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Out-of-school Children Syndrome, Recruitment For Future Boko-Haram – Obasanjo

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2024

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the Out-of-school children menace in Nigeria is a recruitment for future Boko-Haram if not addressed now.

Obasanjo stated this in Bauchi on Sunday while commissioning the Dualisation of 7-kilometre Awala-Mairuguri Road, dualisation of 17.70-kilometre Awalah-Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa national Airport Road.

Other road commissioned by him included the construction of 30.00-kilomtre Gubi-Ruda Bida-Siyi-Nasarawa Road.

According to him, education and human capacity building are very essential in ensuring development and creation of a safer society.

“World Bank says we have over 20 million Out-of-school children which should be in school but are not in school.

“For a population of about 220 to 230 million, that is 10 per cent of our population that should be in school that are not in school.

“Dear governor of Bauchi state, your Royal Highnesses present here, brothers and sisters, that is recruitment for future Boko-Haram and nobody needs to tell us that.

“Apart from the 10 per cent of our population not being equipped to develop their inate capacity to be able to serve themselves, their family and communities, we are also preparing them to be recruited in 10 or 15 years time for whatever form of Boko-Haram it would be that time.

“We are preparing them for whatever form of banditry and it will not be kidnapers in the usual sense of it by that time, they may be coming to homes and be snatchers of people from their homes. Think about it,” he said.

Obasanjo called on leaders at all levels to put hands together and find a lasting solution to the menace of Out-of-school children once and for all.

The former president commended Gov. Bala Mohammed for embarking on the road construction, renovation and dualisation projects, adding that they would open new opportunities for development.

He further said that the projects would significantly enhance transportation, boost commerce, create new jobs as well as make life easier for the residents and farmers in the state.

Earlier, the Bauchi state governor, said that the projects being commissioned today were part of the larger transformative vision of his administration.

He said “as of today, we have undertaken the construction of over 116 road projects totalling 1,482.25-kilometres across the state.

“Out of these, 79 roads have been completed and are ready for commissioning”.

Obasanjo also flagged off the distribution of 10,000 hearing aids to the indigent people of the Northeast subregion in Bauchi through his Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation in Partnership with Starkey Hearing Foundation.

News

Trump’s Airstrikes: Halt Military Cooperation With US Immediately – Sheikh Gumi Tells Tinubu Govt

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States following reported US airstrikes.

Gumi warned that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine national sovereignty.

Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday.

He said while Islam permits the fight against terrorism, such actions should only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands,” arguing that the United States lacks the moral authority to lead such efforts because of its global military record.

According to the cleric, Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to play a role in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists” and that such interventions often result in civilian casualties and hidden political motives.

Gumi warned that allowing Nigeria to become a theatre of war would attract anti-US forces into the country, further destabilising it.

He also cautioned that US involvement, particularly under claims of protecting Christians, could polarise the country along religious lines.

The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations, which he said Nigeria has enough personnel to carry out if properly organised.

“This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.

“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.

“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” part of his statement reads.

News

Shehu Sani Reacts To Trump’s Military Strikes In Nigeria

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Former lawmaker, senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to reports of United States military strikes on terrorist targets in Nigeria’s North-West, saying foreign powers cannot permanently handle the country’s security challenges.

Sani made the remarks on Friday via his X handle while responding to a post by the United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, which indicated that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

According to him, if the reported strikes were indeed a joint operation with Nigerian security agencies, then such action was justifiable, given the threat posed by terrorist groups in the region.

He described terrorists operating in parts of northern Nigeria as “cancerous cells,” stressing that they survive through violence and should be confronted decisively.

Sani also dismissed narratives suggesting that terrorist attacks target only one religious group, describing such claims as false and misleading.

He said: “If actually, the military strikes against the terrorists targets in the North Western part of Nigeria were a joint operation with the ‘Nigerian Authorities’ as posted by the US AFRICOM on their verified X handle, then it’s a conscionable action.

“Terrorists have become cancerous cells in our part of the country.They live by the sword.The narrative that the evil terrorists only targets one faith, remains absolutely false and misleading.

“Again, the ultimate security and peace in our country lies with ourselves and not with the US or any foreign power. They can complimentarily or unilaterally strike, but they can’t eternally fight our battles.”