Category Nigeria News

Dele Farotimi, a civil rights advocate and lawyer, claims that the Nigerian state is more concerned about impunity and the rule of law than about armed groups terrorizing its citizens.

His statement comes as a result of a protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, from custody. On Monday, the protest was led by activist Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate.

Farotimi said that the Nigerian government has consistently shown hostility toward people who peacefully demand their rights while allowing violent criminals like bandits and terrorists to participate in the morning program of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday.

When you examine the objective facts, it seems simple to elicit the truth. Nigerians were peacefully protesting on October 20, 2020, while also singing the country’s anthem and waving flags. They were brutally murdered. That is the Nigerian government’s response to those who want to be treated like citizens, he claimed.

Farotimi cited the #EndSARS protest as a response to years of impunity being enforced by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which he characterized as the “brutal arm” of the Nigerian government. He claimed that the state used violence rather than address the concerns of the population.

He continued, the Nigerian Police always respond with “full force, always ready to murder and maim,” but they continue to remain silent when bandits, terrorists, and armed militias commit atrocities every time activists like Omoyele Sowore and others protest.

You see complicit silence by the state when you observe how the same Nigerian state treats bandits, terrorists, and Fulani militia members who murder Nigerians in front of the full attention of everyone. He claimed that the Nigerian state fears being held accountable for its victims and upholding the rule of law.

#FreeNnamdiKanu: “Nigeria Mimicking Democracy,” Farotimi Faults Police, and Judiciary Clampdown On Protesters, READ ALSO.

Farotimi lamented that those who carry weapons against the nation act with impunity while the Nigerian government only exercises its muscles against unarmed citizens. He criticized the government’s continued repression of so-called “repentant terrorists,” arguing that those who demand justice are the ones who are punished.

The world’s most effective deradicalization program is reported. It ought to be exported, too. However, he claimed that in Nigeria, those who demand that they be treated decently as people who are governed and protected by law are frequently beaten and murdered.

Farotimi argued that the state punishes dissent rather than crime, citing Chinedu Agu’s case, who he claimed is currently being detained in Owerri for his criticism of a governor.

“Those who need to be afraid of the Nigerian state are those who demand both human rights and citizenship.” Regardless of their ethnicity or religion, the Nigerian state has no problem with those who roam the country and kill them, he said.

Farotimi argued that the Nigerian state’s greatest fear was being “yoked to the rule of law” and made to treat people with respect and respect.

Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, has accused security personnel of attacking peaceful protesters without warning during the #FreeNnamdiKanu rally on Monday in Abuja.

Sowore, who spoke on Monday’s edition of The Morning Brief on Channels Television, claimed security forces opened fire shortly after the protests started at the hotel’s front in Abuja.

He also confirmed that some people had been detained as a result of the incident, including his lawyer and Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, who allegedly suffered beatings before being taken to the Nigeria Police Force FCT Command.

The historic Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos hosted the Society for Performing Arts in Nigeria’s (SPAN) Esther’s Ball Gala on October 19th.

A powerful fusion of Nigeria’s creative sector, corporate leaders, and respected political figures made for the glamorous night, which marked SPAN’s 20th anniversary, culminating in a happy moment for Founder Sarah Boulos and the entire SPAN community.

The celebration kicked off with a red carpet, cocktail reception featuring live violinists, and the Unbreakable Thread art exhibition, which Evander Smith had curated. The evening’s program featured some skilled artists and impact in a well-paced, elegant presentation.

Governor pledges support for creative youth

The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, was a major highlight of the evening’s address and presence. The Governor applauded SPAN’s transformative work and expressed her sincere gratitude for Sarah Boulos’ two-decade contribution to the creative industry. Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the initiative behind the first Queen Esther’s Ball speech and commended SPAN for its significant 20th anniversary achievement in his remarks.

He praised the efforts of his government to support initiatives that empower young people who have great creative potential but who lack support. The Governor also expressed his support for the debutantes and the work that they had commercially displayed at the Gala.

