NIGERIA NEWS
Court voids orders obtained by suppression of facts
The Federal High Court in Lagos has set aside the proceedings conducted on November 21 in a suit between Collins Onyeweama and another against Techno Oil Limited and others, along with all orders made on that date, for constituting a flagrant breach of the respondents’ right to fair hearing.
Justice Ayokunle Faji, who also recused himself, held that the interim orders granted on November 21 were obtained through the suppression of material facts.
The ruling followed a motion ex-parte filed by the petitioners seeking global Mareva injunctions against the third and fourth respondents on the alleged suspicion that the first respondent’s assets were being relocated.
The application was brought without any hearing notice to the respondents or their counsel, despite the fact that all parties to the suit were already duly represented by counsel.
Aggrieved by the interim orders, counsel to the various respondents filed separate applications seeking to set aside the November 21 orders on grounds of breach of fair hearing and lack of jurisdiction.
Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), with Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN), Ogbonna Chukwumerije, and Kazeem Afolabi appeared for the first, third, fifth, and sixth respondents, while Nnaemeka Amaechina announced appearance for the second and fourth respondents.
Oluwole Afolabi (SAN) and O.F. Fatomi appeared for the first, third, and seventh parties seeking to be bound (interveners).
Ifeanyi Ekopo, holding the brief of Tochukwu Maduka (SAN), appeared for the fourth, fifth, and sixth parties seeking to be bound.
Justice Faji agreed with the submissions of senior counsel representing the first, third, fifth, and sixth respondents, as well as counsel to the second and fourth respondents, that the petitioners suppressed material facts in securing the ex parte orders.
The court observed that Exhibit 25, which formed the foundation of the petitioners’ ex parte application, had earlier been annexed to a motion on notice filed about two months before the November 21 proceedings.
However, during the hearing of the Mareva application, petitioners’ counsel, Mr. Ade Adedeji (SAN), and Mr. Bidemi Ademola-Bello (SAN), represented to the court that the facts relied upon had only recently come to the petitioners’ knowledge.
Justice Faji held that had the court been properly informed of the earlier filing, the ex parte application would not have been granted.
Consequently, the court nullified the proceedings and all orders made on November 21, 2025, for violating the respondents’ constitutional right to a fair hearing.
To preserve the integrity of the judicial process and maintain public confidence in the administration of justice, Justice Faji further announced his decision to recuse himself from further handling of the case.
He explained that the applicable test was how a reasonable and informed observer would perceive the circumstances surrounding the breach of fair hearing.
Accordingly, the court ordered that the case file be transmitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge of the Lagos Division.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi, has criticised what he described as the late intervention of the international community in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
Sowunmi speaking in an interview while reacting to recent United States airstrikes on militant groups in north-western Nigeria.
According to him, global powers with advanced security and surveillance capabilities ought to have acted much earlier.
“I felt the world came in a little too late. The security resources available globally suggest that there have been eyes in the sky for a long time, and many countries have the capacity,” he said.
He noted that while countries such as Britain and China remained silent, the United States eventually intervened when the situation worsened.
“You have to thank the United States that when the chips were really down, Britain, which ordinarily should have a bigger interest, did not say anything.
“China, which has also been active here with various projects, said nothing. America spoke up, and Donald Trump said, ‘This is getting too much; we are going to do something,’” Sowunmi added.
Describing the situation as painful for Nigerians, he likened the killing of terrorists to watching wayward children being lost.
Sowunmi also commended the United States for working with Nigerian security agencies, warning that unilateral military action without consultation would have raised serious concerns.
“Thankfully, he did not just come into the country without our security infrastructure. If missiles had been fired from the Gulf of Guinea without consulting the Nigerian government, it would have raised serious questions about our deterrent capacity,” he said.
He stressed that the development was not one to celebrate, urging Nigerians across religious divides to see terrorism as a national tragedy.
Sowunmi further advised that Nigeria would be better served by addressing terrorism as criminality rather than framing it along ethnic or religious lines.
Politics Nigeria earlier reported that on Christmas Day, United States President Donald Trump announced that American forces had carried out strikes against Islamic State militants in north-western Nigeria, warning of further action if attacks persisted.
