Zulum Apoints Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan as Chairperson of BOSCHMA

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the appointment of Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan as Chairperson of the Board of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA).

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, the appointment is for an initial term of four (4) years.

The appointment is in accordance with the powers vested in the Governor under Section 5(1) of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency Law, 2018.

Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan is a seasoned administrator and held various leadership positions including permanent secretary in the Borno State civil service in the ministries of Agriculture, Budget and Planning and Water Resources. She was also the former state Accountant General.

She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (Finance) at University of Maiduguri, and Fellow of several professional bodies including Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria and member Nigerian Institute of Management.

The newly appointed chairperson have attended numerous courses within and outside the country including Policy Strategic and Leadership course at the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, and training in International Public Sector Accounting Standards conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) in London, among others.

Governor Zulum congratulated the newly appointed Chairperson and urged her to bring her wealth of experience to bear in advancing an effective contributory healthcare scheme in the state.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Borno State House of Assembly.

Zulum Apoints Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan as Chairperson of BOSCHMA

Zulum Condemns Recent Boko Haram/ISWAP Incidents, Sympathises with Victims of Attacks

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has strongly condemned the recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP in various parts of the state, including Maiduguri-Damboa Road, Marte, Chibok, Gwoza, Kala Balge, and other affected communities.

Governor Zulum expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of all victims affected by the tragic incidents, which included an improvised explosive device (IED) attack along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road.

The explosion, which occurred on 12 May, claimed the lives of two staff members of the Damboa Local Education Authority who were en route to Maiduguri to sit for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) examination. Several members of the armed forces and innocent civilians have also lost their lives in the recent wave of violence.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Mr Dauda Iliya, the Governor reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to working closely with the Federal Government, military, and other security agencies to contain the security challenges.

“These acts of terror are deeply condemnable. The recent tragic loss of our education staff, gallant troops, and innocent civilians is a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face,” Governor Zulum stated.

He added: “I am more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state.”

Governor Zulum recalled his recent visit to Gwoza, where he engaged with military personnel and the Izge community, as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce resilience and ensure the protection of lives and property.

“The recent surge in attacks will not deter our resolve to tackle the scourge of the 16-year-long insurgency. I urge the people of Borno to remain resilient and prayerful. This is a partial eclipse — and we shall overcome it, Insha Allah,” the Governor assured.

Governor Zulum concluded by extending his thoughts and prayers to the families of the fallen heroes, innocent civilians, and all citizens of Borno State during this difficult period.
End

ISSP Establishes Cross-Border Corridor Linking Mali to Lake Chad Axis, Claims Lakurawa Group As its Operational Wing

By: Zagazola Makama

The Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) has officially recognized the Lakurawa Group as its clandestine operational wing, formalizing a strategic corridor between its two major factions EIGS (Islamic State in the Greater Sahara) operating in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) active around Lake Chad.

The announcement, made in the wake of two deadly attacks on May 4 in Niger, marks a significant shift in the regional security landscape. On that day, armed militants attacked Dogonkiria in Dosso region, killing at least 30 security force personnel, and Danga in Tillabéri region, where six volunteer fighters for the defense of the homeland (VDPs) were slain.

Zagazola Makama believes the operational link now established between the Sarma Forest in Nigeria and Anderamboukane in Mali via central Niger will enable increased mobility for fighters, arms trafficking, intelligence sharing, and hostage transfers. This corridor, long suspected by observers, has now been confirmed as a key axis for extremist logistics.

Sources say the emergence of ISSP reflects a new phase in Islamic State operations in the region, marked by greater coordination, territorial fluidity, and strategic exploitation of Niger’s governance and airspace gaps particularly since the withdrawal or downsizing of key international security partners.

Zagazola reports that the central strip of Niger already marked by repeated attacks, pipeline sabotage, and mass civilian casualties is increasingly falling under the shadow of ISSP. Many of these incidents had previously gone unclaimed but are now attributed to the group’s covert campaign to secure this critical transit route.

Zagazola warn that if the current trend continues unchecked, the entire security architecture of West Africa may be destabilized, with spillover effects extending beyond the Sahel to Nigeria.

He called for renewed multilateral cooperation and intelligence-sharing, transcending political divisions and post-coup dynamics.

In recent months, Zagazola had raised alarm over the quiet expansion of Lakurawa, cautioning that the group was a proxy for EIGS. The confirmation by ISSP now validates those concerns, signaling an urgent need for proactive counterterrorism measures and regional solidarity.

ISSP Establishes Cross-Border Corridor Linking Mali to Lake Chad Axis, Claims Lakurawa Group As its Operational Wing