Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Nigeria security

  • Ondo Amotekun arrests 39 suspects after Sokoto airstrike spillover scare

    Ondo Amotekun arrests 39 suspects after Sokoto airstrike spillover scare

    2025-12-31 09:07:00

    Reporting by PUNCH indicates the Ondo State Amotekun Corps arrested 39 suspects it says fled Sokoto State and moved into forest reserves in Ondo following recent airstrikes targeting extremist hideouts in the North‑West.

    The corps said the arrests were made near the Elegbeka axis in Ose LGA during an operation that also netted other suspects linked to kidnapping and armed robbery, as the state tightens security around forest corridors.

    Officials said profiling is ongoing, including possible prosecution or handover to relevant authorities depending on the outcome of investigations.

    Channels Television reported that the suspects “confessed that they are fleeing from the northern part of the country due to the recent attacks launched against them,” while TheCable wrote Amotekun “has arrested 39 suspected terrorists who allegedly fled Sokoto and relocated to forest reserves in the state.”

    Echotitbits take: This is the ‘balloon effect’ of counter‑terror pressure—fighters scatter into softer targets and forest belts. Expect more inter‑state coordination in the South‑West and tighter controls on forest reserves; watch how prosecution is handled to avoid recycling suspects.

    Source: The Punch — December 31, 2025 (https://punchng.com/us-strike-39-fleeing-sokoto-suspects-arrested-in-ondo/)

    The Punch December 31, 2025

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Gombe attack leaves two dead, four abducted as governor condemns violence

    Gombe attack leaves two dead, four abducted as governor condemns violence

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    Punch reports that gunmen attacked homes in Pindiga, Akko LGA of Gombe State, killing two residents and abducting four others, prompting condemnation and pledges of action from the state government.

    Other reports add police timing and incident details, describing the raid as an early-hours attack on residential homes along the Pindiga–Kashere axis.

    The incident reinforces the persistence of night raids and abductions in parts of northern Nigeria, raising pressure on security response and community intelligence systems.

    The Guardian quotes police saying the incident occurred at “about 3:30 am,” while TVC News reports the attack happened “in the early hours of Sunday.”

    Echotitbits take: The metric is not statements—it’s prevention and rescue. Watch for swift pursuit operations, credible intelligence loops, and whether arrests/prosecutions follow (often the missing link).

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/gombe-gov-fumes-as-gunmen-kill-two-abduct-four/)
    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • NDLEA intercepts UK-bound cocaine concealed in factory-sealed starch sachets

    NDLEA intercepts UK-bound cocaine concealed in factory-sealed starch sachets

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    According to Punch, NDLEA operatives uncovered 1.5kg of cocaine concealed inside factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and arrested an ex-convict alongside cargo agents linked to the attempted shipment to the UK.

    The concealment method underscores how traffickers exploit everyday export items to reduce suspicion, while enforcement agencies tighten checks on logistics chains and facilitation networks around airports.

    Beyond seizures, successful prosecution and disruption of supply networks remain the deterrence test for interdiction efforts.

    Channels TV reports “the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine, weighing a total of 1.50 kilograms,” while The Guardian also states the drugs were “concealed in factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch and destined for the United Kingdom.”

    Echotitbits take: Traffickers innovate faster than paperwork. The winning move is sustained profiling, tighter cargo-agent oversight, and faster court timelines that turn arrests into convictions.

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/ndlea-uncovers-uk-bound-cocaine-hidden-in-starch-at-lagos-airport/)
    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • FG prepares deployment of 7,000 forest guards across northern states

    FG prepares deployment of 7,000 forest guards across northern states

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    In a report published by Punch, the federal government said thousands of newly recruited forest guard operatives have completed training ahead of deployment across northern states.

    The initiative is presented as part of a wider push to curb banditry and improve security in forested corridors often linked to armed groups.

    TheCable’s newspaper roundup said “7,000 newly recruited forest guards… have completed a three-month intensive training programme,” reflecting how multiple dailies framed the move as a new layer in the security architecture.

