₦airaland Forum

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have attacked Israel with a barrage of ballistic missiles – their first such strikes since the United States-Israeli war on Iran began.

Brigadier-General Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Houthis, announced the attack on Saturday on the rebels’ Al Masirah satellite television.

"Strikes will continue until the declared objectives are achieved, as stated in the previous statement by the armed forces, and until the aggression against all fronts of the resistance ceases”, Saree said.

The Israeli military said it intercepted one missile.

The attack came hours after Saree signalled in a vague statement on Friday that the rebels would join the war that has rattled the Middle East and shocked the global economy.

Saree said on Saturday the rebels fired a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting what he described as “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel.

Sirens went off around Beersheba and the area near Israel’s main nuclear research centre for the third time overnight Friday into Saturday as Iran and Hezbollah continued to fire on Israel. No casualties or damage were reported.


BATTLE IN STAGES

The Houthis have held Yemen’s capital Sanaa since 2014 and so far have stayed out of the US-Israeli war. The militia’s attacks on shipping vessels during the Israel-Hamas war upended commercial transit in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion worth of goods passes each year.

The Houthi rebels attacked more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors, from November 2023 until January 2025.

In 2024, the Trump administration launched strikes against the Houthis that ended weeks later.

Mohammed Mansour, the Houthis’ deputy information minister, told local media on Saturday,

“We are conducting this battle in stages, and closing the Bab al-Mandeb strait is among our options.”

Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry, reporting from Sanaa, said a potential naval blockade on Israel-linked ships passing through the Bab al-Mandeb strait would hurt Israel’s economy, as about 30 percent of its imports pass through the waterway in the Red Sea.

The involvement of the Houthis in the US-Israeli war on Iran would complicate the deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford, the aircraft carrier that went to port in Crete on Monday for repairs.

Sending the carrier back into the Red Sea could draw it into the same high tempo of attacks seen by the USS Dwight D Eisenhower in 2024 and the USS Harry S Truman in the 2025 American campaign against the Houthis.


SIGNIFICANT STRIKE

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor of Media Studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, described the Houthis entering the US-Israeli war on Iran as “very significant”.

“We have seen over the past two and a half years that Houthis have significant power,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera.

“If they decided to move to shut down Bab al-Mandeb strait , the Red Sea and, ultimately, the Suez Canal, then we would have two major choke points [closed] along with the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

“These are major international shipping waterways for international trade, so I think it can be very significant from that standpoint.”

Ibrahim Jalal, a senior researcher on Yemen and the Gulf, said the threat to shipping around Yemen is “very alarming especially when it’s compounded by a coordinated multi-strait blockade”.

“This is exactly the theatre that Iran has been preparing for from what we have seen in the past few years with the Houthis,” he said.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, reporting from the occupied West Bank, said the opening of a new front in the war, in addition to fighting Iran and Hezbollah, is likely to raise further questions in Israel “on the viability of the operations and the way the government is conducting its war”.

“We are expecting Israel to retaliate to this attack as we have seen them do time and again when Yemen joined the battle during the war in Gaza as a way to support the Palestinians,” she said.

Meanwhile, nine Israeli soldiers were wounded in two rocket attacks from southern Lebanon, Israeli Army Radio reported on Saturday.

Not less than thirty-eight terrorists were eliminated in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, 2026, when troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) foiled a terrorist attack on FOB Mandaragirau in Sector 2.

ISWAP terrorists had launched an attack on the Army base, but met heavy resistance from the troops.


The troops engaged the attackers with well-coordinated ambushes, resulting in the death of about 38 terrorists and additional bodies and weapons strewn along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis into the Timbuktu Triangle.

A statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col Sani Uba, confirmed the development, adding that the troops recorded no fatalities.

He added that weapons, including 7 AK-47 rifles, 8 magazines, 4 RPG bombs and assorted ammunition, were recovered from the terrorists.

The statement read: “Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in the early hours of Saturday, 28 March 2026 decisively defeated a halfhearted attack by ISWAP terrorists on FOB Mandaragirau in Sector 2.

“The troops engaged the attackers with well-coordinated ambushes and a deliberate offensive-defensive response that forced them into a disorderly withdrawal while the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close air support to the troops and ISR feedbacks to enhance targeted kinetic responses.

[b]“Subsequent exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes inflicted further heavy losses. A total of about 38 terrorists were neutralized with 8 bodies recovered so far within the immediate engagement area and human intelligence from locals confirming over 30 additional terrorists’ bodies and weapons strewn along Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis into the Timbuktu Triangle.

“This was evidenced by blood trails and abandoned equipment. Troops also recovered 7 AK-47 rifles, 8 magazines, 4 RPG bombs and assorted ammunition, while recording no fatalities; one MRAP was hit by RPG fire, with injured personnel promptly stabilized. The scale of enemy losses has triggered widespread jubilation among local communities and highlights the sustained dominance of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action.

