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Seven Years After: How Buni’s Security Reforms Helped Rebuild Confidence in Yobe

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Seven Years After: How Buni’s Security Reforms Helped Rebuild Confidence in Yobe

By: Zagazola Makama

Seven years after assuming office as Governor of Yobe State, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni’s administration is increasingly being defined by one central theme, the restoration of peace, stability and public confidence in a state once heavily battered by insurgency and humanitarian crises.

At a press conference held on Friday in Damaturu to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the administration, the Acting Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, described the period as a journey of “continuity, consolidation, recovery and transformation.”

Beyond the ceremonial speeches and anniversary reflections, the event offered a broader insight into how Yobe State has gradually repositioned itself from a frontline theatre of insecurity into one of the more stable states in North-East Nigeria.

For many residents, the significance of this transformation lies not merely in statistics or infrastructure projects, but in the return of normal life across communities that once lived under the constant shadow of fear and uncertainty.

When Governor Buni assumed office in 2019, Yobe, like much of the North-East, was still grappling with the consequences of years of insurgency. Entire communities had been displaced, economic activities disrupted, schools shut down and public infrastructure severely weakened.

Security, therefore, became the foundation upon which the administration built its broader development agenda.

According to Dr. Goje, the government adopted a comprehensive strategy that combined operational support for security agencies with community engagement, peacebuilding initiatives and humanitarian recovery programmes.

Over the past seven years, the administration procured and deployed more than 200 operational motorcycles and 60 patrol vehicles to strengthen the operational capacity of the military, police, vigilante groups, hunters and community response structures operating across the state.

The government also rehabilitated the 233 Battalion Barracks, constructed accommodation facilities for military personnel, developed access roads within military formations and facilitated the establishment of a military camp in Gashua.

Security agencies, including the Nigerian Armed Forces, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), NDLEA and the Correctional Service, also received sustained logistical support ranging from operational mobility to fuel supply, equipment maintenance and medical assistance.

Beyond direct operational support, the administration sought to strengthen institutional coordination and intelligence sharing through the establishment of the Yobe State Security Stakeholders Forum.

The forum, according to officials, created a platform for collaboration among security institutions, traditional rulers, community leaders and government officials in addressing evolving security threats.

In addition, more than 100 government officials underwent specialised training in areas such as criminal intelligence, crisis management, strategic anticipation and non-kinetic security operations through institutions including the Defence Intelligence College and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

One of the less visible but important aspects of the administration’s security approach has been its emphasis on welfare and morale among security personnel.

The government provided financial assistance to wounded officers and families of fallen personnel, constructed accommodation for senior officers and allocated land for the Armed Forces Casualty Trust Fund housing scheme for deceased and incapacitated personnel.

Such interventions contributed not only to operational effectiveness but also to strengthening trust between the state government and security institutions operating within Yobe. The impact of these measures is increasingly visible across many parts of the state.

Roads once considered unsafe are now witnessing increased commercial activity. Markets have reopened and expanded. Schools that were previously shut due to insecurity are functioning again, while farming and transportation activities have resumed in several communities.

Communities previously displaced by violence are gradually rebuilding social and economic life, supported by relative stability and renewed confidence in public institutions.

Residents in Damaturu, Gashua, Nguru and several local government areas now speak more openly about economic recovery, improved mobility and the return of social interactions that were once severely disrupted by insurgency.

While security challenges have not entirely disappeared from the wider North-East region, many believe Yobe’s experience demonstrates the importance of combining military support with governance reforms, community engagement and institutional resilience.

The administration’s broader development efforts in education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic empowerment have also benefited from the relatively improved security environment.

The anniversary of Buni administration serves not only as a political milestone but also as an attempt to present Yobe as a state moving steadily from recovery toward long-term stability and development.

Seven Years After: How Buni’s Security Reforms Helped Rebuild Confidence in Yobe

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Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

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Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Government has distributed relief materials to 434 indigenes of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area who were recently rescued by security agencies after spending three months in Boko Haram captivity.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the victims in Pulka on Monday and directed the immediate distribution of food and non-food items to support their recovery and reintegration.

In compliance with the Governor’s directive, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Ali Abdullahi Isa, promptly supervised the distribution exercise.

