Nigerian Military Arrests Shariff Umar, Alleged Mastermind of North-East Suicide Bombings Including Deadly Maiduguri Mosque Attack

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have arrested Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, identified as the key coordinator of a suicide bombing network responsible for multiple attacks and attempted attacks across Nigeria’s North-East region, including the Maiduguri mosque bombing. The arrest followed intelligence-driven cordon-and-search operations carried out in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025.

According to a military statement, 14 suspects linked to suicide bombing activities were apprehended during the operation. Investigations revealed that Umar played a central role in recruiting, preparing, and deploying suicide bombers, as well as coordinating logistics and supplying improvised explosive device (IED) components. A detained suspect, Ibrahim Muhammad, reportedly identified Umar as the ringleader of the terror cell.

The military said Umar directly coordinated the December 24, 2025, suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque, where the attacker detonated a suicide vest and died. He was also linked to a foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, having allegedly handed over IED materials to the intended bomber in Maiduguri. Further investigations implicated Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, while his stepdaughter confirmed seeing the suspected bomber at their residence prior to the attack.

The Nigerian Army said all suspects remain in custody and are undergoing intensive interrogation to dismantle the network, uncover additional collaborators, and recover remaining explosives. The military emphasised the importance of community cooperation, noting that terrorist networks often survive by hiding within civilian populations, and urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

Many Young Americans “Too Fat or Too Stupid” to Join Military, Says Pentagon Chief
December 19, 2025

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, caused controversy by claiming that a significant number of young Americans are unable to qualify for military service due to being “too fat or too stupid,” citing factors like poor education, criminal records, and medical conditions such as ADHD. He made the remarks during a speech praising military recruiters for achieving “historic recruiting numbers.”

Hegseth emphasized that the military should return “to the basics” and focus on core values such as accountability, discipline, meritocracy, readiness, and lethality, rejecting diversity quotas and appearance-based considerations. He introduced the “Department of War Golden Rule,” urging commanders to treat troops as they would want their own children treated.

He also announced a $1,776 “warrior dividend” for about 1.45 million service members and reservists as a token of gratitude. Hegseth concluded by thanking recruiters and their families, praising their role in building a strong military.

SWEDEN'S GANGS ARE RECRUITING 14-YEAR-OLDS TO THROW GRENADES FOR $4,800 - AND THE LAW CAN'T TOUCH THEM

Three Swedish girls - aged 14, 16, and 17 - threw three hand grenades at residential buildings in Gothenburg. One exploded outside an apartment. Two didn't. They got paid 45,000 kronor each. That's $4,800.

The 14-year-old organized it. She was recruited online by "SuperMario," a Foxtrot gang member operating from abroad. She recruited the 16-year-old. The 17-year-old carried the grenades in her handbag. They took a train, threw the grenades, went home, and withdrew the cash from ATMs. Police caught them via DNA on the unexploded grenades.

All three admitted it. The two older girls are on trial. The 14-year-old? She's below Sweden's age of criminal responsibility. She gets an "evidentiary hearing" and walks.

This isn't an isolated incident - it's Swedish gang warfare's new business model. Last year, 280 girls aged 15-17 were charged with murder, manslaughter, or violent crimes. Children as young as 11 are being recruited for contract killings. The going rate for throwing a grenade is 50,000 kronor. For murder, it's 100,000 to 800,000 depending on the target.

Sweden has the highest per capita gun violence rate in the EU. Hand grenade attacks are near-daily occurrences - surplus Yugoslav War munitions smuggled from the Balkans. Three criminal networks (Foxtrot, Dalen, Rumba) control nearly half of all gang violence resulting in death or injury.

Their leaders? Operating from Turkey, Iran, and Mexico. Rawa "Kurdish Fox" Majid runs Foxtrot from Turkey after being detained and released by Iran. Mossad claims he's working with Iranian intelligence to attack Israeli targets in Stockholm. Mikael "The Greek" Tenezos runs Dalen from Mexico. They recruit children via encrypted apps because Swedish law can't prosecute anyone under 15.

The Swedish government just announced they're building special youth prisons for 13- and 14-year-olds. They're lowering the age of criminal responsibility because the legal loophole has turned Sweden's children into the perfect disposable soldiers for transnational crime networks.

Police found text conversations between gang handlers and child recruits. "Shooter needed NOW NOW NOW. EVERYTHING READY. Housing, travel, you just have to go. 800,000." Another: "Denmark 500k, head shot 500k, throw a grenade 200k, Sweden murder 100k."

Sweden was the low-crime Scandinavian model. Now it has nine times more deadly shootings than Norway, Denmark, and Finland combined. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson admitted his government has "lost control over organised-crime violence."

Three teenage girls just got paid to throw grenades at apartment buildings. The youngest one can't be prosecuted. And somewhere abroad, "SuperMario" is still recruiting.

