SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the party’s landslide victory in the Ekiti State governorship election and its strong showing in recent bye-elections across the country as evidence of growing public confidence in the APC-led administration and its reform agenda. In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the election outcomes demonstrated that Nigerians recognize the long-term benefits of ongoing economic and governance reforms despite current challenges. According to him, the victories reaffirm public support for the APC’s governance philosophy, which prioritizes development, accountability, stability and citizens’ welfare. “The overwhelming victory recorded by our great party in Ekiti State and our remarkable success in the bye-elections across the country represent a powerful endorsement of the APC's...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has announced significant operational successes across various theatres of operation between June 12 and 18, 2026, resulting in the rescue of kidnapped victims, arrest of terrorist collaborators, recovery of weapons, and disruption of illegal oil-bunkering activities. In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military said troops sustained offensive operations against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and economic saboteurs across the country, leading to notable gains in national security. North-East Operations Troops of Operation Hadin Kai intensified pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists across Borno State. Several civilians were rescued during military operations in Gubio, Gwoza, and Bama Local Government Areas. Notably, troops on June 17 repelled an attack by approximately 60 motorcycle-riding terrorists along the Pulka-Maraba-Kirawa R...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have successfully repelled coordinated attacks launched by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Buratai axis of Biu Local Government Area, Borno State, inflicting heavy losses on the insurgents. According to a statement signed by the  Acting Military Information Officer  Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI  MAIDUGURI, Captain Mohammed Goni,  the terrorists launched multiple attacks on troop positions at Dusten Kura and Chara Road in the early hours of Thursday, June 19. However, alert troops, acting on credible intelligence, swiftly detected the insurgents' movement and responded with overwhelming firepower through a coordinated air and ground operation. The Nigerian Air Force component of Operation HADIN KAI played a decisive role in the operation, deploying Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Nigerian Army troops have rescued a kidnapped victim and dismantled several terrorist camps during an ongoing military offensive in Katsina State, as security forces intensify efforts to combat insecurity across the North-West region. The operation, conducted under Operation CLEAN SWEEP, involved troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group and Quick Response Force, supported by elements of the 8 Division Special Forces. The military said the offensive forms part of sustained, intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves, disrupting criminal networks and restoring security in affected communities. On the fourth day of the operation, troops carried out a coordinated clearance mission targeting terrorist strongholds in and around Tuga, located in Matazu Local Government Area of the state. The operation was supported by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets as well as precision air strikes provided b...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Bank Group under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme, has concluded a two-week Technical Assistance Mission on Post Clearance Audit (PCA). The programme held from 1 to 12 June 2026 focused on strengthening compliance management, revenue assurance, and trade facilitation through modern audit practices. Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs at the closing ceremony, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Tijjani Abe, reaffirmed the Service's commitment to strengthening Post Clearance Audit as a modern control mechanism for promoting voluntary compliance, facilitating legitimate trade, and safeguarding government revenue. He noted that effective customs administration requires intelligence-driven, risk-based, and internationally compliant PCA systems. "The true measure of success ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and addressing bottlenecks affecting business operations through sustained public-private sector engagement. The resolution was reached during the quarterly meeting held on 16 June 2026 at the Service Headquarters in Abuja, where discussions centred on improving trade facilitation, enhancing security, and promoting stronger economic ties between Nigeria and the United States. Speaking during the meeting, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi stressed the importance of regular consultations with stakeholders, noting that the engagement would be institutionalised as a permanent feature of the Service's calendar. "It is our intention that we will institutionalise this as a permanent feature of the Customs calendar because of the importance we attach to...