Each rescued person received a bag of rice, a bag of maize grits, a mattress, a wrapper, and a shadda, while children received two pairs of clothing.

In addition, 208 heads of households received N50,000 each, fulfilling Governor Zulum’s earlier pledge of financial assistance.

Speaking during the distribution, the SEMA Director General said the intervention was part of the government’s immediate response to ease the hardship faced by the rescued victims.

“I am here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was here some few days ago, and to deliver the items he directed that it should be given to you as emergency relief,” Ali stated.

The rescued individuals are currently receiving medical care and psychosocial support at a government facility. Upon completion of the rehabilitation process, they will be reintegrated into their respective communities.

The exercise was carried out alongside the Chairman of Gwoza local government, representatives of the Ngoshe community, and other officials.

Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

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Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

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Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, marked Democracy Day with the handover of two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and critical logistics to the Nigerian Army, after joining internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a symbolic celebration and distribution of food items to 2,500 beneficiaries.

The armoured MRAPs delivered to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai on Friday are intended to enhance troop protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ambushes which remain a persistent threat in the fight against insurgents. Additional logistics include operational Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for frontline soldiers in difficult terrains.

Zulum also marked Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Madinatu camp where he distributed food supplies, non-food items, and cash gifts to thousands of beneficiaries.

The distribution, held at the Madinatu IDP camp, served to consolidate Zulum’s resettlement gains. Over the past seven years, Borno State Government has successfully resettled more than 2 million IDPs in their ancestral communities in a dignified and voluntary manner.

“It gladdens my heart today, the 12th of June, 2026, to celebrate June 12th, Democracy Day, here in Madinatu Camp, the only formal camp that is standing inside Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, today, to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind, for the distribution of food and non-food items. Inshallah, this camp will be closed this year. This will be our last distribution exercise in this camp, or the second to the last,” Zulum said.

However, Governor Zulum used the occasion to announce a timeline for the camp’s closure. The governor ordered that Madinatu camp be shut down within one month, vowing to similarly close most IDP camps across various Local Government Areas in the coming phase of his administration’s resettlement strategy.

“Democracy must translate into restoring the dignity of our people,” Zulum told the IDPs. “Living in camps is not a permanent solution. Our goal remains to return every displaced person to their ancestral homes with security and means of livelihood.”

In addition to the food items, Zulum approved N50,000 each for the 2,500 beneficiaries present at the event.

“Each of the 500 beneficiaries mentioned will receive a 25kg bag of rice and a 25kg bag of sorghum. Women will receive wrappers. I also promise to provide 50,000 naira to each beneficiary. This amount can be credited into their own individual accounts, inshallah,” Zulum said.

The exercise was attended by the APC’s State Deputy Chairman, Garba Mulima, APC State Vice Chairman (Central) Abdur Rahman Abdulkarim, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, Member representing Jere at the State Assembly, Abba Kyari Kolo, commissioners and commissioner designates and several other senior government officials.

Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

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Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

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Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

By: Michael Mike

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the arrest of a suspected gun courier intercepted while allegedly transporting weapons believed to be destined for criminal elements in Katsina State.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday, June 12, 2026.

Governor Yusuf described the operation as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes threatening communities across Northern Nigeria.

According to information provided by the DSS, the suspect, identified as Muhammad Abubakar, 30, was apprehended in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State while allegedly transporting four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, three AK-47 rifles and two empty magazines to Funtua in Katsina State.

Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the suspect collected the weapons from an individual identified as Bello in the Maigatari border area of Jigawa State and was expected to receive N450,000 upon successful delivery of the arms.

Governor Yusuf praised the professionalism, vigilance and intelligence-driven approach of DSS operatives, noting that the timely interception prevented the weapons from falling into the hands of bandits and other criminal groups.

He said the operation underscored the critical role of intelligence gathering and effective collaboration among security agencies in tackling emerging security threats across the country.

The governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to supporting security agencies through sustained cooperation, logistics assistance and policies aimed at strengthening public safety throughout the state.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies to aid efforts to combat crime and maintain peace.

Governor Yusuf expressed confidence that ongoing investigations would lead to the arrest and prosecution of all individuals connected to the alleged arms trafficking network.

The statement was signed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.

Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

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