“Further exploitation operations are ongoing along the Garin Mallum – Garin Gajere axis at the fringes of the Timbuktu Triangle to recover the littered terrorists’ corpses and consolidate gains,”[/b]

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed all International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) in the country to open and maintain naira settlement accounts with authorised dealer banks as part of efforts to improve transparency and oversight in the foreign exchange market.

The directive was contained in a circular dated March 24, 2026, signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Musa Nakorji, and addressed to IMTOs, authorised dealer banks, and the general public

New rule for remittance transactions

As reported by PUNCH, the apex bank stated that the policy is aimed at enhancing diaspora remittances and strengthening the monitoring and traceability of transactions.

SEC gives capital market operators six weeks ultimatum to submit recapitalisation plans.

It added that all IMTOs must route their transactions through designated Naira settlement accounts held with authorised dealer banks in Nigeria .

The CBN added that all inflows, beneficiary payments, and related settlements linked to international money transfers must be processed exclusively through these accounts.

Multiple accounts allowed under conditions

The regulator clarified that IMTOs may operate more than one settlement account across different banks, depending on their operational needs.

However, such accounts must be clearly designated, with details submitted to the CBN and updated periodically when necessary.

It further noted that the accounts can only be funded through remittance inflows and proceeds from foreign exchange conversions carried out by licensed IMTOs or their agents within the Nigerian FX market.

Pricing and market reforms

To improve efficiency in the market, the CBN directed IMTOs to adopt market-reflective pricing by referencing the Bloomberg BMatch system.

According to the bank, operators are expected to use real-time market prices as a guide when dealing with customers and authorised dealers.
How seamless bank–telco coordination can eliminate SIM reassignment risks in Nigeria - Akin Adegoke

The apex bank said this measure would improve price discovery, reduce information gaps between operators and banks, and encourage more participation in the official foreign exchange market.

Role of authorised dealer banks

The circular also permits authorised dealer banks to process foreign currency transfers from IMTO settlement accounts to other banks and approved participants, including licensed Bureau De Change operators.

The CBN emphasised that all operators must maintain proper transaction records for regulatory checks and comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules.

It stated that the directive will take effect from May 1, 2026, urging all stakeholders to ensure full compliance.

The Pentagon is considering whether to divert weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East as the war in Iran depletes some of the U.S. military’s most critical munitions, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The weapons that could be redirected include air defence interceptor missiles purchased through a Nato initiative launched last year, under which partner countries buy US arms for Kyiv, the report said.

The consideration comes as US operations in the region intensify.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the Central Command chief leading US forces in the Middle East, on Wednesday said the US had hit over 10,000 targets inside Iran and was on track to limit Iran's ability to project power outside its borders.

A Pentagon spokesperson told the newspaper that the Defence Department would "ensure that US forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win".

The Pentagon, the US State Department and Nato did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday that it carried out a new wave of drone attacks targeting US-linked military and logistical sites in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

In a statement, the IRGC said the 82nd wave of its True Promise 4 operation was launched at dawn and struck pre-determined targets, including the Arifjan base in Kuwait, Al-Kharj in Saudi Arabia, and Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain.

It said the retaliation came after attacks on Iran’s southwestern city of Khorramshahr.

The statement claimed that US defense logistics facilities, fuel storage units, MQ-9 drone hangars, and satellite communication systems were targeted.

It added that the operation was carried out using loitering munitions and was “successfully executed,” and that further waves are ongoing.

The entire Middle Eastern region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

Sirens sounded in several Gulf countries on Thursday morning as Iran unleashed a wave of attacks on its neighbours a day after the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning its actions and calling for an immediate halt.

UAE

In the UAE , two people were killed and three were injured by falling debris following the interception of a ballistic missile over Abu Dhabi, raising the country's death toll from the war to 11.

The incident on Sweihan Road also damaged a number of vehicles, the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office said. The two victims have not yet been identified.

Authorities in the UAE had issued two safety alerts on Thursday – one at 3am and the second at 8.10am.

The UAE has been the Gulf state attacked most frequently, with Iran firing more than 2,100 missiles and drones at the country as of Wednesday, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence.

BAHRAIN

Sirens sounded in Bahrain on Thursday morning, several hours after the Interior Ministry said civil defence teams had extinguished a fire in Muharraq that was caused by an Iranian attack.

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia reported intercepting several drones heading towards its oil-producing eastern region on Thursday morning.

KUWAIT

A Kuwait Ministry of Defence spokesman said loud explosions heard across the country were from intercepting missiles and drones launched from Iran.

Iraq urged to stop militia attacks

Several Gulf and Arab states have also called on Iraq to "take the necessary measures" to stop attacks being launched from its territory.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan condemned Iran's attacks in the region, as well as those by "armed factions loyal to Iran" operating in Iraq.

The six countries called on the Iraqi government to "take the necessary measures to halt the attacks launched by factions, militias and armed groups from the territory of the Republic of Iraq against its neighbouring states with immediate effect, in order to preserve fraternal relations and avoid further escalation".

They also condemned "activities that undermine the security and stability of regional states, planned by sleeper cells loyal to Iran and related terrorist organisations affiliated with
Hezbollah ", the Lebanese group, and other pro-Iran sleeper cells around the region, after several such cases were uncovered.

