SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of four additional Nigerian Army divisions as part of efforts to strengthen the military's operational capacity and improve responses to the country's security challenges. Following the presidential approval, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, announced the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) to lead the newly created formations. The new divisions—5 Division Makurdi, 9 Division Ilorin, 10 Division Jalingo and 83 Division Benin City—are expected to expand the Nigerian Army's operational footprint, improve command and control, and enhance force projection across the country. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the divisions will commence operations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), with measures already in place to achieve Full Operation...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the party will deploy its vast political structure and human resources to secure victory in the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election. Speaking at the inauguration of the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun governorship election, Yilwatda described the election as a crucial test of the party's preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the APC remains Nigeria's most resourceful political party, boasting an unrivalled pool of experienced politicians, including serving and former governors, National Assembly members, local government chairmen, councillors, and defectors from other political parties. "If there is any political party in Nigeria that has human resources in abundance, it is the APC. We have the experience, the structure and the capacity to win elections at every level," h...

Aviashima Toom, Abuja Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have intensified efforts to rescue the abducted Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Honourable Nura Umar Abdullahi, following a deadly attack on his residence by armed terrorists in the early hours of Friday. In a  statement  signed by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, said  the attackers overpowered the Chairman's police and local vigilante security detail before abducting him alongside members of his family. The statement  said troops responded immediately after hearing gunshots and engaged the fleeing terrorists in a fierce gun battle. The swift response forced the attackers to abandon five members of the Chairman's family, including his wife, mother, two children and another relative, all of whom were rescued. However, the terrorists escaped into nearby bushes with the Chairman. The attack claim...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Troops of Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI, working in collaboration with the Yobe State Hunters Group, have arrested five suspected kidnappers during an intelligence-led operation in Jegalari Village, Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State. The operation, conducted on July 23 by troops of the 233 Battalion deployed at the Damaturu Military Cantonment, was based on credible intelligence regarding the activities of the suspected criminal syndicate in the area. MOHAMMED GONI Captain  In a statement signed by the Acting Military Information Officer  Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni in Mauduguri said during the raid, security operatives recovered three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, one locally made pistol, assorted ammunition, and four mobile phones believed to be connected to the suspects' alleged criminal activities. The military also said the suspects are currently in custody alongside...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released N7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for payment to 4,237 retirees, as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to improving the welfare of its retired personnel. Adeniyi disclosed this on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, during a dialogue with retirees of the NCS, where he said the funds had been disbursed to the PFAs for onward payment into the retirees’ individual accounts. According to the breakdown presented at the meeting, Access-ARM Pension Managers accounted for 1,223 beneficiaries, Premium Pension 2,268, Leadway Pensions 403, TrustFund Pensions 156, FCMB Pensions 144, Veritas Glanvills Pensions 28, Norrenberger Pensions 11 and Fidelity Pension Managers four, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 4,237. Addressing the retirees, Adeniyi said the Service must remain strong and financially capable of meeting its obligations to servin...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has commenced a four-day Skill Acquisition Training for Veterans (SAT-V) in the North Central Geopolitical Zone and the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to enhance the economic empowerment and self-reliance of retired personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The training, which runs from July 14 to 17, 2026, at the Headquarters 22 Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara State, is being organised by the Veterans Affairs Directorate of the DHQ. The initiative is aimed at equipping veterans with practical entrepreneurial and technical skills to enable them establish sustainable businesses and secure alternative sources of income after active service. Declaring the training open, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, described the programme as a strategic investment in the welfare of veterans and a demonstration of the Armed Forces' enduring commitment to personnel who dedicated their...

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has emphasized that robust logistics training and efficient sustainment capabilities remain indispensable to the operational success of the Nigerian Army and the country's national security. Speaking on Friday at the graduation ceremony of participants of the Logistics Staff Officers Course and the Junior Leadership Logistics Staff Officers Course at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM) in Lagos, the Army Chief said no military operation can achieve decisive success without well-trained logistics personnel capable of delivering timely, coordinated and sustainable support to troops. According to Lieutenant General Shaibu, the evolving nature of contemporary security threats demands logistics officers who are professionally trained, innovative and adaptable to effectively sustain military operations within joint and multi-agency environments. He described logistics as a strategic enabler rather...

