Vice President Shettima Represents Tinubu At G20 Leaders’ Summit In South Africa

Vice President Kashim Shettima left Abuja on Friday to stand in for President Bola Tinubu at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. President Tinubu had postponed his planned trip to Johannesburg to receive additional security briefings following recent incidents in Kebbi and Kwara states. The summit, taking place from Saturday, November 22, to Sunday, November 23, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, is hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently presides over the G20. The gathering brings together leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies, alongside representatives from the European Union, African Union, and major financial institutions. Vice President Shettima is scheduled to return to Nigeria after completing his engagements at the summit.

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Plateau State Orders Immediate Closure Of Schools Over Security Concerns

The Plateau State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all basic schools across the state amid growing security concerns. Richard Jonah, Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), confirmed the directive on Friday, describing it as a precautionary measure. He explained that the government is acting proactively to prevent incidents similar to attacks on schools in other states. According to the PSUBEB statement, Government Junior Model Secondary Schools (GJMSSs) will close from Saturday, November 22, 2025, while Primary and Day Schools will shut from Monday, November 24, 2025. The board stressed that the closures are temporary and intended to allow authorities to put additional security measures in place before students return. The statement also called on Local Government Education Authorities, school administrators, and community leaders to cooperate and remain vigilant. Residents expressed concern following the announcement. Moses Jeremiah of Shendam LGA said students of GSS Shendam were sent home after a warning about a possible attack, though the threat has not been independently verified. Plateau Police Public Relations Officer SP Alfred Alabo said the command is unaware of any specific threat and would comment only after receiving an official briefing. The decision comes shortly after violent incidents in neighbouring states, including the abduction of students from a Catholic school in Niger State and the attack on a girls’ boarding school in Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped and the vice-principal killed. In a related development, Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu urged the public to support ongoing military operations, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation during the Nigerian Army’s Civil-Military Cooperation Media Chat in Jos.

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Nigerian Army Dismisses Rumours of Compulsory Recruitment

The Nigerian Army has dismissed online claims that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, intends to forcibly recruit Nigerians aged 18 and above. Acting Director of Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, described the viral post as “malicious fabrication” aimed at misleading the public and creating panic. The post had suggested that the COAS threatened compulsory enlistment for youths who do not volunteer and alleged that 10,000 soldiers recruited last year had gone missing. Anele clarified that these claims are false and stressed that the COAS has never made such statements. She warned that individuals spreading false or inflammatory information would be tracked, apprehended, and prosecuted under the law. The Army urged the public to disregard the rumour and to rely only on official communications and verified social media accounts for accurate updates.

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Kebbi Governor Demands Explanation From Military Over Troop Withdrawal Before School Abduction

Kebbi Governor Demands Explanation From Military Over Troop Withdrawal Before School Abduction

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has demanded answers from military authorities over the withdrawal of troops from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, shortly before students and staff were abducted. The governor expressed serious concern that security personnel left the school despite prior intelligence alerts provided by the state government. He made the comments while receiving Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, who visited the state in solidarity. According to Idris, soldiers reportedly left the school around 3:00 a.m., and the attack occurred less than 45 minutes later. “As a responsive government, when we received intelligence about a possible attack, we convened a security meeting. The agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be deployed to the school. The military was deployed, but they withdrew by 3 a.m., and by 3:45 a.m., the incident happened,” the governor said. He added that the state has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances behind the troop withdrawal. “Who authorised the military to withdraw? How did security personnel leave at such a critical time? That is our concern. We have asked the military to investigate and identify who gave that order,” Idris said. The governor noted that the withdrawal was at odds with earlier assurances of strengthened protection for schools in high-risk border communities frequently targeted by bandits. He assured that both the state and federal governments are making every effort to secure the safe return of the abducted students. “Our duty as leaders is to ensure that our daughters come back home safely, and we are doing everything possible to achieve that,” he said.

