News
US Withdraws Most Troops from Nigeria, Retains Intelligence Support
The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism mission in the Lake Chad Basin, while maintaining intelligence-sharing and other security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
The Commander of the US Air Forces in Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, announced the development during a virtual press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
Anderson said the partnership between Washington and Abuja remains strong, particularly in intelligence operations targeting the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh).
According to him, the specific mission that required the deployment of US troops has been successfully completed, leading to the withdrawal of most of the personnel. He, however, stressed that the United States would continue providing intelligence support at the request of the Nigerian government.
“And so that operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only helped the countries in that immediate region; it also helps countries globally as it disrupts the ISIS network,” Anderson said.
“And so we have withdrawn much of our forces that were there specifically for that operation, but we are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to support intelligence sharing and provide the understanding necessary to prosecute these difficult tasks.”
The US Air Force commander described Nigeria as a key regional partner with a capable military, noting that cooperation between both countries has yielded significant gains in the fight against ISIS.
He credited intelligence collaboration between the two nations with enabling the operation that eliminated Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-highest-ranking leader of ISIS, who was responsible for much of the group’s global operations, media activities and recruitment.
“I think the partnership we’ve shown recently with Nigeria demonstrates what can be achieved. Nigeria is a capable country with a strong economy, a large, educated population and a professional military,” Anderson said.
“There are things we have learned over years of counterterrorism operations that we were able to integrate with Nigeria’s efforts. By combining intelligence sharing with unique US capabilities, we were able to support a cooperative operation that eliminated the number two leader of ISIS.”
According to Anderson, the operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence collaboration rather than prolonged foreign troop deployments.
“As we move forward, this is the model we want to pursue—bringing unique US capabilities that enable our partners to be more effective in confronting terrorist threats,” he added.
The US commander also called for stronger intelligence cooperation among African countries to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.
He cited a recent multinational operation that intercepted a record 31-ton shipment of cocaine originating from South America and transiting through the West African coastline. According to him, intelligence sharing among partner nations made the seizure possible.
“I coordinated through our interagency partners in the United States, through AFRICOM, and informed regional partners. Eventually, it was a Spanish naval vessel that intercepted the ship carrying 31 tons of cocaine—the largest drug seizure at sea on record,” Anderson said.
He stressed that sustained collaboration among African governments, international partners and the private sector would be essential to addressing security challenges, promoting economic growth and attracting investment across the continent.
The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin as both countries expanded cooperation against ISIS and other extremist groups operating in the region.
The deployment followed US President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and his pledge to strengthen American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
On December 25, 2025, US forces carried out airstrikes on two terrorist camps in the Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The security partnership recorded a major breakthrough in May 2026 when a joint US-Nigerian operation killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, during a raid on his hideout in Borno State.
The Nigerian Defence Academy has released the list of successful and reserve candidates for admission into the 78 Regular Combatant Course.
The Academy said the Armed Forces Selection Board exercise for the 78 Regular Course was conducted between July 4 and August 19, 2026, after which successful candidates were offered admission.
According to a statement issued by the Academy Registrar, Brigadier General OA Ogunleye, successful candidates are required to report to the NDA Ribadu Campus (Old Site), Kaduna, on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
The Academy warned that candidates who fail to report by Monday, September 14, 2026, will forfeit their admission.
It said only candidates who were offered admission are expected to report, adding that they would be received at the Drill Shed, NDA Old Site, Ribadu Cantonment.
Candidates on the reserve list, according to the Academy, may be offered admission as vacancies arise. Such candidates will be contacted through their registered email addresses and telephone numbers.
Successful candidates have been directed to report with the original copies of their credentials, including their First School Leaving Certificate, Primary School Testimonial, WAEC or NECO results, Senior Secondary School Testimonial, Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age, and Letter of State of Origin.
They are also required to present the original, duly endorsed Parent/Guardian Consent Form. The Academy stressed that photocopies of the required documents would not be accepted.
“Any candidate who fails to present originals of the stated documents will not be accepted into the Academy,” the notice stated.
In addition to their academic and personal documents, candidates are expected to come with specified clothing, footwear, sportswear, bedding and other personal items.
The required items include black and white trousers, a dark-coloured lounge suit, national dress, black cover shoes, white and brown canvas shoes, football boots, a hockey stick, white shirts, socks, bed sheets and a pressing iron.
