Regional News

Cameroon opposition leader flees to Gambia after contested election | Africanews Gambia said it was temporarily hosting Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary after a disputed election in his country saw longtime President Paul Biya win an eighth term, triggering deadly protests. Gambia’s Ministry of Information said in a statement Sunday that Tchiroma arrived in the small West African country on Nov. 7 and is being hosted “purely on humanitarian grounds” and for “the purpose of ensuring his safety.” The statement added that Gambia was working with regional partners like Nigeria to “support a peaceful and negotiated outcome” to the post-election tensions in Cameroon. Tchiroma’s spokesperson, Alice Nkom, confirmed the opposition leader’s presence in Gambia in a statement on Sunday.

Africa’s first G20 summit: highlights and what’s ahead | Africanews The first Group of 20 summit in Africa that ended Sunday broke new ground by putting the priorities of poor countries at the top of the bloc’s agenda. Host South Africa negotiated a summit declaration signed by some of the world’s richest and top emerging economies that agreed to give more global attention to issues that especially affect developing nations. They included the impact of climate change on poor countries, the rising debt levels and unfair borrowing conditions they face, and their call for help to transition to green energy sources.

Niger sends fuel convoy to Mali to ease supply woes | Africanews As Mali’s fuel crisis worsens, a convoy of 82 petrol tankers arrived in the capital over the weekend from neighbouring Niger. Amid ongoing regional insecurity, it took 21 days to make the 1,400-kilometre journey from Niamey to Bamako. A more than two-month-old fuel blockade by al Qaeda-linked militants has all but paralysed the city and increased pressure on the military junta. Since early September, the jihadists have attacked multiple fuel convoys, disrupting transport routes, and intensifying scarcity. Meanwhile, Russia has pledged to supply Mali with 160,000 to 200,000 metric tonnes of petroleum and agricultural products.

Military officers claim ‘total control’ of Guinea-Bissau in potential coup | Africanews Military officers on Wednesday claimed to have taken “total control” of Guinea-Bissau in a potential coup, as the country awaits the results of national elections. The officers said they had suspended the electoral process and closed the borders, in a statement read at the headquarters of the army general staff and broadcast on state television. Earlier in the day, gunshots were heard near the presidential palace in Guinea-Bissau’s capital. Roads leading to the palace were closed off, with checkpoints manned by heavily armed and masked soldiers. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló told Jeune Afrique he had been arrested on Wednesday while in his office.

General sworn in as interim leader of Guinea-Bissau after coup | Africanews Military officials in Guinea-Bissau on Thursday named a general as the country’s transitional president. Horta Inta-A’s inauguration came a day after soldiers toppled the civilian leadership in a swift power grab ahead of the announcement of the weekend’s election results. In a statement, he justified taking control of the country saying it faced threats to its stability from politicians and drug barons, without providing any details. The military government will oversee a one-year transition period starting from Thursday, it said in a declaration broadcast on state television. “Created in response to the events of November 26, this new military entity immediately assumed supreme power in the state of Guinea-Bissau,” said the general at his swearing-in ceremony.

How Villagers Discovered 5 Dead Bodies Riddled With Bullets Near FCT – Daily Trust Locals at Garam, a Niger community that borders FCT, have narrated how they found five decomposing human bodies in a bush not far away from the community. They said the bodies were found near a farm located along the Bwari/Abuja-Kaduna bye-pass road, through the Kagarko area.

Insecurity: 13 Teenage Girls Abducted In Borno – Daily Trust Members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terror group yesterday abducted 13 teenage female farmers from Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The Deputy Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, who confirmed the abduction, said the victims were abducted on their fields in Mussa District.

NIGERIA DAILY: Is School Closure The Only Answer To Student Abductions? – Daily Trust Why are states rushing to shut down schools in the wake of the recent abduction of pupils and students from Kebbi and Niger Are there no alternative to the wholesale closure education institutions?

Why schoolchildren are often abducted in Nigeria and who the usual kidnappers are | Africanews Nigeria suffered its second mass school abduction this week with authorities confirming an attack on a Catholic school in the conflict-battered northern region of the country on Friday. It wasn’t immediately confirmed who the attackers were or the number of students abducted at St. Mary’s School in Niger state’s Papiri community. Local media broadcaster Arise TV said that 52 schoolchildren were seized, and local police said they have deployed a team to rescue the children. Friday’s attack happened four days after 25 students were abducted in neighboring Kebbi state.

