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GiZ, ActionAid Rehabilitate Hundreds of Nigerian Returnees with Vocational Training

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GiZ, ActionAid Rehabilitate Hundreds of Nigerian Returnees with Vocational Training

By: Michael Mike

German agency, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) are presently assisting hundreds of deported or returned Nigerians to get rehabilitated back into the system.

Four hundred deportees (returnees) are currently being trained in different vocations in Abuja, Lagos state and Edo state to get them seamlessly back into the society.

Speaking at the onboarding ceremony of the beneficiaries of the vocation skill training programme in Abuja organised by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with GiZ under the Reconnect Programme, the Country Director of AAN, Andrew Mamedu said: “Today marks more than just the start of a training programme, it marks the beginning of a transformative journey. A journey that will open doors to new opportunities, foster self-reliance, and lay the foundation for a brighter and more secure future.”

Mamedu, who was represented by the Director, Business Development and Innovation, Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, noted that: “Across Nigeria, migration has become both a lifeline and a risk. Thousands of young people are compelled to leave in search of better opportunities due to unemployment, insecurity, and limited prospects. While some succeed, many face exploitation, trauma, or deportation.

“According to the International Organisation for Migration, over 17,000 Nigerians have voluntarily returned from Libya, Niger, and other transit countries since 2017. These returnees often come home to face stigma, mental health challenges, and limited reintegration opportunities.

“This is where the Reconnect Project comes in to provide practical, meaningful pathways for reintegration rooted in empathy, inclusion, and resilience. Through vocational skills training, psychosocial support, institutional capacity strengthening, and community engagement, the project seeks not only to address immediate needs but to contribute to systemic, long-term solutions to migration-related vulnerabilities.

“At ActionAid, we believe that real development happens when people especially women and young people are equipped with the tools and knowledge to lift themselves and their communities. This programme is a reflection of that belief.”

On her part, the GiZ Project Component Manager, Abuja, Tolulope Olaiya noted that the project is more than a reintegration initiative, but to create an enabling environment where migration becomes a source of shared benefit-for returing migrants, their families, local communities, and the nation as a whole.

She noted that: “Through strategic
collaboration and strong partnerships, we are confident that this project will drive
meaningful, positive change and play an essential role in supporting Nigeria’s overall.”

Olaiya said: “As we launch this crucial phase of the project, we reaffirm our commitment to working colaboratively with al stakeholders to ensure that the vocational training, national efforts to make migration safe, orderly, and beneficial for all.”

She told the beneficiaries: “I encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. Ask questions. Practice often. Embrace the process. Most importantly believe in yourselves. Learning a skill is not just about securing a job; it’s about gaining the power to shape your own future.”

The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants,
and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Hon. Tijani Ahmed said the Reintegration and Empowerment for Connecting and Nurturing Opportunities of Vulnerable Populations and Returning Migrants is not just a programme title; it is a promise of hope, restoration, and sustainable inclusion.

Ahmed, who was represented by a Director in the Commission, Dr. Nsikan Essien noted that the event marks the beginning of a new chapter for the beneficiaries, many of whom have faced displacement, marginalization, and hardship.

He said: “Today, we celebrate not only their
resilience but also their readiness to embrace new opportunities that will equip them with valuable vocational skills for self-
reliance and economic independence.”

He added that: “At NCFRMI, we believe that reintegration is not complete without empowerment. This is why vocational training initiatives like these are central to our mandate to ensure durable solutions for persons of concern-including returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrants, and refugees. When we
invest in skills, we invest in futures. And when we invest in people, we invest in peace, progress, and national prosperity.”

He noted that: “The Commission’s support for the Reconnect Project aligns with our strategie vision under the “Project 5×5” Agenda, which emphasizes livelihood support, durable solutions, and
strategic partnerships. We are particularly encouraged by the project’s deliberate focus on vulnerable groups such as returned migrants, persons with disabilities, and women, groups that are often at the intersection of displacement and inequality.
This onboarding ceremony is more than a symbolic occasion; it is a significant step toward inclusive development and conflict-
sensitive reintegration. It shows what is possible when we work together to create pathways to dignity and economic resilience.”

GiZ, ActionAid Rehabilitate Hundreds of Nigerian Returnees with Vocational Trainin

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Soldier killed, two injured as bandits ambush military vehicle in Katsina

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Soldier killed, two injured as bandits ambush military vehicle in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits on Wednesday ambushed a military Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in Yadi forest, near Machika village in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing one soldier and critically injuring two others.

It was gathered that the APC had developed a mechanical fault while on patrol before it was attacked at about 2:32 p.m.

Sources said hat the heavily armed bandits seized the opportunity to launch a coordinated assault on the stranded vehicle.

“In the course of the attack, one soldier was fatally shot while two others sustained life-threatening injuries. The injured personnel were immediately evacuated for medical attention,” the report noted.

Following the incident, a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet was deployed to the area for aerial support, while troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA cordoned off the forest in search of the attackers.

Security operations in the area are ongoing to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of the deadly ambush.

Soldier killed, two injured as bandits ambush military vehicle in Katsina

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Mob kills suspected motorcycle thief in Gombe, police arrest four

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Mob kills suspected motorcycle thief in Gombe, police arrest four

By: Zagazola Makama

The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a 22-year-old man by a mob in Kumo, Akko Local Government Area, over allegations of motorcycle theft.

Sources said the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, when the victim, identified as Daudu Ahmed of Sarkin Yaki Quarters, was attacked with machetes to the head and stomach by a group of youths accusing him of being a serial motorcycle thief.

The matter was reported to the Akko Divisional Police Station by the victim’s elder brother, Dahiru Ahmed, at about 10:15 a.m.

The Divisional Police Officer and his team responded swiftly and rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Kumo, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

Four suspects were identified and two Babayo Musa and Zaidu Sani both of Jauro Musa Quarters were arrested. The others, identified only as Sulaiman and Usama, remain at large alongside other fleeing suspects.

During interrogation, the arrested suspects reportedly confessed that the deceased had been involved in motorcycle snatching and was a known threat in the area. Machetes used in the attack were recovered as evidence.

Sources said that case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

Mob kills suspected motorcycle thief in Gombe, police arrest four

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Gunmen abduct two in Kwara Fulani camp, injure one

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Gunmen abduct two in Kwara Fulani camp, injure one

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed men have abducted two residents and injured another during an attack on Baba Ramo Fulani Camp near Isanlu Isin in Kwara State, the police have confirmed.

Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, when the gunmen stormed the camp, shooting sporadically before whisking away two men identified as Ibrahim Nuhu and Musa Umar.

Sources said during the attack, one Opeyemi Ibrahim sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh and was rushed to Adeyemi Hospital in Omu-Aran for urgent medical attention.

Following the incident, local hunters and vigilantes immediately launched a bush combing operation in an attempt to rescue the abductees.

During the search, the team recovered eight empty AK-47 bullet shells, a severed human thumb, a flashlight, and a blue Bajaj motorcycle with registration number KMA 185 VD. About 50 cows believed to have been abandoned by the attackers were also recovered.

All recovered items have been handed over to the police, and an investigation is currently ongoing to track down the abductors and secure the release of the victims.

Gunmen abduct two in Kwara Fulani camp, injure one

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