Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: Africa

  • US Congressman Moore Vows Report to Trump After Benue Visit, Alleges ‘Genocidal Campaign’ Against Nigerian Christians

    US Congressman Moore Vows Report to Trump After Benue Visit, Alleges ‘Genocidal Campaign’ Against Nigerian Christians

    A member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, has renewed claims that Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are facing what he calls a “genocidal campaign” by Fulani militants, following a recent congressional mission that visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue State. Moore, who represents West Virginia, says he is preparing a detailed report for former US President Donald Trump on the violence and the humanitarian crisis he witnessed.

    Moore led a small US delegation that travelled to Nigeria to investigate reports of targeted attacks on Christian farming communities. In Benue, the team met displaced families, church leaders and traditional rulers, including Catholic bishops Wilfred Anagbe and Isaac Dugu, as well as the Tor Tiv. Several reports quoting the congressman say he was told that more than 600,000 people—mostly Christian villagers—are now sheltering in IDP camps across the state after being driven from their homes.

    In interviews and social-media posts, Moore described what he heard in the camps as some of the most distressing testimonies of his career. Survivors recounted attacks on villages, killings of relatives and destruction of farms and churches. One woman was said to have lost five children in a single raid, while another reportedly had her unborn baby cut from her womb after her family was killed. Moore accused armed groups he described as “Fulani and Islamist radicals” of carrying out a coordinated effort to drive Christians from their ancestral land.

    The congressman has linked his visit to a broader push in Washington to respond more forcefully to religiously targeted violence in Nigeria. Last month he introduced a resolution in the US Congress condemning the persecution of Christians and calling for stronger action to protect vulnerable communities. He has now said he will submit a “high-level” briefing to Trump, outlining ways the United States could work with Nigeria on a joint response to terrorism and mass displacement if Trump returns to the White House.

    Nigerian officials have also engaged with the delegation. Moore and his team met National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other senior figures in Abuja to discuss the security situation and ongoing counter-terrorism operations. The Nigerian government has generally rejected the “genocide” label, insisting that the country’s overlapping crises involve terrorism, banditry, farmer–herder clashes and criminal violence affecting multiple communities, not only Christians. Officials say they are working to secure rural areas, support state governments and resettle IDPs where possible.

    The visit and Moore’s language have, however, drawn pushback from some Nigerian groups. A Muslim organisation recently accused the US delegation of consulting mainly Christian actors and of framing the conflict in narrow religious terms, warning that such portrayals risk deepening mistrust and ignoring attacks suffered by Muslims and other groups in the same regions. Nigerian and international analysts have likewise argued in separate commentaries that while atrocities and mass displacement are undeniable, the violence is complex and does not always fit neatly into a single “Christian genocide” narrative.

    Despite the disagreements, the congressional tour has again pushed Nigeria’s Middle Belt crisis into the centre of US and diaspora debates. For displaced families in Benue’s camps, the key question is whether heightened attention from Washington will translate into more effective protection on the ground—and faster moves towards justice and safe return—for all communities caught up in the country’s overlapping conflicts.

    This Echotitbits.com report draws on coverage and statements from SaharaReporters, TheNigeriaLawyer, Leadership, Punch Newspapers, PM News, Politics Nigeria, Premium Times, and The Guardian (Nigeria), published between November and December 2025.

  • AfDB Approves €25m Trade Finance Guarantee for Cameroon’s CCA-Bank to Boost SME Lending

    AfDB Approves €25m Trade Finance Guarantee for Cameroon’s CCA-Bank to Boost SME Lending

    ABIDJAN/YAOUNDÉ, December 2, 2025 — The African Development Bank Group has approved a €25 million trade finance facility for Cameroon’s Crédit Communautaire d’Afrique-Bank (CCA-Bank), aimed at expanding support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other businesses across key sectors of the economy.

    The facility, cleared by the Bank’s Board of Directors at a session held on 1 December in Abidjan, will be deployed as a Transaction Guarantee, a risk-sharing instrument that provides cover to eligible African banks for their trade finance operations.

    According to Lamin Drammeh, Head of the Bank Group’s Trade Finance Division, the guarantee will help unlock critical imports needed for Cameroon’s productive sectors.

    “The facility will support Cameroon’s economy by facilitating imports of equipment for the industrial, agro-industrial and telecommunications sectors. It will also enable the African Development Bank to provide up to a 100 percent guarantee to confirming banks, to facilitate the confirmation of letters of credit and other similar trade finance instruments issued by CCA-Bank for the benefit of SMEs in Cameroon,” Drammeh explained.

