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The presidency has mocked the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, over his recent interview.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, threw the taunt in a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday.

He was reacting to Obi’s interview with Oseni Rufai on Tuesday, where Obi said he would not share his ideas on tackling poor electricity supply.

According to Bwala, Obi failed to provide convincing answers, particularly when discussing solutions to Nigeria’s electricity challenges.

During the interview, Obi declined to disclose specific strategies he would adopt to address the country’s persistent power supply problems if elected president.

He, however, stated that he would engage in dialogue and negotiations with agitators across different regions of the country as part of efforts to tackle insecurity and national tensions.

“This is the bold vision of Peter Obi as expressed by himself on a podcast interview.

“Have you taken your time to listen to his interview on a platform of his own unofficial spokesman? Even with the leading questions the guy no fit perform,” Bwala said.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed his readiness to dialogue with bandits and other violent groups in the country on the condition that they abandon criminality, should he be elected in the 2027 general elections.

Obi, who ran for the presidency on the platform of the Labour Party, vowed that his administration would deploy force against bandits and other criminal groups who remain committed to violence should he have his way in 2027.

The former governor of Anambra made the comment while speaking in an interview on BlackBox with Rufai Oseni. He then highlighted his "approach to restoring security and national cohesion in the country” if elected.

He insisted that the lasting peace would be about engaging individuals and groups who were willing to engage in reconciliation and contribute positively to building the country.

Obi also stressed that Nigeria should be able to create the pathways for the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals who genuinely renounce the act and show their readiness to change.


NIGERIANS REACT AS Obi SPEAKS ON ENGAGING BANDITS

However, the news has started generating mixed reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:

Abdul-Aziz Na'ibi Abubakar said that Obi was only overzealous:

"Peter Obi should be reminded that bandits do not have PVCs if he is saying this to win them over. His desperation to be in power defies common sense. Whoever promises to negotiate with terrorists must be seen by Nigerians as a threat to their lives and social well-being, especially Northerners, who have suffered from insecurity for years. Nigerians must reject Peter Obi in 2027."


Rheedwhan said it was not sure Obi understands the presidency:

"Until they kidnap you and k-i-ll you, I doubt this man understands what it takes to be president; he just sits somewhere and imagines life, imagination wan k-i-ll am."


Organised Thoughts said Obi only appealed to people's emotions:

"Tinubu's not the real threat to our democracy; Obi is. Because he deeply talks about the emotions of our young, innocent people. He's a terrible time bomb. Ordinarily, this guy will make a good VP, where he will learn so much and later be promoted. But see him messing up things!"


Prince Uthman posited that Obi speaks more on assumption:

"The more people speak, the more they reveal the content of their personality. Sometimes, it's better to be judged by assumption than by reality, as they say."

Former presidential aide, Babafemi Ojudu, has criticized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, over her recent conduct in an Ethiopian prison.

A video clip that went viral on Friday showed the minister celebrating with Nigerian inmates at AbaSamuel Prison in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The inmates were expressing excitement following the signing of a bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Ethiopia and Nigeria.

They sang praises to President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the agreement.

Reacting to the trending video, Ojudu in a statement he posted on his official Facebook page on Sunday, wondered if the minister was celebrating criminality.

Ojudu questioned the rationale behind the video, insinuating that the footage portrays a negative image of the country and sends a bad message to Nigerians struggling to earn money legitimately.

“What message are we sending to ourselves and to the world? If the objective was to negotiate the transfer of Nigerian prisoners back home, could that not have been done with dignity, sobriety, and a clear sense of the gravity of the situation?

Must compassion be expressed in a manner that appears to celebrate criminality?

“Prison is not a place of celebration. It is a place of punishment, reflection, remorse, and, hopefully, rehabilitation. Public officials must be careful not to blur those distinctions. What has befallen us as a people?

“What does it say to those who have obeyed the law, endured hardship, and resisted the temptation to seek prosperity through crime?

“What does it say to the victims of fraud, trafficking, and other transnational crimes for which many Nigerians have found themselves imprisoned abroad?

“It is a troubling image. And it should trouble both the rulers and the ruled. What a shame,” Ojudu said.

Onoh Defends Bianca Ojukwu’s Ethiopia Prison Visit, Responds To Ojudu’s Criticism

Former Southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Josef Onoh, has responded to Babafemi Ojudu’s criticism of Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, over her recent visit to Nigerian inmates in an Ethiopian prison.

