Governor Babagana Zulum has condemned terrorists’ attack in the Dumba community, near Baga in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The governor condemned the attack which claimed at least 40 farmers and fishermen on Sunday and called on the officers and men of Operation Hadin Kai to track and obliterate the insurgent elements that are operating at Dumba and other similar enclaves in the Lake Chad Area.

The attack was said to have been carried out by Boko Haram and ISWAP elements operating in the area.

Zulum commiserated with the victims and their families and assured them that those still missing would be found and reunited with their families.

In a statement by the state’s Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, the governor said, “With deep sorrow and anguish, I received the sad news of the attack on Dumba where scores of our farmers and fishermen were killed by the terrorists.

“On behalf of the government, I sympathise with the victims’ families. Let me assure the citizens of Borno that this matter will be thoroughly investigated for further necessary action.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on the armed forces to track and deal decisively with the perpetrators of this heinous act of violence against our innocent citizens.

“It was observed that the farmers strayed off the security corridor established by the security agencies, and went into an enclave that is yet to be cleared. Such enclaves are usually prone to nocturnal attacks by marauding terrorists, as well as being contaminated with landmines.”

The governor called on citizens not to venture beyond the safety zones that are demarcated by the government and security agencies.

The Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, designated 17 areas in the nation’s capital as criminal black-spots.

The areas are Apo-Dutse Panteka; Diplomatic Zone; New PDP Secretariat; Kabusa Panteka; Ajakaita (Tungan-Maje); Abuja-Kaduna Road; Jabi Panteka; Apo-Waru Panteka; Area 1 (Monkey Village) and Durumi Village.

Others are Gwarimpa; Angwan Tivi; Mpape (Mashafa and Shishinpe villages) ;Durumi III (Burukutu Garden); Mabushi (Gishiri Village); Kubwa (by Pipeline and NEPA Road) and Maitama (under the Transcorp Bridge).

The command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh in a statement on Tuesday, said the police identified the black spots during a series of strategic raids.

Adeh added that the daily raids are critical to maintaining law and order in the FCT. The statement partly read, “As part of its unwavering efforts to combat criminal activities and protect public and private infrastructure within the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Police Command has carried out a series of strategic raids targeting identified black spots across the territory. “Why Do Police Carry Out Daily Raids? These proactive operations are aimed at: Preventing Crime: Targeting criminal black-spots to deter and prevent crimes before they occur, ensuring a safer environment for residents.

Protecting Infrastructure: Disrupting activities that lead to the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure such as manhole covers, streetlights, and power cables among others.

“The Command identified and raided the following criminal hideouts across the FCT: Apo-Dutse Panteka; Diplomatic Zone; New PDP Secretariat; Kabusa Panteka; Ajakaita (Tungan-Maje); Abuja-Kaduna Road; Jabi Panteka; Apo-Waru Panteka; Area 1 (Monkey Village); Durumi Village; Gwarimpa; Angwan Tivi; Mpape (Mashafa and Shishinpe villages); Durumi III (Burukutu Garden);Mabushi (Gishiri Village); Kubwa (by Pipeline and NEPA Road) and Maitama (under the Transcorp Bridge). “ Adeh stated that during the daily raids in the listed areas, operatives have 348 suspects for various criminal activities.

“ She also said the command recovered weapons, manholes, and streetlights among others. Adeh stated, “Seizure of 10 trucks loaded with vandalized metals, disrupting the market for stolen items; Recovery of 26 manhole covers and 20 solar/streetlight poles, ensuring the restoration of critical public infrastructure.

“Confiscation of large quantities of AEDC armoured cables, preventing further vandalism, Seizure of substantial quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and assorted hard drugs, reducing drug-related crimes. Recovery of 11 firearms, eliminating dangerous weapons from circulation.”

Jack Smith, the special counsel who led prosecution against United States President-elect Donald Trump, out of fear resigned and fled the country ahead of Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

According to statements of officials in the document submitted to the US District Judge Aileen Cannon, Smith had completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7 this year before he finally took leave of the United States Department of Justice on January 10.

The high-profile cases handled by Smith involved Trump’s alleged mishandling of confidential documents after he left office and his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election which he contested and lost.

Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor, was appointed in November 2022 to steer the affairs of the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations into Trump’s cases.

But with Trump’s victory in the November 5 election, Smith dismissed the cases, citing a Justice Department rule against prosecuting incumbent presidents.

While asking courts to drop the charges, Smith’s legal team, however, acknowledged the validity of the cases but stated that they could not pursue them in view of the Trump’s impeding return to the Presidency.

This development signals the collapse of charges against Donald Trump, allowing him to take office without facing legal repercussions.

Trump had earlier threatened to fire Smith upon his assumption of office as second term US President.