OPEP Troops Raid Militia Hideout in Plateau, Arrest Suspect, Neutralise Another

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have arrested a suspected militia member and neutralised another during a raid on Lugere Village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 4:12 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2026, by troops of Sector 4 of OPEP.
During the raid, the troops apprehended one suspected militia member and recovered a motorcycle.

Another suspected militia member was reportedly neutralised after attempting to escape during the operation.

The arrested suspect is undergoing further exploitation to obtain information that could assist security forces in identifying and apprehending other members of the suspected gang.

The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by OPEP to track down armed groups and disrupt their activities across Plateau State.

Security authorities have continued to pursue intelligence-led operations aimed at improving security and protecting communities affected by recurring violence in the state.

OPEP Troops Raid Militia Hideout in Plateau, Arrest Suspect, Neutralise Another

Ajakuta: Borno loses infrastructure worth billions to scavengers, Zulum says

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has revealed that the state has lost metals, electrical materials and infrastructure worth billions of naira to scavengers, locally known as Ajakuta.

He said this, among other security concerns, led to a ban on the scrap metal trade in Borno State.

The Governor disclosed this on Saturday while addressing operators, urging them to submit proposals on how they can continue their businesses without contributing to insecurity or destroying public infrastructure.

Zulum explained that the ban was imposed in the overall interest of the state and not to deprive operators of their livelihood.

He stressed that the government had no personal interest in stopping their businesses, adding that the measure aimed to protect public assets and strengthen security.

Governor Zulum said, “It is deeply concerning to me if one person loses his livelihood for whatever reason in Borno; believe me, there is nothing I stand to gain from banning scrap metal trade rather than addressing the serious security concerns associated with your activities.”

“We spent more than N3 billion to connect an electricity distribution line from Damaturu to Maiduguri, but unfortunately we lost all the wires to the metal scavenging activities. Before the ban, hundreds of your members were killed in the process of scavenging for metals in the villages that are not yet safe for civilian activities.”

“We have security intelligence that even the insurgents use your platforms to sell looted metals. So, no responsible government will ignore such intelligence just to be politically correct.”

He further granted a waiver allowing the operators to evacuate stock accumulated before the ban at selected locations, a move intended to ease the impact of the restriction on genuine businesses.

Ajakuta: Borno loses infrastructure worth billions to scavengers, Zulum says

Wisdom Kwati Group Targets $100bn Revenue by 2036, Eyes NGX, London Listings

By: Michael Mike

Wisdom Kwati Group, a Nigerian conglomerate, has unveiled plans to grow its consolidated revenue to $100 billion by 2036 and pursue listings on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and London Stock Exchange in 2027, setting out an ambitious expansion programme spanning real estate, agriculture, financial technology, aviation and manufacturing.

The group announced the 10-year growth blueprint, tagged Vision 2036, during the inauguration of its corporate headquarters in Abuja and the presentation of Wisdom Kwati Smart City Plc as a public limited company.

Its chairman, Wisdom Kwati, said the $100 billion revenue target represented a long-term ambition rather than the group’s current financial position, pledging to strengthen corporate governance, introduce independent oversight and adopt international auditing standards as the business expands.

“It is not a claim that we are already a $100 billion enterprise. We are not. We will report under IFRS, audited internationally. Related-party transactions will go to independent directors. If we cannot defend that figure, we will not claim it,” Kwati said.

He said the group’s immediate priorities included compliance, documentation and measurable delivery, adding that the success of Vision 2036 would depend on building businesses whose performance could be independently verified.

As part of its capital-raising strategy, management said Wisdom Kwati Smart City Plc had received clearance to begin its listing process, with private placements expected to precede a proposed initial public offering and dual listing on the NGX and London Stock Exchange in 2027.

The proposed listings would mark a significant step in the group’s efforts to access capital markets, although the timeline remains subject to applicable regulatory requirements and the completion of the necessary processes.

Management said the smart city subsidiary operated across seven locations in Adamawa, Rivers, Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Oyo states. It put the subsidiary’s asset valuation at about N74 billion, against reported turnover of N10 million at an earlier stage of its operations. The figures were not independently verified at the event.

Under Vision 2036, the group projects that its smart city business will contribute $50 billion in revenue through the development of five million homes across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

Its financial technology platform, which management said currently has more than 7,000 users, is expected to grow to two million users within 24 months and 50 million by 2036, contributing a projected $20 billion in revenue.

The group also plans to expand its agricultural operations following the acquisition of 1,000 hectares in Keffi, Nasarawa State, for farming. It intends to increase the area under cultivation to 10,000 hectares by 2030, with a longer-term target of securing up to 500,000 hectares across West Africa.

In Sierra Leone, management said it had secured 11,500 hectares in Nuni, near an airport, in partnership with the country’s government. Discussions were also said to be ongoing on proposed smart city projects in the United Arab Emirates, Ghana and Houston, Texas, by 2030.

Beyond real estate and agriculture, the group outlined plans to introduce bottled water and rice products by January 2027, followed by sugar in the second quarter, cement in the third quarter and fertiliser towards the end of the year.

Its artificial intelligence platform, Karrot, which management said had generated more than N100 million, is projected to achieve $1 billion in revenue by 2030.

The Group Chief Operating Officer, Pastor Baba Yerima Ballah, traced the organisation’s development from its beginnings as Tarabost about a decade ago to what he described as a 500-person organisation.

Ballah said the company had initially explored foreign financing for its smart city concept through a proposal submitted to the German government. However, he said regulatory bottlenecks frustrated efforts to secure the funding, prompting the group to reconsider its strategy and pursue local development.

He said the group’s interests now span construction, security, financial technology, agriculture, aviation, technology and real estate, including Karabo Construction, Infinity Kingdom Guards, Kwati Fintech Bank, Kwati Rice and Sugar, Kwati AI and Kwati Air.

Kwati said the group’s objective was to build businesses capable of delivering tangible infrastructure and services rather than relying on ambitious projections.

“Africa does not lack visions. What it lacks is the operating machine that will turn visions into houses with bedrooms, flights that land on time, and cities that will have water and title, not only renders,” he said.

He added that the group intended to develop an interconnected business model in which its subsidiaries patronised one another, creating demand and supporting growth across its various operations.

Management also pledged to protect investors’ funds and meet agreed returns, saying the credibility of Vision 2036 would ultimately be determined by execution.

The scale of the programme, however, presents significant financing, regulatory and operational demands. Delivering the proposed housing developments, expanding agricultural holdings across several countries and growing the fintech platform to millions of users would require substantial capital, effective management and sustained commercial performance.

The group’s revenue projections, asset valuation, proposed stock market listings and international expansion plans were not independently verified at the event. Their eventual realisation will depend on the availability of funding, compliance with regulatory requirements and the ability to translate the announced targets into demonstrable business results.

Wisdom Kwati Group Targets $100bn Revenue by 2036, Eyes NGX, London Listings