Regional News

Coup: Senate grants Tinubu permission to deploy Nigerian troops to Benin The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to Benin Republic to help restore peace and defend democratic institutions threatened by an attempted military takeover in the neighbouring West African country. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the approval after the lawmakers adopted the

Sahel states say Nigerian plane violated airspace over Burkina Faso | Reuters ABUJA, Dec 9 (Reuters) – States in Africa’s Sahel region accused Nigeria of violating their airspace, saying one of its military transport planes landed in Burkina Faso on Monday without clearance. Nigeria said its C-130 transport plane made a “precautionary landing” in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, when the crew detected a technical issue after takeoff from commercial hub

Mourners protest in Abuja against alleged killing of Adamawa women by soldiers | Premium Times Nigeria A handful of Bachama youths protested in front of the NHRC headquarters in Abuja against the killing of women in Lamurde Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State on Wednesday. Some protesters converged on the front of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday to register their grievances and demand justice over the killing of women allegedly by soldiers in Lamurde Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa

Nigerian govt seeks 70% homegrown cartoon content on broadcast platforms The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Wednesday inaugurated a committee to develop an implementation plan for promoting at least 70 per cent indigenous cartoon content across television, radio, print and other media platforms. The committee, comprising representatives from the NOA and the National Broadcasting

Millions Of Out-of-school Children A National Emergency – Shettima – Daily Trust Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the rising number of out-of-school children in the country as a national emergency requiring unified and sustained action from all tiers of government and critical stakeholders. Speaking in Abuja at the 2025 Nigeria Education Forum (NEF) organised by the Nigeria Governors Forum  (NGF), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and other partners, Shettima said

Eight UNIJOS students killed in early-morning road crash Tragedy struck the University of Jos (UNIJOS) community early Thursday morning when eight students lost their lives, and several others were injured in a road accident on the Jos-Zaria Road. Among those killed was Datong Miakop, the president of the university’s chapter of the National Association of Plateau State Students (NAPSS). The students were returning from a NAPSS-organised event when, around

IED BLAST ROCKS MONGUNO: FOUR INJURED AS TRUCK HITS EXPLOSIVE IN BORNO – Northen Times An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated on Wednesday morning at Lingir Village in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, injuring four occupants of a truck transporting bags of onions from Baga in Kukawa LGA to Maiduguri. The blast, which occurred at approximately 1030 hours, struck the vehicle with registration number XA 504

Rep passes Child Online Safety Bill to protect minors in digital space The House of Representatives has passed the Child Online Access Protection Bill (HB 244) at its third reading, a development widely welcomed by Nigerian civil society groups as a major step towards safeguarding children online. This was confirmed in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

Coup: Three Benin soldiers declared wanted As the manhunt for the military officials responsible for the coup in Benin on Sunday continues, Tigri Pascal, the leader of the coup, has been declared wanted. The special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a post on X. Mr Pascal, a lieutenant colonel, was declared wanted alongside two other soldiers, Ousmane Samary and Sambieni Castro.

Nigerian students to reunite with families after kidnapping ordeal | Reuters MINNA, Nigeria, Dec 9 – A group of 100 Nigerian schoolchildren who were rescued from kidnappers were set to be reunited with their families on Tuesday after undergoing medical checks in central Niger state, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said. The students are among more than 300 pupils and 12 staff

7 Women Protesters Killed In Adamawa – Daily Trust Seven women died while 11 others were injured yesterday during a protest in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Daily Trust gathered that the women were protesting what they termed delayed response by the military to calm tensions between Bachama and Chobo communities of the LGA, when the incident occurred.

FG Unveils National Policy On Drug Abuse In Schools – Daily Trust The federal government on Monday unveiled the national policy on drug and substance abuse in schools, marking a significant step toward tackling the rising rate of addiction among students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the ministry has adopted

UPDATED: Gov Bago Receives 100 Abducted Niger State Schoolchildren After Release • Channels Television Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has received the 100 Abducted pupils of the St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, whose release was secured by the Federal Government. Conveyed in separate buses, the children arrived at the Niger State Government House at about 5:20 pm and were received by Governor Bago and other government officials.

Troops foil robbery, rescue kidnap victims in Taraba | Premium Times Nigeria Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, have recorded multiple operational breakthroughs across Taraba State, officials said on Sunday. In a statement, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Umar Muhammad, said troops deployed at Manya “responded swiftly to a distress call” on 6 December after armed robbers mounted a

Bandits collect N5m from Kano community for 16 kidnapped persons, but release only two Bandits who abducted 16 people from villages in the Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State have released only two of the captives after collecting the ransom they negotiated for the release of all the captives. The village head of Yan Kamaye, Sunusi Abubakar, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the bandits agreed to accept a N5 million ransom after days

Why AFCON still defines African football, why Nigeria’s role refuses to fade From its modest beginnings in 1957 to the emotionally charged edition in Abidjan in 2024, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has grown into the continent’s most consistent mirror of identity, ambition and political change. It is a competition that has outlived governments, eras and football fashions, yet remains the clearest stage on which African nations measure themselves.

