INTERNATIONAL NEWS SYNDICATE

BY: NEWS DESK  ‎The General Manager, Borno Radio and Television, Ali Mamman Shuwa, has congratulated the National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, and members of the National Executive Council as they mark one year in office. ‎ ‎In a statement in Maiduguri, Shuwa who also serves as Special Adviser to the NUJ President on NGO matters hailed the national leadership of the union for what he called "a year of steadfast commitment and visionary direction" in advancing the journalism profession. ‎ ‎Shuwa said the NUJ, under Yahaya, had promoted press freedom, encouraged professional ethics, and put into consideration the welfare and unity of journalists across the country. ‎ ‎He pointed out that the active engagement by the administration with development partners, civil society groups, and media stakeholders has helped reposition the union and reinforce its role as a defender of accountability and social justice. ‎ ‎"As ...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde  ‎ ‎Police officers stationed at the Malam Fatori security outpost, northeastern Nigeria, have managed to retrieve gold coins totaling over ₦23 million, according to government officials. ‎ ‎According to a confidential report obtained from the International News Syndicate, the money was discovered undamaged by members of the police who were stationed in the area. The money’s owner had misplaced the money without her knowledge. ‎ ‎Also according to security sources, the woman was filled with feelings of relief and gratitude after being made aware that the coins had been found without anything missing. ‎ ‎Officials from the local administration of Malam Fatori praised officers responsible for this operation, since this is a sign of enhanced professionalism among security forces stationed around the Lake Chad region. ‎ ‎According to police officials, the property that was recovered, as well as the people involved, are all under protection...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde  ‎ UNICEF and health authorities in north-eastern Nigeria have intensified efforts to stamp out lingering polio transmission, urging journalists to strengthen public awareness and counter misinformation as the region pushes toward the final phase of eradication. ‎ ‎The renewed call was made during a one-day media dialogue in Damaturu, Yobe State, held under the theme “Reporting Polio: Covering Gaps and Milestones.” The event, organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau in partnership with UNICEF, sought to equip reporters with updated data and tools for accurate health reporting. ‎ ‎Presenting the latest situation report, Dr. Umar Chiromari of the Yobe State Primary Health Care Board said the state had recorded eight poliovirus cases this year — seven circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) and one type 3 (cVDPV3) — across five local government areas. ‎“Findings indicate ongoing transmission, immunity gaps and the ...

BY: NEES DESK  Nigeria is making real progress in tackling insecurity, with most attacks driven by criminal banditry rather than religious persecution, the West African country’s top envoy to the United States told Congress Thursday. Dr. Taiwo Ajibolu Balofin, chairman of APC USA and official U.S. spokesman for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, testified before the House Subcommittee on Africa, chaired by Representative Chris Smith. Balofin acknowledged the suffering of both Christian and Muslim communities, noting that members of his own family had lost relatives, homes, and churches to violence. He urged lawmakers to see the full picture rather than a partial narrative. Citing reports from independent bodies including the International Crisis Group, ACLED, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Council on Foreign Relations, Balofin said violence in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions has shifted from Boko Haram’s religious insurgency to criminal enterprises ce...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde ‎ ‎Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday commended the Allamin Foundation for its support to women and girls in promoting community peacebuilding, describing its work as vital to the state’s post-insurgency recovery. ‎ ‎Speaking through the Head of Service, Dr. Mohammed Ghuluze, at an event marking the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, Zulum said the landmark resolution has played a defining role in recognizing the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and advancing their involvement in peace and security efforts. ‎ ‎Ghuluze said the anniversary represents “25 years of advocacy and progress,” adding that Borno State, after more than a decade of insurgency, is committed to strengthening the inclusion, empowerment and protection of women as part of its rebuilding process. ‎ ‎First Lady Prof. Falmata Babagana Umara described the commemoration as a moment to reflect on “the journe...

‎ ‎By: Amadou Issa Mumminou, Adamu Aliyu Ngulde and Koubouratou Moussa  ‎ ‎ ‎The European Union on Monday co-hosted a high-level ministerial roundtable on the worsening humanitarian crises in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, reaffirming its pledge to strengthen emergency relief while expanding long-term support for resilience and development. ‎ ‎The EU said it would continue aligning humanitarian aid with investments in stability, social cohesion and sustainable development, as violence, displacement and climate-related shocks intensify across the two regions. ‎ ‎For 2025, the bloc has mobilized more than €541.6 million in humanitarian, development and peace assistance to address what it described as overwhelming needs facing displaced families, host communities and populations directly affected by insecurity. ‎ ‎The event, held in Brussels, was co-chaired by the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib; Denmark’s Foreign...

‎By: NEWS DESK  ‎ ‎Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, called on frontline troops in the country’s northeast to maintain heightened vigilance and an aggressive operational posture as the military intensifies efforts against insurgent groups entrenched in the region. ‎ ‎Gen. Shaibu delivered the message on an operational assessment visit to the headquarters of Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), the military formation leading counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants. ‎ ‎The visit, the first since his appointment as the 25th Chief of Army Staff, was aimed at evaluating security conditions, reviewing battlefield performance, and reinforcing coordination among security agencies confronting persistent threats across Borno State and surrounding areas. ‎ ‎Addressing troops in Maiduguri, Gen. Shaibu praised their resilience and “gallant efforts” in confronting extremi...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde ‎ ‎The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is eroding decades of medical progress in Nigeria and globally, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including children, and threatening health systems, food security, and economic stability. ‎ ‎In a statement marking World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025, Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, described AMR as a “multidimensional health threat” that undermines universal health coverage and gains in health security. ‎ ‎“AMR is already affecting health, healthcare costs, food security, the environment, economies, and sustainable development,” Dr Ursu said. ‎ ‎He warned that drug-resistant infections are on the rise, yet awareness, financing, investment, and actions remain insufficient. ‎ ‎WHO data show that AMR was linked to 4.71 million deaths globally in 2021, including 1.05 million in sub...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde ‎ ‎The Borno State Government has inaugurated the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA), a new initiative aimed at strengthening land governance and promoting sustainable agricultural investment in the state. ‎ ‎The inaugural meeting of the FRILIA Technical Committee was chaired by Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe, Executive Secretary of the Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) and chairman of the committee. Bababe described FRILIA as a cornerstone of the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), a federal program designed to improve Nigeria’s business environment. ‎ ‎“Borno State adopted FRILIA to ensure agricultural investments are structured, sustainable, and managed in a fair, transparent, and community-friendly manner,” Bababe said. “Our goal is to attract investors while boosting food production across the state.” ‎ ‎He urged committee members to collaborate closely, emphasizing that each r...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde  Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, arrived in Maiduguri on Monday for his first operational visit since assuming the office.‎ ‎Aneke’s visit is aimed at assessing ongoing air operations, boosting troop morale, and strengthening coordination across the North East theatre. He was received at the Maiduguri Air Force Base by the Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai, alongside senior air and military officers. ‎ ‎During the visit, the Air Chief is scheduled to tour key operational facilities and receive comprehensive briefings from sector commanders. He will also meet with aircrew and frontline personnel engaged in counterinsurgency operations. ‎ ‎Aneke is expected to address troops during a durbar at AVM E.E. Edem Hall as part of efforts to reinforce air support capabilities and enhance operational readiness in the region. ‎ ‎The visit underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to imp...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde The Multinational Joint Task Force, the regional military coalition combating insurgent groups around the Lake Chad Basin, has appointed a new Force Commander. Maj. Gen. Saidu Tanko Audu assumed command on Thursday, following a recent round of senior military postings by Nigeria’s Army Headquarters. Gen. Audu, who previously served in the Nigerian Army Department of Training, took over from Maj. Gen. Godwin Michael Mutkut during a formal ceremony at MNJTF headquarters in N’Djamena. The shake-up comes in the wake of new leadership at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters and the armed services. In his farewell remarks, Gen. Mutkut, an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, thanked the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission—who also serves as Head of Mission for the MNJTF—along with military staff officers, the African Union Mission Support Team, the European Union and other technical partners. He credited the task force’s achievements ...

