You Can’t Reopen What Is Already Open — Tunji-Ojo Fires Back at Atiku

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has responded to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 border reopening pledge, insisting that Nigeria’s land borders are already open and therefore cannot be reopened.

Tunji-Ojo’s response came shortly after the Presidency rejected Atiku’s claim that he would reopen the country’s borders if elected president in the 2027 presidential election.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, had described Atiku’s claim as misleading, arguing that the Federal Government had already reopened most of Nigeria’s land borders and had not subsequently ordered a general closure.

Dare said the government reopened most land borders on March 14, 2024, as part of efforts to facilitate legitimate movement and cross-border trade.

He also cited the reopening of the Kamba border in Kebbi State by President Bola Tinubu on February 14, 2026, as further evidence that Nigeria’s land borders remain operational.

Reacting on Saturday, Tunji-Ojo said describing Nigeria’s borders as closed failed to account for the different reasons certain border crossings had been restricted at different periods.

“As the Minister of Interior who supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service being an agency of government in charge of border and migration management, it is expedient to state that Nigerian borders are not closed and so cannot be reopened,” he said.

The minister recalled that Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum borders were reopened on December 16, 2020.

He added that Idiroko and Ikom were reopened for goods and services on April 20, 2022, while the Kamba and Tsamiya border posts in Kebbi State were reopened under the current administration in February 2026.

According to Tunji-Ojo, the reopening of the crossings restored important links between Nigeria and its neighbouring countries, including Niger Republic and Benin Republic.

The minister also addressed Atiku’s references to Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic, explaining that restrictions at some crossings were imposed for security reasons rather than as part of the country’s 2019 trade policy.

Tunji-Ojo specifically referred to the Banki and Amchidé crossings along the Cameroon border, saying they were closed in 2014 following Boko Haram attacks.

He said the crossings were reopened in 2019, while Fotokol and Gambaru followed in 2021 after joint military and stabilisation efforts involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

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The minister argued that treating these different episodes as one prolonged border closure wrongly combines trade policy with counter-insurgency operations.

“Folding this separate, security-driven history into one continuous 2019 shutdown misrepresents two distinct issues, trade regulation and counter-insurgency, as a single failure,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo nevertheless acknowledged that not every border crossing in northern Nigeria operates without restrictions.

He said tighter controls remain necessary in some areas affected by banditry and insurgency, stressing that such measures are intended to protect traders, residents and border communities.

The minister said effective border management cannot be reduced to a choice between completely closing borders and allowing unrestricted movement.

“Modern border management is not a choice between total closure and unrestricted movement; it requires security, documentation, customs compliance and controlled trade facilitation together,” he said.

He also challenged Atiku to provide details of his proposed border policy and explain what changes he intends to introduce if elected president.

“Political competition should not become a competition to rewrite recent history. If he has a new border proposal, he should set it out and explain how it differs from the current approach, rather than treating separate trade, security and infrastructure issues as one and the same,” Tunji-Ojo said.

Atiku’s proposal had centred on the economic importance of Nigeria’s land borders, particularly for businesses and communities that depend on cross-border commerce.

The former vice president has argued that restrictions affecting border trade have hurt entrepreneurs, traders and businesses, particularly young Nigerians who depend on regional commerce for their livelihoods.

He has also advocated measures to strengthen Nigeria’s ports and improve the movement of goods as part of a broader economic agenda ahead of the 2027 election.

The Presidency, however, maintains that an open border does not mean an uncontrolled border.

Dare said the government’s border policy is designed to facilitate legitimate movement, trade and economic activity while preventing terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking and other transnational crimes.

He challenged Atiku to identify the specific controls he would remove and explain what safeguards would be put in place to prevent criminals from exploiting the country’s borders.

The disagreement has consequently shifted the debate from the simple question of whether Nigeria’s borders are open to the more complex issue of how effectively they are managed.

Nigeria shares land borders with Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon, creating significant opportunities for regional trade while also presenting substantial security and migration challenges.

Border communities rely heavily on the movement of agricultural products, livestock, manufactured goods and other commodities across these routes.

However, authorities have repeatedly had to balance these economic interests against concerns over smuggling, irregular migration, trafficking, arms movement and activities by armed groups.

The current debate therefore raises broader questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s border infrastructure, customs procedures, immigration controls, surveillance systems and security arrangements.

For Atiku and his political platform, greater openness could boost trade and economic activity in border communities.

For the Federal Government, the priority is to maintain open and functional borders while ensuring that security and regulatory controls are not removed in ways that could expose Nigerians to greater risks.

The controversy is expected to remain part of the political conversation as parties and presidential aspirants develop their 2027 campaign policies.

Ultimately, the key issue may not be whether Nigeria should reopen its borders, but whether the country can make legitimate cross-border movement faster, safer and more affordable while maintaining effective security controls.

Atiku is now likely to face pressure to provide greater detail on what his proposed border policy would change, while the Federal Government will be expected to demonstrate that the existing system is genuinely facilitating legitimate trade and movement across Nigeria’s international borders.

