Headline
Buhari, IGP Usman Baba Under Fire Over new Hijab Dress, $1m Donation To Islamic Country
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has reminded the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba that Hijab does not protect female officers from AK-47 bullets.
HURIWA, in a statement on Sunday, also faulted the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to gift $1 million to Afghanistan through the Organisation of Islamic Countries, OIC.
The civil rights advocacy group lambasted Usman Baba, over the introduction of Islamic dress code for female police officers in the country.
Similarly the group said it was unconstitutional for President Buhari to donate $1 million of public fund without appropriation to the OIC for onward disbursement to the Islamic regime that came to power by the barrel of a gun in Afghanistan.
The rights group said Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution makes Nigeria a secular State, wondering when President Buhari will similarly play “his illegal father Christmas role by donating to the World’s Council of Churches or to adherents of African Traditionalists.”
HURIWA said the attempt by Buhari and Usman Baba to project Nigeria to the World as an Islamic nation will backfire because millions of Nigerians who have no religious affiliation “and the other organised religious group of Christians and ATR will never accept this sinister plots which will lead to avoidable disaster,” just as the rights group asked the duo to retrace their steps before it is too late.
“President Buhari and all the pro-Islamic fanatics including those who hitherto professed loyalty to al-quaeda and taliban Islamists but are still in Buhari’s regime should consider the consequences of their actions because the rest of the population that do not share same faith won’t let themselves be enslaved and conscripted to be citizens of an Islamic State when the Nigerian Constitution rules out the practicability and legality of elevating any religion as State religion in Nigeria,” HURIWA said in a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator.
“These government officials had better have a change of hearts, respect the Constitution for the sake of national security and stability because Nigerians are watching and will take appropriate steps to preserve their religious freedoms,” he added.
HURIWA said the new dress code for female officers in the police, which include the use of hijab and studded earring, would not in any way increase the efficiency of police officers nor protect them from flying AK-47 bullets fired by daring criminals and bandits in the country of late.
READ ALSO: Adegboruwa Faults New Police Dress Code
Recall that the IGP on March 4, 2022, unveiled the new dress code for female police officers, saying it is in line with international best practices.
However, HURIWA’s Onwubiko declared that the new dress code is illegal, unconstitutional and sectarian, noting that it is an apparent move to fulfill the Islamization agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Onwubiko said, “Despite the many challenges including declining staff numbers, low morale, poor training and poor welfare confronting the Nigeria Police Force under IGP Usman Baba, it is unfortunate that he chose to prioritise religious adornment over weightier matters.
“HURIWA wonders how the new dress code is of any usefulness to the shrinking 300,000 police officers in the country whose salaries are barely paid by the government and whose dilapidated barracks are unfit for pigs let alone human beings.
“Logically speaking, to what intent and purpose is the use of hijab for female police officers chasing criminals on the streets of Lagos or combating bandits on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway? Would the hijab deflect AK-47 bullets fired by bandits from hitting the officers? The IGP should get serious.
“The Nigeria Police has been in existence since 1945 and wearing of hijab for female police officers is illegal and unconstitutional as the religion of public officers, including members of the security agencies, should be a private matter to them.
“Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that government and all its agencies should be neutral in religious matters while Section 42 of the same Constitution forbids discrimination in all its ramifications.
“The IGP, being a Muslim from Borno State where Boko Haram operates freely, should not use the post he currently occupies to enthrone Islam on the plurality of members of the Force comprising Muslims, Christians, Catholics, traditionalists, etc.
“The IGP should respect his oath of office and desist from fanatism and the hijab controversy that has sharply divided and inflamed states such as Osun, Kwara, amongst others. He should desist from such fanatism as demonstrated by the government-backed Hisbah Police in northern Nigeria.
“If the Muslim female officers are allowed to wear hijab, how should policemen and women who are in the Celestial Church dress up when the practice of their church is against wearing shoes at all? And how should traditionalists who are in the police force dress up, with charms and amulets round their uniforms?
“It is curious that the IGP who has woefully failed to instill discipline and professionalism amongst his operatives and footdragged in the case of alleged notorious fraud accomplice and cop Abba Kyari is the same person introducing a new dress code for female police officers.
“Had things function well enough in Nigeria, the IGP should have been prosecuted for crime against humanity committed by his operatives in Imo state as documented by Amnesty International but President Buhari who too is a bigot and who donated $1million of Nigeria’s money to Afghanistan left the bigoted IGP in office and now his most important job is to introduce hijab even when his operatives behave like robbers like unknown gunmen in South East and many places.
“This IGP is a failure and deserves to be sacked so he can very well go back to North East to become his local Imam in his local mosque.
“Usman Baba should focus on combating crime, improve citizens engagement and help guaranty safety of lives and property. The religious preferences of policemen and women should be their private matters,” DAILY POST quoted the statement.
