Group Says Poverty, Disunity Responsible for Surge in Terrorism

By: Michael Mike

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has identified the surge in terrorism in Nigeria as a result of disunity among communities across the country and poverty among majority of citizens.

The group in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak on Tuesday, said the persistent and growing threat of terrorism in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, is evident that terrorist groups, both local and international—including Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al-Qaeda affiliates, and more recently, the Lakurawa terrorist group—have exploited the longstanding divisions within our communities to carry out their heinous attacks.

Abrak said: “Terrorism thrives where there is disunity and poverty. In Nigeria, sectarian and political fault lines—especially religious divisions between Christians and Muslims—have allowed these criminals to operate with impunity. Rather than uniting to confront a common enemy, communities often fall into the trap of mutual suspicion and blame. This division has enabled terrorists to continue their violence across religious and political boundaries.”

He noted that: “We must ask ourselves: why do we continue to witness deadly attacks in Christian-dominated areas such as Plateau, Benue, and in the recent tragedy in Gombe, where a truck rammed into an Easter mass rally? Similarly, why are Muslim-majority states like Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto under constant siege? The answer is simple: terrorism knows no religion, region, or tribe. Nigeria as a whole is being targeted, and unless we unite, we risk losing everything, just as happened in countries like Afghanistan and Yemen.”

He however said: “The way forward is not through division, but unity—across religious, ethnic, and political lines. This unity must be backed by bold, people-centered policies that empower communities to protect themselves and deny terrorists the environment they exploit.

“One such policy is the revitalization of the Forest Guard, as proposed in President Bola Tinubu’s campaign manifesto. NCYP has long advocated for this initiative. Properly implemented, it would involve recruiting local community members—those who know the terrain intimately—to safeguard their forests. This would not only improve security but also create jobs and provide a steady income, reducing the appeal of terrorist recruitment.

“In tandem, we strongly support the full implementation of Local Government Financial Autonomy, as ordered by the Supreme Court. When funds are directly allocated to local governments, communities can witness real development at the grassroots. Economic empowerment at this level builds resilience against extremist influence.”

Abrak decried that: “Unfortunately, we continue to see political maneuvering and sabotage when it comes to implementing these people-oriented policies. For example, the debate over state police versus the Forest Guard should not be an either-or argument. If state police are formed, will they truly focus on reclaiming forests overrun by terrorists? And if State Police is viable, why hasn’t this government moved swiftly to implement it?

“Similarly, why have Local Government Councils not opened accounts with the Central Bank to allow FAAC funds to be deposited directly, as constitutionally mandated? These are serious questions our leaders must answer if they are truly committed to ending the insurgency that is devastating rural Nigeria.”

“We urge all Nigerians, especially those in rural communities, to raise their voices and demand full implementation of these critical policies. The political class has demonstrated that when the will exists, necessary legal reforms can be swiftly enacted—as seen when the National Assembly invoked the Doctrine of Necessity to resolve a constitutional crisis after President Yar’Adua’s death,” he said.

He advises that: “Let us show the same urgency in enacting laws and reforms that will empower our people, defend our communities, and defeat terrorism.

“We, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals, stand ready to partner with all patriotic Nigerians, regardless of religion or ethnicity, in the fight for a safer, united, and prosperous Nigeria.”

Group Says Poverty, Disunity Responsible for Surge in Terrorism

Suspected IED explosion kills minor, injures six in Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

A suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in the early hours of Tuesday in Abakpa area of Kaduna North Local Government Area, killing one minor and injuring six others.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the explosion occurred around 8 a.m., April 22, 2025, causing panic among residents in the densely populated community.

The deceased minor was identified as Abubakar Mohammed, while the six injured persons, including three other minors, were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

A resident who witnessed the incident and spoke under condition of anonymity that the device exploded suddenly near a residential compound, leading to several casualties.

Security personnel, including bomb disposal experts and police operatives, quickly arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.

Authorities have commenced an investigation to ascertain the nature of the explosive and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Suspected IED explosion kills minor, injures six in Kaduna

UNICEF Worries discoveries of 2 Casa in Jigawa, Govt. Receives Over 2m Dosage of Polio Vaccine, Recruits 50,000 Adhoc to Immunizes 2m Children

By: Aminu B, Dutse

Two Polio Cases had been recorded in Hadejia and Suletantarkar local government of Jigawa State after being the state certified Polio virus free for about one decade.

This was disclosed by the United Nations Childrens Education Fund (UNICEF) Kano Chief field officer, Mr Rahama Rihood Farah during a day Media Dialogue on Polio and Routine Immunization organized by the United Nations Childrens Education Fund (UNICEF) held in Dutse, the state capital.

Mr. Rahama Rihood Farah was represented by Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, Health Manager, UNICEF Kano Field Office said “polio is a highly infectious disease with potentially deadly consequences for young children. It has been the leading cause of paralysis among children and can cause death!”.

