MAMOS MEDIA

COALITION OF PROGRESSIVE GAMBIANS ASKS OPPOSITION TO UNITE OR PERISH The Coalition of Progressive Gambians, a non-partisan citizen organisation, has issued a strong call for opposition unity ahead of the 2026 presidential election, urging political leaders to drop partisan interests and rally under the national flag to rescue the country, or miss out. In a press stat...

Gov’t launches 10-year plan to end malnutrition in Gambia The government of The Gambia has reaffirmed its commitment to ending all forms of malnutrition with the launch of the National Nutrition Policy 2026-2035 and its accompanying Strategic Plan 2027-2031.  The policy was unveiled by Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow on Wednesday, 7th October at the B...

WHERE IS OUR BIODATA?

by Ndey Jobarteh

Let us understand the seriousness of what reportedly came out in the Revising Court.

If GID cannot access the historical Semlex data, then as things stand, GID cannot go back to those Semlex records to verify the underlying information used to issue a National ID when that identity is challenged.

My name!
My date of birth!
My place of birth!
My photograph!
My fingerprints!

The documents I submitted to establish who I am.

Where are those records?
Who has access to them?

Semlex says the system was transferred to the Gambian Government in 2024. Yet GID reportedly says it no longer has access to the Semlex data.

This is no longer simply about whether somebody possesses a National ID card.

The question is whether the State can go behind that card and verify the identity and documents upon which it was issued.

Until the Government explains where the historical data is and which institution can access it, we have a serious unanswered verification problem.

So let us ask loudly:

WHERE IS OUR BIODATA?
WHO HAS IT?
WHO CAN ACCESS IT?

Ministry of Interior, The Gambia.
Gambia Immigration Department
Attorney General's Chambers & Ministry of Justice ,the Gambia
The Gambia National Audit Office -NAO
Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice
Independent Electoral Commission - IEC The Gambia

DARBOE SAYS BARROW IS SO UNPOPULAR THAT EVEN ONE PARTY CAN REMOVE HIM

The main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainu Darboe has declared that President Barrow is so unpopular that he now agrees with other politicians who believe that removing him may not necessarily require one united opposition front.

“Other party leaders have held this view before and I too believe that even one party can remove President Barrow if things go by law and the right way,” Darboe said in an interview with Hilltop radio.

Darboe, who is currently in Europe to raise funds for his party’s election campaign, said he is convinced about this because Gambians are collectively dissatisfied with Barrow’s governance. “This is a bad government that only specialises in hounding road construction as an achievement when Gambians are dying of hunger, at sea, being murdered in their homes and dead bodies being found in bushes. Who will vote for a president who cannot protect his people; a president who thrives on corruption; a president who openly accepts gifts and cars from businessmen and brags about it?,” Darboe asked.

The UDP leader said President Barrow needs to understand that these businessmen giving him such gifts and money are not operating philanthropist organisations but they are doing it in exchange for favours from the government.

“It is all corruption,” Darboe declared.

He assured that with a UDP government they will make sure campaign funding is properly regulated to avoid politicians from collecting bribes, seeking sponsorships from wealthy businessmen so that they will do whatever they want if those they patronise become president.

Opposition unity
Asked if his party which is leading the Gambia First Coalition, would consider forming alliance with Coalition 2026 led by Talib as well as the Team Gambia Coalition which is yet to select a standard bearer, Darboe insisted that the coming together of all opposition groups into a single alliance has always been UDP’s position.

“We have never shied from the need of forming a united opposition front to rally behind one candidate. But the structures and principles to be used to build it should be properly looked into to see if they are in order. And if they are in order, then it could be explored and achieved. But if the principles are out of order, then there would be an issue,” Darboe said.

He vehemently clarified that he will not singlehandedly step aside for another candidate all in the name of a single opposition coalition adding that it has to be the decision of his party to ask him to step aside. “But other than that I am going to contest the election,” he stated.

Source: The Standard

Darboe vows to implement TRRC recommendations in 5 years

United Democratic Party (UDP) leader ANM Ousainou Darboe has pledged to fully implement the recommendations of The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) within five years if elected president, saying justice must come before lasting national reconciliation.
Mr. Darboe made the pledge in Switzerland during a fundraising event organized by the UDP’s GASH chapter, where he also outlined plans on legal reforms, economic empowerment and electricity.

He said victims of human rights violations committed during former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule were still waiting for justice, promising that their cases would be given priority under a UDP government.

“We want reconciliation in the country, but you cannot have that if justice does not take place, give the person his truth if you give him his truth, then we can sit and be together.”

He said calls for national unity would mean little if the experiences of victims were ignored.

“You cannot sit on my truth and say, Let us be one m that cannot work, You offend me, then apologize I forgive you, and we become one.”

According to Mr. Darboe, failing to address past abuses would betray victims of the Jammeh era, stressing that implementing the TRRC recommendations would require genuine political will.
The UDP leader also promised legal reforms, saying his party had enough legal expertise to review and repeal laws it considers unjust or outdated.

