SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The German Government has commended Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting peace and security in West Africa, describing the country as an anchor of stability in the sub-region. German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stefan Rossel, gave the commendation on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. Rossel described Nigeria as a valued partner of Germany and reaffirmed his country's commitment to strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship, particularly in defence and security cooperation. He noted that sustained collaboration between both countries would create opportunities for mutually beneficial projects and initiatives. The visit also provided an opportunity for the German Technical Advisory Group (G-TAG) to brief the CDS on the progress and impact of its ongoing training support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). Responding, General Oluyede exp...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man, Victor Edet Yellow Duke, in connection with an alleged attack on the convoy of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Calabar. The incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, around Watt Market Roundabout, as Obi’s convoy was returning from the palace of the Obong of Calabar to Metropolitan Hotel, venue of the party’s presidential town hall meeting. According to the Police, suspected hoodlums armed with machetes and sticks emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis and attacked vehicles in the convoy, smashing the windshields of some of them. The exact number of vehicles affected has yet to be determined. The Police said officers deployed in the area responded swiftly, using tear gas to disperse the attackers and restore order, while one suspect was apprehended. Other suspected assailants reportedly fled the sc...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS) has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to provide evidence to substantiate his allegation that the Department of State Services (DSS) mobilised protesters to disrupt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) campaign activities in Sokoto State. The foundation also called for an impartial investigation into the allegation, insisting that claims involving national security institutions must be supported by credible evidence and addressed through due process. In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its Director of Strategic Communication, Adebisi O.  Adams, TMS said political disagreements should not be allowed to undermine public confidence in security institutions. Atiku had reportedly accused the DSS of mobilising protesters to disrupt his party's campaign activities in Sokoto, an allegation the secret police denied, while announcing that its Director-General had order...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has engaged six federal government agencies to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in tackling cross-border illicit financial flows, money laundering, corruption, drug trafficking, terrorism financing, and other related offences. The three-day visit, held from 27 to 29 October 2026, was led by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shuaibu. It focused on deepening strategic cooperation and intelligence sharing among the agencies to combat financial crimes and other illicit activities. The agencies include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Speaking during the engagements, Shuaibu expressed that t...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun efforts to neutralise rampant fake news and online scams that damage the Service's image by integrating new-age digital data-tracking intelligence tools. The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this on Friday, 30 October 2026, at the just concluded Neccipr Roundtable '26 Edition held in Lagos, with the Theme: Algorithm Influence & Public Relations. Maiwada explained that as a communicator, it is important to ensure the general public understands and accepts why officers carry out their duties. "The role of AI cannot be over emphasized especially within our operations. Over the years AI has been deployed in our core operational duties as well as strategic communication. AI has also been deployed to aid risk management, which involves assessment ...

..…Highlights B’Odogwu, Data-Driven Operations, Artificial Intelligence In Modernisation Drive By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased its ongoing digital transformation journey at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Smart Customs Project Global Event 2026, held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, from 29 to 30 October 2026. The Service was represented by Assistant Comptroller (AC) Omolara Adedeji, who presented Nigeria's experience and progress towards building a technology-driven Customs administration. The global event brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to examine the application of disruptive technologies in strengthening Customs operations, improving border management and facilitating legitimate international trade. The opening ceremony featured remarks by the Deputy Secretary General of the WCO, Mr Ricardo Treviño Chapa. Ms Xueyan Guo, Director General of the Inte...