Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sunday Steve Karimi, has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s current security challenges will not derail the country, insisting that insurgency, banditry and kidnapping will ultimately be defeated. Karimi spoke in Abuja when he received constituents from the seven local government areas of Kogi West who visited to mark his third year in the Senate. He described the recent wave of violent attacks across parts of the country as a coordinated attempt by criminal elements to destabilise national cohesion, spread fear, and distract the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from its governance agenda. Despite the…
Author: National Update
***Calls for Governance Overhaul A disability advocate and policy strategist, Chike Okogwu, has cautioned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be defeated through military operations alone, insisting that the crisis is fundamentally driven by governance failures, weak institutions, and declining public trust in the state. Okogwu made the remarks in a policy essay titled “The Man, The Rottweilers and The Marauders: Nigeria Cannot Afford to Keep Holding the Leash,” where he examined the structure of Nigeria’s security system and the limitations of force-based responses to violence. He argued that although security agencies continue to record operational gains against insurgents, bandits, kidnappers…
***Rights Breach Denied by Agency A fresh controversy has erupted between the camp of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), following explosive allegations that the anti-graft agency has denied him access to medical care while in custody. The claims, made by El-Rufai’s media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, have triggered a heated exchange with the ICPC, which has dismissed the allegations as “misleading,” deepening public concern over the treatment of high-profile detainees. Adekeye alleged that the former governor has been suffering from a worsening eye condition, describing symptoms of swollen, reddish…
***Orders Full Compliance With Procurement Law A Federal High Court in Lagos has delivered a scathing judgment against the National Assembly’s controversial N110 billion vehicle and allowance packages, describing the arrangement as a breach of public trust, procurement laws, and constitutional safeguards on public spending. In a ruling that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political and accountability circles, Justice Yellim Bogoro declared the luxury procurement of 465 bulletproof SUVs—alongside multi-billion-naira “support allowances” for lawmakers—illegal, excessive, and inconsistent with due process. The court held that the spending pattern, estimated at N40 billion for vehicles and N70 billion in allowances, amounted to…
A major counter-insurgency breakthrough has emerged in Borno State after troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued about 360 women and children from a remote insurgent hideout in the Mandara Mountains, underscoring a growing reliance on intelligence-driven operations in the North-East conflict. The raid, which targeted a concealed enclave used by armed groups in southern Borno, followed weeks of coordinated surveillance, human intelligence inputs, and signal tracking. Military officials say the success reflects a deeper shift in strategy—moving from reactive engagements to precision-based disruption of terrorist strongholds. According to security sources, Special Forces units executed a multi-pronged night assault designed to…
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has praised the Nigerian military for rescuing 360 residents of Ngoshe community in Borno State from insurgent captivity, describing the operation as a major victory in the fight against terrorism in the North-East. The rescued victims, who included women, children and elderly persons, had reportedly been held by insurgents since March before troops of Operation Hadin Kai secured their freedom during a coordinated operation over the weekend. Confirming the development, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, said the operation was carried out by Special Forces and troops of…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the killing of three personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) by suspected terrorists and bandits in Kebbi State, describing the attack as a direct assault on public servants and a disturbing reflection of the country’s worsening security situation. In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group expressed outrage over the deaths of Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant Umar Aliyu, Senior Road Marshal Assistant Ezra Manu Gona, and Road Marshal Assistant I Mansur Ibrahim Nasir, who were reportedly killed while carrying…
Three personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have been killed in a suspected bandit attack while on official patrol duty in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The incident occurred on June 4 along the Tsamiya–Illo Road, a route that has witnessed growing security concerns in recent months. According to security sources, the officers were conducting routine patrol operations when they encountered armed attackers. On sighting the gunmen, the FRSC team reportedly attempted to retreat, but the assailants chased them on motorcycles and opened fire. The victims were identified as Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant Umar Aliyu,…
Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru has received national recognition for his role in shaping policies aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s financial sector, emerging as the recipient of the Legislative Excellence Award for Financial Sector Advancement at the 2026 Nairametrics Capital Market Awards in Lagos. The award spotlights the growing influence of legislative interventions in driving reforms across Nigeria’s banking, insurance and capital market sectors, with Abiru’s contributions singled out for advancing initiatives that support market growth, investor confidence and financial stability. Receiving the award on Friday, the Lagos East senator described the honour as a recognition of the shared efforts of lawmakers,…
Nigeria and the European Union are set to strengthen their economic partnership as policymakers, investors and business leaders prepare to converge on Lagos for the 10th Nigeria–EU Business Forum scheduled for June 25, 2026. The milestone edition of the forum is expected to serve as a major platform for driving investment, expanding trade opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships between Nigeria and European markets. Over the years, the Nigeria–EU Business Forum has evolved from a dialogue platform into a key mechanism for promoting economic cooperation, facilitating investments and connecting businesses across both regions. Organisers said this year’s edition will focus on…