Nigeria Archives - Kaab TV

Motorcycle Gunmen Kill at Least 50 in Northwestern Nigeria

Staff Reporter — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:33:19 +0000

Nigeria (Kaab TV) – Gunmen killed at least 50 people and abducted women and children during an overnight attack on a village in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara State, according to authorities and residents.

The assault began late Thursday night and continued into Friday morning in Tungan Dutse village, located in the Bukkuyum area of Zamfara. Armed men arrived on motorcycles, set buildings ablaze, and abducted residents.

“They have been moving from one village to another, leaving at least 50 people dead,” said Hamisu A. Faru, a lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South.

Speaking by phone to Reuters on Friday, Faru said the number of abducted residents remains unclear, as local officials are still compiling lists of the missing.

Residents reported warning signs ahead of the attack.

Abdullahi Sani, 41, said villagers alerted security forces after spotting more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men a day earlier, but no action was taken.

“No one slept last night; we are all in pain,” Sani said, adding that three members of his family were killed in the assault.

Parts of northern and western Nigeria continue to face overlapping security threats, including armed criminal gangs and insurgent groups.

Last week, at least 46 people were killed in raids in the Borgu area of Niger State. The deadliest attack occurred in the village of Konkoso, where at least 38 residents were shot or had their throats slit, according to reports.

The worsening security crisis has prompted increased international involvement.

Nigeria recently expanded security cooperation with the United States after President Donald Trump accused the country of failing to stop the killing of Christians and threatened military intervention.

On December 25, the United States carried out airstrikes in Sokoto State in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

Earlier this week, Nigeria’s military confirmed the arrival of 100 US soldiers tasked with training local forces.

Samaila Uba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, said the US troops would provide “technical support” and “intelligence sharing” to help combat “terrorist organisations,” along with associated equipment.

He emphasized that US personnel would not engage directly in combat and would operate under Nigerian command while sharing technical expertise.

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Nigeria Bids Farewell To Former Leader Buhari With Burial In Home State

Staff Reporter — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:50:20 +0000

Nigeria (KAAB TV) – Nigeria’s former President Muhammad Buhari was buried on Tuesday in the backyard of his home in northern Katsina state, as residents climbed trees to bid farewell to the 82-year-old.

Buhari ruled Africa’s most populous nation between 2015 and 2023 and died in a London hospital on Sunday after an undisclosed illness.

In his hometown of Daura, supporters chanted “Sai Baba”, an endearing name used by followers, while they attempted to catch a last glimpse of Buhari’s casket as it was lowered into the ground.

The coffin, draped in Nigeria’s white and green national colours, had arrived at the airport in Katsina earlier and was received by President Bola Tinubu, government officials and men and women in traditional Muslim attire.

The former president was given a military parade and a 21-gun salute at the airport before his body was transported to Daura, about 80 kilometres away.

Tinubu has declared seven days of national mourning and a public holiday on Tuesday to honour Buhari.

After first rising to power in the early 1980s as a military leader following a coup, Buhari made a comeback as a democratically elected president when he defeated incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Buhari’s eight-year rule was marked by economic recession, foreign currency shortages, a slump in oil production and insecurity that spread across the country.

Even so, Buhari continued to enjoy a cult-like following in his home state and across the largely Muslim northern Nigeria.

Many supporters admired his austere lifestyle and anti-corruption crusade, although critics say few public officials were jailed for graft.

(Reuters).

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Shell’s sale of Niger Delta oil business must not worsen human rights abuses in Nigeria, Amnesty tells new government

admin — Fri, 26 May 2023 16:02:50 +0000

NAIROBI (Kaab TV) – Nigeria’s new government, which will be sworn in on 29 May, must ensure that Shell’s planned sale of its operations in the Niger Delta, does not lead to a further deterioration in human rights in a region blighted by decades of oil pollution.

Amnesty International has documented grievous and enduring human rights abuses resulting from oil contamination in the area, where Shell has operated since the 1950s. Amnesty International is concerned that the proposed sale will deny people already harmed access to adequate remedy, and potentially expose many more to future abuses.

A new report issued today, Tainted Sale?, recommends a series of safeguards and actions to help protect the rights of people potentially affected by Shell’s planned disposal of its onshore oil interests in the Niger Delta, reportedly for about US$3 billion.

Mark Dummett, Amnesty International’s Head of Business and Human Rights, said: “For decades spills have damaged the health and livelihoods of many of the Niger Delta’s inhabitants. Shell should not be allowed to wash its hands of the problems and leave. Shell has earned billions of dollars from this business and it must make sure that its withdrawal does not have negative human rights and environmental consequences.

“By exercising appropriate oversight of Shell’s sale, Nigeria’s incoming administration has a unique opportunity to demonstrate its determination to uphold and protect the human rights of its citizens, including their rights to an adequate standard of living, clean water, and health. We are also calling for effective remedy for people whose rights have long been abused.

“We urge the new government, under President Bola Tinubu, to ensure Shell’s sale does not end or limit the company’s liabilities. As a condition of sale, it should require Shell to provide a full assessment of all existing pollution in the delta, ensure it has provided satisfactory remediation for any damage, and that local inhabitants’ concerns about the sale process are fully appraised and addressed.