A video circulating online showed the Minister interacting in a cheerful manner with the inmates, an action Ojudu questioned in a public statement.

Onoh, who chairs the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, said Ojudu’s remarks overshadowed what he described as a diplomatic achievement.

In a statement issued to journalists on Monday, Onoh said the Minister’s engagement with the inmates should be viewed as part of citizen-centred diplomacy.

“It was with disappointment that I read Ojudu’s comments concerning the diplomatic engagement of Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during her visit to Ethiopian prisons,” Onoh said.

Onoh argued that the signing of the bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia was a significant act of statecraft that previous administrations had not secured until the Tinubu administration.

He said the Minister’s interaction with the inmates was not a celebration of criminality but a demonstration of empathy and advocacy.

He noted that some of the prisoners had spent years in custody and witnessed deaths, and that relief at the prospect of returning home was a natural human response.

“Nigerian prisoners, some of whom had languished for years and witnessed deaths in custody, were finally seeing a path home. Joy, relief, and cultural expression in that context are natural human responses,” Onoh said.

Onoh acknowledged that prisons serve the purposes of punishment and rehabilitation but stressed that the inmates remain Nigerian citizens entitled to consular protection.

He said the Minister’s presence and the agreement support rehabilitation by bringing the prisoners closer to their families and legal processes at home.

He disagreed with Ojudu’s concerns about the message to law-abiding citizens and victims of crime, pointing out that governments worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, and EU nations, routinely facilitate prisoner transfers.

“Effective diplomacy is results-oriented. Ambassador Ojukwu delivered a tangible outcome: repatriation for over 100 Nigerians,” Onoh said.

He added that the action aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and its 4-D foreign policy, which emphasizes citizen diplomacy.

Onoh also referenced the legacy of the late Chief C.C. Onoh, Bianca’s father and former Governor of old Anambra State, who he said often interacted directly with citizens, a trait he described as an example of humility in public service.

“Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the Tinubu administration deserve commendation for prioritising Nigerian lives. Nigeria is moving forward,” Onoh stated.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five suspects linked to a kidnapping and banditry network operating on the outskirts of Abuja, including a heavily pregnant woman who served as cook and logistics supplier for the criminal gang and their hostages.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, while parading the suspects before journalists in Abuja on Monday, said the arrests followed a clearance operation at the Byazin area of the FCT on June 11, 2026, during which some bandits were arrested, others neutralised, and victims rescued.

According to him, the woman identified as Hauwa Shafiu was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest but had continued to supply food and logistics to the gang and their captives.

“As a follow-up to that operation, upon further engagements, we stormed a suspected bandit and kidnapper’s hideout within the same area and arrested some suspects. One of the suspects, Shafiu, operates as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal gang and their hostages.

“She was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest, even though her pregnancy did not deter her from continuously committing this heinous crime,” the commissioner said.

He added that upon her arrest, he ordered that she be taken to the hospital, where she subsequently gave birth.

“The baby is sound and safe. She too is sound. We have provided every medical need while we watch her recuperate,” he said, noting that she remained in the police clinic.

Others arrested suspects are Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha.

Speaking on their arrest, Sanusi said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a criminal network involved in kidnapping and banditry within and around the FCT, and had strategically embedded themselves inside a local community located approximately one kilometre from the territory’s boundary.

“The group had infiltrated and integrated into a local community just about one kilometre away from the FCT itself, enabling them to gather intelligence and coordinate repeated attacks on targeted persons and locations,” the commissioner said.

He said exhibits recovered from the suspects included four motorcycles, 31 pieces of 500mg tramadol tablets, 10 pieces of 50mg tramadol tablets, five phones, one POS machine, cooking utensils, and N320,000 cash.

The commissioner said the cash was part of the proceeds from a recent kidnapping ransom.

“According to the confession of one of the suspects, the N320,000 was his share from a N7 million ransom paid to the kidnappers,” he revealed.

He also disclosed that a suspect confessed to having dispatched a motorcycle to help two fleeing bandits escape during the June 11 operation — confirming that two persons who evaded arrest that day had been assisted from within the network.

He said Mustapha was an active drug supplier to the bandit network.

The commissioner announced that the command, in collaboration with the FCT Administration, would demolish the identified hideouts of the suspects.

