SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Armed Forces of Nigeria have neutralised scores of terrorists, rescued several kidnapped victims, arrested suspected criminal collaborators and recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition during nationwide military operations conducted between October 30 and November 5, 2026. The operations, carried out across the North East, North West, North Central and South East, also led to the surrender of several terrorists and their family members, as troops intensified offensives against terrorist groups, kidnappers, armed gangs and other criminal networks. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on the weekly operational activities of the Armed Forces, noting that troops sustained pressure on criminal elements across various theatres. In the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI repelled terrorist attacks on military positions at Buni Yadi in Yobe State and Bitta in Borno State. Fol...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigerian Navy has uncovered approximately 68,175 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at illegal storage and refining sites in Ogbogolo Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. The discoveries were made during two separate operations conducted on October 24 and November 7, 2026, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL. In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operations followed credible intelligence on illegal petroleum storage and refining activities within the Orashi Forest and adjoining areas. According to the statement, the first operation on October 24 led to the discovery of four dugout pits, 29 sacks and a 25-litre keg containing an estimated 8,675 litres of suspected crude oil. During the second operation on November 7, naval personnel uncovered two illegal refining sites with two large and 36 smaller dugout pits...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Army has announced the successful restoration of its official X (formerly Twitter) account, @HQNigerianArmy, following efforts to resolve an unauthorised access reported on August 29, 2026. The Army said the account had been secured, with administrative control fully restored, paving the way for the resumption of regular updates on its operations, activities, achievements and institutional developments. In a statement on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the successful recovery demonstrated the military's commitment to protecting its digital communication platforms and ensuring the integrity of information shared with the public. Anele appreciated Nigerians, members of the media and other stakeholders for their patience, understanding and support during the period the account was inaccessible. She also acknowledged their cooperation in accessing credible information t...

…Highlights Anti-Money Laundering Efforts at ONSA Security Briefing By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) processed 9,195 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) and 99,839 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) between September and October 2026, reflecting sustained efforts to facilitate legitimate trade, improve cargo clearance processes and enhance revenue generation. The figures were disclosed during a joint security press briefing at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the  Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Speaking at the briefing, the Service's National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, said the performance reflected the Service’s continued commitment to improving trade processes through efficient documentation, digital interventions, and stronger collaboration with stakeholders across the trade value chain. A breakdown of the figures showed that the...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, will host the 2026 Annual Conference and Awards of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CCAN), with security chiefs and media stakeholders expected to discuss emerging threats ahead of the 2027 general elections. The conference, scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja, will focus on the theme, "Navigating Security Challenges in the 2027 Election: The Role of the Media in Combating Fake News." The gathering comes amid growing concerns over misinformation, fake news, electoral violence and other security challenges capable of threatening the credibility of the forthcoming elections. It will bring together security chiefs, media executives, journalists, policymakers and other stakeholders to explore ways of strengthening collaboration between security agencies and the media in promoting peaceful and credible elections. The D...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Navy has uncovered approximately 117,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and deactivated three illegal refining sites at Awokiri Community in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State. The operation was conducted on November 5, 2026, by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny under Operation Delta Sentinel, following intelligence reports on the emergence of new illegal refining sites in the area. According to the Nigerian Navy, the operation led to the discovery of 16 dugout pits, nine of which contained approximately 115,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil. Another storage tank contained about 2,000 litres, bringing the total volume of recovered suspected stolen crude oil to approximately 117,000 litres. The naval team also discovered four pits containing water and three freshly excavated pits during the operation. The Navy said the identified illegal refining facilities, pits and petroleum products were hand...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has assured troops of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, of improved welfare, including the renovation of soldiers' accommodation and provision of a new bus to address transportation challenges. Shaibu gave the assurance on Friday, November 6, 2026, during his maiden operational visit to the Brigade Headquarters in Benin City, Edo State, where he commended the troops for their professionalism, discipline and operational conduct. He said arrangements would be made to renovate the soldiers' accommodation to provide decent and conducive living conditions, while also promising improved access to functional medical facilities for personnel and their families. The Army Chief further pledged to provide a new bus to ease transportation difficulties within the Brigade. He emphasised that troop welfare remained central to operational effectiveness and a major priority under his Soldiers First Cul...