Trump justified the strikes as a response to what he described as genocide against Christians in Nigeria, claiming the violence had reached alarming levels.
NIGERIA NEWS
Atiku seeks fresh legislative consideration of Tinubu tax laws over gazette controversy
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for a fresh legislative consideration of the Tinubu administration’s tax reform laws.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday night, said this is the only lawful path following confirmation by the Senate that the gazetted version of the Tax Act does not reflect what was duly passed by the National Assembly.
The call comes amid plans by the Federal Government to implement the remaining tax reform laws from January 1, 2026.
Atiku said the issue raises a serious constitutional concern that cannot be resolved through administrative shortcuts or rushed re-gazetting.
What Atiku is saying
According to Atiku, any law published in a form that was never approved by the National Assembly is legally invalid.
- He stressed that under Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, the lawmaking process requires passage by both chambers, presidential assent, and only then gazetting.
- Atiku argued that gazetting is purely an administrative act and cannot amend, validate, or correct a defective law.
- He maintained that any post-passage insertion, deletion, or modification without legislative approval amounts to forgery, not a clerical error.
“The only lawful path is fresh legislative consideration, re-passage in identical form by both chambers, fresh presidential assent, and proper gazetting,” Atiku said.
Opposition to rushed re-gazetting
The former Vice President criticised reported attempts to fast-track a re-gazetting of the tax laws while legislative investigations into the alleged alterations are ongoing.
- According to him, such an approach undermines parliamentary oversight and sets a dangerous constitutional precedent.
- He warned that illegality cannot be cured by speed or administrative directives from the leadership of the National Assembly.
- Neither the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, nor the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, he said, has the authority to validate laws that were not properly passed.
How the controversy emerged
The controversy began after members of the House of Representatives alleged that the gazetted versions of some tax reform laws differed from the versions passed by the National Assembly.
The affected laws include the Nigerian Tax Act and the Nigerian Tax Administration Act, which are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.
Following investigations, the Senate confirmed that discrepancies exist between what lawmakers approved and what was gazetted, giving credence to the concerns raised by the House.
This confirmation has intensified calls for corrective legislative action.
Why this matters
The Tinubu administration’s tax reforms are a core part of its economic agenda, aimed at reducing the tax burden on low-income earners and small businesses while improving long-term revenue through economic growth and better compliance.
However, unresolved constitutional flaws could expose the laws to legal challenges and delay implementation.
Fresh legislative consideration, as proposed by Atiku, could help restore confidence in the reform process, safeguard the rule of law, and reduce the risk of future court disputes.
However, going this path would mean the government would have to defer the implementation of the laws.
What you should know
Four tax reform laws have been enacted under the Tinubu administration. Two of the laws took effect in June 2025, while two are scheduled for January 1, 2026.
Despite the controversies surrounding the two laws, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, told journalists on Friday that the implementation will proceed as planned from January 1.
Oyedele welcomed the House Committee’s engagement on the alleged alterations and said the Federal Government was willing to work with the National Assembly if any remedial action is required.
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Ecobank Nigeria has warned customers to be on alert with increased scam activities during the festive period while assuring them of seamless access to banking services through its digital platforms.
The bank said, customers will continue to enjoy uninterrupted banking services throughout the year end holidays despite adjusted working hours at physical branches in line with public holidays.
Speaking on the development, Ecobank’s head of Products and Analytics for Consumer and Commercial Banking, Victor Yalokwu said, the bank has strengthened its digital infrastructure to meet customers’ needs during the yuletide.
He said services will remain fully available through Ecobank cards, the Ecobank Mobile App, USSD code 326, Ecobank Online, OmniPlus, Omnilite, EcobankPay, RapidTransfer, ATMs, PoS terminals and over 35,000 Ecobank Xpress Point agency banking locations nationwide.
Yalokwu noted that, customers will be able to carry out local and international funds transfers, bill payments, airtime top ups, merchant and QR payments, balance enquiries, account statements and cardless cash withdrawals via ATMs throughout the festive season.
