News
Desertification: Zulum flags off 1.2m trees’ planting in Borno
Desertification: Zulum flags off 1.2m trees’ planting in Borno
… Target 10m trees in 2024
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has flagged off the 2023 tree-planting campaign with 1.2 million trees expected to be planted across the state.
The exercise, conducted at the premises of the Borno State University Teaching Hospital on Monday, according to a statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, aims at curbing desertification and other environmental problems.
This year’s campaign in Borno State has the theme: “Trees for Resettlement” which aligns with a broader theme of the United Nations: “Let’s Green Our City”.
Zulum, while delivering his address, advocated the use of gas cookers and wood-efficient stoves as against the mass use of firewood from felling of trees.
He said: “If (tree felling) is left unchecked, we may one day find that the whole of Borno State is a desert. We are all aware that we have lost more than 80% of our vegetation in the state to insurgency. All the trees around our village communities have been cleared for security reasons and some were cleared for firewood”, Zulum said.
The governor added that beyond Borno, “the issue of climate change and desert encroachment has been a great concern to the entire people of the northern states”, noting the urgent need “to arrest the menace of climate change in our state by planting trees”.
The governor also announced that Borno State Government will ambitiously target the planting of 10 million trees in 2024.
The governor explained that of the 10 million trees, each of the 27 local government areas of the state will raise 200,000 trees to make up 5.4 million trees while the State Government will raise about 5 million trees.
During the event, the governor directed the State Ministry of Environment to dump its traditional tree-planting campaign by innovating a more result-based model.
He also asked the ministry to come up with a working calendar that should be strictly adhered to.
The governor charged the ministry and the 27 local government areas to ensure seedlings were raised early so that tree-planting can commence early in 2024.
Highlight of the occasion was the symbolic tree-planting by the governor, his deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur, Speaker of the State Assembly, SSG, commissioners and other dignitaries.
Another highlight was a public enlightenment drama presentation by “Nakande drama group” based in Maiduguri on the impact of cutting trees.
Desertification: Zulum flags off 1.2m trees’ planting in Borno
Troops rescue 31 kidnapped passengers in Kogi, search ongoing for others
By; Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army troops in collaboration with police and local hunters rescued 31 kidnapped passengers along the Apata-Obajana road on Thursday night.
Zagazola Makama informed reliably that the incident occurred on May8, at about 11:50 p.m. when two Toyota Hiace buses travelling from Lagos to Kano and Katsina respectively were attacked by armed hoodlums.
The first bus with registration number DTF 773 XA driven by Saminu Yahaya was heading to Kano with 17 passengers, while the second, with registration number KNA 170 XA, driven by Bashir Dahiru, was en route to Katsina with another 17 passengers.
A distress alert was received from a local hunter, prompting a swift response by the troops who engaged the assailants in a fierce gun duel, which forced the attackers to abandon 31 of the 38 victims and flee into the forest.
Four of the rescued passengers sustained machete injuries, while one victim was hit by a bullet in the left thigh. All injured victims were immediately evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment.
Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining seven abducted persons have been intensified.
Troops rescue 31 kidnapped passengers in Kogi, search ongoing for others
Troops of Operation Safe Haven arrest notorious gunrunners, recover arms in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have arrested three suspected notorious gunrunners and recovered arms and ammunition in Golgokofa village under Godogodo Chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The operation, which was conducted on May 8, followed credible intelligence that led the troops to the suspects’ hideout.
The suspects were identified as Adamu Musa, 65; Lukman Isah, 35; and Umar Jammo, 25.
Items recovered from the operation include one AK-47 rifle, one fabricated gun, one AK-47 magazine, a round of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and three motorcycles.
The suspects are currently in custody and making useful confessions to aid further operations aimed at arresting other members of the criminal network and recovering additional arms.
OPSH reiterated its commitment to working with the public and utilizing actionable intelligence to rid the region of criminal elements and ensure a safe and secure environment.
Troops of Operation Safe Haven arrest notorious gunrunners, recover arms in Kaduna
Cattle Herder Survives ISWAP Terrorists Attack in Monguno LGA, Borno
By Hamza Suleiman
On May 7, 2025, at approximately 2030hrs, a cattle herder, Hassan Bukar, 55, was attacked by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists while grazing his cattle in Wulo bush, Monguno Local Government Area, Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the assailants used a knife to cut him at the nape of his neck, but the victim, despite the severity of the injury, managed to survive.
The victim was immediately rushed to Monguno General Hospital by a patrol team from Monguno Division, where he was admitted and is currently receiving treatment.
Troops of Sector 3 MNJTF and Operational Hadin Kai have intensified efforts to track and nutrialised the terrorists.
Cattle Herder Survives ISWAP Terrorists Attack in Monguno LGA, Borno
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Troops rescue 31 kidnapped passengers in Kogi, search ongoing for others
Troops of Operation Safe Haven arrest notorious gunrunners, recover arms in Kaduna
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