Ex-IGP Alkali Baba Bows Out of Yobe APC Governorship Race Ahead of 2027

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

Former Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has withdrawn from the 2027 governorship race under the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Yobe State, a move seen as a major political development within the ruling party ahead of the next general elections.

Baba announced his decision on Thursday in Damaturu, stating that his withdrawal followed extensive consultations with party leaders, elders, and stakeholders across the state and beyond.

The former police chief said the decision was taken in the interest of unity and stability within the APC as preparations intensify for the 2027 polls.

According to him, the remaining aspirants in the race include former Yobe State Secretary to the Government, Baba Malam Wali, Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, Barrister Kashim Musa Tumsah, and Engineer Mai Hajja.

Speaking on his withdrawal, Baba expressed appreciation to the people of Yobe State and acknowledged the support and guidance he received from prominent political figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, and Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.

He explained that stepping aside was a difficult but necessary decision aimed at strengthening party cohesion and ensuring APC’s victory in both Yobe State and across the country during the 2027 elections.

Baba urged his supporters and party loyalists to remain peaceful and continue supporting the APC and whoever eventually emerges as the party’s governorship candidate.

The former IGP also reaffirmed his commitment to the development of Yobe State, expressing optimism that the ruling party would sustain economic growth and stability in the state.

His withdrawal is expected to reshape the political calculations within the APC as the contest for the party’s governorship ticket gathers momentum ahead of next week’s crucial party activities.

Yobe Recruits 1,886 Forest Guards to Strengthen Anti-Terror War Along Niger Border

By  Njadvara Musa. Damaturu

The Yobe State Government has recruited 1,886 forest guards to reinforce security operations and safeguard communities located along the state’s border with the Niger Republic.

The newly engaged guards are expected to support ongoing counter-insurgency operations in vulnerable communities across Geidam, Nguru, Yusufari and Yunusari local government areas, where security threats linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP activities have persisted.

Speaking during the official deployment ceremony on Tuesday in Damaturu, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Mai Mala Buni, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (retd.), said the initiative was designed to complement the efforts of troops under Operation Hadin Kai, local hunters and other security agencies operating in the region.

According to him, the forest guards will help close security gaps frequently exploited by insurgents operating around remote settlements and forest corridors, particularly within the Yusufari and Sasawa forest belts.

Abdulsalam noted that Yobe had remained one of the states heavily affected by insurgency since the extremist movement first emerged in Kanama in 2003 before escalating into full-scale violence in 2009.

He explained that attacks intensified in the state from 2011, forcing the Yobe government to shoulder a large share of security responsibilities, including logistics, operational vehicles, troop allowances and feeding support for security personnel.

“Between 2011 and 2015, the state government handled significant operational responsibilities because much of the federal response at the time was concentrated in Borno State,” he stated.

The retired army officer said military operations in the Northeast had evolved through several phases, from the Joint Task Force Restore Order to Operation Zaman Lafiya, Operation Lafiya Dole and the current Operation Hadin Kai, with each transition aimed at improving counter-terrorism strategies.

He identified Gulani, Gujba, Damaturu, Tarmuwa, Bursari, Yusufari and Geidam as the most affected local government areas in Yobe East Senatorial District due to their proximity to international borders linking Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

According to Abdulsalam, insurgents often infiltrate Yobe through neighbouring parts of Borno State before retreating to the Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad axis after launching attacks.

He, however, maintained that apart from the Bulabulin Forest in Yusufari Local Government Area, where insurgent presence has been reported, there are no major Boko Haram camps inside Yobe State.

The security adviser commended the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), vigilante groups and local hunters for sustaining coordinated efforts against insurgent activities and supply routes.

He also praised the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, for supporting grassroots security initiatives across the region.

Abdulsalam revealed that Oluyede personally facilitated logistics, feeding, operational equipment and allowances for about 200 local hunters assisting security operations in vulnerable communities.

He added that the newly recruited forest guards had already been armed, placed on salary structures and deployed to strategic flashpoints to enhance surveillance and rapid response operations.

The adviser further disclosed that the Yobe State Government continues to provide welfare assistance to families of local hunters and security volunteers who lost their lives while supporting military operations.

Yobe ADC Structure, Pro-Atiku Group Dump Opposition for APC

 By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

A major political shift is unfolding in Yobe State as members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across the 17 local government areas of the state, alongside the Arewa Strategic Implementation Group for Atiku (ASIGA), have resolved to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Leaders and supporters of the two groups attended a political gathering in Damaturu on Saturday, where they made the announcement.

The coalition, led by Abubakar Garzali, called on Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim Jawa to spearhead the mass movement into the APC, describing him as a key figure who built one of the strongest opposition structures in Yobe during the 2023 general elections.

The groups said their decision followed widespread consultations across the state and was influenced by what they described as persistent leadership disputes and legal uncertainties within the ADC at the national level.

According to the defectors, the political realignment also reflects their desire to support the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and align with what they termed the prevailing national political direction.

ASIGA, which was originally established to support the 2023 presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar, formally announced the abandonment of its previous political objective in favour of backing the APC-led federal government.

The groups praised the administration of Mai Mala Buni for maintaining peace, political stability, infrastructural development, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance in the state.

They also acknowledged the role of former Yobe governor and current minister of police affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, for what they described as his fatherly guidance and contributions to the political growth of the state.

In addition, the coalition declared support for Baba Malam Wali as its preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship succession project in Yobe, saying his emergence would ensure continuity, stability, and sustainable development.

Responding to the resolution, Prof. Jawa, who also serves as the Founder and National Coordinator of ASIGA, accepted the decision by the two groups to join the APC.

He commended members of the APC in Yobe for their political maturity, patriotism and strategic thinking, noting that the movement must evolve in line with current national realities.

Prof. Jawa stated that after wider consultations across Northern Nigeria, the group concluded that national interest requires “constructive support and partnership” with the APC-led administration under President Tinubu.

He therefore formally endorsed political alignment with the ruling party, describing it as a strategic step aimed at advancing the interests of Yobe State and the country at large.