Borno
Christmas at the Frontline: Zulum Celebrates with Troops, Spends Night in Resettled Malam Fatori
Christmas at the Frontline: Zulum Celebrates with Troops, Spends Night in Resettled Malam Fatori
Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, marked this year’s Christmas in a unique yet symbolic manner by uniting with Nigerian Army troops on the frontline.
On Thursday, the Governor visited soldiers of the Nigerian Army’s 68 Battalion stationed in Malam Fatori, a strategic border community in Abadam Local Government Area, to celebrate the festive season with them amid ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
The visit came at the end of a four-day security and resilience tour across northern Borno, covering five local government areas, where Zulum personally coordinated measures to strengthen security and support internally displaced individuals (IDPs) who have returned to their communities.
Demonstrating his administration’s commitment to restoring civil authority, the Governor spent the night in the newly resettled Malam Fatori town, holding engagements with community leaders and residents—mostly women and children—who are rebuilding their lives after years of displacement.
Zulum’s Christmas visit to the battalion was both symbolic and reassuring, offering encouragement to soldiers serving far from their families during the festive period. He praised the officers and men for their gallantry, resilience, and professionalism, noting that their sacrifices have been crucial to the survival and stability of Malam Fatori.
Describing the troops as the true custodians of peace, the governor said their courage had made it possible for displaced communities to return home and begin rebuilding.
“Celebrating Christmas with the troops defending our territorial integrity is not just ceremonial,” Zulum said. “It is a deliberate decision to stand with you at the point of sacrifice.”
He added that the bravery displayed by the soldiers in securing Malam Fatori and other frontline locations remains an example of his administration’s resolve to support security agencies until lasting peace is achieved.
Reaffirming his government’s unwavering backing for the armed forces, Zulum assured the battalion of sustained logistical and welfare support to complement federal efforts.
“Security remains the top priority of my administration,” he stressed. “Without peace, there can be no meaningful development or recovery.”
In the spirit of Christmas, the Governor donated five bulls to the battalion to enable the troops celebrate with dignity. In a rare personal gesture, he also joined the soldiers in line to share a meal with them at the Malam Fatori military base.
The visit sparked excitement among the troops, many of whom said the Governor’s presence and personal interaction boosted their morale. The occasion, for soldiers separated from their families, served as a powerful reminder of the recognition, appreciation, and deep value placed on their sacrifices.
Terrorists Kill Resident, Rustle 1,400 Sheep in Borno Community
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
Maiduguri, Borno State – Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed a resident and rustled about 1,400 sheep during an attack on a nomadic settlement in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at Wuturo community, a settlement near Konduga town along the 75-kilometre Maiduguri–Bama road.
Confirming the attack, the Borno State Police Command said the assailants stormed the settlement on motorcycles, killing one person and carting away livestock belonging to local herders.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nahum Daso, said the command strongly condemned the attack allegedly carried out by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents.
According to him, the incident was reported to the Konduga Police Divisional Headquarters by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on March 10, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m.
Daso explained that the attackers, who arrived on five motorcycles, invaded the settlement and made away with a large number of sheep after opening fire on residents.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that during the attack, a 40-year-old resident, Ahmadu Baida, sustained fatal gunshot wounds, while another victim, Mohammadu Baida, 30, was shot in the left leg,” the statement said.
He added that the gunmen also rustled approximately 1,400 sheep belonging to herders in the community.
Security operatives quickly responded to the distress call, deploying a joint team comprising the Police, the Military, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local hunters to the affected settlement.
“The victims were evacuated to the hospital, where Ahmadu Baida was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor, while the injured victim is currently receiving treatment and responding positively,” Daso stated.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Naziru Abdulmajid, condemned the killing and expressed condolences to the bereaved family and the affected community.
He reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
The police spokesperson said coordinated security operations have been activated to track down the perpetrators, prevent further attacks, and recover the rustled livestock.
“Tactical teams and intelligence assets have been strategically deployed in the affected area and surrounding communities to strengthen security presence and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Daso added.
Terror Alarm in Borno: Insurgents Establish New Fortress Near NNPC Exploration Site
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
Fresh security concerns have emerged in Jere Local Government Area following reports that fighters linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have established new hideouts in the Tuba settlement close to facilities of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Local sources, including farmers and community leaders, said the insurgents have constructed what they described as a fortified base around Tuba, located within the outskirts of Jere council area in Maiduguri. According to the sources, about 200 motorcycles belonging to the fighters were sighted around the area, raising fears of renewed attacks in parts of northern Borno.
