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Zulum: A Beacon Of Hope To Borno’s Less Privileged People

Published

2 years ago

June 23, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum: A Beacon Of Hope To Borno’s Less Privileged People

By Gbenga Akingbule

Born without a silver spoon and struggled through hardwork, perseverance and unwavering desire to succeed, Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum has since become a household name especially amongst the less privileged persons in the state .

Prof. Zulum is always quick to share stories about his humble beginning amongst the high and mighty, a gesture observers view as rare display of humility amongst Nigeria’s political elite

Upon assumption of office in 2019 , Prof Zulum has consistently associated himself with the less privileged,- his former constituency where he got first hand experience of the difficult economic hardship bedeveling many Nigerian less privileged people.

Driven by compassion and his gennue concern to assist the common people, Prof Zulum had on different occasion while on visit to the hinterland, ordered for the immediate halting of his motorcade just to assist locals walking long distance by giving them a ride on his convoy and also give them cash support.

Pfrof Zulum passion to liberate his people from the shackles of poverty and education backwardness has led to rise in budgetary provisions and fund releases for the education sector and key ministries that are aimed at empowering the common people.

For the 2024 buget, the Ministry of Education was allocated the sum of N39 billion to carry out its activities- this effort , amongst others , has removed over one million out- of – school children off the streets of Borno and returned them to the classrooms where their future are being positively shaped to become responsible and productive members of the society.

” Out of 1.8 million out -of- school children in 2021, we have taken measures to reduce the number to less that 800. We’re still working assiduously bring down the number ” Commissioner of Education, Science , Technology and Innovation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe said

No doubt, the more than a decade long insurgency in Borno State had led many children and their parents to flee trouble areas, thereby obstructing their education where massive destruction to education facilities across the state was evident .

At a recent function during a public lecture held at University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID ) which form part activities to mark the exit of the former Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof . Aliyu Shugaba after completing his 5 year tenure, Prof Zulum didn’t mince words when he charged the sea of erudite scholars present at the occasion, majority of whom are indigens of Borno State to think outside the box and collaborate to use education as tool for liberating the people of the state .

Zulum was quick to trip down memory lane and revealed how he battled through pletoral of obstacles in his unquenchable quest to gain quality education that has since transformed his life to become a professor of Soil and Water Engineer and currently serving his second term as governor of Borno state.

” coming from my background, I know how I suffered , where we do not have competent teachers to teach us in our primary and secondary school. I never thought I would be a professor, because both of my parents were not educated, nobody ever told me to do my assignment while in primary school, I was on my own.” Zulun said .

It was therefore not surprising when Governor Zulum recently released the sum of N4.8 Billion as scholarship award to 524 postgraduate students from the state , including orphans and less privileged persons.

The scholarship award according to the governor is meant for foriegn and local postgraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM)

In his usual humanitarian and compassion towards the the less privileged irrespective of ethnicity, tribe or religion governor Zulum during an early morning visit to a school in Maiduguri, the state capital gifted a woman form the South East part of the country- a teacher in the school with the sum of N100, 000 cash for always showing up eally to her duty post .

Also , recently, during a visit to launch grains given to the state by Federal Government , Prof Zulum, shortly after the occasion went towards the direction of the local guard guarding the premises and immediately ordered that the sum of N500 000 be given to him – an amount that is more that his 12 month salary.

The 80 year Chadian local guard who had lived in Nigeria for over four decades and has over 20 Children was stunned by the governor’s gesture and said the money will go a long way in ameliorating his financial challenges.

Furthermore, 63 year old Cecelia Joseph, a widow and mother of six children who was part of the one hundred thousand households that benefited from massive food support scheme carried out by the Borno State Governor.

The aim of the food support according to Goverenor Zulum is to ameliorate economic hardship being experienced by many vulnerable families across state including the likes of Cecilia whose husband, a commercial taxi driver was gruesomely murdered by suspected Boko Haram Terrorists over ten years ago.