According to him, customers are encouraged to rely on the bank’s digital channels for safe and convenient banking during the period. “Ecobank encourages customers to leverage these digital solutions for safe, fast and efficient banking, especially during the festive season when convenience and reliability are essential. While physical branch operations may be subject to adjusted working hours, our digital platforms are designed to deliver uninterrupted service and enhanced security at all times,” he said.
He added that, the bank remains committed to delivering innovative financial solutions and quality customer service, wishing customers a joyful festive season and a prosperous New Year. Yalokwu, however, cautioned customers against fraudsters and scammers who often exploit increased online activities and end of year distractions.
“December brings online sales, travel and year end activities and this is exactly when scammers are most active. From fake festive deals to suspicious messages, staying vigilant helps keep your money safe,” he said.
He advised customers to transact only on trusted websites, avoid sharing their PINs, passwords or one time passwords, refrain from banking on public Wi Fi networks, be cautious of urgent messages and regularly monitor their accounts for suspicious activities.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, AND LASTMA, has cautioned motorists against indiscriminate parking and unlawful obstruction of roads during cross-over night celebrations across the state.
The warning was issued on Sunday by the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in a statement released in Lagos.
Bakare-Oki stressed that access roads around places of worship, markets, nightclubs, event centres and other major gathering points must remain unobstructed, noting that violations would not be condoned.
He explained that cross-over night usually comes with a sharp increase in vehicular and pedestrian movement, often compounded by poorly coordinated activities such as carnivals, roadside festivities, street parties and spontaneous celebrations.
“While recognising the cultural, religious, and communal value of these activities, LASTMA condemns the misuse of public roads, including their conversion into improvised parking spaces or informal event venues,” Bakare-Oki said.
“Such acts are egregious violations of traffic regulations with far-reaching implications for public safety, emergency response, and urban mobility,” he added.
The LASTMA boss therefore urged motorists to desist from abandoning vehicles on carriageways, road shoulders, medians, pedestrian walkways and critical access routes leading to churches, mosques and social centres.
He also warned organisers and participants of carnivals, street parties and other festive gatherings against blocking highways, inner roads or access points without proper authorisation and coordination with relevant authorities.
Addressing anticipated traffic challenges, Bakare-Oki disclosed that the agency had activated an enhanced traffic management, monitoring and enforcement framework to ensure smooth vehicular movement and public safety during the celebration.
According to him, trained traffic officers, supported by rapid response units and advance surveillance teams under the “LASTMA 24-Hour Night Gangs” initiative, will be strategically deployed to identified traffic flashpoints across the state.
“This will ensure seamless vehicular mobility, rigorously enforce parking regulations, and swiftly neutralise any unlawful obstructions to traffic flow,” he said.
He further warned that traffic offenders would be sanctioned strictly in line with existing laws, without exemptions.
Bakare-Oki appealed to religious bodies, market associations, nightclub operators and event organisers to act responsibly by providing adequate parking arrangements and implementing internal traffic control measures to prevent congestion from spilling onto public roads.
He also called on residents and visitors to cooperate with traffic officials, comply with all traffic directives and exercise patience and restraint as Lagos residents usher in the New Year.
A cousin of former Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, Don Pedro Obaseki has narrated how he was stripped naked by suspected political thugs.
In a video shared by Africa Independent Television on Sunday, Obaseki stated that the incident occurred around 11:30 am while he was playing football with members of the Uwa All Stars at Uwa Primary School, Benin.
He lamented that the assailants who were armed, abducted him and dragged him through several streets in the city under the claim that they were acting on the orders of the Oba of Benin’s Palace.
He said, “I was physically abducted, in short, physically kidnapped, some of them holding guns… and they hauled me through the streets of Benin under the guise that they’ve been sent to come and abduct me by the palace of the Oba of Benin.
“I begged them to show me some form of ID, of course not, I was dragged, beaten severely, manhandled and dragged through Igbisawan Street up to Akpapava, which is the main thoroughfare in Benin and up to Ring Road, where I was stripped naked and taken into the palace of the Oba of Benin and where I was meant to kneel publicly.
“I’ve never been so humiliated because I am who I am because of my nativity, my Beninness.”
He further disclosed that he was later taken to a police station along Oba Market Road, where the Commissioner of Police intervened and ordered his release.
