Regional News

Gunmen kill nearly 200 in Nigeria’s Kwara and Katsina attacks | Reuters BAUCHI, Nigeria, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Nearly 200 people have been killed by armed men in separate attacks in remote villages in central and northern Nigeria, a local lawmaker, residents and police said on Wednesday, as security forces searched for survivors and chased the attackers.

Jihadists Execute 162 In Kwara Massacre, Red Cross Official Says – Arise News Terrorists have killed at least 162 people in Kwara State, marking Nigeria’s deadliest armed attack so far this year, according to a Red Cross official and local authorities. The assault occurred on Tuesday in Woro village in Kwara state. Babaomo Ayodeji, the state secretary of the Red Cross, said the confirmed death toll stood at 162 by Wednesday afternoon, according to AFP.

Drivers Missing As Boko Haram Intercepts Trucks In Borno – Daily Trust Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have intercepted a trailer transporting Maize and three other trucks loaded with building materials to Monnguno at Garin Kashim, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. This is coming barely 24 hours after the insurgents killed 17 people in Guzamala-Abbari village, an incident condemned by the Speaker,

ECOWAS Leaders Resolve To Tackle Terrorism, Strengthen Regional Cooperation – Daily Trust Heads of State and Government from Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, alongside representatives from Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo, have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism and insecurity. The leaders met in Accra from January 29–30, at a High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional

Climate Change: Yobe Distributes 5m Seedlings For Shelterbelts – Daily Trust The Yobe State government has announced plans to distribute five million seedlings to establish shelterbelts aimed at reclaiming lands affected by desert encroachment, promoting environmental restoration, and supporting sustainable development. The State Coordinator of the Yobe Sahara Restoration Drive Project, Malam Muhammad Musa, stated

Nigerian state police charge ex-justice minister Malami with terrorism offences | Reuters Feb 3 (Reuters) – Nigeria’s state police on Tuesday charged ex-justice minister Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, with five counts of terrorism‑related and firearms offences, months after the financial crimes watchdog charged them for money laundering. Prosecutors allege Malami, in November 2022,

South Africa Restores Power At Nigerian High Commission After Debt Payment – Daily Trust Electricity has been restored to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, after the diplomatic mission settled outstanding municipal service debts, the City of Tshwane announced. The power supply was disconnected on Monday by the City of Tshwane as enforcement action over unpaid utility bills owed by the Nigerian High Commission.

Boko Haram Kills 17 In Borno – Daily Trust Suspected members of Boko Haram have killed 17 people in Guzamala-Abbari village in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA) and parts of Nganzai LGA of Borno State. The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, confirmed the incident and sympathised with the families of the victims.

Troops Kill Top B/Haram Commander, 10 Others In Borno – Daily Trust Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ (OPHK) have killed a Boko Haram commander identified as Abu Khalid, alongside 10 other terrorists in Sambisa. This happened a day after troops under Sector 1 and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force ‘Operation Desert Sanity’ killed Julaibib, operating within the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle.

Farmers Lose N5tn In 24 Months – Report – Daily Trust Farmers have lost nearly N5 trillion in productive capital over the past two years due to policy induced price crashes, poor and misleading weather forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and severe market distortions. The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) revealed this in a statement, saying the country’s agriculture sector is drowning in a deep structural crisis.

Abducted Kaduna Worshippers Regain Freedom – Daily Trust Worshippers kidnapped from churches in Kurmin Wali town in the Kufana axis of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released, Daily Trust has learnt. The victims were whisked away while attending church service in the community, on January 18, 2026. A community leader, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, said the release took place late Thursday.

UPDATED: Electoral Act Amendment: Lawmakers reject electronic transmission of results, remove tribunals’ power to declare winners The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to amend Nigeria’s Electoral Act, strengthening the country’s electoral system and aligning it with current realities. The amendment bill was approved after lawmakers engaged in over five hours of debate and clause-by-clause consideration. The clauses were examined at the Committee of the Whole, after which the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced their passage following a majority voice vote.