Nnamdi Kanu sentenced to life in Nigeria over terror charges | Africanews Lawyers for convicted separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu have rejected a Nigerian court’s ruling that sentenced him to life imprisonment on seven terrorism-related charges. Kanu was accused of acts of terrorism, issuing and violently enforcing weekly stay-at-home orders across the southeast, instructing others on bomb-making targeting government facilities, and incitement. Aloy Ejimakor, legal consultant to Nnamdi Kanu, said: “Today will forever live in infamy. I have never seen a man convicted for simply what he said, not for actions he took.

UN chief António Guterres calls on G20 leaders to tackle trade inequalities | Africanews United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged G20 leaders to use their influence to tackle trade barriers. Speaking in Johannesburg ahead of the G20 summit this weekend, the UN chief said these barriers consistently place developing countries at a disadvantage. He also addressed the limitations of the UN in bringing about institutional change. “One thing I can guarantee is that in the action of the Secretariat of the UN we will be doing everything to correct inequalities and injustices and to guarantee effective representation to developing countries,” he said in a press conference on Friday.

Niger’s General Tchiani returns home after nationwide tour | Africanews General Abdourahamane Tchiani arrived in Niamey on Thursday night, marking the end of a weekslong trip throughout Niger. In Niamey, thousands of people turned out to welcome him along the route from the airport to the presidential palace. For activist Zakari Bizo, seeing the Nigerien president return from his tour is a source of “great joy and pleasure.” “The message we were waiting for was to stand united and build the country together,” he said. “I think that building this country is what interests us all.” For more than 10 years, Niger has been facing terrorism in virtually every region of the country. During his tour, Tchiani called on the population to be more resilient and on the military to be more vigilant against the fighters of armed terrorist groups.

Nigeria: Number of children abducted in school attack raised to over 300 | Africanews A total of 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted by gunmen during an attack on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said Saturday, updating an earlier tally of 215 schoolchildren. The tally was changed “after a verification exercise and a final census [were] carried out,” according to a statement issued by the Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger state chapter of CAN, who visited the school on Friday. He said 88 other students “were also captured after they tried to escape” during the attack. The students were both male and female and ranged in age from 10 to 18. The school kidnapping in Niger state’s remote Papiri community happened just four days after 25 schoolchildren were seized in similar circumstances in neighbouring Kebbi state’s Maga town, which is 170 kilometres away.

Guinea Bissau goes to polls with president seeking a second term in office | Africanews People voted on Sunday in Guinea Bissau’s presidential and legislative elections with incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo seeking a second term.The polls come at a critical time in West Africa where democracy has recently been challenged by several disputed polls. Embalo is facing off against 11 other presidential candidates, including Fernando Dias a relative political newcomer.

50 children abducted from school in Nigeria have escaped, authorities say | Africanews Fifty of the 303 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state have escaped captivity and are now with their families, the school authority said Sunday, as the pope called for the immediate release of those still missing. The schoolchildren, aged between 10 and 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday, according to the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and the proprietor of the school. A total of 253 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still being held by the kidnappers, Yohanna said in a statement. “We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents,” he added.

UNICEF secures agreement to cut malaria vaccine costs | Africanews The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is now targeting to reduce the cost of the malaria vaccine. The new agreement will significantly improve access to and affordability of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines, helping to protect more children from one of the world’s deadliest diseases, according to UNICEF. The lower vaccine price, at almost 3 dollars, is expected to take effect in approximately 1 year. The deal, backed by Gavi and executed by UNICEF, will generate over $ 90 million. This will, in turn, help produce 30 million additional doses while targeting 7 million more children against malaria over the next five years.

Nigeria: Families of missing children frustrated over frequent school abductions | Africanews Families of abducted students in Nigeria are trapped between hope and disappointment. Fifty of the more than 300 schoolchildren abducted from the Catholic St. Mary’s School in Nigeria’s Niger state have escaped captivity and have been reunited with their families, according to the school authority. The children escaped individually between Friday and Saturday. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to save the remaining students as their parents struggle with helplessness and frustration. A total of 253 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still being held by the kidnappers. Pope Leo has called for their immediate release.

