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Former Minister Appointed SSG in Borno

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Former Minister Appointed SSG in Borno

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has appointed the former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development under the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Mallam Bukar Tijani as the Secretary to Borno State Government (SSG).

The governor also reappointed Prof Isa Marte as his Chief of Staff.

The two appointments were announced by the Governor’s spokesman Mallam Isa Gusau in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The statement noted that Zulum considered Tijani’s very high level experience from his services as minister from July, 2011 to September, 2013 and as Assistant Secretary-General/Assistant Director-General (ASG/ADG) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Tijani, according to the statement, through both offices and other national positions such as being the national coordinator for Nigeria’s National programme for Agriculture and Food Security as well as his coordination of the World Bank’s Fadama project, visited about 50 countries for different official engagements and made significant contributions to the development of agriculture and food security in Nigeria, Africa and at the global level.

62-year old Tijani was born in Damasak but hails from Dikwa local government area of Borno State.

The former minister holds a Master of Science (degree) in Tropical Agricultural Development from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, obtained in 1989.

Before that, he obtained his Bachelor of Science (degree) in Plant and Soil Science from 1982 to 1984 at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama, United States of America (USA).

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Isa Hussaini Marte is making a return as he occupied the same office before the dissolution of the last cabinet on the expiration of the first tenure of the governor.

Professor Marte hails from Marte local government area of Borno State, and before his appointment on August 17, 2020, had previously served as Borno State’s commissioner for Higher Education from August 2019 . He also served as overseeing commissioner of health in 2021 while being chief of staff. He held both positions under the Zulum administration.

Marte is a professor of pharmacology with specialty in cancer research and he is a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, member of the Society for Neuroscience, member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and member of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria amongst others.

Marte holds a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in pharmacology from King’s College London in 1987. He holds Masters Degree in pharmacology from Chelsea College, University of London in 1983. In 1997, he received obtained MBA from Averett University, a private non-profit college in Danville, Virginia, United States of America. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Former Minister Appointed SSG in Borno

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Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau

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Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Nigerian troops have foiled an attack on Rim community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, while three residents were reportedly killed in a separate incident at nearby Gwarim community.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 25, when troops deployed in the area responded to an attack on Rim community at about 6:08 p.m.

The troops engaged the attackers and successfully repelled the assault without any casualty among the personnel or members of the community.

However, at about 6:46 p.m., the troops responded to another report of gunfire at Gwarim community, also in Riyom LGA.

On arrival at the location, the troops discovered the bodies of three residents who had been killed while reportedly keeping watch in the bush outside the community.

The corpses of the victims were recovered and subsequently handed over to members of the community for further necessary action.

The troops have since intensified patrols and are dominating the area in an effort to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.

The latest incidents come amid heightened security concerns in parts of Plateau State, particularly communities around Riyom and neighbouring areas.

Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau

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Operation Savannah Shield troops foil attempted kidnapping of farmers in Niger

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Operation Savannah Shield troops foil attempted kidnapping of farmers in Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Savannah Shield have foiled an attempt by suspected terrorists to kidnap farmers at their farmlands in Tudun Harara village, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 25, 2026, when troops of the NATRAC Administrative Battalion, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kotonkoro, responded to a distress report on the attempted abduction.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops engaged the terrorists upon arrival, forcing them to withdraw into the surrounding forest.

During the encounter, the fleeing terrorists abandoned a motorcycle, which was recovered by the troops.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security forces to protect farming communities and deny criminal elements freedom of action across Niger State.

Operation Savannah Shield troops foil attempted kidnapping of farmers in Niger

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Operation Fansan Yamma troops foil ransom exchange, rescue kidnapped woman in Kebbi

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Operation Fansan Yamma troops foil ransom exchange, rescue kidnapped woman in Kebbi

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued a kidnapped woman and disrupted a planned ransom exchange in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The troops, conducting counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations in the state, carried out the successful operation on Aug. 26, 2026, following credible intelligence on the planned ransom payment.

Zagazola Makama gathered from security sources that the victim had been abducted from her farm sometime last month, while the criminals were preparing to collect ransom in exchange for her release.

Acting on the intelligence, the troops swiftly mobilised to intercept the transaction.

Sources said the criminals attempted to engage the advancing troops after sighting them but were overwhelmed by the troops’ superior firepower.

The bandits subsequently fled in disarray, abandoning the hostage, who was immediately secured by the troops.

The victim was found unharmed and later transported to safety before being reunited with her family in Danko-Wasagu LGA.

Following the rescue, the troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the withdrawal route to ensure that the area was fully secured before returning to base.

In a related operation, the troops also conducted clearance and dominance patrols in Ngaski Local Government Area as part of efforts to maintain peace and deny criminal elements freedom of movement.

The patrols were completed without incident, further strengthening security presence and reassuring residents in the affected communities.

Operation Fansan Yamma troops foil ransom exchange, rescue kidnapped woman in Kebbi

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