Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: Security

  • Tragedy in Lagos as Fire Claims Eight Lives at Great Nigeria Insurance Building

    Tragedy in Lagos as Fire Claims Eight Lives at Great Nigeria Insurance Building

    Reporting by The Cable confirms that eight people lost their lives in a devastating fire that gutted the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building in Lagos. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who visited the scene, confirmed the fatalities and stated that thirteen survivors are currently receiving medical attention.

    The Governor has ordered the immediate demolition of the burnt-out structure to prevent a secondary collapse. The incident has once again raised questions about fire safety protocols in the high-rise buildings of the Lagos Central Business District, particularly during the dry Harmattan season.

    BusinessDay reported that ‘Sanwo-Olu confirms 8 fatalities, 13 survivors,’ while Premium Times noted that the death toll rose after several victims succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. The state government has pledged to conduct a forensic audit of all high-rise buildings in the vicinity.

    Echotitbits take: This is a grim reminder of the infrastructure decay in Lagos Island. Beyond condolences, the state must enforce the 2025 Building Safety Code strictly; otherwise, these ‘preventable’ tragedies will continue to haunt the city’s skyline.

    Source: Premium Times — https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/847230-sanwo-olu-orders-demolition-of-burnt-out-gni-building-as-fire-death-toll-rises-to-eight.html
    Premium Times  January 3, 2026

    Photo Credit: Premium Times

  • Kidnappers Demand N450 Million Ransom for Abducted Kwara Monarch

    Kidnappers Demand N450 Million Ransom for Abducted Kwara Monarch

    According to The Guardian, kidnappers who abducted the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, along with his son and other villagers, have demanded a ransom of N450 million. the traditional ruler was taken from his community in Kwara State during a late-night raid that has left the local population in a state of panic.

    The abduction highlights the persistent ‘Kidnap Terror’ that has returned to parts of the North-Central and North-West regions. Security forces have reportedly been deployed to the area, but no rescue has been affected as of Saturday morning.

    Vanguard described the situation in its special report, noting that ‘from Abuja to North, communities live in fear again’ as abduction cases spike in the new year. The Cable also tracked the incident, adding that the Kwara State government is currently in emergency talks with traditional rulers to bolster local vigilante groups.

    Echotitbits take: Targeting traditional rulers is a deliberate tactic to break community morale. The high ransom demand suggests that kidnapping has remained a ‘profitable’ enterprise despite the government’s efforts to track financial flows through the NIN-SIM linkage.

    Source: The Guardian — https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/kidnappers-demand-n450m-to-release-kwara-monarch-son-others/

    The Guardian January 3, 2026

    Photo Credit: The Guardian

  • Liberia advances domestication of amended International Health Regulations with multisector roadmap

    Liberia advances domestication of amended International Health Regulations with multisector roadmap

    Liberia advances domestication of amended International Health Regulations with multisector roadmap

    As reported in a WHO update carried via Africa Newsroom, Liberia convened a multisector workshop to drive domestication of the amended International Health Regulations (IHR), aligning national systems with updated global health-security rules.

    The report says the process produced an implementation roadmap and included senior-level commitment, aimed at strengthening coordination, surveillance, and response readiness for cross-border threats.

    Domestication is where global standards become national practice—through legislation, procedures, budgets, and accountability across ministries and agencies.

    WHO AFRO noted the workshop ended with the signing of a “national declaration” supporting implementation. Liberia’s NPHIL also described the step as “significant” for enhancing health security and preparedness.

    Echotitbits take:
    The credibility test is capacity. Watch for budget lines, training cycles, labs and surveillance upgrades, and real simulation exercises—those are the signals that domestication becomes real readiness.

    Source: afro.who — January 2, 2026 — https://www.afro.who.int/countries/liberia/news/liberia-advances-implementation-amended-international-health-regulations

    World Health Organization (WHO) 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: afro.who

  • Police detain driver after fatal Ogun crash involving Anthony Joshua

    Police detain driver after fatal Ogun crash involving Anthony Joshua

    2026-01-02 09:00:00
    According to The Nation, Ogun State Police have taken into custody the driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the Lagos–Ibadan expressway crash in which boxer Anthony Joshua was a passenger and two other occupants reportedly died.

    The report says investigators are questioning the driver and piecing together what led to the collision, while the case file is being compiled for the next procedural steps.

