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Head of UN Counter-Terrorism Office Concludes Visit to Nigeria
Head of UN Counter-Terrorism Office Concludes Visit to Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism (UNOCT), Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, has concluded a week-long high-level visit to Nigeria.
During his visit which ended on Tuesday, Voronkov held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja; Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector- General of Police and President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)Commission, Omar Alieu Touray.
According to a statement by UNOCT, the visit was marked by fruitful discussions centred on enhancing cooperation on countering terrorism and violent extremism in Africa and advancing preparations for an upcoming African Counter-Terrorism Summit (“Abuja Summit”) planned in Abuja in 2024.
The statement revealed that the Abuja Summit will be organized under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of Nigeria. It will provide a forum for Member States, International and Regional organisations and Civil Society to review the terrorism landscape in Africa and agree on concrete priorities and measures to address this scourge in a comprehensive manner. A pre-Summit ministerial meeting will take place on 21 September on the margins of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.
During the high-level visit, Voronkov signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Government, met with Nigerian Youth leaders and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony with Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to honour the memory of 23 United Nations staff and civilians who died in the 2011 terrorist attack on the UN House in Abuja.
Voronkov also travelled to Maiduguri, Borno State, to see first-hand the impact of terrorism on the local population and the international community’s support in its rehabilitation and reintegration processes, as well as to raise international awareness about the persistent insecurity in the Lake Chad region.
In Maiduguri, he visited the Bulumkutu transit center, a UN-supported reintegration centre for women and children formerly associated with armed groups and the Joint Investigation Centre, a multi-agency hub for screening and investigating individuals detained during counter-terrorism operations in the North East and onward referral for prosecution or rehabilitation and reintegration.
Voronkov, while in Maiduguri, emphasized that UNOCT, through its Global Programme on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (PRR), will continue to support Borno State and Nigeria in these efforts.
The Under-Secretary-General and his UNOCT delegation return to New York from Abuja on Tuesday.
Head of UN Counter-Terrorism Office Concludes Visit to Nigeria
News
Dignitaries Gather In Borno For APC Deputy National Chairman’s Children’s Wedding
Dignitaries Gather In Borno For APC Deputy National Chairman’s Children’s Wedding
By: Our Reporter
Prominent Nigerians on Saturday converged in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to attend the wedding ceremony of three children of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Dr. Ali Bukar Dalori.
Gatekeepers News reports that there was heavy traffic in parts of Maiduguri as dignitaries from all works of life made frantic effort to access the residence of Dalori and the Al-Ansar Mosque, the two main venues of the wedding ceremony.

Among those in attendance were top government officials, party leaders, traditiona rulers, business moguls, and religious leaders from within and outside Borno State. The ceremony attracted a large crowd, reflecting Dr. Dalori’s political influence and wide network across the country.
Leading the array of dignitaries is the National Chairman of the APC Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, othe members of National Woking Committee of the APC and large numbers of States Chairmen of the party .
Also in attendance were the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, his Deputy, Hon Umar Kadafur , three Senators from the state- Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Senator Mohammed Ndume Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan and members of the House of Representatives from Borno State

Others are the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen, Abubakar Kyari, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and members of Borno State House of Assembly , former Nigeria Ambassador to China, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Alh. Ibrahim Bunu, Ibrahim , Former Deputy Governors of Borno State- Ali Jatau and Adamu Dibal .
The Deputy National Chairman of the APC was full of gratitude to his guests who left their various confort zones to attend wedding of his children- Usman, Falmata and Aisha .
” I’m immensely grateful our National Chairman of APC Professor Nentawe, our amiable Governor of Borno State Prof Babagana Zulum, the Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur and the too many important personalities who came from far and near to honour my invitation, may Allah (SAW) bless you all ” Dalori said .
The wedding rites were conducted in accordance with Islamic injunctions, featuring special prayers for the couples, their families,. The atmosphere was marked by joy, unity, and cultural splendour, as guests exchanged pleasantries and goodwill messages with the host and his family

