Nigerien Army arrests commander of terrorist group, seizes  cash, weapons

The Nigerien Army has arrested a suspected senior member of the terrorist group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in the Tillabéri region, recovering cash, weapons, and logistics items believed to be meant for terrorist operations.

The army, in its operations report covering April 3 to April 5, confirmed that the suspect was intercepted on April 3 at about 6:30 p.m. while traveling in a vehicle along the Torodi–Niamey route.

According to military sources, a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a firearm, several mobile phones, and a sum of 5,032,900 CFA francs. The army believes the money was intended for the procurement of logistics to support terrorist activities.

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Further investigation led troops to a garden owned by the suspect in the village of Boborgou. The location was allegedly used as a logistical base by armed groups. Items discovered included food supplies, communication airtime credit, clothing, and black fabric believed to be used for camouflage.

In a nearby school building, security forces also uncovered a significant stock of pasta reportedly meant to sustain active terrorist elements operating in the area.

The army stated that the suspect is also strongly linked to the hijacking of two vehicles between Makalondi and Niaktiré on April 2.

Security operations are ongoing in the region as part of broader efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore stability.

Nigerien Army arrests commander of terrorist group, seizes  cash, weapons

(Zagazola Makama)

We’ll use robotic machines for underwear bridge inspection – Minister

The federal government is planning to deploy robotic machines for underwater inspection of bridges nationwide, the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, announced on Sunday.

At a stakeholders’ engagement on Section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Umahi said that the move was to reduce the cost of hiring divers for underwater assessments.

He said: “We are going to locate a robotic kind of machine that will be able to do the diving to allow us to see everything happening under the water in all our bridges.”

According to him, hiring divers to go under the water to check what is happening inside is causing  a lot of money.

He said that the Managing Director of HITECH Construction Company, Danny Abboud, would help to ‘locate that mission and then we would like to buy it’.

Umahi also declared a “bridge emergency” to assess the condition of bridges, particularly those constructed 53 years ago, across the country.

He  announced that President Bola Tinubu would inaugurate several projects starting from May 1.

He added that  more projects would be inaugurated by  December.

The minister reiterated  that the Federal Executive Council had issued a directive prohibiting dredging within a 10km radius of any bridge nationwide.

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This, he said, followed reports of dredging activities near the Third Mainland Bridge which, Julius Berger warned, could lead to the bridge’s collapse.

He emphasised the importance of safeguarding the bridges’ structural integrity. Umahi called for collaboration with the Nigerian Navy for patrol on waterway and prevent illegal sand filling and dredging near bridges.

The minister, who said that the temporary repair work on Independence Bridge in Lagos State was proving to be a permanent solution, gave the assurance that the bridge’s stability was being closely monitored.

Dangote, Elumelu release private jets to fix Lagos traffic

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has expressed deep appreciation to UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu and Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote for their concern during the temporary closure of a section of the Independence Bridge in Lagos.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna Orji, Umahi revealed that Elumelu and Dangote both offered their private jets to facilitate his swift intervention in resolving the traffic chaos caused by the bridge’s closure.

“And, of course, to Chief Elumelu and some other prominent Nigerians like Dangote, for their calls and encouragement. They even requested that they send their planes to carry us, and we said no,” he said.

He also thanked President Bola Tinubu, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and construction firms for their prompt action in restoring order.

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The bridge, which had been closed for repairs on April 2, 2025, following a technical failure of its approach slab, was quickly reopened after the efforts of the Ministry of Works, the Lagos State Government, and construction partners such as Buildwell Nig Ltd and Hitech Nigeria Ltd.

Umahi reiterated the importance of following proper procedures before closing vital infrastructure, and announced a new policy for future road and bridge closures.

He said the policy will include a stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanism, ensuring the public is well-informed about closures and their duration.

The minister also reassured the public of continued efforts to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure.

Dangote, Elumelu release private jets to fix Lagos traffic