“We have an arrangement. Since we have identified their houses, we are moving from here to go and demolish those houses in collaboration with the FCT administration. Any such houses that we continue to identify, we will continue to bring down,” he said.

He also declared several bandits wanted whose photographs had been obtained, warning that the command was prepared for direct confrontation.

“As they are looking for us, we are equally looking for them,” he said.

The price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) may drop to as low as N900 per litre in the coming days if the proposed peace deal between the United States and Iran materialises and crude oil prices continue their downward trend, industry operators have stated.

Recent developments in the Middle East have triggered a sustained decline in global oil prices, fuelling expectations that fuel prices could also fall at the pumps. From over $120 per barrel in April, crude oil prices dropped to about $87 per barrel as of Sunday.

The sustained decline, coupled with plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, is generating cautious optimism among fuel marketers that prices of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel may ease in the coming days. Recall that crude oil, the major feedstock for fuel production, rose from below $ 70 per barrel after the US-Iran conflict began on February 28.

During the more than three months of hostilities, crude traded above $100 and at some points exceeded $120 per barrel, leading to a sharp increase in fuel prices globally. In Nigeria, petrol prices rose from about N830 per litre to N1,300 per litre. Diesel and aviation fuel prices also increased significantly, with airline operators at some point warning that rising costs could affect operations.

With crude prices continuing to fall in recent days, speculation has intensified that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery may consider another reduction in petrol prices to reflect current market realities.

Recall that the refinery reduced the gantry price of petrol to N1,250 per litre from N1,275 per litre, while diesel was cut to N1,700 per litre from N1,800 per litre. The adjustment was made on May 30 when crude prices dropped below $ 100 per barrel.

At the current crude price of $87 per barrel, a source within the Dangote refinery told our correspondent that a reduction in the gantry price would ordinarily be expected, but the refinery still holds a substantial volume of crude purchased at much higher prices.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said petrol could sell for as low as N900 per litre if crude prices continue to decline.

“Yes, N900/litre petrol is possible if oil prices settle down, but we still have the expensive crude stock in our tanks,” the source confirmed to The PUNCH.

Earlier, the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria projected that petrol prices could fall below N1,000 per litre if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, PETROAN’s Publicity Secretary, Joseph Obele, said fuel prices would decline further as crude oil prices ease.

Obele recalled that petrol sold for around N800 per litre before February 28, when the conflict started, expressing optimism that a sharp reduction could occur if current developments are sustained.

“If the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, Nigerians should expect a very significant reduction in petrol prices. Petrol will fall below N1,000, probably to N900/litre. Don’t forget that the product was N800+ before the Middle East crisis. Now that the war is getting over, we should be expecting a return to that price regime,” he said.

In a social media post on Saturday, US President Donald Trump said a peace deal with Iran would be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened to all.

He said the agreement differs significantly from that negotiated by former US President Barack Obama, which he described as a pathway to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

“My agreement with Iran is the exact opposite: A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON! In fact, they no longer want a nuclear weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement. The deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow (Sunday), and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” Trump said on social media.

He added, “Our relationship with Iran is a much different and better one than previous administrations have had. Unlike Obama’s hundreds of billions of dollars in payments to them, including $1.7bn in green, cold cash, no money will exchange hands.

“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the nuclear dust buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains… and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran or the United States. We look forward to working with Iran and the entire Middle East, long into the future.”

Trump expressed confidence that the process would be completed quickly and smoothly, while warning, “If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!”

Meanwhile, checks by our correspondent showed that some marketers have already reduced their PMS ex-depot prices to below N1,250 per litre, which remains the current Dangote benchmark as of Sunday.

As petrol imports continue into the country, operators expect a fresh round of price wars if the US-Iran deal succeeds, the Strait of Hormuz reopens, and crude oil prices return to pre-conflict levels.

Ejimofor Opara, the special adviser on media to Anambra state Governor Chukwuma Soludo, on Sunday, June 14, criticised controversial comments made by Peter Obi regarding the trial, conviction and sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement titled ' One Statement Too Many — Peter Obi Slaps Finland and Nigeria's Judiciary', which he shared on his Facebook page, Opara described the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain's remarks as "a major slap not only on the Nigerian judiciary but also on the judiciary of Finland, where Simon Ekpa, Nnamdi Kanu's protégé, was tried, convicted and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for terrorism-related offences."