Iran-backed Iraqi militias began launching drones and rockets at US-linked sites in the country, including military bases,
diplomatic missions , hotels, oilfields, refineries and residential areas, soon after the US and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28,
Neither the US nor Israel have claimed responsibility for the attacks on bases used by the groups across Iraq, which have killed dozens of their members.

It has been reported that several attacks on the region have originated from Iraq territory.

Following his appearance in court yesterday, activist and presidential aspirant Omoyele Sowore took aim at the Obidients movement, describing its followers as “fools” and accusing the movement of being part of what he called “the biggest political fraud syndicate” in Nigeria.

Addressing journalists outside the Federal High Court, Sowore did not mince words, lambasting the hypocrisy he says is inherent in the movement and warning Nigerians about those being misled.

“The pity you should feel,” Sowore told reporters, “is for those who are fooled by them. I’m not talking about those actively helping to justify criminal alliances. I mean the large numbers of people being used by these lies.”

He accused supporters of being manipulated into believing they are part of nation-building or a movement for change, only to realize later that they are part of a “political Ponzi scheme.”

Sowore specifically referenced the MMM-like dynamics of the movement, highlighting the contradictions in supporting individuals labeled as criminals one day and defending them the next.

“They are the only people who plan to fail,” he said, emphasizing the dangers of blind loyalty to political figures and movements without accountability.

This comes a day after Sowore successfully navigated legal proceedings to obtain the Certified True Copy of a ruling striking out a cybercrime charge previously filed against him, a case he has repeatedly described as politically motivated.

The European Union (EU), on Monday, announced a new investment package of EUR 290 million to be immediately mobilised in seven new operations in digitalisation, health and agricultural value chains, as well as for migration management in the framework of the EU Global Gateway strategy.

This is in the margin of the 8th Ministerial Dialogue held in Abuja, Nigeria, co-chaired by Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, and Ms Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

These projects underpin the renewed political ambition expressed by the EU and Nigeria during the Ministerial Dialogue to strengthen the bilateral partnership.

Speaking at the event, Kallas said, "In the current geopolitical context, the European Union is keen to enhance its partnership with Nigeria.

"Bringing more EU investment to Nigeria, aligning with the Renewed Hope agenda for the Nigerian Federal Government, is a key priority for both sides in this regard".

Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships, further stressed, "Together with Nigeria, we are investing in the modernisation of the digital sector, a stronger health system and in the development of agriculture.

"These Global Gateway investments create new quality infrastructures, sustainable jobs and long-term economic opportunities that benefit the Nigerian people, but also create new opportunities for Europe".

The package of investments includes an additional EUR 131 million in the digitalisation sector, which will support the upgrade of digital connectivity and enhance digital services and skills, according to a statement by Modestus Chukwulaka, the spokesperson of the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS.

He said, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the EU will contribute to the roll-out of 90,000 km of fiber optic cable across the country to bring a secure and cheaper internet connection to unserved Nigerians.

The statement added that the EU will help develop secure and interoperable digital public infrastructure and data exchange systems for digital services to citizens and in the framework of Nigeria's 3 million Technical Talent programme, deploy large-scale training and employment initiatives.

He said Team Europe will support a technical and vocational education and training programme to develop the expertise of the Nigerian workforce in the sector.

In agriculture, Chukwulaka said an additional EUR 86 million will provide easier access to finance to local companies in the cocoa and dairy value chains and support Nigerian policy making and implementation for climate-smart agriculture.

A new credit line from the European Investment Bank will provide preferential finance through the Bank of Industry to companies and smallholder farmers engaging in the sustainable production of cocoa and dairy.

On migration, the EU is committing an additional EUR 16 million to support the reintegration of returning migrants and to strengthen the fight against smugglers and traffickers of human beings.

The federal government has announced plans to inaugurate a completed 15-kilometre stretch of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway to traffic before Easter, in a move aimed at easing transportation challenges and boosting economic activities in Nigeria’s South-east.

This is even as the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that the government inherited a total of N13trillion in debts and over 2,068 projects across the country.

Umahi disclosed this yesterday, during an inspection tour of ongoing federal road projects in Enugu.

The visit forms part of a nationwide tour across the six geopolitical zones to identify projects ready for inauguration ahead of May 29.

Addressing journalists, Umahi said that the completion of the road segment underscores the federal government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the region.

“The people of the South-east ought to be very grateful to Mr President. We never had it like this,” he said. “There is no discrimination. The same quality you see in Lagos-Calabar is what we are bringing here. This is a national infrastructure revolution.”

The minister noted that the current administration inherited significant financial liabilities but remains determined to deliver critical road projects nationwide.

“We inherited a very terrible debt of over N13 trillion and 2,068 projects as of May 2023. You cannot drive through any road in this country for one hour without encountering bad roads. That is becoming history based on what the President is doing,” Umahi stated.

He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the Enugu–Onitsha corridor, describing it as one of the most strategic routes in the South-East.

