NIGERIA NEWS
JUST IN: FG declares armed groups as terrorists
…outlines economic gains of Tinubu’s administration
….ambassadors to be deployed in 2026
From: and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
The Federal Government on Monday declared all armed groups operating in the country as terrorist groups.
The government said that, henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps children, attacks farmers, or terrorises communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organisation.
It insisted that the era of ambiguous nomenclature was over.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who made the declaration in Abuja at a press conference, also outlined economic gains of 2025.
He said, “In the area of security, 2025 saw the presidential declaration of a nationwide security emergency, which will, in the months ahead, translate into massive recruitment into the Armed Forces and Police Force, and the deployment of trained and equipped Forest Guards to secure our forests and other vulnerable locations.
”We have also established, in 2025, a new national counterterrorism doctrine—anchored on four critical pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counterinsurgency.
”Let me be clear about what this means: That henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, or terrorizes our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organization. The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over.
The Minister also expressed President Bola Tinubu’s government’s determination to contain insecurity in the country as reflected in the 2026 budget and declaration of a State of emergency on security.
The Minister, who was beaming with smiles, also confirmed the return of the remaining 130 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State.
He said they were released due to the efforts of our security agencies.
He said, “It is appropriate we start this end-of-year press conference by reemphasizing the good news that came yesterday from the Office of the National Security Adviser, that the abducted 130 pupils of the St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, were released yesterday (Sunday).
“With this development, it can be confirmed that all the abducted pupils, numbering 230, have been freed. Not a single pupil is left in captivity due to the efforts of our security agencies.”
He also noted that the Federal Government empathizes with the parents of the pupils for the anguish the abduction has caused them, and wishes them a pleasant family reunion, a good healing process, Compliments of the Season, and a Merry Christmas.”
He also noted that the government has taken strong actions to ensure that no abduction of pupils ever happens in the country again.
Idris said the mission of 2026 is to raise the edifice of a secure, competitive, and prosperous Nigeria upon it.
The minister also said the presidential declaration of a nationwide security emergency, “will in the months ahead translate into massive recruitment into the Armed Forces and Police Force, and the deployment of trained and equipped Forest Guards to secure our forests and other vulnerable locations.”
The minister also highlighted that the 2026 budget’s blueprint for security is huge, with the single biggest allocation of N5.41 trillion to Defence and Security.
He said it is a direct investment in protecting lives, property, and prosperity, through modern equipment for our armed forces, a new national intelligence architecture, and a secure digital border surveillance system.”
He added, “The temporary pains of reform are yielding to permanent gains. President Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria is big, his strategy unambiguous, and his resolve unshakeable. We are consolidating stability, protecting our homeland, empowering our youth, and building a nation where every citizen has the agency to thrive,” he stressed. This is the Nigeria we are building together. Nigeria, truly on the move.”
On the administration’s performance in 2025, the minister said all indices indicated an upward swing.
He noted, “Our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.98% in the third quarter of 2025, demonstrating resilient and sustained expansion in the non-oil sector.
“Significantly, headline inflation has now declined for eight consecutive months, to stand at 14.45% in November 2025. Food inflation is also on a steady downward trend.
“Our external reserves have strengthened to approximately $44.56 billion, providing a robust buffer that stabilises our currency and assures international investors.
“Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N6.69 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, a 27.29 percent growth year-on-year.
“The most recent Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data – an important measure of business sentiment – indicates that Nigeria has now seen 12 consecutive months of expansion in economic activities.”
In the area of power, the Minister said the country recorded the highest ever daily energy of 128 370.75 mega hours nationwide.
He said, “On March 4, 2025, Nigeria recorded a maximum daily energy of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh) nationwide—the highest ever in our history.
“Also in the power sector, 2025 saw the kick-off of the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), as well as the issuance of the first Bond under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, the single largest coordinated financial intervention in the history of our power sector.”
The nation also recorded an increase in investors‘ confidence with massively oversubscribed government-issued bonds.
“A massively oversubscribed Eurobond issuance, attracting orders amounting to 400% of the target of $2.3 billion USD, demonstrating strong investor confidence in our macroeconomic reforms.”
