withinnigeria.com

Author: Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo

  • June 9 in Nigerian history: Abdulsalami Abubakar was sworn in as Head of State

    June 9 in Nigerian history: Abdulsalami Abubakar was sworn in as Head of State

    History traces how people, ideas, and material forces reshape the world across time. It goes beyond dates to reveal the patterns underneath: the rise and fall of power, the spark of innovation, and the mechanics of collapse. The substance isn’t the calendar, it’s the turning points that redefine what follows.

    As Cicero put it, history is the witness to the passing of time. It illuminates reality, strengthens memory, and offers guidance for daily life.

    WITHIN NIGERIA continues this tradition of education and enlightenment by highlighting one notable event from Nigeria’s history on June 9.

    Abdulsalami Abubakar sworn-in as Head of State

    On June 9, 1998, General Abdulsalami Abubakar was sworn in as Nigeria’s Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces after General Sani Abacha died suddenly the previous evening.

    Abubakar, then Chief of Defence Staff, took the oath at 3:00 p.m. in the State House, Abuja, before the Armed Forces Ruling Council and senior military commanders. He also assumed the portfolio of Minister of Defence.

    According to an official statement, Abacha died of a heart attack on Monday at the Presidential Villa.

    In his first national broadcast that night, Abubakar urged calm and unity. “This is a time for reflection and for all Nigerians to put the country first,” he said, pledging to continue the transition to civilian rule and to maintain law and order.

    The Armed Forces Ruling Council called Abacha’s death “a great loss to the nation” and said Abubakar’s appointment was “in the best interest of stability and continuity.”

  • EXPOSED: “₦1B, 2 Hilux, Sharia Law, …” – What Oyo Abductors Want Before They Can Release Students, Teachers

    EXPOSED: “₦1B, 2 Hilux, Sharia Law, …” – What Oyo Abductors Want Before They Can Release Students, Teachers

    Armed men suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria on Friday evening, May 15, 2026.

    The schools targeted were Baptist Nursery & Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.

    Over 30 people, including students and teachers, were abducted during the attacks. One teacher was killed.

    Two days after the incident, one of the kidnapped teachers identified as Micheal Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele was beheaded and the video of the act went viral on social media. Among those kidnapped was 2-year-old Christianah Akanbi.

    The tragedy that occurred just three weeks ago drew attention from local and international bodies. Yet despite ongoing military and police operations, no rescue has been carried out as of this report.

    Human rights groups and prominent Nigerians are demanding the rescue and release of victims, plus the arrest of armed men who attacked schools and kidnapped teachers and students for ransom.

    Twenty-two days after abducting children and teachers from public schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities in Oriire LGA, the captors have reportedly presented a four-point set of demands as conditions for release.

    WITHIN NIGERIA learned that the terrorists are demanding the release of detained commanders, an alleged ₦1 billion ransom to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin, two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia-related laws.

    It was further learned that the commanders the terrorists who abducted students and teachers are seeking to have released are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy Abubakar Abba, also known as Isa Adam or Mahmud al-Nigeria.

    Who are Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba?

    Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba were initially known as illegal miners focused on solid minerals such as gold and tourmaline before they were lately identified as terrorists.

    Usman and Abba are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fi Biladis Sudan, JAMBS, also known as Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram.

    Recall that Ansaru split from Boko Haram in 2012 over Abubakar Shekau’s excesses, particularly the killing of Muslim civilians, as well as disputes over leadership control, strategy, and alignment with Al-Qaeda forces.

    However, both Usman and Abba were arrested between May and July 2025 for aiding and abetting terrorism in the country between 2013 and 2015. They are also infamously linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.

    The duo are currently standing trial on terrorism charges before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025. Their trial is scheduled to commence on January 15, 2026.

    A check revealed that Usman was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 11, 2025, after pleading guilty to one count of illegal mining, which he admitted he used to fund arms procurement for terrorism and kidnapping.

    Mahmud Usman remains in DSS custody pending trial on those charges, while Abubakar Abba, who acted as his deputy, pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts, also standing trial before the same court.

