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Tag: Borno State

  • Nigeria’s 1st Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu is dead

    Nigeria’s 1st Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu is dead

    Nigeria’s first Emeritus Professor, Umaru Shehu, has died at the age of 97.

    This is contained in a statement by Dr Bulama Gubio, the Secretary of the Borno Elders Forum on Monday in Maiduguri.

    Gubio said that Shehu, a distinguished Professor of Medicine, died in the early hours of Monday.

    “We regret to announce the demise of our founding father of both Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation (KBHCF) as well as the BEF.

    “Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu,CFR, Dr Shettima Ali Monguno and Maina Ibrahim Damcida were the founding fathers of BEF.

    “All three have now left us. He was the last of the titans. May Allah have mercy upon them.

    “May All have mercy upon our foremost professor of community medicine and global giant in the field of medicine, ” Gubio said.

    Shehu was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1978 to 1980) and held visiting professorships in various universities, including the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, U.S from 1976 to 1977.

    He was also a foundation fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; foundation fellow of the West African College of Physicians; foundation fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science; and foundation fellow of the Faculty of Community Medicine (Nigeria).

    Shehu was appointed Honorary Consultant Physician in 1991 and became Professor Emeritus in 2000.

  • Repentant Boko Haram member clubs ex-wife to death

    Repentant Boko Haram member clubs ex-wife to death

    Police in Borno have arrested one Musa Dauda, a repentant Boko Haram member who allegedly killed and buried his ex-wife, Hafsat Musa, at a farm at Muhammed Goni stadium, Maiduguri.

    Police spokesman in Borno, ASP Sani Kamilu, stated in Maiduguri on Friday that Dauda invited 45-year-old Hafsat to meet with him on her farm in the stadium premises, on Sept. 12.

    Hafsat was nowhere to be found after honouring the invitation, Kamilu stated.

    “The case was not reported to the police until a few days later when the decomposing body of Hafsat was discovered on the farm by her relatives,’’ Kamilu added.

    He stated that the police swung into action immediately; visited the scene and evacuated Hafsat’s corpse to Umaru Shehu Ultramodern Hospital, Maiduguri for autopsy.

    Kamilu stated also that Dauda was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 21 and that he confessed to the commission of the crime.

    He added that Dauda said he saw Hafsat with another person on the farm and he clubbed her with a hoe on the head before she slumped and died.

    Dauda later buried Hafsat on the farm and fled, Kamilu stated.

    The suspect would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation, Kamilu assured.

  • Tragedy as 7 IDPs  die in Borno building collapse

    Tragedy as 7 IDPs  die in Borno building collapse

    Tragedy in Borno state as seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) reportedly died while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries in Borno building collapse.

    The victims were among the people displaced from their residences by terrorists in the northeastern region of the country.

    It was gathered that the incident happened at the camp in Monguno around 1930 GMT on Monday following torrential rains the previous day.

    “Seven people were killed in (the) incident, and two others were injured and presently in hospital,” The PUNCH quoted an anti-jihadist militia leader, Musa Kaka, saying.

    Monguno, 135 km (85 miles) from the regional capital Maiduguri, is home to thousands of IDPs who fled their towns and villages to escape the jihadist insurgency, which has also killed 40,000 people.

    They live in makeshift camps under military and militia protection.

    Around two million people have been displaced since the rebellion began in 2009.

    The accident happened in a secondary school turned IDP camp where around 5,000 people live in classrooms, Kaka said.

    The affected classroom had been weakened from a previous fire outbreak, and the hours-long downpour on Sunday caused the collapse, said Bello Adamu, another militiaman, who gave the same toll.

    The seven fatalities were buried on Tuesday, a resident, Ahmad Babangida, who attended the ceremony, told journalists.

  • JUST IN: Fire destroys 24 lock up shops at Borno market [PHOTOS]

    JUST IN: Fire destroys 24 lock up shops at Borno market [PHOTOS]

    An early morning fire disaster has destroyed all 24 lock-up shops at the community market in Gubio town, northern Borno.

    The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, destroyed various properties of traders.

    The caretaker chairman of Gubio local government, Mali Bulama Mali, visited the scene of the fire and assessed the damage. He promised to rebuild the destroyed market shops and assist the victims.

