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Gov.Lalong condemns attack in Jos North LGA

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Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has condemned an attack perpetrated on Tuesday night at Yelwa Zangam community in Jos North Local Government Area of the state during which lives were reportedly lost and properties destroyed.

Lalong made the condemnation in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Wednesday in Jos.

He described the act as barbaric, disclosing that security agencies had already arrested ten suspects in connection with the attack.

He said the arrest was to intensify efforts at tracking down the other assailants and their sponsors and bring them to justice.

According to the statement, the governor is furious over the attack which security reports indicated that it was carefully planned and executed.

He further said that the bridge linking the community was said to have been destroyed in order to deny security agencies access to the area during the attack.

Lalong sympathised with the people affected by the incident and called for calm, while assuring them that they would get justice.

He warned criminals to desist from perpetrating evil acts saying that they would be pursued, arrested and dealt with, no matter how long the investigation would take.

He said that his administration would not allow the reign of terror to persist and rubbish all the investments made in restoring peace in the state.

Meanwhile, the governor has praised the gallantry of security forces that successfully engaged and neutralised six criminals that belonged to a kidnapping syndicate of innocent people in Mangu Local Government Area.

According to the statement, troops from Operation Safe Haven and the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) engaged the bandits in response to distress calls.

Lalong expressed his deep condolences to the Nigeria Police and families of the Police Officer and Member of the Vigilante who lost their lives during the operation and assured them of Government support.

He vowed to make Plateau uncomfortable for criminals.

Defence/Security

Blackened Faces, Barefoot March: Southern Kaduna Farmers Demand Justice Amid Escalating Herder Attacks

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By: Fabian Apechihin

In a powerful show of anguish and defiance, farmers from Kagarko Local Government Area in Southern Kaduna staged a barefoot march to the palace of Chief Yohanna Akaito on Saturday, their faces smeared with black paint and hands clutching mourning leaves.

The dramatic procession, led largely by women dressed in black, was a desperate plea for justice amid ongoing attacks by armed herders that have devastated their farmlands and left scores dead.

A viral video published by Sahara Reporters showed hundreds of farmers—men, women, and children—moving solemnly toward the palace. Their faces reflected grief and exhaustion. One woman, speaking through tears, declared, “They are killing us, our husbands, our children,” a cry that resonated through the gathered crowd.

This marks the third such protest in Southern Kaduna within a week, underscoring growing frustration in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where herder-farmer clashes have claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2010, according to the International Crisis Group.

In Southern Kaduna, a region with a largely Christian population, these conflicts often carry ethnic and religious undertones, further deepening divisions. The farmers accuse local authorities of inaction despite Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani’s security initiatives. Critics insist that the persistent violence calls for a fundamental rethink of land-use policies, including the debate over grazing reserves and open grazing bans.

The protest has stirred intense debate online, with many Nigerians describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis and others calling it a “Christian genocide,” urging global attention and intervention.

As dusk fell over the palace, the image of blackened faces and bare feet lingered—a haunting symbol of a people’s resilience and a nation’s ongoing struggle to reconcile justice, security, and peace.

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Defence/Security

Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Former National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insurgency will remain elusive without national cohesion and a united front across society.

Monguno stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said Boko Haram and other violent groups had thrived by exploiting Nigeria’s divisions, stressing that disunity among citizens, political actors, and institutions weakened the country’s capacity to defeat terrorism.

“Without national cohesion, insurgency will not end. Terrorists feed on our fault lines – ethnic, religious, political – and they weaponise them against us. If we remain divided, no amount of military might will deliver lasting peace,” Monguno said.

He urged Nigerians to rise above parochial sentiments and embrace a spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and common purpose. According to him, the fight against insurgency must go beyond the battlefield to include reconciliation, justice, and inclusive governance.

The retired General emphasised that the scars left by Boko Haram were not just physical but also psychological and social, making unity a vital condition for national healing.

“The book reminds us that security is not just the work of soldiers. It is the responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens. Unless we build cohesion, insurgency will continue to mutate in different forms,” he added.

Monguno commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experience, describing the work as a guide that combines history, strategy, and national lessons for the future.

The event was attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats, and senior government officials.

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Defence/Security

Obasanjo urges holistic approach to end Boko Haram, insecurity

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a whole-of-society approach to tackle Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges in Nigeria.

Obasanjo made the call on Thursday in Abuja while reviewing the book “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,” authored by retired Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.

The former president, who wrote the foreword to the book, said the insurgency which has lasted more than 15 years under four administrations had become a major threat to the stability of the nation.

He recalled Nigeria’s past security challenges, including pre-independence militancy, the Tiv riots, and the 30-month civil war, stressing that Boko Haram had now become one of the most protracted security issues the country had faced.

“In 2011, after the UN House attack in Abuja, I went to find out who these people were and what they wanted. I found that they were not really aiming for anything political or religious. In short, they were looking for a better life.

“Have we understood that? Have we taken the right steps? Should we accept this menace as part of our lives? If not, what should we do? How proactive have we been in dealing with this monster within our country?” Obasanjo asked.

He commended Irabor for the courage to document his experiences and perspectives on the insurgency, noting that the book would enrich ongoing national dialogue on peace and security.

Obasanjo said Nigeria must not shy away from interrogating its past in order to understand what was disrupting the present and shaping the future.

“The life of any nation has the good, the bad and the ugly. What is important is for us to confront our challenges honestly, look at our past and present, and when it is time to proffer solutions, we must look beyond the ordinary,” he said.

The former president also warned against treating Boko Haram and banditry as separate problems, stressing that both had become intertwined.

“Those who have things to say about Boko Haram do not even know when Boko Haram stops and banditry starts. They are all mixed together. We must begin to do something about it, and we must do it collectively,” he said.

The event was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Defence Muhammad Badaru, service chiefs, royal fathers, senior military officers, members of the National Assembly and the diplomatic community.

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