Author: The North Journals

By Moses Amos In the quiet footballing communities of Osun State, a new name is steadily gaining attention among grassroots coaches and local football enthusiasts. Olanrewaju Kabiru Olaide, a young central defender from Ikirun in Ifelodun Local Government Area, is being tipped as one of the most promising defensive prospects of his generation. Born and raised in Ikirun, Olaide represents a new wave of Nigerian defenders defined not just by physical strength, but by intelligence, discipline, and tactical awareness. Those who have watched him play describe a defender who appears calm under pressure and remarkably composed for his age. Olaide’s…

By SCOJA Fellows, HumAngle Foundation A new policy brief has raised fresh concerns over the growing public health threat posed by extreme heat in Adamawa State, revealing widespread lack of awareness about heat-related illnesses and the compounding impact of power outages during peak temperature periods. The brief, published in January 2026 by the Adamawa Strengthening Community Journalism and Advocacy (SCOJA) Fellows of the HumAngle Foundation, shows that 76 per cent of residents cannot identify the symptoms of heatstroke, while 73 per cent say heat-related illness has become common in their communities. The findings are based on data collected in December…

By The North journals Sport Desk Nigeria’s Super Eagles have booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a commanding 2-0 victory over Algeria in a high-stakes quarter-final clash on Saturday. From the first whistle, the Eagles imposed their rhythm, combining intensity, tactical discipline, and relentless energy that left the Algerians struggling to respond. The breakthrough came just after the break in the 47th minute, when Victor Osimhen soared above the Algerian defence to connect with a perfectly timed cross from Bruno Onyemaechi, giving Nigeria a crucial lead. Ten minutes later, Akor Adams…

By Aminu Adamu Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states recorded a sharp escalation of violence in 2025, as rival insurgent groups clashed and civilians continued to bear the brunt of attacks, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS). The surge in violence has exposed a widening contrast between relative calm in major urban centres and worsening insecurity in rural and border communities, where residents say attacks have become more frequent and deadly. Rising Death Toll In the first half of 2025, over 2,266 people were killed by Non-State…

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has shared a deeply emotional message following the loss of close associates he described as “brothers,” expressing gratitude for the support shown to their families and reflecting on the weight of the tragedy. In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Joshua said he had not fully realized how special the men were while they were alive, noting that he often spent time with them casually, unaware of the significance of their presence in his life. “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my…

By Maryam Shehu (Reviewer) Northern Nigeria (Arewa) has long been defined by traditions of hospitality, communal bonds, and the practice of sending children to makarantun allo, though often in forms markedly different from contemporary realities. In Abandoned, a collection of ten short stories, Aliyu Yakubu draws from these lived experiences and renders them with quiet urgency. At a time when northern narratives are frequently marginalised or flattened into stereotypes, this work stands as a deliberate and necessary intervention, affirming the right of these stories to be told with nuance, depth, and authorial ownership. Departing from much contemporary fiction that privileges…

By Ademola Ajayi The mention of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s name in the suits filed has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns about the motives behind it. It is puzzling why the Governor’s name would be included in the charges, given that he enjoys constitutional immunity as a serving Governor. This has led to speculation about the timing and circumstances surrounding the suits, and whether they are part of a larger scheme to undermine the Governor’s authority and destabilize the state. This has led many to question whether the agency is playing by the rules or if there’s a hidden agenda…

By Acheli Obidah Days after a deadly communal clash tore through parts of Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, the scars of the violence are becoming more visible, etched not only on burnt homes and deserted communities but on the faces of survivors still searching for their missing loved ones. For many residents who fled in the heat of the violence, the return to relative calm has brought little relief. Instead, it has ushered in a painful reckoning. Families are discovering that relatives have been killed, displaced or taken away during the chaos, leaving survivors trapped in uncertainty and…

By Yahuza Bawage, Abdullahi Sidi, Sakina Ahmed, Gloria Abutu, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Ummulkulchumi Hammanadama, Aminu Adamu Ahmed, Acheli Obidah, Saddam Mohammed, Abubakar Ibrahim, and Vangawa Bolgent In May 2024, the heat in Adamawa State stopped being a seasonal inconvenience and became a silent killer. By midday, the air in Yola felt suffocating. Roads shimmered. Fans blew warm air. Buckets of water left indoors became tepid within minutes. Then people began to collapse. Across Yola metropolis and nearby communities, residents told similar stories. A commercial driver slumped over his steering wheel along a busy route. An elderly woman was found lifeless in…

By Yahuza Bawage, Abdullahi Sidi, Sakina Ahmed, Gloria Abutu, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Ummulkulchumi Hammanadama, Aminu Adamu Ahmed, Acheli Obidah, Saddam Mohammed, Abubakar Ibrahim, and Vangawa Bolgent.  In May 2024, Adamawa State faced a terrifying public health crisis with temperatures soaring above 40°C, and as a result of that, about 200 sudden deaths were reported across Yola, the state capital, and surrounding communities. Even as families mourn their loved ones, the scale of the tragedy points to a systemic failure to protect residents from the growing threat of extreme heat. Doctors at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH) Yola, and the State…