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Nigerian Passports Would be Issued Within Two Weeks- Tunji-Ojo

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Nigerian Passports Would be Issued Within Two Weeks- Tunji-Ojo

By: Michael Mike

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said that from December passports would be made available in two weeks to applicants.

The Minister also promised that Nigerians would also be saved of the pains of having to wait on the queue to upload the needed information to get passport issued. He said that registration would be done online and the only thing that would be needed to be done at any passport office is the biometrics capture and the collection of issued passports.

He said the ministry is working at getting the needed equipment to make this possible in December

The minister gave the promise during a press briefing where he disclosed to journalists how the ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other stakeholders achieved clearance of 204,332 passports backlogs across the country within three weeks.

The minister said it all started when Mr. President said: “look I didn’t appoint you to that ministry to give excuses, go and change the narratives, especially of passports applications and collections. Nigerians have had enough of that problem. “

He said in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the Ministry of Interior, the NIS, and other stakeholders aligned with “the talk and do” mantra of the present administration.

Tunji-Ojo revealed to journalists how the deadline he handed down on the 7th of September was delivered by the Immigration Service, stating that personnel of NIS had to do three shifts each day including Saturdays and Sundays to deliver.

According to him, the Service providers of the NIS were also made to double up their printing capacities and capabilities, especially in areas where passports backlogs were higher.

The minister said:” Yes. I gave two weeks deadline. I however have to apologise to Nigerians that we delivered on it in three weeks. We had 204,332 Nigerians whose data had been captured. And we cannot continue to watch them waiting endlessly. I visited the headquarters of the Immigration Service and told them the narratives must change.

“So in critical frontline desks like Ikeja, Alausa, Ikoyi, Ibadan, Abuja, we ordered that more printing machines be brought in by the Service providers. Then we increased the working hours of the personnel of NIS. They started running three shifts.

“Let me at this juncture commend the Acting Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Mrs Wura-Ola Adepoju, especially for her positive responses to the pressures I mounted on her. I would call her late and demand updates, and she would provide updates. That was the spirit. “

Tunji-Ojo however revealed that so far out of the 204,332 backlogs cleared, only 94,981 have been collected by the applicants, leaving 109,351 yet uncollected.

He said while the entire backlogs were cleared as of October 1st, Nigerians should appreciate the extraordinary efforts of those who made it possible by showing up in the various offices of NIS to collect the travel documents.

He regretted that for instance in Ikoyi Passports office, 39,170 backlogs were cleared, only about 9,458 applicants have showed up to collect the booklets. And while 21,108 were cleared in Alausa, a huge number of applicants are yet to show up to collect the documents.

The Minister said to sustain the momentum, the Ministry would embark on some reforms with the NIS, stating that by December this year, Nigerians can upload all supporting documents including their passports online to the Immigration Service.

He said the measures would reduce human interfaces and corrupt practices, while bureaucratic bottlenecks that have been dismantled would not resurface anymore.

According to him, applicants would only show up at Immigration offices for biometric capturing of data as it would reduce applications and collections of passports to two weeks.

Nigerian Passports Would be Issued Within Two Weeks- Tunji-Ojo

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Borno: troops neutralise insurgent, recover logistics items in ambush operation near Pulka

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Borno: troops neutralise insurgent, recover logistics items in ambush operation near Pulka

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised a suspected insurgent and recovered several logistics items during a successful ambush operation in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 2:30 a.m. on April 6, 2026, by an ambush team of E Company, 192 Battalion, deployed at Forward Operating Base Pulka, in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.

The troops, while in ambush position around Zubulum village along the Pulka–Rawa road, came into contact with suspected logistics elements of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

The troops engaged the insurgents with sustained firepower, neutralising one of them, while others fled with suspected gunshot wounds.

No casualty was recorded among the troops.

Items recovered from the scene included about 350 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, a bag of salt, a roll of vaseline, slippers, detergent, sachets of milk, eight pieces of clothing materials, two microphones and four copies of the Holy Qur’an.