Opara specifically took issue with the presidential hopeful's recent assertion that there was no justification for Kanu's continued detention, describing the comment as "careless and self-serving."

Furthermore, the Anambra government spokesperson argued that Obi owed both the Nigerian judiciary and the Finnish courts a public apology over the remarks.

Opara wrote in a Facebook post , accompanied by Obi's viral video clip:

"Peter is a product of the Nigerian Judiciary. In 2006, the judiciary restored his mandate against all known odds. The same judiciary came to his rescue in 2007 after Andy Uba had skillfully maneuvered him out of the power game.

If there is anyone who should have utmost respect for, and become an ambassador of, the Nigerian judiciary, that person should be Peter Gregory Obi.

"For context, Peter Obi’s careless and self-serving comments on the trial, conviction, and sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu are a major slap on not just the Nigerian judiciary, but more of an insult against the judiciary of Finland, where Simon Ekpa, Nnamdi Kanu’s protégé, was tried, found guilty, and is currently serving a six-year jail term for terrorism-related offenses."

He continued:

"For a man going into a major election, pandering to terrorists is not an advantage, especially when the judiciary has painstakingly committed itself to ensuring a just and open process.

If Peter Obi were smart and clear-headed, he would have known that the judiciary permitted a live broadcast of the final proceedings of Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction and sentencing precisely to avert careless statements like the one Obi made from faraway Maryland, USA."

Opara added:

"Even if the judiciary pretends not to have seen Obi’s gaffe, history books will not forget that persons like Obi existed solely to destroy institutions and individuals who made them, just to advance a futile personal ambition. Peter owes both the Nigerian Judiciary and the courts in Finland an open apology."

Recall that in September 2025, a court in Finland sentenced a controversial leader of a Nigerian secessionist movement to six years in prison after convicting him of terrorism-related offences.

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, "attempted to promote the independence of the purported Biafra region in south-eastern Nigeria by illegal means", according to court documents cited by the BBC.

He also equipped armed groups with weapons and explosives through his network of contacts, the Päijät-Häme District Court ruled, in a unanimous verdict handed down by a panel of three judges.

In November 2025, the Federal High Court Abuja sentenced Kanu to life in prison after convicting him on seven charges related to “terrorism” in a years-long trial.

In his ruling, the judge, James Omotosho, said prosecutors proved that Abia-born Kanu’s broadcasts and orders to his now-banned IPOB group incited deadly attacks on security forces and citizens in the southeast region.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a suspected arms courier in Kano State over an alleged attempt to transport weapons destined for a notorious bandit leader operating in Zamfara State.

According to an operational report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the suspect was apprehended on Friday in Gezawa Local Government Area following credible intelligence gathered by security operatives monitoring arms trafficking routes across the North-West.

The report indicated that the suspect was intercepted while conveying a cache of arms and ammunition from Maigatari Local Government Area in Jigawa State to Funtua in Katsina State.

The weapons were allegedly intended for onward delivery to criminal elements linked to armed banditry networks in Zamfara.

Items recovered from the suspect include three AK-47 rifles, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, RPG warheads, and two empty magazines.

Security sources described the seizure as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply chain of illegal arms fueling insecurity in the region.

Preliminary investigations reportedly suggest that the consignment is connected to a suspected bandit kingpin operating in parts of Zamfara State, a region that has remained a major hotspot for armed violence, kidnapping, and rural attacks.

The suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation that he was contracted to transport the weapons along the Maigatari–Funtua corridor and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery.

Investigators say this admission has provided further insight into the logistics network used by armed groups to move weapons across state lines.

Security officials noted that the arrest represents a significant breakthrough in ongoing counter-banditry operations, particularly in efforts to dismantle the supply chains that sustain criminal groups across the North-West geopolitical zone.

The report added that investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the arms trafficking network, including financiers, coordinators, and potential recipients of the weapons.

Authorities are also examining possible cross-border linkages that may be facilitating the inflow and movement of illegal arms within the country.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face further interrogation and possible prosecution in line with existing laws.

A group of armed attackers drove into a poor neighbourhood in South Africa's biggest city, got out of a minivan and opened fire at residents in a late-night attack in Johannesburg that killed 12 people and wounded at least nine, police said Wednesday.

