National News
UN Decries Emerging Threats to Women’s Peace and Security
UN Decries Emerging Threats to Women’s Peace and Security
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations Women (UN Women) has decried that are emerging threats to women’s peace and security (WPS) including insurgency and endemic poverty that need to be urgently addressed.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Validation Workshop of 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) on Women Peace and Security in Nigeria, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong said: “As we prepare to celebrate the twenty-fourth anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in October this year, we need to remind ourselves that there are emerging threats to women’s peace and security, including insurgency and endemic poverty that need to be addressed.”
She insisted that: “It’s crucial to create an environment where women can actively contribute, and have their voices heard in developing and implementing solutions to address the root causes of conflict and promote peace, at all levels.”
She noted that the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), unanimously adopted on 31 October 2000 has led to a shift in the architecture of peace processes and reconstruction, including a major catalyst for the advancement of gender equality and the promotion of women’s rights in the area of peace and security.
She added that: “The UNSCR 1325 builds on a body of international human rights laws and legal instruments and recognizes that armed conflict impacts women differently from men, and therefore demands protection of women and girls before, during and after armed conflict . It also recognizes women’s role as peace builders and agents of change, and calls on UN and member states, civil society, and the international community to ensure women’s increased participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding processes. prevention of conflict and all forms of violence against women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations.”
Eyong noted that: “Nigeria’s heroic decision to address contextualized women’s peace and security issues have been made possible with the adoption and implementation of the first and second National Action Plan (NAP) on women, peace and security, adopted in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Over the years, these efforts have contributed to remarkable achievements, including domestication of laws and policies that protect women and girls’ rights; increase in Women’s Participation and Representation in Traditional decision making structures; establishment of functional women, peace and security architecture; development of State Action Plans (SAPs) in sixteen states, and local action plans, as well as enhancement of gender responsive security sector through the development Gender Policies and implementation mechanisms for security sector institutions. Additionally, there are ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening enabling environment for diverse women and girls to play greater role in peace and security decision making processes towards achieving sustainable and integrated security that promotes ownership and accountability through inclusive governance and innovative financing systems.”
She said: “It is important to note that the 3rd NAP aligns with national development priorities of Nigeria and is guided by and reflects the following important principles: (i) High-Level Political Will; (ii) Do No Harm/Safeguarding; (iii) Legislative & Compliance Mechanisms (iv) Intersectionality, Ownership & Accountability; (v) Effective Communication and Reporting; and (vi) Strengthened Coordination and Partnership.”
She told the stakeholders that: “Together, we must work towards addressing women’s needs and integrating their perspectives in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and security processes to ensure the full achievement of a more inclusive, safe, peaceful, and prosperous society. UN Women remains committed to the WPS agenda and broadly the advancement of gender equality and women empowerment.”
UN Decries Emerging Threats to Women’s Peace and Security
Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region
By: Our Reporter
A deserter from the Niger Republic Armed Forces who reportedly joined the terrorist group Boko Haram has surrendered to local authorities in Kindjandi, located in the Diffa Region of southeastern Niger Republic.
The individual, identified as Abba Ibrahim, had been serving with the Nigerien Armed Forces since 2022 before deserting his post in Bosso on March 8, 2025, according to military intelligence sources. He fled alongside a fellow soldier, Bandam Dala, and subsequently joined a Boko Haram faction active in the Lake Chad area.
Security sources disclosed that Ibrahim surrendered on April 21, 2025, arriving in Kindjandi on horseback with a rifle. He was accompanied by an unidentified young man whose details are yet to be confirmed.
Ibrahim was taken into custody by the Nigerien Armed Forces on the morning of April 22, 2025, and is currently undergoing debriefing and interrogation by military intelligence.
The Diffa Region has remained a hotspot for insurgent activity due to its proximity to Lake Chad and border areas with Nigeria, where Boko Haram and other extremist groups operate.
Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region
National News
ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch
ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch
By: Michael Mike
The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) has commended the initiative by ECOWAS to extend an invitation to the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger for the official launch of ECOWAS’ golden jubilee in Accra.
The Network, in a press statement on Tuesday, said it supports the initiative by ECOWAS to ease tensions and foster diplomacy in a bid to sustain the common heritage, shared history, and longstanding socio-cultural ties of the peoples.
The statement read: “As ECOWAS opens its doors and extends an arm of friendship and collaboration to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the Network encourages the three countries to reciprocate the gesture, upholding the spirit of good neighbourliness and cross-border cooperation. Such
cooperation is necessary now more than ever, especially as we require a concerted effort to confront matters of common interest to the subregion, such as security and trade.
“WADEMOS maintains the position that the restoration of trust and confidence between
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, on the one hand, and ECOWAS, on the other hand,
remains critical to sustaining cooperation and enhancing the free movement of goods and people. Building trust and confidence, we believe, is also critical to effectively combat the growing threat of terrorism across the subregion.
“Considering the close ties that exist among the West African peoples, WADEMOS
continues to urge the three Sahelian countries to be reconciliatory in their engagements with ECOWAS.”
WADEMOS is an independent and non-partisan network of diverse national and transnational civil society organisations and civic groups working to promote and defend democracy, good governance, and inclusive development in the West Africa region.
It mobilizes, coordinates, and leverages the collective voice and power of civil society and other pro-democracy actors, resources, and opportunities within the West Africa region to advance its mission. The current membership of WADEMOS stands at 47 spread across West Africa.
The WADEMOS Secretariat is based in Accra, Ghana.
ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch
Interior Minister Orders Investigation into Alleged Extortion by NSCDC Officers
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations of extortion involving officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The officers, according to a viral post, allegedly extorted ₦5.2 million from a group of young men traveling from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State to Akure, Ondo State.
The Minister, in a statement by his spokesman, Babatunde Alao, noted that any officer found guilty will face the full weight of the law.
He said: “We will not tolerate any form of misconduct from our security agencies.
“We are building a paramilitary that is disciplined, professional and serve Nigeria and Nigerians with all sense of diginity and patriotism.
“On this case, we will see that justice is upheld and ensure that security personnel serve with forthrightness,” he said.
Interior Minister Orders Investigation into Alleged Extortion by NSCDC Officers
Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region
Zulum flags off Kaka Shehu’s empowerment to 3,092 constituents
National Orthopaedic Hospital Azare-Hawul, Borno State, Gets New Medical Director
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
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics8 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