The sources said the recovered items indicated that the fleeing insurgents were on a logistics mission.

Troops subsequently exploited the area and returned to base at about 8:15 a.m.

The attackers are believed to be affiliated with Boko Haram

Borno: troops neutralise insurgent, recover logistics items in ambush operation near Pulka

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Troops neutralise terrorist logistics supplier in Gujba ambush in Yobe

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Troops neutralise terrorist logistics supplier in Gujba ambush in Yobe

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised a suspected terrorist logistics supplier during an ambush operation in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 4:00 a.m. on April 6, 2026, by troops of 198 Special Forces Battalion in conjunction with Hybrid Forces along the Lamisuri axis.

During the ambush, troops made contact with suspected insurgents and neutralised one logistics supplier, while others fled the scene.

A tricycle believed to be used for conveying logistics for the terrorists was also destroyed during the operation.

No casualty was recorded among the troops, and no equipment loss was reported.

Authorities said the operation was part of sustained efforts to disrupt the supply chains of insurgent groups and deny them freedom of movement within the theatre.

Troops neutralise terrorist logistics supplier in Gujba ambush in Yobe

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Berom militia kill Fulani herder in Riyom as tit-for-tat violence escalates in Plateau

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Berom militia kill Fulani herder in Riyom as tit-for-tat violence escalates in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Abubakar Hababe, a 40-year-old Fulani herder, was on April 5 found dead after an attack in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what appears to be a reprisal attack in continuation of the tit for tat across affected communities.

The latest incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m., when troops deployed at Rim village responded to a distress call of an attack between Tanjol and Rim communities. On arrival, security personnel discovered the lifeless body of one Abubakar Hababe, 40, in an open field.

Community sources alleged that the victim, a Fulani herder, was attacked in what is believed to be a reprisal by suspected Berom Militia, following earlier killings in the area.

The development is the latest in a string of violent incidents that have heightened tensions across Riyom and neighbouring local government areas.

Investigations indicate that the attack may be linked to the killing of two miners at an illegal mining site in Rim village, where armed men suspected to be Fulani bandits had earlier stormed the area, killing victims and triggering outrage within the host community.

Zagazola report that the pattern reflects a sustained cycle of retaliatory violence that has continued to escalate across Plateau.

On April 3, troops responding to a distress call in Sabongida village, Jos South Local Government Area, recovered the body of a 30-year-old herder identified as Shafiyu, who had been killed in the bush under unclear circumstances.

Later the same day, gunmen attacked an illegal mining site in Gyel village, Riyom LGA, killing three miners, including one Samuel Davou, while several others fled.

Earlier on March 25, the body of a Fulani boy, Abdullahi Mohammed, was discovered in a shallow grave in Mangu Local Government Area, sparking tension in the area.

On the same day, reports also indicated destruction of irrigation farmlands in Riyom, an incident attributed to herders, which further strained relations between farming and pastoral communities.

On March 28, a prominent Fulani leader, Alhaji Bilyaminu Julde, the Ardo of Gindiri in Barkin Ladi LGA, was assassinated at his residence by gunmen, an incident that significantly escalated tensions.

That same day, farmlands in Tahoss village, Riyom LGA, were reportedly destroyed by stray cattle, further deepening hostilities.

By April 2, violence had spread to Bokkos LGA, where troops foiled an attack by suspected armed herders following clashes with vigilantes over grazing disputes, leaving one vigilante injured.

On April 3, additional incidents were reported in Barkin Ladi, where troops recovered suspected rustled cattle, while another Fulani youth was reportedly killed in Riyom in a separate isolated attack.

Security presence has since been intensified across the affected areas, with troops conducting patrols and engaging community leaders to prevent further escalation.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and refrain from reprisals, warning that the persistent cycle of attacks and counter-attacks continues to threaten peace and stability in the state.

Security forces said Investigations into the latest killing are ongoing, with efforts underway to apprehend those responsible.

Berom militia kill Fulani herder in Riyom as tit-for-tat violence escalates in Plateau

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