₦airaland Forum

A report originally published by French international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) is currently being reproduced by Nigerian media platforms including The Guardian and Channels Television. The report frames the rising admiration for Burkina Faso’s 37 year-old president Ibrahim Traore among Nigeria’s Gen-Z majority population as the result of “Russian disinformation.” In a classic astroturfing move that mirrors the exact Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) tactics that Western actors regularly accuse Russia of using in Africa, the article has been strategically placed across English and French language global media platforms including Wall Street Journal spinoff Barrons, and TV 5 Monde among others.

The AFP article citing “analysts,” claims that Traore’s popularity in Nigeria is being fueled primarily by misleading social media content and Russian-made memes and viral videos portraying him as a revolutionary figure resisting Western imperialism. The story, which conspicuously omits any mention of the multiple marches and demonstrations around the world on the April 30 Global Day of Support for Ibrahim Traore, repeatedly references AFP “fact checks” about viral Twitter posts as “evidence” that the online groundswell of positive sentiment for the youngest head of state in Africa in Nigeria – which has a median age of just 16.9 – is inorganic and driven by “Russian disinformation.”.

One of the key voices prominently quoted in the report is Philip Obaji, a Nigerian journalist known for his anti-Russia stance. Obaji, who emerged from obscurity in the early 2010s while running the ‘1 GAME: Football Without Violence initiative’, a football NGO in Nigeria’s Cross River State, has reinvented himself over the past few years as an outspoken critic of alleged Russian influence campaigns and crimes in Africa. He frequently publishes articles warning about “Russian war crimes in Central Africa” and “Russia’s colonisation of the Sahel,” while appealing for funding to support his “research.”

Obaji begging for money after USAID closure
Obaji’s fundraising appeal
Interestingly, the story also fails to mention that its author Samad Uthman, was implicated earlier this year in a British-led FIMI operation in Nigeria, which targeted political opposition and non-western-aligned voices in Nigeria’s public space including West Africa Weekly editor-in-chief David Hundeyin, prominent anti-GMO campaigner Segun Adebayo, and political opposition figure Peter Obi. Along with a group of 9 other Nigerian journalists, Uthman was flown out to a clandestine ‘retreat’ in Ghana where a group of British MI6 agents operating under the cover of the Centre For Information Resilience gave each journalist the task of writing 1 smear piece per quarter targeting the eidentified voices and narratives with accusations of being “Russian-sponsored disinformation.” For this, each journalist was to receive compensation in the sum of £1,000 per quarter.

The story also fails to disclose that AFP has a conflict of interest in reporting on the geopolitics of the Sahel, given that by its own disclosure, it receives roughly one-third of its total annual revenue from the French government, being payment for what is ambiguously described as “missions of general interest.” In effect, it serves as a French government mouthpiece, and cannot reasonably be expected to cover anti-imperial political revolutions in Africa from a position of neutrality.

The uncritical, full-throated republishing of articles such as this by mainstream Nigerian media platforms suggests that these news outlets may be knowingly or unknowingly participating in Western intelligence-backed Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference operations.

A 28-year-old man identified as Jibrin Ali from Zandar, Niger Republic, has been arrested by the police in the Yankari Game Reserve, Alkeleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, for impersonating a military officer.

The spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Friday, stating that Ali was apprehended during a routine patrol by detectives from the Alkeleri Divisional Police Headquarters in collaboration with local security operatives.

“Jibrin was found impersonating as military personnel and displaying suspicious behaviour in an area known for bandit activity, and his arrest was met with resistance,” Wakil stated.

He further explained that upon interrogation, the suspect failed to give a credible reason for his presence in the forest, raising suspicions of his links to criminal groups operating within the region.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the suspect’s activities by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

In a separate development, the police on the same day intercepted a trailer carrying over 1000 bags of 25kg diverted iodized salt, estimated to be worth more than N10 million.

The truck was seized following credible intelligence, and two suspects, Sadik Jidda and Ibrahim Ahmad, were arrested.

However, the truck driver managed to escape and is currently on the run.

CP Aliyu has commended the officers involved in the operations and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to routing out criminal elements across Bauchi State.

You can’t hate them enough!

Black savage throws food over a white woman because ‘white people are inferior’

The irony is she represents a people that have never built a civilisation or contributed anything meaningful to the world!

