Court Judgment Final: Abah Unor Accused Of Illegal Land Sales By Ogwashi-Uku

The Palace of His Royal Majesty, Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, has issued a strong rebuttal to what it describes as “a calculated campaign of misinformation” by elements within the Abah Unor community over land lawfully adjudicated to Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom.

At the center of the controversy is land currently occupied by Soarstar College of Nursing Sciences Ltd, which the Palace insists forms part of property conclusively awarded to the Trustees of the proposed Anioma University of Science and Technology, Ogwashi-Uku in Suit No. O/5/2006.

JUDGMENT DELIVERED — WRIT EXECUTED
According to Palace Secretary Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, the matter is not a pending dispute but a concluded case. The High Court entered judgment in favour of the University Trustees and affirmed the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku as lawful custodian and owner of the land.
Following the judgment:
• A Writ of Possession was duly issued.
• Court Bailiffs executed the writ.
• Officers acting under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police supervised enforcement.
• Legal possession was formally delivered to the judgment creditors.
“This is not a political issue. It is a judicially determined matter,” the Palace stated.

ATACHE RIVER IDENTIFIED AS NATURAL BOUNDARY
The litigation survey plan, tendered and relied upon by the court, clearly delineates the boundary between Ogwashi-Uku and Abah Unoh at the Atache River, with Abah Unor situated across the river.

The Palace maintains that any claim by Abah Unor to lands before the river contradicts documentary evidence placed before the court and already adjudicated upon.

ALLEGATIONS OF CONTEMPT AND FRAUDULENT SALES
The Palace further alleges that despite losing in court and failing in attempts to set aside the judgment, certain individuals within Abah Unor have begun offering portions of the adjudicated land for sale to estate developers.
“If proven, such acts amount to trespass and potential contempt of court,” the statement said.

The Trustees emphasized that restraint was initially exercised out of consideration for representations made by the Nursing School proprietors. However, the alleged fresh attempts to alienate land already under writ of possession have now escalated the situation.

WARNING TO LAND SPECULATORS
The Palace issued a stern caution to developers and land buyers:
“No person can acquire valid title from a party who is not the rightful owner of the property especially as a court of competent jurisdiction has already determined the ownership of the property in question.” Nobody touched the Nursing School that is on our land. For the owner who had pleaded and appealed to us at the time of the court execution to turn around and make unfounded false allegations is frankly disappointing and will attract the necessary legal response.

Security assistance for enforcement of the writ was lawfully approved under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police, and the Palace insists that any obstruction of court officials or law enforcement agents will attract criminal and legal consequences.

“RULE OF LAW, NOT SENTIMENT”
The Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, according to the Palace, remains committed to peace and legality but will not permit judicial decisions to be undermined through media theatrics.
“This Kingdom believes in the rule of law. The judgment is there for all to see. Attempts to whip up sentiment cannot override a subsisting court order. We are not on a Nollywood set. We are happy they as they have claimed to have written to the DSS, Police and others because we want those agencies to warn them to stay clear of the land in question.”

The Trustees reaffirmed their readiness to take all lawful steps necessary to protect the land and ensure that the sanctity of the judiciary is preserved.

Court Judgment Final: Abah Unor Accused Of Illegal Land Sales By Ogwashi-Uku

Zulum Allaocates New Site for Permanent NYSC Orientation Camp in Maiduguri

By: Our Reporter

Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has proposed the relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp from its current site within the city center to Government Secondary School, Auno.

Governor Zulum identified sustainability, security, and future expansion as critical factors in his proposal.

Speaking during an inspection of the facility alongside the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and other management staff of the Corps, Zulum, on Friday, said the decision was driven by long-term planning rather than short-term convenience.

“One of the key reasons I am proposing this location for the NYSC permanent orientation camp is sustainability. In the next one or two years, we may be hosting between 3,000 and 5,000 corps members. Keeping such a population within the town will create pressure on infrastructure,” Zulum stated.

The governor noted that the ongoing construction of a bypass located about two to 2.5 kilometres from the site would enhance accessibility, while the Teaching Hospital—expected to be commissioned within the next two to three months—and the State University along the same axis further underscore the area’s strategic importance.

“This corridor is fast becoming a major institutional and development hub. If we are serious about long-term planning, we must move to a more spacious and strategic location,” he added.

According to him, the facility includes two hostels with eight dormitories, a dining hall and kitchen, 26 classrooms with attached offices, seven laboratories, and 12 additional rooms, an overhead water tank and a functional solar-powered borehole. He added that the classrooms alone can accommodate between 1,300 and 1,500 corps members at a time.

On security, the governor assured that the location can be effectively fortified, noting the proximity of security formations and a military checkpoint in the area.

“If this place is deemed suitable after your assessment, we will strengthen the perimeter fence, improve security architecture, and install modern technological gadgets to prevent intrusion. Once properly secured, this location will be ideal,”

He further pledged to provide accommodation for NYSC officials, including the possible acquisition of additional housing within the Federal Mass Housing Estate.

“As governor, I would rather invest public resources in a location that guarantees sustainability, expansion, and long-term value—not one that will soon become congested and inadequate,” he stressed.