Also, in the year under review, he said, “Nigeria exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, reflecting sustained and coordinated reforms in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes, and marking the start of a new reputational and operational chapter for our financial sector.”
President Tinubu in 2025 also approved the recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion – the biggest single boost to agriculture financing in our recent history.
The government also invested over N1.5 trillion on infrastructure.
“We committed to deploying over 1.5 trillion Naira in investments in road infrastructure in 2025 alone, the largest such commitment in our nation’s history, based on our firm belief that an economy cannot grow faster than the infrastructure that supports it. At the heart of this effort are our Four Legacy Highway Projects, engineered to connect every region and unlock new economic corridors:
*The 750-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, linking our entire southern coastline.
*The 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, bridging the North-West to the South-West.
*The 477-kilometer Trans-Saharan Highway, traversing from Calabar to the FCT.
*The 422-kilometer Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Expressway, integrating the North-Central and North-East.”
He explained that the projects are not conventional roads, “They are being built with reinforced concrete pavement designed to last 50 to 100 years, drastically cutting future maintenance costs and promoting local content. Empowering the next generation.”
The minister also outlined government programmes aimed at empowering the youth, which include: “The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has now supported over 788,000 Nigerian students with interest-free loans and stipends amounting to over 150 billion Naira.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme officially kicked off during the year, with an anchor investment in a new multi-million-dollar venture fund that will support the creative and digital entrepreneurship aspirations of young Nigerians.
“In 2025, the Federal Government launched the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), offering equity-free financing of up to ₦50 million for undergraduate innovators in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines, across accredited tertiary institutions. With this new intervention, we are nurturing the seeds of entrepreneurship in our campuses and turning our brightest minds into job creators, not just job seekers.
“The Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme made significant progress during the year, as it built Africa’s largest digital army. A new security architecture.”
The minister also disclosed that the recently cleared Ambassadorial nominees will resume at their posts in the coming year.
The Senate last week cleared 67 ambassadorial nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The president had in 2023 recalled all the country’s ambassadors.
Following the clearance by the Senate, the ambassadorial nominees will undergo orientation before their posting.
Idris disclosed at his end of year press conference in Abuja that their resumption will boost the country’s engagements at the global level.
“In 2026, our newly appointed Ambassadors will take up their posts in their countries of assignment, strengthening our bilateral relations and advancing our visibility and strategic engagements in the global community,” he said.
On the global stage, the Minister said Nigeria has become a respected global player.
Besides, he said Nigeria has been able to resolve its issues with the United States amicably through diplomatic means.
He therefore said Nigeria-US relations are not damaged.
“On the international stage, in 2025, we navigated complex international diplomacy with maturity and principle. The recent diplomatic spat with the United States has been resolved through firm, respectful engagement, culminating in a strengthened partnership,” he said.
To underscore his claim, the Minister revealed that Nigeria and the U.S recently signed a five-year bilateral health agreement running into over N5 billion.
“Just last week, the Federal Government of Nigeria signed a five-year, $5.1B bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of the United States, in which the US will provide $2.1B in grant funding, while Nigeria commits $3 billion. This has been described as the largest co-investment by any country to date under the America First Global Health Strategy. It will strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, save lives, and attract investment.
“Indeed, Nigeria is no longer on the sidelines; we are a confident and strategic partner on the global stage, defending our national interests and attracting beneficial partnerships. Just last month, we regained our Category C seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium, a celebrated comeback following 14 years of absence.
“Also in 2025, various Nigerians assumed significant international positions across various sectors, including Chairperson of the Council of the World Customs Organisation, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme, Vice Chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council, and Vice President of the International Association for Ports and Harbours in Tokyo. Additionally, this year we secured hosting rights for the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) 2026, and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, one of the largest trade gatherings on the African continent.”
In the media, information, and communications space, the minister said in 2025, Nigeria secured the hosting rights for both the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) and the 2026 African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference. We made history by becoming only the second African country ever to host the WPRF, and the first ever to host both the APRA Conference and the WPRF in the same year.