    The incident has reignited debate about enforcement on high-speed intercity corridors, including commercial truck compliance and private-vehicle speed discipline.

    Validation: Punch also reported the detention, quoting the police spokesperson: “The driver of the Lexus SUV… is currently in custody… Investigations are ongoing.” Vanguard carried the same confirmation with the line: “The driver of the Lexus SUV is currently in custody… Investigations are ongoing.”

    Echotitbits take: Road-safety attention spikes when celebrities are involved, then fades. Watch whether investigators publish a clear timeline (speed, vehicle condition, road factors) and whether prosecutors follow through—this case will test enforcement credibility on the Lagos–Ibadan corridor.

    Source: The Nation — 2025-12-31 (https://thenationonlineng.net/just-in-police-arrest-anthony-joshuas-driver/)
    The Nation 2025-12-31

    Photo Credit: The Nation

  • Gunmen raid Kwara palace, abduct monarch and NYSC-serving son

    Gunmen raid Kwara palace, abduct monarch and NYSC-serving son

    2026-01-02 09:00:00
    Reporting by Vanguard indicates gunmen attacked a palace in Kwara State and kidnapped a traditional ruler along with his son, who was described as an NYSC member.

    Accounts of the incident suggest the attackers targeted the palace directly, overwhelmed limited security presence and escaped with the victims as residents raised alarm.

    Security sources say efforts are ongoing to track the kidnappers, as the abduction adds to the pressure on North-Central communities battling recurring kidnapping incidents.

    Validation: Punch reported the abduction of the monarch and his son after a “violent” palace attack. Premium Times cited a source describing the assault and reported the monarch’s wife was injured, quoting: “She was hit in the arm by a bullet.”

    Echotitbits take: Targeted palace abductions signal confidence and intelligence by criminal networks. Watch for early proof-of-life communications, coordinated search operations, and whether state authorities deploy intelligence-led raids rather than reactive checkpoints.

    Source: Vanguard — 2026-01-01 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/monarch-son-kidnapped-in-kwara-palace-attack/)
    Vanguard 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: Vanguard

  • Lawmakers warn Lake Chad–Niger border insecurity needs deeper Nigeria–Niger military coordination

    Lawmakers warn Lake Chad–Niger border insecurity needs deeper Nigeria–Niger military coordination

    2026-01-02 06:00:00
    According to Vanguard, concerns are rising about security threats around the Lake Chad basin and the Nigeria–Niger border corridor, with calls for stronger military coordination and intelligence-sharing between both countries.

    The argument is that cross-border insurgency and organised crime networks exploit weak surveillance gaps, making unilateral action costly and less effective.

    Advocates of deeper cooperation say joint patrols and harmonised border management can reduce safe havens and disrupt logistics routes used by armed groups.

    A Reuters briefing on regional security pressures has repeatedly described the Lake Chad basin as a hotspot where militants exploit porous borders, while humanitarian monitors warn instability in the wider Sahel continues to spill across frontiers. Regional security watchers also note coordination among neighbouring states remains a key determinant of whether insurgent movements can be contained.

    Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s border security challenge is regional by default. Expect renewed focus on joint task forces, surveillance tech, and the political trust needed for intelligence cooperation. Watch for concrete steps—shared command protocols, joint operations schedules, and measurable outcomes in affected communities.

    Source: ZAgazola — January 1, 2026 (http://zagazola.org/index.php/breaking-news/diplomatic-ties-between-nigeria-niger-safer-stronger-together)
    ZAgazola 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: ZAgazola

  • Deadly boat accident off The Gambia renews spotlight on West Africa’s risky migration routes

    Deadly boat accident off The Gambia renews spotlight on West Africa’s risky migration routes

    2026-01-02 06:00:00
    In a story published by Punch, authorities in The Gambia say at least seven people died and many others went missing after a migrant boat capsized off the country’s coast, with rescue efforts continuing.

    Officials say the incident reflects the dangerous routes migrants take—often using overcrowded vessels and relying on smugglers—while families and communities scramble for information about the missing.

    The tragedy is prompting renewed calls for safer migration pathways, stronger coastal monitoring and tougher action against trafficking networks.