You Can’t Reopen What Is Already Open — Tunji-Ojo Fires Back at Atiku

Borno: Troops kill 26 Boko Haram fighters, destroy 10 motorcycles in Kukawa

At least 26 Boko Haram fighters have been killed and 10 motorcycles destroyed after troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion repelled an attack on their position in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack occurred at about 10:50pm on Friday, August 28, 2026, according to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni.

In a statement issued in Maiduguri on Saturday, Goni said the attackers launched an assault on the military position but were met with direct and indirect fire from the troops.

The military response reportedly forced the fighters to retreat towards the Cross Kauwa axis, with several of them killed during the encounter while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

Troops subsequently conducted an exploitation of the area and recovered some of the bodies of the fighters killed during the confrontation.

As the fleeing terrorists attempted to withdraw from the area, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai was deployed to track and engage them.

Goni said the operation was conducted despite challenging weather conditions, with military aircraft locating a group of the fleeing fighters taking cover under trees.

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The air component subsequently carried out a strike that reportedly killed an estimated 10 terrorists.

The operation was further supported by Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

According to Goni, the surveillance assets tracked about 20 motorcycles carrying fleeing terrorists towards the Tunbuns/Kangarwa axis.

The intelligence enabled the Air Component to conduct a follow-up precision strike, which reportedly killed an additional 15 terrorists and destroyed 10 motorcycles.

Ground troops continued operations in the area and reportedly killed another terrorist during subsequent exploitation.

They also recovered two motorcycles, assorted ammunition and other logistics items, according to the military.

The coordinated ground and air operations were aimed at preventing the attackers from regrouping after the failed assault and disrupting their ability to move fighters and supplies around the area.

The military said the operation further degraded the terrorists’ mobility and fighting capability, while denying them the opportunity to reorganise and launch another attack.

Following the engagement, troops were reportedly replenished by air with essential combat supplies to enable them to sustain the operation and maintain pressure on terrorist elements.

Four military personnel sustained injuries during the confrontation. However, the military said none of the injuries was life-threatening.

The wounded personnel were evacuated by air for medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition.

Troops have since commenced reorganisation and extensive exploitation of the area, while battle-damage assessment remains ongoing.

Goni said the successful defence of the Kukawa military position demonstrated the ability of Operation Hadin Kai to integrate ground forces, air assets and intelligence capabilities in responding to terrorist threats.

The latest operation also underscores the strategic importance of Kukawa and the Cross Kauwa axis, which are located within the wider Lake Chad Basin security theatre where insurgent groups have continued to operate.

The area has witnessed repeated counter-insurgency operations as Nigerian forces and the Multinational Joint Task Force work to restrict the movement of Boko Haram and Islamic State-linked fighters around the Lake Chad region.

The Nigerian military has increasingly relied on a combination of ground operations, airstrikes and intelligence-led surveillance to track terrorist movements, disrupt their logistics and prevent attacks on military positions and communities in Borno.

The military said it would sustain offensive operations and intelligence-led surveillance aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities, denying them freedom of action and protecting communities across the North-East.

The casualty figures released by the military represent its assessment of the operation. Independent verification of the reported number of terrorists killed was not immediately available.

Borno: Troops kill 26 Boko Haram fighters, destroy 10 motorcycles in Kukawa

Police Rescue Two Colombian Women Held Captive by Trafficking Syndicate in Lagos

LAGOS, Nigeria – Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau (NCB) of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian nationals who were allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate. The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued following actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. This operation marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against transnational organized crime and human trafficking, demonstrating the effectiveness of international law enforcement cooperation between Nigeria and Colombia.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed the details of the operation in a statement released on Saturday, August 29, 2026. According to the statement, the two women were “fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated” by some Chinese nationals, who are currently at large. Upon receipt of the intelligence from INTERPOL-NCB Bogotá, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day. The statement read in part, “Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day.” According to police, the suspects fled the location when they noticed the approaching operatives. “The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” the statement said. The police have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle the trafficking network.

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The police said the rescued Colombian nationals are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support, including medical care and counseling services to help them recover from their traumatic experience. The statement further disclosed that the Colombian Embassy in Accra is working in close collaboration with the National Central Bureau to secure hotel accommodations for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to ensure their safe return to Bogotá. The embassy’s involvement underscores the importance of diplomatic cooperation in handling cross-border trafficking cases and ensuring that victims are not re-victimized by bureaucratic hurdles.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents within the country, while deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners to combat cross-border crimes. The statement said Disu “reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents within the country, while deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners to combat cross-border crimes.” The police said efforts had been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the trafficking network.

This rescue operation highlights the growing challenge of transnational human trafficking in Nigeria, which serves as both a source, transit, and destination country for victims. According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria has seen an increase in cases involving foreign nationals being trafficked into the country for forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other forms of modern slavery. The involvement of Chinese nationals in this case points to the international nature of trafficking syndicates operating in the country. The police have called on members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies, as community cooperation remains vital in combating these crimes.

Police Rescue Two Colombian Women Held Captive by Trafficking Syndicate in Lagos