₦airaland Forum

The argument that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is waging a “silent war” against the Muslim North is emotionally powerful, but it overlooks a broader and more complex national reality. Nigeria’s challenges today are not regional problems created by one administration; they are long-standing structural crises that have built up over decades under governments led by both northern and southern elites. Insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and poor educational outcomes in the North did not begin in 2023, and it is unfair to suggest that one administration suddenly manufactured problems that have existed for years.
The security crisis in northern Nigeria is indeed painful, but the Tinubu administration inherited an already fragile situation shaped by banditry, terrorism, communal violence, and weak local governance. Rather than abandoning the North, the federal government has continued military operations, intelligence coordination, and security funding across affected regions. The persistence of insecurity should not automatically be interpreted as deliberate hostility toward northern Muslims. Criminal violence has also affected southern communities, oil-producing areas, and central Nigeria, proving that insecurity is a national challenge rather than a targeted campaign.
Claims of systematic marginalisation through appointments also deserve closer scrutiny. While some northern Muslim political figures have lost influence or left office, political reshuffling is normal in democratic systems. Changes involving figures such as Abdullahi Ganduje or Nasir El-Rufai cannot automatically be framed as evidence of anti-Muslim persecution. Political alliances evolve, and governments frequently reorganize leadership positions based on strategy, performance, or internal party calculations. Interpreting every political change through a religious lens risks deepening division and mistrust.
It is also important to remember that several influential northern Muslims continue to occupy strategic positions in government. Figures such as Muhammad Ali Pate, Atiku Bagudu, and Nuhu Ribadu remain central to policy discussions and national governance. This weakens the argument that the administration is intentionally excluding the Muslim North from power or decision-making.
The anti-corruption investigations involving former officials should also not be reduced to ethnicity or religion. Nigeria’s anti-graft institutions have investigated politicians from different regions and political backgrounds over the years. Suggesting that accountability efforts are automatically anti-northern may unintentionally discourage transparency and reinforce the dangerous belief that public officials should be protected from scrutiny simply because of regional identity.
Another overlooked issue is the role of northern political elites themselves. Many of the developmental problems facing the North are connected to decades of poor governance at state and local levels. Education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare are heavily influenced by governors and local administrations. Blaming only the federal government risks ignoring the responsibility of regional leaders who controlled resources and political structures long before the current administration came into power.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket of 2023 was primarily a political calculation aimed at electoral victory, not a permanent ethnic or religious contract. Supporters defended it on the grounds of competence and national stability, not because it guaranteed exclusive benefits for northern Muslims. Democracy works best when governments are evaluated by policies and performance rather than expectations of sectional favoritism.
There is also danger in framing national hardship as a religious war. Such narratives may increase fear, resentment, and polarization among Nigerians who already face deep social tensions. Nigeria’s unity depends on resisting narratives that divide citizens into opposing religious or regional camps. Criticism of government is legitimate and necessary in a democracy, but it should be grounded in evidence and national interest rather than collective suspicion.
Rather than seeing the Tinubu administration as an enemy of the North, a more constructive approach is to demand measurable development: improved security, stronger schools, job creation, agricultural investment, and better healthcare. These goals require cooperation between federal authorities, northern governors, traditional institutions, civil society, and local communities. Sustainable progress will come not from narratives of betrayal, but from collective accountability and practical governance.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s survival depends on rejecting fear-driven politics and embracing national inclusion. President Tinubu’s administration, like every government before it, should be criticized where necessary and supported where progress is visible. But portraying the country’s challenges as a calculated war against the Muslim North risks weakening national cohesion at a time when unity and responsible leadership are needed most.

Written by
Bukar Malumbe
From Maiduguri

I know feom day one, the whole idea was a false flag targetted at playing a cicrim card rather than real threat.

By: Zagazola Makama

The latest international media appearance by Plateau-based activist, Masara Kim Usman, has once again exposed how misinformation, emotional propaganda and outright fabrication are being weaponised to inflame Plateau’s communal crisis and falsely portray it as an “Islamic jihadist war” against Christians.
In his now-circulating interview, Masara claimed that armed Fulani jihadists attacked a burial ground during funeral rites in Barkin Ladi while mourners were burying victims of earlier attacks.

According to him, gunmen opened fire from surrounding hills, forcing locals to abandon proper burial rites and hurriedly dump corpses into shallow graves before fleeing for their lives.
He further claimed he personally witnessed someone being shot during the attack and that armed terrorists carrying sophisticated weapons and sniper rifles attempted to massacre mourners.
But there is one major problem with the entire dramatic story: absolutely nobody was killed or injured during the so-called burial attack.
Not one casualty, no one corpse, not one hospital record, not one medical or security report from multiple security agencies and not one single verified victim, except him.

The obvious question therefore remains if hundreds of armed “Fulani jihadists” attacked a crowded burial ceremony with sophisticated rifles and sniper weapons as claimed by Mr Masara, how did nobody die? How did nobody sustain injury? How does a “mass attack” end without a single casualty?

The answer is simple, because the narrative was fabricated and staged to create panic, attract sympathy and push a false genocide narrative to international audiences. Even Masara’s own videos exposed the inconsistencies.

The same man claiming he was running for his life under heavy gunfire somehow managed to hold his camera perfectly steady, maintain smooth commentary with british accent, control his breathing, avoid visible distress, remain spotless without sweat or dust, and narrate events calmly like a movie correspondent.
At different times, he claimed he ran two kilometres. Later, the distance mysteriously became five kilometres. Yet throughout the footage, there was no sign of exhaustion, panic or trauma expected from someone supposedly escaping sniper fire and a coordinated terrorist assault.

Even more damaging to the propaganda effort was what appeared in the background of the footage itself. While Masara shouted dramatically about “Fulani attackers,” some women visible in the same environment were calmly walking without panic, without taking cover and without any indication that an active attack was taking place nearby. In the same background some youths were asked to run while the documentary was being shot.

In fact, the only armed individuals clearly visible in portions of the footage were local Berom militia carrying weapons and firing toward nearby hills.

Security and community sources confirmed that before the burial commenced, armed Berom youths had already gathered around the area, allegedly mobilising for a reprisal attack on a nearby Fulani settlement following earlier killings of seven persons.

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace deployed to the area reportedly intervened to stop the retaliatory mobilisation. According to findings, while tensions were high during the burial, sporadic gunshots were fired by the same local armed youths toward nearby hills, triggering confusion and panic which Masara and others immediately transformed into a staged “Fulani terrorist attack on mourners.”

Masara also falsely claimed that while the burial was ongoing, “someone was shot” some distance away from him. Again, this claim collapsed immediately because there was no recorded casualty, no injured victim, no evacuation and no corpse connected to the supposed shooting.

Not even community leaders could identify the alleged victim he claimed to have seen fall after gunshots. In his interview Masara claimed that local vigilante at the Burial responded with dane gunz but the Fulani had superior weapons than them. This further confirmed that the shooting was actually from within

The story simply never happened.
Masara also attempted to frame Plateau’s crisis as part of a broader “Islamic jihad against Christianity” allegedly aimed at establishing an Islamic caliphate and destroying Western civilisation.
According to him, Fulani attackers were fighting Christianity because “the West brought Christianity” and therefore wanted to eliminate Christians and Western influence.
This claim is not only false but dangerously irresponsible.
The reality is that Plateau State is NOT under invasion by Boko Haram, ISWAP or any international jihadist organisation.
No terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility for attacks in Plateau.
No ISIS flags have appeared in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Mangu or Bassa.
No evidence exists showing any coordinated jihadist structure operating in the state.
What Plateau is experiencing is a long-running communal conflict driven by reprisals, cattle rustling, farm destruction, land disputes, livestock poisoning and cycles of revenge killings between armed groups from different ethnic communities.

