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Tag: Borno

  • UN condemns killings of 4 aid workers in Borno

    The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, has condemned the killing of four aid workers by armed groups in Borno.

    Eve Sabbagh, the Head of Public Information, UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated this in a statement on Saturday in Maiduguri.

    Kallon said the UN agency was sad by the killing of the aid workers by their captors on Dec. 13.

    He described the action as “tragic” and called for immediate release of aid workers still under captivity.

    “I am deeply saddened and outraged by the news of the tragic killing of four aid workers who were held captive by armed groups for almost five months.

    “My thoughts go to their families, friends and colleagues who are enduring unspeakable pain and hardship,” Kallon said.

    He explained that the four men were among the six aid workers abducted on July 26; when armed group attacked their convoy in Damasak of Mobbar Local Government Area.

    “They were working on a health project implemented by the Action Against Hunger, an International Non Governmental Organization (INGO).

    “One of the drivers was killed during the attack and another was reportedly executed on September 24.

    “I plead for the immediate release of Grace Taku, the only woman who was in the ACF team, and whose whereabouts remain unknown.

    “I also call for the immediate release of Alice Loksha, a nurse and a mother, who was abducted during an attack in Rann in March 2018,” he said.

    Kallon described the action as another sad day for the people of Nigeria and the humanitarian community.

    He noted that the aid workers devoted their lives to helping the most vulnerable communities in Borno, in spite of the risks.

    According to him, the UN and partners were working to provide vital assistance to over seven million people in the crisis-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    The coordinator, however, decried that humanitarian workers have increasingly become the target of violent attacks.

    He revealed that seven aid workers were killed this year while 26 others lost their lives in the conflict since 2011.

    Kallon added that: “Violence against humanitarian actors jeopardizes access to much needed assistance for people affected by the armed conflict.

    “I renew the call for all armed actors to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality which guide humanitarian assistance, and to ensure the protection of aid workers”.

  • Borno govt. sets up waste recycling plant

    Borno govt. sets up waste recycling plant

    The Borno government has procured a plastic waste recycling plant to enhance wastes management and environmental sanitation in the state.

    Mr Kabir Wanori, the Commissioner for Environment, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

    Wanori said that the plant was established in Maiduguri to facilitate evacuation and recycling of waste generated in the metropolis.

    “We need to look into the issue of indiscriminate disposal of waste in the state, it is absolutely necessary to sit down and articulate well with a view to putting in place an effective wastes management programme.

    “We manage wastes by collecting and disposing them at appropriate locations and recycled solid and plastic wastes.

    “The government has procured a plastic waste recycling plant and all the equipment are on ground, the issue of indiscriminate dumping of wastes would soon be over,” he said.

    Wanori said that the government had concluded plans to designate additional collection centres to address lack of approved wastes dumping sites in Maiduguri and other major towns.

    He said that the government would also re-introduce monthly environmental sanitation with effective from November.

    According to him, the ministry has embarked on sensitisation to create awareness on the need for the people to keep their environment clean and promote healthy environmental habits.

    The commissioner called on the people to desist from dumping of waste on water ways to protect the environment and control flood. (

  • Insurgents surrender to troops in Borno – Army

    Insurgents surrender to troops in Borno – Army

    The Nigerian Army has announced the surrender of five Boko Haram terrorists to troops of 3 Battalion stationed in Gamboru Ngala and Dikwa Local Government Areas of Borno.

    The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Iliyasu said that during preliminary interrogation, the surrendered insurgents revealed that hunger and unending bombardments of their hideouts left them with no choice than to escape from their group.

    He added that they also disclosed that they belonged to the Al-Barnawi faction.

    Iliyasu gave the names of the surrendered insurgents as Ramat Mohammed, Alhaji Brazil, Bukar Gambo, Waziri Bukar and Bashuna Musa, adding that they were currently undergoing further interrogation.