    Léandre Bassolé, Director General for the Bank’s Central Africa region, noted that the operation aligns with AfDB’s drive to deepen direct interventions in support of the private sector in Cameroon.

    “It will strengthen CCA-Bank’s capacity to support the activities of SMEs, including those owned by women and young people, to boost the local productive sector, facilitate economic growth, and create and maintain thousands of jobs,” he said.

    Welcoming what she described as a strategic milestone, CCA-Bank’s Managing Director, Marguerite Fonkwen Atanga, said the partnership would significantly enhance the bank’s ability to serve smaller businesses and emerging entrepreneurs.

    “We would like to express our gratitude to the African Development Bank Group for this important trade finance facility. This strategic partnership marks a major milestone for our institution and will significantly strengthen our capacity to support small and medium-sized enterprises, women entrepreneurs and start-ups in Cameroon and Africa,” she stated.

    Background: AfDB’s Transaction Guarantee

    The Transaction Guarantee is a trade finance instrument introduced by the African Development Bank in 2021 to support commercial banks operating in Africa. It covers a range of trade-related instruments, including confirmed letters of credit, commercial loans, irrevocable repayment undertakings, endorsed drafts and promissory notes, among others.

    The facility is available to banks registered and operating in Africa that have successfully passed the Bank’s due diligence process, helping them reduce perceived risk from international confirming banks and expand access to trade finance for their clients.

    About the African Development Bank Group

    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution, comprising the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). With representation in 41 African countries and a field office in Japan, the Bank supports economic development and social progress across its 54 regional member states.

    Source Credit:

    African Development Bank Group (AfDB) – press release distributed by APO Group, 2 December 2025.

  • India Deports 32 Nigerians After Drug Crackdown

    India Deports 32 Nigerians After Drug Crackdown

    Indian authorities have deported 32 Nigerians linked to a transnational narcotics network following arrests in a multi-state crackdown.

    The development may renew diaspora and consular conversations around criminal networks, profiling concerns and lawful migration pathways.

    Source: Punch, 2025-12-09

  • U.S. Delegation Meets Benue Traditional and Faith Leaders

    U.S. Delegation Meets Benue Traditional and Faith Leaders

    A U.S. congressional delegation met with Benue clerics and traditional leaders to discuss recurring violence and insecurity, signalling heightened international concern.

    Local leaders reportedly pressed for stronger protection of rural communities and accountability for perpetrators.

    Source: Punch, 2025-12-09

  • DRC: State police battles former head of intelligence, Mutond, raids home

    DRC: State police battles former head of intelligence, Mutond, raids home

    The home of Kalev Mutond, the DRC’s former head of the intelligence agency ‘Agence Nationale de Renseignements’ (ANR) was heavily surrounded by armed police officers 3am on 11 March.

    The Africa Report wrote that Kalev Mutond’s residence in Binza/Ma Campagne, located in the Joli Parc district of Ngaliema, Kinshasa was searched during the night of 10 to 11 March and he has since pleaded his case before a loyal government minister.

    It was reported that arrest and search warrants, which had been signed on 10 March by public prosecutor and magistrate Robert Kumbu Phanzu, were presented to his daughter, Isabelle Ihemba Kayombo, at around 5am. Magistrate Phanzu had however been recused from this case on 8 March, reports stated.

    National deputy Kayombo, who also lives in the residence, agreed to accompany the police officers while they searched her father’s office, his vehicles, main house and two outbuildings. While they did not remove anything, they refused to leave copies of the two warrants.

    A former director-general of the Agence Nationale de Renseignements (ANR), Mutond has received around a dozen complaints filed by people who present themselves as victims of former President Joseph Kabila’s rule. In a letter dated 12 February and addressed to Justin Inzun Kakiak, the current head of the ANR, the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Appeal of Kinshasa/Gombe requested the latter’s approval as required by law to initiate proceedings against his predecessor.

    In a letter addressed to the prosecutor general on 23 February, which we were able to consult, Mutond wrote that Kakiak felt launching this procedure against his predecessor would be a bad idea.

    According to our The Africa Reports, the same prosecutor general asked the prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Kinshasa/Gombe on 11 March to “reassign” all of Mutond’s cases to another magistrate, for the “serenity” of justice. Mutond had argued that, as a former head of the ANR, he had the rank of minister and could not be judged by the Court of Cassation.