The killings are real.But they are happening on BOTH sides. Fulani communities have suffered attacks. Berom communities have suffered attacks. Livestock have been rustled and poisoned. Farms have been destroyed.
Villages on both sides have buried victims.

Even as this report is being compiled today 9th May 2026, fresh incidents involving attacks on livestock were again recorded in Bassa, where criminal youths reportedly shot and killed four cows, while in the night of 8th May 2026, attack was reported in Riyom where some people were killed in a cycle of reprisals that repeatedly triggers counter-attacks.

Masara conveniently ignored these incidents because acknowledging them would destroy the false “one-sided jihad” or Christian Genocide narrative being sold internationally.

He also falsely alleged that a Muslim soldier attached to Operation Enduring Peace aided attackers and was later arrested after refusing to engage the assailants.

This allegation was another blatant fabrication.
Checks revealed that the soldier in question, a naval rating, was away on an administrative assignment approved by his unit commander — who incidentally is also a Christian officer.
He was neither armed nor deployed at the attacked location during the incident.
But because the soldier was Muslim, propagandists immediately framed his absence as “evidence” that he collaborated with Fulani attackers.
This reckless weaponisation of religion is exactly what continues to poison Plateau’s fragile environment. Every incident is instantly branded “Islamic terrorism.” Every criminal becomes “Fulani jihadist.” Every reprisal attack becomes “Christian persecution.”

Meanwhile, the actual realities of criminality, communal reprisals and illegal arms proliferation are ignored. The same activists defending armed youths and illegal militias are often the loudest voices accusing security agencies of bias whenever arrests are made.
Only recently, troops uncovered illegal arms fabrication factories in Plateau and arrested suspects manufacturing AK-47 rifles and ammunition components. Instead of condemning the criminal arms operation, some individuals openly defended the suspects and justified illegal weapon production as “community self-defence.”

This dangerous normalisation of militancy or terrorism is precisely why Plateau remains trapped in endless violence. No society survives when civilians begin manufacturing assault rifles while activists celebrate them online. It is also important to note that several attacks highlighted by Masara conveniently omitted the reprisal context surrounding many incidents.

Zagazola repeatedly maintain that many retaliatory attacks follow earlier incidents involving cattle rustling, poisoning of livestock, attacks on herders or destruction of farms.

According to security source familiar with operations in Plateau: These attacks always have history behind them. Something usually happens before reprisals occur. We have repeatedly warned communities against poisoning cows, attacking herders and carrying out retaliatory raids. But propaganda often overshadows the real causes.”

The source added that illegal arms in the hands of youths across affected communities remain one of the biggest threats to peace. The truth remains that Plateau’s crisis cannot be solved through emotional manipulation, fake genocide narratives, staged videos or international propaganda tours.

The violence in Plateau is tragic and real.
But turning a complex communal conflict into fictional “Islamic conquest” propaganda only deepens mistrust, fuels retaliation and prolongs the bloodshed.

Peace will only come through accountability, disarmament, justice and honest engagement on ALL sides not through staged narratives designed to deceive the world and inflame tensions further.

Following the deadly attack that left Gen. Braimah and some soldiers dead, Governor Zullum has blamed the military for ignoring intelligence 3 days before the attack......

Gov. Zullum have spill the beans that the military neglected intelligence from DSS that the Boko haram were coming to attack them 2 days before the attack that consumed Gen. O.O. Braimoh. pic.twitter.com/uoifPxpDew

— bashirbamusa (@bashirbamusa1) April 11, 2026

Criminals everywhere, you Don meet your Waterloo!

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Monday at Ivara Esu Estate in Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State, arrested one suspected gunrunner, Kelvin Ebikeniye Dugo.

Security sources disclosed that the arrest followed credible intelligence on Dugo's plan to buy 832 rounds of live ammunition from one Azenda Barnabas (alias Jagaban), anotger suspected gunrunner based in Aliade, Benue State.

"The operatives intercepted Dugo moments after he received the consignment, which was concealed in food items. Recovered wete 832 rounds of ammunition and two empty AK-47 magazines" noted the source.

"The DSS has intensified its pursuit of such criminals, launching sustained operations across the states of the Federation.

"This successful operation is one of many ongoing nationwide efforts, highlighting the DSS' firm commitment to dismantling gun running syndicates and curbing illegal arms proliferation," declared the source.

By Louis Achi

The Igbo idiom "Nwoke nusia ogu, nwanyi enwelu akuko" talks about man's penchant for taking credit for the struggles or sacrifices of others.

For the benefit of those who do not understand Igbo, I'll attempt a translation: when a man finishes a war, the woman takes over the role of telling the story.
This scenario is currently playing out in Southeast Nigeria, particularly in Anambra State. The past few weeks have seen the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, touring markets and schools to, in his words, end the Monday sit-at-home.

Apparently, to underscore his administration's commitment to ending "sit-at-home", Soludo, within the space of three weeks, shut two markets: Onitsha Main Market and the New Auto Spare Parts Market in Nnewi. The move has drawn tons of applause for the governor, especially from those who feel that "sit-at-home" has seriously damaged the economy of the zone.

Social scientists, historians and persons in other fields of study are conversant with the phenomenon called cause and effect. In other words, they believe that every event (effect) is preceded by an action (cause).

Now, Soludo was sworn in as governor of Anambra State on March 17, 2022. The implication is that, by today, March 17, 2026, he has spent four years in office. Worthy of note is that the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) declared Monday sit-at-home on August 9, 2021 - seven long months before Soludo assumed office as governor. For three years and 10 months, Monday sit-at-home didn't appear to be his problem. Well, until now.

Interestingly, Soludo's anger with Monday sit-at-home began in late January, 2026. About two months earlier, on November 20, 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment. Before the court verdict, many had predicted Armageddon in the Southeast region should the separatist leader be convicted, let alone sentenced.

What followed after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) moved Kanu to Sokoto to begin serving his jail sentence, was absolute calm in the Southeast region. Weeks passed. More calm. Not even as much as a single protest in the entire region.
What is more, many say last Yuletide was the most peaceful the people of the Southeast region experienced in over ten years.

Soludo, apparently now convinced that Kanu's incarceration had greatly weakened IPOB, moved in. Being a politician who wouldn't allow any golden opportunity slip through his fingers, he seized the moment. Suddenly, he realized that sit-at-home was bad for the state. And that, consequently, he had to move to "end it."
What many may not have realized was that Kanu, now apparently feeling home alone in Sokoto, and realizing the enormity of his life sentence, according to sources, began reaching out to influential political and religious leaders. He reportedly began seeking a political solution and soft landing. One of the deals reportedly struck with those he reached out to, was for the imprisoned Kanu to show good faith by announcing the cancellation of the sit-at-home order.

It therefore came as little surprise that, in early February, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful announced that Nnamdi Kanu, from Sokoto prison, had “officially and permanently cancelled” the directive with effect from Monday, 9 February 2026.

“This directive comes directly from Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu himself, who has once again staked everything on the line to ensure that our children return to school every Monday and that our people go about their lawful businesses without fear, intimidation, or molestation,” said Powerful.

To the discerning, Governor Soludo's new found bravado wasn't farfetched. It stemmed from the speedy and diligent prosecution of Kanu by the DSS leadership, culminating in his bagging a life sentence.

