News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency and authorised the immediate recruitment of thousands of new personnel into the military and police force.

In a major address from the Statehouse on Tuesday, the President announced that the Nigeria Police Force is to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, a move that will bring the total number of new recruits to 50,000.

To accommodate the surge in trainees, the President has authorised the police to use various National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training depots. He also directed that officers recently withdrawn from VIP guard duties undergo “crash training” before being redeployed to areas with high security challenges.

The announcement comes amid a wave of attacks and kidnappings across several states.

President Tinubu commended the security agencies for the recent release of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi and worshippers in Kwara, but pledged to sustain efforts to rescue the remaining students of a Catholic school in Niger State and other hostages.

Outlining a multi-pronged strategy, the President also ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately deploy all trained forest guards to “flush out terrorists and bandits lurking in our forests.”

He declared, “There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.”

In a significant political move, President Tinubu called on the National Assembly to review the nation’s laws to allow states to establish their own police forces.

He also advised state governments to reconsider the establishment of boarding schools in remote, insecure areas.

Addressing the farmer-herder crisis, the President urged herders to end open grazing, surrender illegal weapons, and embrace ranching, which he described as “the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony.”

He paid tribute to fallen soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, and issued a stern warning to adversaries: “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness.”

The President concluded by urging citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and to cooperate with security agencies, stating, “We are in this fight together, and together we shall win.”

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has put forward the names of three non-career ambassadorial nominees for crucial postings in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

According to an announcement, the nominees are Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are, and Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu. Their specific country assignments will be finalized after they undergo a screening and confirmation process by the Nigerian Senate.

The nominees bring a wealth of experience in diplomacy and security to the roles.Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu is a familiar face in foreign service, having previously served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea.

He was first appointed to that position in 2016 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ambassador Ayodele Oke, a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, is a former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

He also has prior diplomatic experience from serving as Nigeria’s ambassador to the Secretariat of the Commonwealth of Nations in London.

Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are has a distinguished background in security and intelligence. He was the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) from 1999 to 2007 and later served as the National Security Adviser in 2010.

His career also includes serving as an officer in the Directorate of Military Intelligence.

A highly educated officer, he graduated with First Class Honours in Psychology from the University of Ibadan in 1980.

The Senate is expected to schedule a screening date for the nominees in the coming weeks.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has announced the appointment of new top officials and approved special promotions for deserving officers.

The decisions were ratified during the board’s 64th Regular Meeting, held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, and chaired by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.

The board confirmed the appointment of five new Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs) and eight Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs).

The new DCGs are Baba Imam (North-East), Isah Umar (North-West), Tijjani Abe (North-West), Timi Bomodi (South-South), and Oluyomi Adebakin (South-West).

The newly appointed ACGs are C.G. Ogbonna (South-East), I. Abba-Aji (North-East), G.M. Haruna (South-South), E.J. Edelduok (South-South), G. Gaura (North-West), I. Isyaku (North-West), M.S. Shuaibu (North-Central), and M.D. Malah (North-East).

According to the board, the appointments are intended to fill vacancies created by retirements and to strengthen strategic leadership across the service.

In a separate category, ten officers were granted special promotions for demonstrating “exceptional professionalism, leadership and outstanding service performance.”

Among those promoted are A.C. Fanyam and G.M. Shidali to Comptroller of Customs.

The board stated that these moves are part of ongoing efforts to boost morale, ensure leadership succession, and keep the service effective in tackling emerging trade and security challenges.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

In a landmark decision driven by national outrage over gender-based violence, Italy’s parliament has voted unanimously to establish femicide as a distinct crime punishable by life imprisonment.

The new legislation defines femicide specifically as the murder of a woman because of her gender. The unified move by lawmakers reflects a growing consensus on the urgency of addressing systemic violence against women across the country.

Beyond establishing severe penalties for murder, the legislative package also strengthens existing laws against stalking and “revenge porn,” aiming to broaden protections for victims of abuse.

The vote comes as Italy continues to grapple with high-profile instances of fatal violence against women. The national conversation reached a fever pitch following the brutal 2023 murder of university student Giulia Cecchettin by her ex-boyfriend, a case that sparked widespread protests and intensified demands for legal reform.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered the immediate closure of all public senior secondary schools in the capital, citing pressing security reasons.

In an urgent memo issued on Tuesday by Aishatu Alhassan, the Director of School Services at the FCT Secondary Education Board, principals were instructed to ensure all academic activities cease and students are dismissed in a safe and orderly manner on or before Friday, November 28.

The directive requires schools to immediately notify students, staff, and parents, and to adjust all scheduled academic work.

The administration stated that schools are expected to reopen on the next official school day unless further instructions are provided.

The memo reinstated that the directive must be treated as a matter of importance and urgency.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The 24 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, have been rescued and have regained their freedom.

The students were taken from their school in a recent attack that sparked widespread condemnation and concern.

Authorities have confirmed the successful rescue operation, though specific details regarding the operation or the current condition of the girls have not yet been fully disclosed.

This news brings a wave of relief to the families and the local community, who had been anxiously awaiting their return.

Further details are expected as the situation develops.

By Anwar Usman

The Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has instructed all officers attached to VIPs and beats nationwide to return to their bases.

This was as a result of a directive issued on November 23 by President Bola Tinubu, who ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIP security across the country.

In a memo signed by the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, Neji Veronica, and shared on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, on X, all affected officers were instructed to report back before the close of business on November 24.

The memo reads, “Sequel to the directive of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs, the Commanding Officer directs, with immediate effect, the withdrawal of all personnel of SPU Base 16 attached to VIPs/Beats across the federation back to base.

“You are all warned to report back before the end of today, Monday, 24/11/2025, and all to attend the lecture parade tomorrow. Attendance shall be taken from the nominal roll. This is for your information and strict compliance.”

Under the new setting, the president said VIPs in need of security protection will now need to request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than relying on police officers.

The Presidency explained that the move aims to boost police presence in communities, especially in remote areas where police stations are often understaffed and citizens remain vulnerable to attacks.

The statement further revealed that, “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult,” adding that the president wants police officers “to concentrate on their core police duties.”

To make the initiative an everlasting one, the president has approved the recruitment of 30,000 police officers nationwide, with plans underway to upgrade training facilities in collaboration with state governments.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In a major operation across the Niger Delta, troops have dismantled seven illegal oil refining sites and recovered over 109,000 litres of stolen petroleum products valued at over One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira.

The operations, conducted by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies between November 10 and 23, 2025, also led to the arrest of four suspected oil thieves.

According to a statement from the Division’s Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the recovered items include over 88,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 21,355 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

The crackdown yielded significant results in Rivers State, where troops deactivated three illegal refining sites in Okolomade, Ahoada West LGA, seizing over 40,000 litres of crude and 20,000 litres of AGO alongside equipment like large pots and receivers.

Further operations at the Imo River fringes in Oyigbo LGA led to the discovery of three more sites with over 14,700 litres of stolen crude.

In a separate raid in Abuloma, Okrika LGA, acting on intelligence, troops uncovered a compound storing about 32,000 litres of stolen crude in 1,050 sacks.

Other successes were recorded in Akwa Ibom and Delta States. In Akwa Ibom, a raid on a storage facility in Abak LGA led to the recovery of over 520 litres of illegally refined AGO.

In Delta State, suspects fled an operation at the DAEWOO yard in Ekpan, abandoning wooden boats and 75 litres of crude oil.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their resilience and charged them to sustain the offensive against economic saboteurs.

He also urged residents of the region to support the military by providing credible intelligence on criminal activities.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Brigadier General Abu Ali, a former Military Governor of Bauchi State and a traditional ruler in Kogi State, has passed away.

The late General was the father of the renowned and gallant soldier, Lieutenant Muhammad Abu Ali, who was killed in action during a fierce battle with Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri.

The younger Abu Ali was widely celebrated for his bravery and military prowess in the fight against terrorism.

Brigadier General Abu Ali’s legacy is thus deeply intertwined with Nigeria’s military history, marked by both his own service and the ultimate sacrifice of his son.

The announcement of his passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes, with many offering prayers for the repose of his soul and for all the faithful departed.

By Uzair Adam

The Kaduna State Government has dismissed as false and politically driven the allegation that the current administration paid N1bn to bandits, describing the claim as unfounded and damaging.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the government gave the former governor a one-week ultimatum to present verifiable evidence or publicly withdraw the allegation, insisting that failure to comply would result in legal action.

The former governor had, during a recent appearance on Channels Television, alleged that the state paid bandits as part of its security engagements.

Responding to the claim, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs described the allegation as reckless, baseless and deliberately misleading.

The statement criticised the former governor for weaponising a sensitive security matter for political purposes, adding that such action falls below the standard expected of someone who previously held the highest office in the state.

The government demanded that the allegation be retracted and an unreserved apology issued within one week, warning that the state would initiate legal proceedings to protect public order and institutional integrity should the ultimatum be ignored.

It stressed that the governor has never authorised, negotiated or paid any amount to criminal groups, a position repeatedly made clear in interviews, press briefings and engagements with stakeholders.

The statement also recalled that the Office of the National Security Adviser had earlier dismissed similar claims as unfounded and inconsistent with Nigeria’s security practices, reaffirming that neither the Federal Government nor state governments pay ransom to criminal elements.

Highlighting its security approach, the Kaduna State Government stated that it has adopted a community-focused strategy anchored on stronger military operations, deeper engagement with legitimate community leaders and improved access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities.

It emphasised that the state engages with communities—not bandits.Grassroots groups, including those from areas most affected by insecurity during the former governor’s tenure, have also rejected the allegation, describing it as misleading and untrue.

The statement further referenced past accusations made by senior officials of the former administration, suggesting that public funds were used to appease certain groups, making the current allegation particularly paradoxical.

Since taking office, the governor has prioritised stabilising vulnerable communities, reopening schools, markets and farmlands and rebuilding trust among previously divided groups.

The government urged former officials to exercise restraint and support ongoing efforts to sustain peace.

Challenging the former governor to present credible evidence—such as bank records, internal correspondence or security documents—the government noted that similar claims made in September 2025 were never backed with proof.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and responsible security management, the Kaduna State Government said it would not be distracted by bitterness, fear-mongering or deliberate misinformation.