By Osas Ekpebolo

Across the globe, governments are grappling with the delicate balance between national unity and the expression of dissent. Few cases illustrate this better than Spain’s handling of the Catalan independence movement. Following Catalonia’s unilateral referendum in 2017, Spain prosecuted leading separatist figures, including former Vice President Oriol Junqueras, who received a 13-year sentence. Others, like Foreign Minister Raül Romeva and Labour Minister Dolors Bassa, were sentenced to 12 years for offenses including sedition, as inciting rebellion against lawful authority.

Chinedu Ikenna from Abia state

As an Igbo man, I write this with a very heavy heart beginning by saying that the arrest and prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not a political vendetta but a matter of national security, justice and the preservation of law and order and most importantly the unity of our dear country Nigeria. I am saying this with all emphasis that Nigerians must not forget the trail of inflammatory rhetoric, incitement of violence, and outright terrorism that accompanied Kanu’s rise as a separatist agitator. His vile antecedents are not far-fetched, most are so fresh in our minds, and for those that may forget a few clicks on the internet will avail too many to count.

Sahara Reporters had done it again, embarking on a path of sensationalism and misinformation. This time, they falsely implicated a supposed Department of State Services (DSS) officer in a criminal case in Ebonyi State. The article claimed that Mr. Anyim Chukwudi Christian, allegedly serving in the Cross River State Command of the DSS, was involved in an attempted murder and had since "jumped bail" after a violent assault.

While the reported attack in Zike community, Kimakpa, in Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State which consumed the lives of innocent people is undeniably tragic, framing the violence solely as one-sided genocide may oversimplify a deeply rooted and complex crisis. The Plateau conflict has historically stemmed from longstanding tensions over land, identity, and resource control between indigenous farming communities and nomadic herders, which is often worsened by climate pressures, and perceived injustice for past incidents on both sides.

By Bako Abdul, from Kano

Growing up on the dusty streets of Sabon-Gari in Kano saw me take a liking to several newspaper columnists. One of these columnists is Sonola Olumhese. Perhaps, owing to his ability to deliver his message in simple yet flowery language not minding whose ox is gored, his penchant for delving into topical issues, or his sense of humour, I always found his columns delightful, educative and insightful.

A court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has fixed March 21 to begin definite hearing on a case of defamation filed by two officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The DSS officers had last October filed a defamation suit against SERAP after the organization failed to apologize for accusing the DSS officials of unlawfully invading its Abuja office a month earlier.  Among the reliefs sought by the DSS officers are ₦5 billion in damages, an apology published on SERAP’s website, social media, and in national newspapers and TV Stations. In addition, was ₦50 million for legal costs and 10 percent annual interest on the N5 billion until payment is made in full.