“We also received official affirmation from UNESCO of the hosting right granted to Nigeria for the world’s first Media & Information Literacy (MIL) Institute, and I am delighted to note that the Institute will officially take off in the first quarter of 2026.
On the allegation of alteration of the tax act, the minister said the general public should wait for the outcome of the investigation panel set up by the National Assembly.
Idris neither denied nor confirmed the allegation as he noted that he had yet to see it.
“To be honest with you, I have not seen the two versions. All I know is that the executive has presented something to the National Assembly. It was processed, it was passed, and it was returned to the executive. What I heard is that the National Assembly members have seen some discrepancy and they have set up their own committee to look at those discrepancies.
“I think it is important for us to wait for the National Assembly to look at this again to tell us that yes, indeed, there were discrepancies or not.
“This is at this point an affair of the National Assembly to which I have no jurisdiction, and I have no, you know, the authority to speak about.
“Let’s wait for this from the National Assembly, and then, if required to make further clarifications, we can. But at this point, we know that the tax document has been put forward to the National Assembly.
“They have worked on it, and they have returned it, and it has been passed, and it has been signed into law.
“As far as the government of Nigeria is concerned, there’s only one version of that tax document.”
NIGERIA NEWS
Pastor Opens Up about Chris Oyakhilome after Physical Encounter With Him: “I Am An Eyewitness”
- A Nigerian pastor has shared a post on the X app about his experience with popular Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
- In the viral post, he talked about what he has known about Pastor Chris for over the years and what he has observed about him
- Social media users who came across the post, shared via the man’s official X handle, had different reactions in the comments
A Nigerian pastor has recounted his long-standing observations of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome in a post shared on the X platform.
The tweet, which quickly went viral, disclosed the writer’s personal experiences and opinions regarding the renowned cleric, particularly in relation to healing ministries he claimed to have witnessed over the years.
Pastor says he watched Chris Oyakhilome firsthand performing miracles.
Photo credit: @pfemiolaleye/X.
Source: Twitter
Pastor says Chris Oyakhilome performs miracles
The pastor identified as @Olaleye Oluwafemi, who served as the lead pastor of Oikia Christian Center, presented himself as someone who had followed Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s ministry for a long period.
Read also
Nigerians react as fresh video from Pastor Chris Okafor’s wedding trends: “The bride is so beautiful”
He stated that his perspective was not based on hearsay but on what he personally observed during encounters linked to the ministry.
The pastor noted that the healings associated with Pastor Chris were, in his view, consistent and genuine rather than temporary or staged.
He explained that what stood out to him most was the manner in which healings reportedly occurred.
He described them as intense, frequent and extraordinary, indicating that he believed God was actively at work through Pastor Chris.
In his words:
“Pastor Chris doesn’t do go and come back miracles o. God uses him in healing like mad! I am an eye witness. As in healings like crazy o! Glory to God!”
Pastor recounts watching Chris Oyakhilome performing miracles.
Photo credit: @Christ Embassy.
Source: UGC
Reactions as man speaks about Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Nigerians had different things to say in the comments section.
Ojima said:
“Normals. This igbenedion sef suppose come give testimony publicly. As he has experienced the healing power of God, he shouldn’t be sitting while people are dragging us for fake miracles.”
Lincoln said:
“Glory to God. Not just Pastor Chris. TB Joshua and others God use them. God is still using unknown people to do miracles. Miracles id for the unbelieving to believe in God.”
Read also
Controversy as Pastor Bolaji Idowu recognises Tiwa Savage, son Jamil during service, prays for them
Mr Edu said:
“Psalm 111:9 KJV. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. The name of the Lord is Reverend. Remove that title from your name please. Most people are committing this fatal error unknowingly.”
Daily Uplift added:
“Thank you Jesus for this gift of miracles.”
Cilu_burk7 said:
“I was reminded of the entrance of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, acclaimed by the crowd. At that time, some children or disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were shouting: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of God!’ The Pharisees drew Jesus’ attention, saying: ‘Teacher (to the Pharisees, Jesus was just a teacher, not the Lord), rebuke your disciples!’ In other words, they knew that this entrance and those acclamations were due only to a King.”
