News
Boko Haram: Truth Alliance takes counter-narrative drama to North East communities*
Boko Haram: Truth Alliance takes counter-narrative drama to North East communities*
•Drama aims to expose recruitment tactics of terrorist groups
By: Michael Mike
In a continued effort to counter extremist ideologies, The Truth Alliance has launched a community drama series under its “Time to Tell the Truth” campaign, aimed at exposing the recruitment tactics used by terrorist groups in Borno State.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the group’s Spokesperson, Mr. Ahmed Mustapha. The event, which took place from June 24th to 25th, was staged across various communities, including Baga Road, Bolori, Bulumkutu, Gamboru, Hausari, and Showkari in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
Drama has long served as a powerful medium to convey the truths about life and its challenges. This particular drama was staged in accessible, community-based locations such as marketplaces, view centers, and other strategic places within Maiduguri, ensuring maximum reach and impact.
The play, based on a true-life story, narrated the harrowing experience of a woman who was deceived into joining Boko Haram due to dire economic needs. The narrative, told through a friend’s perspective, highlighted the woman’s predicament: choosing between leaving Boko Haram and facing poverty and stigma, or returning to the chaos within the sect.
According to the play, the woman had been deeply involved in Boko Haram before realising the group’s deceit. Her story is one of grief, survival, hopelessness, and ultimately, a new beginning as she managed to escape. The drama underscored that terrorist organisations manipulate and exploit individuals, hiding the truth and valuing human lives insignificantly.
The community response to the drama was overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees expressed that the play enlightened them in both a playful and powerful way.
Kabiru Muhammad, a community stakeholder in Bolori, stressed the need for collaborative efforts to expose these recruitment strategies to prevent future occurrences. “This is a call to all of us to understand the deceiving strategy extremist groups use to recruit people to their ranks. I also call on all to use this story as an example and encourage the stakeholders to promote peace,” he said.
Ali Habib, a young resident from Showkari, urged his peers to be cautious when choosing friends, noting that bad influences can easily lead one astray, especially in the absence of employment opportunities. “Choosing a friend determines what future you want to have for yourself because when you choose someone that is into something bad, he or she would introduce you to it, especially when you are jobless,” he stated.
A woman from the Hausari community, who preferred to remain anonymous, highlighted the importance of parental responsibility and community support. She blamed both parental negligence and the lack of community assistance for those in need.
The drama was performed in both Hausa and Kanuri languages, ensuring it was accessible to a wide audience within the region.
Mustapha in the statement also assured that The Truth Alliance remains committed to implementing localized initiatives that benefit the community through active engagement and education in combating extremist ideologies and fostering a culture of peace.
He stated: “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: Truth Alliance takes counter-narrative drama to North East communities*
One killed as gunmen attack passenger bus in ohimini, Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that one passenger was killed when suspected armed bandits attacked a commercial bus in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Wednesday.
A police source said the incident occurred at about 2:00 a.m. on Feb. 5 at Ojali community in Ohimini LGA.
The bus, an 18-seater Hummer Bus with registration number GME 911 XE (Gombe), was reportedly conveying passengers from Akwa Ibom State to Gombe State when it came under attack.
“The vehicle was driven by one Musa Jibrin. On reaching Ojali, unknown gunmen opened fire from the bush on the moving bus. One passenger, identified as Sanusi Danmaji, 30, was shot and killed,” the source said.
He added that no passenger was abducted during the attack.
Following the incident, the Divisional Police Officer in Ohimini mobilised a patrol team alongside other tactical units to the scene.
Photographs were taken and the surrounding bushes were combed in a bid to track down the attackers for possible arrest.
The driver and the remaining passengers were later allowed to continue with their journey.
The command said the case had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
Police urged travellers to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to the nearest security formation.
One killed as gunmen attack passenger bus in ohimini, Benue
Ten killed, five missing as police assess attack on abandi community in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
The Benue State Police Command says the death toll from the attack on Abande community in Kwande Local Government Area has risen to 10, while five persons are still missing.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Okon Asuquo, in charge of Operations, led a reinforcement team on a spot assessment to the border community on Feb. 4 at about 5:10 p.m., following the attack which occurred on Feb. 3 at about 3:20 p.m. on the community’s market day.
The assessment team, which included officials of the Benue State Government, the Director-General of Homeland Security and the Executive Chairman of Kwande LGA, faced difficulties accessing the area by road due to the terrain and its proximity to the Cameroon border and Taraba State.
During the visit, two additional bodies were recovered, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 10. The corpses were evacuated to the Jato-Aka Mortuary.
Police said the president of the Nyier-Ya Development Association, Dr Joseph Hembafer Akanyi, spoke on behalf of the community and alleged that some elements across the Mengeh Mountain had been conspiring with armed Fulani bandits to attack Abande community over the years.
In his response, DCP Asuquo assured residents of adequate security, stressing the need for sustained military and police presence to protect the Nigeria–Cameroon border and block suspected access routes used by bandits.
He urged youths to remain calm, shun actions that could provoke further violence and cooperate with the tactical teams already deployed to the area.
“As of now, five persons are still missing, and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing,” a police source said.
Traditional rulers, elders and youths of the community, including Zaaku Zegelu Yengen and Zaaki Agba, were present during the assessment.
The command said the area remained relatively calm as monitoring and security operations continued.
Ten killed, five missing as police assess attack on abandi community in Benue
News
Two security personnel killed, two missing in attack on operation enduring peace team in Plateau
Two security personnel killed, two missing in attack on operation enduring peace team in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected bandits attacked a joint security team of Operation Enduring Peace in Zurak community, Wase Local Government Area, killing two personnel and carting away their rifles.
Sources said the incident occurred on Feb. 3 at about 1:00 p.m. when unknown gunmen ambushed the team while on duty in the area.
The victims were identified as Inspector Igba Terseer (AP/No. 302410) of the 66 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Shendam, and a soldier attached to Operation Enduring Peace.
“The attackers opened fire on the personnel, killed the inspector and a soldier, and made away with their rifles. Two other soldiers are still missing,” the source said.
On receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bashar mobilised and led a team of police officers, in collaboration with other security agencies, to the scene.
The sources said intensive efforts were ongoing to rescue the missing personnel, arrest the perpetrators and recover the stolen firearms.
Two security personnel killed, two missing in attack on operation enduring peace team in Plateau
One killed as gunmen attack passenger bus in ohimini, Benue
Ten killed, five missing as police assess attack on abandi community in Benue
Two security personnel killed, two missing in attack on operation enduring peace team in Plateau
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