Troops arrest six illegal miners in Plateau

Troops of Sector 4, Sub-Sector 41, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have arrested six suspected illegal miners during a patrol operation at the Rakwok mining site in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The operation was conducted at about 1 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining activities in the area.

The suspects were identified as Silas Jems, Yahuza Yau, Livingston Alexander, Raharaddin Saidi, Ismail Musa and Goddo Abdulmajid.

Other miners reportedly fled the site upon sighting the troops.

Items recovered during the operation included one cutlass, seven torchlights, one small rubber container and one small button mobile phone with a battery.

The suspects have been profiled and remain in custody for further action.

Troops arrest six illegal miners in Plateau

Zulum opens flyover bridge, road projects, 2 schools in Maiduguri

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has commissioned a flyover bridge, the 2.5 km Budum Junction via Kasuwan Shanu to NIETAL shoe factory express road project with a 5 km drainage network and two mega schools in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The commissioning ceremony, held on Sunday, witnessed the symbolic cutting of the tape by the governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, who was the special guest of honour.

The newly inaugurated Post Office 9 span Flyover is part of the Zulum administration’s urban renewal drive.

It is the fourth flyover bridge the governor has constructed. This is in addition to several kilometres of road networks executed across the state to ease traffic congestion and boost economic activity.

Speaking at the event, Governor Sule praised his Borno counterpart for his visionary leadership and commitment to infrastructure development despite the security challenges the state faces.

 He noted that the projects would significantly improve the quality of life for residents.

He said, “A speech was prepared for me; I wish there were no prepared speech. Because what I have seen in Borno today is worth me actually standing here and talking for two hours, commending my dear brother for the wonderful job you are doing in the area of education and infrastructure.

“The project we just commissioned some moments ago is a purposeful leadership and determination of the Borno State Government to provide infrastructure to meet the needs of the people.”

“I commend you, Your Excellency, for demonstrating that even in the face of enormous challenges, government must continue to invest in its people, particularly in the education of our children, and I commend you for this wonderful job that you are doing.”

In his remarks, Governor Zulum reiterated his administration’s dedication to bridging the infrastructure gap in Borno. 

He explained that the road projects and flyover were designed not only to beautify the city but to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and ease economic activities.

Beyond infrastructure, the governor highlighted his administration’s heavy investment in the education sector. He said over 120 mega schools have been constructed across the state to improve access to quality education for Borno children. 

“Today, we have formally commissioned four important projects, namely: the Larawaram Community Senior Secondary School; the Shehu Sanda Kyarimi I Primary and Junior Secondary School; the Post Office 9-Span Flyover; and the dualized 2.5-kilometre road, together with 5 kilometres of drainage, from Budum Tandari Junction to Kasuwan Shanu.

“These projects must be viewed within the broader context of the challenges our State has faced and the progress we have made in overcoming them. The insurgency destroyed more than 5,000 school structures, while at its peak, an estimated 2.2 million children were out of school, with fewer than 500,000 enrolled. Many teachers and school administrators also lost their lives in the course of duty.

“We have also placed considerable emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly in response to the disruption of learning, livelihoods and employment opportunities caused by the insurgency.

“This administration has established 5 Vocational Enterprise Institutes, reactivated 11 Vocational Training Centres, and established 3 Second Chance Skills Entrepreneurship Schools for women and girls.

“The journey of rebuilding Borno continues, and our commitment remains unwavering: to ensure that every child has access to quality education and the opportunity to build a productive and dignified future,” Zulum said

Zulum opens flyover bridge, road projects, 2 schools in Maiduguri

Three Fulani youths slaughtered by suspected Mwaghavul militia buried in Mangu

By: Zagazola Makama

Three young Fulani herders allegedly killed by suspected Mwaghavul militia in Alohom community, Sabon Gari District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, have been buried.

The victims — Garzali Shuibu, 18; Bashiru Yakubu, 14; and Salim Abubakar, 15 — were reportedly attacked while grazing in the area on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Their Janazah prayer was observed before they were laid to rest, as grief and anger continued to grip the community following the killings.

According to a military situation report obtained by Zagazola Makama, troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace, were alerted after receiving information that herders had come under attack at Alohom.

The soldiers deployed from Sabon Gari moved to the location and reportedly found the bodies of the three youths, alongside 36 cattle that had been shot dead.

Another 12 cattle sustained gunshot wounds, while two other members of the herding group were reported missing.

Surviving members of the group alleged that the attackers were armed men suspected to be members of the Mwaghavul militia operating around Alohom, Gaude and the wider Mangu Halle areas.

The allegation remains subject to investigation by security agencies.

There were also claims by some Fulani residents that personnel of a sister security agency were sighted around the area during the incident but allegedly failed to prevent the killings.

That claim is also being investigated.

Empty tear-gas canisters were reportedly recovered from the scene, although their connection with the attack had yet to be established.

The killing of the three youths, particularly 14-year-old Bashiru Yakubu, has further inflamed tensions in the area.

It is difficult to comprehend how a community can lose three young people in such a violent manner, with one of the victims barely into his teenage years. These were not statistics; they were young lives, sons and members of families whose future has now been brutally cut short.

The incident has also raised fears of possible reprisal attacks, especially amid angry reactions circulating within the affected community.

Security agencies must urgently establish what happened, identify and arrest those responsible and prevent the killings from becoming another trigger for retaliatory violence.

Troops have intensified patrols and are dominating the area to prevent further attacks, locate the missing persons and restore confidence among residents.

Three Fulani youths slaughtered by suspected Mwaghavul militia buried in Mangu