By Tada Juth, Maiduguri

 Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called for stronger regional cooperation among Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries to confront terrorism, insurgency and the humanitarian crisis that has persisted across the region for nearly two decades.

Mr Zulum made the call on Saturday while declaring open a two-day high-level retreat involving representatives of Sahel countries and ambassadors at the Musa Usman Secretariat Complex in Maiduguri.

The meeting brought together officials and diplomats from countries affected by insecurity in the wider Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

The retreat focused on terrorism, diplomatic relations and the need for a coordinated regional response to security challenges threatening the countries.

Mr Zulum, who has consistently advocated a broader approach to addressing insecurity, said military operations alone could not end the insurgency and displacement crisis confronting the region.

“I have been consistently advocating for a multifaceted strategy that combines robust military offensives with non-kinetic interventions such as deradicalisation, reintegration and humanitarian development,” he said.

The governor said while security forces must continue their operations against terrorist groups, governments in the region needed to strengthen intelligence sharing, border management and joint stabilisation programmes.

“While our armed forces continue their brave operations, we must enhance intelligence sharing, community-based border management and joint stabilisation initiatives alongside the Multinational Joint Task Force,” he said.

Borno has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts since the Boko Haram insurgency escalated in 2009. The state has also borne a significant share of the humanitarian consequences, including displacement, destruction of infrastructure and disruption of livelihoods.

Mr Zulum said the experience had demonstrated the need for governments to combine security operations with measures aimed at addressing poverty, unemployment, radicalisation and other conditions that could fuel violent extremism.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, also urged countries in the region to deepen cooperation and address the underlying causes of terrorism.

He said a sustainable solution required governments to look beyond military responses and develop coordinated strategies capable of tackling the conditions that allow extremist groups to thrive.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umara, said Nigeria had a strong interest in the stability of the Sahel because of the region’s historical, cultural and economic connections with the country.

According to him, stability across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin is directly linked to Nigeria’s national security and socio-economic prosperity.

The Ambassador of Chad to Nigeria, Brah Mahamat, called for collective action among countries facing the security threat, despite their membership of different regional organisations.

“Although we belong to different institutional groupings, this should in no way impede our common security,” Mr Mahamat said.

He warned that terrorist groups were taking advantage of weaknesses along national borders and differences among regional blocs to expand their operations.

“Let us be clear: the enemy cares little whether we belong to CEMAC, ECOWAS or the AES. Its aim is to continue slipping across our borders, exploiting the operational limitations we have imposed upon ourselves,” he said.

The retreat is expected to provide a platform for participating countries and diplomatic representatives to explore practical measures for improving regional security cooperation, strengthening border coordination and supporting stabilisation efforts in communities affected by terrorism.

The gathering also reinforces Maiduguri’s growing importance as a centre for regional discussions on counter-terrorism, humanitarian recovery and peace-building in the Lake Chad Basin.

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The Borno State Police Command has warned butchers, meat vendors and livestock traders against slaughtering, processing or selling meat from animals that die before inspection, saying offenders will face the full weight of the law.

The Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, issued the warning on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri convened to strengthen measures aimed at preventing the sale and distribution of unwholesome meat across the state.

The meeting followed the recent arrest of five suspects allegedly involved in processing and distributing meat from dead animals in Maiduguri, an incident that raised concerns over food safety and public health.

Mr Abdulmajid said the engagement was organised to prevent a recurrence of such practices and reinforce compliance with public health regulations governing meat processing and distribution.

According to him, the meeting was designed to improve monitoring systems, promote regulatory compliance and ensure that only meat certified fit for human consumption reaches the public.

“The objective is to safeguard public health by strengthening collaboration among relevant stakeholders responsible for food safety and hygiene,” the police commissioner said.

Participants at the meeting included officials from the Borno State Ministries of Health, Information and Internal Security, and Livestock and Fisheries Development, as well as representatives of the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), the Abattoir and Butchers Association, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), and traditional rulers.

During the discussions, Mr Abdulmajid stressed the responsibility of government agencies, regulatory institutions and traditional leaders in preventing the slaughter, processing and sale of meat from animals that die from unknown causes or are otherwise unsafe for consumption.

He called for closer cooperation among relevant agencies, improved intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement to eliminate the illegal trade in contaminated meat.

The commissioner also directed authorities overseeing slaughterhouses, abattoirs and meat-processing facilities to tighten surveillance and ensure strict adherence to food safety standards.

He further emphasised the need for sustained public awareness campaigns to educate residents about the health dangers associated with consuming meat from diseased or dead animals.

Stakeholders at the meeting commended the police for initiating the engagement and pledged to work with security agencies and government institutions to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and protect public health.

Mr Abdulmajid reaffirmed the command’s commitment to collaborating with relevant agencies and local communities to ensure food safety, protect lives and prosecute individuals whose actions threaten public health.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving the slaughter, transportation, processing or sale of suspected unwholesome meat to the nearest police station or appropriate regulatory authorities.

Borno Youths, Students Rally Against Terror, Urge Nigerians to Unite for National Security

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Hundreds of youths and students from tertiary institutions in Borno State on Sunday staged a peaceful march in Maiduguri, calling on Nigerians to unite against terrorism and other forms of criminality while pledging support for the Federal Government and security agencies in the fight against insecurity.

The campaign, held under the banner UniteAgainstTerror, drew participants from various youth and student organisations across the state. The procession began at the Post Office area of Maiduguri and featured awareness messages promoting national unity, peace and collective responsibility in tackling insecurity.

Speaking to journalists during the rally, the leader of the Borno Youth and Students Forum, Suleiman Muhammed, commended the Federal Government and security agencies for their response to the recent abduction of students in Oyo State, describing the rescue efforts as encouraging.

He urged the authorities to intensify operations aimed at rescuing all victims still in captivity, particularly those affected by insurgency in Borno and other parts of the country.

Muhammed also cautioned against yielding to terrorists’ demands for ransom payments, arguing that such concessions could embolden criminal groups and worsen the country’s security challenges.

“This campaign is a call on all Nigerians, especially young people, to stand together against terrorism. We must unite and reject every form of support for criminal elements,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the government would continue strengthening efforts to restore peace across all regions of the country without discrimination.

While acknowledging the commitment of both the federal and Borno State governments to combating insurgency, Muhammed appealed for more strategic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity.

According to him, expanding youth empowerment programmes and creating economic opportunities would help reduce crime and discourage young people from being recruited into violent groups.

“Government has done a lot, but more needs to be done to permanently end insurgency. Providing jobs, empowering young people and creating an enabling environment for legitimate livelihoods are essential to achieving lasting peace,” he added.

Other participants at the rally stressed the need for sustained investment in the nation’s security architecture, including improved equipment, logistics and welfare for military personnel and other security operatives.

One of the protesters, Khadijat Abdullahi, said defeating terrorism would require both stronger security measures and policies that address poverty and unemployment.

“The government should continue investing in our security agencies by providing modern equipment and improving the welfare of troops. At the same time, attention must be given to tackling poverty and creating employment opportunities because these are among the factors driving criminality,” she said.

Throughout the march, participants carried placards bearing messages such as “Unity: Our Weapon Against Terrorism,” “Say No to Collaborating with Terrorists,” “Say Yes to Peace,” “Together We Stand Against Terrorism and Criminality,” and “A Secure Nigeria Starts With All of Us.”

The organisers said the campaign was intended to encourage citizens to support security agencies, reject violent extremism and promote national unity as a critical tool in overcoming terrorism and other security threats across Nigeria.