News

Plateau attacks: Berom diaspora group demands declaration of community terrorists’ enclave

Published

2 months ago

April 29, 2026

Preport

A group under the auspices of the Berom Diaspora Coalition, BDC, has called on the Nigerian government to declare the Mahanga in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State a terrorist enclave, describing the community as a major stronghold for armed Fulani bandits and terrorists where they come out from to attack villages and retreat to at the end of each attack.

The BDC, in conjunction with other groups like the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization, BECO, Berom Youth-Moulders Association, BYM, the Berom Women Development Association, BEWDA, among others, made the call during a press conference in Jos on Tuesday.

They also urged the government and other relevant authorities to take urgent actions to reclaim displaced ancestral lands and resettle affected communities in the state.

While addressing the press conference with the theme: “Reclaiming Our Lost Ancestral Lands and Resettlement of Our People,” Barry Barnabas Dazih, who represented the BDC, called on the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies to urgently halt violence and killings in the state and do everything possible to reclaim ancestral lands currently being occupied by terrorists after chasing the indigenes away.

Dazih noted with dismay that available records have shown that more than 500 people have been killed between November 2025 and April 2026, with many others injured, displaced, or rendered homeless.

According to the BDC representative, entire communities across Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Bokkos, Bassa, and even Jos North Local Government Areas have come under sustained attacks, with a specific reference to the March 29 incident in Angwan Rukuba, which claimed about 30 lives, citing it as evidence that violence has now reached the heart of the state capital.

The coalition alleged that armed Fulani militant elements are carrying out the attacks, describing the pattern of violence as coordinated and persistent.

“From records at our disposal, over 70 Berom villages have been displaced, with some allegedly occupied by the attackers, thereby deepening the humanitarian crisis and increasing the number of widows, orphans, and vulnerable persons,” Dazih said.

Beyond the loss of lives, the coalition lamented widespread destruction of farmlands which it said “is the economic backbone of the affected communities, as well as restricted access to mining sites, accusing the attackers of deliberately targeting livelihoods, thereby compounding poverty and displacement.

“Between November 2025 and April 2026, over 500 people have been brutally killed, some maimed, while houses and farmlands worth millions of naira were destroyed without provocation.”

Describing the attacks as a script from a horror movie, Dazih said innocent residents in the affected communities now live in fear, not knowing where the next attack will come from as Plateau State is currently witnessing a renewed spike in violent attacks and destruction of lives and property.

While lamenting the delay in resettling displaced persons, the group called on the government to mandate committees set up to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons, thereby expediting actions to produce meaningful results.

The coalition further raised concerns over what it described as the failure of security agencies to act on credible intelligence provided by locals.

News

IFAF Profiles Team Nigeria Ahead of World Flag Championships, Highlights Africa’s Sole Representative

Published

1 hour ago

July 8, 2026

Preport

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With just weeks to the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has shone the spotlight on Nigeria, profiling the country’s men’s and women’s national teams as Africa’s only representatives at the global showpiece.

The feature, published on the IFAF official website under the title “IFAF World Flag 2026 Nation Profile: Nigeria,” celebrates Nigeria’s remarkable rise in international flag football after both the men’s and women’s national teams emerged champions at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championships held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2025.

The profile is accompanied by a celebratory image of Nigerian players proudly displaying their medals and continental trophies, capturing the historic moment that secured the country’s qualification for the world championships.

According to IFAF, Nigeria truly lived up to its reputation as the “Giant of Africa” by sweeping both titles at the continent’s first-ever championship.

The women’s national team claimed the African crown with a convincing 26-12 victory over Morocco, while the men’s team edged host nation Egypt 13-12 in a dramatic final to seal their place in Düsseldorf.

As the only African nation represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions, Nigeria will carry the continent’s hopes when the tournament begins in Germany in August.

The governing body also outlined the enormous challenge awaiting both teams.

Nigeria’s men’s national team has been drawn in a difficult group featuring world number two Austria, Asia champions Japan, and Canada, who finished third at the IFAF Americas Championships. Remarkably, the Nigerian men will face all three opponents for the first time in international competition.

The women’s national team faces an equally daunting assignment, opening its campaign against defending world champions the United States before taking on European bronze medalists Spain and Oceania champions Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest groups.

IFAF also identified two Nigerians expected to play key roles during the championship.

Quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh was named as the player to watch for the men’s national team, while dynamic receiver and rusher Esther Kalu was highlighted as one of the standout performers in the women’s squad.

The world governing body further acknowledged that Düsseldorf 2026 will mark a historic milestone for Nigeria, as both national teams prepare to make their debut at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships.

Nigeria becomes only the second African nation to compete at the global championship, following Cameroon’s historic appearance at the 2024 edition.

The IFAF profile also recognised the coaches leading Nigeria’s campaign, with Ephraim Fagha Faloughi in charge of the men’s national team and Anireju Oritsewehinmi Ayida leading the women’s squad.

The recognition from the world governing body represents another significant moment for Nigerian flag football, reflecting the country’s rapid rise from continental champions to one of the emerging nations to watch on the global stage.

With both national teams already concluding successful domestic preparation matches before departing for further training in Nairobi, Kenya, attention now shifts to Düsseldorf, where Nigeria will seek to justify the confidence shown by IFAF and demonstrate that its dominance in Africa can translate onto the world stage.

For Nigerian players and supporters alike, the official nation profile is more than just a tournament preview—it is international recognition of a journey that has transformed Nigeria into Africa’s standard-bearer in flag football and one of the sport’s fastest-rising forces.

Business

NIIRA 2025: NAICOM Engages Police to Curb Fake Insurance Certificates on Roads

Published

2 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Preport

BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has organized a specialized one-day training program for officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), FCT Command, aimed at strengthening the enforcement of Motor Third-Party Insurance and other compulsory policies across Nigerian roads.

The initiative, held in Abuja, focused on equipping law enforcement officers with advanced skills to fast-track insurance policy verification and eliminate the proliferation of fake insurance certificates.

The training was themed “Building a Culture of Insurance Compliance: Police as Catalysts for Protecting Lives, Property and Enhancing Public Safety.” It was designed to empower officers to promote statutory compliance, verify the authenticity of insurance covers during routine checks, and help deepen public appreciation of insurance benefits.

Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance/CEO of NAICOM, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, Mr. Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon underscored the strategic importance of the collaboration between the regulatory body and the NPF.

He noted that effective public safety extends beyond traditional crime prevention to shielding citizens from the severe financial consequences of unforeseen disasters.

“Insurance serves as a vital social and economic safety net, providing protection for individuals, families, businesses, and public institutions against losses arising from accidents, disasters, and other risks,” Mr. Gam-Ikon stated.

He added that the partnership is critical to reducing the high volume of uninsured vehicles on the roads, protecting commuters, curbing the use of counterfeit insurance certificates, and boosting public trust in regulatory institutions. These objectives, he emphasized, directly align with the provisions of the newly enacted Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 and NAICOM’s mandate to deepen market penetration.

The commission highlighted the unique leverage the Nigeria Police Force possesses due to its daily interactions with motorists, business owners, and the public. By strictly enforcing compulsory insurance laws, police officers act as key drivers in reducing accident-related financial hardships and enhancing overall public safety.

During the technical sessions, participants received practical training on:

The core objectives and benefits of compulsory insurance lines.

Standardized digital and manual insurance policy verification procedures.

The foolproof identification of genuine insurance certificates.

The legal framework governing compliance under NIIRA 2025.

The program successfully strengthened the institutional bridge between NAICOM and the NPF, encouraging officers to act not just as law enforcers, but as grassroots advocates for insurance literacy.

Long-Term Commitment

Moving forward, NAICOM reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining close ties with law enforcement and relevant stakeholders to eliminate fake insurance vendors, improve nationwide compliance levels, and position the insurance sector as a meaningful contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth and social stability.

The Commission urged the officers of the FCT Command to champion this cause, fostering an environment where insurance is embraced not merely as a statutory obligation, but as an indispensable tool for safeguarding lives, investments, and livelihoods.

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