BY: NEWS DESK  ‎The Flag Officer Commanding the Nigerian Navy’s Special Operations Command, Rear Admiral Olusegun Soyemi, has paid a maiden operational assessment visit to the headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in Maiduguri, as part of efforts to strengthen inter-service cooperation in counter-insurgency operations. ‎ ‎The two-day visit, held from November 12 to 13, focused on enhancing synergy among components of the Armed Forces and improving operational effectiveness in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North-East. ‎ ‎Rear Admiral Soyemi said the visit provided an opportunity to assess operational readiness, review successes, and identify challenges requiring intervention by Naval Headquarters. He underscored the need for “deeper operational jointness,” describing it as key to achieving greater flexibility, resilience, and information dominance in the theatre. ‎ ‎He noted that the intervention of the ...

BY: NEWS DESK  ‎The Borno State Police Command has stepped up operations against criminal elements and social vices in Maiduguri and surrounding areas, arresting dozens in a series of coordinated raids, authorities said Tuesday. ‎ ‎On November 11 and 12, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS)  Anti-Social Vices Team – conducted simultaneous raids in the Baga Road area, Kasuwan Shanu, Ngomari, Galadimawa, Ajari-Cross, Ummarari, and Bulumkutu Yan Nono. The operations led to the arrest of 43 suspects accused of distributing banned substances, public nuisance offenses, and possession of dangerous weapons.‎ ‎Police seized a range of illicit items, including 57 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 22 D5 tablets, 36 Ezol tablets, one rubber of the drug “Suck & Die,” 183 wraps of unidentified dried leaves locally known as “Scon” or “Colorado,” and two knives. ‎ ‎All suspects are currently in custody undergoing preliminary investigations, aft...

BY: NEWS DESK  The United Nations Chief Security Adviser in Nigeria, Senyo Kufe, on Tuesday visited the headquarters of the Nigerian military’s counter-insurgency operation in the country’s northeast, urging closer collaboration between the UN and security forces in managing humanitarian and operational risks. Kufe, who heads the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Nigeria, met senior commanders of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in Maiduguri as part of a nationwide familiarisation and assessment tour. He described the region as the “engine room” of Nigeria’s security architecture and a crucial hub for both national and humanitarian operations. “The North East remains central to Nigeria’s stability. Our partnership with the military is vital to ensure the safety of UN staff and humanitarian actors,” Kufe said, commending the armed forces for their professionalism and ongoing support to UNDSS missions. Accompanied by UNDSS officials including Security Analyst...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, MAIDUGURI, Nigeria Niger’s military ruler General Abdourahamane Tchiani said at the weekend that the border with neighbouring Benin will remain closed “as long as the security situation does not evolve” on the Beninese side. Speaking on Saturday during a rally in Gaya, a town near the border, Tchiani accused Benin of hosting French troops and allowing Western countries to “finance and support terrorism” aimed at destabilising the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Niger’s junta has made similar accusations in the past, but Benin has consistently denied them. Tchiani said reopening the frontier “would mean betraying the aspirations of the Nigerien people.” The border between Niger and Benin has been shut since July 2023, following the coup that brought Tchiani to power. The closure has strained trade and human movement between the two countries over the past two years. In August, Benin invited Niger and Burkina Faso - both AES members -to join its n...

