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Gov. Buni to Award Youths on Science, Research and Innovation
Gov. Buni to Award Youths on Science, Research and Innovation
By: Kolo Gulani
The Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni will present awards to youths from different parts of the state on science, research and innovation.
This was disclosed on Monday 22nd July, 2024, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Science, Research and Innovation, Dr Mahmoud Bukar Maina, during the closing ceremony of a Workshop on Artificial Intelligence, organized by Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) of Yobe State University in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser on Science, Research and Innovation at the Desert Hall Damaturu.
The call for applications tagged “Yobe State Research and Innovation Challenge 2024” was announced in January 2024 which ended on 31st of May with the award categories which includes; Brilliant Innovations and Top Research Paper Award.
Dr Maina revealed following a detailed presentations and a thorough review by two expert judges; Eng. Abubakar Gambo, Software Architect/Programmer and Co-founder of Cerebro Information Systems Ltd., along with Dr Ali Bukar Maina, a Machine Learning Expert and Principal Vision Scientist based in the United Kingdom, the winners were selected based on rigorous criteria. These criteria included the local relevance of the innovation, its functionality, and the strength of its business case. Mohammed Auwal from Bursari Local Government Area emerged as the first-place winner in Brilliant Innovations, with Muhammad Mustapha from Geidam Local Government Area securing the second spot, and Adamu Aliyu from Nangere Local Government Area taking third place.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Science, Research and Innovation also explained that the other category of the award winners were selected after receiving numerous submissions of high-caliber research papers, each paper underwent an extensive review to assess its eligibility, significance in the field, and the contribution of the authors.
The panel of judges, include Dr. Karen Marshall and Dr. Andre Maia Chagas from the University of Sussex, UK, along with Dr. Murtala Isah Bindawa from Umaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina, Nigeria. The winners are Idi Mohammed from Yobe State University, taking first place, followed by Mohammed Bukar Maina, also from Yobe State University, in second place, and Harisu Abdullahi Shehu, receiving an honorary award for his outstanding research contributions from the diaspora.
Dr Maina also disclosed that the award winners will be awarded during the 2024 Summer School Workshops which will come up in August of the year. He further explained that winners of the awards will receive cash prize by the Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni.
On his part, the facilitator of the workshop, Dr. Ali B. Maina, emphasized that the session focused primarily on AI. He highlighted the vast possibilities of integrating AI technology within various organizational processes. Dr Ali explained that participants were equipped with the knowledge, skills, and insights necessary to implement AI solutions across a range of applications. They learned how to utilize AI for creating meeting notes, interacting with PDFs or websites, and using AI to impartially mark examination scripts.
He added that the workshop covered the innovative use of multi-agent systems, where AI agents are tasked with specific roles such as developing course curriculums or managing complex workflows within their organizations.
Meanwhile, participants were drawn from different parts of the country in which 70% of the participants were from Yobe State.
Gov. Buni to Award Youths on Science, Research and Innovation
Fourteen Abducted Victims Released in Maru, Zamfara State; Two Killed in Captivity
By: Zagazola Makama
Fourteen victims abducted in December 2025, including six family members of Inspector Hussaini Abubakar of Maru Police Division, have been released by their captors.
Zagazola reliably gathered that the release occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2026. Unfortunately, two of the victims, identified as Bashir Marafa, aged 45, and Halliru Kabiru, aged 50, were killed while in captivity.
Sources added that a pregnant woman among the abductees delivered a baby girl while in captivity. The victims are currently receiving medical attention at the General Hospital, Maru.
Fourteen Abducted Victims Released in Maru, Zamfara State; Two Killed in Captivity
Two Abducted Victims Rescued in Tsafe, Zamfara; One Killed in Bandit Attack at Talata Mafara
By: Zagazola Makama
Two persons abducted earlier this month in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been rescued, while a separate bandit attack in Talata Mafara LGA left one person dead and others missing.
Sources confirmed that Bashir Adamu Iyatawa, 42, and Kenneth Allahmagani, 35, both from Zaria City, Kaduna State, were abducted at Unguwar Chida Village in Tsafe on Feb. 16, 2026.
They were rescued on Feb. 26, debriefed, and later taken to a hospital for medical attention before being handed over to their relatives.
In a separate incident, armed bandits loyal to a local bandit leader, Na Sanda, attacked the outskirts of Jangebe town in Talata Mafara LGA on Feb. 27 at about 2:00 a.m.
The attack resulted in the death of Misbawu Aminu, 30, and the abduction of an unspecified number of persons to an undisclosed location.
Joint troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA and local vigilante groups are reported to be pursuing the fleeing bandits. Authorities have assured that efforts to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the culprits are ongoing.
Two Abducted Victims Rescued in Tsafe, Zamfara; One Killed in Bandit Attack at Talata Mafara
Boko Haram Attack on CJTF Leaves One Dead in Gwoza, Borno state
By: Zagazola Makama
One member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) was killed following an ambush by suspected ISWAP terrorists along the Warave–Gwoza Road in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources said the incident occurred on February 25 at about 7:30 a.m. when gunmen attacked members of the CJTF and hunters on routine patrol. Fifty-year-old Bello Adamu, a member of the CJTF, was fatally injured in the attack.
Army troops of Operation HADIN KAI, Police Tactical Units, and CJTF personnel visited the scene, documented the incident, and evacuated the victim to Gwoza General Hospital, where he was certified dead on arrival. His body was released to his family for burial according to Islamic rites.
Monitoring of the area continues to prevent further attacks.
Boko Haram Attack on CJTF Leaves One Dead in Gwoza, Borno state
Fourteen Abducted Victims Released in Maru, Zamfara State; Two Killed in Captivity
Two Abducted Victims Rescued in Tsafe, Zamfara; One Killed in Bandit Attack at Talata Mafara
Boko Haram Attack on CJTF Leaves One Dead in Gwoza, Borno state
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