Yobe Reclaims Peace as 14 LGAs Secure From Insurgency — SSG

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu 

Yobe State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali, says normalcy has returned to most parts of the state, as 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are now secure from Boko Haram attacks and other criminal activities that once disrupted life and economic activities.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Damaturu, Wali said sustained operations by the military and other security agencies, coupled with state government interventions, have strengthened security within the last six years.

He recalled that some communities, especially in Gujba and Gulani LGAs, were once too dangerous to access due to their proximity to the Sambisa forest and the Damaturu–Biu axis. According to him, these areas were “previously inaccessible for any meaningful socio-economic activity.”

Wali explained that with support from the Federal Government and coordinated operations by troops and security operatives, peace has been restored in places such as Buni-Yadi, Gujba, Goniri and Katarko, enabling displaced residents to return to their communities.

Beyond military operations, the SSG highlighted several investments made by the Yobe State Government to stabilise the region. These include the distribution of 250 patrols and specialised vehicles to boost security responses, especially in border communities and forest fringes.

He added that the government donated transformers to military barracks, provided 500 motorcycles for field operations, and installed long-range surveillance cameras at strategic locations to monitor suspicious movements.

Wali also disclosed that the state allocated large parcels of land to various security agencies for the establishment of operational bases, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Army, Correctional Service, and the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to him, ongoing interventions include providing housing support for personnel, communication equipment, and monthly logistics assistance in cash and kind to the military, police, and DSS. The state also rehabilitated more than 300 operational vehicles and engaged more than 2,000 vigilantes, hunters, and hybrid forces to reinforce community security.

Highlighting the impact of these efforts, the SSG noted that residents now travel safely to distant LGAs such as Machina and Yusufari even at night, something he described as impossible at the peak of insurgency.

Wali’s briefing to over 50 journalists signifies an important turning point in Yobe’s journey towards sustained peace. He encouraged citizens to resume legitimate business activities without fear, expressing optimism that the state is on a firm path to stability after years of insecurity.

Yobe Boosts Healthcare:  Government employs 2,500 workers, upgrades five hospitals to specialist status

Njadvara Musa, Damaturu 

The Yobe State Government has taken a major step toward strengthening its healthcare delivery system by employing 2,500 health workers and upgrading five General Hospitals to Specialist Healthcare Facilities (SHFT) across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe Hospitals Management Board (YOHMB), Dr Abubakar Yerima, announced this during an inspection tour and media briefing at the newly upgraded Specialist Hospital, Buni-Yadi, located in Gujba Local Government Area.

He stated that the other upgraded facilities are located in the state capital, Gashua, Potiskum, Geidam, and Damaturu.

“Upgrading these general hospitals to specialist level is expected to significantly improve access to specialised care, reduce unnecessary medical referrals outside the state, save lives and minimise long travel hours,” Yerima explained.

He noted that the initiative is part of a broader strategy that prioritises modern infrastructure, specialised labour, and improved staff welfare—with the goal of reducing medical tourism and preventing avoidable deaths.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Dr Yerima disclosed that the government has constructed a new maternity complex, complete with a special care baby unit, to address high maternal and neonatal mortality. Additionally, a new Accident & Emergency (A&E) complex has been added to handle trauma cases, terrorism-related injuries, and road traffic accidents.

He added that the specialist hospitals are equipped with advanced twin-theatre and surgical complexes, with only one other facility in the state having a similar setup.

“We are focusing on high-volume centres that can serve as medical hubs for referrals from neighbouring communities, especially the more than 150 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in the state,” he said.

Training and Manpower Development

The ES further revealed that about 70 healthcare workers are currently undergoing residency training to become specialist doctors. Others are being trained in dialysis, ICU care, perioperative services, and emergency nursing to deepen the state’s professional capacity.

Dr Yerima urged residents to patronise the specialist hospitals rather than relying on unregulated patent medicine stores within communities, assuring them that the upgraded facilities can now provide quality, specialised treatment closer to home.

Gov. Buni salutes Yobeans for tolerance and peaceful co-existence

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state has saluted members of the various religious and ethnic groups for their sustained tolerance and peaceful co-existence since the state was created in 1992.

According to him, the people’s tolerance and resilience to the Boko Haram insurgency have strengthened peacebuilding and the security of life and property across the state.

Buni spoke on Monday in Damaturu, when members of the Yobe State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Damaturu.

The governor congratulated the Christian communities in the state and across the country on the celebration of Christmas.

Buni described the season as one that reinforces the values of love, sacrifice, unity, and peaceful coexistence among the state’s communities.

He stressed that peace remains the foundation of meaningful development and freedom of religious practice, stating, “Societies engulfed in crises often struggle not only with development but also with the freedom to practice their religion without being intimidated.”

Buni assured that his administration will continue to promote peace and tolerance for the growth and development of the state, revealing that the government will construct 25 kilometres of township roads in Damaturu to improve commuting in the metropolis.

Earlier, the State CAN Chairman, Bishop Yohana Audu, commended the Governor for running an all-inclusive government.

“This has placed the state on a steady path of development anchored on peace, harmony and mutual

Bishop Yohana noted that the core message of Christmas is peace, love and reconciliation, which are reflected in Governor Buni’s style of governance.

He said the Buni administration has appointed members of CAN into various positions and allocated seats for the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel.

The Chairman of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly, Rev. Garba Idi, also commended the Governor for giving the Christian faithful a sense of belonging and inclusion.