Obaseki said he was traumatised by the incident and claimed he was told his offence was making a public statement in London in which he said, “May Edo people live long and prosper,” instead of referencing the Oba of Benin.
“I hear that my sin was that I went to London and in a public statement I said May Edo people live long and prosper, that I should have said May the Oba live long and prosper, that my saying may Edo people live long and prosper is a cardinal sin in Benin… for me who has elevated the culture of the Benin race in my 35 to 40 years as the pioneer of the present Nollywood,” he stated.
NIGERIA NEWS
Two Years After, DSS Nabs Suspects in 2023 Abduction and Killing of Prof. Ekanem Ephraim — Akelicious
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday arrested the leader of the gang that kidnapped and murdered a prominent professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim, in 2023, a credible security source has confirmed.
The gang leader, Patrick Essien Etim, 23, and his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were apprehended at a medical facility in Cross River State while planning to kidnap another medical bigwig.
According to the source, the DSS had been tracking the kidnap ring since Ephraim’s killing in July 2023, when gunmen posing as patients abducted her.
The duo have confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family, the source disclosed.
‘It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the Professor. I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and the much needed closure that they deserve, the source disclosed.
The suspects, alongside one Isaac Ekpeyong who was also arrested by DSS operatives, also owned up to kidnapping other victims and vandalizing electricity cables.
Recall that Professor Ekanem was abducted on 13th July, 2023 by unknown gunmen who posed as patients at her private clinic at Atimbo Road, Calabar. Her kidnap sparked statewide protests by the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). The medical association had embarked on an indefinite strike, which crippled the health sector for over a week, in a bid to prevail on government to rescue the Professor.
“This huge breakthrough underscores the commitment of the DSS in reverting to covertness in its operations and restoring public safety across the country,” declared the source.
Related
One person was shot when armed bandits attacked Baidi village in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident was contained in a post shared on X on Monday by security analyst Bakatsine.
According to the post, the attack happened on Sunday night during the Isha (night) prayer.
Bakatsine said the gunmen stormed the community, shot one resident, and went on to loot several shops. They also raided a phone-charging point in the village.
“Yesterday, during the Isha (night) prayer, armed bandits attacked Baidi village, located about 3km from Tangaza town in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. One person was shot during the attack, several shops were looted, and a phone-charging point was raided. Fearing a possible return by the attackers, residents fled their homes,” Bakatsine wrote.
Baidi village is located about three kilometres from Tangaza town.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security authorities on the incident.
NIGERIA NEWS
“I’ve Been to Heaven Three Times” – Pastor David Ogbueli Scolds Church Instrumentalists
- Pastor David Ogbueli has sparked online reactions after a video showed him reprimanding his church instrumentalists during a live service for disrupting the flow of worship.
- He cited personal experiences of visiting heaven to emphasize the need for order, humility, and reverence in God’s presence.
Pastor David Ogbueli, the Senior Pastor of Dominion City Churches worldwide, has gone viral after a video emerged showing him scolding his church instrumentalists and choristers during a live service.
The cleric expressed visible frustration over the team’s inability to follow the flow of the service, specifically their failure to stop playing when required.
Ogbueli used his personal spiritual experiences to highlight the gap between the church’s performance and what he described as the divine order of heaven.
“You need to see how heaven operates, I’ve been there three times, you don’t see this nonsense. At that moment, everybody is on the floor, including the twenty four elders.”
He further emphasized the humility required in the presence of God by describing a vision of Christ himself.
“You know what’s shocking? Jesus, who sits on the right hand of God, comes down, he’s on the floor, prostrated.”
No fewer than three people lost their lives following a clash on Saturday between security operatives and suspected drug peddlers at Koraman Nayalle, Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters in Katsina metropolis.
The incident was said to have begun when security operatives attempted to arrest one of the peddlers, called Uzairu, popularly known as ‘Kuda’ and confiscated his mobile phone and suspected illicit drugs.
As Kuda mobilised his friends to retrieve his phone from the operatives, the situation escalated into chaos, during which he was shot, and later confirmed dead.
The confrontation sparked anger and unrest in the area, causing the violence to intensify and eventually leading to the deaths of three people.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an outpost of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and some motorcycles were set ablaze.