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has stressed that robust logistics training and efficient sustainment capabilities are critical to the operational success of the Nigerian Army and national security. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of participants of the Logistics Staff Officers Course and the Junior Leadership Logistics Staff Officers Course at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM), Lagos, on Friday, the COAS said no military operation can succeed without well-trained logistics personnel capable of providing timely and sustainable support to troops. He described logistics as a strategic enabler of military operations, urging the graduating officers to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the courses to strengthen logistics planning and operational sustainment in their respective units. Shaibu also reaffirmed Army Headquarters' commitment to strengthening professional military education and logistics capabilitie...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigerian Army has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) as part of efforts to enhance strategic communication and support national security. The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, stated this on Wednesday while receiving the President of DECAN, Mr. Odita Sunday, and members of the association's executive committee during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja. Colonel Anele emphasized the importance of credible, timely and accurate information in addressing Nigeria's security challenges, noting that effective strategic communication is critical to countering misinformation, building public trust and fostering national support for ongoing military operations. She observed that although troops continue to make significant sacrifices in defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spread of...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its defence cooperation with the United States of America. Oluyede gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Department of State, Mr Frank Garcia, to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. The CDS, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Francis Edosa, described the Nigeria-US relationship as one built on mutual respect, shared democratic values and a common interest in promoting regional and global peace and security. Edosa acknowledged the continued support of the United States to Nigeria in key areas, including military training, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism efforts and institutional development. He said the changing security environment across Africa required stronger international partnerships to effectively tackle terrorism, vio...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has identified illiteracy and poverty as two of the most significant drivers of Nigeria's persistent insecurity, arguing that sustainable peace can only be achieved by addressing the root causes of violence through quality education, stronger institutions, and constitutional reforms. Speaking as the inaugural guest lecturer at the Quarterly Lecture Series of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja (formerly the University of Abuja), Governor Alia delivered a lecture titled "Insecurity and Education in Nigeria and the Quest for Development." His presentation examined the relationship between education, governance, and the country's security challenges. According to the governor, Nigeria has experienced an alarming rise in insecurity over the past decade, ranging from Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and farmer-herder conflicts to other forms of violent criminality that hav...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja.  The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has presented the party's presidential nomination forms to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing the exercise as a demonstration of the party's confidence in their leadership ahead of the 2027 general election. Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Yilwatda said the event represented more than a constitutional requirement, describing it as a reaffirmation of the APC's commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration's development programmes. According to him, the President emerged through what he described as a transparent and democratic internal process, with widespread support from members of the party. He added that the APC's digitally verified membership register and grassroots structure positioned the party strongly for the 2027 elections. The APC chairman highlighted severa...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday passed out more than 3,000 newly trained recruits at the Depot Nigerian Army, Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army's manpower and enhance national security. Speaking at the passing-out parade, Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the new soldiers to uphold the highest standards of discipline, loyalty and professionalism as they begin active military service. He said their training had been carefully designed to prepare them for the realities of modern warfare and Nigeria's evolving security challenges. The Army Chief urged the recruits to remain vigilant, disciplined and committed to their duties, stressing that their allegiance to the Constitution and constituted authority must remain unwavering. He noted that the nation had invested significantly in their training and expected them to justify that confidence through ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Ebonyi State Government on Tuesday hosted the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to a state banquet in Abakaliki, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Army in promoting national security and sustainable development. The banquet, attended by the Chief of Army Staff's wife, senior military officers, government officials, traditional rulers, security stakeholders and other dignitaries, highlighted the partnership between the state government and the Nigerian Army, particularly following the establishment of the Depot Nigerian Army, Amasiri-Edda. Speaking at the event, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru commended the Nigerian Army for its sacrifices in defending the country's territorial integrity and maintaining peace across the nation. He described the establishment of the Depot Nigerian Army, Amasiri-Edda, as a strategic national asset that would strengthen the Army's forc...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the intervention programmes introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are fulfilling campaign promises by expanding access to finance for small businesses and empowering young entrepreneurs across the country. Yilwatda, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, said the Presidential Intervention Funds demonstrate the administration's commitment to stimulating enterprise, creating jobs, and promoting economic inclusion. According to him, inadequate access to affordable financing has remained a major challenge for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), despite their significant contributions to Nigeria's economy and employment generation.  He said the Federal Government has responded with targeted intervention programmes aimed at unlocking the entrepreneurial potent...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Team Lagbaja has emerged champions of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026 Polo Tournament, held on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The tournament, organised as part of activities marking the 163rd anniversary of the Nigerian Army, underscored the Service's commitment to promoting teamwork, resilience, physical fitness and esprit de corps among its personnel. Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, presented the championship trophy to Team Lagbaja and commended all participating teams for demonstrating discipline, determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition. He noted that sporting activities remain an important platform for strengthening cohesion, leadership and healthy competition within the Nigerian Army, adding that these qualities are essential for maintaining a professional, motivated and combat-ready force capable of addressing contemporary security chal...

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...