Fintiri Imposes 24-Hour Curfew on Adamawa Community The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has declared a 24-hour curfew in Lamurde Local Government Area following a fresh outbreak of communal violence. In a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Hussaini Hammangabdo, on Monday, the governor instructed security

Truckers’ strike paralyzes Cameroon’s main trade route | Africanews A truckers’ strike in Cameroon has brought major disruptions to one of the country’s primary commercial routes, National Highway 1. The crisis is centered in the Adamaoua region, near the gateway to Meiganga, where hundreds of trucks destined for northern Cameroon, Chad, and the Central African Republic have been stranded for five days. Truck drivers staged the protest in

Gunmen Kill 6 In Taraba – Daily Trust The Taraba Police Command said six persons were killed in an attack by gunmen at a settlement near Rafin Kada town in Wukari Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday. The command’s spokesperson, Victor Mshelizah, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred at a Tiv settlement close to Rafin Kada in Wukari LGA, which lies along the Taraba–Benue boundary.

Gunmen Rustle 171 Cows In Plateau – Daily Trust Gunmen on Wednesday evening attacked herders and rustled no fewer than 170 cows in two incidents in Barkin Ladi and Jos East local government areas of Plateau State. Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, state Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), told journalists on Thursday that the first attack occurred around Nding community in Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA, where 137 cows

Reps seek modernisation of workplace safety laws to protect millions of workers The Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen has called for the urgent modernisation of Nigeria’s occupational safety laws to protect millions of workers exposed daily to preventable hazards in factories, construction sites, farms, hospitals and other workplaces. Represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Olumide Osoba,

AFCON 2025 Countdown: Rumoured unpaid wages spark fresh distractions around Chelle, Super Eagles In Nigerian football, hope often arrives before structure, and accountability usually trails behind results. Eric Chelle’s tenure as Super Eagles head coach may be gradually shaping into another chapter in that persistently familiar story. In recent weeks, reports surfaced alleging that Chelle is owed up to three months’ salary and bonuses.

Peace and Security

ANALYSIS: Terrorism Financing: Can Nigerian Senate unmask suspects? On Wednesday, 3 December, the Nigerian Senate passed the Anti-Terrorism Act amendment bill for second reading. A major highlight of the bill is the imposition of the death penalty without the option of a fine for all kidnapping offences. The bill has now been scheduled for a public hearing, although the date has not been announced yet. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio,

Insurgency: Yobe Gov’t, UNDP Empowers 300 Volunteer Security Outfits – Daily Trust The Yobe State government in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has trained and empowered 300 Volunteer Security Outfits (VSOs) in the state. The beneficiaries, comprising. men and women, have completed a vocational skills acquisition and peace building programme funded by the European Union for the stabilization and

DHQ Orders Immediate Removal Of Unauthorised Checkpoints Nationwide – Daily Trust The Defence Headquarters has ordered the immediate removal of all non-essential roadblocks and unauthorised checkpoints on major highways nationwide, citing rising concerns over operational inefficiency and security risks. The directive, contained in a memo dated December 5 and signed by Brigadier General A. Rabiu on behalf of the Minister of Defence,

Nigerian Soldiers Still In Burkina Faso After Forced Landing — Minister – Daily Trust The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has confirmed that Nigerian soldiers aboard a military aircraft that made a forced landing in Burkina Faso are still in the West African country. Tuggar spoke on Thursday at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja during a joint press briefing with his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Bakari.

ANALYSIS: How Boko Haram gathers intelligence for its deadly activities Since launching its Camp Holocaust offensive at the beginning of 2025, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has carried out over 200 attacks, killing at least 500 people. And Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), excelling in predatory offensives and kidnappings for ransom, shows increased capacity for bold attacks against military posts. These offensives by the Boko

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia seal defence pact to bolster military cooperation Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening defence and military cooperation between the two countries. The agreement comes as Nigeria confronts multiple security threats and seeks stronger international support to rebuild its defence capabilities.

ECOWAS Declares State of Emergency in West Africa The Economic Community of West African States has declared a state of emergency across the region. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, made the announcement on Tuesday during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level in Abuja.

AES accuses Nigeria of violating airspace over military aircraft emergency landing in Burkina Faso The Alliance for Sahel States (AES) has accused Nigeria of violating its airspace after a Nigerian military transport aircraft made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso. In a statement issued on Monday, the confederation constituted by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic, said the aircraft carried two crew members and nine passengers, all of whom were military personnel.

Nigeria’s Armed Forces Modernising Command System To Tackle Emerging Threats, Says CDS Oluyede  – Arise News The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has announced that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are undertaking a comprehensive review of the 2017 joint structure to ensure it reflects current security realities and emerging strategic challenges.  He explained that the review aims to strengthen coordination among the

32 Nigerians Deported From India – Daily Trust At least 32 Nigerians have been deported from India over alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Late last month, Delhi Police, in collaboration with the Telangana Police’s EAGLE unit, carried out one of the largest coordinated crackdowns in the country, arresting 50 Nigerians linked to a transnational narcotics network.

