Red cross confirms one dead, 21 injured in Bama stampede during cash disbursement

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has confirmed that one person died and 21 others sustained injuries following a stampede during a cash disbursement exercise in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at KASUGULA Primary School, one of the designated pay points for the second phase of a joint humanitarian cash transfer initiative by the NRCS and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

A statement issued by the NRCS on Saturday in Maiduguri described the incident as regrettable, noting that the cash support programme was designed to aid the educational needs of vulnerable families in three local government areas of the state.

The second phase of the disbursement, which targets 8,121 beneficiaries, commenced on May 14 across four locations in Bama, namely: KASUGULA Primary School, Old Bama Primary School, Kaigamari Primary School, and Mbusube Primary School.

“Over 1,000 beneficiaries successfully received assistance on the first day of distribution without incident,” the statement read.

However, on the second day of the exercise, overcrowding at the KASUGULA venue led to a stampede, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to 21 others.

The NRCS said that four of the injured who experienced breathing difficulties were promptly resuscitated and remain under medical care. Their condition is reported to be stable, and they are expected to be discharged soon.

“All the injured were evacuated to the General Hospital in Bama for treatment,” the statement added.

The organisation expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and pledged to review its operational procedures to prevent a recurrence.

The cash disbursement initiative forms part of efforts to enhance access to education and reduce vulnerability among conflict-affected populations in Borno.

Red cross confirms one dead, 21 injured in Bama stampede during cash disbursement

Zulum begs FG not to allow Marte Fall

… Spends night coordinating security logistics

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has appealed to the Federal Government to deploy decisive strategies that would ensure that Marte town does not fall to Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents.

Zulum, who was actively involved in coordinating security logistics till late in the night on Saturday, undertook a tour to assess the challenges faced in Marte, while also exploring sustainable solutions to foster stability.

Before Zulum’s arrival, Marte was completely deserted following a Boko Haram attack last Friday with thousands taking refuge in Dikwa town.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the governor emphasised that his visit to Marte was to foster community cooperation, resilience and continuous support to the security agencies, stating “Marte was resettled about 4 years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again.”

“About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa; this huge number is a threat as allowing them to stay in the camp may make most of the younger ones become vulnerable to recruitment by the insurgents.”

“Alhamdulillah, we returned to Marte yesterday and spent the night with the support of the Nigerian Army and our volunteers. The community is now resettled for the second time. Still, my prayers to the federal government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army are that we do everything possible to keep this town on the ground.

“Hitherto, Marte Local Government comprises over 300 towns and villages, now we have only one standing, if we cannot maintain this one, then we will lose the whole Local Government to the insurgents, which will be very obnoxious, and I think we will not allow this to happen. Therefore, I am calling on the federal government and the Nigerian Army so that we can put heads together and hold our ground for this single town in this LGA to remain.”

The governor reiterated his commitment to supporting security agencies in attaining lasting peace in Borno State, stating “on my part as the Governor of Borno State, I would do everything within my power to support our gallant military in their efforts towards lasting peace in our beloved state.”

Zulum begs FG not to allow Marte Fall

Two Octogenarians arrested for dealing in illicit drug as NDLEA intercepts N3.2 billion worth of aploids

By: Michael Mike

Two octogenarians: an 80-year-old grandpa Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old grandma Mrs. Uloma Uchechi as well as her daughter Chisom Uchechi, 32, top the list of suspects arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in raids carried out across the country while opioids worth over N3.2 billion were intercepted at Apapa seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers state.

Ayuba had previously been arrested and prosecuted by NDLEA for drug dealing offences and convicted and served 10-year jail term between 2014 and 2024.

He was again arrested last Wednesday at Barazana street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari local government area. Kaduna State by NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence.

A total of 2.3 kilogrammes of skunk packaged in nylons and papers in retail sizes were recovered from him. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Abia state on Saturday raided the home of 82-year-old Mrs. Uloma Uchechi at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village where different quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol and skunk, a strain of cannabis as well as a cash exhibit of N130,600 were recovered from her and her daughter, 32-year-old Chisom Uchechi. The grandma confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son who started the business died two years ago.

At the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state, a total 3,000,000 pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg worth N2.1 billion in street value were intercepted in one of the containers watch-listed by the agency based on intelligence. The seizure was made last Wednesday during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

NDLEA operatives also at the Apapa seaport in Lagos last Tuesday intercepted another watch-listed container declared to have new car parts and accessories from India. During a joint examination with other security agencies, a total of 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value were discovered concealed in the shipment.

In Kwara state, no fewer than 199,200 pills of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail last Friday following their arrest at Gegele area of Ilorin by NDLEA operatives who also raided Favour Lodge in the state capital where an HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Abdulateef was arrested with 650 grammes of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis already measured in 149 cups, which he sells to other students.

At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) last Friday
intercepted 250 grammes of cocaine concealed in female headgear going to Australia.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road lasr Thursday intercepted a Toyota Carina car marked AGL 945 BK conveying 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143 kilogrammes while a suspect, Idris Kamal, 35, was arrested. Same day, operatives on patrol at Chachi junction along Kaduna road arrested Emmanuel Hassan, 26, with 14.3 kilogrammes Loud. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Bello Aliyu (alias Liti), 39.

While a 60-year-old suspect, Welman Kengbo was nabbed by NDLEA officers with 594.8 kilogrammes skunk at Karu area of Nasarawa state last Friday, another suspect Oyenuga Toheeb was arrested along Lekki/Epe expressway, Lagos last Thursday with 67.5 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance.

In Taraba state, 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Shafiu Ismail, 22, when he was arrested last Thursday at Sabonlayin, Jalingo local government area, while Tijjani Mohammed, 35, was nabbed with 198 kilogrammes skunk at Malamawa, Garki local government area, Jigawa state same day.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja – Kaduna highway last Friday intercepted a 29-year-old Ismail Isah with an AK 47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize. He will be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, PHIPC, Apapa, Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Taraba, and Niger commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Two Octogenarians arrested for dealing in illicit drug as NDLEA intercepts N3.2 billion worth of aploids