Author: Maryam Sulaiman

A military installation in Mairari, located within the Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, was targeted in a late-night assault by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, leading to fears of several military casualties. The heavy engagement began in the early hours of Wednesday and lasted for over two hours. While official details remain limited, local sources report that the intense shootout resulted in losses on both sides. Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area, Umar Sheriff, noted that the insurgents deliberately targeted the armed forces rather than local residents. He said, “The incident occurred this morning around…

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has pledged that the performance and conduct of police personnel throughout the 2027 general elections will fill citizens with pride and satisfaction. He delivered these assurances while addressing news correspondents following the launch of The Origin of Women in Nigeria Police Force. The publication was authored by 96-year-old retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Dame Stella Okuyiga, who stands as one of the original 20 pioneer female officers to join the institution. Addressing inquiries concerning the operational strategy of the police for the 2027 polls, the police chief highlighted that high-level operational meetings with state commissioners…

The International Monetary Fund has cautioned the Nigerian government against reintroducing a widespread petrol subsidy, advising instead that targeted relief be directed toward vulnerable households to lessen the burden of escalating energy costs. According to the Fund, blanket fuel subsidies carry a heavy financial burden, disproportionately benefit higher-income demographics, and intensify fiscal pressures, particularly in an environment of increasing borrowing costs. Rodrigo Valdés, Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, shared these insights during a Fiscal Monitor press briefing at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Bangkok. Addressing concerns about allowing energy prices to reflect market…

The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg has called for a thorough investigation into the death of Nigerian national Odueze Chimezie Odueze, allegedly tortured by South African police officers in Cape Town. In a press statement dated October 13, 2026, Consul General Ninikanwa O. Okey-Uche said Odueze died on October 9 in the Parklands area of Cape Town. The consulate said the deceased was reportedly arrested at a shopping centre on suspicion of drug possession and taken to his residence for a search, where no drugs were found. It alleged that he was subjected to torture despite the search yielding no…

Mauritius, Seychelles, and Botswana have emerged as the top free-market economies in Africa, based on a newly released global evaluation cited by Agence Ecofin. The Global Capitalism Index, produced by academic experts at the University of Virginia in the United States, analyzed economic and structural metrics across 161 nations using data gathered from 2009 through 2025 to gauge market system performance. The index evaluates key pillars such as the health of national banking institutions, the state of open market competition, and the unhindered movement of foreign goods and investment. The report’s authors describe capitalism as “a system that privileges the…

Ahead of the release of its flagship World Economic Outlook in Bangkok, the International Monetary Fund presents a narrative of overall stability. Beneath these projections, however, lies an intense dispute regarding sub-Saharan Africa’s escalating debt obligations, mandated austerity programs, and the steep economic toll inflicted on everyday citizens. Although the IMF projects economic expansion in sub-Saharan Africa to stay above four percent, the optimistic metric masks a worsening liquidity dilemma. A vast portion of public funds across the continent is diverted to foreign lenders, with debt service payments devouring between 30 and 50 percent of tax revenue in several nations.…

Sagal Abdi-Wali, a 42-year-old Somali-born politician, officially became London’s newest member of parliament on Monday after being sworn into Britain’s House of Commons. Representing the central London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, Abdi-Wali won the recent by-election to fill the seat previously held by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Arriving in the United Kingdom as a child refugee, Abdi-Wali built her career in the London borough of Camden. Prior to becoming the local council leader, she dedicated years to working with area charities and educational institutions. Her political rise from refugee status to a prominent local government figure garnered…

Lt. Gen. Shadrack Sibiya, South Africa’s suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, has stepped down from his position while facing severe allegations of corruption and sexual offenses. His legal team delivered his letter of resignation on Monday, right before a scheduled internal disciplinary hearing was set to take place. In response, police authorities stated that his resignation will be processed as a dishonorable discharge because the formal disciplinary proceedings were already in progress. Sibiya remains in custody following his arrest last month on charges of rape and grooming a minor. He has denied all accusations, and a court…

Security officials in Algeria have detained 61 Moroccan citizens following allegations that they were involved in planning acts of sabotage. Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security released a statement on Sunday clarifying that those taken into custody belonged to an international Moroccan criminal network. The group, which reportedly includes a former member of the Moroccan military, crossed into Algerian territory by navigating mountain routes from adjacent Tunisia. According to Algerian officials, the individuals were preparing to commit acts of sabotage undermining security and public order. The detentions occur against a backdrop of prolonged diplomatic friction between the two North African…

President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the October 2026 Nigeria Development Update by the World Bank, titled ‘Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Reshaped State Priorities’, stating that the report confirms his administration’s economic policy shifts are producing results and building a stable foundation for long-term growth. In a statement issued on Sunday through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President highlighted key findings from the report, including the stabilization of the country’s poverty rate for the first time since 2019. The report projects a gradual drop in poverty as GDP expansion outpaces population growth. According…