Weekly Press Review from May 30 – June 06, 2025
Regional News
More than 700 believed dead in devastating Nigeria floods
Hind Al Soulia – Riyadh – MOKWA — The official death toll after deadly floods hit the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday has risen to more than 200, officials say. Another 500 people are still missing in the town in the central Niger State however, local official Musa Kimboku told the BBC that rescue efforts had ceased because authorities no longer believe anyone could still be found alive. The floods, said to be the worst in the area for 60 years, swept through the Mokwa districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after torrential rains.
Mokwa flood: Death toll hits 200, over 500 missing – Daily Trust
The death toll in the flood disaster at Mokwa town in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State last Wednesday has risen to over 200 as more than 500 others are said to be missing. The flood, which is said to be the worst in the area in 60 years, swept through the Mokwa districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after late night torrential rains.
Nine killed in Borno bomb attack
At least nine travellers have been reported dead in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack at a bus stop in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State. According to Daily Trust, Abdulkarim Lawan, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, provided details of the explosion. The lawmaker said many other people were also injured in the Sunday incident and have been evacuated to the hospital.
Military air strike kills at least 20 people in northwest Nigeria | Conflict News | Al Jazeera
A military air strike in northwest Nigeria has killed at least 20 people, according to the military and local residents, prompting calls from human rights groups for an investigation into the attack. The strike occurred over the weekend in Zamfara state, one of the regions worst affected by violence from armed groups, commonly referred to as “bandits”.
Top ISWAP commander Abu Fatima killed by Nigerian troops
Abu Fatima, a high-ranking commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and one of Nigeria’s most wanted terrorists, has been killed by troops of the Nigerian Army’s Operation Hadin Kai. Abu Fatima had a ₦100 million bounty on his head. He was killed along with two of his key lieutenants in Aleru village, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The Nigerian Army officially confirmed the operation on its Facebook page earlier Friday.
61 killed in fresh herdsmen attacks, communal crisis in Benue – Vanguard News
It was a bloody weekend in parts of Benue State, following the killing of over 46 persons by rampaging armed herdsmen in two separate attacks on communities in Apa and Gwer West Local Government areas of the state. This came as no fewer than 15 persons also lost their lives, and closed to 200 houses completely razed in a communal clash between the people of Mbakine and Ojumole, also in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
Zamfara Airstrikes: NAF, locals differ over casualty figures – Daily Trust
Authorities of the Nigerian Air Force and the local vigilante groups yesterday disagreed about the victims of air operations that were carried out against the marauding terrorists wrecking havoc in some areas in Zamfara State. While the vigilantes explained that those killed by the NAF airstrikes were some of their members, authorities of the force insisted that its airstrikes killed several bandits and foiled a planned attack on the civilians.
Terrorists attack Mali army base, Timbuktu airport – Daily Trust
A Malian army base came under attack on Monday, and shells were fired at the airport in the northern city of Timbuktu, where heavy gunfire was heard, the army, local officials and residents said. Junta-ruled Mali has since 2012 faced attacks from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as separatist movements and criminal gangs.
Smuggling: FG threatens to shut down filling stations in border towns – Daily Trust
There are strong indications that the federal government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDRA), may be considering shutting down filling stations located along access roads to neighbouring countries to end smuggling of petroleum products. It would be recalled that the federal government had in 2019 shut down over 400 filling stations located 20 kilometres from the nation’s borders over the same issue.
ECOWAS trade facilitation committee tours nation’s port – Daily Trust
The Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at the weekend, embarked on a facility tour of the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited, PTML, in Tin-Can Island, Lagos, to understand the impact of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) indigenous online platform, codenamed B’Odogwu, on the nation’s economy.
Prices of tomatoes, pepper skyrocket in Kano, Taraba, others – Daily Trust
Residents in Kano State are lamenting the surge in prices of vegetables across the state. It was also learnt that other essential commodities that are usually accessible during the eid, are now on the high side in the state. A civil servant and father of five, Malam Idris Bako, said it is unusual for essential commodities, especially vegetables, to be as expensive as they are currently as the Eid el-Kabir approaches.
