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Terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda attack Kwara border community
Terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda attack Kwara border community
Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked terror group, has claimed responsibility for a recent attack in Basso, a border town in Benin Republic located about 15 kilometres from Babana and other communities near Kainji National Park in Nigeria.
In a propaganda message released on 12 June, the group said it had seized control of a Beninese military post in Basso, situated in the Borgou region.
The statement, written in Arabic, did not provide further operational details.
The claim comes amid growing concerns over the group’s expanding influence in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, where JNIM controls territories in Mali, Burkina Faso, and parts of northern Benin.
The attack marks the second reported incident near Basso in recent months. In April, the group targeted an armoured personnel carrier belonging to the Beninese military in the same area.
That same month, Premium Times reported that JNIM fighters killed 70 soldiers in coordinated attacks on two military outposts in northern Benin.
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Security experts have repeatedly warned that the spillover of violence from the Sahel region could further destabilise Nigeria, particularly states bordering restive zones such as Kwara and Niger.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, echoed these fears during a recent summit of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he spoke about security challenges facing the country under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ribadu said that instability in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, all currently under military rule, has increased pressure on Nigeria’s northern borders
Meanwhile, new terror cells such as Lakurawa and Mahmuda have emerged, adopting tactics and ideologies similar to global jihadist organisations.
The JNIM was formed in 2017 following the merger of four extremist groups based in Mali — Ansar al-Din, al-Murabitun, the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), and the Sahara branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Since then, it has entrenched itself as one of the most dominant terror networks in the Sahel.
In response to the growing cross-border threat, countries in the Lake Chad Basin have relied on the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda attack Kwara border community
metro
Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu
Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu
The Delta State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu in Anambra State, arresting key suspects linked to the case.
Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe disclosed on Sunday that operatives of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on credible intelligence, apprehended 25-year-old security guard Godwin Mngumi on 6 December 2025. Mngumi allegedly murdered the retired judge, and authorities also recovered the deceased’s mobile phone from him.
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According to Edafe, Mngumi confessed to inviting a friend, Nnaji Obalum, and another accomplice — who remains at large — to the residence where the crime was committed. Obalum has since been arrested, while a manhunt continues for the third suspect.
The arrests mark a major step forward in the effort to bring all perpetrators of the high-profile murder to justice.
Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu
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Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
The Delta State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has made significant strides in its ongoing campaign against cultism and violent crimes. Recent operations, including an intelligence-led arms recovery in Abraka and the arraignment of 18 suspects, highlight the command’s intensified enforcement efforts across the state.
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Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe said on Saturday that the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), under ASP Julius Robinson, executed a successful operation on December 6, 2025, targeting cult-related activities and the proliferation of illegal firearms. Acting on credible intelligence, officers conducted a coordinated search at No. 2 Umeghe Community, Abraka, the residence of Isiakpere Friday, 67.
The move underscores the Delta State Police’s commitment to restoring safety and security in communities affected by criminal and cult-related activities.
Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
metro
Nigerian Army Suspends Retirements for Officers Amid Nationwide Security Emergency
Nigerian Army Suspends Retirements for Officers Amid Nationwide Security Emergency
The Nigerian Army has temporarily frozen both statutory and voluntary retirements for certain officers, including Generals, following the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu. The decision aims to bolster manpower as the country faces a surge in kidnappings and worsening insecurity.
The move comes after more than 600 abduction cases were reported in November 2025, including the kidnapping of over 300 students in Niger State, 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and 25 students in Kebbi State.
An internal circular dated December 3 and signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff cited provisions in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, allowing service extensions “in the interest of the service.” The memo explains that officers usually retire upon reaching age limits, completing 35 years of service, or failing promotion/conversion boards, but these rules can be overridden during national emergencies.
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The suspension affects officers who have:
- Failed promotion examinations three times
- Been passed over repeatedly at promotion boards
- Reached rank age limits
- Failed conversion boards thrice
- Completed 35 years of service
Officers granted extensions will remain in service but will not be eligible for further promotions, courses, secondments, or extra-regimental appointments. Those unwilling to continue can still proceed with standard exit procedures.
Commanders have been instructed to communicate the directive and manage morale across units, with the policy to be reviewed once national security conditions improve.
Nigerian Army Suspends Retirements for Officers Amid Nationwide Security Emergency
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