Female candidates are additionally required to bring black low-heel cover shoes, dark-coloured lounge skirts, black or blue short tights and trouser suits.
The NDA also directed all selected candidates to upload their O’Level results on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board portal before reporting to the Academy.
Candidates who were not offered their preferred academic departments are required to log into the JAMB portal and effect the necessary change.
The Academy further instructed all successful candidates to accept their admission through the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System before reporting to the institution.
It warned that newly admitted candidates would not be permitted to receive visitors or leave the Academy during the first three months of their training.
The Academy urged all selected candidates and their parents or guardians to comply strictly with the admission requirements and reporting instructions.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the inclusion of a person under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in President Bola Tinubu’s campaign structure for the 2027 presidential election.
Wike argued that being investigated by the EFCC does not automatically bar an individual from participating in political activities or canvassing votes for a candidate.
The minister spoke on Wednesday during a media parley he hosted, which was aired on Channels Television.
His comments followed controversy over the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in the campaign structure for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Edu was listed as the Director of Women Mobilisation in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council. She was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety and was subsequently investigated by the EFCC.
Wike questioned the criticism surrounding her appointment, arguing that an ongoing investigation should not be equated with a conviction.
“You (the media) were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case to be in a campaign council,” Wike said.
He added that it would be inconsistent to prevent someone under investigation from campaigning while people who had faced criminal cases were allowed to contest elections.
“Now, somebody cannot be in a campaign to canvass for votes for a particular person, but somebody who has an EFCC case can contest an election and win an election?” he asked.
Wike noted that there had been instances where individuals facing criminal allegations contested elections and eventually won.
“This person had an EFCC case in court, charged to court. He contested an election and became a governor,” he said, without identifying the person.
The former Rivers State governor further argued that even a person serving a prison sentence could express political support for a candidate.
“Even a prisoner… maybe they have somebody in prison. I go and visit the person. The person can tell me, ‘My brother, I want you to support so-and-so candidate.’ A prisoner has canvassed for vote,” he said.
Wike also referred to an unnamed individual allegedly linked to a coup plot, saying that the person had similarly participated in political mobilisation.
He questioned why someone being investigated by the EFCC should be barred from campaigning for a political candidate.
“I was watching, when Channels, when Sunrise, who came up to say, ‘Ah, how can somebody who’s being looked for as a coup plotter is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so government?’ Somebody EFCC is looking for is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so person,” Wike said.
He added, “But… a party, or a candidate cannot, simply because EFCC is investigating the person, cannot be a member of the campaign council to campaign for votes.”
APC Defends Edu
The controversy over Edu’s inclusion had earlier prompted the APC campaign council to defend her participation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, a spokesperson for the campaign council, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, said it would be unfair to prevent Edu from participating in political activities simply because she was under investigation.
She stressed that Edu had not been found guilty of any offence.
“I’d like to say that for Betta Edu, for example, she has not been found guilty. And it will be unfair to ask that she leaves her life or refuses to live her life until the EFCC declares her,” Asekun-Shittu said.
She added that the former minister deserved an opportunity to re-engage with the party while awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
“We believe that there is very likely the issue that she may not be found guilty,” she said.
Asekun-Shittu further argued that every Nigerian was entitled to participate in politics, adding that the campaign council was an internal party structure and that the APC had the authority to determine who would serve on it.
She, however, noted that the list was not final and could still be reviewed.
Edu has not been publicly declared guilty of any offence in connection with the EFCC investigation.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has invited 3,852 successful candidates for physical screening and documentation as it concludes its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise.
The screening exercise will take place at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The development was announced on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
The Service directed all shortlisted candidates to appear on the dates assigned to their respective states and cadres, stressing that attendance is compulsory.
Candidates are required to come with the original and photocopies of their relevant documents, including their National Identification Number (NIN), original birth certificate or declaration of age, and educational certificates such as O’Level, ND, HND or degree certificates, where applicable.
They are also expected to present a certificate of state of origin, two recent passport photographs, a completed guarantor’s form and an NYSC certificate, where applicable.
The candidates were further instructed to wear a white T-shirt, shorts and canvas shoes for the physical screening.
The Customs Service warned that any candidate who fails to appear as scheduled could be disqualified from the recruitment process.
The latest development comes nearly two years after the recruitment exercise commenced in December 2024.
