{"id":54053,"date":"2026-05-01T13:02:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T11:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/?p=54053"},"modified":"2026-05-01T13:02:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T11:02:08","slug":"weekly-press-review-24-30-april-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/weekly-press-review-24-30-april-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Press Review 24-30 April 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regional News <\/strong><\/p>\n

Boko Haram kills 29 in Adamawa \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Terrorists have killed at least 29 people in an attack on Sabon-Gari village in Guyaku District, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. A resident, Nimfas Bala, told Daily Trust that the attack occurred on Sunday evening around 5:00 pm, when many villagers had gathered to watch a local<\/p>\n

Suspected poisonous grass kills over 80 cattle in Adamawa \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Suspected poisonous grass has killed over 80 cattle in Chafajaule village, Ribadu District of Fufore Local Government Area, Adamawa State. The incident, which reportedly occurred after the animals consumed a harmful grass known in Fulfulde as\u00a0ngayari<\/em>\u00a0(wild sorghum), has raised serious concern among livestock owners due to the economic losses suffered by affected households.<\/p>\n

NNPC: Why Nigeria\u2019s Ailing Refineries Will Never Work Again ~\u00a0 Obasanjo \u2013 The Humanitarian Times<\/a> As the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited intensifies its search for technical partners to manage the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has delivered a grim<\/p>\n

Amnesty Demands Probe into 150 Detainee Deaths in Kwara<\/a> Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to urgently investigate the reported deaths of at least 150 detainees, mostly children, allegedly held at a camp in Kwara State. In a report released on Thursday, the organisation said the victims were among about 1,500 pastoralists detained for over three months at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in<\/p>\n

B’Haram threatens execution of 176 Kwara abductees<\/a> Terrorists who abducted 176 women and children from the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have threatened to carry out a mass execution if the Nigerian government fails to meet their demands within one week. The attackers, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, reportedly issued the ultimatum through the abducted victims after a Jumu\u2019ah<\/p>\n

IS Claims Responsibility for Adamawa Attack<\/a> A massacre that left at least 29 people dead in\u00a0Adamawa state<\/a>\u00a0was the work of the Islamic State group, the organisation said Monday in a statement posted on Telegram. Gunmen struck the Guyaku community in Adamawa state\u2019s Gombi Local Government Area late Sunday, firing for hours and leaving behind widespread destruction and\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201892% of Nigerian children can\u2019t read simple text at age 10\u2019 \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has raised alarm that over 92 per cent of Nigerian children cannot read and understand simple, age-appropriate texts by the age of 10, describing the crisis as a national emergency tied directly to poorly qualified teachers. Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Angela Ajala, said the troubling statistics show the urgent need to overhaul teacher education and reposition teaching as<\/p>\n

Bandits break into Kogi orphanage, Abduct Pupils \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted 23 pupils and the wife of the proprietor of Dahallukitab Group of School in Zariagi, a settlement near Kabba Junction along the Lokoja\u2013Okene road in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State. The attack, which occurred on Sunday night, saw the assailants storm the school premises\u2014an institution that also serves as an orphanage\u2014firing sporadically before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s Africa Corps describes Mali attacks as coup attempt, blames West<\/a> Africa Corps, a Russian paramilitary group, has described the coordinated terror attacks across Mali on Saturday as a coup attempt supported by \u201cWestern intelligence services.\u201d PREMIUM TIMES reported that many locations including Bamako, the country\u2019s capital, were hit by fighters of the al-Qaeda franchise in the Sahel,\u00a0Jama\u2019at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(JNIM), and the\u00a0Azawad Liberation Front<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(FLA).<\/p>\n

Suspected meningitis outbreak kills many in Sokoto \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Residents have raised concerns over a suspected outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis that has been claiming the lives in Kurawa village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Children and teenagers are the most affected victims. Sources from the village\u2019s health facility said the situation has worsened in recent days, with an estimated two to three deaths recorded daily, mostly among people aged between two and 20 years.<\/p>\n

NASENI: Some Nigerian households still depend on firewood \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has raised concern over the continued dependence of many Nigerian households on firewood for cooking, warning that the practice exposes families, especially women and children to serious health and environmental risks. The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, stated this in Kano during the launch of the agency\u2019s Sustainable<\/p>\n