The determination and coordinated efforts by the Nigerian state through her security agencies, particularly the DSS, not only has, in the estimation of many, proven yet again that, with the necessary political will, anyone who underestimates the might of the State does so at his or her own risk.

The return to normalcy in the Southeast has shown that threats to security, in whatever shape and form, are surmountable.

By early 2026, the result of relentless operations, particularly by the DSS, led to key prosecutions and internal fractures within the IPOB camp. These efforts resulted in citizens having increased confidence in the ability of the State to protect life and property, as well as maintain peace, law and order.

Even after Kanu's sentencing, it was obvious that the DSS didn't rest on its oars. The Service heightened the deployment of human and material resources into gathering accurate intelligence to further weaken what was left of IPOB's capacity to unleash terror on innocent and law-abiding citizens in the Southeast region.

To return peace and normalcy in the south east, the secret police upped its game in smoking out IPOB commanders from their hideouts. They targeted and seized their cache of arms and ammunition, all the while cutting off fresh supplies. For the first time in years, the Southeast began witnessing a return to normalcy.

The end of the sit-at-home menace in the Southeast is a testimony to the fact that the strategy deployed by the DSS in turning the tide against IPOB's sit-at-home stranglehold on Nigeria's Southeast, worked.

The DSS' approach as it were, was, in every sense, holistic. While the agency sustained operations in the Southeast, the leadership pushed for the accelerated prosecution of lingering terror-related cases across the country.
It has become obvious to keen watchers that, intelligence-led security operations by the secret police, combined with adherence to the rule of law, can dismantle even the most deeply- entrenched insurgencies.

What is more, the series of arrests and prosecution of terror suspects by the DSS also sent a clear message that it won't be business as usual. With the DSS changing the strategy of leading the charge in counter-terror intelligence across the country, a lot can be seen to have changed.

For instance, from media reports, the DSS is now speeding up the trials of suspected terror kingpins like Khalid Al-Barnawi and his lieutenants accused of the 26 August, 2011, attack on the United Nations building in Abuja. The attack claimed the lives of over 23 persons from different counties. In September 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted a DSS application for an accelerated hearing on the matter.

So is the DSS, from media reports, accelerating the trial of five men accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, in which led to the death of over 40 worshippers.

According to media accounts, the same DSS leadership is vigorously pursuing justice for victims of the August 7, 2012, attack on Deeper Life Bible Church in Otite, near Okene, in Kogi State. About 20 persons died in the attack.

In August 2025, to the credit of the secret police, the media reported the capture of Abubakar Abba, aka Malam Mahmuda or Abu Bara'a, leader of the Mahmuda terrorist group that terrorized parts of Kwara and Niger States. The beauty in Abba's capture is that no single shot was reportedly fired by the DSS. He is currently being prosecuted by the secret police.
Just yesterday, Monday 16th March, a DSS officer narrated before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, how two Ansaru terror commanders, Mahmoud Muhammed Usman aka Abu Bara'a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda) confessed to receiving training in weapons in Libya.
Both men, who are confirmed commanders of Ansaru terrorist organization, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, are reportedly responsible for several high-profile attacks, including the
July 5, 2022 one on Kuje prison.

The DSS didn't stop at nabbing radicalized terrorists. Their operatives have gone several steps further to arrest persons who, under the guise of communal clashes, unleash violence on law-abiding citizens. The trial of persons linked to the Yelwata massacre of June 2025, in Guma LGA of Benue State, readily comes to mind.

The attack, in which dozens of people were killed and 107 injured, drew worldwide condemnation. So much so that President Bola Tinubu had to pay a condolence visit to the state. There, the president demanded the arrest of the killers and attackers.

In August 2025, the DSS filed terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, against nine suspects. Two suspects, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, who are still at large, were charged with four counts of terrorism, among which is the concealment of information about the attacks, before they were staged in Abinsi and Yelwata villages between June 13th and 14th.

In total, the secret police filed six separate charges against the arrested suspects, who are now undergoing trial. They are Adamu and Abdullahi are Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, and Pyeure Damina.

The DSS also charged two other suspects, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, with three counts for allegedly carrying out reprisal attack against the terror suspects involved in the Abinsi and Yelwata attacks.

The ongoing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite began with their arraignment in early September, with the defendants pleading not guilty.

On Yelwata, the DSS DG, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, according to a post on the official X handle of the secret police, remarked, "The various arrests and trials of terrorism suspects showed that Nigeria's security agencies have been diligent in dealing with the perpetrators of terror in the country. The men we are prosecuting are separate from the hundreds of suspects under the military's protective custody, whose cases are being handled by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. In July last year, 125 of the terrorists were convicted."

The post further quoted the secret police boss as saying, "We shall continue to make the suspects accountable for disrupting the peace of our country, in consonance with the rule of law."

As I write this, I have it on good authority from my usually dependable security sources that DSS operatives have arrested a key ISIS commander. Given the new DSS strategy of using silence to achieve more, it may not be until a few more weeks before the arrest of the ISIS commander becomes public knowledge.

Given the vigour with which the DSS is arresting and prosecuting suspected terrorists and criminal elements, at the same time cutting off their supplies of arms and ammunition, my sources disclosed that the criminal elements are devising new strategies to move weapons and ammunition.

Several sources hinted that the criminals now use unsuspecting women and young girls to move arms, especially in the northern part of the country. The women and girls are reportedly offered between N20,000 and N50,000 to deliver "grains in sacks" to particular destinations. In those sacks of grains, they often conceal weapons and rounds of ammunition.

In a particular case, offered one of my sources, one middle-aged woman travelling with those deadly consignments, even "hired" a child to make her look like a nursing mother.

"Given the rising cases of arms couriers posing as grain dealers, the DSS boss, who is certain that ignorance cannot be an excuse for breaking the law, has ordered his officers to prosecute any arms courier posing as a grains merchant," said a source, adding, "the DG believes the country can only be safe if people are held to account for their actions."

According to one source, the DSS now believes the only way solve the problem of insecurity is by strictly enforcing the law.

The courage, determination, zeal, and precision-intelligence deployed by the DSS and other sister security agencies is, no doubt, paying off. So has collaborating and sharing intelligence. These efforts have greatly decimated the ability of terrorists to transport arms and ammunition. These actions reassure citizens that, no matter the challenges, the state is working round the clock. Not only to make them feel safe, but to, indeed, keep them safe.

As our security agencies work tirelessly to keep us safe, all that is required of us as citizens is to support them with all we can, particularly, with vital information. Together we shall overcome.


Achi, a senior journalist who has edited several national newspapers, lives in Abuja

A credible source has confirmed that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Dec 27, arrested the leader of the gang and another, who kidnapped and murdered a prominent professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim in 2023 The gang leader, Patrick Essien Etim aka Pato, 23, and his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were apprehended at a medical facility in Cross River State while planning to kidnap another medical bigwig.

According to the source, the DSS had been tracking the kidnap ring since Ephraim's killing in July 2023, when gunmen posing as patients abducted her.

The duo has confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family.

'It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the Professor. I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and the much-needed closure that they deserve, the source said.

The suspects also owned up to kidnapping other victims and vandalizing electricity cables, with one Isaac Ekpeyong, who was also arrested by the operatives, according to the sources.
Read more.....
https://vigil360.com.ng/browse-all-sections/security/just-in-dss-arrests-gang-leader,-murderers-of-prof-ekanem-philip-ephraim.html

Since his appointment as Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) in late August 2024, Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi has demonstrated an unmistakable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.

