Northeast
REUTERS’ REPORT: EVEN AT GUNPOINT I WON’T COMMIT ILLEGAL ABORTION, BORNO MEDICAL DONE TELLS NHRC PANEL
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
Bauchi Youth dies after fight during naming ceremony in Warji
By: Zagazola Makama
A 20-year-old man, Haruna Haruna of Kwata Village, Warji Local Government Area, Bauchi State, has reportedly died following a violent altercation during a naming ceremony on 2 December 2025.
Zagazola understands that a misunderstanding among some youths at the ceremony escalated into a physical fight, leaving the victim in a comatose state.
He was rushed to General Hospital, Warji, but later died while receiving medical attention.
Police operatives have arrested one Gambo Yobe, 20, in connection with the incident.
Bauchi Youth dies after fight during naming ceremony in Warji
Boko Haram attack kills vigilante in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
A vigilante member was shot dead on Wednesday during an attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters at a vigilante camp in Kanamma town, Yusufari Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred at about 1839 hours when the assailants stormed the camp, opening fire on the victims.
The deceased, identified as Dauda Bamai, 35, of Kanamma, was pronounced dead by a medical doctor in Kanamma.
Security forces have intensified monitoring and patrols in the area to track down the attackers.
Boko Haram attack kills vigilante in Yobe
Zulum sponsors youths for degrees in Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering, others
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has directed immediate selection and sponsorship of indigent youths for degree programmes in high-value fields, including Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering and related disciplines.
He gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting at the Government House in Maiduguri when he received Mr Issac Balami, the founder of Issac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM).
According to Zulum, the selection process will prioritise indigent youths who demonstrate academic potential but lack the financial means to pursue such expensive courses of study.
The governor stated, “On our part, as the government of Borno State, we will do everything possible to support this university within our reach.
“I want to most sincerely thank you for the offers you have given to the government and people of Borno State for the training of a sizable number of aircraft planners and aircraft technicians.
“Deliberately, I invited the Commissioner for Education and the Executive Secretary of the scholarship board; they will liaise with you to see how candidates will be sent to your university.
“The Commissioner for Education and your team, you will identify the most vulnerable in the population who can benefit from this scheme: those who cannot afford, nor can their parents, to undertake those aeronautics courses. I don’t want anyone close to the governor, the deputy governor or the commissioner to be selected. Purely on merit! Mind you, I have to vet the list after the selection process.”
Earlier in his address, Balami announced that his institution would provide free training to an initial batch of Borno indigenes in Aircraft Planning and Aircraft Technology.
He said the gesture was an act of giving back to the society, inspired by a scholarship he received years ago from the Borno State Government which paved the way for his own career in aeronautics.
He stated that one person from each of the 27 local governments in Borno would be trained as aircraft planners and aircraft technicians.
Zulum sponsors youths for degrees in Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering, others
“Road Home is Open”: Zulum Brings Hope to 12 000 Nigerian Refugees in Cameroon
Troops dislodged bandits camp as security forces rescue hostages in coordinated FCT operations
UN Expresses Deep Pains Over Schoolgirls Abduction in Nigeria
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
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News8 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
