Chad closes border with Sudan, orders military alert after drone attack

By: Zagazola Makama

The Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has ordered the immediate closure of Chad’s border with Sudan and placed the military on maximum alert following a reported drone attack on Chadian territory.

The directive was issued after an emergency defence and security council meeting convened late on March 18 at the presidential palace in Ndjamena.

According to sources, the decision followed what authorities described as a fresh incursion involving Sudanese drones into Chadian territory, heightening tensions along the shared border.

The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister, Allamaye Halina, senior government officials, top military commanders and heads of security agencies.

During the session, Deby Itno reviewed Chad’s diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Sudan, noting that multiple mediation attempts had failed to bring peace between the warring parties.

He expressed concern over the humanitarian burden the conflict has imposed on Chad, as well as the spillover of intercommunal tensions across the border due to shared ethnic and social ties.

In response to the latest attack, the president ordered the complete closure of the approximately 1,300-kilometre border between Chad and Sudan.

He also directed the deployment of a government delegation to the affected areas to assess both human and material losses resulting from the incident.

Furthermore, the Chadian leader instructed the armed forces to maintain a state of maximum operational readiness and to respond decisively to any further aggression originating from Sudan.

The directive applies to any hostile actions linked to forces loyal to Abdel Fattah al-Burhan or the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Officials said the meeting ended with immediate instructions to military commanders to implement the president’s orders without delay.

The development marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, as the conflict in Sudan continues to have cross-border security implications for neighbouring countries, including Chad.

Chad closes border with Sudan, orders military alert after drone attack

UMTH: Biomedical Engineering, Keeping Up With Patient’s Medical/Healthcare Needs

By: Balami Lazarus

Most people limit engineering to civil, electrical, mechanical, aeronautics, building, hydroengineering, and a few others. However, engineering is wide and vast, not limited to the few fields mentioned. Are you aware that the human body system is a work of bioengineering?

NEWSng was recently at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and was informed of the roles of biomedical engineering in maintenance and services for keeping the hospital’s biomedical machines running, such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT scan (Computed Tomography) scanner machines are all used for diagnosis.

Biomedical engineering is a rare field of engineering that deals and works with delicate, sensitive hospital machines for better medical and healthcare services that are carried out through some of these machines.

Therefore, biomedical engineering combines engineering arts and principles with medical and biological sciences through biomechanics/devices to enhance better medical care services in the hospital.

Speaking with Engr. Silas Habu Gamdu, the head of biomedical engineering of UMTH, said that hospitals like UMTH cannot stand without biomedical engineers in discharging their medical services for those in need in order to diagnose and understand their ailments. “Most of the delicate and sensitive machines of this hospital, like MRI and CT scans, are basically used for diagnosis as a human lifeline to improve medical/healthcare.”

Engr. Habu Gamdu further informed NEWSng that UMTH is an institutional hospital where teaching and medical research are part of her primary responsibilities. The need for biomedical machines is necessary. The status of UMTH under the leadership of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, where we have specialized medical centers…These

Biomedical machines like Fresenius, Baxter, NIPRO, and PET, among others, are like jugular veins that indicate and determine patients’ clinical diagnoses—ailments/treatments.

Engr. Habu emphasized this by saying, “There are many other machines in the hospital that the biomedical engineers maintained to enable the hospital to perform at its maximum capacity in diagnosis.”

NEWSng findings revealed that biomedical engineers not only work with hospitals and clinics but are also found in medical companies and research institutions, including pharmaceutical industries.

Engr. Gamdu said that his department is faced with inadequate biomedical engineers considering the extent and large numbers of biomedical machines/tools available in the hospital.

UMTH: Biomedical Engineering, Keeping Up With Patient’s Medical/Healthcare Needs

Women’s Rights Are Fundamental, Not Favors, Ojukwu Tells Global Forum in New York

By: Michael Mike

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, has declared that women’s rights are fundamental human entitlements and not privileges to be granted by men, calling for stronger global commitment to gender equality and inclusive governance.

Speaking at a sideline event during the Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session in New York, Ojukwu emphasized that the struggle for gender equality must be rooted in justice and fairness, noting that women are not seeking special treatment but demanding rights that are inherently theirs. He urged men to play an active role in supporting gender equity, stressing that meaningful progress requires collective responsibility.

The event, organized by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing women’s rights. Ojukwu underscored the importance of inclusion in decision-making processes, stating that policies affecting women cannot be effectively shaped without their direct participation. “You cannot talk about women without having them at the table,” he said.

Highlighting internal reforms within the NHRC, he disclosed that the Commission has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and significantly increased women’s representation in leadership, with women now occupying 10 out of 15 director-level positions. He noted that creating safe and empowering environments enables women to thrive and contribute meaningfully across sectors.

Ojukwu further stressed that economic empowerment and sustained awareness are critical tools in tackling gender-based violence, which remains a major challenge globally. He called for sustained partnerships and practical interventions to ensure that women and girls are protected and given equal opportunities to succeed.

The event also drew participation from prominent Nigerian figures, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Temitope Ogunwusi, among others, reflecting Nigeria’s high-level engagement in global conversations on gender equality.

The discussions at the forum reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls, with stakeholders calling for stronger collaboration to drive justice, inclusion, and sustainable development.

Women’s Rights Are Fundamental, Not Favors, Ojukwu Tells Global Forum in New York