Headlines

Controversy Trails Casualty In Boko Haram Ambush

Published

9 years ago

April 25, 2016

Angry Soldiers Refute Claims Of Only Injury, Insist They Lost Men
2 Officers, 22 Others Wounded, As Troops Retreat, Retake Kareto– Army

The Nigerian Military may still taking stock of the actual casualty figure following last week’s attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a Military formation in Kareto, in Mobar Local Government Area of Borno state, even as reports indicate that it has deployed aerial offensives to disperse the insurgents who seem to be giving their last fight.
nationalTRAIL gathered that at the time the General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Victor Ezugwu was battling with another set of insurgents on the Maiduguri-Bama axis, Nigerian troops camped in Kareto, in preparation for advancement on Boko Haram locations were also running for their lives following a dawn ambush by yet another set of Boko Haram insurgents.
Reports indicate that the GOC lost one soldier in the encounter along the Maiduguri –Bama road, while the exact casualty figure in the incident in kareto could not be ascertained as some of the soldiers who dispersed in different directions following the ambush are still finding their ways back to their bases in Gubio in trickles, as at time of filling this report.
Nigerian Army on Monday last week said, 2 officers and 22 Soldiers were wounded in action after Boko Haram attacked military formation in Kareto, Damasak local government area of Borno State, but soldiers returning from the battle field said, the military had lost men in the battle which lasted hours before reinforcement came.
According to them, two suicide bombers approached the military camp earlier, and were gunned down when suddenly there was rapid fire by the Boko Haram who are using RGPs and Rocket Propel Grenade to attack the military formation.
“We took position and tried to fire back but we do not have the weapons to repel as aspects, and we all retreated when the battle was fierce to allow fighter jet to come in. The most annoying or rather sad thing is that, reinforcement did not come in time and we lost many men.” A soldier told newsmen in Maiduguri.”.
According to them, fighting Boko Haram is far from being over until politics ceases to play out and government becomes serious about fighting the insurgents.
“We are at the war front but it was not our voices that is heard about the ongoing war in the northeast. Those who are feeding the world with information are not at the battle front. The truth is that, war is ongoing in the northeast and the earlier they stop playing politics with the issues the better for Nigeria,” another Soldier said.
It could be recalled that, last year the President has said, that the Boko Haram insurgents have been weakened, but the Kareto experience observers say is an indication that government needs to wake up to its responsibility to ensure total clearance of the terrorists group.
Several attempts to get the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman Kukasheka to speak on the number of casualty failed as he could not reply many call trying to have him react to what the soldiers told newsmen about the incident last week.
Military authorities were not forthcoming on the actual figure of casualties, but our correspondent reports, hospital sources confirmed that corpses which he suspects were that of soldiers were being deposited in the State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Defence spokesman, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar could not also confirm the casualty figure on enquiry as he did not reply sms sent to his phone by the editor of the paper, nor respond to calls put through to him, but sources confirmed that an investigation has been ordered into the incident, as part of the stock taking.
Although there is no official confirmation of the casualty figure, our correspondent learnt that more than 100 insurgents may have been killed in the counter offensive by fighter jets, and many soldiers could not be accounted for, as they were yet to report back to base as at the time of filing this report.
According to one of the soldiers who was amongst those ambushed, the insurgents may have received information of the planned offensive by the troops, and decided to cause panic in the troops’ camps by firing untargeted gunshots at the camps, and at the same time trying to scoop food items from panic stricken residents.
Our correspondent further reports, at the time the Military is reported to be recording successes in the fight against terror, rag tag Boko Haram insurgents, who are believed to be starving have in apparent desperation re-launched attacks in some areas in Borno State.
In the last one week, the Military has reported the repelling of several attempts by Boko Haram to coordinate attacks in several locations in Borno State, even as reports indicate that life is gradually returning to normal in most areas hitherto sacked by Boko Haram.

By Yahaya WAKILI, Maiduguri

Headlines

BREAKING: Senate to Engage US Lawmakers Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

October 6, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Nigerian Senate is set to engage with US lawmakers following renewed debate on alleged targeted attacks against Christians in the country.

The controversy intensified after American TV host Bill Maher, on his HBO program, described the situation as a “silent genocide,” accusing Western media of downplaying mass killings by Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Fulani militias. He cited claims that over 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and thousands of churches destroyed.

Maher’s remarks were echoed by Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who argued that the crisis had not received the international media attention it deserves.

