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Baga: Borno Town Where Students Defy Boko Haram Ideology To Gain Western Education

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Baga: Borno Town Where Students Defy Boko Haram Ideology To Gain Western Education

By Gbenga Akingbule .

Fifteen-year old Maryam Mohammed Ali life time ambition is to become a medical doctor where she can utilize her expertise to give care to her community in Baga, a town located on the fringes of Lake Chad Basin that had suffered several attacks from notorious Boko Haram Insurgents. 

Boko Haram which is translated in Hausa language to mean- Western Education is forbidden,  almost succeded in making  Ali give up on her dream when they invaded Baga town in Kukawa Local government Council of Borno state. Ali , like  many other students couldn’t go to school as the Insurgents had targeted schools, teachers,?Teachers , community leaders among others. It was a dire situation at the time as residents fled the town to anywhere they could get safety. 

But the situation is fast changing now, there’s already a silver lining  for Ali and other students in Baga and other parts of Borno State to leave the dream and take up the opportunity to acquire western education. 

For now , Ali is back to school and she is currently in Junior Secondary School III (JSS3) at Baga Junior Day Secondary School. Her hope of becoming a medical  doctor is renewed following the exploits of the Multi National Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) Operation Lake Sanity 2 to keep the terrorists at bay 

Ali in recent interview, said: “I’m happy to be back to school, attack by the Boko Haram terrorists can not kill my dream of becoming a medical doctor in the future. 

“The military is our life saver and are also keeping our dreams alive.”

Jafar Abdullahi, Yagana Umaru and Hassan Garba are all students of the same school with Ali, they all have different ambitions to be good citizens and contribute positively to their communities in the future after gaining western education alongside their quranic education.  

The students who are visibly happy leaning under a peaceful atmosphere all took turns to comend the efforts of the MNJTF for restoring civil authority back to their communities. 

Aside the students, teachers who had also been targets of the Boko Haram terrorists where many of them  had paid the supreme price while transferring  knowledge  are not bowing to fear of Boko Haram terrorists attacks 

Hadiza Mohammed,  a teacher in Ali’s school says the fear of terrorists attacking their school like they did to other schools in the past does not exist anymore. She revealed that teachers like her and many others have continued to carry out their duties unhindered .

“I’m happy to see the joint security operatives guarding our town and villages.  Teachers like me are cofident to go about transferring knowledge to Baga students without fear of attack by Boko Haram terrorists”  Mohammed said .

Apart from the conducive atmosphere created by the presence of  MNJTF and others security agencies  to keep the peace  in Baga and other parts of the  lLocal Government Council and make learning  possible for students, other socio-economic activities are also breathing fresh air .

The popular Baga fish market is gradually picking up, hospital and Police Station are functioning while farmers in the agrarian community were seen cultivating their farm lands .

Community leaders led by the  the District Head, Zanna Arjinoma and residents doff  their cap for the non-kinetic approach employed by the MNJTF at managing the over 14 year old insurgency through the interventions in schools,  hospital and support to farmers.  

” We are grateful to the MNJTF for the many intervention projects and defending our communities ”  Arjinoma said.

Baga: Borno Town Where Students Defy Boko Haram Ideology To Gain Western Education

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Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno

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Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Recent reports claiming that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), narrowly escaped death in an alleged Boko Haram ambush in Borno State are categorically false and misleading.

Zagazola Makama can confirm that there was never any attack on the retired general, contrary to statements made by Senator Ali Ndume and recklessly amplified by several media outlets without a shred of verification.

What actually happened was a coordinated three-pronged attack by ISWAP terrorists on military facilities in Buratai town, Biu Local Government Area, on Friday. The assault targeted the Battalion Headquarters, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Command Secondary School – not Lt.-Gen. Buratai or any convoy associated with him.

Let us be clear:
Lt.-Gen. Buratai was nowhere near the ambush, and at no point was his life in danger. This is not a matter of semantics, it’s a matter of truth versus dangerous misinformation.

Zagazola Makama, has previously reported how the ground troops, with critical support from Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano jets, repelled the attackers decisively.

During the encounter, two ISWAP gun trucks were destroyed, while a third was recovered during follow-up operations. Several terrorists were killed, including over 20 in airstrikes during their retreat through Mangari.

So how did this snowball into a national headline falsely claiming a “near-death” experience for the former army chief?
Because some politicians spoke irresponsibly, and certain media platforms ran with the story without basic verification, an unforgivable dereliction of journalistic duty, especially in a region as sensitive as the North East.

The media owes the public and the Armed Forces of Nigeria the duty of responsible reporting, not alarmist fiction wrapped in sensational headlines. The security situation in Buratai is under control, and troops continue to dominate the area to prevent any further attacks.

Let this stand as a final and factual rebuttal:
There was NO attack on Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai. Period. Stop twisting the truth for cheap headlines.

Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno

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Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad

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Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad

By: Zagazola Makama

As part of ongoing efforts to sustain pressure on terrorist elements and deny them freedom of action, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has conducted another successful air interdiction mission at a terrorist enclave in Bukar Meram, located in the southern axis of the Lake Chad region.

Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the mission, which was executed in the early hourz of Monday, June 9, at about 0545 hours, was carried out under the auspices of Operation KALACHEN WUTA II.

The sources said that the operation formed part of a broader strategy aimed at disrupting terrorist activities before, during, and after the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah period.

He said that intelligence-led surveillance revealed that the terrorists were regrouping at the Bukar Meram location with intent to launch coordinated attacks on Marte and Monguno general areas.

Prompted by this credible intelligence, the Air Component swiftly mobilised to engage the enclave. Airstrikes were conducted with precision, leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists.

The strikes also resulted in the destruction of critical terrorist logistics, including supply vehicles, makeshift shelters, and weapons storage points.

The decimation of the enclave not only inflicted significant losses on the terrorists but also disrupted their operational planning and movement.

The sources added that Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted after the mission confirmed that the planned attacks on Marte and Monguno were effectively thwarted.

Further intelligence gathering is ongoing to assess enemy reactions and possible movement patterns following the successful interdiction. Ground troops have also been placed on heightened alert to exploit the gains of the airstrike and maintain pressure on fleeing remnants.

Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad

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French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel

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French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel

By: Zagazola Makama

A 67-year-old French national, Mr. Pietier Gilles, has been found dead at a hotel in Gboko town in Benue state.

Zagazola Makama report that the deceased, believed to be a French tourist, was found dead on Saturday at Hotel Jovina, Gbokon, where he had lodged on June 6.

According to a police sources, on Sunday, the hotel manager, Mr. Emmanuel Terhide Laha, reported the incident to the “A” Division Police Station at about 5:45 p.m. on June 8.

Laha informed the police that the tourist fell ill on June 7 but declined to be taken to a hospital. Concerned about his deteriorating condition, the hotel management brought in a medical practitioner to examine him. He was, however, discovered to have died.

“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer led a patrol team to the hotel where photographs of the scene were taken. The body was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gboko for preservation and autopsy,” the police said.

Gilles reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Niger Republic on May 19, 2025, traveling on a sports bicycle as part of what is believed to be a long-distance tour.

Police sources said investigation will be conducted, and all relevant diplomatic channels are being engaged to handle the situation appropriately.

French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel

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