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UN Secretary-General Calls On All to Stand Up for Human Rights, Speak Up Against Hate

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UN Secretary-General Calls On All to Stand Up for Human Rights, Speak Up Against Hate

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has called on all citizens of the world to speak-up against hate and stand-up for human rights.

Guterres in his speech to commemorate this year’s International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, said this year marks the eightieth anniversary of the Holocaust’s end.

He said: “We mourn the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as they sought to destroy an entire people.

“We grieve the Roma and Sinti, the people with disabilities, and all others enslaved, persecuted, tortured, and killed.

“We stand alongside victims, survivors and their families.

“And we renew our resolve never to forget.

“To allow the Holocaust to fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future.

“Remembrance is a moral act. And a call to action.

“To know the history of the Holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink…

“To understand how the Nazis were able to commit their heinous crimes, with the complicity of others…

“And to comprehend that each of us has a solemn duty – to speak-up against hate, and to stand-up for the human rights of all.

He added that: “Following the hell of the Holocaust, countries came together. And they enshrined the dignity of every person in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In dark times, that document remains a shining light.

“Eighty years since the Holocaust’s end, antisemitism is still with us – fuelled by the same lies and loathing that made the Nazi genocide possible.

“And it is rising. Discrimination is rife… Hate is being whipped-up the world over…
Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, diminished, and denied… And efforts are being made to recast and rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators.
We must stand up to these outrages.

“In these days of division – and more than a year since the appalling 7th October terror attacks by Hamas – we must hold fast to our common humanity. We must condemn antisemitism – just as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry. And we must renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.

“Those causes go to the very core of the United Nations. We will never forget – and we will never waver in that fight.”

Speaking at the commemoration of the day at the United Nations House in Abuja, the Israeli Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Inbar Lipman Garden said: “On this solemn day, we remember the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were murdered in the Holocaust- alongside millions of others who suffered under the Nazi regime. We honour their memory not only to mourn their loss but to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that such atrocities never happen again. The Holocaust is not just a chapter of Jewish history; it is a universal reminder of the devastating consequences of hatred, discrimination, and indifference. It compels us to reflect on our shared responsibility to fight antisemitism, racism, and all forms of intolerance wherever they may arise.

“Today, we must acknowledge the troubling rise of antisemitism around the world, including in Europe, Australia, Canada, the US and elsewhere. Jewish communities face increasing hostility and violence.

“Synagogues have been firebombed, schools have been shot at. Jewish community centers have been vandalized – images that remind us of the dark days of the past. And today, just 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz there are those who deny that the Holocaust happened. Dangerous narratives of Holocaust denial propagated by regimes and groups such as lran, Hizballah, and Hamas. These entities not only distort history but also openly call for the annihilation of the Jewish state and Jews entirely.”

On his part, the Officer in Charge of UNESCO Abuja Office, Albert Mendy said: “This commemoration serves as a solemn reminder of the devastating consequences of hatred, discrimination, and intolerance, and reinforces our collective responsibility to foster a culture of peace, mutual respect, and human dignity.”

Mendy, who was represented by the Organisation’s Education Programme Officer, Anthony Ogunniyi said: “UNESCO, as the lead agency for education within the United Nations system, believes that education is the most powerful tool for building a just and peaceful world.

“Education for peace is not just about imparting knowledge; it is about shaping attitudes, values, and behaviors that promote dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among individuals and societies.”

He added that: “The Holocaust serves as a powerful reminder that hatred, even within your classrooms, no matter how small it may seem at first, can grow into unimaginable consequences if left unchecked. It often starts with seemingly minor acts of intolerance—hurtful words, exclusion, and discrimination—but can quickly escalate into widespread harm and devastation. What you do about it matters.

“Choosing to remain silent in the face of injustice—whether it is bullying, discrimination, or any form of intolerance—allows such negative behaviors to persist and grow. This is why tolerance, respect, and empathy are not just ideals but essential values that must guide our daily interactions. Let us learn from history and understand that taking a stand against hatred in all its forms is the first step toward preventing future atrocities and building a world where dignity and human rights are upheld for all.”

UN Secretary-General Calls On All to Stand Up for Human Rights, Speak Up Against Hate

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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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