Government Rejects Genocide Narrative
In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims as misleading and divisive. He emphasized that terrorist groups do not target Christians alone, insisting that Nigerians of all faiths—including Muslims and non-religious citizens—have suffered at the hands of violent extremists.

“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious war is a gross misrepresentation of reality,” Idris said.

Headlines

Nigeria @ 65: The Worst Is Over, We’ve Turned a New Corner — Tinubu

Published

1 week ago

October 1, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, assured citizens that the country has overcome its toughest challenges and is on the path to recovery.

Honouring the Founding Fathers

Tinubu paid tribute to the sacrifices of Nigeria’s independence leaders, including Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Margaret Ekpo, Anthony Enahoro, Michael Okpara, Aminu Kano, and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
“They believed it was Nigeria’s manifest destiny to lead the black race as the largest black nation on earth,” he said.

Journey So Far

Reflecting on six decades of nationhood, the President noted that Nigeria had endured a civil war, military dictatorships, and political crises but survived with “courage and grit.”
“At Independence, Nigeria had only 120 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions. Today, we have over 23,000 secondary schools, 274 universities, 183 polytechnics, and 236 colleges of education,” he said, adding that the country had made “remarkable progress” in healthcare, telecommunications, aviation, and infrastructure.

Tough Reforms, Signs of Recovery

Tinubu said he inherited a fragile economy distorted by decades of poor policies but chose reform over inaction.
“Our administration ended the corrupt fuel subsidy regime and abolished multiple foreign exchange rates that enriched a few while impoverishing the majority,” he stated.
According to him, the measures are yielding results:

GDP grew by 4.23% in Q2 2025, the fastest in four years.
Inflation fell to 20.12% in August, the lowest in three years.
₦20 trillion was realised from non-oil revenue by August.
Debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from 97% to below 50%.
Foreign reserves climbed to $42.03 billion, the highest since 2019.
Oil output rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day, while Nigeria refined petrol domestically for the first time in four decades.
The stock market surged from 55,000 points in May 2023 to 142,000 points by September 2025.

“The worst is over. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to today’s relief,” the President declared.

Tackling Insecurity

Tinubu said security agencies were making gains against insurgency, separatism, and banditry.
“Hundreds of communities have been liberated, with thousands of displaced persons returning home. We salute the gallantry of our armed forces,” he said.

Investing in Youth

Describing young people as Nigeria’s “greatest asset,” Tinubu highlighted ongoing programmes:

NELFUND Student Loans: ₦99.5bn disbursed to 510,000 students.
Credicorp Loans: ₦30bn given to 153,000 Nigerians for solar, housing, transport, and digital devices.
YouthCred: Credit support extended to NYSC members.
iDICE Programme: Partnership with AfDB, AFD, and IsDB to boost innovation in digital and creative sectors.

Call for Collective Effort

Acknowledging that reforms have caused temporary hardship, Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain steadfast.
“Our progress must not be measured by statistics alone, but by food on our tables, quality of education, electricity in our homes, and safety in our communities,” he said.

He called on citizens to embrace productivity, pay taxes, support local industries, and contribute to nation-building.
“The dawn of a new Nigeria is here — self-reliant, prosperous, and united. With God on our side, we will overcome. Let all hands be on deck,” he concluded.

Would you like me to compress this further into a shorter news report (around 6–7 tight paragraphs) for quick-read media, or keep it as a detailed feature-style recap like this one?

Headlines

Bandit Kingpin Releases 28 Captives in Katsina Following Peace Deal

Published

3 weeks ago

September 17, 2025

Our Reporter

A total of 28 persons abducted by suspected bandits in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have been released without ransom following a peace arrangement with bandit kingpin.

The bandits, led by their commander identified as Isya Akwashi Garwa, handed over the captives to officials of the council on Wednesday.

Zagazola reports that those released were largely residents of Mairua, Kanen-haki and Yar Dabaru communities.

Local authorities confirmed that the release was the outcome of a reconciliation effort initiated in the area to restore peace and reduce violent attacks.

Community leaders in Faskari described the development as a positive signal and urged both sides to sustain the peace process. They also urged the bandit to force other bandits still attacking in the area to stop.

A council official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The captives were released this afternoon without any ransom being paid. The bandit leader fulfilled his promise under the peace talks,”he said.

Meanwhile, residents expressed relief at the safe return of the abductees, with some calling for stronger security guarantees to consolidate the gesture.