Author: AbdulRahman Tahir, Maiduguri

SEVERAL terrorists have been killed following air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest in the North-East. The Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the air strikes followed “sustained intense pressure on terrorist elements”. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Tuesday, Ejodame said the air strikes succeeded in “eliminating several fighters concealed within the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest”. “The operation followed credible intelligence corroborated by Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), which confirmed the presence of active terrorist elements…

BOKO Haram insurgents have escalated tensions in Nigeria’s North-East, issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to authorities over the fate of 416 abducted victims in Borno State, while daring the government to attempt a forceful rescue operation. In a newly released video obtained by News Point Nigeria in the early hours of Monday, the group warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated time would result in the victims many of them women and children being moved to undisclosed locations where they may never be seen again. The terrorists, clad in military camouflage, declared themselves battle-ready and stated that they…

THE Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks targeting Nigerian security forces and neighbouring countries, in what appears to be a coordinated propaganda release aimed at projecting operational strength. News Point Nigeria reports that the claims were contained in a material written in Arabic and translated into English, which was released on Thursday and later sighted by our correspondent on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the publication, the group alleged that it carried out coordinated ambushes involving roadside explosives, attacks on security checkpoints, and the destruction of military vehicles across…

LATE Brigadier General Omo Braimo, Captain Ismail, and other gallant soldiers who paid the ultimate price in the fight against insurgency have been laid to rest, in a solemn ceremony attended by top government and military officials. The burial took place at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri, drawing mourners from across the country who gathered to honour the fallen heroes for their sacrifice in the line of duty. Among those present at the event were Umara Babagana Zulum, the Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, and Ali Ndume, alongside other dignitaries and senior military officers. The ceremony was marked by…

THE Commanding Officer of the 242 Battalion, Monguno, Col. I.A. Mohammed, and no fewer than 10 soldiers lost their lives when Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspectedly planted by Boko Haram went off in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State. Sani Uba, media information officer of the north-east Joint Task Force, said in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday that insurgents launched the attack on Sunday night on troops at the Charlie 13 location. The soldiers repelled the assault after a fierce gun battle, forcing the assailants to beat a hasty retreat. Uba said the commanding officer,…

THE Yobe State Government has said that the Jilli community affected by the military air strikes is a Boko Haram stronghold in the Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. The Security Adviser to the governor, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (retd.), disclosed this in a press statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday, while clarifying whether the incident happened in Yobe or Borno. “The attention of the Yobe State Government has been drawn to online reports suggesting an attack on the people of Geidam Local Government Area. “It has become necessary to set the records straight. The Air Component…

THE Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has begun an investigation into claims of civilian casualties during airstrikes around Jilli Market near Fuchimiram village in the Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria late on Sunday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said it “treats all reports of possible civilian harm with the utmost seriousness and empathy”. “In line with this commitment, the CAS has directed an immediate activation of the Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell (CHAI-Cell) to immediately proceed to the…

SEVERAL persons are feared killed, with many others injured, following a suspected accidental airstrike on Jilli Market near Fuchimiram village in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, in an incident that has triggered outrage and renewed concerns over civilian safety in military operations. News Point Nigeria reports that Jilli, a border community with Damasak in Borno State, lies more than 200 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, and serves as a bustling weekly market attracting traders and buyers from surrounding communities including Gubio, Chiweram, and Benisheikh in Borno, as well as Gurokayeya and Geidam in Yobe State. The…

BORNO Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has strongly condemned the recent attack on the 15 Task Force Brigade in Benisheikh, revealing that troops had received intelligence about a potential terrorist assault three days before the incident occurred. News Point Nigeria reports that the governor made this known on Saturday during a sympathy visit to Benisheikh in Borno State, where he expressed condolences over the death of Brigade Commander Brigadier General O.O. Braimoh and several others. The attack, which targeted both the military formation and the town, took place on Friday morning, according to available reports. Zulum disclosed that intelligence reports had…

A 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno State has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja for selling petroleum to members of the Boko Haram sect in the state. News Point Nigeria reports that the politician, identified as Babagana Habeeb, was convicted by Justice Peter Odo Lifu on a lone count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism in the country brought against him by the federal government. Habeeb, a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, the state capital, had, upon his arraignment on the one-count charge, admitted guilt of selling fuel to the terrorists in the North-East…

A Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, Brigadier General O. O. Braimah, has reportedly been killed by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during a deadly midnight attack on the town. News Point Nigeria reports that the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, was part of a series of coordinated assaults carried out by insurgents across multiple locations, including Benisheikh town and Pulka community in Gwoza Local Government Area. Local sources disclosed that civilians, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, security operatives, and scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP…

THE military has confirmed the killing of a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, saying it has commenced an investigation into the incident. News Point Nigeria had reported that a stray bullet allegedly fired by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) killed a 14-year-old girl on Saturday in the Costain area of Maiduguri. In a statement on Monday, the spokesperson of the Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said five suspects have been arrested in connection with the matter. “The troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in conjunction…

TRAGEDY struck in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, after a 14-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet in what has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability. News Point Nigeria reports that the incident occurred on Saturday, April 4, when the teenage secondary school student was reportedly hit by a bullet while inside her family home located within the quarters of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). Initial reports by Amnesty International alleged that the fatal shot was fired by military personnel engaged in celebratory gunfire at a nearby wedding ceremony. However, a conflicting account has since…

SUSPECTED Boko Haram/ISWAP members have attacked two police stations in Nganzai, Nganzai Local Government Area, and Damasak, in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State. During the attack on Saturday, the insurgents were said to have deployed Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other sophisticated weapons, and caused damage to a section of the station and partially burnt an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). The spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Kenneth-Daso, disclosed this in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday, saying four policemen and a hunter lost their lives in the attacks. He however noted that…

BORNO State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has dissolved his entire cabinet, directing commissioners to relinquish their positions. News Point Nigeria reports that the directive was contained in a statement on Monday by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani. Although no reason was given for the directive, it may not be unconnected with the 2027 general elections. Zulum noted that the directive took effect immediately. He also stated that the move is to pave the way for appointees nursing political ambitions to actualise their dreams. “Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the immediate dissolution of the…

GOVERNOR of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has raised fresh alarm over security in the state, revealing that two suicide bombers are still at large following the deadly attacks that rocked Maiduguri earlier this week. News Point Nigeria reports that the governor disclosed that intelligence reports confirmed that five suicide bombers infiltrated the state capital, but only three had detonated their improvised explosive devices (IEDs), leaving two others yet to carry out attacks. Zulum made the revelation in an exclusive interview with BBC News Pidgin on Friday, as he reacted to the coordinated explosions that struck multiple locations across Maiduguri…

ON a night meant for prayer, reflection, and the quiet breaking of fast, Maiduguri was thrown into chaos by a wave of violence that shattered its calm. Yet, amid the fear and destruction, a story of extraordinary courage emerged one that continues to echo far beyond the walls where it happened. In this weekend feature, News Point Nigeria tells the untold story of that fateful evening unfolding not merely as a tale of terror, but as a powerful narrative of sacrifice, resilience, and a man that refused to surrender to fear. For years to come, Ali Musa Buba, a security…

THE Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima has restated the Federal Government’s resolve to defeat terrorism, declaring that those behind recent attacks in the country will be decisively confronted. News Point Nigeria reports that Shettima noted that beyond the presidential directive to security chiefs, the Federal Government was investing more in equipment and other logistics to boost the fight against terrorism across the country. Senator Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Maiduguri when he visited victims of the bomb blast who are receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant…

RESIDENTS of Maiduguri were thrown into mourning and panic after a series of coordinated bomb blasts tore through key locations in the city on Monday night, leaving at least 23 people dead and 146 injured. News Point Nigeria reports that the attacks, believed to have been carried out by suspected members of Boko Haram, targeted crowded public areas during the evening rush, coinciding with the Iftar period when many Muslims break their fast. Police authorities confirmed that the explosions occurred at about 7:24 p.m. at three major locations: the bustling Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching…

RESIDENTS of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, were thrown into panic on Monday evening after multiple explosions rocked parts of the city, with fears that several people may have been killed. The blasts, suspected to have been caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists, occurred in different locations across the ancient city shortly after Muslims broke their Ramadan fast. Eyewitnesses said the explosions, which sent shockwaves across several neighbourhoods, began at about 7:00 p.m., creating confusion and fear among residents who rushed to seek safety. A source who spoke with News Point Nigeria said some…