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Nwifuru Hails Tinubu, Army Chiefs for Restoring Security, Establishing Military Depot in Ebonyi

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Nwifuru Hails Tinubu, Army Chiefs for Restoring Security, Establishing Military Depot in Ebonyi

By Zagazola Makama

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the Nigerian Army for transforming the state’s security landscape, saying the establishment of the Nigerian Army Depot in Mmasiara and decisive military operations against separatist violence have ushered in a new era of peace and development.

The governor spoke while receiving the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, who visited the Government House in Abakaliki ahead of the passing-out parade of recruits of the 99 Regular Intake at the Nigerian Army Depot, Mmasiara on Tuesday.

Nwifuru described the establishment of the depot as one of the most significant federal investments ever made in Ebonyi State, saying it was both historic and unexpected.

He said he was overwhelmed by the decision of the Nigerian Army to site such a strategic military institution in Ebonyi, a state he noted had long felt overlooked in terms of major federal establishments.

“What the Chief of Army Staff has done for this great state is very shocking and unbelievable. It is wonderful and highly commendable. For us to have a Nigerian Army training depot here is a landmark achievement and the first of its kind in our history,” he said.

The governor attributed the establishment of the depot to the support and vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as another demonstration of the President’s commitment to equity, national integration and inclusive development.

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Nwifuru noted that despite the President receiving relatively few votes in Ebonyi State, his administration had continued to demonstrate fairness to the state through key appointments and developmental projects.

He recalled that one of the President’s earliest decisions after assuming office was appointing an indigene of Ebonyi as Minister of Works, describing the appointment as unprecedented.

“For the first time since Nigeria’s independence, an Igbo man from Ebonyi State became Minister of Works. It is one of the most strategic ministries in the Federal Government today and reflects President Tinubu’s belief in fairness rather than politics,” he said.

The governor also recounted the severe security challenges that confronted the state at the height of attacks by suspected members of the outlawed separatist group known as the Eastern Security Network (ESN), saying several communities were under siege while residents lived in fear.

According to him, the situation changed dramatically following the intervention of the then Chief of Army Staff, who deployed a new General Officer Commanding to oversee military operations in the state.

Nwifuru praised the commander for adopting an aggressive operational strategy that rapidly dismantled criminal strongholds and restored public confidence.

He said the commander combined operational effectiveness with strong leadership, motivating officers and soldiers through an effective reward system that boosted morale and encouraged exceptional performance.

“The officer understood that recognising gallantry immediately inspires others to do more. That philosophy transformed the fighting spirit of the troops and changed the security environment in Ebonyi,” he said.

The governor recalled one of the defining operations in which troops confronted heavily armed ESN fighters who had attacked a police formation.

He said while security personnel initially faced overwhelming firepower from the attackers, the Army commander personally led the assault, directing armoured vehicles into the battle despite the risks.

According to him, the operation resulted in the neutralisation of the armed attackers and marked a turning point in the fight against violent criminal groups operating in the state.

“That operation changed the psychology of both the criminals and the people. From that day, once communities heard that the Nigerian Army was responding, confidence returned because people knew the Army would confront the criminals decisively,” he said.

Nwifuru said the bravery displayed by the troops strengthened the relationship between the military and local communities and encouraged the state government to continue supporting security agencies through logistics, welfare and operational assistance.

He expressed appreciation to the officers and soldiers serving in Ebonyi, noting that many had risked their lives to restore peace across previously troubled communities.

The governor assured the Chief of Army Staff of his administration’s continued support for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, stressing that sustained collaboration remained essential to preserving the peace and stability currently enjoyed across the state.

He also commended President Tinubu for strengthening the Armed Forces and supporting initiatives aimed at improving military infrastructure, manpower development and national security.

