TheNewsGuru

Tag: Borno State

  • Flood: Borno govt closes schools for 2 weeks

    Flood: Borno govt closes schools for 2 weeks

    The Borno State Government has announced the closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state for two weeks due to floods that had displaced many residents.

    A statement on Monday by the Acting Director, Schools Services, Grema Bulama, said the development had displaced some people across the state.

    “Due to the ongoing flooding across the state and its adverse effects, the Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation has directed a statewide closure of all schools, both public and private, until Monday, Sept. 23.

    “We urge all concerned parties to comply strictly with this directive. We regret any inconvenience this notice may have caused and we appreciate your understanding,” the  statement added.

    Schools were initially scheduled to open in Borno on Monday,  Sept. 9, but some of the schools were occupied by people displaced by the flood.

    There was a mild drama in Gwange Ward of Maiduguri, when people displaced by floods resisted attempts by government officials to make them vacate a school where they have been taking refuge since last week.

    Meanwhile, the Borno Government has constituted a flood emergency response committee under the coordination of the Secretary to the State Government,  Alhaji Bukar Tijjani.

  • Stray elephants invade Borno communities

    Stray elephants invade Borno communities

    The Forestry and Wild Life in Borno Ministry of Environment has disclosed that a herd of elephants that allegedly strayed from neighbouring Cameroon has invaded and destroyed some community farmlands in the State.

    A Director in the Ministry, Mr Ayuba Peter, who confirmed the incident in an interview  in Maiduguri on Monday, said the incident had become perennial in the last five years in the area.

    “We have been having reports of elephants destroying farmlands in Gamboru/Ngala and Kala-Balge Local Government Areas (LGAs) for the past five years.

    “They use to come from a forest reserve in the neighbouring Cameroon Republic at this time and roam around, causing serious destruction to farmlands until flood water recedes around December,” Peter said.

    He further said that the menace had been reported to the Federal Government through the National Park for urgent intervention. He said that facilities, such as guns and firecrackers, are needed to scare the elephants away.

    Peter said that efforts by the ministry were being frustrated by flooding, coupled with insecurity in the border communities. He called for concerted efforts by various stakeholders, including non- governmental organisations, to permanently arrest the menace.

    He also appealed to government at all levels to give financial support to the farmers, whose farmlands were destroyed.

    In a letter to Gov. Babagana Zulum, a community leader, Baba Hassan from Ngala, called for urgent measures to address the problem.

    Hassan expressed worry that farmers in the community suffered huge losses, worth millions of naira, to the rampaging animals.

    “The recent invasion of the farmlands by elephants has resulted in the destruction of vast hectares of crops that the owners rely on for their livelihood.

    “Imagine the despair and hopelessness these people are going through as their farms are trampled and devoured by these destructive creatures.

    “Government must intervene to permanently put an end to the menace, which threatens food security and the economy of these communities.

    “In the midst of already challenging times, marked by hardship, high cost of living, and soaring food prices, this unfortunate incident has exacerbated the difficulties faced by the vulnerable members of our communities,” Hassan said.

    He recommended the setting up of barriers, employing trained personnel to stop the elephants from encroaching on the farmlands and community awareness programmes on elephant behavior and habitat protection.

    Other affected farmers, including Bunu Modu and Musa Ali of Gamboru/Ngala LGA, described the recurring invasion of their farms as frustrating.

    Also, Allamin Hassan and Hala Idris, said they lost so much in their farms to the attack and appealed to the State and Federal Governments to take urgent measures to end the phenomenon.

    According to them, something has to be done quickly before farmers would be compelled to confront the elephants.

  • BREAKING: Fear heightens as Alau Dam over flows bank

    BREAKING: Fear heightens as Alau Dam over flows bank

    Residents along the banks of River Yedzaram in Maiduguri, Borno State are apprehensive as the river has overflown its bank. Also disturbing to the residents is the report that Alau Dam now filled to capacity will be opened to discharge the excess water into the river any moment.

