Tag: security

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Easter: Tinubu urges political restraint, civic maturity ahead of 2027 elections

President Bola Tinubu in his Easter message yesterday, urged Nigerians, particularly political leaders to embrace restraint, responsibility and civic maturity ahead of the 2027 general elections, while also assuring citizens of his administration’s commitment to building a safer and more secure nation through intensified efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry, and other security threats.

Also yesterday, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, canvassed for care of the needy and less privileged in society, while Governors and other political leaders charged Nigerians to leverage on the spirit of the season to show love and tolerance for one another.

In his Easter message, addressed to Nigerians at home and abroad, the President acknowledged that, despite the sacrifices of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, challenges to national security have persisted.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Tinubu called for political responsibility, restraint, and civic maturity, stressing that the Election Act must guide the conduct of political parties and actors to safeguard democracy, peace, and national stability.

His words: “As the nation gradually approaches another electoral cycle, this season also serves as a call to civic duty and maturity. The Electoral Act must guide the conduct of our political parties and political actors. Let our choices be guided by a shared commitment to peace, continuity, stability, and the long-term good of our country. Democracy flourishes where responsibility, restraint, and informed participation prevail.”

The President expressed optimism that the country is on the path to recovery, citing improving economic indicators as evidence that the right choices are being made.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to keep faith with the administration’s vision of a safer, stronger and more prosperous nation.

“Fellow Nigerians, you have been very supportive of my administration because you trust our ability to make our nation better. I will continue to serve to retain your trust. I enjoin you to keep the faith and never cease to contribute to the progress and greater future we seek, each in our own way, to the emergence of a democratically stronger, more prosperous, and safer nation,” Tinubu further said.

According to him, the government was making available the necessary resources and strengthening foreign partnerships to enable security agencies to deal decisive blows to terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

His words: “Despite the good efforts of the administration and the gallant efforts of our men and women of the Armed Forces who leave behind their families to confront the evil actors in our land, challenges to our security have remained. However, my administration continues to make resources available and forge foreign partnerships to enable us to deal decisive blows to the agents of terror and banditry.”

Tinubu noted that following his condolence visit to Jos, Plateau State, where he commiserated with victims of the recent deadly attack, security chiefs had given strong assurances of progress, while international support was also mobilised to reinforce Nigeria’s response.

He added: “On Thursday, I was in Jos to commiserate with people of Plateau State, share in their grief, and offer reassurances of better days to come. The leaders of the nation’s security institutions have given strong assurances of progress. We have also sought and are receiving assistance from outside our shores.”

He further assured residents of other parts of the country facing one form of insecurity or another that concerted government actions are beginning to produce results, urging citizens to support lawful efforts, remain united, and reject forces that threaten the country’s collective peace and stability.

“I am reassured that the citizens appreciate our efforts. I will continue to remind us of the imperative of unity and oneness. No nation can thrive where fear prevails, and no progress can be sustained without peace.”

The President said no nation can make meaningful progress where fear prevails, assuring communities affected by violence that better days lie ahead.

Tinubu said Easter season symbolises sacrifice, resilience, and the triumph of light over darkness, noting that its message resonates strongly with Nigeria’s present realities as the nation navigates economic stress and security challenges.

Also, wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, charged Nigerians to remember the needy in society and extend necessary support to them.

In her Easter message, the First Lady in a four-paragraph release titled ‘The Blessed Hope in Christ’s Resurrection,’ stated, inter alia: “Easter is a reminder of the enduring power of love and the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the hope His resurrection brings to all humanity.

“As we celebrate Easter with our loved ones, friends, neighbours and communities, let us remember those in need and extend compassion and support wherever we can.

“May the spirit of Easter inspire us to uplift the vulnerable, love one another, make sacrifices when necessary and work together to build a peaceful and prosperous nation for all.” (ThisDay)

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Police deploy officers in Delta to churches, parks for Easter

The Delta State Police Command says it has massively deployed officers and put in place all necessary security measures to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free Easter celebration.

This was contained in a statement signed by the police public relations officer for Delta State Command, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Friday.

