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NEMA, UNICEF strengthen emergency response in Gombe
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is strengthening emergency response through community engagement training in Gombe.
The three-day training, which began on Tuesday, focuses on improving risk communication, community listening, social behaviour change, and preparedness during humanitarian emergencies.
The programme brought together state-level emergency preparedness and response actors from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states for practical capacity building.
Declaring the training open, Godwin Tepikor, NEMA director of planning, research and forecasting, said effective community engagement remained critical to strengthening disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Mr Tepikor, represented by Hajiya Umuna Ahmed, head of operations at NEMA Bauchi/Gombe Office, appreciated UNICEF for its continued partnership in strengthening disaster preparedness and emergency response.
He said increasing frequency and complexity of disasters made clear risk communication, community listening, misinformation management, and appropriate protective actions essential components of effective emergency response.
Mr Tepikor said participants would develop practical skills for ensuring early warning information reached communities promptly, credibly, and in actionable forms to support timely protective decisions.
According to him, strong risk communication and community engagement systems enable communities to understand risks, make informed decisions, and take early action to protect lives and livelihoods.
He described the training as an important platform for collaboration among states’ emergency management agencies, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), humanitarian partners, and other relevant stakeholders.
Mr Tepikor urged participants to exchange experiences, share good practices, strengthen partnerships, and apply acquired knowledge to improve risk communication and community engagement within their respective states.
He added that the initiative would ultimately be assessed by participating institutions’ ability to translate acquired knowledge into practical actions that improve preparedness and strengthen community resilience.
Also speaking, Margaret Shoyemi, UNICEF social and behaviour change officer for emergency, public health and humanitarian action, said the programme was designed to strengthen state-level emergency preparedness.
She said the training would improve participants’ capacity in preparedness, community engagement, accountability to affected populations, and effective use of data to guide community-based actions.
Ms Shoyemi explained that UNICEF’s involvement was particularly important because emergencies inevitably affected women, children, families, and communities, requiring responses that addressed their specific needs.
She noted that Nigeria faced several humanitarian challenges, including seasonal flooding, disease outbreaks such as Lassa fever and cholera, displacement, and other emergencies.
According to her, strengthening emergency responders’ capacity was essential to ensuring that the needs of women and children were properly identified and addressed during crises.
She also called for stronger coordination among agencies involved in emergency response, noting NEMA, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
(NAN)
The Nigerian Army has apprehended two soldiers over alleged ammunition racketeering, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle during separate operations in Zamfara and Kaduna.
An operational report made available to journalists on Thursday said the soldiers were arrested by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma after allegedly attempting to transfer 60 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a suspected civilian buyer.
According to the report, one of the soldiers allegedly handed the ammunition to the other in the presence of the suspected buyer.
The report said the suspects, attached to the headquarters of Operation Fansan Yamma and 223 Battalion, were arrested at about 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
It added that troops recovered four mobile phones, two empty magazines, an ATM card, a motorcycle, a cutlass, keys, recharge cards and other items from the suspects.
According to the report, the suspects and recovered items were handed over to the 1 Brigade Provost Company for further investigation.
“Meanwhile, troops of 1 Division operating along the Abuja-Kaduna highway engaged suspected terrorists after detecting their movement with a long-range camera.
“The troops engaged the terrorists in bushes across the Abuja-Kaduna railway line, forcing them to withdraw.
“During a follow-up operation, troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and other items.
“The recovered items included a military jungle hat, magazine carrier, civilian clothing, prayer mat and other sundry items,” it said.
The report also revealed that troops of Operation Delta Safe raided a suspected illegal bunkering dump at Otom Community Waterside, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
It said the troops recovered 40 drums containing about 12,000 litres of suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil, estimated at N14 million.
According to the report, troops also recovered a drum of engine oil and two tanks, which were handled in line with extant regulations.
In Plateau, the army said troops responded to an attack on commuters at Dindiyes village, Mangu Local Government Area, forcing the suspected attackers to withdraw.
It added that troops subsequently recovered the corpse of a civilian around the area, while efforts continued to apprehend the perpetrators.
(NAN)
Nigeria’s Flamingos maintained their perfect run at the 2026 WAFU-B U17 Girls Cup with a commanding 2–0 victory over hosts Côte d’Ivoire in Yamoussoukro on Thursday.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi gave Nigeria the perfect start when she struck in the fourth minute, putting the Flamingos in front at the Lycée Scientifique.
The early goal allowed Nigeria to settle into the contest as the Flamingos protected their advantage through the remainder of the first half.
Côte d’Ivoire pushed for a response after the restart, but Nigeria remained disciplined and continued to threaten on the counter.
The Flamingos eventually doubled their advantage in the 83rd minute, with Pattra Oparanmegwa finding the back of the net to put Nigeria firmly in control.
The victory extends Nigeria’s perfect record in the competition, with the Flamingos now having won all four of their matches.
Nigeria had earlier opened their campaign with a 5–0 victory over Niger Republic before defeating Ghana 4–2 and overcoming Burkina Faso 2–0.
Against Burkina Faso, Mary Dunstan broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute before Adegbuyi struck in stoppage time to seal the win.
The victory over Côte d’Ivoire therefore represents another impressive display from the Flamingos, who have continued to combine attacking quality with defensive discipline throughout the tournament.
The hosts entered Thursday’s encounter as Nigeria’s closest challengers in the standings, having collected six points from their opening three matches. Côte d’Ivoire had also demonstrated their attacking threat with a 9–0 victory over Niger Republic before facing the Flamingos.
Nigeria, however, maintained their superiority in the decisive encounter, with Adegbuyi’s early strike and Oparanmegwa’s second-half finish securing another three points.
The result takes the Flamingos to 12 points from four matches, strengthening their position at the top of the WAFU-B U17 Girls Cup standings.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to their final fixture of the competition against Guinea, as coach Hakeem Busari’s side look to complete the tournament with another victory.
The WAFU-B competition is also serving as valuable preparation for Nigeria ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, where the Flamingos will compete against North Korea, Puerto Rico and Poland in Group B.
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