Troops barbecued scores of bandits in Kankara, Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army have eliminated scores bandits in ongoing clearance operations in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Zagazola learnt that the operations, which began on Friday, targeted multiple bandit hideouts in the area.

The sources said the troops, supported by other security components, engaged the criminals in sustained firepower, leading to the neutralisation of an undisclosed number of them.

“The operations are still ongoing, with troops pursuing fleeing bandits into the forest corridors,” one of the sources said.

Military authorities are yet to issue an official statement as at press time.

Troops barbecued scores of bandits in Kankara, Katsina

Zulum Visits Families of 63 Borno Residents Killed by Boko Haram

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has visited Darajamal, a community in Bama, to condole with families of the 63 people killed by Boko Haram insurgents on Friday night.

The victims comprise 5 soldiers and about 58 civilians that were earlier displaced by the insurgents but have been resettled in Darajamal for two months now.

Zulum, visibly moved by the incident, met with community leaders and consoled the bereaved families. He expressed grief and condemned the brutal attack in the strongest terms.

Speaking to newsmen, the governor said, “We are here to commiserate with the people of Darajamal over what happened last night that has claimed the lives of many people. It is very sad. This community was settled a few months ago and they go about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced Boko Haram attack last night. Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience.”

On the casualties, the Governor said, “at this moment we have confirmed that 63 people lost their lives, both civilians and military, although the civilian casualties are more. Close to about 60 civilians and 5 soldiers lost their lives.”

Governor Zulum, while noting the challenges faced in the fight against insecurity, also called for the immediate deployment of the newly trained Forest Guards to complement the military in safeguarding vulnerable communities.

He said, “We have to take note that the numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere, so far so good, two sets of Forest Guards have been trained, therefore one of the solutions that we need to implement immediately is to deploy the trained Forest Guards to most of the locations that are vulnerable, they will protect the forest and communities.”

Also, the Senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, whose constituency Darajamal falls under, has condemned the attack, describing it as a crime against humanity.

He expressed his commitment to supporting Governor Babagana Umara Zulum through legislative backing to restore peace in Borno State.

Zulum Visits Families of 63 Borno Residents Killed by Boko Haram

WFP Welcomes Donor Contributions to Save lives in Northeast Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed recent contributions from donors since warning that operations would be forced to shut down in July.

This includes new funding from the United States of America to support emergency food and nutrition assistance for communities affected by conflict in Northeast Nigeria. The conflict has pushed more than 5 million people into acute hunger, and more than 2.5 million children are malnourished.

This funding will keep 187 nutrition clinics open across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, ensuring continued treatment for more than 300,000 malnourished children and mothers, a service that was at risk of shutting down.

“These contributions come at a pivotal moment for Nigeria and the wider region,” said David Stevenson, WFP Country Director in Nigeria. “Escalating conflict is driving farmers from their fields, Over the past nine months, WFP and partners have recorded more than three attacks each day on communities across the northeast, with farmers among the hardest hit. This disruption to food production has left families with no means to feed themselves, while those left behind face hunger, displacement, and the risk of recruitment by armed groups.”

As Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria plays a critical role in safeguarding regional stability and preventing the spread of insecurity across the Sahel. With this funding, WFP will continue to advance humanitarian solutions that drive peace and production, helping to restore Northern Nigeria’s potential as the nation’s breadbasket.

Support from the United States and other donors will enable WFP to sustain operations over the next three months, reaching 850,000 people in camps and host communities with food assistance. This however is a significant reduction from the 1.5 million people WFP assisted in July, reflecting continued funding shortfalls.

In a statement, WFP urgently calls on other donors, including the Nigerian Government and private sector, to help close the funding gap and co-invest in the region. Without additional contributions, operations will face further cuts, putting millions of people at risk of deepening hunger.

WFP, also in the statement, thanked the following donors who have responded since July: United States of America, United Kingdom, EU-ECHO, France,African Development Bank, Saudi Arabia, UN CERF.

WFP Welcomes Donor Contributions to Save lives in Northeast Nigeria