Regional News

Niger: Army repels attack on Tahoua drone base | Africanews A military drone base at the airport in Niger’s Tahoua was targeted overnight Sunday. Local authorities say the army fended off the attack, which left left several soldiers injured and several assailants dead. Eyewitnesses say unidentified assailants pulled up on motorcycles, and that they saw exchanges of fire from the airport and the city centre. The drone base was built in 2022, and

Benin and Nigeria join forces to fight growing cross-border terrorism – RFI Authorities in Benin and Nigeria this week announced plans for a joint security operation to combat terrorist groups along their shared border. It comes amid an increase in jihadist attacks, which have spread further afield to

https://mfwa.us5.listmanage.com/track/click?u=ead95c0433982154afdc8eb46&id=960b16558f&e=24721e92c8 On February 9, 2026, the Court of Appeal confirmed the conviction and sentence imposed on former Prime Minister Moussa Mara by the specialised cybercrime court. The political figure, who was convicted of “undermining the credit of the state” and

A Cameroon-CAR strategy could disrupt illicit gold networks | ISS Africa A four-part plan could enable both countries to deal with the artisanal gold mining economy that is fuelling border crime. The illicit trade in gold from artisanal mines drives crime and armed conflict in the Cameroon-Central African Republic (CAR)

Could short-term deals weaken Russia’s enduring influence in Africa? | ISS Africa As the war in Ukraine continues, Moscow is prioritising bilateral engagements with African nations to counter the political and economic fallout of Western attempts to isolate Russia. The continent has evolved from a largely peripheral consideration in Russian foreign policy to a key geopolitical theatre.

US warns citizens in Nigeria of possible ‘terrorist threat’ | Reuters LAGOS, March 10 – The U.S. embassy in Nigeria warned American citizens of ​a possible “terrorist threat” against U.S. ‌facilities and affiliated schools in the West African country in a security ​alert late on Monday.

Chad shuts border with Sudan to reassert neutrality – TRT Afrika Chad has shut its border with Sudan, hoping to reassert its neutrality in the devastating conflict. Chad’s government officially maintains it is neutral in the three-year-old battle between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

Al Qaeda-linked group killed at least 12 truck drivers in Mali, HRW says | Reuters DAKAR, March 10 (Reuters) – Islamist militants from an al Qaeda-linked group killed 10 long-haul truck drivers and two ​teenage apprentices who were travelling through Mali’s western ‌Kayes region in late January, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday.

Borno terrorist attack leaves one dead, 1,400 sheep stolen Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have attacked a nomadic settlement in Wuturo, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, killing one herder and rustling about 1,400 sheep. The Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident in a statement

Recent surge in terrorist attacks causes genuine fear in Borno communities – Yerwa Express News There has been an unprecedented escalation in terrorist attacks over the last few weeks across the North East, particularly in Borno State. And these attacks—though described by some as desperate attempts to remain

UN: Attacks on Schools Surged 166% From 2021 to 2024 United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, says attacks on schools worldwide increased by 166 per cent between 2021 and 2024. She noted that the attacks had been particularly prevalent in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar and Ethiopia. Al-

Nigeria demands release of 42 nationals arrested in Mozambique – TRT Afrika The Nigerian government has called for the immediate release of 42 of its citizens reportedly arrested in Mozambique without any charges, raising concerns over what officials described as a possible xenophobic incident.

Soldier dies as troops repel terrorist attack on another Kukawa town – Yerwa Express News After attacking Kukawa town yesterday, ISWAP fighters have 24 hours later extended their attack to nearby town, Doron Baga, a fishing town on the shores of Lake Chad. Following fire exchanges, troops stationed there repelled the terrorists. The terrorists arrived in large

Outrage over viral video of child soldiers in Nigeria Residents in Borno State have expressed deep concern over a viral video showing underage children, suspected to be terrorist child soldiers, dressed in full camouflage in a deserted forest. The video, obtained by our correspondent on Monday, shows about 18 children fully kitted in military uniforms,