Man Allegedly Rapes 2-year-old Child In Ekiti – Daily Trust A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the remand of one Mustapha Amodu (19) at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Custody over the alleged rape of a two-year-old child. The prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, informed the court that there is probable cause to order the remand of the defendant, who is reasonably suspected to have raped a two-year-old victim.

Meth, Cocaine Consignments Intercepted At Lagos Airport – Daily Trust In a blistering crackdown on drug trafficking organisations across the country, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled no fewer than six syndicates, leading to the seizure of tons of assorted illicit drugs and the arrest of nine kingpins. In one of such operations, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested two members of a drug trafficking organization in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Nigeria security chiefs report progress in rescuing kidnapped students | Africanews Nigerian military leaders met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Abuja on Sunday, following a series of kidnappings of students and teachers by armed men. A total of 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted by gunmen during an attack on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state, the Christian Association of Nigeria said on Saturday, updating an earlier tally of 215 schoolchildren. Major General Shaib said there was also “very good positive news” from Kwara state, and that the 38 worshippers had regained their freedom and been reunited with their families.

Guinea-Bissau: Incumbent, main challenger both claim victory in presidential race | Africanews The two leading candidates in Guinea-Bissau’s presidential have declared victory even as the country awaits official results. The camp of Fernando Dias, seen as the main challenger to President Umaro Sissoco Embalo was the first to claim victory. Embalo’s agents later said their candidate had won more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff. Official results were expected later on Tuesday, according to local media. The competing claims could upset the political climate in the small West African country that is prone to army takeovers of power.

SECURITY

Bandits Gun Down 5 Officers In Bauchi Ambush – Daily Trust The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of five of its officers by bandits in Sabon Sara village, Darazo Local Government Area of the State. The Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Ahmed Wakil, who disclosed this in a statement, said five officers paid the supreme price, two were injured, while a certain number of bandits were neutralised. Wakil narrated, “On 22nd November, 2025.

Insecurity: The Time For State Police Has Come – SouthWest Govs – Daily Trust The Southwest Governors’ Forum on Monday declared that the time for the country to establish state police has come. The governors also drew the Federal Government’s attention to what they called urgent need for enhanced forest surveillance across states of the region. The forum called on the Federal Government to secure the vast forest belts, which it said, have become hideouts for criminal elements. In a communiqué issued after a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, all the six governors agreed that the Federal Government should help deploy Forest Guards across the South west states, with each State Government responsible for providing the required personnel. The communique of the meeting was read by the Chairman of the Forum and governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Insecurity: I’m Monitoring The Situation Nationwide – Tinubu – Daily Trust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he is closely monitoring the security situation across the nation. The president said this while reacting to the release of the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State. Bandits had attacked Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti local government area of Kwara state, on Tuesday, kidnapping many worshippers. In a post on his X handle, Tinubu recalled his cancelled trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable him coordinate the security efforts at home, vowing that, “under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people.”

Genocide Claim: US Affirms Readiness To Deepen Security Cooperation With Nigeria – Daily Trust Following discussions and engagements last week between a high-level Nigerian delegation and the United States of America officials, the US has affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noted that the engagements will help strengthen security partnerships between the two countries and open new avenues for cooperation to protect citizens.

An Open Letter To Nigerians On Trump’s Alleged Love For Chritstians – Daily Trust “I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They are killing people by the thousands. It is a genocide and I am really angry about it. And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria. We are going to end up stopping. The government has done nothing. They are very ineffective. They are killing Christians at will. You know, until I got involved in it two weeks ago, nobody even talked about it”- President Donald Trump, 21st November 2025.

Protect Schools, Don’t Close Them – Daily Trust I was deeply disturbed upon reading a report in the Daily Trust that Katsina and Plateau States have ordered the closure of schools amid rising insecurity. Alarmingly, the federal government followed suit by shutting down 41 Unity Schools across the country. What is most troubling is that, instead of presenting a viable solution, the federal government appears to have surrendered to the situation. If the federal government itself lacks confidence in the nation’s security, then who can feel safe? Our country is facing a grave crisis, and the safety of its citizens rests squarely on the government’s shoulders.

Kidnapped Futures: The Cost Of Stereotypes And Insecurity – Daily Trust Two school kidnappings in a single week. Twenty-five girls in Kebbi. More than 300 students and teachers in Niger. These are not just numbers. These are children taken from classrooms that should have been safe. Children who left home with books and dreams and returned to nowhere. The country should have paused, reflected, and acted decisively. Instead, we are seeing the familiar cycle: stereotyping, politicisation, and reactive retreat.

