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Prostitution among former captives on the rise in Borno, says Commissioner
Prostitution among former captives on the rise in Borno, says Commissioner
By: Zagazola Makama
The Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe, has raised concerns over the growing prevalence of prostitution among former captives of Boko Haram in communities such as Bama, Banki, and Gwoza Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Wakilbe stated this during a courtesy visit by Hamsatu Allamin, Chief Executive Officer of the Allamin Foundation for Peace, on Friday in Maiduguri.
He advocated urgent intervention to empower freed Boko Haram captives, to enhance their economic and social protection.
He said the call was imperative to fast track support and integration of the victims into the society, to enable them to resume normal life.
The commissioner lamented that some of the freed victims were exposed to sexual abuse due to their vulnerability, poverty and lack of support.
“I recently encountered an 11-year-old girl surrounded with three children. It was heartbreaking.
“The Cameroonian authorities’ repatriated young girls aged 13 to 15 with multiple children.
“These vulnerable individuals need urgent reintegration and support,” he said, adding that the spate of sexual abuse could be attributed to poverty and lack of viable alternatives for survival.
He also called for the establishment of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers in border communities like Bama, Gwoza, and Kamburungara, to empower the resettled victims of conflict.
“We need sustainable programmes to address their vulnerability and provide alternatives. Poverty drives many of these individuals into vices like prostitution.
“Once we offer skills and support, they can rebuild their lives,” he said.
Wakilbe stressed the need to focus attention to handling conflict affected children, noting that traditional education systems were ill-equipped to address their unique needs.
“Our education system must accommodate these children but they are not equipped to handle the specific needs of these children.
“Those children witnessed unimaginable violence, abduction and displacement which requires tailored de-radicalisation and reintegration efforts..
“We tried integrating some of these children into regular schools, but it failed. For instance, some of the Chibok girls were enrolled in secondary schools, the principals reported that they could not handle the unique needs of these children.
“We had to transferred them to special programmes like Second Chance schools,” he said.
According to Walkibe, lack of long term planning in addressing the education needs of the conflict affected children has been a key concern, adding that donor agencies implemented programmes that failed to meet their immediate needs.
He said that teaching local languages like Hausa in areas where Kanuri was dominant missed the point, and stressed the need to focus teaching in English Language, to ensure that the children adapt to modern education.
The commissioner noted that some donor funded programmes failed to address the immediate needs of the region, and urged them to prioritise capacity building for educators, and implement viable long term solutions for conflict affected persons.
“There are 67,000 women and children in the camps. We cannot continue turning a blind eye. We must rethink how to educate and reintegrate them.
“We need centers to teach skills and provide start up packs for these girls. Poverty drives them into vices, but with alternatives, they can rebuild their lives,” he said.
He said the state government had trained over 300 women in vocational skills and distributed start up packs, to enable them to become self-reliant.
Wakilbe reitrated government’s commitment to partner with development organisations and agencies, to address problems affecting victims of the conflict.
In her remarks, Allamin called for interventions to address critical issues identified during the peace building programme initiated by the organisation.
She said the organisation identified serious issues that required immediate, proactive and sustainable interventions to address.
Allamin said the foundation had rehabilitated hundreds of women and girls involved in the insurgency under its Community-based De-radicalisation of Women and Girls in the state.
She said the de-radicalised women had encouraged their peers in the bush to surrender to the authorities.
Prostitution among former captives on the rise in Borno, says Commissioner
Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Recent reports claiming that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), narrowly escaped death in an alleged Boko Haram ambush in Borno State are categorically false and misleading.
Zagazola Makama can confirm that there was never any attack on the retired general, contrary to statements made by Senator Ali Ndume and recklessly amplified by several media outlets without a shred of verification.
What actually happened was a coordinated three-pronged attack by ISWAP terrorists on military facilities in Buratai town, Biu Local Government Area, on Friday. The assault targeted the Battalion Headquarters, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Command Secondary School – not Lt.-Gen. Buratai or any convoy associated with him.
Let us be clear:
Lt.-Gen. Buratai was nowhere near the ambush, and at no point was his life in danger. This is not a matter of semantics, it’s a matter of truth versus dangerous misinformation.
Zagazola Makama, has previously reported how the ground troops, with critical support from Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano jets, repelled the attackers decisively.
During the encounter, two ISWAP gun trucks were destroyed, while a third was recovered during follow-up operations. Several terrorists were killed, including over 20 in airstrikes during their retreat through Mangari.
So how did this snowball into a national headline falsely claiming a “near-death” experience for the former army chief?
Because some politicians spoke irresponsibly, and certain media platforms ran with the story without basic verification, an unforgivable dereliction of journalistic duty, especially in a region as sensitive as the North East.
The media owes the public and the Armed Forces of Nigeria the duty of responsible reporting, not alarmist fiction wrapped in sensational headlines. The security situation in Buratai is under control, and troops continue to dominate the area to prevent any further attacks.
Let this stand as a final and factual rebuttal:
There was NO attack on Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai. Period. Stop twisting the truth for cheap headlines.
Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
By: Zagazola Makama
As part of ongoing efforts to sustain pressure on terrorist elements and deny them freedom of action, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has conducted another successful air interdiction mission at a terrorist enclave in Bukar Meram, located in the southern axis of the Lake Chad region.
Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the mission, which was executed in the early hourz of Monday, June 9, at about 0545 hours, was carried out under the auspices of Operation KALACHEN WUTA II.
The sources said that the operation formed part of a broader strategy aimed at disrupting terrorist activities before, during, and after the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah period.
He said that intelligence-led surveillance revealed that the terrorists were regrouping at the Bukar Meram location with intent to launch coordinated attacks on Marte and Monguno general areas.
Prompted by this credible intelligence, the Air Component swiftly mobilised to engage the enclave. Airstrikes were conducted with precision, leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists.
The strikes also resulted in the destruction of critical terrorist logistics, including supply vehicles, makeshift shelters, and weapons storage points.
The decimation of the enclave not only inflicted significant losses on the terrorists but also disrupted their operational planning and movement.
The sources added that Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted after the mission confirmed that the planned attacks on Marte and Monguno were effectively thwarted.
Further intelligence gathering is ongoing to assess enemy reactions and possible movement patterns following the successful interdiction. Ground troops have also been placed on heightened alert to exploit the gains of the airstrike and maintain pressure on fleeing remnants.
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
By: Zagazola Makama
A 67-year-old French national, Mr. Pietier Gilles, has been found dead at a hotel in Gboko town in Benue state.
Zagazola Makama report that the deceased, believed to be a French tourist, was found dead on Saturday at Hotel Jovina, Gbokon, where he had lodged on June 6.
According to a police sources, on Sunday, the hotel manager, Mr. Emmanuel Terhide Laha, reported the incident to the “A” Division Police Station at about 5:45 p.m. on June 8.
Laha informed the police that the tourist fell ill on June 7 but declined to be taken to a hospital. Concerned about his deteriorating condition, the hotel management brought in a medical practitioner to examine him. He was, however, discovered to have died.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer led a patrol team to the hotel where photographs of the scene were taken. The body was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gboko for preservation and autopsy,” the police said.
Gilles reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Niger Republic on May 19, 2025, traveling on a sports bicycle as part of what is believed to be a long-distance tour.
Police sources said investigation will be conducted, and all relevant diplomatic channels are being engaged to handle the situation appropriately.
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
General Buratai: Reports suggesting a Boko Haram attack on the former army chief are inaccurate, deceptive, and maliciously planted by armchair journalists.
Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
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