News
Zulum flags off distribution of food items to 100,000 families in Maiduguri and environs

Zulum flags off distribution of food items to 100,000 families in Maiduguri and environs
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has flagged off the distribution of food items to over 100,000 households in the state capital Maiduguri and its environment, Jere Local Government Area.
The distribution, according to a statement on Wednesday, was aimed at mitigating the hardship triggered by the rising costs of food items and other essential commodities.
Zulum performed the symbolic presentation of the palliative on Wednesday at the Maiduguri Sports Centre, the venue of the distribution exercise.

Each of the 100,000 households received one bag of 25kg rice and another bag of 25kg maize.
Speaking to journalists after flagging off the distribution, Zulum emphasised the need for continued support to the people with a view to tackling the hardship in the land.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of the people, especially those facing extreme hardship as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said: “We are here today to flag off the distribution of food items to 100,000 heads of households from Maiduguri Metropolitan and its environs. Everyone in Nigeria is aware of the hardship people face regarding food shortages.
“All the preceding food distribution exercises we had conducted were carried out in other local government areas. Today, because of the hardship faced by our people, we decided to come and flag off the exercise here for the people of Metropolitan and its environs. These communities have not benefited immensely compared to other places.”

He noted that the exercise targets the most vulnerable members of the society in order to reduce the burden of the high cost of living in the metropolis, adding that the current economic hardship is not only in Borno State, but it is a global crisis.
He promised that the distribution of the palliative would be scaled up from 100,000 households to over 200,000 families in order to cover other places, including seven local government areas in southern Borno.
He said: “We have flagged off the distribution of the palliative for 100,000 today; my intention is not to stop at 100,000 households; we believe before the end of Ramadan, we shall reach up to 200,000 across the state.
“Wherever there is insurgency, they may experience a food crisis because of the limited access to agricultural land. For this reason, in Borno State, we have started the distribution of palliative since 2011.”
He added, “As long as I am the governor of Borno State, the distribution of palliative will continue. However, I want to stress that while the palliative distribution continues, we will continue investing in commercial and subsistence agriculture.”
The governor urged the people, particularly those who do not have a means of livelihood, to engage in agriculture, while assuring them of all the needed supports, including free buses, agricultural inputs and cash support.
He disclosed that: “The FG has also rolled out an agricultural scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and in Borno State; we have programmes to boost irrigation and commercial farming.
“We have started distributing food palliative care since 2011 and are doing our best. I call on our people to be patient because the government handles the crisis. What we are doing is enormous, but as a responsive and responsible government, we shall continue to do our best to cushion the effects of the hardship.”
The governor, however, warned that his administration would not condone anyone sabotaging its efforts in peacebuilding.
“Some people are trying to instigate the public to cause disturbances. Let me warn the people of Borno: anybody who decides to take laws into his/her hands and politicise the food crisis we are currently facing will be dealt with ruthlessly,” he warned.
Zulum flags off distribution of food items to 100,000 families in Maiduguri and environs
News
Rival gangs kill two bandit kingpins in Zamfara ambush

Rival gangs kill two bandit kingpins in Zamfara ambush
By: Zagazola Makama
Two notorious bandit kingpins, Kachalla Mai Hidima and Kachalla Bingil, have been killed in a violent ambush by rival gangs in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred along the Mai Kogo–Mai Aya Aya axis, within the Dansadau district of Maru.
The sources said the ambush was staged by unidentified assailants, who opened fire on the kingpins and their men, killing them instantly.
“Kachalla Mai Hidima and Kachalla Bingil were caught in the ambush while moving between villages. Their deaths are believed to be linked to long-standing rivalries among bandit factions operating in the Dansadau forest,” one source explained.
Kachalla Mai Hidima, who once served under the notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide, later broke away to establish his own criminal cell. He was said to have established a major base east of Gidan Fulani Mai Kudi, near Hannu Tara in Dansadau.
The killing of the two kingpins illustrates the deepening fractures within bandit networks in Zamfara, as competing groups battle for control of territory, hostages, and illicit revenue streams such as cattle rustling and illegal levies on farming communities.
“This is part of a larger trend of internal conflicts among bandits, especially in Maru, Anka, and Shinkafi, where pressure from military operations has disrupted old alliances,” another source observed.
The Dansadau axis of Maru LGA has remained one of the most volatile hotspots in Zamfara’s banditry crisis, serving as a strategic stronghold for several armed groups over the past decade.
Rival gangs kill two bandit kingpins in Zamfara ambush
News
Bandit kingpin Ado Aleru kills 7 of his fighters in Zamfara over alleged betrayal

