Protesters on Friday burnt a section of the palace of the Emir of Zurmi in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State during a demonstration by residents against incessant attacks by bandits in the area. The protesters, who were mostly from vulnerable rural communities in the area, converged on Zurmi town for the protest, alleging that security agents and the emir, Atiku Abubakar, were not doing enough to protect them. Many persons had been reported killed in a series of attacks on peasant communities in the area and hundreds of others displaced. A resident, who spoke with our correspondent but…

Immediate past vice-president of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Emmanuel Osodeke, has emerged as the new president of the union. Osodeke, a professor of soil science at Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was elected early Sunday morning during a three-day conference of the union which held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. He took over from Biodun Ogunyemi, a professor of education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Other members of the union elected alongside Osodeke, include Chris Piwuna of University of Jos as vice president; Olusiji Sowande of Federal University of Agriculture,…