Unlike in previous years when the SSS was notorious for serial harassment, intimidation, and arrests of journalists, the agency under Mr Ajayi’s leadership has shown remarkable restraint, professionalism, and openness to dialogue. Conflicts between the Service and the media are now resolved amicably, through engagement rather than coercion.
A few examples illustrate this transformation.

Barely hours into his tenure, one of our colleagues, Adejuwon Soyinka, was intercepted and detained in Lagos. Within hours of IPI Nigeria bringing the matter to his attention, Mr Ajayi directed the Lagos Command to release the journalist immediately. Find details below.....

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/840736-full-detail-why-ipi-nigeria-gave-sss-dg-oluwatosin-ajayi-commendation-award.html

Less than a month after ordering the release and compensation of an Abuja-based businesswoman, Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, the Director General (DG), State Security Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of one Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, arrested in July 2022, for his alleged involvement in the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Nwafor was also awarded N5 million as compensation for the wrongful arrest and free medicare by the DG.

A source stated that “The DG directed his investigation officers to conduct detailed review of all pending cases, and they have been dutifully doing that. Nwafor’s case is one of such cases.

“The gesture, one of the several by the DG, is a testament to his resolve to comply with the rule of law and adherence to the service standard operating procedure.

“Mr. Tosin Ajayi acknowledges that as humans, we sometimes make mistakes. He also believes that when such mistakes are made, the right thing is to make amends. That is why he has established a culture of accountability and humanly makes efforts to remedy the mistakes of the Agency.

“Remember, he paid N20 million as compensation to one Jos-based businessman who was erroneously shot on the leg in the course of a security operation in 2016. Even when the court awarded N10 million in damages against the DSS, the agency refused to pay until Ajayi became DG. He doubled the money.

“Nwafor isn’t the first Igbo to be released and compensated under similar circumstances. Some months ago, the DG ordered the release of three young men wrongfully detained for belonging to IPOB.”

The source further noted that “this has become the trend since the new DSS leadership.”

The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has dropped his earlier plan to call witnesses in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism-related offences.

At the last hearing on October 24, the court had adjourned till October 27 for Kanu to begin his defence. The IPOB leader had previously written to the court expressing his intention to summon witnesses and requested more time to review his case file.

However, when the matter was called on Monday, Kanu told the court that after thoroughly reviewing the case file, he found no valid charge against him. He argued that since he believed the charges were baseless and his trial unlawful, there was no need for him to present any defence.

Justice James Omotosho directed Kanu to file a written address to formally present his position and to serve the prosecution with a copy. The judge also advised him to seek legal counsel from criminal law experts to fully understand the implications of his decision.

The case was subsequently adjourned to November 4, 5, and 6 for the adoption of final written addresses, based on Kanu’s stance that the evidence and charges so far have failed to establish any case against him—or, alternatively, for him to proceed with his defence if he chooses to do so.

A group of lawyers based in Abuja, have petitioned the Attorney General of the the State of New York, United States of America, seeking investigations into the financial activities of Sahara Media Group Incorporated and its owner, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

The lawyers, in a petition on their behalf by Heartland Advisors & Solicitors, dated October 7, 2025, and submitted at the United States Embassy in Abuja yesterday, also demanded a "suspension, and or invalidation of Sowore's U.S travel documents."

Demands in the petition signed by Barrister Sunday Oluwole and Barrister Felix Olanrewaju Wolemiwa, also include; "Examination of Sahara Media Group Inc.’s financial records, including the MacArthur Foundation grant, for compliance with New York nonprofit laws (e.g., N-PCL § 112), investigate whether funds raised by Sahara Media Group Inc. are used for their intended charitable purposes or diverted to personal or political activities and review Mr. Sowore’s individual and corporate tax filings for compliance with U.S. tax laws, particularly regarding income supporting his U.S. property and lifestyle."

The petition titled; "Request for Investigation into Financial Activities of Sahara Media Group Inc. and Mr. Omoyele Sowore," read; "We are writing to respectfully request your office’s review of the financial activities of Sahara Media Group Inc., a New York-registered entity, and its founder, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian citizen residing in the United States. This request stems from concerns about potential discrepancies in nonprofit financial reporting, tax compliance, and asset declarations, which may impact both U.S. and Nigerian public interests.

"Mr. Sowore, a prominent activist and former Nigerian presidential candidate (2019, 2023), operates Sahara Media Group Inc., which runs Sahara Reporters. Public records raise questions about the organization’s financial transparency and Mr. Sowore’s personal financial disclosures, particularly given his political activities abroad."

They listed their key concerns to include; nonprofit Funding and Transparency, noting that Sahara Media Group Inc. received a $1.3 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation (2016–2019) for journalist training in Nigeria, and alleging that limited public reporting on the utilization of these funds raises concerns about compliance with New York nonprofit laws requiring transparency and proper use of charitable funds.

"On asset declaration discrepancies, the lawyers alleged that "In 2023, Mr. Sowore reportedly declared to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ownership of a single Nigerian property valued at ₦5 million and a 2008 Toyota Camry. However, public records indicate he purchased a U.S. property around 2018, valued at approximately $552,000, which may not have been disclosed in his INEC filing. This raises questions about potential concealment of assets or perjury under Nigerian law, with possible U.S. tax implications if unreported."

Raising questions about Sowore’s financial capacity and lifestyle, the lawyers said "Reports suggest Mr. Sowore’s son attends Dwight-Englewood School in New Jersey, with annual tuition of approximately $59,235 (2024–2025). This, alongside his political campaign expenditures in Nigeria, appears inconsistent with the reported financial capacity of Sahara Media Group Inc., which operates primarily as a media outlet. A review of his income sources and tax compliance could clarify whether these are supported by legitimate, reported earnings."

They also said that "In 2018, GoFundMe temporarily suspended a $2 million fundraiser for Mr. Sowore’s “Take Back Nigeria Movement” due to concerns about its purpose. Though later restored, this incident warrants scrutiny to ensure funds raised in New York comply with charitable solicitation laws."

I have been suspecting his style of activism with too much ginger. Haba!!

EXPOSED🔥
By
Dr Odenigbo in Akwa, Anambra State.

The desperate propaganda that Nnamdi Kanu's health is "deteriorating" is nothing
but a tired tactic. This is the same strategy he used in 2017 when he was granted
bail to Senator Abaribe, and instead of facing trial, he vanished. Nigerians must not
be fooled again. The character of Nnamdi Kanu disqualifies him from any claim to
mercy or premature release.


This is a man who, while on bail for serious charges of
treason, brazenly jumped bail and fled the country. While abroad, he continued to
direct his violent campaign, proving that confinement is the only means to
neutralise the clear and potent danger he poses. This act alone demonstrates a
profound disrespect for the Nigerian judiciary and the rule of law.

Let me break the ice with these unanswered questions. How many of his self-appointed doctors has he sacked just for giving him a clean bill of health? Facts speak! Empirical facts speak louder! Who are these doctors, and what role did they play? What was their offence that MNK sacked them? It is assumed that they are core professionals. Their integrity must have been unquestionable before he hired. Likewise, the DSS medical team has given Kanu consistent,
professional care, from what we know. Even those personal doctors he hired have been allowed to see him, as he also affirmed before now. If there was ever
a plot to harm him and not serve justice, I doubt he would be alive and well today. The so-called "overdose"
claims and accusations of attempted murder are mere lies, manufactured to
discredit professionals as leeway of getting out of custody. This alarm by a compromised prof from nowhere is nothing other than Kanu's usual gimmick.


