UK Reaffirms Long-Term Development Partnership With Kano, Jigawa

By: Michael Mike

The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting development and governance reforms in northern Nigeria following high-level engagements with the governments of Kano and Jigawa states.

The British High Commission in Abuja disclosed on Wednesday that the Head of Development Cooperation, Ms. Cynthia Rowe, held strategic meetings with governors, senior government officials and civil society leaders in both states as part of efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen ongoing reforms.

According to the Commission, the engagements reflected the UK’s modern development approach anchored on partnership, state-led ownership and sustainable development driven through investment, trade, climate financing, technical support and shared accountability.

The UK described Nigeria as one of its most significant global development partners, noting that the discussions further reinforced the growing bilateral relationship between both countries following the recent UK-Nigeria State Visit.

In Kano State, Rowe met with Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, the newly confirmed Head of Civil Service, the Secretary to the State Government and other top officials.

The discussions highlighted Kano’s progress in climate finance, healthcare reforms and private sector investment initiatives supported through UK-backed technical assistance programmes.

In Jigawa State, Rowe held talks with Governor Umar Namadi and heads of ministries, departments and agencies, where both sides reviewed over 25 years of UK-Jigawa development cooperation described as one of the longest-running subnational bilateral partnerships in Nigeria.

The meeting focused on achievements recorded in healthcare delivery, agriculture and governance reforms, as well as future collaboration under ongoing UK-supported technical assistance initiatives.

The British High Commission also spotlighted the impact of the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme, which since 2022 has supported Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states in strengthening education delivery systems through ministries of education and relevant agencies.

According to the Commission, PLANE’s RANA+ foundational learning packages have reached about 1.4 million pupils across the three states between 2022 and 2026.

Speaking at the end of the visit, Rowe said the UK remained committed to working with Nigerian states to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development.

“For more than 25 years, we have worked side by side with state governments including Jigawa and Kano states, their communities, and civil society to build stronger health systems, improve learning outcomes for millions of children, support farmers to grow their businesses, and help states attract the investment they need to thrive,” she said.

She added that the visits strengthened confidence in the future of the partnership and the potential for deeper collaboration in delivering lasting development outcomes across northern Nigeria.

The British High Commission further noted that its Propcom+ agriculture programme is currently supporting agribusinesses to improve food security and expand market opportunities for smallholder farmers, while the PACE programme continues to provide technical support on climate governance, revenue generation and private investment from its regional hub in Kano.

It added that the UK also remains a major contributor to the HOPE-Edu, HOPE-Gov and HOPE-PHC World Bank-supported programmes focused on reforms in education, governance and primary healthcare delivery across participating states.

UK Reaffirms Long-Term Development Partnership With Kano, Jigawa

Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tuba have arrested three suspected cattle rustlers during an operation in Karnuwa general area of Borno State.

Security sources said the operation followed intelligence provided by a local resident, Malam Muhammadu Ardo, concerning alleged cattle rustling activities within the area.

The troops reportedly mobilised to Karnuwa at about 12:30 p.m. on May 4, 2026, where they apprehended the suspects identified as Mallam Mohammad Abatcha, 28; Mallam Mamman Bukar, 18; and Malam Modu Hassan, 30.

According to the sources, the suspects were intercepted while using a pickup vehicle with registration number WW 806 GZ Delta, allegedly employed in transporting stolen cattle.

The rustled cattle were recovered and immediately handed over to their rightful owners at the scene of the arrest.

Items recovered from the suspects included a bow and arrow, three mobile phones, five national identity cards and the sum of N20,650.

Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the suspects admitted to repeatedly stealing and selling rustled cattle to buyers in Maiduguri.

Security sources further disclosed that investigators suspect possible links between the suspects and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province or Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad due to alleged inconsistencies observed in their statements during interrogation.

Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno

Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 29 Battalion operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have uncovered an illegal refining site and recovered about 600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Security sources said the discovery was made at about 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026, during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region.

The troops reportedly discovered the illegal refining site around Asa community, where a large cooking pot loaded with stolen crude oil was found stockpiled in sacks.

Military authorities said the recovered products and equipment were handled in accordance with operational directives guiding anti-crude oil theft operations under Operation Delta Safe.

The operation was conducted without any confrontation or security incident.

The Nigerian military has continued to intensify operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage across the Niger Delta region.

Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers