INTERNATIONAL NEWS SYNDICATE

BY: NEWS DESK Nigerian troops have killed at least 26 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in a series of fierce operations across Borno and Adamawa States, military sources confirmed over the weekend. The raids, carried out by the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, between Sept. 21 and Sept. 27, delivered what officials described as a “significant blow” to insurgent networks still terrorizing communities in the region. In addition to the deaths of the militants, soldiers recovered assault rifles, ammunition, narcotics, and materials for building bombs. Security patrols also seized 20 jerricans of smuggled fuel in Mubi South and intercepted abandoned fertilizer stockpiles in Mubi North — a chemical often diverted for use in improvised explosive devices. On Sept. 27 alone, troops stormed Loskori Kura in Mafa Local Government Area, killing 11 fighters and capturing four AK-47 rifles along with a cache of drugs. Another militant...

BY: MUSA IDRIS UMAR MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Fear and uncertainty grip a family in Maiduguri after a 14-year-old boy vanished without a trace. Abdullahi Abdulhamid, known by relatives as Walid, was last seen Friday after leaving his home near Mohammed Lawan College of Agriculture. Since then, no one has heard from him. The boy’s disappearance has left his family desperate for answers. They are appealing to the public to help bring him home. “We are deeply worried and calling on the public to assist us in reuniting with our son,” a family member told Lake Chad Times . Anyone with information is urged to call 08034568876 or 07033611144, or report to the nearest police station.

BY: AUDU ALI MARTE Maiduguri, Nigeria — The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRESS) has launched an initiative to raise meat safety standards in Borno State, bringing together 100 butchers, meat sellers, and processors for a two-day training on hygiene and food safety. The workshop, held at the Farmers Field School Dairy Plant in Maiduguri, focused on improving practices across 19 local government areas. Dr. Makinta Alhaji Ali, the state coordinator of L-PRESS, said the training is designed to curb microbial contamination and ensure safer meat for consumers. “Good hygiene practices are key — from proper cleaning and sanitation to safe disinfection of facilities and equipment,” he noted. Animal health experts reinforced that message. Dr. Ibrahim Kawu Sesiriya stressed that proper storage and handling of meat are essential to preventing foodborne diseases, while Associate Professor G. S. Adam highlighted internationally recognized safety fr...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri A hit Kannywood television series has sparked debate in northern Nigeria after millions of viewers watched its portrayal of the Babur-Bura language, raising concerns about unity, identity and cultural sensitivity. The series, Jamilun Jidda, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Abubakar Bashir Mai Shadda, depicts characters speaking Babur-Bura as “traditional people without religion.” The Babur-Bura are an ethnic community in northeastern Nigeria with their own language, culture and religious practices. Since its release in cinemas and on YouTube, where episodes have drawn millions of views, critics say the portrayal risks reinforcing stereotypes that could inflame divisions in a region already strained by conflict and displacement. “Language is deeply tied to identity. Misrepresenting a community’s speech on such a large platform can alienate viewers and even create resentment,” said a lecturer in linguistics at the University of Maiduguri who h...

BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE, MAIDUGURI The Karabka Kanuriya Dunyabe Global Cultural Foundation has congratulated Alhaji Ali Mamman Shuwa on his appointment as General Manager of the Borno Radio Television Corporation (BRTV), the state-owned broadcaster. The Forum’s chairman, Alhaji Kuri Alhaji Ali, delivered the message during a courtesy visit to Shuwa at his office along Shehu Laminu Way in Maiduguri. He described Shuwa’s elevation as both a recognition of his years of public service and a signal of confidence in his ability to strengthen the institution. He noted that BRTV, which has long served as a platform for information, education and cultural expression in northeastern Nigeria, requires leadership that is both forward-looking and rooted in community values. “The Forum believes that Alhaji Shuwa’s leadership will not only enhance BRTV’s role in promoting culture and public awareness, but also contribute to the preservation of Kanuri heritage in a rapidly changing media la...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde The Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) has stepped up its campaign for cleaner and safer public spaces with the fumigation of the Borno Radio Television Corporation (BRTV) premises in Maiduguri. The exercise, which was carried out yesterday under the directive of BOSEPA’s General Manager, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, targeted offices, studios, and surrounding areas of the state-owned broadcasting house. The effort, according to officials, is part of an ongoing drive to curb the spread of pests and disease-causing organisms across government facilities. He said this intervention was necessary to protect not only the staff but also the many members of the public who visit the station daily for programs, interviews, and official business. He noted that similar exercises would soon be extended to other public institutions in Maiduguri as part of BOSEPA’s health and sanitation mandate. Responding, the General Manager of BRTV, Alh...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — The Borno Radio Listeners Association (BORLA) has congratulated veteran broadcaster Ali Mamman Shuwa on his appointment as the substantive General Manager of Borno Radio Television (BRTV). Chairman of the association, Comrade Jidda Adam, led a delegation to the BRTV headquarters along Shehu Laminu Way in Maiduguri on Tuesday to personally convey the group’s goodwill message. During the visit, BORLA described Shuwa’s elevation as a “merit-based appointment” that reflects his decades of commitment to public broadcasting and his long-standing service to Borno State. “Ali Mamman Shuwa has devoted his life to broadcasting in Borno,” Comrade Adam said. “His appointment is a reward for professionalism, dedication, and a passion for keeping the public informed.” Governor Babagana Umara Zulum approved Shuwa’s appointment following his years of service as Director of Current Affairs at the station. With more than 30 years of exper...

BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE, MAIDUGURI MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — At least 10 people have drowned in separate incidents in Gombe and Borno states, northeast Nigeria, after heavy rains swelled rivers beyond their banks, officials and residents said Friday. In Gombe State, six young men were swept away in Dadin Kowa while attempting to cross or swim in the swollen river. Community members and emergency workers later recovered the bodies. “They underestimated the force of the water,” said a community leader in Dadin Kowa. “The current was too strong. Before we knew it, they were gone.” In neighboring Borno State, four people drowned in Kwaya Kusar when floodwaters from a nearby river surged into low-lying areas, residents said. Local authorities confirmed the deaths and warned of further risks as rains continue. Northeastern Nigeria has seen heavier-than-usual rainfall this season, raising concerns about flooding, river overflows and displacement across several communities. “This is a tr...

BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE, MAIDUGURI MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — When Boko Haram fighters stormed her village years ago, Yagana Abana gathered what little she could carry and ran. She left behind her home in Molgwai, a farming settlement in Damboa Local Government Area, and never returned. Like thousands of others fleeing the Islamist insurgency, she found refuge in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, where she tried to rebuild her life in a modest house. But the city she hoped would give her safety has now delivered another blow. Last year’s floods swallowed her home, leaving the 70-year-old once again without shelter. She now squats in a neighbor’s small compound in Gwange, opposite Zara Plaza, where mats spread across the floor are the only comfort she and others share. “I lost everything once to Boko Haram, and now I have lost again to the flood,” she said, her voice breaking as she described watching the waters rise around her. “All I want is a place to sleep and food to eat ...