Category Nigeria News

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have foiled coordinated attacks by suspected ISWAP fighters on Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Borno State, recovering arms and an armed drone in the process.

The affected locations include FOB Mayanti, Gajigana and Gajiram, as troops intensified offensive operations across Sector 2.

The Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, “the terrorists launched the attack between the late hours of 28 February and early hours of 1 March 2026, underscore the growing desperation of terrorist elements under sustained pressure on their enclaves, logistics corridors and leadership structures.”

READ ALSO: Four Suspects Arrested As NSCDC Busts Illegal Arms Fabricating Factory In Katsina

He added that while the attack on Gajigana was successfully repelled with troops maintaining full control of their position, the encounters at Mayanti and Gajiram resulted in significant terrorist casualties and the recovery of combat equipment.

“At about 2300 hours on 28 February 2026, FOB Mayanti came under heavy attack by a large number of terrorists. Gallant troops held firm despite intense enemy fire, as reinforcements fought through ambush and IED threats to rout the attackers,” he said.

“Exploitation confirmed five terrorist corpses and the recovery of three PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, two RPG-7 tubes, four AK-47 rifles, two FN rifles, three RPG bombs and large quantities of 7.62mm ammunition, with blood trails indicating additional casualties, sadly an officer paid the supreme price.”

Lt. Col. Uba further revealed that at about 0115 hours on 1 March 2026, terrorists armed with PKT guns, RPGs and armed drones attacked FOB Gajiram but were repelled by troops supported by air assets.

Three terrorist bodies were recovered along the withdrawal route, alongside four AK-47 rifles, five anti-tank bombs, three locally fabricated mortar bombs, one armed drone, six fully loaded 7.62mm NATO magazines, barbed wire cutters, specialised ammunition, poisoned arrows and other items abandoned while fleeing. One wounded soldier was airlifted by a Nigerian Army Aviation helicopter for advanced medical care.

He added, “Additionally, during an ambush around Bulturam Corner and Dadingel in Gujba LGA, troops neutralised two terrorists and recovered two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, a bicycle and other sundry items. All locations remain firmly under own control, and the scale of recoveries and confirmed enemy losses further underscores the degrading combat capacity of ISWAP elements.”

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has expressed deep concern over the reported abduction of His Royal Highness, Ezeogo Francis Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area and father of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, by suspected armed men on Sunday morning.

The incident occurred along the Nwakpu axis of the council area, as the traditional ruler was reportedly on his way to church.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Monday Uzor, and obtained by Channels Television.

Governor Nwifuru described the development as deeply troubling and totally unacceptable, noting that acts of criminality against innocent citizens, especially revered community leaders, will not be tolerated in Ebonyi State.

READ ALSO: Ex-Deputy Governor’s Father Kidnapped In Ebonyi

While expressing solidarity with the family of the abducted royal father and the people of Ikwo Local Government Area, the governor assured that the Ebonyi State Government had immediately activated all security and intelligence mechanisms to ensure the safe and prompt rescue of the monarch.

“All security agencies in the state have been directed to work in synergy to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

He stressed that the government would deploy all available state apparatus and resources to unmask those behind the criminal act and prevent any recurrence.

He further called on residents of the state, particularly those in Ikwo and surrounding communities, to remain calm but vigilant and to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in their ongoing operations.

Nwifuru reiterated the commitment of his administration to the protection of lives and property across the state and reassured the people that Ebonyi State would not be allowed to become a safe haven for criminals.

He also urged the perpetrators to release the abducted traditional ruler unconditionally, emphasizing that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone found culpable.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conduct a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 poll. 

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said this on Sunday during a Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act.

“Moving forward, we will conduct mock presidential elections to ensure that transmission across state lines is seamless before the actual vote,” Amupitan said during the event held in Abuja.

Debates about the real-time transmission of election results have dominated headlines in Nigeria in recent months, especially before the passage and signing of the Electoral Act 2026.

READ ALSO: 2027 Elections Will Be Our Best Yet, INEC Assures Nigerians

It was the subject of intense debates in the 2027 presidential election after INEC reported a “glitch” in the transmission of the results for that poll.

But Amupitan, a professor of law, is assuring Nigerians of better days ahead, one year ahead of the general elections.

“Regarding the ‘glitch’ that was blamed for issues in 2023, let me be clear: the glitch is eliminated. It will not surface again,” he added.

“My audit of the 2023 election showed that while the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) was tested in state-level elections like Osun and Ekiti, it was not properly tested for the scale of an interstate presidential election.”

INEC assured Nigerians of a credible election, promising to eliminate glitches.

“By the grace of God, the 2027 election will be the best Nigeria has ever had. The electorate of 2027 is more aware and understands the direct correlation between elections and national development,” Amupitan said.

“We want a process that guarantees the legitimacy and confidence people want to see in their system. When people trust INEC and their leaders, the country will move forward.”

He said INEC is putting in the needed work to ensure that next year’s polls are credible.

The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has faulted the proviso inserted by the National Assembly in the Electoral Act 2026 allowing manual transmission of election results where electronic transmission fails due to network issues.

