Category Nigeria News

All Emirate Councils, District Heads, and Village Heads must suspend the award of traditional titles without receiving prior approval from the Kebbi State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainment Affairs.

The deputy director of administration, Abubakar Mansur-Tuga, issued the directive on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi, and the circular contained it.

The decision was made in response to complaints about the allegedly violated established guidelines and regulations by randomly awarding traditional titles, according to the circular.

READ MORE: Three Dead, Scores Still In Captivity Following Bandits’ Attack – Kogi Community

In line with ongoing reforms, it stated that the granting of traditional titles must uphold the dignity, integrity, and long-standing traditions associated with such honors. It also emphasized that no title should be granted under any circumstances without prior ministry approval.

Additionally, the ministry mandated that all titles awarded after the last two months be reversed without the use of due process, and that all impacted beneficiaries be kept informed of any possible withdrawal.

According to the circular, the initiative aims to restore order and maintain the dignity of traditional institutions.

Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), a joint task force operation, reported discovering a sizable cache of premium ammunition in the general area of the Bulumkutu Railway.

Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the theatre command’s spokesman, said the development supports the effectiveness of ongoing intelligence-driven security operations throughout the theater in a statement released on Saturday.

Following a recent cordon-and-search operation based on actionable intelligence, which sought to prevent criminal elements from having freedom of action, especially with several suicide bombers being neutralized or taken into custody in the last week, the recovery came after a sustained presence and follow-up actions.

On February 2, 2026, about 3:00 p.m., troops received a distress call describing the discovery of suspicious metallic objects inside a drainage channel in the Bulumkutu Railway area. The statement includes a statement that “troops and police EOD teams immediately arrived at the scene to assess the situation and protect the environment.”

According to him, “a thorough search led to the discovery of 1, 270 rounds of 12. 7mm ammunition warheads, some 12. 7mm live rounds, as well as power banks concealed inside the drainage.”

Read more about the arrest of two suspected ritualists in Ondo.

Lt. Col. Uba revealed that preliminary steps have been taken to secure the site, and that testing is being done to determine whether additional hazardous items are present in the channel’s water supply.

“To protect critical infrastructure, ensure the safety of residents, and stop any attempts by criminal or terrorist elements to recover the items,” according to Troops, in conjunction with the Police and other security forces, continue to rule the general area.

In a more extensive crackdown on its immigration enforcement efforts, Canada announced that it had deported 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025.

974 Nigerians are currently in the “removal in progress” inventory and awaiting deportation from the nation, according to official statistics obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency’s removals program.

Nigeria ranked ninth among the top ten nationalities deported, according to an updated data from November 25, 2025.

According to the breakdown of the data, the number of deported people from Nigeria has fluctuated over time.

In fiscal year 2024-2025, Canada removed 18, 048 people, spending approximately $78m in the process.

In 2019, Canada removed 339 Nigerians, this dropped to 302 in 2020, then to 242 in 2021, and to 199 in 2022.

Nigeria returned to the top 10 in 2025, recording 366 removals in ten months, despite not ranking in the top 10 in 2023 and 2024.

This was an 8% increase over the figure for 2019 at the highest rate.

About 83 percent of those who are being removed are unsuccessful refugees who sought refuge from persecution and had their asylum applications rejected.

About 4% of removals are caused by criminal activity.

Additionally, it committed $1.3 billion to improve border security and an additional $ 30.5% over three years to boost removal efforts.

Read more about Kidnappers’ demand of 450 million for the release of the abducted monarch, son, and others.

In response to concerns over housing shortages, labor market pressures, and border security, the Canadian government says it is increasing deportations in order to tighten immigration goals.

Aisling Bondy, the president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, expressed concern that if Bill C-12, also known as the “border bill,” is passed, deportations may increase even further.

According to Bondy, “one of the provisions of that bill is that many people will be permanently prohibited from filing a refugee claim in Canada.”

Nigeria is the only African nation to appear in the top ten for deportations in 2025, according to analysis of the CBSA data.

In addition to the “remaining nationals,” which accounted for 6, 233 removals in 2025, other African countries are grouped under.

The top 10 countries for removals in 2025 are: Mexico (3, 972), India (2, 831), Haiti (2, 012), Colombia (737), Romania (672), United States (656), Venezuela (562), China (385), Nigeria (366), and Pakistan (359).

Agbu Kefas, the governor of Taraba State, has signed and issued an executive order designating the state’s crisis-stricken Karim Lamido local government area as a special security concern.

Over the years of repeat crises in local council communities, the decision was made following thorough security assessments and consultations with relevant authorities.

Following a crucial security meeting with local stakeholders, the order was approved.

The decision, approved by Governor Kefas, was a preventive and stabilizing measure meant to protect lives, property, livelihoods, and peaceful coexistence in the area, according to a press release from his chief press secretary, Yusuf Sanda.

The government emphasized that all lawful activities, including farming, trading, worship, and local government, will continue uninterrupted, saying that the designation does not constitute a state of emergency, does not suspend civil authority, and does not discriminate against any community, religion, or ethnic group.

Also read: The Niger government approves the reopening of schools.

Governor Kefas reassured residents that the law-abiding citizens had no fear and that the measure was only ever subject to periodic review and strict constitutional guidelines.

To promote peace, stability, and mutual trust, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth leaders, and community stakeholders were all encouraged to work with security organizations.

According to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, its agents on Friday thwarted an armed robbery at a gas station near Ikot Ekpene Road in the state’s Abak Local Government Area, recovering firearms while doing so.

One suspect was neutralized in a gunfight, according to the command, while five others escaped with gunshot wounds.

Timfon John, the command’s public relations officer, made the disclosure in a statement released on Saturday in Uyo that stated that the operation was conducted using reliable information.

She claims that a criminal gang with a number of armed men, which consisted of about six men, attempted to rob the pump attendants at about 7:47 p.m. A gunfight broke out when the police team was seen.

One of the armed robbers suffered fatal injuries during the firefight, while the other gang members fled into a nearby bush and escaped on motorcycles. According to the information we have, some of the suspects who were fleeing suffered severe gunshot wounds.

Four locally produced firearms, six live cartridges, one Samsung phone, one Itel phone, one brown bag, one wallet, and four ATM cards were recovered following a thorough examination of the area.

READ MORE: Three Dead, Scores Still In Captivity Following Bandits’ Attack – Kogi Community

The neutralized suspect’s body, according to John, had charms attached to it when he discovered it.

Since then, the corpse has been ejected and deposited in a mortuary.

She continued, praising the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, for their bravery, swift action, and professionalism, which prevented the robbery and prevented the loss of innocent lives and property during the operation.

The gang’s fugitive members are still being sought after, according to the police spokesperson.