Army deploys more soldiers in Zamfara over bandit leader’s N30m levy deadline - Newstrends
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Army deploys more soldiers in Zamfara over bandit leader’s N30m levy deadline

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Army deploys more soldiers in Zamfara over bandit leader’s N30m levy deadline

As the deadline for the N30 million levy imposed by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji on Moriki town, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, elapses, additional soldiers have been deployed to the area.

Turji had imposed the levy after over 100 of his cows were allegedly killed by military personnel about three weeks ago.

The cows were reportedly intercepted by soldiers at Dumfawa, a village between Moriki and Shinkafi, in August.

In response, Turji demanded the community pay the sum of N30 million as compensation, threatening to retaliate if the payment was not made.

Aminu Musa, a resident of Moriki, confirmed the arrival of more soldiers in the area to bolster security.

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In addition to the soldiers, the state government also sent personnel from its security outfit, the Community Protection Guards (CPG), to support the existing security forces.

“We are relieved by the presence of security personnel,” Musa said. “The leader of the troop has assured us that they will provide adequate protection for our lives.”

Despite the increased security, anxiety remains high among residents. Another local, Iliyasu Ali, expressed concern that the bandits might attempt an attack, noting that they are armed with more sophisticated weapons than the military.

“There is serious panic because these bandits are ruthless, and Turji has vowed to destroy the community if the levy is not paid,” Ali said. “The deadline ends today, and no one knows what will happen next.”

Efforts to reach the village head of Moriki, Alhaji Bashar Isma’il Ari, for comments were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Chris Musa, stated on Tuesday that Turji’s days are numbered, as security forces have launched a manhunt to apprehend the bandit leader.

Army deploys more soldiers in Zamfara over bandit leader’s N30m levy deadline

(DailyTrust)

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Jigawa Ward Head Denies Viral Wedding Cancellation Over Tinubu Support

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Jigawa Ward Head Denies Viral Wedding Cancellation Over Tinubu Support

Confusion has continued to trail a viral report alleging that a father in Yalwawa community, Dutse, Jigawa State, cancelled his daughter’s wedding over the groom’s alleged support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with community leaders, family members, and residents now offering conflicting accounts.

The story, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, initially claimed that the wedding was called off due to political differences, sparking heated debates nationwide over the influence of politics on family decisions.

However, the Ward Head of Yalwawa, Ahmad Garba Yalwawa, has strongly dismissed the report, describing it as false, misleading, and malicious, saying no such incident occurred in the community.

He said he only became aware of the viral claim after it began circulating online and immediately launched an investigation to verify its authenticity.

According to him, several days of inquiries within the community yielded no evidence that any wedding was cancelled for political reasons.

“I investigated from Friday up to Tuesday evening, but no one could confirm witnessing such an incident. That alone raised serious doubts about the credibility of the story,” he said.

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He added that attention was later directed to a man identified as Muhammadu Sani, whose daughter reportedly got married on the same day referenced in the viral report. However, the ward head said Sani denied any connection to the allegation.

“He confirmed that his daughter’s wedding took place successfully and she is now in her husband’s home. There was no cancellation or controversy,” he said.

The ward head further warned that investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for spreading the misinformation, noting that legal action could be taken against the originators of the false report.

In a separate clarification, Muhammadu Sani himself also dismissed the viral claim, saying he only became aware of the story after it circulated online and that he does not use social media.

“I heard about it like everyone else. My daughter’s wedding took place as planned. I have nothing to do with politics,” he said.

He explained that the marriage followed traditional Fulani customs and was arranged within the family, adding that the bride is now living with her husband.

However, the Chairman of the Yalwawa Development Association, Umar Kazaure, offered a slightly different account, stating that while the wedding eventually held, there was a minor disagreement that was later resolved through community intervention.

He suggested that any tension may have been influenced more by personal or economic frustrations than political affiliation.

As of the time of filing this report, the identity of the groom remains unclear, while efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

Residents say the situation has since calmed, but the episode has left behind a trail of confusion, highlighting how quickly misinformation spreads in local communities and fuels national debate.

The incident has now become a talking point on social media, with Nigerians divided between those who initially believed the viral claim and others who see it as another example of fake news distortion in the digital age.

Jigawa Ward Head Denies Viral Wedding Cancellation Over Tinubu Support

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Nigeria’s Tax Reform Laws Contain Errors, Tinubu Minister Oyedele Confirms

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Mr. Taiwo Oyedele as the new Minister of State for Finance
Taiwo Oyedele

Nigeria’s Tax Reform Laws Contain Errors, Tinubu Minister Oyedele Confirms

The Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, has admitted that Nigeria’s recently introduced tax reform laws contain errors, confirming that the federal government is already working on corrections through a new legislative review process.

