metro

Dozens killed as Boko Haram, ISWAP clash in Borno border community

Published

4 weeks ago

November 10, 2025

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu

Dozens killed as Boko Haram, ISWAP clash in Borno border community

A fierce battle between rival insurgent groups — Boko Haram’s Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunna lid-Da‘wa wa’l-Jihād (JAS) faction and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) — has reportedly left dozens of fighters dead in Toumbun Gini, an island settlement in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security sources said the confrontation occurred around 3 p.m. on Sunday after ISWAP launched a coordinated offensive to reclaim the island, which had been under the control of the Boko Haram faction.

Abadam, located in northern Borno and sharing a border with Niger Republic, has long served as a hotspot for insurgent activity due to its proximity to the Lake Chad basin.

According to reports, intelligence about the planned attack leaked to the JAS faction ahead of time, enabling its fighters to set up a counter-ambush.

“The first shots were decisive. JAS fighters overpowered them within minutes. ISWAP was routed,” a military intelligence source told reporters.

READ ALSO:

More than 50 ISWAP fighters were said to have been killed in the clash, while several of their boats were seized. The remaining insurgents reportedly fled the scene with casualties.

Video clips claiming to show the aftermath of the battle have since circulated on social media, though security agencies are yet to authenticate the footage.

Observers described the encounter as part of the persistent turf war between the two extremist factions for dominance over the Lake Chad islands and surrounding territories.

Analysts note that while the internal conflict has weakened the insurgents’ ability to carry out large-scale attacks, it has also splintered them into smaller, unpredictable cells, posing new threats to civilian communities in the region.

Security experts said the infighting offers an opportunity for Nigerian forces to intensify operations and deny both groups the space to regroup.

“If properly leveraged, this conflict could help security agencies tighten control over the Lake Chad axis,” one analyst noted.

As of press time, the Nigerian military had not issued an official statement on the reported clash.

Dozens killed as Boko Haram, ISWAP clash in Borno border community

metro

Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism

Published

3 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Godwin Emefiele

Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has strongly denied allegations linking him to terrorism financing in Nigeria, describing the claims as “mischievous and malicious.”

In a statement released on Saturday, December 6, 2025, Emefiele said the reports were “entirely fabricated, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to malign my name, mislead the public, and sow confusion for motives best known only to the publishers and their sponsors.”

He emphasized that the fight against terrorism is too important to be trivialized by irresponsible reporting, warning that Nigerians deserve accurate information rather than “reckless misinformation.”

READ ALSO:

“Throughout my service to the nation and in my private life, at no time have I been involved in any activity remotely connected to terrorism, terrorist financing, or any action that threatens the peace and security of our nation,” Emefiele stated. He added that he has never been invited, questioned, or investigated regarding such allegations and has no connection to the individual cited in the media reports.

“There is no scintilla of truth in the allegation,” he said, urging the public to disregard the claims entirely and calling on media organizations to verify facts before publishing sensational stories.

Emefiele’s statement seeks to reaffirm his reputation and distances him from any activities undermining national security.

Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism

metro

Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel

Published

3 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday inaugurated the newly constructed multi-million-naira Juma’at Mosque located within the Emir of Gumel’s Palace in Jigawa State.

According to a statement by Zainab Rabo, Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs to Governor Umar Namadi, the event drew high-level dignitaries, including top politicians, first-class emirs, captains of industry, and prominent Islamic scholars from across the country.

Rabo disclosed that the mosque was built by the Kashim Shettima Foundation, adding that Governor Umar A. Namadi and the Sultan of Sokoto graced the ceremony.

READ ALSO:

During the occasion, the Vice President congratulated the Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Sani, on marking 45 years on the throne, describing the milestone as a blessing and testament to exemplary leadership.

Shettima also reaffirmed his commitment—through his foundation—to initiatives that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

The Vice President further commended Governor Namadi for his notable strides in modern agriculture, noting that Jigawa’s progress under his leadership had positioned the state competitively within Nigeria and beyond.

“Governor Namadi is equal to the task, looking at his two-year achievements and the way he transformed Jigawa in modern agriculture,” Shettima stated.

Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel

metro

Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts

Published

4 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun

Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has deployed a Special Enforcement Team in Lagos to enforce President Bola Tinubu’s directive ending the use of police officers as escorts and guards for Very Important Persons (VIPs).

The operation, according to a statement posted on the Force’s official X account on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, commenced at about 10:00 a.m. on December 6, 2025, across key locations in Lagos State.

Hundeyin confirmed that the team carried out compliance checks at major points, including the Lekki–Ikoyi Link Bridge, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport domestic terminal, and other strategic hotspots within the state.

READ ALSO:

He disclosed that officers found “satisfactory and commendable” compliance with the presidential directive, with no incidents of unauthorised police escort and no arrests recorded.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reiterates the Force’s commitment to the full implementation of the presidential directive,” the statement said. “The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in redeploying its personnel to core policing duties aimed at enhancing general security, crime prevention, and the protection of lives and property nationwide.”

Hundeyin added that enforcement would continue across the country “without fear or favour,” urging Nigerians to support the push for a more professional and citizen-focused policing system.

President Tinubu had, on November 23, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection, directing that they be reassigned to frontline policing roles. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIP protection will now be handled by armed operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The policy aims to free up police manpower for critical security operations, particularly in underserved communities, and enhance overall national security efficiency.