In a remark, the Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, for what he described as a rare and forward-looking proposal to establish a permanent orientation camp in the state.

“His Excellency’s offering is uncommon. It is futuristic and shows he is thinking far ahead of where we currently are. That is exactly where this scheme is growing into,” Nafiu said.

He noted that the Federal Government has, in recent years, increased the number of corps members mobilised annually, from 300,000 to 350,000, then 400,000, and now 450,000 in 2026.

The Director-General emphasized that security remains a critical factor in the deployment of corps members nationwide. He lauded Governor Zulum for inviting the Garrison Commander and Theatre Intelligence Commander to participate in the assessment of the proposed site.

“His Excellency has graciously asked security commanders to join us in inspecting this land so they can properly advise on safety and other requirements,” he added.

Secretary to Borno State government, Hon. Bukar Tijani, explained that Borno State Government developed the structure but it was never put into operation, adding that the facility is fully fenced, with portions of the perimeter wall having collapsed due to animal intrusion and lack of use.

Zulum Allaocates New Site for Permanent NYSC Orientation Camp in Maiduguri

Rising Tensions in Plateau Demand Urgent, Coordinated Intervention

By: Zagazola Makama

Emerging security indicators from Plateau State point to a fragile and potentially volatile situation as tensions between Fulani pastoralists and Berom communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas show signs of spreading toward the Jos metropolitan axis.

Security observers warn that without swift and carefully calibrated intervention, the current pattern of killings and reprisal attacks could degenerate into a broader ethno-religious crisis reminiscent of past upheavals that once paralysed the state and reverberated across parts of Northern Nigeria.

For years, rural communities in Riyom and Barkin Ladi have experienced recurrent clashes linked to grazing routes, land use disputes and cycles of retaliation. However, recent developments suggest that the tension is no longer confined to agrarian flash zones.

Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas , historically sensitive due to longstanding disputes over indigeneship, political representation and religious identity, are now recording heightened anxiety linked to incidents in the hinterlands.

Particularly concerning are reports of killings involving youths from Jos North while transiting through Barkin Ladi. Such incidents risk reframing what had been largely rural land-use conflicts into a broader ethno-religious confrontation within the Jos township, long regarded as a symbolic and demographic fault line.

Jos’ strategic location in the North-Central corridor further raises the stakes. Historically, major unrest in Plateau has had spillover effects into neighbouring states, including Kaduna, Bauchi and Kano, where sectarian sensitivities remain latent but potent.

Recent intelligence point to the crystallisation of hardline positions among youth groups on both sides. Berom youth elements have reportedly issued ultimatums prohibiting grazing activities in parts of Barkin Ladi, citing recent killings as justification. Conversely, Fulani youth groups are said to have rejected such demands and pledged to sustain established grazing patterns.

Zagazola warn that ultimatums of this nature are structurally incompatible and tend to narrow the space for negotiation. Left unaddressed, they create an environment in which symbolic defiance becomes more important than compromise, increasing the likelihood of confrontation.

Religious and traditional leaders across affected communities retain significant grassroots influence. Yet it was noted that structured, proactive mobilisation of these actors toward de-escalation has not reached the intensity required by the moment.

Plateau’s past recovery from large-scale violence was partly driven by interfaith dialogue platforms and the moral authority of respected community figures who framed peace as a shared survival imperative. A similar mobilisation is urgently required.

Equally important is the posture of the state. In polarised environments, perceptions often carry as much weight as actions. Confidence-building measures that visibly demonstrate neutrality and inclusiveness are considered critical to preventing narratives of bias from taking root.

Another emerging concern relates to allegations of unprofessional conduct by some security personnel in affected areas. Though such claims remain under review, experts caution that even isolated incidents can erode public trust and complicate stabilisation efforts.

Effective counter-conflict operations require not only tactical capability but also legitimacy. Maintaining discipline, transparency and accountability within security deployments is therefore essential to preserving operational credibility.

Beyond immediate containment, emphasise should be taken that Plateau’s recurrent crises are deeply rooted in structural issues: land tenure ambiguity, demographic pressure, youth unemployment, historical grievances and politicisation of identity.

A purely reactive security response, while necessary in the short term, cannot substitute for sustained political engagement, institutional reform and economic inclusion.

The current moment presents both danger and opportunity. Danger, because escalating rhetoric and retaliatory cycles could rapidly overwhelm existing security architecture. Opportunity, because early, coordinated intervention can prevent escalation and reinforce lessons learned from past crises.

Urgent synchronised engagement across Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos North and Jos South LGAs is essential to prevent displacement of conflict from rural to urban centres. De-escalation efforts must be simultaneous and inclusive to avoid creating vacuums that hostile actors could exploit.

Dialogue with youth leaders, activation of religious and traditional networks, reinforcement of neutral security posture and strategic communication to counter inflammatory narratives are widely viewed as immediate priorities.

Plateau’s stability remains central not only to its residents but also to the wider North-Central geopolitical zone. The trajectory of events in the coming days will likely determine whether the state consolidates its fragile calm or slides back into a cycle of confrontation.

The window for preventive action remains open but narrowing.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region

Rising Tensions in Plateau Demand Urgent, Coordinated Intervention