News
Cross-Border Crimes: Experts Urge Stronger Control, Community Trust-Building in Northern Nigeria
Cross-Border Crimes: Experts Urge Stronger Control, Community Trust-Building in Northern Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
As insecurity continues to escalate across the Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina axis, security experts and stakeholders have called for urgent measures to strengthen border control, enhance government commitment, and deepen collaboration among civil society organisations (CSOs), security agencies, and local communities in tackling cross-border crimes.
The call was made on Tuesday during a national deliberative session organised by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and the Research and Action for Peace (REcAP) Project, in collaboration with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), with funding support from the European Union. The theme of the session was: “Curbing Cross-Border Crimes in the Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina Axis of the Nigeria–Niger Borderlands through Strengthened Stakeholders’ Partnership and Collaboration.”
Speaking at the session, Francis Onyekwue, National Coordinator of the Trauma Awareness and Resilience Initiative, identified the legacy of colonial border demarcations as a significant root cause of persistent security challenges in the region.
“The borders were drawn by colonial masters without regard for ethnic and linguistic realities. For example, Hausa is spoken across both sides of the Nigeria–Niger border, yet porous borders have facilitated arms smuggling, especially from the Sahel region and the Libyan crisis,” he said.
Onyekwue urged the government to move beyond symbolic border posts and adopt technology-driven surveillance and effective patrol systems. He also stressed the role of climate change in aggravating insecurity, noting that shrinking grazing land has pushed pastoralists into new territories and intensified clashes over resources.
“Countries like Libya and Burkina Faso have invested in greening dry lands to reduce migration pressures. What stops Nigeria from doing the same in the North?” he queried.
Presenting a working paper titled “Calculating Cross-Border Crimes in the So-Called Borders and the Axes of the Nigeria–Niger Border through Strengthened Stakeholders’ Partnership and Collaboration,” Dr. Abubakar Suma’ila of Usman Danfodiyo University traced the historical importance of the Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina axis as a pre-colonial hub linking Sahel trade and culture. He noted that while colonial-era partition weakened these systems, post-colonial states have failed to sustain effective border management.
According to him, cross-border crimes have evolved significantly: “Armed groups now target civilians more than government forces, with criminal networks linked to arms smuggling and banditry spreading across communities. The ethnicization of this conflict is a dangerous myth. Evidence shows that many criminal actors operate irrespective of ethnic lines.”
Suma’ila called for coordinated intelligence-sharing, robust community engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to address the complexity of emerging threats.
Also speaking, Kumah L.J., Assistant Comptroller of Customs, emphasised building trust with border communities as a critical step toward improving security.
“Cross-border insecurity is a national issue and cannot be solved overnight. Security personnel must work closely with local communities to gather frontline intelligence beyond surface-level information. Agencies must collaborate and share intelligence for effective operations,” he stated.
Manji Mangrock, Programme Manager at WANEP Abuja, highlighted the complementary role of CSOs in peacebuilding and security.
“Our work focuses on peace education, good governance, and conflict documentation. CSOs provide raw data and advocacy support to security agencies. What is needed now is a stronger partnership and coordination to avoid duplication of efforts and maximise impact.”
Similarly, Jennifer Alaeda, Principal Relief Officer at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), underscored the importance of youth inclusion in countering insecurity. She called for education, advocacy, and mentorship programs to break the cycle of violence while urging research institutions to share challenges and lessons to strengthen collective responses.
Cross-Border Crimes: Experts Urge Stronger Control, Community Trust-Building in Northern Nigeria
Security Agencies Conduct Show of Force, Secure Jumat Prayers in Jos-Bukuru
By: Zagazola Makama
Security agencies in Plateau State have conducted a coordinated show of force and provided security coverage for Jumat prayers across major locations within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis.
Security sources disclosed that the operation, carried out at about 1:00 p.m. on May 22, involved troops of Operation Enduring Peace personnel of the Nigerian Air Force 551 Station, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other sister security agencies.
According to the sources, the joint operation covered key flashpoints within the Jos-Bukuru operational area as part of proactive measures to ensure a hitch-free religious observance.
The exercise also included the provision of adequate security for Jumat prayers at various mosques across different sects and sub-sects within the area.
The sources added that the coordinated deployment was aimed at deterring criminal elements and denying them freedom of action within the metropolis.
Security authorities confirmed that the Jumat prayers were conducted peacefully without any security incident recorded across the covered locations.
Security Agencies Conduct Show of Force, Secure Jumat Prayers in Jos-Bukuru
Troops Respond to Isolated Killing of Civilian Guard in Plateau by Militia elements in Mangu
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 8 (Sub-Sector 81), Operation Enduring Peace, have responded to a reported attack and killing of a civilian security guard, Saidu Mohammed, by militia elements in Gindiri area of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources disclosed that the incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on May 22 at a farm near a dam in the area.
According to the sources, troops were mobilised to the scene following a distress call and found the lifeless body of the victim, who was said to have sustained machete cuts.
The remains of the deceased were recovered and subsequently handed over to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
The sources added that preliminary assessment suggested the attack may have been carried out by suspected militia elements operating in the general area.
Authorities said efforts were ongoing to identify, trail and apprehend those responsible for the killing, while security surveillance in the area had been intensified.
Troops Respond to Isolated Killing of Civilian Guard in Plateau by Militia elements in Mangu
News
Zulum Presents APC Guber Candidate Gubio to Tinubu, Hails President’s Role in Northeast Recovery
Zulum Presents APC Guber Candidate Gubio to Tinubu, Hails President’s Role in Northeast Recovery
By: Michael Mike
Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, on Friday formally presented the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mustapha Gubio, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
During the meeting, Zulum praised President Tinubu’s commitment to restoring peace, rebuilding communities devastated by insurgency and supporting development efforts across Nigeria’s Northeast.
The governor said the President’s leadership has strengthened cohesion within the APC and sustained momentum in the region’s recovery efforts, particularly in states affected by years of attacks by insurgent groups.
“The President’s commitment to peace and reconstruction in the Northeast has been unwavering,” Zulum said, noting that federal interventions in security, humanitarian support and infrastructure development have continued to bring hope to affected communities.
Zulum was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by member of the House of Representatives, Bukar Talba.
The presentation of Gubio comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections and is widely seen as a major step in consolidating the APC’s political structure in Borno State, one of the party’s strongest support bases in the North-East.
Gubio, a former commissioner and technocrat, recently emerged as the APC governorship candidate in Borno, succeeding other aspirants in the party’s internal selection process. His emergence has attracted significant attention within political circles, especially given Governor Zulum’s influence in the state and his administration’s focus on post-insurgency reconstruction, resettlement of displaced persons and rebuilding of critical infrastructure.
Since assuming office in 2019, Zulum has gained national recognition for his hands-on leadership style, particularly his frequent visits to conflict-affected communities and efforts to improve education, healthcare and security coordination in Borno State.
Borno remains one of the states most impacted by over a decade of insurgency in the Northeast, with thousands killed and millions displaced. However, recent years have witnessed gradual reconstruction and resettlement efforts led by both the state and federal governments.
Zulum Presents APC Guber Candidate Gubio to Tinubu, Hails President’s Role in Northeast Recovery
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