The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called on Nigerians to embrace hope, faith and collective responsibility despite the country’s deepening security and humanitarian challenges, saying Christmas remains a powerful reminder that light can overcome even the darkest circumstances. In his 2025 Christmas message titled “Joy and Hope in a Time of Tribulation,” Bishop Kukah acknowledged that Nigeria is celebrating the season amid widespread violence, sorrow and insecurity, but stressed that the birth of Christ affirms God’s abiding presence with humanity. He urged political leaders to show greater resolve in easing the suffering of citizens, insisting that…
Author: TheStories
The Office of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of openly defying a valid court order, unlawfully detaining him beyond the period permitted by law, and subjecting him to what it described as a “media trial.” In a press release dated December 23, 2025, and signed by Malami’s Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, the office said a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had on the same day admitted Malami to bail after confirming that all bail conditions had been…
Different forms of pressure shape our lives in subtle and overt ways, often wearing a friendly face while quietly bruising the human spirit. A few days ago, I came across an emotional post that stirred deep empathy in me. It was a reminder that popularity, success, and perceived strength do not immunize anyone against emotional exhaustion. The post came from a Nollywood actress, Lizzy Gold, whose honest lament exposed how even admiration can become a burden when society refuses to respect personal choices. Lizzy Gold spoke openly about her relationship status, asking the public to stop pressuring her into marriage…
A prominent governorship aspirant in Yobe State, Barrister Kashim Musa Tumsah, has urged residents of the state to unite and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue in office beyond 2027. Tumsah, a development advocate, made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting with his supporters drawn from across political parties, where discussions focused on the future of Yobe State following the completion of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s second term in 2027. According to him, Yobe State has reached a critical stage in its political and developmental journey and must speak with one voice in support of national leadership continuity. “Yobe…
Against the backdrop of prolonged conflict, insecurity, and humanitarian crises in Nigeria’s Northeast, Amnesty International Nigeria has trained 65 journalists from the region on ethical, responsible, and human rights-centred reporting. The two-day media training, titled Human Rights-Centred Journalism, was held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, and brought together journalists covering insurgency, displacement, gender-based violence, and governance in conflict-affected communities. Speaking on “Journalism with a Gender Lens: Protecting Rights, Shaping Narratives,” Dr Anne Agi, a lecturer in the Law Department of the University of Calabar, said journalists reporting conflict must recognise the media’s power to either reinforce inequality or promote…
When the novelist, poet, and online influencer Hadiza Bagudu wrote her now widely discussed essay, “We Protect Our Girls but Neglect the Boys,” perhaps she was not blunt enough for the gravity of the moment. That, at least, was my immediate thought after reading the alarm recently raised by a man of God whose intervention arrived with shock, surprise, and an invitation to deep reflection. I found myself compelled to share his message, urging others to contribute their views, not merely to argue, but to search collectively for answers, conviction, and ultimately, a better society. On X, Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo…
I initially thought that public resistance to the nomination of the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was the loudest storm of the season, until I witnessed the tidal wave that greeted the nomination of Reno Omokri. It unfolded almost like a political drama, beginning with a short but explosive remark from a netizen, Dr. Mohammed, who wrote that the nomination that “pains” him most was Reno’s thereby describing him as a “deep-skinned hypocrite.” Whether or not that was the first shot fired, it was certainly the moment I became aware of the outrage melting across platforms like wildfire. Soon…
Where does the security of marriage truly lie? It is a question as old as the institution itself, yet as fresh as the changing realities of modern relationships. For many, family planning has long been embraced as a form of security, a protective shield crafted through the use of contraceptives, careful child spacing, and informed decision-making. The World Health Organization describes family planning as the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and to decide the spacing and timing of their births. This idea sounds simple, yet behind it lies a web of…
The Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS), in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), held its Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) orientation programme on Thursday for the 2024/2025 academic session. The event, held at the University Auditorium, brought together officials of the ITF, principal officers of the institution, SIWES supervisors, academic staff, and hundreds of students preparing to embark on their industrial training. Delivering the Vice Chancellor’s opening remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr Jamil Lukman Ahmad, who represented the VC, Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, described the programme as a critical transition point for students. He said SIWES serves as…
A random post on social media once pulled me in like a headline too good to scroll past. It declared that “gossip dies when it hits a wise person’s ears” and went on to claim that “rumors are started by haters, carried by fools, and believed by idiots.” Predictably, it had amassed waves of likes, comments, and approving emojis—likely fueled by growing frustration over fake news, misinformation, and scandalous headlines that sneak their way even into the most respectable institutions. But I paused. Something didn’t sit right. While the quote clearly aimed to promote restraint, dignity, and maturity in the…