Borno Scrap Dealers Split with National Body, Back Zulum’s Scavenging Policy

By: Michael Mike

A rift has emerged within the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, popularly known as Ajakuta, over Borno State’s handling of metal scavenging, with the state chapter openly disowning claims by its national leadership and declaring support for Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s reform measures.

The state chapter said it welcomed the governor’s decision in good faith, signalling its willingness to work with the government to regulate the scrap trade as authorities seek to reopen the sector under a proposed roadmap.

The State Chairman of the association, Umar Usman, disclosed the position on Wednesday when he led members of the state executive on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Committee to Review the Ban on Metal Scavenging in Borno State, Hon. Nasiru Ali Surundi, in Maiduguri.

“We welcome the Governor’s decision in good faith and dissociate ourselves from the claims made by our national body and some individuals. As law-abiding citizens, we support the state government’s efforts to regulate our activities,” Usman said.

The declaration places the Borno chapter at odds with statements attributed to the association’s national body and some individuals, although the specific claims being disputed were not detailed in the state chapter’s statement.

Usman thanked Zulum for his intervention, saying the association was prepared to cooperate with the committee to ensure that the government’s reforms benefited scrap dealers and other residents affected by the restrictions.

The development comes as the Borno government reviews restrictions on metal scavenging, an activity that provides livelihoods for dealers and collectors but can also raise security and public infrastructure concerns when stolen metals and vandalised public assets enter the scrap market.

Responding, Surundi commended the state chapter for clarifying its position and defended the government’s approach, saying the measures were intended to sanitise the business rather than undermine legitimate operators.

“The measures introduced by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum are aimed at sanitising the scrap business for the benefit of our people. We urge the association’s national leadership to verify its facts before making public claims,” he said.

Other members of the delegation backed Usman’s position and pledged to support the government’s decision.

The visit followed Zulum’s announcement barely a week earlier of a temporary lifting of the ban on scrap scavenging, alongside the development of a proposed roadmap towards lifting the restrictions more broadly.

The policy shift places the government under pressure to balance the economic interests of scrap dealers with the need to prevent the theft and vandalism of metal infrastructure, which can impose substantial costs on public institutions and disrupt essential services.

For dealers, a clear regulatory framework could provide a pathway back to legitimate business after restrictions disrupted their activities. For the government, the challenge is to ensure that any reopening does not create opportunities for criminals to profit from stolen materials.

The proposed roadmap is therefore central to the next phase of the policy, although details of the planned regulatory arrangements were not provided in the statement.

With the state chapter pledging cooperation, the immediate test for the government and industry stakeholders will be whether the review produces workable rules that protect livelihoods, distinguish legitimate dealers from illicit operators and safeguard public infrastructure.

Borno Scrap Dealers Split with National Body, Back Zulum’s Scavenging Policy

NIS Raises Alarm Over Human Trafficking, Travel Fraud, Says Border Controls Alone Cannot Stop Irregular Migration

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has warned that misinformation, false promises and inadequate access to reliable migration information are exposing Nigerians to human trafficking, migrant smuggling and travel fraud, declaring that border controls alone cannot address the growing challenges of irregular migration.

The Service called for coordinated action by government agencies, security institutions, development partners, community leaders, civil society organisations and the media to close information gaps and ensure that prospective migrants can make informed decisions about travelling abroad.

The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, gave the warning in a speech delivered by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Visa and Residency Directorate, Franca Nwanneka, at a Stakeholder Sensitisation and Engagement Seminar in Abuja on Wednesday.

The seminar was themed, “Bridging the Information Gap: Promoting Informed, Safe and Regular Migration.”

Nandap said although people migrated in pursuit of education, employment, safety and better opportunities, decisions influenced by misinformation, deceptive promises and limited awareness of lawful migration pathways could expose them to serious risks and devastating consequences.

“Human trafficking, migrant smuggling, travel fraud, and irregular migration highlight the risk of inadequate information and intelligence sharing among operational stakeholders,” she said.

The Comptroller-General stressed that tackling the problem required more than enforcement at the nation’s borders, insisting that prospective migrants must have access to accurate, timely and reliable information before making decisions that could affect their safety and future.

