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Defence and Security

Buhari receives new COAS, Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, at Presidential Villa

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President Muhammadu Buhari has formally received the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabo, presented Yahaya to the president.

Yahaya was appointed on May 27, to replace Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, who died along with ten military officers in a place crash in Kaduna.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents, Msgashi said the president shared with them his experience, which they intended to use to address the nation’s security challenges.

He said: “What really brought us to the Villa today is to present the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya; who was just appointed 11 days ago to the president for his blessings and guidance.

“The president offered advice on how we can go about doing this operation to improve the entire security of the country.

“Being an actor in the field in the past, he has given us a direction in which we can learn from his experiences and apply that to our mode of operations.

“With that, we are wiser today and we assured him that we will do our best to bring an end to the problem of security in this country.”

He said the issue of synergy among the armed forces and all security agencies was stressed at the meeting, adding that there would be many changes in the security situation of the country.

According to Magashi, there will be more collaboration between all security agencies, particularly with the police, as they work hard to bring about peace in parts of the country where there are challenges.

“In the North-Western part of the country, the major issue there is that of kidnapping, banditry and other criminalities.

“We are taking the challenge but you know really, that is a constitutional responsibility of the police.

“But, we are giving maximum cooperation to them in order to see an end to the insecurity in the North-West.

“In the North-East, it is a different scenario, where there is Boko Haram issue, which is an ideological thing.

“We are up and doing to ensure that we bring an end to the Boko Haram issue especially with the current development about Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

“So, we are doing our best,” he said.(NAN)

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Defence and Security

Defence Minister Orders Operational Recalibration After Emergency Security Meeting

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Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa in meeting with Service Chiefs
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Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has directed an immediate recalibration of military operations across multiple theatres following an emergency combat audit with the country’s Service Chiefs.

The high-level meeting, held at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, reviewed the recent wave of brazen terrorist attacks and assessed the current military strategy against insurgents, bandits and other armed groups.

Speaking after the meeting, the defence minister said the Service Chiefs had been mandated to intensify and reorganise operations nationwide to dismantle the networks of terrorists and criminal gangs threatening national security.

He disclosed that commanders have been instructed to exercise direct, on-site leadership in various operational theatres to improve coordination and maintain sustained pressure on armed groups.

According to him, the meeting also carried out a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s national military strategy aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and ensuring that ongoing missions deliver measurable results.

While noting that details of troop movements and tactical adjustments would remain classified for security reasons, Musa assured Nigerians that the armed forces are taking decisive steps to confront emerging threats.

He said the military has already recorded progress in recent operations, including the neutralisation of key terrorist commanders and the disruption of several insurgent networks.

The defence minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing military operations until terrorist and bandit groups are completely dismantled.

Musa assured citizens that the armed forces would maintain relentless pressure on criminal elements to restore stability and protect lives and property across the country.

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Defence and Security

Tinubu Swears in Tunji Disu as 23rd Inspector-General of Police

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Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday swore in Tunji Disu as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police (IGP), formalising his appointment as head of the Nigeria Police Force.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on March 4, 2026.

Disu’s inauguration followed his confirmation by the Nigeria Police Council on Monday, March 2. He succeeds Kayode Egbetokun, who recently resigned from office.

At the ceremony, President Tinubu also administered the oath of office to six commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and two commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

Dignitaries in attendance included Vice President Kashim Shettima; Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Esther Walson-Jack, among other senior government officials.

Born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos State, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police. Over the course of his career, he has served in several operational, investigative, and strategic command roles across the country.

Prior to his appointment as IGP, Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit and the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex, Lagos.

He holds multiple qualifications in public administration, forensic investigation, criminology, security studies, legal psychology, and entrepreneurship, reflecting a career anchored on professional development and modern policing strategies.

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Defence and Security

Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists, Recover Firearm at Ibadan Polytechnic

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Nigeria Police Force
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The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected cultists and recovered a firearm on the campus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan following a tip-off from a concerned citizen.

The suspects, identified as 31-year-old Lawal Opeyemi, popularly known as “Aiki,” and 29-year-old Olaniyan Opeyemi, alias “Bojan,” both residents of the Apete area of Ibadan, were apprehended while allegedly planning an attack on a rival cult group within the institution.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alayande Olayinka, said a Good Samaritan alerted authorities to the presence of some young men reportedly moving around the campus with violent intentions. Operatives from the Sango Division responded swiftly, leading to the arrest of the two suspects.

Items recovered from them include a locally made double-barrelled pistol, two live cartridges, and a black bag containing charms.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to involvement in cult activities and identified themselves as members of the Eiye Confraternity. Preliminary investigations suggest they may have been linked to previous cult-related clashes within the institution.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Femi Haruna, has directed that the suspects be transferred to the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He commended members of the public and officers involved for their prompt action and urged parents and guardians to discourage their wards from joining secret cult groups.

The Command reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on cultism and violent crimes, stressing that continued collaboration between the police and the community remains vital in maintaining security.

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