Benue: 4 Health Workers Infected As Lassa Fever Cases Rise To 56 – Daily Trust At least four frontline medical personnel in Benue State have contracted Lassa fever. The number of those affected by the dreaded disease has risen to 56. These were confirmed in a fresh data released by the state’s Ministry of Health and Human Services. The ministry confirmed that four health workers including three nurses and a community health worker have tested positive for Lassa fever, following a steady increase in suspected and confirmed cases across

Troops destroy ISWAP detention facilities in North-east, free over 70 captives The Nigerian Army says the North-eastern troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), a joint task force, have destroyed three detention facilities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) deep inside Timbuktu Triangle, a broader part of Sambisa forest straddling Borno and Yobe states. The Army said the operation also led to the escape of more than 70 captives.

Five Residents, Soldier Killed As Bandits Attack Plateau Communities – Daily Trust At least five residents and a soldier were killed in an attack on Monday by suspected bandits in Zurak community, Bashar district of Plateau State. Residents said three soldiers are currently missing following a gun battle with the attackers. The soldiers were reportedly deployed to provide security in the area amid persistent banditry and kidnapping.

Government will look after families of suspected coupists – Defence Minister Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has said the government will ensure families of military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are not abandoned. Mr Musa made the statement during an interview with TRT World, a Turkish broadcaster, to address concerns about the welfare of the detained officers’ dependents.

Immigration Arrests Suspected Human Trafficker, Rescue 59 Victims In Borno – Daily Trust The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Borno State Command, has intercepted a man suspected to be a human trafficker and rescued 59 victims en route to N’Djamena through the Nigeria–Chad Republic border. The suspect, identified as Ismaila Alhassan from Katsina State, was apprehended by NIS operatives while travelling without valid passports and other travel documents.

Bandits Set Fire On Church, Police Station, Abduct Niger Residents – Daily Trust Bandits have burnt down the Divisional Police Station in Agwara town, headquarters of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, raiding a church and kidnapping at least five people in the community. Sources told Daily Trust that the attackers arrived around 4am and engaged the police officers in a gun battle.

Troops nab suspected ISWAP logistics supplier, secure refugee return in Borno Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have arrested a suspected logistics supplier to ISWAP terrorists and facilitated the safe repatriation of 700 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon into Borno. A credible military source revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. The source said the second phase of the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon was successfully conducted at the Banki border in Bama Local Government Area.

West Africa launches roadmap to boost access to Lassa fever vaccines West African countries have launched a regional framework aimed at ensuring equitable access to Lassa fever vaccines once they become available. The framework, known as the Lassa Fever End-to-End (E2E) Access Roadmap for West Africa, was officially unveiled on 3 February in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. It is described as the first regionally led roadmap designed to guide countries through every stage required to move a Lassa fever vaccine from development to sustained use.

Insecurity on Borno Roads Still Affecting Commerce  It was early in the morning, and Yakubu Buba stood in front of his house in Gamboru, northeastern Nigeria, looking towards the horizon. He was not waiting for a vehicle. He was waiting for cattle. From across the Cameroon border, they came in low, patient herds, hooves lifting dust into the air. Yakubu breathed in deeply and smiled.  He enjoys the smell of fresh animal droppings, he says. “It replenishes the soul.”

The People Left Behind After Kaduna Church Abductions – HumAngle A bowl of leftover pap saved Audu Gimba* from being abducted, but his wife, children, and relatives were not as fortunate.  On Jan. 18, Audu’s family found their way to the Cherubim & Seraphim (C&S) Movement Church, Number 2, Kurmin Wali, Kaduna State, northwestern Nigeria, like they do every Sunday morning. Around 10:30 a.m., warning cries interrupted their service.