    Echotitbits take: The headline number is less important than command-and-control, rules of engagement, funding, and coordination with police, DSS and the military. Watch whether the programme becomes community-embedded intelligence—or just another uniformed layer with unclear accountability.

    Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-to-deploy-7000-forest-guards-in-north/)

    The Punch 2025-12-27

  • IED blasts on Zamfara highway leave travellers feared dead

    IED blasts on Zamfara highway leave travellers feared dead

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    Punch reports that two suspected improvised explosive devices detonated along a highway in Zamfara State, with early accounts indicating fatalities and injuries among travellers.

    Authorities were said to be assessing the scene and casualty figures, while residents raised renewed alarms about insecurity on key routes linking rural communities.

    TheCable’s newspaper review noted that “at least nine persons were killed… after two suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated along the Magami–Dansadau road in Maru LGA of Zamfara,” echoing the incident details as they filtered into national coverage.

    Echotitbits take: Road insecurity is becoming a strategic economic risk—movement of food, goods and labour is disrupted long before official casualty counts settle. Watch for a coordinated response: patrols, intelligence-led sweeps, and safer transport corridors.

    Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/many-feared-dead-as-explosion-rocks-zamfara-highway/)

    The Punch 2025-12-28

  • Shettima visits Maiduguri blast victims, promises tighter protection for worship centres

    Shettima visits Maiduguri blast victims, promises tighter protection for worship centres

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-27 07:00:00

    According to Saturday PUNCH, Vice President Kashim Shettima visited survivors of the Maiduguri mosque bombing and assured residents that Nigeria will defeat terrorism and restore stability.

    The visit focused on victims receiving treatment after the explosion, with Shettima urging calm while promising sustained federal–state collaboration to protect places of worship and civilian centres.

    He also framed the attack as a test of national resolve, insisting that security agencies would intensify operations and improve intelligence-led prevention as communities head into the new year.

    Beyond condolences, the trip signalled a renewed political push for coordinated security measures in Borno and neighbouring hotspots, especially around markets, mosques, and other high-footfall areas.

    Reuters and the Associated Press also reported the incident, with Reuters describing it as a “suspected suicide bombing” that killed worshippers and injured others, while AP said investigators found “fragments of a suicide vest” at the scene.

    Echotitbits take:
    This is a familiar cycle in the North-East—attack, reassurance, then a security surge. What to watch next is whether the promised coordination produces visible changes: tighter perimeter control at worship centres, quicker incident response, and disruption of supply lines for IED materials.

    Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nigeria-will-conquer-terrorism-says-shettima/?utm_medium=web&utm_source=rss.punchng.com)
    The Punch December 27, 2025

  • Nigerian Army flags fake DSSC 2026 recruitment form and warns against online scammers

    Nigerian Army flags fake DSSC 2026 recruitment form and warns against online scammers

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-27 06:00:00

    In a statement reported by Vanguard, the Nigerian Army asked the public to ignore a circulating advert claiming the Direct Short Service Course (DSSC) 29 application form for 2026 is available.

    The Army said the message is fraudulent and warned Nigerians not to fall victim to scammers who often demand payments, personal data, or bank details under the guise of “recruitment processing.”

    Security officials urged citizens to rely only on official Army communication channels for recruitment notices and to report suspicious posts to relevant authorities.

    Echotitbits take:
    Recruitment scams spike during festive periods and economic stress. A practical next step for readers is to verify announcements on official military platforms before sharing—and to treat any “payment request” as a red flag.

    Source: The Punch — December 26, 2025 (https://punchng.com/army-disowns-fake-recruitment-advertisement/)
    The Punch December 26, 2025

  • Christmas-day U.S. strike jolts Sokoto as Abuja tightens counter‑terror coordination

    Christmas-day U.S. strike jolts Sokoto as Abuja tightens counter‑terror coordination

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-27 06:00:00

    According to Punch, residents in parts of northern Nigeria reported heightened anxiety after U.S.-linked strikes were announced against suspected ISIS camps in Sokoto State, with local authorities urging calm and continued vigilance.

