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NDLEA foils cocaine smuggling by 26 year Esther Uzodinma in Kano

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

 

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted an attempt by a 26-year-old nursing student, Esther Onyinyechi Uzodinma, to smuggle 76 wraps of cocaine to India. Uzodinma, a 200-level student of Nursing at Noida International University, Uttar Pradesh, India, was apprehended at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, hours before her scheduled flight.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said: “Esther was scheduled to return to Delhi, India, from MAKIA Kano on Qatar Airways flight 1432 on Friday, 17th January 2025, but was arrested in her room at 11:30 pm on Thursday, 16th January, at Royal Park Hotel, Sabon Gari, Kano, while awaiting the cocaine consignment she was to ingest before her flight the following morning.”

 

The arrest followed the interception of Cosmas Okorie, 31, by NDLEA operatives along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State. Babafemi disclosed that Okorie was found with an audio speaker containing 76 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.34 kilograms, which he was to deliver to Uzodinma in Kano.

 

“A swift follow-up operation in Kano led to the arrest of the female nursing student later that same day,” Babafemi added. Uzodinma reportedly confessed that the drug cartel she worked for in India sponsored her trip to Nigeria for the Christmas and New Year holidays. She avoided visiting her home state of Imo to conceal her presence from her parents and stayed in hotels across Enugu, Abuja, and Kano before preparing to smuggle the drugs to India. She was promised $5,000 for successful delivery.

 

 

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Kano business community thanks FG for N5bn Singer market relief

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Association of Kano Business Community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a thank-you visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the delegation expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support to traders and other victims affected by the recent fire incident that razed several sections of the popular Singer Market in Kano.

Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Kano State Government and relevant agencies to prevent a recurrence of fire outbreaks in markets across the state.

 

He assured the delegation that President Tinubu has the interests of Kano people at heart, noting that the N5 billion approved as immediate relief for victims was based on the findings of a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the inferno.

Shettima reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to support efforts aimed at restoring commercial activities and strengthening safety measures in markets to protect lives and property.

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Kano Govt inaugurates 23-member committee to disburse Singer market fire relief

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 23-member committee to oversee the transparent and equitable distribution of financial assistance and relief materials to victims of the recent Singer Market fire disaster.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the inauguration was carried out on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Faruq Ibrahim, who chairs the committee. The event was presided over by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude.

 

According to the Attorney-General, the committee comprises representatives from key government agencies, security services, the Kano Emirate Council, religious leaders, and affected traders.

 

He said the panel’s mandate includes assessing the extent of losses, verifying genuine victims, ensuring timely distribution of support, and recommending measures to prevent future fire incidents.

 

The intervention follows support approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as contributions from the APC Governors Forum. It also comes in addition to earlier assistance provided by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin.

 

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victims of the disaster and restoring commercial activities at Singer Market.

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Kano Govt announces March 1 for schools’ Ramadan break

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

The Kano State Government has announced Saturday, March 1, 2026, as the commencement date for the Eid-el-Fitr break for all public and private primary and post-primary schools in the state.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the announcement, contained in the approved 2025/2026 academic calendar, applies to both day and boarding schools across the state.

 

According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, parents and guardians of pupils and students in boarding schools are expected to convey their wards home by the early hours of Friday, February 28, 2026.

 

The statement further explained that boarding school students are to resume on Sunday, March 22, 2026, while day students are to resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.

 

It added that the second term will continue from Sunday, March 22, 2026, and end on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

 

The government directed all public and private schools in the state to comply strictly with the directive, warning that non-compliance would be treated as a breach of government instructions.

 

The Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, urged parents and guardians to ensure full compliance with the approved resumption dates.

 

He appreciated parents and residents of the state for their continued cooperation and support to the ministry, and wished pupils and students a successful completion of the Ramadan fast and hitch-free Sallah celebrations.

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