    Already some buildings and farmlands along the river had been submerged in Gwange Ward of Maiduguri, while a stream known as Ngaddabul that also passes through the town has also submerged some buildings and farmlands in Maduganari ward.

    “We are in distress and afraid that more rainfall or release of excess water from the dam can spell more doom for us.  Already, some places like the customs area, College of Agriculture and 505 estates are experiencing serious flooding from the rivers,” Mustapha Ali, a resident of Gwange said.

    Abubakar Ibrahim of Bulabulin ward, said some residents of the ward had started moving out of the area.

    “The flooding from the river is expanding in the Bulabulin area and people have started moving out,” Ibrahim said.

    Meanwhile, the Secretary to Borno State Government, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, on Thursday led a team to Alau Dam to assess the situation of the dam for necessary action. He assured residents of Maiduguri that the State Government was working with the Chad Basin Development Authority, handlers of the dam on safety measures.

    The recent heavy downpour recorded across the state has led to cases of serious flooding in Biu, Chibok, Konduga, Bama, Dikwa and Jere local government areas of the State.

  • Breaking: Top Nigerian commissioner dies in his room

    Breaking: Top Nigerian commissioner dies in his room

    Ahmed Ali Ahmed, the Borno State Commissioner for Finance, has died.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) learnt that the commissioner had died inside his room on Monday morning.

    According to unnamed source, the deceased’s door was forced open after he exceeded the time he usually comes out in the morning.

    ‘Oga is no more, he died early this morning,” the source told Daily trust.

    The Borno State government has also confirmed the death of the State Commissioner.

    The confirmation was made known in a statement on Monday in Maiduguri by the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar.

    He said, “Borno state Government wishes to announce the death of Ahmed Ali Ahmed, the State Commissioner of Finance.”

    The statement from the Information Commissioner noted that the burial for Ahmed is slated for 5pm on Monday at the family house of the late commissioner in Damboa Road behind Indimi’s residence.

  • Troops kill Boko Haram commander, others in Borno

    Troops kill Boko Haram commander, others in Borno

    The Nigerian Army announced on Sunday that its troops had neutralised a notorious Boko Haram commander, Abu Rijab, and other terrorist fighters in an offensive operation on Saturday.

    This was made known in a post on the Nigerian army’s official X Handle, saying the operation took place in Bula Daloye, Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

    It said the successful operation was in addition to the surrender of numerous terrorists and their families to the troops as a result of sustained pressure against their enclaves.

    Army said the troops also apprehended several criminal suspects and recovered arms and ammunition.

    “Following an intense firefight, the troops overpowered the terrorists, neutralising three, including a wanted Boko Haram commander Abu Rijab.

    “The operation led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and mobile phones.

    “Additionally, eight terrorists and their families surrendered to troops in Gwoza Local Government Area.

    “The same troops also apprehended two suspects in Konduga Local Government Area with 52 bags of illicit drugs intended for supply to terrorists,”it said.

    The post also revealed that troops operating in Taraba, apprehended the chairman of the Gassol Local Government Area Hunters’ Association, Alhaji Adamu Tanko, for selling an AK-47 rifle to a suspected terrorist.

    It said that investigation had revealed that the weapon had been recovered during a joint operation against terrorists in Boki Lamba, a border town with Plateau State.

    In Plateau, the service said its troops apprehended two suspected criminal elements in the Rikkos area of Jos North Local Government Area.

    According to the post, troops recovered a fabricated rifle and mobile phones containing images of various calibers of arms and ammunition.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the troops for their resilience and commitment.

    “He also expressed gratitude to the public for their continued support of the Nigerian army, sister services, and other security agencies through credible and actionable information about criminal activities,” it added.

  • BREAKING: 9 dead, 20 injured in Borno ‘bomb’ attack

    BREAKING: 9 dead, 20 injured in Borno ‘bomb’ attack

    The police in Borno on Thursday said nine people were killed while 20 others were injured when Boko Haram detonated an Improvised Explosive Device(IED), in Kawuri in Konduga Local Government Area.

