VIDEO🎥: A team led by the Commander, 12 Brigade Lokoja, Brigadier General Karim Sidi stormed the deep forest near Iluke, Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State to exhume the body of notorious bandit kingpin, Ibrahim Battijo, for an autopsy.
Battijo was neutralized during a failed mass abduction attempt targeting WAEC students in Iluke on June 10, 2026.
I attended a Hausa Christian wedding in Kano recently, and honestly, it felt less like stepping into something “different” and more like rediscovering something deeply familiar.
The language, the laughter, the rhythm of the gathering, everything felt like home. The groom’s uncles still sat with that quiet authority, nodding in approval. The aunties still ran the show behind the scenes, making sure everything moved smoothly while pretending not to be in charge. And of course, the friends, loud, playful, and fully committed to turning every moment into a celebration.
At some point, I had to remind myself, “Wait, this is a Christian wedding,” because beyond the church service itself, you could easily mistake it for any Hausa wedding you’ve ever attended.
The attire? Impeccable. Flowing gowns, neatly tailored kaftans, gele tied with precision, and that unmistakable northern elegance. The food? Generous, spicy, and served with pride. The music? Oh, the music still carried that familiar Hausa soul, even when the lyrics leaned more toward gospel.
What struck me most was how culture quietly held everything together. Faith shaped the ceremony, yes, but culture shaped the feeling. The respect for elders, the structured greetings, the importance of family, the communal joy, these things didn’t change.
Even the jokes were the same. Someone teasing the groom. Someone negotiating playfully on behalf of the bride. Someone cracking that one joke that makes the entire gathering erupt in laughter. You could close your eyes and know exactly where you were, not by religion, but by identity.
It was a beautiful reminder that we are, in many ways, cut from the same cloth. Same traditions, same values, same sense of community, just expressed through different spiritual paths.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway: beneath the labels and differences, we are far more alike than we often admit. Same people, same roots, just different ways of saying our prayers.
I left with a full stomach, a light heart, and a quiet thought lingering in my mind: if more of us experienced moments like this, we might spend less time focusing on what separates us and more time celebrating what already binds us together.
Green is the official colour 💚
Normalise saying
"أ��سْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ"
"Astagfirullahi wa atubu ilaihi"
the moment you feel jealous, get evil thoughts, feel disappointed and hurt. Trust me, all the negativity will flee and you will feel unbothered plus Allah will reward you! In sha Allah.
One of our biggest flaws is pretending to be blind to our own shortcomings but we’re the first to jump down someone's throat when they make a mistake. Learn to be more self-critical instead of always pointing fingers. Leave the judging to the fairest Judge of all.