See the post below:
Pastor Chris lashes out at gospel singers
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Nigerian Pastor Chris Oyakhilome lashed out at the viral controversy brewing in the Christian music sector.
This came after singer Timi Dakolo and Pastor Femi Lazarus’ disagreement on whether gospel singers should charge for their services.
Source: Legit.ng
A key member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dele Momodu, on Monday disclosed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may become the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria in 2027, if God permits.
Momodu insisted that Atiku stands a strong chance of becoming Nigeria’s president in 2027.
He spoke while fielding questions from participants of an X Space session titled “Avrilsspace: The Electoral Mathematics for 2027.”
Atiku has been contesting for the presidency since 1993, when he stepped down for MKO Abiola under the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Jos, Plateau State.
In the 2023 presidential election, Atiku lost to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ahead of the 2027 election, there are indications that he might once again vie for the presidency.
Momodu said: “There is no conflict of interest anywhere, Atiku has been running since 1993 and if God favours him, he may likely become the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria, I leave that to God.
“Like I said, I’m never a desperate supporter of any candidate, I’m a realist but I believe that he stands the best chance today. He’s in good health, his business is thriving, and his family is adorable.
“He has conducted his lifestyle in a very simple and straightforward manner; despite the occasional skirmishes with his then boss, Obasanjo, he has never uttered any insult against him.”
Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has intensified consultations ahead of the 2027 general election with separate meetings held with former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida.
The closed-door meetings, which took place on Monday, were part of Olawepo-Hashim’s nationwide engagements with elder statesmen and key national figures on Nigeria’s future direction.
According to a statement issued in Kaduna, Olawepo-Hashim told the former leaders that he has the capacity to address Nigeria’s security challenges, rebuild national unity, stabilise the polity and restore economic prosperity.
He was quoted as saying Nigeria urgently requires purposeful, inclusive and unifying leadership to prevent deeper national fractures.
The statement said Olawepo-Hashim arrived at Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta at about 11am and left roughly an hour later.
He subsequently travelled to Minna, where he met Babangida.
During the Minna meeting, Olawepo-Hashim reportedly appealed to Babangida’s role in preserving Nigeria’s unity, referencing sacrifices made during the civil war.
“General, you still carry in your body the wounds of the war fought to keep Nigeria one, and if Nigeria is allowed to disintegrate today through incompetent leadership, then the sacrifices of patriots like you would have been wasted,” he was quoted as saying.
He warned that the 2027 election must focus on national rescue, adding that continued leadership failure could further threaten the country’s cohesion and stability.
The statement added that Olawepo-Hashim was accompanied by the chairman of the North Central Renaissance Movement, Professor Nghargbu Ketso, and other aides.
The United States has intensified its security watch on Nigeria following recent threats by US President Donald Trump.
New intelligence flights have reportedly been conducted over different parts of the country, raising fresh attention around Nigeria’s worsening security situation and Washington’s growing concern.
The surveillance activities reportedly began in late November. The flights are believed to be part of broader intelligence-gathering efforts linked to terrorism, kidnappings, and religious violence in Nigeria.
Although the exact objectives of the missions have not been officially disclosed, the timing has drawn strong interest due to Trump’s earlier warning of possible military action.
Trump had accused the Nigerian government of failing to stop violence against Christian communities. His comments sparked diplomatic reactions and renewed debate around religious attacks and insecurity across the country.
Available flight records indicate that the aircraft involved usually operates from Ghana. The planes reportedly fly over Nigerian airspace before returning to Accra.
The operator has been identified as Tenax Aerospace, a US-based company known for providing special mission aircraft linked to American military operations.
Security analysts say the choice of Ghana as an operating base is strategic. Accra is widely regarded as a major logistics hub for US military activities in Africa.
Experts believe the operations suggest a rebuilding of American intelligence capacity in West Africa after Niger recently pushed US forces out and strengthened ties with Russia.
Observers also link the renewed surveillance to militant threats in the region. Armed groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province remain active in northern Nigeria. Intelligence flights are believed to focus on tracking their movements and monitoring potential cross-border threats.
