Senator Ali Ndume commends military for rescuing 360 women and children in Borno
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, praised the Nigerian military for the successful rescue of 360 women and children abducted from Ngoshe community in Borno State. The victims, who had been held captive since March, were freed on Saturday. This rescue operation occurred three months after suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military base in Ngoshe on March 4. The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, confirmed the development. Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, also confirmed the release through a statement from his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya. Ndume commended the troops for their professionalism and patriotism despite operational challenges. He also expressed gratitude to the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Maiduguri, and the Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, as well as Governor Zulum, for their contributions. The lawmaker further praised the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, for providing relief materials and urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to support the rebuilding of Ngoshe. Ndume also called for intensified efforts to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area, and travelers kidnapped along the Biu-Buratai road, and condemned the killing of soldiers and repentant Boko Haram volunteers in Mandaragra village, Biu Local Government Area.
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.
Wolverhampton Wanderers canceled a training session after striker Tolu Arokodare reportedly refused to leave the pitch, demanding a transfer to Fiorentina. Wolves had rejected an offer from the Serie A club, despite having accepted one from Trabzonspor. The incident, reported by BBC Sports, led new head coach Cesar Peixoto to end Monday's training. Arokodare will not play in Wednesday's friendly against Maidenhead United. This follows a previous disciplinary issue in April involving Mateus Mane. Arokodare, who joined Wolves from Genk for £24 million last summer, scored three league goals as the club was relegated. The situation poses an early challenge for Peixoto, who aims to guide Wolves back to the Premier League.
Must ReadMali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all led by military governments, are pursuing a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations. The Malian Football Federation announced that officials met with Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe in New York to discuss the joint bid. This meeting is considered a pivotal stage in the bidding process, allowing the three member associations to proceed with the steps outlined in CAF regulations. The federations aim to prepare a robust and credible bid that reflects a new vision for African football. Burkina Faso previously hosted the AFCON in 1998, and Mali hosted in 2002, while Niger has never hosted the tournament. Mali has five CAF-approved stadiums, and Burkina Faso secured approval for its main stadium in Ouagadougou in 2025. Niger is working to upgrade its General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been unable to host international matches since 2022. The next AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Must ReadThe Nigerian Senate has resolved to summon the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, and approximately 40 other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies MDAs. This decision follows their alleged failure to honor invitations to account for public funds. Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, moved the resolution, accusing several government agencies of obstructing legislative oversight by not appearing before the committee. The committee is investigating revenue remittances, operating surpluses, and compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other financial laws. Senator Musa stated that the committee operates within its constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to investigate public institutions' finances and administration. He noted that despite repeated invitations, many agencies have either refused to appear or ignored the committee, with some claiming no obligation to comply. This, he warned, undermines the National Assembly's constitutional authority and could weaken fiscal accountability and transparency. Senator Musa also accused some revenue-generating agencies of violating the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Finance Act 2022 by retaining government revenue instead of remitting it. Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismissed claims by agencies that Senate committees lack summoning authority, affirming the National Assembly's c