Kwibuka 32: Rwanda Sounds Alarm on Evolving Genocide Ideology, Demands Global Accountability

By: Michael Mike

Rwanda has issued a powerful warning to the world as it marks the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, cautioning that the dangerous ideologies that fueled the mass killings have not disappeared—but are mutating in more sophisticated and far-reaching ways.

Speaking at a solemn commemoration in Abuja, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Moses Rugema, urged the global community to move beyond ceremonial remembrance and confront the persistent and evolving threat of genocide ideology, particularly in an era shaped by digital influence and artificial intelligence.

The event, held under the theme “Remember. Unite. Renew.”, marked Kwibuka 32, an annual period of reflection on one of the darkest chapters in modern history.

He said: “Remembrance must carry responsibility. It is not enough to honour the dead—we must actively resist the forces that made such atrocities possible.”

He recalled the scale of the Genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than one million people were systematically killed within 100 days in 1994. The envoy stressed that the genocide was not a spontaneous eruption of violence, but a calculated campaign driven by propaganda, division and state-backed extremism.

Drawing a direct line between the past and present, Rugema warned that similar patterns are re-emerging globally, now amplified by technology.

“The tools may have changed, but the intent has not. Today, hate can spread faster, deeper and more dangerously through digital platforms,” he said, noting that misinformation, denial and distortion are increasingly weaponised to rewrite history and inflame divisions.

He called for stronger international legal frameworks, improved civic education and stricter accountability measures to counter what he described as a “resilient and adaptive threat.”

Rugema also revisited the failure of the international community during the 1994 crisis, stating that early warning signs were ignored and the scale of the violence was initially downplayed. At the United Nations Security Council, only a handful of voices—including Nigeria’s former envoy, Ibrahim Gambari—pressed for recognition of the atrocities as genocide.

The killings were eventually halted by forces of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by current President Paul Kagame, ushering in a new chapter focused on national rebuilding.

Highlighting Rwanda’s recovery, Rugema pointed to deliberate policies aimed at unity and reconciliation, including the dismantling of ethnic classifications and the use of community-based justice systems such as gacaca courts, which enabled millions of cases to be heard while fostering dialogue and healing.

Yet, he warned that the work is far from over.

“Genocide ideology is not confined to history—it is a present danger,” he said, citing ongoing instability in parts of Africa’s Great Lakes region and the growing normalization of hate speech globally.

Also addressing the gathering, the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in
Nigeria, Mohamed Fall described the commemoration as a call to action for the international community to prevent future atrocities.

Represented by the UN Women Coordinator to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, Fall emphasised that the genocide was enabled by sustained propaganda and exclusionary policies.

“Mass atrocities do not begin with weapons—they begin with words,” Fall said. “And today, those words travel faster than ever.”

He warned that the unchecked spread of hate speech and incitement in the digital space poses a growing global risk, urging governments to strengthen legal protections, uphold international law and fully implement the Genocide Convention.

Both speakers stressed that remembrance must translate into concrete action, insisting that the phrase “Never Again” risks becoming hollow if not backed by political will and societal vigilance.

As the world reflects on Kwibuka 32, Rwanda’s message was unmistakable: the cost of indifference has already been written in blood—and failing to act now could allow history to repeat itself.

Kwibuka 32: Rwanda Sounds Alarm on Evolving Genocide Ideology, Demands Global Accountability

NIS Cracks Down on Alleged Extortion at Lagos-Seme Border, Orders Probe

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched an immediate investigation into allegations of extortion involving its personnel along the Lagos-Seme border corridor, vowing swift disciplinary action against any officer found culpable.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, strongly condemned the reported misconduct, describing it as a clear breach of the Service’s ethical standards and operational principles.

The allegations, which surfaced through online reports, have sparked public concern over the conduct of immigration officers stationed at one of Nigeria’s busiest land borders. Responding decisively, the NIS leadership has taken the unusual step of temporarily relieving the Comptrollers overseeing the affected commands of their duties pending the outcome of a comprehensive probe.

According to the Service, the investigation will focus on identifying all officers involved in the alleged acts, with a commitment to enforce strict disciplinary measures without delay.

Reaffirming its stance, the NIS stressed that it would not tolerate any behavior capable of eroding public confidence or damaging the institution’s reputation. The Service reiterated its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and efficiency in managing Nigeria’s entry and exit points.

To strengthen accountability, the Service urged members of the public to report cases of misconduct through its official communication channels, including its verified social media platforms and dedicated contact centre lines.

The NIS emphasized that it remains resolute in upholding integrity and discipline while facilitating lawful migration, assuring Nigerians and international travelers that measures are being reinforced to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

NIS Cracks Down on Alleged Extortion at Lagos-Seme Border, Orders Probe

Troops rescue 21 kidnapped victims, clear bandits’ camps in forest operation in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 21 kidnapped victims and dismantled several bandits’ camps during a coordinated clearance operation in Daji Madam Forest in Plateau State.

Security sources said the operation was conducted in the early hours of April 9 by troops of 33 Artillery Brigade, led by the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu, in collaboration with a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).l

The operation targeted identified bandits’ enclaves in locations including Dogo Ruwa and Bogwas within the forest.

Simultaneously, troops of a Combat Support Infantry Battalion deployed at Mansur, led by Lt.-Col. J.T. Bere, in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) elements, mounted blocking positions at key crossing points to prevent the escape of fleeing bandits.

During the operation, troops made contact with the armed elements and successfully cleared multiple camps, including one linked to a notorious bandit leader identified as Auta Kachalla.

In the course of the operation, troops rescued 21 kidnapped victims and destroyed several motorcycles belonging to the bandits,” a source said.

Items recovered from the camps included one G3 rifle, four magazines, three generating sets and a solar panel.

The rescued victims are expected to undergo medical checks and debriefing, while efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families.pp

Troops said offensive operations continue in the general area to eliminate remaining threats.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security forces to dismantle criminal networks and restore stability across forested enclaves in Plateau and adjoining states.

Troops rescue 21 kidnapped victims, clear bandits’ camps in forest operation in Plateau