Headline
JUST IN: Canadian Court Declares APC, PDP Terrorist Organisations
The Federal Court of Canada has upheld a ruling that classified Nigeria’s two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as terrorist organisations, while denying asylum to a former member, Douglas Egharevba, over his decade-long affiliation with both parties.
In a judgment delivered on June 17, 2025, Justice Phuong Ngo dismissed Egharevba’s application for judicial review after the Immigration Appeal Division, IAD, found him inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, IRPA.
According to the Peoples Gazette, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness had argued that the APC and PDP were implicated in political violence, subversion of democracy and electoral bloodshed in Nigeria.
Court records showed that Egharevba was a PDP member from 1999 to 2007 before joining the APC, where he remained until 2017. He moved to Canada in September 2017 and disclosed his political history.
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Canadian immigration authorities flagged his affiliations, citing intelligence reports linking both parties to electoral violence and politically motivated killings.
The IAD based its decision largely on the PDP’s conduct during the 2003 state elections and 2004 local government polls, when the party allegedly engaged in ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and killing of opposition supporters.
The tribunal found that the party leadership benefited from the violence and took no action to stop it, meeting Canada’s legal definition of subversion under paragraph 34(1)(b.1) of the IRPA.
Justice Ngo affirmed that mere membership in an organisation linked to terrorism or democratic subversion is enough to trigger inadmissibility under paragraph 34(1)(f) of the IRPA, even without proof of personal involvement.
READ ALSO:Canada-based Nigerian Arrested Over $610,382 Romance Scam
Egharevba’s claim that political violence was widespread across all Nigerian parties was dismissed.
The court ruled that even flawed Nigerian elections constitute a democratic process under Canadian law and that undermining them qualifies as subversion.
The decision effectively ends Egharevba’s asylum claim, with deportation proceedings expected to follow.
Headline
US Approves Sale Of Bombs, Others Worth $346m o Nigeria
The United States Government has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Nigeria of munitions, precision bombs, precision rockets, and related equipment valued at $346 million.
The approval was contained in a statement from the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, dated August 13, but received via email on Thursday.
The agency said it has notified the US Congress of the potential sale.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Nigeria of Munitions, Precision Bombs, and Precision Rockets and related equipment for an estimated cost of $346 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today, ” the statement partly read.
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Under the request, Nigeria seeks to purchase 1,002 MK-82 general purpose 500-pound bombs; 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups for Paveway II GBU-12; 515 MXU-1006 Air Foil Groups for Paveway II GBU-58; 1,517 MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58; 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes; and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II all-up-rounds.
“The Government of Nigeria has requested to buy one thousand two (1,002) MK-82 general purpose 500 lb bombs; one thousand two (1,002) MXU-650 Air Foil Groups (AFGs) for 500 lb Paveway II GBU-12; five hundred fifteen (515) MXU-1006 AFGs for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58; one thousand five hundred seventeen (1,517) MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control group (CCG) for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58; one thousand two (1,002) FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes; and five thousand (5,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) all-up-rounds (AURs) (consisting of one each WGU-59/B guidance section (GS); high-explosive warhead; and MK66-4 rocket motor), ” it stated.
The package also includes non-major defence equipment such as FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes, bomb components, impulse cartridges, high-explosive and practice rockets, integration support, test equipment, and logistical and program support services.
The DSCA said the proposed sale aims to strengthen Nigeria’s capability to address current and future threats, including operations against terrorist organisations and illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. It added that the deal will not alter the military balance in the region and will have no adverse impact on US defence readiness.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Ibom Air Passenger Breaks Silence After Release
“The following non-MDE items will also be included: FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes; bomb components, impulse cartridges, and high-explosive and practice rockets; integration support and test equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics personnel services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $346 million.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The proposed sale will improve Nigeria’s capability to meet current and future threats through operations against terrorist organisations and to counter illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria will have no difficulty absorbing these munitions into its armed forces.
“The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region, ” the statement added..
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The principal contractors for the potential sale are RTX Missiles and Defence, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and BAE Systems.
“At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Nigeria.
“There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
“The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded, ” the statement concluded.
Headline
Israeli Military Intercepts Missile From Yemen
The Israeli military said on Thursday it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, with the Iran-backed Huthi rebels claiming responsibility for the attack.
Israel’s army said on Telegram that “the air force intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.
Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree later said the group had launched a “Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile” targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion airport.
READ ALSO:Israeli Fire Kills 34 In Gaza
The Yemeni rebels have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel since their Palestinian ally Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.
The Huthis, who say they are acting in support of the Palestinians, paused their attacks during a two-month ceasefire in Gaza that ended in March, but renewed them after Israel resumed major operations.
Israel has carried out several retaliatory strikes in Yemen, targeting Huthi-held ports and the airport in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.
AFP
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