₦airaland Forum

Two staff of the Damboa Local Education Authority (LEA) were killed on Monday in a bomb blast along the Damboa–Maiduguri highway.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the victims, identified as Blessings Luka and Gideon Bitterleaf, were travelling from Damboa to Maiduguri when the incident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses, the deceased were seated in front of a Toyota Hiace van transporting mangoes when the vehicle struck an improvised explosive device suspected to have been planted by insurgents.

The explosion claimed both lives instantly, leaving a few others with injuries.

A source within the Damboa Local Government confirmed the identities of the victims, describing them as committed and hard working education officials.

Security operatives have since cordoned off the area, while investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for the attack.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has elected a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Prof. Chris Piwuna, as its next president.

Piwuna, who is also the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, takes over from Victor Osodeke, a Professor of Soil Science from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

The decision was taken at the 23rd National Delegates Congress of the Union, which took place in Benin on Sunday.

The election was contested between Piwuna and Prof. Adamu Babayo from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, according to verified sources familiar with the development.

Piwuna’s assumption of office comes amidst widespread speculations of industrial action following issues surrounding the sharing formula of the Earned Academic Allowances recently released by the Federal Government of Nigeria, brain drain, among others.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said there are signs that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon split, with its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and others possibly defecting to the PDP.

The former governor made this disclosure while delivering his keynote address at the PDP congress held at Aminu Kano Triangle in Jigawa.

He said, “I’m confident that all those who left the PDP will return, including Ganduje, because very soon, the APC will burst and split into factions, having accommodated people with different mindsets.


“I said it, and I repeat: within six months, all those who defected to the APC will come back, and the PDP will rise with full force to wrest power in 2027.”


The ex-foreign affairs minister urged party members not to be discouraged by the defection of some elected officials under the PDP to the ruling APC, attributing their actions to fear of intimidation and harassment.

Lamido’s criticism of the APC comes amid growing concerns over the wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling party.

He further emphasised that the PDP has the confidence and strength to defeat its opponents in the 2027 elections.

Lamido’s remarks also touched on broader issues of governance and leadership in Nigeria, which he believes are being undermined by the APC.


“Nigeria is blessed, but the leaders are always the problem,” he said.

He, therefore, warned the government in power to stop intimidating the opposition, stating that such actions could lead to further instability.

grandsuccess:
What actually amaze me in all these middle-belt killings is the fact that 26% of our armed forces (comprising of police, army(navy, airfoece), civil defence, immigration, prison, customs and fire service) are Benue state indegenes, 20% are from Kaduna state - especially Kaduna South, another 20% are from plateau and taraba states. there is hardly any family in the middle-belt that doesn't have one or more uniformed personnel in their family!

THAT MEANS 66% OF OUR ARMED FORCES ARE FROM THE MIDDLE-BELT!

AND YET WITH ALL THE ARMS AVAILABLE TO THEM BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PROFESSION, THEY STILL ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE CANNON FODDERS AND SITTING DUCK FOR FULANI TERRORIST HEADSMEN!

Something is wrong somewhere.

At least 23 people have been reported killed in multiple attacks on some communities in four local government areas of Benue State between Friday and Saturday.

Our correspondent learnt that the four LGAs attacked were Logo, Kwande, Ukum, and Guma.

According to sources, eight farmers were killed in the early hours of Saturday at Jootar in Ukum LGA.

It was gathered that the farmers who had slept over at Jootar woke up early Saturday morning and were going to the farm when they were butchered.

Our correspondent also learnt that the area, which is a border community between Taraba and Benue states, had been enmeshed in a crisis between the Tiv and Jukun.

“So, we can not say who were responsible for the killing of the eight farmers this morning, whether they were armed herders or Jukun people,” a source from Jootar who craved anonymity told our correspondent Saturday evening.

On Friday, some communities in Ayilamo in Logo LGA of the state were attacked by suspected armed herders, and nine people were reportedly killed.

Also, three people were reported to have been killed in Kwande LGA and another three in Guma LGA by suspected armed herders, bringing the total to 23 in the four LGAS

The Commissioner of Information, Mathew Abo, who confirmed the killing only in Jootar, Ukum LGA, said that the farmers were matchete early hours of Saturday when going to farm.

Abo said, “The report I heard is that eight farmers were killed in Jootar early hours this morning (Saturday) when they were going to farm.

“We can not say for certain those responsible for the killing because the area where the farmers were killed is a border community between Tiv and Jukun people. And there had been crisis between the two ethnic groups.”

The commissioner could not confirm other killings in Guma, Logo, and Kwande as of the time of filing this report.

Efforts to confirm the development from the state command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were not successful, as calls made to her cellphone were not responded to.

She also did not respond to text messages sent to her cellphone as of the time of filing this report.

Agbegbaorogboye:
And yet you're giving them grazing areas in return for killing your citizens?

Herdsmen Responsible For Attacks In Benue, Plateau States Are Not Nigerians – Military Headquarters

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has blamed the recent wave of violent attacks in Benue, Plateau and other regions on foreign herders who have infiltrated the country through its porous borders.

