Gambian Authorities Confirm Seven Dead, Scores Rescued After Migrant Boat Carrying Over 200 People Capsizes on Deadly Atlantic Route

Gambian authorities have confirmed that at least seven people died and 96 others were rescued after a boat carrying migrants capsized overnight, according to a statement from the country’s defence ministry. The vessel was reportedly transporting more than 200 migrants when the tragic incident occurred.

Officials said 10 of the rescued migrants were in critical condition and are currently receiving urgent medical treatment. Search and rescue operations led to the recovery of seven bodies, while fears remain that many others may still be missing.

The incident once again highlights the extreme dangers of the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, widely regarded as one of the deadliest migration corridors in the world. Thousands of African migrants attempt the journey each year in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats in search of better economic opportunities.

According to European Union data cited by Reuters, more than 46,000 irregular migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in 2024, the highest number ever recorded. Meanwhile, rights group Caminando Fronteras reported that over 10,000 people died attempting the crossing in the same year, representing a 58 percent increase compared with 2023.

The latest tragedy follows a similar deadly incident in August 2025, when at least 70 migrants were killed after a boat believed to have departed from Gambia capsized, one of the worst migrant boat disasters in recent years.

US Lawmaker Riley Moore Condemns ISWAP’s Fresh Threat Against Nigerian Christians After Adamawa Attack, Calls It Clear Religious Persecution

A United States lawmaker, Rep. Riley M. Moore of West Virginia, has strongly condemned a reported threat by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) against Christians in Nigeria, describing it as blatant religious persecution. Moore reacted to reports that ISWAP released an image of a Christian village in Adamawa State set ablaze, accompanied by a warning declaring Christians across Nigeria as “legitimate targets.”

In a statement shared on his official X account, Moore said the threat leaves no doubt that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted solely because of their faith. He rejected explanations that frame the violence as being driven by land disputes or climate-related factors, insisting it is persecution based on religion.

According to reports, ISWAP allegedly warned Christians to convert to Islam or face death, stating they could “spare their blood” by converting or paying the jizyah tax. Moore noted that such language mirrors tactics historically used by ISIS in other conflict zones around the world.

The congressman also praised ongoing cooperation between the United States and Nigeria in combating extremist violence, expressing support for efforts by the U.S. government to counter jihadist groups and protect vulnerable Christian communities.

Nigeria has endured years of attacks by Boko Haram and its ISWAP faction, particularly in the northeast, with rights groups repeatedly warning that Christian communities are disproportionately affected. Moore’s remarks add to growing international calls for stronger action and increased global attention to religious persecution and insecurity in Nigeria.

Mali and Burkina Faso Impose Travel Ban on US Citizens in Retaliation Against Trump’s Expanded Travel Restrictions, Citing Reciprocity and Sovereignty

Mali and Burkina Faso have announced a travel ban on United States citizens in direct response to President Donald Trump’s expanded travel restrictions that placed both West African countries on a full no-entry list. The two military-led nations said the decision was based on the principle of reciprocity, with Burkina Faso’s foreign minister stressing fairness, while Mali emphasized mutual respect and sovereign equality. Mali also expressed regret that the US decision was taken without prior consultation. The move follows a similar ban imposed by neighbouring Niger, as the three junta-led states deepen regional cooperation and increasingly align with Russia amid strained relations with Western powers. The development comes against the backdrop of broader US immigration suspensions affecting multiple countries, which Washington says are driven by national security concerns.

Toyin Abraham Talks Big About ‘Oversabi Aunty’ as Movie Grosses ₦382m in 11 Days, While Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ Smashes ₦1bn Box Office Record

Nollywood actress and producer Toyin Abraham has sparked conversations online after confidently celebrating the success of her new movie, Oversabi Aunty, at a time when Funke Akindele’s latest film, Behind The Scenes, is dominating headlines for crossing the ₦1 billion box office mark in just weeks. Taking to Instagram, Toyin revealed that Oversabi Aunty has grossed ₦382,897,436 in only 11 days, describing the achievement as a major personal milestone compared to her previous films, which took about three weeks to reach similar figures. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to God and her fans, urging Nigerians to continue supporting the movie in cinemas nationwide.
Meanwhile, Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes, distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, has officially become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025 and the fastest in West Africa to hit ₦1 billion. The movie reportedly broke multiple opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever on Boxing Day with ₦129.5 million. Reacting to the milestone, Akindele thanked her fans, colleagues, distributors, cast, and crew, noting that the film’s success is a collective achievement. The movie now joins her elite list of billion-naira films, alongside A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa, further cementing her status as Nollywood’s box office queen.