A host of other important dignitaries and long-time SPAN supporters made up the prestigious guest list, which included prominent figures from the diplomatic community, traditional rulers, religious leaders, business leaders, and creative sector icons like the legendary Nigerian actress Joke Silva, as well as a number of other notable people and a true celebration of the legacy of the late.

The Show is Stealed by Debutantes and Performances.

The Gala’s main goal, which was to honor outstanding young debutantes, was met with sincere apprehension. Sarah Boulos made the official opening remarks and formally congratulated Val’s Dance Studio on its tenth anniversary. She honored the legacy of Mr. Valentine Humphrey Aneke, a pioneer in Latin and ballroom dancing in Nigeria, who was well represented by his daughter Ms. Angela Aneke. Following that was followed by a powerful “Launch of the Debutants,” which was eagerly awaited and gracefully performed.
SPAN@20″ segment.

An elegant Cello &amp, Dance Trio Performance was included as part of the segment’s captivating artistic interludes. The Debutants Showcase, which featured three sets of debutante presentations, kicked off with a dinner service. Walk-on music was played to each young woman who shared her entrepreneurial vision and resilience. The Muson Centre Band & Choir performed a powerful excerpt from the highly anticipated Queen Esther Ball Musical Performance, which included SPAN’s best dancers, actors, and singers live.

Donald Trump, the United States’ president, has sparked a global trade war by imposing tariffs on various products and nations.

Some of the tarriffs have either been implemented or are in wait to start, with a baseline tariff of 10% on all imports to the United States and additional duties on some goods or nations.

He has put in place or threatened to put in place a list of targeted tariffs.

TARIFFS WITH A SPECIFIC COUNTRY

Afghanistan – 15%

Algeria – 30%

Angola – 15%

Bangladesh – 20%

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Bolivia – 15%

30% Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana – 15%

Brazil: 50% for most goods

Brunei – 25%

Cambodia – 19%

Cameroon – 15%

Canada – 10% on energy-related products, and 35% on non-U.S. Canada-Mexico Agreement-related products.

Chad – 15%

China – 30% up until November 10 with additional tariffs on some goods. Trump has threatened to impose an additional 100% tariff starting on November 1.

Costa Rica – 15%

Cote d’Ivoire – 15%

15% of the population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ecuador – 15%

Equatorial Guinea: 15%

15% on the majority of goods in the European Union

Falkland Islands 10%

Fiji – 15%

Ghana – 15%

Guyana – 15%

Iceland – 15%

India – 50%

Indonesia – 19%

Iraq – 35%

Israel – 15%

Japan – 15%

Jordan – 15%

Kazakhstan – 25%

Laos – 40%

Lesotho – 15%

Libya – 30%

Liechtenstein: 15%

Madagascar – 15%

Malawi – 15%

Malaysia – 19%

Mauritius – 15%

Mexico – 25% for goods that are not USMCA-restricted.

Moldova – 25%

Mozambique – 15%

Myanmar – 40%

Namibia – 15%

Nauru – 15%

New Zealand – 15%

Nicaragua – 18%

Nigeria – 15%

15% of North Macedonia

Norway – 15%

Pakistan – 19%

Papua New Guinea – 15%

Philippines – 19%

Serbia – 35%

South Africa – 30%

South Korea – 15%

Sri Lanka – 20%

Switzerland – 39%

Syria – 41%

Taiwan – 20%

Thailand – 19%

Trinidad and Tobago is 15%.

Tunisia – 25%

Turkey – 15%

Uganda – 15%

UK – 10%, with some imports of metal and auto products exempt from higher global rates.

Vanuatu – 15%

Vietnam: 20% for some goods, 40% for transshipments from third countries.

Zambia – 15%

Zimbabwe – 15%

IMF: Middle East, North Africa, and Growth Are Accelerated.

TARIFFS FOR PRODUCTS THREATENED BUT NOT EFFECTIVE

Large vehicles start shipping on November 1st, with a 25% increase for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and truck parts and 10% for buses.