Military Probes Withdrawal Of Troops Before Kebbi Abduction – Daily Trust The military high command has launched a thorough investigation into the alleged withdrawal of troops deployed to protect Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, before the abduction. It disclosed that the Defence Headquarters had begun a review to determine the circumstances surrounding troop deployment and movement at the time of the incident, adding that aggressive operations were currently ongoing to rescue abducted students. Daily Trust reports that no fewer than 25 students were taken from the Kebbi school last week while 215 pupils and students were abducted from St. Mary’s Private Primary and Secondary School in Niger State.

Genocide In Nigeria Is Now Like Stage 4 Cancer, Says Top US Congressman – Daily Trust U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has issued a stark warning on the escalating violence in Nigeria, describing the ongoing slaughter of Christians and moderate Muslims as “like a stage four cancer” that is spreading rapidly and must be confronted decisively. Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels TV

Nigerian parents of abducted children say they are being kept in dark | Africanews Anxious parents of the over 300 schoolchildren seized in Nigeria last week by armed men say the government is keeping them in the dark about rescue efforts. No group has claimed responsibility for abducting the youngsters and 12 teachers from a Catholic school in the remote community of Papiri. Fifty of the students have since escaped. “What affects me the most, [is that] every day I’m depressed, no food, every day crying and fasting. Bring back our children, please,” says Papiri resident and mother, Tabita.

Nigeria’s Security Challenge Beyond Police, ADC Tells Tinubu – Daily Trust The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s withdrawal of police officers from VIPs as political grandstanding which will not yield any meaningful results in combating the crisis of insecurity in the country. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said resorting to “this same old move” confirms government’s lack of appreciation of the complexity of the security situation in the country and what needs to be done.

24 schoolgirls abducted from Kebbi in Nigeria rescued, president says | Africanews All 24 schoolgirls held by assailants following a mass abduction last week from a school in northwestern Nigeria have been rescued, the country’s president announced Tuesday. A total of 25 girls were abducted Nov. 17 from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state’s Maga town, but one of them was able to escape the same day, the school’s principal said. The remaining 24 were all rescued, according to a statement from President Bola Tinubu, though no details were released about the rescue. “I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping,” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying.

Bauchi Shuts Down All Schools Over Security Concerns – Daily Trust The Bauchi State Government has announced the immediate closure of all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state, including Federal Government-owned as well as private schools. Daily Trust had reported how insecurity worsened in the country recently, with repeated Boko Haram attacks on military and civilians and bandits’ abduction of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi States. The Bauchi State Police Command, on Sunday, also confirmed the killing of five of its officers by bandits in Sabon Sara village, Darazo Local Government Area of the State. According to a statement signed by the Information and Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, Jalaludeen Usman,

Tinubu declares security emergency as kidnappings rock Nigeria | Africanews Facing a kidnapping crisis, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of Nigeria’s security forces. He also authorized the recruitment of an additional 20,000 security personnel on top of the 30,000 already approved. “The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000,” the statement read. “My fellow Nigerians, this is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas,” it added.

HUMANITARIAN

WFP sounds alarm as Nigeria braces for severe hunger in 2026 | Africanews A spike in attacks by militants across northern Nigeria is “driving hunger to levels never seen before” and is expected to result in the worst levels of food insecurity in Africa next year, according to a World Food Programme report released Tuesday. The food agency of the United Nations projected 35 million people are likely to experience severe hunger in Nigeria by 2026, the highest on the continent and the largest since the agency began recording data in Nigeria. The WFP also predicted at least 15,000 people in Borno state, the epicenter of Nigeria’s security crisis, will experience catastrophic hunger including famine-like conditions next year. Borno will be classified as Phase 5, the agency’s highest classification of food insecurity, similar to what has been seen in some parts of Gaza and Sudan.

Zamfara Invests N500m To Improve Child Nutrition, Support Vulnerable Women, Children – Daily Trust UNICEF has commended the Zamfara State Government for its efforts to improve child nutrition and strengthen care and protection systems for children across the state. UNICEF Country Representative, Mrs Wafaa Saeed, said the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal deserved recognition for promptly releasing N500 million as counterpart funding for the state’s nutrition programme and for its commitment to providing human resources in the health and education sectors.