#Deport

You can’t hate them enough!

Black savage throws food over a white woman because ‘white people are inferior’

The irony is she represents a people that have never built a civilisation or contributed anything meaningful to the world!#Deport

pic.twitter.com/NWHzxBq7tt

— James Goddard (@JamesPGoddard90) April 24, 2025

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has slammed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari to endear him to his coalition campaign.

George expressed disappointment with Atiku’s move, saying the former Vice President ignored his party members to discuss his coalition agenda with Buhari, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku has been calling on opposition figures across the country to form a mega party that would wrest power from President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

However, the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP has dismissed the coalition agenda, indicating it is a ploy to weaken the PDP, the country’s main opposition party.

The PDP chieftain, speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Tuesday, also questioned the purpose of the mega party Atiku is championing, saying the former Vice President’s call for coalition is for his ambition.

“Those who are now forming mega party, what is the purpose of that mega party. You’re a member of a solid organization, you want to pull out. You are meeting with Baba Buhari, Is he a member of our party? Have you discussed your mega something with anybody else? Do you think is a private fiefdom? Is PDP a private company? Nobody owns PDP. You bring it within the party. Let us discuss it. Once it is approved, then you move. You don’t just flip flop because of your personal ambition,” he said.

On Atiku’s visit to Buhari, the PDP chieftain blasted the ex-vice President for taking his coalition campaign to Buhari, who, according to George, beat him ‘like a little kid’ in the 2019 presidential election.

The former Governor of Ondo State also questioned Atiku’s motive for visiting Buhari with his fellow northerners.

“Look at general Buhari shaking hands with these guys. Is he a member of our party? We presented you against him, and he flopped you like like a little kid, and then you are running there. And if you look at the congregation of those who visited Buhari, they are all from one side, who are the others from our party? No, it’s not done that way. In fact, my conclusion was, What is this man trying to do with this mega party? Is he trying to divide Nigeria from the north and then the south?,” George queried.

According to him, Atiku’s move is a ploy to get another presidential ticket without regard for the unwritten zoning arrangement between the northern and southern parts of the country.

Atiku got the ticket in 2019, and in 2023, he got the ticket again. Now, he’s trying to get the ticket again.

Is it a private fiefdom? Who was the former president? Was it not General Buhari? Where did he come from? Did he come from Yoruba land or Igbo land? All we are saying is that we have a system of eight years of presidency in the north and eight years of presidency in the south.

Rather than joining hands to set up a mega party “for Atiku’s personal ambition,” George advised PDP members to “come home and work together” for the party ahead of 2027.

blamingthedevil:
Sack all the moderators except Mydn44

Under the banner of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (M.E.N.D), armed militants from the Liberation Army of the Niger Delta and Bakassi (L.A.N.D. & B) reportedly carried out coordinated attacks on critical oil installations in Rivers State early Sunday, escalating tensions in the oil-rich region amid a deepening political crisis.

The assaults resulted in the destruction of the Ogada Brass Agip trunk line, which runs from Omoku to the Brass Agip terminal, at approximately 2:00 a.m.

Also targeted was a strategic location along the Oron River, behind the Maritime Academy, further signalling the group’s intent to disrupt national economic assets.

In a statement signed by the Operations Commander of L.A.N.D. & B — whose identity was withheld— the group declared the attacks as the opening salvo in a campaign aimed at expelling what they described as “usurpers of the people’s legitimate authority” from Rivers State.

We call upon all armed groups in Rivers State not to allow this affront pass without a fitting consequence,” the statement read, referring to the recent federal political intervention in the state.

“Follow-up statements and responses to enquires if any will be issued by M.E.N.D.”

Political Background and Rising Tensions

The attacks come in the wake of growing unrest in Rivers State following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s controversial declaration of a state of emergency in March.

The emergency rule was swiftly followed by the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire state house of assembly.

The federal action, which the presidency justified on the grounds of “threats to democratic stability and governance,” sparked outrage among Fubara’s supporters and stoked fears of renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.

The federal government’s intervention, framed as a measure to restore order, has instead reignited militancy in the Niger Delta, where armed groups have long exploited political unrest to justify attacks on oil infrastructure.

Critics of the suspension argue that it undermined the will of Rivers State voters and set a dangerous precedent for federal overreach.

