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Boko Haram: Group trains young people to identify and resist extremist propaganda
Boko Haram: Group trains young people to identify and resist extremist propaganda
By: Michael Mike
As active members of the Truth Alliance,, Hope and Awareness Foundation and XPeace Associates have announced their continued efforts in countering violent extremism, with training focused on encouraging young people to identify and resist terrorist propaganda.
Spokesperson of The Truth Alliance, Mr. Ahmed Mustapha, in a statement on Tuesday, said these organizations have implemented various initiatives to expose the deceptive tactics of violent extremist groups and empower communities to resist these threats.
Since joining the Truth Alliance in 2023, the Hope and Awareness Foundation stated that they have significantly bolstered their expertise in combating extremism through strategic communication, grassroots community engagement, and impactful initiatives.
“The foundation has participated in vital training workshops organized by Al Hedayah and Neem Institute, which equipped their staff with essential skills to support families affected by extremism and violence,” the statement reads.
The statement further mentioned that the Hope and Awareness Foundation has conducted step-down training sessions from the truth alliance to disseminate lessons learned from their experiences on exposing the tactics used by violent extremist organizations, enabling young people to identify and resist extremist propaganda.
“We believe in the power of collaboration, strategic communication, and grassroots engagement to create a safer, more peaceful society, and the foundation has leveraged social media to launch campaigns aimed at promoting peace and resilience within at-risk communities.” stated Mamman Nur Abubakar, Program Manager and focal person to Truth Alliance for Hope and Awareness Foundation.
“Our comprehensive efforts are dedicated to unveiling the deceptive tactics of violent extremist organizations and empowering communities to counter these threats,” he stated.
XPeace Associates, an innovation center and youth-led organization dedicated to transforming peace and security efforts through innovative solutions and community engagement also a dedicated member of the Truth Alliance, has called on young people to embrace peace and increase their active participation in the peace process.
On their part, the group recognized the critical role that youth play in driving change.
“XPeace associates leverages on creativity, energy, and local insights to address complex security challenges through innovative solutions and community engagement and as such we draw the attention of young People to be mindful of the messages they consume on the internet,” statement noted.
According to their statement, the organization became a member of the Alliance as it is part of their vision to bridge the gap between donors, implementing organizations, and target communities, fostering the ownership of peace and security efforts by those most affected.
“Terrorist organizations use financial gains that are not even sustainable to lure young people, especially the unemployed, into their ranks, which is a disaster for them and society,”. Fatima Mafi emphasized, project manager from XPeace Associates.
“We urge youth to be vigilant, wary of false promises, and resist the manipulative tactics of terrorist groups. By standing together, helping each other, going to school, finding jobs and participating in peace initiatives. we believe that youth can help build resilient communities resistant to violence and extremism”, she said.
The joint release states, “Through our membership in the Truth Alliance, Hope and Awareness Foundation, XPeace Associates and others remains dedicated to the mission of exposing and countering the tactics of violent extremist organizations.
Both organizations call on all stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders, to support in resources, opportunities and collaborate with the youth to empower them for a safer and more peaceful society.
The Truth Alliance is committed to unmasking the truth behind violent and extremist groups and empowering communities to resist tyranny and violence. Through education, outreach, and collaboration, the Truth Alliance strives to build a safer, more resilient society for all.
In a campaign tagged ‘Time to Tell the Truth’, the Truth Alliance has come together to expose the truth behind how violent extremist groups draw young people into their ranks. Their message is simple: These groups manipulate, they deceive, they Control, they kill, they kidnap, they destroy, and their movement as well as ideology is inherently weak.
Boko Haram: Group trains young people to identify and resist extremist propaganda
NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed in 20 sets of religious books going to Saudi Arabia.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said the cocaine consignment consisting of 20 parcels with a total weight of 500 grammes and buried in the pages of the religious books was uncovered at a courier company in Lagos last Tuesday when NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) were searching through export cargos going to Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.
Babafemi said at another courier company same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilogrammes hidden in a carton coming from the United States of America.
In Kano, a 22-year-old alleged supplier of illicit substances to bandits, Muhammad Mohammed, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bichi – Kano road while heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection tied to his thigh and private part with Sellotape.
He was intercepted on Sunday 13th April, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed same day at Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano with 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 30 kilogrammes.
He said not less than 557.2 kilogrammes of skunk, 5.6 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 29.8 grammes of heroin were recovered from a house along Major General Isaiah Alllison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state where four suspects were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided the premises last Wednesday
Babafemi said the four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46, while a total of 1,100 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from a delivery van with the driver, Ismail Abdullahi arrested in Surulere area of Lagos last Thursday.
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives last Friday raided the hideout of a suspect, Ike Ani, 30, in Zaria, where no fewer than 31,950 pills of tramadol 225mg and diazepam were recovered, and in Kebbi, along Bagudo road on the same day a vehicle loaded with bags of charcoal coming from Malabil, Benin Republic was intercepted, when the vehicle was search, 97 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in the sacks of charcoal was recovered.
. Three suspects: Abubakar Ibrahim, 50; Mustapha Aliyu, 32; and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 48-year-old Okafor Marcel was nabbed with 11.5 kilogrammes skunk at Abatete, Anambra state while NDLEA operatives in Osogbo, Osun state last Tuesday arrested Ajala Mercy, 27, with 43 litres of skushi, a mixture of black currant, cannabis and opioids recovered from her room at Dada estate, Halleluyah area of the state capital.
Babafemi said two cannabis farms in Egbeta forest, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state were raided by NDLEA operatives who destroyed 3,717.8625 kilogrammes of the psychoactive plant on 1.487145 hectares and recovered 136.5 kilogrammes of processed cannabis.
At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, a suspect Basorun Kayode, 40, who has been at large for two years was arrested by NDLEA officers in connection with the seizure of 107 kilogrammes Loud imported from Canada in 2023, while another suspect, Dauda Yakubu who distributes illicit drugs within the seaport community was arrested by a team of operatives last Monday.
The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of DOGI, Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Osun, Zone 13, Edo and Tin-can commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books
Fire Guts Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
A devastating fire broke out at the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno Local Government Area (LGA) on April 19, 2025, destroying approximately one hundred thatch and makeshift houses.
Eye witnesses said that the fire started at around 1040hrs and rapidly spread across the settlement, burning household items, foodstuffs, and other valuable properties to ashes.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and the value of the property destroyed is still being assessed.
Humanitarian officials were immediately deployed to the scene to maintain crowd control and prevent looting, while firefighters, alongside camp residents, worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames.
Fortunately, no casualties or loss of life were reported.
Fire Guts Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno, Borno
Terrorists Snatch Vehicle in Monguno, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed assailants suspected to be members of ISWAP/Boko Haram attacked and snatched a vehicle in Monguno Local Government Area (LGA) on April 18, 2025, at about 1400hrs.
Saleh Haun, a resident of the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno, reported that while he was at the Gumnari Bush Area in Monguno, four armed gunmen, riding on two motorcycles, accosted him.
The assailants, at gunpoint, seized his white Toyota Land Cruiser, before fleeing with the vehicle to an unknown location.
A Military Forward Operating Base (FOB) has been alerted, and efforts are underway to to track the assailant and recover the stolen vehicle.
Terrorists Snatch Vehicle in Monguno, Borno
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NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books
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