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“It breaks my heart to see an 11 year old surrendered from Boko Haram enclave with three children” Borno Commissioner
“It breaks my heart to see an 11 year old surrendered from Boko Haram enclave with three children” Borno Commissioner
By: Zagazola Makama
At just 11 years old, Fatima (not her real name) has lived through experiences unimaginable to most. With three children in tow, she surrendered from a Boko Haram enclave, carrying the weight of trauma and responsibilities far beyond her years. Her story, shared by Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, spotlighted the urgent plight of vulnerable children and young mothers emerging from the insurgency.
“She’s just a child herself,” Wakilbe said. “To see an 11-year-old with three children is heartbreaking. This reflects the harsh reality of many girls and women caught in the insurgency, particularly in border communities like Bama, Banki, and Gwoza.”
Fatima’s surrender is part of a growing wave of young girls and women being repatriated or rescued, often from neighboring countries like Cameroon. Many, aged between 13 and 15, return with children born in captivity. With limited options, some resort to prostitution to survive, a crisis that the Commissioner attributes to extreme poverty and a lack of viable alternatives.
The Commissioner’s call to action underscores the need for urgent intervention. “Poverty is the driving force behind these vices,” he explained. “We need to establish Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers in vulnerable areas. These centers can provide skills and startup packs for young mothers like Fatima, enabling them to rebuild their lives.”
Wakilbe stressed that traditional education systems are ill suited to address the unique needs of conflict affected children and girls. Many have witnessed violence, displacement, and abduction, leaving them in need of tailored rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
Efforts to integrate these children into regular schools have faced significant challenges. Wakilbe cited the example of some Chibok girls who struggled in secondary schools and were eventually transferred to specialized programs like the Second Chance School.
“Without long term planning, we’re failing these children,” Wakilbe said. “Donor agencies often miss the mark, implementing programs that don’t address immediate needs. For instance, teaching local languages in areas dominated by other dialects is less impactful than providing a foundational education in English.”
Despite graduating over 300 women through the Second Chance Program and equipping them with vocational skills, the challenges persist. Underage mothers like Fatima remain some of the most vulnerable.
During a courtesy visit by Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, CEO of the Allamin Foundation for Peace, the Commissioner highlighted the need for collaborative efforts.
Allamin echoed these concerns, sharing insights from her foundation’s work in deradicalizing women and girls.
“Our initiatives, supported by the military and local communities, have helped hundreds of women and girls surrender and reintegrate,” Allamin said. “But the magnitude of the problem requires sustainable, proactive solutions.”
Allamin noted that the challenge extends beyond personal experiences; it calls for urgent action from local authorities, NGOs, and international organizations.
“In our foundation, we have Built vocational education centers and providing tailored programs for rehabilitation which has been helping in addressing the immediate needs of these victims.
“We also Established community awareness programs which foster understanding and acceptance, helping to mitigate the stigma faced by those returning from captivity.
Zagazola Makama understands that the plight of women and girls who fall victim to abduction by Boko Haram presents an alarming reality in Borno State, Nigeria. Many of these victims, after enduring harrowing experiences, return to their communities only to face severe stigmatization and an array of abuses. This issue is compounded by the trauma they have experienced during their captivity, which often includes being forcibly married to militants and bearing children under traumatic circumstances.
Upon returning to their communities, these victims encounter immense societal rejection. A former female member of Boko Haram, who chose to repent and return to her family, poignantly described the painful atmosphere awaiting those who escape the clutches of the insurgency.
She noted, “The Boko Haram tagged Nigeria as the land of sinners. When they come back from the bush, they know they are already living in hell.” This metaphor encapsulates the emotional and social turmoil that victims like her face. Rather than finding solace and support upon their return, many feel further isolated and condemned by their communities.
The stigma attached to being a victim of insurgency extends beyond mere judgment. Victims often experience verbal, physical, and psychological abuse from individuals who view them as tainted or unclean due to their experiences. Such treatment fosters an environment of despair, compelling many to engage in desperate measures to survive.
Prostitution and other nefarious activities have become common among these women, driven by a need for financial stability and, in some cases, by the misguided belief that engaging in these activities may offer them an escape from their grim realities.
The cycles of poverty and violence exacerbate these challenges. Economic hardships and limited access to education and employment opportunities leave few alternatives for victims, perpetuating a cycle of vulnerability. While some women resort to these activities as a means of survival, others may find temporary pleasure or a sense of agency in reclaiming control over their lives, despite the risks involved.
Furthermore, the broader societal neglect exacerbates the situation. Many young mothers remain trapped in a system that fails to recognize their unique needs. Efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate these individuals often lack the necessary resources and long-term planning to be effective. For instance, initiatives focusing solely on education without addressing immediate economic needs fall short of providing the comprehensive support required for successful reintegration.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region
“It breaks my heart to see an 11 year old surrendered from Boko Haram enclave with three children” Borno Commissioner
DSS Releases Three Detainees Wrongfully Accused of Belonging to IPOB/ESN
*20 other cases under review
By: Our Reporter
The Department of State Services on Tuesday released three persons detained on the suspicion of belonging to the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and it’s militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), and involvement in the killing of seven Fulani cattle herders.
