News
Soldiers Kill 20 Boko Haram Suspects In Maiduguri
Security forces yesterday killed 20 suspected Boko Haram
militants in a shootout as they raided an Islamist hideout in Borno State, a
security officer said.
One soldier was also killed in the shootout in Maiduguri,
the Borno State capital, the officer said.
Boko Haram, an Islamist group styled on the Taliban
template, is waging an insurgency against the government with a view to
creating an Islamic state in Nigeria, a country of more than 160 million split
roughly equally between Christians and Muslims.
Security forces had intelligence that some members of the
group were holding a gathering at a location in Maiduguri, said Colonel Victor
Ebhaleme, Field Operations Officer of the military and police mixed Joint Task
Force (JTF) in Borno.
“When we approached the venue of their meeting, the
terrorists opened fire on the JTF, which led to the killing of 20 terrorists
while we lost one soldier and two others sustained injury,” he said.
Boko Haram did not comment and it was not possible to
independently confirm the report.
The Islamists have killed hundreds in gun and bomb attacks
in Nigeria, Africa’s top energy producer, since they launched their uprising in
2011.
The violence has centred on Borno State and other areas of
the predominantly Muslim north, although it has spread outwards across central
Nigeria and struck the capital Abuja in the past year.
Suspected sect members opened fire on Christian worshippers
in the central state of Kogi last Monday, killing 19.
A military crackdown on the sect in the past few months has
had mixed results, apparently weakening it but also fuelling resentment against
President Goodluck Jonathan’s government in a poor region that has often felt
left out of the country’s oil wealth, concentrated in the south.
On Saturday, Nigerian security forces discovered a
bomb-making factory in Kano, the north’s biggest city.
The death of Boko Haram’s leader in police custody in 2009
is largely seen as what triggered the uprising.
In a related development, gun battle between security forces
and suspected members of the Boko Haram sect ensued yesterday in Damaturu, the
Yobe State capital.
The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Patrick Egbuniwe,
who confirmed the incident, said intelligence reports brought to the attention
of security operatives the presence of the sect members at the Bundigari-
Powari ward of Damaturu.
The police, however, said that apart from the area, no other
place has been affected as normal activities are going on in some parts of the
state.
Mr Egbuniwe added that the extent of destruction cannot
presently be ascertained.
This gun battle in Damaturu is happening a week after a
suicide bomber ran into a military convoy, killing ten members of the Joint
Task Force (JTF) in the state capital.
It would be recalled that the convoy of the Yobe State
Deputy Governor was last Saturday mistakenly aimed at and shot by a police at
Maisandari checkpoint in Damaturu.
The incident came weeks after police on guard at the
Government House gate Damaturu shot at a driver attached to the Government
House Protocol Department while trying to enter his office.
He is still battling to survive from the three gunshots in
hospital.
It was gathered that the Deputy Governor, Engr Abubakar
Aliyu was coming back from his farm around 12:00noon when the police officer
stationed at the checkpoint opened fire at the second to the last vehicle
carrying security operatives, a development that created serious panic.
A source explained what happened: “The bullet brushed the
tyre of the security details (SSS’s) vehicle in the convoy which was directly
in front of the pilot vehicle. No life was lost and the vehicle tyre didn’t
burst.”
Yobe State Police Commissioner, Patrick Egbuniwe confirmed
that the police officer shot at the vehicle.
“The vehicle was at some distance from the Deputy Governor’s
convoy. This made the police officer suspect them and eventually shot to stop
them. We later discovered that it was an SSS vehicle,” he said.
News
Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene