Zulum Condemns Maiduguri Explosion, Calls for Calm, Vigilance in Worship, Public Places

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has condemned in the strongest terms the explosion that occurred in some parts of the metropolis on Monday evening.

Zulum, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, described the attack as despicable, cruel, and cowardly, targeting innocent people in the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, called for increased vigilance and heightened security measures, particularly in places of worship, as the festive period beckons.

“I am deeply saddened by the explosions that occurred in parts of the metropolis on Monday evening.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric, and inhumane,” said Zulum.

He added, “The recent surge in attacks is not unconnected with intense military operations in the Sambisa forest and other hideouts of the insurgents.

The Governor, therefore, assured people of the state that the military and other security agencies are on top of the situation, as adequate measures have been taken to forestall any security breach in Maiduguri and the entire state.

He called on residents to remain calm, go about their usual activities, and report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies.

Zulum Condemns Maiduguri Explosion, Calls for Calm, Vigilance in Worship, Public Places

Zulum Pays Sympathy Visit to Victims of Ngoshe Attack, Assures Rescue of Abducted Residents

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has commiserated with the people of Ngoshe affected by the recent Boko Haram attack, describing the incident as tragic.

Ngoshe, a community in Gwoza local government, was attacked on Tuesday evening, scores were killed, while others were abducted.

Addressing members of the community on Friday in Pulka, Governor Zulum said he personally came to sympathize with the affected people and families of those that lost their loved ones.

He assured that efforts are underway to rescue all those abducted, restore security, and provide humanitarian support to victims.

“We are here today to commiserate with the people of Ngoshe that have lost their loved ones following the unfortunate incident that occurred on Tuesday. The situation is very sad and our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy,” Zulum said.

“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to address the unfortunate situation that has befallen this community, and for those who have been abducted, the Nigerian military will do everything within its capacity to rescue them,” Zulum assured.

Governor Zulum explained that military operations are currently ongoing in Ngoshe and the Sambisa Forest to rid the area of criminal elements.

“There are ongoing military operations within the Sambisa Game Reserve. What we witnessed yesterday was largely a result of insurgents being pushed out from their strongholds, which led them to launch coordinated attacks on nearby communities,” he explained.

He called on the Nigerian Army to intensify operations to clear insurgents from the Mandara Hills which he described as a major security threat.

“The Mandara Hills remain a major security concern. The insurgents descended from the hills to attack this town. Therefore, I call on the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to intensify efforts to clear Mandara Hills of insurgents,” Zulum said.

The governor noted that the exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as assessments are still ongoing, but acknowledged that several lives were lost while others were abducted.

As part of immediate humanitarian intervention, the governor said the state government had begun distributing relief materials and establishing cooking points to provide food for displaced residents.

“For now, we will distribute food items to those affected and I have directed that cooking points be established so that everyone in this community can receive meals from a central kitchen,” he said.

The governor appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, noting that Borno State government will double its efforts to end this madness. “We shall not relent in our commitment to restoring lasting peace and stability in the state,” he said.

“I strongly believe that with sustained military operations and cooperation between all levels of government, we will overcome this challenge. Insha Allah, peace will return fully to our land,” the governor added.

Similarly, Governor Babagana Zulum inspected houses burned during an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday in Konduga town.

Zulum Pays Sympathy Visit to Victims of Ngoshe Attack, Assures Rescue of Abducted Residents

Iranian Official Defends Retaliatory Strikes, Warns Middle East Conflict Could Escalate

By: Michael Mike

Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja has defended recent military actions taken by Iran against United States facilities in the Middle East, describing them as acts of self-defence following what he alleged was an assassination of Iran’s supreme leadership by Israel with support from the United States.

Speaking during a press briefing with international journalists, the official said protests by Muslims around the world over the reported killing of Iran’s spiritual leader were expected because of the leader’s influence across both Shia and Sunni communities.

According to him, demonstrations were recorded in several countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, as well as parts of Europe and Africa.

Iran Targets U.S. Military Bases

The official said Iran’s military actions were directed at American military bases in the region and not at civilian infrastructure.

“We attacked United States military bases in the region because those bases were used to support aggression against our country,” he said.

He clarified that reports suggesting civilian airports were targeted may have been mistaken, insisting the intended targets were strictly American military facilities.

Iran had earlier informed neighbouring countries in the Persian Gulf that any retaliatory strikes would focus only on U.S. installations within their territories and not on their cities.

“This is an act of defence. We are not targeting neighbouring countries but the American facilities being used against us,” he said.

Retaliation Against Israel

The official also defended Iran’s attacks against Israel, saying they were justified responses to what he described as Israel’s attempt to assassinate Iran’s leadership.

He accused Israel and the United States of pursuing a broader strategy aimed at destabilising the Middle East.

According to him, conflicts in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq are part of that wider strategy.

Warning of Wider Regional Conflict

He warned that continued escalation could trigger a broader regional conflict with significant consequences for the global economy.

The official noted that the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly 20 percent of global energy supplies pass, could be affected by the crisis.

“This conflict will affect global energy markets. Transportation costs and oil prices will rise because the Persian Gulf may not remain secure,” he said.

Diplomatic Talks Suspended

The Iranian representative also said Tehran was not currently considering diplomatic negotiations, claiming that diplomacy had been undermined by recent attacks.

“We were negotiating, but diplomacy was killed when the attacks happened,” he said.

“For now, our focus is on defending our sovereignty and national security.”

Relations with Nigeria Remain Strong

Addressing questions about Nigerian citizens in Iran, the official assured that they remain safe and secure.

He also described relations between Iran and Nigeria as cordial and longstanding.

“Our relations with Nigeria go back more than 55 years, and they remain strong across sectors such as agriculture, energy, education and trade,” he said.

Criticism of International Institutions

The official criticised the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, for what he described as silence over the crisis.

He argued that global institutions had failed to respond adequately to what he called acts of aggression.

“Iran Does Not Seek War”

Despite the tensions, the official insisted that Iran does not seek war and has not initiated attacks against other countries for more than two centuries.

However, he emphasised that Iran would continue to defend itself if its sovereignty is threatened.

“We are not a country seeking war, but we will defend ourselves in any way necessary,” he said.

Iranian Official Defends Retaliatory Strikes, Warns Middle East Conflict Could Escalate