“The government should consider requiring Shell to act as a guarantor to ensure any purchaser is capable of making good and remediating damage caused by any future spills and that any buyer is committed to transparency, environmental compliance, consultations with communities, and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

“Of course, rather than finding buyers and wringing the last drops of oil from a region so long blighted by the industry, the better option would be remedying the harms caused, and phasing out production.

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts that without accelerating the phasing out of fossil fuels worldwide, global temperatures will rise by more than an agreed limit of 1.5C versus pre-industrial levels. After decades of exploitation, retiring production in the Niger Delta would be a step in the right direction.”

A long record of environmental damage and abuses

For more than 20 years Amnesty International and partner organizations have conducted research in the Niger Delta. It has demonstrated that Shell’s operations have come at the cost of the human rights of people living there.

Hundreds of spills a year from poorly maintained pipelines and wells, along with inadequate clean-up practices, have led to widespread oil contamination, including of groundwater and drinking water sources, agricultural land and fisheries, and damaged the health and livelihoods of many inhabitants.

The impact of the pollution can be devastating. In 2019, an academic study, found that oil spills occurring within 10km of a mother’s place of residence in the Niger Delta doubled neonatal mortality rates and impaired the health of surviving children.

Mark Dummett said: “Shell must take its own steps to ensure effective remedy for people whose human rights have been impaired by this devastating pollution, and that its divestment plan does not worsen the plight of the Niger Delta’s inhabitants.”

“International standards, under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, are clear that Shell has a responsibility to conduct a human rights due diligence process on its decision to transfer assets. This responsibility is independent of any steps Nigeria’s government will take.”

Shell disputes allegations that it has acted irresponsibly in the Niger Delta, and says it complies with regulations. It has previously pointed to improvements that it says it has made in recent years in response to preventing and cleaning oil spills, investments in infrastructure, oil anti-theft measures, and increased transparency in its reporting of spills.

Shell is not uniquely responsible for the devastating oil pollution that blights the Niger Delta. There are other actors, including the federal and state authorities. They too have an obligation to ensure that Shell’s divestment does not lead to further human rights harms.

Background

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited – Joint Venture (SPDC JV) is one of Nigeria’s largest oil producers.

Shell was the majority owner of this business for many years, but its main shareholder is now the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which holds 55%. The rest is owned by subsidiaries of international oil companies. Shell, through its wholly-owned subsidiary the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Limited owns 30%, the French company Total has 10%, and the Italian company Eni 5%.

Importantly, through SPDC, Shell is the operator for the SPDC JV, which means it operates and maintains the wells, pipelines and other facilities needed to produce and transport the oil. The partners fund the operations and maintenance in proportion to their share in the joint venture.

During the past decade, the SPDC JV has sold much of its business, including oilfields, to several much smaller Nigerian-owned companies.

Shell now intends to sell both its stake in SPDC JV and its operating subsidiary in a deal involving its staff, facilities and infrastructure. This includes 263 producing oil wells, 56 producing gas wells and a network of 3,173km of pipelines.

Following an election on 25 February, the inauguration of Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, 71, of the ruling All Progressives Congress party, is due to take place on Monday.

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Nigeria police deploy for security before presidential vote

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 11:01:30 +0000

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria will deploy more than 400,000 security personnel ahead of the presidential election next week amid fears that Islamic extremists or secessionists could try to disrupt the vote.

The security forces also will be on hand in case of violent protests, Usman Baba, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, told reporters.

“The Nigeria police with the support of other security agencies have perfected plans to deploy in a coordinated and collaborative manner,” he said.

The West African nation is set to elect a new president as it is confronted by a myriad of security problems: an Islamic extremist insurgency linked to the Islamic State group in the northeast, armed rebels in the northwest, and secessionists in the southeast.

The security challenges bring a “critical, serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy,” according to Bulama Bukarti, a senior fellow with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

“The non-state armed groups are going to do whatever they can do — using every arm in their arsenal — to see that Nigeria’s election gets disrupted,” Bukarti said.

A series of attacks have targeted election commission offices and security

At least two security operatives will guard each of the more than 175,000 polling stations across the country’s 36 states, Nigeria’s police chief said.

In southeastern Nigeria, a series of attacks already have targeted dozens of election commission offices and security posts, raising fears that voters will be afraid to cast their ballots on election day.

The southeast region is home to a separatist movement blamed for the recent violence.

“We have made adequate arrangements to mark our presence in those areas in a lot of ways,” said police chief Baba, adding that more officers are being deployed there and that tents will be used in place of the destroyed offices.

Nigeria’s security forces are also anticipating post-election violence once results are announced.

“We are prepared to confront any situation that will need special intervention,” he said.

The police chief also expressed concerns about the ongoing shortage of cash and petrol in many Nigerian states. There already have been violent protests and attacks on banks, and the situation could mean more work for already overstretched security forces, he said.

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Nigerian leader defends currency swap as pain, protests grow

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:57:57 +0000

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday that the country’s redesigned currency would bolster the upcoming presidential election, appealing for an end to violent protests over a resulting cash shortage that has led to daylong lines at banks, business closures and people unable to pay for basic needs.

