US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirms continued counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will maintain active counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government and its security forces. He made these remarks on Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the State Department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request. Rubio highlighted a recent joint operation that eliminated a top ISIS figure operating from within Nigeria. He also expressed US concern regarding alleged violence against Christians in Nigeria and affirmed continued support in addressing it. This cooperation follows deepened US-Nigeria security collaboration under the Trump administration, including joint strikes in May 2026 targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP. President Donald Trump announced the elimination of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s global number-two leader, with the Nigerian military and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirming Nigeria's provision of key intelligence. US airstrikes also targeted a terrorist enclave in Sokoto in December. This collaboration comes after Trump designated Nigeria a country of particular concern over alleged violence against Christians, an allegation the Nigerian federal government denied while urging cooperation.
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Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has publicly endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, highlighting the ongoing Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project and renewable energy initiatives in the state as key justifications. The endorsement was made during a ceremony organized by the Tinubu Support Organisation in Birnin Kebbi, where supporters also backed Governor Idris for re-election. Governor Idris stated that Kebbi State has significantly benefited from federal projects under President Tinubu's leadership, demonstrating a strong commitment to national development. He expressed pride that Kebbi was among the first states to declare support for the President's second-term ambition. The National Leader of the Tinubu Support Organisation, Aminu Suleiman, thanked the governor for his support and announced plans to extend the endorsement campaign to other states. This early endorsement by a sitting governor, more than a year before the 2027 general elections, reflects a coordinated effort by the APC to secure backing from state-level leaders, particularly in the North-West, a region of significant electoral strength for the party. Kebbi State, a reliable APC stronghold and a major rice-producing state, holds strategic importance for its political loyalty and economic contributions.
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has endorsed the resolutions from the Christian Association of Nigeria's 2026 National Church Leaders Summit. The former Vice President expressed support for CAN's call for urgent reforms to address Nigeria's worsening security situation. In a post on his verified X handle, Atiku aligned with the concerns raised by the Christian body and sympathized with Nigerians affected by insecurity. He noted that CAN's demand for a comprehensive review of the nation's security framework, enhanced intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, improved operational effectiveness, and greater accountability in combating terrorism, banditry, and violent crime aligns with his own criticisms of the current administration's performance. Atiku commended Christian leaders for their unified stance on security challenges, describing it as a timely intervention. He added that the declaration of three days of national mourning by Christian leaders should prompt reflection from those in leadership. Atiku emphasized that insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of background and called for broader support in addressing the crisis. He also urged Islamic organizations and leaders to join the call for urgent action on insecurity and implored President Bola Tinubu to heed CAN's concerns and take concrete steps to address the country's security challenges.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the abduction of the sister and twin nephews of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, stating it underscores Nigeria's deteriorating security situation. Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, called for the immediate release of the victims and urged security agencies to prioritize their rescue and the arrest of those responsible. He made these remarks in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following reports that the abduction occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the Challenge Bus Stop. Atiku described the incident as alarming, noting that kidnappers could operate in a prominent public space without fear. He argued that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for the Federal Government, emphasizing that insecurity now affects individuals regardless of social status or political affiliation. Atiku urged President Bola Tinubu's administration to adopt a comprehensive, intelligence-driven strategy to dismantle kidnapping syndicates, secure communities, and restore public confidence in the state's ability to protect lives and property.
Must ReadOndo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, have praised the judiciary and security agencies following the conviction and death sentence of four individuals responsible for the June 5, 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo. The attack resulted in the deaths of 41 worshippers and left many injured. Governor Aiyedatiwa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, described the court verdict as a "victory for justice, the rule of law, and for all victims." He emphasized that the judgment sends a clear message that those who take innocent lives will face the full weight of the law. The Governor also thanked the people of Owo and the Catholic community for their steadfastness. Oba Ogunoye expressed delight, stating that justice had been served and that the conviction would bring relief to the people of Owo and Nigerians. He urged the government and security agencies to continue investigations to apprehend and prosecute anyone else involved in the massacre.