Itodo stated this on Sunday during the Citizen’s Townhall, a discussion on the Electoral Act 2026. He stressed that Nigerian politicians missed an opportunity to write their names in gold during the amendment of the Act.

“Some call this the elephant in the room, but I will say that this was a missed opportunity for Nigeria and this was a moment our political leaders had the opportunity of writing their names in gold by giving Nigerians what they demand.

“I think the proviso in this particular provision is the problem because it undermines the whole concept of electronic transmission of results and transparency,” Itodo said.



READ ALSO: Opposition Parties Reject 2026 Electoral Act, Demand Fresh Amendment

The YIAGA Africa Director called on lawmakers to recommence the amendment of the Electoral Act 2026 to expunge the proviso that allows manual transmission of results.

According to him, the proviso negates the core objective behind the push to amend the Electoral Act 2022, which he said was intended to make the electoral process more transparent by reducing human interference.

“I just wished that the lawmakers eliminated that particular proviso. This is why we made a call to them to commence the process of amending that Act and just delete that particular proviso.

“That way, as a country we will maximise the utility of electronic transmission of results because it limits human interference, it makes the whole process open and transparent. If politicians are not scared I see no reason why this was not considered in its full breadth,” he said.

On February 18, President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law, following its passage by the National Assembly after months of deliberation.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission is taking concrete steps to prevent any disruption in the electronic transmission of results during the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan, who spoke on Sunday at the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026 in Abuja, said the commission is determined to eliminate the technical issues that affected the 2023 presidential election.

Addressing concerns about past failures, the INEC chairman expressed confidence that the commission’s improved preparations and testing would ensure seamless transmission.

“The glitch is eliminated; by God’s grace, it will not surface in Nigeria,” he said, noting that apart from delays experienced during some previous elections, the commission did not record outright transmission failure in other polls.

He explained that the legal provisions allowing alternative collation methods are merely safeguards and not an indication that the commission expects electronic transmission to fail.

“It is just a proviso, a safety. If it fails, results must still be transmitted. But our determination is that it will not fail,” the INEC boss said.

Technology Testing, 2023 Lessons

Amupitan acknowledged that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was tested in off-cycle governorship elections before 2023, the nationwide scale of the presidential poll exposed gaps in stress-testing across states.

“Election anywhere in the world is now about technology, but before deploying any technology, it is important to test it thoroughly,” he said.

According to him, INEC plans to conduct a nationwide mock presidential exercise ahead of the 2027 vote to ensure the result-transmission infrastructure can handle the scale of a national election.

The INEC chairman emphasised that while the commission is striving for major improvements, perfection remains difficult to achieve.

He noted that successful elections depend heavily on logistics and infrastructure readiness, stressing that network availability, not the concept of electronic transmission itself, remains the main operational challenge.

Despite this, he said Nigerians should expect significant progress.

“We will try to give Nigerians a near-perfect election,” Amupitan stated, adding that credible elections remain “the lifeblood of democracy”.

2023 Election, Act Amendment

Debate over electronic transmission stems largely from the 2023 presidential election, when INEC failed to upload polling-unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time, citing technical issues with the BVAS system.

The delays sparked widespread allegations of manipulation and multiple legal challenges, which were ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The 2023 presidential election results were officially declared by INEC on March 1, 2023. President Bola Tinubu of the APC was declared the winner, with Atiku Abubakar of the PDP coming second and Peter Obi of the Labour Party emerging third.

Subsequent amendments to the Electoral Act signed by President Tinubu in 2026 introduced a hybrid framework that allows electronic transmission while retaining manual result sheets as the legal basis for collation if technical issues arise.

However, the changes have generated criticism from civil society organisations, including Yiaga Africa, and political figures such as Peter Obi, who argue that removing strict real-time transmission requirements could weaken transparency.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians of a credible election in 2027, promising to push beyond its past milestones. 

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said this on Sunday during a Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act.

“By the grace of God, the 2027 election will be the best Nigeria has ever had. The electorate of 2027 is more aware and understands the direct correlation between elections and national development,” Amupitan said at the event in Abuja.

“We want a process that guarantees the legitimacy and confidence people want to see in their system. When people trust INEC and their leaders, the country will move forward.”

According to the INEC boss, the electoral body is putting in the needed work to ensure that next year’s polls are credible.

He identified logistics issues as one of the challenges facing INEC in conducting elections.

“So result management and logistics are two basic issues that, from our own end, we’re trying to see how best we’re able to manage them very well, so as to enhance the transparency and credibility of the system,” he said.

Amupitan also said INEC will conduct a mock presidential election to test-run the transmission process for next year’s poll.

“Moving forward, we will conduct mock presidential elections to ensure that transmission across state lines is seamless before the actual vote,” the INEC chief told the gathering.

READ ALSO: [2027] INEC To Conduct Mock Presidential Poll

Debates about the real-time transmission of election results have dominated headlines in Nigeria in recent months.

It was the subject of intense debates in the 2027 presidential election after INEC reported a “glitch” in the transmission of the results for that poll.

But Amupitan, a professor of law, is assuring Nigerians of better days ahead, one year ahead of the general elections.

“Regarding the ‘glitch’ that was blamed for issues in 2023, let me be clear: the glitch is eliminated. It will not surface again,” he added.