***Pledges Development for Border Communities

The Niger State government has called for the reopening of the Babanna land border in the Borgu local government area to revitalize economic activities and promote development in border communities.

This appeal was made by Alhaji Mohammed Garba Danladi, Director General and Chief Executive of the Niger State Babanna Border Development Agency (NIBBDA), during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Minna on Tuesday.

With the federal government’s recent approval for establishing border markets in Babanna, Danladi emphasized that reopening the border would enhance economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.
“The Babanna border market, when fully operational, will not only improve the lives of the people in these communities but also address security challenges in the region,” he noted, adding that insecurity often arises in ungoverned areas.

Danladi highlighted the state government’s vision to develop Babanna by implementing sustainable projects that would provide essential social and infrastructural amenities. The agency’s focus includes improving education, healthcare, water supply, agriculture, and economic empowerment in the area.

To maximize the potential of the Babanna border market, NIBBDA has identified key opportunities such as fostering trade and foreign investments, supporting agriculture, and reducing rural-urban migration.
Danladi added that the agency would prioritize revenue generation, agricultural development, mineral resource management, trade liberalization, and basic infrastructure provision to drive the border’s growth.

The District Head of Wawa, Dr. Mahmoud Aliyu, stressed the importance of addressing security issues to ensure the market’s smooth operation. Although security has improved recently, Aliyu noted that banditry remains a challenge for Borgu local government and called on the state government to prioritize this issue.

Chairman of Borgu local government, Alhaji Yarima Kilishi, expressed optimism about the federal government’s approval of the Babanna border market and the establishment of an agency to oversee its development. He pledged the local government’s support for the market’s launch, which he believes will significantly boost revenue and economic activity in the region.

In a vibrant ceremony on Friday, the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) headquarters in Minna, Niger State, recognized 36 officers for outstanding achievements in academic performance and dedication to duty throughout 2024. The prestigious TRADOC merit awards, in their fourth year, honored officers who excelled in the 2024 promotion exams for advancing to the ranks of Captain and Major.
The event brought together high-ranking military personnel, including current and retired commanders, led by the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Olufemi O. Oluyede.
Among the notable guests was Maj. Gen. S.O. Olabanji, the former TRADOC Commander who launched the awards program in 2021.

In his opening remarks, TRADOC Commander Maj. Gen. Kevin O. Aligbe said the award’s mission is to promote a culture of excellence, hard work, and professionalism within the Nigerian Army.
“These awards are designed to enhance the quality of training, elevate standards, and drive the commitment needed to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational efficiency,” he said.
The awards, alongside evaluations conducted by TRADOC, have already shown substantial improvement in training standards across military formations and units nationwide.

This year’s ceremony also marked the reintroduction of the Best Division Award, which evaluated divisions based on the activities of their training schools.
This initiative recognizes the divisions’ efforts to build combat-ready troops and develop skills specific to each unit’s unique challenges.
The 81 Division, based in Lagos, was named Best Divisional Training School for 2024.

The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Oluyede, represented by Maj. Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, reinforced the importance of recognizing and rewarding excellence. “By celebrating these officers, we inspire a drive for professionalism and commitment to duty across all ranks,” he said, congratulating each award recipient for their exceptional performance in the TRADOC promotion exams.

The awards reflected outstanding achievement in the Nigerian Army’s rigorous promotion exams. In 2024, the Lieutenant to Captain exams had 440 candidates, with 438 passing, while the Captain to Major exams saw all 289 candidates pass.

The ceremony concluded with the inauguration of a newly built multi-purpose hall named in honor of Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. T.A. Lagbaja, symbolizing TRADOC’s ongoing dedication to professional growth and development in the Nigerian Army.

***Nine villagers also abducted as
Mina-Kontagora highway is blocked

Barely 24 hours after the Niger state house assembly raised the alarm over the occupation of a military training camp at the Nagwamase military cantonment in Kontagora, Niger state, a top military officer serving in the cantonment has been abducted by bandits.

The military officer, according a reliable source was abducted on Wednesday from his farm around the bush where bandits were said to be occupying.

According to our source, the abductors of the military officer have demanded N50million ransom for the release of the officer
Also the bandits abducted nine persons from Masaha in madera ward, one of the 23 communities that have been sacked due to the activities of the bandits.
All the nine men were reported to have been kidnapped by the bandits from their farms.

It was gathered that, three out of the nine people abducted were killed midway in their journey and their bodies left in the bush.

Ibrahim Enagi, the eldest son of one the victims, late Alhaji Alhassan Usman Enagi, told our correspondent that his late father was abducted on his way back from the farm.

According to him, “my father was shot by the bandits after he complained that he was tired and could not continue the journey. Three of them were killed and their bodies abandoned in the bush.

“it was those who managed to escaped from the bandits that came to tell us that my father and two other persons were killed because they complained of tiredness during the journey in the bush”, he added.

Meanwhile, the bandits numbering well over 50 were said to have blocked the Minna-Kontagpra highway on Thursday as motorists and commuters scamper for their lives.

According to our source, the bandits blocked the highway about 15 kilometers from Kontagora and operated for over one hour.
The Detail of their operation is not yet known as at the time of filing this report.

It would be recalled that a member of the statehouse of assembly, representing Kontagora 11, Hon. Abdullahi Isah on Wednesday on the floor of the house raised the alarm that the bandits have taken over the military training camp in Kontagora.

He also alerted the house that about 23 communities within the training camp have been forced to abandon their homes due to the activities of the gunmen.