Nwifuru Hails Tinubu, Army Chiefs for Restoring Security, Establishing Military Depot in Ebonyi

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Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval

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Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval

By Aisha Gambo

The Centre for Girls’ Education (CGE) has commended the Kaduna State Executive Council for approving the Kaduna State Life Skills Policy and the State Policy on Gender in Education (SPGE 2026–2030).

The Executive Director of the organisation, Habiba Mohammed, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna.

She said the approval marked a transition from donor-supported, time-bound interventions to a sustainable, government-led framework for delivering life skills education and promoting gender equity in schools.

According to her, the Life Skills Policy will equip young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to succeed in education, employment and life, while the Gender in Education Policy providzbves a framework to promote equity, inclusion, participation, retention, completion and improved learning outcomes.

“The approval moves life skills and gender equity from the margins of the classroom into the core of Kaduna State’s education system,” she said.

Mohammed said CGE contributed to the development and validation of the policies through its system-strengthening project supported by Co-Impact, OASIS Initiative and the Malala Fund, in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Education.

She said the policies built on more than 18 years of the organisation’s Safe Space model, which independent evaluations showed had helped reduce child marriage, increase school enrolment and delay early marriage.

According to her, the AGILE programme in Kaduna has reached more than 127,319 girls and 6,250 boys between the ages of 14 and 18, while over 1,400 female and male teachers have been trained as mentors.

She added that institutionalising the model through public policy would ensure that life skills education became a permanent component of the state’s education system.

Mohammed said the policies would address barriers to school access, retention and completion, particularly for girls and other vulnerable learners.

She added that they would also institutionalise life skills as a co-curricular programme, strengthen evidence-based decision-making across the state’s 23 local government areas and guarantee continuity beyond donor-funded programmes.

The executive director commended Gov. Uba Sani for providing the leadership that made the policy approval possible.

She also appreciated the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, the AGILE State Project Implementation Unit, the World Bank and other stakeholders for their contributions to the process.

Mohammed reaffirmed CGE’s commitment to supporting the Kaduna State Government with technical assistance during the implementation phase, including teacher training, gender-responsive education sector budgeting and monitoring.

She said the ultimate goal was to ensure that every girl and boy in Kaduna State had the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive.

Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval

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Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base

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Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base

By: Zagazola Makama

Six fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were reportedly killed and seven others seriously wounded during a failed attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Logomani in Borno State, credible intelligence sources have disclosed.

The sources told Zagazola Makama that the terrorists launched the attack on the military position in the early hours of July 7 but suffered significant casualties after troops mounted a fierce resistance.

According to the intelligence assessment, the attackers had assembled at Garal before advancing on the military base.

Following the failed assault, surviving insurgents were reportedly seen regrouping at Chukun Gudu, where they buried six of their fighters killed during the encounter.

Among those reportedly buried was a senior fighter identified as Munzir, also known as Ba Alayi, who was said to be an indigene of Wulgo.

The development comes as troops of Operation HADIN KAI continue sustained clearance operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves and disrupting insurgents’ logistics and mobility across the Lake Chad region.

Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base

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Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle

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Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle

By: Zagazola Makama

A cholera outbreak has reportedly claimed the lives of nine fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist stronghold in Borno State, intelligence sources have disclosed.

The sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the outbreak had spread through the group’s enclaves, highlighting deteriorating sanitary conditions and limited access to medical care within the insurgents’ camps.

According to the intelligence, two additional ISWAP fighters infected with the disease were allegedly executed by fellow terrorists after attempts to manage their condition at Kimba village proved unsuccessful.

The sources said the development pointed to the worsening health conditions within the terrorist hideouts, where sustained military pressure has disrupted logistics, including access to medicines and treatment facilities.

The sources added that commanders had also been urged to intensify efforts to intercept medical supplies and pharmaceuticals intended for terrorist camps in order to further degrade ISWAP’s treatment capability and operational resilience.

The reported outbreak comes amid sustained offensives by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, who continue to target terrorist enclaves and logistics networks across the Lake Chad region in a bid to degrade the insurgents’ fighting capacity.

Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle

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