News
Adamawa, Taraba Govts urged to take ownership of UNICEF’s interventions
Adamawa, Taraba Govts urged to take ownership of UNICEF’s interventions
By Ibrahim Kado
The UNICEF has tasked state governments to take leadership and ownership of its various interventions for the well-being of children.
Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, made the call on Tuesday at the 2025 review meetings in Yola.
“Looking at the horizon of financing globally coming to the different countries, my request is that governments should take more leadership and ownership”, she said.
Rafique said the meeting remained UNICEF’s standard procedure to review the whole annual work plan at the end of the year with the counterparts.
“So this process enables us to plan better for 2026 and have more innovative approaches to achieve more results and reach the hardest to reach areas and the last child.
“The state governments are the leaders leading the whole implementation in all sectors.”
She said UNICEF will continue to ensure that ownership and the leadership remains in the hands of the state governments, particularly in areas like health, nutrition, WASH, education, child protection, and social policy.
According to Rafique, wherever support is needed for data analysis and reports, UNICEF provides technical support to states.
Dr Tukura Nyigwa, Executive Secretary, Taraba Primary Healthcare Development Agency, appreciated UNICEF intervention and assured continued collaboration towards ensuring children receive better treatment.
“For us in Taraba, UNICEF has engaged all the stakeholders to impact the children’s life in the areas of immunisation, nutrition, child protection, education, among others.
“So UNICEF is at the forefront in these key areas and others that I didn’t mention”, he said.
Dr Garba Pella, Adamawa Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, also acknowledged the contribution of UNICEF as regards children’s well-being in the state.
He said the government and all partners are working together to ensure that no child is left behind.
“That is why the government introduced free healthcare for children in public facilities, free education and comfort for every child among others”, he said.
Pella further described the UNICEF template for collaboration as excellent and urged other NGOs to take a cue.
Adamawa, Taraba Govts urged to take ownership of UNICEF’s interventions
News
Police officer dies, 17 injured in auto crash along Potiskum–Bauchi road
Police officer dies, 17 injured in auto crash along Potiskum–Bauchi road
By: Zagazola Makama
A senior police officer has died while 17 other passengers sustained injuries following a road accident along the Potiskum–Bauchi highway in Yobe State.
Sources said the crash occurred at about 3:15 p.m. on Feb. 21 near the bye-pass roundabout area of PKM on the outskirts of Potiskum.
The vehicle, a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to Borno Express and conveying 18 passengers from Kaduna to Maiduguri, reportedly lost control after the rear tyre rim on the passenger side suddenly detached.
According to the sources , the driver veered off the road into a bush, resulting in fatal and multiple injuries.
One of the passengers, ACP Abubakar Ibrahim Balteh, 45, attached to the Borno State Police Command, sustained a severe head injury and died on the spot.
Two male and two female passengers escaped unhurt, while 13 others suffered serious injuries of varying degrees.
The injured victims and the deceased were evacuated to the General Hospital Potiskum for treatment and autopsy.
Police officer dies, 17 injured in auto crash along Potiskum–Bauchi road
News
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA humiliate Lakurawa terrorists
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA humiliate Lakurawa terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have neutralised several of suspected Lakurawa terrorist elements following a failed attack on Dadinkowa community in Kebbi State.
Local intelligence sources said the armed group attempted to raid a local market in the early hours of Sunday and blocked a major access road into the community to facilitate the operation.
The sources disclosed that security forces responded swiftly after receiving distress alerts and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat.
According to the sources, several of the assailants were neutralised during the encounter, while others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
The attempted market raid was successfully foiled, preventing potential civilian casualties and destruction of property.
Troops have since intensified patrols and clearance operations around Dadinkowa and adjoining areas to track fleeing elements and stabilise the security environment.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA humiliate Lakurawa terrorists
News
One killed as suspected IPOB/ESN militants attack Ogbakoba Market in Anambra
One killed as suspected IPOB/ESN militants attack Ogbakoba Market in Anambra
By: Zagazola Makama
A 15-year-old boy was killed while security operatives repelled an attack by suspected members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN militia at Ogbakoba Market Arena in Anambra State.
Sources said the incident occurred on Feb. 21 at about 1:40 p.m., when a group of armed hoodlums emerged from a dense forest camp at Amiyi and opened sporadic fire at market-goers, apparently attempting to kidnap or rob residents.

A joint task force patrol team stationed at Amiyi responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun duel that forced them to retreat into the forest with bullet wounds. The injured boy was rushed to the village hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival. His body was deposited in the morgue for autopsy and preservation.
The sources added that later the same day at about 8:30 p.m., the armed group resurfaced near the community, snatching a shuttle bus with registration number HAL 987 XA and a GSM phone belonging to one Mr. Kinsley Iwunze of Okpotuno Odekpe, Ogbaru LGA.
Security operatives immediately dispatched teams to the scene, but the hoodlums had fled. Authorities said an aggressive manhunt was ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
One killed as suspected IPOB/ESN militants attack Ogbakoba Market in Anambra
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