US officials have quietly confirmed that surveillance flights are taking place but declined to share details. They cited diplomatic sensitivity and security concerns. Some officials said the missions also support efforts to track a kidnapped American pilot taken earlier in the region.
Washington has maintained that it is working closely with Nigerian authorities to address terrorism and religious violence. US officials have stressed that cooperation with Nigeria remains ongoing, even as concerns over insecurity continue to rise.
Nigeria, however, has pushed back against claims of targeted Christian persecution. Government and military officials insist that armed groups attack both Muslims and Christians. They argue that the crisis is complex and driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminal networks rather than religion alone.
A Nigerian security source disclosed that both countries agreed on intelligence cooperation during a high-level security meeting in November. The agreement reportedly included the deployment of air assets to support intelligence gathering.
The surveillance aircraft involved is said to be a modified Gulfstream V jet. Such aircraft are commonly used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions due to their long-range capabilities.
This development comes at a time when Nigeria is facing increasing security challenges. Deadly attacks, mass kidnappings, and school abductions have continued in several northern states.
In response, President Bola Tinubu recently declared a security emergency and ordered large-scale recruitment into the armed forces and police.
The Federal Government has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for applicants seeking entry into the federal public service.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The policy applies to recruitment across all federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.
What the FG is saying
According to the Federal Government, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of extra-ministerial departments and parastatals have been directed to make drug testing a compulsory requirement in all federal recruitment exercises.
The directive was issued through a service-wide circular addressed to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a requirement for prospective applicants into the Public Service, being part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences on national development and security,” the statement read in part.
The statement noted that MDAs are to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in line with established standards and procedures. This is intended to ensure consistency, credibility, and compliance across the public service.
Rationale behind the directive
The statement noted that the directive was prompted by concerns over the rising rate of drug and substance abuse in the country, especially among young people.
It warned that the trend threatens public health, workplace productivity, socio-economic development, and national security.
The government added that compulsory pre-employment drug testing aims to shield the federal workforce from unwholesome practices.
It also seeks to strengthen discipline, accountability, and professionalism within public institutions.
What you should know
About 14.3 million Nigerians are affected by drug abuse, according to Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Before this directive was extended to federal public service recruitment, the government had already implemented initiatives to test and monitor drug use among youths and other key groups.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently introduced drug integrity tests for corps members, prospective couples, and other youth groups to curb substance abuse and enable early intervention.
Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA Chairman, emphasized that the tests are not punitive but form part of a broader strategy to reduce drug demand and protect families and communities from its harmful effects.
Some months ago, the Federal Government announced plans to introduce compulsory drug testing for university students and revise the secondary school curriculum to include drug education.
This initiative involves collaboration between the NDLEA and the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate drug education into secondary schools and enforce mandatory drug testing in tertiary institutions.
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The Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced a new policy requiring mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all candidates seeking positions in the public service.
The initiative is designed to address rising concerns over drug abuse and its impact on national security, workplace productivity, and public health.
Drug Screening to Be Integrated in Recruitment
A circular issued on Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) mandates that Permanent Secretaries and heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), extra-ministerial departments, and parastatals incorporate drug screening into their recruitment procedures.
The directive instructs MDAs to collaborate closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to ensure all tests comply with established standards and scientific protocols.
The government emphasized that only candidates who pass the screening would be eligible for employment.
Addressing Youth Substance Abuse and National Security Concerns
The FG highlighted the “alarming rate” of substance abuse, particularly among Nigerian youth, as a major threat to public health, socio-economic development, and workplace efficiency.
Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, stressed the importance of the new policy:
“This policy reflects the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the workforce from drug-related issues.”
Officials noted that the policy is part of a wider effort to curb drug abuse nationwide, signaling a proactive approach to preventing substance abuse from infiltrating key sectors of governance.
Complementing Ongoing Anti-Drug Efforts
The introduction of mandatory drug testing in the civil service complements existing initiatives, including policies requiring drug screening in universities and other critical sectors.
Authorities believe that this integrated approach will enhance national security, improve productivity, and promote a healthier workforce across Nigeria.
Russia on Monday expressed “full support” for Venezuela as the South American country confronts a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by US forces deployed in the Caribbean.
