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MSF Raises the Alarm, Malnutrition Records Now Overwhelming in North East

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MSF Raises the Alarm, Malnutrition Records Now Overwhelming in North East

By: Michael Mike

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) otherwise called Doctors Without Borders has raised the alarm that inpatient facilities in northern Nigeria have recorded an extraordinary increase in admissions of severely malnourished children with life-threatening complications, exceeding last year’s figures by over 100 per cent in some locations.

The organisation in a statement on Tuesday said the latest figure was the result of admission records in the last few weeks at facilities in the area, insisting that for MSF teams, this is an alarming indication of a premature peak of the lean season and the increase in acute malnutrition that accompanies it, typically anticipated in July.

Speaking on the situation, the MSF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Simba Tirima said: “We are resorting to treating patients on mattresses on the floor because our facilities are full. Children are dying. If immediate action is not taken, more lives hang in the balance. Everyone needs to step in to save lives and allow the children of northern Nigeria to grow free from malnutrition and its disastrous long-term, if not fatal, consequences.

“Humanitarian assistance must be urgently scaled up. MSF calls upon the Nigerian authorities, international organisations and donors to take immediate action to diagnose and treat malnourished children to prevent associated complications and deaths, but also to engage in sustained, long-term initiatives to mitigate the underlying causes of this urgent problem.

“We’ve been warning about the worsening malnutrition crisis for the last two years. 2022 and 2023 were already critical, but an even grimmer picture is unfolding in 2024. We can’t keep repeating these catastrophic scenarios year after year. What will it take to make everyone take notice and act?” Tirima added.

According to the statement, in April 2024, MSF’s medical team in Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria admitted 1250 severely malnourished children with complications to the inpatient therapeutic feeding centre, doubling the figure for April 2023. Forced to urgently scale up capacity, by the end of May the centre accommodated 350 patients, far surpassing the 200 beds initially designated for the peak malnutrition season in July and August.

Also in the northeast, the MSF-operated facility in Bauchi state’s Karfin Madaki hospital recorded a significant 188 per cent increase in admissions of severely malnourished children during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

The statement added that in the northwestern part of the region, in Zamfara state, the inpatient centres in Shinkafi and Zurmi have received up to 30 per cent more monthly admissions in April compared to March. Talata Mafara’s facility saw about 20 per cent increase in the same period. Similarly, MSF inpatient facilities in major cities like Kano and Sokoto are also reporting alarming surges, by 75 and 100 per centrespectively. The therapeutic feeding centre in Kebbi state also documented a rise of more than 20 per cent in inpatient admissionsfrom March to April.

The statement read that despite the alarming situation, the overall humanitarian response remains inadequate. Other non-profit organisations active in the north are also overwhelmed. The United Nations and Nigerian authorities issued an urgent appeal in May for $306.4 million to address the pressing nutritional needs in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. Yet this will be insufficient, ignoring as it does other parts of northern Nigeria where needs also outweigh the currentcapacity of the organisations to respond sufficiently.

It added that the catastrophic nutritional situation seen in recent years in northern Nigeria calls for a bigger response. Persistently excluded from the formal humanitarian response, reductions in the already limited funding available for the northwest have also dangerously affected the provision of crucial therapeutic and supplementary food. These supplies were completely unavailable in Zamfara for the first four months of this year and are now only available in lower quantities. This reduction has meant that it is only possible to provide treatment for more severe malnutrition cases, compromising an effective response that also addresses malnutrition earlier in its progression and avoids exposing children to a higher risk of mortality.

Tirima said: “We are alarmed by the reduction in aid at these critical times. Reducing nutritional support to only severely malnourished children is akin to waiting for a child to become gravely ill beforeproviding care. We urge donors and authorities to increase supporturgently for both curative and preventive approaches, ensuring that all malnourished children receive the care they desperately need.”

MSF Raises the Alarm, Malnutrition Records Now Overwhelming in North East

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Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno

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Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully ambushed Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Marte–Dikwa axis of Borno, forcing them to flee and abandoning logistics items.

A military source said the operation was conducted in the early hours of Thursday by a combined team of 50 Task Force Battalion/24 Task Force Brigade and 134 Special Forces Battalion, supported by volunteer forces.

The source disclosed that the troops, who had laid in wait at Momoh village along the Marte–Dikwa road, made contact with the insurgents moving on bicycles at about 12:45 a.m.

“On sighting the terrorists, the troops engaged them decisively, compelling them to retreat in disarray,” the source said.

He added that troops immediately carried out exploitation of the general area, leading to the recovery of eight bicycles believed to have been used by the insurgents for mobility, as well as some beverages suspected to be part of their logistics supply.

The Marte–Dikwa axis has remained a critical corridor in counter-insurgency operations, with sustained military pressure limiting the activities of insurgents in the area.

The source reaffirmed the commitment of troops to sustain aggressive operations to deny terrorists freedom of action and ensure the safety of communities across Borno.

Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno

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Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms

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Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled a coordinated attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno, killing several insurgents and recovering arms and ammunition.

A military source told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday when terrorists advanced from multiple directions toward the base.

According to the source, troops who had taken ambush positions engaged the insurgents with superior firepower, forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The troops demonstrated resilience and tactical superiority, effectively repelling the assault and immediately launching a counter-exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route, inflicting further casualties on the fleeing insurgents,” the source said.

He confirmed that no personnel of the Nigerian military was killed during the encounter, although one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

The source added that at least eight terrorists were neutralised during the operation, while troops recovered seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs, and a cache of ammunition.

“Blood trails were observed along the withdrawal routes, indicating that several other insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds,” he said.

He further disclosed that injured personnel from the encounter were currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility in Biu.

Zagazola gathered that additional bodies of fleeing terrorists were sighted along their escape corridors toward the Timbuktu Triangle, a known insurgent enclave. We saw four more bodies,” said sources.

The military sources also revealed that abandoned weapons and casualties were observed in Garin Mallum and Garin Gajere, suggesting heavy losses suffered by the insurgents during the failed attack.

The military leadership urged to sustain the operational tempo, retain the initiative, and consolidate on the gains recorded against the insurgents.

Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms

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Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026

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Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria is set to sharpen its policy direction in the global space ecosystem as Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited prepares to host the 2026 Nigerian Satellite Week in Abuja.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Jane Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Stephen Kwande, noting that the event will convene top government officials, regulators, and international stakeholders to shape the future of satellite governance and digital infrastructure.

Egerton-Idehen said the forum is coming at a critical time when countries around the world are strengthening their space capabilities as part of broader national development strategies.

According to her, satellite technology is increasingly linked to economic growth, national security, and digital connectivity, making strategic investments in space infrastructure a priority for many nations.

She explained that the conference is expected to attract high-level participation, including cabinet members, defence authorities, development finance institutions, and technology innovators from across Africa.

The NIGCOMSAT boss also highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in global space policy, pointing to her emergence as Vice Chair of the Global Satellite Operators Association as a sign of the country’s expanding role in international satellite governance.

She further cited ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the Kenya Space Agency as part of broader efforts to strengthen partnerships within Africa’s evolving space ecosystem.

Egerton-Idehen described the upcoming satellite week as both a reflection of Nigeria’s 20-year journey in satellite development and a strategic platform to define the country’s next phase in an increasingly competitive global space economy.

Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026

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