News
More than 100 commuters perished along the Maiduguri Damaturu road before the advent of RRS to stop the carnage….Commander Babalola
More than 100 commuters perished along the Maiduguri Damaturu road before the advent of RRS to stop the carnage….Commander Babalola
By: Bodunrin Kayode
More than 100 commuters perished along the Maiduguri Damaturu route before the formation of the rapid response squad (RRS) in Borno state.
Some were killed on the spot while on their journeys but hundreds were wheeled into the savanna by dare devil insurgents who slaughtered them like cattle when they resisted certain crazy directives before the advent of the RRS.
Casualties caused by boko haram insurgents on the Damaturu Maiduguri road alone became so alarming that Governor Babagana Zulum had to step in with the formation of (RRS) five years ago to ameliorate the situation.
These were the words of the Commander of the RRS squad Abioye Babalola in a recent chat with this reporter during an operational visit of the Commissioner of Police Abdulmajid Naziru to their base.
Before now, he noted, there was no easy movement by commuters on this route but the coming of RRS has eased that wickedness by the insurgents on the road.
” RRS has become a single strike unit of the State government and it has been serving the state diligently without any fear.
“The CP is passionate about the squad which is why he came to see things for himself and know where we have challenges and where he can make his input.
” For instance about twelve officers do not have office accommodation to work effectively and many more of these similar challenges which the CP intends to handle for the squad” Assistant Commissioner of Police Babalola posited.
The RRS squad established Jan 10, 2010 is made up of men of the Nigerian police in charge of internal security and all the paramilitary agencies in the state including the civilian joint task force (JTF) known to have been fighting along side troops in the last fifteen years.
The visit further revealed that the Borno state Police command has been able to arrest 1,541 suspects for various forms of infractions against the laws of the land during the period under review.
This massive haul of arrests which occurred especially during the period of the arrival of the new CP includes 32 dismissed military personnel alleged to have been involved in various forms of criminal activities in the state.
The RRS commander revealed that 1,164 suspect were convicted, 247 released, 1,197 charged to court with 64 still under detention and awaiting trial.
Commander Babalola said that the squad also recovered exhibits from the suspects which include dangerous weapons, military uniforms. illegal drugs worth N27.1m and many more.
Meanwhile, the Borno Commissioner of Police Abdulmajid Naziru has commended the squad for their efforts in fighting all manner of criminality and charged them to be professional in all their duties.
RRS now has extra patrol routes between Mafa and Maiduguri apart from Maiduguri Gubio to Mongonu where they are stationed at Mongumeri along the way.
More than 100 commuters perished along the Maiduguri Damaturu road before the advent of RRS to stop the carnage….Commander Babalola
News
Mob attacked Customs officers, set vehicle ablaze at Maiadua border in Katsina
Mob attacked Customs officers, set vehicle ablaze at Maiadua border in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Officers of the Nigerian Customs Service were attacked by an angry mob at Koza village, Maiadua border, Katsina State, following a pursuit of a suspected smuggling vehicle.
Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 2130 hours on 3 December 2025 when Customs officers stationed at the Kozacheckpoint attempted to intercept a Pathfinder model jeep en route from Daura to Kongolam Border.
The unidentified driver reportedly tried to evade arrest, driving into Koza village.
In reaction, some residents barricaded the highway and set ablaze a Golf 3 vehicle belonging to the Customs officers.
Patrol teams were mobilized to the scene to rescue the officers and restore order.
Mob attacked Customs officers, set vehicle ablaze at Maiadua border in Katsina
News
Bandits ambush security team along Kuzuntu grazing reserve in Kaduna, Policeman killed
Bandits ambush security team along Kuzuntu grazing reserve in Kaduna, Policeman killed
By: Zagazola Makama
A combined security team was ambushed by armed men along the Kuzuntu axis of Anchau, Kubau Local Government Area, resulting in the death of a policeman and injuries to others.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 1455 hours on 3 December 2025, a team of security forces comprising of Nigerian Army, police, KADVS operatives, and local vigilantes on assignment at the government grazing reserve in Kuzuntu.
The team was on a request from the Kubau Local Government Council Chairman to accompany staff of an Agro Industry and local officials to take measurements of the grazing area.
The exercise was successfully completed; however, on their return, the team was ambushed by armed men suspected to be bandits.
Police Constable Sunday Ishaya was fatally shot, while several military personnel sustained injuries. The victims were rushed to a hospital for medical attention, where PC Ishaya was certified dead, and the injured are responding to treatment.
The deceased was deposited at General Hospital, Ikara.
Bandits ambush security team along Kuzuntu grazing reserve in Kaduna, Policeman killed
News
Insecurity: NEC Approves N100bn For Rehabilitation Of Security Agencies’ Training Institutions
Insecurity: NEC Approves N100bn For Rehabilitation Of Security Agencies’ Training Institutions
*VP Shettima says economic reforms must deliver visible impact to Nigerians across states
By: Our Reporter
The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the sum of N100 billion, subject to a final ratification by President Bola Tinubu, for rehabilitation of training institutions for police and other security agencies in Nigeria.
This followed recommendations by the adhoc committee earlier constituted to assess the state of police and security agencies’ training institution nationwide.
At its 154th meeting held virtually on Wednesday, NEC also approved the sum of and N2.6 billion for consultancy services for the project.
