SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Recent allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and workplace victimisation within the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have sparked renewed concerns about accountability, transparency, and the protection of employees in Nigeria's public institutions . The controversy stems from an open letter written by former NAN staff member, Dr. Femi Ogunshola, to the agency's Managing Director, Ali Muhammad Ali. In the letter, Dr. Ogunshola alleged that a female employee, Miss Ogunola Folashade Adunni, suffered prolonged sexual harassment from a senior official allegedly connected to the agency's recruitment process. He further claimed that after rejecting repeated advances, the employee was unfairly placed on a lower salary grade despite possessing a university degree and years of service as a casual staff member. At the time of writing, the allegations remain unproven, and there has been no public finding by an independent in...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday commissioned 80 housing units under the Nigerian Army Affordable Home Ownership Scheme in Jos, Plateau State, reaffirming the Army's commitment to improving the welfare of its personnel. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on June 30, 2026, General Shaibu said the housing initiative forms part of his "Soldier-First Culture," which he described as a key driver of operational effectiveness and national security. He noted that providing affordable and quality housing for soldiers is a strategic investment in their welfare, morale and combat readiness. The Army Chief said the welfare of personnel and their families remains a central pillar of his leadership philosophy, stressing that motivated and professionally fulfilled soldiers are better equipped to carry out the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigerian Army. According to him, the 80 housing units com...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have intensified operations against terrorists and bandits across the North-West, neutralising two suspected terrorists, rescuing a kidnapped victim, arresting eight suspected collaborators and logistics facilitators, and recovering 110 rustled cattle during operations conducted between June 27 and 28, 2026. According to a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the operations were carried out across Kaduna and Zamfara states as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks in the region. The statement said that on June 27, troops of Sector 1, working with members of the Vigilante Group, engaged terrorists transporting kidnapped victims on motorcycles during fighting patrols in Giwa and Kaduna North Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Following a gun battle, the terrorist...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have rescued 10 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers who were abducted during an attack by suspected ISWAP terrorists on Lassa Community in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. According to the, Acting Military Information Officer Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri, Captain Mohammed Goni,  the attack occurred at about 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the Technical Secondary School in Lassa while students were writing their NECO examinations. The military said it immediately deployed troops, supported by strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms from the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, to conduct a coordinated search and rescue operation. During the operation, troops reportedly engaged the fleeing terrorists around Daggu in a firefight that led to the rescue of the 10 abducted victims. T...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of the mother of the party's National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru. Mama Basiru reportedly passed away peacefully on Saturday at a ripe age. In a condolence message issued on Sunday through his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Professor Yilwatda, on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC), party leaders, members and supporters, sympathised with Senator Basiru, the entire Basiru family and the people of Osun State over the loss of their matriarch. The APC National Chairman described the deceased as a woman whose life was marked by faith, dignity, sacrifice and unwavering devotion to her family, noting that she lived a fulfilled life and left behind enduring values that would continue to inspire those who knew her. Yilwatda also commended Senator Basiru for the excep...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major reshuffle of senior officers across key operational, command, training and staff appointments in the Nigerian Army as part of efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness, enhance national security and improve the Army's capacity to respond to emerging security challenges. The appointments were announced in a statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations in Abuja. The redeployment, which affects field commanders, commandants of military institutions and principal staff officers at the Army Headquarters, is aimed at consolidating the Nigerian Army's transformation drive and reinforcing leadership across critical formations. Under the new appointments, Major General WM Dangana has been named the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, taking ...