Bandits have abducted a man, Bitrus Jayawa and his wife, Martha Bitrus, from a farm in Katambi community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A resident of Katambi, Markus Iliya, said the incident happened around 9:12 am on Monday when the couple were busy clearing the farm ahead of cultivation.

He said the victims went to the farm along with three of their children, saying the children first sighted the bandits and immediately took to their heels.

“It was even the three children of the victims, who sighted the bandits coming into the farm, before they escaped and the bandits went after the couple,” he said.

A community leader, who preferred anonymity, also confirmed the abduction of a couple at a farm in Katambi village on Monday.

He said immediately he received the distress call, he quickly alerted the security operatives at Sabon- Kurutu junction.

“Although before the troops stationed at Kurutu junction cool arrived at the farm, the bandits had already escaped with the victims into the forest,” he said.

Spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, DSP Hassan Mansur, is yet to confirm the latest abduction as calls put across him were not answered.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has inaugurated Nigeria’s first chip design training programme, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with skills for emerging opportunities in semiconductor technology globally and across the country.

Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof.

Idris Bugaje disclosed this at the Abuja inauguration on Tuesday, stating the initiative was created to bridge Nigeria’s widening skills gap in semiconductor chip design.

Bugaje explained that the programme would empower Nigerian youths to compete in the rapidly expanding technology sector, particularly in areas of Artificial Intelligence, robotics, banking systems, and advanced digital and industrial infrastructures.

He emphasised, “There are very serious gaps in chip design skills across the world, and Nigeria should participate in filling those gaps.

“Opportunities exist locally, without needing to leave Nigeria.

“The six-month programme will be delivered online, allowing participants to acquire industry-relevant expertise remotely while gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the multibillion-dollar semiconductor industry globally.”

Bugaje added that while only a few countries manufactured semiconductor chips, design work could be carried out anywhere, providing Nigeria an entry point into global technological innovations and the lucrative semiconductor market.

He said the initiative aligned with Nigeria’s broader industrial and technological development goals, adding that NBTE aimed to position the country as a future hub for semiconductor design expertise.

“The programme could generate about 100 million dollars annually, rising potentially to one billion dollars within five years, making a significant contribution to Nigeria’s economy and Gross Domestic Product,” Bugaje projected.

The NBTE boss said the programme costs about 7 million Naira per participant, roughly 5,000 dollars, but NBTE subsidised half while partner companies recovered the balance after successful employment of trainees.

He encouraged young Nigerians to embrace emerging digital skills rather than solely relying on traditional career paths.

“Semiconductor technology is the foundation of the technology of the future, and we must prepare now,” he said.

A software and robotics engineer, Dr Salim Maaji, said the rapid growth of AI motivated his interest in chip design, adding it ensured professionals remained relevant as technology rapidly evolved and transformed labour markets.

Maaji said, “AI needs microchips to function. Learning how to design them means becoming part of the future rather than watching technology replace existing jobs,” stressing the urgency of skill acquisition.

Similarly, Dr Mariam Idris, a data science researcher, said the intensive six-month programme made advanced semiconductor training accessible compared to traditional university programmes that often took several years to complete.

Idris urged Nigerian youths to explore chip design as an emerging career path with high global demand and limited competition.

She advised participants to continually update skills, tracking trends in AI and semiconductor innovation.

The Kano State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 20 foreign nationals in the Danbare area of Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

The State Commandant, Mohammed Hassan-Agalama, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Kano.

He said the suspects, who are from Sudan, Chad and other neighbouring countries, were apprehended following credible intelligence and a coordinated operation by NSCDC operatives.

“The suspects include one from Cameroon, one from Niger, 12 from Sudan and six from Chad,” he said.

Hassan-Agalama said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects could not provide valid travel or identification documents, raising concerns about their mode of entry into the country and their activities within the state.

He added that exhibits recovered from the suspects included 10 Android phones.

“The Corps is currently profiling and investigating the suspects to ascertain their mission and possible links to any unlawful activities.

“Relevant agencies have been duly notified, and necessary steps are being taken in line with extant laws,” he said.

The commandant reiterated the commitment of the NSCDC to safeguarding critical national assets and maintaining internal security.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely and useful information.

One of the suspects, identified as Idrisa Ila from Niger Republic, said he had been residing in Kano for three years, where he engaged in trading activities involving selling materials and other goods based on customers’ demands.

He explained that he met some of the suspects through Facebook and that they informed him of their plan to travel to Sudan through Chad, using Nigeria as a transit point.

According to him, some of the individuals requested temporary accommodation, but he initially declined, citing the expiration of his house rent.

He said the group later sent money for him to secure a house for them, adding that he was expecting only five persons, but more individuals subsequently arrived and occupied the residence.

“They told me they did not have enough money to continue their journey to Sudan and decided to stay in Nigeria for some time,” he said.

Ila added that residents of the area became suspicious due to the large number of occupants in the house and their inability to speak or understand Hausa or English, prompting them to report the matter to authorities.

He said he possessed valid documents but could not confirm the legal status or travel documents of the other suspects, noting that they had spent more than 10 days in Kano before their arrest.