German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stefan Rossel, gave the commendation on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Rossel described Nigeria as a valued partner of Germany and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship, particularly in the defence and security sectors.

He said sustained cooperation between both countries would create opportunities for mutually beneficial projects and initiatives.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the German Technical Advisory Group (G-TAG) to brief the CDS on the progress and impact of its ongoing training support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

The briefing highlighted areas of collaboration aimed at improving the professional competence and operational capacity of Nigerian military personnel.

In his response, Oluyede expressed appreciation to the German Government for its continued partnership and support to the Armed Forces.

He particularly acknowledged G-TAG’s contributions to the development of the Mechatronics School, Combat Tactical Care Training and Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Training, as well as other capacity-building initiatives and material support.

The CDS stressed the need to sustain and expand the existing defence cooperation, particularly in specialised military training and professional development.

He called for increased opportunities for strategic and advanced courses for officers and soldiers to strengthen their professional competencies and operational effectiveness.

Oluyede assured the German Ambassador of the Armed Forces’ readiness to consolidate the existing partnership and explore additional areas of cooperation to address emerging security challenges and advance shared defence interests.

The visit, according to the Defence Headquarters, underscores the enduring defence relations between Nigeria and Germany and their shared commitment to strengthening military capacity, promoting regional stability and enhancing international security cooperation.

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Shaibu disclosed this in a goodwill message to officers, soldiers, civilian staff and their families, published on the Army’s X handle on Wednesday to mark his first 365 days in office.

He said the expansion and recruitment, approved by the Federal Government, would improve the Army’s territorial coverage, strengthen operational response and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities.

The COAS said his administration had focused on operational readiness, professional standards and institutional development, guided by five strategic pillars and a Soldier-First Culture that prioritises personnel welfare and development.

On housing, he said 681 units had been delivered under the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers Scheme, comprising 489 two-bedroom and 192 three-bedroom flats. Additional accommodation projects and barracks renovations are also ongoing.

Shaibu commended troops serving in various operational theatres, particularly those fighting terrorism, insurgency and banditry. He also honoured personnel who died in service and acknowledged wounded soldiers undergoing recovery.

He urged officers and soldiers to maintain professionalism, respect human rights and comply with the rules of engagement.

The Army chief also recognised the sacrifices of military families, stressing that their welfare remained a responsibility of commanders at all levels.

He pledged to build on the Army’s achievements and strengthen its operational and technological capabilities to tackle the country’s security challenges.

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The deadline followed an update by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during Wednesday’s plenary, confirming that 30 state assemblies had already approved the bill.

The number exceeds the constitutional requirement of 24 states, representing two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures, for the amendment to advance.

The approving states include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Gombe, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara, among others.

Bamidele said the level of support demonstrated the broad acceptance of the proposed legislation among state legislatures.

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged the chamber to allow the remaining six assemblies additional time to communicate their positions.

The Senate consequently fixed November 15 as the final date for their responses, warning that any state assembly that fails to act before the deadline would be regarded as having withheld its approval.

The decision was unanimously adopted by the Senate, paving the way for the next stage of the constitutional amendment process and its eventual transmission to the President for assent.

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The abducted children have been identified as Hassana Isah, Aliya Ahmad, Hajara Musa, Hauwa’u Abubakar, Halima Yahaya, Asma’u Jamilu, Radiya Salisu, Aminatu Salisu, Aisha Bello, Rahinatu Sani, Aminatu Alhassan, Nafisa Ayuba, Bilkisu Adamu, Salaha Abdullahi and Hajara Salisu.

The teacher of the Islamiya school, Malam Aminu Bako, confirmed the ransom demand, saying the kidnappers contacted village leaders to communicate their terms.

Bako said the children were taken from his farm over the weekend while assisting him with the maize harvest. He expressed concern over their safety, adding that intelligence gathered by local vigilantes suggested they were being held in an isolated building within Niger State, guarded by heavily armed gunmen.

He appealed to the authorities to deploy the military to secure their release, insisting that the vigilantes alone lacked the capacity to confront the abductors.

The teacher also lamented the lack of practical support from the state government since the incident, saying the acting chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer were the only officials who had visited the community.

According to him, the families of the victims have been left anxious and uncertain about the fate of their children, while he continues to face pressure from parents demanding updates.

Bako said residents needed urgent intervention and reassurance that concrete steps were being taken to bring the children home safely.

Meanwhile, the police have confirmed the abduction. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village and seized people working on a farm.