The prolonged recruitment process had generated concerns among applicants, prompting the Customs management to apologise for the delay when the final list was released in August.
According to Adeniyi, the recruitment exercise attracted 573,680 applications, making it one of the most competitive recruitment exercises in the history of the Service.
Only 3,852 candidates were eventually selected for appointment across three cadres, representing a success rate of 0.67 per cent, or approximately one successful candidate for every 148 applicants.
The Superintendent Cadre accounted for 1,275 successful candidates from 276,995 applications, while 367 candidates were selected for the Inspectorate Cadre from 128,604 applications.
The Customs Assistant Cadre had the highest number of successful candidates, with 2,210 selected from 168,081 applications.
The figures mean that competition was toughest in the Inspectorate Cadre, where approximately one candidate was selected for every 350 applicants. In the Superintendent Cadre, the ratio was about one successful candidate to 217 applicants, while the Customs Assistant Cadre had roughly one successful candidate for every 76 applicants.
Earlier in the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates were required to update their information on the recruitment portal, upload medical certificates of fitness issued by government-recognised hospitals and accept their provisional offers of appointment.
With the physical screening and documentation now underway, candidates who successfully complete the exercise are expected to receive further instructions on the next stages of the recruitment process.
The Customs Service also renewed its warning against fraudsters seeking to exploit applicants.
Adeniyi stressed that recruitment into the Service was entirely free and advised candidates not to pay anyone in exchange for employment.
“No candidate has paid, and no candidate should pay, any person or group for a place on this list,” he said, warning that anyone who solicits money on behalf of the Service should be reported to the appropriate authorities.
The Comptroller-General also announced plans to introduce an annual recruitment cycle for the Service, ending the previous practice of conducting recruitment irregularly.
According to him, future recruitment exercises will follow a predictable yearly schedule and are expected to be completed within one calendar year, from advertisement to the release of the final list.
The 2026 recruitment exercise is expected to commence later this year.
Hundreds of youths and women on Monday took to the streets in Burutu, headquarters of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, protesting the poor condition of the government hospital and other deteriorating infrastructure in the area.
The protesters marched to the local government secretariat, where they accused the council chairman, Julius Takeme, of poor performance and neglect of basic amenities.
They alleged that the government hospital in Burutu had deteriorated to the point where it could no longer adequately serve residents, and called for the immediate deployment of qualified doctors, nurses and midwives to the facility.
“We are tired of dying in a hospital without drugs and doctors. The hospital building is also collapsing, yet the council chairman appears unconcerned,” one of the protesters said.
The demonstrators also demanded the construction and rehabilitation of roads and drainage systems across the local government area.
Other demands included improved electricity supply, as well as greater transparency and accountability in the management of council funds.
The youths expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the council administration and vowed to sustain the protest until their demands were addressed.
A protest leader said, “We will continue this protest until the LGA does the needful for our people. Burutu deserves better. We pay taxes and deserve basic services.”
The protesters also appealed to the Delta State Government to urgently intervene, particularly in the healthcare sector, to alleviate what they described as the suffering of residents.
However, as of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the office of the council chairman.
As the 2027 Governorship election draws near, the heartbeat of Ndi Ebonyi are *sealing the deal for Anyichuks Odii*!
His records as a private citizen with no political appointment or contracts points to a candidate who lives determined life to change the People’s destiny. The records of a Nwifuru has shown that he’s not serious about governance, nor improving the lives of Ndi Ebonyi, hence the systematic shift to another candidate, and *ANYICHUKS ODII SEEMS TO BE THE BENEFICIARY*. The analysis points to a man who really cares, empathizes and will work to raise the hope and the realities the people expect.
His *Ebele & Anyichuks Foundation* has touched lives, built schools, provided houses for the underprivileged, provided scholarships for thousands, sponsor youths for sports training as well as various vocational trainings, and supported them with seed money, partnerd with farmers to expand their cultivation fields and supported them with millions to make their families more liveable.
*EBONYI WILL RISE WITH ANYICHUKS ODII*; no wonder the massive endorsements coming from all quarters; Igbo Groups and the Christian organizations because they have seen a man dedicated to their tomorrow.
Indeed the *Tomorrow of Ndi Ebonyi will rest in the arms of Anyichuks Odii*! Let’s not play it down.
Dr. Kenneth Okey Anozie
Political Strategist..
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