The neighbourhood remained tense, with the residents living in fear of further violence, while the authorities were making frantic efforts to restore calm.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Katsina, Buhari Hamisu, who confirmed the incident, said that the situation was now under control.
He said that after the earlier incident, friends of the deceased attempted to destroy another NSCDC and police outposts at Filin Kanada, but were dispersed.
ALSO READ: Nigeria customs intercepts N700 million illicit drugs in Katsina
According to Mr Hamisu, the investigation is ongoing to ascertain the main course of the clash, calling on residents to remain calm.
Also, the police spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the incident, saying that it escalated during the funeral procession of the deceased on Sunday.
He further urged the public to always exercise maximum restraint and avoid taking the law into their hands.
(NAN)
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday arrested the leader of the gang that kidnapped and murdered a prominent professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim, in 2023, a credible security source has confirmed.
The gang leader, Patrick Essien Etim, 23, and his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were apprehended at a medical facility in Cross River State while planning to kidnap another medical bigwig.
According to the source, the DSS had been tracking the kidnap ring since Ephraim’s killing in July 2023, when gunmen posing as patients abducted her.
The duo have confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family, the source disclosed.
‘It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the Professor. I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and the much needed closure that they deserve, the source disclosed.
The suspects, alongside one Isaac Ekpeyong who was also arrested by DSS operatives, also owned up to kidnapping other victims and vandalizing electricity cables.
Recall that Professor Ekanem was abducted on 13th July, 2023 by unknown gunmen who posed as patients at her private clinic at Atimbo Road, Calabar. Her kidnap sparked statewide protests by the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). The medical association had embarked on an indefinite strike, which crippled the health sector for over a week, in a bid to prevail on government to rescue the Professor.
“This huge breakthrough underscores the commitment of the DSS in reverting to covertness in its operations and restoring public safety across the country,” declared the source.
A former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has clarified that he does not need to officially join the Africa Democratic Congress, ADC.
According to Obi, he has always been a member of the ADC and was part of the coalition from its inception.
He stated this while speaking during an X Space on Sunday night.
Obi also made it clear that he will always have respect for ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar.
“I am not joining ADC. I can’t re-join what I am already a part of,” Obi said.
“I’ve been part of the coalition from day one.
“Nobody is stepping down for me in ADC.
“We have all agreed to work together and Atiku remains my respected leader.”
A political activist, Omoyele Sowore, has triggered widespread reactions on social media after claiming that President Bola Tinubu is unwell following his departure from Nigeria to Europe on Sunday.
Sowore also alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is critically ill, questioning why the country is being led by people he described as sick.
Sowore’s Allegations
In a post shared on his social media handles, Sowore criticised Nigeria’s leadership and accused public officials of using the country as “health insurance.”
Sowore wrote: “Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unwell just managing himself, reason he’s abruptly flown to “Europe” today @Senator_Akpabio is practically dying, why is Nigeria governed by sick people? And whereas nothing is wrong with illnesses it is callous to use a country as health insurance for sick leaders.”
The post quickly generated mixed reactions, with supporters and critics debating the claims online.
Presidency Explains Tinubu’s Trip
Earlier on Sunday, the Presidency announced that President Tinubu had travelled to Europe as part of his end-of-year break and would later proceed to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
He wrote: “STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU LEAVES FOR EUROPE
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Lagos on Sunday, December 28, for Europe, continuing his end-of-year break and ahead of his official trip to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed AlNahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has invited President Tinubu to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026) Summit, which will take place in the emirate early in January.
The weeklong summit is an annual event that mobilises leaders from government, business, and society to chart the next era of sustainable development.
With the theme ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go’, ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence.
The President will return to the country after the Summit.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
December 28, 2025.”
Mixed Public Reactions
Sowore’s comments have continued to draw attention, with many Nigerians calling for caution and responsibility in public discourse, while others demand greater transparency about the health of public office holders.
The recent counter-terrorism strike in Sokoto marks a turning point in Nigeria’s long struggle against terrorists and jihadist violence and security calculus. Enabled by foreign cooperation, it underscores both renewed state resolve and a shifting approach to intelligence, sovereignty, and security partnerships at a critical moment. Adedayo Adejobi writes.
