1,900 settlements, ICT Centre unveiled for survivors in Monguno

On Friday, Annet Günther, the German ambassador to Nigeria, opened 1,900 resettlement homes and an ICT (information and communications technology) center for the survivors in Borno’s Monguno Local Government Area. Reports indicate that the two projects were built by the  international partners in collaboration with the Borno and the German government. Speaking at the inauguration, Günther commended Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno  for the initiatives which she said would have great impact on communities affected by insurgency. “This housing project is a shining example of collaboration between the Borno State Government and international partners. “Funding for the housing units comes from both the state government and international donors,” the German ambassador said. READ ALSO: AfCFTA is determined to minimise intra-Africa trade barriers – Sec-Gen  Also speaking, Elsie Attafuah, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Country Representative, said the projects align with UNDP’s regional stabilisation efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Lake Chad region. Earlier, Zulum stated that the housing estate consists of 1,000 Two-Bedroom Low-cost houses and 900 Sese-Permanent Shelters. The governor said that the houses would be distributed to 1,874 households selected from 18 communities who had been living in IDP camps for years. Zulum said that the German government funded the construction of 500 permanent housing units in 2020 and added 900 semi-permanent shelters in 2023. According to him, the Borno government built another 500 houses and provided complementary amenities such as a health centre and solar-powered boreholes. “A Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed in 2020 under the RS German Initiative to kick-start the construction of 500 houses. “In 2023, another LOA was signed under the RSF German reintegration funds, enabling the completion of the 500 housing units, 900 semi-permanent shelters, and the installation of 375 solar streetlights,” the governor said. He added that the efforts would support the voluntary decongestion and eventual closure of IDP camps in Monguno, enabling smoother reintegration of displaced families in their ancestral homes. Zulum expressed gratitude to the Governments of Germany, the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Egypt, and the European Union for their continued support, as well as to UNDP for its unwavering partnership in stabiliSing the region. Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Foud; Sen. Mohammed Monguno; the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Esty Sotyoko; and Mathew Alao, head of the UNDP office in Maiduguri. Traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents of Monguno also attended the event

Good governance is required to end terrorism – CDS

As part of efforts to boost the morale of the forces, the CDS disclosed that starting this year, the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day shall be changed to Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day in order to reward the gallantry of existing combatants. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa has attributed the delay in winning the war against terrorism to the absence of good governance at the sub-national levels. He said the armed forces’ efforts must be complemented by good governance at the federal, state, and local government levels. He also revealed that the armed forces is mainstreaming welfare packages to motivate the combatants. In that regard, he said there is a proposal to change the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day to Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day. READ ALSO: Kano Emirate Tussle: Kingmaker appeals Court of Appeal Judgement He said the name change is informed by the objective “of celebrating both the dead and the living.” According to him, “this year’s event of Armed Forces Day entails celebrating those combatants on active duty, families of the deceased and the dead officers.” Speaking this morning on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, General Musa said a situation where some Nigerians live in conditions that make it seem like they are not part of an organised modern society makes them vulnerable to the manipulation of those that come to recruit them into violent crimes like terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. The CDS therefore, calls on leaders at the sub-national levels to up their games to make it sync with governance efforts at the federal level. “So when you go and see people living in a manner as if they are not part of an organised modern society, they will be open to other interests to manipulate,” he said. Another factor, he said had made the war to linger is the access of the terrorists to foreign funding. He said the Nigerian armed forces had found a cache of foreign currencies on some of the arrested terrorists. In a bid to eliminate this causative factor, he said the armed forces are collaborating with relevant government agencies to track the source of these funds. “So, that’s the oxygen we want to cut off,” the CDS disclosed. READ ALSO: Ahead of Mid-term: Emerging Signs Favourable for the Tinubu Presidency General Musa also cited “the nature of the enemy the army is dealing with” as another reason why the war on terror has lingered. According to him, the enemy appears like every normal citizen. He explained that this was the reason the army adopted “the non-kinetic approach that is based on the understanding that the war can not be fought by the armed forces alone but by all citizens and other stakeholders.” “Also, there are saboteurs who provide support for the non-state actors just to make it seem as though Nigeria is ungovernable.” General Musa disclosed that it was based on these discoveries that the country is working closely with countries in the Sahel to fortify the international boundaries. He said the window was still open on the possibility of convincing the three member countries that recently left the ECOWAS to reconsider their stance.

