Headlines
I Won’t Hesitate to Sign Death Warrant for Hanifa’s Killer – Ganduje
The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has said he will sign the death warrant immediately if the suspect arrested over the killing of Hanifa Abubakar is sentenced by the court.
Tanko Abdulmalik, proprietor of Noble Kids School, had confessed to the killing Hanifa, a five-year-old pupil of the school.
The pupil was said to have been kidnapped in December and her abductors had demanded N6 million ransom.
However, in January, the proprietor said he killed Hanifa with “rat poison”, and buried her body in the school premises with the help of a friend.
On Monday, Ganduje led some members of the state house of assembly and government officials to pay a condolence visit to Hanifa’s family at Dakata-Kwaji in Kano metropolis.
Speaking during the visit, the governor assured the family that justice will prevail in the case, adding that there will be speedy trial.
“There is no doubt, just like our scholars have said, this incident that happened is a situation we have not experienced before. But like they said, it is God that gave us this girl and she has returned to her creator. You can only continue to pray for her,” the governor said in Hausa.
“As the governor, we will ensure that there is true justice.
“The ministry of justice has also assured us that good judgement will be carried out. Anyone who has been confirmed to have killed a person unlawfully has committed a murder offence.
“According to the Nigerian constitution, if anyone is found guilty of murder and convicted, the governor will be asked to approve his sentence and by the grace of God, if they reach such decision, the governor will not take even a second to sign the sentence.
“The court should give the order and ensure anyone who commits such act is sentenced without wasting of time.”
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
