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Support hijab to suppress urge for nudity, crime – Muslim groups
Muslim groups have called for maximum support for hijab to ensure decent dressing in the society and address the urge for appearing almost nude in the public.
They made the call in their different messages delivered in Lagos on Wednesday at a press conference to commemorate the World Hijab Day.
Secretary of NASFAT Women Affairs, Lagos Zone 2, Alhaja Aishat Busari, asked people to stop bullying those wearing hijab, stressing that there must be religious tolerance for peaceful coexistence of people in the society.
She said “This is a simple call to movers and shakers of the world to live by their sayings and preaching of peaceful coexistence, a significant part of the SDGs.”
She also said, “It is disheartening to know how much the society applauds immorality and frowns on right choices. How women empowerment is preached, yet the empowerment and choice of Muslim women is opposed. In this World, where the urge to go naked is prevalent, let’s join hands together, schoolteachers/administrators, leaders of faith, and every one to encourage modesty, the use of hijab.”
She maintained that anyone discriminating against the Hijab would not only be violating the law and peaceful co-existence but also encouraging violence.
“Let’s rise against all forms of discrimination against women and girls. Let’s rise against all forms of discrimination against the Hijab,” Busari stated.
Executive Director, Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, said the Hijab for Muslim women apart from being a fulfilment of a divine commandment is also guaranteed by section 38 of the 1999 constitution.
She stated, “Though the Hijab was legislated and enjoined on Muslim women over 1400 years ago as described in Chapter 24 (Surah An-Noor,Verse 31) of the Qur’an, we keep seeing how it is even more relevant today. Nakedness marked a distinctive feature of pre-civilization , hence to adopt modesty in dressing is progression.”
Even as she acknowledged the recent Supreme Court judgement was a landmark achievement for hijab, there were still issues casting shadow on progress made so far.
Senior Admin Officer, Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Fatimah Sanni, asserted that discrimination against women in hijab is Islamophobia
She said, “At MPAC, we challenge Islamophobia, discrimination, and the ideologies that drive them. At the same time we promote empowerment and freedom to practice hijab in safety. We believe that the female Muslims should be free to express their religious beliefs free of discrimination and prejudice. “This is why we have continued to support initiatives like the World Hijab Day campaign.”
She called the attention of government agencies to the plight of Muslim women when seeking government services particularly the taking of biometrics.
According to her, despite the law recognising the use of the Hijab and does not require the ears to be brought out of the hijab, “et we get numerous verified reports of Hijabis being compelled to either take off their hijabs completely or bare their ears when they require their biometrics taken even for a sim card registration!”
Assistant Welfare Secretary, The Criterion, Lagos District, Modinat Braimah, declared that the wearing of hijab was of immense benefit to the society.
She said, “The hijab marks the wearer as honorable, respectable, chaste and modest with expected high level of morals.
“The Muslim woman dressing does not oppress Muslim women or any other woman for that matter as the media wants to portray it. It is not a political tool or a fashion statement. It is the dignity of the human person of a Muslim woman as guaranteed by the constitution of our dear country Nigeria.”
She also cautioned against harassment of innocent female Muslims wearing hijab, adding, “Our strength as a community and indeed a nation lies not in how we treat the high and mighty, but how we care for the weak and vulnerable.”
Similarly, Ameerah FOMWAN Lagos State, Alhaja Sherifat Ajagbe, stated that all women deserve to be protected from gender-based violence.
She recalled the recent report of a young lady in Niqob raped in a mosque in Ibadan, Oyo State, describing it as heinous crime against humanity and desecration of the mosque.
“It is sad indeed that Muslim women who are known to be modest have become targets of these criminal elements. Indeed, the hijabi is almost becoming ‘endangered species’ as she is being discriminated against by her fellow citizens and she’s also not safe from the attacks of criminals,” Ajagbe said.
She added, “We at FOMWAN Lagos as well as the other 17 participating Organisations hereby call on the relevant authorities to prosecute as a matter of urgency the perpetuator of this heinous crime named as Idris A.K.A Kesari as well as his father popularly called Al-Majiri who not only helped the perpetrator to escape, before arrest but also seeks to intimidate the victim as well as concerned Nigerians.”
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Tinubu Commissions Gateway Airport, Pledges to Crush Banditry in Nigeria
Tinubu Commissions Gateway Airport, Pledges to Crush Banditry in Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu has pledged to defeat banditry, terrorism, and insecurity across Nigeria, promising continued investment in the country’s security architecture. He made the declaration while commissioning the Gateway International Airport and several other federal projects in Ogun State on Saturday.
Speaking at a reception following the inauguration, Tinubu said his administration will intensify efforts to protect lives and property across the nation. “We will win over banditry and defeat insecurity. We will continue to invest more to strengthen the security architecture of Nigeria,” he stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to national safety.
