Zulum on Independence Day: “Don’t Let a Few Derail Borno’s Hard-Earned Peace”

…Highlights 1,500 Cluster-Projects, 2 Million Resettled Residents

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara, has felicitated with the people of Borno State and Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

In his Independence Day message, the Governor paid tribute to Nigeria’s founding fathers and other leaders who made sacrifices for the country’s unity, growth and development through more than six decades of trials and tribulations.

“As we celebrate 66 years of nationhood, we honour our founding fathers and all the leaders who gave their lives for the unity, growth and development of Nigeria, despite the trials our country has endured,” Zulum stated.

Governor Zulum called on citizens to protect the peace Borno has worked so hard to regain and to keep campaigns free of rancour as the political season begins.

He restated his commitment to consolidating peace, protecting citizens’ rights, laying a sound foundation for younger generations, and ensuring the safe, voluntary and dignified resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.

“About two million of our people have returned to their communities, and we are working to resettle more. We must not allow a few unpatriotic people to derail this hard-earned peace.”

The Governor said his administration has invested heavily in restoring security, developing human capital, improving infrastructure, boosting agriculture, resettling displaced persons and rebuilding communities. He said the government has carried out more than 1,500 clusters of projects across the 27 local government areas over the past seven years.

Governor Babagana Zulum stressed that these projects have improved lives and livelihoods and strengthened security, stability and resettlement. He credited the improved security to the joint efforts of security personnel, volunteers, and traditional, community and religious leaders, and above all to the resilience of the people of Borno.

“The improved security we enjoy today is the result of the collective efforts of our gallant security personnel, volunteers, traditional, community and religious leaders and, above all, the resilient people of Borno,” he added.

The Governor said about two million people have returned to their communities so far, and efforts are under way to resettle more IDPs. He added that over 30,000 homes, schools, clinics and other public facilities destroyed during the insurgency have been rebuilt.

In education, he said the number of functional secondary schools grew from 34 in 2019 to 129 in 2026. Enrolment has increased to 1.8 million children, the number of teachers has also risen, and the government is prioritizing digital and vocational education.

Professor Zulum also pointed to major investments in agriculture to support year-round farming, a strengthened health system, and expanded access to healthcare for more vulnerable residents through the state contributory health scheme.

He said the administration is opening up business and economic opportunities to drive post-conflict recovery in sectors where Borno has a comparative advantage. He described the state as an emerging investment destination because of its strategic location, human capital, and natural resources.

“Borno is now an investment destination because of its strategic location and its human capital and natural resources. We are unlocking opportunities that will drive our post-conflict recovery.”

The Governor urged citizens to uphold unity and peaceful coexistence, reject violence, and respect the rule of law for sustainable development in the state and the country. “As the political season sets in, let us conduct our campaigns without rancour, so we do not undermine the relative peace and stability our state now enjoys.”

Zulum thanked the people of Borno for their continued support and promised to sustain his administration’s momentum until his last day in office.

Zulum on Independence Day: “Don’t Let a Few Derail Borno’s Hard-Earned Peace”

Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops rescue five abducted women in Katsina, recover rustled livestock in Sokoto

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued five abducted female victims in Katsina State and recovered rustled livestock after repelling a terrorist attack in Sokoto State.

The operations, conducted separately and driven by intelligence and support from local communities, were carried out in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina and Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto.

In Katsina, troops acted on timely information about the movement of terrorists around the Madaci Forest area of Sabuwa LGA and swiftly mobilised to intercept the criminals.

The troops’ tactical manoeuvres disrupted the terrorists, leading to the successful rescue of five female victims, including a mother and her infant, as well as three other minors and young adults.

The victims, who are originally from Danja and Funtua LGAs, were subsequently handed over to the Chairman of Bakori LGA, Hon. Abubakar Musa, for reunification with their families.

Troops have continued aggressive patrols in the area to dominate the terrain and deny terrorists freedom of movement.

In a related development in Sokoto State, troops of 248 Reconnaissance Battalion repelled a terrorist attack in Badiya village, Shagari LGA.

The troops, acting on credible intelligence regarding suspicious movements, engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to retreat into the surrounding terrain.

The fleeing terrorists abandoned a large herd of rustled livestock, which was subsequently recovered by the troops.

The recovered animals were returned to their rightful owners during a brief ceremony facilitated by the Chairman of Shagari LGA and the local District Head.

The development is expected to support ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and strengthen confidence among communities affected by terrorist activities and livestock rustling in the area.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops rescue five abducted women in Katsina, recover rustled livestock in Sokoto

MSF Celebrates Three Decades of Saving Lives on Nigeria’s Humanitarian Frontline

By: Michael Mike

Thirty years after Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) opened its humanitarian mission in Nigeria, the international medical organisation has marked three decades of reaching millions of people caught on the frontlines of disease outbreaks, displacement, emergencies and inadequate access to healthcare.

MSF, which commenced operations in Nigeria in 1996, said its three-decade journey had been defined by a sustained commitment to communities facing some of the country’s most difficult medical and humanitarian challenges.

The organisation’s intervention has spanned emergency and frontline healthcare, responses to disease outbreaks and crises, as well as medical support for vulnerable populations and communities where access to essential healthcare remains limited.

Marking the anniversary, MSF said the milestone was more than a celebration of its longevity in Nigeria, describing it as an opportunity to reflect on its partnership with Nigerian communities and the millions of people whose lives had been touched by its humanitarian work.

For three decades, the organisation has operated in an environment where emergencies can rapidly overwhelm communities and place additional pressure on an already challenged healthcare system. Its interventions have consequently taken medical services closer to people facing crises, including displaced and other vulnerable populations.

MSF said its history in Nigeria was shaped by responding to adversity and reaching people in need, regardless of the circumstances confronting them.

At the heart of the organisation’s work, it said, was the belief that access to healthcare should not be determined by privilege or circumstance.

That principle has informed its response to medical emergencies and its efforts to improve access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable groups and children.

The organisation’s 30-year presence also reflects the changing nature of Nigeria’s humanitarian and public health landscape, where disease outbreaks, displacement and emergencies continue to expose vulnerable communities to heightened health risks.

In marking the anniversary, MSF said the experiences accumulated over three decades had strengthened its commitment to working alongside communities and healthcare professionals to confront medical emergencies and improve healthcare delivery.

The organisation said it would continue its humanitarian activities in Nigeria, working with communities and health workers to respond to emergencies and strengthen access to essential medical services.

Its anniversary comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with significant healthcare needs, particularly among populations whose access to medical services is constrained by poverty, displacement, emergencies or geographic isolation.

Against that backdrop, MSF’s three decades in the country have positioned the organisation as a longstanding humanitarian medical partner, providing frontline assistance at moments when communities are most vulnerable.

Reflecting on the journey, MSF said the millions of people reached over the years remained at the centre of its anniversary, underscoring the human dimension of three decades of humanitarian service.

From its arrival in Nigeria in 1996 to its continued response to emergencies today, the organisation said its mission remained anchored on one fundamental principle: reaching people in need with medical care when and where they require it.

MSF said the commitment would remain central to its work in Nigeria as it enters another chapter of its humanitarian presence in the country.

MSF Celebrates Three Decades of Saving Lives on Nigeria’s Humanitarian Frontline