Since the demise of her husband, Cecilia who had continue to feed from hand to mouth with her six children revealed that Governor Zulum is the first to have reached out to her with any form of assistance- the food support , she said ” will assist me and my six children immensely ”

Prof Zulum had ordered that the food support should be given to all vulnerable residents irrespective of tribe , religion and political affiliations hence paving the way for Cecilia who hails from far away Osun State, a devoted Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) member as well as other beneficiaries who are not indigens of the state .

” I’m so grateful to Governor Zulum for wiping away my tears with this food support. But I would appreciate more support from the governor and other well meaning citizens for the education on my children. ” Cecelia who currently lives in a rented accommodation on the outskirts of Maiduguri , the state capital said .

Governor Zulum had revealed during one of the many food distribution in the state that ” We have never distinguish between Christians and Muslims in our food distribution. What we’re doing is not partisan either , it’s not based on ethnicity or religion ; we advised the community to select one hundred thousand most valuable and bottom poor and this will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of the masses ”

While warehouses were being looted acros the country during the # EndSARS protests, residents of Borno state were full of gratitude to Governor Zulum for always coming to their aid with his unprecedented distribution of food , cash and clothing to assist the less privileged.

Following the release of N2 Billion intervention by the President Bola Tinubu led Federal governmen to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal Prof. Zulum had announced raising the number of households being targeted for palliatives from 300,000 to 400,000 households.

Each household according to the Governor, will be made up of six family members and multiplied by 400,000 which, by implication, moves Zulum’s new target to two million and four hundred thousand individuals.

“Governor Zulum has continued to stand in the gap for many of the less privileged people in Borno state ” Umar Ali, one of those that recently benefited from the food support scheme established by the governor.

Zulum: A Beacon Of Hope To Borno’s Less Privileged People

News

Security forces Conduct Show of Force In Jos, Bukuru During Church Services

Published

2 hours ago

May 24, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Security forces Conduct Show of Force In Jos, Bukuru During Church Services

By: Zagazola Makama

Joint Security forced in Plateau State on Sunday conducted a joint show of force across major flashpoints within Jos metropolis and the Bukuru general area to ensure peaceful church services and strengthen public confidence.

The operation involved troops of Operation Enduring Peace, personnel of the Nigerian Air Force 551 Station, Operation Keystone, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies.

Security sources said the exercise commenced at about 7:30 a.m. and was aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action while providing adequate security coverage during church services.

The coordinated patrols and visibility operations covered identified vulnerable areas and strategic locations within Jos and Bukuru.

According to the sources, the operation was conducted without any security breach or incident, while religious activities across the affected areas remained peaceful.

The security agencies reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining collaborative operations aimed at maintaining law and order as well as protecting lives and property in Plateau State.

Security forces Conduct Show of Force In Jos, Bukuru During Church Services

News

Teenage Sensations Rosemary, Miracle Win Gold for Nigeria, Secure World Championship Spot

Published

2 hours ago

May 24, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Teenage Sensations Rosemary, Miracle Win Gold for Nigeria, Secure World Championship Spot

Nigeria recorded a major triumph at the 24th CAA Senior Athletics Championship in Accra, Ghana, as teenage athletes Rosemary and Miracle delivered a stunning performance to win gold for the country in the women’s 4x100m relay event.

The young stars, both students of NTIC Secondary School, helped Team Nigeria clinch the gold medal with an impressive time of 42.94 seconds, further underlining the country’s growing strength in athletics.

Their victory also secured Nigeria a ticket to the World Championships in Gaborone, while guaranteeing qualification for the 2027 World Championship in China.

The feat was particularly remarkable for Rosemary, who was making her senior debut for Nigeria at the continental championship.

Sports enthusiasts have since praised the duo for proving that age is no barrier to excellence, with many describing their performance as a glimpse into the bright future of Nigerian athletics.