    On the evening of 11 March, Mutond discreetly visited Kitenge Yesu, President Tshisekedi’s high representative. To help him plead his case, the former ANR boss was accompanied by Adolphe Lumanu, a former minister who has remained close to Kabila. Their host was not receptive to their approach and told Mutond to cooperate with the justice system. Thisekedi was later informed of this meeting.

    Already under US sanctions since December 2016 and regularly targeted by human rights groups, Mutond is – according to this document – implicated for “physical and moral torture, arbitrary arrests, illegal detention, death threats, and the attempted assassination” of Jean-Claude Muyambo Kyassa, the former president of the Lubumbashi bar association who was arrested in 2015 and pardoned in early 2019, and Cyrille Doee Mumpapa. These two men have been fierce opponents of Kabila since 2015.

    Mutond’s legal troubles began after he was arrested and had his passport confiscated in February 2020 at Ndjili international airport in Kinshasa. His team of lawyers, led by president of the bar Cyprien Mbere Moba, have denounced this “political-judicial and tribal relentlessness”, The Africa Reports wrote.

  • One person has died in South Africa student protest

    One person has died in South Africa student protest

    One person has been killed on Wednesday after South African police fired rubber bullets to disperse a group of student protesters, at Wits University in Johannesburg.

    Spokeswoman for the Wits University, Shirona Patel told AFP that: “My understanding so far is that the protestors blocked a public road, the police tried to disperse them, and the passerby was shot in the crossfire,”

    It was reported that the killing of the “passerby” further enraged the protesting students who gathered near the lifeless body of the victim and demanding, at the top of their voices, that police personnel leave the area. A student was reported screaming “Kill all of us”.

    However, Spokeswoman Patel confirmed that the victim of the shootout was not a student of the university.

    In early January, Wits University students began series of protests against government’s action that allegedly excluded some students by a government-sponsored tuition aid scheme.

    The students, who vowed to continue their protest against the financial exclusion of students in the university are demands that Wits University allows all students with outstanding debt to register for the 2021 academic year.

    The university authority however argued that the institution of learning will however become financially unsustainable if it continues to accept students who have historical debt.

    According to the university, outstanding fees owed has accumulated to R1 billion over the past seven years.

    Wits University added that it has made available R20 million for indigent students who are facing financial hardship and R100 million has been allocated to financial aid through bursaries and scholarships.

    Student’s representative put the number of students that are still not registered at about 80, 000 as a result of the “financial exclusion problem”.

    They are demanding that those who owe the university up to 150,000 rand ($9,850) in fees still be allowed to register for the new academic year.

     

  • Universal Music Group Moves to Deepen Commitment to Growing African Music 

    Universal Music Group Moves to Deepen Commitment to Growing African Music 

    A world leader in music entertainment, Universal Music Group (UMG), has announced key appointments in order to strengthen its position as the leading music company in Africa

    The latest appointments were essentially designed to underscore UMG’s ongoing commitment to support and grow Africa’s domestic music ecosystems, while also creating new opportunities for African talent to reach new audiences globally.

    UMG’s holistic approach to expanding operations across the continent saw to the opening of new divisions in Nigeria, as well as becoming the first major music company to establish divisions in Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon and Morocco to complement UMG’s longstanding operations in South Africa. This presence would continue to grow throughout 2021 and beyond, as UMG continues to further extend the company’s ability to support domestic artists across Africa and globally.

    To help lead this expansion, Sipho Dlamini has been promoted as the Chief Executive Officer, Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, effective immediately.

    Dlamini would continue to oversee all of UMG’s operations within English-speaking Africa. Since joining UMG in 2016, he has been instrumental in solidifying and growing UMG’s African infrastructure, increasing the visibility of African music around the world and delivering unprecedented artist success in South Africa.

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    During this time, UMG has also led the industry with new initiatives across live music, brand partnerships and the adoption of licensed and legal streaming platforms within Africa.

    Dlamini is a member of UMG’s Task Force for Meaningful Change (TFMC), which was created last year as a driving force for inclusion and social justice within the global music industry and serves as chair for TFMC’s Global Committee.

    In 2019, Dlamini was named in Billboard’s International Music Power list, the first African-based executive to make the list.

    In his new role, Dlamini would continue to work closely with UMG’s EVP, Market Development, Adam Granite, to identify further opportunities for artists signed to Universal Music Africa to reach new audiences around the world, utilising UMG’s unrivalled global network of industry-leading businesses spanning more than 60 countries worldwide.

    Within South Africa, Dlamini has been joined by hugely experienced senior executive Elouise Kelly, who has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Kelly would be based in Johannesburg and would report to Dlamini. She joins UMG from global advertising and media agency Ogilvy, where she held the position of Managing Director, South Africa.

    With a proven and award-winning background in branding, marketing communication and commercial business strategy, she would play an integral role in the further expansion of Universal Music Africa and its operations and label divisions.

    Prior to working at Ogilvy, Kelly held senior positions at SABC, Top TV, Viacom International Media Networks and M-Net.

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    Also, Chinedu Okeke has been named Managing Director, Universal Music Nigeria and would lead the development and expansion of UMG’s existing operations within Nigeria, including English-speaking markets in West Africa.

    He would be based in Lagos, Nigeria and would report to Dlamini.

    Okeke has established himself over the last decade as a successful business and live-music entrepreneur. He’s the founder of Eclipse Live, a live entertainment company focused on bringing live affordable entertainment to the youth of Africa and Eclipse Brand Agency, working with major clients, artists and commercial partners.

    He’s also the founder and Executive Producer of Nigeria’s legendary Gidi Culture Festival, and a founding Trustee of Echo Music and Arts Foundation, and previously held positions at The Wicklow Group, Canvest Group and AP Moeller Maersk.

    The trio would work closely with French-speaking operations in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon and markets within the continent, which operate under the leadership of Franck Kacou, Directeur General, Universal Music Africa.

    Reacting to the development, Granite said: “I am thrilled to announce these strategic appointments, as we look to further develop our domestic infrastructure and label rosters within Africa.

    “Most integral to achieving our long-term ambitions is to build a strong leadership team on the ground, with deep foundations in each country to help grow a dynamic ecosystem for all to benefit in the future.

    “Over the past few years, Sipho has shown great leadership, commitment and vision for music in Africa, helping UMG to introduce new talent to audiences around the world and identify opportunities to lead the industry in licensing and supporting new platforms to reach African music fans.

    “Elouise and Chinedu both bring welcome new skills, proven entrepreneurship and important leadership experience that will only serve to bolster UMG’s position as the market-leader across Africa.”

    Dlamini also spoke on the new appointments: “There has never been a more exciting time for African music around the world, as it continues to influence and inspire culture and creativity, whilst reaching a wider audience globally each day through streaming.

    “I am delighted to welcome both Elouise and Chinedu to UMG family, their unique skills and experiences will only help to further establish UMG as a bedrock within the African music community, that will continue to put the interests and opportunities for artists first and help elevate African talent to new levels of success at home and abroad.”

    As part of UMG’s strategy, the company is helping African talent reach new audiences internationally.

    In 2018, UMG became the first major label to licence its catalog to Boomplay, Africa’s largest local streaming platform.

    Last year, UMG released several acclaimed albums by African artists globally, including: Celia from Nigerian Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage (released in partnership with Motown Records U.S.); South African rapper Nasty C’s – Zulu Man With Some Power (in partnership with Def Jam Recordings in the U.S., Island Records U.K. and other Universal labels around the world); Midnight Train from Kenya’s Sauti Sol; and Old Romance, the debut album released from Nigerian singer/producer Tekno, who is signed to Universal Music Nigeria in partnership with Island Records in the U.K. and U.S.

    UMG also agreed a strategic partnership between Nigeria’s Aristokrat Records and Universal Music France and launched Def Jam Africa as a standalone label on the continent, with resources across five countries, dedicated to discovering the best in African hip-hop, Afrobeats and Trap music.

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    Under the new leadership structure, each territory would continue to focus on domestic A&R and talent development with a unique suite of services available to local talent including marketing, promotion, bespoke brand partnerships, recording facilities and live music promotion and booking through UMG’s ULive Africa division.

    In Africa, UMG has led the industry, working hand in hand with both domestic and international platforms and Telco’s to help bring the best in global music to music fans across Africa.

    UMG remains committed to helping bolster the wider local ecosystem, with continued focus on building a fair and prosperous market for all through better understanding and management of copyright and royalty distribution, and through the development of strong partnerships with platforms throughout the region which would be integral to introducing African music to a wider audience in years to come.

    UMG is also working closely in partnership with parent company Vivendi, and several of Vivendi’s divisions, including CanalOlympia, Olympia Production, Vivendi and Canal+ to support and develop the live music industry throughout Africa.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • U.S. Africa Command Strike Kills Three al-Shabaab in Somalia

    U.S. Africa Command Strike Kills Three al-Shabaab in Somalia

    In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AfriCom) conducted two airstrikes in Somalia on Jan. 1, 2021.