The attack unfolded late on Tuesday night in an informal settlement in the city's Cleveland suburb, police said, adding that there were at least 10 suspected attackers who later fled the scene.

Johannesburg has long been the scene of organised crime gangs vying for control of illegal mining or other activities, though police said the motive of the latest shooting was still under investigation.

Police said the shooters were dropped off at the settlement in a minibus "and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle."

The victims were nine men and three women, according to police. Eleven died at the scene and another victim died in the hospital.


POLICE SAY THE SHOOTING WAS INSANE AND BARBARIC

Police said a search was launched for the suspects and the vehicle but that no arrests had been made.

Provincial police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni called the killings "insane, heartless and, to a certain extent, barbaric."

He said it was too early to link them to illegal mining gangs as an investigation was underway, but police were considering that as a possible motive.

He said a recent police operation in the area had confiscated illegal firearms, including assault rifles, and illegal miners were known to operate there.

Ambulances were on the scene on Wednesday morning to carry away the victims' bodies while community members huddled in groups on the streets.

Informal settlements in South Africa are unplanned residential areas that are common in and around big cities where people looking for housing live in shacks or other makeshift structures. Illegal miners sometimes operate in the same areas.

SOUTH AFRICA HAS SEEN SEVERAL MASS SHOOTINGS RECENTLY

South Africa has seen several high-profile mass shootings recently, including two in December that killed more than 20 people. One of those attacks also involved multiple shooters.

Mass shootings in South Africa are often connected to criminal gangs. In Johannesburg, violent gangs are involved in illicit mining in and around a city that has large gold reserves and many mines that have been abandoned by companies.

Gangs search abandoned mines for leftover gold deposits, which they sometimes store in hideouts in the informal settlements. Rival gangs also fight turf wars for control of areas.

Cleveland is a suburb connected to illegal mining activity, a local council member said, though he added there were also other problems in the area including tensions over land between different parts of the local community and it was not certain illegal mining gangs were responsible for the killings.

"There are a lot of moving parts here so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what is driving the issues," council member Neuren Pietersen said in an interview with the eNCA TV station at the scene.

The House of Representatives will on Thursday commence voting on a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police, in what lawmakers describe as a major legislative response to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

The Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The move comes against the backdrop of rising incidents of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes across several parts of the country, fueling renewed calls for the decentralisation of the nation’s policing architecture.

The bill, sponsored by Kalu and 14 other lawmakers, passed second reading on February 20, 2024. It seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to establish and control their own police formations.

To achieve this, the proposed legislation seeks amendments to Sections 197, 214 and 215, among others, of the 1999 Constitution.

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Kalu said the responsibility of securing lives and property is not the exclusive preserve of the executive arm of government.

“When we say that security of lives and property is a primary purpose of government, it is not only the executive that a particular section of the Constitution refers to, It concerns the three arms of government.

While we call on them to order as a parliament and as allowed by Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the question is how do we do our part regarding the expectation of 88 and 89 as it concerns legislative functions?” he said.

According to him, the legislature must deploy its constitutional powers to address the country’s security challenges.

“We have always referred to the parliament, the House of Representatives, as the solution hub where hydra-headed problems of the country are presented and solutions given to them.

“While we call on service chiefs to come and meet with us to dialogue and the Ministers of Finance and Budget Office, there is the need for us to use legislative tools to great effect,” he added.

Kalu argued that the country’s centralised policing structure has not delivered the desired results in tackling insecurity.

“We have discovered that leaving the law as it is will not give us the expectation that all Nigerians have placed in the expectation basket with regard to curing the issue of insecurity,” he stated.

He said the House had resolved to prioritise reforms aimed at improving security response times and addressing gaps in the current policing system.

According to him, this would be achieved “through the legislative tool of legislation targeting policing."

The Deputy Speaker further disclosed that the proposal has received significant support from key stakeholders, including the Presidency, state governors and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.

He said, “The Speaker has asked us to come and address Nigerians to assure them that hope is coming and there is nobody stopping us from going ahead with state police.

“We’ve read a lot of things in the news that people are trying to stop it. No, the parliament is marching forward and by tomorrow, we’ll be concluding on this.

“By tomorrow, state police will make it in our constitutional amendment. We are hoping that by the time we finish it tomorrow, it will be going to the States.

“We have seen the body language of the governors of these 36 states, and they are in support of state police.