“Preventing these risks requires more than border control. It begins with equipping prospective migrants with accurate, timely, and reliable information to make informed decisions and pursue safe, lawful migration pathways,” she said.

The warning places public awareness and access to trustworthy information at the centre of Nigeria’s migration management efforts, with the Service seeking stronger collaboration among institutions responsible for border security, migration governance and public sensitisation.

Nandap said the NIS was strengthening its operational capacity through institutional reforms, modern border management technologies, intelligence gathering and improved service delivery.

She cited the recent deployment of the border control and immigration management system and other technology-driven platforms as part of efforts to build a modern, responsive and intelligence-led immigration service.

However, she acknowledged that technology and stronger border controls could not independently resolve the factors driving irregular migration.

“Nevertheless, we recognise that even the most sophisticated border management systems cannot on their own address the underlying factors that encourage irregular migration,” she said.

The Comptroller-General therefore urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and adopt coordinated, practical measures to counter misinformation and ensure that reliable migration information reaches communities, particularly those most vulnerable to exploitation.

She specifically called on government agencies, security institutions, development partners, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations, educational institutions, transport operators and the media to take greater responsibility for public sensitisation.

“Migration sensitisation is a shared responsibility that cannot be left to the Nigeria Immigration Service alone,” she said.

According to her, the seminar was designed to help stakeholders examine existing approaches, identify institutional gaps and explore how innovation, community participation and inter-agency cooperation could improve migration management.

She expressed confidence that the presentations, roundtable discussions and technical sessions would generate practical recommendations towards a safer and more coordinated migration management system.

The NIS chief also commended partner institutions, development partners, resource persons and participants for their contributions to strengthening migration governance in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the seminar, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with the NIS to promote regular migration and address migration-related challenges.

Nnenna Onuoha, Senior Programme Associate of IOM Nigeria, who represented the organisation’s Chief of Mission, Sharon Dimanche, said the partnership between the two institutions had continued to grow stronger and produce tangible results.

“The relationship and the partnership between IOM and NIS have been and have continued to grow stronger and have produced tangible results,” Onuoha said.

She described the engagement as an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on how collective action could make regular migration more accessible and commonplace in Nigeria.

Onuoha conveyed Dimanche’s goodwill to the participants and expressed the IOM’s hope that the discussions would lead to fruitful deliberations and actionable outcomes.

The collaboration reflects a shared emphasis on stakeholder engagement and better-informed migration decisions, with the NIS focusing on its statutory responsibilities for immigration control and migration management and the IOM supporting cooperation on migration-related issues.

The challenge ahead, however, is to translate the commitments made at the seminar into sustained public education, improved access to reliable migration information and effective coordination among relevant institutions.

For the NIS, the objective is to ensure that prospective migrants can distinguish legitimate migration opportunities from deceptive offers and understand the lawful pathways available to them before embarking on potentially dangerous journeys.

The seminar brought together representatives of security and law enforcement agencies, regional and international organisations, border management institutions, civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, academic institutions and other stakeholders.

Nwanneka formally declared the seminar open on behalf of Nandap, expressing the Service’s expectation that the deliberations would advance a safer, smarter and more coordinated migration management system in Nigeria.

NIS Raises Alarm Over Human Trafficking, Travel Fraud, Says Border Controls Alone Cannot Stop Irregular Migration

Plateau Indigenous Youths Defend DSS, Demand Probe of Alleged Security Leaks

By: Michael Mike

Indigenous youth organisations in Plateau State have defended the Department of State Services (DSS), the Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow against allegations of bias and misconduct, urging the Federal Government to sustain joint security operations and investigate claims of compromise within the security architecture.

The coalition accused groups representing Fulani interests of using petitions and social media campaigns to discredit security agencies following operations against armed militants in the state.

Addressing a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, on Wednesday, the President of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association and Coordinator of Indigenous Youth Nationalities, Northern Zone, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, said the allegations risked undermining ongoing efforts to restore peace to violence-ravaged communities.

The coalition’s position followed a petition dated October 5, 2026, reportedly signed by Mujahid Abdullahi on behalf of the Plateau chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Fulbe Youth Development Association (FUYODA) and other organisations.