“The road, alongside the Enugu–Port Harcourt highway, has long been plagued by traffic congestion, tanker accidents, and deteriorating pavement conditions,”he said.

“But the complaints about bad roads are becoming a thing of the past.”

The minister further revealed that the Enugu–Port Harcourt dual carriageway, spanning approximately 214 kilometres, is being redesigned to incorporate concrete pavement on at least 50 per cent of its length—a shift from the traditional asphalt approach.

He also acknowledged the support of Peter Mbah in facilitating compensation and relocation of utilities along the project corridor.

“I appealed to him to help us with the payment of compensation… he sprang into action and over 90 per cent has been done. He paid about N500 million, and we are expected to pay the remaining,” Umahi said.

While admitting that funding delays have slowed progress, the minister expressed confidence that work would accelerate once payments are made.

“I am aware that this contractor has not received payment. I will not blame them for the slow pace of work. If you don’t pay, they don’t work. As soon as they are paid, we will see accelerated work,” he added.

Umahi assured the people that the projects would significantly improve mobility and stimulate economic activities in the region, stressing that sustained support for the administration would help consolidate the gains recorded so far in the South-east.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has directed shipping lines and their agencies to immediately suspend the implementation of recently approved tariffs.

The directive is contained in a notice issued by the council’s management and made available to journalists in Lagos on Friday.

It stated that the order followed ongoing engagements with key stakeholders over the newly approved charges.

According to the council, the engagements responded to concerns about the timing, structure, and potential impact of the tariffs on port users and logistics operations.

Established under the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act and appointed Port Economic Regulator in 2014, the NSC protects shippers, ensures fair competition, and monitors tariffs amid stakeholder concerns.

“In order to safeguard fair competition, transparency, and sectoral stability, the council considers it necessary to halt further implementation,” it said.

It added that the suspension would remain pending the conclusion of consultations and a comprehensive regulatory review.

“Accordingly, all affected operators are mandated to revert to, and apply strictly, the tariff regime previously in force,” the statement read.

It warned that any deviation would constitute a breach of compliance and attract sanctions under existing laws.

“The council will, upon conclusion of consultations and internal reviews, communicate a definitive position on the matter,” it added.

The NSC reaffirmed its commitment to effective regulation, protection of cargo interests, and promotion of an efficient and equitable maritime transport system.

It urged all operators to ensure strict and immediate compliance.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has submitted its input on the proposed state police framework to the Office of the National Security Adviser, with the document set to be forwarded to the National Assembly of Nigeria for legislative consideration.

The Chairman of the forum and Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this on Sunday during a meeting with Bola Tinubu at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

AbdulRazaq explained that consultations on the establishment of state police are ongoing among security stakeholders under the leadership of the National Security Adviser, noting that governors have now formally contributed to the process.

“On the issue of state police, discussions are ongoing amongst various security organisations, led by the National Security Advisor, and the NGF has made its contribution. “That document will be taken to the National Assembly to see how we can have a legislative framework for state police,” the governor stated.

He reaffirmed the commitment of state governors to strengthening collaboration with security agencies to tackle insecurity, while also advancing infrastructure and improving citizens’ welfare.

“As governors, we commit to renew our collaboration with security forces to defeat terrorism steadily, expand infrastructure opportunities and improve outcomes of lives of our people,” AbdulRazaq said.

The NGF chairman also congratulated the President on his recent state visit to the United Kingdom, describing the trip as historic and impactful.

“We congratulate you on the successful state visit to the United Kingdom and the many successes, investment proposals achieved during the trip.

“While our nation has always enjoyed good relationship with the United Kingdom, the state visit, the first in 37 years, is bold and significant. It speaks to new leadership in Nigeria,” he stated.

He expressed optimism that agreements reached during the visit would deepen bilateral ties and yield economic benefits for Nigerians.

“We are confident that the bilateral agreements presently signed and the new approach on issues of shared interest will strengthen existing relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and will bring more prosperity to our people,” he said.

AbdulRazaq further commended Tinubu’s implementation of the Renewed Hope agenda, saying it has inspired greater national participation.

“Your Excellency, we thank you for prosecuting the Renewed Hope agenda in a way that has made Nigerians proud more than ever before.

“Every Nigerian now has a stake in nation-building. We believe that this will translate to improved security in every part of our country,” he stated. He stressed the importance of collective responsibility in addressing security challenges nationwide.

“Together, we must see that breaches of security all over the country come to an end.” The governor also urged Nigerians, particularly leaders, to embrace values that promote unity and stability.

He said, “Together, we must see that breaches of security all over the country come to an end.” AbdulRazaq added.

“As you can see here today, we have about 25 governors who, at short notice, it’s a respect we have for you and the leadership you’re providing for the nation.” Also present at the meeting were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials.

A top Iranian official has warned that British lives have been put "in danger" after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gave the United States permission to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz from UK bases.
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UK ministers agreed to the move on Friday, March 20 after previously limiting the US to only using the bases to hit missile sites targeting British interests in the region.

