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Over 3.7 million battling food crisis in northeast Nigeria – ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised concerns about a deepening food crisis in Nigeria’s northeast, revealing that more than 3.7 million people across the conflict-affected region are currently grappling with food scarcity.
Aliyu Dawobe, who serves as the ICRC’s spokesperson, disclosed this development in a press statement shared on Monday in Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He explained that a significant number of those facing hunger were once self-reliant farmers who lost access to their lands due to the protracted violence in the region.
The statement detailed how the ongoing conflict has displaced thousands of families, hindered access to arable land, and disrupted traditional food supply networks, leaving communities extremely vulnerable.
As the annual lean season takes hold, households are coming under growing pressure, said Diana Japaridze, Head of ICRC’s Maiduguri sub-delegation.
“This is the period when families must begin buying food, but many conflict-affected households simply can’t afford it.
They’re forced to drastically limit their intake,” she said.
She warned that the lack of food is driving a spike in malnutrition, especially among children under five, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
“In response, the ICRC is supporting malnutrition stabilisation centres and offering community education programmes to help families care for vulnerable children.”
To combat the structural roots of food insecurity, the ICRC has introduced an agricultural support project designed to strengthen resilience and boost local food production. The program spans both rainy and dry seasons.
“The initiative supports both rainy and dry season farming and targets thousands of farming households.
This year alone, more than 21,000 farming households have received seeds adapted to local conditions, along with planting tools to ease labour and improve efficiency,” Japaridze added.
As part of the aid, farmers received varieties of staple and vegetable seeds including rice, maize, tomato, and okra — aimed at enhancing food variety and nutritional quality in meals.
Additionally, training in sustainable agriculture is being provided to ensure that farmers continue to thrive independently even after ICRC’s direct intervention ends.
“At a systemic level, and in collaboration with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), we recently repaired a vital water source to ensure continuous access for the council’s seed testing and greenhouse facilities,” Japaridze said.
Despite these interventions, she acknowledged that the lean season still poses a significant hardship for many farming families who are unable to meet their food needs.
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Social media activist VeryDarkMan has called out Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State for allegedly inviting only Igbo players from the victorious Super Falcons squad who just won the WAFCON title. In this viral video, VDM didn’t hold back as he condemned the ethnic bias, urging Nigerian leaders to embrace unity and national pride over tribal sentiments.
The Super Falcons made the nation proud — so why was only a select few recognized?
Watch as VeryDarkMan breaks down the issue and calls for fairness, equality, and inclusive leadership in Nigeria!
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Some frustrated women and young girls in Kano have taken their protest to Kofar Mata metropolis, an area known for brutal thuggery and killings over incessant loss of lives to the menace.
The women who trooped out on Saturday, demanded an urgent end to the violence that has cost the lives of their children and siblings.
Chanting slogans and holding placards, the protesters marched through the streets, calling on authorities to take decisive action.
A woman at the protest lamented that “our sons are dying for no reason. Every day, there is a fight, a killing, a stabbing,” said one grieving mother at the scene.
“We can’t continue like this,” another woman said.
In recent months, Kano State has witnessed a disturbing surge in street violence, with thuggery, phone snatching, and gang clashes becoming alarmingly common.
On Friday August 1st and 31st July 2025, there were reported thug clashes along that area.
A medical personnel in the area, Sadiya Umar said that I just passed the area today and I heard teargas and I think I heard gunshots too.
She said: “We were terrified, but I didn’t hear of the death of anyone.”
The growing insecurity has led to the loss of lives, especially among young people caught in the crossfire of gang rivalries.
One of the most shocking recent incidents occurred in Nassarawa Local Government Area, where a group of phone snatchers was struck by a vehicle shortly after robbing pedestrians at knifepoint.
A video of the incident, widely shared online, shows the suspects being overpowered by angry residents, beaten severely before being handed over to the police.
This kind of public reaction is becoming more frequent.
Many residents, frustrated by what they perceive as slow official response, have taken matters into their own hands—apprehending suspects and torture them before handing them to law enforcement agents.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Kano State Police Command launched Operation Kukan Kura in early 2025.
The initiative targets phone snatching gangs and violent youth groups known locally as ‘Yan Daba’.
Since its launch, the operation has led to several arrests and increased patrols in known crime hotspots.
The police say the operation is already yielding results, as frequently shared on the Facebook page of the force’s spokesman, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
However residents believe more sustained efforts are needed.
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A senior police officer attached to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected a bribe of N800,000 offered in an attempt to secure the release of a suspected armed robber and cover up the crime.
The spokesperson of the command, Timfon John, in a statement said the incident occurred on Wednesday, 30th July, 2025.
According to her, the prime suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung smartphone, reportedly stolen at gunpoint, was traced to him.
Investigations revealed that Isaac is a repeat offender, having previously been arrested and charged to court for a similar offence last year. He reportedly returned to criminal activity shortly after being released.
The second suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter, was apprehended at the SWAT office while attempting to offer the N800,000 bribe to secure Isaac’s release.
“A police officer in charge of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected N800,000 bribe offered to him on Wednesday, July 30, 2025,” the statement read.
“The money was intended to secure the release of an armed robbery suspect and also cover up the crime. The suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung phone that was gotten at gun point was traced to him.
“Isaac has a history of similar offences as he was arrested and charged to court for similar crimes sometime last year but returned to criminal activities after his release.
“The other suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter was arrested after he brought the bribe to the SWAT office to secure the release of the main suspect. He was taken into custody after the offer was rejected.
“All officers concerned with this discreet investigation received a commendation letter from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare.
“The CP, while addressing officers at the end of the month briefing, charged them to emulate the Distinguished officers.
“Members of the public are therefore warned to desist from compromising police investigation.”
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