SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Armed Forces of Nigeria says its troops rescued more than 140 kidnapped victims, arrested suspected terrorists and collaborators, and disrupted criminal activities across several parts of the country between September 17 and 24, 2026. The military also reported the recovery of firearms and ammunition, the disruption of arms trafficking networks and the seizure of suspected stolen crude oil during operations conducted across the North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East geopolitical zones. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on the military’s ongoing operations released on September 25. In the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained operations against terrorists in Borno and Yobe states. The military said troops, supported by an Air Component helicopter gunship, repelled a large-scale terrorist advance on Gajiram in Nganzai Local Government A...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) will release three new nautical charts covering the Calabar maritime corridor on October 1, 2026, as Nigeria moves to expand authoritative chart coverage of its waters. The new charts — NG5514 (Approaches to Calabar), NG5515 (Jamestown), and NG4255 (Port of Calabar) — will provide updated navigational information from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits. The release coincides with the planned withdrawal of UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434, which currently provide chart coverage of the Calabar area. According to the NHA, it is working with the UKHO to coordinate the transition and minimise any potential gap in authoritative navigational coverage for mariners operating in the area. The agency said the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the UKHO as part of the quality assurance process, while the corresponding Electronic Navig...

The forest is still standing. But for how long? Somewhere beyond the highways, towns and expanding settlements of Nigeria are landscapes that most Nigerians rarely see. There are forests where chimpanzees still move through the canopy. Wetlands where migratory birds arrive. Savannahs where antelopes once moved in herds. Mountains, rivers and ancient forest corridors where some of the country's most threatened species continue to survive. These places are Nigeria's national parks. Together, they represent some of the country's most important remaining protected ecosystems. The National Park Service says the seven parks cover more than 22,000 square kilometres, stretching across very different ecological zones. Its mandate is not merely to keep animals inside fenced boundaries. It is responsible for preserving vegetation and wildlife, protecting endangered species and habitats, maintaining important wetlands and watersheds, and conserving representative ecosystems for future ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Defence Headquarters has launched an online discount shop to enable serving and retired members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as their families, access essential goods at preferential prices. The initiative was launched on Thursday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who served as the Special Guest of Honour at the event. Akume described the initiative as a practical intervention aimed at improving the welfare of military personnel, veterans and their families, stressing that the wellbeing of service members and their dependants was essential to maintaining a motivated and resilient Armed Forces. He commended the Defence Headquarters and Zinox Group for the partnership, saying the initiative demonstrated how digital technology could be deployed to address contemporary welfare needs. The SGF, however, emphasised the need for transparency, reliability and continuous improvement ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abu ja  The Nigerian Navy has pledged to strengthen its support for crude oil-producing companies in a bid to enhance the protection of critical petroleum assets and boost Nigeria’s crude oil production output. The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, made the commitment when he received a delegation of the Security Sub-Committee of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), led by its Chairman, Mr Johnson Ogbum, at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja. According to a press statement issued on Thursday by the Director Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the engagement focused on strengthening security around oil production facilities, remote assets and export terminals. The statement said discussions centred on addressing crude oil theft, third-party interference and threats to offshore and near-shore petroleum infrastructure. The OPTS delegation also sought enhanced naval p...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled 30 family accommodation units at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, as part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Army to improve the welfare and living conditions of its personnel and their families. According to a statement issued on Thursday, 24 September 2026, by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the newly completed accommodation comprises two blocks of family housing units designed to ease accommodation challenges within the cantonment and provide a conducive living environment for personnel. The statement said the project formed part of the Nigerian Army’s broader infrastructure development and renewal programme aimed at rehabilitating ageing facilities and providing additional infrastructure across formations and units nationwide. Speaking at the unveiling, Lieutenant General Shaibu said the provision of decent accommodation remained an ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   The remains of the late former Chief of Account and Budget (Army), Major General Ezra Jakko (Rtd), were on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, amid solemn tributes from family members, colleagues, friends and senior military officers. The funeral ceremony, which attracted serving and retired senior military officers and other dignitaries, provided an opportunity to honour the deceased officer’s contributions to the Nigerian Army and his service to the nation. Delivering the funeral oration on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Account and Budget (Army), Major General Taofik Temitope Sidick, described the late General Jakko as a highly professional soldier whose career was marked by dedication, discipline and an unwavering commitment to duty. He said the deceased was not only distinguished by his professional achievements but was also a man of ad...