Reports of a coordinated counter-terrorism operation involving Nigeria and the United States, driven by actionable intelligence and executed in Sokoto, have introduced a new and consequential chapter in the long war against jihadist violence in Nigeria and the wider Sahel.
Whether viewed as a tactical strike or a strategic signal, the operation has resonance far beyond the immediate battlefield. It speaks to political will, evolving alliances, contested sovereignty, and the uncomfortable recalibration of Nigeria’s security doctrine in an era where terror networks are transnational, adaptive, and deeply entrenched.
Sokoto occupies a unique symbolic and historical space in Nigeria’s security imagination. As the heartland of the old Islamic caliphate, it represents continuity, authority, and religious legitimacy.
For terror groups that thrive on myth-making and ideological inheritance, geography matters. An operation in this space is therefore not just kinetic, it is psychological. It signals that no terrain is too sensitive, no symbolism too sacred, when the survival of the Nigerian state is at stake.
Politically, the most striking element of the episode is the assertion of will. Successive Nigerian administrations have often been accused of rhetorical toughness paired with operational hesitation. In this case, the decision to act decisively, reportedly in alignment with firm pressure and expectations from Washington under President Donald Trump’s hard line posture on terrorism, reflects a shift from caution to confrontation. Trump’s worldview leaves little room for ambiguity, allies are expected to act, not equivocate. Nigeria’s response suggests a leadership increasingly aware that delay and half measures only embolden violent non-state actors.
Yet political will does not exist in a vacuum. It is inseparable from political cost. Domestic sensitivities around foreign involvement in security operations are real and historically grounded. Nigeria’s memory of external interference, from colonial conquest to Cold War maneuvering, has made sovereignty a deeply emotive concept. Reliance on United States intelligence, no matter how precise or timely, inevitably raises questions.
Who defines the target? Who controls the narrative? Who bears responsibility for unintended consequences?
Critics argue that over dependence on foreign intelligence risks hollowing out Nigeria’s own capacity. This concern deserves serious engagement.
Intelligence is not merely data, it is context, culture, language, and long term presence.
A nation that outsources too much of this function risks strategic blindness. At the same time, absolutist notions of intelligence sovereignty are increasingly obsolete.
Terror networks share resources, move across borders, and exploit digital platforms that no single state can fully monitor. The real issue is not cooperation, but balance. Nigeria must ensure that intelligence partnerships are reciprocal, capacity building, and anchored in Nigerian command authority.
The economic dimension further complicates the narrative. Observers who allude to America’s interest in Nigeria’s mineral resources are not speaking in a vacuum. The Sahel and West Africa are emerging theaters of strategic competition, with critical minerals, energy corridors, and trade routes at stake.
Security cooperation is never purely altruistic. However, acknowledging interest does not automatically invalidate partnership. The question is whether Nigeria negotiates from a position of clarity and strength, or from desperation. Counterterrorism can coexist with economic self interest, provided Nigerian institutions are robust enough to protect national priorities.
Militarily, the operation challenges long standing perceptions of compromise and fatigue within Nigeria’s armed forces. Years of asymmetric warfare have taken a toll on morale and public confidence.
Accusations of infiltration, collusion, or incompetence have followed the military, sometimes fairly, sometimes opportunistically. A successful, intelligence led operation sends a counter-message.
It suggests adaptability, learning, and renewed seriousness.
The Nigerian Navy and other services, often peripheral in counterinsurgency discussions, are also implicated in this moment. Terror financing, arms smuggling, and logistics increasingly move through maritime and riverine routes. A stepped up, professional, and transparent military response across all services is no longer optional.
Intelligence, however, remains the quiet centre of gravity. The language of actionable intelligence implies specificity, timing, and trust. It also implies risk. Acting on shared intelligence binds partners together in success and in failure.
For Nigeria, the future of this alliance will depend on how effectively it translates external inputs into internal competence. Training, technology transfer, and doctrinal reform must follow operations, not trail them.
The operation also reopens a contentious internal debate about dissent, criticism, and responsibility in wartime.
