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How I met my late wife, Maryam, converted her to Islam – IBB

Published

1 month ago

February 24, 2025

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and late wife, Maryam

How I met my late wife, Maryam, converted her to Islam – IBB

Former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has opened up about his love story with his late wife, Maryam Babangida, including her conversion to Islam.

This revelation comes from his newly released autobiography, A Journey in Service, which offers an intimate look into their life together.

The book, officially launched on Thursday alongside a fundraiser for the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Presidential Library, provides captivating details about their early romance, marriage, and shared experiences.

Babangida fondly recounted meeting Maryam, formerly known as Maria Okogwu, during their youthful days while residing at the unmarried officers’ quarters on Kanta Road, Kaduna.

Their bond blossomed from friendship into a lifelong partnership, marked by love, resilience, and mutual respect.

He described being captivated by her beauty, calling her “stunning” with an enchanting smile.

Their bond endured despite his military training abroad in India and the UK, and he often visited her at the home of his close friend and cousin, Garba Duba.

At 28, after surviving a near-death experience in battle, Babangida decided to settle down.

While recovering from a chest injury at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, he reflected on his relationships and realized he wanted to marry Maryam.

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He said, “I had settled on Maria as the woman I would wed before being discharged from the hospital, and as soon as I was discharged, I made my way to Kaduna, where she lived with her mother and uncle. I was anxious to share the good news with her: I had decided we were destined for a life together. I admired her greatly for her reserved nature and the fact that she was well brought up.

“I wanted to make my intentions known to her and was determined not to accept No for an answer. Fortune favours the bold, and it smiled upon me; I counted and still count myself lucky. Initially, Maria was highly sceptical of me as marrying material.

“She knew that I had a track record of being something of a man about town, and those were not the qualities she wanted in a husband. She was unconvinced of my capacity to be serious, and many people said as much to her.”

Babangida revealed that faith played a central role in his life, and he required Maryam to convert to Islam before they married.

According to him, this was not difficult for Maryam, who had both Christian and Muslim family influences.

“I shared with her the fact that my faith was an integral and essential part of my life and that I would require her to convert to Islam.

“Praise be to Allah; this was not a difficult decision for Maria. Being part-Christian and part-Muslim at birth and already living in a Muslim household, it was never going to be wholly uncharted territory for her.

“She adapted with relative ease to married life as a Muslim,” he stated.

Babangida also assured her he would not take multiple wives, a decision he believed contributed to their strong marriage.

The couple married on September 6, 1969, and had four children—Aisha, Muhammad, Aminu, and Halima.

Maryam died from ovarian cancer in Los Angeles on December 27, 2009, at 61.

Babangida admitted that coping without her had been difficult but said memories of their life together had provided solace.

How I met my late wife, Maryam, converted her to Islam – IBB

(Punch)

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Lakurawa terrorists kill 13 vigilantes in Kebbi

Published

3 hours ago

April 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Nafi’u Abubakar

Lakurawa terrorists kill 13 vigilantes in Kebbi

The Lakurawa terrorist group on Sunday killed 13 members of a vigilante group as they attacked Morai community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The 13 vigilantes were reportedly killed when they tried to resist the Lakurawa as they attacked and rustled cattle from the community.

A local, Malam Ibrahim Augie, told our correspondent that vigilante members in their numbers had come out to repel the terrorists’ attack when they were informed of their incursion into the village, but the terrorists had already encircled them and killed 13 of them.

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He said, “The vigilantes hid to attack and recapture the rustled cattle, but they didn’t know the Lakurawa had already seen them and they were shot and killed,” he said.

The police spokesman, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, could not be reached at the time of filing this report as his line was not going through.

Lakurawa terrorists kill 13 vigilantes in Kebbi

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Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, others screened for ambassadorial appointments

Published

3 hours ago

April 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Reno Omokri

Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, others screened for ambassadorial appointments

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani was among those screened by the Federal Government following the commencement of the screening process for candidates nominated for diplomatic roles in a bid to fill the vacant roles for its 76 embassies and 22 high commissions.

According to reports, nominees have been asked to report to the DSS offices nearest to them for security checks.

Some have reportedly been informed to provide personal education and work history.

It was gathered from a source that two former south-eastern governors, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, have been screened for the role.

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The source also disclosed that Sani, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and former presidential aide Reno Omokri are among the nominees who have also been screened.

The source also revealed that former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have already gone through the screening process and have been cleared for their prospective national assignments.

In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian diplomats, both career and non-career.

Nearly two years after their recall, in March 2025, the presidency stated that their replacements would be named “very soon”.

Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, others screened for ambassadorial appointments

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Nigerien Army arrests commander of terrorist group, seizes cash, weapons

Published

3 hours ago

April 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerien soldiers

Nigerien Army arrests commander of terrorist group, seizes cash, weapons

The Nigerien Army has arrested a suspected senior member of the terrorist group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in the Tillabéri region, recovering cash, weapons, and logistics items believed to be meant for terrorist operations.

The army, in its operations report covering April 3 to April 5, confirmed that the suspect was intercepted on April 3 at about 6:30 p.m. while traveling in a vehicle along the Torodi–Niamey route.

According to military sources, a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a firearm, several mobile phones, and a sum of 5,032,900 CFA francs. The army believes the money was intended for the procurement of logistics to support terrorist activities.

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Further investigation led troops to a garden owned by the suspect in the village of Boborgou. The location was allegedly used as a logistical base by armed groups. Items discovered included food supplies, communication airtime credit, clothing, and black fabric believed to be used for camouflage.

In a nearby school building, security forces also uncovered a significant stock of pasta reportedly meant to sustain active terrorist elements operating in the area.

The army stated that the suspect is also strongly linked to the hijacking of two vehicles between Makalondi and Niaktiré on April 2.

Security operations are ongoing in the region as part of broader efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore stability.