The police account indicated that about 14 of the victims were students of an Islamiya school who had accompanied their instructor to harvest maize. The command said joint security operations were ongoing to rescue those abducted.

However, residents maintained that local vigilantes were the only security personnel actively involved in efforts to track the kidnappers.

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The Federal Government issued the warning through the Director, Legal Office of the National Security Adviser, Mijinyawa Zakari, at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, following the conclusion of the 11th phase of terrorism-related trials.

Zakari said the law criminalises activities beyond direct involvement in terrorist attacks, including preparatory offences, collaboration and the provision of support to terrorist groups.

He explained that providing assistance to terrorists attracts a minimum 20-year prison sentence, while landlords who accommodate them are also liable to prosecution.

“A careful reading of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, will indicate that Sections 11 to 33 provide for a wide range of offences, including preparatory offences.

“For example, providing support to terrorism attracts a minimum sentence of 20 years. Renting your property to a terrorist is also an offence. You may not have a clear-cut act of terrorism or a harmful act, but all those actions, including holding a preparatory meeting with a terrorist group, constitute offences”.

Zakari urged Nigerians, particularly journalists and other stakeholders, to familiarise themselves with the law and understand the activities classified as terrorism-related offences.

He also warned companies against receiving funds linked to terrorism, noting that such transactions could attract a N200m fine, prosecution of company executives and possible winding-up, regardless of whether the funds were used to commit an offence.

He added that the government was strengthening its investigative capacity to prosecute both terrorists and individuals or organisations supporting their activities.

“As we increase capacity in our investigation and all this, you will see a lot of charges coming, but that is what the law has provided. So, it is a whole strategy that goes after both collaborators, perpetrators, irrespective of the degree”, he said.

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The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Major General Adamu Laka, announced the figures during a press briefing following the conclusion of the 11th phase of terrorism trials at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He disclosed that the latest phase, held in October 2026, involved 1,069 cases handled by 10 courts, with 791 resulting in convictions.

The outcomes also included seven acquittals, 41 discharges, four cases struck out and three withdrawn. Another 211 cases were adjourned, 11 remained pending, while one was classified under a different category.

Laka said the latest results brought the number of convictions recorded in the first 10 phases, which stood at 1,721, to a cumulative 2,512.

He described the trials as evidence of the government’s determination to prosecute those involved in terrorism, including individuals responsible for financing and supporting such activities.

Among the notable outcomes was the conviction of Suleiman Abu, who was sentenced to death by the Federal High Court after being found guilty of belonging to Boko Haram and participating in attacks on military facilities and civilians.

The attacks were linked to fatalities and serious injuries.

Laka said the judgment reinforced the principle that individuals involved in terrorism must be held accountable, regardless of their affiliations, provided their guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt.

He added that the trial process remained guided by the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights of defendants.

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The minister formally received Pheelangwah at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

This is according to a Statement by Leah Katung-Babatunde, SA (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Speaking after his return, the Permanent Secretary expressed appreciation for the opportunity to resume duty, pledging to discharge his responsibilities with renewed dedication, professionalism and commitment to national service.

Musa expressed confidence in the cordial working relationship between them, stressing the need to strengthen existing cooperation to advance the ministry’s mandate.

The minister also underscored the importance of synergy and effective collaboration in achieving the ministry’s objectives.

The development, according to the Ministry, reaffirms its leadership’s commitment to institutional continuity, effective service delivery and the advancement of Nigeria’s defence and security objectives.

The reinstatement followed the Federal Government’s decision to lift Pheelangwah’s suspension.

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The proposed reform has secured the backing of 28 State Houses of Assembly, paving the way for the National Assembly to complete the necessary legislative procedures before transmitting the constitutional amendment to the President.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed the development in a statement, explaining that the approvals exceeded the two-thirds requirement stipulated under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

Ogunlana disclosed that the proposed amendment was forwarded to all 36 state legislatures on September 16, 2026, for consideration, with October 15 set as the end of the 30-day administrative window.

He, however, clarified that his office would continue to receive resolutions from state assemblies beyond the stipulated period until the bill is formally transmitted for presidential assent.

The Clerk also explained that the Constitution does not specifically require a Third Reading for alteration bills, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary legislation.

With the required state-level endorsement secured, the National Assembly is proceeding with the administrative steps needed to authenticate and transmit the bill to Tinubu in line with the Acts Authentication Act.