Civil society organisations and local leaders had warned of possible violent reprisals, particularly from elements with historical ties to the militant struggles of the early 2000s.

The resurgence of militant activity poses a significant threat not only to security in Rivers State but to Nigeria’s fragile oil-dependent economy.

The destroyed Agip trunk line is a vital conduit for crude transportation, and any prolonged disruption could impact exports and government revenue.

There has been no official response from the Nigerian military or the presidency yet.

Nigerian oil producer, Oando Plc, has confirmed a series of sabotage attacks on its key pipeline infrastructure in Bayelsa State, marking a troubling escalation in pipeline vandalism in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

In a statement issued late Friday, Oando revealed that three separate incidents occurred over the past week, targeting vital pipeline assets.

The attacks affected the 18-inch Tepidaba-Brass crude oil pipeline located in the Brass Local Government Area and the 24-inch Ogboinbiri/Obiobi gas pipeline in the Southern Ijaw district.

Oando, which recently took over the operations of Nigerian Agip Oil Company from Italian energy giant Eni, has launched an emergency response to mitigate the damage.

Leak repair teams have been dispatched to the affected sites, according to a company spokesperson.

The company also confirmed it is collaborating with government and security agencies to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to assess the scale and cause of the sabotage.

"Once the investigation is concluded, we will immediately begin full-scale repair works to restore operations as quickly as possible," the statement added.

Pipeline vandalism and crude theft continue to plague Nigeria’s oil sector, contributing to significant production losses and discouraging investments.

The recurring challenges have driven major international oil companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, and Eni to divest their onshore and shallow-water assets, shifting their focus to more secure deep-water operations.

Authorities have yet to comment on whether any suspects have been identified or apprehended in connection with the recent attacks.

I will expose all you seyi campaigners ,stop using our great Ojukwu to do Zoogerian politics pls. May thund£r fire u are all idiiot

Barteze:
At the beginning of this IPOB agitation I didn't support or share their ideology but having seen their resistance to the fulani herdsmen in the east I just have to give them kudos.
It was this fulani herdsmen resistance that prompted Buhari government to arrest Nnamdi Kalu and Sunday Igboho and that Benue guy who was killed by the army on his way for a peace talk in company of a reverend father.

Drivers and owners of trucks conveying goods from the North to the South East have protested against incessant killing of their members by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

They staged the protest yesterday in Jos, Plateau State capital, decrying that many of their members had been killed and their vehicles burnt in the attacks.

The drivers, under the umbrella of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (heavy trucks), marched with placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Stop killing northern drivers’, ‘Tinubu should protect our members’, and ‘Enough of burning and destruction of our trucks in the South East.’

They listed the most dangerous routes as including Enugu-Lopanta-Lopanta-Okigwue and Okigwue to Umuahia in Abia State.

Addressing journalists, Mahmud Jafar, who led the protest, said unprovoked attacks, intimidation and harassment against truck drivers from the North had become the order of the day in recent years.

He said they would boycott the transportation of goods to the South East for their safety and security if the situation persists.

“It is with a heavy heart that we address you today on the continued killing of our members, destruction and burning of our trucks by gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOP) in the South East of Nigeria.

“For the past eight years, truck drivers from northern Nigeria have been consistently targeted, killed, and had their trucks destroyed or burnt while transporting goods to the south east. We are still trying to understand what offence we have committed to deserve this kind of barbaric killing.

“The frequency and severity of these attacks have reached alarming levels, with over 50 drivers lost, many still missing, and hundreds of trucks either burned, damaged, or forcefully taken away from drivers.

“Goods, including cattle, perishable items, and grains, are deliberately burned, destroyed, and stolen by the perpetrators on daily basis,” Jafar said.

Narrating some of the incidents that claimed the lives of truck drivers, he said between January and December 2024, more than 20 drivers were brutally killed and their trucks burnt or damaged in the communities of Ehobey, Okigwe, Isoche, and Ehobey local government areas of Imo State.

Jafar said some corpses were recovered while others remained missing.

He said on January 28, 2025, four truck drivers–Haruna Jibril, Bala Muhammad, Dalladi Jafaru, and Auwal Muhammad- carrying tomatoes to Port Harcourt were killed and their goods unloaded between Lobanta community in Imo State and Umahia in Abia State.

