Three people have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries after a powerful windstorm swept through Gashua, the headquarters of Bade Local Government Area in Yobe State.

The Chairman of Bade Local Government Area, Ibrahim Babagana, confirmed the incident to Channels Television, saying the storm, which lasted for only 30 minutes, destroyed buildings worth millions of naira and left many residents homeless.

“It was a devastating windstorm that started around 5.30 pm on Wednesday and lasted for only 30 minutes. I can confirm to you that three persons have died from the incident while others are receiving medical attention at the Gashua Specialist Hospital, with a few others discharged,” Babagana said.

He described the incident as one of the most destructive weather events the community has experienced in decades.

“This is one of the worst windstorms I have ever witnessed in my life. We have not experienced such in the last few decades; almost every resident of Gashua has been affected in one way or the other. Houses, shops, roofs, telecommunication masts, and electricity poles have been affected seriously,” he said.

The council chairman disclosed that a report had been submitted to the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, urging the agency to provide immediate relief materials and emergency assistance to affected residents.

According to him, the scale of destruction is beyond the capacity of the local government to manage without external intervention.

Gashua is already vulnerable to flooding due to its location near the Yobe-Kumodugu River, raising concerns that residents could face additional hardship if heavy rainfall continues.

Six suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, along with their families, have surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion (Main), Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai, according to the military.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, in Maiduguri, Captain Mohammed Goni.

The military said the surrendered suspects were found with more than N1.5 million in cash, two Tecno mobile phones and other personal belongings.

In a separate operation, troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion conducting search-and-rescue missions in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on July 7 rescued two additional abductees from a terrorist hideout.

According to the statement, troops also recovered N1.2 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities, alongside food supplies and other logistics believed to have supported terrorist operations.

The rescued victims have since been moved to a secure location, where they are receiving medical treatment and psychosocial support.

The military also disclosed that troops successfully repelled a coordinated ISWAP attack on a military position in Borno State during the same period, although one soldier lost his life in the encounter.

“Although the insurgents briefly exploited a section of the base’s defensive perimeter during the intense firefight, the troops rapidly regrouped, mounted a determined counter-offensive and decisively expelled the attackers, inflicting significant casualties and forcing the surviving terrorists to flee with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.

“Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price, while two gun trucks and some combat enablers sustained damage during the engagement.”

Despite the attack, the military said the situation has been fully brought under control.

“The situation at FOB Logomani remains firmly under the control of Operation HADIN KAI troops, with reinforcements deployed, exploitation operations ongoing and additional measures being implemented to further strengthen the defensive resilience of the location.”

Elsewhere, troops of the 232 Battalion arrested a suspected notorious criminal in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Subsequent operations led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

“The suspect and recovered items are currently in military custody, while further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network.”

Similarly, troops of the 149 Battalion apprehended two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State.

Recovered items included cash, a Volkswagen Golf vehicle, construction materials, household goods and other supplies allegedly intended for terrorist groups.

The military said the suspects are undergoing interrogation while investigations continue.

In another operation, troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, carried out a clearance operation around Wulgo, where they recovered a sack containing assorted illicit drugs abandoned by fleeing insurgents.

“The recovery further underscores the sustained pressure being mounted on terrorist elements, denying them freedom of movement and disrupting their operational capabilities.”

The military also announced the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics supplier at the Molai checkpoint after he was found transporting large quantities of medical supplies without authorisation.

In Sector 2, troops of the 233 Tank Battalion, supported by local hunters, intercepted another suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics supplier from Ngirya village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State. He was arrested while transporting five motorcycle tyres, which the military believes were intended for terrorist elements.

“These latest operational gains underscore the effectiveness of sustained offensive operations, actionable intelligence and the seamless collaboration among security agencies and auxiliary forces in dismantling terrorist logistics networks, disrupting criminal activities and protecting vulnerable communities across the North East”, the statement added.

Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing rescue operations, assuring the public that efforts would continue until all abducted persons are safely reunited with their families.

The military also issued a warning to individuals supplying food, fuel, construction materials, transportation or any other form of logistics to terrorist groups.

“The Theatre Command also issues a stern warning to individuals involved in supplying food, fuel, construction materials, transportation or any other form of logistics to terrorist groups to immediately desist. Anyone found aiding, abetting or collaborating with terrorist elements, directly or indirectly, will be identified, apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

The Senate has resolved to hold off on taking any action regarding the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and its inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation Act until the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concludes its investigation.

The decision followed a motion sponsored by Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu, who called for an urgent investigation into the budgetary allocation, operations and controversy surrounding the purported PFIPC to protect the integrity of both the Senate and the Federal Government.

Presenting the motion under Order 9, Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders 2026, Kawu described the issue as a matter of significant institutional concern, warning that it could undermine the credibility of the Senate, the National Assembly and Nigeria’s budgetary process.

He noted that although senior Presidency officials had publicly described the PFIPC as fake, fictitious and unauthorised, the organisation still appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act under Budget Code 0111062001, with a budgetary allocation of N1.302 billion.

According to the senator, the allocation consisted of N802.98 million for personnel costs, N200 million for overhead expenses and N300 million for capital expenditure, raising serious concerns about how the agency was captured in the national budget.

Kawu argued that a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC’s inclusion in the budget was necessary to preserve public confidence in the appropriation process and the National Assembly’s oversight responsibilities.

He urged the Senate to condemn what he described as administrative lapses, internal collaboration or possible fraudulent activities that allowed a purportedly non-existent agency to secure a place in the federal budget.

The lawmaker also proposed that the Senate Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, alongside the Committee on Appropriations, be mandated to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

Responding to the motion, Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin advised against launching an immediate parliamentary investigation, noting that President Bola Tinubu had already directed the ICPC to conduct a full probe.

Barau acknowledged that the issue could have been introduced as a substantive motion through the Senate Committee on Rules and Business but maintained that the Presidency had already initiated the appropriate investigative process.

“The Presidency has taken up this matter by directing that the ICPC should investigate fully how this matter came to be. The marching order has been given and I think the ICPC has started.

“To me, I believe that what we need to do at this stage is to have the report of the ICPC, and then we can act on that report and deal with it as we feel appropriate,” he said.

The Senate subsequently adopted the recommendation to await the outcome of the ICPC investigation before deciding on any further legislative action concerning the PFIPC controversy.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the PFIPC and all issues connected to the controversy surrounding the agency.

The President also instructed that the investigation be concluded and a detailed report submitted to him within 30 days.