The statement said, ”The Command has deployed personnel strategically to churches, event centres, highways, recreational spots, and other public places, while tactical teams and patrol units have been positioned across the State to deter crime and respond promptly to any security concerns”.

Also, the State Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, has directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders “to intensify visibility policing, sustain intelligence-led operations, and maintain a high level of alertness throughout the festive period.”

In an earlier meeting with Area commanders, the Commissioner of Police directed that they work with religious leaders in the Area of responsibility, and be in close communication with them during the Easter period and beyond.

The CP further charged officers to remain professional, courteous, and respectful in their interactions with members of the public.

The command urged residents to remain vigilant, security conscious, and to promptly report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s Control Room Number: 08036684974.

Parents and guardians were also advised to keep a close watch on their children and wards during the celebrations.

While wishing all Christian faithful a peaceful, hitch-free and happy Easter celebration, the commissioner of police reiterated the command’s commitment to the protection of life and property and called for continued cooperation from the public in maintaining peace and order across the state. (Punch)

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Police arrest suspected stowaway at Lagos Airport

The Airport Police Command has intercepted a 14-year-old stowaway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Monday.

The police explained that the minor was discovered on the airport tarmac while attempting to unlawfully gain access beneath an aircraft, an act which the Command said constituted a serious breach of aviation security protocols within a highly sensitive operational environment.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Adeola, disclosed that preliminary findings indicated that the juvenile unlawfully entered a restricted area of the airport without authorisation, contrary to Sections 2 and 3 of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) byelaws, and engaged in actions consistent with a stowaway attempt.

“Upon interception, the minor was taken into protective custody in line with due process and established child protection procedures. His parents were promptly notified, and all necessary protocols were observed, including the conduct of the interview process in the presence of his parents.

“The Command also ensured that the minor was provided with appropriate care, support, and welfare considerations throughout the process.

The Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, Mnips, PhD, reiterated the Command’s unshaken resolve to safeguard the nation’s aviation infrastructure, describing the airport as a critical national asset that requires strict adherence to security regulations at all times,” Adeola stated.

While noting that due process would be strictly followed, the PPRO said that CP Ogunbode urged parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance over their children and wards, particularly in relation to movements around restricted and high-risk environments such as airports.

He, however, said that the case would be handled in accordance with applicable juvenile justice procedures, and the minor would be charged before the appropriate juvenile court. (Channels)

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20 killed as bandits ambush security patrol in Plateau

No fewer than 20 security operatives and vigilantes were reportedly killed when heavily armed bandits ambushed a joint patrol team in Wanka and surrounding communities of the Garga area in the Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Kanam Development Association (KADA) disclosed this in a statement signed by its Secretary, ND Shehu Kanam, and Chairman, Garba G. Aliyu, issued on Saturday in Dengi, Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The association said the victims included 12 security personnel, among them two senior military officers, and eight vigilante members who were assisting security forces to protect the communities.

According to the statement, the patrol team—made up of military personnel and local vigilantes—was travelling in two vehicles on routine security operations across the communities of Garga, Kyaram and Gyambau when they were suddenly ambushed by hundreds of heavily armed bandits on their way to Wanka at about 2:00 p.m. on Friday.

“In the unfortunate exchange of gunfire that followed the ambush, our nation lost brave defenders who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty,” the statement read.

KADA described the deaths of the security personnel and vigilantes as “deeply painful and unacceptable,” noting that the fallen operatives died while defending rural communities that have long faced repeated attacks.

The association added that after the ambush, the bandits reportedly stormed the Kyaram community, where they looted properties worth millions of naira and rustled a large number of cattle belonging to residents.

KADA warned that the incident was not isolated, stressing that communities around Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau and neighbouring settlements located along the borders of Plateau, Taraba and Bauchi states have endured persistent attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling for the past three to four years.

The association said it had previously issued several appeals to authorities over the deteriorating security situation but lamented that the crisis had continued to escalate.

It therefore called on the local, state and federal governments to urgently intervene to prevent further bloodshed in the affected communities.

Among its demands, KADA urged the immediate deployment of additional military and security personnel to Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, Wanka and neighbouring communities, as well as the establishment of a permanent security presence in the border areas.