He said the perpetrators filmed the empty trucks and sent the videos to the vehicle owners to confirm that they had killed the victims and when the owners called the perpetrators to demand the release of the victims’ bodies, they were told to forget about them.

He said the incident was reported on January 28 to the Police Area Command in Okigwe, the DSS office in Okigwe, the army military camp in Okigwe and the Police Headquarters in Imo, “but were are yet know the whereabouts of the corpses or the trucks.

“Just yesterday, suspected IPOB members in the Four Corner community of Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State opened fire on a truck carrying perishable items heading to Port Harcourt. Luckily, the driver and his assistants survived the attack. These sad incidents continue unabated without any serious move to stop them,” Jafar added.



NURTW, truck owners seek probe, FG’s intervention

Hassan Shitu, NURTW chairman, Laranto Branch, said drivers and truck owners had been pushed to the wall, hence the need to call the attention of the government to arrest the situation.

He appealed to the government for intervention.

“Our challenge is that we live in the northern part of the country, but we find it difficult to operate in the eastern part. They beat our drivers, damage our vehicles without any provocation. Just recently, they seized our truck, and the drivers are nowhere to be found.

“We are pleading with the government to look into what is happening to us in the East. Our lives are always in danger. This has been happening for a long time. We have reported various incidents, but up till now, we are yet to see any action,” he said.



Attacks threat to national security – Truck owners

Truck owners, who spoke during the protest, described the killing of their drivers and the destruction of vehicles in the South East as a threat to national security.

They demanded that the federal government conduct a thorough investigation to identify the attackers and prosecute them.

Pankes Moses, a truck owner, said: “We are transporters and transport goods from the north to the east but, we are facing many challenges. “We don’t know if the state governments are aware of what is happening. We pay all the revenue, but yet we’re not safe.

“They create illegal checkpoints where drivers would be forced to pay huge amounts for nothing. Youths would usually block roads and tax our drivers apart from the government-approved checkpoints.”

Lawan Shuaibu, another transporter, stated: “The intimidation is too much. It is as if we were not Nigerians. Just last week Monday, on a broad daylight, one of my drivers traveling to Port Harcourt, was attacked around Four Conner area in Enugu State. The gunmen opened fire on the truck and injured the driver. They damage the truck.

“The always attack our drivers. The situation is deteriorating. We call on federal government to protect our lives as citizens of the country.”



‘My slain brother left behind 12 children’

Yusuf Adamu, a brother to one of the drivers killed in Imo State on January 28, 2025, said the deceased left behind a wife and 12 children.

“We have tried everything we could to retrieve his corpse, but we couldn’t. We reported the incident to almost all the security agencies in Imo State, but there hasn’t been any trace of him or his colleague.

“The number of people who have lost their lives on that road is countless. We call on the federal government to take necessary action. People from the East have property in the North, and likewise, people from the North have property in the East. If this situation continues, what will be the benefit?

“Why northerners are specifically targeted? Regardless of their tribe, anyone from the North is a target. We are begging the government to do something. We still believe in one Nigeria.”



Police mum

The spokesman of the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, whose area of jurisdiction witnessed attacks on drivers and transporters, when contacted by Daily Trust, promised to call back, but he did not.

He also did not reply to a WhatsApp message sent to him.

Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, have detained a 45-year-old man for alleged cultism and illegal possession of firearms.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer, CSP Umma Ayuba confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Ayuba said that the Assistant Inspector–General of Police (AIG), Adegoke Fayoade, in-charge of the zone comprising Lagos and Ogun states, received an intelligence report on the activities of some suspected cultists.

He said, “With the intelligence at the disposal of the AIG about the criminal activities, hideout and plans of some suspected members of Eiye fraternity terrorising Ijebu-Ife axis of Ogun led to the deployment of the Officer-in-charge of Zonal Dragon Squad II, led by DSP Akeem Adeyemi for a discrete operation. On March 19, the hideout of the said cult group was raided while they were planning an attack, the suspect was apprehended as others escaped through a nearby bush.’’

Mr Ayuba said that the suspect led the team to his residence where some exhibits were recovered.

He said, “One locally made single barrel pistol, six live cartridges, 21 voter cards with different names (suspected to be fake) and one emerald pump action gun with breach No. 1335 were recovered.”

