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FUNE LGA: Baba Goni applauded Buni on the promise kept with the people in Yobe

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

FUNE LGA: Baba Goni applauded Buni on the promise kept with the people in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

The Chairman of the Caretaker Management Committee of Fune local government area in Yobe state, Alhaji Baba Goni Bade, has commended the Executive Governor of Yobe state, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, for fulfilling all his campaign promises to the people by providing the dividend of democracy.

Baba Goni Bade said Yobe is blessed with a governor characterized by humility, sympathy, accessibility, and a genius go of what rightfully and lawfully belongs to him, for peace to reign, adding that giving kudos to the governor has become imperative because of his numerous achievements in improving the living conditions of the masses in the state.

According to the Fune Chairman, commendation as such is not only coming from members of his party APC in the state but also from the opposition, which has come to terms with the development strides of the Mai Mala Buni CON Administration in the last five years.

“Members of the opposition parties are praising Chiroman Gujba for executing the developmental projects both in rural and urban areas within the five years in office.

“Buni’s developmental projects are physically on the ground. Buni’s administration is full of initiatives. The government has constructed modern markets in major towns across the state, including Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashu’a, Nguru, Geidam, and Buni Yadi. The government also constructed Trailer Park in Potiskum and resuscitated three dormant industries in the state. These are the Woven Sack Company in Damaturu, Yobe Sahel Aluminum and Flour, and Feed Mill Company in Potiskum.” Baba Goni Bade said.

Speaking further, he said the Buni administration completed the state-owned International Cargo Airport, which was commissioned by the former President Muhammadu Buhari. He said all these achievements were to create a conducive environment for trade and commerce for the economic development of the state.

Alhaji Baba Goni Bade maintained that the Mai Mala Buni administration also established six modern and seven mega schools, procured books and laboratory equipment, employed more workers and teachers, and re-trained teachers in order to enhance and improve the quality of education in the state. Adding to that, Governor Buni also sponsored many students studying specialized courses abroad.

“The Buni administration also constructed numerous township and inter-town roads to facilitate the movement of goods and services and also provided women and youth empowerment initiated for self-employment. In addition, it constructed 1,800 housing units across the state, already allocated to public and civil servants, and discounted the units by 50 percent.

Determined to alleviate the suffering of his people. Governor Mai Mala Buni CON recently distributed assorted food items as Ramadan palliatives to vulnerable groups and to 120,000 households across the 17 local government areas of the state. The 50,000 bags of assorted food items, including rice, maize, millet, and sorghum,.

The Buni administration also recently launched the distribution of cash support of $50,000 each to 1,000 orphans in the 17 local government areas of the state.

“Governor Mai Mala Buni has made tremendous achievements in the health sector. Under five years, he has constructed 138 primary healthcare centers in every electoral ward across the state and also upgraded over seven PHCs to standard general hospitals and four general hospitals to specialist hospitals to provide affordable and accessible healthcare services for the people of Yobe State.

“There is no part of Yobe State without the appreciable positive impact of Buni’s administration on the lives of the people. He also constructed the largest maternal and child health care complex at the State University Teaching Hospital, which was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari.’

Speaking of his achievements in the Fune local government area, the chairman said he has been following in the footsteps of Governor Mai Mala Buni CON in improving the standard and quality of education. He revealed that the council has provided copies of exercise books and distributed them to all primary schools across the local government.

Alhaji Baba Goni Bade said the council has been drilling new boreholes and repairing all old borehole generators. He said that despite the heavy cost of diesel, the council has taken on the burden of ensuring the availability of the product to service the people’s needs. According to him, every month the council distributes enough of the product to power generators in all boreholes, as well as the drilling of new boreholes at Jama’are and health facilities across the local government. Adding to that, the council was also able to construct a bridge Damagum to Dumbulwa, and the council also constructed a newly constructed police station at Alagarno and repaired bridges and culverts to ease water flow during the rainy seasons.

Baba Goni Bade further said that his administration also gives priority to agriculture; he has transformed agriculture through the provision of inputs and implements for both rainy season and irrigation farming. The council also purchased drugs worth millions of naira, distributed them to all our primary health centers across the local government, and repaired primary health centers.

FUNE LGA: Baba Goni applauded Buni on the promise kept with the people in Yobe

News

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 80 militants operating in the creeks of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State have voluntarily surrendered their arms and embraced the state government’s peace and reintegration Amnesty framework.

The militants came out in large numbers from the creeks on Friday at Atimbo Rear Area under Operation OKWOK, within the Area of Responsibility of Headquarters 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army and is already being described by as a strategic breakthrough in the fight against coastal militancy and maritime crime in southern Cross River.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the surrender was the outcome of months of sustained military pressure combined with discreet dialogue involving community leaders, government officials and security agencies.

Two militant camps dismantled themselves in one coordinated move. The first camp, headed by ThankGod Ebikontei, popularly known as Ayibanuagha, presented 39 fighters. Four additional members, officials said, are expected to report in the coming days.

