News
Zulum Calls for Large-Scale Irrigation Farms to Combat Food Insecurity in Lake Chad Region
Zulum Calls for Large-Scale Irrigation Farms to Combat Food Insecurity in Lake Chad Region
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for the establishment of large-scale irrigation farms as key solution to addressing the escalating food insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin region.
The governor made the call during a panel discussion titled “Ensuring Food Security through Building Resilience of Food Systems in the Lake Chad Basin Region” at the ongoing 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri.
Other members of the panel include the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Country Director of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Nigeria, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, while David Stevenson moderated the session.
Governor Zulum emphasized that the Lake Chad Basin region is endowed with vast arable land which, if properly harnessed, can significantly contribute to the region’s food security. He underscored the importance of collaboration between regional governors, critical partners, and the United Nations to establish irrigation farms that can be efficiently managed by agricultural experts.
“We need to invest in irrigation. Irrigated agriculture is the only solution. Unfortunately, our investment in irrigated agriculture is very low. We have vast fertile land. Borno State alone has a total land mass of 72,000 sqkm, out of this, over 70% are arable land,” Zulum stated.
With the region’s growing population, the governor noted that reliance on rainfed and subsistence farming practices is no longer sustainable. He stressed the urgent need for research into climate-resilient crops and farming techniques to ensure food affordability and sufficiency.
“There is increasing population growth while our food production is going down because of overdependence on rainfall. What we need to see through this forum is how the region will establish larger irrigation farms that can be operated either by surface irrigation or drip irrigation systems that will ensure sufficient utilisation of the limited water resources,” he added.
Governor Zulum further highlighted the importance of livestock development, pointing out that the Lake Chad Basin is the leading producer of livestock in the sub-region. He suggested that irrigation schemes could support the growth of animal pastures, thus boosting beef and milk production.
“We have a low-hanging fruit in irrigation. The shores of Lake Chad provide ample water resources and even where surface water is scarce, we can easily drill tube wells. What we need now is the political will from governors, regional partners, the federal government, and the national governments of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic to drive this process,” Governor Zulum concluded.
Zulum Calls for Large-Scale Irrigation Farms to Combat Food Insecurity in Lake Chad Region
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tuba have arrested three suspected cattle rustlers during an operation in Karnuwa general area of Borno State.
Security sources said the operation followed intelligence provided by a local resident, Malam Muhammadu Ardo, concerning alleged cattle rustling activities within the area.
The troops reportedly mobilised to Karnuwa at about 12:30 p.m. on May 4, 2026, where they apprehended the suspects identified as Mallam Mohammad Abatcha, 28; Mallam Mamman Bukar, 18; and Malam Modu Hassan, 30.
According to the sources, the suspects were intercepted while using a pickup vehicle with registration number WW 806 GZ Delta, allegedly employed in transporting stolen cattle.
The rustled cattle were recovered and immediately handed over to their rightful owners at the scene of the arrest.
Items recovered from the suspects included a bow and arrow, three mobile phones, five national identity cards and the sum of N20,650.
Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the suspects admitted to repeatedly stealing and selling rustled cattle to buyers in Maiduguri.
Security sources further disclosed that investigators suspect possible links between the suspects and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province or Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad due to alleged inconsistencies observed in their statements during interrogation.
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 29 Battalion operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have uncovered an illegal refining site and recovered about 600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Security sources said the discovery was made at about 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026, during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region.
The troops reportedly discovered the illegal refining site around Asa community, where a large cooking pot loaded with stolen crude oil was found stockpiled in sacks.
Military authorities said the recovered products and equipment were handled in accordance with operational directives guiding anti-crude oil theft operations under Operation Delta Safe.
The operation was conducted without any confrontation or security incident.
The Nigerian military has continued to intensify operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage across the Niger Delta region.
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Malumfashi at Kafur, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have raided a suspected drug peddlers’ hideout in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 12:30 p.m. on May 12, 2026, at Huguma village following intelligence on illicit drug activities within the area.
During the raid, troops apprehended one suspect identified as a major supplier of illicit drugs and other substances to terrorists and criminal elements operating within Kafur Local Government Area and surrounding communities.
Items recovered during the operation included 146 grams of suspected cannabis and 16.5 grams of a substance identified as Exol-5.
The suspect and the recovered drugs have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
Troops Neutralise Two Terrorists in Night Ambush Operation in Borno
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News1 year agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
