Uncategorized
Post Insurgency: NGO Urges Borno Govt To Consider Transitional Justice For Peace, Development
Post Insurgency: NGO Urges Borno Govt To Consider Transitional Justice For Peace, Development
By Melvin Uche
Basic Rights Watch, a non- governmental organisation (NGO) has called on Borno State government to adopt Transitional Justice (TJ) in its Post- insurgency era as a pathway to peace and development in the state.
The Chief Executive Officer of Basic Rights Watch, Mr Austine Ekwujuru made the call while addressing Journalists on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
Ekwujuru noted that the steady decline in Boko Haram attacks in North-East Nigeria, particularly Borno State indicates that the country is gradually moving towards the post-insurgency era, hence the urgent need to find pathways to lasting peace and development for the affected populace.
He said as such, there is no better approach than the deployment of a robust Transitional Justice (TJ) mechanism to ensure sustainable pathways to peace, healing, accountability, and development.
He said Transitional Justice is crucial for the promotion of human rights and justice, peace and security, good governance and development, noting that the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 underscores the importance of these ideals as part of the drive towards the ‘Africa-We-Want’.
“Transitional justice (TJ) consists of judicial and non-judicial measures implemented in order to redress legacies of human rights abuses. Such measures could “include truth commissions, reparations programs, and various kinds of institutional reforms amongst others. TJ is informed by a society’s desire to rebuild social trust, repair a fractured justice system and ensure accountability after a prolonged conflict.
“The consortium Basic Rights Watch, the People, Young Professionals in Policy and Development and Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution today urge the Borno State government to consider Transitional Justice mechanism in the post-insurgency era as a pathway to sustainable peace and development in the state.
“TJ has recently received greater attention by both academics and policymakers. It has also generated interest in the fields of political and legal discourse. In periods of political transitions, from authoritarian, dictatorial regimes or from civil conflicts to democracy, TJ has often provided opportunities for such societies to address past human rights abuses, mass atrocities, or other forms of severe trauma in order to facilitate a smooth transition into a more democratic or peaceful future.
“In Nigeria, after the transition process from military regime to a democratic regime, a Truth and Reconciliation Panel was set up called the Oputa panel. In South Africa, after the Apartheid regime, a truth and reconciliation panel was set up headed by Bishop Desmond Tutu. Other TJ processes include the Gacaca courts in Rwanda, which helped in promoting truth and justice in their community. In Sierra Leone, there was the Fambul Tor aimed at reconciliation and forgiveness in communities that were affected by a long-running civil war.
“In Liberia, there was the Palaver Hut, all locally driven initiatives. Following the Boko Haram insurgency and the counter-insurgency, there were cases of human rights violations and abuses in the North East particularly in Borno state by both state and non-state actors. Therefore, there is need for TJ mechanisms aimed at healing, accountability, reconciliation and forgiveness.
“The concept of TJ is therefore a necessary step in moving from a divided and painful past to a commonly shared and developed future. The core values of TJ include but are not limited to: Acknowledgement of responsibility and the suffering of victims; Showing remorse; Asking for forgiveness; Paying compensation or making reparation; Reconciliation,” Ekwujuru said.
He noted that the concerted efforts of the government to tackle insurgency especially in Borno state is yielding the desired results as noted in the de-escalation of violence, but however observed that, the human rights violations that trailed the operations of the insurgents and the counter-insurgency made the young people to be targets of harassments, torture and brutality.
He said that these have left an indelible mark on their psyche and ignited a mood to seek justice as a critical pathway for sustainable peace.
Post Insurgency: NGO Urges Borno Govt To Consider Transitional Justice For Peace, Development
Zulum commissions 20 road projects in Maiduguri to mark Democracy Day
…Construction of 2 hospitals, int’l conference centre kicks off
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Thursday commissioned 20 road projects in Maiduguri, the state capital, to mark the 2025 Democracy Day.
They are Maina Kenindi Road, Talba Road, Yerima Road, Tafa Balewa Road, Cemetery Road, Park Road, Benue Road, Kinshasa Road, Homan Road, Kyari Sandabe Road, Elkanami Road and Onitsha Road.
Others are Dicharima Road, Sokoto I Road, Sokoto II Road, Engr Bukar Tijjani Road, Waziri Road, Marghi Road, Zajeri/Umarari Riad and Ambs Mahmud Ahmed Express Road in Gwange.
The combined 21.8 km projects were cited in Maisandari, Umarari, Ngarannam and Gwange, all in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to providing democracy dividends for the people of Borno State till the end of his administration.