Bandit kingpin Ado Aleru kills 7 of his fighters in Zamfara over alleged betrayal
By: Zagazola Makama
Notorious bandit leader, Ado Aleru, has reportedly killed seven of his own fighters in parts of Zamfara State, following suspicion of betrayal.
Zagazola gathered that the killings took place across villages of Takulawa, Turba, Bamamu and the Yamma forest axis.
According to sources, Aleru accused his fighters of staging unauthorised kidnappings along the Gusau–Yankara highway, a development he considered a threat to his control and operations.
“He personally executed seven of them after confirming they were behind recent abductions of travellers on the highway. He feared their actions were drawing too much attention from security forces,” one of the sources said.
The killings have reportedly triggered fear and discontent among Aleru’s remaining loyalists, who see the executions as a sign of growing mistrust within the camp.
Aleru, formerly designated as a wanted terrorist by the Federal Government, has long been accused of masterminding kidnappings, killings, and cattle rustling across Zamfara, Katsina and parts of Sokoto States.
The bandit kingpin was also discussing peace card with the Federal committee to end hostilities in the North West.
Bandit kingpin Ado Aleru kills 7 of his fighters in Zamfara over alleged betrayal
News
Stakeholders Call for Collective Efforts at Reducing Carbon Emissions

Stakeholders Call for Collective Efforts at Reducing Carbon Emissions
By: Michael Mike
Stakeholders have called for collective efforts towards reducing carbon emissions to safeguard public health and the environment.
Speaking at the maiden two-day World Decarbonization Summit 2025, themed “Accelerating decarbonization for a climate-secure future,” in Abuja, they also highlighted the roles of women and the media as central to climate advocacy and behavioural change, noting that they are well-placed to instill sustainable habits in families and communities.
The stakeholders noted that the summit goes beyond making declarations to delivering concrete strategies, alliances, and solutions that can advance renewable energy access, climate justice, and inclusive leadership.
They revealed that the summit also serves as a platform to raise public awareness about the health and environmental dangers of carbon emissions and an avenue to shape Africa’s role in the global energy transition.
They noted that though Nigeria depends heavily on crude oil revenues and fossil fuel use, but it remains among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts as the country in recent years have witnessed severe flooding that has displaced communities across states, and faced severe desertification while urban centres continue to grapple with air pollution and health hazards linked to gas flaring and generator dependence.
The summit underscores the urgency of finding a balance between sustaining an oil-driven economy and embracing renewable energy solutions.
Speaking at the summit, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, warned that climate change is not a one-off programme but a way of life that demands constant awareness and action.
She said: “Carbon in the air is very dangerous. We have decided to come up with a World Decarbonisation Day as a day to remind people of the effects of carbon in the air — extreme temperatures, death, bronchiolitis, asthma, and different lung diseases. Younger people are having more cancer now because they are breathing in all sorts of things. We want to start reducing the amount of carbon we put into the air.”
Fasawe identified major sources of emissions as car exhaust fumes, generators, fossil fuel use, open burning, and combustion at dump sites.
Fasawe while noting that fossil fuels cannot be eliminated without disrupting the ecosystem, however called for greater investment in renewable energy such as solar power, inverters, and batteries to serve homes, hospitals, and entire communities.
She stressed that the role of women in driving climate advocacy and shaping behavioural change cannot be overlooked, stating that they are uniquely positioned to promote sustainable practices within families and communities.
She said: “I believe that women are the nuclei of every society. At home, at work, even in business, there are some things you would defer to women, and that is why women are a very vital tool in sending out this message. Like I said, it is a way of life. It is women who will teach the children, it is women who will educate their spouses.”
Fasawe also urged the media to intensify awareness efforts, stressing that climate change is real and that responsibility for reducing carbon emissions rests not only with the government but with individuals as well.
In her opening address, the National President, Women in Energy, Oil & Gas, Mrs. Tolu Longe, said the summit is not about repeating old pledges but about charting bold strategies for Africa and women to lead in the global energy transition.
Longe described decarbonisation as not just a shift in technology but a power shift, noting that the continent must stop exporting raw resources while importing finished products.
She said: “If we want a just transition, we must stop thinking of women and Africa as beneficiaries of climate action. We are authors of the transition. We are investors, innovators, and architects of the new energy economy.
“Here in Abuja, we are not just gathering to repeat what has been said elsewhere. We are here to set a new tone — that decarbonization is not just a technology shift, but a power shift; that climate justice is not about charity, but about geopolitics; and that Africa must stop exporting raw resources and importing finished dreams.”
She however asked Africa to position itself as a leader in renewable energy and decentralized energy access.
The Chairperson of the Summit, Mrs. Toyin Yusuf, on her part said there is urgent need for policy frameworks that balance energy security with sustainability, while opening space for female professionals to contribute.
She explained that without deliberate policies to encourage women’s participation, Nigeria risks excluding a critical demographic from shaping its future energy mix.
She urged policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international partners to provide financing, build capacity, and create inclusive platforms that empower women in the sector.
The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Terseer Ugbor, also noted the importance of women in the clean energy transition and advocacy efforts.
He explained that the committee had visited gas flaring sites, engaged oil industry players, and was advancing a bill to penalise and stop gas flaring.
The bill, already at second reading, seeks tougher penalties for offenders and compensation for communities suffering health and environmental effects of gas flaring.
Ugbor assured that once passed, the bill would reduce incentives for gas flaring and push companies to invest in capturing and productively using the flared gas.
End
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