Daily Digest Online

A viral video has surfaced showing Nigerian soldiers detaining a group of armed men patrolling in a local security vehicle in Kwara State, with one suspect making explosive claims that their weapons and vehicle were provided by the state government. The arrest, which occurred in the Ifelodun Local Government Area, captured a tense interrogation where the detained men, seen prostrate on the ground with their hands tied, attempted to explain their presence. The Suspect's Allegations In the video obtained by Sahara Reporters, one suspect, speaking in a mix of Hausa and Nigerian Pidgin, directly implicated the Kwara State authorities. "Ilorin government na him give us this motor and the weapons," the man stated, using the common reference for the state government based in Ilorin, the capital. "They were the ones that gave us the rifles." He insisted their activities were sanctioned, claiming they had been conducting patrols in the...

A 25-year-old graduate, Funke Obatuyi, has detailed the horrific and dehumanizing negotiations her family endured after her father was kidnapped in Kogi State, including ransom demands and degrading insults directed at female family members. Funke, who recently graduated in Human Anatomy, explained to *The Punch* that her father, a 58-year-old welder from Abuja, was abducted while traveling home from her convocation ceremony in Akure. The nightmare began when her father boarded a bus from Ikare Junction on Monday, November 17, 2025. A Family Trapped Between Desperate Negotiators and Confused Authorities When initial calls confirmed her father had reached Nasarawa State, the family’s relief was short-lived. Funke's stepmother soon revealed the devastating news: Mr. Ayotunde Obatuyi had been kidnapped, and the assailants were demanding an initial ransom of N10 million. The family's attempts to secure official help were met with bureaucratic confusion. Funk...

New details have emerged about the final hours of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, revealing he detonated a suicide vest in May 2021 after fighters from the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) surrounded his camp in Nigeria's vast Sambisa Forest. In the closing days of May 2021, ISWAP fighters advanced into the forest in coordinated columns, broadcasting messages that they sought only Shekau and promising safety to fighters who surrendered. Witnesses described a scene of confusion and panic as the cordon tightened, with many of Shekau's fighters abandoning their posts. The Final Confrontation As ISWAP completed the encirclement, negotiators once more urged Shekau to surrender. He refused. ISWAP later stated Shekau died between May 18 and 19, 2021, by triggering an explosive vest when capture became inevitable. His death was confirmed days later, ending years of conflicting reports about his fate. The Legacy of a Notorious Leader ...

Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, the senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), has argued that Nigeria's sheer size and terrain make it impossible to defeat terrorist groups without significant external help and advanced military technology. In an interview, Ashimolowo used Niger State—one of Nigeria's largest and most terror-prone states—as an example to illustrate the logistical nightmare facing security forces. The Challenge of Size and Terrain Ashimolowo highlighted the immense scale of the security challenge, stating: "Niger State alone is almost the size of all of the [South-]East plus a good number of [the] South-South." He argued that tracking and pursuing armed groups across such vast, difficult landmass is nearly impossible with the tools currently at Nigeria's disposal. He contended that only countries like the United States possess the "most sophisticated equipment and state-of-the-a...

Congressman Riley Moore, leader of a U.S. House delegation investigating claims of targeted violence in Nigeria, has delivered a harrowing account of his visit, vowing to push for action to end what he described as a "genocidal campaign" against Christian communities. In a statement on social media, Moore detailed the "heartbreaking stories" his team witnessed during their fact-finding mission to Benue State, part of Nigeria's conflict-ridden Middle Belt region. Key Findings from the Delegation's Visit Congressman Moore, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, led the delegation to gather firsthand information for U.S. policy.  His key observations include: *   Scale of Displacement: He confirmed there are over 600,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State, predominantly Christians forced from their homes. *   Insecurity in Camps: Moore reported that the IDP camps themselves are "regular...

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has issued a formal statement expressing regret that his recent comments on the security crisis in Nigeria have been misinterpreted as a denial of the persecution faced by Christians. In the statement released by the Diocese of Sokoto on Tuesday, December 9, Bishop Kukah said he is "sincerely sorry" for the pain caused and dismissed allegations that he claimed there is no persecution. "Nothing could be further from the truth," he asserted. Source of the Controversy The bishop's clarification follows weeks of criticism stemming from two public addresses. In an October speech in Rome, while acknowledging widespread violence, he argued that extremist groups now kill both Christians and Muslims, stating, "We are not dealing with people going around wielding machetes and looking for me in order to kill me because I am a Christian." This viewpoint was challenged by ot...