     

  • Roof Falls to Acid Leaks: What You Don’t Know About Solar Energy Risks

    Roof Falls to Acid Leaks: What You Don’t Know About Solar Energy Risks

    The business of Solar energy is booming. From homes to shops and offices, more Nigerians are switching over to solar due to unstable power supply. Nigeria’s power crisis comes down to two things: weak generation and poor supply.

    The situation got worse from January to April 2026, right when fuel prices spiked after subsidy removal and global tensions between the U.S., Iran, and Israel pushed costs higher. Several Nigerians have adopted solar energy as an alternative.

    Solar is praised as the cheapest, cleanest, and safest energy source because it comes straight from the sun. But there’s a catch most people miss: the batteries.

    Poor awareness means many Nigerians ignore battery hazards like acid leaks, fire risk, and improper disposal. That lack of education is exposing households to real danger.

    What You Probably Don’t Know About Risks Associated With Solar Energy

    • Solar energy is safer and lower-risk compared to fossil fuels, but it still has hazards at different stages: manufacturing, installation, operation, and disposal.
    • Solar panels create high-voltage DC shock risk because they produce DC electricity whenever they’re exposed to light. Installers can be shocked if systems aren’t de-energized properly.
    • Roof falls account for most residential injuries during roof mounting.
    • Faulty wiring, connectors, or micro-inverters can cause electrical arcs.
    • Materials used in producing panels include toxic chemicals like hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, and solvents.
    • Some solar panels contain small amounts of heavy metals: lead, cadmium in thin-film types, and silver.
    • Manufacturing solar panels is energy-intensive, but they typically pay back the energy used to make them in 1-3 years, depending on location.
    • Solar panels run 20-30°C hotter than ambient air. That heat reduces efficiency and can affect nearby roof materials.
    • Large arrays can cause glare for pilots, drivers, or neighbors if not sited well. This is usually managed with anti-reflective coatings and placement.
    • Hail, high wind, and snow load can damage panels. Most are tested to withstand standard conditions, but extreme events can cause failures.
    • Solar panels last 25-30 years. As early installations age out, waste is ramping up, and global recycling infrastructure is still limited.
    • If panels are crushed and improperly landfilled, there’s potential for leaching of metals
    • Most countries classify intact panels as non-hazardous, but broken panels need proper handling.
    • Utility-scale solar uses a lot of space — about 5-10 acres per MW. That can displace habitat or farmland if not planned well.
    • Panels and associated fencing can alter local wildlife movement. Some sites also see bird mortality from collisions or “lake effect” confusion.
    • Most of these risks are managed through codes, standards, and proper installation.
    • For homeowners, the main real risks are electrical work and roof safety during installation.
    • The long-term risks — waste and materials — are more about industry scale and regulation.
  • June 8 in Nigerian history: General Sani Abacha Died

    June 8 in Nigerian history: General Sani Abacha Died

    History carries both flaws and virtues, and every thread of it shapes the people who inherit it. When you recount a story, it becomes part of yours too. That’s the real lesson: wherever you walk, you leave footprints in the sands of time.

    As Marcus Garvey said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

    WITHIN NIGERIA highlights one notable event that occurred on June 8 in Nigeria’s history, as part of our commitment to education and enlightenment.

    How General Sani Abacha Died

    On June 8, 1998, Nigeria’s Head of State, General Sani Abacha, died at age 54 in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Government officials disclosed that he suffered a sudden heart attack around 5:00 a.m., after appearing to be in good health the night before.

    According to accounts, Abacha had retired to a guest house within the Villa complex after his family went to bed, accompanied by Lieutenant General Jerry Useni and two Indian nationals. While climbing the stairs, he collapsed clutching his chest and gasping for air.

    Security officials responded to screams from a female companion and attempted CPR and oxygen resuscitation. Presidential doctors arrived with medical equipment but could not revive him.

    Chief Security Officer Major Hamza al-Mustapha was alerted around 5 a.m. and found Abacha had already been pronounced dead. The body was prepared for burial in Kano, his hometown, the same day and in line with Islamic rites, without an autopsy.

    The lack of an autopsy fueled speculation both locally and abroad. Western intelligence sources suggested poisoning, though no evidence was ever produced.

