INTERNATIONAL NEWS SYNDICATE

‎ ‎A growing number of children have gone missing in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, alarming families and reviving painful memories in a city still healing from more than a decade of conflict and displacement. ‎ ‎Among the most recent disappearances are two boys Hassan Alkali Karumi, 17, and Muhammad Isa Adamu, 14 whose cases have sparked a wave of fear and speculation about the safety of young people in northeastern Nigeria. ‎ ‎A Vanishing Without Answers ‎ ‎Hassan was last seen on October 27, leaving his family home along Damboa Road. He told relatives he was heading to Bulumkutu GSM Market to repair his mobile phone. He never returned. ‎ ‎“Since that day, we have not heard from him,” a family member said. “All efforts to trace his whereabouts have failed.” ‎ ‎Residents have since circulated his photograph on social media, pleading for information that could lead to his recovery. ‎ ‎Anyone with information can contact the family at +234 803 081 8460 ,...

‎ ‎BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE ‎ ‎In a decisive bid to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational effectiveness and command structure, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has announced a wide-ranging reshuffle of senior officers across key command, staff, and training positions. ‎ ‎The appointments, approved earlier this week, affect several major generals and brigadier generals, marking one of the most comprehensive reassignments in recent years. The changes, according to Army Headquarters, are aimed at “reinvigorating leadership, enhancing strategic focus, and positioning the Nigerian Army for greater operational efficiency.” ‎ ‎Among the newly appointed officers, Major General Bamidele Alabi has been named Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala takes over as Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Major...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde ‎ ‎In a move aimed at boosting local industry and reducing dependence on federal allocations, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State announced on Thursday that the state has begun exporting plastic products to neighboring countries. ‎ ‎Speaking during an inspection of the Borno Plastic Factory in the newly developed Maiduguri Industrial Area, Zulum described the initiative as a strategic step toward economic self-sufficiency. ‎ ‎“I am happy to note that people from Borno State will no longer procure plastic materials from elsewhere. These products have already been sold to neighboring countries and other Nigerian states. We will continue to invest in our industries, so that in the near future, the Borno State Government will no longer rely on Federation Accounts for daily operations,” Zulum said. ‎ ‎The governor revealed that the factory has started fulfilling international orders, with finished goods shipped to Chad and the...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎In the early morning, as the sun rose over the dusty town of Malam Fatori near Nigeria’s border with Niger, dozens of residents lined up outside a modest concrete building that serves as the town’s primary healthcare center. Inside, nurses moved briskly between patients- mothers clutching feverish infants, elderly men waiting quietly on wooden benches, and young children recovering from malaria.‎ ‎For many in this remote corner of Borno State, this small clinic is more than a place of treatment. It is, quite literally, a lifeline. ‎ ‎Mohammed Garba, 39, a community health worker and deputy head of the Malam Fatori Primary Healthcare Centre, said the facility has become a trusted refuge for residents who often have no other access to medical help. ‎“Whenever people feel sick, they rush here,” he said in an interview. “They know they will find nurses who understand how to take care of them.”‎ ‎Garba, who has worke...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri , Nigeria ‎ ‎ ‎The governor of Borno State, in northeastern Nigeria once the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency said this week that militant activity in the region has fallen by about 90 percent, a shift he attributed to years of security operations and a mass surrender of fighters. ‎ ‎Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said that more than 300,000 insurgents and their family members have laid down their arms over the past four years. He made the remarks on Monday during a meeting with Switzerland’s new ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Egloff, at the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital. ‎ ‎“The security situation in Borno has greatly improved,” Mr. Zulum said, noting that many communities displaced by more than a decade of violence have returned home to farm and rebuild. “Borno State is now largely peaceful. Notwithstanding intermittent attacks in some areas, most resettled communities have been able to cultivate their f...