The president described the Gateway International Airport as the economic nerve center of Nigeria’s corridor, highlighting its role in boosting the aviation sector, trade, and socioeconomic development in Ogun State and the wider region. The airport is integrated with independent gas and energy infrastructure, ensuring sustainability and operational efficiency.
Tinubu also lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun for using improved federal allocations to develop infrastructure capable of driving Ogun State to greater economic heights. He praised the state government’s focus on mobility, security, agriculture, and industrial development, noting that projects like the airport and new Gateway Airlines will enhance trade, logistics, and employment opportunities.
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Governor Abiodun, in his remarks, emphasized the transformative impact of the airport and related infrastructure on Ogun State’s economy. He noted that the state’s internally generated revenue has grown from ₦40 billion to over ₦250 billion annually, while its GDP increased from ₦4 trillion to ₦17 trillion over the past seven years. He added that the airport features a four-kilometre runway, modern control tower, advanced aviation systems, and cargo facilities, making it a centerpiece of the state’s emerging aerotropolis.
The ceremony also saw the launch of Gateway Airlines, operating Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, alongside cargo services designed to expand trade and logistics capacity. Beyond aviation, Ogun State has invested heavily in roads, healthcare, and housing, including over 1,600 km of rehabilitated roads, more than 7,000 affordable homes, and 140 primary healthcare centers, according to Governor Abiodun.
The event was attended by prominent dignitaries including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, state governors, lawmakers, captains of industry, and traditional leaders. Both praised the collaboration between federal and state governments in delivering critical infrastructure, with Tinubu’s leadership highlighted as key to Nigeria’s development and security progress.
Tinubu emphasized that the federal government’s reforms and infrastructure investments are people-centered, aimed at improving daily life, fostering prosperity, and ensuring national security. He added that these efforts are designed to overcome violence and terrorism while positioning Nigeria for sustained economic growth.
Tinubu Commissions Gateway Airport, Pledges to Crush Banditry in Nigeria
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Mother, Six Children Kidnapped in Fresh Kaduna Bandit Attack
Mother, Six Children Kidnapped in Fresh Kaduna Bandit Attack
In a fresh wave of banditry in Kaduna State, a mother and six children were abducted from their home in Kurmin‑Uwa near Janjala community in Kagarko Local Government Area on Friday night. The attack comes less than 24 hours after suspected bandits kidnapped ten residents, including seven members of a single family, in Unguwar Sabon‑Titi, Katari.
According to residents, the raid occurred around 10:23 p.m., with the assailants going directly to the targeted house before whisking away the victims, identified as Ladi Malachy, Patience Malachy, Promise Malachy, Inama Malachy, Peter Malachy, and Aboyi Malachy. Witnesses said the attackers fled into surrounding forests, leaving the community in fear.
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A local resident, Ibrahim Shehu, confirmed the abduction, while a community leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed he alerted security operatives immediately after learning about the raid. However, it remains unclear whether authorities responded promptly. Kurmin‑Uwa is located about two kilometres from Kagarko town, an area that has seen repeated bandit attacks on households.
Security sources indicate that search and rescue operations have been launched, as authorities work to locate the kidnappers and secure the release of the abducted family. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
The back‑to‑back kidnappings have heightened tension in rural Kaduna communities, with residents calling for intensified patrols, improved security presence, and faster emergency response to prevent further abductions. Analysts warn that without swift action, such violent raids may continue to terrorise villages across the state.
Mother, Six Children Kidnapped in Fresh Kaduna Bandit Attack
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INEC Warns ADC Against Holding Convention Without Supervision
INEC Warns ADC Against Holding Convention Without Supervision
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention without proper supervision and in defiance of an existing court order.
Chairman Joash Amupitan issued the warning during an interview on Arise TV on Friday, after the ADC insisted on going ahead with its convention despite INEC’s derecognition of the leadership faction linked to David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
Amupitan stressed that INEC’s actions were guided by legal considerations, particularly a subsisting court order restraining the ADC from taking steps that could undermine ongoing legal proceedings. “Don’t do anything. Don’t take any step that will render any proceeding before the court nugatory,” he said.
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He explained that the ADC’s plan to conduct congresses and a national convention is already part of a pending legal process, with motions related to the activities yet to be determined by the court. Ignoring the court’s directive, he warned, could result in invalidated elections or nullified internal party decisions, citing precedents in Zamfara and Plateau states where failure to comply with court orders affected electoral outcomes.
Amupitan highlighted the risks of repeating past mistakes, stressing that while the ADC is free to act as it chooses, INEC would not risk supervising illegal or unauthorized party activities. He reinforced the importance of adhering to the Electoral Act and judicial directives to ensure that party events are legally recognised and free from future challenges.
The INEC Chairman’s warning comes amid heightened tension within the ADC, with the faction led by David Mark facing derecognition and ongoing litigation over the party’s legitimate leadership. Analysts note that the statement underscores INEC’s commitment to rule of law, legal compliance, and internal party democracy, especially as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
INEC Warns ADC Against Holding Convention Without Supervision
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