The pledge from Moscow, itself embroiled in the war in Ukraine, came on the eve of a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting Tuesday to discuss the mounting crisis between Caracas and Washington.
In a phone call, the foreign ministers of the allied nations blasted the US actions, which have included strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats and more recently the seizure of two oil tankers.
A third ship was being pursued, a US official told AFP on Sunday.
“The ministers expressed their deep concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping,” the Russian foreign ministry said of the call between Sergei Lavrov and Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil.
“The Russian side reaffirmed its full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context,” it added in a statement.
US forces have since September launched strikes on boats that Washington claims, without providing evidence, were trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.
More than 100 people have been killed — some of them fishermen, according to their families and governments.
US President Donald Trump on December 16 also announced a blockade of “sanctioned oil vessels” sailing to and from Venezuela.
Trump claims Caracas under President Nicolas Maduro is using oil money to finance “drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.”
He has also accused Venezuela of taking “all of our oil” — in an apparent reference to the country’s nationalization of the petroleum sector, and said: “we want it back.”
Caracas, in turn, fears Washington is seeking regime change, and has accused Washington of “international piracy.”
Moscow’s statement said Lavrov and Gil agreed in their call to “coordinate their actions on the international stage, particularly at the UN, in order to ensure respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.”
Russia and China, another Venezuela ally, backed Caracas’s request for a UNSC meeting to discuss what it called “the ongoing US aggression.”
– Russia’s ‘hands full’ –
On Telegram, Venezuela’s Gil said he and Lavrov had discussed “the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law being perpetrated in the Caribbean: attacks on vessels, extrajudicial executions, and illicit acts of piracy carried out by the United States government.”
Gil said Lavrov had affirmed Moscow’s “full support in the face of hostilities against our country.”
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio brushed aside Moscow’s stated support for Caracas.
Washington, he said, was “not concerned about an escalation with Russia with regards to Venezuela” as “they have their hands full in Ukraine.”
US-Russia relations have soured in recent weeks as Trump has voiced frustration with Moscow over the lack of a resolution to the Ukraine war.
Gil on Monday also read a letter on state TV, signed by Maduro and addressed to UN member nations, warning the US blockade “will affect the supply of oil and energy” globally.
The post Russia pledges ‘full support’ for Venezuela against US ‘hostilities’ appeared first on Vanguard News.
At least 28 travellers were abducted by gunmen on Sunday night in Zak community, Bashar District, in Wase local government area of Plateau State.
A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, confirmed the abduction to newsmen in a telephone interview, saying that the victims included men, women, and children.
Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the incident, explaining that the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown.
According to the youth leader, the victims were abducted while on their way from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud event scheduled to hold on Sunday.
Sambo explained that two princes and a religious leader leading the journey were among the victims.
He said, “The incident happened around 8pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. When the gunmen ambushed the victims’ vehicle at the outskirt of the community, they took away all the travellers, including the children, and abandoned the vehicle.
“It was on Monday morning that people travelling on the road saw the vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader, abandoned on the road. So, in the course of investigation, the community discovered it was the vehicle that was carrying the travellers that was abandoned,” Sambo explained.
The youth leader said all efforts to locate the the victims were unsuccessful, adding that security forces had been informed about the situation.
Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, when contacted, said they were investigating the report of the incident.
LEADERSHIP reports that kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling have been rampant in Wase LGA generally, and residents have called on security agencies to flush out criminal elements terrorising the area.
Kidnapped Nigerian Catholic school pupils
Some 130 Nigerian Catholic school pupils were handed over to state authorities Monday, a day after the government said it had secured their release a month after one of the country’s worst mass abductions.
Kidnappings for ransom are a common way for armed groups to make quick cash in the conflict-hit west African nation of some 230 million, but a spate of attacks in November put an uncomfortable international spotlight on Nigeria’s grim security situation.
Six vans of children were escorted by security forces in armoured vehicles to the Niger State Government House, an AFP reporter in the state capital Minna saw Monday.