The group also called for coordinated security operations along the Plateau–Taraba–Bauchi border corridor, which it said bandits exploit due to the difficult terrain.

In addition, it appealed for relief support for affected residents, many of whom have reportedly lost homes, livestock and other sources of livelihood as a result of the attacks.

“The people of these communities are law-abiding citizens whose only desire is to live peacefully, farm their land, raise their families and contribute to the development of our nation. They cannot and must not be abandoned to the mercy of armed criminals,” the statement added.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation of the incident from security authorities were unsuccessful, as both the military and the police did not respond to calls and messages seeking confirmation as of press time.

KADA also extended condolences to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the families of the fallen soldiers and vigilantes, and the affected communities, saying their sacrifice would not be forgotten. (Channels)

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Gunmen abduct four worshippers in Ondo church

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted four worshippers from a church in Uso, Owo Local Council Area of Ondo State.

The worshippers were kidnapped during a night service in the Celestial Church situated along the Owo/Akure highway when armed gunmen stormed the church.

The latest attack comes barely days after suspected bandits killed the Alagamo of Agamo, Oba Kehinde Jacob Falodun, in Akure North Local Government Area during a failed abduction attempt.

In the past few weeks, the state has been faced with increasing security challenges, with the weekly abduction and killing of residents.

According to a resident within the axis, who gave his name as Tomiwa, the kidnappers, who were fully armed, arrived at the church around 1:00 am in the early hours of Wednesday.

Tomiwa disclosed that one of the worshippers was able to escape while the abducted victims were moved to an unknown destination.

Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command revealed that a suspect who is connected to the abduction of the worshippers had been arrested.

The command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, stated that police and other security agencies in the state have mobilised assets towards rescuing the victims and apprehending the suspects.

He said: “At approximately 12:50 a.m., six worshippers were abducted at a Celestial Church located along the Uso/Owo Expressway in Uso. The victims were reportedly taken to an unknown destination by the attackers.

“Upon receiving the report, the Operatives of the command, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, immediately mobilised to the scene and commenced coordinated rescue operations.

“As a result of sustained joint efforts, one of the kidnapped victims has been successfully rescued. Additionally, one suspect linked to the incident has been arrested and has made useful statements that are assisting with ongoing investigations.

“Security operations are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the apprehension of all perpetrators involved.

“Residents are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and actionable information that may assist ongoing operations.” (Guardian)

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Insecurity: DHQ confirms arrival of 100 US military trainers, equipment in Nigeria

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of 100 US military personnel and equipment in Nigeria, saying they arrived at Bauchi airfield.

Defence spokesman, Samaila Uba, in a statement on Monday, said the deployment follows a recent security agreement between Nigeria and the US.

Uba noted that the Federal Government had made a formal request to the US for assistance in terms of military training, technical support, and intelligence sharing with the members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorists’ threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” the statement reads.

Uba said the US personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity.

Noting that the US personnel are not combat forces, the defence spokesman noted that all training activities will be conducted under the authority, direction and control of the federal government and in close coordination with the Nigerian military.

Uba said Nigerian troops, alongside the US trainers, will commence a series of joint training engagements and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives in the coming days.

“These activities are designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian troops to effectively identify and neutralize extremist terrorist groups seeking to destabilize the nation,” he added.

Uba said the military remains fully committed to degrading and defeating terrorist groups that threaten the country’s sovereignty, national security, and the safety of its citizens.

He also assured Nigerians of continued transparency and the provision of clear, accurate, and timely information regarding the military cooperation efforts.

The deployment comes after months of mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has strongly criticised Nigeria’s government for what he describes as its failure to adequately protect Christians from deadly attacks carried out by Islamist militants and armed groups.

He declared Nigeria a country of particular concern (CPC). But the Nigerian government has since rejected Trump’s claim, insisting that violence in the country affects people of all faiths and not only Christians.

Trump ordered airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day, saying they targeted Islamic State terrorists in the North-west who are responsible for killing Christians.

He and Nigerian authorities later confirmed that the action was a collaborative effort.