Auto crash: Last moments of Kano 22 – Daily Trust
Some of the survivors of Saturday’s auto crash that claimed the lives of 22 Kano State’s contingents returning from the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday recounted the moments before the accident. The crash, which occurred around 12:30pm near the Chiromawa Bridge in Bebeji Local Government Area along the Kano–Kaduna Expressway, involved a Coaster bus belonging to the Kano State Government, marked KN 041 A17.
Eighteen-year-old Mercy Illiya had been focused on her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Government Day Secondary School, Namnai, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State when everything changed in a matter of seconds. A heavy downpour and windstorm tore through the sky that Wednesday evening, but it was the sound of a teacher’s urgent shout that saved her and her classmates from what could have been a tragic end.
A Malian court has adjourned to Thursday a hearing on whether to put Barrick Mining’s (ABX.TO), opens new tab Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex under provisional administration, the court’s registry office and one of the lawyers involved told Reuters on Monday. Granting the request would represent a major escalation of a dispute between the West
Eight Months After Maiduguri Flood, What Has Recovery Looked Like for Victims? – HumAngle
When the devastating floods washed through Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria in September 2024, Aisha Ahmed, a resident of Gwange community, and her family fled their house to a safer area along Bama Road in the Borno State capital. “It was my worst experience because my family and I thought the world had come to an end,” the 46-year-old recounted. “We couldn’t sleep well because we did not know if the water would rise again and meet us by morning.”
Tragedy: Sandfall claims 11 lives in Kaduna – SolaceBase
The Police Command in Kaduna State has confirmed that a sandfall at a local block-making site has claimed 11 persons in Yar-doka Village, Damau District, Kubau Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna.
DSS, military ‘gun down 45 bandits’ in Niger – Daily Trust
The Department of State Services (DSS) and the military have degraded about 45 bandits around Kuchi town in Munya LGA of Niger State. The operation, which was carried out secretly, marked yet another victory in the sustained offensives against bandits in the area. Security sources revealed that, the DSS had with clear precision followed the trail of the bandits and prevented an invasion on the villages to orchestrate massive attacks, planned by kingpin Dogo Gide, and other bandits loyal to him.
Peace and Security
Ex-Boko Haram commanders, others unpack terrorists comeback
IN a renewed orgy of terror, Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents have, within the last couple of months, intensified coordinated assaults on communities across the North-East States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, targeting mostly military formations. The terrorists, armed with sophisticated weaponry, have killed scores of soldiers, and either carted away or destroyed equipment, drawing national attention. In exclusive encounters with The ICIR, two ex-commanders of the dreaded group gave insights into why repentant members are sliding back into the trenches and launching coordinated assault on communities in the region.
Tinubu inaugurates ships, helicopters into Nigerian Navy fleet – Yerwa Express News
President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated three Nigerian Navy Ships, NNS – NNS SHERE, NNS FARO and NNS IKOGOSI and three AW109 Trekker helicopters: 501, 502 and 503 into the Nigerian Navy fleet. Mr Tinubu, speaking at the inauguration on Saturday in Lagos, said that the addition of the three Fast Patrol Boats and
We’re confronting Boko Haram resurgence in N/East – FG – Daily Trust
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has acknowledged a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the North East, particularly in Borno State, describing it as part of the insurgents’ broader agenda to destabilise the Sahel region, impacting Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic. Speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, at the end of a two-day working visit to military institutions in the state, the minister assured Nigerians that the federal government is actively addressing the threat.
Zamfara Airstrike: How Ignored Warnings by Villagers Led to Tragedy – PRNigeria News
Fresh revelations have emerged surrounding the tragic airstrike in Zamfara State’s Maraya/Wabi axis on Saturday, May 31st , 2025, which left at least 25 people dead, including 20 suspected bandits and five members of a local vigilante group. Eyewitness accounts and video footage obtained by PRNigeria confirm that warnings were issued to villagers and local vigilantes prior to the operation, but were largely ignored—ultimately contributing to the civilian casualties.
