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Borno District Heads Narrate Ordeals Of Boko Haram Survivors
Borno District Heads Narrate Ordeals Of Boko Haram Survivors
By Francis Okoye
Some of the 59 distric heads from Borno Emirate Council who were trained in a-one-day workshop organised by a non- governmental organisation, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, has lamented the threats, intimidation and rejection faced by some survivors of the Boko Haram insurgency in the hands of some of the repentant terrorists.
The distric heads expressed the concern during the Foundation’s presentation of the Charter of Demands from de-radicalized women and girls who were forcefully conscripted into the Boko Haram insurgency, but have surrendered to the authority.
A distric head, Abba Kawu , narrated how a repented Boko Haram terrorists returned from the bush, and on realising that the wife he left behind has married another man, he sent an intimidation message to the man who married his abandoned wife, and threatened to kill him if he did not return his wife.
Kawu noted that such issues like threats, rejection and intimidation are some of the challenges facing the reconciliation process, as well as reintegration of some of the deradicalised women and girls into their respective communities.
” The repentant terrorists led some attacks in Dikwa, in Dikwa local government area of the state, and was captured by Chadian forces. After his deradicalisation and reintegration into the community, he realised that the wife he abandoned and entered the forest has married another man , he began to issue threat messages to the husband of his former wife to return her or be killed. This is despite the fact that the woman waited for him the surrendered terrorists for years before marrying another man,” the district head narrated.
Another distric head, Baba Abba Bukar, narrated how one young lady who was abducted by the terrorists escaped with the terrorist who married her in the captivity alongside their children, but on returning home, her father rejected her ,her children and the husband.
Speaking on the Charter of Demands from the de-radicalised women and girls, the distrct head of Maisandari , Alhaji Abba Bukar, said based on the demands made by the deradicalised persons forcefully conscripted into the Boko Haram terrorism for them not to be victimised, rejected or left behind after coming out from the bush, the traditional rulers decided to plead on their behalf for government and humanitarian agencies to come to their aid.
” As traditional rulers, we are also advocating for government and relevant agencies to consider the plights of the survivors of the Boko Haram insurgency . As advocate of peace and peaceful co-existence, we are appealing to the government to see how we can successfully reconcile and reintegrate the survivors into the society without stigmatisation and rejection,” the district head said.
In her remarks, the Executive Director, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, said the workshop is a public presentation of the Charter of Demands of the survivors, victims and the deradicalised women to the district heads , government , security agencies, religious leaders and the larger society.
” So these traditional rulers are aligned with the larger community, as well as the religious leaders. In Borno culture, the religious scholars are the pillars of the society hence, we selected the district heads because they are more aligned with the community members and religious scholars at the grassroot.
” They will consult with the community and scholars and come up with feedback on how to address the challenges of the victims, the deradicalised women for a successful reconciliation and reintegration into the society without stigmatisation and rejection.
” The Allamin foundation had been strengthening capacities of traditional and religious leaders, as well as community leaders, and Youths vanguard, in four local government areas of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council ( MMC ) , Jere, Mafa and Konduga, in engaging de-radicalised women in faith based, which had led them to bring back their husbands from the bush to embrace life of diginity, ” Hamsatu Allamin said.
Borno District Heads Narrate Ordeals Of Boko Haram Survivors
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
By: Michael Mike
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned that 2026 will be an extremely difficult year for human traffickers operating in the country, as the agency intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks across Nigeria.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello made this known in Abuja while reviewing the agency’s activities in 2025 and outlining its operational plans for 2026.
Bello disclosed that in 2025, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 human traffickers, describing the achievement as significant given the complexity of prosecuting trafficking cases.
She also stated that the agency intercepted over 2,500 potential victims who had been deceived and recruited for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria, adding that many of them were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
According to her, the agency’s increased surveillance and coordination among its commands led to a rise in rescues, arrests, and successful prosecutions during the year. She noted that traffickers were effectively disrupted, with several high-profile suspects arrested and convicted.
Among those apprehended were operators of some orphanages and care homes allegedly involved in trafficking and exploitation of children. Bello said over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued from such facilities.
She further revealed that in collaboration with international partners, NAPTIP rescued more than 370 Nigerian victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Looking ahead to 2026, the NAPTIP boss said the agency would scale up its operations by strengthening partnerships with other security agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. She also pledged closer collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to improve grassroots monitoring and prevention.
Bello emphasized that NAPTIP would work more closely with the legislature and judiciary to ensure stronger legal backing and faster prosecution of traffickers.
She added that within the first weeks of 2026, NAPTIP had already secured three convictions and warned that more traffickers would face jail unless they abandon their criminal activities.
The Director-General reiterated the agency’s commitment to nationwide awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to reduce vulnerability and protect potential victims from traffickers.
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
By: Michael Mike
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a two-week Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, following the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.
The programme, which began on Monday, marks a major step in the Commission’s efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery and address preventable blindness across the North-East region.
Activities on the first day included the installation, calibration, and coupling of cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, alongside the start of hands-on technical and clinical training sessions. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the newly supplied equipment is fully operational and optimally configured for effective eye-care services.
The training is being led by Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, a Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday, also a Chief Consultant, and a multidisciplinary team of experts in ophthalmology and biomedical engineering.
Participants include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). They will receive intensive practical training on the operation, maintenance, and efficient use of the equipment.
According to the NEDC, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma cases. The Commission noted that the intervention aligns with its long-term objective of transforming Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence for ophthalmic care.
In addition to the equipment deployment and training, the Commission is undertaking extensive renovation and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to support modern clinical operations and improve patient experience.
The NEDC is also extending similar ophthalmic interventions across other states in the North-East. Of note is the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which commenced last year and is scheduled for accelerated implementation this year.
Officials of the Commission described the intervention as a strategic investment that combines modern medical infrastructure with deliberate human capacity development, noting that the ₦3 billion equipment deployment and training programme will have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region.
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Yobe State have raided a notorious criminal hideout in the Saman Tudu area of Pompomari District, Damaturu, arresting a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and 16 other suspects.
A reliable source told Zagazola Makama that the raid was carried out on Jan. 18 at about 7:20 p.m. following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation targeting criminal elements who use the area as a haven.
The source said the enclave served as a convergence point for trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, as well as planning and execution of various criminal activities within the community.
“During the operation, the team stormed and ransacked the hideout, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects, including one Mohammed B. Kolo, identified as an NSCDC personnel attached to the Yobe State Command,” the source said.
He added that exhibits recovered from the scene included a knife, five bicycles, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, hemp wrapping papers, a long sack used as a mat and the sum of N8,500 found inside a sack suspected to contain the drugs.
The suspects are currently in custody while investigation is ongoing to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities.
The source said those found culpable would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Residents were urged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to sustain the fight against crime in the state.
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
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