Pharmaceuticals – 100%

Semiconductors – 100%

Movies – 100%

minerals that are crucial

engines, parts, and aircraft

Apple, iPhones – 25%

TARIFFS FOR PRODUCTS

50% of the total of steel and aluminum

25% for auto parts and vehicles

50% of finished goods include copper pipes, tubes, and other semi-finished goods.

According to the Kaduna State Police Command, several suspects have been detained for a range of crimes, including gun-running, banditry, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

The Command claims to have apprehended a 28-year-old man, Murtala Usman, who is known for supplying arms and ammunition to bandits in a statement released by its Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan.

When the suspect was detained, the police claimed he was going to give the bandits at their camp 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

During questioning, the suspect admitted to having transported four AK-47 rifles to Kidandan within the specified time frame and confessed to doing so during interrogation. He further disclosed that he had given the gun to the bandits in the Kidandan area after receiving them from someone.

Usman Shauibu, 28, was detained by the police in Kafanchan Area Command on Sunday October 19 for allegedly trespassing on a bakery with the intention of robbing the workers.

Before being subdued and apprehended, the suspect allegedly engaged the police officers in a gunfight.

One AK-47 rifle, four rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, four rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, as well as 43 pieces of 9mm Beretta pistol ammunition, were also recovered from the suspect, according to the police.

Additionally, the police worked with community vigilantes to recover eleven cattle that are thought to have been stolen in the Kudan Local Government Area.

In a similar incident, police officers from the Dan Magaji Division in Zaria local apprehended six suspects for allegedly armed robbery, and several firearms and ammunition were recovered from them.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Robbery Suspect Who Wears NYSC Uniform In Enugu

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Dan Magaji Division, received reliable information on the suspicious movements of some unidentified people in the Gwargwaje area of Zaria on October 15, 2025, at around 0430 hrs. The DPO dispatched a patrol team to the scene and arrived quickly. Two suspects opened fire on the police officers after they saw the police car and loaded their bags into their heels. The police quickly intervened and engaged them because they were overpowered by the police and had two suspects apprehended.

“One of the suspects, 21-year-old Sadiq Idris “M,” of Kumbotso LGA, Kano State, was detained at the scene while he was being held for having five (5) rounds of live ammunition. A pump action gun and an English pistol were also recovered from the gang.
One Usman Aminu ‘M’, age 21, of Panshekara, Kano State, was also detained while he led the agents to the hideout of his fugdo where they were being interrogated, and nine (9) rounds of.9mm live ammunition were found in his bag.

The arrest of the following additional suspects resulted from a further investigation:
1. 25-year-old Abdulaziz Usman “M” of the United States
Kaduna’s Tudun Wada.
2. Fanshekara, kano, and Jibren yahaya’s “M”
3. 20-year-old Kusfa, Zaria resident Hajara Abdulkarim “F”
4. 18-year-old Kusfa, Zaria resident Fatima Alhassan “F”

According to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, on October 14, 2025, at around 1800 hrs, operatives from Izzam Village, Igabi LGA, in Kaduna State, received a credible intelligence regarding a man who was allegedly in possession of an AK-47 rifle.

The Officer in charge of the anti-Kidnapping Unit led a team of operatives to the location where the suspect was detained as soon as they learned of the intelligence. One fabricated AK-47 rifle was recovered from him during the course of the investigation. In the hope of apprehending other accomplices, investigations are still ongoing.

Through the launch of the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), which aims to connect high-potential graduates with practical work experience, training, and mentorship, the Federal Government intends to create at least 20 000 jobs annually.

Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the NJFP 2.0 Project Steering Committee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Vice President Shettima remarked that the NJFP’s goal is to bridge thousands of young graduates’ transition between learning and working because they lack the necessary education and employment opportunities.

According to him, the program is “a deliberate attempt to convert the nation’s demographic strength into productive economic power,” demonstrating that young Nigerians rise to the occasion when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose.”

