TRENDING NOW

 

Less than 48 hours after it was formally unveiled, the Renewed Network (TRN) is already drawing widespread political interest and grassroots mobilisation across the country, indicating what observers say could be the early development of a coordinated national political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The initiative is being championed by former Zamfara State governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari. Shortly after the unveiling, the network’s national facilitators, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar and Emmmanuel Osita, disclosed that thousands of Nigerians from different regions had begun signing up as members, while several political stakeholders quietly indicated interest in associating with the platform.

In a statement, the facilitators revealed that individuals linked to more than 30 state governors, as well as senior advisers and other influential political figures from across the country’s geopolitical zones, reportedly reached out to signal interest in the initiative soon after it was announced.

Political analysts note that the rapid response underscores the growing attention surrounding the movement, which many view as part of a broader political strategy aimed at consolidating nationwide backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of a potential re-election bid in the 2027 Nigerian general elections.

Facilitators of the platform insist that the Renewed Network was the outcome of months of consultations rather than a sudden development. According to them, the initiative emerged after extensive engagements led by Senator Yari with political stakeholders, grassroots leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups and former elected officials across the country.

The consultations, they said, highlighted a shared concern among several political actors regarding the importance of sustaining and strengthening the Renewed Hope Agenda associated with the Tinubu administration.

Insiders explained that those discussions eventually led to the decision to create a structured national platform that could mobilise grassroots support and coordinate political participation across the federation.

The network is said to include participation from political actors, community organisers, women leaders, youth organisations and former councillors drawn from Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

Supporters of the initiative maintain that the movement is anchored on the belief that the country is gradually entering a phase of economic recovery and institutional reform under the leadership of President Tinubu.

They also note that the network aims to promote civic engagement, broaden political inclusion and encourage more Nigerians to participate actively in democratic processes.

Preparations are already ongoing for a major national launch of the Renewed Network. According to insiders, the event is expected to attract thousands of supporters, political stakeholders, youth leaders, women organisations and delegates from all 36 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

In the meantime, the group has called on Nigerians—particularly young people, women, community leaders and political stakeholders—to become part of what organisers describe as a rapidly expanding national movement.

With the level of early interest already recorded, observers say the Renewed Network could soon emerge as an influential political platform shaping national discourse as preparations toward the 2027 elections gradually gather pace.


 

The police in Lagos on Friday arraigned a 44-year-old trader, Ebere Ezeoha, before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling his four-year-old daughter with his finger.

Ezeoha, who lives in Ago Palace, Lagos, is facing a charge of defilement.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Adegoke Ademigbuji, told the court that the alleged offence occurred on Feb. 14 at the defendant’s residence.

He alleged that the child’s mother discovered the defendant inserting his finger into the child’s anus after hearing the girl crying.

Ademigbuji said the offence contravenes Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Chief Magistrate Omolara Kushanu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case until April 9 for mention.

 

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as the Shi’ite group, on Friday staged a demonstration in Bauchi to express solidarity with Palestine.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Ahmad Yashi said the rally formed part of activities marking Quds Day, which is observed globally on the last Friday of every Ramadan.

According to him, the demonstration was organised to show support for Palestinians, whom he said had faced invasion for several decades.

“This is a known demonstration held on the last Friday of every month of Ramadan worldwide under the Quds Day platform. It is to show support and sympathy for Palestinians who have been under invasion for about eight decades,” he said.

The group, which is loyal to Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, made the statement while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the demonstration.

Yashi also noted that the group’s demonstrations had remained peaceful over the years, claiming that any breakdown of law and order recorded in the past was usually caused by authorities due to what he described as a misunderstanding of the group’s activities.

The Bauchi State chapter of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria further declared its support for Iran amid the ongoing tensions involving the United States and Israel, warning that eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could aggravate the crisis.

Yashi said killing Iran’s Supreme Leader would not restore peace but would instead intensify the conflict.

“We are with Iran in heart and soul. They are targeting the Iranian Supreme Leader to make the country surrender, but they are mistaken. The Supreme Leader, as a religious authority, is among those dousing tensions,” he said.

He described Islam as a religion of peace but blamed Western countries for what he termed continued global unrest.