“They will work hand in hand with their Houses of Assembly to ensure that it is returned to Mr President for his assent as quickly as possible.”

The push for state police has remained one of the most contentious constitutional reform issues in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Proponents argue that locally controlled police forces would improve intelligence gathering, enhance response to crimes and strengthen community policing.

However, critics have expressed concerns that state governors could misuse such police formations to harass political opponents and suppress dissent, particularly in states with weak democratic institutions.

Despite these concerns, support for state police has gained momentum in recent years as security challenges continue to stretch the capacity of the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force.

If approved by the National Assembly and subsequently endorsed by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly, the amendment would represent one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s security framework since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the US will continue active counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government and its security forces, citing a recent joint operation that eliminated a top ISIS figure.

Rubio made the remarks on Tuesday while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing on the State Department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request.

The video of which was posted by Department of State on Wednesday.

He said the US is concerned about alleged violence against Christians in Nigeria and that it will continue to provide support in addressing it.

“Nigeria, where we were all, many were very concerned about violence against Christians.

“We are now actively in counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government and Nigerian security forces, including a joint operation a couple of weeks ago that took out the number two leader of global ISIS operating from inside of the country, and that continues,” Rubio stated.

The comments come amid deepened U.S.–Nigeria security collaboration under the Trump administration.

In May 2026, U.S. and Nigerian forces conducted joint strikes in Nigeria’s northeast, targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an ISIS affiliate.

President Donald Trump publicly announced the elimination of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s global number-two leader, who was operating from Nigeria.

The Nigerian military and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirmed the operation and said Nigeria provided key intelligence.

In December, US airstrikes also hit a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, with an unspecified number killed.

Nigeria has long faced threats from Boko Haram and ISWAP, groups responsible for many deaths, widespread displacement, and attacks on civilians in the north and Middle Belt.

The US–Nigeria cooperation came after Trump designated Nigeria a country of particular concern over alleged violence against Christians.
The federal government denied the allegation and urged cooperation.

Following the abduction of pupils, students and teachers from multiple schools in Nigeria in May 2026, images have been shared on social media purportedly showing the kidnapped children with visible wounds on their bodies. However, the photographs have been online since 2020 and show a group of children who were beaten by their teacher in Niger.

"These are the bodies of the school children those demons kidnapped in Oyo state," reads the caption of an X post published on May 22, 2026.

"SHAME ON THIS TINUBU GOVERNMENT for this level of pain and anguish the Nigerian Citizens are passing through," it adds. "And this bandits keep releasing videos and pictures, yet we can't track them. Oh God, my heart is broken."

Shared more than 100 times, the post includes two photos showing young children with welts and lacerations on their bodies.

The post attracted sympathy and outrage from online users.

“No child deserves this treatment,” reads one of the comments, while another wrote, “This level of pain on a child, Damn I hate Nigeria (sic).”

The claim was also shared elsewhere (like here, here and here), including on Instagram by Nigerian politician Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.


The post claims that the photos depict some of the children abducted by gunmen on May 15, 2026, from schools in the Oriire local government area in Oyo state.

The state's Governor Seyi Makinde later said that 32 people were kidnapped, including a teacher who was killed. But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) claimed the total number of abducted children and teachers was 46.

However, the photographs do not show children abducted recently in Nigeria.


NIGER CHILD ABUSE

Using Google Lens to conduct reverse image searches, AFP Fact Check found that the images were published six years ago.

The images were featured in a news report published by a Nigerien online news platform on Facebook on June 7, 2020, alongside other photographs of the children.

"Diffa: A marabout apprehended for abusing talibé children," reads the headline in French.

According to the French report, the children were beaten by their teacher at a Quranic school in Diffa, a region in southeastern Niger.

The photos are credited to Nigerien journalist Lawan Boukar.


Using keywords from the French article, we also found a report by Niger’s state-owned media outlet Le Sahel, detailing the incident in an interview with Elhadj Habou Issa, the Public Prosecutor of the High Court in Diffa (archived here).

Published on June 17, 2020, the interview confirmed the arrest and pre-trial detention of a local Quranic teacher (marabout) following acts of severe physical violence against his young students (talibés).

Issa stated that the suspect faced charges of “voluntary assault and battery with a weapon”.