THE MIRAGE OF A FRENCH MILITARY BASE IN NIGERIA

“So, it will seem like it is President Tinubu’s visit to France that is rattling Tchiani and he is scared of the possibility of discussions about Niger by the two Presidents. Since President Tinubu’s visit to France, the media space has been filled with rumors of French troops on our soil. Aside the AP video of 2013 in Mali, there is no evidence whatsoever to this outrageous claim.” By Tahir Ibrahim Tahir Talban Bauchi 2027 has come so early with a groundswell of gimmicks and political manoeuvres that are being used to overheat the polity, and shape political opinion in favor of those angling to contest the 2027 elections. From the Samoa agreement fiasco, through to the tax reforms debates, we are now in the middle of a conversation about french invasion. A certain journalist who is notorious for spreading fake news and ending up presenting as a sick person in court when arraigned, was at his propaganda best, spreading the fake news of a french military presence in Nigeria. He was called out online by a security expert who pointed out to him that the soldiers in the said video were English, and that it was not the first time that the Nigerian military is collaborating with foreign personnel for training and similar programmes. He deleted his post after that. Now the Niger Head of state Abdourahamane Tchiani, President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, CNSP, has come forward with allegations that the French government has a military base in Nigeria, and is harbouring and supporting the operations of terrorist cells with the active participation of the Nigerian government. Our ‘sick in court’ journalist and his cohorts have latched onto this once more and are milking it on behalf of the 2027 hopefuls. Who is Abdourahamane Tchiani? He is the presidential guard commander that betrayed President Bazoum and forcefully removed him from power on the 26th of July, 2023. Since his ascension to power, Niger has not witnessed meaningful developments that have justified his military coup. His supposed romance with Russia has not yielded any dividends as Russia is embroiled in a war with Ukraine, and practically the whole of Europe (or those that matter) and the US as foes. Tchiani has come to the crossroads where he has to come clean with his people. He has zilch on his scorecard, topped with a battle with rebels that want to ease him out. He is lost for words and ‘lost for action’ and does not have anything promising for his people. He is obviously not the hero he posed to be. He also does not have the support of his neighbouring countries. The economic support that is most crucial to his supposed transition to civilian rule. A drowning man they say will clasp onto a straw. Tchiani is drowning and he is looking for straws to latch onto. He is in search of protagonists to his lost cause.  The ECOWAS Commission, and the Nigerian Government have debunked his claims. The Information Minister and the National Security Adviser have also done so eloquently. The National Security Adviser has challenged him or anyone to provide proof of the claims of a french military base in Nigeria. Tchiani’s claims are quite porous anyway. His claims that the former Director of the National Intelligence Agency, Rufa’i Ahmed, is part of the operations linked to a terrorist group is a big lie to the high heavens. He probably thinks Rufa’i is still in charge. Meanwhile Rufa’i left the service in August of 2024. Tchiani is making his claims in December of 2024. Rufa’i is not in charge of the system anymore. Also, DailyTrust did us all a favor of fact-checking the video in circulation, which is being referred to as the evidence of French troops in Nigeria, and found out that the video was recorded in 2013 in Mali. The Nigerian troops seen were on a training mission under the auspices of the AU. This video was uploaded on Youtube in 2015. That is almost 10 years after. Nigerians are witnesses to the war on terrorism in Nigeria, including the war waged on the Lukarawa group, who have faced aerial bombardments from the Air Force. This is the group Tchiani is claiming that the Federal Government is using to fight him. Again, Tchiani’s claims do not hold up according to the border communities in Sokoto state who have also debunked Tchiani’s claims. He alleged that there is a forest called ‘Gaba’ where the french have their base in Sokoto. Those communities have denied the existence of any forest called Gaba in their areas. In fact the district head of Ilelah said that the Nigerien military officials come in from Niger to work with their vigilantes in maintaining peace and order in their communities. This was disclosed during a fact check by DailyTrust. There are no french troops in the border communities between Nigeria and Niger. ALSO READ: Benue State Shuts down Lawmaker’s Business Over Fee Disputes The US had asked Nigeria for permission to build a military base long ago and it was refused. The UK who are our colonial masters have not built a military base in Nigeria. Nigeria has a better diplomatic relationship with the UK and the US. How will Nigeria entertain a French military base in the country? To incubate and propagate terrorism? The UK would sit and watch such incursion? Mr. President was hosted officially in France recently and his visit was to woo French investors into the country. There were no defence or security pacts. President Tinubu and President Macron have a personal relationship that spans over 25 years, back to when President Macron was a junior officer in the French embassy in Lagos. So, it will seem like it is President Tinubu’s visit to France that is rattling Tchiani and he is scared of the possibility of discussions about Niger by the two Presidents. Since President Tinubu’s visit to France, the media