Police Rescue 12 Trafficked Children, Recover Weapons in Kogi, Abia – PRNigeria News
In a series of coordinated security operations in Kogi and Abia States, the Nigeria Police Force has recorded major breakthroughs in the ongoing nationwide crackdown on crime and child trafficking. According to a press statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Sunday, June 2, 2025, operatives of the Kogi State Police Command intercepted a green-colored Sharon vehicle that breached a security checkpoint at high speed. The fleeing driver abandoned the vehicle and escaped into a nearby bush, prompting officers to launch a swift search operation.
MNJTF Commander Stresses Role of Education in Fighting Terrorism – PRNigeria News
The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Godwin Michael Mutkut, has emphasized the pivotal role of education in addressing insecurity in Nigeria’s North East, particularly in curbing youth recruitment by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. This is disclosed in a statement signed by MNJTF Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba speaking during the commissioning of 270 classroom chairs donated by the African
Residents of Galtimari, Fori, and 122 communities in Maiduguri, Borno State, have raised serious concerns over their safety as they continue to live in the shadow of Giwa Barracks — a military detention facility that has seen repeated attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. Speaking under the umbrella of the Bale Galtimari Consultative Forum, a community advocacy group, locals expressed growing anxiety over the persistent threats posed by the barracks’ presence in their midst.
Again, Tchiani accuses Nigeria, France, America of sponsoring terrorism in Niger – Daily Trust
The military ruler in the Republic of Niger, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, has again accused Nigeria of conniving with France and the U.S. to sponsor terrorism in his country. In a three-hour televised address on Radio-Télévision du Niger (RTN), over the weekend, Tchiani spoke to the Nigerien people in Hausa, Zabarma, and French, accusing Nigeria, Benin Republic, France, China, Algeria, and the United States of undermining Niger and other member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Insurgents kill dozens in Mali base and attack Timbuktu, sources say | Reuters
An Al Qaeda-linked jihadist group active in West Africa’s Sahel region has claimed an attack on a military base in Mali on Sunday that two sources said had killed more than 30 soldiers. In a separate attack on Monday, the group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), said it targeted a military airport and Russian mercenaries in the northern city of Timbuktu, where residents described taking cover from explosions and gunfire.
One Chance: Inside Abuja’s Unending Crime Wave of Car Abductions and Burglary – HumAngle
“‘Oya Oya, tell am make him wire us ₦200k before we leave you; if not, na Kaduna we go carry you go like this,” yelled the driver who abducted Precious Joseph during a phone call with her fiancé. What was supposed to be a normal evening for Precious, a businesswoman in her thirties in Abuja, North-central Nigeria, turned out to be a harrowing ordeal that left her traumatised. It was around 6 p.m. in February when the incident happened. That evening, she was patiently waiting for a roadside taxi in Gwarimpa, popularly called ‘along’, after receiving a call from an unhappy customer waiting at her other shop branch in Garki.
BENUE UPDATE: Army Chief ‘relocates’ to Benue as 270 killed in 2 months – Daily Trust
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, on Tuesday temporarily relocated to Benue State to oversee military operations aimed at restoring security following incessant attacks that have left at least 270 people dead in Benue State in just two months, Lt. Gen. Oluyede arrived Benue on Tuesday morning with a delegation of Principal Staff Officers and senior personnel from Army Headquarters, as part of an urgent intervention amid escalating violence across 10 local government areas.
How Nigeria is Reducing Dependence on Foreign Military Equipment – Badaru – PRNigeria News
The Honorable Minister of Defence, Mohammed H.E. Badaru Abubakar CON, mni has concluded a two-day working visit to key military institutions in Kaduna State, including the Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigerian Army Command Engineering Depot (CED), Buffalo Engineering Technical Services Limited (BETSL), and the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).