The truth is clear: Kanu has never been denied medical attention in custody. The
sudden noise about failing health is just another ploy to escape justice, nothing
new. The court date is close. And rather than face the charges, his camp is trying to
create excuses. The clamour for his release would only be an invitation for him to
resume his campaign of terror and instability, plunging the Southeast into another
cycle of violence.

The esteemed Judges of our courts are faced with a decision that transcends legal
technicalities. They are guardians of both the law and public good. Their duty is to
interpret the law in a way that sustains the nation, not fractures it. The pursuit of
justice and upholding the rule of law must take precedence over individual
interests. Nigerians cannot afford a repeat of 2017; this time, there will be no
disappearing act.

Dr. Odenigbo in Akwa, Anambra State.

The desperate propaganda that Nnamdi Kanu's health is "deteriorating" is nothing but a tired tactic. This is the same strategy he used in 2017 when he was granted bail to Senator Abaribe, and instead of facing trial, he vanished. Nigerians must not be fooled again. The character of Nnamdi Kanu disqualifies him from any claim to mercy or premature release.

This is a man who, while on bail for serious charges of treason, brazenly jumped bail and fled the country. While abroad, he continued to direct his violent campaign, proving that confinement is the only means to neutralize the clear and potent danger he poses. This act alone demonstrates a profound disrespect for the Nigerian judiciary and the rule of law.

Let me break the ice with these unanswered questions. How many of his self-appointed doctors has he sacked just for giving him a clean bill of health? Facts speak! Empirical facts speak louder!Who are these doctors, and what role did they play? What was their offence that MNK sacked them? It is assumed that they are core professionals.Their integrity must have been unquestionable before he hired.

Likewise, the DSS medical team has given Kanu consistent, professional care, from what we know. Even those personal doctors he hired have been allowed to see him, as he also affirmed before now. If there was ever a plot to harm him and not serve justice, I doubt he would be alive and well today. The so-called "overdose" claims and accusations of attempted murder are mere lies, manufactured to discredit professionals as leeway of getting out of custody. This alarm by a compromised prof from nowhere is nothing other than Kanu's usual gimmick.


The truth is clear: Kanu has never been denied medical attention in custody. The sudden noise about failing health is just another ploy to escape justice, nothing new. The court date is close. And rather than face the charges, his camp is trying to create excuses. The clamor for his release would only be an invitation for him to resume his campaign of terror and instability, plunging the Southeast into another cycle of violence.

The esteemed judges of our courts are faced with a decision that transcends legal technicalities. They are guardians of both the law and public good. Their duty is to interpret the law in a way that sustains the nation, not fractures it. The pursuit of justice and upholding the rule of law must take precedence over individual interests. Nigerians cannot afford a repeat of 2017; this time, there will be no disappearing act.

This is another tactics to pitch the public against judiciary by IPOB. Nnamdi Kanu don't know that this is old tactics . He should asked Dino Melaye

Nnamdi Kanu's displays of emotion appear to be strategically aimed at discrediting the judiciary and, as a result, eroding public trust in the legal system which Justice Haruna Tsammani ought to acknowledge. The unauthorized recording of court proceedings by Linda Kanu, in conjunction with the misleading claims made by Barr. Aloy Ejimakor, exemplifies a pattern of contempt that has been consistent from his camp. The muted reaction to these actions reveals that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is taking a calculated approach to manipulate judges and prosecutors for the purposes of applying coercion and intimidation.

Following the failure of the IPOB's strategy of intimidation, the organization shifted its focus to propaganda. A recent request was made to Justice Kolawole Omotosho, requesting that the charges be dismissed on the grounds that they originate from the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act of 2013, which has since been repealed. The validity of this assertion is called into question, particularly when one takes into account the fact that the Supreme Court has previously upheld the continuation of Kanu's trial, despite earlier challenges that were related to his return from Kenya. The validity of their claims is called into question by this circumstance, which raises significant concerns.

IPOB has recently changed its strategy to include the use of health-related propaganda. To delay the trial and garner sympathy, one can anticipate allegations of illness, mistreatment, or even allegations of international conspiracies. The purpose of all these allegations is to prolong the trial. It would appear that this approach places a higher priority on undermining accountability and damaging the reputation of Nigeria's judiciary than it does on seeking justice.

As October 10th draws closer, it is imperative that Nigerians maintain a state of heightened vigilance. Some of the activities that are associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) include the dissemination of malicious reports, the harassment of judges, and the spread of disinformation. Kanu's past acknowledgment that decisions made by the Supreme Court are legally binding is noteworthy. This acknowledgement reinforces the idea that there are no more justifications for evading accountability.

The trial's outcome will have far-reaching effects. According to a report published by Amnesty International in 2025, more than 1,800 people lost their lives in the Southeast region between the years 2021 and 2023. The International People's Liberation Army (IPOB) and its armed wing, the ESN, have been linked to these deaths. Positive resolution of Kanu's case is crucial. It is the responsibility of the Nigerian judiciary to ensure that a fair trial is conducted in court, to uphold the rule of law, to be resistant to coercion, and to deliver justice to those who have passed away.

By Lewis Chukwuma

Arguably the poster-boy of Nigeria’s activism ecosystem, online publisher of SaharaReporters and rambunctious politician, Omoyele Sowore, has probably earned his epaulets, tracking his nimble interventions and a wide swathe of comic escapades he has scripted in the last two decades, often laced with quaint rhetorical violence.

But has the fire-eating activist derailed currently? Has he weaponized freedom of expression! Though he has never publicly claimed to be a candidate for sainthood awaiting final Papal proclamation, Sowore would appear to have goofed in his recent unfortunate and curious virulent attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. On his "X" handle page on August 25, 2025, Sowore had spawned a storm by calling out President Tinubu as a criminal.

In consequence, the Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday initiated legal action against Omoyele Sowore for allegedly making false claim against the person of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal. The suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, trailed refusal of the defendants to pull down the said false and misleading message, as requested by the DSS.

It could be recalled that earlier the security agency had threatened legal action against X, formerly known as Twitter and Facebook, for offering their platforms to Sowore, who in a post called the Nigerian President a "criminal." In the separate letters to the social media platforms, the DSS had requested that the false statement against the president be pulled down or it would initiate legal action.

Defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, include; Sowore, Meta (Facebook) Incorp and X Incorp. In the five-count charge, the DSS is alleging that Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023, and convener of the #RevolutionNow protest against the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, contravened the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

Following the filing of the charge, Sowore is expected to be arraigned soon. One of the five-count charges read: "That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X handle page, @Yele Sowore, to send out a message/tweet as:
"THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!," which you know the said message to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals, who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

However, in a counter-suit, Sowore also took the DSS, social media giant Meta (owners of Facebook), and X Corp (formerly Twitter) to the Federal High Court in Abuja over what he described as a coordinated attempt to silence him and suppress free speech in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by his lead counsel, Tope Temokun, on Tuesday Sowore filed two fundamental human rights enforcement suits, challenging what his legal team called “unconstitutional censorship” and attempts by state agencies to influence global tech platforms to restrict citizens’ speech. Temokun stressed that the suits were not just about Sowore personally but about the principle of free expression for all Nigerians. It is interesting that Sowore is now seeking refuge in the same judicial system he has, time and again, labelled "corrupt." There's literally no judge in Nigeria that Sowore has not denigrated, including past and serving judicial officers at the highest level. Well, that is a matter for another day.