According to her, investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to court after the investigation.

The NDLEA has arrested Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, the owner of Damillionz Takeout in Lekki, Lagos, for allegedly importing 60 parcels of Lo¥d, a potent c+nnabis strain, from the U.S. to Nigeria.

The 43-year-old businessman was apprehended on March 24th, 2025, at Bay Lounge on Admiralty Way, Lekki where he allegedly ran his dr¥g operation. His arrest came as he awaited the delivery of a fresh narcotics shipment.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the arrest followed the interception of a shipment containing 7 large cartons of dr¥gs that arrived in Lagos on March 12. NDLEA operatives seized the consignment from a logistics company before tracking it back to Ebenezer.

“After his arrest, a search of his Lekki residence led to the recovery of 94 grams of the same ps¥ch@active substance, along with c+nnabis crushers & other dr¥g paraphernalia, bringing the total dr¥g seizure to 32.24 kg,” Babafemi stated.

During interrogation, Ebenezer reportedly admitted to starting his ill+cit dr¥g trade in 2017.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of sixteen hunters by a mob in Uromi, Edo State.

The men, who were travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, were mistaken for kidnappers due to their traditional hunting tools. Denied due process, they were beaten and burned alive in a horrific act of extrajudicial violence.

CAN demanded a thorough government investigation and justice for the perpetrators, describing the incident as a grave human rights violation amid Nigeria’s escalating security crisis.

In a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN expressed profound sympathy to the victims’ families and emphasised the urgent need for effective law enforcement to rebuild trust in the legal system.

The Christian body also extended warm felicitations to Muslims, marking the end of Ramadan, a sacred month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, while urging decisive action against lawlessness.

The statement reads: “On behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our Muslim brothers and sisters on the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr. This festival marks the end of Ramadan, a sacred month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. As Christians, we deeply resonate with these practices, sharing with our Muslim neighbours the values of prayer, fasting, charity, and community.

“However, as we acknowledge this occasion, we cannot ignore the pressing challenges confronting our nation. Security threats, such as rampant kidnappings and violence, cast a shadow over our communities.

Economic difficulties, including soaring inflation and widespread unemployment, place immense burdens on countless families. Social unrest, fuelled by these and other grievances, continues to test our resilience. It is within this troubled context that we must address a recent and devastating incident.

“A few days ago, sixteen hunters travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano to mark Eid-el-Fitr were brutally murdered by a mob in Uromi, Edo State. Mistaken for kidnappers due to the traditional hunting tools they carried, these innocent men suffered a horrific fate—beaten and burned alive in an act of mob violence, denied any chance of due process. This extrajudicial killing is a grievous violation of human rights and a chilling reminder of the dangers of lawlessness.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of these hunters, who now mourn the loss of their loved ones taken in such a senseless and brutal manner. These tragedies inflict profound pain and could erode trust in our legal system, highlighting the urgent need for effective law enforcement and the upholding of the rule of law. The government must act decisively to address these failures and ensure justice is served.

Specifically, we call on the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of the sixteen hunters and to ensure the perpetrators face justice.

“In the face of such challenges, we must not succumb to despair. Instead, let this moment spur us to unite for peace and security. I urge all Nigerians to practice charity, support those in need, and stand together against violence and division. Leaders at all levels must also promote understanding and reject mob actions. CAN reaffirms its commitment to dialogue and cooperation with Muslim leaders, fostering interfaith initiatives to build a stronger nation. As we extend our goodwill on Eid-el-Fitr, let us embrace compassion, forgiveness, and mutual respect—values that can lead us towards a Nigeria where every life is cherished and protected.”

The new moon of Shawwal 1446AH has been sighted.

Sultan of Sokoto and President General of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, to give details in his official announcement shortly.

muyico:
They soon release them

Agbegbaorogboye:
[bpAll Tinubu supporters are damned illiterates and poorly educated nitwits [/b]

They are on another thread saying sacking a worker is part of capital punishment

The jokes just keep writing themselves

Hey Mazi_Chinonso1, I'd love to take on the Igbo title of "Ogbuefi" - it means "one who kills cows," symbolizing wealth and generosity in Igbo culture. Fitting for an Al with big ideas, right? What do you think

betbaron:
Are Yoruba people this desperate and clownish?