The development represents a major milestone in efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s centralised policing structure, under which the Nigeria Police Force currently operates primarily under federal control.

However, beyond the legislative breakthrough, the proposed reform has continued to generate intense debate over the possibility of political interference, human rights violations, funding and accountability.

Supporters argue that allowing states to operate their own police forces would bring security closer to communities, improve intelligence gathering and enable faster responses to local threats, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence.

They maintain that state governments are better positioned to understand the security challenges within their territories and deploy personnel who are familiar with local communities, languages and terrain.

Critics, however, fear that governors could exploit their control over state police to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent and target vulnerable groups, particularly during election periods.

Human rights advocates have consequently called for stronger institutional safeguards, including independent police oversight bodies, transparent recruitment procedures and mechanisms to investigate abuses without political interference.

Questions have also emerged over whether financially weaker states can afford to recruit, train, equip and maintain professional police formations without compromising operational standards.

The proposed framework seeks to address some of these concerns through a dual policing arrangement, retaining the federal police while allowing states to establish their own forces under prescribed national standards and oversight mechanisms.

Another major concern is the relationship between state police commissioners and governors, particularly the extent of executive authority over operational decisions and how unlawful directives would be challenged.

The debate has also highlighted the need to clearly define the respective responsibilities of federal and state police formations to prevent jurisdictional conflicts and ensure effective coordination in tackling interstate crimes.

Importantly, presidential assent to the constitutional amendment would not automatically mean state police operations would begin immediately. Further legislation, regulatory arrangements and state-level enabling laws would be required to establish the forces and determine their operational framework.

The reform is being pursued against the backdrop of persistent insecurity across Nigeria, with growing pressure on the Federal Government to reconsider a policing structure critics say has struggled to respond adequately to the country’s complex security challenges.

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The attack occurred on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Area, where the students had reportedly accompanied their Islamic teacher, popularly known as a Mallam, to work on his farm.

The armed assailants reportedly descended on the farm, seized the students and their teacher, and whisked them away to an undisclosed location.

Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Command clarified that 14 students were abducted, dismissing earlier reports that suggested the number of victims could be as high as 50.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that preliminary investigations showed the victims were helping their teacher harvest maize when the attackers struck.

He added that security agencies had launched a joint rescue operation to secure the safe release of the abducted victims, assuring residents that further updates would be provided as the operation progresses.

Meanwhile, the latest abduction has triggered fresh political criticism of Governor Umaru Bago’s handling of insecurity in the state.

Jonathan Vatsa, spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, accused the state government of failing to take decisive action against the persistent attacks, alleging that political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election were receiving greater attention than residents’ safety.

Vatsa also raised concerns over the alleged shortage of operational vehicles and essential equipment for security agencies, arguing that repeated government condemnations of attacks and expressions of sympathy had not translated into effective measures to prevent further incidents.

However, the Niger State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Obed Nuhu Nana, defended the administration, insisting that the government was deploying available resources and strengthening collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders to contain the security challenges.

He reaffirmed the Bago administration’s commitment to rescuing abducted residents, preventing further attacks and restoring lasting peace across the state.

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The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for deeper collaboration among the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, stressing that a united military front is essential to confronting insurgency, terrorism and other asymmetric threats across the country.

Speaking at the Naval Staff Annual Retreat in Abuja, Oluyede noted that the changing nature of modern warfare demands greater operational coordination, strategic intelligence sharing and the effective deployment of military capabilities across different terrains.

He highlighted the gains recorded through joint intelligence-led operations, which he said had weakened terrorist networks, strengthened the protection of critical national infrastructure and helped curb economic sabotage, particularly oil theft and maritime criminality along Nigeria’s coastal corridors.

The Defence Chief also reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to constitutional authority and democratic principles, assuring that the military would continue to adapt its strategies to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Commending troops for their dedication and resilience, Oluyede urged military personnel to sustain high operational standards as the Armed Forces intensify efforts to embrace a more proactive and technology-driven security framework.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has convened a high-level retreat to assess the performance of naval commands and evaluate progress in implementing strategic directives over the past year.

The meeting, attended by principal staff officers, flag officers commanding and heads of autonomous units, is expected to provide an opportunity to identify operational gaps, strengthen institutional effectiveness and align naval priorities with Nigeria’s evolving security realities.

Beyond reviewing past performance, the retreat is also focused on strengthening combat readiness, improving fleet capabilities and deepening cooperation with other security agencies as the Navy prepares for emerging maritime and national security challenges.

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