Borno Governor Zulum visits freed abductees, announces rehabilitation for Ngoshe community
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Victims from Ngoshe community in Borno State, recently freed after three months in captivity, shared their experiences, including their diet of guinea corn once daily and sleeping on open floors on a mountain. One victim, Khadijat, stated that their release involved no contact or gunfire, with terrorists leading them down the mountain before they made their way to soldiers. She also noted that among those freed were 11 individuals from another community who had been held for seven months. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum visited the 360 freed victims on Monday, announcing the release of funds for the rehabilitation of the Ngoshe community. Zulum praised President Bola Tinubu for his intervention and acknowledged the efforts of various security agencies, including the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Security, and local security groups. The governor mentioned that a total of 434 individuals had been released, including those freed two to three weeks prior. He confirmed that millions of naira have been released for Ngoshe's rehabilitation, with work nearing completion, and discussions are ongoing with the Nigerian military to ensure a safe return for residents. Zulum also directed the distribution of relief materials to the released individuals.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa ORO has expressed alarm over the continued seizure of Nigerian onion trucks in Ghana, urging the Nigerian Federal Government to intervene to prevent a regional trade crisis. ORO President Isa Aliyu stated that several trucks loaded with onions have been stranded at Kotoku Market in Ghana since July 21, after Ghanaian onion traders reportedly prevented them from offloading produce. Aliyu, who is also the National President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria NOPPMAN, highlighted that this situation is causing significant losses for Nigerian farmers, exporters, and transporters. He warned that the prolonged detention of the perishable goods could undermine Nigeria’s cross-border trade and violate ECOWAS trade protocols. Despite interventions from the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, the Embassy of the Republic of Niger, and the ECOWAS Trade Directorate, the trucks remain unreleased. Aliyu emphasized that Ghanaian traders enjoy unrestricted access to Nigerian markets, purchasing over 50 trucks of onions from Nigeria without discrimination, while Nigeria exports about 16 trucks weekly to Ghana. He asserted that the blockade violates the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area, which ensure the free movement of goods among member states. Aliyu appealed to the Federal Government for diplomatic engagement with Ghana to protect Nigerian bu
Must ReadOyo State Governor Seyi Makinde revealed in his July 2026 monthly newsletter that an All Progressives Congress chieftain warned him on June 1, 2025, against contesting the 2027 presidential election, following President Bola Tinubu's endorsement as the APC's sole candidate. Makinde stated that a day after this warning, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission requested copies of all Oyo State Government contracts and payments to contractors from 2021, without specifying any particular contractor, company, transaction, or alleged offense. This disclosure came as Makinde reacted to a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan that restrained the EFCC from proceeding with its planned investigation into the state's finances. The court, while acknowledging the EFCC's powers, ruled that its request was "speculative" and a "fishing expedition," emphasizing that investigations must align with the Constitution and the rule of law. Makinde noted that his administration did not resist investigation but sought clarification on specific transactions, which the EFCC did not provide, leading the state government to seek judicial interpretation. He described the court's decision as a victory for the rule of law, reinforcing that all institutions must operate within constitutional boundaries and that accountability must be evidence-based.
The Nigerian Federal Government has launched the training of its first group of smart electricity meter installers under the Power Force program. This initiative, overseen by the Presidential Metering Initiative PMI, saw nearly 220,000 young Nigerians apply for 5,000 available positions. The initial cohort will undergo a three-week intensive training before being deployed as certified meter installers across the country. Olu Verheijen, Executive Secretary of the PMI and Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, stated that the PMI, established by President Bola Tinubu in 2023, aims to ensure Nigerians pay only for electricity consumed. Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, emphasized that the 5,000 trained installers will form the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce, highlighting that electricity reform involves creating opportunities and building human capital. He also commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria for withdrawing a court action against the meter deployment program. Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Edmund Nnaji, urged other governors to support expanding the trainee pool. Minister of Youth Development, Ayo Olawande, noted that Power Force aligns with his ministry’s One Youth, Two Skills initiative, focusing on job creation and national development. After the Abuja launch, training will extend to centers across all six geopolitical zones, with trainees receiving