Lifestyle

Borno agency announces palliative for workers

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The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) has introduced stipends for its staff to cushion the hike in transport fares due to the total removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

The executive secretary of the agency, Saleh Abba-Kaza, announced the development in a meeting with the staff on Monday in Maiduguri.

“Following the recent fuel subsidy removal, we have come to realise that most, if not all, our staff are struggling to survive the ripple effect. It is a known fact that commercial motorists have increased transport fares by at least 300 per cent,” stated Mr Abba-Kaza.

“But in spite of the financial difficulties, you didn’t relent in availing yourselves of work regularly and timely.”

He added,

“On this note, the management of BOSCHMA has come up with a palliative for all staff by providing a monthly stipend to cushion the effect of the rise in transport fare. The lower or junior staff will receive N10,000 monthly in addition to your salary, while the middle cadre and senior staff will get a monthly increase of N15,000 and N20,000, respectively.”

Reiterating the commitment of the agency to staff welfare, Mr Abba-Kaza said that the agency had also established a creche within the organisation to support nursing mothers.

The agency now has a creche so that nursing mothers can be close to their babies at all times, especially those who can not afford private ones,” he said.

The executive secretary, who promised to prioritise training and retraining of staff, said 25 per cent of the agency’s budget since inception has been dedicated to human resources development.

Lifestyle, Politics

Five injured as Boko Haram attacks Borno voters

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The police command in Borno has confirmed that five persons sustained injuries in an attack coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents in the Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Abdu Umar, confirmed the incident in an interview on Saturday in Maiduguri, the state capital.

He said the terrorists fired several gunshots targeting voters from the top of Mandara Mountains, adding that five persons sustained injuries in the attack.

Mr Umar said the victims comprised two females and three males.

“Efforts of the military within the area of responsibility helped in chasing the terrorists, forcing them to flee due to the superior firepower,” he said.

The CP said that normalcy has since been restored as the voting exercise continued while the victims were referred to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno (NECSOB) has expressed optimism about the turnout of voters in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The group chairman, Bulama Abiso, who led a team of observers for the election, described the turnout as “encouraging”.

Lifestyle

BREAKING: Soldiers find abducted Chibok schoolgirl in Borno

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Troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade, on Tuesday, found one Mrs Mary Ngoshe, who, according to the Nigerian Army, is believed to be one of the kidnapped girls from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, in 2014.

Ngoshe, who was found with a child believed to be hers, was intercepted by the troops while on patrol around Ngoshe in Borno State.

This is contained in a tweet posted to the Nigerian Army’s verified Twitter page, @HQNigerianArmy, on Wednesday morning.

The tweet reads, “Troops of 26 Task Force Brigade on patrol around Ngoshe in Borno State on 14 June 2022 intercepted one Mrs Mary Ngoshe and her son. She is believed to be one of the abducted girls from GGSS Chibok in 2014. Further exploitation ongoing.”

Details later…

Lifestyle

BREAKING: Nigerian forces neutralise ISWAP terrorists, destroy market, camps in Borno

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Troops of Operation Desert Sanity and the Civilian Joint Task Forces have neutralised terrorists of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province in an “ongoing offensive onslaught” in Borno State, the Nigerian Army has said.

Camps and market belonging to the terrorists are said to have been destroyed in the ongoing operation, the Army says.

In a tweet posted to its verified Twitter page, @HQNigerianArmy, Wednesday morning, the Army says troops also recovered weapons, amongst others, in the operation.

The tweet, which contains photographs of some neutralised terrorists and destroyed camp, states, “Ongoing offensive onslaught by troops of Operation Desert Sanity in conjunction with CJTF recorded another feat on 14 June 2022 as ISWAP terrorists were neutralised around Gurzum in Borno State. Terrorists market & camps were destroyed. Weapons amongst others were recovered.”

Lifestyle

Woman jailed 34 years for N66m fraud in Borno

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The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Dije Sale to thirty-four years imprisonment before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the State High Court, Maiduguri for forgery, use of false document and obtaining under false pretence to the tune of N66 million.

The convict forged a “Purchase Order” and used same to defraud the nominal complainant of N66m under the guise of executing a purported contract awarded to her by FHI 360, a Non-Governmental Organisation.

The convict was arraigned on July 1, 2020 on a three-count charge but pleaded not “guilty to all the charges preferred against her.

During trial, prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed called four witnesses and tendered several documents before the court that were admitted in evidence.

Justice Fadawu, in his judgment said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, “and the court is convinced that the defendant is guilty of all the three counts as charged.”

He convicted the defendant of all the counts and sentenced her to fourteen years on count one, ten years on count two and 10 years on count three.

He ordered that the sentencing be served concurrently.

Furthermore, the convict was ordered by the court to pay N54million to the nominal complainant in restitution and “if she defaults, the convict shall serve 10 years imprisonment which will run consecutively.”

Politics

APC adopts consensus option for congresses in Borno

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) Borno State have unanimously adopted consensus option in the election of party officials at all levels in the state.

The decision taken during the party’s critical stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

The state Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, moved a motion for the adoption of consensus for the ward congresses and this was seconded by one Abdu Musa.

The motion, thereafter, was put to voice-vote where all the stakeholders including members of National and State Assemblies as well as local council chairmen unanimously adopted the motion.

In his address, Governor Babagana Zulum urged members of the party to observe and adhere strictly to the APC rules and regulations to guide the conduct of the congresses.

Zulum decried how non compliance with the party’s rules and regulations in some states resulted in litigations that affected its chances in the previous general elections.