Two teenage Nigerian girls have been arrested in Edo State for being in possession of an automatic pump-action shotgun, according to a statement from the State Police Command. The suspects, identified as Believe Ehinor (18) and Ofoma Sofia (19), were intercepted and arrested by operatives of the Uromi Police Division at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Details of the Arrest A video of the arrested girls was shared online by the anti-cultism platform Naija Confra. The police confirmed the recovery of the firearm, bearing Breach No. 0230, along with five live cartridges that were concealed in a sack bag. Suspects' Confession In a statement released by the State Police Command Spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, the suspects confessed that the weapon belongs to one Peace Ehinor, who reportedly escaped during an earlier police raid. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

A former soldier has leveled serious allegations of systemic corruption within the Nigerian military, claiming that high-ranking generals are misappropriating security funds and soldiers' allowances to finance lavish lifestyles, making them among the country's wealthiest individuals. In a recent interview, the ex-servicemember, who joined the army in 1993, contrasted the past with the present, stating it was once rare to see generals owning vast estates. "You see this estate belongs to this person in Abuja, that estate belongs to this general... Is it his salary he is using to acquire those houses? No. It is the soldiers’ money and security funds they are taking," she alleged. Allegations of Misused Funds and Human Cost The ex-soldier described a direct link between the generals' wealth and the deprivation faced by rank-and-file soldiers and their families. She claimed that funds meant for personnel are diverted, sometimes even after a sold...

Nigerian security forces have reportedly killed more than 40 armed militants during a major raid on a hideout in Niger State, marking a significant operation against regional insecurity.  The development comes amid ongoing violence, as a separate attack on returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Taraba State left at least 17 people dead. Major Security Operation in Niger State According to security analyst Bakatsine, the operation targeted a militant camp in the Lakurawa area of Borgu Local Government Area. The hideout was said to be under the control of a militant leader identified as Amir Tajuddeen. Security forces stormed the camp and engaged the armed group in a clash that resulted in the reported deaths of over 40 fighters. The raid was described as a significant breakthrough in efforts to combat insecurity in the state. Separate Attack on Returning IDPs in Taraba In a tragic unrelated incident, violence struck returning...

In a sharp critique, U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga has condemned the Nigerian government for failing to protect its citizens from escalating religious violence, asserting that radical Islamists are killing Christians with impunity while authorities downplay the crisis. The congressman, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, voiced his concerns during a recent hearing and in a televised interview, framing the violence as a dire threat not only to Christians but to all Nigerians. A Personal and Political Stance Huizenga's connection to Nigeria is both political and personal. As a member of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA)—a denomination with deep historical ties to Nigeria dating back to missionary work in the 1920s—he represents a community of roughly 400,000 members in the U.S. with about 500,000 fellow congregants in Nigeria. This link informs his advocacy, blending policy with faith-based conce...

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has carried out new attacks in Northeast Nigeria, executing two individuals accused of spying for the Nigerian Army and raiding the properties of a police officer. The incidents, reported by security analyst Brant Philip, highlight continued militant activity in the region. Below is a summary of the key events: | Incident | Location | Reported Details | | Execution of Alleged Spies | Dekwa, Yobe & near Gubio, Borno | Two individuals accused of being army spies were killed. One was captured at home, and a vehicle was seized. | | Raid on Police Properties | Tetiba, Yobe State | Three houses belonging to Police Officer-in-Charge Mohammed Modu were set ablaze. Motorcycles and vehicles were stolen. No casualties were reported. | Details of the Incidents Security expert Brant Philip stated that ISWAP executed two alleged spies loyal to the Nigerian army. One was captured in his home in Dekwa, Yobe State, a...

In a stark and contentious assessment of Nigeria's long-running security crisis, prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has declared the nation's military incapable of defeating bandit groups through force, insisting that negotiations offer the only viable path to peace. The cleric's remarks, made in an exclusive BBC interview, challenge the core premise of President Bola Tinubu's administration, which is pursuing a strategy of sweeping military reforms and a national security emergency aimed at crushing violent non-state actors. The Core Argument: A War Unwinnable by Bullets Alone Gumi framed the conflict in the northwest and beyond as a classic asymmetric struggle where a conventional military holds a disadvantage. "Where have you ever seen the military defeat guerrilla fighters? Nowhere," he stated. He cited the military's own doctrine, suggesting that kinetic (military) action constitutes only 25% of the solution...

AWKA, Anambra State — The Anambra State Police Command has announced a significant breakthrough in a high-profile murder investigation with the arrest of a wanted gang leader who has confessed to involvement in the abduction and killing of a state legislator last year. In a coordinated offensive on Sunday, December 8, 2025, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) apprehended 26-year-old Ugochukwu Uzor in the Iyowa Odekpe area of Ogbaru Local Government. Police described Uzor as the leader of multiple violent gangs operating across Anambra and neighboring states. According to Police Public Relations Officer SP Ikenga Tochukwu, the arrest followed "a fierce confrontation" before Uzor was subdued. During the operation, officers recovered a locally made Beretta pistol and eleven rounds of live ammunition. A Hardened Criminal and a High-Profile Confession Uzor, whose body bears distinctive tattoos reading "No Forgiveness" and ...