Crime
We achieved 80% success in fight against Boko Haram – Defence Minister
According to toMagashi, the armed forces achieved over 80 percent success in destroying Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency, banditry, and other criminality.
“Whether anybody likes it or not, the Armed forces have done the best that is possible to keep this country in the security situation we find ourselves in,” he said.
Speaking at a valedictory dinner in his honour and organized by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, Magashi said, “There is nothing that we have not done to keep this country together. In this period we achieved about 70 to 80 percent success and we will continue to do the same”.
“I think the President has given us all the tools necessary to enable us to perform our duties credibly”.
On the working relationship with the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs, he said, “I have come to understand that everything we do requires teamwork and when I joined the ministry, I found that there are lot of things that we were required to do.
“We needed synergy among the members of the armed forces and the ministry. I am proud to see that this has continued. I hope it will continue forever.
“You must continue to be soldiers and I am happy that we are doing what we ought to do for this country.
“We should give credit to the outgoing Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari for realising that there is a need for synergy among the armed forces and other security agencies.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana applauded the minister for providing leadership to the Armed Forces of Nigeria as well as the ministry.
“I must state here that working with Magashi brought peace to me personally and the ministry at large because the outgoing minister was a dependable man.
Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), speaking at the occasion celebrated the minister, adding that he is a man full of wisdom and is detailed who used these attributes to lead the Armed Forces.
Lt.-Gen. Farooq Yahaya, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), on his part, said the military cannot appreciate the minister enough for all he did for the army describing Magashi as a manager and a general who never failed to impact and impress.
“He has been with us to the theater in person several times, going through the details sometimes of our plans and giving very, very vital guides and comments that have helped to facilitate our operations and our activities.
“We remain grateful for everything you have done; we appreciate you, sir.
“We know what you have taught us, what you stood for. And now we are not surprised with what we have seen you do as the minister,” he said.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, in his remarks, said the outgoing minister was a resolute combatant officer, an accomplished administrator, and a dogged soldier.
He noted that Magashi was always keen and enthusiastic about the procedures and standards with which the Armed Forces conducted operations to curb the various security challenges.
”I always remember each time we stayed for meetings, the emphasis was always on due diligence and avoidance of certain precedents that will be harmful to the system.
“This he ensured through his tenure in office, which is not surprising, considering his background as a legal luminary and pursuance for adherence to global best practices as a way to further enhance effective security within the maritime domain for economic prosperity and national stability.
“Our distinguished special guest of honor ensured approval of establishments, additional basic and strategic locations to facilitate security within the inland waterways and adjoining oceans.
“These were geared towards enhanced national security for economic prosperity, which are too numerous to mention here.”
Also speaking, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, Chief of Air Staff said that the tenure of the minister had been that of selfless service to the nation.
He noted that the pragmatic leadership, assistance, and consistent transformation of the Nigerian Air Force by the minister had been
inspirational.
“The Nigerian Air Force received unprecedented equipment upgrade and capacity building, which has greatly improved the outcome of our operational engagement in our task of securing the nation.
“I need not remind us all that when the minister assumed office several years ago, the security situation of the nation was there and required urgent and highly strategic intervention.
“The minister accordingly deployed his experiential knowledge to direct the affairs of the nation’s defence. And today the story is different.
“There’s now relative calm and much-needed peace in most parts of the country. It is important to state that these achievements, which we have holistically talked about, were not accomplished without challenges.”
A young man suspected of attempting to steal cables from a transformer was found dead after reportedly being electrocuted along Trademore Road in Lugbe, Abuja, in the early hours of Friday.
The deceased was reportedly found crouched and lifeless near the transformer, with his body said to have become stiff, suggesting he may have been electrocuted when power was restored.
Residents said there had been no electricity supply in the area on Thursday night before the incident occurred.
The discovery attracted a crowd of residents, who expressed concern over the increasing activities of cable vandals in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Rasheed Ogunyemi, a resident of Iddo Seriki along the Airport Road, said residents in his area often contribute money to repair their transformer, only for vandals to return and cut the cables.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, stating that the deceased’s body had been evacuated and deposited at a mortuary in Gwagwalada for autopsy.
More than 60 worshippers are feared to have been kidnapped from the Central Mosque in Dekara town, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, during Jumu’at prayers on Friday.
The incident occurred when suspected terrorists, said to be operating in large numbers, stormed the mosque while the prayers were ongoing.