Oyedele made the disclosure during a fireside chat at the 2026 annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice, themed “From Policy to Practice: Making Sense of Nigeria’s New Tax Reforms.”

He explained that the inconsistencies in the new tax framework were introduced during the drafting and legislative stages, describing them as the result of manual processes, multiple revisions, and technical lapses.

According to him, the government is now working with the National Assembly to review the affected sections and ensure a cleaner, more coherent legal framework going forward.

The Fiscal Reforms Committee, in a statement shared on social media, also confirmed that the minister acknowledged that errors occurred due to multiple layers of review and version control challenges during the lawmaking process.

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Oyedele, however, assured Nigerians that the errors do not invalidate the broader purpose of the reforms, stressing that a proposed Finance Bill will be introduced to correct identified issues and strengthen implementation.

He emphasised the need for a more transparent legislative process, noting that all versions of tax laws should be publicly accessible to prevent confusion and ensure accountability.

“What we need is a more transparent and reliable legislative process where every version of a law is publicly available,” he said.

The minister further clarified that the implementation of the new tax reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will not be arbitrary, insisting that the framework is built on principles of fairness, transparency, and economic efficiency.

He explained that one of the core goals of the reforms is to fix long-standing distortions in Nigeria’s tax system, particularly the imbalance between personal and corporate taxation, which he said has discouraged business formalisation.

Oyedele also noted that inconsistent tax policies in the past had weakened investor confidence, adding that stability and predictability are critical for economic growth.

“If policies can change overnight, it sends the wrong signal to investors. Consistency is critical,” he said.

Addressing concerns about fairness, he stressed that the new framework is designed to protect low-income earners and small businesses from excessive taxation.

He revealed that nearly half of working Nigerians earn less than ₦70,000 monthly, adding that taxing such groups heavily would be economically unjust and counterproductive.

Oyedele also explained that the reforms remove minimum tax obligations for loss-making companies, arguing that such provisions previously amounted to taxing capital rather than profit.

The minister further called for improved efficiency in tax collection and revenue utilisation, noting that Nigeria still lags behind peer economies in terms of tax-to-GDP performance.

Economic analysts say the admission highlights both the complexity and urgency of Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal and tax reform agenda, which aims to broaden the tax base, reduce evasion, and improve revenue generation without stifling businesses.

The development comes as stakeholders continue to scrutinise the implementation of the new tax laws, with expectations that the forthcoming Finance Bill will provide clearer legal backing and resolve outstanding inconsistencies.

Nigeria’s Tax Reform Laws Contain Errors, Tinubu Minister Oyedele Confirms

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Bayelsa Drama: Navy Arrests Officers After Clash with Soldiers During Tinubu Visit

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Navy Arrests Officers After Clash with Soldiers During Tinubu Visit

Bayelsa Drama: Navy Arrests Officers After Clash with Soldiers During Tinubu Visit

The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of officers involved in a viral clash with soldiers in Bayelsa State during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an incident that has triggered widespread public concern.

The confrontation, which was captured in a 53-second video circulating online, showed uniformed personnel from the Navy and the Nigerian Army engaging in a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical fight.

In the footage, a driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” is seen stepping out to confront another driver. Moments later, a soldier armed with a rifle approached and threw a punch, leading to a free-for-all fight involving multiple officers as shocked civilians looked on.

The incident reportedly occurred as the President was departing the venue of an official event in Bayelsa, a period typically characterised by tight security coordination among various military units assigned to presidential protection.

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Reacting to the development, the Director of Naval Information, Abi Folorunso, confirmed that all naval personnel involved have been taken into custody and are currently undergoing disciplinary procedures.

“The affected personnel are in custody and already undergoing appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures in accordance with extant military regulations,” he stated.

Although the exact cause of the altercation has not been officially established, preliminary indications suggest the clash may have arisen from a dispute over movement control or right of way within the convoy arrangement.

Security analysts say the incident highlights possible coordination gaps and inter-agency tensions during joint military operations, especially in high-pressure environments such as presidential visits.

The development has sparked criticism from members of the public, with many describing the incident as unprofessional and embarrassing, given the role of the officers in ensuring security and order.

Authorities are expected to conclude investigations and determine appropriate sanctions, which could include detention, demotion, or other disciplinary actions under military regulations.

The Nigerian Navy reiterated its commitment to discipline and professionalism, assuring Nigerians that necessary measures will be taken to prevent a recurrence.

Bayelsa Drama: Navy Arrests Officers After Clash with Soldiers During Tinubu Visit

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