The petitioners allegedly accused the DSS of discriminatory operations against Fulani communities and blamed the agency for killings, abductions, cattle rustling and the poisoning and shooting of cattle.

A video circulated on Facebook and other social media platforms reportedly made similar allegations while portraying the Nigerian Army as the only security agency working in the interest of peace in Plateau.

But the indigenous youth coalition dismissed the claims as an attempt to distort the security situation and pressure authorities into undermining operations against armed groups.

Mwantiri said the campaigns appeared designed to intimidate the Plateau State Director of the DSS, Paul Damian; discredit the operations of the DSS, Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow; disrupt joint operations involving local security volunteers; discourage intelligence sharing; and portray the Army as the only effective security agency in the state.

The coalition maintained that the joint operations had exposed what it described as a pattern of armed militants attacking and occupying communities while cattle were allegedly grazed alongside them.

It claimed that at least 152 hamlets, villages and communities had suffered attacks, although it did not provide supporting documentation for the figure at the briefing.

The youth leaders also rejected allegations that Damian and the DSS were involved in killings and cattle rustling. They argued that cattle intercepted while grazing on farmlands were being held pending the identification of their owners and the alleged perpetrators.

To reinforce their argument, the coalition cited several attacks on security personnel and communities, which it attributed to Fulani militants.

It alleged that a newly deployed DSS base at Nding Sesut, Fan District, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, was attacked on June 1, 2026.

The group also cited an August 23 attack on Tanjol and Tarai villages in Jol community, alleging that more than 400 militants assaulted the settlements, ambushed and killed two DSS officers, seized their rifles and retreated towards Rankum in the Mahanga area of Riyom Local Government Area.

It further alleged that Mobile Police Force personnel were killed in attacks on Dares and Kwi villages in Bokkos and Riyom local government areas about two weeks before the briefing.

The coalition also claimed that the Operations Officer of Operation Rainbow, DSP David Babale, was ambushed and killed near a military checkpoint around Rakok village, on the outskirts of Barkin Ladi, while similar incidents had occurred at Kantoma and Alohgom in Mangu Local Government Area.

The allegations were not independently verified at the briefing, and the petitioning organisations’ responses were not included in the coalition’s presentation.

In a further allegation, the youth leaders claimed that sponsors of the armed groups were raising N20 million to finance media campaigns, court cases and petitions aimed at frustrating the security crackdown.

They called on the Federal Government to investigate the alleged funding and any suspected attempts to compromise security operations, including allegations of unprofessional conduct and collusion involving some Army personnel.

The coalition, which comprises youth organisations representing Afizere, Anaguta, Atakar, Atten, Bache, Berom, Gamai, Irigwe, Kunlere, Mushere, Mwaghavul, Ron, Pan, Tarok and other ethnic groups, warned against withdrawing the DSS, Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow from Plateau State.

It argued that removing the agencies while attacks and displacement persisted could weaken ongoing operations and embolden armed groups.

The youth leaders appealed to President Bola Tinubu and other Federal Government authorities not to be swayed by allegations they considered politically motivated, while insisting that genuine complaints against security personnel should be investigated.

“We smell a rat,” the coalition said, describing the petition and video as “ploys and strategies of distraction”.

It urged authorities to encourage cooperation among security agencies rather than allow public disputes to undermine intelligence sharing and joint operations.

The statement was jointly signed by Amb. Ezekiel Peter Bini, President of the Irigwe Youths Movement and Chairman of the Coalition; Mwantiri; Amb. Miri Timnan Nyantau, President of the Tarok Progressive Youths Association and Coordinator, Southern Zone; and Jonathan Kyesmang Yusuf, President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement and Coordinator, Central Zone.

The dispute underscores the competing allegations surrounding the security response to persistent violence in Plateau State, where attacks on communities and security personnel have intensified calls for accountability, effective intelligence coordination and a sustainable approach to civilian protection.

While the coalition maintained that the security agencies should be allowed to continue their operations, the allegations against both security personnel and the groups involved require independent investigation to establish the facts and ensure that accountability is not sacrificed in the pursuit of peace.

Plateau Indigenous Youths Defend DSS, Demand Probe of Alleged Security Leaks