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Yobe’s ecological sanctuary dies as climate change chases birds away

It is late October 2008, in the remote, rusty and rural Dagona, in Bade local government area of Yobe State, north-east Nigeria. The Dagona waterfowl’s sanctuary is luxuriant. The sky is clear, and the clouds float mapping some enchanting artistic imprints on the celestial canvas. Nature is loudly expressive as seen in the vast ecological splendor. It is a season of visitation by large colonies of colorful, beautiful amazing birds. Continue reading →

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Tears from Maiduguri

Growing up as a child in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State left me with vivid memories. There are clear memories of affinity, of love, of trust, of sharing and good neighbourliness. By the way, I was born a Christian, and raised as one. But I also had among my very closest friends, Muslims; and in no way was any sense of difference amongst us highlighted. The adopted official lingo of “home of peace” seemed very fitting.

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Reporting Terrorism in Africa, a personal experience with Boko Haram

Introduction

Reporting terrorism is not different from reporting our normal, everyday news; news must be current and mean something to people though in different ways.

Terrorism means different things to different people as well. While others see acts of terrorism as a crime against humanity, some see it as a religious duty that offers martyr status to the perpetrators. In Nigeria, the concept of suicide bombings and armed robberies in the name of religion was initiated by the Jama’atu Ahl-Sunnati Lil Da’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as the Boko Haram, an Islamist sect in northern Nigeria. The impact and depth of their destruction to the institutions of government and public psychology is unparalleled and is at an increase.

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Africa’s Vanishing Lake Chad

As you approach the Lake Chad basin from Maiduguri, in northeastern Nigeria, the atmosphere of despair is telling. The air is dusty, the wind is fierce and unrelenting, the plants are wilting and the earth is turning into sand dunes. The sparse vegetation is occasionally broken by withered trees and shrubs. The lives of herders, fisherfolk and farmers are teetering on the edge as the lake dries up before their eyes.

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Tasking the basis of Boko Haram’s Islamic Faith

The fear of Boko Haram by nearly everyone has led to an unprecedented lack of public debate amongst politicians, traditional and religious leaders, especially in Northern Nigeria and in the National Assembly, despite the great danger the phenomenon poses to Nigeria’s fragile unity.

This deepening silence by leaders in the ‘Muslim North’ and commentators has created a wrong assumption by many in the South and Christians all over the country that the inability of the ‘Muslim North’ to out-rightly denounce the activities of the sect is proof positive that the region wants to undermine the Jonathan Administration because he is a Southerner and an intolerable infidel.

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The Story Of Nigeria’s First Suicide Bomber

MangaThe man who bombed the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja on June 16 was a fairly well-to-do businessman who was actually on a suicide mission on behalf of the Islamic sect the Boko Haram, Blueprint can authoritatively report.

Mohammed Manga was a 35-year-old married man with five children who drove overnight from Maiduguri to Abuja in order to carry out the morning attack which left about five people dead, including a police officer, and many cars incinerated in the blast. He had left N4 million in his will for his five children – two girls and three boys – before embarking on the fateful journey to the nation’s capital.

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Living at The Mercy of Snakes

I made a couple of calls in Maiduguri and a chaperon was arranged for me to meet the Chairman of Kala Balge at Ran the LG headquarters.

The two different routes we attempted before reaching Ran proved to be impassable when we approached water points. We then decided to pass through the border along the famous Kusiri in Cameroon. On two occasions we were stopped by the Gendarmes who immediately sighted my Media Trust apron said, “media where are you going, bring your papers” on both occasions we explained our mission that we are not interested in their country, it was the bad road we are trying to avoid they then let us pass.

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Water borne disease ravages Yobe community

1446745743352-2-1Aisha Gwarimpa, a housewife lives in Abuja with her husband and four children. When members of her household wake up in the morning, they take their bath, brush their teeth, flush the toilet, and then Aisha does all her morning chores with the water pumped by the public water utility to private homes. By the time the family of six settles to eat breakfast, the family must’ve used hundreds of litres of water.

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