metro

Politicians behind recent killings because of 2027 elections—CDS

Published

8 months ago

August 22, 2025

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa

Politicians behind recent killings because of 2027 elections—CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has linked recent killings and insecurity across Nigeria to political manoeuvres ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.

General Musa, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, said ongoing investigations reveal that both local and international financiers are fueling terrorism to destabilise the country.

“I can speak for this government, and because it has to do with a lot of legal issues and again, it has to do with international connections.

“Some of them have funds coming from outside, we cannot do anything from within,” he explained.

The CDS said financiers employ intermediaries who provide motorcycles to recruits and compel them to remit proceeds daily into designated accounts.

According to him, intelligence agencies need to be able to track the transactions to cut off the funding channels.

“They try to circulate these monies and that’s why we need to be able to track the funds,” he added.

Musa further disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and other security agencies are pursuing politicians and groups financing insecurity.

“You know criminals work together. They synergise their efforts together, both the bandits and terrorists, because they, a common goal, they want to make money, they want to make sure communities are suffering for whatever reason.

“And again, some are part of politics, when there is peace, it shows the government is doing well and when there is no peace it shows the government is not doing well,” he said.

READ ALSO:

He said insecurity declined last year with fewer deaths recorded, and that sudden resurgence points to political interference.

“You realise that last year, we had the least number of deaths, then, how come suddenly everything has gone up? Because politics has come in, elections are coming in. You cannot rule out the fact that some individuals are making sure there is no peace.

“The funny thing is that how do you want to kill the people you want to govern? What do you gain from it?” Musa asked.

When pressed on whether political actors financing terrorism had been identified, he said investigations were still ongoing.

Musa further warned that terror financiers increasingly rely on gold to fund their operations, complicating tracking efforts due to international networks.

He said: “Gold. They try to circulate this money, and that is why we need to be able to track these things.”

The CDS also addressed the case of pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa, who was arrested in Finland in November 2024 on terrorism-related offences.

He said Ekpa remains under prosecution by Finnish authorities and that his arrest has improved security in the Southeast.

“He (Ekpa) is still undergoing prosecution in Finland. So, we are hopeful. When we talked about him, people thought we were making noise, but since he has been arrested, the Southeast is getting better,” Musa said.

He revealed that troops are conducting operations to track down Ekpa’s lieutenants across Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia states.

Call Self-Defence Training

In a separate development, General Musa urged Nigerians to acquire basic combat and self-defence skills, describing them as essential survival tools in today’s insecure environment.

“Learning combat skills should be taken just like learning how to drive or swim. Whether there is war or not, it is a survival instinct. In Europe, swimming is compulsory.

“Security awareness should also be compulsory because everyone must understand what security means,” he said.

READ ALSO:

He emphasised that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should revive its original mandate by equipping graduates with survival skills, including unarmed combat, swimming, driving, and security awareness.

“That is what the NYSC was originally designed to do, but unfortunately, it has been reduced to just three weeks. We need to restore its purpose by teaching vital survival skills,” he explained.

Musa stressed that personal security and situational awareness are national priorities, urging citizens to report suspicious activities.

“Security is everybody’s business. Self-defence is very important because it prepares you for the unexpected. We cannot afford to take these things for granted,” he added.

The CDS commended the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for exposing financial links to terrorism but insisted that slow judicial processes hinder effective prosecution.

“The NFIU has been doing so much, apart from the intelligence set-up, the financial links are also being followed through and through and arrests have been made.

“I can assure you the Attorney-General of the Federation, the NSA (Nuhu Ribadu) are all working seriously to ensure that we address those issues,” he said.

He called for the establishment of special courts to fast-track terrorism trials and for stronger punishments against offenders.

“I can tell you that the DSS, the NIA, the NFIU and the DIA are all working assiduously to ensure… and again, it has to do with the legal system.

“We have to review our legal system because some of the punishments and prosecution take too long.

“Maybe if we have a special court that will treat (terrorism) cases as quickly as they are. I think we also need to review the punishment for offences,” he stated.

Politicians behind recent killings because of 2027 elections—CDS

Related Topics:elections Featured killings politicians

Up Next

Sule flags off electric cars distribution, splashes N3.2bn on youths, pensioners

Don't Miss

Be part of our steady rise, Tinubu tells diaspora Nigerians

metro

Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter

Published

11 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have killed at least four police officers and a local hunter in coordinated attacks on security posts in Borno State, underscoring the persistent threat of insurgency in the region.

The attacks occurred in the early hours of Saturday, April 4, 2026, targeting the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters and a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)/Hunters duty post at the Malam Fatori IDP Camp in Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area.