“Islam is a peaceful religion, but the West is the problem. They are selfish and want everyone to bow to them. This will not happen; those days are gone,” he added.

Yashi also revealed that members of the movement in Bauchi had earlier held a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Iran.

“We conducted a peaceful demonstration in support of Iran, and every Muslim must take a side in this war. You are either with the righteous or with the oppressors,” he stated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command, Nafiu Habib, said the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had directed the deployment of officers to safeguard government facilities across the metropolis ahead of the demonstration.

He explained that security personnel monitored the protest to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order.

According to him, the demonstration ended peacefully without any reported incident.

“Until now, there is no report of any breakdown of law and order,” he added.

(PUNCH)

 

Nigerian troops have repelled an attack by terrorists of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on a military base in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno state.

The attempted assault was thwarted with the support of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), who deployed fighter jet to support troops battling the terrorists.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, which cited security sources, the insurgents launched the attack in the early hours of Friday, advancing in large numbers in what appeared to be an attempt to overrun the military formation.

“The sources said the troops immediately engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, effectively resisting the assault and preventing the insurgents from breaching the base.

“According to the sources, while the exchange of fire was ongoing, the Nigerian Air Force scrambled an aircraft to provide aerial support to the ground troops,” the publication reported.

Sources told Makama that on sighting the aircraft, “the terrorists took to their heels and were seen scampering in disarray into nearby bushes to escape the superior firepower of the troops and the air component”.

Makama reported that the attempted attack was successfully foiled, forcing the insurgents to abandon the operation.

In recent weeks, terrorist attacks have intensified in parts of the region, with military bases frequently targeted and some personnel killed.

On Monday, ISWAP fighters killed a commanding officer of the Nigerian Army during another attack on a military facility in Kukawa LGA of Borno state.

The following day, troops repelled another early-morning attack by suspected ISWAP fighters on a military base in the same area.

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced additional measures to strengthen the regulatory framework guiding Bank Verification Number (BVN) operations and the watch-list system within the country’s banking sector.

The new directive was contained in an addendum to the Revised Regulatory Framework for BVN Operations and Watch-List for the Nigerian Banking Industry.

The circular, dated March 12, 2026, was signed by Musa I. Jimoh, Director of the Payments System Policy Department, and will come into effect on May 1, 2026.

Under the updated guidelines, banks and other financial institutions are required to create and maintain a temporary watch-list for BVNs linked to suspected fraudulent activities.

“A BVN may remain on this temporary Watchlist for a maximum period of twenty-four (24) hours, during this period, the BVN owner shall be contacted to provide clarification regarding the identified transaction(s),” the circular stated.

The addendum also introduced a minimum age requirement for BVN enrolment, specifying that only individuals who are at least 18 years old can register.

Furthermore, the apex bank placed limits on modifications to phone numbers associated with BVNs.

“Amendments to phone numbers linked to a BVN shall be allowed only once,” the circular noted.

The CBN also reiterated that access to BVN databases will remain restricted.

“Access to the BVN databases shall be exclusively granted to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed financial institutions. Notwithstanding this provision, the Central Bank of Nigeria (the Bank) reserves the right to approve access to the BVN databases in extenuating circumstances and in accordance with the provisions of extant laws,” the circular said.

According to the apex bank, the measures form part of its mandate “of promoting financial system stability”, while ensuring uniform implementation of BVN operations and watch-list procedures across banks, financial institutions, and payment service providers.

With the new system in place, financial institutions are expected to comply fully with the revised requirements, while bank customers may be contacted if their BVNs are temporarily flagged during the fraud monitoring process.


 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed commercial banks across the country to prevent loan defaulters, particularly large-ticket obligors, from accessing further credit facilities.

A large ticket obligor refers to a borrower — either an individual or a company — with a very substantial loan exposure to a bank.

The directive was issued through a circular sent to banks.

The move comes nearly a week after the apex bank instructed financial institutions to conduct stress tests.

Although it is unclear whether the two directives are related or what specifically prompted the new instruction, the CBN said the action is part of its responsibility to safeguard the stability of Nigeria’s financial system.

“In furtherance of its mandate to promote a sound financial system, protect depositors, and enhance prudential compliance within the banking sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hereby directs all banks to restrict non-performing large ticket obligors, whose activities pose systemic risk to the financial system, from accessing specified banking services,” the circular reads in part.

