Viral Video Shows Children Armed With Guns in Borno, Sparking National Outrage

A disturbing video circulating widely on social media has sparked national outrage after it showed dozens of young boys, some as young as nine, dressed in military-style camouflage uniforms and handling firearms in a forested area of Borno State. The footage appears to depict a paramilitary-style training session, highlighting the ongoing forced recruitment of children by terrorist groups in Nigeria’s northeast.

In the video, the children stand in rows, performing drills and chanting while under the supervision of unidentified adults. Several of the uniforms appear oversized, suggesting they may have been looted from military formations or acquired during attacks on security posts, a tactic reportedly used by insurgents in the region.

Security analysts and local observers believe the footage is linked to Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both of which have a long history of child abductions, recruitment, and use of minors in combat and propaganda. Many of the children in the video are suspected to be from communities around the Ngoshe axis in Gwoza Local Government Area, a hotspot for recent insurgent activity, including raids, killings, and mass abductions.

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Experts warn that such exposure to weapons, military drills, and extremist indoctrination is aimed at grooming children as future combatants and indoctrinating them at a young age. One analyst described the use of children in uniform and armed drills as a form of psychological warfare, designed to demonstrate that terrorist groups still maintain a steady flow of recruits despite military pressure.

Human rights advocates have condemned the development as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, calling for urgent interventions to protect minors. The recruitment of children in armed conflict violates both national law and international child protection conventions, making the practice a serious human rights abuse.

Officials from the Borno State government emphasised that many children in such circumstances are victims rather than willing participants, with militants abducting minors from schools, homes, and streets to train them in camps controlled by extremist factions.

Despite ongoing military operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, analysts warn that insurgent groups continue to exploit vulnerable populations due to poverty, displacement, and limited access to education, making comprehensive child protection programs essential. Recent military efforts have successfully rescued abducted children, but challenges remain in addressing the root causes of forced recruitment.

Viral Video Shows Children Armed With Guns in Borno, Sparking National Outrage

OYOSUBEB Chairman Adeniran Joins 2027 Oyo Governorship Race

The Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB), Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement issued on Monday, Adeniran said his decision to join the 2027 governorship race followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and community leaders across the state, as well as deep reflection and prayers.

According to him, his ambition is driven by a commitment to consolidate the achievements of the administration of Seyi Makinde and ensure the continued development of Oyo State.

Adeniran noted that he had earlier hinted at his governorship ambition during a radio appearance months ago, where he publicly disclosed his interest in leading the state.

“I am offering myself to serve as Governor of Oyo State, not out of ambition but out of conviction; not for power, but for purpose; not to be celebrated, but to empower,” he said.

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The OYOSUBEB chairman highlighted his extensive experience in public administration, noting that he has served as a Local Government Chairman, Commissioner and a member of several state and federal boards. According to him, these roles provided him with administrative exposure and grassroots engagement, helping him understand the diverse challenges facing communities across Oyo State.

Adeniran also praised Governor Makinde, describing him as a visionary leader whose administration has brought significant transformation to the state through its development programme popularly known as the Omituntun agenda. He pledged that if elected governor, he would sustain and strengthen the policies and reforms introduced by the current administration.

“Continuity is the foundation of sustainable progress, and Oyo State deserves nothing less,” he said.

Outlining his vision for the state, Adeniran said his administration would focus on improving access to quality education, promoting youth empowerment and job creation, strengthening security across communities, expanding infrastructure development, and encouraging innovation and inclusive governance.

“My vision is simple: a state where every child has access to quality education, where our youths do not have to leave home to find opportunity, and where security is guaranteed for every citizen,” he said.

Adeniran further emphasized the importance of strengthening the civil service, promising improved welfare, regular training and merit-based opportunities for government workers.

He added that his administration would focus on creating jobs for young people by supporting entrepreneurship, attracting investments and expanding sectors such as education, agriculture, technology and small-scale industries.

The governorship aspirant therefore called on residents of Oyo State to support his ambition, expressing optimism that collective efforts would help build a stronger and more prosperous state.

OYOSUBEB Chairman Adeniran Joins 2027 Oyo Governorship Race

Pastor Says Divine Prayers Helped Nyesom Wike Win Two Terms as Rivers Governor

Popular Nigerian cleric David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries, has claimed that his prayers and spiritual intervention played a pivotal role in the political rise of Nyesom Wike, currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking during a sermon at the church’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ibiyeomie recounted how Wike approached him during critical moments in his Rivers State governorship campaigns, appearing visibly anxious and “shaking” before both his initial election and re-election.

According to the cleric, Wike had suffered legal setbacks before his first governorship win, losing in the High Court, Appeal Court, and facing an unfavorable Supreme Court ruling. Ibiyeomie said he reassured Wike, stating that God would intervene and even claimed to command a reversal of any adverse judgment.

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“I called him while I was in Israel; he was shaking but I told him not to fear,” the pastor said. “I told him that God will step in, and he said ‘Papa, I believe you.’ After our Five Nights of Glory program, Wike walked up to me, and the judgment was to be announced on Friday. Even though he had no money at that time, the situation turned in his favour, and he later acknowledged, ‘Papa, I knew this is God.’”

Ibiyeomie also described similar circumstances during Wike’s second term campaign, asserting that political forces were attempting to block his re-election. The pastor said he again prayed and made a covenant with God, dedicating millions spiritually on Wike’s behalf, which he credited for Wike’s eventual victory.

The cleric’s revelations have sparked conversations about the influence of religious leaders in Nigerian politics, particularly in swaying outcomes through spiritual support. Wike, a two-term governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has long been a controversial yet influential figure, and his political trajectory continues to attract national attention.

Ibiyeomie’s claims, widely shared in a viral video, underscore the ongoing debate over the intersection of faith and politics in Nigeria, highlighting how some clerics play prominent roles in political campaigns.

Pastor Says Divine Prayers Helped Nyesom Wike Win Two Terms as Rivers Governor