    Abacha’s death came three months before he was due to transfer power to a civilian government in October 1998, under a transition program he had initiated in 1995.

  • June 7 in Nigerian history: How Six Young Traders Were Unjustly Killed By Police – Apo Killings

    June 7 in Nigerian history: How Six Young Traders Were Unjustly Killed By Police – Apo Killings

    Nigeria’s history carries both weight and resilience. The country has endured crises that threatened its unity, yet it has persisted because ordinary Nigerians, often at great personal cost, refused to let it collapse. As Martin Luther King Jr. put it, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

    WITHIN NIGERIA highlights one notable event that occurred on June 7 in Nigeria’s history, as part of our commitment to education and enlightenment.

    The Apo Killings: June 7, 2005

    On the night of June 7, 2005, six young traders were shot dead at a police checkpoint in Apo, Abuja. The victims — Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwokike, and Augustina Arebun, all aged 21 to 25 — were spare parts dealers at the Apo auto market, one of the Federal Capital Territory’s busiest commercial hubs.

    Police initially reported the deaths as a shootout with armed robbers. Residents disputed this, saying the group was returning from a social outing. Eyewitnesses also claimed two of the victims were seen alive hours later at Garki Police Station.

    Public outrage erupted when officers attempted to bury the bodies secretly near Apo. The attempted burial sparked two days of riots in Apo and Garki, halting commercial activity in a major trading zone.

    On June 24, 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo established a panel of inquiry headed by Justice Olasumbo Goodluck. The panel found that the confrontation began at a nightclub after Augustina Arebun rejected romantic advances from Deputy Commissioner of Police Danjuma Ibrahim. Witnesses testified that Ibrahim ordered the killings and that weapons were planted to support the armed robbery narrative.

    A criminal trial against six officers began on January 18, 2006. After a 12-year process, the FCT High Court convicted Ezekiel Acheneje and Emmanuel Baba for culpable homicide on March 9, 2017, sentencing them to death. Danjuma Ibrahim, Nicholas Zakaria, and Sadiq Salami were acquitted for lack of evidence. The sixth officer, Othman Abdulsalami, remained at large.

    The National Human Rights Commission awarded N3 million to each victim’s family, but lawyers in 2020 called it inadequate, noting the deceased were primary breadwinners. A 2005 directive to provide N500,000 per family for burial expenses had also gone unimplemented as of 2020.

    The Apo case remains a landmark example of how civilian resistance and legal accountability can challenge institutional abuse, even when justice arrives slowly.

  • June 6 in Nigerian History: Ado Bayero, 13th Emir of Kano, Dies at 84

    June 6 in Nigerian History: Ado Bayero, 13th Emir of Kano, Dies at 84

    Nigeria’s story is shaped by defining moments that alter its trajectory. As Martin Luther King Jr. noted, “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”

    In line with our commitment to education and enlightenment, WITHIN NIGERIA highlights one notable event from June 6 in Nigeria’s history.

    Emir Ado Abdullahi Bayero Dies at 84

    On June 6, 2014, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero, the Emir of Kano, died at age 84 in Gidan Rumfa Palace after a protracted illness.

    Palace sources confirmed the Emir passed peacefully around 8:30 a.m., surrounded by family members and palace officials.

    The revered monarch had battled frail health for months and was flown to London for treatment earlier that year.

    As news spread, thousands of mourners filled Kano’s streets. Markets and schools shut down immediately in tribute.

    The Janaza prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani Zahraddeen, at the Emir’s Palace mosque at 4 p.m. He was interred at the Gidan Sarki Nassarawa royal cemetery.

    Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso described the late Emir as “a symbol of unity, peace and progress,” adding: “Kano has lost a father. Nigeria has lost a bridge-builder.”

    President Goodluck Jonathan, in a condolence message, said Emir Bayero “served his people and nation with uncommon dedication” and was “a tireless advocate for peaceful coexistence.”

    Turbaned on October 22, 1963, Ado Bayero was the longest-serving Emir of Kano in modern times. During his 53-year reign, Kano transformed into northern Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.