Scholars and Activists Hold Special Dialogue on US Christmas Airstrikes in Nigeria, Debate Foreign Military Intervention, Sovereignty, and Security Implications

Civil society groups and scholars convened a special dialogue to examine the implications of recent US airstrikes in Nigeria, raising concerns about foreign military involvement, national sovereignty, and long-term security. The event, titled “US Airstrikes in Nigeria: The Politics of Protection and the Future of Security in Nigeria,” was organized by the Conflict Research Network (CORN) West Africa and The Africa TADLab Disruptions.
Professor Mojubaolu O. Okome, chairing the session, argued that US intervention aligns with broader American strategic interests, including control of resources, rather than Nigeria’s security needs. She warned of potential collateral damage and the long-term entrenchment of foreign military presence. Other participants debated the moral and strategic implications, with some cautioning that military action could instill fear among civilians, while others highlighted the challenges of opposing foreign intervention in protecting Nigerian citizens.
The dialogue aimed to foster critical reflection on foreign military engagement in Nigeria and its potential consequences as the country grapples with widespread insecurity.

US Resumes Surveillance Flights Over North-East Nigeria After Sokoto Airstrikes

The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over Nigeria’s north-east, focusing on militant activity in the Sambisa Forest, days after airstrikes on ISIS fighters in Sokoto State.

The development was disclosed on Saturday by Sahel-focused t+rrorism tracker Brant Philip, who shared flight-tracking data showing a US aircraft operating over Borno State. According to the data, the aircraft was a Gulfstream V — a long-range jet often modified for ISR missions.

“The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa forest, Borno State in northeast Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,” Philip wrote on X. He explained that Saturday’s operation targeted the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the ISIS affiliate active mainly in Nigeria’s north-east and the Lake Chad basin.

Flight-tracking records reviewed by open-source analysts show that the US began its current ISR missions over Nigeria on November 24, with aircraft taking off from Ghana, a key logistics hub for the American military in West Africa.

The same aircraft, linked to Tenax Aerospace, a US special mission aircraft provider, has reportedly flown over Nigeria almost daily since then. Sources familiar with the operation said the flights are aimed at monitoring militant groups and tracking an American pilot k+dnapped in neighbouring Niger Republic.

The renewed US activity comes weeks after Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington amid tensions over President Donald Trump’s threats of military intervention.

Following the meeting, Hegseth said the US would work “aggressively” with Nigeria to end what he described as the “persecution of Christians by jihadist t+rrorists.”

Thursday night’s airstrikes in North-West Nigeria, reportedly targeting ISIS-linked militants, were described by Trump as the “first fulfillment” of that pledge. “More str+kes would follow,” the US President warned.

Nigeria Can Now Purchase US Military Hardware as Washington Relaxes Leahy Law Restrictions – Foreign Minister Tuggar

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has confirmed that the country can now purchase military hardware from the United States following a relaxation of restrictions linked to the US Leahy Law. Speaking on Channels Television, Tuggar described the move as a major shift in Nigeria–US security cooperation after years of limitations imposed over human rights concerns. While welcoming the development, he cautioned that affordability remains a key challenge for Nigeria’s defence upgrades. The minister also blamed past foreign interventions, particularly NATO’s role in Libya and the killing of Muammar Gaddafi, for worsening insecurity across West Africa through the spread of fighters and weapons. Tuggar stressed that Nigeria’s security crisis should be addressed as a regional conflict rather than a purely domestic or religious issue.

US Conducts Surveillance Flights Over Nigeria After Trump’s Military Threat, Targets Boko Haram, ISWAP Amid Rising Insecurity

The United States has reportedly been carrying out intelligence and surveillance flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November 2025, following former President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military intervention over escalating violence and alleged attacks on Christian communities. Flight tracking data shows that contractor-operated aircraft linked to Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace have been flying almost daily from Ghana into Nigerian airspace to gather intelligence. U.S. officials say the missions are focused on tracking militant groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as monitoring a kidnapped American pilot. The operations signal renewed U.S.–Nigeria security cooperation amid worsening insecurity, although both governments have declined to publicly disclose details due to diplomatic sensitivities.

WHEN A TERRORIST TESTIFIES BEFORE THE WORLD:

BELLO TURJI SPEAKS, AND NIGERIA STANDS ACCUSED

By
Sa'adiyyah Adebisi Hassan

What does it mean when a country’s Minister of Defence becomes the subject of a public rebuttal by a self-confessed terrorist?

