News
Boko Haram Kills 11 In Yobe, 17 In Chad …Takes Over Highways In Damaturu
Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Barr Kenneth Kobani (left) conferring with Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Emma Aguma (SAN),during inauguration of CTC Chairmen ceremony at Government House Port Harcourt ast Friday
Suspected members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have attacked Gamdu town in Yobe State, killing 11 residents and taking over Damaturu-Maiduguri highway.
Gamdu is a commercial and agricultural settlement along Damaturu-Maiduguri highway and is located 35 kilometres east of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State.
A resident of Gamdu town, Mallam Bukar Gamdu, told newsmen yesterday that the militants came to town in the midnight of Friday and carried out some killings.
“The attackers came in the night and killed people of our community and as the day breaks, we counted eleven inhabitants killed in the dastard act,” Gamdu said.
Apart from the killings that were carried out on Friday night, Gamdu said the insurgents had formed the habit of mounting temporary road blocks on the busy Damaturu-Maiduguri highway to terrorise people travelling on the road.
Another traveller on the security-threaten road, who asked not to be mentioned, said “travellers often wait for each other to move in long convoy for fear of attack”, and called for more security patrol along the road.
He also confirmed that the insurgents had by noon on Saturday blocked the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway which lasted for several minutes, as several vehicles had to stop at nearby villages to avoid the attackers who were later chased away by security forces.
“We were travelling from Damaturu to Maiduguri in a long convoy and luckily security operatives on patrol were leading the convoy and suddenly we had a loud sound and the security men immediately had a stopover and run into the bush.
“We later heard that they sighted the insurgents who were strategising to mount a road block. We stayed there for over an hour and the security operatives later returned and we continue the journey but no one knows what really transpired between them and the insurgents deep in the bush,” he explained.
The traveller called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the relevant authorities to step up efforts towards ending the insurgency which had held back development in the two states and the north-east in general.
Some travellers from Maiduguri to Damaturu told newsmen in Damaturu on Saturday afternoon that several cars along the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway around Benesheiehk, the headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area, were set ablaze by the insurgents, as at the time they were plying the route.
Boko Haram attacks on innocent people in Borno and Yobe States are gradually on the rise, with wide spread cases of suicide bombings, attacks on communities, places of worship and areas believed to have crowds.
President Buhari had, during his inaugural address on the May 29, assured Nigerians that his “administration will fight and subdue the militants,” the Boko Haram.
Despite the assurance by the President, the terrorist group, which had lost some of the territories it had captured to heightened counter-terrorism operations by Nigerian Armed Forces, have intensified attacks, killing over 300 persons since May 29.
Meanwhile, a Boko Haram suicide bombing in a crowded market in Chad’s capital has killed 17 people on Saturday, just days after the militant group claimed a previous bombing in the city that left 38 people dead.
The attack in N’Djamena, by a man disguised as a woman in a full-face veil, came after a botched bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, which killed two pedestrians.
The attacks underlined the threat still posed by the militants in the region, despite the authorities’ claims of recent military successes and with a new regional force set to deploy at the end of the month.
Police Director-General, Taher Erda said the N’Djamena bomber detonated his explosives belt when he was stopped for security checks at the entrance to the market.
Chad banned the full-face veil, ramped up security measures and bombed militant positions in Nigeria last month after the first ever Boko Haram attack in its capital.
The provisional toll on Saturday was 15 dead and 80 injured, four of them seriously, said police spokesman, Paul Manga.
Nine of the victims were female traders and one was a police officer, he added. An AFP correspondent there described a gruesome scene of carnage and pools of blood.
The area, in the heart of the capital, was cordoned off by security forces after the attack at about 8:45am (0745 GMT), and a police source said there was “no doubt it was Boko Haram”.
Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet called a crisis meeting to discuss the attack.
Foreign Minister of Chad’s former colonial masters France, Laurent Fabius, called the bombing “despicable”.
Experts said the latest bombing in Chad, following previous strikes in Niger and repeated targeting of northern Cameroon, showed the need for a joined-up solution involving Nigeria and its neighbours.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to inaugurate four legacy projects, including a state-owned gas turbine, during a one-day state visit to Bayelsa State, today.
To this effect, the Bayelsa State Government has declared Friday (today) a work-free day, and ordered the closure of markets ahead of the President’s visit.
The state Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, disclosed this yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital.
She said, “As we all know that the state is ready and we are ready as a people to receive the father of the nation, our father and leader in the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who will be in the state on a one-day visit to inaugurate four legacy projects.
“In view of this, the state government has declared tomorrow, Friday, April 10, 2026, a work-free day to enable workers and other residents of the State to participate in the programmes lined up for the one-day official visit to Bayelsa State.”
According to her, Tinubu is expected to inaugurate key projects during the visit, including a state-owned gas turbine at Opolo-Elebele, a 60-kilometre dual carriageway from Onopa to the LNG axis, and a 630-metre bridge linking Angiama to Oporoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
Koku-Obiyai urged residents, including traders, to comply with the directive and turn out to welcome the President.
