🇳🇬 A Nigerian schoolgirl abducted by extremists 10 years ago is rescued pregnant, with 3 kids
A girl who was seized from her school along with hundreds of others during a raid by extremists ten years ago in northeastern Nigeria has been rescued together with her three children, the Nigerian army said Thursday.
Lydia Simon, who is five months pregnant, was rescued by Nigerian troops in the Gwoza council area of Borno state, where the 15-year insurgency by Islamic extremists is concentrated, according to a statement from the army.
The statement was accompanied by a picture of Simon and her children, who appear to be aged between 2 and 4. She is yet to be reunited with her family.
Simon was among 276 girls seized from their school in Nigeria's Chibok village in April 2014 at the height of the extremist violence in the region. About 82 of them are still in captivity.
The first of a series of mass school kidnappings in the West African nation, the Chibok abduction shocked the world and triggered a global social media campaign tagged #BringBackOurGirls.
The Nigerian army did not say how she was freed other than that she was rescued in a hotspot known as Ngoshe, 130 kilometers (74 miles) north of the Borno state capital of Maiduguri.
Some Chibok parents and security analysts have said there is little evidence to show there is a special military operation to free the women. Those who returned in recent years were mostly found abandoned in the forests.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
A girl who was seized from her school along with hundreds of others during a raid by extremists ten years ago in northeastern Nigeria has been rescued together with her three children, the Nigerian army said Thursday.
Lydia Simon, who is five months pregnant, was rescued by Nigerian troops in the Gwoza council area of Borno state, where the 15-year insurgency by Islamic extremists is concentrated, according to a statement from the army.
The statement was accompanied by a picture of Simon and her children, who appear to be aged between 2 and 4. She is yet to be reunited with her family.
Simon was among 276 girls seized from their school in Nigeria's Chibok village in April 2014 at the height of the extremist violence in the region. About 82 of them are still in captivity.
The first of a series of mass school kidnappings in the West African nation, the Chibok abduction shocked the world and triggered a global social media campaign tagged #BringBackOurGirls.
The Nigerian army did not say how she was freed other than that she was rescued in a hotspot known as Ngoshe, 130 kilometers (74 miles) north of the Borno state capital of Maiduguri.
Some Chibok parents and security analysts have said there is little evidence to show there is a special military operation to free the women. Those who returned in recent years were mostly found abandoned in the forests.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Nigeria's crude oil output goes down again in March - OPEC
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production dropped again in March.
OPEC data based on direct communication show that Nigeria's average daily production dropped to 1.2 million barrels, from 1.3 in February.
"The only sector we continue to depend on for revenues is collapsing right under our nose. How can you project a crude production of 1.7 million barrels a day and you are struggling to do 1.2 million barrels. How do you want to survive? That is over 30 percent of your expected revenue gone."
Nigeria's government targets a daily production of 1.7 million barrels, including condensate, in 2024. However, the nation still faces challenges including pipeline vandalism and theft.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production dropped again in March.
OPEC data based on direct communication show that Nigeria's average daily production dropped to 1.2 million barrels, from 1.3 in February.
"The only sector we continue to depend on for revenues is collapsing right under our nose. How can you project a crude production of 1.7 million barrels a day and you are struggling to do 1.2 million barrels. How do you want to survive? That is over 30 percent of your expected revenue gone."
Nigeria's government targets a daily production of 1.7 million barrels, including condensate, in 2024. However, the nation still faces challenges including pipeline vandalism and theft.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬🇮🇹 Nigeria to acquire 24 fighter jets from Italy's Leonardo
Nigeria plans to acquire 24 fighter jets from Italy's Leonardo to modernize its fleet and bolster its air force, air force spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet said on Friday.
The aircraft will arrive the country in four batches of six jets each, the air force said. Africa's most populous nation will receive the first six M-346 fighter aircraft before the end of the year, Gabkwet said in a statement.
The news followed a visit by Claudio Sabatino, Leonardo vice president, to Nigeria's air force chief in Abuja on Wednesday. Leonardo will provide a minimum of 25 years maintenance support, the air force statement said.
