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Abia State Landowners Reject Resumed Government’s Airport Enumeration Exercise

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Abia State Landowners Reject Resumed Government’s Airport Enumeration Exercise

By: Michael Mike

The Nsulu Airport Landowners Forum has sharply criticised the Abia State government’s ongoing land enumeration exercise for the proposed Nsulu Airport project, labelling it “forceful,” “unauthorised,” and lacking in transparency.

In a strongly worded letter to the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the forum announced its rejection of the current enumeration and demanded its immediate suspension.

The letter, signed by Dr. Max Nduaguibe (Chairman) and Elele Felix (Secretary) of the Forum, follows a virtual meeting held on February 11th, where landowners deliberated on a previous meeting with government representatives on February 9th.

While the landowners acknowledged the Governor’s recent reduction in the land designated for the airport, which the forum welcomed, they expressed deep concern about the government’s subsequent actions.

The landowners’ main complaint concerns the government’s unilateral actions. The forum claims that government officials forcibly entered the property to begin the enumeration process, collecting payment information without the landowners’ consent or participation.

Furthermore, the government appointed estate surveyors to represent landowners with no prior consultation.

The letter stated that the government’s actions are in bad faith, undermine the negotiation process, and raise serious concerns about their sincerity.

The forum insists that the enumeration exercise can only begin once a mutually agreed-upon land size has been formalised and all stakeholders have signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

They have requested the immediate withdrawal of the government’s enumeration team, as well as a commitment to fair negotiations, which are set to resume on February 16th.

They emphasize that suspending the enumeration will be key to restoring confidence and ensuring the safety of any future field workers.

The letter also expressed concerns about the fairness of the virtual meeting platform used during previous negotiations. The forum claims that access restrictions prevented its representatives from fully participating, whereas government representatives had unrestricted access.

They are urging the government to resolve this issue before the next meeting.

Copies of the letter were sent to Rt. Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, Member Representing Isiala Ngwa North & South Federal Constituency, and Hon. Collins Iheonunekwu, Member Representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency, emphasising the urgency of the situation and the need for action.

The rejection of the enumeration process calls the future of the Nsulu Airport project into question. The government has yet to respond publicly to the landowners’ demands, so the project’s fate and the possibility of further conflict remain uncertain.

The upcoming meeting on February 16th is expected to be crucial in resolving this dispute and determining the next steps.

Observers are waiting to see how the government will respond to these serious allegations of heavy-handedness and lack of transparency.

Abia State Landowners Reject Resumed Government’s Airport Enumeration Exercise

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Six Military personnel, two civilians arrested over death of suspect in kaduna

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Six Military personnel, two civilians arrested over death of suspect in kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

Atleast Six Military personnel and two civilians were arrested in connection with the alleged torture and death of a 65-year-old man, Surajo, popularly known as “Alhaji M,” in Millennium City, Kaduna.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident reportedly occurred on May 3, 2025, when two civilians, Alhaji Adamu Jinjiri, of Shehu Laminu Road, Unguwan Rimi, and Ibrahim Yakubu, of Maladanga Road, Unguwan Rimi, apprehended the deceased over allegations of conspiracy and theft.

The suspects accused the victim of aiding one Yahaya Aleiru, currently at large, in stealing a cow and an electrical distribution box. They allegedly handed Surajo over to operatives of the Millennium City Strike Force, a military security unit in the area.

According to a police sources, the victim was severely tortured at a checkpoint by the military personnel, including one Lieutenant Alhassan Musa and five others, leading to his collapse.

Surajo was later rushed to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

Sources from the Kaduna State Police Command said all eight suspects, including the six soldiers and the two civilians who initiated the arrest, have been taken into custody.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Kaduna, for discreet investigation,” a police source told Zagazola Makama.

Six Military personnel, two civilians arrested over death of suspect in kaduna

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Zulum Resettles 6,000 Families from Dikwa, Mafa

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Zulum Resettles 6,000 Families from Dikwa, Mafa

… To Upgrade Skill Center at Maiduguri Correctional Facility

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum Umara, has announced the resettlement of 6,000 families displaced by Boko Haram insurgents. The families mostly hailed from Dikwa and Mafa local government areas.

Zulum announced the plan on Monday at Muna IDP camp, one of the largests with about 11,000 families taking refuge due to the over a decade old crisis in Borno.

Addressing journalists, Zulum reiterated that the resettlement became imperative due to the high-level of illicit activities in the camp.

“Boko Haram can never be eradicated without resettlement taking place. People have to go back to their homes and earn their livelihood. We have observed that in the IDP camp, there is increasing prostitution, increasing gangsterism, cases of child abuse and other criminalities,” Zulum said.

He added, “If you could remember, about four years ago, we announced that all formal IDP camps within Maiduguri metropolis would be closed. So far, so good, we have closed all down, about 12 of them. We have two informal camps remaining. We have resettled about 75% of the IDPs here (Muna camp), and the remaining 25% will return to their ancestral localities in the next few days.

According to Governor Zulum, each of the 6,000 families will receive food aid, shelter materials, and access to healthcare services as part of the resettlement process.

The Governor also announced that while each head of both male and female households receives N100,000, an additional N50,000 will be distributed to the housewives.

… To Upgrade Skill Center at Maiduguri Correctional Facility

Meanwhile, Governor Zulum also announced a plan to upgrade the vocational and skill acquisition centre at Maiduguri Maximum Security Correctional Facility to enhance rehabilitation and reduce the tendency for inmates to relapse into criminal activities.

The Governor who visited the facility on Monday morning emphasised that the essence of prison sentences is to transform lives, not just to confine individuals. He said, “I am here to examine the living conditions of the inmates here, especially in the areas of technical and vocational skills.

The essence of keeping them at the correctional facility is largely to reform them, but this cannot be feasible without facilities on the ground. We can also examine cases of some inmates, and within the ambit of the law, we will look to the possibility of releasing those convicted of minor offences,” Zulum said.

Governor Zulum was accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, Shiekh Modu Mustapha, and the permanent secretary of the Government House, Barrister Mustapha Ali Busuguma.

Zulum Resettles 6,000 Families from Dikwa, Mafa

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Provide solutions to challenges confronting your people, Buni tells northeast governors

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Provide solutions to challenges confronting your people, Buni tells northeast governors

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has told his colleagues that destiny has placed on you the leadership of your respective states to take decisions and provide solutions to challenges confronting your people.

Governor Buni, who is also the chief host of the 11th Northeast Governor’s Forum, said the northeast is committed to working together to address the challenges facing the region.

Adding that, today we are here on this occasion for us to deliberately reflect and make far-reaching decisions for and on behalf of our people to promote peace, security, and prosperity of the North Eastern States.

The high-level meeting, which is held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Damaturu, brings together governors from the six northeastern states, including Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, and Yobe, aimed at discussing collaborative strategies to tackle the resurgence of Boko Haram hostilities and revitalizing agricultural activities and other ongoing challenges.

In his opening remarks, the Governor of Borno State, who is also the Chairman of the forum, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, emphasized the need for a unified approach to terrorism, banditry, and other security threats destabilizing the region.

“Your Excellencies, our forum’s determined efforts in tackling collectively all issues affecting our region have further made us a force to be reckoned with in the nation,” Zulum said.

He urged all well-meaning citizens of our region to support and work with us in the interest of the development of our people.

Experts and representatives from the Northeast Development Commission, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, and Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology were present to address the governor.

The ceremony was attended by secretaries to the state governments in the six states in the region, traditional rulers, security heads, and heads of the relevant agencies from the region.

Provide solutions to challenges confronting your people, Buni tells northeast governors

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