Teenage Sensations Rosemary, Miracle Win Gold for Nigeria, Secure World Championship Spot

News

The Role of Intelligence in the Nigeria-US Joint Counter-Terrorism Operations That Neutralized Top ISWAP Commander, Fighters

Published

3 hours ago

May 24, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

The Role of Intelligence in the Nigeria-US Joint Counter-Terrorism Operations That Neutralized Top ISWAP Commander, Fighters

By Augustine Aminu

On Friday, May 16, 2026, the world was jolted by news of the killing of top commander of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abour Mainok and several other fighters. Also known as Abu Bilal al-Minuki, and considered the second-in-command of ISIL (ISIS) globally, the top terrorist commander was reportedly killed during a joint Nigeria-U.S. Counter Terrorism operation in Metele, Borno State.

Ever since the elimination of al-Minuki, considered one of the biggest blows in recent times to terrorists in the world over, torrents of encomium have been pouring in for the Nigeria -U. S. joint terrorism operations.
Posting on his Truth Social handle, U. S. President Donald Trump, wrote, “Brave American forces ⁠and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,”

Al-Minuki, added President Trump, “thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had ‌sources ⁠who kept us informed on what he was doing.”

On his part, President Bola Tinubu stated that both countries had “recorded a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism”.

Early assessments indicate that al-Minuki, along with “several of his lieutenants,” were killed during a strike on his compound in Metele, Borno State,” Tinubu said.

“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” he added. “I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” he added.

A few days after President Trump praised Nigerian Intelligence services for helping to hunt down Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a man he described as “the most active terrorist in the world,” US Air Force General, Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, also spoke glowingly of Nigeria’s Intelligence services.

Remarked Anderson, “The Nigerians have been instrumental throughout the last several months, developing the target, helping us with the Intelligence and providing support. So, it could not have been done by our own Forces. We needed to do that in conjunction with them.”

Security sources who analyzed President Trump’s terse statement, alongside that of the to head of AFRICOM, General Anderson, were quick to point out that the “sources” who kept the United States and Nigerian Armed Forces informed of the movements of al-Minuki and his fighters, may be none other than Nigeria’s Intelligence agencies: the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Interestingly, six days before al-Minuki’s elimination, something crucial to the fight against terrorism happened in one North central town, well over 1,100 kilometres away from Metele, Borno State, where al-Minuki and over 175 of his fighters would meet their Waterloo.

Just as DSS, NIA and DIA operatives were helping US and Nigerian troops monitor the movement of Al-Minuki and his fighters around the Lake Chad region, a set of DSS operatives covertly captured a notorious leader of one of ISWAP’s critical cell in Nigeria . His name is Abdulrahman Ozovieh Muhammad alias Abu Ghozi.

Abu Ghozi, security sources believe, masterminded the December 2020 attack on a military checkpoint in Okene, killing two naval personnel and carting away their weapons.

Additionally, Abu Ghozi is believed to have masterminded the 11th March, 2021 bank robbery at Okuku, in Oda-Atin LGA of Osun State; carried out several attacks on police formations in Okene, Okehi and Adavi LGAs. He didn’t spare security checkpoints along Okene-Auchi, Okene –Kabba and Okene-Ajaokuta roads.

Also believed to be behind several kidnaps, including the October 2025 kidnap of a Chinese national in Okpella, Edo State, during which eight personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were killed, is Abu Ghozi.

In January, 2026, his group reportedly attacked and burnt down the house of the Chief Priest at Uhodo area of Okehi LGA. Members of his suspected terrorist group were, before his arrest by the DSS, reportedly set to attack detention facilities in Kainji and Abuja, to release detained members of their group.

Security sources believe that Abu Ghozi’s capture by DSS officers may have greatly helped the Nigerian Intelligence Services (DSS, NIA and DIA) gather further Intelligence that was ultimately used to nail al-Minuki and his fighters six days later in faraway Metele, Borno State.

No doubt, Nigeria’s Intelligence community and their military counterpart again proved very invaluable to the recent successes in the global fight against terrorism, and helped position Nigeria as a very trusted ally in the fight against terrorism.

For the first time since Nigeria began fighting terrorism circa 2010, the country has now fully turned the heat on terrorists, smoking them.out on a daily basis.. The recent successes recorded shows that with our Armed Forces increasingly relying on the intelligence supplied by the DSS, NIA and DIA, Nigeria will sooner than later overcome her security challenges.

Aminu has been online editor of several newspapers, and lives in Abuja