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REUTERS’ REPORT: EVEN AT GUNPOINT I WON’T  COMMIT ILLEGAL ABORTION, BORNO MEDICAL DONE TELLS NHRC PANEL

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REUTERS’ REPORT: EVEN AT GUNPOINT I WON’T  COMMIT ILLEGAL ABORTION, BORNO MEDICAL DONE TELLS NHRC PANEL

–As Army General reaffirms military’s protection policy for women, children

By: Babagana Wakil

The Borno state Commissioner of Health, Prof. Muhammad Arab has said that he will not compromise the ethics of the medical profession including carrying out illegal abortion even at gunpoint, adding that Reuters’ report is disturbingly false.

According to Prof. Arab who is a Fellow West African College of Physicians, Reuters’ report seeking to indict the state government as an accomplice of Nigeria military in the allegation of abortion of 10,000 pregnancies, massacre of children and other Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) does not hold water since there is no policy of the state that supports illegal abortion.

The Commissioner who is a Consultant Pediatrician said contrary to the report purporting that two state government hospitals; Specialist Hospital Maiduguri and Umar Shehu Ultra-Modern hospitals, Maiduguri were used by the military to carry out abortion, he stated that all the medical facilities in the state are run with the highest level of professional ethics and that all medical records are intact.

He made the testimony before the 7-Member panel chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Abdu Aboki, saying that life is sacred and must be treated accordingly.

The former Chairman Hospital Management Board of Specialist Hospital Maiduguri denied allegation that the state hospitals usually receive corpses of pregnant women who bled to death as a result of illegal termination of pregnancies, saying that even brought-in-dead must be certified and issued death certificate by a doctor before the corpse will be deposited in the hospital.

In the same manner, the Commander of the Nigerian Defense Academy, Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf informed the panel that Reuters report was issued with a “malicious intent”, describing it as “untrue”.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/alleged-extra-judicial-killing-petitoner-fails-to-prove-the-identity-of-accused-in-the-death-of-uchenna-emmanuel-says-police/

Continuing, Major General Yusuf who was former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maiduguri said that at the heat of the insurgency which coincides with the period Reuters’ report is refers, nobody could muster the courage or have the presence of mind to talk about keeping women and girls for the purpose of illegal abortion.

The state Executive Member stated that the premium respect the military has for women and children is so impeachable that it has waived several opportunities to neutralize the insurgents just because they shielded themselves with women and children.

Therefore, he said it defies logic for anyone to believe Reuters’ report which alleged that the military was implementing a programme of abortion, massacre of children and other heartrending gender-based violations between the period of 2013 and 2021.

Similarly, the Consultant orthopedic surgeon, Colonel Stephen Onuchukwu told the panel that it is inconceivable that trained medical officers or military personnel will get involved in secret or illegal abortion.

According to him, soldiers at the frontline do not have the luxury of time to think about how to abort pregnancies or kill children believed to have been fathered by Boko Haram, pointing out that it was the military that rescued most of the Chibok girls that were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014 among other rescues.

Also in his oral evidence, the Director Borno state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Abdullahi Suleiman said that the allegation of illegal abortion cannot be proven in the various IDPs camps in the state.

 He stated that SEMA Officials normally coordinate the activities of the camp while development partners like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF and Civil Society Organisations assist in providing their basic needs like water, food and sanitation.

REUTERS’ REPORT: EVEN AT GUNPOINT I WON’T  COMMIT ILLEGAL ABORTION, BORNO MEDICAL DONE TELLS NHRC PANEL

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Insurgency: Northeast Governors Call for Reappraisal of Strategies

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Insurgency: Northeast Governors Call for Reappraisal of Strategies

By: Michael Mike

Governors of the six Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba have called for a reappraisal of strategies in the ongoing war against insurgency in the region.

Rising from the 11th Meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) held in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Thursday, the governors, in a communique, noted with dismay the rising activities of the insurgents in the subregion and called for the armed forces, other security agencies and community leaders to reappraise their strategy in the counter insurgency onslaught in the region.