    The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

  • Insurgency: 12 years after, NYSC reopens Borno state orientation camp

    Insurgency: 12 years after, NYSC reopens Borno state orientation camp

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has opened the Maiduguri orientation camp in Borno state, 12 years after the camp was shut down due to the menace of  Boko Haram insurgency.

    The Maiduguri NYSC  orientation camp was shut down in 2012 due to fears expressed by Nigerians over the safety of their wards.

    After many years of lying fallow, the NYSC camp was later converted to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) camp, where IDPs from Damboa, Gwoza and Konduga took refuge.

    With the return of peace, camping activities have resumed, with corps members deployed to Borno State for the one-year mandatory service.

    Governor Babagana Zulum described the Batch B Stream 2 orientation course as historic and special, having marked the end of perennial dislodgement of corps members from the state.

    The governor noted that the absence of corps members has denied the people of the state the right to enjoy auxiliary services from the scheme and the opportunity to share different norms, customs and cultures across the country.

    Governor Zulum promised to engage the corps members, especially medical doctors and other frontline health workers, to contribute in critical areas of the state.

    He also promised to reconstruct the NYSC permanent orientation camp, which has become a shadow of itself due to the long stays of IDPs overstretching the facility.

    NYSC state cordinator in the state, Comrade Mohammed Adamu, said a total of 1,125 prospective corps members have so far registered, comprising 629 males and 496 females, adding that none have reported any form of security threat in the course of their journey to the state.

    The coordinator commended the military and other security agencies for ensuring that the camp and its environs were safe and secure.

    Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, remarked that the state has been prompt in payment of allowances to the members, urging them not to relocate to other states for any reason at all.

    The highpoint of the ceremony was the swearing in ceremony of corps members administered by the representative of the State Chief Judge, Justice Bukar Malgwi.

  • Another Chibok girl rescued by Nigerian Army in Borno

    Another Chibok girl rescued by Nigerian Army in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said it had rescued another Chibok girl, Mary Nkeki, 27, in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno.

    Nkeki was abducted alongside over 200 students from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

    The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi said this during the hand over of the girl to the Borno Ministry of Women Affairs, on Monday in Maiduguri.

    He said that Nkeki with serial number 55 on the list of the abducted Chibok girls was rescued by troops of the 81 Task Force Battalion on Aug. 14 in Dikwa.

    “While in captivity, she was forcefully married to one Adam, a Boko Haram terrorist fighter.

    “Since her rescue, she has undergone thorough medical examination in our medical facility.

    “Equally, she has been adequately resuscitated and would be handed over to Borno State Government for further administration,” he said.

    Chibuisi assured the commitment of the military to contain security in north east and restore lasting peace in the region.

    Speaking to newsmen on her experience since abduction in 2014, Nkeki said it was full of sufferings.

    Nkeki said that she escaped with her husband in the night and picked up by a military patrol team.

    According to her, she left behind two other Chibok girls.

  • CSOs raise concern over prevalence of kidney disease in Borno

    CSOs raise concern over prevalence of kidney disease in Borno

    The Network of Civil Society Organizations in Borno (NECSOB), has raised concern over the growing cases of kidney disease in the state.

    The group in a statement by its leader, Bulama Abiso, urged stakeholders to work towards finding the root cause of the problem with a view to finding lasting solutions.

    It demanded the outcome of a research supported by the State Government, being handled by the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

    “It has also became necessary for the Network to question the whereabout of the report of research conducted by the grants of N50m released by the Borno State Government to the management of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital on 23th March 2022.

    “We urge the state government to launch an inquiry to find out the stage of the report if any, and make it public.

    “The Network also solicited the intervention of humanitarian and development partners in research and donation of high technological equipment to address the issue .

    “We are also calling for direct assistance to all the victims as the cost management and treatment is beyond ordinary citizens .

    “It’s in this light that we also appreciate the direct intervention by TetFund in providing dialysis machines and training grants to personel at the UMTH Kidney Centre,” the group said.

    The group also raised concern over growing youths restiveness and cases of criminal activities ranging from drug abuse , phone snatching, burglary, theft and murder, being perpetrated by some gangs in Maiduguri.

    It lauded Gov. Babagana Zulum for summoning an emergency security meeting and directing a crackdown on suspected perpetrators known as “Marlians”.

    “We wish to call on the state to also form a high level committee to look into the activities of this group in order to find out the root causes and people involved in fueling the group or sponsoring them.