President Tinubu had at the 152nd meeting of NEC in October, proposed the overhaul and revamp of training institutions for security agencies nationwide.
Chairman of the adhoc committee, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, had in his presentation to Council, underscored the urgency and significance of the condition of the training facilities, saying most of the training institutions are in dire condition.
Following the presentation by the Governor, the Chairman of NEC, Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed the commitment of government to address the situation.
VP Shettima also charged governors of the 36 states of the federation to ensure that economic reforms by the state governments translate into clear, measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
Noting that governance is meaningful only when citizens can feel its impact, the Vice President particularly urged all tiers of government to focus on execution rather than rhetoric.
He said the era of policy without results must give way to governance defined by tangible outcomes in communities across the country.
“Our task is not to admire problems, but to solve them. Not to explain challenges, but to overcome them. And not to hope for progress, but to engineer it.
“Today’s agenda speaks to our shared responsibility to build a nation where reforms translate into results, and where policies are not mere promises but convincing instruments of change felt in the markets, schools, clinics and farms across our federation,” the VP said.
Highlights of the meeting are follows:
NEC (7TH IN 2025) 154TH MEETING WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 2025
UPDATES
The Accountant-General of the Federation gave update to Council on the under listed accounts as follows:
- EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)
Balance as at November, 2025 – $525,823.39
- STABLIZATION ACCOUNT
Balance as at November, 2025 – N71,647,494,101.12
- NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT
Balance as at November, 2025 – N79,252,769,532.35
PRESENTATION BY NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE UPDATE ON POLIO ERADICATION
The presentation to Council was made by the Chairman, Governor of Gombe State
Council noted that Since the NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Polio was inaugurated earlier this year, the Committee has met four times—between June and November 2025. Each meeting has deepened political commitment, strengthened coordination, and ensured that states remain firmly engaged in the national push to interrupt the remaining variant poliovirus transmission.
Progress to date
Council noted that :
As of Week 47, Nigeria has recorded 73 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) this year—a 39% reduction from the 119 cases recorded during the same period in 2024. Six priority states account for 63% of total cases, with the majority coming from Sokoto (23), Zamfara (9), Kebbi (7), Gombe (2), Kano (3), and Katsina (2).
Of particular note is the progress made in the two states that have historically carried the highest burden:
a. Kano has achieved a 94% decline in cases compared to last year.
b. Katsina has recorded an 88% decline.
- 13 new detections—12 cVPV2 and 1 cVPV3—have been confirmed across the country. Notably:
a. Gombe detected its first cases of the year—one in Dukku LGA (Acute Flaccid Paralysis) and one in Gombe LGA (environmental surveillance).
b. Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Nasarawa and Zamfara have also reported new cases, highlighting the need for intensified action.
First phase of the integrated Measles–Rubella, HPV, and Polio campaign across 20 northern states and Oyo. That exercise delivered meaningful gains:
i. 83% of all planned settlements were reached with geo-evidence.
ii. 92% and 95% of targeted children received the MR vaccine polio vaccine
iii. LQAS results showed 85% pass for MR and 86% for polio
- In the six priority states:
i. Kano, Katsina, and Gombe passed LQAS, showing strong campaign quality.
ii. Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara did not meet the 80% threshold for LQAS, and revaccination conducted in the affected LGAs
A new round of nOPV2 campaigns will commence this December. The implementation will occur in two blocs:
i. Bloc A (12 northern states)—including Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara
ii. Bloc B (9 northern states)—including Gombe
- This round is critical. It presents an opportunity for us to close remaining immunity gaps before year-end
Resolution:
i. Deputy Governors across the implementing states are encouraged to convene State Taskforce Meetings ahead of the campaign

- State Governments are urged to work closely with security agencies to support safe access for vaccination teams, particularly in settlements affected by insecurity or hard-to-reach terrain.
- LGA Chairmen should be fully involved in campaign oversight by chairing the Evening Review Meetings (ERMS), where daily performance is assessed, bottlenecks identified, and corrective measures taken in real time.
UPDATE ON THE STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING ON THE COST AND AVAILABILITY OF DOMESTIC GAS BY THE MINISTER OF PETROLEUM (GAS)
The Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo made a presentation on the cost and availability of domestic gas, particularly the payment of outstanding obligations to gas producers to encourage increased production and supply for domestic consumption.
Gas producers have a cumulative debt claim of $1bn for gas supplied to the power sector as far back as 2011 and ₦185bn (78%) of the total naira-denominated debt claims has been validated by submissions made by NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd (NGML) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); the variance is largely driven by NEPL’s claims against its GenCo customers and unreported claims against NGML by Shell, Seplat Energy and NUIMS.

His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on 4th April 2024, granted approval to urgently settle the ₦185 billion naira validated debt owed to gas producers through future oil and gas royalty deductions.
Following the transmission of the Presidential approval to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the NUPRC has engaged with the six (6) gas producers and agreed on a royalty deduction schedule.
Resolution:
Council commended the initiative and efforts of the committee, given Nigeria’s status as a largely gas nation.
It approved the committee’s prayers to among other things, concur with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the payment of outstanding obligations to the tune of ₦185 billion to gas producers to ensure improved supply of gas for domestic production.
Insecurity: NEC Approves N100bn For Rehabilitation Of Security Agencies’ Training Institutions
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years agoTHE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News8 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
