Suspected youths burn 18 houses in Taraba community

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected youths have set ablaze no fewer than 18 thatched houses in Tompo Village in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba, police sources said on Monday.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of March 9, was reported by a resident, Zaki Thomas Yamusa of Army Gate 2.

According to the sources, the attackers, believed to be youths speaking the Kuteb language, invaded the village at about 1:00 a.m. and set fire to the houses belonging to Tiv residents who had recently returned to the area.

Sources said Tompo Village had been deserted following a crisis between Tiv and Kuteb communities that erupted in 2006 and lingered for years.

However, Tiv residents reportedly decided to return to their settlement in 2026 after a peace meeting with the Chief of Jenuwa Gida.

The attackers burned down 18 round thatched houses, destroying food grains, mobile phones and other valuables belonging to the victims.
No casualty was recorded during the attack.

A team of police detectives visited the scene and took photographs as part of preliminary investigation.

Village heads from the affected communities have also been invited by the police in a bid to prevent further escalation of the situation.

Sources said intelligence had been activated while surveillance teams had been deployed to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

The command added that investigation into the incident was ongoing while efforts were being intensified to ensure the situation did not degenerate into a wider communal crisis.

Suspected youths burn 18 houses in Taraba community

International Women’s Day: Eight Actions for A More Equal World

By: Michael Mike

Over nearly a decade leading the United Nations, I have seen our world repeatedly tested – by climate shocks, deepening poverty, violent conflict and shrinking civic space.

But I have also watched many solutions take root, and they shared one common denominator: women.

As the world marks International Women’s Day, it is time to recognize that gender inequality is the greatest human rights challenge of our time – and advancing equality is one of the strongest drivers of sustainable development and peace.

Here are eight actions drawn from my own experience, and inspired by the work of the UN system and civil society movements across the globe, to advance women’s rights and deliver results.

1. Fix the Power Gap
   Gender equality is a question of power. But male-dominated institutions still shape our world. A rising tide of authoritarianism is deepening these inequalities, rolling back hard-won protections – from fair work practices to reproductive rights – and entrenching racial and gender biases that hold women back. Gender equality lifts societies. When power is shared, freedom expands.
2. Make Parity a Priority ​
   Women are grossly under-represented in governments and boardrooms across the globe. At the United Nations, we set out to make gender parity a priority, starting with senior leadership. We did this by widening the search for qualified candidates, not by lowering standards. The UN is stronger for it, with an enhanced workplace culture and more inclusive decision-making. The lesson is clear. When institutions choose equality, results follow.
3. Bet on the Highest-Return Investment
   Investment in women delivers outsized returns. Every dollar spent on girls’ education yields nearly triple the gains, while maternal health and family planning generate more than eightfold benefits. Policies that support families such as child care and elder care strengthen communities and unlock even more growth. Taken together, such steps lay the foundation for closing gender gaps – which can boost national income by as much as 20%.
4. Make Room at the Peace Table
   Peace agreements are more durable when women take part in negotiating and implementing them. Yet in too many conflicts – including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan – women have been largely shut out of the room, even though they carry the heaviest burdens of war. At a time of rising instability, inclusion is not symbolic – it is a shortcut to stabilize our fractured world.
5. End Legal Discrimination
   Worldwide, women hold only 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men. In too many places, they cannot own property, work freely, or seek a divorce. Even where protections exist, women face higher barriers to access legal aid or the courts. Every country must commit to dismantling discriminatory laws, and to enforcing rights in practice.
6. Zero Tolerance for Gender-Based Violence – and Zero Excuses
   Violence against women is a global emergency, rooted in inequality and sustained by silence. Every woman and girl has the right to live free from fear. Yet gender-based violence – including sexual exploitation and abuse – remains a horrific breach of trust and humanity. We must confront it everywhere, with zero tolerance, full accountability, and unwavering support for survivors.
7. Code Out Bias
   With women comprising just one in four tech workers, bias is being hardwired into the systems that shape daily lives. Meanwhile, misogyny is exploding online. Technology companies and governments must act together to build safe, inclusive digital spaces – and the world must do more to remove barriers for girls in science and technology.
8. Put Gender in the Climate Plan
   Climate change is sexist. Women often eat last in food crises and endure greater danger in emergencies. Girls face higher risks of child marriage when livelihoods collapse. But women are also leading climate solutions – advancing green legislation, powering global movements, and driving change on the ground. A liveable planet demands gender-responsive climate policies, including equal access to green jobs, better protection in emergencies, and full participation in environmental decision-making.

Across the globe, I have seen these eight solutions in action – in war zones and recovery efforts, parliaments and classrooms, organizations and communities.

If leaders get serious about gender equality and commit to them now, we will change the world – for women and girls, and for us all.

International Women’s Day: Eight Actions for A More Equal World

Israel Accuses Iran of Terror Links, Cites Activities in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism across the globe and backing militant networks, including alleged links to activities in Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the Israeli mission challenged recent remarks by Iran’s envoy to Nigeria denying Tehran’s involvement in terrorism, insisting that evidence accumulated over the years contradicts such claims.

The embassy said Iran has long been identified by several governments and security agencies as a major state sponsor of terrorism, accusing the country of providing funding, weapons, training and strategic guidance to militant groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi movement.

According to the statement issued on Monday, these groups have carried out attacks against civilians and contributed to instability in several parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East.

The embassy further alleged that Iranian-backed operatives and networks have been linked to attacks and plots in different countries, including Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Highlighting developments in the Middle East, the mission said Iranian leaders publicly praised the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians and encouraged further violence against Israel.

The embassy also pointed to past incidents in Nigeria which it said suggested Iranian-linked activities within the country.

It recalled that in 2010, Nigerian authorities intercepted a shipment of weapons originating from Iran at Apapa Port in Lagos, concealed in containers allegedly destined for militant groups in West Africa.

The statement also referenced a 2013 operation by Nigerian security agencies in which a Hezbollah-linked cell and weapons cache were uncovered, leading to arrests in Abuja and Kano. Authorities at the time said the weapons were intended for attacks against Israeli and Western interests in Nigeria.

Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said Iran’s repeated denials could not erase what he described as a documented history of support for militant organisations.

“The Iranian regime can make as many statements as they like and appear on as many television channels as they want. But facts speak louder than words. The reality is that Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism and has backed the Islamic Movement of Nigeria for years,” he said.

The embassy said it considered it necessary to challenge what it described as misinformation, stressing that terrorism remains a major threat to global peace and stability, including in Nigeria.

Israel Accuses Iran of Terror Links, Cites Activities in Nigeria