The Service is also reviewing more than 20 cases of persons believed to have been wrongfully detained, as a key part of the reforms being initiated by the new Director General of the secret police, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi.
The disclosure was made Tuesday night by Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju via his verified social media handles.
Adeyanju said the trio of Augustine Udemba, Nelson Onyedikachi Udemba, and Ifesinachi Eze, who were arrested and wrongfully detained on the allegation of involvement in IPOB/ESN activities and killing of seven herders, were released yesterday (Tuesday),” stressing, “they have been reunited with their families.”
The lawyer described the release as part of the ongoing reforms by the new DSS boss to reposition the the Service and make it rule of law- compliant, including reviewing the cases of those in custody, charging to court where required, and releasing those wrongfully detained.
He stated, “We are currently working on more than 20 cases with the service and thank the DG of the DSS for his commitment to ensuring the right thing is done,” adding, “we are aware that there are hundreds of Nigerians with similar issues, and we are further appealing to the DG for a speedy process in the ongoing reforms.”
While the lawyer did not state if compensation was or would be paid the released detainees, security sources hinted that, going by the DG’s habit of paying compensation to wrongfully detained persons, it was most likely the trio would be compensated.
Just last week, the DSS DG directed that a businessman who owns a quarry on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway arrested by the Service since 2022 on the suspicion of kidnapping, be released and paid N10 million as compensation. It was reported that he might get more from the DG.
Another outstanding case was that of the payment of N20 million compensation to a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot in the leg by DSS operatives in 2016. Even after it was established by the DSS that the man was shot in error, and a court awarded the victim N10 million as damages, two DSS bosses refused to pay the victim. Instead, they appealed the judgement.
In May, the new DSS boss not only paid the businessman the N10 million awarded by the court, he added another N10 million and free lifetime medical services for the victim.
The DG has promised to speedily review the case of wrongfully detained persons in the DSS custody brought to his notice, saying he wouldn’t mind the source of the information so long as it yields results.
DSS Releases Three Detainees Wrongfully Accused of Belonging to IPOB/ESN
Tuggar Congratulates Super Falcons on 10th WAFCON Win, Praises Their Resilience
By: Michael Mike
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Super Falcons following their historic 10th triumph at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
In a statement issued shortly after the team’s victory, Tuggar lauded the Falcons for their resilience, discipline, and unyielding spirit, describing them as “true ambassadors of Nigerian excellence on the global stage.”
The Minister said: “The Super Falcons have once again shown what it means to represent Nigeria with pride and purpose. Their determination, unity, and consistency reflect the values we hold dear as a nation.”
He further commended President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast support for sports development in Nigeria, as well as Mr. Shehu Dikko, and the leadership and management of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their strategic guidance and commitment to excellence in women’s football.
“This victory is the result of purposeful leadership, sound management, and the unshakable spirit of Nigerian athletes. I congratulate President Tinubu, Mr. Shehu Dikko, and the entire NFF family for creating the enabling environment for this triumph,” he added.
Tuggar also noted that the team’s success not only brings immense pride to Nigeria but also serves as an inspiration to young girls across Africa, proving that excellence knows no gender.
He however reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s soft power through sports diplomacy and international representation.
“Their victory is not only a sporting achievement but a diplomatic symbol of Nigeria’s strength, unity, and global presence,” he stated.
Their hard-fought 3–2 victory over Morocco in the final further cements their status as Africa’s most decorated and successful women’s football team.
Tuggar Congratulates Super Falcons on 10th WAFCON Win, Praises Their Resilience
Teenager butchered in suspected ritual killing in Ogun, one arrested
By: Zagazola Makama
A 16-year-old boy, Lawal Wahab, has been gruesomely murdered in Igbile area of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State in what authorities suspect to be a ritual killing.
Zagazola learnt that the boy, who had been declared missing for several days, was confirmed dead after his decomposing body was discovered on July 23 along Old Express Road in Igbile.
His father, Lawal Olumide, of No. 28 Jagerin Street, Ijebu-Ode, said he received the tragic news after efforts to locate his son proved abortive. Wahab had reportedly been staying with his grandmother before he went missing.
Security operatives who visited the scene confirmed that the boy’s corpse was mutilated his head, both wrists, heart, and private parts were removed, in what is believed to be a ritual-related killing.
Following an intensive investigation, one suspect, Salawu Omikansola, aged 25, was arrested in connection with the murder. He was apprehended alongside a man identified as Serefusi Agemo and others whose identities are being withheld to aid the ongoing investigation.
Authorities disclosed that confessional statements were obtained from the suspects, with video evidence recorded. The case file and associated exhibits will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other accomplices in the heinous crime.
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