According to ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, the Nganzai police station came under fire at about 1:00 a.m., with terrorists deploying Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other sophisticated weapons in an attempt to overrun the town. Police officers, supported by the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Crack Squad, military personnel, CJTF members, and local hunters, engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle, ultimately repelling the attack and restoring normalcy.

READ ALSO:

Despite the successful defense, four police personnel “paid the supreme price”, while a section of the police station was damaged, and an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was partially burnt.

Almost two hours later, at around 2:40 a.m., insurgents attacked the CJTF/hunters’ post at the entrance of the Malam Fatori IDP camp. One hunter, Atom Abua, 40, was killed, and about 20 thatched houses and properties were destroyed. Combined security teams prevented further loss of life and property.

Following the attacks, Commissioner of Police Naziru Abdulmajid deployed additional personnel and operational assets to the affected areas to strengthen security and prevent further incidents. He commended the bravery of officers and local defenders, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, and reassured the public of the command’s commitment to bringing the attackers to justice.

Security experts note that the attacks highlight the enduring insurgency threat in Borno State, where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to target security installations and vulnerable communities despite ongoing counterterrorism operations. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.

Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter

metro

NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis

Published

11 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Pastor Afolabi Hodonu and his wife, Mrs. Success Hodonu

NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lagos-based pastor and his wife after discovering 11 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis concealed in specially modified compartments of their vehicle.

The suspects, Pastor Afolabi Hodonu, 45, in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Sakpo area of Seme border, Badagry, and his 35-year-old wife, Mrs. Success Hodonu, were apprehended on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme border, Lagos.

According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the couple was intercepted during a search of their Honda Pilot SUV, where officers recovered blocks of highly potent skunk cannabis hidden in secret compartments. Babafemi revealed that the arrest was linked to a previous seizure on March 30, 2026, when a suspected fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, was caught transporting 24.5 kilogrammes of skunk through the same checkpoint. Subsequent investigations led to the pastor and his wife.

“The arrest of Pastor Hodonu and his wife is part of our ongoing intelligence-driven operations against drug traffickers hiding behind legitimate businesses, religious titles, or elaborate concealment methods,” Babafemi said.

READ ALSO:

The NDLEA has also conducted several other operations across Nigeria, leading to:

Seizure of 3.10 kilogrammes of cocaine at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, hidden in tins of palm kernel extract bound for the UK, leading to multiple arrests, including syndicate leaders in Lagos.
Arrest of a female drug supplier in Borno State, 28-year-old Aisha Adamu, with 4.3 kilograms of Colorado cannabis linked to bandit groups operating in the North East.
Recovery of 48,000 tramadol pills in Adamawa State and 1,378 kilograms of skunk in a warehouse in Edo State.
Arrest of a suspected drug dealer in Ibadan using her 11-year-old daughter to distribute drugs.

NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers for the successful operations, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks nationwide regardless of the traffickers’ status.

The pastor and his wife are currently in NDLEA custody and will face prosecution as investigations continue. Authorities have warned that drug trafficking in Nigeria carries severe legal penalties and that no individual is above the law.

NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis

metro

Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, Wife of Former INEC Chairman, Dies in Abuja

Published

11 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega and former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega

Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, Wife of Former INEC Chairman, Dies in Abuja

Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, wife of former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has passed away in Abuja, officials confirmed on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The news was announced by Bayero University Kano through its official social media channels.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. With total submission to the will of Allah, we announce the passing of Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega,” the statement read, expressing sorrow and prayers for her family.

Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega

According to the university, her Janazah (funeral) prayer is scheduled to take place immediately after Zuhr prayers at the National Mosque, Abuja, on Sunday, with burial proceedings to follow.

The institution prayed that Allah grant her Aljannatul Firdaus, forgive her shortcomings, and give strength to her grieving family.

READ ALSO:

The university’s Director of Public Affairs, Lamara Garba, also confirmed the death, urging the public to offer prayers and support to the Jega family.

“Yes, it’s true. May the Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her family patience to bear this loss,” he said.

Hajiya Hadiza was widely respected for her contributions to education, community service, and support for her family, especially in northern Nigeria.

Her death has drawn condolences from friends, colleagues, and public figures across the country, highlighting her influence and the respect she commanded in social and academic circles.

Her husband, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is a distinguished academic and public servant, known for his tenure as chairman of INEC; president of Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and his contributions to national policy and governance.

The passing of Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega marks a significant loss for both her family and the broader Nigerian academic and civic community, with funeral arrangements reflecting her standing and the high regard in which she was held.