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
National News
Harnessing Solar Power: Patient care improved as hospital switches to renewable energy in northern Nigeria

Harnessing Solar Power: Patient care improved as hospital switches to renewable energy in northern Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
To improve patients’ healthcare in northern Nigeria, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is embracing solar energy to power the hospitals it supports, which have historically depended on expensive, fuel-intensive generators. By moving to renewable energy, communities in the region now have better, more sustainable access to life-saving medical devices, medication, and infrastructure.


Moments before the switch, many staff at Zurmi Hospital held their breath, worried about how the change in power would affect medical operations.
“We have people on oxygen tanks,” an MSF staff member said, reminding the engineers about what was at stake.
Very quickly, those fears turned to relief as the transition went smoothly, and the power remained stable throughout the day and into the following days.
“Before, it was extremely challenging,” said Israel Mushore, the energy manager who worked on the project for five months. “Patients would be taken into surgery, and there was always the risk of a power cut in the middle of the procedure. Now, with solar power, we have a stable and reliable energy source.”
For years, Zurmi General Hospital had been cut off from the national grid. Instead, it had to rely on generators that consumed more than 3,000 gallons of fuel each month to power the medical facilities. The system led to frequent and frustrating power disruptions.
Since installing 436 solar panels this year, the 250-kilowatt solar power system has consistently kept medical devices running, medications refrigerated and enabled emergency surgical procedures. A battery backup system also ensures that hospital operations continue smoothly at night and during extended periods of cloud coverage. Patients in the hospital, including in maternity care, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the cholera unit, have experienced their healthcare improved.
“I cannot overstate how the switch to solar panels has improved our ability to respond to malnutrition and paediatric emergencies by being able to better store vaccines and expand our outreach,” said Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria.
At the same time, the introduction of renewable energy has strengthened the hospital’s ability to provide consistent, quality care over the long term. By changing the infrastructure of what needs to be sourced, transported, stored, and paid for, the hospital is now better equipped to deliver more reliable and uninterrupted care.
And, because it is a cleaner energy source, it has a smaller environmental footprint, reducing its contribution to the climate crisis that is already impacting the people MSF serves.
Climate change affects patients’ health
Climate-related shocks, such as droughts and floods, are severely impacting agricultural productivity, disrupting access to land for livestock herders and farmers, and sparking competition over resources. This is fuelling violence and displacement, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition across the region.
Over the years, MSF teams in the eight northern states of Nigeria, where MSF operates – including Zamfara State, where Zurmi Hospital is located – have recorded a concerning rise in the number of severely malnourished children with life-threatening complications. In 2024, MSF treated over 300,000 children—an alarming 25 percent increase from 2023. Over 75,000 of these children required inpatient care. This year, in anticipation of an even higher number of patients suffering from malnutrition, MSF is in the process of increasing its bed capacity in some of its hospitals.
MSF teams have also observed how years of changing weather – including warmer temperatures and shifting rainfall – have enabled mosquitoes to breed more rapidly and thrive in new areas, increasing Nigerians’ exposure to malaria. According to 2023 numbers – the most recent data available from the World Health Organization (WHO) – Nigeria accounted for 26 percent of the global 263 million cases, with a significant surge of an estimated 6.8 million more cases from 2018 to 2023.
“Every day, we witness how climate factors influence the health of communities around the world,” Mohamed Ali said. “From the rising frequency of extreme weather events to violent land disputes stemming from drought-ravaged farmlands that have diminished crop yields, the connection between climate and health is stark.”
Doing more to mitigate climate change
In addition to the consistency of using solar energy, transitioning to renewable energy has meant that MSF can better respond to patients’ needs. By spending less money and time to source and transport costly fuel to keep generators going – especially in remote areas – MSF has been able to devote more resources toward other necessary costs to keep its hospitals running and accessible to patients. Already, the organization is starting to see this through its other solar panel installations in Zamfara State – Talata Mafara and Gummi – and in the states of Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Kano, and Sokoto.
“While there are still other steps to be taken to reduce MSF’s overall environmental impact, switching to solar power is part of our work to create a more sustainable solution that will benefit patients and the communities,” Mohamed Ali added.
Uncategorized
Vigilante office attacked, vehicles set ablaze by suspected IPOB/ESN militants in Aguata, Anambra

Vigilante office attacked, vehicles set ablaze by suspected IPOB/ESN militants in Aguata, Anambra
By Zagazola Makama
Armed hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), attacked a vigilante office in Amesi, Aguata LGA, Anambra State, in the early hours of April 25, 2025.
The attack, which occurred at about 0220hrs, targeted the office of the sector commander of the Agunechenba Vigilantes.
According to the commander, the hoodlums set fire to four patrol vehicles and two motorcycles belonging to the vigilantes before fleeing the scene.
Upon receiving the report, a Joint Task Force (JTF) mobilized to the area, but by the time they arrived, the assailants had already escaped.
A comprehensive search of the surrounding bushes is underway, with police-led JTF units working to apprehend the suspects.
Vigilante office attacked, vehicles set ablaze by suspected IPOB/ESN militants in Aguata, Anambra
Uncategorized
FCT Police investigate assault case involving Seyi Tinubu’s sister

FCT Police investigate assault case involving Seyi Tinubu’s sister
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Police Force(NPF) FCT Police Command is investigating an alleged assault involving Oscar Ilochi, a male resident of Apo Legislative Quarters, accused of molesting Ebunoluwa, the sister of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, at the Evolve 360 Gym Complex in Apo, Abuja.
A Police Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect approached the victim while she was exercising alone in the gym’s basement, touching her inappropriately, attempting to force himself on her, and causing further distress.
The sources said that the gym’s CCTV footage has been requested as part of the investigation.
The sources said that the suspect has been banned from the gym due to two prior similar incidents.
The victim, who is reportedly traumatized, has sought medical attention.
The police sources said that investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated as they unfold.
FCT Police investigate assault case involving Seyi Tinubu’s sister
-
News1 year ago
Roger 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 ago
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year ago
Army University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year ago
A History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year ago
Tinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics8 months ago
Kashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident