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Nigeria: There have been around 350,000 direct and indirect deaths linked to the insurgency – Ojukwu
Nigeria: There have been around 350,000 direct and indirect deaths linked to the insurgency – Ojukwu
By Babagana Wakil
The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu SAN, has observed that the decade long Boko Haram insurgency has seen some of the worst forms of human rights violations in the history of Nigeria.
Mr. Tony Ojukwu made the observation at the Traditional/Religious Leaders Forum on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation in North East Nigeria, which held in Maiduguri the Borno state capital on Monday.
He said for the people in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, this conflict has brought untold physical, emotional and psychological losses on the victims and their families.
“UNDP in a recent report estimates that there have been around 350,000 direct and indirect deaths linked to the insurgency. ” He said
Mr. Tony said, added to this is the over 2 million displaced people in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. “The set back to the economic and social development of the North-eastern states and Nigeria can never be over-quantified in terms of financial and human resources.”
He said the Commission appreciates the sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the commitments of the Governments and citizens of the north-eastern states towards reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration of affected communities.
“Distinguished guests, ending the insurgency will require both military and non-military approaches. Indeed, the path to reconciliation, reintegration and reconstruction will only be sustained in an atmosphere of peace, and community process of transitional, restitutive and restorative justice.
“In this regard, it is the view of the Commission that the efforts of both the federal and state governments at deradicalizing Boko Haram insurgents and reintegrating them to communities should be followed with a process of formal and non-formal community-led transitional and restitutive justice anchored on human rights and social inclusion.
“The concept of a Traditional and Religious Leaders Forum on transitional justice and reconciliation has been framed along these lines.
“Honourable Commissoners, Your Royal Highnesses and distinguished guests, the role of traditional and religious institutions in shaping community perceptions and facilitating social cohesion can never be over-emphasised. In many of our communities across Nigeria, traditional and religious leaders are the centrepiece of our civilisation, facilitating and shaping education and socialisation from cradle to grave. In North-Eastern Nigeria, traditional and religious institutions whose roles in advancing social and economic development dating more than five centuries have been recognised.
“It is therefore based on these foundations that the National Human Rights Commission is working with traditional and religious institutions across project states and communities to use their platforms to advocate for peace, reconciliation and justice. We are privileged to be working with some of the most passionate community actors in the region. We are honoured today to be having in our midst, the District Heads of the 7 project communities. It is our hope that working with the Governments of the 3 project states and indeed the region, we can begin an annual convening of this Forum to continue to advocate for the roles of traditional and religious institutions in peace building and social justice.
“As I have often emphasised in various occasions under this project, the path to reconciliation and forgiveness is long and rough. We will be dealing with decade long wounds, grievances and the lust for revenge. We need our traditional and religious leaders and institutions to be champions of the twin concepts of reconciliation and justice. We remain convinced that reconciliation is far cheaper to both the victim and the society than military or formal judicial process.
“Permit me ladies and gentlemen to welcome in a special way, our keynote speaker for this forum, Professor Umara Ibrahim Gudumbali, of the Department of Political Science, University of Maiduguri, who is a distinguished scholar in the fields which have brought us together today.
“On a final note, I want to thank the Governments of the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe for their partnership in this project and for the leadership and resilience they have all shown in tacking these security and development challenges. You have a partner in the National Human Rights Commission, and we pledge our mandate and resources to continuously work with you in addressing these challenges.”
Saudi authorities free 3 Nigerian pilgrims arrested for alleged drug trafficking
By: Michael Mike
Saudi Arabia authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah, since last month following their arrest over alleged drug trafficking
The three Nigerians who were freed from detention after four weeks in custody include: Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi; Mrs. Abdullahi Aminu; and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq. Their freedom came following weeks of relentless engagements by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia with the full support of President Bola Tinubu and the assistance of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
A syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the three unsuspecting Nigerians who travelled on an Ethiopian Airline flight ET940 which departed Kano on 6th August 2025 to Jeddah on lesser hajj. They were later arrested in Saudi for alleged drug trafficking.
Following complaints to the NDLEA boss by families of the three victims over the detention of their family members in Saudi Arabia after the completion of their lesser hajj on an allegation of trafficking in illicit substances, an investigation was launched to unravel what happened. The probe led to the arrest of 55-year-old drug kingpin Mohammed Abubakar alias Bello Karama and three other members of the syndicate including the airline officials behind the shipment of the illicit substances for which the three innocent pilgrims were arrested and detained in Jeddah.
Charges had since been filed against Mohammed Abubakar and other members of the syndicate: Celestina Yayock; Abdulbasit Sagagi and Jazuli Kabir.
Armed with the outcome of NDLEA investigation and charges filed against members of the syndicate as well as other evidences to prove the innocence of the three Nigerian pilgrims, Marwa engaged with his Saudi counterpart at multiple levels and different locations including Saudi Arabia in compliance with President Tinubu’s agenda that no Nigerian suffers unjustly in a foreign land.
The spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said following series of engagements one of the three Nigerians was released from custody last Sunday and the remaining two on Monday.
Expressing happiness over the development, Marwa commended his counterpart at the Saudi GDNC for upholding the essence of the Memorandum of Understanding between NDLEA and GDNC on collaboration and partnership. “The biggest support of our effort on this case came from President Tinubu who is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian gets their deserved respect and fair treatment wherever they are across the world. And that is what has come to play in this case, that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about anywhere in the world. We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Yusuf Tuggar and the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who were with us all the way on the matter.”
Saudi authorities free 3 Nigerian pilgrims arrested for alleged drug trafficking
Police arrest two armed suspects in kaduna, recover pistol
By: Our Reporter
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed men and recovered a pistol with live ammunition in Kabala West area of Kaduna metropolis.
Sources said that the suspects was apprehended by police lice patrol team at about 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 15.
He explained that the patrol team, led by ASP Paul Rikici of Kabala West Division, stopped the suspects while they were riding a black TVS motorcycle close to a bridge at Unguwan Mu’azu along the Kaduna bypass expressway.
“Upon search, a Mackrove 9mm pistol loaded with three live rounds of ammunition was recovered from the suspects,” he said.
The suspects, identified as Ibrahim Hassan, 19, of Layin Pampo, and Usman Abubakar, 21, of Unguwan Dankali, Zaria, were immediately arrested and are currently in custody.
Sources added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
Police arrest two armed suspects in kaduna, recover pistol
Despite peace deal, bandits strike again, abduct passengers including student in katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected bandits have abducted passengers travelling along Wawal Kaza–Dayi road in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, despite ongoing peace efforts in the state.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 16, when the hoodlums blocked a Sharoon vehicle conveying commuters from Zaria to Dutsinma.
Among those abducted were two 300-level students of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, identified as Onwe Esther Chiamaka and Noah Patience, both from the Department of Sociology. Also kidnapped was a male student, Goza Darios Doorchuji, of the Library Science Department.
On receiving a distress, security forces were promptly mobilized to scene, The area was cordoned off and during the operation, Doorchuji was rescued unhurt.
“Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe release of the two female students and to apprehend the perpetrators,”said security sources.
The incident comes despite renewed peace deals and assurances by authorities aimed at ending banditry in Katsina and other parts of the North-West.
Despite peace deal, bandits strike again, abduct passengers including student in katsina
Saudi authorities free 3 Nigerian pilgrims arrested for alleged drug trafficking
Police arrest two armed suspects in kaduna, recover pistol
Despite peace deal, bandits strike again, abduct passengers including student in katsina
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