    Before ascending the throne, he served as a police officer and later as Nigeria’s ambassador to Senegal. In January 2013, he survived a Boko Haram attack on his convoy that claimed the lives of his driver and two guards.

    He was survived by 4 wives, 11 sons, and 14 daughters.

  • June 5 in Nigerian history: Niger Delta Development Commission was established

    June 5 in Nigerian history: Niger Delta Development Commission was established

    June 5, 2000: Obasanjo Announces the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

    On June 5, 2000, the Obasanjo administration announced the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission to address human and ecological crises in Southern Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

    The new federal agency was created under the NDDC Act of 2000, which President Obasanjo signed into law on July 12, 2000. The Commission is headquartered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The NDDC is tasked with driving rapid, sustainable, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. Its goals include building an economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative, and politically peaceful region. It also focuses on training and educating youth to reduce militancy and hostilities.

    The Commission confronts ecological damage from oil exploration, including spills, pollution, and related health hazards. The Niger Delta produces nearly 75% of Nigeria’s export earnings, yet about 43% of its population lives below the poverty line. Decades of oil exploitation have left widespread environmental degradation, poverty, and unrest in host communities.

    The NDDC replaced the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission. It operates under a governing board appointed by the President, with members drawn from nine oil-producing states, oil companies, and federal ministries.

  • June 4 in Nigerian History: MKO Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, was assassinated

    June 4 in Nigerian History: MKO Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, was assassinated

    Nigeria is a nation woven from complexity. Its political history has been forged in the crucible of pivotal events, and shaped by men and women who bore sensitive, often perilous responsibilities in its trajectory. To tell the story of this nation without honoring those who laid down their lives for its restoration and survival would be to leave the record incomplete.

    As American science fiction author Robert Heinlein observed in one of his works: “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.”

    In keeping with our commitment to education and enlightenment, WITHIN NIGERIA spotlights one notable event that occurred on June 4 in Nigeria’s history.

    MKO’s wife, Kudirat Abiola was assassinated

    On June 4, 1996, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, 44, a leading voice in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement, was shot dead Tuesday morning in a highway ambush in Ikeja, Lagos. Her driver, Dauda Atanda, also died in the attack.

    The killing occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Oregun Road, near 7-Up Junction on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Mrs. Abiola had left her Lagos home en route to an appointment at the Canadian High Commission when her white Mercedes-Benz was intercepted by two vehicles, a Peugeot 504 and a Peugeot 505, carrying six gunmen.

    According to eyewitness accounts, one of the Peugeots swerved twice in front of the Mercedes, forcing Mr. Atanda to slow down.

    Gunmen then opened fire at close range with automatic weapons, shattering the windshield and rear window and forcing the car off the road.

    Mrs. Abiola’s personal assistant, Mark Olufemi Adesina, who was in the front passenger seat, survived after dropping to the floor as glass and spent cartridges rained into the vehicle.

    A bullet struck Mrs. Abiola in the forehead and lodged in her brain. She was rushed to Eko Hospital, where neurosurgeons operated to remove the projectile. She was pronounced dead between 12:15 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. Mr. Atanda succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack.

    Kudirat Abiola rose to national prominence after her husband, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, was jailed for treason by the military government of General Sani Abacha.

    Since his detention, she had spearheaded campaigns demanding his release and the restoration of his electoral mandate. Her activism made her, in the words of observers, “one of the most dreaded foes of Abacha.”

    In May 1996, she was briefly detained by authorities who alleged she possessed publications critical of the Abacha regime.

  • Who is Kanyinsola Ajayi? The World Fastest Man in 2026

    Who is Kanyinsola Ajayi? The World Fastest Man in 2026

    Kanyinsola Ajayi just rewrote Nigerian sprinting history. The 21-year-old Auburn University sprinter clocked 9.84s in the 100m at the NCAA East Regionals, breaking Olusoji Fasuba’s 9.85s national record that stood since 2006. 

    With a legal +0.4m/s wind, Ajayi won his heat, qualified for NCAA Championships, and shot to No. 1 in the world for 2026. He also posted the 2nd-fastest collegiate 100m ever. A record that lasted nearly 20 years is gone, and a new era just started.

    Here are what you probably don’t know about Kanyinsola Ajayi

    He was born Sept 14, 2004 in Nigeria

    He was raised in Ikorodu, Lagos

    He started as a footballer before switching to track

    His sprint journey began at the 2021 Maltina School Games where he won both sprints for his school

    He ran away with Nigerian junior meets 2021–2023

    He won Maltina School Games titles + became African U20 100m champion in 2023

    At 20, he displayed his rare sprint skills at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo and earned the followings:

    – 9.88s in heats → 3rd fastest Nigerian ever

    – 9.93s in semis

    – 6th in final → first Nigerian man in a World Champs 100m final since Olusoji Fasuba in 2007

    He ended 2025 as world no. 2 behind Akani Simbine, with multiple sub-10s.

    As a student-athlete at Auburn University, USA, he won 2026 NCAA Indoor 60m in 6.45s → African indoor record holder.

    On May 30, 2026, he ran 9.84s (+0.4) at NCAA East Prelims in Lexington.

    He broke Fasuba’s 20-year Nigerian record of 9.85s from 2006.

    He is now Nigeria’s national record holder, world leader for 2026, and 2nd all-time in NCAA history behind Christian Coleman’s 9.82s.

    He specializes in 100m, 200m, and 60m indoor. PBs: 9.84s / 20.93s / 6.45s.

    Coaches praise his explosive start, top-end speed, and big-race composure.

    His formula: “hard work, faith, and trusting the process.”

    With the NCAA Outdoors + World Championships coming, he’s tipped as Nigeria’s best medal hope in men’s 100m.

    Target: sub-9.80 and Nigeria’s first global 100m medal since the Fasuba era.

  • June 3 in Nigerian History: How Dual Engine Failure Killed 159 in Lagos

    History is the memory of the human race. As Will and Ariel Durant remind us, the historian preserves that memory.  

    To learn precisely and accurately from the past is to give new generations the context that shapes our present.

    In that spirit, WITHIN NIGERIA highlights one notable event from June 3 in our nation’s history, continuing our commitment to education and enlightenment.

    159 Feared Dead as Dana Air Jet Crashes Into Lagos Suburb

    Dana Air Flight 992, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, crashed into the Iju-Ishaga district of Lagos on June 3, 2012, killing all 153 people on board and at least six residents on the ground.

    WITHIN NIGERIA learned that the Abuja-to-Lagos flight departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 2:58 p.m. with 147 passengers and six crew members.

    At 3:42 p.m., minutes from landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the cockpit issued a mayday: “Dual engine failure… negative response from throttle.”

    Witnesses described a low-flying aircraft, trailing no smoke, plowing into a two-storey residential building and an adjoining printing press at 3:45 p.m.

    “The ground shook like an earthquake,” said Adebayo Ojo, a mechanic working nearby. “Then fire everywhere. We couldn’t get close.”

    The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed there were no survivors from the flight.

    Preliminary findings by the Accident Investigation Bureau showed the ordeal began 17 minutes after takeoff when the left engine failed. The crew continued toward Lagos without declaring an emergency. On approach, the second engine lost power.

    Cockpit recordings captured the final exchange:

    First Officer: “Both engines coming up?”

    Captain: “Negative.”

    Seconds later, Captain Peter Waxtan, an American, told his co-pilot: “We just lost everything… I lost both engines.”

    President Goodluck Jonathan declared three days of national mourning, calling it “a sad and unfortunate day.” Flags flew at half-mast as families crowded Lagos State University Teaching Hospital seeking news of loved ones.

    Among the dead were prominent Nigerians including NNPC spokesman Levi Ajuonuma, four Chinese nationals, and several foreign executives.

    The AIB’s interim report pointed to a fuel supply problem. Investigators later concluded that faulty maintenance by a U.S. contractor had severed fuel lines to both engines. The 22-year-old aircraft had undergone checks on June 1 and completed eight flights since.

    Aviation Minister Stella Oduah grounded Dana Air’s operating license and ordered an audit of all domestic airlines.

    “This is the fifth major crash in 10 years,” said aviation analyst Capt. John Ojikutu. “We cannot continue to bury our citizens.”