“Any large-ticket obligor with a non-performing facility recorded in the CRMS and/or any licensed private credit bureau shall not be granted additional credit facilities. For the purpose of this restriction, credit facilities include loans and other forms of direct credit.

“In addition, such obligors shall not be granted banking facilities or contingent liabilities such as bankers’ confirmations, letters of credit, performance bonds, or advance payment guarantees.”

The apex bank also instructed lenders to strengthen collateral backing for existing loans. Financial institutions were told to obtain additional realisable collateral from such obligors to sufficiently secure current exposures.

The CBN explained that large-ticket obligors include borrowers whose exposures fall within the definition under Clause 3.2 (d) of the prudential guidelines for deposit money banks in Nigeria 2010, or customers with combined exposure across several banks, as captured in the credit risk management system (CRMS) and/or records of licensed private credit bureaus, “that exceed the Single Obligor Limit (SOL), which materially affect a bank’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) or otherwise pose a systemic risk to the financial system”.

“This directive reinforces earlier measures, particularly the circular titled “Prohibition of Loan Defaulters from Further Access to Credit Facilities in the Banking System” issued on June 30, 2014 (Ref: BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/07/015). This is to ensure consistency and effectiveness in curbing credit abuse by large-ticket obligors,” the circular further reads.

The regulator said it will closely monitor compliance to ensure uniform implementation across the banking sector.

The CBN also warned that any institution that fails to comply with the directive will face regulatory sanctions in accordance with the provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020.

Nigerian banks are currently undergoing a recapitalisation exercise scheduled to conclude by March 31.

So far, about 30 banks have met the new minimum capital requirements announced in March 2024.

(THE CABLE)

 

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has openly described himself as both an Islamist and a jihadist.

Dokubo made the statement while discussing his religious beliefs, explaining that the name he currently bears reflects his faith and personal convictions.

In a video that has circulated widely online, Dokubo said: “I’m a Jihadist, my name is Mujahed, he who carries out Jihad, that is what it means in Arabic.”

The former militant leader noted that the name represents an identity he deliberately chose for himself.

“That is the name I adopted,” he said.

Dokubo further stressed his dedication to Islam, saying he practices the religion openly and without fear or apology.

“Listen to me very well, I’m an Islamist, I’m a Muslim without apologist and fear,” he added.

Dokubo is widely known for his outspoken views on national matters, particularly issues affecting the Niger Delta.

(DAILY POST)

 

Four members of the crew of a United States military refuelling aircraft were killed after the plane crashed in Iraq, according to the US Central Command (Centcom).

The aircraft, a KC-135 refuelling tanker, went down on Thursday in western Iraq. Six personnel were on board at the time of the incident.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for bringing down the aircraft.

The group said in a statement it had shot down the KC-135 aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace”.

Despite the claim, Centcom said preliminary information indicates the aircraft was not brought down by hostile or friendly fire.

According to the command, the tanker was participating in ongoing US operations against Iran and was one of two aircraft involved in the mission. The second aircraft returned safely.

The KC-135 tanker, produced by Boeing, is designed to refuel military aircraft midair and plays a critical role in extending the operational range of US warplanes. The aircraft type was widely used during the first Gulf War to support fighter jets and bombers on long-distance missions.

Typically, the KC-135 operates with a crew that includes a pilot, co-pilot and a boom operator, who manages the refuelling arm used to transfer fuel to other aircraft in flight.

Centcom said the crash occurred over what it described as friendly airspace. However, the area of western Iraq where the incident took place is known to host several pro-Iranian militia groups.

Meanwhile, Iran’s military told state television that an allied faction had targeted the aircraft with a missile.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions following the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran. So far, seven US soldiers have been confirmed killed since the conflict began.

The US military has also lost at least four aircraft during the current war.

Earlier this month, officials said three F-15 fighter jets were shot down in “an apparent friendly fire incident” over Kuwait, though all six crew members on board those aircraft managed to eject safely.

The KC-135 Stratotanker was manufactured by Boeing for the US military during the 1950s and early 1960s. The aircraft has since remained a key component of the US aerial refuelling fleet, enabling combat aircraft to conduct extended missions without the need to land for fuel.

