JUST IN; Freed Boko Haram captives need urgent support says Govt
JUST IN; Freed Boko Haram captives need urgent support says Govt
Mr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, the Borno Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, has advocated urgent intervention to empower freed Boko Haram captives, to enhance their economic and social protection.
Wakilbe stated this during a courtesy visit by Hamsatu Allamin, Chief Executive Officer of the Allamin Foundation for Peace, on Friday in Maiduguri.
He said the call was imperative to fast track support and integration of the victims into the society, to enable them to resume normal life.
The commissioner lamented that some of the freed victims were exposed to sexual abuse due to their vulnerability, poverty and lack of support.
“I recently encountered an 11-year-old girl surrounded with three children. It was heartbreaking.
“The Cameroonian authorities’ repatriated young girls aged 13 to 15 with multiple children.
“These vulnerable individuals need urgent reintegration and support,” he said, adding that the spate of sexual abuse could be attributed to poverty and lack of viable alternatives for survival.
He also called for the establishment of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers in border communities like Bama, Gwoza, and Kamburungara, to empower the resettled victims of conflict.
“We need sustainable programmes to address their vulnerability and provide alternatives. Poverty drives many of these individuals into vices like prostitution.
“Once we offer skills and support, they can rebuild their lives,” he said.
Wakilbe stressed the need to focus attention to handling conflict affected children, noting that traditional education systems were ill-equipped to address their unique needs.
“Our education system must accommodate these children but they are not equipped to handle the specific needs of these children.
“Those children witnessed unimaginable violence, abduction and displacement which requires tailored de-radicalisation and reintegration efforts..
“We tried integrating some of these children into regular schools, but it failed. For instance, some of the Chibok girls were enrolled in secondary schools, the principals reported that they could not handle the unique needs of these children.
“We had to transferred them to special programmes like Second Chance schools,” he said.
According to Walkibe, lack of long term planning in addressing the education needs of the conflict affected children has been a key concern, adding that donor agencies implemented programmes that failed to meet their immediate needs.
He said that teaching local languages like Hausa in areas where Kanuri was dominant missed the point, and stressed the need to focus teaching in English Language, to ensure that the children adapt to modern education.
The commissioner noted that some donor funded programmes failed to address the immediate needs of the region, and urged them to prioritise capacity building for educators, and implement viable long term solutions for conflict affected persons.
“There are 67,000 women and children in the camps. We cannot continue turning a blind eye. We must rethink how to educate and reintegrate them.
“We need centers to teach skills and provide start up packs for these girls. Poverty drives them into vices, but with alternatives, they can rebuild their lives,” he said.
He said the state government had trained over 300 women in vocational skills and distributed start up packs, to enable them to become self-reliant.
Wakilbe reitrated government’s commitment to partner with development organisations and agencies, to address problems affecting victims of the conflict.
In her remarks, Allamin called for interventions to address critical issues identified during the peace building programme initiated by the organisation.
She said the organisation identified serious issues that required immediate, proactive and sustainable interventions to address.
Allamin said the foundation had rehabilitated hundreds of women and girls involved in the insurgency under its Community-based De-radicalisation of Women and Girls in the state.
She said the de-radicalised women had encouraged their peers in the bush to surrender to the authorities. (NAN)
News
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.
The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.
He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.
“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.
“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”
“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.
Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.
“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.
News
80 repentant militants surrender arms, assorted weapons to Nigerian Army
80 repentant militants surrender arms, assorted weapons to Nigerian Army
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the voluntary surrender of 80 militants in Cross River State under the amnesty programme of the state government.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters 13 Brigade, Maj. Yemi Sokoya, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Sokoya said that the militants surrendered in the early hours of Friday, at Atimbo Rear Area, following Operation OKWOK, in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, within the area of responsibility of the 13 Brigade.
According to him, the repentant militants emerged from two camps, with one group led by ThankGod Ebikontei, also known as Ayibanuagha, presenting 39 fighters.
He said that the second camp, headed by John Isaac, also known as Akpokolo, submitted 41 fighters.
Sokoya added that assorted arms, ammunition and other items, were also voluntarily surrendered during the exercise.
He said that these included: rifles, pump-action guns, single-barrel weapons, magazines, ammunition, speed boats, boat engines and other military-related equipment.
The Commander, 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Paul Alimikhena, described the development as a major confidence-building milestone.
He attributed it to sustained military operations, constructive engagement and effective collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies.
He said that the brigade would continue to provide a secure environment, while supporting lawful initiatives aimed at reintegrating repentant youths, and ensuring lasting peace across in the area.
The commander said that the surrendered militants had been handed over to the Cross River State Government’s Rapid Response Team and were undergoing profiling by the state’s Department of State Services (DSS).
He commended the State Government, under Gov. Bassey Otu, for its commitment to peace and security.
He also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information. (NAN)
News
My Husband wants to have s3x with me eight times everynight – Housewife cries for help
My Husband wants to have s3x with me eight times everynight – Housewife cries for help
A Harare woman, Melocia Gwata, has successfully obtained a court-issued protection order against her husband, George Kusotera, following allegations of excessive sexual demands and physical abuse.
The case was heard at the Harare Civil Court before Magistrate Judith Taruvinga, where Melocia detailed the severity of her ordeal. She told the court that her husband had coerced her into sexual activity up to eight times a night, resorting to violence whenever she refused.
“He wants to have s3x every day and wakes me up in the middle of the night, even after we’ve been intimate countless times on the same day,” Melocia stated.
She further described how the abuse extended beyond physical coercion, with George allegedly threatening divorce and verbally assaulting her in front of their children.
“He has been assaulting me in front of our children, shouting obscenities and telling them I don’t deserve to be called their mother,” she added, highlighting the emotional toll the behaviour has taken on her and the family.
In response, George acknowledged his actions, apologising to his wife and attributing his conduct to love. “I did not realise I was making her uncomfortable. I apologise and promise not to physically abuse her anymore,” he told the court.
After hearing both sides, Magistrate Taruvinga granted Melocia a protection order, legally preventing her husband from further abuse and ensuring her safety.
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