“In sha Allah, before the expiration of my tenure, people of Borno State will witness many more projects,” Zulum said.
…Construction of 2 hospitals, int’l conference centre kicks off
Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has started constructing three more projects, comprising two hospitals and a 4,000-person international conference centre.
One of the two hospitals is a specialised orthopaedic service centre with a 200-bed capacity in the Goni Kachallari area of Jere Local Government.
Zulum commissions 20 road projects in Maiduguri to mark Democracy Day
Uncategorized
Two Benue civil guards killed, others injured as security forces repel bandits’ attack in Tor-Donga
Two Benue civil guards killed, others injured as security forces repel bandits’ attack in Tor-Donga
By: Zagazola Makama
Two operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) have been confirmed dead, and three others injured following a late-night attack by suspected armed bandits on a military post in Tor-Donga, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday when about ten armed bandits riding on five motorcycles stormed the army camp in Tor-Donga in an attempt to ambush troops stationed there.
The BSCPG operatives, who were on security duty at the location, intercepted the attackers. In the ensuing gunfire, one guard, identified as Torna Atim, was shot and died on the spot, while another, Fanga Gundepuun, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and later died in hospital.
Three other guards l, Guusu Terver, Mzuuga Terzungwe, and Abugh Ivanbee , all residents of Tor-Donga, sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to Nguher Hospital in Katsina-Ala for treatment.
Reinforcements from the Nigerian Army and military and other security agencies responded swiftly and successfully repelled the bandits, who fled into the bush, abandoning two motorcycles at the scene.
The motorcycles have been taken into custody.
Two Benue civil guards killed, others injured as security forces repel bandits’ attack in Tor-Donga
ActionAid Calls on Nigerians to Tap into Billion Dollars Plastic Waste Industry
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called on Nigerians to tap into the billion dollars plastic waste industry.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu at the “Beat Plastic Pollution Innovation Day” in commemoration of World Environment Day.
Mamedu, who was represented by Chair of ActionAid Nigeria Young People’s Forum, Favour Ikpe, while noting that currently, Nigeria generates 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, urged Nigeria to tap into the billion dollar plastic waste economy.
He said with 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually in Nigeria, only less than 10% of the waste is recycled, while the rest constitutes harm to the environment.
He therefore called for investment in recycling infrastructure and also support for the young Nigerians that are providing solutions.
He said: “To cut down drastically on single-use plastics,Invest in recycling infrastructure and Support the brilliant young people already building solutions from the grassroots.”
He stressed: “Let’s face it: the impact of plastic waste is right in front of us. In Nigeria alone, we generate over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, but less than 10% is recycled. That means the rest ends up in our drainages, our farmlands, our oceans, and these are harming our health and destroying livelihoods.
“But here’s the powerful part: change is already happening — and it’s being driven by young people. Nigeria is a young country — nearly 70% of our population is under 30. And we’re not sitting around waiting for change. We’re making it happen.
“Across the country, young people are taking plastic waste and turning it into opportunity — building startups, designing solutions, and creating sustainable alternatives.
“And there’s a big economic opportunity here. Globally, the recycled plastics market is projected to hit over $107 billion by 2032. Nigeria’s circular economy alone is already worth over $10 billion, and growing. The African Development Bank says that if we transition fully, Africa could unlock $350 billion in new economic opportunities by 2030.
“But we need the right systems to make this real. In Lagos, for example, the recycling economy was worth ₦18 billion in 2021 — yet 80% of the city’s waste still isn’t formally collected. That’s over $2.5 billion in lost value every year.
“Let’s reward innovation. Let’s fund community-led efforts. Let’s create policies that empower young recyclers and scale up sustainable solutions.
“Plastic may be part of the problem — but with the right approach, it can also be part of the solution. If we rethink, reuse, and recycle, we can turn pollution into possibility.”
He said what is needed today is to reimagine plastic — not as pollution, but as potential.
“So today isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about celebrating action. From the live demos to the amazing gallery displays, what you’ll see here are examples of how youth are flipping the script. This is what transformation looks like.”
ActionAid Calls on Nigerians to Tap into Billion Dollars Plastic Waste Industry
As Act of Compassion Lets All go out and Donate Blood to Save Lives” Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON
We launched a policy on displaced persons to address the challenges of IDPs in Yobe—Governor Buni
Plateau Killings: Community Leader Calls for Collaborative Action of Political Leaders to Tackle Escalating Herdsmen Attack
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics10 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
