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.

Zulum Approves Two New Community Schools in Biu, Upgrades Hospital to Specialist Facility

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the construction of two new community secondary schools in Biu Local Government Area as part of efforts to expand access to free and quality education across the state.

The governor also designated Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Biu, as one of the state’s eight Centres of Excellence, an initiative aimed at promoting academic excellence, unity and cultural integration among students from different parts of Borno.

Zulum disclosed this on Sunday while speaking with journalists during his week-long assessment tour of five local government areas in southern Borno.

The governor, who spent the previous night in Azare, Hawul Local Government Area, inspected several public institutions in Biu, including Government Senior Science Secondary School, Government Secondary School Waka, Government Girls Secondary School, the Nigerian Army University, the new General Hospital, the 100 Housing Estate and the State Hotels.

He also visited the proposed sites for the Community Boys Day Secondary School and Community Girls Day Secondary School, where he directed that construction should begin immediately and be completed before the end of his administration.

According to him, the growing population of Biu has placed increasing pressure on existing educational facilities, making it necessary for government to create more opportunities for children to enrol in secondary schools.

“Biu is growing rapidly, and government must respond by expanding access to education. We have assessed the situation and decided to build two additional community secondary schools, one for boys and another for girls,” the governor said.

Zulum explained that the Centres of Excellence initiative would revive the state’s school exchange programme, allowing students from different parts of Borno to study together while receiving transportation support from the government.

He said the programme would strengthen social cohesion by encouraging interaction among young people from diverse communities across the state.

The governor also addressed students of Government Girls Secondary School, Biu, where he urged both Muslim and Christian students to uphold the moral teachings of their respective faiths, describing discipline and good character as the foundation of a peaceful society.

To improve students’ welfare, he announced the donation of 200 bags of rice, beans and cooking oil for school feeding. He also approved the construction of an additional borehole for the school’s kitchen and directed the repair of the existing faulty water facility.

At the Nigerian Army University, Zulum inspected two blocks of 12 three-bedroom staff quarters built by the state government. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the institution’s plan to establish a College of Medical Sciences, which he said would create more opportunities for Borno students to study medicine and related health courses.

The governor also inspected the ongoing construction of a 150-bed General Hospital in Biu, revealing that the facility would be upgraded to a Specialist Hospital upon completion.

He said the expansion would increase the hospital’s capacity to between 300 and 400 beds, enabling it to provide advanced healthcare services not only for residents of Biu but also for people across the remaining eight local government areas in southern Borno.

According to Zulum, the upgraded hospital would play a critical role in supporting the Nigerian Army University’s proposed medical college, with the institution expected to admit its first medical students next year.

In a move to strengthen healthcare delivery, the governor announced automatic employment for 17 volunteer nurses currently serving at the General Hospital. He also pledged to recruit additional medical personnel to meet the growing healthcare needs of the area.

The visit formed part of Zulum’s ongoing inspection of government projects across southern Borno, focusing on improving education, healthcare and public infrastructure in underserved communities.