The Forum while commending the Federal Government in its effort at improving the security of the country and resolve to collaborate and support in all matters to address emerging security issues in the country. however noted that addressing the security challenge in the Northeast requires a multidimensional approach of not only the kinetic strategy but also addressing the root causes such as youth employment through vocational and technical education, improved road networks, improving education and reducing poverty.

The Forum promised its commitment to addressing the issues of security by tackling the current situation while addressing some of the root causes.

The Forum also noted that the poor road network in the subregion is contributing to the insecurity in the region, and called on Mr. President to as a matter of urgent concern address the issue of abandoned project which is critical to addressing poverty, insecurity and general underdevelopment of the subregion.

The Forum also recommitted itself to the opening up of the subregion to investment opportunities, agriculture for food security, combating climate change, skills acquisition and the industrialization of the subregion to provide employment to the teeming youths who are vulnerable to recruitment into the army of the insurgents.

It also noted the role of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) in the development of the subregion and
called on the Commission to be more engaging with the various state governments on development needs and prioritize transportation infrastructure, education, and health, while equally calling on the Commission to rededicate itself to its core mandate which is to rebuild the subregion after the devastation of the insurgency and be more proactive in the delivery of existing project in the subregion by keeping track with project delivery timelines.

The Forum noted the significance of the Nigerian Law school Yola Campus within the region and resolved to support its
expansion by providing additional hostel accommodation, water supply and other facilities to improve the admission capacity of the campus and make it more conducive for training, and resolved to work closely with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) by providing office space in each state, support the enrolment of Almajiri and out-of-school children into formal school, provision of vocational and technical education as well as develop a unified approach to addressing the menace in the subregion.

The next date for the meeting was fixed for 27th – 29th, July, 2025 in Jalingo, Taraba state, and at the meeting were Governors of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, with the Governor of Bauchi state represented by the Deputy Governor

Insurgency: Northeast Governors Call for Reappraisal of Strategies

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Nigerian troops rescue 71 abducted passengers in Zamfara

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Nigerian troops rescue 71 abducted passengers in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with local security forces, have rescued 71 persons abducted by armed bandits along the Faru–Janbako Road in Maradun Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred on April 28 at about 9:10 p.m., when a truck conveying 80 passengers from Niger State to Sabon Birni in Sokoto State was ambushed by suspected bandits at Tungan Na-Yarchiga.

Top security officials confirmed the development, stating that the bandits forcefully abducted all the occupants of the vehicle.

Following the report, a joint security team comprising of army, police Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (ZFSCPG), and local vigilantes (Yansakai) mobilized to the area and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle.

The intervention led to the successful rescue of 71 abducted persons, including men, women, and children. The victims were immediately taken to Faru Hospital for medical evaluation.

Sources said efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining nine victims still in captivity.

Nigerian troops rescue 71 abducted passengers in Zamfara

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Yobe is committed to addressing ASUU problems. – Buni

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Yobe is committed to addressing ASUU problems. – Buni

BY: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON has said that his administration is committed to addressing issues relating to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) amidst competing demands.

Governor Buni started this today while receiving the leadership of the union’s Yobe State chapter, led by its chairman, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Karage, at the Government House, Damaturu.

He said the government will continue to give priority attention to the state-owned university in order to enhance its academic and physical development.

The governor appealed to the union to remain calm and continue to engage with the government, noting that his administration works out modalities for amicable responses to issues raised by the members.

Governor Buni stressed that one of the objectives of the union is to organize and represent the interests of the academic staff of the state university and called for mutual understanding between the government and the union.

Speaking earlier, the ASUU chairman of the Yobe State chapter, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Karage, said they were at the Government House to advocate for better funding of the state university with a view to enhancing a conducive and better atmosphere for effective teaching, learning, and research.

Dr. Ahmad Karage appreciates Mala’s administration for giving scholarships to students, especially law students. 

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