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FORMER PDP CHAIRMAN DEFECTS TO ADC IN GOMBE STATE

Air Vice Marshal Shehu Adamu Fura, the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee in Gombe State, has officially resigned from the party and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Fura’s resignation letter, dated July 3, 2025, cited “deep personal reflection and wide consultations” as the driving forces behind his decision to leave the PDP. In his letter, Fura expressed appreciation for the PDP and acknowledged the support he received throughout his political journey within the party. “These experiences, political exposure, and the support I received from the PDP at all levels, particularly from Pantami Ward, will always be remembered and appreciated,” he wrote. Fura’s defection is seen as a major loss to the PDP, particularly in the North-East region. He had contested in the PDP’s 2023 governorship primaries, where he emerged third, and was influential in grassroots mobilization and conflict resolution within the party. His leadership of the state reconciliation committee after the 2023 polls was critical in calming internal disputes. The ADC has welcomed Fura’s defection, describing it as a “strategic gain” for the party. According to ADC insiders, Fura will play a critical role in shaping the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly in states where voter fatigue with the mainstream parties – PDP and APC – continues to grow. “Air Vice Marshal Fura brings experience, integrity, and strong grassroots connection, which are central to the ADC’s renewed mission to reposition Nigeria’s democracy,” a party spokesperson said. Fura’s defection is part of a growing wave of high-level defections from the PDP in recent months. Political analysts suggest these moves are a sign of shifting alliances as Nigeria prepares for a volatile and competitive 2027 election cycle. The PDP may now face additional pressure to restructure its reconciliation efforts and re-establish party unity in Gombe and beyond. Fura’s move is expected to encourage similar defections from other northern blocs, especially among former military and technocratic elites.

NEMSA INVESTIGATES GOMBE ELECTROCUTION INCIDENT, BLAMES JOS DISCO FOR NEGLIGENCE

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has launched an investigation into a tragic electrical accident in Gombe State that claimed five lives and injured 13 others. The incident occurred on June 14, 2025, in the Tudun Wada Pantami area, after a snapped high-tension power line made contact with low-tension wires, causing an uncontrolled surge of electricity sparks. In a statement issued on Sunday by NEMSA’s Head of Communications and Protocol Unit, Mrs. Ama Umoren, the agency’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, immediately ordered a thorough technical investigation into the incident. “On getting the information, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEMSA, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, FNSE, FNIPE, immediately ordered a thorough technical investigation of the tragic incident in Tudun Wada, Gombe State,” Umoren said. Umoren stated that preliminary findings revealed the incident was triggered by a structural failure of a high-tension wooden cross-arm support, which led to the detachment of the red phase high-tension conductor. This conductor made direct contact with a low-voltage line below, causing a dangerous voltage surge into residential houses. Ama Umoren noted that the investigation uncovered several systemic and infrastructure-related issues, including the use of aged, untreated/deteriorated wooden cross arms in the distribution network and absence of standard protective devices in consumer installations. Ama Umoren further explained that the failure of Jos Electricity Distribution Company to carry out regular maintenance on the network led to the avoidable accident. “From the report of the preliminary investigation, it can be said that this is an unfortunate but preventable incident had the Jos DISCO heeded previous warnings from NEMSA to rectify and correct observed faults on the network,” she said. Ama Umoren added that NEMSA had written to Jos DISCO on April 30, 2025, drawing their attention to defects observed on the networks within Gombe metropolis, which posed a great risk to safety of lives and property. NEMSA has called on utility companies to ensure regular maintenance of their networks and advised Nigerians to avoid staying under power lines, erecting buildings under power lines, or doing any form of business under power lines. “Electricity is associated with hazards. These hazards are real. They can even affect the personnel working in the electricity sector, so we need to use electricity safely and wisely,” Ama Umoren warned. The agency will work closely with Jos Electricity Distribution Company and other stakeholders to ensure the replacement of dilapidated infrastructure, enforce the installation of proper protective devices, and conduct thorough safety inspections across the distribution network.

ELECTROCUTION TRAGEDY STRIKES GOMBE, FIVE DEAD, 13 INJURED

A devastating electrical surge in the Tudun-Wadan Pantami area of Gombe Metropolis has claimed the lives of five people, including Abdullahi Kulani, the state’s Permanent Secretary for Special Duties and Regional Coordination, and left 13 others injured. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, causing widespread shock and panic among residents. According to the Gombe State Police Command, the electrocution was caused by a high-voltage surge from a nearby transformer. DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed that officers from the Low-cost Divisional Police Headquarters swiftly responded to the distress call, securing the scene and evacuating the victims to hospitals for urgent medical care. “Unfortunately, five individuals lost their lives, and thirteen others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Abdullahi said. The deceased have been deposited in three different morgues: three bodies at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, one at the State Specialist Hospital, and one at Bolari Filin Kwallo Mortuary. The injured victims are receiving treatment at various health facilities across the state. Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Yahaya, described the incident as “deeply saddening” and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. “We express our heartfelt sympathy to those who have lost loved ones and wish the injured a swift and full recovery,” he said, assuring the public of a thorough investigation into the cause of the power surge. “We are determined to uncover the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event and ensure accountability where necessary,” he added. Residents of Tudun-Wadan Pantami are still reeling from the shock, with one eyewitness describing the moment of the incident as “terrifying.” “I’ve never seen anything like it. People were shouting and running; some were already unconscious by the time help arrived,” the resident said.

CHRISTIAN TEACHER BRUTALLY MURDERED BY MOB IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

A horrific incident has shaken the Christian community in Gombe State, Nigeria, after a mob of Muslim students and local residents brutally murdered a Christian secondary school teacher, Christiana Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin. The 16 suspects arrested in connection with her murder have been released without charge, sparking widespread outrage. According to eyewitnesses, the violence erupted after a Muslim student falsely accused Mrs. Oluwasesin of tearing a copy of the Quran. The student had been caught cheating in an exam at Gandu Government Day Secondary School and had hidden a paper with Arabic inscriptions in a book. Despite another teacher confirming that the book was not the Quran and had not been torn, a mob of students attacked Mrs. Oluwasesin. She was stoned, stripped, beaten, and stabbed to death, and her body was later burned beyond recognition. Local observers believe the incident may have been pre-planned, citing an earlier attack on Mrs. Oluwasesin by thugs in the local town two weeks prior to her death. The release of the 16 suspects without charge has sparked consternation in local Christian circles, with many expressing outrage and disappointment at the lack of justice. The incident has highlighted the growing concerns about religious tensions and violence in northern Nigeria.