    The Commissioner Police, Yusuf Lawan who disclosed this in an interview in Maiduguri, said the incident occurred in a marketplace at about 8pm on Wednesday.

    Lawan said that response teams were quickly dispatched to the scene to evacuate the injured victims for treatment while the corpses were taken to Primary Health Care Center.

    He said that the Police Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) team was deployed to the scene to protect the area from further bombs.

    He added that normalcy was  restored, and joint security teams are on cautious alerts.

  • Borno declares Monday public holiday to mark New Year

    Borno declares Monday public holiday to mark New Year

    Borno Government has declared Monday as a public holiday in recognition of the Islamic New Year of Hijrah calendar.

    The acting Governor of the State, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, announced that Monday would be observed as a public holiday throughout the state.

    Kadafur said the decision was in honor of the Islamic New Year, which begins on the first day of the month of Muharram.

    According to him, the public holiday aims to provide the Muslim community with the opportunity to reflect on the significance of the Hijrah and to celebrate the Islamic new year in a spirit of unity and devotion.

    He said that the Hijrah marks the  migration of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD.

    Muharram is also one of the four sacred months in the Islamic calendar, as ordained by Allah (SWT) in the Holy Quran.

    The aActing governor extended his best wishes to th Muslims in Borno and around the world, expressing hope for a peaceful, harmonious, and productive new Islamic year.

    He urged the Muslim Ummah to uphold values of moderation, piety, tolerance, respect, dignity, and patriotism, which resonate universally.

    Kadafur also encouraged Muslims to coexist peacefully with the followers of other faiths, fostering bonds of fraternity, generosity, and mercy that unite humanity.

  • Reps urge FG to revoke East-West road contract

    Reps urge FG to revoke East-West road contract

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works to revoke the contract for the construction of the flooded East-West Road awarded to Rock Result Nigeria Limited.

    The call was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Oboku Oforjil (PDP-Bayelsa) at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The lower chambers recommended that the contract be revoked and re-awarded to another company with the expertise and capacity to do the job.

    Moving the motion earlier, Oforjil said that the East-West road is one of the important roads in the federation with significant contributions to the country’s economic and social development.

    The lawmaker explained that the road connects major regions, facilitating trade, commerce, and cultural exchange while improving access to markets, industries, and social services.

    He said that the Federal Ministry of Works awarded the contract for the construction of the box culverts for repairs of the flooded section of the East-West Road (Kaiama-Ahoada Section) to Rock Result Nigeria Limited.

    According to him, the company has failed to execute the contract, causing traffic disruptions, loss of lives and fatalities.

    Recalled that on April 11, 2024 the current Minister of Works on an inspection tour at East-West road, praised Rock Result Nigeria Limited, but till date, nothing has been achieved.

    The lawmaker said it is worrisome that East-West road has been in a dilapidated state for years particularly at Iheke in Ahoada East Local Government of Rivers, Aven in Patani and Umeh in Isoko South Local Government Areas of Delta, connecting Bayelsa to Rivers and Delta among other parts.

    “It is worrisome that the Federal Government has prioritised the coastal road over the crucial East-West road, which is vital for the country’s economic survival,” he said.

    In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, mandated the Committee on Works to ensure compliance and report back for further legislative action.

    Reps condemn June 29 suicide bombing in Borno

    The House of Representatives has condemned the June 29 suicide bomb attacks that targeted civilian populations in Gwoza, a Local Government Area of Borno.

    The attacks, which took place on Saturday have resulted in at least 32 deaths and dozens injured.

    This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Ahmed Jaha (Borno-APC) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Tuesday, following June 29 suicide bombing which occurred in Borno.

    The lawmaker, while presenting his motion, condemned with regrets the attack on innocent lives, urging security agenices to be on their toes.

    Contributing to the debate, Rep. Ahmed Wase (APC-Plateau), urged the security agencies to redouble their efforts, adding that there was a need to assess the number of security agencies in the country.

    He said, “Today, the list of the 10,000 police to be recruited is not yet out, and the people concerned are playing politics with it.