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎ ‎Families returning from Niger are being registered by a local committee as the northeastern border town slowly begins to rebuild. ‎ ‎Under a small canvas tent in the heart of Malam Fatori, dozens of returnees waited patiently in line. Their faces were tired but hopeful, their hands clutching simple notebooks -symbols of documentation and belonging. They came from neighboring communities across the Niger border- Garin Wanzam, Toumour, and Bosso- to register their return home after years of displacement caused by the Boko Haram insurgency. ‎ ‎At a wooden desk, Mohammed Aji, known locally as M. GAS, secretary of the Malam Fatori Resettlement Committee, carefully recorded each name in a worn ledger-a quiet act that carried deep meaning for a community rebuilding from loss. “We have a notebook to register all the new returnees,” Aji told the International News Syndicate. “I praise their unity as they ...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria As the final school bell rang across the dusty courtyard of Malam Fatori Central Primary School, children rushed out in laughter, their voices echoing through a town that, not long ago, stood in silence. Among those watching the scene were two officials, Professor Usman A. Tar, Borno State’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, and Mohammed Aji, chairman of Mobbar Local Government Area and secretary of the Abadam local government Resettlement Committee. The two men had come to meet with the town’s primary school teachers the frontline workers of education who have continued to teach amid uncertainty and limited resources. A Visit Symbolizing Renewed Hope The visit by Commissioner Tar and Mr. Aji was part of an ongoing effort by Borno State officials to assess progress in resettled communities and engage directly with those helping rebuild daily life after years of displacement. Malam Fatori, a border town...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria In a town slowly recovering from years of conflict, the presence of uniformed soldiers has become a symbol of hope and resilience. Professor Usman A. Tar , the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, and Mohammed Aji (M.GAS) , Secretary of the Resettlement Committee, recently visited Malam Fatori to witness firsthand the impact of security operations on returning residents.  During the visit, they commended the Nigerian Army for its unwavering commitment to safeguarding civilians and ensuring that families displaced by insurgency can return and rebuild their lives in safety. The delegation’s tour included a stop at a dry fish processing site , where residents who had fled years ago are gradually resuming their livelihoods. From there, they visited a local primary school , where children gathered to greet the officials.  Students expressed their gratitude to the soldiers, highlighting ...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎ ‎After more than ten years of displacement, families are slowly returning to the town of Malam Fatori, bringing with them hope, cautious optimism, and a call for unity and adherence to the rule of law. ‎ ‎Speaking to the International News Syndicate in Malam Fatori, the District Head, Abba Yerima Mustapha (YERIMA OF BORNO), welcomed the returnees and urged them to be law-abiding citizens. “We are happy to see our people returning after years of hardship. As we rebuild our homes and communities, it is crucial that everyone remains peaceful and committed to the law,” he said. ‎ ‎The District Head commended the Borno State Government, led by Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, for its efforts in reconstructing the town. According to him, the revival of Malam Fatori has been made possible through the collaboration of security agencies, volunteers, and the resilience of the local community. ‎ ‎“The security agencies h...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎ ‎Night Time at Malam Fatori ‎ ‎Maiduguri, Nigeria- Once left in ruins by years of insurgent attacks, the border town of Malam Fatori in Nigeria’s Borno State is gradually coming back to life as residents return and the government accelerates reconstruction and security efforts. ‎ ‎Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to restore the town’s infrastructure and livelihoods. The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman A. Tar, visited Malam Fatori on Tuesday night to engage with local residents and review progress on rebuilding projects. ‎ ‎During the visit, Professor Tar commended the resilience of returning residents and praised the Nigerian Armed Forces, security agencies, and civilian volunteers for their dedication in securing the area. ‎“Mallam Fatori is rising again,” Professor Tar said. “Under G...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎ ‎Residents of Malam Fatori, a remote town in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno State, voted on Sunday for the first time in more than a decade, in a local party primary that officials hailed as a milestone in the community’s return to peace after years of Boko Haram violence. ‎ ‎The border settlement in Abadam local government area was once a major flashpoint in the jihadist insurgency that ravaged the Lake Chad region and forced thousands of people to flee across the border into neighbouring Niger. ‎ ‎Years of conflict left Malam Fatori deserted, its homes, markets and public buildings in ruins as residents sought refuge in displacement camps across Borno and beyond. ‎ ‎In recent years, sustained military operations by the Nigerian Army’s 68 Battalion under the Operation Hadin Kai theatre command have pushed back militants and reopened key access routes, allowing the gradual return of displaced residents. ‎ ‎...