Nigeria is trying to boost its ability to combat insurgency especially in the northeast of the country where Boko Haram militants and the Islamic State regional affiliate is active. Also kidnapping and banditry is rife across the country.
#Nigeria #Italy
@africaintel
Nigeria plans to acquire 24 fighter jets from Italy's Leonardo to modernize its fleet and bolster its air force, air force spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet said on Friday.
The aircraft will arrive the country in four batches of six jets each, the air force said. Africa's most populous nation will receive the first six M-346 fighter aircraft before the end of the year, Gabkwet said in a statement.
The news followed a visit by Claudio Sabatino, Leonardo vice president, to Nigeria's air force chief in Abuja on Wednesday. Leonardo will provide a minimum of 25 years maintenance support, the air force statement said.
Nigeria is trying to boost its ability to combat insurgency especially in the northeast of the country where Boko Haram militants and the Islamic State regional affiliate is active. Also kidnapping and banditry is rife across the country.
#Nigeria #Italy
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Nigerian air strike killed 33 villagers during Eid last week
At least 33 people were killed in an air strike on a village in Nigeria's northwestern Zamfara state last week, four residents and a traditional leader said, after a military operation targeting armed kidnapping gangs and their hideouts.
The incident, on April 10, is the latest in a pattern of deadly aerial assaults by the military that have killed civilians.
The military said on Thursday the air strikes had eliminated armed gangs, known locally as bandits, in several Zamfara locations.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
At least 33 people were killed in an air strike on a village in Nigeria's northwestern Zamfara state last week, four residents and a traditional leader said, after a military operation targeting armed kidnapping gangs and their hideouts.
The incident, on April 10, is the latest in a pattern of deadly aerial assaults by the military that have killed civilians.
The military said on Thursday the air strikes had eliminated armed gangs, known locally as bandits, in several Zamfara locations.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Gunmen kill six Nigerian soldiers in ambush, army says
Six soldiers of the Nigerian army were ambushed and killed by gunmen while on patrol in the northern Niger state on Friday, the army said, the latest loss inflicted on the military by armed criminal gangs.
Beyond fighting Islamist militants in the northeast, Nigeria's military has been called upon to tackle the threat in northern and central regions posed by criminal gangs who kill and kidnap villagers and schoolchildren.
Nigerian Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement late on Sunday that troops of the 1st Division were on a fighting patrol in Karaga village in Niger's Shiroro local government area when they were ambushed.
Largely rural Shiroro is an area of Niger state where armed gangs, known locally as bandits, frequently attack villages and security personnel.
Nwachukwu said the troops were pursuing gunmen who had escaped after other members of the gang were killed by soldiers and their equipment captured.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Six soldiers of the Nigerian army were ambushed and killed by gunmen while on patrol in the northern Niger state on Friday, the army said, the latest loss inflicted on the military by armed criminal gangs.
Beyond fighting Islamist militants in the northeast, Nigeria's military has been called upon to tackle the threat in northern and central regions posed by criminal gangs who kill and kidnap villagers and schoolchildren.
Nigerian Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement late on Sunday that troops of the 1st Division were on a fighting patrol in Karaga village in Niger's Shiroro local government area when they were ambushed.
Largely rural Shiroro is an area of Niger state where armed gangs, known locally as bandits, frequently attack villages and security personnel.
Nwachukwu said the troops were pursuing gunmen who had escaped after other members of the gang were killed by soldiers and their equipment captured.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Nigeria revokes 924 dormant mining titles, seeks new investors
Nigeria has revoked 924 dormant mining titles immediately and invites investors to freely apply for the affected licences which will be offered on a "first come, first served" basis, its minister of mines said.
The affected titles include 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences, and 273 small-scale mining licences, Mines Minister Dele Alake said in a statement.
In November, more than 1,600 mining titles were revoked for non-payment of statutory fees as part of sweeping reforms in the sector.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Nigeria has revoked 924 dormant mining titles immediately and invites investors to freely apply for the affected licences which will be offered on a "first come, first served" basis, its minister of mines said.
