General News
Sheriff Opens Up on Boko Haram, Says Chad Has Solution
Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno State, has opened up on what he knows about the Boko Haram insurgents currently ravaging states in the northeast and some other parts of the country, while disclosing that only the neighbouring Republic of Chad could help solve the menace.
Sheriff, while speaking in a BBC Hausa Service magazine programme (Gane Mini Hanya), yesterday, revealed that the radical religious sect actually started in Yobe State in 1992, and that he has been trying to find a lasting solution to it, including talking to the Chadian government.
He denied reports saying that Boko Haram started during his tenure as governor of Borno State between 2003 and 2011.
But it would be recalled that when the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners visited the Chadian embassy in Abuja recently to find out the connection between Chad and the Boko Haram insurgents, the ambassador had said that his government had no connection to the sect.
The ambassador also alleged that if there was any person that should be held responsible for this problem, it should be the Nigerian government which had repeatedly claimed to know where the Chibok girls are being kept.
When the ambassador was queried on the alleged report of the botched ceasefire deal, which was celebrated across the country and handled by the Chadian President, Idriss Déby, and the report that Mr Mahamat Bichara Gnoti, a close associate of the Chadian president, was reported to have been apprehended on the Chadian-Sudan border with 19 SAM2 missiles he allegedly purchased from the Sudanese army for Boko Haram terrorists, the ambassador noted that he only read about the news on the pages of newspapers just like other persons.
But the former governor, who is also at the centre of a controversy surrounding the sponsorship of the Boko Haram insurgency, following claims by an Australian negotiator, Steven Davis, that he and a former chief of army staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, were allegedly backing the insurgents, said Chad could help in solving the issue.
He alleged that the Borno State government was responsible for the orchestrated plot to frame him up with the Boko Haram sponsorship allegation in order to defame his character.
Keeping mute on how Chad could possibly help in solving the problem, Sheriff added that since he is one of the few politicians that has benefitted greatly from the kindness of Borno State, as such he is doing whatever it is to help solve the insurgency.
“Nothing preoccupies my mind in Nigeria presently like the return of peace in Borno. When Borno State was peaceful, there was no place I cherished to stay in the world like Maiduguri. I, my friends, my confidants, my parents and all the schools I attended are in Maiduguri.
“Therefore, I am more concerned than anybody in this country, because what Borno State did for me has not been done to any other indigene. You know, in Borno State, a governor has never been re-elected apart from me; in Borno State, no senator has ever been elected thrice apart from me. So, Borno people have done everything for me, and there is no one in this world that I know other than Chad, which I think could help Borno,” he said.
On his belief that he was being framed, Sheriff said: “They defamed my character, and when they started it, I once told journalists that it was plotted in Maiduguri. We know the plotters, their motives, and that by the grace of God, the truth will prevail; and now, the arrested impostors have said it all to the world.”
The former governor alleged that the current Borno State government’s connection with plot to defame him became glaring when the government quickly came out to disown one of the impostors, Junaid Idrissa Khadi, who was until four months ago a special adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima, but rather said Khadi remained his (Sherrif) known associate because he had earlier served his government before Shettima engaged him allegedly under pressure from him.
“This is nonsense. If I had forced him (Khadi) on them, then why will he connive with a Whiteman to implicate me, that I am a Boko Haram member? If at all I helped him to be engaged, then he won’t implicate me…and I have instructed my lawyers to file charges,” he said.
It could also be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had on two occasions visited the Chadian President Idriss Derby, in September and November this year, towards finding a lasting solution to the insurgency problem.
Jonathan however came under attacks from individuals and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) after it was discovered that Sheriff was part of the high-level meeting between him and his Chadian counterpart in September. Their anger was predicated on the fact that the former governor was at that time accused by Davis of allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram.
Sheriff, who lauded the federal government’s counter-insurgency effort in the interview, however, denied the insinuations that the Boko Haram started during his tenure as governor.
“This is not true. The Boko Haram issue did not start during my tenure. If you don’t know, let me educate you today. Boko Haram started in 1992 at Kalama in Yobe State, and at that time, I was not a governor. So, if anybody tells you it started during my tenure, he may be part of my traducers. But the truth is that it didn’t start during my tenure,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Borno State government, through Governor Shettima’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, has denied any government-sponsored plot to tarnish the image of the former governor, saying the government in Maiduguri was only concerned with the weighty allegations against Sheriff as an indigene of the state.
He also added that the incumbent state governor has nothing to gain from Sheriff’s predicament.
Gusau, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service yesterday, said: “Governor Kashim Shettima has nothing to gain from the allegation against Ali Sheriff. In fact, to him, it is even shameful that a Borno State indigene, whom the governor has interacted or is connected with, is linked to what is happening. So, Governor Shettima’s connection with this saga is unnecessary.”
