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Restitution or Compensation: Amnesty for the Civilian JTF Youth Heroes?

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Just 16 years old and in secondary school, Babagana (not his actual name) looks furtively at his watch.

He has been on this look out for the past 8 hours. A report to the command and control center of the civilian JTF in Maidugiri, alerted the organization to an impending operation being planned by Boko Haram in the neighborhood.

Babagana is on a reconnaissance mission.

His briefs are simple, find his way as fast and discretely as he can to command, once he sees a suspicious vehicle driving into town, and give them the description of the car, its course and its occupants.

If he notices Sule-terror, returning to town, do the same.

Yesterday he was part of a “stop and search,” team that caught 8 Boko Haram terrorist suspects in a car with ammunition rounds and several AK 47’s.

The activities of these bands of courageous youth have been gaining prominence after the Nigerian military successfully decimated the operational capabilities of Boko Haram.

Youths like Babagana are perhaps the biggest testimony to the fact that Boko Haram doesn’t represent the aspiration of Borno youths.

With numerous citizen arrests recorded, these untrained volunteers have become quintessential components of the security apparatus in many of the neighborhoods of Maidugiri and its environs.

Motivated principally by a sense of patriotism and protection of community from the Boko Haram’s maniacal destructibility, youths armed with nothing more than flash lights and clubs have been able to confront an enemy trained in urban warfare and guerrilla tactics.

In metered behavior, the civilian jtf capture and hand over culprits, without taking justice into their own hands—by killing them—as is common in Nigeria.

In recent history, it is hard to find a competing example of such sacrifice and bravery. Civilians with sticks and stones, organizing, waiting for the bullets of terrorists to get exhausted and then catching them with just hands.

They are not working for an earthly reward. Assuredly, their reward is in heaven. But should we not seize this opportunity to celebrate true patriotism?

In a world bugged-down with harrowing stories, their actions put Nigeria in the world headlines in positive light.

Courageous actions in the true and critical citizen action spirit, the much I with our little organization can do, is give them the “Every Nigerian Do Something(ENDS)” award for “Valor and citizen bravery.”

Boko Haram too have recognized and underlined these youth, Nigeria’s youth, describing them as their new great enemies.

But apart from the bewildering and sacchariferous nature of the youth crusade, it is important not to miss the greater message that this clearly signifies—the powerful youth force in Nigeria and its unlimited and capable potential against terror, tyrants and tyranny.

The youth of Borno and environs have set an unseen precedence in the history of Nigeria. To be written of, and remembered forever in history books. And perhaps a debut of things to come.

Nigeria has done very little for its teeming youth population and even less for those of its poverty stricken north east.

The youngsters of Borno and Yobe have had next to no reason to feel they are citizens of the nation. Next-to-no benefits.

Terrible schools, poor hospital care, no job security. These are some of the reasons why Boko Haram with a certain amount of financial promise, social relevance and job security, enticed the most vulnerable.

Our oil wealth has had little to no impact in the lives of the fishermen living in the thatched huts of Bama.

The nation’s security forces provided little security to the lives of the tax payers of Baga. Nigeria’s airports hardly ever flew residents of Gwoza.

Our banks and InterSwitch never saved and switched their funds. And in our discussions and plans, we hardly ever considered them.

The only thing many of these youth get out of our oil, is what they buy of it at the pump, and this at some of the highest prices in Nigeria.

Who is more worthy of amnesty and some form of social and economic rehabilitation than the brave vigilante anti-terror youth of Nigeria’s North eastern states?

Where are the voices that should be crusading for restitution based on bravery, rather than compensation for evil? In current news—that’s aside from the dispiriting discussions on who has larger numbers of the dead—these brave multi-ethnic youth, using mere sticks and stones, arrested 31 Boko Haram suspects.

The youth have decided to never rescind, to continue their war until Boko Haram are expunged permanently from their world.

Does this not make us all feel proud? So where are the calls for an amnesty for these world heroes, as the president rightly labeled them?

The modest successes of the civilian jtf is mainly due to the broad acceptability and encouragement given by a citizenry keen on living a normal life bereft of the Boko Haram menace.

Looking at the 6 ft 2 Babagana, one cannot but marvel at the bravery and nobility of these youths. One thought that crossed my mind was gratefulness.

How does a nation reward these youths who having gotten so little, yet, rather than run away, they risk all for the sake of community and nation?

How does Nigeria utilize today to develop a culture where wealthiness albeit, ill-gotten is not our only celebrated trophy, but where virtue and selflessness is a national pride?

Unfortunately the authorities and elders have paid scant attention to youths like the civilian JTF.

On the contrary, Nigeria’s leaders, politicians and elders, jostle among themselves to recommend mouth watering incentives for ex-terrorists and criminals.

While we wait for the response from the marauding and incarcerated Boko Haram members, whom we are begging to accept our compensation, how about a restitution plan for our responding youth?

The question being asked is simple; does anyone reward noble acts in Nigeria?
Dr. Peregrino Brimah
Every Nigerian Do Something; http://ENDS.ng 
Email: [email protected]

 


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Conoil Bonanza Winners Emerge

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Conoil Plc is spreading joy this Valentine season as the first group of winners in its Valentine Bonanza promotion have been announced and rewarded. Launched on February 14, the campaign continues to delight customers at participating retail outlets.