Iran has targeted a joint US-UK military base with ballistic missiles shortly after the UK's decision, according to reports.
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The Middle East has been in conflict for three weeks after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes several key Iranian sites on February 28. Iran retaliated by striking sites across the Middle East.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said "Iran will exercise its right to self-defence."
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He said in a post on X: “Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran."

"Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence."

Early on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, but neither of the missiles hit the base.
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Mr Trump said on Friday that the UK “should have acted a lot faster” in giving the US permission to use its bases.

Sir Keir Starmer had previously granted the US permission only for “defensive” action against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Mr Trump said: “It’s been a very late response from the UK."
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“I’m surprised because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before."
“They were really pretty much our first ally, all over the world.”

Referring to Diego Garcia, he said: “They didn’t want us to use the island, the so-called island, which for some reason they gave up rights to it.
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“I was a little surprised in the UK, to be honest. They should have acted a lot faster.”

Posting on his Truth Social platform on Friday evening, Mr Trump said the Strait of Hormuz “will have to be guarded and policed” by “other Nations who use it – The United States does not!”

“If asked, we will help these countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated,” he said, adding: “Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.

“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran.”

Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly killed Abou Ameer, a top ISWAP commander, during a failed attempt by the terrorist group to infiltrate a military formation in Madagali LGA of Adamawa state.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, quoted security sources as saying that Ameer led the insurgents in the operation.

He was only recently appointed as the Ameer (Qaid) of Pulka following the neutralisation of his predecessor, Modu Kunduli, at Mayanti village in Bama LGA of Borno state.

“The terrorists came under heavy fire from the well-coordinated troops and were repelled, resulting in significant casualties on their side,” the report reads.

“The sources added that several senior ISWAP commanders, including Abu Ali Jango, Jundulla, and Saleh Madagali, sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter.

“Troops recovered intelligence materials and weapons from the scene, underscoring the continued pressure on insurgent networks in the North East.”

This comes a few days after army troops, in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), reportedly killed no fewer than 61 ISWAP fighters during a foiled infiltration attempt in Malam Fatori, Abadam LGA of Borno state.

The former member representing Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency, Danjuma Usman Shiddi, has formally resigned his membership from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing concerns over the current political climate and its implications for his future and constituents.

In a resignation letter dated March 18, 2026, and addressed to the party chairman of Puje Ward in Wukari Local Government Council, Shiddi said his decision followed “further personal reflection” after initially joining the party with optimism about its vision and platform.

He noted that the “gathering clouds of uncertainty within the current political landscape” could jeopardise both his long-term political ambitions and the interests of the people he represents in Taraba State.

As a result, he announced that his strategic alignment with the party was no longer compatible.

“It truly hurts to leave,” Shiddi stated, acknowledging the relationships he built within the party. He described members of the ADC as “exceptional leaders” and expressed appreciation for the support he received during his time with the party.

Despite his departure, Shiddi emphasised his commitment to serving his community, stating that he must seek “a path that offers the clarity required” to effectively represent the people of Taraba State.

He also requested that his name be removed from the party’s membership database and extended his best wishes to the ADC in its future endeavours.

Copies of the resignation letter were confirmed to have been sent to the ADC chairman in Wukari Council, the party’s state chairman in Taraba, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

The Crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has continued unabated as the Chairmen of the party across the 36 states and Abuja have dragged the National Working Committee NWC of the party to court over flagrant disregard of the party’s constitution.

The State working Committee had accused the National Working Committee of bridging the party’s constitution by setting up various committees to conduct the State primary elections coming up in April which is a clear violation of the functions and responsibilities of the state party chairmen .

The State Party Chairmen therefore urged the court to grant them a perpetual Interlocutory injunction restraining the National Working Committee headed by Senator David Mark from conducting the Party primaries until the final determination of the case.

In an originating summons brought before the Federal High Court Abuja and dated 18th of March, 2026 , the plaintiffs through their Counsels want the court to urgently determine whether the interim Working Committee set up by the NWC has the locus standi to organize the state party primaries or the State Working Committee.

The plaintiffs also want the court to determine whether by the community reading of Sec 223 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) Article 17 of the Constitution of the ADC and mediation report dated 23 Dec 2023, the four years tenure of the elected state working committee and the state executive committee of the party subsists, pending the conduct of a valid state Congress and convocation of National convention.

They also want the court to determine whether on the combined reading of Article 19(7) and (9) of the Constitution of the party, it is not the exclusive function of the state executive committee to organize the Congress of the party The originating summons also wants the court to determine whether having regard to Article 19(7) of the Constitution of the party, the body described as ” Caretaker/ Interim National Working Committee” constituted by the party posseses the constitutional authority to appoint a Congress committee members for the purpose of conducting the state Congress of the party.

The suit also seeks for the court determination on whether the appointment of the Congress committee members by the party described as ” Caretaker/ Interim working Committee” (or any other variant thereof) not being the state executive committee constituted by the party’s constitution is not unconstitutional,null and void.

The suit filed by Don Norma Obinna and six others on behalf of the 36 State Party Chairmen and FCT joined the party, the NWC chairman, David Mark, INEC and four others as the defendants.

Among the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs include an order of perpetual injection restraining the defendants,their agents, privies and others from interfering with the functions, duties and tenure of the plaintiffs being the state executive committee of the party. Meanwhile, the court is yet to set a date for the mention of the case.

Sources familiar with the situation described the development as “deeply damaging,” alleging that both factions are being directly influenced and funded by the sons of the former vice president.

Fresh cracks have emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State, as the political ambitions of the sons of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, threaten to plunge the party into a full-blown crisis ahead of the 2027 elections.

Insiders within the party told SaharaReporters that Adamu and Mohammed Atiku are at the centre of a growing power struggle, driven by their separate interests in contesting the House of Representatives seat for the Jada, Ganye, Toungo, and Mayo-Belwa Federal Constituency.

The parallel ambitions of the two brothers have reportedly split the party into rival camps, polarising members and destabilising the state structure under Chairman Shehu Yohanna, while simultaneously weakening the authority of the transitional committee led by Barr. Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin.

Sources familiar with the situation described the development as “deeply damaging,” alleging that both factions are being directly influenced and funded by the sons of the former vice president.

According to party insiders, the two camps have engaged in sustained “counterproductive activities,” each working to outmanoeuvre the other, while also undermining reconciliation efforts at the state level.

“The problem is that these groups are not just acting independently, they are backed and controlled by powerful interests within the Atiku family,” one source said.

The crisis has reportedly taken a more troubling turn, with both factions allegedly accusing the Dasin-led transitional committee of sabotaging Atiku’s presidential ambition.

Insiders have described the claim as baseless but politically weaponised to discredit party leadership.

The internal wrangling is already taking its toll on the party’s cohesion.

A chieftain of the party, Babachir David Lawal, who was previously a regular visitor to Atiku’s residence for high-level strategy meetings, is said to have distanced himself from the former vice president amid the deepening crisis.

Similarly, a major pillar of the party, Abdulaziz Nyako, is reportedly weighing a return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), just months after defecting, in a bid to avoid being entangled in the escalating internal conflict.

Further compounding the situation are reports that members of the Atiku family are planning an internal “family balloting” to determine which of the two sons will secure the party’s ticket for the federal constituency race.

However, party stakeholders fear the move may come too late, as the crisis has already spiralled into the open, eroding trust and unity within the ranks.

Observers say the situation raises deeper concerns about the internal governance of the ADC in Adamawa, particularly amid allegations that Atiku has stopped funding the party directly, instead channeling resources through his children.

According to insiders, this has sparked fears that the party structure is being effectively privatised.

“What we are seeing is dangerous,” another source warned. “It now looks like the party in Adamawa is being run as a family affair.”

The controversy has also triggered unease among party loyalists over the optics of a potential scenario where the party’s presidential candidate could have his son simultaneously contesting for a National Assembly seat, a move some believe could further damage the party’s credibility.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, the ADC in Adamawa now faces a deepening internal crisis, with many members warning that unless urgent steps are taken, the party risks implosion from within.

Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Tuesday dismissed remarks by human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, regarding transactional politics and activism.

Igboho maintained that his agitation for improved security in the South-West, as well as his support for President Bola Tinubu’s prospective second-term bid in 2027, constitute his inalienable constitutional rights.

He stressed that his actions are firmly rooted in advancing the collective interests of the Yoruba people and fostering Nigeria’s overall development.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, Igboho criticised Sowore for allegedly describing his activism as “amala politics” in a recent viral video circulating on social media, dismissing the comment as inconsequential and unworthy of public attention.

The statement read: “We strongly reject the characterisation of Igboho’s activism as transactional. Such a myopic position misrepresents the intent and focus of our agitation on effective grassroots security in the South-West, and Nigeria as a whole.“

“How many protests did Sowore organise to push for my freedom? Sowore’s claim of fighting for the masses contradicts his daily lodging expenses of N450,000 at a popular Lagos hotel.“

“I cannot be compelled to endorse political figures such as Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, or even align with Sowore’s political platform. I have the right to make independent political decisions based on the security and collective interests of the Yoruba people.”

The statement further emphasised that Igboho’s advocacy prioritises tackling insecurity across Yorubaland, which it said is characterised by persistent violence, including the killing of farmers, kidnappings along highways, and attacks on traditional rulers and royal institutions.

Koiki clarified that these concerns underpin Igboho’s movement, rather than any ambition for political office or revolutionary leadership.

The statement continued: “While Sowore has consistently promoted nationwide revolution as a pathway to leadership, Igboho’s approach is rooted in protecting lives, land, and property within Yoruba territory.“

“This agitation is a vivid response to real and ongoing threats faced by communities in the region. Latest security incidents in Northern Nigeria, including reported explosions in Maiduguri as at yesterday, 16 March 2026, call into question the broader effectiveness of long-term revolutionary advocacy.“

“We challenge Sowore to assess the situation in his home state of Ondo, considering growing cases of banditry, kidnapping, and attacks on rural communities.“

“The impacts on vulnerable groups, including farmers, traditional rulers, women, and children, are massive, just as several communities have reportedly suffered destruction.“

“These realities reinforce Igboho’s long-standing call, dating back to 2020, for localised security measures and stronger regional protection strategies.“

“Labelling our agitation and noble efforts as ‘amala politics’ undermines the urgency of the security crisis and the legitimacy of grassroots agitation,“ he said.