12 Chibok girls rescued from Boko Haram to graduate from American University of Nigeria – Yerwa Express News<\/a> The American University of Nigeria says 12 rescued Chibok schoolgirls, among other students, will graduate from the institution, symbolising courage, resilience, academic excellence and renewed hope. AUN president DeWayne Frazier disclosed this at a media briefing on Thursday in<\/p>\n

US Congress Probes 2025 Trump Airstrikes in Nigeria<\/a> Members<\/strong>\u00a0of the United States Congress have formally requested detailed explanations from the Pentagon on the US airstrikes conducted in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, as well as the broader American military posture in the country. The United States President, Donald Trump, had announced on December 25 that US forces conducted strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria\u2019s North-West region.<\/p>\n

West Africa Advances Toward a Unified Electricity Grid<\/a> Nigeria and other West African countries have stepped up efforts to achieve a fully synchronised regional electricity grid, as operators intensify technical coordination ahead of a major June 2026 milestone. This followed a high-level working visit by the West African Power Pool to the National Control Centre in Osogbo, where critical system studies, operational protocols, and readiness<\/p>\n

Troops kill 18 terrorists, destroy enclaves in Borno – Official<\/a> Nigerian troops have killed at least 18 suspected terrorists and dismantled multiple enclaves during coordinated ground and air offensives in parts of Borno State, the Nigerian Army said on Tuesday. The operations, conducted under \u201cOperation Desert Sanity V\u201d, targeted insurgent strongholds in the Timbuktu axis and the Bulabulin forest area, involving troops of Sector 2 of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with its air component, and members of the local vigilante.<\/p>\n

Al Qaeda-linked JNIM says it carried out Mali attacks with Tuareg\u2011led FLA, SITE reports | Reuters<\/a> DAKAR, April 25 (Reuters) – Al \u200bQaeda affiliate \u200cJNIM claimed joint \u200bresponsibility \u200bwith the Tuareg-dominated \u2060rebel \u200bgroup \u200bFLA for\u00a0coordinated attacks<\/a>\u00a0across \u200bMali \u200bon Saturday, SITE \u200cIntelligence \u2060Group quoted JNIM as \u200bsaying \u200bin \u2060a statement.<\/p>\n

Nigeria records highest global sickle cell burden \u2013 VC \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> The Vice-Chancellor, Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, says Nigeria bears the highest global burden of Sickle Cell Disease, with about 150,000 children born annually with the condition nationwide. Fawehinmi spoke at the Patient-Centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) Consortium meeting, organised under CESRTA on Wednesday in Abuja, highlighting urgent national health challenges.<\/p>\n

UPDATED: Troops kill 18 terrorists in Yobe \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (North East), have neutralised 18 terrorists during coordinated operations along the Borno\u2013Yobe border. The Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.<\/p>\n

Nigeria tracks 223,000 pregnant women as maternal, child health improves<\/a> The Nigerian government says its maternal and child health interventions are beginning to yield measurable results, with increased antenatal care attendance and more women delivering with skilled health workers in targeted areas. The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the agency\u2019s first quarter 2026 media briefing.<\/p>\n

WHO: Nigeria a Top Contributor to Global Hepatitis Deaths<\/a> The World Health Organisation has listed Nigeria among countries that accounted for a significant share of global hepatitis-related deaths in 2024, amid continued concerns over the burden of the disease worldwide. A Tuesday news release on the global health body\u2019s website revealed that viral hepatitis B<\/p>\n

Terrorists kill Malian Defence Minister \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Mali\u2019s defence minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed following a wave of coordinated attacks on military targets across the country. Security sources said Camara died after a vehicle-borne explosive device detonated outside his residence in Kati, a heavily fortified town about 15 kilometres from Bamako, where interim President Assimi Goita and other junta leaders are based.<\/p>\n