FG Considers Age Restrictions For Social Media Use In Nigeria – The Whistler Newspaper The Federal Government has launched consultations on introducing age restrictions for social media use in Nigeria, in a bid to strengthen online safety for children. The Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has opened a public poll to gather input from parents, educators, young people, and digital experts on how best to regulate

M/East War Pushes Up Petrol, Food Prices – Daily Trust Escalating tensions in the Middle East are beginning to ripple across Nigeria’s economy as rising global crude oil prices push up the cost of petrol, triggering increases in transport fares and food prices in several parts of the country. Across major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa, motorists and

NAF adopts new air-warfare doctrine to minimise civilian casualties – Yerwa Express News The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has launched the Basic Civilian Harm Mitigation, CHM, Course 1/2026 as part of efforts to reduce civilian casualties and strengthen professionalism in air operations across the country. The course was inaugurated on Monday at the Air Warfare and Doctrine

Northern states face severe doctor shortages, rely heavily on community health workers – Report Northern states in Nigeria continue to face severe shortages of medical doctors and specialised health professionals, forcing many health facilities to rely heavily on community health workers for basic healthcare services. This is according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Sunday.

How Military Lost 3 Commanding Officers In 1 Week – Daily Trust The Nigerian military has lost at least three commanding officers in charge of forward operations bases following attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at different locations within a seven-day period in Borno State. The latest casualties bring to seven the number of commanding officers and one brigadier general reportedly killed within the last three months.

Islamist militants kill 15 in coordinated raids across northeast Nigeria | Reuters MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, March 9 (Reuters) – Islamist militants killed at least 12 soldiers and three civilians in coordinated overnight attacks in northeast Nigeria, military ​sources and residents said on Monday, as attacks on armed forces intensify. A ‌17-year Islamist insurgency in the region has killed thousands of people and displaced 2 million, according to aid groups, despite major

Mali’s capital Bamako faces diesel shortage – TRT Afrika Drivers in the Malian capital are facing a diesel shortage because the national energy company is receiving priority supplies to cope with power outages, the oil companies’ association said on Tuesday. The landlocked Mali is dependent on imports via tanker trucks and has recently faced fuel shortages due to terrorist attacks on the truck convoys.

Nigerian army kills 45 in Katsina clash | Reuters March 7 (Reuters) – At least 45 “bandits” were killed in a clash ​with Nigerian troops in ‌the Danmusa area of Katsina state in northern Nigeria, according ​to a statement from ​the Katsina State Government on ⁠Saturday. The violence followed an attack ​by armed gangs of ​men from neighboring Zamfara state who rode into Alhazawa village in Musawa ​on March 5 and ​attempted to steal cattle, the statement ‌said.

SERAP Drags FG to ECOWAS Court Over Alleged Mass Phone-Tapping Rules — Emergency Digest SERAP Drags FG to ECOWAS Court Over Alleged Mass Phone-Tapping Rules Nigeria’s Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been sued at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja over its refusal to withdraw the controversial *Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019*, widely described as enabling mass phone surveillance.

Nigerian army kills dozens of armed gang members – TRT Afrika Nigeria’s military has killed 45 gunmen in the country’s northwest region, the Katsina state government said Saturday. The clashes between the military and the armed gang members happened on Friday in the Danmusa area of Katsina, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Nasir Mua’zu

Classroom Attendance in Nigeria Still Relies on Paper – HumAngle At the start of every school day, Martha Ayuba marks the attendance register of her class of about 50 pupils in Nassarawo Primary School, Jimeta-Yola, in Adamawa, northeastern Nigeria. The 38-year-old is the class teacher of Primary 3B. With a pencil in hand, she calls out names from the register. Each pupil answers, “Present, Ma”, before she ticks the box next to those who are “present” and crosses those who are “absent”.

