News
UN System Meets to Coordinate Response to Transnational Organized Crime in West Africa
UN System Meets to Coordinate Response to Transnational Organized Crime in West Africa
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has convened a pivotal Field Dialogue in Abuja, bringing together UN agencies and national counterparts to chart a coordinated response to the growing threat of transnational organized crime (TOC) in Nigeria and the West African region.
The meeting was opened by the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Mohammed Fall, and chaired by UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure.
Representatives from UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, UNDSS, IOM, UNFPA and NDLEA participated, underscoring the UN system and Nigeria’s commitment to collaborative action.
In his opening remarks, Mr Fall stated: “I stand before you as the Head of the UN family in Nigeria, underscoring our shared awareness that Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) poses a significant threat to the work of every UN agency. It undermines our collective efforts across various sectors and impedes our achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Stressing the importance of the gathering and why Nigeria must lead the fight against TOC, Country Representative of UNODC, Mr Cheikh Toure added: “TOC in Nigeria manifests in diverse and interconnected forms: drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, cybercrime, illicit financial flows and the illegal exploitation of natural resources, to name a few. These crimes are not isolated; they thrive in environments where corruption erodes governance and insecurity restricts access. For instance, banditry and terrorism in the Northwest and Northeast, coupled with kidnapping for ransom, create no-go zones that limit our programmatic reach.”
Also speaking, Director, Assets and Financial Investigation, NDLEA, Dr Ibrahim Abdul equally emphasized that: “Criminals have become technologically adept. Fora like this help us understand their tactics better and stay ahead of them.”
This Field Dialogue forms part of a global UN initiative launched by UNODC Headquarters following discussions in October 2024 within the High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP), the UN’s principal platform for system-wide policy coherence and coordination on TOC issues, particularly across the UN system. Recognizing TOC as a major threat to peace, security, and sustainable development, the UN is working to develop a unified conceptual framework and enhance inter-agency coordination.
Field Dialogues are being held in key regions – Southeast Asia, the Andes, and Nigeria – to identify gaps, leverage expertise, and develop integrated strategies. Insights from these dialogues will inform the upcoming HLCP meeting in New York later this year.
Nigeria’s strategic position in West Africa, coupled with vulnerabilities to human trafficking, arms smuggling, illicit financial flows, and counterfeit medicines, places it at the center of this effort. During her recent visit, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed reaffirmed Nigeria’s pivotal role in tackling transnational organized crime at both regional and global levels.
The Dialogue in Abuja marks a critical step in strengthening joint UN efforts to support Nigeria in addressing the complex challenges posed by organized crime.
UN System Meets to Coordinate Response to Transnational Organized Crime in West Africa
News
Alleged Cybercrime: Court Revokes Sowore’s Bail, Issues Bench Warrant Over Failure To Appear In Court
Alleged Cybercrime: Court Revokes Sowore’s Bail, Issues Bench Warrant Over Failure To Appear In Court
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of online publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, following his failure to appear in court as a defendant in the ongoing alleged criminal defamation suit brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and brought before him on the next adjourned date being June 22, 2026 for ruling on the application he filed for recusal.
The judge had last December granted the politician bail based on self-recognition. He had at the time declined a request by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to issue an arrest warrant after Sowore and his lawyer failed to appear in court for trial.
However, at the resumption of trial on Tuesday, neither Sowore nor his lawyer was present in court. This prompted counsel to the prosecution to apply to the court for a revocation of the bail and the issuance of a bench warrant. The prosecution described Sowore’s absence as “delay tactics”.
The DSS had filed a five-count charge against Sowore over social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”. Efforts by the secret police to make him pull down the post were rebuffed by the politician, who insisted that it was within his fundamental human right to freedom of speech to post as he liked. This prompted the DSS to file charges of criminal defamation against him.
Last month, the trial judge rejected Sowore’s “no-case submission,” ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him. In response, Sowore and his legal team accused the judge of bias and requested that he recuse himself.
Alleged Cybercrime: Court Revokes Sowore’s Bail, Issues Bench Warrant Over Failure To Appear In Court
Troops Neutralise ISWAP Fighter in Ambush Operation in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised a suspected ISWAP fighter during a successful ambush operation in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 12:15 a.m. on June 15 by troops of 222 Battalion (Mechanised), who laid an ambush at a suspected terrorist crossing point in Yaleri Kurma Village.
The troops reportedly engaged the insurgents during the operation, resulting in the neutralisation of one suspected ISWAP member.
Items recovered from the scene included two bags of flour, 12 packs of 500-gram salt and 10 packs of spaghetti, believed to be supplies intended for terrorist elements operating in the area.
The recovered items have been taken into military custody for further investigation and exploitation.
Military authorities said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics networks and deny insurgents access to food supplies and movement corridors across the North-East.
The operation was completed successfully without casualties among the troops.
Troops Neutralise ISWAP Fighter in Ambush Operation in Borno
Troops Discover, Detonate Two Improvised Explosive Devices in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully discovered and detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along a major supply route in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the devices were detected at about 10:45 a.m. on June 15 by troops of 19 Battalion (Mechanised) and 25 Brigade Garrison while conducting a routine patrol along the Maiduguri–Kumala–Damboa Main Supply Route (MSR).
The troops reportedly identified the explosives during the patrol and immediately took precautionary measures to secure the area.
The IEDs were subsequently detonated in a controlled operation, preventing any potential threat to military personnel and civilian road users.
No casualties or damage were recorded during the operation.
Military authorities said the successful detection and disposal of the explosives underscored ongoing efforts by security forces to keep critical routes safe and deny insurgents the ability to disrupt movement within the North-East.
The operation was completed without incident, and normal activities along the route resumed thereafter.
Troops Discover, Detonate Two Improvised Explosive Devices in Borno
Alleged Cybercrime: Court Revokes Sowore’s Bail, Issues Bench Warrant Over Failure To Appear In Court
Troops Neutralise ISWAP Fighter in Ambush Operation in Borno
Troops Discover, Detonate Two Improvised Explosive Devices in Borno
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