Rising Terror Threats And Shifting Alliances: A Strategic Wake-Up Call For Nigeria – Daily Trust
The Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Michael Langley, made headlines over the weekend when he linked the recent resurgence of terrorist attacks in Nigeria to the U.S. military’s withdrawal from key bases in Niger and Chad. Speaking during a digital press briefing after the “African Chiefs of Defence Conference” in Kenya, the Marine Corps General declared the Sahel as the new global epicentre of terrorism, warning that extremist groups in the region may soon gain the capacity to strike inside the United States. He was reported to have lamented that.
Nigeria’s defence chief proposes fencing borders to curb insecurity | Reuters
Nigeria’s defence chief on Tuesday called for the country’s borders with its four neighbours to be completely fenced to curb the entrance of armed groups amid escalating insecurity. Nigeria’s military has been strained by widespread security issues, particularly a 16-year insurgency in the northeast led by Islamist militant group Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province. Security forces and civilians have been attacked and killed and tens of thousands of people have been displaced.
There’s leadership deficit in Africa — Obasanjo – Daily Trust
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Africa is battling deficit in effective, ethical, transformational, inspirational and visionary leadership at various levels. He noted that the continent is rich in human and natural endowments, but has persistently fallen short in translating the potential into sustainable development, peace and prosperity due to deficit in leadership.
Humanitarian
Nigerian govt enrols 18,670 Almajiri tutors into conventional school system – Official
The federal government has enrolled 18,670 Almajiri tutors into the conventional school system as part of broader efforts to integrate traditional education with modern education. The Registrar, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), Yahuza Imam, disclosed this on Sunday in Kaduna, while assessing the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s administration after two years in office.. The News Agency of
The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has ordered the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), a non-governmental organisation that supports humanitarian services, to.close down its services and exit immediately. Zeljko (Jack) Toncic, the INSO Country Director Nigeria, confirmed the development in a release, adding that INSO hoped to engage with the Nigerian authorities and provide a space for dialogue.
Mokwa flood: Bodies of 7 children recovered as search continues – Daily Trust
Seven more bodies of children have been recovered, six days after a devastating flood swept through Mokwa town, the headquarters of Mokwa Local Government Area in Niger State. According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), four bodies were retrieved on Monday evening, while three more were found on Tuesday, bringing the official death toll to 160.
Nigeria Tops List Of Countries With Malnourished Children | AIT LIVE
This is according to the latest data released by UNICEF, which paints a dire picture of the region’s worsening health crisis. The UN agency said the malnutrition crisis is most severe in Nigeria’s northwestern and northeastern regions, where ongoing insecurity, poverty, and displacement have left families struggling to feed their children.
Nearly 100 missing a week after floods tore through Nigerian town | Reuters
At least 98 people are still missing in addition to 160 confirmed dead a week after floods ripped through a town in central Nigeria, the national emergency agency said on Wednesday, as hopes of finding survivors fade. Heavy rainfall unleashed waters that destroyed homes and overwhelmed local drainage systems in Mokwa, about 270 km (168 miles) west of Abuja, in one of the deadliest floods to hit Africa’s most populous country.
Gombe launches locally-made supplement to fight malnutrition – Daily Trust
The Gombe State Government has launched the distribution of a locally produced complementary food supplement to tackle child malnutrition across the state. At the launch event over the weekend, Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau described the initiative as a sustainable, homegrown response to a critical health crisis. He revealed alarming statistics, saying “The state’s stunting rate stands at 50.6 per cent and over 94,000 children are severely malnourished.
Why menstrual hygiene must matter in our schools – Daily Trust
May 28 marks Menstrual Hygiene Day, and it’s more than just another observance—it’s a call to action. For far too long, menstruation has been shrouded in stigma, silence, and misinformation. In our schools, in our homes, and even within the walls of higher institutions, conversations around periods are whispered, if held at all. But here’s the truth: menstruation is a natural biological process. And menstrual hygiene? It’s not a luxury—it’s a fundamental aspect of health, dignity and gender equality. When young girls are denied
PHOTO: Tinubu confers CFR on Bill Gates – Daily Trust
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on billionaire Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and founder of Bill Gates Foundation. According to the State House, the honour was conferred on the American in Lagos, on Tuesday night.
