• Fintiri urges improved security at Nigeria-Cameroun border

There was a heavy security presence at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday as the federal government commenced another phase of mass trials of the defendants in terrorism-related cases.

Security was heightened around the high-rise court building along Shehu Shagari Way in the Central Business District, where several courtrooms were in session.

Leading the federal government’s prosecution team during the proceedings was the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, led the team of lawyers for the defendants.

Away from that, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has urged the federal government to deploy drones, modern surveillance technology and joint border patrols to curb arms proliferation, illegal migration and smuggling along the Nigeria-Cameroun border.

Fintiri, who spoke yesterday at the opening of the Federal and States Security Administrators’ Meeting in Yola, said Adamawa’s extensive international border exposes the state and the country to cross-border threats requiring urgent federal intervention and coordinated security operations.

Therefore, through his deputy, Kaletapwa George, the governor called for increased operational funding, modern equipment, and improved welfare for security personnel, warning that poor intelligence sharing and rivalry among agencies could weaken efforts against insurgency and organised crime.

Meanwhile, Fintiri identified Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as continued threats despite military gains, alongside cybercrime, digital radicalisation and attacks on critical infrastructure.

Nevertheless, he said the creation of seven new emirates and chiefdoms, among others, had strengthened grassroots intelligence gathering and improved conflict resolution.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the forum, Sani Aminu, urged security agencies to respect their respective mandates and remain professional as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, warning political actors against hate speech, misinformation, and inflammatory campaigns that could trigger violence.