News
Deaths: Senator Lawan condoles Shettima, Ganduje

Deaths: Senator Lawan condoles Shettima, Ganduje
By: Yahaya Wakili
Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON. Yobe North Senatorial District. The President of the Ninth Senate has sent condolences to the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over the deaths of their mother-in-laws.
In a press statement signed by the president of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, it was made available to newsmen in Damaturu.
He said Hajiya Maryam was the mother of the Vice President’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, while Hajiya Asiya was the mother of Professor Hafsatu Ganduje, wife of the APC National Chairman.
Senator Ahmed Lawan, in a condolence message to the duo, describes the demise of the matriarchs as an immense and irreplaceable loss to their families and the nation.
According to the lawmaker who represents Yobe North Senatorial District, the deceased were virtuous women who lived extraordinary lives.
The former Senate President’s message reads: “I received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of Hajiya Maryam Albishir, the mother-in-law of our Vice President, His Excellency, Sen. Kashim Shettima, and Hajiya Asiya Gauyama, the mother-in-law of our National Chairman, His Excellency, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“On behalf of Yobe North Senatorial District, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
“Hajiya Maryam Albishir and Hajiya Asiya Gauyama were both remarkable women who lived extraordinary lives and left behind a legacy of love, kindness, and service to their respective communities.
Adding to that, their passing is a great loss not only to their families but also to the entire nation.
“The loss of a loved one, particularly a matriarch, is an immense and irreplaceable loss. I pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) grants their souls eternal rest and gives their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“As we mourn their departure, I convey my deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and pray for the repose of the departed souls. May Allah grant them Aljannatul Firdaus. Ameen.” Senator Ahmed Lawan prays.
Deaths: Senator Lawan condoles Shettima, Ganduje
News
Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno

Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Recent reports claiming that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), narrowly escaped death in an alleged Boko Haram ambush in Borno State are categorically false and misleading.
Zagazola Makama can confirm that there was never any attack on the retired general, contrary to statements made by Senator Ali Ndume and recklessly amplified by several media outlets without a shred of verification.
What actually happened was a coordinated three-pronged attack by ISWAP terrorists on military facilities in Buratai town, Biu Local Government Area, on Friday. The assault targeted the Battalion Headquarters, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Command Secondary School – not Lt.-Gen. Buratai or any convoy associated with him.
Let us be clear:
Lt.-Gen. Buratai was nowhere near the ambush, and at no point was his life in danger. This is not a matter of semantics, it’s a matter of truth versus dangerous misinformation.
Zagazola Makama, has previously reported how the ground troops, with critical support from Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano jets, repelled the attackers decisively.
During the encounter, two ISWAP gun trucks were destroyed, while a third was recovered during follow-up operations. Several terrorists were killed, including over 20 in airstrikes during their retreat through Mangari.
So how did this snowball into a national headline falsely claiming a “near-death” experience for the former army chief?
Because some politicians spoke irresponsibly, and certain media platforms ran with the story without basic verification, an unforgivable dereliction of journalistic duty, especially in a region as sensitive as the North East.
The media owes the public and the Armed Forces of Nigeria the duty of responsible reporting, not alarmist fiction wrapped in sensational headlines. The security situation in Buratai is under control, and troops continue to dominate the area to prevent any further attacks.
Let this stand as a final and factual rebuttal:
There was NO attack on Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai. Period. Stop twisting the truth for cheap headlines.
Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno
News
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad

Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
By: Zagazola Makama
As part of ongoing efforts to sustain pressure on terrorist elements and deny them freedom of action, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has conducted another successful air interdiction mission at a terrorist enclave in Bukar Meram, located in the southern axis of the Lake Chad region.
Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the mission, which was executed in the early hourz of Monday, June 9, at about 0545 hours, was carried out under the auspices of Operation KALACHEN WUTA II.
The sources said that the operation formed part of a broader strategy aimed at disrupting terrorist activities before, during, and after the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah period.
He said that intelligence-led surveillance revealed that the terrorists were regrouping at the Bukar Meram location with intent to launch coordinated attacks on Marte and Monguno general areas.
Prompted by this credible intelligence, the Air Component swiftly mobilised to engage the enclave. Airstrikes were conducted with precision, leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists.
The strikes also resulted in the destruction of critical terrorist logistics, including supply vehicles, makeshift shelters, and weapons storage points.
The decimation of the enclave not only inflicted significant losses on the terrorists but also disrupted their operational planning and movement.
The sources added that Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted after the mission confirmed that the planned attacks on Marte and Monguno were effectively thwarted.
Further intelligence gathering is ongoing to assess enemy reactions and possible movement patterns following the successful interdiction. Ground troops have also been placed on heightened alert to exploit the gains of the airstrike and maintain pressure on fleeing remnants.
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
News
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel

French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
By: Zagazola Makama
A 67-year-old French national, Mr. Pietier Gilles, has been found dead at a hotel in Gboko town in Benue state.
Zagazola Makama report that the deceased, believed to be a French tourist, was found dead on Saturday at Hotel Jovina, Gbokon, where he had lodged on June 6.
According to a police sources, on Sunday, the hotel manager, Mr. Emmanuel Terhide Laha, reported the incident to the “A” Division Police Station at about 5:45 p.m. on June 8.
Laha informed the police that the tourist fell ill on June 7 but declined to be taken to a hospital. Concerned about his deteriorating condition, the hotel management brought in a medical practitioner to examine him. He was, however, discovered to have died.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer led a patrol team to the hotel where photographs of the scene were taken. The body was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gboko for preservation and autopsy,” the police said.
Gilles reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Niger Republic on May 19, 2025, traveling on a sports bicycle as part of what is believed to be a long-distance tour.
Police sources said investigation will be conducted, and all relevant diplomatic channels are being engaged to handle the situation appropriately.
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
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