    “In the NE Theatre, as troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE intensify the bombardment of identified Boko Haram criminals locations and blockade of the criminals’ crossing points and escape routes, more criminal insurgents are giving up their indignant acts of criminality and surrendering to troops.

    “This sobriety is further exacerbated by hunger resulting from the blockade of their supply routes, arrest of their logistics suppliers and collaborators as well as incessant artillery bombardments of their criminal hideouts,” he stated.

  • Borno Gov hires 30 Nigerian imams living in Saudi to pray against Boko Haram

    Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has engaged 30 clerics to intercede for his state over the unending Boko Haram insurgency there.

    Zulum’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, in a statement said the government engaged the 30 imams who are residents of Makkah, Saudia Arabia, to intercede for the state affected by a decade of Boko Haram violence.

    Gusau disclosed that the governor sealed the agreement with the selected persons who are residents of Makkah, to permanently offer daily ‘Dawaf’ (circumambulation of the holy Ka’aba), to offer prayer for the return of sustained peace in Borno and the country.

    He said that the 30 clerics, who hailed variously from Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano and parts of the northwest, have, for decades, devoted themselves to spending hours at the Ka’aba daily for the purpose of worship.

    Gusau explained that an old man among them was said to have been a Ka’aba devotee in the last 40 years.

    Ka’aba is the Islamic holiest place located inside the grand Al-Haram ‎mosque in Makkah.

    “The critical move is aimed to combine different approaches that include sustained support for the Nigerian Armed Forces, aggressive mass recruitment and equipping of more counter-insurgency volunteers into the Civilian Joint Task Force, hunters and vigilantes as well as socio-economic approach to enhance access to education, job opportunities and provide other means of livelihood through social protection initiatives,” Gusau said in the statement.

    According to him, Zulum, a professor of Soil and Water Engineering at the University of Maiduguri before his election as governor, interacted with the devotees on Friday at the Ka’aba, expressing gratitude and seeking continued prayers.

    “Rather than sending anyone, I am here, on behalf of the good people of Borno.

    “I thank you so much for your empathy and the compassion in devoting yourselves to prayer for us everyday at the Ka’aba which, for us as Muslims, is the most sacred place.

    “We need prayers more than ever before, we are handling our problem from different approaches.

    “Prayer is key to everything that we seek. We will continue to seek prayers from many fronts. We will keep supporting our clerics of different faiths in Nigeria for prayers and we will seek the same from all of you that are always here around the holy Ka’aba.

    “I beg you, continue to pray for us towards achieving three things: first, for us to regain peace in Borno State, the North and Nigeria in general.

    “We will have to continue to pray on a permanent basis because we need peace to be sustained.

    “Secondly; we need prayers for us to achieve our ambitious plan for Borno State; and lastly, for Allah to make us remain focused and not to get carried away by power,” Zulum was quoted as saying in the statement.

    Gusau added that governor returned to Nigeria on Saturday.

  • Boko Haram: Army arrests suspected insurgents’ logistics supplier in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Sunday arrested a suspected Boko Haram insurgents’ logistic supplier and seized a car stacked with motorcycle used tyres in Borno.

    Brig.-Gen. AK Ibrahim, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, made the disclosure while parading the suspect at the Gubio Super Camp in Maiduguri.

    Ibrahim disclosed that the suspect, Samuel Chukwudon, was arrested on Sept. 27, by a joint team of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) and personnel of the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), while travelling along Baga-Monguno Road.

    He said that the troops seized items which included a car, 136 used motorcycle tyres, 200 new tubes and a number of rubber gum.

    “The arrest is based on the subsisting ban on motorcycle in the theater of operation due to the security challenges.

    “We know that the insurgents use motorcycles in their operations; nobody is allowed to ride motorcycle, the suspect is arrested with the banned items heading toward Lake Chad basin.

    “Boko Haram insurgents are around the area and we felt that something was fishy. He made several attempts to bribe our men at the time of the arrest and during interrogation,“ Ibrahim said.

    The officer said that the seized car and items would be destroyed and warned people in the area against trading in motorcycles and motorcycle spare parts.

    The suspect, however, told newsmen that he sells used motorcycle tyres to cart pushers such as water vendors and firewood sellers in Monguno.

    “I reside in Monguno since 1990; I have a shop and everybody in the town knows me, I engaged in the used tyres trade because they told us not to sell new tyres,“ the suspect said.

  • 45-year-old kidnap kingpin arrested in Borno

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Command in Borno, says it has arrested a 45 year-old man, Ibrahim Ali-Jobo, suspected to be a kidnap kingpin in Biu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    The state Corps Commandant, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, made disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    Abdullahi said the suspect was arrested on Monday following a report by a resident, Isa Bello, about alleged abduction of his brother, Haruna Bello, at a helmet in Biu.

    He said that the suspect requested the victim’s family to pay N4 million ransom, to enable them secure his release from captivity.

    The commandant added that men of the command tracked the suspect and stormed his hideout, rescuing Bello and four other victims in the process.

    “Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect has been terrorizing communities in Biu, He has been on the police wanted list,” he said.

    He further stated that the command had already transferred the suspect to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

  • Borno Gov suspends medical director, four doctors for absenteeism

    Borno Gov suspends medical director, four doctors for absenteeism

    Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has directed immediate suspension of the medical director at the Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital and four doctors absent when they were supposed to be on call.
    The Governor visited the State Specialist and Umaru Shehu hospitals from midnight to 2 am during which he discovered that none of the 19 resident doctors, including the two on call were available to look after patients.
    The Governor had instructed nurses to call the doctors on phone during his visit but none responded.
    A statement on Wednesday explained: ‎”Governor Zulum has ordered the suspension of the Medical Director of Umaru Shehu hospital, Dr Audu Usman, for his failure of leadership.
    “The affected doctors include Dr. Musa Chuwang and Dr. Chijioke Ibemere who absented themselves while on call has also been suspended.
    “Dr. Baba Ali Malgwi, who was second on call, was suspended over his inability to respond to telephone calls during the Governor’s visit.
    “At the same time, frantic attempt to reach him was impossible even when he lives within the doctors’ quarters located around the hospital.
    “Similarly, Dr Esther of the Pediatrics department, who was supposed to be on duty, was found absent and also suspended.
    “All medical doctors attached to the accident and emergency unit are to be queried for their absence and the lack of duty roaster.
    “Chief Medical Director of the Borno State Hospitals Management Board is directed to comply with the Governor’s directive while he is to take measures that should ensure all gap are filled.
    “Governor Zulum is determined to ensure that all hospitals across Borno State provide adequate healthcare delivery at all times through.”

  • Doctors, 128 nurses absent as Borno Gov, Zulum pays unscheduled visits to hospitals at night

    There is serious panic and anxiety among doctors on the employs of Borno State Government following the late night visit of Gov. Babagana Zulum on Monday to hospitals within Maiduguri metropolis.
    Many of them, especially those on duty call who couldn’t respond to the governor’s anonymous distress calls, are particularly bothered over the fate that awaits them.
    At Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital, he met patients in pathetic condition and could not find a single doctor on duty. .
    As a result of their absence, Prof Zulum had to place a call to all the 10 medical Doctors on duty, but none of them picked up not knowing it was the Governor that was calling.
    Only 10 nurses were found on duty out of about 138 nurses on the payroll. The Governor went round all the wards to see the situation of the patients and later requested for the hospital’s staff pay book and made roll call.
    At the State Specialist Hospital, few medical doctors were on duty when the Governor arrived. However, the Governor was not satisfied by the quality of services rendered at both Hospitals.

    Zulum was said to be visibly dissatisfied with what he saw on ground at the hospitals he visited.