    The report said the operation was framed as a coordinated effort with Nigerian authorities amid concerns about cross‑border militant movement from the Sahel and the growth of terror logistics in forest corridors.

    Security analysts quoted in the coverage warned that kinetic operations can disrupt camps but also trigger displacement of fighters, making intelligence‑driven follow‑up and community protection measures critical in the weeks ahead.

    Echotitbits take:
    Beyond the headline drama of “Christmas‑day” strikes, the key story is the evolving Abuja‑Washington security alignment. Watch for: official briefings on targeting safeguards, clearer rules for joint operations, and what Nigeria does next on ground‑holding after air action.

    Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/trumps-christmas-missiles-strike-fear-in-northern-nigeria/)
    The Punch December 27, 2025

  • Abuja Confirms U.S. Strikes on Terror Cells in Northwest Nigeria

    Abuja Confirms U.S. Strikes on Terror Cells in Northwest Nigeria

    Photo Credit: Worldstagenews
    2025-12-26 06:00:00

    According to *PUNCH*, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has formally acknowledged U.S. military strikes that targeted suspected terrorist enclaves in the country’s northwest, describing the action as part of a wider counter-terror push.

    The ministry’s statement framed the episode as a security partnership step, while also emphasising Nigeria’s sovereignty and the need for coordinated action against armed groups operating across hard-to-police terrain.

    The development comes amid heightened regional security concerns, with officials stressing that insurgent and terror-linked violence is no longer a “local” problem but one with spillover risks for trade routes, border communities, and internal displacement.

    In Abuja, the confirmation is likely to renew debate about the rules, scope, and accountability of foreign military assistance—especially as public pressure grows for visible gains against violent networks.

    Reuters also described the action as “a joint operation” to “target terrorists,” while The Associated Press quoted the U.S. president describing a “powerful and deadly strike.”

    Echotitbits take: This is a security milestone and a political risk at once—helpful if it degrades networks, controversial if civilians are harmed or if sovereignty questions resurface. Watch for operational details, casualty clarifications, and whether Nigeria formalises a clearer framework for foreign kinetic support.

    Source: Worldstagenews — Dec 26, 2025 (https://www.worldstagenews.com/nigeria-tinubu-confirms-approval-of-successful-precision-strikes-on-foreign-isis-elements/)

    Photo credit/source: Worldstagenews
    Worldstagenews 2025-12-26

  • Trump says U.S. ordered ‘deadly’ strike on ISIS targets in Nigeria amid Christian-persecution claim

    Trump says U.S. ordered ‘deadly’ strike on ISIS targets in Nigeria amid Christian-persecution claim

    Photo Credit: Daniel Torok / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
    2025-12-25 19:00:00

    In a Christmas Day post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he had ordered what he described as a “powerful and deadly strike” on ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, accusing the group of “targeting and viciously killing” Christians.

    In a separate public release, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said it conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists on Dec. 25 in Sokoto State, in coordination with Nigerian authorities, adding that its initial assessment was that multiple ISIS fighters were killed at ISIS camps, while withholding additional details for operational security.

    Reuters reported that Trump framed the operation as a response to attacks he said were hitting Christian communities, while also noting Nigeria’s security crisis is multi-layered and has affected different communities in the country.

    Additional coverage by Al Jazeera and The Guardian also reported Trump’s announcement and AFRICOM’s confirmation of the strike, as details continued to emerge.

    Sources: Truth Social (as cited in Reuters/other outlets); AFRICOM press release; Reuters; Al Jazeera; The Guardian.

    Links: AFRICOM statement: https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/36158/us-africa-command-conducts-strike-against-isis-in-nigeria | Reuters report: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-launches-strikes-against-islamic-state-militants-northwest-nigeria-trump-says-2025-12-25/ | Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/25/trump-says-us-launched-strikes-against-isil-in-northwest-nigeria | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/25/us-carries-out-airstrikes-against-islamic-state-terrorist-scum-in-nigeria-trump-says

    Truth Social; U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM); Reuters; Al Jazeera; The Guardian 2025-12-25