‎ BY: EDITOR ‎ ‎Nigerian troops have killed at least 10 insurgents in a night ambush along the Gamboru-Dikwa-Marte road in the country’s northeast, the army said Sunday. ‎ The operation, carried out by troops from Sector 1 of the 24 Task Force Brigade under Operation Hadin Kai, followed a failed attempt by armed fighters to infiltrate Gamboru Ngala from the Flatari area late Saturday, according to a military statement. ‎ ‎“Troops identified and engaged the hostile elements at about 23:50 hours on October 25, neutralising ten terrorists,” said Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, a spokesman for the joint task force. ‎ ‎The army said weapons and equipment recovered from the scene included five AK-47 rifles, a PKT machine gun, locally made guns, ammunition, motorcycles, bicycles and communication devices. ‎ ‎The latest clash comes days after troops reportedly killed more than 50 fighters during a separate encounter in the Katarko area. ‎ ‎Nigeria’s northeast has been the...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde  ‎ ‎A man who went blind while in military detention after being falsely accused of belonging to Boko Haram has demanded justice and compensation from the Nigerian authorities. ‎ ‎Ahmadu Gujja told reporters in Maiduguri that soldiers arrested him and dozens of others in 2014 in Gallari village, Borno State, and detained them for years under harsh conditions. ‎ ‎“We were starved. We drank our urine,” Gujja said at a press conference held at the Amada Hotel. “They brought us out to see the sun; that was how my eye started painfully affecting me, and I subsequently lost my sight.” ‎ ‎According to an investigation by local outlet HumAngle, troops arrested 42 men from the village on suspicion of being Islamist insurgents. The detainees were first held at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri and later transferred to Kainji military camp. ‎ ‎Only five of the men survived more than a decade in detention, HumAngle reported. Gujja and his two brothers Moha...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎ ‎ ‎Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Friday announced a reshuffle of the country’s military leadership, appointing new service chiefs as part of efforts to strengthen national security. ‎ ‎General Olufemi Oluyede has been named the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa, the presidency said in a statement. ‎ ‎Major-General W. Shaibu becomes Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke takes over as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff. ‎ ‎Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position, according to the statement signed by presidential adviser Sunday Dare. ‎ ‎Tinubu thanked the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership” and urged the new appointees to “justify the confidence reposed in them” by enhancing professionalism and vigilance within the armed forces. ‎ ‎All appointments t...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎ ‎Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Friday urged Nigeria’s federal government to review the country’s air safety and defence systems after reports that Boko Haram insurgents used a drone in recent attacks in the northeast. ‎ Zulum made the call during a visit to Mafa, a day after troops of the Joint Task Force, North East “Operation Hadin Kai”, repelled coordinated assaults in several communities in Borno and neighbouring Yobe states. ‎ ‎At least 50 militants were killed in the clashes in Mafa, Gajibo, Dikwa and Katarko, and several weapons were recovered, military officials said. ‎ ‎Security sources said the use of a drone by insurgents marked a worrying escalation in their tactics and raised fears over the spread of unmanned aerial devices among non-state armed groups. ‎ ‎“This is frightening,” Zulum told reporters. “In Dikwa, I was told drones were used. The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hand...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri, Nigeria ‎ ‎Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Friday urged Nigeria’s federal government to review the country’s air safety and defence systems after reports that Boko Haram insurgents used a drone in recent attacks in the northeast. ‎ Zulum made the call during a visit to Mafa, a day after troops of the Joint Task Force, North East “Operation Hadin Kai”, repelled coordinated assaults in several communities in Borno and neighbouring Yobe states. ‎ ‎At least 50 militants were killed in the clashes in Mafa, Gajibo, Dikwa and Katarko, and several weapons were recovered, military officials said. ‎ ‎Security sources said the use of a drone by insurgents marked a worrying escalation in their tactics and raised fears over the spread of unmanned aerial devices among non-state armed groups. ‎ ‎“This is frightening,” Zulum told reporters. “In Dikwa, I was told drones were used. The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hand...

By: Dauda Iliya Leadership is indispensable: decisions must be made, trust earned, promises kept, a way forward proposed- Henry Kissinger. The recent tour undertaken by the Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to Diffa region in the Republic of Niger, as well as the border towns of Kirawa and Banki was not only strategic but a pragmatic decision. The visit fulfils the Governor’s pledge to secure a sustainable peace for the state, with its central aim being the repatriation and resettlement of those displaced by the Boko Haram conflict, who have been seeking refuge beyond Nigeria's borders. Governor Zulum and Boko Haram/ISWAP terror group seem engaged in a startling clash of strategies that launches a new phase in the 15-year Northeast terror war. Troops have virtually squeezed the terrorists out of major sections of Borno State and tamed them along Nigeria's borders with the three neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon, and the Lake Chad ...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri For many livestock farmers in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno State, raising animals is more than just a livelihood it’s a lifeline. But after more than a decade of insurgency, weak infrastructure, and low productivity, many herders have found themselves struggling to survive. In a bid to turn the tide, stakeholders gathered this week inside El-Kanemi Hall at Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri for a high-level engagement convened by the Borno State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project known as L-PRES. The meeting, backed by the Federal Government and the World Bank, brought together herders, crop farmers, policy makers, and livestock experts to share stories from the field and develop actionable plans to rebuild the sector. “This gathering reflects our collective commitment to the people whose livelihoods depend on livestock,” said Ibrahim Hala Hassan, the State Commissioner for Investment, Trade and Tourism, who represented Borno...