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.

Yobe APC Group Warns Aspirants Against Actions Threatening Party Unity

By Abubakar Aliyu, Damaturu

The Mobilisation Coordinating Unit (MCU) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State has cautioned governorship hopefuls against actions capable of undermining the political stability and achievements recorded by the ruling party in the state.

The warning was issued on Friday in a statement released in Damaturu by the MCU Coordinator, Saidu Jakusko, who urged party members to remain committed to unity and peaceful political engagement ahead of future electoral activities.

Jakusko called on aspirants within the party to support the emergence of Baba Malam Wali, who was recently endorsed by prominent APC stakeholders in the state as their preferred governorship candidate.

According to him, Wali possesses the political experience, leadership qualities and administrative competence required to sustain the developmental strides recorded in the state under the APC-led administration.

The APC chieftain noted that the successes achieved in Yobe over the years were made possible through collective sacrifices, cooperation and commitment among party leaders and supporters.

He warned that any attempt to create division or disrupt the existing harmony within the party could threaten the progress already achieved and weaken the ruling party’s structure in the state.

The endorsement of Baba Malam Wali by some APC leaders had earlier sparked reactions from a number of governorship aspirants, who argued that endorsing a candidate before the party primaries was premature.

However, Jakusko stressed the need for party members and political actors to place the interest of the APC and the stability of the state above personal ambitions.

He also urged members of the party to remain law-abiding and continue to work for the success of the APC, while praying for sustained unity and victory for the party in future elections.