Vice chairman, 64 others released by bandits in Tsafe in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

The vice chairman of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State and 64 other abducted persons have regained their freedom after a deadly ambush by bandits in the area.

The victims arrived safely in Tsafe on Tuesday, following intense efforts by security operatives and local stakeholders to secure their release.

The ambush, which occurred on Jan. 20, left a trail of destruction in Danjibga village, where a fierce gun battle broke out between the attackers and community protection forces.

During the encounter, one operative of the Community Protection Guard (CPG) and two residents were killed, while two others sustained bullet wounds.

Sources said the bandits also set ablaze four vehicles two Golf cars and two Mitsubishi Canter trucks during the attack.

Although the released victims have reunited with their families, an unspecified number of women and children are still feared to be in captivity.

The freed victims and the injured were taken to the Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, where they are receiving medical care.

The return of the abductees was described as a moment of relief and gratitude, even as the community mourned those who lost their lives in the violence.

Meanwhile, in a related development, another attack in Bakura Local Government Area claimed the life of a 22-year-old farmer, Burhama Sani.

He was reportedly shot dead on his farm along the Bakura–Rabah road after bandits blocked the Fadamma axis and set two vehicles conveying food items ablaze.

Vice chairman, 64 others released by bandits in Tsafe in Zamfara

U.S. Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker Begins Strategic Foreign Visit Including Nigeria, Middle East, and Rome

By: Michael Mike

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker has embarked on a week-long diplomatic mission that includes stops in Abuja, Nigeria; Muscat, Oman; Manama, Bahrain; and Rome, Italy from January 21–29, 2026, the U.S. State Department confirmed in a statement this week. 

In Nigeria, Hooker is leading the American delegation and serving as head of the U.S.–Nigeria Joint Working Group—a recently established platform aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on security and economic issues. During talks in Abuja, the delegation is expected to discuss strategies for protecting vulnerable communities, enhancing cooperation against terrorism, and expanding U.S. investment opportunities in the West African nation. 

The visit comes at a time of heightened focus on Nigeria’s internal security challenges and international efforts to support peace and stability across the region. Local and international observers have noted ongoing discussions between U.S. and Nigerian authorities on religious violence and security cooperation as part of broader diplomatic engagement. 

After concluding discussions in Nigeria, Hooker’s itinerary moves to the Gulf region, where she will lead strategic dialogues with officials in Oman and Bahrain. These talks are expected to advance cooperation on regional security, economic ties, and cultural exchange, reflecting shared interests between the United States and its partners in the Middle East. 

The final leg of the trip will take Hooker to Rome, where she will meet with counterparts from European governments and international organisations. In Italy, engagements will cover major global priorities including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, diplomatic efforts toward peace in the Middle East, and developments in Venezuela. She is also scheduled to hold meetings with senior officials from United Nations agencies based in the city—such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)—to discuss accountability and oversight of U.S.-funded assistance programs and to explore potential new agricultural trade opportunities for American producers. 

Hooker, who was appointed Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in mid-2025, oversees key regional and bilateral policy issues and plays a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy across multiple regions. 

Her current tour underscores Washington’s intent to reinforce diplomatic engagement across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe at a time of evolving geopolitical challenges
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WFP Raises Alarm Over Possible Food Aid Cuts as Hunger Deepens in Northern Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that more than one million people in northeast Nigeria could lose access to emergency food and nutrition assistance within weeks due to a severe funding shortfall.

The agency said that without urgent financial support, it will be forced to drastically scale down its operations, limiting assistance to just 72,000 people—an unprecedented reduction in Nigeria. The warning comes amid a sharp rise in violence, displacement, and hunger across the country’s northern regions.

Nigeria is currently facing one of its most serious food security crises in recent years. According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis, nearly 35 million people are expected to experience acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season. In Borno State alone, about 15,000 people are classified as facing catastrophic hunger, the most severe level short of famine and the highest recorded in the state in a decade.

Speaking on the situation, WFP’s Nigeria Country Director, David Stevenson, cautioned that cutting food assistance at this critical time could have far-reaching humanitarian and security consequences. He noted that millions of displaced and vulnerable people depend on food aid for survival and stability.

WFP has operated in northeast Nigeria since 2015, providing food and nutrition support to nearly two million people each year in areas affected by conflict. Beyond emergency relief, the organisation also supports local food systems by purchasing food domestically and helping communities build resilience against future shocks.

However, renewed insecurity has further strained already fragile communities. Over the past four months, about 3.5 million people have reportedly been displaced nationwide, with the majority of them in northern Nigeria. The violence has disrupted farming activities, destroyed food supplies, and pushed malnutrition rates in several states to critical levels.

Despite recent donor contributions that helped sustain operations, WFP said those funds have now been exhausted. The agency warned that if food assistance in displacement camps is halted, many people may be forced to leave in search of survival, potentially migrating to other regions or becoming vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

To prevent a complete shutdown of its northeast Nigeria operations, WFP said it urgently needs about 129 million dollars to cover food assistance and related activities over the next six months.

The agency stressed that continued humanitarian support remains a key stabilising factor in conflict-affected areas, helping to prevent further displacement and regional spillover of the crisis.

WFP Raises Alarm Over Possible Food Aid Cuts as Hunger Deepens in Northern Nigeria