National ID Errors Lock Nigerians Out of Essential Services When Catherine Bello received a text message from the World Food Programme (WFP) in August 2025, she was excited. She had been anticipating it ever since she applied for the Anticipatory Action Response (AAR), a WFP programme that provides “multipurpose cash assistance” to reduce the humanitarian impact of flooding in vulnerable communities.

Stakeholders Back Creation of Crisis Communication Hub to Counter Digital Misinformation – PRNigeria News Stakeholders Back Creation of Crisis Communication Hub to Counter Digital Misinformation Key security, media, and technology stakeholders have endorsed the establishment of a national Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub) aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to monitor and respond to misinformation, disinformation, and other digital threats capable of undermining national stability.

NBA President Seeks Stronger Legal Ties with Liberia The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has called for deeper legal collaboration between Nigeria and Liberia, highlighting the role of legal professionals in strengthening justice systems across West Africa. In a statement shared via X on Wednesday, Osigwe delivered his message at the formal opening of the March 2026 Term of the Supreme Court of Liberia,

Many women in FCT convert their private cars to Kabu-kabu business — Report – Yerwa Express News Many women in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have converted their private cars into informal taxis, popularly known as “kabu-kabu”, in order to make ends meet. Some of the female drivers told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, that the move was necesitated due to

Women Exporters To Receive $5,000 To $30,000 Grants – NEPC – Daily Trust The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has emphasised the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, noting that women exporters will soon receive grants to expand their businesses under the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE)

Women take the wheel as rickshaw drivers in northern Nigeria – RFI As more women are having to fend for themselves amid economic hardship, they are increasingly venturing into trades previously dominated by men. Khalid’s pink three-wheeled electric rickshaw stood out on the frenetic streets of the region’s commercial hub, as she pulled over to pick up women passengers.

Road Crashes Claim 1,374 Lives In Q4 2025 — NBS – Daily Trust The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says 1,374 persons died in road accidents in the fourth quarter of 2025. In its latest report, the bureau said the deaths resulted from 2,731 road traffic crashes recorded during the period. According to the NBS, the figure represents a 12.20 per cent increase compared with the 2,434 crashes recorded in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, and a 6.72 per cent rise from the 2,559 crashes recorded in the corresponding

Subsidy Removal Raised Cost Of Living, Poverty By 63% — Report – Daily Trust A new report has revealed that the removal of petrol subsidy raised cost of living and poverty levels to about 63 per cent before providing any buffers for citizens. The findings were presented at a Stakeholders’ Dialogue organised by Agora Policy in Abuja with the theme: “Sustaining and Deepening Economic Reforms in Nigeria.”

Peace and Security

Exclusive: US nears deal to resume intelligence operations in Mali  | Reuters DAKAR, March 9 (Reuters) – The U.S. is nearing a deal with Mali that will allow Washington to resume flying aircraft and drones over the West African country’s airspace to gather intelligence on jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda, according to one current ​U.S. official and a former U.S. official. Last month, Washington made the first move to implement the agreement by

Why Nigeria Must Finally Embrace Ranching Reform, By As-sayyidul Arafat – PRNigeria News For decades, Nigeria’s ranching debate has remained trapped in a cycle of political rhetoric, cultural sensitivities, and mutual suspicion. Yet the realities confronting the country today, ranging from worsening insecurity in farming communities to escalating food prices and mounting pressure on Nigeria’s agricultural credibility

CORN W/Africa, UK Unveil Platform To Boost Nigeria’s Peace Initiative – Daily Trust The Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORN West Africa), in partnership with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has launched a new digital platform designed to make peacebuilding efforts across Nigeria more visible and connected. The platform, known as Nigeria Peacework (NPW), aggregates structured data on peace actors, initiatives, and events nationwide. It was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday under the Nigeria Peace Act.

Nigeria begins evacuation of citizens in Iran The Nigerian government has begun evacuating Nigerians in Iran, with officials accompanying them across the Armenian border as the US and Israel’s war with Iran continues. The head of the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a post on Tuesday, said citizens willing to leave are being safely escorted out of the country through the border.

