Regional News

JNIM Raids Leave Over 130 Dead in Burkina Faso Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM has in recent days claimed to have inflicted heavy losses in Burkina Faso as a surge in deadly jihadist attacks sweeps across the Sahelian state. Burkina Faso, ruled by a military junta since September 2022, has faced more than 10 years of raids by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, including the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims.

Army seeks stronger media partnership in counter-insurgency efforts in northwest – The Nation Newspaper The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Sokoto, and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force, Northwest Operation Fansan Yamma, Major General Paul Bemgha Koughna, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media in its counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. Koughna made this known on Thursday in Sokoto while receiving executives of the Nigeria Union

ISWAP Attack on Army Base in Adamawa: What We Know Terrorists attacked the Garahamojili military camp in Garaha, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, in northeastern Nigeria, on Saturday, Feb. 21. Alison Hassan, a resident of the community, told HumAngle that the attack, which began around 11 p.m., lasted about an hour, as the terrorists engaged the soldiers in a fierce gun battle.

Gunmen Kill 25 In Twin Attacks In Adamawa – Daily Trust At least 25 people were killed and several houses torched after gunmen attacked two villages late on Tuesday in Adamawa State, northeast Nigeria, residents and the state governor said on Wednesday. The attackers, according to Reuters, struck Kirchinga in Madagali district and Garaha in neighbouring Hong, two villages on the edge of the Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa

Troops repel Boko Haram/ISWAP attack in Borno, kill six insurgents – Yerwa Express News Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, have repelled another attempted attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Borno State, killing six insurgents in the process. The attack occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Mafa.

Tinubu Extends Nigeria’s Shea Nut Export Ban By One Year President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts for another year, from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027. The approval, announced in a State House press release on Wednesday, signals the administration’s continued push to boost domestic

Saudi airlines to restart Jeddah to Abuja flights by 2027 The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Yousef Albalawi says the Saudi airlines will restart the flight operation from Jeddah to Abuja in June or by January 2027. Albalawi disclosed this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, in Abuja.

Fire Burnt Goods Worth Millions Of Naira In Three LGAs Of Yobe State – News Hunter Properties worth millions of naira including food reserves have been burnt down in some communities in three local government areas of Love state.
Communities affected by the fire outbreaks are Bukarti in Yunusari LGA, Fuchimiram, Kalgeri, Geidam LGA and Gumsamari in Yusufari LGA.

Saudi Arabia Bans Poultry Imports from Nigeria & Others Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority has banned the import of poultry and table eggs from 40 countries, including Nigeria, and imposed partial restrictions on certain regions in 16 other nations to safeguard public health and ensure food safety in the domestic market. “The list of affected countries is subject to regular review in line with global health developments and

Tinubu urges senators on state police constitutional amendme President Bola Tinubu has called on the National Assembly to begin the process of amending the Constitution to allow for the establishment of State Police as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges. The President made the appeal on Wednesday night during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the Senate at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

NIMR raises fresh concern over rising drug-resistant infections Researchers at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, have raised fresh concerns over the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, warning that infections are increasingly becoming resistant to some of the most potent antibiotics available in hospitals. The researchers said recent findings from surveillance activities in Lagos State revealed alarming levels of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, which are drugs typically

Shariah Council: No Power Can Stop Muslims From Practising Shariah  – Daily Trust The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has said no power or authority can make Muslims relinquish the practice of Shariah. The Secretary General of SCSN, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, said this in response to a recent report that a United States Congress committee submitted to President Donald Trump.

FG Rejects US Congressmen’s Stance On ‘religious Persecution’ – Daily Trust The Federal Government has maintained its stance that there is nothing like religious persecution in Nigeria. Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, made this known while reacting to the report that US Congressmen submitted to President Donald Trump, on Monday.

Nigeria, UKto update MoU on migration management, others  – The Nation Newspaper The Federal Government and the United Kingdom (UK) are set to deepen partnerships that would ensure that the existing Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) between the two countries on Migration Management and Returns are updated. The government said the MoU would facilitate efficient, lawful and humane Migration processes and strengthen security

U.S. Treasury Official in Abuja as FG Denies Ransom Claims in School Abduction — Emergency Digest The visit of a senior United States Treasury official to Abuja for high-level talks on countering terrorist financing has coincided with renewed controversy over allegations that the Federal Government paid ransom to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren in Niger State.

