum price spikes on Nigerians. He has given a direct mandate to immediately deploy about 100,000 CNG conversion kits,” Ahmed said. The kits will allow vehicle owners, including cars and tricycles, to convert petrol engines to run on compressed natural gas, offering an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative.

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The rollout is expected to begin within the next two to three weeks, with conversion centres nationwide becoming active as large-scale vehicle conversions commence. Ahmed noted that the initiative is also accelerating infrastructure development to support CNG and electric mobility, including the expansion of refuelling and charging stations across key transport corridors.

Currently, around 77 CNG refuelling stations are at various stages of development across Nigeria. Kano already operates two liquefied CNG stations, with additional daughter stations under construction. The infrastructure expansion covers major routes from Lokoja to Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, and Maiduguri, ensuring broad access to alternative fuel.

The initiative also encourages the local assembly of CNG and electric vehicles through partnerships with domestic and international manufacturers. Collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency is underway to deploy solar-powered charging stations in off-grid areas, supporting a clean energy transition.

President Tinubu emphasized that the PiCNG programme should deliver quick results, reducing transportation costs, improving mobility for Nigerians, and mitigating the impact of global fuel shocks on the economy.