Nigeria, S’Africa Armies Deepen Training Partnership to Combat Emerging Security Threats – PRNigeria News The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to strengthening strategic military cooperation with the South African Army in a bid to enhance regional security and build professional military capacity across Africa.

FG Moves to Align Government Messaging on National Security – PRNigeria News The Federal Government has intensified efforts to harmonise official communication across ministries and agencies as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national security coordination and counter misinformation. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.

BREAKING: Nigerian military recaptures Ngoshe base – Yerwa Express News The Nigerian military, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force CJTF, hunters, and local vigilante groups, has retaken the Ngoshe military base following a recent deadly attack by terrorists. The operation to reclaim the base was carried out on Tuesday after insurgents

NIDCOM Condemns Arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has condemned the arrest of 42 Nigerians at a spare parts market in Mozambique and called for their immediate release. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the development as disturbing, especially as no offence has reportedly been levelled against the affected Nigerians.

Ghana Arrests 93 Nigerians, Rescues Trafficking Victims Authorities in Ghana have arrested 93 Nigerians over alleged cybercrime and human trafficking activities in Accra, while rescuing 73 other Nigerians reportedly subjected to torture and abuse. A report by ABC News GH on Tuesday, citing the Ghana Immigration Service, revealed that among those

Borno mosque debunks social media bomb scare A Maiduguri-based mosque, popularly known as Malam Bako Mosque, has debunked claims circulating on social media that some individuals planted a bomb on its premises. In a statement on Tuesday, the mosque’s management described the information as false and unfounded.

NAF Strengthens Civilian Protection in Counter-Terrorism Operations – PRNigeria News The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reinforced its civilian protection framework as it intensifies ongoing air operations against terrorist groups across the country. Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, disclosed this on Monday during the inauguration of the Basic Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) Course 1/2026 at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC) in Abuja.

Defence Minister Summons Service Chiefs Over Rising Attacks – Daily Trust Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has summoned all the Service Chiefs to his office for a crucial meeting over recent attacks on different military bases in the North East. Those currently attending the meeting at the Headquarters of Ministry of Defence, Abuja, include the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu.

Telecom network failure, delayed reinforcements led to death of commander in Kukawa attack – Yerwa Express News A telecommunications network failure in Kukawa town during Monday’s pre-dawn assault by ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists crippled the military’s ability to call for reinforcements and air support, directly contributing to the death of a top commander and his men, YERWA EXPRESS NEWS has gathered.

Humanitarian

6.4 million Children in Nigeria’s northeast face acute malnutrition, says ICRC – The Nation Newspaper No fewer than 6.4 million children under the age of five in northern Nigeria are suffering from acute malnutrition as food insecurity worsens in communities affected by years of armed conflict, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said. The humanitarian organisation warned that fifteen years of violence in the Northeast has

Nigeria records 50% drop in maternal deaths in health facilities – Report The report, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, linked the nearly 50 per cent reduction to expanded access to skilled maternity care, improved referral systems, and the nationwide scale-up of emergency obstetric services. Building on the 2024 edition, the report tracks progress under the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) 2023–2026, implemented through a Sector-Wide Approach coordinated by the Federal Ministry of

Jakusko Police DPO Donates N1.5m Sallah Clothing to 130 Orphans — Northern Nigerian Express The Divisional Police Officer of Jakusko Police Division, Muhammed Ladan, has donated Sallah clothing worth about ₦1.5 million to 130 orphaned children in Jakusko ahead of the 2026 Eid-el-Fitr celebration. This was disclosed by a Social media user Zannah Musa Gaje Geidam over his meta account on Friday. The gesture included clothing items for both boys and girls,

The Walida–Ifeanyi Saga and the Unanswered Questions By Sadeeq Shehu – PRNigeria News The troubling story involving a DSS officer, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, and a young woman identified as Walida has generated multiple narratives—none of which has yet been fully verified. The confusion surrounding the case has produced a swirl of competing claims, speculation, and emotional reactions across the media and public discourse.