He urged members to shun acts capable of threatening the unity of the party in the state.

In his remarks, a former governor of the state, Maina Ma’aji, who was also at the meeting, described consensus as the best method that would further unite and make the party strong in the state.

He said the stakeholders were satisfied and convinced that there was no desire by the governor or the APC national leadership to impose their interest or candidate on the party in the state.

Other APC stakeholders in Borno State that attended the meeting were former governor Kashim Shettima and the Chairman of Senate Committee on the Army, Ali Ndume, among others.

Politics

Three soldiers, 7 ISWAP fighters killed as terrorists attack military base in Borno ahead of Buhari’s visit

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Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants on Tuesday invaded a military formation in Kwamdi village, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno state, razing it to the ground.

Damboa LGA is located in Southern Borno with a distance of 87km from Maiduguri.

According to SaharaReporters, three soldiers were killed during the attack while about seven members of ISWAP also lost their lives.

The militants were said to have carted away weapons belonging to the military during a gun duel.

Reports say the fighters stormed the area in 10 utility vehicles, and burnt down one Ammour Personal Carrier (APC) and a gun truck.

According to a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Hamidu Abu, the deadly group targeted soldiers camp but not residents.

He added that the base was razed down as several valuables were stolen by the assailants.

The attack comes two days to the planned visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the State, which is the first time he will be visiting the state since last year’s incident.

In February 2020, residents of the state booed the President as his convoy drove in and when it was leaving Maiduguri, state capital, during a condolence visit.

Politics

Air Chief, Amao, arrives Borno in search of missing NAF aircraft

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Investigations may soon commence in a bid to unravel the circumference that led to the disappearance of a Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet which went missing on Wednesday evening after it lost contact with radar.

This line of action was further confirmed by the arrival of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, on Thursday, April 1, in Borno State.

Upon arrival, Amao was briefed on efforts to recover the missing jet.

The missing jet was involved in the anti-terror war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province when it lost radar contact in the north-east state.

The radar is the main air traffic control system for the airspace around airports. Air traffic controllers monitor aircraft within the airspace from the radar.

The NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement, said the CAS “arrived Maiduguri this morning and was briefed on ongoing search and rescue efforts in connection with the missing Alpha Jet aircraft”.

Gabkwet said Amao “urged pilots, engineers and technicians to remain undeterred and resolute in their commitment to ensuring that peace returns to the North East.”

Politics

Army denies reported killing of 20 soldiers in Borno

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The reported killing of 20 soldiers of the Nigerian Army by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-East Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole has been dismissed as false.

The denial was contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammad Yerima on Thursday.

According to Yerima, an online report titled: “Nigerian Army keeps mum as Boko Haram terrorists kill 20 Soldiers In Borno” is false, fake and baseless.

The Army spokesman also said the report was aimed at discouraging the public and demoralising troops on the untiring efforts in the overall fight against insurgency, insisting that there was no attack where 20 soldiers were killed in the entire Theatre.

He also disclosed that the recent attacks on troops providing security for road construction workers along Goniri–Kafa on Feb. 5 and in Geidam on Feb. 9 were decisively dealt with.

He further stated that the attack on the troops along the road construction site and the attempt to infiltrate Geidam town by the terrorists were swiftly and professionally cleared by the Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) and elements of 159 Task Force Battalion.

According to Yerima, soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice while two others who sustained injuries were currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility.

He also disclosed that Boko Haram and ISWAP are on the run and desperate for foods, drugs and logistics from soft targets for survival as their camps, routes and enclaves have been destroyed, blocked and manned by troops of Operation “TURA TAKAIBANGO.”

He said that troops also overpowered terrorists mounted on eight gun trucks, motor bikes and foot soldiers who attempted attack on troops of 3 Battalion at Rann in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno on Feb. 9, adding that the troops held their ground and instantly destroyed one terrorists’ gun truck.

“With swift air support during the attack, the terrorists lost initiative and had to scamper for safety due to heavy aerial bombardments, while additional four terrorists’ gun trucks were completely destroyed as several of their members were killed while others fled with gunshot wounds.

The situation within the Rann general area is under control by our troops and members of the community are going about their normal activities.

“Members of the general public are therefore requested to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Military to fight both the terrorists and peddlers of fake and unsubstantiated stories.

“We shall continue to remain focus and determined to perform our constitutional roles and responsibilities professionally in the protection of the sovereignty of our nation, ensure the safety of lives and property, while we clear the terrorists and their cohorts within the region,” Yerima said.

Politics

Families of slain Borno farmers get N600,000 each.

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Forty-eight families who were bereaved by the killing at a rice field in Borno State have been given N600,000 by the Borno State Government.

The bereaved families were also given bags of food items by a committee assigned by Governor Babagana Zulum to share items received on their behalf.

The shared fund came from combined support of N20m by the Northern Governors’ Forum and N5m by the North East Development Commission.
The committee chaired by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Saina Buba, undertook Thursday’s distribution in Zabarmari.

Zabarmari, where the victims lived, is located in Jere, central part of Borno State. A total of 13,000 bags of rice, maize and beans, 1,300 cans of vegetable oil, 2116 cartons of seasoning cubes, 1,083 sachets of tomato and 650 sachets of salt, which were donated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, were also distributed.
Buba noted that each family was to combine the N600,000 cash and food items to reduce the hardship resulting from gaps in access to livelihoods created by the death of mostly male victims, who are breadwinners of those affected.

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