“Gambians will agree that UDP lacks everything except lawyers, to change the bad laws within three years will not be difficult.”

On the economy, Mr. Darboe called for greater Gambian ownership of key sectors and strategic national assets. Referring to the recent sale of Mega Bank, he said Gambians, including those abroad, should have been given an opportunity to acquire it before foreign investors.

He said he was not against foreign investment but insisted Gambians should be given priority when strategic assets are sold.

“I am not saying we should deny foreigners, but before giving it to someone else, give it to the Gambian citizen,” he said.
Mr. Darboe also pledged to resolve the country’s chronic electricity problems within three years of a UDP government taking office, citing the late musician Tatadingding’s call for Gambians to give him the opportunity to fix the problem.

Source: The Point

Nigeria: NYSC kidnap: Mother begs FG to bring son, 19 others home alive

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

A 55-year-old mother, Janet Oladosu, has appealed to the Federal Government to step up efforts to rescue her son, Greatness, and 19 other prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were reportedly abducted while travelling to their orientation camps.
Oladosu, who spoke with Vanguard, urged the Federal Government, the Oyo and Imo State governments and security agencies to make the safe return of the abducted graduates a top priority.
“All I want is for my son to come back alive. These are young Nigerians who were simply travelling to serve their country,” she said.

The 20 prospective corps members, who had received their NYSC call-up letters, reportedly left the Samonda area of Ibadan on September 30, 2026, heading to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South.

They were reportedly abducted near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State while travelling towards Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State.

Oladosu said her son had been keeping her updated throughout the journey until his messages suddenly took a frightening turn
According to her, Greatness initially told her that heavy traffic in Edo State had delayed their journey, forcing the travellers to stop in Anambra State because it was already too late to continue.

She said her son contacted her again the following morning to tell her they had resumed their journey towards Imo State.
“About 45 minutes later, I received a message from him through another phone. It read: ‘Mummy, we have been kidnapped,’” she recalled.

She said another message from Greatness made the situation even more distressing.

“He wrote: ‘Mummy, I don’t know what will happen to us. I hid this phone in my trouser to send a text to you,’” she said.
Oladosu said the message left her deeply worried because her son was secretly trying to reach her while in captivity and did not know what would happen to him or the other victims.

The abduction has also renewed calls for changes to the NYSC deployment system, particularly the requirement for young graduates to travel long distances across regions for national service.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the Federal Government to amend the NYSC Act to allow graduates to serve in their states of origin, states of residence or, at least, within their geopolitical zones.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group said it had advocated for a review of the deployment policy since 2021, particularly following previous incidents involving the kidnapping and attacks of corps members.

Afenifere said reducing long-distance travel for prospective corps members would help lower their exposure to security risks.

The group also called on the Federal Government, security agencies and the Oyo and Imo State governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted graduates.

Afenifere recalled that President Bola Tinubu had in July directed the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and Justice to begin the process of amending the NYSC Act and related regulations to provide legal backing for proposed reforms.

The proposed changes include risk-based deployment, especially in states facing serious security challenges.
Afenifere urged the government to speed up the legislative process and ensure that the proposed reforms lead to practical measures that will protect corps members.

Pending the amendment, the organisation called on the NYSC to consider allowing graduates to serve in their states of origin, states of residence or neighbouring states within their geopolitical zones.

The group also commended President Tinubu for approving additional Army formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun states, saying the move could improve the military's response to security threats.

However, Afenifere stressed that increasing military presence alone would not completely solve kidnapping and banditry, calling for stronger enforcement of the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
For Oladosu and the other families waiting anxiously, the immediate priority remains the safe return of their loved ones.

“All I want is for my son to come back alive,” she said.

Nigeria: 32 feared dead as NAF aircraft crashes in Ondo, families among passengers

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

At least 32 people, including military personnel, their family members and seven crew members, were killed after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a swampy area near the Naval Base in Government Area of Ondo State.

The ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday morning while travelling from Benin to Lagos on what the NAF described as a routine mission.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.

Amdamily members of military personnel, including children returning to school and relatives who had visited loved ones serving in Edo and Delta states.

Sources said the aircraft was also being used for logistics operations and provided an opportunity for some military families to travel to Lagos.

The crash occurred in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base at Igbokoda. Residents said they heard a loud sound before the crash and later saw debris and parts of the aircraft scattered around the area.

One resident, Oluboyo Olusola, said he visited the site after the incident and saw aircraft parts, clothing and human remains scattered around the crash location.

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the aircraft crashed into a waterlogged swamp while it was raining. He added that a significant portion of the aircraft had gone into the water.

The exact circumstances surrounding the crash were still being investigated.
The NAF said it immediately activated search and rescue operations in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that the aircraft was travelling from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred but did not initially disclose the number of casualties.

Keyamo later said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. He said efforts to reach the aircraft by radio were unsuccessful before information emerged that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Air Force.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies to provide logistical and human support for the emergency response.

