SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom The African Centre for Lerdership, Strategic and Development, has unveiled it's publication of the Research on Solid Mineral Development in Nigeria. Executive Director, Centre LSD, Monday Osasah, who presented the publication on Tuesday in Abuja said that, the research paper as evidence from Ebony, Ekiti and Taraba states were chosen because of their respective high solid minerals' endowment, and current mining activities. According to him, the reports collectively represent solid minerals spread across the federation, and serve as yerds tickets to determine actions of stakeholders in the sector and what might be responsible for the abysmal performance of the solid minerals sector in the country. The Executive Director also noted key findings of the study amongst others he stated were, Regulations around minerals sales largely unobserved as miners tend to sell minerals outside of the official minerals market's institutio

By Aviashima Toom The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has challenged media pratitoners in Benue and Nigeria at large to effectively improve on their reportage of the plight of displaced farmers in Benue from the Fulani herdsmen attacks in bennue state. Ortom gave the charge today at the Benue people's houses, Makurdi after receiving 'Culture Ambassador' and 'A Pillar of Club Football in Nigeria' awards presented to him by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments as well as Nigeria Premier Football League Club Secretaries Forum respectively. The Governor who dedicated the awards to Benue people, lamented that the state enjoys the appellation of Food Basket of the Nation due to the contributions of peasant farmers, thousands of whom are displaced and staying in Internally Displaced Persons camps. He noted that it portends danger to food security if the major actors in food production could not access their farms for years, stressing

By Aviashima Toom The Nigerian Army has confirmed rescuing about 800 cows during its operation to rescue the kidnapped students and teachers of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yawuri, Kebbi State. The pupils were abducted on June 17 but the military said two teachers and five students were rescued on Friday after a fierce exchange of fire with the criminals. In a statement on Friday, the Army Spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said troops operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji who had been on the pursuit of kidnappers and bandits engaged in the rescue mission. He said the rescue followed an initial encounter with the abductors in the early hours of today, June 18 2021 , after trailing the kidnappers from Yawuri through Riyao to Sombo community, where the kidnappers who had split into two groups fled, with one group conveying the abducted children, while the second group conveyed the rustled cattle. Nwachukwu added that the land troop

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says troops of “Operation Delta Safe’’ have deactivated several illegal refining sites and disconnected illegal pipelines in the Niger Delta region. The Defence authorities said the troops have also intercepted and confiscated contraband vessels in the region in the last two weeks. The Acting Director, Defence Media Operation, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, disclosed this on thursday in Abuja, while briefing journalist on the military operations spanning June 3rd to June 16th across the country. According to him, the troops also arrested many criminals during their anti-illegal oil bunkering and raid operations and thwarted activities of economic saboteurs within the period. He said troops had on June 3 and June 4, deactivated illegal oil refining sites at Ibaa in Emohua Local Government Area and Kumufari and Yalama towns in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers. He explained that several barrels of illegally refined PMS a

By Aviashima Toom An international Non Governmental Organization, “Save the Children has called for the immediate, unconditional release of about 80 students mainly girls in Kebbi state. Save the Children, is responding to the news that armed attackers have abducted 80 students and killed a police officer at a college in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A statement signed by the Information and External Communications Specialist, Save The Children, Kunle Olawoyin, in Abuja said that, the Country Director, Mercy Gichuhi is horrified by the adubtion. The Country Director, Mercy Gichuhi, noted that the safety and well-being of the students remain it primary concern, and their hearts go out to them and their families. "We call for their immediate and unconditional release and a safe return to their families.”  “Places of learning should never be targets, and children should never be abducted. This is a grave violation of children’s rights, and Save the Children is deeply concerned ab

By Aviashima Toom African children speak out about how the COVID-19 pandemic tipped an existing education safety crisis to breaking point In a statement signed by the Information and External Communications Specialist, Save the Children, Kunle Olawoyin Said that, In Nairobi, Kenya/Dakar, Senegal (June 16, 2021) – While the continent is celebrating Day of the African Child and the 30th anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), African children are sending a clear and urgent message to governments and donors: Save our Education and make schools safe. The statement read in part: "Even before COVID-19 school closures hit, millions of children across Africa’s crisis and conflict-affected countries were losing out on education. "Children in Sub-Saharan Africa have lost, on average, 69 days of education due to school closures and a lack of access to remote learning[i]. "Now, during Save the Children’s campaign 100 Days of Act

By Aviashima Toom Benue State government has described as  unfounded the allegations that it has sponsored an air raid targeted at herdsmen base in Keana, Nasarawa state. Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Rt.Hon Ngunan Addingi said in a press statement issued Tuesday. She said; "We read a report in today’s edition of Daily Trust newspaper attributed to cattle breeders in Nasarawa State who accused Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom of sponsoring multiple attacks on them with two military aircrafts which purportedly killed over 1,000 cows in Keana and Doma local government areas of Nasarawa State. "Nothing can be further from the truth. The said report is another propaganda crafted by armed Fulani herders to sustain their war of attrition and hatred against Governor Ortom whom they have made their number one enemy.  "The unfounded allegation is also a plot by the pastoralists to cause friction between the Benue State Governor and hi