The government said the measures were part of efforts to ensure a smooth and successful visit.
The Tide reports that Bayelsa is the third state President Tinubu will visit for project commissioning in the last one week.
The President was in Ogun State last Saturday to commission the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, Iperu, together with the state’s new airline, Gateway Airline, and its two newly acquired aircraft.
He also inaugurated logistics and trade infrastructure, and launched the Nigeria Customs Service’s N73bn hub that has a residential barracks, training college, warehouse and hospital.
The president also launched mobility, security and agriculture assets, including 1,000 electric motorcycles (EV bikes), and 80 units of security vehicles.
Tinubu was also in Lagos on Wednesday on a two-day state visit to commission key legacy projects of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
Though represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the president inaugurated the newly constructed Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge, Lagos State Geographic Information Service (LAGIS) building, and Lagos Multi-Agency Building in Alausa.
Other notable projects commissioned by the President were Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Abijo, Ajah, Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle, and Maracana Stadium, comprising 19 mini-football pitches, built side-by-side in Ajegunle.
The Rivers State Government has called for stronger collaboration with horticulturists as part of renewed efforts to restore the aesthetic appeal and environmental quality of Port Harcourt, in line with its urban renewal agenda.
The Commissioner for Urban Development, Sir Amairagha Edward Hart, made the call during an interactive session with private horticulturists and flower dealers at his office in Port Harcourt, recently.
He said the present administration remains committed to reviving the famed Garden City status of the state capital through deliberate policies and strategic partnerships, noting that professionals in horticulture have a key role to play in achieving that vision.
The Commissioner stressed that the state government is placing high premium on environmental sustainability, beautification of public spaces, and the creation of a serene urban atmosphere that reflects global best practices.
The Commissioner urged horticulturists to align their operations with government’s urban development guidelines, adding that their expertise and experience are essential in transforming Port Harcourt into a model city.
According to him, the collaboration will not only enhance the city’s visual appeal but also contribute to improved environmental health and economic opportunities for practitioners in the sector.
He, however, cautioned against practices that undermine urban order, particularly the obstruction of walkways and indiscriminate occupation of public spaces meant for other uses.
Hart emphasized that while the government encourages business growth, such activities must be carried out in a manner that supports urban planning objectives and promotes public convenience.
In a move to further support the sector, he disclosed plans by the Ministry to establish a dedicated “Flower Village” that will serve as a central hub for horticulturists and flower dealers across the state capital.
He explained that the proposed initiative is aimed at restoring sanity to the use of walkways and road corridors, while also creating a structured environment that will enhance business operations and boost revenue generation.
Responding on behalf of the practitioners, Evang. Caroline Nabo highlighted some of the challenges faced by horticulturists, including theft of plants and materials by scavengers and scrap metal dealers.
She appealed to the state government for intervention to safeguard their investments, even as she and other stakeholders commended the Ministry’s proactive steps and pledged their support towards the successful greening and beautification of Port Harcourt.
King Onunwor
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC ) has called on the Federal Government to deploy excess crude oil revenue to subsidise local refineries as a way of cushioning the impact of rising fuel prices on Nigerians.
President of the Congress, Festus Osifo, who made the call during a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday, warned that the price of Premium Motor Spirit could climb to as high as N2,000 per litre if urgent measures are not taken.
Osifo said the persistent increase in the pump price of petrol, driven by global crude oil price volatility and exchange rate challenges, has worsened the economic hardship faced by Nigerian workers.
The TUC leader attributed the surge partly to international developments, including tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have affected global oil supply dynamics.
Osifo also linked the rising cost of petrol to the depreciation of the naira, warning that the continued weakening of the currency is compounding inflationary pressures and reducing the real value of workers’ earnings.
To address the situation, the TUC president proposed that the government should utilise excess revenue generated when crude oil prices exceed the budget benchmark to support local refining.
He explained that with the 2024 budget benchmarked at $64.85 per barrel, any price above that threshold results in additional revenue shared by the three tiers of government, adding that at least 60 per cent of such excess funds should be channelled into subsidising crude supplied to domestic refineries, including the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries.
He also urged authorities to take deliberate steps to stabilise the currency, noting that exchange rate stability would significantly reduce the cost of imported energy and other goods.
The TUC said it would formally communicate its proposals to the Federal Government, including the Presidency, with a view to ensuring the prompt implementation of measures to ease the hardship facing Nigerians.
He said, “Today, the cost of petrol is heading towards N2,000 per litre, depending on the part of the country that you are in. It has deeply affected the purchasing power of the salaries that we earn as Nigerian workers.
“Let the government take that excess fund that was never budgeted for, take at least 60 per cent of it, and use it to subsidise the crude being supplied to Dangote Refinery.
“The same should be done for Dangote Refinery and all modular refineries, where crude is supplied to them at that subsidised rate.
“Take the difference from the excess crude revenue, take about 60 per cent of it, and use it to subsidise the price at which crude is supplied to the refinery.
“When you subsidise crude, it cannot be abused because you are subsidising production directly. When that is done, we are going to see an immediate reduction in the price of petroleum products.”
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