US remains Nigeria’s close ally despite Trump’s ‘Country of Particular Concern’ designation — FG
The Federal Government has maintained that the United States remains one of Nigeria’s closest allies despite President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians. The post US remains Nigeria’s close ally despite Trump’s ‘Country of Particular Concern’ designation — FG appeared first on Nairametrics.
Govt Teargasses protesters, romances terrorists’ – Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer
Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has reacted as President Donald Trump of the United States, US, designates Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern, CPC. Ejimakor said designating Nigeria as CPC was inevitable because the government allegedly teargassed peaceful protesters but romanced terrorists publicly. He
Govt Teargasses protesters, romances terrorists’ – Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer 
Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has reacted as President Donald Trump of the United States, US, designates Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern, CPC.
Ejimakor said designating Nigeria as CPC was inevitable because the government allegedly teargassed peaceful protesters but romanced terrorists publicly.
He disclosed this while posting a video of himself receiving oxygen on his X page.
According to Ejimakor: “The aftermaths of taking 2 direct teargas hits for expressing my legal right to peaceable assembly.
“When a nation tear-gasses peaceful protesters but romances terrorists in full glare of the public, being slammed as a Country of Particular Concern becomes inevitable. #FreeMNK.”
Last month, Ejimakor and some few others were arrested by the police in Abuja over the free Nnamdi Kanu protest.
The protest convened by activist politician, Omoyele Sowore was meant to be staged at the presidential Villa where protesters will demand Kanu’s release from President Bola Tinubu.
Following their arrest, Ejimakor, Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel, Sowore and others were arraigned before a Kuje Magistrate Court who initially demanded them before they were finally granted bail.
In the process of moving them, Ejimakor and the other protesters were said to have been punished with teargas shot at them.
While in remand, Ejimakor collapsed but was promptly attended to by medical team in Kuje prison.
Govt Teargasses protesters, romances terrorists’ – Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer
Police bust kidnappers’ hideout in Nasarawa, rescue 23 foreign victims
A major anti-kidnapping operation in Ado-Mararaba, Nasarawa State, has led to the rescue of 23 foreign nationals and the arrest of 14 suspected kidnappers, in what authorities describe as a breakthrough against transnational human trafficking and kidnapping rings operating across West Africa. The raid, carried out by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command’s Scorpion
Police bust kidnappers’ hideout in Nasarawa, rescue 23 foreign victims 
A major anti-kidnapping operation in Ado-Mararaba, Nasarawa State, has led to the rescue of 23 foreign nationals and the arrest of 14 suspected kidnappers, in what authorities describe as a breakthrough against transnational human trafficking and kidnapping rings operating across West Africa.
The raid, carried out by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command’s Scorpion Squad, took place at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, a riverside settlement on the outskirts of Ado-Mararaba, a border community between Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Residents of the area told reporters that the community had long been known for suspicious activities, with unfamiliar faces frequently seen moving in and out of secluded compounds near the riverbank.
“We didn’t know what was happening inside those houses,” said a local vigilante member who assisted police in the operation.
“We thought they were just foreigners doing business. Nobody knew they were being kept as hostages,” he added.
According to SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, the victims, mostly from Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, were lured into Nigeria with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be kidnapped and held for ransom in Nasarawa.
The syndicate, police say, was coordinated by a notorious international criminal identified as Abubakar Jigiba, who operates across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria.
His brother, Sougule Zoubere, allegedly handled the recruitment and smuggling of victims through illegal border routes before transferring them to the hideout in Ado-Mararaba.
Investigations revealed that the gang demanded ₦10 million (four million CFA) for each captive, confining them in two fortified apartments under inhumane conditions.
Acting on intelligence, the Scorpion Squad stormed the compound, rescuing all 23 victims — including 14 men, eight women, and a child. Only one victim sustained a minor ear injury and was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment.
The Nasarawa State Police Command, in collaboration with local vigilantes, assisted in securing the area and transporting the victims for profiling and medical checks.
The suspects arrested include: Bubakari Cisse (40), Karamogo Dembele (25), Musa Kamsoko (23), Amadou Traore (25), Sareba Traore (24), Zoumana Diara (23), Umar Koulibaly (26), Alasgara Sagara (20), Berthe Saidu (23), Abdullahi Napo (32), Isah Goita (26), Lorita Traore (22), Mohammed Siaaibe (23), and Haruna Dembele (37).
CP Miller G. Dantawaye, the FCT Commissioner of Police, commended the inter-agency collaboration that made the operation successful, describing it as a warning to criminal groups exploiting border communities.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Jigiba and Zoubere, who are currently on the run.
Police bust kidnappers’ hideout in Nasarawa, rescue 23 foreign victims
Don’t let foreign interests divide us – Baba-Ahmed on Trump’s blacklisting of Nigeria
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to President Bola Tinubu and a prominent northern elder, has cautioned Nigerians against internal division following unconfirmed reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump is considering imposing sanctions on Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians. Baba-Ahmed, in a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Saturday, said if
Don’t let foreign interests divide us – Baba-Ahmed on Trump’s  blacklisting of Nigeria 
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to President Bola Tinubu and a prominent northern elder, has cautioned Nigerians against internal division following unconfirmed reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump is considering imposing sanctions on Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
Baba-Ahmed, in a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Saturday, said if the speculations turn out to be true, it would mark a troubling move by the American leader, who appears to have been misled by distorted narratives about religious killings in Nigeria.
He stated that the reported decision, allegedly tied to claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, ignores the complex reality of insecurity in the country, which affects both Muslims and Christians alike.
“If these reports are true, then we can only say Bismillah, because it means foreign interests are being stirred up against us,”
Baba-Ahmed wrote. “The truth is that those killing Nigerians do not distinguish between Muslims and Christians. Ethnic and communal conflicts in Nigeria have claimed the lives of both.”
He accused Trump and his allies of harboring ulterior motives, suggesting that the United States has long been uncomfortable with the rise of strong, populous, and resource-rich African nations like Nigeria, Sudan, Libya, and South Africa.
“America and its partners have never felt at ease with African countries that have large populations and resources,” he said. “They see nations like Nigeria as potential threats because we refuse to submit to foreign control.”
Baba-Ahmed also linked the alleged move to Nigeria’s position on international issues, including its criticism of Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and its demand for a permanent seat for Africa at the United Nations Security Council.
“Our only crime,” he wrote, “is that we spoke the truth — that what Israel is doing to Palestinians in Gaza is worse than what Nazi Germany did to the Jews during World War II. We also asked that Africa and the black world be given a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.”
He accused some local actors of exploiting religious tensions for political gain and alleged that Trump’s reported position enjoys the support of “those who never want Muslims and Christians in Nigeria to live in peace.
“The Nigerian government has done its best to dismiss these falsehoods,” he noted, “but the United States insists it must ‘save’ Nigerian Christians at all costs, while turning a blind eye to the killings of Muslims.”
Baba-Ahmed warned that any sanctions or hostile actions by the U.S. would only worsen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians, irrespective of religion.
“America will not fight a war for Nigerian Christians,” he cautioned. “It will only deepen the hardship of both Muslims and Christians alike.”
He called on religious leaders to rise above division and educate their followers on the dangers of external manipulation, urging the government to intensify efforts to protect all citizens.
“We must not fight each other and destroy our own lives,” he said. “Our Christian and Muslim leaders must unite to enlighten their followers about this grave threat. The government, too, must strengthen security for all Nigerians.”
He concluded with a call for national prayer and unity in the face of external pressure.
“Let us continue to pray,” Baba-Ahmed wrote. “May Allah protect us from the evil and plots of our enemies.”
Don’t let foreign interests divide us – Baba-Ahmed on Trump’s blacklisting of Nigeria
Dangote Refinery backs FG’s 15% tariff, reaffirms energy security commitment
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has endorsed the government’s new 15% tariff on imported fuel, calling it a “good start” and labeling criticism of the policy “unpatriotic.” The post Dangote Refinery backs FG’s 15% tariff, reaffirms energy security commitment appeared first on Nairametrics.
PDP National convention: We’ll abide by court judgment – Wike’s loyalists
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, emminent leaders and Concerned Stakeholders have said the Abuja Federal High Court ruling has restored legal order to the former ruling party. The leaders, who are loyalists to be Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike resolved to abide by the judgement. Justice James Omotosho had halted the
PDP National convention: We’ll abide by court judgment – Wike’s loyalists 
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, emminent leaders and Concerned Stakeholders have said the Abuja Federal High Court ruling has restored legal order to the former ruling party.
The leaders, who are loyalists to be Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike resolved to abide by the judgement.
Justice James Omotosho had halted the PDP from holding its national convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State.
Reacting, the stakeholders said the judgment affirmed the supremacy of PDP’s constitution.
In a communique issued at the end of yesterday’s meeting, the stakeholders resolved to “abide by the judgment of the court in its entirety.
“We commend and affirm our faith in the judiciary. As loyal and committed party leaders, our doors are open to reconciliation, inclusion, and collective rebuilding.
“We invite all genuine members of goodwill, across the country, to join hands with us in restoring our great Party to its founding ideals.
“We, the Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), met in Abuja to review the landmark judgment delivered today, October 31, 2025, by the Federal High Court, Abuja, affirming the supremacy of the Party’s Constitution and the rule of law, hereby express our profound appreciation for this judicial intervention that restores order, legality, and confidence in the PDP as a law-abiding institution.
“We call on all faithful members and leaders to stand for truth, justice, and the rule of law – the very values that define our great Party and its promise to Nigerians.”
The elders restated their unwavering commitment towards the principles of fairness, justice, equity, and inclusivity, which are the “founding pillars of our great Party — and commend the Judiciary for its courage in upholding truth over impunity.”
The elders also disclosed that the judgment by Justice Omotosho has reaffirmed the supremacy of the 1999 constitution as amended, the electoral act, INEC electoral guidelines and the PDP constitution and clarified the lawful roles and boundaries of the party officers in the management of its affairs.
“That the judgment conclusively affirmed that Chief Dan Osi Orbih remains the authentic National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the PDP, and the purported appointment of Chief Emmanuel Ogidi is null and void.
“That by affirming the expulsion of Ali Odefa, the Court has restored integrity and discipline in the administration of the Party, while emphasizing that persons expelled from the Party have no locus standi to act or litigate on its behalf.
“That the court further reaffirm that all external correspondences to INEC must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary, while the National Secretary remains the principal signatory to all official correspondences of the Party.
“The court further emphasized that no valid national convention of the party can hold until all due processes as stipulated by the 1999 constitution as amended, the electoral act, INEC electoral guidelines and the PDP constitution are fully complied with,” they stated.
PDP National convention: We’ll abide by court judgment – Wike’s loyalists
‘People no longer rely on courts’: Chief judge laments corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary
Nigeria’s judiciary has been facing corruption allegations for several years now. The post ‘People no longer rely on courts’: Chief judge laments corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
It’s all about 2027 – Gumi reacts as Trump places Nigeria on watch-list over alleged genocide
Controversial Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi has alleged that the claim of Christian genocide in the country was politically motivated, stating that “all the bluff is about 2027”. Gumi made the remark in a statement on his Facebook page while reacting to the decision of the US President, Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as Country of
It’s all about 2027 – Gumi reacts as Trump places Nigeria on watch-list over alleged genocide 
Controversial Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi has alleged that the claim of Christian genocide in the country was politically motivated, stating that “all the bluff is about 2027”.
Gumi made the remark in a statement on his Facebook page while reacting to the decision of the US President, Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as Country of Particular Concerns, CPC.
DAILY POST reports that the US President on Friday yielded to calls by some foreign individuals to place Nigeria on a watch-list over the alleged massacre of Christians.
Trump’s decision came despite several counter statements from the presidency, insisting that there was no genocide against Christians in the country.
Reacting to Trump’s decision, Gumi, who blamed the development on the activities of some unpatriotic bigot clerics, claimed that nothing concerns Americans with “our internal problems”.
The cleric also called for a paradigm shift in Nigerian foreign policy, stressing that the Nigerians should know their enemies.
He said, “Nigeria under their evil eye of religious bigotry!
“It is evident now we are sharing a country not only with evil people from banditry, BH. IPOB and other criminals, as confessed recently by the governor of Anambra Soludo, we have many unpatriotic bigot clerics that are aiding imperialists to divide us further so that they can pillage our resources. Otherwise, what can they even do?
“At a time when Americans are lining up for food rations, what concerns them with our internal problems. Yes, this is not to say efforts are not placed to tackle the insecurity, but the right combination of strategies is what is lacking to completely nail it. Now they want to compound the problem. All the bluff is about 2027.
“Those who armed the outlaws as NGOs and come around to claim piety. The danger to us is that they form and start arming another Militia like they have done in other places”.
It’s all about 2027 – Gumi reacts as Trump places Nigeria on watch-list over alleged genocide
Trump designates Nigeria ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over reported killings of Christians
U.S. President Donald Trump has officially designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing reports of widespread attacks on Christian communities that, he says, amount to a mass slaughter. The post Trump designates Nigeria ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over reported killings of Christians appeared first on Nairametrics.
NCC raids bookshops, seizes pirated books worth N5m in Benue
The Nigerian Copyrights Commission has raided bookshops and impounded pirated books worth N5 million during an inspection and monitoring of business outlets in Makurdi metropolis in Benue State. The NCC impounded books in two bookshops and a printing outlet within Makurdi. The team, which was led by the Benue State coordinator of the NCC, Thomas
NCC raids bookshops, seizes pirated books worth N5m in Benue 
The Nigerian Copyrights Commission has raided bookshops and impounded pirated books worth N5 million during an inspection and monitoring of business outlets in Makurdi metropolis in Benue State.
The NCC impounded books in two bookshops and a printing outlet within Makurdi.
The team, which was led by the Benue State coordinator of the NCC, Thomas Mgbangun had six NCC officers, security personnel, journalists and staff from the Metropolitan Publishers Limited, University press limited and Learn Africa.
Three bookshops and seven printing outlets were visited within Makurd by the team.
Mgbangun said 1,133 books worth 5.6 million naira were seized during the exercise and one person arrested.
He went further to warn persons who engage in piracy production of people’s works to desist or face the wrath of the law.
NCC raids bookshops, seizes pirated books worth N5m in Benue