    According to him, we are playing politics with the lives of Nigerians. This is about doing the right thing. The matter of security is for all of us, and we should not pretend.

    He added that the Department of State Service (DSS) had in the past arrested those supplying arms to insurgents, adding that security operatives must arrest people found culpable and charge them accordingly.

    According to him, we should not sabotage the efforts of the security agencies, and I think they are doing their best, but accountability has been lacking. Holding some people to account is necessary.

    Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos) said the crime was heinous and barbaric, adding that a lot of innocent people were affected and saying the perpetrator must be brought to book.

    He said, ‘My request is that all hands be on the deck and strategies must be put in place to curtail a repeat of such an act, urging the committee on constitutional review to prioritise state police.

    “The number of men we presently have in uniform is not commensurate with the number of security agents we ought to have at the moment; the unemployed youths can engaged to do the jobs,” he said.

    He urged the chairman on constitutional review to expedite action, adding that there is a nexus between insecurity and development.

    Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), said that the suicide bombing was not palatable, adding that there must have been complacency on the part of the community and security agents.

    He said, “From the inception of insecurity in Nigeria, I cannot see any data on complacency over insecurity, and until we are able to tackle this, people will not account for negligence.

    “The government must hold particular people accountable and centralise improving the living standard of the people,” he said.

    He said that the security apparatus of the country must be discussed, adding that the Inspector General of Police is not from Northern Nigeria and that the Chief of Army Staff must hold others accountable.

    He added that blaming the president would not augur well because he is not in charge of those agencies.

    “We cannot continue to keep people in a position where they cannot discharge their responsibilities as expected.

    The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, said it was imperative to debate issues that concern the lives of the people who are mostly affected.

    Adopting the motion, the House urged the security agencies to rejig the security measures and ensure such steps extend to all states of the federation.

    The House also referred the motion to the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence for further action.

  • Army told to establish base in Sambisa forest

    Army told to establish base in Sambisa forest

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has urged the Nigerian Army to establish a military base in Sambisa Forest, to effectively stem terrorists’ activities.

    He stated this during a courtesy visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army, on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

    The governor also urged the army to establish military base on the shores of Lake Chad and Mandara mountain that continued to be a safe haven for the terrorists.

    “On the issue of completely ending it (insurgency), there’s a need for government to establish a military base in Sambisa, shores of Lake Chad and Mandara hills.”

    He urged the National Assembly to ensure adequate appropriations for weapons to tackle insecurity.

    Zulum also decried the porous borders in Borno and the need to secure the state bordering three countries, to contain movement of small arms fueling insecurity in the north.

    He reiterated commitment to support the military in its kenetic and non-kenetic approach in tackling insurgency, adding that so far about 190,000 repentant Boko Haram members surrendered to the authorities.

    According to Zulum, managing the huge number of repentant Boko Haram members is another crisis that needs stakeholders’ support.

    He said the government had resettled two million out of the over three million displaced persons in the state, and stressed the need for total peace to enable the displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.

    “The continuous stay of over one million displaced persons in camps is not sustainable, particularly with the rising cases of prostitution and drug abuse”.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Abdullahi Mamudu, said they were in the state as of the oversight function.

    Mamudu lauded Zulum for his commitment and support to the Army and other security agencies and urged him to sustain the tempo for more successes.

  • Troops kill 6 terrorists as Lieutenant dies in ambush

    Troops kill 6 terrorists as Lieutenant dies in ambush

    The Defence Headquarters has said that the Troops of  Operation Hadin Kai, on Friday, killed six terrorists, after an ambush, along  Buratai-Buni Gari road, Borno.

    The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Buba said that while an army Lieutenant  died in the ambush, four other personnel,  who sustained injuries in action, were receiving treatment.

    He, however, said the troops’ reinforcement pursued the terrorist to their hideout within the  Timbuktu Triangle and neutralised six of them.

    According to him, troops recovered five AK 47 rifles and 103 rounds of the 7.62mm special ammunition.

    “The remaining terrorist ran in disarray and the troops are in hunt of the remnant terrorist that fled the firefigt,” he said.