Cameroon Tops Global List of Neglected Displacement Crises, Says Report – HumAngle
Cameroon is facing the world’s most neglected displacement crisis, according to a recent report by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The growing humanitarian emergency is worsened by insufficient funding, limited media attention, and a lack of effective international engagement. The NRC’s Neglected Displacement Crises Report ranks crises based on three core criteria: humanitarian funding shortfalls, minimal media coverage, and inadequate political efforts to.
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has announced that the majority of the $200 billion his foundation will disburse over the next two decades will be allocated to improving health and development in Africa. On Monday in Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr Gates, the chair of the Gates Foundation, emphasised that Africa would receive the largest share of the funding, citing the continent’s potential and the urgent needs.
WHO, TY Danjuma sign $2.26m agreement to strengthen Nigeria’s health system
The World Health Organisation (WHO), African Region and the TY Danjuma Foundation have signed a landmark $2.26 million agreement to strengthen Nigeria’s health system over the next 10 years. The signing ceremony, held on Monday at the United Nations House in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, state officials from Taraba, Enugu, and Edo, members of the diplomatic corps, and development partners.
€1 million Grant: French embassy releases list of beneficiaries
The French embassy in Abuja on Monday shed more light on its 1m euros (N1.8 billion) grant for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria, providing a list of beneficiaries. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 19 CSOs, drawn from 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, are listed. The grant is to be deployed to drive grassroots development in the country. The donation was announced in Abuja on Friday. Tagged the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organisation (FEF-OSC), the initiative is now in its sixth year. Among the CSOs listed are Against All Odds Foundation and Grassroot Researchers
Mobilization and economic development
IATA projects $979bn airline industry revenue in 2025 – Daily Trust
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has projected that airlines’ total revenues would hit a record high of $979 billion. This would be an increase of 1.3% on 2024, but below the $1 trillion previously projected). This was contained in the updated 2025 airline industry financial outlook which showed improved profitability over 2024 and resilience in the face of global economic and political shifts.
We’ve capacity to meet ECOWAS’s petroleum needs – Dangote – Daily Trust
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery yesterday declared that it has the capacity to meet the petroleum demands of ECOWAS countries. This is just as leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday described the 650,000-barrel refinery as more than just a feat of engineering but a symbol of ambition, vision, and industrial self-reliance for an entire continent.
Chad’s development plan targets $30 billion over 6 years, finance minister says | Reuters
Chad’s national development plan targets $30 billion over 6 years, the Central African country’s finance minister Tahir Hamid Nguilin said on Tuesday.
Local firms drive new growth phase in Nigeria’s oil sector | Reuters
Nigeria is witnessing a significant shift in its oil and gas landscape as local companies expand their roles, driving a new phase of potential sectoral growth and innovation. Leading the charge are companies which bought onshore and shallow water assets from oil majors planning billions of dollars of investments to develop abandoned fields.
Nigeria imports Danish cows in bid to slash $1.5 billion milk import bill | Reuters
Nigeria is importing dairy cattle from Denmark as it aims to double its milk output within five years, part of a plan to cut dairy imports that cost the country $1.5 billion a year, Livestock Minister Idi Maiha said on Monday. Despite boasting one of Africa’s largest cattle populations, Nigeria’s milk output of 700,000 tonnes a year lags its annual consumption of 1.6 million tonnes.
Nigeria seeks $25bn gas pipeline investment – SolaceBase
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria is pursuing a $25 billion undersea gas pipeline project aimed at supplying natural gas to Europe through the West African coastline. Shettima disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with Vitol Group, the world’s largest independent commodity trader, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline will deliver gas from Nigeria to Morocco, then onward to Europe.
Development Bank of Nigeria disburses N1trn to MSMEs, creates 1.2m jobs – MD – Yerwa Express News
The Development Bank of Nigeria, DBN, has said that it disbursed over N1 trillion to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, across the country and created more than 1.2 million jobs. The Managing Director of the bank, Dr Tony Okpanachi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sidelines of the African Development Bank, AfDB) Annual Meetings in Abidjan.
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