Deep Thought

 Northern Security Trust Fund: ₦1 Billion Is a Beginning, Not the Solution By Prof. M.K. Othman Confession: I am not a security expert, but my interest in security matters has led me to read widely and to write more than 10 articles on insecurity in Nigeria over the last 5 years. I also submitted a 12-page security memorandum during a stakeholders’ security interaction with the Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda, in September 2025. I also had a one-on-one interview on security challenges with the current Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR (Rtd), when he was Chief of Defence Staff, and wrote a 2-part article, publishing the interview in my column and in several other online papers. These experiences have deepened my conviction that insecurity in Nigeria demands urgent, informed, and collective action. As a concerned citizen, born, raised and educated in the northwest, Nigeria, like millions of others who call this region home, I grew up knowing a N...

 Radda’s Relentless Efforts on Security: Dialogue, Deterrence, and Search for Stability By Prof. M.K. Othman In Nigeria’s North-West, particularly Katsina State, the struggle to establish security lies in balancing dialogue and deterrence. Governor Radda’s administration has focused on managing this balance to achieve lasting stability. For over a decade, communities in Batsari, Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Faskari, and Kankara faced persistent armed banditry. Villages were destroyed, schools closed, and farmland abandoned. The December 2020 abduction of hundreds of students in Kankara became a defining moment of crisis. When Governor Dikko Umar Radda took office in May 2023, he confronted not just insecurity, but a community traumatized by years of violence. His challenge: restore security without militarizing daily life, seek peace without legitimizing crime, and offer realistic reassurance. As the Hausa proverb notes: “When the flood overwhelms, even fish seek refuge.” In response, l...

 Constructive and Unbiased Journalism: Tribute to Katsina Post @ 10 By Prof. M. K. Othman Saddiq Mustapha and Mustapha Saddiq, often mistaken for the same person because of their similar names, are, in fact, two bosom friends. Both were classmates in secondary school but later pursued different tertiary-level programs, Mustapha Saddiq in health sciences and Saddiq Mustapha in agricultural sciences. Twelve years ago, they reunited, driven by shared passion, to establish “Katsina Post”—an indefatigable e-newspaper focused on Katsina state in particular and Nigeria in general. Their initiative is inspired by legendary media figures from Katsina, including the late Alhaji Abidina Coomassie (Today Newspaper), the late Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua (Democrat Newspaper), the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Reporter Newspaper and Sentinel Magazine), the late Wada Maida, and Alhaji Garba Dangida. Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf, Chairman of Media Trust Group and publisher of Daily Trust Newspaper, ...

 USA/Israel - Iran War: When Two Elephants Wrestle… By Prof. M.K. Othman While the term "war" may suggest a confrontation between equals, the USA/Israel-Iran conflict is marked by a significant imbalance in power and resources. Thus, a more accurate analogy would be a struggle between a cat and a rat, emphasizing Iran’s disadvantage. Still, international conflicts are complex, often defy logic, and are rarely resolved by force alone; the 'might-is-right' doctrine does not hold water. The Middle East crisis must be understood through the lens of these imbalances and complexities, forming the basis of this analysis.    On February 28, 2026, the world experienced a seismic shift, one that many people did not immediately understand but has since become painfully clear. What started as coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets quickly escalated into a full-scale regional crisis. Tensions have risen, involving various parties from ...

 Re: Muhammad Hassan Sale- The Demise of an Academic, One Death Too Many By Prof. M. K. Othman   2010 was a year I was traumatized by the death and tragedy of my former students and colleagues when I was burdened with the task of identifying their bodies - Engr Joseph Mohammed and his classmate, who were involved in fatal road accidents in Enugu when we went for the NIAE Conference, tagged, “Enugu 2010”. I visited several private and public mortuaries in Enugu, which involved examining the bodies of the deceased, some of which looked horribly disfigured, while others appeared as if they were sleeping. We eventually identified the two victims. It was the most horrific experience of my life, which made me spend many sleepless nights until I performed the Hajj operation of that year, one month after the tragedy. That experience was different from that of Tuesday, 10th February, 2026, when Muhammad Hassan Sale slumped and died tragically, leaving his nursing wife, two children, ai...

 Re: Nigeria, Greatness and the Missing Link By Prof. M. K. Othman   A quick break – time to share feedback from my valued readers and see the issues discussed in this column from all angles. This week and in the coming weeks, I will present opinions and observations on three critical issues – the potential for Nigerian greatness, the death of the academics, and the ABU 45th Convocation - which were thoroughly presented in this column. These issues and several others presented in my column can be accessed via my blog - https://deepthoughtwithmkothman.blogspot.com/2026/02/nigeria-greatness-and-missing-link-ii.html?m=1 Happy reading   Thank you so much, Sir, for this blissful article. Nigeria's resources are indeed a blessing. What is missing is effective management and infrastructure by our leaders to transform them into tangible benefits for Nigerian citizens. May Almighty Allah continue to bless your pen. May Almighty Allah guide our leaders to effective resource managem...