The Police Command in Bauchi State has reported the arrest of 748 individuals in connection with 394 criminal cases across the state.

The Command’s Commissioner of Police, Sani Omolori-Aliyu, disclosed the figures at a news conference on Thursday in Bauchi.

He said armed robbery accounted for 57 cases, leading to 113 arrests, while culpable homicide topped the list with 78 incidents, and 171 suspects apprehended.

Omolori-Aliyu said the arrests were recorded between January and Aug.

Attempted culpable homicide followed with 14 cases and 24 arrests within the period under review.

Omolori-Aliyu noted that rape and indecent assault were also a serious concern, with 44 cases resulting in 72 arrests.

Cases of false pretence and cheating numbered 117, leading to 106 apprehensions.

The police further recorded 20 cases of theft and other stealing-related offences, resulting in 37 arrests, while kidnapping cases stood at four, with seven suspects arrested.

“Further breakdown shows nine breaches of public peace involving 29 suspects, while grievous hurt accounted for seven cases and 16 suspects,” he said.

“Omolori-Aliyu urged citizens to promptly report any suspected criminal activity to the police.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commended the Federal Government for placing a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new public universities in Nigeria.

ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, gave the commendation during a press conference on Thursday in Jos, describing the move as long overdue.

He said the decision would help address the proliferation of universities and allow for better funding and development of existing institutions

 “While commending the Federal Government, this is a matter ASUU has long advocated.

“For over a decade, we’ve raised concerns about the establishment of mushroom universities with no development plans,” Piwuna said.

He lamented that ASUU’s previous appeals to halt the expansion had gone unheeded until now.

“We’ve watched universities become tools of political patronage. The moratorium is not only welcome but necessary,” he added.

Piwuna stated that Nigeria currently had 339 universities: 72 federal, 108 state, and 159 privately owned.

“On average, each state and the FCT have about nine universities. This number is outrageous,” he said, noting that more than 30 universities reportedly had zero admission subscriptions.

He warned that spreading limited resources across too many institutions was inefficient and detrimental to education quality.

ASUU also called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to reconsider the recent approval of nine new private universities, arguing that unchecked expansion, public or private, undermined the system’s sustainability.

Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar has called for a coordinated, inclusive approach to strengthen Nigeria’s resilience against a host of threats from natural hazards.

Umar made the appeal at the Validation Workshop for the National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy (2025-2030) and Action Plan (2025–2028) toward national safety and sustainable development in Abuja on Tuesday.

Represented by Ishaya Chonoko, NEMA’s Director, Risk Reduction, said the new DRR strategy, anchored on the globally recognised Sendai Framework.

According to her, the framework aims to shift Nigeria’s disaster management paradigm from reactive responses to proactive prevention.

She stressed that the risks posed threats not only to lives and livelihoods, but also to sustainable national economic development, peace, and security.

Umar called on stakeholders from government, communities, private sector, academia, and civil society to collaborate in shaping the strategy.

She added that the strategy should be shaped into “a truly actionable tool that empowers institutions, protects communities, and ensures no one is left behind.”

Throughout the workshop, participants are expected to refine and affirm the roadmap for advancing DRR over the next five years.

The strategy is widely seen as a blueprint to build resilience, adapt to climate change, and safeguard Nigeria’s hard-won development progress.

She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to lead and coordinate national efforts, adding that, “We are confident that this strategy, once validated and adopted, will guide us toward a resilient, safe, and disaster-prepared Nigeria.”

Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said recent assessments from the National Disaster Loss and Damage Database showed that over 45,000 disaster incidents nationwide, covering 23 priority hazards.

Attafuah who was represented by Ibironke Olubamise said the data would inform evidence-based planning and targeted resilience building.

She noted that the country’s population was projected to exceed 250 million within five years, making it imperative to act decisively and collectively to reduce disaster risks.

“The National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy is a result of extensive consultations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

“This will reflect the voices and priorities of government institutions, development partners, local communities, and the private sector, ” she said.

According to her, the strategy aims to guide efforts to reduce disaster risks, protect lives and livelihoods, and ensure no community is left behind.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Maryam Keshinro, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that disaster risk reduction in Nigeria was “gender-responsive, socially inclusive, and transformative.”

She emphasised the importance of integrating gender perspectives, equity, and inclusivity in all stages of planning and implementation.

Keshinro noted that disasters disproportionately affected women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

“However, women and girls are also critical agents of resilience, innovation, and recovery.

“Therefore, it is essential to deliberately integrate gender perspectives in disaster risk reduction strategies,” Keshinro said.