Nigeria, Benin seek ECOWAS force overhaul to protect democracy Nigeria and Benin have stressed the need to overhaul the ECOWAS Standby Force to safeguard democratic transition in the sub-region. Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Bakari, made this known at a ministerial briefing in Abuja. The briefing was held on the sidelines of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which runs from 10 to 12 December. Both ministers spoke against the backdrop of the recent thwarted coup in Benin, urging sustained

Humanitarian

Financial Incentives Offered for Nigerian Refugees who Return from Cameroon – HumAngle A large number of Nigerian refugees living in the Minawao camp in Cameroon’s Far North region have shown a willingness to return to Nigeria after being away for several years. The camp, which has been in operation since 2014, currently houses over 70,000 refugees. Many of these individuals feel that the circumstances have improved enough for them to go

Cameroon Struggles with HIV Testing amid Sharp Drop in U.S. Aid – HumAngle Cameroon is experiencing a severe shortage of HIV/AIDS test kits following a 74 per cent reduction in financial assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The US agency funding in Cameroon has focused on health initiatives, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis; humanitarian aid, such as food security and support for refugees,

Poor Pay, Zero Growth: Nigeria’s Casual Workers Sinking into Despair  – HumAngle Bilkisu Haruna’s* voice carried over 25 years of frustration, rising through the phone. Her life, which she expected to change when she got a job at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, in northwestern Nigeria, in the early 2000s, after years of menial labour, was swallowed into an endless pit of suffering and bitterness.

Borno’s “Second Chance” Schools are Rebuilding Education for Women and Girls – HumAngle Fatima’s smile glows with the thrill of discovery. At 18, she has only just begun to taste the world of reading, a pursuit that has visibly changed the way she carries herself. She eagerly shared that she can now read short words, listing ‘box’, ‘get’, and ‘you’ with a mixture of pride and disbelief. Fatima Mohammad Amande does not know why she and her siblings were never

FG, World Bank Launch Drive To Tackle Gender Violence – Daily Trust The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in partnership with the World Bank Group Nigeria, yesterday launched a renewed push to tackle Gender-Based Violence (GBV), warning that the country loses billions of naira annually to the crisis. Speaking at the National Dialogue on Ending Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye,

Five Years After He Killed a UNIJOS Student, Nigerian Police Officer Faces Death Sentence – HumAngle Ruya Auta, the Nigerian police officer who shot and killed 20-year-old Rinji Bala on May 13, 2020, has been sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection. The sentence was delivered at a High Court in Jos, Plateau State, in North Central Nigeria, on Monday, Dec. 8.  Ruya was attached to Operation Safe Haven (now known as ‘Operation Ensuring Peace’), a Nigerian

Daily Abductions Leave Borno Farmers Terrified as Harvest Peaks – HumAngle Aisha Waba’s hands moved quickly through the rows of beans as she harvested under the midday sun at her farm in Jere Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, North East Nigeria. She worked alongside other women, chatting lightly as they filled their sacks with bean pods. Suddenly, Aisha sensed movement behind her. Before she could react, the other women sprinted out of

US congressman visits Benue, urges global response to displacement crisis United States Congressman Riley Moore has called for stronger international engagement with Nigeria’s worsening displacement crisis after a visit to several internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Benue State. Mr Moore, who was in the state earlier in the week, said he met dozens of people who described attacks that forced them from their homes and left entire families

Mobilization and economic development

Dangote Appointed Head Of ECOWAS Business Council – Daily Trust The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has announced the appointment of Aliko Dangote as the head of its business council. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, disclosed this at the opening of the 95th Ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja on Wednesday.

 Nigeria’s debt crisis threatens youth climate goals – Report Nigeria’s rising public debt has pushed the country into a severe and “self-inflicted” fiscal crisis that is undermining human development, climate resilience and long-term growth, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Centre for Inclusive Social Development (CISD) with support from the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The report, title

Nigeria’s central bank licenses 82 exchange bureaus under new forex rules  | Reuters Dec 9 – Nigeria’s central bank has granted final licenses to 82 exchange bureaus (BDCs) under revised guidelines, effective Nov. 27, following a sweeping crackdown last year that saw 4,173 licences revoked for regulatory breaches. The central bank last year outlawed street-trading of foreign

Chevron to join Nigeria oil licence auction, plans rig deployment in 2026 | Reuters LAGOS, Dec 5 (Reuters) – Chevron said on Friday it will participate in Nigeria’s next oil licensing round and plans to deploy a drilling rig in late 2026 as it seeks to expand operations in Africa’s top energy producer. Jim Swartz, chairman and managing director of Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit, said the company aims to grow its footprint in Nigeria, citing improved

Reps move to stop dollarisation, curtail foreign exchange use in Nigeria The House of Representatives on Thursday recorded overwhelming support for a bill seeking to prohibit the use of foreign currency for local transactions and overhaul key provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act. The legislation, jointly sponsored by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) and Jesse Onuakalusi (APC, Lagos), is designed to strengthen