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NDLEA Seizes 20kg of Cocaine On Brazil-Bound MV Nord Bosporus At Apapa Seaport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 20 kilograms of cocaine aboard the Brazil-bound vessel MV Nord Bosporus (IMO 9760110) at Lagos’ Apapa seaport. The illegal substance was discovered concealed under the ship’s cargo on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Following the seizure, NDLEA detained the vessel’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, along with 19 Filipino crew members. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the agency obtained a court order to hold the ship and crew for further investigation. “The motion ex parte in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25 was presented before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, who on Thursday, November 20, 2025, approved an initial 14-day detention of the vessel, Captain Corpus, and the 19 Filipino crew members,” Babafemi explained. Preliminary investigations revealed that the MV Nord Bosporus was visiting Nigeria and Africa for the first time, having primarily transported coal between Colombia and Brazil. Captain Corpus has reportedly been with the vessel for just three months. This seizure follows a similar case six months ago when 10 Thai sailors aboard the MV Chayanee Naree were convicted for attempting to smuggle 32.9 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil through Apapa seaport. The sailors and vessel were fined $4.3 million by the Federal High Court in Lagos on May 15, 2025. NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the Apapa Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for the successful operation, calling it evidence of the agency’s growing capacity to secure Nigeria’s borders. Marwa warned international drug cartels and their local collaborators that Nigeria will not be used as a transit point for illegal drugs, emphasizing the agency’s zero-tolerance policy. He also cautioned Nigerians involved with foreign syndicates, saying they would face strict legal consequences. Between January 2023 and March 2024, the NDLEA reportedly seized a total of 207,976 kilograms of hard drugs across the country’s seaports. In the first quarter of 2024, 14 suspects were arrested with 16.69 kilograms of cocaine and 11,622.229 kilograms of cannabis sativa, while a total of 167 people were arrested with 196,336.99 kilograms of various drugs from January to October 2023.

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Olamide Clarifies No Rift With Asake, Calls Him “Brother For Life”

Olamide has dismissed rumors of a fallout with Asake, affirming that they remain “family” despite Asake’s exit from YBNL. In a BBC interview, the YBNL founder clarified that business moves have not affected their personal relationship, saying, “Business is never personal, and after business, life goes on.” Olamide reassured fans that he and Asake are still on good terms, describing the singer as “my brother for life.” He added, “We’re still family. That’s my brother for life. It’s always the same thing with me and all my people — business is never personal, and after business, life goes on.” Asake’s departure from YBNL and the subsequent updates to his social media had fueled speculation of tension, but Olamide’s statement confirms their bond remains strong.

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Katsina Shuts All Public Schools Amid Rising Banditry And Security Threats

The Katsina State Government has ordered all public schools in the state to shut down immediately in response to rising security threats and a surge in bandit attacks across multiple communities. The directive was announced on Friday by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Sulaiman Jibia, during a briefing with journalists in Katsina. Jibia said the government took the decision to ensure the safety of students and teachers as security agencies begin implementing a new statewide strategy aimed at strengthening school protection. He admitted that the closure comes at a time when students are writing examinations but emphasized that safeguarding lives is the government’s foremost priority. According to him, the shutdown is a temporary measure that will remain in place until a thorough security review is completed, particularly in locations classified as high-risk. Findings by The Nation showed that the move follows the recent abductions of schoolgirls in Kebbi and Niger States, an incident that has intensified fear among parents and authorities across the North-West. Jibia assured residents that schools will reopen once security assessments are finalized and adequate safety measures are put in place.

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Kebbi Police Warn Against Protests Over Abducted Schoolgirls

The Kebbi State Police Command has cautioned groups and civil society organisations against staging any protest over the recent abduction of students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, warning that the current security climate is too unstable for public demonstrations. In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Kotarkoshi, said intelligence reports showed that some groups and NGOs were already mobilising to begin protests “any moment from today.” He noted that while the command fully understands the distress felt by families and the wider public, holding protests at this time could heighten tension and disrupt the ongoing rescue mission. “The current situation is dicey for any protest or rally to hold, as it has the potential of instigating violence in the state. While we remain deeply concerned about the regrettable incident, it is misguided and counterproductive for any protest to hold, as it will undermine the unwavering commitment of the combined security team working tirelessly to rescue the kidnapped schoolgirls unhurt,” the statement read. The police command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that security agencies are intensifying efforts to safely recover the abducted students. Kotarkoshi urged members of the public to stay calm, support security operations, and report any suspicious individuals or movements to the nearest police station. The students were abducted earlier in the week when armed men stormed the school in the Danko-Wasagu area, sparking nationwide concern and fresh calls for improved security in schools across the North-West.

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