 

Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen and his teammates stand to receive a €5m reward if the Turkish club succeeds in eliminating Liverpool FC from the UEFA Champions League.

Reports from Turkey indicate that Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek made the promise after the team secured a 1–0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their round-of-16 encounter.

According to Le Marca Sports, Osimhen played a role in negotiating the bonus arrangement for the squad.

“Victor Osimhen said, ‘If we eliminate Liverpool, let the bonus be €5m,’ and President Dursun Özbek accepted this,” Turkish journalist Ali Naci Küçük was quoted as saying.

Apart from the incentive promised by the club president, Galatasaray are also set to earn substantial prize money from UEFA if they progress to the quarter-finals. The yellow-red side would receive a €12m bonus from the European football governing body.

Osimhen was instrumental in the first-leg win, providing the assist that led to Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina’s decisive goal as the Turkish champions edged Liverpool 1–0 at RAMS Park on Tuesday.

The home side came under early pressure but broke the deadlock after seven minutes. Osimhen rose highest to head a corner back into the danger area, allowing Lemina to nod the ball beyond goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The result gives Galatasaray a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg scheduled for March 18 at Anfield, where Osimhen will aim to help his side secure qualification for the next round.

The match was also an emotional moment for the striker, who was seen in tears before kick-off after Galatasaray supporters honoured his late mother with a special tifo display inside RAMS Park.

The tribute banner was raised as the Champions League anthem played across the stadium. Although the 27-year-old struggled to hold back his emotions, he remained focused and delivered a strong performance that contributed to the team’s first-leg success.

Looking ahead to the return fixture in England, Osimhen praised his teammates for their effort against the Premier League side and expressed confidence in their chances of producing another solid display away from home.

“Every time we play here it’s so emotional for us. Aside from that, the victory is important,” he said.

“We know next week is going to be really hard, but I believe in this team and the kind of performance we put in against a very good side like Liverpool. I’m optimistic that we can do some damage there at Anfield.”

The Nigerian striker has remained a key figure for Galatasaray since completing a permanent move to the club last summer.

He has played a major role in their Champions League campaign, scoring seven goals and registering three assists in nine appearances. In the Turkish Süper Lig, he has also contributed 11 goals and four assists, bringing his total tally across all competitions this season to 18 goals and seven assists.

 

Content creator and philanthropist, Mitchell Mukoro, popularly known as King Mitchy, has publicly apologised for her recent conduct online, including consuming a substance during a live video session.

In a video shared on her Instagram page on Thursday, King Mitchy addressed her apology to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu; activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and Nigerians.

“Good morning Nigerians. I’m ready to be held accountable for my actions. For some days I’ve thought about my behaviour and I know that I was wrong and I want to be held accountable.

“For the substance I took on live video, that was very wrong of me because there are young girls that are looking up to be me one day and I know I disappointed a lot of people.

“That was wrong of me, I was wrong,” she said.

She added, “And my boss ST (Seyi Tinubu), I’m so sorry. I know I apologised privately but I did not disrespect you privately, I disrespected you publicly so I want to apologise publicly. I’m so sorry sir.

“I want you to know that I will never take your support for granted.”

Speaking about the Ooni of Ife, she said while kneeling, “I’m so sorry, sir. I’m so sorry for bringing your name into this, I’m so sorry daddy.”

Addressing VeryDarkMan, whom she referred to as her “brother,” the influencer said she now understood the message he had been advocating.

“You’re fighting for Nigerians and we can make Nigeria a better place and I’m sorry for coming at you like that.

“Maybe now I understand you better because I had to step back and understand the kind of person that you are and I see that you’re fighting for a good cause for Nigeria to be better.

“And you need more supporters, not people to fight you. I’m sorry my brother, thank you Nigerians,” she added.

The apology follows weeks of online controversy that began in late February 2026 when King Mitchy announced that she renovated a dilapidated school within six days, saying meaningful development could happen quickly when there was genuine commitment.

However, she reportedly made remarks widely seen as subtle criticism of VeryDarkMan, who later accused her of being used as a political tool to promote the image of Tinubu’s administration.

She also posted what she described as a WhatsApp conversation with Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, claiming that “even this king” had contacted her.

