Bandits kill two farmers in Sokoto, flee to Niger republic

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits suspected to be members of the Lakurawa gang have killed two farmers during an attack on Ayama village in Balle District, Sokoto State.

Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred on July 29 at about 4:30 p.m. while the victims were working on their farmland on the outskirts of the village.

The attackers, who arrived on motorcycles and were armed with sophisticated weapons, opened fire on the unsuspecting farmers, killing two men identified as Tukur Muhammed, 30, and Sa’ad Muhammed, 25, on the spot.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were mobilized to the scene and engaged the bandits in a gun duel.

The assailants, however, managed to flee across the border into the neighbouring Niger Republic.

The remains of the victims were evacuated to a hospital for documentation and burial.

Security patrols have since been intensified in the area to prevent further attacks.

Bandits kill two farmers in Sokoto, flee to Niger republic

Notorious cult leader, four others arrested at Igbinedion University

By: Zagazola Makama

A suspected cult leader, Favour Nosaghare, and four others have been arrested for alleged involvement in cult-related activities at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.

It was gathered that the university’s security personnel alerted operatives on July 28 at about 3:20 p.m. after Nosaghare, who had earlier been suspended over cultism, was spotted on campus in the company of other suspected members.

The operatives swiftly intervened and arrested the following individuals: Emmanuel Omogiyo, Osaigie Gerald, Obiorah Chukwudi, and Esther Chukwuma, all students of the university and alleged members of the Black Axe confraternity, also known as Aye.

Items recovered during the operation included wraps of Indian hemp, a packet of rolling paper (Rizla), and a crusher.

Upon interrogation, the principal suspect, Nosaghare, reportedly confessed to the offence.
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VP Shettima: Our Target As A Nation Is To Attain Food Sovereignty

** Urges global partnership for sustainable agricultural transformation in meetings with leaders

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on global stakeholders to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in rebuilding sustainable and inclusive food systems across Africa, saying true national sovereignty is incomplete without food sovereignty.

He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has designed a comprehensive strategy to address food security challenges, which mostly impact vulnerable citizens in conflict-affected regions.

The Vice President spoke on Tuesday during a panel on Country Perspectives: Government-led Strategies and Regional Frameworks during the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Senator Shettima said President Tinubu’s bold national strategy, including the declaration of a state of emergency on food security and the rollout of systemic reforms, was aimed at transforming agriculture into a resilient, youth-driven, market-based engine of economic growth.

“Our target is to attain food sovereignty. So long as a nation is not independent in the area of food sovereignty, it remains a non-sovereign nation,” the VP said, recalling that when President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the administration met a fragile food system worsened by insecurity, climate shocks, and inflationary pressures.

“His Excellency President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency on Food Security, not out of fear, but out of genuine concern for the welfare of our people, especially in conflict-driven environments like the North East, where Boko Haram was sowing seeds of discord and destruction,” he stated.

VP Shettima explained that with 25 million vulnerable people across fragile regions, the government adopted coordinated policy measures, including the creation of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), not to displace existing institutions, but to harmonise all food security interventions.

“We have also initiated food support mechanisms in the North East and North West. But we believe charity is not the answer. In Africa, we say that when you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach him to fish, you empower him for life. In our displaced people’s camps, we’re encouraging food production for dignity and resilience,” he added.

The Vice President stressed that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation strategy must be market-driven, powered by entrepreneurship and innovation.

“Our belief is that agriculture should be market-driven. The whole mantra is about increasing yields. Entrepreneurial capitalism is embedded in the psyche of the average Nigerian,” he noted.

To achieve this, he said the government is investing in improved seeds, extension services, climate-resilient farming, and mechanisation.

“We are reinforcing our extension services so that our farmers can get up-to-date information on rainfall patterns and how to manage the climate shocks ravaging our part of the world,” he said.

VP Shettima Meets FAO, IFAD, WFP Chiefs, Seeks Support For Lake Chad, Year-Round Farming, Green Revolution

Meanwhile, on the margins of the summit, Vice President Shettima held high-level bilateral meetings with top executives of key global food and development agencies, including the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu; President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Álvaro Lario, and Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain.

In his meeting with the FAO DG, Shettima sought the organisation’s partnership in reviving the Lake Chad region, enhancing all-year farming, and supporting the Green Revolution Project of the Federal Government.

“The revival of the Lake Chad region, which is being threatened by multidimensional challenges such as environmental degradation, climate change, humanitarian crises, and conflict, requires a multi-pronged approach, development initiatives, conflict resolution, regional cooperation, and large-scale infrastructure,” VP Shettima said.

He emphasised the region’s enormous agricultural potential, urging FAO to play a central role in supporting its recovery.

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, praised the political will of the Tinubu administration, describing it as a clear demonstration of committed leadership to transform Nigeria’s food systems. He pledged enhanced FAO partnership and technical support.

In a similar meeting with IFAD President, Álvaro Lario, VP Shettima underscored the administration’s resolve to empower smallholder farmers, especially youth and women, with access to finance, mechanisation, and modern inputs.

“We are focusing on increased productivity, resilience, and commercialisation, not handouts,” VP Shettima noted, adding that Nigeria’s plan includes scaling up existing IFAD-supported projects to reach more rural communities.

The Vice President also held talks with WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, during which he commended the organisation’s longstanding humanitarian interventions in Nigeria.

He, however, reiterated the administration’s shift toward sustainable solutions.

McCain pledged WFP’s continued commitment to working with the Nigerian government in areas such as school feeding, nutrition, and support for displaced communities.

VP Shettima: Our Target As A Nation Is To Attain Food Sovereignty