NEWS
Again Terrorists Overrun Borno Military Base, Kill Commander, 19 Others
Borno State has witnessed a surge in deadly terrorist attacks, with multiple incidents claiming the lives of military personnel and civilians.
In the most recent assault, armed terrorists, suspected to be Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters, overran a military base in Malam-Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area, killing a military commander, two senior officers, and 17 soldiers.
The attack occurred on Friday, January 24, 2025, when insurgents stormed the base in multiple gun trucks.
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According to intelligence sources, the attackers razed several buildings and military operational vehicles during the hours-long assault, forcing survivors to flee.
“The commanding officer of the battalion, two senior officers, including the base medical director, were among those killed. Many soldiers were seriously injured, and a yet-to-be-ascertained number of personnel remain missing as of Saturday,” one source revealed.
This incident comes just two days after another attack in the Gadan Gari fishing community of Bama Local Government Area, where at least 20 fishermen were killed.
Modu Ari, a member of the civilian joint task force, reported that insurgents opened fire on fishermen around 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
“Fifteen bodies have already been buried,” said Mustapha Kachallah, a grieving resident whose child was among the victims.
The Malam-Fatori attack mirrors a recent assault on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area. In that incident, terrorists launched a pre-dawn raid, killing an unconfirmed number of soldiers and injuring many others.
“The 25 Taskforce Brigade was attacked over the weekend with heavy casualties. So far, over seven bodies have been recovered. The terror group invaded the FOB Sabon Gari camp around 4 am on Saturday, using various weapons,” an intelligence source said.
The resurgence of terrorist activities in Borno State has alarmed residents and officials alike.
Since November 2024, over 40 farmers have been killed in similar attacks, including an assault in Dumba, Kukawa Local Government Area.
Despite the Borno State government’s efforts to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their ancestral communities, the escalating violence has raised concerns over the safety of residents.
Neither the military nor state officials have issued statements on the latest incidents.
NEWS
No Place For Sharia Court In Ogun State, Says Gov Abiodun
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has issued a stern warning against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court in the state without legal authorization.
This comes in response to the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of such a court.
In a statement personally signed on Tuesday, Governor Abiodun emphasized that Sharia Courts cannot be legally established by individuals or groups outside the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
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He reaffirmed that the state government only recognizes courts constituted through the legal framework of the Constitution and state laws.
“No Sharia Court is authorized to operate within Ogun State,” Abiodun stated. “The courts legally empowered to adjudicate disputes in the state are Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.”
He further clarified that Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework in Ogun State and warned against the operation of unauthorized courts or assemblies.
According to the Governor, the state government respects the rights of individuals to practice their religion and apply their faith in personal matters.
However, this freedom does not extend to the creation of institutions or courts without proper legal backing.
Governor Abiodun directed all individuals involved in the creation or operation of the illegal Sharia Court to immediately cease all activities and disband the entity.
He also urged the public to disregard any summons, documents, or communications from the unauthorized court and to report such incidents to the authorities.
“The Ogun State Government will uphold the rule of law, ensure respect for the legal and judicial framework within the state, and prevent any breakdown of law and order,” the statement concluded.
NEWS
JUST IN: Tinubu Returns To Abuja After Energy Summit In Tanzania
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The presidential aircraft, 001, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 7:40 pm on Tuesday, according to the State House media office.
The President was received by top government officials, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
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The summit, organized by the Tanzanian government in partnership with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, centered on advancing “Mission 300,” an initiative designed to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
During the event, African leaders, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations discussed strategies to overcome the continent’s energy challenges.
Discussions focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and accelerating energy access in underserved regions, with an emphasis on mobilizing private sector investment.
On the opening day, ministers from participating nations presented their national energy strategies, known as compacts, which outlined their plans to achieve universal energy access within five years.
The summit culminated in the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration by Heads of State, including President Tinubu, which charts a unified path for achieving the goals of Mission 300.
In his address, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa’s energy sector and emphasized the country’s commitment to universal energy access.
He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and detailed its strategy for integrated energy delivery across the continent.
“Nigeria remains committed to achieving universal access to energy and will continue to champion solutions that integrate renewable energy and enhance efficiency across Africa,” Tinubu said.
The President was accompanied by key members of his administration, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; and Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen.
International News
Fire Breaks Out On Air Busan Plane In South Korea, One Injured
An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) as the aircraft, which was bound for Hong Kong, ignited near its tail section.
A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants were evacuated using inflatable slides, Yonhap reported.
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One person sustained injuries during the evacuation, but no further details about the injury or the fire’s cause were immediately available.
South Korea’s Busan fire authorities were not reachable for comment, according to AFP.
This incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades.
Recall that on December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and exploded after striking a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.
The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.
According to Flightradar24, Air Busan’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft.
The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.