As he came under growing pressure to intervene after days of bank attacks by Nigerians who have failed to withdraw their money, Buhari pointed to the expected gains from swapping out the old naira notes, from curbing surging inflation to reducing the influence of money in the Feb. 25 vote to elect his successor.

“This is a positive departure from the past and represents a bold legacy step by this administration towards laying a strong foundation for free and fair elections,” Buhari said.

Nigerians have been unable to access cash in recent weeks after the country’s central bank started switching out currency notes of higher denominations of 1,000 naira ($2.16), 500 naira ($1.08), 200 naira (43 U.S. cents) with redesigned ones.

Policymakers said the move will help make Africa’s largest economy cashless and more inclusive. But a limited supply of new notes in banks has resulted in pain instead for many who deposited their old currency ahead of a Feb. 10 deadline but are now unable to withdraw cash to use.

The West African country is heavily reliant on cash and only 45% of adults owned a bank account as of 2021, according to the World Bank. The limited supply has forced people to wait in line at banks all day and night to try to withdraw cash only enough to last them a day.

On Wednesday, weeklong protests against the cash shortage crisis further escalated in Nigeria’s southern region where two banks were set ablaze and major roads were blocked, halting commercial activities. In Edo state, police fired tear gas at demonstrators as they attacked bank facilities.

In addition to the pain of continued fuel scarcity in major cities across Nigeria, many businesses also have been forced to close, further squeezing the informal economy — ranging from agriculture to street trade — that is key to economic growth.

Buhari urged against “violence capable of disrupting the electoral processes” in the election that would see Africa’s most populous country elect a new president after his second and final term.

“Unscrupulous officials in the banking industry” sabotaging the court-contested monetary policy by hoarding new currency notes must be prosecuted, said Buhari, who extended the use of the old 200 naira note until April 10. “I am deeply pained and sincerely sympathize with you all over these unintended outcomes.”

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Rights group tells Nigerian authorities to uphold human rights ahead of national elections

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 07:54:01 +0000

Nairobi (Kaab TV) – Nigeria’s presidential and national assembly elections due to take place on 25 February must be free from further violence and intimidation and effective measures must be in place to protect all participants and prevent human rights violations, said Amnesty International.

Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections will hold nationwide on 25 February 2023 while the governorship and state houses of assembly elections will hold on 11 March 2023.

Political parties, politicians, security forces and interest groups must refrain from condoning, or engaging in, violence or incitement that could deprive people of their human rights.

Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria said:

“The desperation of political actors during election campaigns, expressed recently through cases of incitement, as well as attacks on campaign convoys and individuals in some states, is unacceptable. The failure of the authorities to bring to justice those responsible for deadly violence during previous elections has created an atmosphere of impunity and emboldened others.”

“There is a pattern of gender-based violence, like threatening women and girls with rape designed to intimidate or prevent them voting, that must cease. Nigerian authorities must uphold their human rights obligations under international law and the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) by making sure that advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence has no place in the country.”

There has been a cycle of violence in recent months.

On 28 November 2022 gunmen killed Victoria Chimtex, the leader of the Labour Party in the Kaura local government area of Kaduna state.

In March 2022, Olumo Abolaji, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State was killed after she was kidnapped.

On 19 June 2022 a bus carrying journalists in the campaign convoy of Bola Tinubu, the governing APC presidential candidate in Lagos, was attacked.

On 9 November 2022, a campaign convoy in northeast Maiduguri carrying the presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was attacked and scores were injured.

In December 2022, the restaurant of the women leader of the Labour Party in Kebbi State was destroyed. In the same month the campaign convoy of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senate candidate for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) was attacked between Okene to Adaviin in central Kogi state, and several people were injured.

On Tuesday 24 January a Labour Party campaign convoy was violently attacked in Katsina, in the north.

The security situation in the southeast of the country has deteriorated as the election approaches.

On January 4 David Uche the chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Ibeme Ward, in the Isiala Mbano area of Imo State, was killed by gunmen. On 14 January, four people were killed when gunmen attacked the home of Ikenga Ugochinyere, a spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties in Imo state, and set his home blaze. Chris Ohizu, the sole administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo state, was abducted and beheaded. Gunmen also stormed an APC party meeting in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi state leaving two members dead.

“These violent incidents are deeply worrying and may have implications for the general human rights situation before, during and after the elections,” said Osai Ojigho.

“We have received reports of supporters of some politicians violently targeting political opponents. The authorities must stamp out any potential impunity by ensuring that these incidents are investigated and that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice in fair trials.”

The authorities must ensure that journalists, local and international election observers and other stakeholders can carry out their activities safely before, during and after the elections, without fear of violence or intimidation.

Amnesty International will monitor and document the human rights situation to help ensure that perpetrators are held to account, no matter who they are, and that victims are provided with access to justice and effective remedies.

Osai Ojigho said: “There should be no room for human rights violations. The Nigerian authorities, political parties and candidates must publicly condemn any intimidation and any advocacy of hatred and incitement. This is a time for all stakeholders to demonstrate that they embrace human rights and to commit to the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.”

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