Eid-el-Fitr: Senator Araraume Greets Muslims, Commends President Tinubu’s Leadership

By: Michael Mike

Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has extended warm felicitations to Muslims in Nigeria and across the globe on the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr.

In a statement to mark the end of Ramadan, Araraume highlighted the significance of the month long period of spiritual reflection, fasting, and devotion. “As Muslims gather with loved ones to share in the festivities, I join in the cheer, wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful Eid,” he said.

The Senator expressed profound appreciation to Muslim Nigerians for their contributions to the nation’s growth, describing their faith, resilience, and patriotism as beacons of hope. “Your unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress is truly commendable,” he stated.

As the country navigates its current challenges, Araraume called for unity, understanding, and collective effort. “Let us embrace the spirit of Eid, forgiveness, generosity, and kindness, to build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come,” he urged.

Araraume also extended solidarity to President Bola Tinubu, a distinguished Muslim and the leader of APC, praising his visionary leadership and dedication to nation building. “President Tinubu’s commitment to serving Nigeria has been exemplary, and we assure him of our continued support,” he said.

Reaffirming the APC’s commitment to national prosperity, Araraume emphasized that the values of compassion, unity, and progress embodied by Eid align deeply with the party’s ethos. “As we mark this occasion, we reaffirm our dedication to creating a Nigeria where faith and ethnic background are not barriers to success,” he concluded.

Eid-el-Fitr: Senator Araraume Greets Muslims, Commends President Tinubu’s Leadership

ActionAid Nigeria Condemns Assault on Women at Ozoro Festival, Demands Arrest of Perpetrators

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria has strongly condemned the assault and harassment of women and girls during a cultural festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as a serious violation of human dignity and a reflection of deeper systemic issues of gender-based violence in society.

In a statement issued Friday in Abuja, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, said the disturbing videos circulating on social media showing women and girls being chased, harassed, and assaulted in public spaces highlight a grave failure to ensure the safety of citizens during community events.

The organisation warned against attempts to trivialise or defend the incidents under the guise of cultural interpretation, stressing that no tradition or festival should be used to justify violence against women and girls.

“Violence against women and girls must never be trivialised, justified, or explained away under any circumstance,” the statement said. “Regardless of how such actions are described, the reality remains that women and girls were subjected to abuse in full public view, and this demands accountability.”

ActionAid Nigeria noted that the Ozoro incident reflects a broader pattern in which harmful social norms, silence, and weak enforcement mechanisms create an environment where gender-based violence persists and perpetrators often go unpunished.

The organisation insisted that cultural events must not become spaces where abuse is normalised or tolerated, warning that attempts to downplay such acts only reinforce impunity and further endanger women and girls.

ActionAid called on the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to demonstrate decisive leadership by ensuring that law enforcement agencies urgently identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved in the assaults.

It also urged the governor to make public the actions taken by authorities, including arrests and prosecution outcomes, as part of efforts to rebuild public trust and demonstrate zero tolerance for gender-based violence.

The organisation further demanded that security agencies be held accountable for any lapses that allowed the incidents to occur without immediate intervention, emphasising that their responsibility is not only to respond to violence but also to prevent it.

In addition, ActionAid Nigeria called on the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs to provide urgent, survivor-centred support to victims, including access to medical care, psychosocial counselling, legal assistance, and safe channels for reporting abuse.

According to the organisation, the incident underscores persistent gaps in protecting women and girls in public and cultural spaces and highlights the urgent need for governments and communities to confront harmful gender norms that enable violence.

ActionAid Nigeria also urged traditional authorities in Ozoro Kingdom to review cultural practices that may expose women and girls to harm, insisting that safeguarding human dignity must remain paramount.

Reaffirming its commitment to gender equality, the organisation said it would continue to advocate for stronger systems that protect the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls across Nigeria while standing in solidarity with survivors of the Ozoro incident.

ActionAid Nigeria Condemns Assault on Women at Ozoro Festival, Demands Arrest of Perpetrators

Zulum Greets Muslim Ummah on Eid-El-Fitr

…Re-commits to ending insecurity

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim Ummah in the state on the occasion of Eid-El-Fitr marking the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan fast.

Ramadan offered the opportunity for the Muslim faithful to renew their faith, boost spiritual depth, charitable giving and other acts or worship.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum urged the people of the state to imbibe and sustain the lessons learned during the period to recharge their spiritual beings towards rebuilding a secure, peaceful and prosperous Borno society.

He described this year’s Ramadan as unique, especially with unprecedented charity reach outs to the indigent population by his administration. He noted with deep satisfaction and total gratitude to Allah that his administration has reached over 300,000 vulnerable persons with food and other essential items across the 27 local government areas

Although the state has recorded series of attacks, which have claimed the lives of some military men and civilians, the Governor reiterated his resolve to tackling the security situation head-on.

He saluted the courage, resilience and commitment of the people to all initiatives aimed at deepening security and peace building among the various components of the society fragmented by the Boko Haram insurgency over the years.

Governor Zulum expressed profound grief over the resurgence of terror attacks across parts of the state, especially the triple suicide bombings of Monday, March 9, in Maiduguri, which claimed the lives of 28 persons and injured over 100 others.

He, consequently, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for sending the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima to condole with the people of Borno over the tragic incident and also deploying the Service Chiefs with a charge to review and deploy strategies towards ending the insurgency.

Zulum lauded the military for the ongoing offensive operations in the Sambisa Forest, stressing similar coordinated operations in Mandara mountain, Lake Chad area and other hideouts of the insurgents.

He expressed his unbreakable promise to double down in supporting the security agencies and volunteer forces in the prosecution of the counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.

Governor Zulum recalled that the people of Borno have gone through harrowing situations over the last 15 years due to the Boko Haram insurgency. He, however, urged them to sustain the impressive resilience to the impacts of terror, which they have built over the years.

With the renewal of terror attacks, especially suicide bombings, Zulum strongly urged the people to uphold their decades-old personal and communal initiatives for their safety and protection in attack situations, as the security agencies deploy new and stronger strategies at plugging all loopholes the terrorists seize to carry out their cowardly attacks on communities.

The governor expressed optimism that the security agencies are, more than ever before, crafting and deploying the most-successful strategies at combating the terrorists towards ending the insurgency.

While strongly advising the public to heed the warnings by security agencies to steer clear of crowded locations unguarded by security agents, and be mindful of suspicious persons, Zulum assured the residents of the state that the Eid-El-Fitr praying grounds will be heavily secured for the Muslim faithful to observe their yearly sacred ritual without any fear of attack.

He wished the Muslim Ummah Happy Eid-El-Fitr celebration.

Zulum Greets Muslim Ummah on Eid-El-Fitr