Three instances, for the purpose of this analysis, illustrate that unlimited free speech doesn’t exist - even in well-known liberal democracies.

Freedom of expression is not absolute and must be balanced against other fundamental rights. Such include the right to privacy, honor, and reputation. Making speeches that incites hatred, constitutes libel or slander, or causes serious offense may not be protected under freedom of expression. Nothing perhaps better conveys the weight of the consequences of freedom of expression than in the small East African country called Rwanda. Under the guise of freedom of expression, in April 1994, a seemingly harmless broadcast by one person was made on radio. This broadcast triggered the start of 100 days of genocide that left more than one million people dead.

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. For instance, you can't, banking on freedom of expression, say something that will cause other people harm- or kill them. One can't, for instance, under the guise of freedom of expression, barge into a crowded hall and yell "Fire!" In the same vein, one cannot under the guise of exercising his or her freedom of expression scream "I have a bomb" on an airplane.

Worried by the need to balance freedom of expression with hate speech the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in May 2019, said, it was the duty of all to keep "hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous, particularly incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, which is prohibited under international law."

Something remarkable recently happened in the n the UK that granted us independence. In the wake of the shooting to death in the US of President Trump's supporter, Charlie Kirk, President-elect of Oxford University Student Union, George Abaraonye, made a post on a Whatsapp chat group mocking Kirk's death. He also reportedly made a similar post on Instagram. Posted Abaronye, "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - an elongated version of the phrase 'lol' which means 'laughing out loud'. The post appeared to welcome the incident. Upon realizing the backlash his comment on the shooting which - by the way- happened thousands of miles away in the US generated, Abaronye quickly deleted the post and apologized. The school authorities would have none of that. Oxford University insists Abaronye will be punished, saying free speech cannot and will not come at the expense of violence, intimidation or hate.

In a statement posted on X late on Thursday, the Oxford Union said it "unequivocally condemns the reported words and sentiments" expressed by Mr. Abaraonye, who was elected as the society's new president in June.

It is interesting to note that, even though Kirk was killed in faraway America, comments by a student in the UK were still considered offensive. The implications is that in the UK, as in everywhere, sometimes free speech has consequences.

In the US, in September 2022, Uju Anya, an associate professor of applied linguistics at Carnegie Mellon University, tweeted that the reign of Queen Elizabeth II was a period of suffering and colonization for many, a sentiment she also extended to the wealth amassed by individuals like Jeff Bezos.

"I heard the chief monarch of a thieving, raping genocidal empire is finally dying. May her pain be excruciating," she tweeted. Bezos responded to Anya's tweet, which led to widespread public discussion and support for Anya from a large community of faculty and students.

Interestingly, without informing Anya, Twitter pulled down her tweet. It would be interesting to know why Twitter quickly pulled down Professor Anya's tweet on Queen Elizabeth, the late Head of State of the United Kingdom, but has failed to pull down Sowore's post on Tinubu, the sitting President of Nigeria.

Even Prof. Anya's school, Carnegie Mellon, joined the fray by releasing a statement condemning her tweets. The ivory tower described her tweets as “offensive and objectionable." Stressed the school, "We do not condone the offensive and objectionable messages posted by Uju Anya today on her personal social media account. Freedom of expression is core to the mission of higher education; however, the views she shared absolutely do not represent the values of the institution, nor the standards of discourse we seek to foster."

In another case that is likely to stretch the freedom of expression to its limit, just this week, US President Donald Trump sued the New York Times, four of its reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House for at least $15 billion over alleged defamation and libel. Trump’s suit cites a series of New York Times articles, an editorial prior to the 2024 presidential election, which said he was unfit for office, and a 2024 book published by Penguin titled “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success”.

“Defendants maliciously published the Book and the Articles knowing that these publications were filled with repugnant distortions and fabrications about President Trump,” Trump’s lawyers said in the filing lodged in the U.S. District Court, Middle District Florida, on Monday, September 15, 2025. The publications have harmed Trump’s business and personal reputation, thereby causing massive economic damage to his brand value and significant damage to his future financial prospects, Trump’s lawyers said in the filing.

“The harm to the value of TMTG (Trump Media and Technology Group) stock is one example of how the Defendants’ defamation has injured President Trump,” said his lawyers, citing “a precipitous decline in the stock price.”

“Today, I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times. The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear and defame me for far too long, and that stops NOW.” Trump said earlier on Monday in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. There is more.

Like Trump, Tinubu, aside being a politician and Nigeria's president, is an accomplished businessman and is believed to have business interests spanning several countries.

In the same US, in response to the threats to peace and security that arise from violent extremism,
many states have adopted legislation to counter extremism and/or terrorism.

These laws aim to stem violence resulting from extremist beliefs and counter the
underlying ideology. In other words, Americans have come to realize that people cannot be allowed to hide behind the pillar of freedom of expression to promote religious extremism.

From the jungles of Guyana in the late 1980s where self-styled Reverend Jim Jones of the notorious Peoples Temple died alongside nearly 1000 cult members, to Osama bin Laden, instances abound where people have exploited freedom of expression to violently change the world.

Back home in Nigeria, through the lens of Boko Haram, we have witnessed and are still witnessing the harm that can become the lot of a nation when people are allowed to hide behind the pillar of freedom of expression to say anything they deem fit

We also are witnesses to the consequences of allowing people like Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa run their mouths. After all, aren't they entitled to enjoy their freedom of expression? That Finland, a first world country that is over 8,500 km away from Nigeria, waived Ekpa 's freedom of expression and convicted him, shows that such freedoms have consequences. Specifically, the the court said Ekpa exploited his extensive following on social media between August 2021 and November 2024 to promote violence and encourage unrest in the Southeast. In other words, his freedom of expression became a tool to unleash terror.

For context, democracy would lose its defining egalitarianism if it foreclosed the free expression of viewpoints by its adherents - including often seeming unreasonable perspectives by forces that seek to diminish and divide. But there is a caveat. Absolute freedom exists only in Utopia, certainly not in the real world. It should never be wielded like a cudgel. What played out from last week speaks to the consequence of pushing the much-touted freedom of expression to the extreme. As always, there are consequence. Both in Nigeria and abroad.

Despite democracy’s leniency, those that, in contrast, enlist intellectual pretensions to push often illogical, flawed, antagonistic positions that misinform, diminish and obfuscate certainly deserve to be confronted and faulted.

The DSS is Nigeria's primary domestic intelligence agency, which plays a critical role in national security and intelligence gathering. Its main responsibilities are within Nigeria and include counter-intelligence, medical intelligence, economic intelligence, internal security, counter-terrorism, and surveillance as well as investigating some other types of serious crimes against the state. It is also charged with the protection of senior government officials, particularly the president, vice president, state governors and visiting heads of state and governments with their respective families. In effect, any threat to the president - physical or psychological - as in this case, requires a specific action by the agency. To act otherwise would be shirking its responsibility, putting the President- and Nigeria- at risk. This is the line the DSS is towing, albeit, in a civil manner.

By its operational mandate, the DSS could easily have chosen to move roughshod against mischief and crises entrepreneurs who have wrongly opted to game the agency’s civility. But instructively, the DSS, under the administration of the new Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, is towing a different engagement strategy with those who misalign with its objectives.
Plucky Funke Egbemode, a former president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, recently aptly captured the persona of the DSS boss: “This new Sheriff is a thoroughbred secret cop who rose through the ranks, not a politician or political appointee who got lucky.”