What do we call a nation where a mass murderer feels confident enough to issue a sermon, clarify figures, confirm negotiations, and invoke God while the state watches in silence?

Nigeria no longer needs analysts.
Nigeria now has testimony.

FULL STATEMENT BY BELLO TURJI (UNEDITED, QUOTED IN FULL)

Bello Turji, a globally wanted terrorist leader responsible for mass killings, kidnappings, and terror across Nigeria’s North-West, released a video message. Below is his statement quoted word for word, from A to Z, as spoken:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

People of the world, I greet you with the Islamic greeting: Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

My Muslim brothers and sisters in Nigeria and across West Africa, I wish you well. I do not need to mention my name, everyone knows who I am. I am Muhammad Bello Turji.

We make demands on the government, and if the government listens and changes its ways, by Allah, there will be peace. But if the government refuses, then by Allah, you know who I am. I am Bello Turji.

I am here to send a message to those who have turned our lives in Nigeria into dust. They keep killing us, and they keep arguing among themselves, blaming one another for what is happening.

I listened to the confession of Musa Kamarawa, who does not know what he is doing. This same Musa is claiming he has evidence, especially after Matawalle sued the cleric Murtala Asada.

Musa Kamarawa, by your own words you have now admitted that you are a terrorist like us. Yes, I agree that the Zamfara State Government under Matawalle asked you to act as an intermediary between us and the government in order to negotiate peace. But about three percent of what you are saying is a lie.

You claimed that we came to the Government House and that Matawalle gave me ₦30 million. I swear by Allah, since the day I was born, Matawalle has never given me even ₦5 million. I am not here to defend Matawalle.

In this world, the person I hate most is Matawalle. During his tenure as governor, there was a day when we buried 70 people - men, women, and children - killed by a bomb blast. It was also during his tenure that my father was unjustly arrested and sent to prison. You know this very well. So tell me, how can I love Matawalle?

However, I will not allow you to use my name to defame someone or lie against anyone. Yes, during Matawalle’s era, negotiations took place. Anything you say, I can defend myself alongside the late Kachalla Halilu, who is no longer alive.

Musa, you are a hypocrite. You claimed Matawalle gave us ₦30 million - were you the one who held the money? I am a witness. Morsidi and I went to see Matawalle, but he did not give me even ₦3 million. I swear to Allah.

You also spoke about dusa. The dusa was given after negotiations, when we agreed to stop killing and the government also agreed to stop killing us. Your committee was given the responsibility to buy the dusa, at ₦650,000 per bag.

Musa, you do not fear Allah. You are a bad person. Even if Matawalle is killed today and only you are left, you will not live forever. Fear Allah, Musa Kamarawa. Fear Allah.

If terrorists are truly what the authorities are looking for, then they should arrest your godfathers - the former governor of Sokoto State and Yarima. We have heard that what is happening in Zamfara and Sokoto began with them. Were they not the ones who destroyed Fulani houses? Were they not the ones who created local vigilante groups to kill Fulani people?

Musa Kamarawa, you know me and I know you. The house you live in, in Isa Local Government - about one kilometre away - was it not your godfather who bought Fulani settlements and cleared them? Yet you still ask who brought trouble to Zamfara? Your godfathers are the source.

Subhanallahi, wa iyyazu billahi.

Before Matawalle became governor - during Shehi’s era - who then was sponsoring us ? We come from Rabbil ‘Alamin, from Almighty Allah. No one is bankrolling us.

If you are attempting blackmail, know this: no one can use us for politics. We have nothing to do with politicians. No one can use me to blackmail anyone.

Matawalle cheated me, and I leave him to Rabbil ‘Alamin.”

That is the full statement.
Nothing added. Nothing removed.

WHAT THIS CONFESSION ACTUALLY MEANS

Strip away the religious language and personal grudges, and what remains is devastating:

1. A terrorist publicly admits to negotiations with a state government.

2. He confirms intermediaries were officially used.

3. He confirms material items (“dusa”) were provided after negotiations.

4. He disputes amounts - not the act itself.

This is not denial.
This is damage control between criminals and power.

INTERNATIONAL LAW: THIS IS TERRORISM FINANCING - FULL STOP

Under international law, none of this is ambiguous.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373

Criminalizes:

Direct or indirect support to terrorist groups

Provision of funds, goods, food, or logistics

Negotiations that involve material benefit

There is no “peace talks” exception when:

terrorists remain armed,

no formal disarmament occurs,

and killings continue.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Defines terrorism financing as:

“The provision or collection of funds or assets, directly or indirectly, with the intention or knowledge that they be used by a terrorist organisation.”

Food, vehicles, cash, livestock feed - all qualify as assets.

Comparative Reality

In Colombia, officials went to prison for negotiating with FARC.

In Italy, governments collapsed over mafia talks.

In Pakistan, ministers were removed for “contacts.”

In France or the UK, a defence official would be suspended within hours.

In Nigeria, a terrorist clarifies the deal on video.

THE MOST DAMNING PART: THE CONFIDENCE

Bello Turji did not hide. He did not run. He did not whisper.

He spoke calmly. He invoked God. He corrected records. He warned others.

That confidence is not accidental.

It comes from a system that has lost its fear of law.

THIS IS STATE FAILURE IN REAL TIME

This is no longer about politics. Not about parties. Not about religion.

This is about whether Nigeria still qualifies as a sovereign state under international norms.

When terrorists speak like insiders,
when defence officials remain untouched,
when confessions meet silence,

the world draws its own conclusions.

Nigeria is crying and the evidence is speaking for itself.

Troops of Sector 2 of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force intercepted two pickup vans conveying assorted items suspected to be logistics supplies for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the interception followed credible human intelligence indicating the movement of the items from Dapchi through the Magumeri general area.

According to the source, the troops intercepted the vehicles during the operation and took the drivers into custody for further interrogation.

Items recovered from the two vehicles included 31 spare tyres, 23 spare rims, two bicycles, 12 key starters, three alternators, two bags of flour, one mattress, five bags of charcoal, 34 tubers of yam, two blankets, nylon bags containing garri, adult and children clothing, one power bank, six mobile phones and a cash sum of N92,600.

The source added that the vehicles and recovered items were currently in custody, while investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement and possible links to ISWAP logistics networks.

The troops, the source said, remained committed to disrupting the movement of supplies to terrorist groups and maintaining pressure on criminal elements across the area of responsibility.

Freed Nigerian Air Force Officer Attributes Emergency Landing in Burkina Faso to Technical Fault

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officer, one of 11 personnel recently detained in Burkina Faso, confirmed that their aircraft made an emergency landing in the West African country due to a technical fault, not a hostile act. The aircraft, en route to Portugal, was successfully repaired, allowing operations to continue. The soldiers were released following high-level diplomatic intervention led by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, conveying a message from President Bola Tinubu. Discussions with Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, focused on technical assistance, regional security, and cooperation, easing a potential diplomatic standoff.

Nigeria to Acquire 24 Italian Fighter Jets in €1.2 Billion Deal, Largest in West Africa

Nigeria has signed a €1.2 billion agreement with Italian aerospace giant Leonardo S.p.A. to purchase 24 M-346FA light fighter aircraft, marking the largest military jet procurement in West Africa. The deal includes aircraft delivery, maintenance, logistics, and long-term technical support, as part of Nigeria’s ongoing military modernisation program. Analysts say the acquisition aims to strengthen aerial surveillance, precision strike capabilities, and overall combat readiness amid escalating insurgency, banditry, and communal violence across the country. This strategic shift toward Italian defence suppliers also signals Nigeria’s intention to diversify arms procurement while addressing regional security challenges.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the purchase of 24 advanced M-346FA fighter jets worth €1.2 billion, the largest single military aircraft deal in West African history.

The first 3 jets arrive in early 2025, with the full fleet operational by mid-2026. This isn’t cosmetic power ohh, it’s modern air combat capability, surveillance, and precision strike rolled into one.

68th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS
The 68th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is being held today, Sunday, December 14, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The summit is chaired by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who serves as the current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The summit brings together leaders from member states to address critical regional issues, building on preparatory meetings held earlier in the week.
Several West African heads of state have arrived in Abuja for the session, including President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, and President Adama Barrow of The Gambia.
Key agenda items include discussions on the future of the ECOWAS Community, presentation of the 2025 Annual Report on the State of the Community, updates on regional security and mediation efforts, progress on the political transition in Guinea, and a review of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

BREAKING NEWS: Burkina Faso Official Warns Nigeria: "Do Your Worst - We're Ready for Any Showdown".

Tensions have reached a boiling point as Burkina Faso continues to hold eleven Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew members more than 48 hours after detaining the NAF C-130 aircraft.

