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ANALYSIS: While NSCDC in Borno battles vandals, Yobe command caught escorting them — sabotage or systemic rot?
ANALYSIS: While NSCDC in Borno battles vandals, Yobe command caught escorting them — sabotage or systemic rot?
By: Zagazola Makama
Let’s not mince words: something stinks in Yobe, and the stench is coming from a scandal that cuts to the heart of national security and institutional credibility.
On July 8, 2025, troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe intercepted a truck stuffed with vandalised railway iron sleepers. Alongside it, a shiny NSCDC-marked Hilux van, yes, an official vehicle of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was caught red-handed escorting the stolen goods. And who was in it? Five NSCDC officers.
This wasn’t a case of mistaken identity. This wasn’t a situation where officers were tricked or “unaware of the content.” No. A total of ₦128,500 in bribe money was found hidden in one officer’s inner clothing. This was collusion. This was betrayal. This was sabotage.
And while the NSCDC in Borno State is cracking down on infrastructure vandals, parading suspects, and backing Governor Zulum’s bold efforts to protect public assets, their counterparts in Yobe were busy escorting criminals to Damaturu, enabling the theft and dismantling of Nigeria’s fragile railway infrastructure.
Let’s talk about Borno for a moment. In July 2023, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum banned metal scavenging entirely, citing clear links between scavengers, terrorism, and sabotage. People were trekking deep into forests Boko Haram territory not to farm or trade, but to dig up abandoned government property: street lights, cell towers, even military scrap. There were cases where scavengers picked up Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) thinking they were scrap metals. Some died instantly. Others caused massive panic.
And now, what happened in Kano just this week? An IED exploded inside a scrap pile, killing five people and injuring many more in the Hotoro area. Preliminary intelligence? The metal came from the North-East, most likely Yobe. The Kano State Government didn’t wait for another disaster; they immediately banned all scrap metal imports from the North-East. They’re connecting the dots.
So why are we not doing the same? Let’s break it down: In Borno, scrap scavenging is banned because it risks lives and national security. In Yobe, NSCDC officers are allegedly collecting bribes to escort stolen metal infrastructure potentially including explosives from forest zones undergoing military operations. In Kano, people are dying from explosives hidden in scrap metal traced to Yobe.This isn’t just corruption, it’s a national security threat from same NSCDC that is meant to protect these installations? The same agency tasked with defending our national infrastructure? The ones who take an oath to secure our communities?
Let’s ask the hard questions now, not when the next bomb explodes: Who licensed the scrap operators in these zones? Who signed off on the movement of tonnes of metal from remote forests to cities under NSCDC escort? Are scrap yards being monitored for IED contamination?Why are there no nationwide protocols between NSCDC, the military, and state governments on scrap metal movement?
The time for lip service is over. The time for “we will investigate” is done. The dots are connected, and the picture is disturbing.
It is not enough for Yobe NSCDC to remain silent while their officers are in custody. Nigerians demand answers. Governor Zulum was right to act in 2023. Kano has followed suit. Yobe must now take a stand before more blood is spilled over a business that is fast turning from petty theft into mass murder.
And for every officer who chooses bribes over duty, you’re not just sabotaging infrastructure. You’re sabotaging the very country you swore to protect.
ANALYSIS: While NSCDC in Borno battles vandals, Yobe command caught escorting them — sabotage or systemic rot?
US Says Latest Visa Decision Against Nigeria Unconnected to BRICS, Venezuelan Refugees
By: Michael Mike
The United States Mission has explained that recent reduction in visa validity for Nigerian nonimmigrant travellers is not tied to Nigeria’s position on BRICS nor the Venezuelan deportees.
US President Donald Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on “Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS”
Trump made the statement few days ago while BRICS leaders and associates
met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 2025 summit.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar had on Thursday on one of the National Televisions during his reaction to recent stringent visa regime to Nigerian travellers by the American government noted that it may be as a result of non acceptance of Venezuelan deportees, insisting that the country has trouble of its own
Tuggar said: “We already have over 230 million people,” and cannot add to our headache.
The US Mission in Abuja while clarifying the latest visa validity decision on Friday noted that the decision was rather based on a global security and technical review.
The mission in a statement on Facebook also reaffirmed its commitment to bilateral cooperation with Nigeria and expressed willingness to work with Nigerian authorities to meet the necessary criteria.
The statement read: “The U.S. Mission Nigeria wishes to address misconceptions about the recent reduction in visa validity for most nonimmigrant U.S. visas in Nigeria and other countries. This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS.
“The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.
“We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our nations.”
US Says Latest Visa Decision Against Nigeria Unconnected to BRICS, Venezuelan Refugees
Six community guards killed, others feared abducted in Zamfara bandit attack
By: Zagazola Makama
At least six members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG) in Zamfara State have been killed and others feared abducted following a deadly ambush by armed bandits in Bungudu Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama report that the attack occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday as the CPG members were travelling from Bungudu to Yar Katsina in Kekun Waje District to condole with the family of one of their colleagues who was killed by suspected bandits a day earlier.
According to sources, the group was ambushed along the route by heavily armed attackers who opened fire on them, killing six CPG personnel on the spot.
The assailants also reportedly made away with several pump-action rifles belonging to the victims and one motorcycle.
Shortly after the incident troops of Operation FANSAR, were deployed to the scene. However, the attackers had already fled into the bush before their arrival.
The remains of the slain guards have been transported to Bungudu Town for burial rites, while efforts are underway to trace and rescue other victims suspected to have been abducted during the attack.
Six community guards killed, others feared abducted in Zamfara bandit attack
Suspected gunman dies after clash with police in Kogi, officer injured
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspect linked to unlawful possession of firearms has died following a violent clash between his gang and police operatives in Idah, Kogi State.
The incident began on July 8, when detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lokoja visited Aija area in Idah to arrest the suspect, simply identified as Enemi. Upon sighting the police, the suspect reportedly fled by jumping over the fence of his residence and had remained at large.
However, on July 10, fresh intelligence on his whereabouts prompted the Divisional Police Officer in Idah to mobilize a team of operatives, led by Inspector Ojumu Rokan, to effect his arrest.
While attempting to apprehend him, the team came under sudden attack from members of the suspect’s gang, who allegedly tried to disarm and mob the officers.
In the process, the suspect was shot in the leg while trying to escape, but was quickly whisked away from the scene by his accomplices.
During the confrontation, a police officer, PC Usman Kebiru of the Area Command, Idah, sustained multiple injuries after being attacked with machetes, cutlasses, and stones.
He was rushed to the General Hospital in Idah for treatment.
Subsequent reports reaching the division later confirmed that the injured suspect died at his family residence in Idah.
Security across the area has since been heightened, with all formations placed on red alert. Intensive patrols are ongoing to prevent further unrest and track down members of the fleeing gang.
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