History was made on October 4 and 5, 2025, on the waters of the Lagos Lagoon as Team Brazil by Claure Group claimed victory at the E1 Lagos GP presented by FirstBank.
The landmark event marked Africa’s debut on the global calendar of the E1 Series, the world’s first electric powerboat championship, and positioned Lagos at the forefront of sustainable sporting innovation.
The E1 Lagos GP drew thousands of fans to multiple viewing locations across the city, from the vibrant Official Fan Zone to the Ocean’s Club at Black Diamond Hotel and the Lagos Oriental Hotel Decks, which hosted premium hospitality experiences along the waterfront.
The Official Fan Zone quickly became the heartbeat of the event, attracting young Nigerians with immersive brand activations, race simulators, live music, and a festival energy that perfectly matched the excitement on the water.
After an action-packed weekend of competition, Team Brazil by Claure Group finished first, fending off strong performances from Team Blue Rising who placed second, and Team Drogba Global Africa who finished third.
Pilots Timmy Hansen and Ieva Millere-Hagin powered Team Brazil to victory, with Timmy Hansen named PIF Pilot of the Race. Racing was briefly delayed by a tropical storm over the Lagos Lagoon, but organisers and teams worked together to ensure the programme resumed safely and on schedule.
The outcome strengthens Team Brazil’s momentum as the season moves toward the Miami finale in November, while Team Brady retains the overall championship lead and a tight contest continues with Team Rafa.
The Lagos event also reinforced the E1 Series’ sustainability mission, showcasing zero emission race technology and local legacy initiatives including coastal clean-up and mangrove restoration programmes.
The race weekend attracted local and international media, dignitaries and sporting figures and underlined Lagos’ capacity to host major global sporting events on its waterways. By successfully staging the first E1 race on African soil, Lagos joins Monaco, Dubrovnik and Doha as an E1 host city and affirms its positioning as a centre for innovation, culture and sustainable sport.
Africa heads into the Age of Intelligence with a distinct advantage: its people. By 2030, Sub-Saharan Africa will account for half of all new workers worldwide.
According to a new report, this is more than just a demographic fact; it is a historic opportunity. The report also states that talent remains the critical foundation of the AI stack—talent, data, compute, and use cases.
Zindi’s Kenya country report, compiled in collaboration with Dalberg Data Insights and the International Centre for AI Research Ethics, explored employability and career outcomes.
Zindi is professional community of African data scientists, working to solve the world’s most pressing challenges using machine learning and AI.
The report’s forward was written by Philip Thigo, special envoy on technology of Kenya, and states that without skilled employees, data is unrefined, compute is idle, and use cases are irrelevant. And he makes it clear: Africa’s talent is already contributing to the global AI economy, rather than waiting to be included.
Thigo goes on to say the evidence is compelling, stating: “Nearly 1 in 5 Kenyan Zindi users experienced a career change after joining the platform.
“More than 80% of those with completed profiles advanced in their careers, compared to just 3% without.
“Completing four or more challenges makes a user four times more likely to secure employment, while engaging in teams and discussions makes them three times more likely to get jobs.”
“These findings highlight an important truth: employability today is built not just in classrooms, but also in communities of practice, peer learning, and collective intelligence.”
According to Thigo, in this dynamic talent climate, companies must look beyond degrees and leader boards to find a vast pool of market-ready AI talent defined by resilience, collaboration, and creativity.
Similarly, politicians and educators are informed that the message is obvious.
Thigo writes: “If Africa is to secure its place in the digital economy, we must reimagine how we connect our youth to opportunity. Platforms like Zindi show that talent is abundant; what is needed are pathways that translate skills into livelihoods, and ecosystems that link learning to work.”
For Kenya, he notes that this resonates deeply with the country’s broader ambition: to build a sovereign AI ecosystem powered by African talent, clean data, and green compute—ensuring that Africa is not just a consumer of technology, but a creator of it.
As the world becomes increasingly digital, our daily lives are now more connected than ever, through our phones, computers, and the internet we use every day. But with this growing connection comes a growing risk: hackers, scams, and cyber threats waiting for just one careless click.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is using this Cybersecurity Awareness Month to remind Nigerians that cyber safety begins with individual responsibility.
Everyone has the power to protect themselves and their communities by adopting simple but effective cyber hygiene practices, including:
- Using strong and unique passwords for all online accounts.
- Enabling two-factor authentication to add extra security layers.
- Keeping devices and applications updated regularly.
- Backing up important data frequently.
- Avoiding suspicious links or attachments from unknown sources.
- And thinking carefully before sharing personal or financial information online.
The theme for this year, “Cyber Hygiene for a Safer Tomorrow,” emphasizes that cyber hygiene is not only a personal responsibility but a collective effort. When individuals protect themselves, they also safeguard their families, workplaces, and the broader digital community.
As we continue to build a secure and digitally resilient Nigeria, NITDA calls on all citizens to stay alert, click wisely, and stay safe online.
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