Governor Uba Sani says his administration has improved access to tertiary education in Kaduna State by reducing tuition fees of state-owned tertiary institutions by 50%.

Speaking through his Principal Private Secretary, Professor Bello Ayuba, at the inauguration of the Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter of the Kaduna State Students Union and a public lecture, the Governor stated that the tuition cut has enabled more students from low-income backgrounds to pursue university degrees with greater ease.

Governor Uba Sani expressed gratitude to the students for honouring him with the Sword of Honour Award and acknowledged their recognition of his administration’s developmental strides.

He reassured the students of his government’s continued support, urging them to maintain peace to allow development initiatives to thrive. “Government will continue to support students and the youth generally to realize their ambitions. On your part, make sure that an atmosphere of peace prevails to allow for government’s development programmes to run their full course,” he said.

The Governor advised students not to allow themselves to be used by agents of disunity and chaos, warning that no meaningful development can occur in a climate of unrest and distrust. However, he commended students for being “reliable partners of progress.”

Addressing the issue of security, Uba Sani recalled how parts of the state were under siege due to insecurity, which disrupted farming and business activities. He said the situation has improved considerably through the efforts of security agencies, leading to safer roads, the return of farmers, and the reopening of local markets—including the Birnin Gwari cattle market after a decade-long closure.

Highlighting ongoing infrastructure efforts, the Governor said his administration has embarked on over 78 road projects covering 775 kilometers, many of which are rural link roads. He added that General Hospitals are being remodelled and 255 healthcare centres upgraded. Additionally, new schools are being constructed while existing ones are being refurbished to create a better learning environment.

The student union explained that Governor Uba Sani was awarded the Sword of Honour for his commitment to educational development. They praised the tuition reduction and the establishment of new faculties at KASU, including his facilitation of the CBN Intervention Project for the Faculty of Engineering.

They also commended the Governor’s directive allowing students to sit for examinations regardless of outstanding fees, describing it as a gesture of compassion and commitment to inclusive education.

The union concluded that Governor Uba Sani has redefined good governance by prioritizing education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.

A new terrorist group known as Mahmuda has emerged in Nigeria’s North Central region, launching deadly attacks on communities surrounding the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), according to local sources and a report by Sahara Reporters.

The group, which operates with impunity in the national park spanning Kwara and Niger states, has besieged villages in Kaiama and Barutein Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kwara, as well as Babana and Wawa districts in Borgu LGA, Niger State. On Wednesday, Mahmuda militants attacked a vigilante group in Kemanji, Kwara, killing over 15 vigilantes and villagers, a source confirmed.

“They call themselves the Mahmuda group. Their leader, in a voice note, is threatening all the communities. They kill, kidnap victims, and demand ransom,” a local source told Sahara Reporters.

The KLNP, covering 3,970.29 square kilometres, has become a haven for the militants, who reportedly displaced park rangers over five years ago.

Sources trace the group’s origins to Mokwa LGA in Niger State, from where they were expelled by former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who accused them of being Boko Haram affiliates.

The group then relocated through various regions, including Kaduna State, before entrenching themselves in the KLNP.

A recent audiotape from the group’s leader suggests they are a moderate Islamist sect that splintered from the extremist Boko Haram faction led by Abubakar Shekau.

The militants, who primarily speak Hausa, identify as the Mahmuda or Mallam Group and claim to be jihadists promoting Sunni Islam.

The Mahmuda group has imposed a reign of terror on local communities.

Herders pay dues to graze cattle, farmers pay levies to access farmland allocated by the militants, and residents are forced to work on the group’s farms as “sadaka” (charity).

The militants also kidnap locals for ransom, mount illegal roadblocks, and regulate social activities, banning alcohol sales and smoking while settling community disputes.

“They preach Islamic ethics, urge disloyalty to the Nigerian state, and insist disputes be reported to them,” a source said, adding that the group is recruiting locals as informants.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the militants are engaged in illegal mining within the park and threaten herbalists suspected of aiding vigilantes.

In a bid to consolidate control, the group has expelled bandits from the park, kidnapping or executing their collaborators after collecting ransoms.

The rise of Mahmuda highlights Nigeria’s growing insecurity, with ungoverned spaces like the KLNP enabling militant groups to thrive.

Loggers, fishermen, and hunters exploit the park’s resources, with some loggers reportedly negotiating with the militants to harvest trees, providing the group with revenue.

“The surge of insecurity in Nigeria is a source of concern due to its destructive impact on livelihoods,” a source noted.

“New militant groups continue to emerge and occupy ungoverned spaces.”

Locals suspect the authorities are aware of the group’s activities but have failed to act, possibly due to the militants’ sophisticated weaponry. Vigilante groups, frustrated by the lack of security intervention, have resorted to collaborating with Mahmuda to rescue kidnapped victims, further complicating the situation.

The Mahmuda group’s control over a vast swathe of Nigerian territory underscores the challenges facing the country’s security forces. With communities living at the mercy of the militants, the group’s blend of coercion, religious rhetoric, and economic exploitation poses a significant threat to stability in the region.

As Nigeria grapples with this emerging menace, questions remain about the group’s true origins and affiliations. Some locals speculate the militants may have ties to groups from Benin or Niger Republic, while others see parallels with Boko Haram’s tactics. Further investigation is needed to unmask this faceless group and address the crisis in the KLNP.