Nigerien Leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani accuses France of Funding Insecurity in Northern Nigeria, Says, Tinubu, Rufa’i and Ribadu are Aware

In a trending video, he says the conflagration in Sokoto is aimed at creating an operating base. The League of Northern Democrats (LND) has jumped into the fray and called on President Tinubu and others to clear their names by telling Nigerians their side of the story. In the fast trending video, the Nigerien Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani accuses France of funding Boko Haram. Speaking in Hausa, the Nigerien leader also pointed accusing fingers at President Bola Tinubu as having knowledge of France funding of Boko Haram. The Nigerien leader also mentioned Ahmed Rufa’i, the immediate past Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) as not only been aware of France funding of Boko Haram, but involved in militarising the swarth of land currently being occupied by the Lakurawa terrorist group. Reacting to the revelations by Tchiani, the League of Northern Democrats (LND) have called on President Tinubu and other officials of the Federal Government implicated to come clean by telling Nigerians all they know about this grievous act of territorial compromise. PLEASE SEE: Tchiani Abdourahamani Interview The statement, which was signed by Dr. Ladan Salihu, the LND Spokesperson reads in part: “The League of Northern Democrats (LND) expresses grave concern over the allegations made by the President of Niger Republic, in a Hausa video clip that has gone viral, accusing France of complicity in funding and equipping Boko Haram and implicating prominent Nigerian officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former NIA DG Ahmed Rufa’i, and the NSA Nuhu Ribadu. Notwithstanding the poor diplomatic relations between Niger on the one hand and France and Nigeria on the other, these allegations, made by a sitting president with access to sensitive intelligence and specific information, are too significant to be ignored as mere international politics. We therefore respectfully call on the federal government, and Ahmed Rufa’i and Nuhu Ribadu, as esteemed northerners and public servants, to provide the nation – especially the North that is bearing the brunt of the insurgency – with concrete, cogent and verifiable evidence refuting or clarifying these allegations.” As the rest of the world celebrate Christmas, parts of Northern Nigeria conflagrated following the convergence of the two extremes of war and terrorism. On Christmas day, the Nigerian Air Force bombed two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto state, killing several residents. As this was going on, terrorists attacked a military base in Borno State with, you will not be believe it, armed drones. It was reported that five members of the troops were wounded.

