Author: Damilola Olufemi

United States Congressman Riley Moore says “much work still to be done” after holding talks with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on the country’s worsening insecurity. In a statement on X on Monday, Moore said the discussions centred on terrorism in the North-East and continued violence in the Middle Belt — issues he described as a priority for both himself and President Donald Trump. The meeting comes during a period of diplomatic strain following President Trump’s decision to re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom — a move that has triggered heated…

Burkina Faso’s military government has accused Nigeria of violating its airspace after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft carrying 11 soldiers reportedly entered the country without clearance. In a statement issued by junta leader Assimi Goita, the authorities said the NAF plane made an unscheduled landing in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday due to what was described as an “emergency situation in flight” while inside Burkinabe airspace. According to the statement, investigators later determined that the aircraft “lacked authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory,” prompting a strong reaction from the junta. “The Confederation of the Sahel States most strongly condemns this…

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is holding a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Newsmen saw the governor heading toward the President’s office at exactly 5:01 p.m., dressed in a deep-blue long-sleeve shirt, black trousers, and a black flat cap. Just moments before, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru had also arrived for a separate appointment. As of press time, neither meeting has been made public. Fubara’s visit comes at a time of renewed political tension in Rivers State and rising speculation about his possible move from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives…

Obasanjo recalled visiting Maiduguri in 2011 to understand Boko Haram’s motivations and leadership.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) and set up a caretaker panel at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held at the abode of Wike on Sunday. The tenure of the PDP NWC elected in October 2021 will elapse on Tuesday. The 13-member panel committee, chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu as Secretary,  is expected to run the party’s affairs for 60 days, pending the conduct of a national convention. Other members of the committee include: Kamaldeen Ajibade (national…

TikTok has imposed a temporary overnight restriction on its LIVE streaming feature for users in Nigeria, announcing the move through an in-app alert sent out at midnight on Sunday. The notice informed creators of an ongoing “safety investigation,” which the platform says prompted the decision to halt late-night livestreaming. “We’re temporarily limiting LIVE late at night in Nigeria as part of our investigation to ensure our platform remains safe and our community stays protected,” the system message read. A recent review confirmed that between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., creators were completely unable to initiate or access LIVE broadcasts. Accounts…

French President Emmanuel Macron has assured President Bola Tinubu that France will deepen its cooperation with Nigeria in responding to terrorism and other security threats. In a message posted on Sunday, Macron said he expressed France’s solidarity as Nigeria confronts “various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North.” He noted that France will scale up its collaboration with Nigerian authorities and extend additional assistance to communities affected by violence. Macron also urged greater international involvement, stressing that “no one can remain a spectator” in confronting extremist groups. “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT. I conveyed France’s…

Benin Republic presidency speaks on President Talon’s safety after coup

Military officers in Benin Republic have seized power, declaring the federal government dissolved in a televised broadcast on Sunday. The soldiers, who identified themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, said the president and all political officeholders had been removed from office. They also announced the dissolution of all state institutions. President Patrice Talon, in office since 2016, had previously stated he would step down in April 2026 after the next presidential election. This takeover comes roughly a year after the September 2024 arrest of Djimon Tevoedjre, then commander of the republican guard and head of Talon’s security, over an…

Trump government has unveiled a new visa policy targeting people accused of enabling or driving violent attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Announcing the measure on Wednesday, December 3, America Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the action followed reports of “mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond.” Rubio explained that the policy, applied under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, empowers the United States Department of State to refuse visas for individuals who have “directed, authorised, significantly…