According to sources, the attackers fired several shots before rounding up some of the worshippers and taking them into the surrounding forest.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Borgu Local Government Area witnessed several security incidents on Friday, including attacks on three communities.
“So many things happened in Borgu LGA on Friday. Terrorists attacked three communities, including Dekara. In Dekara, they went to the Central Mosque while Jumu’at prayer was ongoing and kidnapped more than 60 people. But they did not injure anybody,” the resident said.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, has died after reportedly collapsing during a party reconciliation meeting in Iyara, the council headquarters.
Solomon reportedly slumped suddenly while participating in the meeting convened on Friday by a former Ijumu council chairman, Funsho Olumoko, as part of efforts to resolve internal disagreements and promote unity among APC stakeholders in the area.
An eyewitness said the incident caused confusion among participants, who immediately attempted to revive the party chairman before rushing him to a hospital in Kabba.
He reportedly died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The development shocked party leaders and other stakeholders who had gathered for the reconciliation meeting, which was aimed at strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting was expected to bring together party leaders, ward and local government executives, women and youth leaders, as well as government appointees from the 15 wards in Ijumu.
The incident occurred amid renewed efforts by APC stakeholders in the council to resolve longstanding disagreements and restore unity within the local chapter.
Earlier in the month, party leaders in Ijumu had endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, for second terms.
However, that gathering was reportedly disrupted by disagreements over the leadership of the local government, with Solomon and some other officials said to have walked out of the meeting.
Olumoko, who organised Friday’s reconciliation meeting, had previously been mandated by the Ijumu Consultative Forum to facilitate dialogue among political stakeholders in the council.
Solomon’s sudden death is expected to create fresh uncertainty around the ongoing reconciliation efforts within the Ijumu APC, coming barely two weeks after stakeholders renewed calls for unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
The cause of his death had not been officially disclosed as of the time of filing this report, while efforts to obtain an official reaction from the APC were ongoing.
Tension and grief have gripped the political community in Enugu State following the suspected murder of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairman in Udenu Local Government Area, Chisimdiri Emmanuel Ngwu.
Ngwu, described as one of the longest-serving members of the ADC in the state, was reportedly found dead in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, 2026, under circumstances that have raised concerns among his family, friends and political associates.
A family source told our correspondent that Ngwu woke up early on Wednesday, left the house and never returned alive.
The source said the family became worried after they noticed he was missing, only to later discover his lifeless body outside the compound.
“We woke up and didn’t see him, only to discover his lifeless body in front of our compound,” the source said.
The source further alleged that scratches were found around Ngwu’s neck and that his neck appeared to have been twisted backwards, raising suspicions about the circumstances of his death.
The incident has sparked concern within the ADC in Udenu and the wider political community in Enugu State, with calls for security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
Meanwhile, two persons have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident.
Their identities and the specific circumstances surrounding their arrest were not immediately known as of press time.
Ngwu’s death has since sent shock waves through the ADC, with party members and associates mourning his death and demanding a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder of a 56-year-old man, Mr Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area, two days after he was reported missing.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who said the breakthrough followed a coordinated search and investigation by police operatives, local vigilantes and members of the deceased’s family.
Madu was reported missing by his wife on August 18, after he reportedly left home on the evening of August 17 and failed to return.
According to the Command, the search for the missing man took a grim turn later that day when his wife returned to the police station to report that he had been found dead in a nearby bush at Umuobi, Awkuzu.
Police operatives immediately mobilised to the scene, where they found Madu’s lifeless body with a deep axe wound to his head. His remains were subsequently evacuated and deposited at a hospital mortuary for preservation.
Following the discovery, detectives intensified their investigation and arrested the deceased’s 32-year-old friend, Mr Ifeanyi Nwankwo, who allegedly confessed to being involved in the planning of the killing.
Preliminary findings by the Command indicated that Nwankwo allegedly obtained money from Madu through fraudulent means, claiming he would assist him in acquiring a piece of land.
Police alleged that the suspect subsequently engaged two other persons to eliminate Madu in an attempt to conceal the alleged fraudulent transaction and prevent the victim from recovering the money.
The Command said two other suspects linked to the alleged plot were also arrested, bringing the number of persons apprehended in connection with the case to four.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, psc, mnips, has directed investigators to intensify the probe and identify every person involved in the alleged conspiracy and murder.
The CP vowed that all persons found culpable would be brought to justice.
The Command, through Ikenga, assured residents that it would continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing and community partnerships to prevent violent crimes, uncover criminal networks and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.
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