    According to a statement by AfriCom, both strikes targeted al-Shabaab compounds in the vicinity of Qunyo Barrow, Somalia. Current assessments indicate the strikes killed three and wounded one al-Shabaab members and destroyed six and damaged one al-Shabaab compound buildings.

    The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this operation. We take significant measures to comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict during the course of our operations while we continue to disrupt and apply pressure to the al-Shabaab terrorist network.

    “This action clearly demonstrates our continuing commitment to Somalia and our regional partners,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joel Tyler, director of operations for U.S. Africa Command. “We retain the means and the will to strike the al-Shabaab terrorist network when necessary to protect the region and ultimately, our own nation.”

    U.S. Africa Command and its international partners recognize the importance of stability in Somalia. Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to U.S. and regional security interests.

    “Al-Shabaab remains a threat to Somalia’s future and U.S. interests, and we will continue to disrupt their efforts to terrorize innocents,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Joint Task Force-Quartz commander. “Our strikes help keep these terrorists off balance to help our partners then address deeper problems such as governance and development.”

    U.S. Africa Command remains committed to working with East African countries to help provide political, economic, and physical stability in the region and to work with international and African partners to achieve long-term security goals in Somalia for the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.

    See video of the mission strike posted at: https://go.usa.gov/xA9ZV

  • U.S-Backed Somalia Government truck Al-Shabaab Compound

    U.S-Backed Somalia Government truck Al-Shabaab Compound

    In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AfriCom) conducted one (1) airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab compound in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia, Dec. 24.

    In a statement, AfriCom confirmed the initial assessment concluded the strike damaged the compound and several al-Shabaab fighters fled, thwarting nefarious activity.

    The command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this operation. Efforts to disrupt enemy operations, as well as monitor and apply pressure to the al-Shabaab network continue.

    “U.S. Africa Command continues to maintain a sharp focus on East African threats,” said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Heidi Berg, U.S. Africa Command director of intelligence. “Al-Shabaab seeks to not only destroy governance and security in Somalia, but target innocent civilians in Kenya and elsewhere. We will continue to monitor and maintain pressure to the network.”

    U.S. Africa Command and its international partners recognize the importance of stability in Somalia. Security is one critical stabilizing pillar alongside governance and economic opportunity.

    U.S. Africa Command remains committed to working with East African countries to help provide political, economic, and physical stability in the region.

    U.S. Africa Command will continue to work with international and African partners to ensure long-term security in Somalia to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.

  • US AFRICOM Activates Joint Task Force-Quartz

    US AFRICOM Activates Joint Task Force-Quartz

    U.S. Africa Command commander, U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend directed the formation of Joint Task Force- Quartz to oversee Operation Octave Quartz, a mission designated to reposition forces from Somalia.

    “I directed the activation of a joint task force, JTF-Quartz, built around the headquarters of Special Operations Command-Africa, to oversee Operation Octave Quartz, the directed re-positioning of U.S. forces from Somalia to other bases in East Africa,” said Townsend.

    Townsend traveled to East Africa Dec. 14-17 and met with U.S. commanders and forces supporting the mission and operations in East Africa.

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    “JTF-Quartz is commanded by the SOCAF commander, Maj. Gen. Dag Anderson. I have just returned from visiting him at his forward headquarters in East Africa where I met with Dag and his commanders to review their posture and plans. JTF-Quartz is ready to go,” said Townsend.

    Townsend also met with African partners, providing reassurance of sustained commitment to East Africa security.

    “To be clear, the U.S. is not withdrawing or disengaging from East Africa. We remain committed to helping our African partners build a more secure future,” Townsend said. “We also remain capable of striking Al-Shabaab at the time and place of our choosing—they should not test us.”

    The JTF will relocate forces while maintaining pressure on violent extremist organizations in the region and supporting enduring partners.

    “We will execute this mission swiftly, methodically, and with additional forces to protect both our partners and US forces,” said Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Joint Task Force – Quartz commander. “Enemies should expect continued pressure and swift retribution if they choose to attack.”

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    U.S. military assets have moved into the region to support the operation, to include the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4).

    The repositioning of forces will be completed in a deliberate, conditions-based manner.

    U.S. Africa Command remains committed to East Africa and Somalia, to include maintaining regional security, training, as well as continuing to pressure Al Qaeda’s franchise al-Shabaab. U.S. Africa Command will ensure a focus on the continuity of operations and support in Somalia and the East African region.