General News
CHRISTIAN GROUP PETITIONS TINUBU OVER ALLEGED MARGINALISATION IN BORNO’S GWOZA
A Christian faith-based organisation, the Gwoza Christians Community Association (GCCA), has urgently appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in what it calls prolonged persecution, exclusion and neglect of Christians from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
In a detailed press statement issued by its National Coordinator, Rev. Dr. (Arc) Ayuba John Bassa, the group accused authorities of failing to address the plight of Christian survivors of the insurgency, alleging a sustained pattern of injustice and discrimination.
“We are not asking for a favour. We are begging for the dignity of truth, justice and a safe home for our people. Too many churches, homes and lives were destroyed. Too many of our sons remain unaccounted for. Silence and denial have compounded our grief. Mr President, your urgent, visible action can stop the slow death of our communities,” the GCCA stated.
The association detailed extensive destruction, noting that 148 out of 176 large churches in Gwoza LGA were burnt and remain in ruins, with only 12 rebuilt, attributing those to Vice President Kashim Shettima’s past efforts as Governor. The human cost cited includes, in Gwoza-West alone, 74 towns sacked, 36,946 families displaced, 99 churches destroyed, and 292 people killed in September 2013. Further figures were given for attacks in Attagara and Gwoza town, with a total of 12 pastors reportedly killed in the LGA.
The GCCA claims about 107,000 Gwoza Christians are currently in 27 IDP camps across seven states and the Minawao Refugee Camp in Cameroon, with an additional 50,000 living with relatives. It alleged discrimination in reconstruction, stating that among thousands of resettlement houses built, only three Christian beneficiaries could be identified. It also raised concern over the demolition of a church within Gwoza General Hospital, which was converted to a solar farm while a mosque on the same premises was rehabilitated.
The group highlighted unresolved cases, including the 2013 abduction of five members, involving a former local government vice chairman, who remain missing, alleging witness accounts of military vehicle involvement. It also cited the recent arrest and denied bail of a couple, Mrs. Lami and Amos, in Maiduguri for sharing their faith.
Further allegations include systemic exclusion, such as the absence of Christian Religious Knowledge in public schools, lack of fair representation in public offices, and public minimisation of Christian suffering.
The GCCA called for decisive presidential action, specifically urging against cash compensation. “Do not give our refugees in Cameroon #500,000 per family as compensation, enticement, or bet in the name of resettlement. Build their homes on their ancestral land in Gwoza and give them the keys. Our IDPs do not need money; they need homes to live in,” the statement added.
Among its demands, the group called for a transparent audit of reconstruction projects, an independent investigation into the abductions, restoration or compensation for destroyed churches, equitable land restitution, reinstatement of CRK in schools, fair representation in governance, immediate humanitarian support, public acknowledgment of grievances, and the deployment of a military battalion in Gwoza-East.
“GCCA does not seek confrontation but truth, justice and a dignified path home. We urge Mr President, the father of the nation, to demonstrate federal concern and leadership by meeting these demands,” the statement concluded.
General News
Global Oil Prices Rise on Strait Disruptions, as Iran Rejects U.S. Dialogue, Supply Risks Persist
Global oil prices climbed sharply on Tuesday as ongoing supply disruptions in the Middle East and renewed geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States rattled energy markets.
Benchmark crude prices rose above the $100 per barrel mark, with Brent crude gaining nearly $2 and U.S. West Texas Intermediate also posting significant increases. The surge comes amid persistent concerns over disrupted supply routes, particularly through the strategic Strait of Hormuz; a critical chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments.
Tensions escalated further after Iran denied claims by the U.S. officials that negotiations were underway to ease the conflict. The denial contradicted earlier remarks, suggesting progress in diplomatic engagement, adding to uncertainty in global markets.
The ongoing conflict has already disrupted energy infrastructure across the region, with reports indicating that dozens of oil and gas facilities have been damaged. Analysts warn that these disruptions could keep prices elevated for an extended period, even if hostilities ease in the near term.
Adding to market volatility are continued military exchanges and attacks on energy assets, which have heightened fears of a prolonged supply crunch. Oil prices have already surged significantly since late February as traders factor in the risk of further escalation.
Energy experts caution that if the disruption to shipping routes persists, prices could spike even higher, potentially exceeding previous record levels. The uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts and the ongoing damage to infrastructure continue to weigh heavily on global energy markets.
The developments underscore the fragile state of global oil supply chains, with markets reacting swiftly to both geopolitical tensions and conflicting signals on potential negotiations.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, 2026, following his arraignment on alleged corruption-related charges.
El-Rufai was on Tuesday brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa.
During the proceedings, the former governor was docked on one count out of a 10-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency. The charge, according to his counsel, Ubong Akpan, relates to alleged deposits into a domiciliary account and the monetisation of earnings.
El-Rufai was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
Despite pending applications earlier filed before the court, Justice Aikawa proceeded with the arraignment and subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31 to consider all outstanding applications, including the bail request.
No bail application was moved or granted during Tuesday’s session.
Speaking to journalists after the court sitting, Akpan maintained that there was nothing unusual about the proceedings, adding that the defence team was yet to be served with processes relating to other potential charges.
The case is expected to resume on the adjourned date for hearing of the bail application and other pending matters.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.