The claim triggered debates on social media and intensified criticism against the influencer, with some accusing her of disrespecting the monarch.

The controversy escalated further after VeryDarkMan alleged that Seyi Tinubu was funding Mitchy’s philanthropic activities.

Mitchy later said persistent online attacks led to the loss of her business Instagram account.

Tension grew during a live video session where Mitchy, appearing visibly distressed, consumed a substance believed to be bleach while viewers expressed concern and urged her to stop.

Her management subsequently announced in a statement on Instagram that she had died.

The statement claimed she passed away at Prime Care Hospital in Abuja after efforts by medical personnel to revive her failed, and appealed for privacy for her family.

However, the management later retracted the announcement in another post on her Instagram page, stating that she was alive and recovering.

“Michelle is okay now,” the post read.
Before the clarification, Prime Care Hospital had dismissed the earlier claim in a separate statement, insisting that the influencer had neither been admitted to nor died at the facility.

“The management of Prime Care Hospitals wishes to inform the public that the announcement of the alleged death of Miss Mukoro Mitchelle, popularly known as King Mitchy, at our facility in Abuja is FALSE. King Mitchy was never a patient in our hospital and did not pass away here.

“We are working with authorities to investigate the source of this misinformation and will take all necessary legal actions against those responsible. Please verify information through our official channels before sharing,” the statement read.

Earlier, Seyi Tinubu had also addressed allegations linking him to the dispute between VeryDarkMan and King Mitchy.

VeryDarkMan was said to have alleged in a video that both Seyi Tinubu and King Mitchy were threatening his life.

Responding in a statement posted on Instagram on Saturday, Seyi Tinubu described the allegations and insinuations as false.

He explained that his interaction with King Mitchy was strictly in the context of his philanthropic activities.

“I met Mitchy once, in a public setting, alongside others. On that occasion, I provided financial support toward her NGO activities, just as I have supported many young Nigerians and organisations working to empower our people.

“A follow-up meeting had been scheduled for me to receive an update on the impact of her NGO’s work following the donation. That meeting did not take place because I have been unwell,” he wrote.

He also dismissed claims of having any private relationship with her.
“There has never been a private encounter, no secret arrangement, and no impropriety of any kind,” he said.

Seyi Tinubu further accused VeryDarkMan of exploiting a dispute he had no involvement in to damage his reputation.

“What is deeply concerning is that a feud I did not start, and in which I have played no part, has been used as a vehicle to insert my name into a narrative without basis in truth.

“For reasons best known to him, VDM appears to have been looking for a trigger, an opportunity to attack and attempt to harm my reputation and seized upon this situation to do so. I will not accept that.

“If my name generates attention, let us at least deal in facts. Supporting charitable causes is not a crime. Meeting someone publicly to support their NGO is not a scandal. Repeating falsehoods loudly does not transform them into truth.”

(PUNCH)

 

A United States Army lieutenant colonel and military instructor, Brandon Shah, has been identified as the victim of a fatal shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Shah, who served as a professor of military science and instructor with the university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), died after a gunman opened fire inside a classroom on the campus on Thursday.

Authorities said the attacker, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, entered a classroom and began shooting, leaving Shah dead and two other people injured before the assailant was subdued and killed during the incident.

Investigators later revealed that Jalloh was a former member of the Army National Guard who had previously served time in prison after pleading guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

Officials say the incident is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.

Shah, a decorated Army veteran and alumnus of Old Dominion University, had served multiple deployments in the Middle East and was widely respected for his leadership and service.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger paid tribute to the fallen officer, describing him as a dedicated mentor to young cadets.

“Shah didn’t just lead a life of service to our country; he taught and led others to follow that path,” Spanberger wrote.

The shooting occurred in a classroom building on campus, triggering a lockdown and a rapid response from law enforcement. Authorities said the gunman was confronted and ultimately stopped by ROTC students, whom officials praised for their bravery in preventing further casualties.

The university suspended classes following the incident as investigators continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.


 

Popular comedian, skit maker and social media influencer, Samuel Perry, widely known as Broda Shaggi, has reportedly been hospitalised after allegedly sustaining a gunshot injury in the Sango-Ota area of Ogun State.

The incident was said to have taken place beneath the Sango-Ota bridge on Sunday afternoon.