For good measure she added: “Ajayi started as a rookie, and after three decades-plus of service, he’s here determined to restore the dignity of the service. The mask must stay on and the masquerade must stay in the grove unless there is reason for it to visit the people.” In effect, this ‘masquerade’ visits people or organisations for specific reasons - assuredly not picnics.

Certainly, the matter between Sowore and the DSS is no picnic!

*Chukwuma wrote from Jos

like play , like play, this Sowore is getting out of hand o, is he the only activist in Nigeria? why does he want to pull down the same country he is struggling to govern? for his mind now, we must hand over this country to him. rubbish!!

I stopped counting on sahara reporters as journalists since late president Buhari era, they hide under journalism for personal vendetta against perceived enemies.

By any standard, Omoyele Sowore is a familiar name in Nigeria’s political space. He brands himself as a revolutionary, a voice of the masses, and a fearless critic of the government. But let’s be honest: there’s a big difference between activism and reckless agitation, and Sowore often crosses that line. That’s why the Department of State Services (DSS) is right to keep him in check.

We must face the truth: Nigeria is not a playground. The country is dealing with fragile security, economic pressures, and social divisions. In such a climate, words are not just words; they can be sparks. When Sowore talks about “revolution” or throws around rhetoric that sounds more like a call to insurrection than constructive criticism, he’s not just exercising free speech—he’s toying with national stability.

The DSS has a mandate: to protect the state from threats, both internal and external. Whether we like it or not, agitation that hints at overthrowing order qualifies as such a threat. If they fold their arms and chaos erupts, the same people who cry foul today will ask, “Where were the security agencies?” Prevention, no matter how unpopular, is better than cleaning up the mess later.

Critics will say, “But Sowore has rights.” Absolutely, and those rights should be respected. But rights are not a blank cheque to cause disorder. Every freedom comes with responsibility. If your speech can push people to violence or deepen instability, don’t expect the state to look away. Even in the most advanced democracies, when speech crosses into incitement, law enforcement steps in. Nigeria should not be different.

Let’s be clear: this is not about silencing opposition. Sowore still has platforms, still grants interviews, and still shares his views. But there is a fine line between dissent and disruption. The DSS is drawing that line, and frankly, it’s about time someone did.

The truth is simple: Nigeria needs critics, but it doesn’t need chaos. Sowore should learn that agitation without responsibility is a danger to the very people he claims to fight for. Until then, the DSS is right to treat his rhetoric with the seriousness it deserves.

Dr. Olarewaju Akintoye writing from Ekiti

By Danladi Shehu

If a man cooks for a community ,the meal would scarcely go round, However, if a community decides to cook for a man, the feast will overwhelm him - old African proverb. The foregoing may have aptly captured the likely outcome of the current standoff between the Department of State Services (DSS) and Omoyele Sowore, activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections.

Speaking during his latest state visit to Brazil in late August, President Bola Tinubu, while wooing Brazilian investors, assured that his government had rid the foreign currency exchange market of speculators and corruption. For emphasis, the president stressed, "The Central Bank Governor is here. You do not need to know him before getting the foreign exchange that you need."

I watched the entire remarks made by President Tinubu. At no point did claim to have rid Nigeria of corruption, as that would have been preposterous. President Tinubu was specific about foreign currency operations under his watch. And he didn't mince words about that.... read more...
https://vigil360.com.ng/browse-all-sections/editorial/the-dss-sowore-and-the-village-feast.html

While Sowore have continue to cry wolf where there is none with his recent tantrums directed against the very institutions that glue this nation together. concerns raised by Sowore project a picture of persecution and national disgrace, it is important to present a balanced view grounded in facts, law, and the realities of governance.

First, the Department of State Services (DSS) is mandated under Nigerian law to safeguard internal security, protect the state from subversion, and curb threats that may destabilize public peace. When an individual or group engages in sustained campaigns on social media that are perceived as inciting unrest, promoting disaffection against the state, or edging toward possible national security breaches, the DSS has both the right and responsibility to engage with social media platforms in order to prevent escalation.

What is framed as “harassment” may in fact be legitimate state action aimed at preventing disorder. Nigeria has seen, in recent years, how unregulated social media campaigns can inflame tensions and even spark violence — from electoral crises to #EndSARS protests that began peacefully but degenerated into chaos. To preempt such outcomes, agencies often act decisively.

The claim that the DSS is “hired” to stage protests or silence critics oversimplifies a far more complex dynamic. Citizens also have the right to protest in favor of government policies or against perceived misinformation. To assume every pro-government demonstration is “hired” undermines the agency of ordinary Nigerians who may genuinely disagree with activists’ rhetoric.

Equally, allegations of being branded a “terrorism financier” are not to be dismissed as persecution without due process. Courts, not public opinion, are where these matters are resolved. The judiciary, as the third arm of government, provides avenues for redress, including the restoration of passports or the striking out of unjust charges if truly baseless.

The exportation of complaints to Twitter (X) or Facebook is not a “national disgrace” but a recognition that social media platforms — global as they are — can either be partners in curbing harmful content or enablers of destabilization. Governments across the world, including in the United States and the European Union, routinely pressure tech companies to suspend accounts linked to threats, misinformation, or extremist narratives. Nigeria cannot be an exception.

It is therefore misleading to present lawful state actions as mere “criminality” or “personal vendetta.” Democracies survive when rights are balanced with responsibilities, and when freedom of expression is exercised without undermining public safety or national cohesion.

In the end, the Nigerian state is not at war with its citizens but tasked with managing a fragile federation of over 200 million people, diverse in ethnicity, religion, and political interest. Security agencies may not always be perfect, but painting them as “rogues” only fuels mistrust and weakens national institutions that every Nigerian depends upon for stability.

The real struggle is not between an individual and the state, but between chaos and order. Responsible engagement, lawful dissent, and constructive criticism remain the hallmarks of genuine democratic struggle — not rhetoric that inflames and polarizes.

By Olufemi Toluwase Kenneth

A court in Finland has found him guilty for terrorism related offenses.
Simon, the self-appointed Prime Minister of Biafra, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a court in Finland for terrorism offenses.
He had been charged with using his social media accounts to incite terror acts in Nigeria. Next is that of his ally and fellow content creator, Mazi Nnamdi kanu

Kudos to FGN for securing his conviction. This is a classical case of justice served irrespective of borders. A matter that started just after his arrest in November 2024 and commencement of trial in December, has delivered judgment! That is the way to go. Speedy justice.

You can see back here in Nigeria, kanu has been on trial for 6years. Thumbs up👍 to the DSS boss for revisiting these terrorism-related cases and pushing for accelerated hearing including that of 2022 Owo church attackers, Albanawi, and Yelwata invaders. MNK is sure to receive his, soonest.

OMO! This new DSS Oga no come play. No delays as you commit..

Las Las the rooster has gone home to roost. Happy stay in prison to content creator!

The Päijät-Häme District Court on Monday sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related crimes and other offences, according to official court documents seen by BBC News Pidgin on Monday. The 40-year-old former municipal politician from Lahti was convicted on multiple charges, including participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act. The court ordered that Ekpa remain in custody. According to the judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa attempted to promote the independence of the so-called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means.
“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and took advantage of the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to play a significant role in it,” the court statement stated as reported by BBC News pidgin.

Ekpa denied all the charges against him.

The court also found that Ekpa was instrumental in founding and developing the separatist movement into a more organised structure, working alongside others.