What began as a diplomatic disagreement has now spiralled into a direct challenge to regional cooperation, international aviation protocols, and long-standing military norms.

Nigerian authorities are reportedly alarmed, while a senior Burkinabé official's defiant statement has intensified fears of a broader diplomatic clash between the two West African nations.

BREAKING : Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has issued a powerful statement that is already sparking intense debate across Africa and beyond.

“It’s not terror!sm, it’s imperialism. Their objective is to keep us in a permanent w@r, prevent us from developing, and continue to exploit our resources.”

Traoré’s words point to a deeper accusation — that insecurity in parts of Africa is being weapon!zed to weaken nations, stall development, and maintain control over natural resources. He also criticized some West African coastal leaders, accusing them of buying into these arrangements just to remain in power, even at the cost of regional sovereignty.

This statement adds fuel to growing conversations about foreign influence, resource control, and leadership choices in West Africa at a time when many citizens are demanding true independence and security.

Do you agree with Ibrahim Traoré — is insecurity in Africa about terror!sm, or is it something deeper?

SHARE this post so more voices join the discussion.

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Troops of the Nigerian army have repelled a failed attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari in Borno State, neutralising two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and recovering arms and other items during a follow-up operation.

Sources told Nigerian Military Gallery on Saturday that the terrorists attempted to attack the base but were thwarted, with several of them killed and others wounded.

The sources said that the terrorists evacuating their dead and injured after the failed assault.

According to the sources, at about 6:10 a.m. on Friday, troops of Sector 3 Stabilisation Operation, supported by the Theatre Command Quick Reaction Force, the Nigeria Police crack team and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), conducted an exploitation operation in the area.

“During the exploitation, troops discovered several terrorist corpses and recovered assorted items, including five motorcycles, two Android phones, AK-47 rifles, a belt containing 165 rounds of PKT ammunition, five AK-47 magazines loaded with 30 rounds each, and 59 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” the sources said.

The sources added that other items recovered included blankets, a hand grenade, a combat boot, a flak jacket, plastic bottles containing engine oil, a stretcher, a wristwatch, a camel bag, spinners and a motorcycle pump.

The sources further disclosed that the two VBIEDs used in the attack were destroyed by troops using SHILKA firepower, resulting in significant damage to the road at two separate points.

“No casualty was recorded on the side of the troops. They remain dominant and have continued fighting patrols to secure the general area,” the sources added.

Nigerians, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is about to hand our taxes and economic data to France.

Yesterday, December 10, the FIRS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with France’s tax authority at the French Embassy in Abuja.

France will provide AI audits, automated compliance, real-time analytics, and cybersecurity tools. In return, Nigeria will share insights from our digital economy and tax system, including international taxation issues like transfer pricing, profit shifting, and multinational compliance.

The government claims no raw taxpayer files will leave the country, but sensitive aggregated data will.

The truth is, this data can reveal key financial patterns and give France visibility into our economy. Once it leaves, we can’t get it back, putting our national economic sovereignty at risk.

France has been losing influence across West Africa, with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger pushing back. Now, while those doors close, Nigeria appears ready to open a new one, putting our fiscal independence at risk.

This MoU could compromise our control over our revenue system, expose sensitive economic data, and weaken Nigeria’s fiscal independence. We are big enough to manage our own tax system and employ our own experts.

This deal should be paused or renegotiated to protect Nigerian taxpayers and safeguard the sovereignty of our economy.

Nigeria, Benin Foreign Ministers Meet in Abuja, Address Failed Coup and Regional Security Threats

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakar, met at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja to discuss the recent failed coup attempt in Benin and rising security challenges across West Africa. Both ministers emphasized the need for deeper regional cooperation, with Tuggar noting that much of Nigeria’s insecurity stems from external influences. Benin’s minister confirmed that Nigerian military support was sought to neutralize coup plotters positioned in sensitive locations, praising the swift response that helped restore order. The two nations called for a standby regional force to counter future destabilisation attempts, while authorities continue hunting the coup leader, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri.


#RegionalSecurity

#ECOWAS

#BeninCoup

Guinea-Bissau’s opposition is urging ECOWAS to intervene to protect the country’s democracy.

They are calling for the same kind of involvement the bloc showed recently in Benin.

Rising political tensions have sparked worries about the state of democratic institutions.

Opposition leaders warn that without ECOWAS action, those institutions could be undermined.

The regional organization has a record of mediating governance issues across West Africa,
and supporters hope it will step in to help preserve peace and stability.