The initial raffle draw, conducted on February 21, saw fortunate customers receive ₦10,000 worth of free petrol each. The draw was carried out publicly, with media representatives present to ensure full transparency. With the promotion still ongoing, more customers have the opportunity to join in and potentially be among the next winners.

A Conoil Management spokesperson explained that the initiative is a way to show appreciation to loyal customers for their ongoing support. “Our customers have responded impressively to the bonanza, with strong participation recorded across our stations,” the spokesperson said.

The second and final phase of the promotion is now in motion. Customers who purchase at least 10 litres of petrol at any participating Conoil station remain eligible to win in the grand finale raffle.

The grand finale is set for February 28 at 12 noon. Motorists in Lagos and Ogun states are encouraged to visit Conoil outlets to collect their tickets and take part in the exciting conclusion of this Valentine celebration.


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PalmPay Couples Show How Love Is Funded Digitally

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PalmPay users took to the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign to show how experiences are powered through seamless banking.

It’s the month of love and social media has been filled with couples showing affection with gifts. As digital payments become embedded in everyday life, the way relationships are planned, funded, and experienced is evolving.

Recent insights from SBM Intelligence 2025 ‘Love in the Air’ report show that despite economic pressures, most Nigerians still set aside dedicated budgets for Valentine’s Day, with the largest percentage planning to spend between N51,000 and N100,000, while less than 5% are willing to spend above N500,000.

This growing intentionality highlights the need for platforms that help people manage their money more effectively, offering features like free transfers and tools that make it easier to send, track, and preserve funds while still showing up for meaningful moments.

Through the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign, PalmPay set out to show how the platform is enabling users to plan, pay, and celebrate meaningful moments with greater ease.

During the Valentine’s season, PalmPay invited couples across Nigeria to share their stories through the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign, celebrating how digital banking supports their individual expressions of love.

The campaign saw strong participation, with many PalmPay couples submitting entries that showcased how they use the app to plan surprises, pay for outings, and stay connected through everyday transactions.

From these entries, four couples were selected, each showcasing how PalmPay has enabled fast and reliable transactions in key moments.

One video from @simply.omotoshan, one of the selected couples, captures the role of seamless payments in making their spontaneous moments possible.

She said in her entry video: “Our cutest money moment with PalmPay was when we planned our Valentine’s picnic and realized we had forgotten half of the things we needed; literally, half of everything. We rushed to the mall to get cakes, food, decorations, and all the essentials. When it was time to pay, we used PalmPay.

“The transaction was smooth, fast, and stress-free.  In no time, we were done setting up our Valentine-themed picnic with everything perfectly ready. Honestly, all our experiences with PalmPay have been easy and satisfying, but this one is definitely our cutest money moment. Thank you, PalmPay.”

A testimonial from the fourth selected couple, Mohammed and his wife, reflects his excitement: “Hello PalmPay, thank you so much for selecting us as one of the winners of the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign. We truly appreciate this. My wife and I are very grateful. Thank you, PalmPay, for the love and support. We’re so happy and thankful for the N100,000 reward. We love you, PalmPay, and long live PalmPay. Thank you so much.”

Beyond the feel-good stories, the campaign reflects a broader shift: fintech is no longer just about transactions, it’s about enabling experiences. Reliable payments, fast transactions, and accessible financial tools reduce the friction that can disrupt important moments, allowing users to focus on connection rather than logistics.

From paying for dinner to managing other expenses, PalmPay continues to demonstrate how digital financial services support modern relationships, proving that in today’s economy, love is not only felt, it’s funded digitally.

 


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KPMG Strengthens Africa Leadership to Support Long‑term Growth Across the Continent

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KPMG has appointed Tola Adeyemi as Chief Executive Officer for KPMG one Africa, alongside the addition of Professor Olayinka David‑West and Dr. George Njenga as independent members of the Africa Governance Council (AGC).

Effective from March 2026, the appointments reinforce the firm’s leadership expertise, underscore a long‑term commitment to Africa and highlight confidence in the continent’s growth potential.

“Africa is one of the most dynamic and promising regions in the global economy, and KPMG is committed to playing a meaningful role in its growth story,” said Tola Adeyemi, incoming CEO for KPMG One Africa.

He continued: “It is a privilege to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for both KPMG and the continent. I look forward to building on our strong, connected and high‑performing base to deepen collaboration and deliver consistent quality and impact across our markets.”

KPMG is recognised globally for its commitment to quality, integrity and professional excellence, supported by a strong global network of member firms. Trust remains the foundation of the audit and accounting profession, with high standards of governance, ethics and audit quality increasingly demanded across Africa’s public and private sectors.

KPMG One Africa’s approach brings the continent closer together with strong leadership to strengthen cross-border collaboration and offer shared expertise and consistency which is business‑critical to help clients navigate complex risks and unlock sustainable growth opportunities.

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Ben Marx, Chairman of the Africa Governance Council, said: “Tola Adeyemi is exceptionally well positioned to lead KPMG One Africa. In addition to his global perspective as a member of the KPMG Global Council, he brings significant influence and credibility as a respected business leader across the continent.”

The appointments of Professor David‑West and Dr Njenga to the Africa Governance Council, which provides board level governance, further strengthens independent oversight, bringing strong academic credentials alongside deep strategic and business expertise.

“These appointments reinforce KPMG’s commitment to strong governance, accountability and leadership depth,” Marx added. “They complement our established African leadership team, in‑country managing partners and regional senior partners, further enhancing our client‑centric approach across Africa.”

 


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