Source: Aftonbladet, CBS News, Al Jazeera

Police Escort Withdrawal: Pres. Tinubu Should Be Held Responsible If Anything Happens to A Lawmaker — Rep. Jimbo Says

House of Representatives member Clement Jimbo has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police security from VIPs, warning it exposes lawmakers and politicians to greater d+nger.

Speaking on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief, the Akwa Ibom lawmaker said the order puts legislators—especially those from the North—at heightened risk. “You are further exposing them to insecurity, and their lives could be in d+nger,” he said.

Jimbo, an APC member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, argued that the government’s primary duty is the security and welfare of citizens, citing Sections 12 and 14 of the Constitution. “If the federal government is failing in this constitutional provision and anything happens to a lawmaker as a result of this directive, Mr President should be held accountable,” he said.

He urged President Tinubu to reverse the order immediately and instead formalise the security arrangement to generate national revenue. Jimbo suggested recruiting at least 15,000 youths into the police or creating a private security unit dedicated to VIP protection. “Those of us that have this security personnel around us are not free. We pay for it,” he added, arguing that Nigeria could earn “a minimum of N20 trillion annually” from regulated VIP security services.

Jimbo also rejected the idea that only politicians are VIPs. “Every single Nigerian is a VIP,” he said, insisting that anyone who needs protection should have the right to hire security personnel. President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police from VIPs on 23 November. The Special Protection Unit has begun implementation after an audit revealed 11,566 officers assigned to VIP duty.

Although the Senate has appealed for an exemption, Tinubu maintained that the redeployment is “not negotiable,” directing the NSA, Minister of Police Affairs, and IGP to enforce compliance. He stressed that police officers must serve the general public, particularly the most vulnerable—not a select group of VIPs.

New ISIS leader Abdul Qadir Mumin ran terror operations from a cave in Somalia after preaching in UK mosques for years.

Mumin, an orange-bearded and elusive terrorist, now commands ISIS forces from Puntland as the operational head of ISIS' General Directorate of the Provinces (GDP), which coordinates the activities of ISIS branches across the world.

Born in Somalia in the 1950s, he fled the civil war, living in a Somali area in Gothenburg, Sweden, before moving to the UK around 2000.

There, he preached at Quba Mosque in Leicester and Greenwich Mosque in London, recruiting young Britons to join Islamist terrorist groups in Somalia.

He crossed paths with notorious terrorists, including infamous Jihadi John and Lee Rigby's murderer Michael Adebolajo. Mumin left the UK in 2010, abandoning his wife and three children, who remain in Slough with no contact.

"We have not seen or heard from him in more than 10 years. We have nothing to do with him. The kids know who he is, but they don't have any contact with him either."

After returning to Somalia, he pledged allegiance to al-Shabaab, then defected to ISIS in 2015, growing its Somalian cell from 30 to around 1,200 fighters by 2024.

Somali and US forces have hunted Mumin since early 2025. Airstrikes on Puntland caves several weeks ago killed several, but Mumin remains at large.

Mumin's new position has drawn criticism from other jihadists, who claim that only an Arab descendent of Prophet Muhammed from the Quraysh tribe, can take the role as leader. They argue that Mumin's African roots disqualify him from being the leader of ISIS.

Nigeria Must Combine AI, Drones and Local Intelligence to Defeat Terrorism – Prof. Celestine Iwendi

Professor Celestine Iwendi of the University of Greater Manchester says Nigeria must adopt a hybrid security strategy that merges artificial intelligence, drones, and community-based intelligence to effectively combat rising terrorism, kidnappings, and banditry. He emphasises that conventional military tactics alone are insufficient and calls for retraining the military in guerrilla warfare, recruiting local defenders, and building secure data-driven systems to predict and prevent attacks. Iwendi also highlights the importance of collaboration with research institutions to strengthen national security capacity.

South African Radio Presenter Arrested for Allegedly Recruiting Fighters for Russia’s War in Ukraine



South African radio presenter Nonkululeko Mantula, 39, has been arrested for allegedly recruiting men to join the Russian army in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Police apprehended her along with four men she reportedly arranged to send to Russia, three of whom were detained at an airport before departure. Authorities said it is illegal for South Africans to enlist in a foreign army without government approval. Mantula, a presenter at SAFM, remains in custody as investigations widen, including a separate probe involving Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, who is accused of deceiving 17 South African men into travelling to Russia under false pretences. The South African government has received distress calls from the recruits, who claim they were forced to fight and had their documents confiscated. Officials say they are working with international partners to repatriate the victims and warn citizens to be wary of misleading job and study offers linked to Russia.

It’s not the Army that is responsible for recruiting people into the Nigerian military; we only select from the list provided by the state.”

"Stop Using Unemployed Youths to Disrupt Elections" — Sen. Oshiomhole Warns Politicians.

Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged politicians and lawmakers to stop recruiting unemployed youths to disrupt elections, warning that such practices fuel post-election insecurity.

Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary, the former Edo State governor said violence has no place in democracy and blamed political actors for empowering thugs during elections.