Following discussions with Nigerian authorities in Abuja, the head of US Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, confirmed that a small team of US military officers was in Nigeria, focused on intelligence support.

Critics questioned the move, which they claim undermines Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

However, the DHQ clarified that the partnership with the US primarily focuses on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and strategic dialogue.

According to Uba, all engagements with the US are done with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and existing bilateral frameworks.

Nigeria is facing a protracted fight with dozens of local armed groups increasingly battling for turf, including the homegrown Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP).

There is also the ISIL-linked Lakurawa, as well as other “bandit” groups that specialise in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining.

Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations. (Channels)

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Ebonyi Killings: Gov Nwifuru relaxes curfew in Amasiri, orders prosecution of suspects

The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has relaxed the curfew imposed in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, restricting movement from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Governor Nwifuru announced this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after the State Security Council meeting at his office, New Government, Centenary City in Abakaliki, the State capital.

The curfew earlier imposed in Amasiri restricted movement from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. following the attack on Okporojo, Oso-Edda in the Edda Local Government Area, that claimed the lives of four with their heads severed.

The governor stated that the Amasiri community’s failure to produce the heads of the victims of the Okporojo killings after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum issued earlier would attract stringent measures for them to produce the severed heads.

He maintained that schools in Amasiri remain closed for safety, as security agencies continued to carry out investigations.

Nwifuru added that all the suspects involved and arrested would be charged in court.

The Okporojo incident was said to have happened on the afternoon of January 29, 2026, when unidentified armed men reportedly ambushed the community, setting houses on fire.

At least four people were said to have been allegedly beheaded and their heads taken away by the assailants.

In a viral video that circulated online, houses were seen set on fire, as the community called on the state government and security agencies for help.

Following the incident, Nwifuru dismissed all government appointees, dissolved community development union leadership, and village heads in the Amasiri community, Afikpo Local Government Area of the state, with immediate effect.

He also dethroned the traditional ruler of the community.

Nwifuru, who was visibly angry over the killings, described the attack as most unfortunate and said he never expected such a level of brutality to occur in the state.

“So on this note, for the time being, the development union executive and all of the villages in Amasiri communities are hereby dissolved. The traditional ruler certificate is thereby withdrawn all the government appointees from Amasiri are thereby sacked,” the governor said.

“All the government appointees from the management committee down to the commissioner, anyone from Amasiri, are hereby sacked. All the village heads in all Amasiri villages in all the autonomous communities are hereby removed.

“For the time being, we will do more. And we will show everybody why we’re government”, the governor added.

He also assured the affected community that the state government would decisively deal with those responsible, stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain. (Channels)

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Killings: Senate directs strengthening of joint security operation in Niger, Kwara

As part of measures to tackle insecurity in some parts of the country, the Senate has called for an upgrade of the joint security operation in Niger and Kwara states.

It mandated the Committees on Defence, Army, Air Force, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to conduct a joint assessment of the security situation in the North-Central region and report back within four weeks with clear recommendations.

This followed a motion sponsored by Sani Musa (APC/Niger East) in the wake of the brutal killing of over 50 people and the abduction of several women and children in Konkoso District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

In his argument, Musa regretted that the North-Central region has increasingly witnessed organised attacks on rural communities, farmlands, and settlements, threatening food security and national stability.

The lawmakers thereafter further raised concern that the persistent pattern of attacks on remote communities indicated gaps in intelligence coordination and deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The upper chamber, which observed a one-minute silence for victims of the attack, also urged the strengthening of joint security operations between Niger and Kwara States to dismantle cross-border terrorist networks.

Last Saturday, motorcycle-riding gunmen swept into three villages in a central region of Nigeria, shooting dead or cutting the throats of at least 46 people.

The violence again threw the spotlight on Nigeria’s efforts to contain security threats — efforts that have been strongly criticised by US President Donald Trump.

A security report seen by AFP said the attackers had used “41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three men”.

The three villages targeted by the gunmen are part of the Borgu in Niger State, on the border with Kwara State, where jihadists killed more than 160 people in an attack earlier this month.

