Zulum approves N850 million for rehabilitation, upgrade of boreholes in flood affected areas

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the release of N850 million for the procurement of pumps, accessories and other components necessary for the rehabilitation and upgrade of boreholes across Maiduguri and surrounding communities.

This is part of a decisive move to address water scarcity caused by the devastating flood of 10th September 2024 and to restore access to potable water in most affected areas.

The General Manager of Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Dr Mohammed Musa Aliyu, disclosed this recently to journalists in Maiduguri.

“His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the sum of N850 million for the procurement of pumps, accessories, and other spare parts required for the rehabilitation and upgrading of boreholes in Maiduguri and its environs. Suppliers have already commenced delivery of the required materials,” Dr Aliyu stated.

In addition, the GM said RUWASA has established a Rapid Response Team tasked with inspecting and repairing water facilities in flood-affected areas.

The team will be deployed across Maiduguri, Jere, Dikwa, Mafa, Gamboru Ngala, and other impacted local government areas to identify and address faulty boreholes.

“We have constituted a Rapid Response Team that will commence operations immediately. They will assess all affected areas and carry out necessary repairs. The team is expected to complete the assessment within two weeks and will work in close collaboration with professionals from the State Ministry of Water Resources and other relevant experts,” Dr Aliyu added.

Furthermore, Governor Zulum has approved the construction of additional waterworks in several communities across the state to further strengthen access to potable water.

Dr. Aliyu announced that new facilities will be established in Zarmari, Shaukari, Gubio, Gajiganna, Gajiram, Kaleri, and Mafa towns.

“This initiative builds upon previous achievements by the Zulum administration, which has already successfully completed waterworks projects in Pulka, Chibok, Azare in Hawul Local Government, Moramti-Konduga Local Government, and Ngarannam in Maiduguri Metropolis,” he concluded.

Zulum approves N850 million for rehabilitation, upgrade of boreholes in flood affected areas

No Bomb Blast in Maiduguri Prison; Fire in Okah’s Cell Was Self-Inflicted – Authorities

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Correctional Service has debunked reports of a bomb explosion at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre (MaSCC) in Maiduguri, describing the incident involving detainee Charles Okah as a false alarm.

Intelligence sources informed Zagazola Makama that, contrary to circulating claims, there was no bomb blast at the facility on Sunday night. Authorities confirmed that the fire in Okah’s cell was self-inflicted after he allegedly ignited his mattress using a box of matches in an attempt to cause panic within the facility.

“He lit up his bed and immediately began shouting from the window that there was a fire,” an official stated. “When officers arrived, we found the mattress burning and quickly extinguished the fire.” No further damage occurred to any part of the cell or the prison.

Following the incident, a search was conducted in the cell, during which a box of matches was recovered from Okah. He was immediately taken to the prison clinic for medical attention and is currently recuperating. The damaged mattress has been replaced.

“There is no evidence of any explosive device, and there was no external breach or attack on the facility,” the official added. “If there had been a bomb blast in Okah’s cell, how come nothing happened to him? He is still the one screaming that there was a fire in his cell.”

The authorities also dismissed rumors of absent night-duty officers, confirming that personnel responded swiftly to contain the situation and ensure the safety of other inmates.

When asked how the inmate gained access to matches, the authorities explained that Okah was allowed to attend church service due to the Easter celebration, which may have provided him access to the matches he used to set his bed on fire. Regarding the motive behind his actions, the authorities stated that Okah is a controversial inmate who frequently creates trouble and problems.

Mr. Charles Okah has been held at the Maiduguri custodial facility since March 16, 2025.

No Bomb Blast in Maiduguri Prison; Fire in Okah’s Cell Was Self-Inflicted – Authorities

NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed in 20 sets of religious books going to Saudi Arabia.

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said the cocaine consignment consisting of 20 parcels with a total weight of 500 grammes and buried in the pages of the religious books was uncovered at a courier company in Lagos last Tuesday when NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) were searching through export cargos going to Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.

Babafemi said at another courier company same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilogrammes hidden in a carton coming from the United States of America.

In Kano, a 22-year-old alleged supplier of illicit substances to bandits, Muhammad Mohammed, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bichi – Kano road while heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection tied to his thigh and private part with Sellotape.

He was intercepted on Sunday 13th April, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed same day at Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano with 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 30 kilogrammes.

He said not less than 557.2 kilogrammes of skunk, 5.6 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 29.8 grammes of heroin were recovered from a house along Major General Isaiah Alllison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state where four suspects were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided the premises last Wednesday

Babafemi said the four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46, while a total of 1,100 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from a delivery van with the driver, Ismail Abdullahi arrested in Surulere area of Lagos last Thursday.

In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives last Friday raided the hideout of a suspect, Ike Ani, 30, in Zaria, where no fewer than 31,950 pills of tramadol 225mg and diazepam were recovered, and in Kebbi, along Bagudo road on the same day a vehicle loaded with bags of charcoal coming from Malabil, Benin Republic was intercepted, when the vehicle was search, 97 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in the sacks of charcoal was recovered.

. Three suspects: Abubakar Ibrahim, 50; Mustapha Aliyu, 32; and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

A 48-year-old Okafor Marcel was nabbed with 11.5 kilogrammes skunk at Abatete, Anambra state while NDLEA operatives in Osogbo, Osun state last Tuesday arrested Ajala Mercy, 27, with 43 litres of skushi, a mixture of black currant, cannabis and opioids recovered from her room at Dada estate, Halleluyah area of the state capital.

Babafemi said two cannabis farms in Egbeta forest, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state were raided by NDLEA operatives who destroyed 3,717.8625 kilogrammes of the psychoactive plant on 1.487145 hectares and recovered 136.5 kilogrammes of processed cannabis.

At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, a suspect Basorun Kayode, 40, who has been at large for two years was arrested by NDLEA officers in connection with the seizure of 107 kilogrammes Loud imported from Canada in 2023, while another suspect, Dauda Yakubu who distributes illicit drugs within the seaport community was arrested by a team of operatives last Monday.

The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of DOGI, Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Osun, Zone 13, Edo and Tin-can commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books