While the exact circumstances that led to the shooting are still uncertain, a police source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter disclosed that the content creator sustained the injury while filming a comedy skit at the location.

According to the source, Broda Shaggi was promptly taken to the Blooming Care Hospital in the Alakuko area of Lagos State, where he received immediate medical attention.

“He was shooting a skit under the Sango-Ota bridge when he sustained a gunshot injury. We don’t have details on how it happened yet, but his crew members who were present quickly rushed him to the hospital,” the source said.

The source further stated that medical staff at the hospital administered first aid on his arrival.

However, additional findings revealed that he was later transferred to Duchess Hospital in the Government Residential Area, Ikeja, where he is currently recovering.

Attempts to obtain comments from both hospitals proved unsuccessful, as calls placed to the contact numbers listed on their social media pages did not connect. A text message sent to them had yet to receive a response as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the development, noting that the police were notified by the hospital.

“The hospital contacted the police to report that a gunshot victim had been brought to their facility. Detectives and a patrol team were immediately mobilised to the hospital, where they discovered that the victim was a skit maker and social media influencer popularly known as Broda Shaggy.

“He was seen on a stretcher with an injury to his thigh. The location of the incident is in Sango-Ota and not within our jurisdiction, but the investigation is ongoing,” she said.

When approached for further clarification, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, stated that the incident had not been reported to the command in the state.

“The incident was alleged to have occurred in Ogun State, but it was not reported,” he said.

Efforts to reach Broda Shaggy’s manager, Olufemi Oguntamu, also known as Penzaar, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were not answered. A text message sent to him had not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that in October 2024, a popular content creator, Afeez Ojesanmi, popularly known as Salo, was reportedly robbed of his jewellery and shot around the Lekki axis of Lagos State.

(PUNCH)

 

President Bola Tinubu has approved the acquisition of more military equipment to strengthen the Armed Forces’ ongoing fight against insurgency and terrorism across the country.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), revealed this after he led the Service Chiefs to a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Musa, the Service Chiefs briefed the President extensively on the progress of military operations and the current security situation nationwide.

“The meeting enabled Mr. President to gain direct insight into developments on the ground,” Musa stated, adding that some recent media reports have not fully reflected the scope of activities being carried out by the military.

While admitting that there had been a series of recent attacks, the defence minister maintained that security forces have “continued to respond and rise to the occasion,” dealing significant blows to terrorist groups.

He disclosed that a number of senior militant leaders were eliminated during recent operations, while troops also recovered several assets belonging to the insurgents.

Musa also honoured soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty, describing the losses as “highly regrettable,” but reaffirmed that the determination of the military remains firm.

“The commitment of our Armed Forces to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians is unwavering,” he said.

The minister urged Nigerians to remain patient, noting that terrorist groups often increase their activities during the Ramadan period.

He added that military commanders have adjusted their operational strategies in response to the situation.

Musa expressed optimism that with the approval of new military hardware and improved collaboration among security agencies, the armed forces would eventually overcome the prolonged battle against terrorism.

“Our agencies are working in concert, fully committed to winning this war,” he concluded.

 

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 13 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs).

The promotion followed their outstanding performance in the recently concluded written examinations and oral interviews conducted at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

The PSC explained that the exercise was conducted strictly on merit as part of efforts to deepen professionalism and strengthen leadership within the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Head of Protocol and Public Affairs at the Police Service Commission, Torty Kalu, the Commission disclosed that the names of the promoted officers had been forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police for immediate implementation.

The newly elevated AIGs include Emmanuel Ado Christopher (former CP, Yobe State), Joseph Eribo (former CP, Ekiti State), Dantawaye Miller (former CP, FCT), Uche Ifeanyi Henry, Olarenwaju Peter Ogunlowo (former CP, Ogun State) and Muhammad Dahiru (former CP, Jigawa State).

Others are Dankombo Morris (former CP, Adamawa State), Bello Shehu (former CP, Katsina State), Ibrahim B. Maikaba (former CP, Zamfara State), Ahmed Musa (former CP, Sokoto State), Olohundare Moshood Jimoh (former CP, Lagos State), Simeon Udofia Akpanudom, and Haruna Olufemi (former CP, Oyo State).