Zamfara Commissions Sexual Assault Referral Centre Named After First Lady – Daily Trust The Zamfara State Government has commissioned a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) named after the state’s First Lady, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, to provide medical, psychosocial, legal and livelihood support to survivors of sexual assault. Speaking at the event, the First Lady said the establishment of the centre reflects the commitment of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration to strengthening the state’s response to gender-based violence and ensuring that survivors have access to essential services.

UNICEF secures agreement to cut malaria vaccine costs | Africanews The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is now targeting to reduce the cost of the malaria vaccine. The new agreement will significantly improve access to and affordability of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines, helping to protect more children from one of the world’s deadliest diseases, according to UNICEF. The lower vaccine price, at almost 3 dollars, is expected to take effect in approximately 1 year. The deal, backed by Gavi and executed by UNICEF, will generate over $ 90 million.

Zamfara First Lady Flags Off Statewide Immunisation Advocacy Campaign – Daily Trust Zamfara State First Lady, Hajiya Hurriya Dauda Lawal, has described routine immunisation as an act of love and protection for children, saying it keeps them healthy and safeguards their future. She stated this during the flag-off of the state-level advocacy campaign on routine immunisation and primary healthcare strengthening at the Dr Karima Primary Healthcare Centre, Tudun Wada, Gusau.

Zamfara Commissions Sexual Assault Referral Centre Named After First Lady – Daily Trust The Zamfara State Government has commissioned a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) named after the state’s First Lady, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, to provide medical, psychosocial, legal and livelihood support to survivors of sexual assault. Speaking at the event, the First Lady said the establishment of the centre reflects the commitment of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration to strengthening the state’s response to gender-based violence and ensuring that survivors have access to essential services.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Arewa In The Next 25 Years: A Scholarly Futures Analysis In Response To Jibrin Ibrahim’s Warning – Daily Trust This essay, inspired by and written in response to Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim’s seminal presentation to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at its 25th anniversary, offers a scholarly exploration of the long-term trajectories facing Northern Nigeria. Using established frameworks in futures studies, political economy, security analysis, and social development, the essay contextualizes the stark warnings presented by Ibrahim and expands upon them with analytical rigor and cited evidence.

Stakeholders Seek Digital Innovation To Boost Urban Living – Daily Trust Stakeholders in Africa’s real estate and property management sector have called for stronger collaboration and investment in technology-driven systems to enhance community living and management across the continent. The call was made during the maiden edition of the Real Estate Management in Africa Conference (REMA) 2025, held in Lagos with the theme, ‘Structures Beyond Buildings’. Speaking at the event, the Convener and Chief Executive Officer of Venco Africa, Chude Osiegbu, urged players in the real estate sector to look beyond physical construction and focus on the operational structures that sustain efficient communities in an increasingly digital age.

At G20 Summit, IMF Seeks Predictable Debt Restructurings – Daily Trust The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sunday urged G20 leaders to accelerate efforts to deliver quicker and more predictable debt restructurings. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva spoke at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa — the first ever held on African soil – warned that sluggish global growth and mounting financial vulnerabilities are placing intense pressure on the world’s poorest economies. Georgieva said.

Zenith Bank Awards N140m Cash Prize To Tech Fair 5.0 Winners – Daily Trust A total cash prize of N140 million has been awarded to ten (10) African innovators to scale their transformative solutions by Zenith Bank. This was after a keenly contested hackathon and pitch session at the Fifth Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate”, which was held last Thursday.

‘Nigeria Imports 98% Of Wheat Used In Making Bread’ – Daily Trust President of Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN), Engr. Emmanuel Onuorah in a chat with Daily Trust during the recent PBAN Day-Out, an annual gathering of breadmakers and bakery owners speaks on the state of the breadmaking industry and why the sector is bleeding.

Arewa Festival 2025 Targets Economic Revival In 19 Northern States – Daily Trust The maiden edition of the Arewa Festival 2025 is set to reposition Northern Nigeria as a major hub for commerce, investment, and enterprise development, as organisers unveil a region-wide economic agenda that seeks to reconnect the 19 northern states through trade, innovation, and cultural assets. Organized by Tripoint Academy in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, the festival themed, ‘Reliving the African Trade’ is designed to revive historic trade routes, strengthen value chains, and accelerate SME growth across Northern Nigeria’s diverse economic sectors.