The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army (NA) have eliminated more than 50 bandits and also rescued kidnapped victims in Kumbashi village, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State. read more...

https://vigil360.com.ng/browse-all-sections/security/dss-na-eliminates-bandits-rescue-kidnapped-victims-in-niger.html

agulion:
Rip to them, pls do you remember the 13, People that was said to have been killed in Kastina mosque yesterday, do you know Aljesera reported 37 death, imagine how the are reporting Gaza death toll

mind you, 33 people were shot, but 27 died instantly. get that into your head.

Wahala don't tie gele. But why is this news co.ing up now?

The disappearance of Sunday and Calista Ifedi, a couple from Ezeagu in Enugu State, has been framed by some interest group as “abduction” carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS). However, a closer look suggests the narrative may be more complicated than it meets the eye. The Nigerian populace has over the years been pitched against the security agencies.

Security agencies in Nigeria, including the DSS, often conduct sensitive operations tied to the country’s internal security challenges, particularly around separatist movements such as IPOB, which has become a nightmare for both government and the populace in the southeastern part of the country. While allegations have been made that the Ifedis were specifically targeted and taken away due to suspected links to IPOB, no concrete evidence has been publicly provided to substantiate these claims. It is not unusual for individuals to be invited by security for questioning in relation to allegations leveled against them.
It is a standard operational procedure for security to parade their suspect before the court of law with thin the first 24-48hrs after their arrest to commence criminal proceedings. But in these case that Amnestty international are raising allegation four years later should be looked into. Why should the family be keeping quiet for the past four years begs for more question than answer..

The fact that Amnesty International and the family of the couple are unable to confirm their current whereabouts raises serious concerns, but that should not be construed for setting up the security agencies against the public, although the operation of DSS especially when national security is involved. The lack of transparency has fueled speculation and assumptions, but speculation should not be mistaken for fact.

It is also important to note that the DSS has not officially acknowledged the arrest or detention of the Ifedis, which casts doubt on the whole story whether DSS is actually involved. In Nigeria, disappearances can sometimes be attributed to communal disputes, criminal abductions by terrorist group, or politically motivated misinformation. Without verified documentation or legal records tying the couple’s fate to the DSS, the claim of “abduction” remains unproven. This is 21st century where law operates in every country.

While the anguish of the Ifedi children is undeniable and deserves empathy, the case may reflect a broader challenge of misinformation, unverified allegations, and the weaponization of human rights discourse to paint a one-sided picture of security operations. The more balanced approach would be to demand transparency and legal clarity from relevant authorities rather than amplifying unverified claims that risk inflaming tension

Thomas Johnbosco, writing from Abakiliki

I want to beleive our security agencies are ready for the terrorist this time around?

In its usual staged attempt to cause confusion and coerce presiding judges into arriving at rulings favourable to it, IPOB has once again
resorted to demanding that Justice Kolawole Omotosho must strike out the ongoing charges against Nnamdi Kanu. Ridiculous! They have added that the current charges against Kanu amounted to a resurrection of the
repealed Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013. Laughable, right? In
IPOB’s short-sighted insinuation, acts of mass murder committed and
charged by the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013 – repealed in 2022 by the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (TPPA) 2022 (Section 97) stand forgiven. And as usual, the powerful Emma signed and circulated the comical statement in the hopes that Justice Omotosho
could be cowed by it.


This, by the way, is not a first; it is rather the group’s latest
gimmick. Given that only days ago, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of
the federal government for the continuation of trial proceedings, despite IPOB’s cry against what they call an illegal rendition of Kanu from Kenya. For IPOB and this sustained delusion of wanting to cut Kanu loose from terrorism charges, everything is doable. Once Justice appears closer than ever, Kanu and his sympathisers resort to a circus of acts, attempting to insult Nigeria’s jurisprudence.


Akin to precedence, Kanu and his cohorts have also upped their antics from production of fake contents/graphics to spurn narratives in their
favour in a bid to maintain leech on their remnant of gullible
sympathisers, to adopting despicable levels of disinformation, malicious reports, in addition to outright defamation, to gain leverage in the
courts of public opinion. Eventually, in desperation, they turned to
harassing and embarrassing Judges in open Court to coerce or attempt to
hoodwink them into letting Kanu go free. However, aside from the conspiracies of terrorism and the litany of terror-related offences against Kanu, there are several acts prejudicial to judicial processes
that this group and its leader have contravened. The travails of the
members of the Nigerian Judiciary in the course of Kanu’s trial only climaxed with many ignoble accusations. He, Kanu, does this with ease.

In open Court, Kanu called Justice Nyako shameful, disgraceful, and
accused her of hobnobbing with lawyers in the AGF’s office and collecting bribes in hundreds of millions. He added that she was only assigned to his case in exchange for freedom for her son and husband from corruption charges. Allegations that he or any member of his legal team is yet to verify. Such antics became so damning for his case that
Kanu Agabi, SAN, his latest senior counsel, is said to have counselled
Nnamdi Kanu and the other members of his team, to apologise for their misdeeds in Court. I am beyond certain that Kanu is already preparing a
subterfuge against Justice Kolawole Omotosho. Before the endless drift
to appealing for reassignment of Judges, even Justice John Tsoho, was
not spared Kanu’s ridiculous on the claims suggestive of bias towards
his trial. Ask Hon. Justice Haruna Tsammani, who knows quite well that
no matter how well-intentioned one is, Nnamdi Kanu and his theatrics will certainly mudslide and defame every iota of sincerity one brings.


Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that despite several contemptuous actions,
all he and his cohorts have provoked is at best a slap on the wrist. For
instance, in June 2025, Barr. Aloy Ejimakor, after raising a false and reckless alarm on X with allegations that the DSS denied his client’s visitation rights, he, Aloy, got away with a simple warning to either retract the claim or risk being barred from attending future trials. Linda Kanu, despite making videos of court proceedings, which she posted across social media platforms to stir controversy and intimidate Judges,
went scot-free. Without charge.

As the 10th October date draws near, it is expedient to caution public vigilance. For IPOB it is always well planned and orchestrated to malign and incite malicious actions, particularly hostile propaganda, against Judges and those on the prosecuting side. It shouldn't surprise if Kanu begins to feign illness, and begins to spread blackmail that the British government is conspiring with the Nigerian government. These antics are his stock in trade.

However, it should be known that the Supreme Court, in its judgment, held that the manner Kanu was
brought back to the country should not be an issue; and therefore,
ordered the continuation of Kanu’s trial. Kanu himself once stated in an
interview with journalists on 24th September, 2024, that he fully commits to the constitutional provision that any determination made by
the Supreme Court is binding and supercedes all rulings on the said subject by any lower Court.


Amnesty International (AI) in its report of 13th August 2025, A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South -East Nigeria
estimates that "between January 2021 and June 2023, about 1,844 people
were killed in the South-East region of Nigeria.” The report also cites several attacks on security agents by gunmen, leading to the unlawful killing of security agents and residents. AI further documented several cases of killings in different areas in the South-East by so-called
“unknown gunmen,” cult groups, IPOB, and its militant arm, the ESN.

Nnamdi Kanu cannot then absolve himself of bloodletting or innocent lost
souls, which by all standards in Nigeria, is a massive case to answer.
He might as well show up honourably on 10th October. This time, it’s a call for justice for scores of death and destruction of property caused by MNK in the South East, it is also a test of our dear nations judicial system. No amount of blackmail should sway justice for the slain. The judiciary must stand firm, and rule of law should be top most.

Chimenze Emelizie writes from Owerri, Imo State