Women in Maiduguri Turn Waste into Cooking Fuel – HumAngle<\/a> September 2024\u00a0came<\/a>\u00a0with water. It moved through Maiduguri, in Nigeria\u2019s\u00a0North East<\/a>, in fast, stubborn currents, destroying homes and property, and\u00a0displacing thousands<\/a>. In many affected areas, like London Ciki, where Khadija Usman lives, it washed away firewood and charcoal, a critical source of cooking fuel for many homes. She was home alone one afternoon when that absence settled into<\/p>\n

Peace and Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chad arrests, deports Nigerians fleeing terrorists \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Hundreds of Nigerians living in Chad, seeking safety from insurgents, were rounded up and deported last week, those arrested told AFP. Nigeria has been battling a jihadist insurgency for 17 years, since the 2009 Boko Haram uprising, which has spawned various factions of militants that have spread across Niger, Chad and Cameroon.<\/p>\n

Zamfara: Residents abandon 30 villages over withdrawal of troops \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Panic has swept through parts of Zamfara State following the withdrawal of security troops from Lilo village in Mada district of Gusau Local Government Area, forcing more than 30 surrounding communities to abandon their homes in search of safety. Residents said the mass exodus began after troops, who had been stationed in the area for over seven years,<\/p>\n

TRT Afrika – Nigerian defence technology startup Terra… | Facebook<\/a> Nigerian defence technology startup Terra Industries unveiled new domestically made autonomous defence systems including interceptor drones, mine-detection vehicles and battlefield intelligence software at a demonstration attended by senior military officials and government representatives in the capital Abuja. The event on Monday marked the local company\u2019s transition from commercial infrastructure security to direct military applications in<\/p>\n

Xenophobia: Two Nigerians killed in South Africa<\/a> The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg said two Nigerians have been killed in South Africa as the attack on foreigners of African origin intensifies. The Consul-General, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, on Monday identified the victims as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew. PREMIUM TIMES reports that xenophobic attacks have been on the rise in parts of South Africa. Last week, videos of violence against African migrants circulated online.<\/p>\n

At Least 42 Killed In Chad Intercommunal Fighting, Says Govt \u2022 Channels Television<\/a> At least 42 people were killed in fighting between ethnic groups in the east of Chad, a government official said Sunday. A government delegate said the clashes Saturday in the sub-prefecture of Guereda in Wadi Fira province began as a dispute over a water well. Several ministers, senior local officials, and the military\u2019s chief of staff were dispatched to the scene on Sunday. \u201cThe situation is under control and remains so,\u201d<\/p>\n

Rising Sahel Terror Threat Sparks Fears of Spillover Into Nigeria – PRNigeria News<\/a> Fresh concerns have emerged over the growing sophistication of terrorist operations in the Sahel, with security analysts warning that Nigeria faces increasing exposure to cross\u2011border threats following coordinated attacks across Mali. PRNigeria<\/a>\u00a0reports that multiple locations in Mali came under simultaneous assault on April 25, 2026, in a highly coordinated offensive by suspected<\/p>\n

Xenophobia Scare: Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Tells Nigerians to Shut Shops in South Africa – Abc News Nigeria<\/a> Amid rising tensions and a fresh wave of anti-foreigner protests, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has issued a stark warning to Nigerian business owners in South Africa\u2014temporarily close shop and stay safe. The commission urged Nigerians to scale down operations to minimise risks, protect lives, and avoid potential losses as unrest spreads in parts of the country.<\/p>\n

Mali turmoil threatens Russian push for influence and mineral wealth in Africa | Reuters<\/a> MOSCOW, April 29 (Reuters) – A series of reversals suffered by Mali’s Moscow-backed military government has dented Russia’s image as a self-styled security guarantor in Africa and threatens its strategic and economic interests \u200bon the continent. The military junta, which turned to Russia for support after expelling French and U.N. troops following coups in 2020 and 2021, was rocked \u200cat the<\/p>\n

Nigeria’s new foreign affairs minister outlines objective<\/a> The newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has pledged to advance Nigeria\u2019s national interest on the global stage. Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the country\u2019s national interest would be advanced through President Bola Tinubu\u2019s 4D foreign policy doctrine. The 4D doctrine, which stands for Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora, was designed by Mr Tinubu as the country\u2019s foreign policy framework.<\/p>\n