“After every election, violent crimes rise because politicians who armed hungry youths can’t retrieve the weapons. Those arms are then used for robbery and other crimes,” he said.

Oshiomhole recalled warning fellow governors years ago that AK-47 rifles were not items just anyone could afford, implying that only influential figures could sponsor electoral violence.

He emphasized the need for sincerity among politicians, urging them to allow Nigerians to “hire and fire without fear” through credible elections. “If we truly commit to eliminating violence, we will have free, fair, and transparent elections,” he said.

The senator added that the true beauty of democracy lies not in holding office but in earning the people’s trust. “If you rig or manipulate elections, deep in your heart, you know you’re not a happy person,” he noted.

Oshiomhole also cautioned against conducting presidential, governorship, and National Assembly elections on the same day and called for vigilance against hackers as Nigeria deepens its use of election technology.

He concluded, “We, as senators and elected officials, must resolve never to arm or use unemployed youths to disrupt elections. Once we stop that, 90 percent of our electoral problems will be solved.”

URGENT JOB VACANCY !

We are recruiting for the role of a Social Media/Communications Officer.

Location: Ogere, Ogun State.

Ideal candidate should have about 3 - 5years similar experience. You should be able to handle social media pages, basic knowledge of graphic design, online and offline social media campaigns.

CVs should be sent to strategichireafricaconsulting@gmail.com with the subject title, "Social Media/Communications Officer. "

Please rebroadcast.

Thank you.

Identifying Key Strategy Consulting Market Restraints

Despite the market's strong growth and prestigious reputation, the industry is not without its significant Strategy Consulting Market Restraints that can temper its growth and create challenges for both firms and their clients. The most significant and persistent restraint is the extremely high cost of services, which can be a major barrier to entry for a large portion of the market. The elite strategy consulting firms command fees that can run into the millions of dollars for a single project. This is a direct result of their high-cost business model, which is built on recruiting and retaining top-tier talent with very high salaries, maintaining expensive offices in major global cities, and significant investments in research and intellectual property development. While large, multinational corporations can often justify this expense for their most critical strategic issues, the high price point effectively excludes a vast number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and even some mid-market companies from accessing these premium services. This cost barrier is a major restraint that limits the total addressable market and can lead to a perception of the industry as being elitist and inaccessible.

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/strategy-consulting-market-6980

‎Ready to Japa?: Six European countries rolling out easy work visas for Nigerians, others.
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‎In today's increasingly global job market, more professionals are looking to relocate for better career opportunities, quality of life, or international experience.
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‎However, the immigration process, especially when it comes to obtaining a work visa, can be complex, slow, and frustrating. That’s why choosing a destination with a streamlined visa system can make all the difference.
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‎Fortunately, several countries have recognised the value of foreign talent and have taken steps to simplify the process for international workers.
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‎Whether you're in tech, healthcare, finance, or skilled trades, these six nations stand out in 2025 for their efficient and accessible work visa procedures.
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‎1. Estonia
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‎Estonia continues to lead in digital innovation, and that includes immigration. The country has one of Europe’s most tech-friendly visa systems, making it especially attractive for remote workers and professionals in IT.
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‎With relatively low application volumes and a user-friendly digital platform for work permit applications, non-EU workers can obtain the necessary documents quickly once they have a job offer.
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‎2. Lithuania
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‎Lithuania is actively working to attract international professionals to fill gaps in its labour market. The country offers fast-track options for high-demand fields like IT, engineering, logistics, and manufacturing.
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‎Most applicants will need to secure a job offer first, but once that’s in place, the visa process is typically swift and straightforward.
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‎3. Iceland
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‎Though small in population, Iceland offers big opportunities, particularly in tourism, healthcare, and construction.
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‎The country’s immigration framework is transparent, and because there’s high demand for skilled foreign labour, your chances of approval are good. Iceland’s strong labour protections and high standard of living also make it an appealing place to work and live.
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‎4. Latvia
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‎Latvia has emerged as a low-cost, high-opportunity gateway into Europe for foreign workers.
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‎The visa process is simplified for those who already have employment lined up, and the country is known for its reasonable cost of living, strong public services, and increasing demand for skilled labour across industries.
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‎5. Slovakia
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‎Slovakia, a member of the Schengen Zone, offers a “single permit” that combines a work visa with temporary residency, reducing red tape for foreign professionals.
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‎The country is actively recruiting international workers in sectors like manufacturing, tech, and healthcare. Its central location in Europe and affordable living costs add to its appeal.
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‎6. Luxembourg
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‎Small but economically powerful, Luxembourg is ideal for professionals in finance, IT, and law. The country offers competitive salaries and a fast-tracked work visa process for in-demand skills. While the cost of living is high, so is the quality of life, making it a strong option for career-driven expats.
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‎If you're considering relocating for work, focusing on countries with efficient visa processes can save you time, money, and stress.
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