The VP told members of the committee to “deepen that ownership, strengthen coordination across our institutions, and ensure that NJFP continues to hold the ambitions of this administration accountable.” She continued to say that the NJFP is a Nigerian program that is shaped by national priorities and the nation’s sense of purpose.

As the committee deliberates today, VP Shettima urged the committee to focus on real outcomes and promote inclusivity, not just on goals or figures, but on the positive outcomes of young people whose lives are affected by the system’s success.

We have a chance to demonstrate what a partnership done right can do: where partners contribute confidently, and results speak for themselves. Let’s start our work with that understanding, then.

“Inclusion must always be at the center of our design when scaling NJFP 2.0. Our young people do not fall under the homogeny of our society; instead, they live in various social, gender, and geographic contexts. We must make sure that this opportunity is accessible to everyone in the nation, as well as that job placements are tied to the agricultural, industrial, and creative sectors that will shape the country’s future.

Read more about Lagos’ job fair and the venue for over 5,000 job seekers.

Mr. Gautier Mignot, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, stated that the program would enable the NJFP 2.0 to fulfill its full potential.

Additionally, Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative, cited the importance of the NJFP 2.0 as a component of the UNDP’s overall national and continental strategy, noting that the goal is to work together to create an ecosystem in Nigeria to create jobs.

She praised Vice President Shettima for spearheading the initiative, claiming that an enabling ecosystem and investment opportunities are what young Nigerians require in order to use their skills and expertise.

Press release for the STATE HOUSE

As VP Shettima kicks off NJFP 2.0, policy dialogue, FG targets 20, 000 jobs annually.

…inaugurates project steering committee, provides members with information on inclusivity and tangible outcomes

The creation of at least… a picture is the goal of the Federal Government of Nigeria. twitter.com/zlaFkl3WIB

Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the president’s deputy chief of staff, stated earlier that the second phase, known as NJFP 2.0, was revised to reflect the realities of the current economic climate and the lessons learned from the first phase.

According to him, the goal is to “put in place the structures necessary to support the deployment of at least 20 000 fellows every year.”

He explained that the new phase of the initiative, NJFP 2.0, which will support at least 24, 000 fellows over the next ten months with EU funding, “directly supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which places job creation, skill development, and youth empowerment as essential pillars of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which coordinates the NJFP initiative, is supported by the European Union (EU).

According to the Nigerian Army, Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, led by the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, successfully thwarted a Boko Haram terrorist attack on the Kashimri general area of Bama Local Government Area in Borno State on October 17, 2025.

READ MORE: Troops Bust Terrorists Hideout Recover Arms and Ammunition In Taraba

The troops were able to locate and destroy specific Boko Haram camps in the area, it claimed, easing the terrorists’ attempts to attack civilians and stifle socio-economic activity there.

However, it claimed that a lieutenant-colonel and a few other valiant soldiers were at the top of the battle’s blood.

“The troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight during the operation, neutralizing several of them while others were hurt.

The 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, and a few other brave soldiers paid the ultimate price as they fell in battle, but our side was hurt.

In a statement signed by Appolonia Anele, the acting director of the army’s public relations, the army said, “These brave heroes fought for the peace of our great nation, and their legacy shall endure forever.”

Fallen Heroes

The Nigerian Army vows to honor the sacrifices of those who died as a reminder of our unwavering resolve to eradicate terrorism from our great nation, Nigeria.

On behalf of the Nigerian Army’s officers and soldiers, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, the chief of the army, expresses his sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.

We stand together in this difficult time of grief because they were not just soldiers but also fathers, brothers, and sons who showed unmatched courage by making the ultimate stand in the face of hardship.

Oluyede also reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Army to pursue all terrorist groups relentlessly until total tranquility and normalcy are restored in the area and, consequently, the country.

Members of the public and the media are kindly advised to refrain from sharing or publishing images of personnel who have paid the highest price during operations generally until their next of kin may have been properly informed in the spirit of respect and compassion.