The bloodiest attack happened in the village of Konkoso, where at least 38 people were shot dead or had their throats slit, the humanitarian source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Most of the homes in the village were burned down, and apart from those already counted as dead, “other bodies are being recovered,” the source said.

A resident of Konkoso told AFP the gunmen had first attacked the nearby village of Tungar Makeri before heading to his village.

A spokesman for the Niger State Police Command told AFP that six people had been killed in Tungan Makeri when the gunmen overran the village at around 6:00 am.

“Some houses were set on fire, and an as-yet undetermined number of people were abducted,” and officers were seeking information about the attacks on the other two villages, the police spokesman said.

The Konkoso resident said his nephew was among those killed in Konkoso.

“They burned a lot of houses and abducted four women,” he said.

“After Konkoso, they went to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person.

“At the moment, many people are missing,” he said.

The border between Kwara and Niger states is home to the Kainji Forest, a known haven for bandits and jihadists.

Nigeria has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency in the northeast for over 16 years. (Channels)

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Tinubu declares bandits, violent cults, armed groups as terrorists

President Bola Tinubu says bandits, violent cult groups, kidnappers, foreign-linked mercenaries, and other armed non-state actors will be treated as terrorists under a new security framework to be rolled out by his administration. 

Tinubu said this on Friday when he presented the budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly, stating that his government will go after enablers and not just perpetrators of crimes.

“Under this new architecture, any armed group or gun-wielding non-state actors operating outside state authority will be regarded as terrorists,” the former Lagos State governor told the gathering at the National Assembly in Abuja.

“Bandits, militias, armed gangs, armed robbers, violent cults, forest-based armed groups, and foreign-linked mercenaries will all be targeted.

“We will go after all those who perpetrate violence for political or sectarian ends, along with those who finance and facilitate their evil schemes.”

He said the new doctrine will “fundamentally change how we confront terrorism and other violent crimes”.

In recent months, Nigeria has experienced a surge in crimes such as mass abductions and banditry, among others.

Despite these, the president is unrelenting in his resolve for a peaceful Nigeria, and has declared war on criminals, whom he said will get “no mercy” from his government.

“We will usher in a new era of criminal justice. We will show no mercy to those who commit or support acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and other violent crimes,” Tinubu said.

He promised to continue to invest in security and increase the capacity of the armed forces and other security agencies

“To secure our country, our priority will remain on increasing the fighting capability of our armed forces and other security agencies and boosting the effectiveness of our fighting forces with cutting-edge equipment and other hardware,” he said. 

To buttress this, Tinubu is earmarking ₦ 5.41 trillion, out of ₦58.1 trillion proposed 2026 budget, for security and defence. The amount is the biggest sectoral allocation in the proposal. (Channels)

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Remaining 130 abducted Niger pupils regain freedom

The remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have reportedly regained their freedom.

A security official familiar with the rescue operation confirmed to Premium Times that the latest release accounts for all the remaining victims taken during the 21 November attack on the school.

The exact number of the newly freed abductees could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.

However, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication and spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, confirmed that 130 pupils have regained their freedom.

“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” he wrote briefly on X on Sunday.

The victims were abducted after gunmen attacked the boarding school, an incident that triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of schools nationwide.

The attackers reportedly stormed the boarding school on motorcycles at about 2:00 a.m.

They moved systematically from one dormitory to another before marching their captives into nearby forests.

Days later, the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that 50 of the children escaped during the raid, while scores of others were taken away.

Following the abduction, the Federal Government imposed a security cordon around border communities.

President Bola Tinubu deployed ground troops and aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states to track the kidnappers.

He also cancelled an official trip to oversee rescue efforts, while authorities ordered the temporary closure of schools across Niger State and some federal institutions in high-risk areas.

On December 8, security agencies secured the release of about 100 abductees, leaving an unspecified number in captivity until the latest breakthrough.

Sources told Premium Times that the freed students and teachers are currently being transported to Minna, the Niger State capital, where they are expected to undergo medical checks and reunite with their families.

However, as of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government nor the Niger State Government has issued an official statement on the development. (Punch)