Mali attacks spotlight the growing reach of militants across West Africa<\/a> Simultaneous attacks in Mali by militants linked to al Qaeda and separatist Tuareg rebels launched on April 25 showed how fighters \u200bfrom different groups with different goals were able to\u00a0strike at the heart<\/a>\u00a0of the West African country\u2019s military government.<\/p>\n

Humanitarian<\/strong><\/p>\n

6.7m African children remain unvaccinated despite gains \u2014 WHO – Tribune Online<\/a> The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that about 6.7 million children in Africa have not received a single routine vaccine, raising concern over persistent immunisation gaps as the continent marks African Vaccination Week 2026. In a message commemorating the week, observed from April 24 to 30 under the theme \u201cFor Every Generation, Vaccines<\/p>\n

3.7million Nigerians declared Internally Displaced amid rising Insecurity \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Nigeria is witnessing a troubling surge in the number of Internally Displaced persons (IDPS), with humanitarian agencies warning that the crisis is expanding beyond the traditional conflict zones and placing millions of lives at risk. Recent data from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicates that over 3.7 million Nigerians are internally displaced.<\/p>\n

Nigeria in Top 10 Countries Facing Global Food Crisis<\/a> Nigeria and nine other conflict-hit countries now account for two-thirds of people facing acute food insecurity globally, a new international report has revealed, underscoring how violence is driving a deepening global hunger crisis. The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises, released on Friday by an<\/p>\n

Traders cry out as curfew in Adamawa cripples inter-state trade<\/a> Traders are lamenting a curfew imposed by the Adamawa State Government on 8 March following a resurgence of violence between the Bachama and Tsobo ethnic groups in Lamurde Local Government Area. The restriction, they said, is affecting rural markets in both Adamawa and neighbouring Taraba State.<\/p>\n

Jalingo submerged Despite Taraba\u2019s N2bn ecological fund \u2013 Daily Trust<\/a> Despite receiving over \u20a62.2bn as ecological fund in 2025, Taraba State witnessed fresh flooding on Saturday as parts of Jalingo were submerged, raising concerns over the effectiveness of interventions meant to address environmental risks. Daily Trust reports that several houses, shops and schools came under water after hours of heavy rainfall that began around 2:30 a.m. and lasted till about 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

FG, Partners Target Malaria Reduction with 5 Million Nets \u2014 Northern Nigerian Express<\/a> The federal and development partners have launched a large-scale malaria prevention campaign in Borno State, aiming to protect millions of residents through the distribution of five million treated mosquito nets and expanded public health interventions. The initiative, led by Malaria Consortium in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria and Borno State<\/p>\n

Nigeria adopts new food, nutrition policy, targets improved outcomes by 2035<\/a> The National Council on Nutrition has adopted the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2026\u20132035) and directed the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to present it to the Federal Executive Council for ratification. The decision was taken at the council\u2019s 15th meeting, held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.<\/p>\n

Acute food insecurity and malnutrition remain alarmingly high as crises deepen, UN, EU and partners warn in new report | World Food Programme<\/a> Acute food insecurity and malnutrition levels remain alarmingly high and deeply entrenched, with crises increasingly concentrated in a core group of countries, according to the\u00a0Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026<\/a>, released today by an international alliance.<\/p>\n

Mobilization and economic development<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dangote Refinery expansion to create 95,000 skilled jobs<\/a> The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the expansion of the Dangote Refinery to a production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day will generate employment for no fewer than 95,000 skilled workers at the peak of construction. According to a statement by the firm, Dangote disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos during his induction as an honorary<\/p>\n

Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos bets on local power as grid falters | Reuters<\/a> LAGOS, April 28 (Reuters) – Lagos is betting \u200cthat Nigeria’s chronic electricity shortages can be addressed outside the national grid, scaling up state-backed power generation and distribution after securing 400 megawatts of new supply, the state’s energy commissioner said. Africa\u2019s largest city is pressing ahead \u200bunder reforms that allow sub-national governments to regulate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Terrorists who abducted 176 women and children from the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have threatened to carry out a mass execution if the Nigerian government fails to meet their demands within one week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":53491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,28,51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-peace-and-security","category-podcast","category-press-review"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54053"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54053"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54054,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54053\/revisions\/54054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}