Odumegwu-Ojukwu Brokers Release of Nigerian Pastor Detained in Benin

By: Michael Mike

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has secured the release of a Nigerian cleric, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who had been imprisoned in the Republic of Benin amid growing concerns over his deteriorating health and treatment in custody.

Pastor Egbaji, a businessman and religious leader from Cross River State, regained his freedom on Thursday, following a presidential pardon granted by Beninois President Patrice Talon.

The pardon, which was gazetted in December 2025, came after months of sustained diplomatic engagement by Nigeria.

Egbaji had been in detention for more than two years after being accused of various offences. He was initially held in a hospital in Cotonou under conditions described by officials as degrading, before being transferred to a correctional facility. His situation attracted national attention after images showing him visibly ill and restrained to a hospital bed circulated widely, triggering public outrage and diplomatic intervention.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Magnus Eze, said the release was the outcome of persistent appeals by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including her visit to Egbaji at a Cotonou hospital last year alongside Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.

She noted that Nigeria had repeatedly requested that the cleric be allowed to receive proper medical care or be transferred home to serve his sentence.

She attributed the success of the negotiations to President Bola Tinubu’s emphasis on citizen diplomacy, noting that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a priority under the administration’s foreign policy framework. The approach, she explained, aligns with the Diaspora pillar of the government’s Four-Ds strategy—Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Development—under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister disclosed that she spoke with Pastor Egbaji shortly after his release and confirmed that he was in stable spirits, though still in need of medical attention. She added that the government would continue to support Nigerians facing legal or humanitarian challenges outside the country.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Benin Republic, Alhaji Mohammad Munir, commended Odumegwu-Ojukwu for what he described as her hands-on diplomacy and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad. He also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the safety and rights of Nigerians in the diaspora, urging continued diplomatic efforts to assist citizens detained overseas.

The release of Pastor Egbaji has been welcomed by members of the Nigerian community in Benin, who described it as a strong demonstration of effective diplomacy and regional cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu Brokers Release of Nigerian Pastor Detained in Benin

Gombe Govt. commits to disability-inclusive WASH services

The Gombe State government has reiterated its commitment to promoting disability-inclusive access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services across the state.

Mr Mohammed Fawu, Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, gave the assurance during a roundtable on disability inclusion in the WASH sector on Thursday in Gombe.

Fawu said gaps in WASH facilities must be addressed to ensure they were fully accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive for persons with disabilities across the state.

He added that the state would adopt a disability-friendly approach in WASH project implementation, emphasising that inclusion was essential to achieving programme goals.

“Open defecation can only be eliminated and access to WASH services improved if everyone is carried along,” Fawu stated, stressing the need for inclusive planning and execution.

Dr Umar Musa, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer of the State Programme Implementation Unit, SURWASH Gombe, said the engagement aimed to assess progress, identify gaps, and propose inclusive solutions within the SURWASH framework.

He noted that strengthening disability inclusion in WASH facility design, implementation, and usage would improve public health and reduce costs related to illnesses from poor hygiene and sanitation.

Mr Mohammed Abubakar, board member of the Gombe State Commission for Persons with Disability, hailed the initiative, saying it would ease challenges faced by PWDs in accessing public infrastructure.

Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations (GONET), emphasised that inclusion was key to programme success and urged stakeholders to consult and involve PWDs at all planning stages.

The roundtable brought together disability groups, WASH stakeholders, government agencies, and community representatives to share experiences, identify gaps, and develop strategies for integrating the needs of persons with disabilities into WASH services.

Gombe Govt. commits to disability-inclusive WASH services

Scores killed in Boko Haram/ISWAP renewed
clashes in Mandara Mountains and Sambisa Forest

By: Zagazola Makama

Scores of fighters were reportedly killed in a week-long surge of violent infighting between rival factions of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) across the Sambisa Forest axis of Borno State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the renewed hostilities erupted on Jan. 3, following a coordinated ISWAP raid led by two commanders, identified as Jundullah and Ibn Hataf, targeting camps loyal to the Boko Haram faction around the Ali Ngulde axis of the Mandara Mountains.

The offensive, according to the sources, was met with stiff resistance as Boko Haram elements mounted a counter-ambush under the coordination of a field commander known as Abu-Rijal, also called Ba-Sulhu. Dozens of ISWAP fighters were reportedly killed in the encounter, while many captured alive, with weapons seized by the defending faction.

Footage that resurfaced during the week and said to have been obtained by Zagazola Makama, showed captured ISWAP fighters being executed before other combatants, amid claims of victory by the Boko Haram faction.

While the video reflects the brutality that has characterised inter-group rivalries in the forested enclaves of the Lake Chad in Borno State. Heavy weapons including AK-47 rifles, a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), an anti-aircraft gun and assorted ammunition, were
recovered during the initial clashes.

However, the balance of power appeared to shift days later. On Jan. 6, ISWAP fighters were said to have launched a retaliatory assault on a Boko Haram stronghold in the Sabil Huda axis, triggering a prolonged exchange of heavy gunfire that lasted several hours.

Sources said ISWAP forces eventually overran the position, killing at least 12 Boko Haram fighters and seizing additional weapons.

The aftermath of the fighting reportedly forced the relocation of Boko Haram families, women and children from contested camps to perceived safe havens around the Yale General axis.

Night operations were also said to have been conducted to track fleeing fighters, though no further confirmed engagements were recorded as of Wednesday.

The renewed clashes are consistent with a long-running rivalry rooted in ideological differences, leadership disputes and competition over territory, resources and fighters. Both factions, according to sources, are re-arming and repositioning for possible further attacks.

Scores killed in Boko Haram/ISWAP renewed
clashes in Mandara Mountains and Sambisa Forest