Why Africa’s truth is falling behind in the digital race (Africanews Debates) | Africanews In a world where a shared post can trigger a national crisis in minutes, yesterday’s Africanews Debate tackled the continent’s most urgent question: Why does misinformation spread faster than the truth? Yesterday, at 15:00 CET, four experts sat down to deconstruct the “Information War” currently reshaping African societies. From deepfakes of global icons to viral health scares in East Africa, the panel revealed that the problem isn’t just the technology, it’s us.

Nigerian court orders Britain to pay £420million to 21 coal miners killed by colonial administration Justice Anthony Onovo of the Enugu High Court on Thursday ordered the British government to pay £20 million each to the families of the 21 coal miners killed in Enugu State in 1949 by the Colonial masters. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the massacre took place at the Iva Valley Coal Mine in Enugu on 18 November 1949, which was the administrative capital of the Eastern Region of British-administered Nigeria at the time.

Gun-wielding IS militants roamed freely on airport tarmac during Niger attack, footage shows | Reuters DAKAR, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Islamic State militants set off explosions and roamed freely among passenger planes during an attack at Niger’s main international airport, according to footage distributed by SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity worldwide.

25 killed in Nigeria’s deadliest reported Islamist attack since US Christmas strikes | Reuters MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Jan 30 (Reuters) – At least 25 people were killed when suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a town in northern Nigeria, relatives of victims said, the deadliest reported Islamist attack since U.S. President Donald Trump ordered air strikes on Christmas Day. The victims were labourers who had travelled to Sabon Gari town in northeastern Nigeria’s

Nigeria charges nine with 2025 massacre that killed 150 | Reuters ABUJA, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Nigerian prosecutors filed 57 terrorism-related charges on Monday against nine men accused of carrying out a deadly attack on Yelwata community in Nigeria’s central Benue state in June 2025 that killed about 150 people. Benue sits in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt, the fault line between the Muslim

Peace and Security

Insecurity: US military confirms deployment of ‘small team’ to Nigeria The United States military has confirmed that a small team of US forces has been dispatched to Nigeria, marking the first official acknowledgement of American troops operating on the ground in the West African nation since US airstrikes last December. The deployment, according to Reuters, was announced on Tuesday by Dagvin Anderson, head of US Africa

Farmer/herder Clashes: Yobe Gov Commissions Ruga Settlement – Daily Trust Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has commissioned a Fulani Ruga Settlement in Nguru Local Government Area of the state. The Ruga settlement was established by a renowned philanthropist, Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi, popularly known as Balarabe DJ, to reduce violent clashes between farmers and herders.

Nigeria, France Deepen Military Cooperation to Tackle Insecurity as COAS Hosts French Defence Attaché – PRNigeria News Nigeria, France Deepen Military Cooperation to Tackle Insecurity as COAS Hosts French Defence Attaché Nigeria and France have taken further steps to deepen defence cooperation aimed at tackling evolving security challenges, as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday received the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Islamic State claims deadly attack on airport in Niger capital | Reuters Jan 30 – Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport in Niger’s capital Niamey in a statement on Friday, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity and communications worldwide. The Islamic State affiliate in the region has been linked to high-profile attacks in Niger in recent months, killing over 120 people in the Tillaberi region in September and

Humanitarian

Tinubu Expands Women Empowerment Programme to 25M Nigerians President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday in Abuja, expanded the Nigeria for Women Programme to reach 25 million beneficiaries nationwide. This was as he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to women’s economic inclusion and national development. Speaking on Thursday at the Presidential Launch of the Programme Scale-Up at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the

FG begins Borno food distribution, targets 10 states The Federal Government on Thursday flagged off the distribution of palliatives comprising food and non-food items to thousands of residents, including women, children, and the elderly, in Borno State. Speaking during the flag-off ceremony in Maiduguri, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro, said the initiative stemmed from the Presidential   

Mobilization and economic development

Nigeria’s NNPC in talks with Chinese company on refinery, CEO says | Reuters ABUJA, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Nigeria’s NNPC is in talks with a Chinese company over one of the state-owned oil firm’s refineries, its chief executive said on Wednesday. NNPC chief executive Bayo Ojulari said the company was seeking experienced operators as equity partners to revive its four refineries after years of losses and underperformance.