The statement comes amid escalating concerns over continuous attacks by armed herders on farming communities.

Hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced, with many victims now in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State had earlier attributed the violence to foreign herders exploiting the ECOWAS protocol on free movement to cross into Nigeria and terrorise rural communities.Travel guides

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, while speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, stated that the identities, languages, and appearances of the attackers indicate they are not Nigerians.

“Well, when you hear them talk in some instances, you will be able to decipher whether these people are from here or not,” Kangye said.

“For instance, if I speak Hausa and my brother from the South East speaks Hausa, you’ll know that this Hausa is a borrowed one and Hausa language like any other language has different versions and intonations.”Travel guides

He emphasised the linguistic and physical differences of the attackers, noting, “The Hausa language we speak in Nigeria is different from that of Mali, Central African Republic, and Ghana.”

Kangye added that beyond language, their physical appearance is a giveaway.

“So when we arrest these herders and terrorists from the way they speak, it is clear and even from their hair, you will tell that they are not from Nigeria,” he said.

“I think the only community in Nigeria that has hair similar to the Shuwa in the Sahel region is probably the Shuwa Arabs in Borno State, but they don’t even have the same.”

Kangye acknowledged that while some Nigerian herders had been involved in farmer-herder conflicts, the most severe violence had been perpetrated by foreign elements.

“There are some herders that are Nigerians that also get involved in the process of rearing their cows. Then they encroach into these farms and then before you know it conflict ensued between the farmers and the herders, and these are the issues we are trying to solve,” he stated.

“But know that most of the violence and incessant killings you are hearing in some parts of this country are perpetrated by mostly those that find their way into the country through our porous borders.”

He called for stronger inter-agency collaboration to tighten border control and monitor entry points into Nigeria.

Kangye also highlighted recent military successes in the fight against insecurity, announcing the arrest of a notorious gunrunner and kidnapping kingpin, Buhari Umar, responsible for terrorising communities across Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, and Kaduna states.

Leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterparts, have expressed serious concerns over the nation’s energy sector, giving insight into how greed, incompetence and betrayal ruined Nigeria’s energy sector.

In a joint statement to mark the May Day, Presidents of NLC and TUC, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, respectively, lamented that in a country blessed with vast reserves of crude oil, abundant natural gas, and sunshine in abundance, the question Nigerians keep asking is why the nation is still grappling with intractable energy crisis.

According to them: “Every year, we talk about this sector yet, those that claim to know better have refused to listen but insist on listening to what does not work. We are workers in the various organisationsrunning the Petroleum and Power sectors, we know where the skeletons are buried. We know what works. Government if it really wishes to deliver an effective Energy sector to Nigerians, should sit down with critical stakeholders to turn around this sector so that it will play its critical role in Nigeria’s economic development. Energy poverty continues to hold Nigeria in its stranglehold.

“While we are blessed with enough natural resources to drive a robust energy sector, we have lacked the requisite leadership capacity to make it a reality. We are still at a great loss on how to explain events in the Oil and Gas sector. We have crude, yet Dangote claims to import crude to run his refinery. Dangote exports refined products yet, we import refined petroleum products. This defies logic.

“A nation that fails to harness and manage its energy resources efficiently is doomed to economic stagnation and systemic collapse. Nigeria’s energy sector remains a glaring example of mismanagement, corporate exploitation, and governmental negligence, leaving millions in darkness and stifling our industrial potential.

“That Nigeria is celebrating electricity generation of 5,528 MW is disquieting for a country with over 200M people while South Africa generates almost the same at 43000MW for a population that is about 45M. What is worrying still is that not more than 4000MW of that entire generated amount will eventually get to homes and industries.

“If the President is sinking N10b into solar in lamentation of the high cost of electricity in the Villa; the Deputy Governor of Lagos State wringing his hands on the millions he pays on electricity tariff monthly while many agencies of government are crying out, are they thinking of how the worker or the average citizen is going through under such high tariff? At least that should tell government what it has subjected us to.

“Energy, whether from electricity, oil, or gas—is the lifeblood of any modern economy. Yet, decades of corruption, privatization scams, and policy failures have turned this vital sector into a tool for profiteering by a privileged few, while ordinary Nigerians suffer.

“The Federal Government must urgently collaborate with workers, trade unions and the people to reclaim this sector and ensure energy sovereignty for all.

“Public domestic Refineries have remained incapacitated. The Port Hacourt and Warri refineries which we were told had become technically completed are still lying technically in coma.

“All the promises of revitalization remain a huge mirage. The Port Harcourt refinery, after billions spent on repairs, is yet to function optimally. The game that is playing out in the sector especially the downstream sector where Dangote is exporting refined products while other entities import same products can only be explained as a deliberate economic gang-up.

“The entire story around Naira for crude is simply mind-boggling and can only happen here. Nigerians deserve full disclosure on why we must have to suffer.

