Author: Opalim Lifted

The United States (US) will deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to support the country’s fight against insurgency in its northern region. According to Reuters, a US official confirmed that the troops will reinforce a small number of American military personnel already stationed in Nigeria. The move marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral security cooperation. The deployment follows renewed defence collaboration between Washington and Abuja. US President Donald Trump recently redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of Christian persecution, a decision that further shaped diplomatic engagement between both nations. Last week, Dagvin Anderson, commander of the…

Security experts have urged the Federal Government to criminalise ransom payments to terrorists, warning that secret negotiations and payouts are fuelling insecurity across Nigeria. They described the payment of ransom as the “biggest betrayal” in the fight against insurgency, insisting that it emboldens criminal networks and deepens violence nationwide. The call was made during Boiling Point, a media programme broadcast on six radio stations and powered by the National Association of Seadogs, Ash Montana Deck. ‘Ransom Payments Empower Terrorists’ A retired US Army Major, Yinka Ogunsanya, strongly opposed ransom payments to terrorists, arguing that government-funded payouts directly strengthen insurgent groups.…

Gunmen have abducted 15 travellers after attacking a commercial bus along the Utonkon–Okpoga Road in Benue State, worsening security concerns across the North-Central region. The incident occurred at about 7pm on Monday in the Utonkon axis of Ado Local Government Area, along the route linking Ado and Okpokwu LGAs. A youth leader in the Utonkon district, Jude Onwe, said the bus was carrying 16 passengers travelling from Iheijwo Market in Oju LGA to various destinations in south-west Nigeria when it was intercepted. According to Onwe, the attackers blocked the road, stopped the vehicle and forcefully marched the passengers into the…

Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi Jr, has revealed how sweeping and, at times, painful leadership decisions were taken to rescue the media group from collapse following the death of its founder, Raymond Dokpesi Sr. Dokpesi Jr spoke in Abuja while declaring his intention to contest for the chairmanship of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), using the opportunity to reflect on the crisis that engulfed DAAR after his father passed away on May 29, 2023. According to him, the organisation was already in a fragile state long before his father’s death, with investor confidence badly eroded. “On the…

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as a non-career ambassador. The request was conveyed in a letter read on Tuesday during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. “I write for confirmation by the Senate of the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as a non-career ambassador,” the letter read. “While I hope that the Senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.” Akpabio said the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs would consider the request and report back within one week. Dakingari…

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that commercial banks hoarded newly redesigned naira notes during the controversial currency swap that plunged Nigeria into severe cash scarcity. Testifying on Tuesday, Chinedu Eneanya, the seventh prosecution witness in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele, confirmed that bank officials committed infractions, including the hoarding of currency notes, during the naira redesign exercise between late 2022 and early 2023. However, the investigator admitted under cross-examination that he could not remember the total number of banks…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to a social media user who shared a picture of the commission’s headquarters in Abuja as a hotel up for sale. In a post on X, a verified user @osere_x, listed the commission’s property as a “hotel” in the nation’s capital city of Abuja, pegging purchase of the facility at N800 million, with an additional N120 million in agent fee. “HOTEL AVAILABLE. Location: Abuja. Price – 800M. Agent fee – 120M. Only serious buyers should DM,” @osere_x, on the social media platform, wrote. The post had garnered 1,200 reposts, 670 replies,…

Proceedings in the Senate were thrown into disorder on Tuesday after lawmakers clashed over a motion seeking to reverse an earlier approval of electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The disagreement erupted during consideration of a motion sponsored by Tahir Monguno, senator representing Borno North, who urged the chamber to rescind its approval of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026. The contentious clause provides the legal framework for the electronic transmission of election results, a provision widely seen as central to electoral transparency. Monguno told colleagues that the motion became…

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has confirmed that Nigerians are among 53 migrants feared dead after a rubber boat capsized off the coast of Libya. In a statement released on Monday, the UN migration agency said the vessel, carrying 55 migrants and refugees, overturned north of Zuwara on February 6, with only two Nigerian women rescued during a search-and-rescue operation by Libyan authorities. IOM revealed that the tragedy has left devastating personal losses. One of the survivors lost her husband, while the other lost her two babies in the incident. The organisation said its teams provided emergency medical care…

The Senate has approved the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while retaining manual collation as a fallback where technology fails. The decision followed a reconsideration of a contentious clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill during Tuesday’s plenary session. The amendment was introduced through a motion sponsored by Tahir Monguno, senator representing Borno North, who said further scrutiny of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026 showed the need for changes to avoid disputes and operational setbacks during elections. Under the revised provision, presiding officers at…