A resident, Modu Isami, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said the insurgents appear to be monitoring strategic locations around the oil exploration site.
“The terrorists have positioned themselves around communities close to the NNPC exploration site,” he said. “They are watching settlements such as Dusuman, Ngom, Jabarman, Gongulong Lawanti and Koshebe, as well as areas around Muna Garage, which is about 20 kilometres east of Maiduguri.”
Isami added that other locations believed to be under surveillance by the armed groups include Madinatu, the Maiduguri cattle market, and motorists travelling along the Maiduguri–Monguno and Maiduguri–Mafa highways.
According to him, the insurgents often move in small units of about five motorcycles at a time, advancing toward Ngom community along the Maiduguri–Dikwa road before crossing into the Maiduguri–Mafa axis and sometimes heading toward Konduga Local Government Area.
Security observers say such movements could enable the fighters to reach areas bordering the notorious Sambisa Forest, long known as a major hideout for extremist groups operating in the Northeast.
A 65-year-old local hunter, Konto Aliyu, described the development as alarming, warning that the newly established fortress could threaten both nearby communities and oil exploration infrastructure.
“The presence of this fortress in our council area is dangerous,” Aliyu said. “It could endanger residents and the drilling facilities of NNPC, which were inaugurated in 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Aliyu also warned that military installations in Jere, Konduga and Maiduguri could become targets if the insurgents intensify their movements across forest corridors sometimes referred to locally as the “Timbuktu Triangle”.
He further suggested that the insurgents’ frequent movement on motorcycles might be a diversionary tactic aimed at distracting security forces while preparing coordinated attacks on several communities across northern Borno.
Communities that could face potential threats include Gajiganna, Gajiram, Mafa, Dikwa, Konduga and Bama — towns that previously suffered devastating attacks during the peak of the insurgency between 2014 and 2016.
The hunter called on the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, to intensify operations around the Tuba axis to dismantle the suspected hideouts.
He also urged security authorities to collaborate with local hunters and vigilante groups to strengthen patrols and establish additional checkpoints along the major highways leading into Maiduguri in order to prevent possible attacks and protect surrounding communities.
Zulum Declares 10-Day Prayers, Fasting to End Terror, Kidnappings in Borno
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has called for a sustained 10-day period of prayers and fasting aimed at seeking divine intervention to end the wave of kidnappings and terrorist attacks ravaging parts of the state.
The governor urged Muslims to take advantage of the last ten days of Ramadan to intensify prayers, particularly the night supplication known as Tahajjud prayer, for peace and stability in the troubled state.
Zulum made the call in a statement issued in Maiduguri by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, while the governor is currently in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, performing the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah.
According to the governor, the renewed attacks by insurgent groups must not weaken the resolve of residents to remain united in confronting insecurity.
“The recent coordinated attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists should not dampen the spirit of resilience and unity of purpose needed to confront our common enemy,” Zulum said.
He stressed that the final days of Ramadan represent a sacred period for supplication and urged citizens to dedicate the period to seeking God’s mercy and intervention.
“As we usher in the last ten days of the holy month, let us intensify our prayers to the Almighty God and beseech Him through acts of worship so that we may attract His mercies, blessings and rewards,” the governor said.
Zulum disclosed that he had already joined other Muslim faithful in Mecca to hold special prayers for lasting peace in Borno State and across Nigeria.
Beyond the Muslim community, the governor also appealed to Christians observing the Lenten season to join in prayers for an end to the violence.
“I also want to call on the Christian community who are observing Lent to join in special prayers to end this madness of killings and abductions,” he added.
The governor described the resurgence of attacks as a temporary challenge, expressing confidence that unity among citizens and divine intervention would help overcome the crisis.
While sympathising with families who lost loved ones in recent attacks, Zulum reassured residents that his administration would continue to support the military and other security agencies in their efforts to defeat insurgency.
Borno State has endured more than a decade of insurgency linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP, a conflict that has destroyed communities, displaced millions and claimed thousands of lives across the region.
Zulum reaffirmed that the state government remains committed to working with security forces and communities to restore lasting peace and stability.
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