Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, was on Tuesday prevented by armed soldiers from accessing a disputed parcel of land in the Gaduwa district of Abuja, allegedly owned by retired Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo, a former Chief of Naval Staff.

The incident, which briefly caused tension, occurred when Wike and a team of senior FCT officials arrived at the site for an inspection amid ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal land allocations and unauthorized developments across the territory.

Eyewitnesses said that shortly after the minister’s convoy arrived, a group of armed military personnel at the site stopped Wike’s team from gaining access. The soldiers reportedly told the FCT task force that they were acting on orders to “secure the property” on behalf of the retired admiral.

A heated exchange followed, during which Wike expressed anger at the obstruction, insisting that no individual military or civilian was above the law. He accused the soldiers of intimidation and vowed that the FCTA would enforce land use regulations in all parts of the capital, regardless of the status of those involved.

“This is not a military barracks. This is Abuja land that falls under the jurisdiction of the FCT Administration. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, can defy the laws of the Federal Capital Territory,” Wike was quoted as saying.

Sources within the FCTA said the land in question was under investigation for lacking valid development approvals and was marked for enforcement action.

To prevent the confrontation from escalating, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, reportedly intervened via phone call, appealing to both parties to allow due process to take its course.

Following the intervention, Wike’s team was barred from inspecting the site, but the minister maintained that the FCTA would not back down in its mission to reclaim illegally acquired lands and ensure compliance with Abuja’s master plan.

The incident shows the growing tension between the FCTA and powerful individuals accused of violating land regulations, as Wike continues his aggressive drive to sanitize land administration in the capital city.

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More than 200 terrorists were reportedly killed on Sunday during violent clashes between Boko Haram and rival militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Dogon Chiku area, near the shores of Lake Chad a region notorious for militant activity spanning Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

The fierce battle, described as one of the deadliest turf wars between the two jihadist factions, erupted over control of key operational corridors used for smuggling, taxation of local traders, and movement across the Lake Chad basin.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the confrontation led to heavy casualties, with ISWAP reportedly losing more than 200 fighters. Several of the group’s boats used in the assault were also seized by Boko Haram forces.

“From the toll we got, around 200 ISWAP terrorists were killed in the fight,” said Babakura Kolo, a member of a vigilante group assisting the Nigerian military.
A Nigerian intelligence source also confirmed the fighting, describing it as “good news,” while putting the death toll at “more than 150.”

The latest violence underscores the ongoing struggle for dominance between Boko Haram and ISWAP two extremist groups that have been locked in brutal rivalry since ISWAP broke away from Boko Haram in 2016. Both factions continue to terrorize communities across the northeastern region of Nigeria and parts of the Sahel.

Once considered the stronger faction, ISWAP has suffered multiple setbacks in recent months. Analysts believe this latest confrontation signals Boko Haram’s renewed bid to reclaim strategic territories around Lake Chad.

In May 2021, ISWAP launched an offensive on Sambisa Forest, Boko Haram’s former stronghold, leading to the death of its notorious leader, Abubakar Shekau, who detonated an explosive vest to avoid capture.

Between December 2022 and January 2023, Boko Haram also carried out major raids on ISWAP bases in Borno State, killing more than 100 fighters and seizing large caches of weapons.

The Lake Chad Basin, once a vast inland sea, has shrunk by over 90% since the 1960s, according to the UN Environment Programme. As the waters recede, new land routes have opened up providing both groups with access points for movement and attacks.

Since the outbreak of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009, more than 40,000 people have been killed and around 2 million displaced in Nigeria’s northeast, according to United Nations estimates.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly dispatched a high-level Nigerian government delegation to the United Kingdom (UK) to engage with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice over the case of the embattled former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

According to reports, the delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN).

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayekooto Akindele, disclosed this in a Facebook post accompanied by a video showing the delegation’s arrival in London. The team was received at the Nigerian High Commission by Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Ekweremadu has been detained in the UK since March 2023 over allegations of organ trafficking. The former Deputy Senate President and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested by the London Metropolitan Police and accused of conspiring to traffic one David Nwanini to harvest his kidney.

In May 2023, an Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court sentenced Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison, while his wife received four years and six months, and a co-defendant, Dr. Obinna Obeta, was handed a ten-year jail term. The court found them guilty of arranging the travel of a 21-year-old man from Lagos to the UK to harvest his kidney for a transplant intended for their daughter, Sonia.

Although the transplant did not take place, the court held the trio responsible for exploiting the young man’s vulnerability.

In January 2025, Beatrice Ekweremadu was released from prison and returned to Nigeria, while her husband remains in custody in the UK.

The visit by President Tinubu’s delegation is believed to be part of diplomatic efforts to discuss possible legal or humanitarian considerations regarding Ekweremadu’s ongoing imprisonment.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged financial crimes.

According to a public notice released on the EFCC’s official social media pages and signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, Sylva is wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

The funds were allegedly part of an investment by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.

The EFCC said the wanted notice follows a warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.

The agency urged anyone with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact its offices nationwide or reach out through info@efcc.gov.ng, or call 08093322644.

The statement reads in part:

“The public is hereby notified that Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of $14,859,257. Sylva, 61, hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.”

This development comes weeks after reports surfaced linking Sylva to an alleged coup plot, leading to a military raid on his Abuja residence where his brother and personal aide were reportedly arrested.

However, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the former governor has no link to the alleged plot and was abroad on medical and official engagements at the time of the incident.

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Oluwatoyin Atanda, the 2025 National President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria, has been honoured as the Most Outstanding National President among more than 100 leaders of the global youth organisation.

The announcement was made on Saturday, November 8, 2025, during the JCI World Congress Gala Night held in Tunis, Tunisia.

Atanda, who also serves as the Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Establishments and Training, dedicated the award to members of JCI Nigeria, especially her 2025 executive team.

“This is a proud moment for me and JCI Nigeria. Our ELV8 theme – rising together for a sustainable future, redefining leadership, and inspiring others to lead with purpose has truly paid off,” Atanda said in her acceptance speech.

Since assuming leadership in January 2025, Atanda has focused on mobilising Nigerian youth, promoting community development, and positioning JCI Nigeria as a global force for social impact.

At the World Congress, she also received a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of JCI Nigeria for the organisation’s exceptional global impact and contribution to the 2025 JCI Impact Drive.

She noted that the recognition underscores Nigeria’s commitment to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and highlights JCI Nigeria’s role in shaping the 2025 JCI Impact Report.

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