Military Mortar Strikes Kill Several ISWAP Fighters, Including Three Foreigners, at Dumba

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian army troops of Sector 3 Operation HADIN KAI have killed several suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including three foreign fighters, in an offensive operation targeting a terrorist enclave at Dumba.

Security sources said the operation was conducted on November 1, 2026, by a fire team comprising troops of the Nigerian Army’s Lake Chad Basin operations and 403 Amphibious Brigade.

The sources said troops initially observed that the terrorists had relocated northwards, beyond the effective range of their 60mm mortar weapons, prompting the soldiers to manoeuvre to a more favourable firing position.

At about 5:00 p.m., following extensive reconnaissance of the terrorist hideouts, troops located the fighters at a new position in Dumba, where some foreign fighters were sighted.

The troops subsequently engaged the targets with 60mm mortar fire, recording effective hits on the terrorist position.

Human intelligence sources later confirmed the impact of the bombardment, reporting that several terrorist casualties were evacuated from the area using wheelbarrows.

Further intelligence indicated that three foreign fighters were among those killed in the bombardment.

Mire battle damage assessment and follow-on operations were ongoing to determine the full impact of the strikes and sustain pressure on the terrorist group.

Attached below is Exclusive Photo of Terrorists position before the strikes obtained by Zagazola

Military Mortar Strikes Kill Several ISWAP Fighters, Including Three Foreigners, at Dumba

Ikpeazu Seeks Spanish Technology Transfer to Modernise Nigeria’s Footwear Industry

…Nigerian envoy engages Alicante footwear manufacturers, explores training, investment and business partnerships to boost local production

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has begun exploring strategic partnerships with Spain’s established footwear industry to modernise local shoe manufacturing, improve production standards and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian manufacturers in domestic and international markets.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Dr Victor Ikpeazu, made the move during a visit to Alicante Province on Monday, November 2, where he held discussions with leading Spanish footwear industry stakeholders on technology transfer, technical training, innovation and business-to-business partnerships.

According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid, Ikpeazu met with the President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), Vicente Pastor Perez, as well as representatives of the footwear technology centre, INESCOP, and manufacturers Pikolinos and Hispanitas.

The engagement is part of efforts by the Nigerian Mission to connect local footwear manufacturers with Spain’s established manufacturing ecosystem and create opportunities for skills development, industrial cooperation and investment.

At INESCOP, a footwear technology and innovation centre based in Elda, Alicante, the ambassador was received by its Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, who conducted him round the facility to showcase its technological capabilities, research activities and manufacturing standards.

INESCOP works with more than 400 member companies across different countries, providing support for advances in footwear design, materials and manufacturing processes.

Discussions focused on how its technical expertise could be adapted to strengthen Nigeria’s footwear industry, particularly through specialised training, technology transfer, quality management, certification and innovation.

The parties also explored capacity-building programmes for Nigerian technicians, manufacturers and industry-support organisations, with emphasis on sustainability, improved productivity and compliance with international quality standards.

Speaking during the engagements, Ikpeazu highlighted the entrepreneurial capacity and ingenuity of Nigerian footwear manufacturers, noting that many had continued to produce different categories of shoes manually despite limited access to modern technology and advanced manufacturing equipment.

He said the Nigerian Embassy was prepared to facilitate direct engagements between interested Nigerian entrepreneurs and their Spanish counterparts to encourage partnerships and business-to-business matchmaking.

At his meeting with AVECAL, Pikolinos and Hispanitas, the ambassador explored opportunities for structured collaboration, including knowledge-sharing platforms, technical exchanges, joint programmes and exposure to modern production processes.

The visit to Pikolinos provided an opportunity to examine practical aspects of industrial footwear production, while discussions with Hispanitas centred on strengthening commercial and technical relationships between manufacturers in both countries.

Pastor Perez assured the ambassador of AVECAL’s willingness to work with the Nigerian Embassy to establish the necessary arrangements for sustained engagement between Spanish footwear businesses and Nigerian entrepreneurs.

The association also expressed readiness to explore practical cooperation that could facilitate access to industry expertise, training opportunities and potential business partnerships.

Ikpeazu said closer engagement with Spain’s footwear manufacturing cluster, particularly in the Valencia region and Alicante Province, could offer Nigerian manufacturers opportunities to upgrade their production capabilities, improve product quality and expand their access to international markets.

He identified technology transfer, specialised training and sustained industry dialogue as important elements in building a more competitive Nigerian footwear sector.

The Spanish industry representatives also expressed willingness to explore concrete cooperation mechanisms, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

The ambassador was accompanied on the visit by the Senior Counsellor, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, and First Secretary, Mr Likson Dadi.

The engagement forms part of the Nigerian Mission’s broader economic diplomacy initiative aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, promoting industrial partnerships and supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to stimulate manufacturing and economic development under President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms.

Ikpeazu Seeks Spanish Technology Transfer to Modernise Nigeria’s Footwear Industry

FG Raises Alarm Over Gambian Directive to Replace 57 Nigerian Bank Workers

…Commission seeks reversal of December deadline, warns against displacement of African professionals

By: Michael Mike

An agency of the Federal Government, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called on the Central Bank of The Gambia to reverse a directive requiring banks operating in the country to replace non-Gambian employees with qualified Gambian nationals, warning that the policy could lead to the displacement of 57 Nigerian professionals.

The directive, reportedly issued on September 16, 2026, gives banks until December 31, 2026, to replace their existing non-Gambian employees with Gambians, a development NiDCOM said had raised serious concerns about the welfare and employment rights of affected Nigerians.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the development as deeply worrisome, particularly as the affected Nigerian professionals reportedly possess valid residency and work permits and have made significant contributions to The Gambia’s banking sector.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Commission acknowledged The Gambia’s right to promote local employment and develop its workforce but insisted that such policies must respect existing employment arrangements, legitimate work authorisations and the principles of African solidarity and regional integration.

NiDCOM said information available to it indicated that 57 Nigerian professionals working in four Nigerian-origin banks operating in The Gambia could be affected by the directive.

The Commission also drew attention to the economic contributions of the four banks, which collectively account for approximately 37.2 per cent of total banking industry deposits, valued at 35.3 billion Gambian dalasi, and 32.6 per cent of loans, worth 7.67 billion dalasi.

The banks also reportedly control 37 per cent of the industry’s total assets, valued at 44.78 billion dalasi, while accounting for about 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds.

More significantly, NiDCOM said the four institutions reportedly contributed 90 per cent of the funding supporting the operations of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), highlighting their importance to the Gambian economy
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The Commission expressed concern that a blanket employment replacement policy could undermine the contributions of African professionals and investors to host economies, particularly at a time when African countries are seeking to deepen economic cooperation and regional integration.

It argued that encouraging African investment and the free movement of people while implementing policies capable of indiscriminately displacing qualified African professionals could undermine the objectives of continental economic integration.

NiDCOM therefore urged the Central Bank of The Gambia to immediately reconsider and reverse the directive, calling for consultations with the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, the affected financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders to achieve an equitable resolution.

The Commission also appealed to Gambian authorities to uphold the spirit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) integration framework and the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia.
It called for constructive diplomatic engagement to resolve the dispute without jeopardising the livelihoods of affected Nigerian professionals or the broader economic relationship between both countries.

The development comes against the backdrop of regional efforts to promote the free movement of people, capital and services, as well as stronger economic partnerships among African countries.

FG Raises Alarm Over Gambian Directive to Replace 57 Nigerian Bank Workers