  • Borno: Tribunal reserves judgment in suit challenging Ndume

    Borno: Tribunal reserves judgment in suit challenging Ndume

    The Borno National and State Houses of Assembly elections petition tribunal on Tuesday, reserve judgment in a suit challenging the election of Sen. Mohammed Ndume.
    Malam Kudla Satumari and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on March 15, filed a petition with number EPT/BO/SEN/1/2019 before the tribunal.
    They are challenging the declaration of Ndume of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as winner of the Borno South Senatorial District conducted on Feb. 23, 2019.
    APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also joined in the suit.
    Justice Peter Kekemeke, Chairman of the tribunal adjourned for judgment after parties adopted three final written addresses.
    He added that parties would be communicated appropriately.
    Mr Marcel Oru, counsel for Ndume, submitted that it was of no use to allow the tribunal to go through the voluminous documents brought by the petitioners.
    He said that the tribunal is not here to investigate but to adjudicate and no matter how beautiful a final address, it can not stand without evidence.
    He therefore urged the tribunal to discountence the petition.
    Counsel for APC , Mr Yusuf Ali, SAN urged the tribunal to give the petition a decent burial.
    He said out of the 1,305 polling units in the district, the petitioners were challenging 119 units if the results of 119 units were given to them would not poll the desired number of votes.
    He said out of the 14 witnesses called none was a polling unit agent none was present at the polling unit and only based their evidence on second hand information.

    Ali therefore urged the tribunal to discountence the petitioners petition.

    Counsel for INEC Oluwafemi Ademola adopted their final written addresses also.
    Mr Phillip Kyelek in his submission urged the tribunal to examine and evaluate the exhibits before it and pass the judgment in the favour of the petitioners.
    He said all the issues raised by the Respondents were answered in the final address.
    In the petition made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Satumari averred that the election was marred by corrupt practices and non- compliance with provision of the Electoral Act.
    He therefore, sought the order of the tribunal for cancellation of the election and for INEC to conduct fresh election for the Senatorial District within 90 days.
    Responding, Ndume in his reply to the petition made available to NAN also, denied the allegations in most of the paragraphs of the petition.
    In his reply filed on April 10, he argued that the said Borno South Senatorial election was free and fair and not fraught with irregularities and non- compliance with the Electoral Act.
    Ndume denied the allegations and averment contained in the petition and demanded the petitioners for strict proof in accordance with the law to the extent of their materiality to the petition.
    He therefore, averred to prove during trial that the petition was defective, incompetent for the compliance of the Electoral Act.
    Similarly, the petition filed by Mohammed Abdullahi and PDP challenging the election of Aji Kolo Khadi of APC into the State House of Assembly representing, Jere Local Government was also taken.
    Parties adopted their final written addresses and judgment also was reserved.

  • Buhari reacts to massacre of over 60 mourners in Borno

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday condemned the dastardly attack on a funeral procession in Borno, which caused the deaths of over 60 mourners.
    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, in a statement in Abuja, said the President had received assurances from the armed forces that the terrorists who committed the killings would pay a “big price” for their action.
    “The Federal Government is firmly and resolutely committed to taking necessary measures to safeguard the nation’s security.
    ”This administration is determined to end the menace of terrorism,” Shehu quoted President Buhari as saying.
    According to the president, already a major exercise has begun to hunt the attackers with air patrols by the nation’s Air Force and ground operations by the army.
    He assured the residents of Maiduguri and the citizens settled in IDP camps that they would receive increased protection from further attacks by the assailants.
    The insurgents on a reprisal mission attacked Badu village in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno and killed over 60 persons and wounded 11 others.
    The Chairman of the local government council, Muhammad Bulama, who spoke on the incident on Sunday, said the insurgent had recently attacked Badu village but they were repelled by the villagers and members of the vigilante group.
    “The villagers resisted the attack, killed 11 insurgents and recovered 10 AK-47 rifles in the encounter.
    “On Saturday at about 11:40 a.m., the insurgents came on a reprisal mission, attacked mourners at a graveyard, killed over 60 persons and injuring 11 others.