In the same promotion exercise, the Commission elevated 17 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to the rank of Commissioners of Police (CPs).
They include: Abdulrahim Audu Shaibu (Commander NIWA, Lokoja), Abbas Sule (DC DFA INTERPOL), Ojugbele E. Adebola (DC OPS Zone 2 Lagos), Preye Raymond Egbetokun (DC DFA Akwa-Ibom Command), Kayode Uthman Magaji (Community Policing, R&P, FHQ, Abuja) and  Adebisi Bola Lateef (DC DFA Osun Command).

Others are Markus Ishaku Basiran (DC DFA Zone 6 Calabar), Silas Bamidele Aremu (DD Admin DoLS), Sylvester Onyie Uzoefuna (DC DOPS Cross River Command), Magaji Ismaila (DC Projects PAB FHQ Abuja), Theodore Chukwuemeka Obasi (DC Maritime Lagos), Sarah Idowu Ehindero (DC DFA Ogun State Command), Hayatu Shaffa Hassan (DC SID Abia State Command), Mohammed Babakura (DC Inspectorate DTD), Danjuma I. Yahaya (DC DOPS Zone 12 Bauchi) and Rebecca Uchenna Okereke (Band Master).

Additionally, 19 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) were elevated to Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), including notable officers such as Rilwan Shaibu (PTS Nekede IMS), Grace Obiageli Ejiofor (AC Disaster Management, FHQ Abuja), Ibrahim Ada Yusuf (AC Idu Railway Abuja), Muazu Imaru Dange (A/COR T/Wada Kano), and Samuel Ebikebina Debekeme (C/ DOO-Akpo Bayelsa State Command).

The Commission also approved the promotion of 35 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) to the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).

The PSC commended the contributions of its board members, including Hon. Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (JSC rtd), Dr. Taiwo Lakanu (DIG rtd), and the Secretary to the Commission, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, for their roles in ensuring the successful conduct of the promotion exercise.

Reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the Nigeria Police Force, the Commission stated that it would continue to pursue fair, transparent, and rigorous promotion processes aimed at building a professional and accountable policing system.

While congratulating the promoted officers, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), described the elevation as recognition of merit, dedication, and excellence in service.

He urged the officers to justify their new ranks by demonstrating renewed commitment to effective policing and national security.

“The promotion is not an end but an opportunity to contribute more to the noble task of safeguarding lives and property. The Commission remains committed to transparency, merit, and adherence to global best practices in all promotion processes. As we say: If you fail, you fail – you return next time to re-sit. After three failures, retirement follows in line with Public Service Rules”, Argungu stated.


 

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a security meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with discussions lasting almost two hours.

The meeting marked the first gathering of its kind since Tunji Disu took office as Inspector-General of Police.

Security chiefs were seen arriving at the Presidential Villa without their usual official vehicles, making it difficult to immediately identify them. After the closed-door deliberations with the President, they left the premises at about 5:10 pm.

The service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police  were seen as they exited the forecourt after the meeting.

The meeting took place amid growing security concerns across the country, particularly following the recent killing of military commanding officers in different theatres of operation.

Within the past week, the military lost at least three commanding officers leading forward operating bases, as attacks on security personnel and formations increased. The North-East has witnessed intensified assaults by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents targeting military positions.

One of the notable incidents occurred in Ngoshe, Borno State, where an attack led to several abductions. Other separate attacks were recorded in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok, also in Borno State.

The development drew reactions from President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, both of whom pledged that the insurgency would be defeated with decisive force.

Speaking during an Iftar dinner with service chiefs on March 6, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s resolve to overcome terrorism despite the attacks in Borno State.

“Nigeria will defeat terrorism despite these attacks. We will not bow to insurgents,” the President had stated.

Vice President Shettima, in a statement signed by his spokesman Stanley Nkwocha, also maintained that the administration was determined to end the insurgency through overwhelming force.

Thursday’s meeting also served as the first official engagement between Disu, the President and the service chiefs since his appointment as Inspector-General of Police on February 28, 2026, after the resignation of his predecessor.

As of the time this report was filed, the details of the meeting had not been made public.

However, sources indicated that the talks were likely focused on the recent surge in attacks on security personnel, the situation in vulnerable communities in the North-East, and the need for improved coordination among security agencies.