Public intellectuals and clerics such as Sheikh Gumi and Ahmed Baba Ahmed, among others, have positioned themselves as vocal critics of the federal government’s counter-terrorism approach.
In a healthy democracy, dissent is not only permitted, it is necessary. However, in a context as fragile as Nigeria’s security environment, rhetoric has consequences. Language that consistently delegitimises state action, rationalises extremist grievances, or frames terror groups as misunderstood actors demands scrutiny.
This is not a call for persecution or silencing. It is a call for accountability and transparency. The Nigerian and international community are entitled to ask hard questions about funding networks, ideological affiliations, and cross border linkages that sustain extremist violence.
Background checks, financial transparency, and open debate should not be taboo. They are tools of democratic self defense. To ask questions is not to accuse, but to protect.
Regionally, the implications are profound. West Africa’s terror ecosystem is interconnected. Signals sent in Sokoto are received in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and beyond. A Nigeria that demonstrates resolve alters calculations across the region. It reassures partners and unsettles adversaries. It also places weight on Nigeria’s shoulders. Leadership brings expectation. Consistency will matter more than spectacle.
Ultimately, this moment is a test. A test of whether Nigeria can convert a tactical success into a strategic doctrine. A test of whether alliances can be managed without eroding sovereignty. A test of whether political will can be sustained beyond headlines. Terrorism thrives on doubt, delay, and division. The strongest signal Nigeria can send is not just force, but coherence.
History will not remember intelligence briefs or diplomatic communiques. It will remember whether the Nigerian state chose clarity over comfort, responsibility over rhetoric, and action over paralysis. In Sokoto, a message was sent. What follows will determine whether it becomes a turning point or just another echo in a long war.
The Labour Party has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his trip to Europe amid worsening insecurity across Nigeria.
The party’s Acting National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, described the President’s travel as insensitive and lacking empathy for Nigerians grappling with violent attacks and humanitarian crises.
Usman said Tinubu should have remained in the country to personally coordinate security efforts and respond to the growing challenges.
“This is the most inauspicious time for the President to leave the country. Even spending the Christmas holiday in Lagos appeared ill-timed, considering that a bomb exploded in Zamfara today, killing nine people,” she said.
She further alleged that Nigeria was under external attack, accusing the Federal Government of downplaying the gravity of the security situation.
The LP Acting Chairperson also faulted the President for failing to convene critical security meetings following the United States–led bombardment of terrorist camps in Kwara and Sokoto states, and criticised what she described as inadequate engagement with military leadership.
According to reports, President Tinubu departed Lagos for Europe ahead of an official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he is scheduled to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit at the invitation of UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The trip comes amid heightened security concerns nationwide.
It will be recalled that United States President Donald Trump authorised AFRICOM to carry out airstrikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, hours before Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the operation.
Similarly, a deadly bomb blast in Zamfara State on Friday claimed several lives.
Former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has stirred fresh controversy over President Bola Tinubu’s sudden trip out of Nigeria, alleging that the president is unwell.
Sowore made the claim on Sunday while reacting to news of Tinubu’s unexpected departure to Europe.
He alleged that the president is managing health challenges and suggested that this was the reason for the abrupt travel.
The activist also extended his comments to the leadership of the National Assembly. He claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is “practically dying,” raising concerns about the health of top political office holders in the country.
President Tinubu had been in Lagos State to observe the Christmas and New Year holidays before leaving Nigeria earlier on Sunday.
His departure drew public attention due to the short notice and limited prior engagement during the festive period.
The Presidency later confirmed that Tinubu had travelled to Europe. According to an official statement, the president is also expected to proceed to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for an international engagement.
Tinubu is scheduled to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit. The visit is at the invitation of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The summit focuses on climate action, energy transition, and sustainable development.
Despite the official explanation, Sowore questioned the transparency surrounding the president’s health and travel.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unwell just managing himself, reason he’s abruptly flown to ‘Europe’ today @Senator_Akpabio is practically dying, why is Nigeria governed by sick people?
“And whereas nothing is wrong with illnesses it is callous to use a country as health insurance for sick leaders.”
However, the Presidency has not directly responded to Sowore’s claims as of the time of filing this report.