News
Haske to declare for 2027 Adamawa governorship race
Ibrahim Khalil
Abdulrahman Bashir Haske is set to officially declare his intention to contest the 2027 Adamawa State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with a major rally scheduled for April 25 in Yola.
According to a press statement issued on Wednesday by his publicity secretary, Abdulgaffar Ahmed, the declaration rally will take place at the Mahmud Ribadu Square and is expected to attract about 50,000 supporters, including party leaders, political allies, women and youth groups, and other stakeholders from within and outside the state.
Observers have described the event as one of the largest political gatherings in Adamawa State and the wider North-East in recent years.
The rally is also expected to feature a formal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, underscoring its broader political significance at both state and national levels.
Central to the event will be the unveiling of Haske’s policy framework, tagged the Adamawa A.R.I.S.E. Agenda, which focuses on accountable governance, economic resilience, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, social development, and security.
The statement noted that the agenda is designed to address key challenges facing the state, including high poverty levels, dependence on federal allocations, and rising youth unemployment.
Haske, described as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, has in recent weeks garnered endorsements from various APC stakeholders and interest groups ahead of the 2027 race. During the party’s recent congresses in the state, several leaders reportedly backed him as a preferred aspirant, citing his leadership capacity and vision for socio-economic transformation.
The statement added that 265 women’s groups across the state have also endorsed his candidacy, highlighting his grassroots appeal and philanthropic interventions, including the distribution of agricultural inputs, food items, and Ramadan support to vulnerable households.
Support has also come from advocacy groups such as the Renew Team for Unity, Progress and Initiative Forum and the Making Adamawa Great Again (MAGA) movement, both of which pledged backing for his ambition.
At the community level, residents of Yoro in Ganye Local Government Area have similarly endorsed Haske, promising support for his campaign.
The statement further noted that Haske has continued to mobilise young people through initiatives like Operation Youth-O’Clock and Youths4Youth, aimed at promoting political inclusion and youth empowerment.
Analysts say growing support for his candidacy suggests a potentially competitive contest ahead of the APC primaries scheduled for May 23 in Adamawa State.
They also noted that Haske’s entry into the race reflects increasing demand, particularly among younger voters, for new leadership and a shift towards capacity-driven governance in the state.
At 36, Haske is seen by supporters as representing a new generation of political actors, bringing a background in enterprise and exposure to global best practices into the political arena.
The statement was dated April 22, 2026.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Kano State Police Command has arrested eight suspects in separate operations targeting drug peddling and thuggery in Panshekara and Kunchi/Ghari Local Government Area.
KANO FOCUS reports that the command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, the operations, conducted on September 9, 2026, were part of the command’s intelligence-driven efforts to tackle drug abuse, thuggery and violent crimes across the state.
It said operatives of the Surveillance Team attached to Panshekara Police Division, acting on credible intelligence at about 2:30 p.m., intercepted eight suspects, including a 21-year-old man identified as Samson Yakubu of Samegu Quarters, at a suspected criminal hotspot.
A search of the suspects reportedly led to the recovery of 15 Pregabalin capsules, five Diazepam tablets, 10 Exol tablets and some quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The police said the suspects were in custody and undergoing interrogation, while investigations were ongoing to establish the source of the suspected illicit drugs and identify other members of the alleged syndicate.
In a related operation conducted between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. the same day, operatives of the Kunchi/Ghari Division carried out a coordinated market patrol and raid at Matanfada Market.
The command said the area had been identified as a place where youths allegedly intimidate traders and residents during market sessions.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Abdullahi Isah of Dustin; Haruna Isah of Daqarawa Village; Habu Badamasi of Dan Taimu Village; Gambo Ya’u of Kura Village; and Abubakar Dahiru of Farau Village.
The police said investigation was ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected accomplices, while exhibits recovered during the operation had been taken into custody as evidence.
CP Bakori commended the operatives for what he described as their professionalism and swift response, assuring residents that the command would sustain its operations against drug abuse, thuggery and other violent crimes.
“In line with the IGP’s policing vision and our mandate to ensure a safe and secure Kano, we will continue to be proactive,” the commissioner said.
“We are sending a clear message to criminal elements that Kano State will not be a breeding ground for their activities.”
The command also appreciated members of the public, community leaders and vigilante groups for providing information that aided the operations.
It urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.
The command said all suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The funeral prayer for the late Shehu Kabir Bayero, Barde Kerarriya of Kano and District Head of Dorayi, was held on Thursday evening at Kofar Kudu, Kano Emir’s Palace.
KANO FOCUS reports that the prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Khamsus Salawati Mosque, Kofar Kudu, Malam Bello, and attended by hundreds of people from different parts of Kano State.
Among those who attended were the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk; representative of the Emir of Kano, Matawallen Kano, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Matawalle; Chief of Staff to the Kano State Government House, Dr Sani Wali; as well as district heads and members of the Muslim community.
Shehu Kabir Bayero died in a hospital in Egypt following a period of illness. He is survived by his wives, children and other relatives.
Until his death, the late Bayero served as Commissioner of Police in Gombe and Osun states before retiring from the Nigeria Police Force.
Following his retirement, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, appointed him as the Barde Kerarriya of Kano and District Head of Takai Local Government Area after the death of his father, the late Kabir Bayero, an elder brother of the former emir.
He later served as District Head of Gwarzo.
Due to his wealth of experience in security matters, the current Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, subsequently reassigned him as District Head of Dorayi, where he was expected to contribute to the sustenance of peace and security in the area.
The late district head was remembered for his service to the state and his experience in security and traditional administration.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings, have mercy on his soul and grant him Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has held a planning meeting on the implementation and effective utilisation of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the meeting brought together relevant stakeholders from various ministries, agencies and development partners working in the education sector.
According to Malam Naziru Sirajo, deputy director EMIS and statistics in the Ministry of Education, the meeting was aimed at reviewing the current status of the Nigeria Learning Passport in Kano and developing a coordinated plan to strengthen its implementation, content utilisation, course completion, monitoring of learners’ progress and certification.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is a digital learning platform designed to provide Nigerian children and young people with access to curriculum-aligned educational content, including lessons, learning materials and assessments.
The platform is also designed to support learning continuity, including for learners facing limited or intermittent internet connectivity, while providing teachers and education stakeholders with digital resources to complement classroom instruction.
In Kano, the initiative is expected to strengthen awareness and utilisation of digital learning, while building the capacity of master trainers and technical teams to support schools, teachers and learners in using the platform effectively.
The effective utilisation of the Nigeria Learning Passport is expected to expand access to quality digital learning resources, promote independent learning, strengthen digital literacy and support improved learning outcomes and greater equity in access to educational opportunities.
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