According to him “Across the world, 3 billion people have been immunized against polio since 1988, bringing the disease to the brink of eradication. But the fight is not over, including in Nigeria, because low vaccination rates are creating opportunities for polio outbreaks as we are seeing in Nigeria. Recently.In 2025, 18 cases of polio have been reported in 18 LGAs in nine (9) states of Nigeria”.

“Two (2) of these polio cases are in Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa state. This is unacceptable and must be halted Polio knows no boundaries and spreads fast an outbreak in any country puts children in every country at risk”.

The chief field officer maintained that “In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives that is six people every minute, for five decades. Together, we have made incredible progress. Simply by being immunized, you help to protect others from the spread of disease, just as they help to protect you.We can stop outbreaks and eradicate polio”.

“Ending polio and improving children’s survival starts with making sure all children have access to vaccines. UNICEF calls on the Jigawa state government, and indeed all states in Nigeria, to take urgent action to stop polio outbreaks and to reach all children with polio and other life-saving vaccines”.

He said UNICEF requests Jigawa State government to declares a State of Emergency on Polio and Routine Immunization including a commitment to release State Counterpart funding for polio and routine Immunization, 27 local government councils’ Chairmen in the state to make similar commitments, and conduct flag-offs of the upcoming polio vaccination campaign and commit to releasing counterpart funding.

Mr Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum noted that UNICEF in collaboration with the Jigawa state government through the Primary Healthcare Development Agency has convened this Media Dialogue to solicit the support of the media in raising awareness and mobilizing parents, caregivers, communities, stakeholders, the public and everyone, about the Polio Vaccination Campaign which Nigeria has scheduled to implement from 24-30 April 2025.

UNICEF emphasis that Media must regularly disseminate through their platforms accurate information to help fight myths, disinformation and rumors which misinform and discourage people from taking opportunities to vaccinate children.

“If children get vaccinated routinely, we will have no need for vaccination campaigns to deal with vaccine-preventable diseases. To eradicate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, Nigeria must strengthen its Routine Immunization efforts. This requires full implementation of the One functional Primary Healthcare Centre per ward Policy. If we strengthen our Routine Immunization, we can realize a future free from diseases like polio, cervical cancer and measles”.

Farah stated further that as the global community is focusing attention on human papillomavirus during the World Immunization Week, and UNICEF urges the government and decision makers in Nigeria to also focus attention on and invest in vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.

“We can realize a future free from vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, cervical cancer and measles. A future where no child dies from illnesses that we know how to prevent – because Vaccines are available, safe and effective!”.

Speaking over the development the executive secretary Jigawa state Primary Healthcare Development Agency PHCDA, Dr Sambo through director primary healthcare services, Dr Hassan Shu’aibu Kwalam said the state has came up and adopted new strategies to re-eliminates the disease in the state.

According to him the state government through the agency a massive immunization exercise to be lunched all over the state by tomorrow Wednesday targeted to immunizes all eligibles children in the state.

The director explained that a high level meeting with traditional and religious leaders under the chairmanship of the chairman of Polio enlightenment campaign committee and Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu to redesigned where the Emir of Hadejia and Gumel, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Make and Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed Sani and review the hole (polio) immunization exercise in Hadejia.

Dr Hassan Shu’aibu Kwalam explained that there is a massive immunization exercise plan to kick off 24th of this month to last for six days where through the period over 3060 teams of three people per each team to be despatches across 287 political wards in 27 local government areas to vaccinate all eligible children.

He said “the agency received over two million dosage of vaccine to be admitted to the targeted 1.9 million children”.

“In an effort to achieve 100 percent coverage about 50,000 adhoc staff had been recruited which includes people to administer the vaccine, recorders, supervisors at three different levels such as at teams, wards, local government area zones and state levels.

Also speaking the programme manager, State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (SERICC ), Dr Shehu Ibrahim said “a total of 1.9m os targeted to immunizes against the polio disease in the forthcoming polio immunisation exercise to be conducted a cross 27 local government areas of the state”.

Dr Shehu Ibrahim described noncompliance which in most cases emanating from political attribution in vaccine exercise leading to missing some children from recieving the vaccine a situation that exposing them and endangering other to the virus.

He expressed concern on political attraction to polio and routing immunization where in some cases rejecting the vaccine for a political reason remains serious challenge in achieving the targeted children in the state, “what is the relationship with water supply and routing immunization?”.

According to him “In February 2025 immunisation exercise a total of seven children were missed in Garki, Kaugama and Maigatari Local Government area “

He said , State Government has introduced various measures to ensure no single child is left behind during the upcoming immunisation campaign.

Adding that Immunisation teams would be deployed to markets and boarders to ensure full coverage and to ensure no zero child is recorded.

UNICEF Worries discoveries of 2 Casa in Jigawa, Govt. Receives Over 2m Dosage of Polio Vaccine, Recruits 50,000 Adhoc to Immunizes 2m Children