63 vulnerable pupils receive school uniforms from UNIMAID VC – Yerwa Express News 63 vulnerable pupils of Aisha Buhari Integrated Primary School in Maiduguri have received school  uniforms from Prof. Mohammed Laminu Mele, the vice chancellor of University of Maiduguri. The uniforms were distributed on Friday

Food Security: FG To Empower 6m Youths – Daily Trust The Federal Government has said that the over six million youths captured in the data of the Ministry of Youth development would be empowered and equipped to expand food security, boost agricultural productivity and support the expansion of the national economy.

Terrorists abduct more than 300 people in northeastern Nigeria, officials say – TRT Afrika Gunmen attacked a town in northeastern Nigeria abducting more than 300 people, including women and children on Friday, local officials said. The attack happened in the town of Ngoshe in Borno state,

Nigeria loses 82,000 mothers to poor maternal health data — Expert – Yerwa Express News A  health  communication scholar, Faridah Abraham of Kansas State University, has urged Nigeria to prioritise women’s access to accurate, culturally relevant maternal health information to reduce persistently high maternal deaths nationwide.

Experts fear ‘unethical’ vaccine trial in Africa is ‘prototype’ for US studies under RFK Jr | US healthcare | The Guardian New details are leading experts to fear that an “unethical” vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau is the “prototype” for studies under Robert F Kennedy Jr, secretary of the US department of health and human services (HHS) and longtime vaccine critic. At the center of US vaccine policy is an unlikely set of Danish researchers whose work on the health

Mobilization and economic development

Canal+ beats profit guidance, to hire 1,000 salespeople in Africa | Reuters March 11 (Reuters) – French media group Canal+ (CAN.L), opens new tab on ​Wednesday reported annual core profit ahead of guidance and said ‌it would hire more than 1,000 salespeople in Africa as part of its turnaround strategy for its newly acquired MultiChoice subsidiary. The producer of “Paddington”, which ​is transforming

Nigeria prioritises local gasoline supply, suspends import licences | Reuters LAGOS, March 10 (Reuters) – Nigeria has suspended the issuance of gasoline import licences for a second straight month as regulators begin enforcing provisions of ​the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that only allow imports when the African ‌country’s domestic supply falls short. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and

Dangote Supplies 92% of Nigeria’s Petrol as Imports Halt The Dangote Petroleum Refinery accounted for about 92 per cent of Nigeria’s daily petrol supply in February, as the Federal Government has paused the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). This came as filling stations on Tuesday retained petrol prices at above N1200 per litre despite a N100 reduction

Nigeria’s Non-oil Exports Rise To N12.36trn In 2025 — NBS – Daily Trust Nigeria’s non-oil exports recorded a significant increase in 2025, reaching N12.36 trillion between January and December, according to the latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The figure represents a sharp rise from the N9.09 trillion recorded in 2024, reflecting stronger export performance outside the crude oil sector and highlighting ongoing efforts to diversify the country’s export base.

FG, 3 Dairy Farms To Establish Breeding Centre – Daily Trust The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, in collaboration with a coalition of three dairy companies, has concluded plans to establish a livestock breeding centre in Nigeria. The companies involved are Arla Global Dairy Products Ltd, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC and Danone, all European firms that have operated in Nigeria for many years.

Tomato Farmers Applaud New Pest Control Technology – Daily Trust Tomato farmers in parts of northern Nigeria are reporting improved pest control and higher yields following the introduction of a new pest management initiative designed to tackle the destructive Tuta absoluta pest that has devastated tomato production in recent years.

Nigeria reviews oil, market exposure amid rising Middle East tension | Reuters ABUJA, March 11 (Reuters) – Nigeria’s government is monitoring escalating ​tensions in the Middle East as ‌it assesses potential risks to the country’s economic stability, the finance ministry said on ​Wednesday. Finance Minister Wale Edun convened the ​Economic Management Team to review how ⁠the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran could ​affect oil prices, capital flows and logistics ​costs.