The second camp, commanded by John Isaac, alias Akpokolo, brought forward 41 fighters. His group, widely known along the waterways as the Akpokolo Marine Forces or “Border Boys,” had controlled large stretches of creeks linking Cross River to neighbouring coastal corridors.

Ten more of his fighters are also expected to join the amnesty process. In total, 80 militants formally stepped out of the creeks and into a state-supervised disarmament and rehabilitation programme.

The disarmament was not symbolic. A significant cache of weapons, equipment and operational assets was voluntarily handed over, illustrating the firepower the groups once commanded.

The sources said that items surrendered included AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, a Mark 4 rifle, a G3 rifle, multiple single-barrel guns, magazines, speedboats, high-powered boat engines, locally fabricated pistols and assorted military kits.

Of particular concern to security officials was the surrender of an explosive charge and live ammunition, which draw to the attention of the destructive capacity the groups had at their disposal. Also surrendered were machetes, camouflage clothing, tactical vests, knee and elbow guards, and communication tools, all of which painted a picture of organised armed groups rather than loosely structured criminal gangs.

For the Nigerian Army, the scale and quality of the surrendered items confirmed that the amnesty was reaching core actors, not just foot soldiers.

Brig.-Gen. P.O. Alimikhena, Commander of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, described the development as a “confidence-building milestone” that validates the military’s dual-track strategy.

“This voluntary surrender shows that consistent operations, combined with constructive dialogue and strong collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies, can deliver peace,” Alimikhena said.

“We will continue to secure the environment while supporting lawful initiatives that reintegrate repentant youths and ensure lasting stability.”he said.

Military sources said the success in Akpabuyo followed intensified patrols, improved intelligence flow and engagement with local power structures in creek communities.

After the formal disarmament, the former militants were handed over to the Cross River State Government’s Rapid Response Team.
They are currently undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Muka Sam Hotel in Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

The exercise is designed to verify identities, assess security risks and determine eligibility for rehabilitation, skills training and reintegration support. Officials said the profiling phase is crucial to ensuring that only genuine repentant militants benefit from the programme and that criminal elements do not exploit the amnesty.

Akpabuyo Local Government Area sits along a strategic maritime corridor that links Cross River’s inland communities to coastal and cross-border trading routes. For years, militancy in the area has affected fishing, boat transport, palm produce trade and cross-border commerce with Cameroon.

Sea robbery, illegal taxation of fishermen, extortion and violent turf battles turned the creeks into zones of fear. The collective withdrawal of two major camps in one day is therefore both a psychological and operational shift. It sends a signal that militancy is no longer the dominant survival strategy for youths in the area.

The Nigerian Army credited the success of the Akpabuyo amnesty to what it called “effective civil-military collaboration,” singling out the Cross River State Government under Gov. Bassey Edet Otu for sustained political backing, coordination and logistical support.

Sources said the state government’s willingness to invest in dialogue, rehabilitation and youth empowerment made the option of peace more attractive than continued life in the creeks.

Beyond the powerful images of surrendered weapons and surrendered men, officials insist the hardest phase lies ahead. Reintegration, monitoring and economic re-engagement will determine whether the peace holds or unravels.

Headquarters 13 Brigade has reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating the gains, warning that while the door to peace remains open, security forces will maintain pressure against any group that chooses violence over dialogue.

They has urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that the breakthrough in Akpabuyo is not an endpoint, but the foundation for a safer and more stable Cross River State.

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

News

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

Published

16 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has firmly dismissed rumours circulating that he has anointed individuals for executive positions in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) party congresses.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the Governor described the claims as the handiwork of mischief-makers seeking to cause disaffection within the party.

Governor Zulum emphasised that he has not in any fora endorsed any candidate for any party position, whether in Gwoza Local Government Area or any of the state’s 27 local government areas.

“Let me categorically state that I have not anointed any person for the position of Chairman or Secretary of APC in Gwoza local government in the forthcoming party congress. I wish to also stress that I have not anointed any person for any position in the APC congress in any of the 27 local government areas,” Governor Zulum stated.

He further called on party members to disregard the false information, saying, “I am calling on our party faithful and supporters to disregard the rumour as it is a calculated attempt to create disaffection and derail the party from its trajectory.”

The Governor instead urged party stakeholders to continue constructive consultations aimed at identifying credible candidates to be fielded for all party positions.

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

News

VP Shettima Arrives In Guinea For President Doumbouya’s Inauguration

Published

17 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

VP Shettima Arrives In Guinea For President Doumbouya’s Inauguration

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of President-elect Mamady Doumbouya.

The Vice President was received by senior Guinean government officials and members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps ahead of the official ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium in Nongo.

The inauguration of President Doumbouya follows his victory in the December 2025 general elections, signalling the formal end of a four-year military transition.

The Vice President’s attendance at the inauguration affirms Nigeria’s leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its commitment to the restoration of constitutional order across the sub-region.

Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Nigeria has continued to position itself as a stabilising force, advocating for democratic governance as a prerequisite for regional prosperity.