“Though we can glean marginal progress in the oil and gas sector, we urge the Federal Government to fix all refineries and resolve outstanding issues with NNPCL, Dangote, and marketers to ease pressure on citizens.

“We demand strict enforcement of the expatriate quota system, as the manipulation by International Oil Companies (IOCs) deprives Nigerians of employment opportunities. We call on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to act decisively — or workers will have no option but to down tools.

“We still insist that Power Sector Privatization was a daylight heist and a monumental failure. A decade after privatization, Nigeria’s electricity sector remains in shambles.

“Nigerians are forced to pay exorbitant tariffs for darkness, while estimated billing continues as legalized robbery. If we are serious about development as a nation, we must be intentional about getting the energy sector especially the Power sector functional.”

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has set up a special unit of the police for the protection of the elite. The unit is called the Special Protection Unit.

According to the Niger State head of the new unit, Hassan Sani, it is designed to meet the increasing demand for elites’ protection in the country.

Bago’s chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, made this known on Wednesday, a statement in which he said the Niger State government procured 25 vehicles to the Niger State command of the Nigeria Police Force, to boost patrol, especially in major towns of the State.

Ibrahim said the governor disclosed this during the passing out of the 50 participants of the Special Protection Unit Base 23 Minna which was held at the premises of Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi in Minna, the State Capital.

“Niger State government has procured 25 additional vehicles to donate to the Nigeria Police Force, Niger State command to boost patrol, especially in major towns of the State.

“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago disclosed this at the passing out of the 50 participants of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 23 Minna which was held at the premises of Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi in Minna, the State Capital.

“He said the State government is also partnering with the Police to build barracks in the outskirts of Minna to provide security in the four corners of the State Capital.

“While congratulating the 50 graduating participants of the SPU Base 23 Minna, the Governor appreciated the Inspector General of Police for establishing such a Unit and providing training for them.
He said his administration will continue to support the Nigeria Police and other security agencies as it is ambitious to address the menace of insecurity in the State,” Ibrahim stated.

The Commander of the Special Protection Unit SPU Base 23, Minna, Nigeria Police Force, CSP Hassan Sani, in his remarks at the passing out parade, explained that the SPU is a newly established unit by the Inspector General of Police to meet the increasing demand for elite protective services in the country.

Sani said over the past two weeks, the 50 participants underwent a comprehensive basic training programme with a curriculum designed to instil discipline and sharpen practical skills to uphold professionalism.

Sani said during the 2 weeks’ training, the modules covered were VIP protection, escort and convoy movement, combat parades and formation, firearms handling and shooting range, martial arts and self-defence, first aid and basic fire fighting skills.

Boko Haram terrorists have killed an army captain in Izge community of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The terrorists who struck in the early hours of Wednesday also killed a soldier.

Confirming the incident, the Emir of Gwoza, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, said the assailants stormed the area around 1am and engaged the troops.

“It’s true that my people in Izge community came under Boko Haram attack around 1am. Unfortunately, a Captain and a Soldier paid the supreme price.

“But our gallant troops, the Civilian JTF, hunters, vigilantes and the resilient community members also killed three terrorists. The terrorists abandoned their weapons, over 10 motorcycles and they are still on the run, while being trailed by our security men,” he said.

He prayed for the souls of those that lost their lives and commended the gallant soldiers for coordinating other security operatives to repel the attack.

“May Allah (SWT) grant the departed souls Jannatul firdaus. Our gallant men are still in the bush, sacrificing their lives to maintain peace in the society, ” he said.

He also thanked the Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, for the logistics support to the security operatives, while calling on the federal government to equip security operatives with technological warfare.

North East has come under a series of attacks under Boko Haram’s renewed onslaught.

On Saturday, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the 27 Task Force Brigade, Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA of Yobe State, killing at least four soldiers and destroying many operational equipment.

The attack happened less than 24 hours after the North East Governors Forum met in the state capital, Damaturu, and adopted a multidimensional approach to tackle insurgency in the region.

Buni Yadi is located about 65km from Yobe State capital and is the country home of the state governor, Mai Mala Buni.

The latest attack comes two weeks after President Bola Tinubu charged service chiefs to end killings.

Around 300 suspected bandits on motorcycles, armed with sophisticated weapons, were spotted crossing the Kontagora–Minna highway between Kampanin Bobby and Wamba in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred in the afternoon and prompted motorists and travellers to seek safety.

According to eyewitnesses, the bandits, believed to be coming from Zamfara State, moved freely towards Mashegu Local Government Area without encountering security operatives.

A driver noted the absence of security presence during the incident.

The chairman of Mariga Local Government, Abbas Kasuwa Garba, when contacted, confirmed the incident and revealed that joint security teams have been dispatched to the area to protect the communities.

He also disclosed that two vigilantes from Wamba who confronted the bandits were killed, and one injured person is undergoing treatment.

It was further gathered that military officers stationed at Beri camp have been mobilised to confront the criminals.

Efforts to reach the state police command through the Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, were not successful as of the time of filing this report.