馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo declares Nigeria does not belong to criminal elements
via Punch Nigeria8 min read
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo stated on Sunday that Nigeria does not belong to kidnappers and other criminal elements. Speaking during a visit to LoveWorld City in Benin City, Okpebholo, through his Chief Press Secretary Patrick Ebojele, requested prayers against kidnapping, cultism, and other security challenges. He also called for prayers for peace, prosperity, good governance, and economic recovery in Nigeria, and urged the congregation to pray for President Bola Tinubu for wisdom and strength to lead the nation. Okpebholo expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its current challenges through prayer and collective efforts, emphasizing that no individual or group should hold the nation captive for personal or political interests. He noted that the prayers for Nigeria would also benefit Edo State and other parts of the country. Officiating pastor Moses Olayemi led prayers for Nigeria, its leaders, economy, and communities, and commended Governor Okpebholo for ongoing developmental projects in Edo State, particularly improvements in road infrastructure.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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Must ReadFormer United States President Donald Trump has praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in addressing terrorism and insecurity, particularly concerning attacks on Christian communities. In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump acknowledged Tinubu's efforts to tackle security challenges and reaffirmed the US's commitment to supporting Nigeria's fight against terrorism. Trump highlighted the importance of the US-Nigeria relationship, especially given the spread of conflict across West Africa, and mentioned the mutual goal of confronting terrorism. He noted the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap as a framework for this collaboration. Trump also stated that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria's military, providing skills, tools, and intelligence to protect the nation and its citizens, particularly those of faith. The Presidency reported that security cooperation between Nigeria and the US has intensified, with a Joint Working Group focusing on training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations against terrorist groups. This collaboration led to a coordinated operation on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly resulted in the death of Abubakar Al-Minoki, a top leader of the group, and several of his lieutenants. US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, recently visited Abuja to discuss deepening cooperation.