Why India deported over 2,300 Nigerians in five years The Government of India deported at least 2,356 Nigerians between 2019 and 2024, with removals quadrupling from 339 in 2021 to 1,470 in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This is according to data obtained by The PUNCH from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. The figures were drawn from three separate MHA annual reports for which Nigeria-specific data is publicly available.

Bandits To Kebbi Community: Pay Us N100m Or We Attack You – Daily Trust Bandits operating in parts of Kebbi South have demanded N100 million from Utouno community in Ngaski Local Government Area, threatening to launch an attack if their demand is not met. The demand was reportedly conveyed through a letter addressed to the community leaders.

Troops Kill 25 ISWAP Fighters, Recover 13 AK-47s • Channels Television Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have repelled coordinated terrorist attacks in Limankara and Kukawa, Borno State. This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of the Theatre Command, Lt. Col. Sani Uba. “Troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V, acting on weeks of intelligence

Police confirm killing of worshippers in Kebbi mosque attack The police in Kebbi State have confirmed that five worshippers were killed on Wednesday in an attack on a mosque by suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorists group in the Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the residents said the attackers surrounded the mosque during a nighttime Qur’anic Tafsir session, and opened fire on the congregation.

Terror Attacks Intensify in Southern Taraba Communities Fifty-five-year-old Tabitha Iorchon used to work as a nanny at a rural primary school in her community, Demevaa, in Chanchanji District of Takum Local Government Area, in Taraba State, northeastern Nigeria. The job provided her with a steady income which she used to support her children and grandchildren who lived with her. She supplemented her earnings with farming.

More than 1,700 Africans fighting for Russia, Ukraine says | Reuters KYIV, Feb 25 (Reuters) – More than 1,700 Africans are fighting for Russia in its war in Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday, adding that Moscow was using deception to trick them into fighting. Speaking alongside his counterpart from Ghana, Sybiha said that discussions were taking place with governments across Africa to prevent their citizens from being drawn into such schemes. Ghana will chair the African Union regional bloc next year.

Islamist militant attacks on Niger, Benin and Nigeria border zone soaring, research shows | Reuters LAGOS, Feb 26 – Militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are rapidly increasing their attacks on the borderlands between Niger, Benin and Nigeria, turning remote transit corridors into active conflict zones, according to a crisis monitoring group. Violent incidents involving Islamist groups in the tri‑border area rose 90% between 2024 and 2025 and deaths more than doubled to

Yobe lawmakers fast-track bill for new drug agency as substance abuse hits “national crisis” level The Yobe State House of Assembly has advanced a bill to establish the Yobe State Agency for Drug Abuse Control and Rehabilitation (YOSADAC) to coordinate prevention, treatment and recovery services across the state’s 17 local government areas.

bill, listed as YBHA No. 31, passed second reading this week and has moved to the committee stage, with public hearings scheduled for 8 and 9 March.

MacArthur Foundation: Strengthening Nigeria’s voice on the AI future Supported by the MacArthur Foundation through ecosystem partnerships, Nigerian delegates participated in the summit from a range of institutions operating at the intersection of civic technology, digital rights, data journalism, media innovation, and public policy

Peace and Security

Fate of Democracy in West Africa: The Question of Political Legitimacy The resurgence of coups in the West African subregion, exemplified by the coup in Guinea-Bissau and the thwarted coup in the Republic of Benin, indicates a decline of political legitimacy, a breakdown of constitutional order and a probable regional disintegration. On 26 November 2025, Guinea-Bissau became the fifth country out of 15 in the subregion to come under military rule since 2020, marking a significant expansion of the coup belt. This expansion arguably indicates a breakdown in public trust in the administrative capabilities of civilian governments.

Nigeria paid Boko Haram ransom for kidnapped pupils: AFP investigation | Africanews The Nigerian government paid Boko Haram militants a “huge” ransom of millions of dollars to free up to 230 children and staff the jihadists abducted from a Catholic school in November, an AFP investigation revealed Monday. Two Boko Haram commanders were also freed as part of the deal, which goes against the country’s own law banning payments to kidnappers. The money was delivered by helicopter to Boko Haram’s Gwoza stronghold in northeastern Borno state on the border with Cameroon, intelligence sources told AFP.