Iran on Saturday threatened for the first time to attack infrastructure of a neighboring country, urging people to evacuate three major ports in the United Arab Emirates that Tehran claimed were “legitimate targets” because the U.S. military used them for attacks.

The escalation sharpened global economic worries as tensions mount around the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about one-fifth of the world’s oil where shipping has effectively ground to a halt.

Some oil-loading operations have been suspended in the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah emirate, a major ‌bunkering hub and crude export terminal, after a drone attack and fire ⁠on Saturday, industry and trade sources said.

The suspension comes hours after the US attacked military targets on Iran's Kharg Island oil export terminal ‌and Iran's Revolutionary Guards responded by saying that US interests in the UAE - including ports, ⁠docks and military locations - were legitimate targets.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf neighbors, saying it targets U.S. assets even as airports and oil facilities have been hit or threatened. America and Israel have struck thousands of targets across Iran during the war, now in its third week.


Iran says the US attacked from close to Dubai

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told MS NOW that the U.S. attacked Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island with low-range artillery from two locations in the UAE, Ras Al-Khaimah and a place “very close to Dubai,” calling that dangerous and saying Iran “will try to be careful not to attack any populated area” there.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Arab Gulf neighbors during the war, but it said it was targeting U.S. assets, even as hits or attempts were reported on civilian ones such as airports and oil fields.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. “obliterated” military sites on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran’s oil exports. He said oil infrastructure could be next if Tehran continues to interfere with ships’ passage through the Strait of Hormuz, where vessels are backed up and one-fifth of global oil supplies usually transit.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker has said strikes against the country’s oil infrastructure would provoke a new level of retaliation.

As global anxiety soars over oil prices and supplies, Trump said Saturday that he hopes China, France, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and others send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz “open and safe.” Britain in response said it was discussing with allies a “range of options” to secure shipping.


Iran repeats threat against US-linked oil assets

On Saturday, Iran’s joint military command reiterated its threat to attack U.S.-linked “oil, economic and energy infrastructures” in the region if the Islamic Republic’s oil infrastructure is hit.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency said the Kharg Island strikes caused no damage to oil infrastructure. It said they targeted an air defense facility, a naval base, the airport control tower and an offshore oil company’s helicopter hangar.

U.S. Central Command said it destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers and other military sites.

Israel earlier announced another wave of strikes in Iran targeting infrastructure, and said its air force had hit more than 200 targets in the last 24 hours, including missile launchers, defense systems and weapons production sites.

Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun has rebuked the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his comments on Nigeria’s rising fuel prices.

Olusegun told Obi to stop commenting on issues he does not understand, describing the former governor’s remarks on rising fuel prices as wrong and embarrassing.

Olusegun made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday, responding to a statement by Obi published on Thursday, in which the former Anambra State governor blamed Nigeria’s vulnerability to global oil price shocks on the absence of a strategic petroleum reserve and a lack of government planning.

PUNCH Online reports that Obi had noted that petrol, which sold for less than N1,000 per litre weeks ago, had risen to over N1,200 per litre, while diesel had climbed from below N1,000 to over N1,500 per litre, linking the increases to tensions involving Iran and their effect on global oil prices.

“The reason for this is straightforward: most countries, whether they are oil-producing or non-oil-producing, maintain strategic petroleum reserves to cushion against supply or price shocks.

“This means that when there is a disruption in the global oil market, they can release part of these reserves to stabilize supply. However, Nigeria lacks such a buffer, so the impact is felt almost immediately.

“The underlying issue is a lack of planning. Countries that engage in planning create buffers against shocks, while those that do not remain vulnerable to them. The old maxim remains true: when a country fails to plan, it has already planned to fail,” Obi said.

But Olusegun dismissed the position, saying the more immediate driver of rising pump prices was the deregulation of the fuel market following the removal of subsidy by the Tinubu administration, not the absence of a strategic reserve.

“The recent rise in fuel prices in Nigeria is not primarily because the country lacks a strategic petroleum reserve. The more immediate factor is that the fuel market is now largely deregulated following the subsidy removal by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

He explained the mechanics of a deregulated market, saying, “In a deregulated system, petrol prices respond directly to global oil prices, exchange rates, shipping costs, and supply risks.

“So when geopolitical tensions involving Iran push global oil prices upward, countries that rely heavily on imported refined products like Nigeria will inevitably feel the effect at the pump. That is simply how an open market behaves.”

Olusegun also challenged Obi’s characterisation of strategic petroleum reserves, arguing that even countries with large reserves, such as the United States and China, maintain them primarily for supply emergencies such as wars and embargoes, and do not deploy them in response to routine market price movements.

