Zulum sponsors youths for degrees in Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering, others

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has directed immediate selection and sponsorship of indigent youths for degree programmes in high-value fields, including Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering and related disciplines.

He gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting at the Government House in Maiduguri when he received Mr Issac Balami, the founder of Issac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM).

According to Zulum, the selection process will prioritise indigent youths who demonstrate academic potential but lack the financial means to pursue such expensive courses of study.

The governor stated, “On our part, as the government of Borno State, we will do everything possible to support this university within our reach.

“I want to most sincerely thank you for the offers you have given to the government and people of Borno State for the training of a sizable number of aircraft planners and aircraft technicians.

“Deliberately, I invited the Commissioner for Education and the Executive Secretary of the scholarship board; they will liaise with you to see how candidates will be sent to your university.

“The Commissioner for Education and your team, you will identify the most vulnerable in the population who can benefit from this scheme: those who cannot afford, nor can their parents, to undertake those aeronautics courses. I don’t want anyone close to the governor, the deputy governor or the commissioner to be selected. Purely on merit! Mind you, I have to vet the list after the selection process.”

Earlier in his address, Balami announced that his institution would provide free training to an initial batch of Borno indigenes in Aircraft Planning and Aircraft Technology. 

He said the gesture was an act of giving back to the society, inspired by a scholarship he received years ago from the Borno State Government which paved the way for his own career in aeronautics.

He stated that one person from each of the 27 local governments in Borno would be trained as aircraft planners and aircraft technicians.

Zulum sponsors youths for degrees in Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering, others

Troops arrest 22 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Mafa, seize smoked fish consignment

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), North-East Operation Hadin Kai, have arrested a suspected terrorist logistics supplier and 21 accomplices transporting large quantities of smoked fish believed to be linked to insurgent financing in Borno State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects were apprehended at about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday by troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, under 24 Task Force Brigade, deployed at Checkpoint 2 in Mafa Local Government Area.

The main suspect, identified as 40-year-old Ibrahim Bukar, was intercepted alongside others while conveying 59 cartons and 28 sacks of smoked fish in two Isuzu trucks.

“Preliminary interrogation revealed that the smoked fish was handed over to them in Laje village by terrorists,” the report said.

Sources added that the main suspect confessed to having supplied various items to terrorists over time, and was positively identified by hybrid forces who confirmed he once served as their supplier while in the bush.

All suspects and the recovered items have been taken into custody for further investigation.

Troops arrest 22 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Mafa, seize smoked fish consignment

Troops neutralise terrorist, recover rifle in Dalwa clearance operation in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), North-East Operation Hadin Kai, have neutralised a terrorist and recovered arms and ammunition during a fighting patrol around Delwa and Tojiri villages in Borno State.

Zagazola gathered that the operation was conducted on Wednesday by the troops, working in conjunction with hunters and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

Sources said that the troops, deployed to Delwa village, advanced towards Tojiri at about 9:00 a.m. and came under fire from terrorists.

“The troops engaged the terrorists with heavy volume of fire, neutralising one of them while others fled in disarray.

“During exploitation of the general area, troops recovered one FN rifle, two FN magazines containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, two Tecno phones and three sachets of drugs,” the report said.

The sources added that no casualty was recorded on the side of the troops.
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