    “We equally want to urge the security operatives to synergise in curbing the hydra-headed monster that is spreading among our youths and beyond.

    “We believe the capacity and strength of our gallant security outfits are capable of handling this problems as was demonstrated in containing the decade long Boko haram insurgency,” the statement added.

    It urged for intensive research and training for youths on social behavioural change programming to address the raptured youth social cohesion in the society alongside campaign on drug abuse.

    “We are equally advocating for the creation of Ministry of Youth, Counselling and Employment.

    “The ministry will be responsible for providing guidance to our youths, to make a right decision and assist in securing jobs as well as encouraging youths to be self reliance by engaging them in various skill training”.

  • Zulum condemns killing of farmers by ISWAP insurgents in Borno

    Zulum condemns killing of farmers by ISWAP insurgents in Borno

    Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum has expressed shock and sadness over the killing of eight farmers in Mafa Local Government Area of the State by the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the killing occurred in Shuwarin, Tomsu Ngamdu, Baram Karauwa and Muna on Thursday at about 1 pm while the farmers were working on their farms.

    Zulum, who visited Mafa, described the attack as unfortunate.

    He said the state government would partner with security agencies to deploy more soldiers to secure farmlands.

    “The state government will immediately convene a Security Council meeting to come up with ways of ensuring adequate security for farmers.

    “The government will also inaugurate the Agro Rangers team, comprising the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Army, the Civilian Joint Task Force and hunters to protect farmers,” he said.

    He said that food insecurity was a worse crisis than Boko Haram, noting that the government would do everything to ensure that the people have access to their farmlands.

    Earlier, a witness, Yarima Goni, told Zulum that ISWAP terrorists who rode on motorcycles attacked farmlands with AK-47 rifles.

    Another witness, Malam Bukar Grema, told the governor that three victims of the attack were buried in the Shuwarin community.

    “Most of the victims had their hands tied behind them.

    “We recovered their bodies at about 8:30 am on Friday and prayer was held for them at about 10:00 am,” he said.

    Shereef Goni, another witness, said five more victims were recovered in Tomsu Ngamdu, adding that a 15-year-old boy was spared by the insurgents.

    Goni added that ten other victims were kidnapped by the terrorists during the attack.

  • SAD: Borno SSG suffers relapse at airport, dies at hospital

    SAD: Borno SSG suffers relapse at airport, dies at hospital

    Alhaji Usman Jidda-Shuwa, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Borno state, is dead.

    Shuwa, who was Gov. Babagana Zulum’s SSG, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

    The deceased was at the Muhammadu Buhari Airport in Maiduguri when he was suddenly rushed to the hospital for an unknown illness.

    Borno Deputy Governor, Usman Kadafur, who confirmed the news in a text message, said “We lost the SSG this evening.”

  • Buhari seeks approval for N16.7bn promissory note for Borno

    Buhari seeks approval for N16.7bn promissory note for Borno

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the National Assembly’s approval for the issuance of N16.7 billion promissory note to Borno Government as refund for reconstructed federal roads in the state.

    The request is contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan and read at plenary on Tuesday.

    “Distinguished Senate President may wish to be informed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting of May 3, approved the reimbursement of N16,772,486,002.19 to the Borno Government through the issuance of promissory notes in respect of federal road projects executed by the state.

    “Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that the FEC had earlier approved the reimbursement of N3,084,769,393.63 to Borno State at its meeting of Feb. 1, along with the approval of N6,601,769,470.99 for reimbursement to the Plateau Government.

    “My request for the resolution of National Assembly for the issuance of promisory notes to the two states has already been forwarded to the National Assembly.

    “Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that this approval by FEC for the reimbursement of the additional N16, 772,486,002.19 to the Borno Government was based on an appeal by the state and my directive to the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that sufficient funds are provided for the completion of the Damboa/Chibok road based on the current cost of completion of the project,” he said.

    Buhari added: “The FEC’s approval was also subsequent to the recommendation of a cabinet committee which reviewed documents submitted by the state and carried out physical inspection and verification of the projects executed by the state government.

    “In view of the foregoing, I wish to request the senate to kindly consider and approve through its resolution, the reimbursement of N16,772,486,002.19 through the issuance of promissory notes to Borno Government in respect of the road projects executed by the state on behalf of the federal government.

    “The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing would provide any information that may be required by the National Assembly for the consideration of this request.”