“It is also not accurate to suggest that strategic petroleum reserves are tools used to control everyday pump prices.

“Even countries with very large reserves, such as the United States and China, maintain them primarily for serious supply emergencies, wars, embargoes, or major disruptions to global supply chains.

“They are not routinely deployed simply because prices move in the global market,” he said.

Olusegun acknowledged that Nigeria faces deep structural challenges but said the framing of the argument was misleading.

“Nigeria’s real challenge has always been deeper and more structural. For decades, the country has struggled with limited refining capacity and a heavy dependence on imported refined products, despite being one of the world’s major crude oil producers.

“That structural imbalance, combined with exchange rate pressures, has consistently made the country vulnerable to global price movements,” he said.

He argued that reducing the issue to a failure of planning around strategic reserves missed the point entirely.

“So yes, planning matters. But reducing the entire issue to ‘Nigeria failed to plan because it does not have a strategic reserve’ completely misses the broader reality.

“Real planning would involve expanding domestic refining capacity, strengthening supply chains, stabilizing the foreign exchange environment, and maintaining consistent energy policies,” Olusegun said.

He also turned Obi’s own campaign record against him, noting that the former governor had publicly pledged to remove fuel subsidy if elected president in 2023.

“It is worth reminding you that during your presidential campaign, you clearly stated that you would remove fuel subsidy if elected.

“So the same policy framework that now allows prices to reflect market realities is one you publicly supported,” he said.

Olusegun went further to question Obi’s grasp of the subject, saying it was “frankly embarrassing” for a former governor to make sweeping conclusions about a complex global energy market.

“When someone who once held the office of governor begins to make such sweeping conclusions about a complex global energy market, it is frankly embarrassing.

“A former governor should know better than to reduce a multi-layered economic issue to a simplistic talking point,” he said.

He urged Obi to refrain from commenting on issues he did not fully understand, saying the former governor had made a habit of maligning Nigeria.

“Sometimes the wiser thing to do is simply sit a conversation out when one does not fully understand how the system works rather than jumping at every opportunity to malign Nigeria, as this has been your modus operandi. It would save both the country and the speaker from unnecessary embarrassment,” Olusegun said.

A disturbing pattern of misinformation targeting Nigeria’s security forces is gaining traction on social media, with some users deploying artificial intelligence tools to fabricate narratives that portray bandits as military personnel.

Security analysts say the latest case draw attention to how manipulated images and misleading interpretations by AI tools are being weaponised to undermine public trust in troops who are risking their lives daily in the fight against terrorism and banditry across the North East and North West.

The controversy began after a video surfaced online showing a victim allegedly captured by armed bandits. In the background of the footage, one of the criminals appeared to be wearing a military-style camouflage uniform, a tactic widely known among security reporters and researchers covering banditry in the North-West.

Bandits and terrorists frequently wear camouflage imitation military uniforms to evade detection to mislead communities.

However, instead of analysing the video responsibly, a social media user identified as @Itsbennylee took a screenshot from the clip and reportedly used an artificial intelligence image tool to alter the frame, generating a face designed to resemble that of a Nigerian soldier.

The manipulated image was then posted online with the caption: “The one walking via the back is clearly seen… security operatives over to you!!!!”

The implication of the post was clear, to suggest that the individual seen in the video was a serving soldier collaborating with bandits.

But in a further twist, another social media user asked the AI chatbot Grok to verify whether the screenshot was genuine and whether it came from the original video. The response from the AI system raised further concern.

According to the reply circulated online, the AI tool stated that the screenshot “appears real” and described the footage as a “security operation interview in Nigeria".

Even more troubling, the AI reportedly interpreted the armed bandits in the video as “troops with suspects in the field,” claiming there was “no edit or fake detected in the image context.”

This response clearly reflects a major weakness in automated analysis tools. These AI systems do not actually understand the operational realities of insurgency or banditry. They simply analyse pixels and patterns. If criminals wear camouflage or appear organised, the AI may incorrectly classify them as soldiers.


A Senior Military official said “What we are seeing here is information warfare. Criminal groups and their sympathisers know that if they can portray soldiers as collaborators, they can destroy public trust in the military.

By presenting an altered screenshot and then seeking validation from AI chatbots, misinformation actors are attempting to manufacture credibility for claims that have no factual basis. He warned that such behaviour amounts to digital sabotage of national security.

Another military official called on media professionals to enforced stronger action against individuals who deliberately spread manipulated content capable of undermining national security.

This is not just misinformation. It is malicious disinformation,” said the sources.

“Anyone deliberately fabricating images to portray bandits as soldiers is engaging in a dangerous act that could inflame public anger against the military.”he said.

They urged law enforcement and relevant cybercrime agencies to investigate such cases and hold perpetrators accountable.

They also advise the public to approach viral social media claims with caution, particularly when they rely on screenshots, AI-generated images, or unverifiable sources.

As Nigeria continues its fight against terrorism and banditry, analysts warn that the battle is no longer only on the battlefield, it is also being fought in the digital space.

By: Zagazola Makama