Security operatives were deployed in large numbers around the venues to maintain law and order and ensure the smooth flow of activities. Traffic control officers were also on ground to manage the influx of vehicles and guests, while emergency and protocol teams worked tirelessly to coordinate movements and logistics.
The wedding ceremony came to a successful end with a reception that featured traditional music, refreshments, and continued interactions among guests, bringing together leaders and citizens in a rare atmosphere of celebration and solidarity.
Dignitaries Gather In Borno For APC Deputy National Chairman’s Children’s Wedding
News
JUST IN: Boko Haram terrorists demand N423m ransom to release Borno ex-LGA vice chairman
JUST IN: Boko Haram terrorists demand N423m ransom to release Borno ex-LGA vice chairman
By: Our Reporter
A new video has emerged showing two men, allegedly abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Borno State, pleading for help.
One of the victims, Hon. Hassan Biu Miringa, a former Vice Chairman of Biu Local Government Area, is seen in the video appealing for rescue.
The two men were taken hostage on December 17, 2025, while traveling from Miringa to Maiduguri.
In the video, the abductees said the terrorists are demanding a ransom of $150,000 per person, totaling $300,000, for their release.
‘We were abducted on our way from Miringa to Maiduguri around 2:30. Alhamdulillah, we are alive,’ one of the victims said. ‘We are calling on the government and individuals to come to our rescue.’
The victims specifically appealed to Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur, Hon. Mukhtar Betara Aliyu, Hon. Sule Ali Rimi, Hon. Yakubu Gambo Kimba, and Alhaji Musa Dogo Biu to intervene and help secure their freedom.
‘We are pleading with them to come to our rescue. We are their sons,” the victim said. ‘They said we must provide $150,000 each. For the two of us, it is $300,000. We want to be reunited with our families.’
JUST IN: Boko Haram terrorists demand N423m ransom to release Borno ex-LGA vice chairman
News
Nigerian Solidarity Groups Mourn Cubans Killed in Venezuela, Condemn U.S. Actions
Nigerian Solidarity Groups Mourn Cubans Killed in Venezuela, Condemn U.S. Actions
By: Michael Mike
The Nigeria Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (NMSC) has expressed deep condolences to the government and people of Cuba following the killing of 32 Cuban internationalists in Venezuela.
In a press statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the pro-people coalition, which includes labour unions, civil society organisations and intellectuals, alleged that the Cuban nationals were killed during an attack in Caracas on January 3, 2026, while protecting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, his wife, Cilia Flores, and what it described as the sovereignty of Venezuela.
The group said the Cubans chose to resist despite being overwhelmed, describing their actions as a demonstration of courage, honour and commitment to international solidarity.
NMSC drew parallels between the incident and past historical events where Cuban nationals were involved in overseas struggles, including the 1983 U.S.-led invasion of Grenada and Cuba’s military support for African liberation movements in Angola, Namibia and South Africa during the fight against apartheid.
According to the organisation, thousands of Cuban youths lost their lives in Africa while contributing to the dismantling of apartheid systems backed by Western powers. The group noted that Cuba’s internationalism has not been limited to armed conflicts, citing the country’s long-standing medical outreach to developing nations, including Nigeria.
The statement also recalled Cuba’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it dispatched medical teams to dozens of countries and received hundreds of stranded cruise ship passengers at a time many nations had closed their borders.
NMSC extended its sympathy to the families of those killed in Venezuela and called on the United States government to respect international law, halt what it described as foreign military interventions, and lift sanctions imposed on Cuba, Venezuela and other countries.
The group further aligned itself with repeated resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly calling for the end to the decades-long U.S. embargo against Cuba, insisting that global peace and development require cooperation rather than conflict.
The statement was signed by veteran labour activist and writer, Owei Lakemfa, on behalf of the Nigeria Movement of Solidarity with Cuba
Nigerian Solidarity Groups Mourn Cubans Killed in Venezuela, Condemn U.S. Actions
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