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri  Police in northeast Nigeria have denied reports circulating on social media that a woman was caught trying to kidnap a child in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State. A viral voice note shared on WhatsApp alleged that an unidentified woman was apprehended in the Bayan Quarters area while attempting to abduct a child, and that other children were later found in her possession at a local police station. But police spokesman ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso dismissed the claim as “false and misleading”, saying no such incident occurred in Maiduguri or anywhere in the state. "The command wishes to categorically debunk this false and misleading information, as no such incident occurred within Maiduguri or any part of the state,” Daso said in a statement on Tuesday. He urged residents to disregard the voice note and warned those spreading misinformation that they could face prosecution under Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act. "The command remains committe...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde ‎ ‎The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) on Monday signed two loan agreements worth a total of €123.5 million with the Government of Guinea to modernise agricultural education and expand rural electrification. ‎ ‎The agreements, signed in Conakry, underscore a joint push by EBID and the Guinean government to promote sustainable development and economic diversification across the West African nation. ‎ ‎Under the deal, €28.3 million will be used to upgrade and modernise four agricultural high schools across Guinea’s four natural regions. The project aims to equip young Guineans with technical and entrepreneurial skills in agribusiness, strengthening the sector’s contribution to national growth. ‎ ‎The second facility, worth €95.2 million, will finance the construction of three micro-hydroelectric power plants with a combined capacity of 27.6 MW in the Senegal River basin, notably in the prefectures of Mamou and Dalaba. The ini...

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, has urged African leaders and financial institutions to scale up climate financing and deploy innovative green investment instruments to accelerate the continent’s sustainable growth and transformation. Speaking at the 2025 Africa Financial Summit (AFIS) in Casablanca, under the theme “Climate and Bond Markets: How to Build Africa’s Sustainable Finance Arsenal,” Dr. Donkor said Africa has sufficient internal resources to drive its own climate-smart investments. He noted that the continent’s pension funds alone hold over USD 160 billion , with more than 90 percent invested in government securities , including USD 40 billion in West Africa. “What remains,” he said, “is project appeal and the will to do it.” Dr. Donkor called on African governments and financial institutions to take proactive steps to d...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde ‎ ‎ A delegation from Nigeria’s Borno State government has visited the Kala-Balge Local Government Area in the country’s northeast to assess agricultural potential and boost food production in communities recovering from years of insurgency. ‎ ‎The team, led by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Bawu Baba Musami, carried out field assessments in Rann, a remote community near the border with Cameroon that has been severely affected by the Boko Haram conflict. ‎ ‎Acting on the directive of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, the mission sought to identify opportunities to strengthen food security, expand irrigation, and restore livelihoods across the region. ‎ ‎During consultations with local officials, traditional leaders, and farmers’ groups, residents expressed interest in dry-season farming, improved crop varieties, and rehabilitation of access roads to ease movement of produce to markets. Officials also noted the presence of...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde ‎ ‎Nigerian military forces said on Sunday that they had rescued 86 people kidnapped by Islamist militants in Borno State and arrested 29 alleged logistics suppliers supporting the insurgents, marking a significant gain in the country’s long-running fight against Boko Haram and its Islamic State affiliate. ‎ ‎According to a statement from Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, troops from the 135 Special Forces Battalion encountered Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on November 9 near Dutse Kura, along the Buratai–Kamuya road. The troops reportedly intervened after learning that militants were abducting civilians and seizing vehicles in the area. ‎ ‎Following a firefight, soldiers pursued the insurgents toward Mangari, where they discovered and dismantled 11 makeshift militant shelters. The operation led to the rescue of 86 kidnapped victims, including men, women, and ...

‎BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE  ‎ Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has pledged improved welfare and better working conditions for troops battling Boko Haram in the country’s northeast. ‎Speaking Friday at the headquarters of the Theatre Command Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, Shaibu called on soldiers to intensify efforts to end the insurgency that has plagued the region for more than a decade. ‎“You already know the task ahead it is now your time to end the Boko Haram crisis affecting the North East region,” Shaibu told the troops, urging renewed determination to restore peace and stability. The army chief outlined plans to enhance troop welfare, including prompt payment of allowances, improved healthcare, better housing, and other support systems. ‎“I am here to encourage you, assess your condition, and assure you of better support,” he said. “Much is expected of you, and the nation depen...

‎BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE ‎ ‎Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, paid a courtesy visit Thursday to the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, at his palace in Maiduguri, seeking continued traditional support in the military’s campaign against insecurity in the country’s northeast. ‎ ‎Shaibu, who described the Shehu as a steadfast supporter of the armed forces, expressed gratitude for the monarch’s cooperation with troops combating insurgents in Borno and neighboring states. ‎ ‎“I’m back home, sir, and on behalf of the Nigerian military, I thank you for your continuous support for our troops,” Shaibu said. ‎ ‎The army chief emphasized the critical role of traditional institutions in sustaining peace efforts, urging the Shehu’s prayers and partnership in the fight against insurgency. ‎ ‎“Traditional rulers play a crucial role in this fight, and we appreciate your efforts,” he said, pledging to “do ev...

     BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE  ‎ ‎Nigerian authorities on Thursday launched a statewide road safety campaign in Borno State ahead of the country’s “Ember Months,” the busy year-end travel period, urging drivers to avoid distractions behind the wheel. ‎ ‎The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) convened a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Maiduguri, bringing together representatives from transport unions, civil society groups, the media, and government agencies to mark the start of the 2025 public enlightenment campaign. ‎ ‎ "This town hall meeting marks the flag-off of our Ember Months campaign in Borno State,” said Corps Commander Usman A. Muhammad, the FRSC sector commander. “It is part of our annual effort to strengthen advocacy and public awareness on safe road use, especially during high-traffic periods.” ‎ ‎ ‎The campaign focuses on combatting distracted driving, which authorities say remains one of the leading causes of road accidents nationwid...

‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde  ‎ ‎The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi A. Shaibu, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday for an operational visit aimed at assessing the security situation and bolstering troop morale in Nigeria’s insurgency-plagued northeast. ‎ ‎General Shaibu was received at the Maiduguri Air Force Base by senior military officials, including the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai, along with other top officers. ‎ ‎During his visit, the Army Chief is expected to commission several developmental projects within the Theatre Command and receive briefings from sector commanders on the progress of ongoing operations. ‎ ‎He will also address front-line troops engaged in counterinsurgency efforts across the region. ‎ ‎The visit comes just days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed General Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, succeeding Lieutenant General O. Oluyede, who was named ...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngule ‎ ‎Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s counterterrorism mission in the country’s northeast, have repelled a series of coordinated attacks by insurgents and secured several key locations across Borno and Adamawa States between October 25 and 31, military officials said Friday. ‎ ‎The Nigerian Army said in a statement that its forces thwarted attempted bombings, intercepted smuggling operations, and disrupted logistics networks linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The operations formed part of renewed efforts to degrade the remaining capabilities of armed groups in the region. ‎ ‎On October 25, troops stationed in Kukawa, Borno State, stopped a planned suicide attack involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). Soldiers fired rocket-propelled grenades at the armored vehicle, before a T-55 tank destroyed it, preventing what officials described as a “catastrophic attack.” A ...

‎ ‎By: Adamu Aliyu Ngule ‎ ‎Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s counterterrorism mission in the country’s northeast, have repelled a series of coordinated attacks by insurgents and secured several key locations across Borno and Adamawa States between October 25 and 31, military officials said Friday. ‎ ‎The Nigerian Army said in a statement that its forces thwarted attempted bombings, intercepted smuggling operations, and disrupted logistics networks linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The operations formed part of renewed efforts to degrade the remaining capabilities of armed groups in the region. ‎ ‎On October 25, troops stationed in Kukawa, Borno State, stopped a planned suicide attack involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). Soldiers fired rocket-propelled grenades at the armored vehicle, before a T-55 tank destroyed it, preventing what officials described as a “catastrophic attack.” A ...

‎B Y: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE  ‎The Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) has directed all Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) holders in the northeastern Nigerian state to submit their National Identification Numbers (NIN) for record integration and data verification. ‎ ‎The directive applies to individuals who obtained their C of O documents from 2021 to date. According to the agency, the measure is part of efforts to ensure accurate recordkeeping and improve transparency in land administration. ‎ ‎In a statement issued this week, BOGIS said the policy aligns with Section 27(1)(d) of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act of 2007, which requires the use of the National Identification Number in all land-related transactions, including property purchase, transfer, and registration. ‎ ‎The agency said affected individuals must submit their NINs between October 31 and November 2, 2025, by sending them via SMS or WhatsApp to 08029946666, 07066464611...