馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Presidency highlights military successes, cites Benue kidnap rescue as proof of progress in anti-terrorism war
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has asserted that Nigeria's armed forces are making significant, though often unacknowledged, progress in the country's asymmetric wars. Onanuga cited the recent rescue of 13 kidnapped passengers in Benue State as evidence, arguing against what he described as selective reporting that focuses on isolated incidents of insecurity while overlooking military achievements. The rescued passengers, including students traveling for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, were abducted from a Benue Links bus and later rescued by troops of Sub-Sector 1B of Operation Whirl Stroke. Onanuga also clarified that security sources attributed the Benue attack to local criminal elements, not Fulani bandits, expressing concern about inaccurate threat attribution fueling ethnic tension. Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia met with the victims and appealed for the rescheduling of examinations for the traumatized students. Beyond Benue, Onanuga detailed military operations across at least seven states within a single week, including arrests of militiamen in Plateau, neutralization of Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in Borno, apprehension of ISWAP logistics suppliers in Yobe, repulsion of terrorist attacks in Sokoto, destruction of a suspected terrorist camp in Kogi, defusal of IEDs in Imo, and the foiling of a kidnap attempt in Edo. While acknowledging ongoing challenges, Onanuga emphasized
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, presented over N3.1 billion in compensation to more than 300 property owners whose land was acquired for infrastructure projects. Speaking at the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu stated that the compensation reflects his administration's commitment to fairness, transparency, and protecting citizens' rights under the Land Use Act. He emphasized that the payment is not charity but justice, representing the rightful entitlement of those whose property was acquired for public purposes. The governor noted that all claims underwent due process, including enumeration, professional valuation, and title verification. He added that the acquired lands would be used for roads, schools, and other public infrastructure to improve residents' quality of life, acknowledging the sacrifices of the affected owners. Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, commended the residents for their patience. The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr. Kamal Olowosago, described the exercise as a demonstration of the government's commitment to fairness, accountability, and the rule of law in land administration, following a previous compensation exercise on December 12, 2024.
Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, announced that over 80,000 volunteers have registered for the Iru Ekun Security Network across the South-West, surpassing the initial projection of 50,000. Igboho, the founder of the security outfit, stated that this reflects the commitment of people in the region to local initiatives aimed at combating terrorism, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality. He noted a significant reduction in kidnapping cases since the network's launch, particularly in areas previously affected by criminal elements. Background checks are conducted on members to prevent individuals with questionable character from joining. The security outfit has been officially launched in Oyo and Osun states, with plans for a launch in Kwara State, where Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is reportedly partnering with them. Igboho attributed the reduction in abductions to local intelligence gathering and operational support from federal security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry of Defence, the military, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Department of State Services. He specifically mentioned support from Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Director-General of the DSS Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Igboho also commended South-West governors for their support and urged all Nigerians to view security as a collecti
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have agreed to enhance their security and defense partnership, focusing on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, maritime security, intelligence sharing, and combating fraud and illicit finance. This commitment was made during the Fourth UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue, held in Abuja on June 23 and 24, 2026. The dialogue, co-chaired by Nigeria鈥檚 National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the UK鈥檚 National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, resulted in a communiqu茅 outlining areas of cooperation. The UK will continue supporting Nigeria's Armed Forces with training and technical advice against threats like Uncrewed Air Systems and Improvised Explosive Devices. Both nations will also strengthen maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and establish a framework for cooperation on cybersecurity, including intelligence sharing and combating misinformation. Efforts against terrorism and violent extremism will be intensified through intelligence exchange and forensic capabilities, with the UK supporting aviation security and Nigeria's anti-kidnap initiatives. Non-kinetic approaches to preventing violent extremism, such as Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration programs, were also reaffirmed. The UK acknowledged Nigeria's progress in expediting terrorism cases. Both countries emphasized human rights, civilian protection, and transparent investigations. Ahead of Nigeria's upcoming elections, effective election security was highlig