Every day, HumAngle’s journalists and researchers gather, sort through, and file stories on issues important to society. We bring you stories about development, conflict, and humanitarian trends across Africa in hopes that we can improve understanding of the most pressing problems and improve people’s quality of life.
In this roundup, staff writer Umar Aminu Yandaki shares some of the most important pieces of reporting we published last week — in case you missed them.
THE TOP STORY
Nigeria’s Coat Of Arms
Nigeria’s socio-political canvas is coated with violence across all six regions of the country. This violence is mostly perpetrated using guns, some made locally, others imported through several illegal means. To understand this violence, the impact on people and how different people have adapted to it over the years, HumAngle spoke to people across Nigeria. In this interactive report, we feature 30 voices for you to listen to — the voices of victims, actors (state and non-state), and advocates for and against gun ownership.
OTHER STORIES
The Risks That Come With Drilling Oil In Nigeria’s North
Nigerian authorities have announced the discovery of oil and gas deposits in the savannah drylands of the north amid a production drop in the Niger Delta. However, hydrocarbon exploration in the new basin could lead to environmental pollution, endanger wildlife, and be rocked by insecurity.
How Are Terrorists In Nigeria Funding Their Violent Campaigns?
Nigeria has been in a long-drawn battle with violent terror organisations for over a decade. These groups break up, expand, contract, and form new alliances as their strength either intensifies or wanes. Whatever happens, they have remained a threat to the safety of lives and property, and one key reason is their access to funding.
ISWAP’s Pledge To New ISIS Leader Shows Transformation
Over the past few days, several ISWAP subgroups of varying size and capacity have appeared in propaganda materials pledging loyalty to Abu al-Hussain al-Hussaini al-Qurashi. The new Islamic State leader was appointed after the death of the former leader, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.
This development provides a glimpse into the group’s structure and capability, including how they have expanded into the former Boko Haram territories. It further confirms their organisational structure, which allows several groups to operate semi-autonomously.
2023: Election Campaigns Have Begun, So Has The Violence
Less than three months to Nigeria’s next presidential election, political parties are in full campaign mode, but signs are emerging that wider election-related violence is a real possibility. The current attacks and the assassination of political stakeholders are symptoms of problems Nigeria has faced since its return to civilian rule in 1999. Political parties and leaders have in the past used thugs to attack their opponents, and so far, events indicate that it will be no different this time.
Reporter’s Diary: An Encounter With The ‘Gun Merchants’ Of Southwest Nigeria
Prior to our meeting, I had a series of phone conversations with Sheriff Alamu* on how he possessed his firearm as a top member of Supreme Eiye Confraternity, also known as the National Association Of Airlords, but he declined to speak. Soon, we arranged a meeting after assuring him of my cooperation. He promised to show me the guns in his possession, tell me how they were obtained, and even take me to the cult group’s armoury in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. Since a fee was attached to the assignment, he became more eager than I had envisaged.
The Illegal Trade Endangering The Lives Of Children In Nigeria’s Northeast
HumAngle learned that in order to get RUTF, some women hire malnourished children whom they present to clinics as potential recipients of the therapeutic food. Some go as far as feeding their children harmful substances which induce runny stomachs to get them to qualify as beneficiaries.
Podcast: The Day Of Horror
Mansura Zubairu, Naja’atu Muhammad, and Khadijat Aminu were among the lucky students who narrowly escaped abduction when a terrorist group attacked the Federal Government College (FGC), Birnin Yauri, in June 2021. The three girls still recall the day of horror with uncommon clarity.
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