The governor also urged residents around Igbokoda to remain calm, cooperate with emergency responders and avoid spreading unverified information.

President Bola Tinubu also expressed sadness over the crash and ordered the Nigerian Air Force to begin an immediate and thorough investigation into what caused the accident.

The President extended his condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members, as well as the leadership and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.

He also commended the NAF, Ondo State Government and other first responders for their efforts at the crash site.
The tragic incident has left the military community and residents of Igbokoda mourning, as authorities continue efforts to recover the victims and establish the circumstances that led to the crash.

Nigeria: Cross River residents fear return of ritual killing cases ahead of 2027 elections

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

Concerns over alleged ritual killings are resurfacing in Cross River State as the 2027 general elections draw closer, with women reportedly making up the majority of victims in cases recorded over the past decade.

Observations spanning the last 11 years suggest that reports of suspected ritual killings in the state have often increased around election periods. Since 2015, several women have reportedly been killed in different parts of Cross River, with some victims allegedly found without parts of their bodies.

Despite the disturbing reports, many of the cases have not resulted in publicly known arrests or prosecutions. In some instances, investigators have reportedly struggled to identify suspects because the victims were allegedly left without personal belongings or other clues that could help establish what happened.
The latest reported incident occurred on September 7, 2026, when a woman was found dead at a guest house along Clifford Lane in Calabar South.

According to reports, she had checked into the hotel with a man whose identity was not properly documented.
The man reportedly left the following morning, but hotel staff were unable to provide investigators with enough information to identify or trace him.

Earlier, another woman was reportedly killed at a hotel in Yahe, Yala Local Government Area. She was allegedly taken there by a man, but the hotel staff reportedly did not obtain sufficient details about him.

In Ogoja, another woman was reportedly lured to an area along the Ogoja-Katsina Ala road before she was killed. Her body was allegedly found with some parts missing.

A similar incident was also reported along the Ikom-Obudu road, where a woman was allegedly killed and parts of her body removed. The incident reportedly caused outrage among residents, although no publicly known breakthrough in the investigation followed.

Another woman was reportedly found dead and abandoned near Satellite Town, close to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital..

Police have appealed to the public for information that could help identify the latest victim and trace the person who was last seen with her.

In a statement, Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, said preliminary investigations indicated that the unidentified woman had lodged at the hotel with a male guest whose whereabouts were still being investigated.

He said the police were working to locate the man and establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
The reported cases have heightened concerns among residents, particularly because many of the victims are young women.

Some observers have also urged women to exercise caution when meeting people they know online or through social connections, especially when invited to unfamiliar locations. They advised people to inform trusted friends or relatives about their movements and whereabouts.

Nigeria: FMC Nguru CMD mourns as twin daughters die two days apart

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nguru, Yobe State, Dr Hadiza Usman Abdullahi, is mourning the heartbreaking loss of her twin daughters, Dr Hadiya Usman and Dr Aisha Usman, who died just two days apart.

Hadiya, a medical doctor, reportedly passed away on Friday, while her twin sister, Aisha, a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), died on Sunday.

Dr Hadiza confirmed the deaths in separate messages shared on her WhatsApp status, announcing the passing of her daughters.

The tragic loss has left the family, friends, colleagues and members of the medical community deeply saddened.

The deaths of the sisters, who were both young healthcare professionals, have sparked an outpouring of condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.
Friends, colleagues and well-wishers have continued to send messages of sympathy as the family comes to terms with the devastating loss of the twins.

Nigeria:New Army Formations To Boost Fight Against Insecurity — Tinubu

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu says the Nigerian Army has established new operational formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun states to strengthen security and improve the military’s response to threats against vulnerable communities.

The President made this known in a statement shared on Sunday, explaining that the new formations would bring troops closer to communities and allow them to respond more quickly when security threats arise.

According to Tinubu, the Nigerian Army recently operationalised the new formations as part of efforts to improve its presence in affected areas.

«“Our troops are now closer to vulnerable communities in these areas, strengthening our ability to respond swiftly and decisively when our people are threatened,” he said.»

Tinubu also revealed that the Federal Government is speeding up the construction of new military barracks and depots in Abuja, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Kogi states, while similar projects in Osun State have already been completed.

He said the projects were aimed at improving the welfare and working conditions of military personnel and their families.

The President also pointed to the recent salary increase for members of the Armed Forces, saying it was already making a positive difference in the lives of servicemen, women and their families.

“Over the past few days, servicemen and women of the Armed Forces have shared what the recent pay increase means for them and their families. I am glad it is making a difference,” Tinubu said.

He stressed that serving in the military comes with sacrifices not only for the personnel but also for their families.

Tinubu said the government must therefore ensure that troops have the necessary resources and support to carry out their duties while also supporting the families they leave behind.

The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to face security challenges in several parts of the country, particularly in the North-West, where banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities remain major concerns.

The new formations are expected to increase the Army’s presence in the affected states and help troops respond more quickly to emerging security threats.