Widower mourns slain nurse wife in Maiduguri

By: Zagazola Makama

Hamza Ibrahim Idris, a bereaved husband in Maiduguri, Borno, has paid a touching tribute to his late wife, Nurse Hadiza Musa, who was allegedly murdered by suspected phone snatchers.

In a heartfelt message titled “Ga Masoyiyata Nurse Hadiza Musa”, the widower expressed deep sorrow over the death of his wife, describing her as a virtuous woman, devoted mother, and compassionate health worker who dedicated her life to saving others.

“It’s been three days since my heart has burned with the pain of losing my wife, my life partner, Nurse Hadiza Musa, who was killed in cold blood by those who snatched her phone,” he wrote.

“She was not just a wife she was my confidant, the mother of my three children, and the other half of my soul. We lived in love, understanding and mutual support, building dreams and hoping to grow old together. But now, that dream has been shattered,” he said.

The grieving husband described Hadiza as a woman of faith, humility and kindness who always put others first.

“As a nurse, she devoted her life to saving others with a smile and compassion. Yet, the life she saved was taken unjustly she died in faith and martyrdom,” he added.

He recounted the pain of their children’s repeated questions: “Daddy, where is Mommy?” a reminder, he said, of the irreplaceable void left by her death.

“Each time I hear those words, tears flow. In their faces, I see hers a woman of truth, love, and belief,” he said.

Offering prayers, he said: “Oh Allah, the Most Merciful, forgive her shortcomings, elevate her rank, grant her Aljanna Firdaus, bless her children, and give me strength and patience.”

He added that though Hadiza was gone, her love remained in his heart and prayers, expressing hope of reuniting with her in the hereafter “where there will be no pain, no tears, and no separation.”

“May Allah forgive and have mercy on my beloved wife, Nurse Hadiza Musa. May her grave be a garden of paradise. May He grant me patience and protect our children,” he concluded tearfully.

The incident, which occurred recently in Maiduguri, has sparked outrage among residents who have called for stronger security measures to curb rising cases of phone snatching and violent attacks in the city.

Widower mourns slain nurse wife in Maiduguri

Troops kill over 50 terrorists as they repel multiple attacks in Borno, Yobe — military

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed more than 50 terrorists and repelled multiple coordinated attacks on military locations across Borno and Yobe States, in what has been described as the biggest blow against insurgents in 2025.

The Nigerian military said the simultaneous attacks occurred between midnight and 0400 hours on Thursday when terrorists launched assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo and Katarko, situated within Sectors 1 and 2 of the Joint Operations Area.

Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East (OPHK), in a statement on Thursday in Maiduguri, said the troops fought gallantly and professionally, repelling the attacks and inflicting devastating losses on the terrorists.

“In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly, and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive and bloody blow,” Uba stated.

He said the coordinated ground and air operations, backed by precision strikes from the Air Component of OPHK, led to the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all the locations.

According to him, troops also recovered 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition after the clashes.

“The precision strikes, coupled with enhanced battlefield awareness provided by the Theatre’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, gave troops additional leverage and impetus to respond with overwhelming and lethal force,” Uba added.

He disclosed that over 70 wounded terrorists were being pursued by ground troops, with the Air Component maintaining close coordination to ensure total clearance of the fleeing remnants.

Intelligence reports, he said, indicated that the attackers who stormed Dikwa and Gajibo manoeuvred from the Cameroon axis, while those who attacked Katarko emerged from the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist enclave.

Uba said some gallant troops sustained injuries but were in stable condition, while some vehicles and buildings in Mafa and Dikwa were gutted by fire following RPG and drone attacks by the terrorists.

He noted that despite the heavy onslaught, the troops maintained control of all their positions and repelled the coordinated strikes with renewed strength and professionalism.

“The Military High Command has commended the gallantry, doggedness and renewed charge of the troops. Their steadfast performance once again reaffirms the military’s unwavering resolve and capacity to defend the nation’s territorial integrity,” he added.

Security analysts described the coordinated defeat of the terrorists across multiple fronts as the single largest operational success against insurgents in 2025, marking a major turning point in the counter-terrorism campaign in the North East.

Troops kill over 50 terrorists as they repel multiple attacks in Borno, Yobe — military

Gombe father submits son for measles vaccination after evading immunisation in school

Delaying or refusing some or all vaccines for your child puts their health and life at risk, this is an old message that is rapidly being understood in Gombe State especially with the impressive turnout of parents bringing their children to participate in the ongoing 2025 Integrated Measles–Rubella and Polio Campaign, amongst whom is Malam Abdulkarim Bello.

Bello, a father of eight children, on Tuesday rode his nine-year-old son on his commercial motorcycle to Bolari West Primary HealthCare Centre to supervise his immunisation against measles.

Our Correspondent reports that the boy who ran away from school to evade taking the vaccine being administered to his colleagues by Community Health Workers who came to his school in Bolari West, was made to take the vaccine under the watchful eyes of his father.

Bello, a motorcyclist in Gombe said he came home to have a rest having worked for hours to earn some income to take care of his household, only to meet his son who left home earlier for school.

On probing the child, knowing full well that the school was yet to close for the day, “ I learnt that he ran away from school just to evade taking the vaccine.

“ I had to suspend my job and bring him here (to Bolari PHC) to get him vaccinated under my supervision.

“I am doing this because I don’t want to see him sick, I heard over the radio that the vaccine is available and good for them, that’s why I brought him.

“I brought him because his running away from school is like running away from what will protect him.

“As his father, I have the right to ensure that he is healthy because his elderly ones had also taken the vaccine,” he said.

He said with the damage that measles and other children-related illnesses had done to children, “I will not allow my son to reject the vaccine that should protect him against such life-threatening illness.”

Bello urged parents, particularly fathers to support the exercise by bringing their children out for vaccination as a way of protecting them from childhood killer diseases.

Bello’s conviction about the relevance of vaccines in improving the health of his children, has highlighted the positive role of the media in efforts at boosting the health of children in the state while reducing infant mortality.

Gombe father submits son for measles vaccination after evading immunisation in school