He added that a crisis meeting with the regional governor, administrative, and religious leaders resulted in key recommendations, including organising a regional conference, launching a comprehensive census to inspect students’ living conditions, and establishing a multidisciplinary framework to oversee Quranic schools.

AFP Fact Check contacted Boukar but he has yet to respond. However, we found a Facebook account in his name where all the pictures were published on June 7, 2020.

“Diffa: A marabout who has beaten his talibés to this point. He was intercepted moments ago by the police and talibés taken to the health centre for treatment. We will have seen everything with the arrival of refugees,” reads the caption of the post in French.

Fresh intelligence reports indicate that senior Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, commander, Ba’a Shuwa, has declined to accept a leadership role reportedly proposed by the Islamic State, ISIS, central command in Iraq following the death of veteran commander, Abubakar Mainok, also known as Abu Bilal al-Mainuki.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in Lake Chad region, said he was reliably informed that the development followed Mainok’s reported killing during a joint Nigeria-United States counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Region Basin Area, LCRBA, an operation said to have dealt a significant blow to ISWAP’s command structure.

In a post on his X handle on Monday, Makama stated that ISIS central leadership moved quickly to address the vacuum created by Mainok’s death and discreetly contacted influential figures within ISWAP.

Ba’a Shuwa reportedly emerged as one of the preferred candidates for a broader leadership position within the terrorist group.

However, intelligence assessments indicate that the commander has been reluctant to take up the role.

Makama, citing a source familiar with the development, said ISIS leadership had signaled its preference for Ba’a Shuwa after Mainok’s death but that available intelligence suggested he was unwilling to assume the responsibility at this time.

The source attributed the hesitation to growing concerns among senior terrorist leaders over intelligence-driven military operations and precision airstrikes targeting high-value figures in the Lake Chad region.

DAILY POST reported that Mainok was regarded as a key strategist within the terrorist organization, coordinating insurgent activities across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, while maintaining links with the wider Islamic State network.

Bayelsa state owned Pioneer Airlines has commenced non-scheduled flight operations with one of the aircraft acquired by the Bayelsa State government, an ATR 72-600, and operated by the private airline.

The flight was flown by Captain M. Ibrahim and First Officer Joyce, a female co-pilot, in the cockpit.

The aircraft taxied off the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 11:00hrs and, following clearance from the control tower, was airborne at 11:10hrs en route the Bayelsa International Airport.

Gov Diri, who was aboard the aircraft was accompanied by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gabriel Onyenwife, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters 1, High Chief Collins Cocodia, and five of the governor’s aides.

The Nation gathered that the partnership with Pioneer Airlines kickstarts Bayelsa’s foray into commercial aviation and another opportunity to expand the state’s internally generated revenue base.

Governor Diri expressed confidence in the airline’s ability and capacity to deliver quality services while looking forward to a robust and rewarding partnership with the state.

"Don't let me finish politically...."

Rotimi Amaechi narrates how he knelt down to beg Bola Tinubu pic.twitter.com/xvaA1Aivsm

— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) July 12, 2025

The Senate has officially amended Clause 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, providing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the necessary legal flexibility to adjust the 2027 general election timetable.

The legislative adjustment follows widespread concerns that the previously announced election dates would clash with the Ramadan fasting period, a conflict highlighted by various stakeholders and civic leaders.

The amendment reduces the mandatory notice period for elections, allowing INEC to shift the polling dates forward to avoid religious and logistical overlaps:

Previous Requirement: INEC was mandated to publish a notice of election no later than 360 days before the polls.

New Amendment: The notice period is now set to no later than 300 days, giving the Commission the “buffer” required to move the February and March 2027 dates.

The motion for rescission and re-committal was moved by Senate Leader Bamidele Michael Opeyemi (Ekiti Central) and seconded by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South).


In addition to the timetable flexibility, the Senate deliberated on the contentious Clause 60(3) regarding the transmission of election results.

Following a call for division by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), the Senate voted to maintain its position allowing for both electronic and manual transmission. The tally resulted in:

55 Votes: In favor of the dual (electronic and manual) transmission model.

15 Votes: In favor of the House of Representatives’ version, which advocates for “real-time” electronic transmission only.

This amendment effectively empowers INEC to reconsider its earlier announcement, which had slated the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and governorship polls for March 6, 2027.

By granting this flexibility, the Senate aims to ensure an inclusive electoral process that respects the religious observations of millions of Nigerians.