    Reuters reports the head of local authorities said “around 40 people were presumed to be dead and 115 were injured” in a separate, widely-reported New Year tragedy, underscoring how quickly mass-casualty events can unfold during peak travel and celebration periods; Al Jazeera similarly notes that migrant movements and cross-border travel often spike around holiday periods, putting strain on safety systems. (Note: West Africa’s migration-risk profile is being tracked closely by multiple international outlets and agencies.)

    Echotitbits take: West Africa’s migration story is increasingly a safety and governance story. Watch for how Gambian authorities coordinate with neighbours, whether prosecutions target smuggling organisers, and whether regional bodies push practical alternatives that reduce the incentive for perilous crossings.

    Source: LEADERSHIP Newspapers — January 2, 2026 (https://leadership.ng/7-die-scores-missing-as-migrant-boat-capsizes-off-the-gambia-coast/)

    LEADERSHIP Newspapers 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: LEADERSHIP Newspapers

  • DHQ deploys GPS-guided munitions in reported Sokoto counter-terror strikes

    DHQ deploys GPS-guided munitions in reported Sokoto counter-terror strikes

    2026-01-01 07:25:00
    Reporting by Reuters indicates Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters deployed GPS-guided precision munitions in operations targeting militant enclaves in Sokoto State.

    The report suggests the strikes were aimed at degrading command structures and limiting mobility routes in forest corridors used by armed groups, amid pressure to show measurable security gains.

    The implication is a shift toward more technology-driven targeting that could reduce risk to ground troops while expanding the air campaign footprint.

    ThisDay also reported Nigeria’s military used “GPS-guided precision munitions” in the Sokoto operation.

    A separate local follow-up likewise described strikes intended to disrupt bandit enclaves and logistics routes.

    Echotitbits take:

    Tech can improve targeting, but success depends on intelligence quality and post-strike ‘hold’ operations. Watch for independent confirmation, civilian-harm reporting, and whether communities experience fewer raids afterward.

    Source: Reuters — December 31, 2025 (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-used-gps-guided-precision-munitions-sokoto-strikes-via-mq-9s-sources-say-2025-12-31/)

    Reuters 2025-12-31

    Photo Credit: Reuters

  • Nigerian Air Force claims 2,351 terrorists killed in 2025 air campaign

    Nigerian Air Force claims 2,351 terrorists killed in 2025 air campaign

    2026-01-01 07:30:00
    Figures cited by Punch show the Nigerian Air Force says it neutralised 2,351 terrorists in 2025 through sustained air interdiction operations across multiple theatres.

    The service said repeated sorties were aimed at severing supply chains, disrupting movement corridors, and weakening leadership structures across key conflict zones.

    Beyond counter-terror missions, the NAF also highlighted operations targeting oil theft infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

    The Whistler quoted the NAF describing the campaign as “Sustained precision strikes” that “disrupted supply chains.”

    The Guardian Nigeria also reported targeted strikes led to the destruction of illegal refining reservoirs and related assets.

    Echotitbits take:

    Headline numbers need verification. Watch whether 2026 sees fewer mass abductions and attacks in high-risk corridors, and whether air gains are matched by ground holding operations and community intelligence.

    Source: The Punch — January 1, 2026 (https://punchng.com/2351-terrorists-killed-in-2025-air-raids-naf/)

    The Punch 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Yobe authorities say suspect linked to Maiduguri mosque blast has been arrested

    Yobe authorities say suspect linked to Maiduguri mosque blast has been arrested

    2026-01-01 06:15:00
    According to Vanguard, authorities in Yobe confirmed the arrest of a suspect allegedly linked to the December 24 Maiduguri mosque bombing.

    In an update published by the outlet, officials said the arrest followed local vigilance and security screening, with investigators expanding the net around possible support networks.

    The development comes as the region continues to grapple with attacks targeting civilians and worship centres.

    TheCable also reported the arrest and said the suspect was transferred for questioning as investigations continued.

    BusinessDay similarly reported that the suspect allegedly confessed to being paid to carry out the attack, as authorities probed the wider network.

    Echotitbits take:

    Arrests are only step one. The credible test is independent corroboration—financing trails, logistics, handlers, and whether security agencies can prevent retaliatory or copycat strikes around high-traffic public spaces.

    Source: Vanguard — January 1, 2026 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/yobe-confirms-arrest-of-suspect-linked-to-maiduguri-bomb-blast/)

    Vanguard 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: Vanguard