U.S. Expands Military Training Support for Nigerian Forces The United States Mission to Nigeria has expanded its military support for Nigeria, reinforcing a long-standing partnership aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s counterterrorism capabilities. In a statement obtained from the U.S Mission’s X handle on Wednesday, the mission said in 2018, U.S. troops trained about 200 soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion in

Islamist militant attacks on Niger, Benin and Nigeria border zone soaring, research shows | Reuters LAGOS, Feb 26 – Militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are rapidly increasing their attacks on the borderlands between Niger, Benin and Nigeria, turning remote transit corridors into active conflict zones, according to a crisis monitoring group. Violent incidents involving Islamist groups in the tri‑border

Nigeria, 106 others back UN vote voicing support for Ukraine – Vanguard News Nigeria joined 106 other members of the UN General Assembly to voice support for Ukraine on Tuesday on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022. The General Assembly meeting, which was held in an emergency special session, adopted a resolution titled “Support for lasting peace in Ukraine”.

Humanitarian

700,000 Nigerian Children Out Of School – FG – Daily Trust The Federal Government has said that more than 700,000 children across Nigeria are currently out of school, urging governments at all levels to take urgent and coordinated action to reverse the trend. Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), Dr Muhammad Idris, disclosed the figure at the maiden Benue Basic Education Summit in Makurdi.

Women enjoy only two-thirds of men’s legal rights despite reforms- Report Women across the world enjoy barely two-thirds of the legal rights available to men, and laws designed to guarantee equal economic opportunities are enforced only half the time. These findings are contained in a new report by the World Bank Group titled “Women, Business and the Law”, released on Tuesday.

 Borno records drop in out-of-school children, enrollment rises to 1.4 million – Lake Chad Times | Lake Chad Times The government of Borno State says the number of out-of-school children in the state has declined significantly in recent years. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, Commissioner for Education, made the disclosure on Sunday in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area. He spoke during the commissioning of a Higher Islamic College by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. Wakilbe said the number of out-of-school children has reduced from about 2.2 million to fewer than 800,000.      

Displaced Survivors of Kwara Massacre Recount a Night of Terror As evening settled over Woro, a village in Kaiama Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, on Feb. 3, the terrorists descended on motorcycles like a sudden storm. What began as a seemingly ordinary evening quickly turned into chaos, with about 170 people killed, their homes set ablaze, celebrations interrupted, and families forced to flee.

Africa CDC head cites major concerns over data, pathogen sharing in US health deals | Reuters LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) – There are big issues in the deals the United States is pursuing with African countries that govern how U.S. global health funding will work from now on, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday. “There are huge concerns regarding data, regarding pathogen sharing,” Director-General Jean Kaseya told a virtual press conference.

Mobilization and economic development

Nigeria secures $100 million from European bank to finance Project Bridge Nigeria has secured a fresh $100 million investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to finance Project Bridge, a nationwide connectivity initiative. Project Bridge, which aims to strengthen infrastructure and boost digital integration across the country, also received an additional €22 million from the European Union for the digital economy package.

UAE-Nigeria Non-Oil Trade Expands to $7.4 Billion The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has affirmed that the United Arab Emirates is a critical investor and trading partner to Nigeria, as non-oil trade between both countries continues to expand. “The UAE–Nigeria relationship is increasingly defined by shared priorities: resilient trade, strategic infrastructure, and innovation-driven growth,” said Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs

MTN Nigeria logs N1.1 trillion annual profit to end loss-making spell Wireless operator MTN Nigeria logged N1.1 trillion in post-tax profit for 2025 in breakaway from two years of sour fortune starting from 2023, during which stormy currency reforms in Nigeria hammered earnings and plunged balance sheet in red. The return to profit drew big support from a 50 per cent tariff hike announced by the industry regulator last February to succour telcos after a much weaker naira dented operations.

Lafarge Africa’s annual profit soars to all-time peak on volume growth Cement maker Lafarge Africa reported a surge of 172.7 per cent in net profit on Thursday, which took its earnings to the highest on record, as volume growth lifted top line. The company, whose products also comprise aggregate and concrete, said improvement in bottom line derived in part from factors ranging from higher plant stability and enhanced distribution efficiency to cost optimisation.

Seplat’s annual revenue leaps 150% to N4.1 trillion, but profit slightly grows Seplat Energy had little to show for an enormous surge in turnover in 2025, in terms of its impact on profit, as Nigeria’s biggest oil & gas company by market value faced a storm of cost pressures, including a huge tax liability that kept earnings growth muted. Revenue reached a level never before seen by the corporation, rising 150.4 per cent to N4 trillion compared to the previous year, according to its audited accounts issued on Thursday.