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Gombe, UNICEF launch centre to support sexual violence survivors
Gombe, UNICEF launch centre to support sexual violence survivors
The Gombe State Government, with UNICEF support, has inaugurated a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to assist survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Speaking at the Gombe Specialist Hospital on Friday, Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, described the initiative as a significant step in combating sexual violence.
Represented by Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, Jatau said the centre provided a safe space for medical, psychological, and legal support for survivors.
He added the centre would act as a one-stop facility, offering a wide range of essential services to victims.
According to him, the centre is equipped with basic facilities, including a counselling room, pharmacy store, and laboratory.
Jatau urged traditional and community leaders to report sexual violence cases promptly, noting: “The centre can only function when people are brought in.”
Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said the centre would restore hope to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the state.
She emphasised that sexual violence has serious psychological effects, requiring attention beyond immediate treatment.
Rafique described the centre as a critical part of child protection integrated into healthcare services.
She stressed that abuse of children and gender-based violence must be prevented, not just treated after occurrence.
“Although the centre is vital for saving lives and mental health, preventing abuse in the community is more important.
She called on community leaders to promote prevention rather than wait for cases to be referred to the centre.
Rafique urged engagement of grassroots stakeholders and awareness campaigns, noting most perpetrators are neighbours or family members.
“We must educate communities on how parents should protect their children.
“This is not unique to Gombe; I have seen abuse in children as young as six months across five states.
“These harmful practices must end so survivors are helped, and future generations are protected,” she said.
Dr Sambo Dawa Medical Director, Gombe Specialist Hospital, said the hospital has treated survivors through its SGBV unit since 2021.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, between 2021 and 2025, the unit assisted 645 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
The survivors’ ages ranged from 1 to 24 years: 55 were 1–4, 133 were 5–9, 196 were 10–14, 150 were 15–19, and 111 were 20–24.
Male survivors totalled 119 (18.4 per cent), while females numbered 526 (81.6 per cent) of the total cases.
Regarding perpetrators, 174 survivors (26.9 per cent) were abused by family members, 325 (50.4 per cent) by neighbours, and 146 (22.6 per cent) by strangers.
On types of violence, 531 cases (82.3 per cent) were sexual, while 114 (17.7 per cent) were physical abuse.
Dawa noted that most cases came from rural areas (574), with 71 reported from urban centres.
Gombe, UNICEF launch centre to support sexual violence survivors
News
Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno
Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully ambushed Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Marte–Dikwa axis of Borno, forcing them to flee and abandoning logistics items.
A military source said the operation was conducted in the early hours of Thursday by a combined team of 50 Task Force Battalion/24 Task Force Brigade and 134 Special Forces Battalion, supported by volunteer forces.
The source disclosed that the troops, who had laid in wait at Momoh village along the Marte–Dikwa road, made contact with the insurgents moving on bicycles at about 12:45 a.m.
“On sighting the terrorists, the troops engaged them decisively, compelling them to retreat in disarray,” the source said.
He added that troops immediately carried out exploitation of the general area, leading to the recovery of eight bicycles believed to have been used by the insurgents for mobility, as well as some beverages suspected to be part of their logistics supply.
The Marte–Dikwa axis has remained a critical corridor in counter-insurgency operations, with sustained military pressure limiting the activities of insurgents in the area.
The source reaffirmed the commitment of troops to sustain aggressive operations to deny terrorists freedom of action and ensure the safety of communities across Borno.
Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno
News
Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms
Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled a coordinated attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno, killing several insurgents and recovering arms and ammunition.
A military source told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday when terrorists advanced from multiple directions toward the base.
According to the source, troops who had taken ambush positions engaged the insurgents with superior firepower, forcing them to retreat in disarray.
“The troops demonstrated resilience and tactical superiority, effectively repelling the assault and immediately launching a counter-exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route, inflicting further casualties on the fleeing insurgents,” the source said.

He confirmed that no personnel of the Nigerian military was killed during the encounter, although one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
The source added that at least eight terrorists were neutralised during the operation, while troops recovered seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs, and a cache of ammunition.
“Blood trails were observed along the withdrawal routes, indicating that several other insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds,” he said.
He further disclosed that injured personnel from the encounter were currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility in Biu.
Zagazola gathered that additional bodies of fleeing terrorists were sighted along their escape corridors toward the Timbuktu Triangle, a known insurgent enclave. We saw four more bodies,” said sources.
The military sources also revealed that abandoned weapons and casualties were observed in Garin Mallum and Garin Gajere, suggesting heavy losses suffered by the insurgents during the failed attack.
The military leadership urged to sustain the operational tempo, retain the initiative, and consolidate on the gains recorded against the insurgents.
Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms
News
Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026
Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria is set to sharpen its policy direction in the global space ecosystem as Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited prepares to host the 2026 Nigerian Satellite Week in Abuja.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Jane Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Stephen Kwande, noting that the event will convene top government officials, regulators, and international stakeholders to shape the future of satellite governance and digital infrastructure.
Egerton-Idehen said the forum is coming at a critical time when countries around the world are strengthening their space capabilities as part of broader national development strategies.
According to her, satellite technology is increasingly linked to economic growth, national security, and digital connectivity, making strategic investments in space infrastructure a priority for many nations.
She explained that the conference is expected to attract high-level participation, including cabinet members, defence authorities, development finance institutions, and technology innovators from across Africa.
The NIGCOMSAT boss also highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in global space policy, pointing to her emergence as Vice Chair of the Global Satellite Operators Association as a sign of the country’s expanding role in international satellite governance.
She further cited ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the Kenya Space Agency as part of broader efforts to strengthen partnerships within Africa’s evolving space ecosystem.
Egerton-Idehen described the upcoming satellite week as both a reflection of Nigeria’s 20-year journey in satellite development and a strategic platform to define the country’s next phase in an increasingly competitive global space economy.
Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026
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