ECOWAS Targets 5% Growth For West African Countries In 2026 – Daily Trust The President of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, on Thursday, disclosed that the region is targeting 5% growth in 2026. Touray, who disclosed this in a meeting with partners, said the region did not do badly in the previous year. He said the sub-region recorded 4.6% growth, outperforming the continent.

NIES 2026: How NNPC plans to stabilise fuel supply, unlock Africa’s gas potential — Official The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, has revealed that the company’s multi-layered strategy over the next two to three years will prioritise fuel availability and refinery partnerships as part of its broader reform agenda, amid long-standing structural challenges in Nigeria’s energy sector.

Lafarge Africa’s planned 5 mt capacity upgrade lifts shares for first time in days Lafarge Africa’s announcement on Wednesday of an aspiration to raise the capacity of two of its factories to 5.5 metric tonnes per annum caused its shares, which have been stuck at N157 since 27 January, to rise by 5.1 per cent. The stock closed at N165 in Lagos, while trade volume quickened by 950 per cent to 10.5 million, its peak level in at least the last ten days.

African manufacturers warn short-term AGOA extension offers a brief respite | Africanews Manufacturers and governments across Africa warn that President Donald Trump’s one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act offers just temporary respite. AGOA provides duty-free access to the United States market for almost 2,000 products from eligible sub-Saharan countries. A cornerstone of US-Africa trade relations for 25 years, it has permitted the US to buy billions of dollars of duty-free cars, clothes, and other items each

Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea sign agreement for cross-border gas project | Africanews The neighbouring nations want to cooperate economically by extracting LNG (liquid natural gas) from the Yoyo-Yolanda gas field, which straddles the two countries. It’s celebrated as a major step towards closer economic cooperation. On Tuesday, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon signed in an official ceremony taking place at the People’s Palace in Malabo an operating agreement for the extraction of gas from the Yoyo-Yolanda gas reserves.

NIES 2026: Nigeria’s Upstream investors discuss challenges, opportunities in operations Top energy investors and operators in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector have called for regulatory consistency, contract sanctity and critical gas infrastructure to unlock the country’s long-term energy potential, amid intensifying global competition for capital. The call was made by executives from major international oil companies (IOCs) and indigenous operators during a panel session at the ongoing Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja on Wednesday.

African leaders look to the future at World Governments Summit in Dubai | Africanews Global crises are having a negative impact on international cooperation. That’s why there is an urgent need for inclusive forums to build stability and sustainably prosperity, says Mohammed Al Gergawi, president of the 2026 World Governments Summit opening on Tuesday in Dubai. For the next three days, more than 150 government delegations, world leaders and scientists will discuss ways to shape the future. The summit emphasises identifying innovative solutions to future challenges and empowering the next generation of governments to take action. But

AFRICA-FX-Nigerian and Zambian currencies could post further gains | Reuters ABUJA, Feb 5 (Reuters) – The Nigerian and Zambian currencies are expected to strengthen further against the dollar in the next week to Thursday, while those of Kenya and Uganda should be stable and Ghana’s may fall, traders said. Nigeria’s naira could gain as foreign exchange supply improves, driven by strong oil receipts and flows from foreign investors attracted by the high yields on the

Africa faces $90 billion debt wall in 2026, S&P says | Reuters JOHANNESBURG, Feb 3 – S&P Global Ratings has cautioned that African governments face rising debt risks as hard-currency repayment schedules in 2026 increase pressure on external buffers, contributing to rollover risks. The agency’s latest African sovereign outlook report published on Monday shows that government external debt repayments are now over three times larger than in 2012.

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery expands gas deals with NNPC to secure fuel for expansion programmes | Reuters LAGOS, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Three Dangote Group subsidiaries said on Monday they had bolstered gas supply contracts with NNPC units to support expansion plans, aligning with Nigeria’s shift toward cleaner energy and industrial growth. Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant and