By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Boko Haram must put an end to its vicious killing spree in the northern part of Nigeria, the Amnesty International (AI) has declared.

In a statement to condemn the killing of more than 40 civilians by the terrorist group, AI said Boko Haram must be held to account for its years of atrocities, including war crimes in the country.

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, members of the terror organisation attacked the victims on farming communities in Borno State, killing the inhabitants at close range.

In the statement, AI condemned in strong terms “the executions of these civilians which, once again, shows Boko Haram’s utter disregard for the sanctity of human life and for rules of international humanitarian law.”

“Boko Haram must be held to account for its years of atrocities, including war crimes,” the organisation declared in the statement.

“Our findings show that Boko Haram rounded up the farmers and fishermen, separated the men and shot them at close range.

“Those who attempted to flee were pursued and killed while dozens more were injured. A search for dead bodies is still ongoing while a mass burial is being planned for those killed.

“As well as killings targeting civilians, Boko Haram continues to abduct women and girls and extensively loot property.

“The fact that such atrocities remain commonplace shows that more needs to be done to protect civilians and ensure that families of victims receive reparation and justice,” it stated.

Over the weekend, Boko Haram fighters executed over 40 farmers and fishermen at Dumba community near Baga Borno state northeast.

A resident of Baga told AI that dozens of people have been injured and many are missing. Those killed have been buried.

Since 2020, Boko Haram has been targeting farmers and farmers around the Lake Chad. The armed conflict in northeast Nigeria has been ongoing since at least 2011 and it has created a humanitarian crisis, with more than 2 million people displaced, according to the United Nations.

Amnesty International has repeatedly documented crimes under international law and other serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by both Boko Haram and the Nigerian military in the context of the conflict in northeast Nigeria.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The United States government has renovated the laboratory of the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos as part of continued efforts to boost Nigeria’s counter-narcotics efforts.

The US government, through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), handed over the facility to the agency to complement efforts.

This follows the investment of approximately $500,000 by the American government to modernize and equip the chemical forensic laboratory at the NDLEA zonal office in Lagos in 2024.

The upgraded laboratory, now equipped with cutting-edge technology, enhances the NDLEA’s capacity to analyse suspicious substances and process evidence from crime scenes and suspects.

Acting US Consul General, Ms JoEllen Gorg formally handed over the keys to the new office space to NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mohammed Buba Marwa, during a ceremony attended by representatives from AFRICOM and the DEA.

Acting Consul General Gorg noted that the donation of a new office, equipped with a solar power system, represents a significant step forward in US-Nigeria security cooperation.

She noted that the new facility will provide NDLEA officers with a secure and professional environment to carry out critical investigative functions, including processing detainees and conducting post-arrest interviews.

“The U.S.-Nigeria security partnership remains strong. This donation is the latest example of the robust and productive cooperation between the U.S. government and the NDLEA,” the Acting Consul General said.

“Over the years, our joint efforts have helped build the capacity of Nigerian authorities to disrupt drug trafficking networks, dismantle clandestine meth labs, and conduct advanced forensic analyses of synthetic drugs,” she added.

On his part, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Marwa lauded the US-Nigeria security cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and countering narcotics trafficking.

He described the US as a steadfast ally in Nigeria’s fight against drug-related crimes and noted that the collaboration has significantly enhanced the NDLEA’s operational efficiency.

Since the establishment of the NDLEA in 1990, the US Mission to Nigeria has partnered with the agency to combat narcotics trafficking which it has done through training in intelligence, evidence collection, management, and tactical skills, including equipment donation.

 By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has set a production target of at least 2.1 million barrels of oil per day for the country this year, 2025.

The commission’s chief executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, announced this during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Appropriation.

Mr Komolafe highlighted the significant strides made by the agency since its establishment in 2021, noting that Nigeria’s rig count, which stood at 16 as of 2021, has now doubled to 32 under the commission’s oversight.

This increase reflects ongoing efforts to boost upstream activities and enhance the country’s crude oil production capacity.

He added that the bold production target by NUPRC aims to position Nigeria as a more competitive and sustainable player in the global oil and gas industry.

This is as the commission in its latest oil production data indicated that on a month-on-month basis, daily average oil output in December 2024 declined by 1.35 per cent from 1.690 million barrels per day recorded in November 2024 to 1.667 million barrels per day.

Data from the organisation also indicated that daily peak oil production in December 2024 was 1.79 million barrels per day while the lowest daily production was 1.57 million barrels per day.

Cumulatively, oil output in December 2024, was 51.69 million barrels, a marginal increase of 1.9 per cent when compared to 50.71 million barrels produced in November 2024.

Further analysis of the data showed that the highest oil output in December 2024 was recorded at Forcados Terminal at 8.49 million barrels followed by Bonny Terminal, 7.78 million barrels and Qua Iboe, 4.15 million barrels.