The affected titles include 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences, and 273 small-scale mining licences, Mines Minister Dele Alake said in a statement.
In November, more than 1,600 mining titles were revoked for non-payment of statutory fees as part of sweeping reforms in the sector.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 More than 100 inmates escape after rain damages Nigerian prison
At least 118 inmates escaped from prison after heavy rains on Wednesday night damaged the facility in Suleja near the Nigerian capital, a prison service spokesperson said.
The downpour, which last several hours, wrecked parts of the medium-security prison, including the perimeter wall and surrounding buildings, spokesperson Adamu Duza said in a statement.
Service agents were hunting the fugitives and had so far recaptured 10 of them with the help of other security agencies.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
At least 118 inmates escaped from prison after heavy rains on Wednesday night damaged the facility in Suleja near the Nigerian capital, a prison service spokesperson said.
The downpour, which last several hours, wrecked parts of the medium-security prison, including the perimeter wall and surrounding buildings, spokesperson Adamu Duza said in a statement.
Service agents were hunting the fugitives and had so far recaptured 10 of them with the help of other security agencies.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 At least 23 civilian force members killed in northern Nigeria
At least 23 members of Nigeria's civilian joint task force were killed on Saturday in separate attacks by militants and an armed kidnapping gang in the north, two officials from the force said on Sunday.
In northeast Borno state, the heartland of an Islamist insurgency, suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters used an improvised explosive device (IED) to blow up a vehicle carrying the Civilian Joint Tast Force (CJTF) team, a local force chairman said.
The CJTF was first formed in 2013 to protect communities in the northeast and help the military fight Boko Haram and later its offshoot ISWAP. The force has since been extended to other northern states that are grappling with armed kidnapping gangs.
Tijjanima Umar, CJTF chairman for Gamboru Ngala area near the border with Cameroon, said his team was travelling to Borno state capital Maiduguri when they drove over the IED.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
At least 23 members of Nigeria's civilian joint task force were killed on Saturday in separate attacks by militants and an armed kidnapping gang in the north, two officials from the force said on Sunday.
In northeast Borno state, the heartland of an Islamist insurgency, suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters used an improvised explosive device (IED) to blow up a vehicle carrying the Civilian Joint Tast Force (CJTF) team, a local force chairman said.
The CJTF was first formed in 2013 to protect communities in the northeast and help the military fight Boko Haram and later its offshoot ISWAP. The force has since been extended to other northern states that are grappling with armed kidnapping gangs.
Tijjanima Umar, CJTF chairman for Gamboru Ngala area near the border with Cameroon, said his team was travelling to Borno state capital Maiduguri when they drove over the IED.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Concerns mount over detention of investigative journalist in Nigeria
The detention of Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist associated with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has sparked widespread concern for press freedom in Nigeria. Ojukwu was apprehended by Nigerian police in Lagos last Wednesday on allegations of violating the nation's cybercrime laws and subsequently transferred to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC). The arrest is believed to be linked to an investigative report authored by Ojukwu last November, which scrutinized the actions of a senior government official, according to FIJ.
Amid calls for his release from family members, civil society, and media advocacy groups, opposition figures like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have condemned Ojukwu's detention, highlighting the crucial role journalists play in upholding transparency within the government.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
The detention of Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist associated with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has sparked widespread concern for press freedom in Nigeria. Ojukwu was apprehended by Nigerian police in Lagos last Wednesday on allegations of violating the nation's cybercrime laws and subsequently transferred to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC). The arrest is believed to be linked to an investigative report authored by Ojukwu last November, which scrutinized the actions of a senior government official, according to FIJ.
Amid calls for his release from family members, civil society, and media advocacy groups, opposition figures like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have condemned Ojukwu's detention, highlighting the crucial role journalists play in upholding transparency within the government.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Microsoft to close Africa development centre in Nigeria
Microsoft announced the closure of its Africa Development Centre in Nigeria, situated in Lagos, as part of organizational adjustments, leading to job losses.
The centre, established in 2022, aimed to provide engineering and innovation solutions. However, Microsoft emphasized its continued presence and investment in Nigeria, focusing on strategic growth areas despite the closure. While the exact number of affected employees remains unclear, the decision reflects the necessity of managing business operations effectively.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Microsoft announced the closure of its Africa Development Centre in Nigeria, situated in Lagos, as part of organizational adjustments, leading to job losses.
The centre, established in 2022, aimed to provide engineering and innovation solutions. However, Microsoft emphasized its continued presence and investment in Nigeria, focusing on strategic growth areas despite the closure. While the exact number of affected employees remains unclear, the decision reflects the necessity of managing business operations effectively.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Meghan Markle reflects on discovering Nigerian heritage as 'humbling'
During a visit to Nigeria, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, shared her feelings of humility upon learning about her Nigerian ancestry through a genealogy test.
Speaking at an event focused on women in leadership, Markle expressed gratitude for the insight into her heritage and praised the qualities associated with Nigerian women. Alongside her husband Prince Harry, the couple's visit aims to raise awareness about mental health issues among soldiers and young girls.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
During a visit to Nigeria, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, shared her feelings of humility upon learning about her Nigerian ancestry through a genealogy test.
Speaking at an event focused on women in leadership, Markle expressed gratitude for the insight into her heritage and praised the qualities associated with Nigerian women. Alongside her husband Prince Harry, the couple's visit aims to raise awareness about mental health issues among soldiers and young girls.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Police rescue at least 22 people kidnapped from suburb of Nigeria's capital
At least 22 people kidnapped by gunmen from the suburban Dawaki district of Abuja, Nigeria's capital, were rescued, police and residents said on Tuesday.
Kidnapping for ransom is rife in Nigeria as roving gangs of armed men target people in remote areas, highways and schools.
While there have been a few attacks and kidnappings around Abuja in recent years, the incidents have been largely consigned to the outskirts of the city where security is lax.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
At least 22 people kidnapped by gunmen from the suburban Dawaki district of Abuja, Nigeria's capital, were rescued, police and residents said on Tuesday.
Kidnapping for ransom is rife in Nigeria as roving gangs of armed men target people in remote areas, highways and schools.
While there have been a few attacks and kidnappings around Abuja in recent years, the incidents have been largely consigned to the outskirts of the city where security is lax.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
⚡️🇳🇬 Hundreds of hostages, mostly women and children, are rescued from Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria
Hundreds of hostages, mostly children and women, who were held captive for months or years by Boko Haram extremists in northeastern Nigeria have been rescued from a forest enclave and handed over to authorities, the army said.
The 350 hostages had been held in the Sambisa Forest, a hideout for the extremist group which launched an insurgency in 2009, Maj. Gen. Ken Chigbu, a senior Nigerian army officer, said late Monday while presenting them to authorities in Borno, where the forest is.
The 209 children, 135 women and six men appeared exhausted in their worn-out clothes. Some of the girls had babies believed to have been born from forced marriages, as is often the case with female victims who are either raped or forced to marry the militants while in captivity.
One of the hostages had seven children and spoke of how she and others couldn’t escape because of their children.
“I always wanted to escape but couldn’t because of the children,” said Hajara Umara, who was rescued together with her children. “If they caught you trying to escape, they would torture you and imprison you indefinitely.”
The army said the hostages were rescued during a dayslong military operation in Sambisa Forest, which was once a bustling forest reserve that stretches along the border with Cameroon and Niger, but now serves as an enclave from where Boko Haram and its breakaway factions carry out attacks that also target people and security forces in neighboring countries.
The freed hostages were transported in trucks to the Borno state government house, where authorities will look after them until they go home.
Some extremists were killed during the rescue operation and their makeshift houses were destroyed, the army said.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Hundreds of hostages, mostly children and women, who were held captive for months or years by Boko Haram extremists in northeastern Nigeria have been rescued from a forest enclave and handed over to authorities, the army said.
The 350 hostages had been held in the Sambisa Forest, a hideout for the extremist group which launched an insurgency in 2009, Maj. Gen. Ken Chigbu, a senior Nigerian army officer, said late Monday while presenting them to authorities in Borno, where the forest is.
The 209 children, 135 women and six men appeared exhausted in their worn-out clothes. Some of the girls had babies believed to have been born from forced marriages, as is often the case with female victims who are either raped or forced to marry the militants while in captivity.
One of the hostages had seven children and spoke of how she and others couldn’t escape because of their children.
“I always wanted to escape but couldn’t because of the children,” said Hajara Umara, who was rescued together with her children. “If they caught you trying to escape, they would torture you and imprison you indefinitely.”
The army said the hostages were rescued during a dayslong military operation in Sambisa Forest, which was once a bustling forest reserve that stretches along the border with Cameroon and Niger, but now serves as an enclave from where Boko Haram and its breakaway factions carry out attacks that also target people and security forces in neighboring countries.
The freed hostages were transported in trucks to the Borno state government house, where authorities will look after them until they go home.
Some extremists were killed during the rescue operation and their makeshift houses were destroyed, the army said.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Nigeria cracks down on illegal lithium mining with dozens of arrests
Nigeria's government is cracking down on illegal mining, making dozens of arrests since April for unlicensed miners allegedly stealing lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and power systems.
The crackdown comes as Nigeria seeks to regulate its mining operations, curb illegal activity, and better benefit from its mineral resources. The global demand for lithium has surged due to the clean energy transition. However, corruption and minimal government presence in remote areas have led to rampant illegal mining, which has fueled militia groups in the north.
In mid-May, a joint team of soldiers and police raided a market in Kishi, Oyo State, arresting 32 individuals, including two Chinese nationals. The market, once known for farm produce, had become a hub for illicit lithium trade. Community leader Jimoh Bioku reported clandestine searches for lithium by Chinese nationals, who then engaged locals to mine for them, turning the market into a transit point.
President Bola Tinubu has blamed illegal mining for worsening conflicts in the north and called for international help to stop it. The Chinese embassy in Abuja has not commented on the arrests, but previously urged Chinese nationals to abide by Nigerian laws.
Nigeria is emerging as a significant lithium source in Africa, but illegal mining denies the government substantial revenues. Emeka Okoro from SBM Intelligence highlighted the exploitation of vulnerable workers from conflict-affected regions. The government estimates that resource theft causes annual losses of $9 billion.
To combat this, Nigeria has established a 2,200-strong "corps of mining marshals." The corps has made several arrests and seizures, including two trucks loaded with lithium near Abuja in April and four Chinese nationals in Nasarawa State.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Nigeria's government is cracking down on illegal mining, making dozens of arrests since April for unlicensed miners allegedly stealing lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and power systems.
The crackdown comes as Nigeria seeks to regulate its mining operations, curb illegal activity, and better benefit from its mineral resources. The global demand for lithium has surged due to the clean energy transition. However, corruption and minimal government presence in remote areas have led to rampant illegal mining, which has fueled militia groups in the north.
In mid-May, a joint team of soldiers and police raided a market in Kishi, Oyo State, arresting 32 individuals, including two Chinese nationals. The market, once known for farm produce, had become a hub for illicit lithium trade. Community leader Jimoh Bioku reported clandestine searches for lithium by Chinese nationals, who then engaged locals to mine for them, turning the market into a transit point.
President Bola Tinubu has blamed illegal mining for worsening conflicts in the north and called for international help to stop it. The Chinese embassy in Abuja has not commented on the arrests, but previously urged Chinese nationals to abide by Nigerian laws.
Nigeria is emerging as a significant lithium source in Africa, but illegal mining denies the government substantial revenues. Emeka Okoro from SBM Intelligence highlighted the exploitation of vulnerable workers from conflict-affected regions. The government estimates that resource theft causes annual losses of $9 billion.
To combat this, Nigeria has established a 2,200-strong "corps of mining marshals." The corps has made several arrests and seizures, including two trucks loaded with lithium near Abuja in April and four Chinese nationals in Nasarawa State.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Separatists kill at least 11 people in southeast Nigeria, army says
The Nigerian military has said that separatists killed at least 11 people in a “surprise” assault on a checkpoint in the country’s southeastern Abia State, the latest in a string of raids in the restive region.
The attack on Thursday, which the army blamed on the outlawed separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, claimed the lives of six civilians and five soldiers deployed at the Obikabia junction in the city of Aba, according to defence spokesperson Major-General Edward Buba.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
The Nigerian military has said that separatists killed at least 11 people in a “surprise” assault on a checkpoint in the country’s southeastern Abia State, the latest in a string of raids in the restive region.
The attack on Thursday, which the army blamed on the outlawed separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, claimed the lives of six civilians and five soldiers deployed at the Obikabia junction in the city of Aba, according to defence spokesperson Major-General Edward Buba.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Labour unions in Nigeria to begin indefinite strike over minimum wage
The two main labour unions in Nigeria have declared an indefinite strike as from Monday over what they terms as a disagreement on a new minimum wage with the government.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) both had issued warnings on Friday that they would proceed with the strike shoulkd the government fail to head their grievances over minimum wage requirement.
They had on Tuesday refused the minimum wage proposal by the government at 60,000 Naira. They had requested the government to increase it further but all attempts were futile.
The Friday meeting was wa s a no-show by the government representatives a move that angered the two unions.
The two unions are also demanding the government to stop the electricity tariff hike effected last month.
Electricity rates more than doubled for some consumers in April, while the government will save at least $788 million in subsidies this year, authorities have said.
It is the latest measure by President Bola Tinubu’s government to cut costs as Africa’s most populous country struggles with declining revenue due to dwindling investments and chronic oil theft.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
The two main labour unions in Nigeria have declared an indefinite strike as from Monday over what they terms as a disagreement on a new minimum wage with the government.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) both had issued warnings on Friday that they would proceed with the strike shoulkd the government fail to head their grievances over minimum wage requirement.
They had on Tuesday refused the minimum wage proposal by the government at 60,000 Naira. They had requested the government to increase it further but all attempts were futile.
The Friday meeting was wa s a no-show by the government representatives a move that angered the two unions.
The two unions are also demanding the government to stop the electricity tariff hike effected last month.
Electricity rates more than doubled for some consumers in April, while the government will save at least $788 million in subsidies this year, authorities have said.
It is the latest measure by President Bola Tinubu’s government to cut costs as Africa’s most populous country struggles with declining revenue due to dwindling investments and chronic oil theft.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬As Nigeria's gasoline debt hits $6 billion, some traders back out, say sources
Nigeria's debt to gasoline suppliers has surpassed $6 billion - doubling since early April - as state oil firm NNPC struggles to cover the gap between fixed pump prices and international fuel costs, six industry sources said.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced an end to expensive fuel subsidies last year, allowing pump prices to triple. But state oil company NNPC capped pump prices shortly afterward as citizens chafed under rising cost of living.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Nigeria's debt to gasoline suppliers has surpassed $6 billion - doubling since early April - as state oil firm NNPC struggles to cover the gap between fixed pump prices and international fuel costs, six industry sources said.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced an end to expensive fuel subsidies last year, allowing pump prices to triple. But state oil company NNPC capped pump prices shortly afterward as citizens chafed under rising cost of living.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Deadly attacks in Nigerian town a reminder of Boko Haram threat
There were four suspected suicide bombings in the past week by women that targeted a wedding, a funeral for victims, a hospital and a security checkpoint, which authorities say killed up to 32 people in Gwoza town in Borno, the heartland of an Islamist insurgency. No group claimed responsibility.
But Gwoza residents blamed Boko Haram and the military said this showed how far the group would go to inflict damage on civilians and security targets.
Residents saw the attacks as punishment for collaborating with security forces against the insurgents. They also said this could be a message to Boko Haram defectors in the town that they were not safe after leaving the group.
Boko Haram had last used female suicide bombers in 2020. Army spokesperson Major General Edward Buba said the attacks were cowardly and meant "to project an image of strength to cover their (Boko Haram) weakness and decline".
Boko Haram has been under pressure from the military and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, with which it is fighting for territory, said Malik Samuel, Nigeria researcher at Abuja-based Institute of Security Studies.
"These issues have severely affected (its) ability to carry out large scale attacks. So, deploying suicide bombers was a devilishly clever way to wreck havoc because it seemed to be a thing of the past," said Samuel.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
There were four suspected suicide bombings in the past week by women that targeted a wedding, a funeral for victims, a hospital and a security checkpoint, which authorities say killed up to 32 people in Gwoza town in Borno, the heartland of an Islamist insurgency. No group claimed responsibility.
But Gwoza residents blamed Boko Haram and the military said this showed how far the group would go to inflict damage on civilians and security targets.
Residents saw the attacks as punishment for collaborating with security forces against the insurgents. They also said this could be a message to Boko Haram defectors in the town that they were not safe after leaving the group.
Boko Haram had last used female suicide bombers in 2020. Army spokesperson Major General Edward Buba said the attacks were cowardly and meant "to project an image of strength to cover their (Boko Haram) weakness and decline".
Boko Haram has been under pressure from the military and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, with which it is fighting for territory, said Malik Samuel, Nigeria researcher at Abuja-based Institute of Security Studies.
"These issues have severely affected (its) ability to carry out large scale attacks. So, deploying suicide bombers was a devilishly clever way to wreck havoc because it seemed to be a thing of the past," said Samuel.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 🇨🇳 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ad-Hoc Ministerial Committee on the Construction of Head-quarters of Community Institutions meets on the Margins of the Council of Ministers Meeting in Abuja
The ECOWAS Ad-Hoc Ministerial Committee on the Construction of Headquarters of Community Institutions meets on the Margins of the Council of Ministers meeting on July 5, 2024, at the construction site of the New ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria to consider the report of the Experts’ Meeting of the Committee and assess the progress of work at the site.
The New ECOWAS Headquarters building known as “The Eye of West Africa” along the Airport Road in Abuja is being constructed with a grant from the People’s Republic of China through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (China Aid).
While welcoming the participants, H.E. Madam Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed the appreciation of ECOWAS Institutions to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the land provided, the duty waivers granted, development permits facilitated and all the other supports towards the commencement of the construction at the new ECOWAS Headquarters site.
The Vice President also thanked His Excellency XI Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and the Government of China for the China-Aid Project of the ECOWAS Headquarters Building in support to the ECOWAS community. “This gesture represents a beacon in the ongoing cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and ECOWAS Member States”, she added.
#Nigeria #ECOWAS #China
@africaintel
The ECOWAS Ad-Hoc Ministerial Committee on the Construction of Headquarters of Community Institutions meets on the Margins of the Council of Ministers meeting on July 5, 2024, at the construction site of the New ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria to consider the report of the Experts’ Meeting of the Committee and assess the progress of work at the site.
The New ECOWAS Headquarters building known as “The Eye of West Africa” along the Airport Road in Abuja is being constructed with a grant from the People’s Republic of China through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (China Aid).
While welcoming the participants, H.E. Madam Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed the appreciation of ECOWAS Institutions to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the land provided, the duty waivers granted, development permits facilitated and all the other supports towards the commencement of the construction at the new ECOWAS Headquarters site.
The Vice President also thanked His Excellency XI Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and the Government of China for the China-Aid Project of the ECOWAS Headquarters Building in support to the ECOWAS community. “This gesture represents a beacon in the ongoing cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and ECOWAS Member States”, she added.
#Nigeria #ECOWAS #China
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Terrorists dressed as women attacked a community in northern Nigeria and kidnapped 26 local residents.
A local government official said the police chief has dispatched his officers who, together with soldiers stationed in the area, have launched a rescue operation.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
A local government official said the police chief has dispatched his officers who, together with soldiers stationed in the area, have launched a rescue operation.
#Nigeria
@africaintel