Authorities said the children, along with seven teachers and support staff, were the last batch of those taken by gunmen in the late November mass abduction at the St. Mary’s co-educational boarding school in north-central Nigeria.
“Thank God for the mercy he has shown us, because if you look at these children and imagine the torment they went through, it is unbearable,” Niger state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said at the reception ceremony.
The children were between four and 10 years old, one of the teachers told AFP at the scene.
Scores of children, including young boys sporting brightly-coloured football jerseys and others wearing traditional Nigerian clothes, posed for photos at the state government office where they were handed over by security forces.
The attack on St. Mary’s — reminiscent of the infamous 2014 kidnapping of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok — was part of a series of mass abductions that rocked the west African country last month.
Nigeria suffers from multiple interlinked security concerns, from jihadists in the northeast to armed “bandit” gangs in the northwest.
It has not been publicly disclosed who abducted the children and teachers from St. Mary’s, or how the government secured their release.
Analysts have said that based on past rescues, it is likely the government paid a ransom, which is technically prohibited by law.
– Questions over security –
The exact number taken from St Mary’s has been unclear throughout the ordeal.
Initially, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 315 students and staff were unaccounted for after the attack in the rural hamlet of Papiri.
Around 50 of them escaped immediately afterwards, and on December 7 the government secured the release of around 100.
That would leave about 165 thought to be still in captivity before Sunday’s announcement that 130 were rescued.
But a UN source told AFP over the weekend that all those taken appeared to have been released — as dozens thought to have been kidnapped had in fact managed to run off during the attack, and make their way home.
“We’ll have to still do final verification,” Daniel Atori, a spokesman for CAN in Niger state, told AFP on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters in the capital Abuja on Monday, Nigeria’s information minister, Mohammed Idris, was pressed on why so many Nigerian schools remain easy targets for gunmen despite millions of dollars allocated for school security in the past decade.
“We should be optimistic,” he said, adding that “there is so much that government is doing to see that that has abated,” he said.
One of the first mass kidnappings that drew international attention was in 2014, when nearly 300 girls were snatched from their boarding school in the northeastern town of Chibok by Boko Haram jihadists.
A decade later, Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom crisis has “consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry” that raised some $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and the family of his late deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Monday received more condolence visitors in Government House, Yenagoa.
The visitors included management of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, and management of the Dubai-based Jampur Group.
The NDBDA Managing Director, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, said the demise of Ewhrudjakpo was shocking, unexpected and painful.
Amgbare extolled the qualities of the late deputy governor, stating that he served the state meritoriously.
He said: “We received with shock news of the death of our dependable deputy governor, who worked until his last moments.
“Your Excellency, we are here to mourn with you. May God give you, the Ewhrudjakpo family and the entire state the fortitude to bear the painful loss.”
Also, President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, who led the national executive of the foremost Ijaw socio-cultural body, described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a dependable, proactive, indefatigable ally of the governor.
According to the INC president, “Ewhrudjakpo was a humble, straightforward, devoted partner and a beacon of peace in his service to humanity. Your Excellency, the Ijaw nation came to say, take heart.
“A very deep void has been created by his passing, and it is only God that can give us the fortitude to fill that vacuum. May God grant the governor, the Ewhrudjakpo family and people of the state the grace to overcome the painful loss.”
Chairman of the Bayelsa Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo, in his remarks, said the royal fathers were deeply saddened by the death of the deputy governor and urged Governor Diri to be strong as they understood its effect on him.
King Dakolo, who is the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, said Ewhrudjakpo’s passing has created a big vacuum in the state.
In a similar vein, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Jampur Group, Mohammed Shafiq, described Ewhrudjakpo’s death as painful, saying as development partners, his organisation was in solidarity with the governor and people of the state at this difficult moment.
Responding, Governor Douye Diri said his departed deputy was a key member of the administration as well as a
friend and brother who contributed immensely to the development of the state.
His words: “My deputy and I were brothers and friends. Each passing day, I am reminded of his death. I know you came to tell the government to stop crying, but I also urge you to stop crying because the pain is felt by all of us.”
Governor Diri expressed appreciation to all the visitors for finding time to identify with the state government in its moment of grief.
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