Nigeria Air Force Strike in Katsina Community Causes Collateral Damage

A bombing exercise in Shawu village in Ruwan Godiya district of Faskari LGA, Katsina State, has led to multiple casualties.  The incident, which occurred on Thursday morning, was initially believed to be an accidental strike by the Nigerian Air Force.  The operation was intended to target terrorists in the area but tragically struck the community. Local authorities have weighed in on the situation.  The state’s commissioner for internal security, Nasiru Mu’azu, has refuted claims of an accidental attack, stating the airstrike was deliberate and aimed at terrorists in the region.  He emphasized that the military conducts thorough surveillance before launching any operation to ensure the target is correct. The Faskari Local Government chairman, Musa Ado Faskari, called the event unfortunate, confirming the deaths of four individuals.  He further explained that Shawu has been known as a stronghold for bandits and other criminals, which made it a focal point for the airstrike.  Efforts to assess the extent of the injuries continue as local officials coordinate assistance for the wounded.

DHQ Takes Action Against Lukarawa’s Recruitment Plans

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has raised alarms about the growing activities of the Lukarawa terror group, which has started recruiting to strengthen its forces.  The DHQ confirmed that the military is actively collaborating with state authorities and other security agencies to prevent the group’s expansion, especially in Sokoto and Kebbi states, where it has been operating.  Lukarawa, which has had a presence in northern Nigeria for several years, recently intensified its recruitment drive, particularly targeting local youth through sermons and welfare incentives.  The group is also exploiting social media platforms to spread their message.  Despite these efforts, the DHQ remains vigilant, working alongside other agencies to halt the group’s influence. A former DSS director, Mike Ejiofor, clarified that while the group has been active since 2018, its size is not currently a major national security threat.  However, he urged for continued surveillance and community cooperation to prevent further escalation.  Security expert Timothy Avele echoed this sentiment, revealing that the group’s operations, such as collecting levies and influencing local governance in Kebbi, highlight gaps in intelligence operations. 

New Terror Group Emerges In Sokoto

Sokoto State is facing a fresh security concern with the emergence of a militant group called Lakurawas, which is reportedly operating in five local government areas.  The state’s deputy governor, Idris Mohammed Gobir, revealed this development while addressing officials from Nigeria’s National Defence College, who are on a study tour in Sokoto.  Lakurawas, described as a faith-oriented group, is known for its idealistic leanings and advanced weaponry.  The presence of this group compounds existing security challenges in a state already troubled by ongoing bandit activity. Authorities are working closely with federal security forces to contain the threat and protect residents. In response, the deputy governor outlined the government’s initiatives to manage the security situation, while expressing optimism that the study tour would provide additional strategies for maintaining peace in the region. “This unsettling development has emerged at a time when the state is already grappling with persistent banditry. “The state government is collaborating closely with federal security agencies to tackle the many threats to the lives and property of the residents of Sokoto,” he said.

Carrying arms will solve the nation’s security problem – Ned Nwoko

The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, has defended his proposed bill allowing Nigerians to bear arms for self-defence stating that it could serve as a deterrent against criminal activities, particularly kidnappings. When asked if Nigerians carrying arms will solve the nation’s security problem, Nwoko, in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, said, “Oh, it will. It will.” Nwoko then shared a personal story of loss, recounting how his Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) was killed in a kidnapping incident last November. “The estate was attacked by kidnappers going from house to house. When they got to their door, my SLA told his wife to hide with the children. He opened the door to talk to them, and he was taken away. We never saw him alive again,” he said. Reflecting on the tragedy, Nwoko argued that armed citizens could discourage criminals from operating so freely. “If he had a gun, or if others in the community had guns, would the kidnappers have had the audacity to go door to door? That wouldn’t happen,” he said. However, Nwoko clarified that his proposal includes strict regulations. “For you to have the license to have a gun, you must go through a training school, a shooting school, which is a training school. You must get confirmation from two doctors that you have a sound mind. “You must get reports from the DSS and from the police. You must also be confirmed by your local traditional ruler that you are who you are,” he said, adding that only qualified individuals would be allowed to carry arms under his plan.

Menace of Boko Haram: Hunger Looms – Sen Ndume

We’ve put measures in place to end Plateau crisis – Lagbaja

Sen Ali Ndume, has raised the alarm saying, members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have resulted to looting immature crops of farmers in Borno state without any confrontation from security agencies.