NEDC Sends Relief to Maiduguri Blast Victims, Extends Support to Hard-Hit Borno Communities

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has rolled out emergency relief materials for victims of the recent bomb explosions in Maiduguri, with thousands of food items, clothing materials and building supplies set for distribution to affected families in Borno State.

The intervention, unveiled on Tuesday in Maiduguri, is aimed at supporting survivors of the attacks and helping displaced and vulnerable households begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

Speaking during the presentation, the managing director of NEDC, represented by the commission’s Borno State Coordinator, Engr Mohammed Wasinda, said the gesture formed part of the agency’s rapid humanitarian response to recent security-related incidents in parts of the state.

He said the support package for victims of the Maiduguri explosions includes 2,000 bags of rice, 2,000 cartons of spaghetti and 2,000 blankets, in addition to a large consignment of building materials meant to assist affected households whose homes or shelters were damaged.

Wasinda listed the construction items to include 1,000 bundles of roofing sheets, 5,000 ceiling boards, 10,000 pieces of timber, 2,000 iron rods and 8,000 packets of nails.

He directed the leadership of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area to work closely with relevant authorities to ensure transparent and orderly distribution of the relief materials.

According to him, all items are to be formally handed over to the Borno State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which will oversee the onwards distribution to households most affected by the blasts and other recent security incidents.

Beyond food and construction support, the Commission also announced cash assistance for over 150 persons identified as victims and survivors of the Maiduguri bombings.

Wasinda disclosed that the affected individuals had already been verified and captured in the Commission’s support database.

He explained that families who lost loved ones in the attacks would receive N50,000 each as immediate funeral support, while those injured in the explosions would get N30,000 each to help cushion urgent medical and personal expenses.

The relief effort is also being extended beyond Maiduguri to other conflict-affected parts of Borno, including Konduga, Gwoza and Kukawa Local Government Areas, with special attention to Ngoshe, a border community near Cameroon that has also faced repeated security threats.

For the affected communities in those areas, the Commission said it had earmarked 1,800 bags of rice and 1,800 cartons of spaghetti, as well as thousands of mats and wrappers for onwards distribution.

The items, according to the Commission, will be handed over to the respective local government chairmen and members of the Borno State House of Assembly representing the affected areas.

The latest intervention adds to ongoing efforts by humanitarian and government agencies to ease the burden on communities in Borno that continue to grapple with the devastating impact of insurgency and periodic attacks.

Easter 2026: Zulum Urges Christians to Keep Faith Alive, Sustain Peace in Borno

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has congratulated Christians in the state on the occasion of the 2026 Easter celebration, urging them to uphold the values of sacrifice, forgiveness, love and peaceful coexistence.

In an Easter message released by his Special Adviser on Media, Malam Dauda Iliya, the governor described the season as a solemn and spiritually significant period that reflected the triumph of hope over despair and called for deeper reflection, prayer, and unity among the people.

Zulum noted that Easter comes at the end of a 40-day Lenten observance, a sacred period during which Christians commit themselves to fasting, repentance, abstinence, self-discipline and spiritual renewal.

“As Christians across the world celebrate this year’s Easter, which commenced on Friday, I warmly felicitate with my Christian brothers and sisters in the state and beyond,” the governor said.

He assured the people of Borno that his administration would continue to prioritise their safety, welfare, and overall well-being, despite the prevailing social and economic challenges.

The governor said the state government had stepped up intervention measures to support vulnerable households, revealing that more than 300,000 families had so far benefited from palliative distribution aimed at easing hardship.

“This year, we have scaled up our palliative distribution to reach more than 300,000 families in an effort to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship. It is encouraging to note that many vulnerable households have benefited from this intervention,” he said.

Zulum also called on residents to remain united and avoid actions capable of threatening the peace and stability of the state, especially in the current political season.

He stressed that Borno’s progress and recovery can only be sustained when citizens reject division and work together in the collective interests of peace, development, and social harmony.

“Borno belongs to all of us. We must shun divisive tendencies, especially during this political period,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that the state would continue to make progress in overcoming insecurity and rebuilding communities affected by years of insurgency.

He said it was encouraging to witness the level of religious harmony between Christians and Muslims in the state and urged residents not to allow any force to undermine that unity.

“It is heartening to observe the level of religious harmony between Christians and Muslims in the state. I urge all residents to sustain this spirit as we continue to take deliberate steps towards achieving lasting peace,” he added.

Zulum commended traditional rulers and religious leaders from both faiths for their efforts to promote understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among the people.

He also paid tribute to the Nigerian Armed Forces, other security agencies, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters and vigilantes for their continued sacrifices and recent successes in the fight against insurgencies in the state.

The governor said their courage and commitment remain central to the ongoing efforts to restore peace and secure a more stable future for Borno State.

CP Abdulmajid disburses N5.51m to families of fallen officers in Borno

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The State Police Commissioner, Naziru Abdulmajid, has disbursed N5,512,280.26 to ten family members of the fallen police officers in the state.

According to the command, the payments are under the Group Life Insurance (GLI) and the Inspector-General of Police Welfare (IGPW) schemes.

The spokesperson of the command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nahum Daso, disclosed yesterday in Maiduguri that “the commissioner’s disbursement of N5.51 million to the families of the fallen officers has underscored the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) commitment to the welfare of its personnel and the 10 families of the fallen heroes.”

Daso, in his statement, further assured the families that additional welfare support will also be provided to “sustain and enhance” the well-being of the beneficiaries of the NPF schemes.

Speaking on behalf of the 10 next of kin beneficiaries, Solomon Japhet expressed his profound appreciation to the IGP, Olatunji Dissu, and the Borno state command for the welfare support.

He noted that the gesture serves as a source of relief and encouragement to the respective families of the gallant fallen officers in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid, reaffirmed the command’s dedication to giving priority to the welfare of officers and men while honouring the sacrifices of those who paid the supreme price in serving the country of Nigeria.