SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) has honoured the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his leadership and contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign. The award was presented at the third edition of the DECAN Conference, themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.” The conference brought together senior military and security officials, government representatives, policymakers and journalists to examine emerging security threats and strategies for strengthening the country’s national security architecture. The award was received on behalf of the NSA by the Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa. The citation recognised Ribadu’s “outstanding leadership, strategic coordination and dedicated service in strengthening and managing Nigeria’s national security...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have overrun a Lakurawa terrorist enclave in Waria Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, neutralising several fighters and recovering weapons and five motorcycles. The operation was conducted on October 15, 2026, during a clearance mission aimed at dismantling terrorist hideouts and restricting their activities in the area. According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops of Sector 2 advanced through identified terrorist enclaves around Alela, Bilange and Kandam villages towards Waria Forest, where they made contact with the terrorists. Danja said the troops engaged the terrorists in a firefight, deploying superior firepower that forced the armed group to abandon its positions and retreat deeper into the forest. He added that the troops pursued the fleeing fighters, neutralising seve...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigerian Navy has uncovered 75,000 litres of suspected crude oil stored in three dugout reservoirs in the Oteghele area of Delta State during two separate operations aimed at combating crude oil theft. The discoveries were made on October 12 and 14, 2026, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA under Operation DELTA SENTINEL. In a press statement issued on Wednesday,  the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed that the first operation led to the discovery of approximately 30,000 litres of suspected crude oil in one reservoir on October 12. He said a follow-up operation on October 14 uncovered an additional 45,000 litres stored in two large reservoirs, bringing the total quantity recovered to 75,000 litres. According to the Navy, the reservoirs and their contents were handled in accordance with established procedures. The Navy said the successive discoveries exposed concealed storage facilities ...

By Odita Sunday A former Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Ogunsakin, has said the proposed establishment of state police will strengthen grassroots security, improve intelligence gathering and complement the Nigeria Police Force in tackling kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities. Ogunsakin, in a position paper examining the prospects and challenges of policing reform in Nigeria, argued that decentralising the country’s policing system would enable states to respond more effectively to security threats peculiar to their communities. He said the proposed state police system would bring law enforcement closer to the people, improve response times and enhance community participation in crime prevention, while allowing the federal police to focus on broader national security responsibilities. According to the paper, Nigeria’s centralised policing structure faces increasing pressure amid persistent security challenges, including insurgency, kidn...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The House of Representatives Aspirants Forum has pledged to mobilise nationwide support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, urging the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to integrate its members into the party’s campaign structure. The National Coordinator of the forum, Hon. Mohammed Danjuma, made the appeal on Thursday after a courtesy visit to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja. Danjuma said the forum, which comprises former House of Representatives aspirants from the country’s 360 federal constituencies, was ready to deploy its grassroots networks, political experience and organisational capacity to support Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections. He said the group intended to complement existing party structures rather than create a parallel organisation or compete with established party organs....

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Police Force Maritime Police Command and the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, have pledged to strengthen intelligence sharing and operational collaboration to enhance port security and facilitate legitimate trade. The commitment was made when the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Maritime Police Command, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, received the newly appointed Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Murtala Muazu, during a courtesy visit to the command at the Force Headquarters Annex, Kam Salem House, Lagos. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Maritime Police Command, ASP Adebayo Rasheed Adesayo, said the visit provided an opportunity for both agencies to reinforce their existing relationship and explore ways to improve security within the port environment. During the visit, Muazu acknowledged the critical role of the pol...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Nigeria’s battle against wildlife and forest crime is entering a critical phase as enforcement agencies intensify efforts to dismantle trafficking networks dealing in endangered animals and their products.  Yet, despite arrests, seizures and international partnerships, questions remain about the strength of enforcement, the prosecution of offenders and the protection of the country’s forests and biodiversity. From pangolin scales and elephant tusks to the illegal trade in endangered birds and other protected species, wildlife crime has evolved beyond isolated acts of poaching into an organised business with international connections. Recent enforcement operations suggest that Nigerian authorities are making progress. However, the scale of seizures and the persistence of suspected trafficking activities raise an important question: Is Nigeria doing enough to dismantle the networks behind environmental crime, or is enforcement still struggling to ...