Troops restore calm after farmers-herders clash in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops under Operation Enduring Peace have restored calm following a clash between farmers and herders in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security sources said the incident occurred at about 2:40 p.m. on April 12 at Rakum village, where violence broke out between the two groups.

According to the sources, troops of Sector 4 OPEP swiftly responded and brought the situation under control.

They added that five locals, two herders and a police personnel on duty in the village sustained injuries during the clash.

“The injured persons were evacuated for medical attention, while one suspect was apprehended with two cattle,” the sources said.

They noted that the suspect is currently in custody for further investigation.

Troops restore calm after farmers-herders clash in Plateau

Türkiye Delivers 36 Tons of Lifeline Food Aid to Displaced Nigerians in Adamawa

By: Michael Mike

In a renewed show of international solidarity, Türkiye has delivered 36 tons of critical food supplies to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State, bolstering ongoing humanitarian efforts in Nigeria’s conflict-affected northeast.

The intervention, executed through Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, AFAD, and in coordination with the United Nations, targeted vulnerable populations at the Malkohi IDP Camp on the outskirts of Yola.

The aid packages—comprising staple food items and essential daily-use supplies—are expected to provide immediate relief to hundreds of displaced families grappling with severe living conditions after fleeing years of violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency.

Speaking during the distribution exercise, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, emphasized his country’s longstanding humanitarian commitment, noting that Türkiye remains one of the world’s leading providers of humanitarian assistance.

“These efforts are aimed at alleviating, even if only in part, the hardships faced by people struggling to survive under extremely difficult conditions,” Poroy said, adding that Türkiye continues to support Nigeria not only through relief aid but also in addressing broader security challenges.

Also speaking, a representative of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Adamawa, Selen Laori, described the intervention as timely and impactful, stressing that the food supplies would significantly ease the burden on camp residents.

The event drew key government stakeholders, including Adamawa State’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Bello Diram, alongside local officials and humanitarian actors.

The latest donation underscores Türkiye’s growing footprint in humanitarian diplomacy across Africa, where it has increasingly supported civilian populations affected by conflict and terrorism. The aid aligns with broader international efforts led by the United Nations to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in northeastern Nigeria.

With hundreds of thousands still displaced by over a decade of insurgency, humanitarian actors warn that sustained global support remains critical to addressing food insecurity, rebuilding livelihoods, and restoring dignity to affected communities.

Türkiye Delivers 36 Tons of Lifeline Food Aid to Displaced Nigerians in Adamawa

Obasanjo Unveils Bold Blueprint for Africa’s Security Overhaul, Warns Against New Scramble

By: Michael Mike

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a sweeping and urgent call for a radical overhaul of Africa’s security architecture, warning that the continent risks deeper instability and renewed external domination unless it urgently redefines its approach to security, governance, and intelligence.

Speaking at the third Mashariki Cooperation Conference III (MCC III), Obasanjo challenged Africa’s intelligence chiefs and security leaders to abandon outdated frameworks and embrace a people-focused, technologically independent, and accountable system capable of confronting modern threats.

Delivering a hard-hitting address on “Emerging Geopolitical Dynamics and Africa’s Security Architecture,” the elder statesman argued that Africa’s persistent conflicts are not accidental but stem from “specific, identifiable failures of leadership,” compounded by what he described as intensifying external manipulation.

“We are witnessing the fracturing of the post-1945 multilateral order,” Obasanjo said, pointing to the global fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and contrasting international responses to crises in regions such as Gaza and the Sahel. According to him, these inconsistencies expose a global system that applies its rules selectively—often at Africa’s expense.

A Continent Under Pressure

Obasanjo painted a stark picture of a continent caught in a renewed geopolitical contest, warning of a “new scramble for Africa.” He cited expanding foreign influence through initiatives like China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the growing footprint of Russian-linked security actors across the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, and the vacuum left by the withdrawal of Western forces from key conflict zones.

These developments, he said, have coincided with a surge in terrorism, violent extremism, and an alarming wave of military takeovers across the continent since 2020—what he described as a “coup epidemic.”

Five Pillars for a New Security Order

In response, Obasanjo outlined five concrete propositions aimed at reshaping Africa’s security framework:
• Human-centred security: Prioritising the safety and welfare of citizens over elite interests.
• Continental solidarity: Strengthening joint mechanisms such as the African Standby Force and early warning systems.
• Disrupting illicit financing: Empowering intelligence agencies to tackle financial flows that sustain insecurity.
• Technological sovereignty: Building African capacity in artificial intelligence, cyber defence, and drone warfare.
• Accountable governance: Establishing transparent leadership as the foundation of lasting security.

He stressed that without credible governance, no military or intelligence strategy can succeed.

Intelligence at the Core

Central to Obasanjo’s message was a forceful critique of Africa’s use of intelligence. He described intelligence as “indispensable to conflict prevention” but “woefully underused,” citing missed warning signs in past crises across Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan.

He urged the creation of a truly integrated continental intelligence network, beginning with stronger regional cooperation, and insisted that effectiveness must be anchored in professionalism and civilian oversight.

“Intelligence services that operate with integrity… and are subordinate to civilian authority are not weaker—they are stronger,” he declared.

Leadership Under Scrutiny

In a rare moment of reflection, Obasanjo drew from his own involvement in major African peace efforts, including Nigeria-led interventions under ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and mediation roles in Burundi and Zimbabwe. He argued that successful conflict resolution has always depended on “accurate intelligence, courageous honesty, and selfless leadership.”

He also introduced his “Obasanjo 55+20 Leadership Framework,” a structured model outlining 55 measurable leadership attributes and 20 core values. At its heart, he said, lies “courageous honesty”—the willingness of leaders to confront uncomfortable truths.

A Final Warning

Addressing an audience that included Noordin Mohamed Haji and intelligence heads from across Africa, Obasanjo closed with a stark warning and a challenge.

At nearly 90, he said his decades of experience have shown both Africa’s promise and its recurring failures.

“Africa’s conflicts are not inevitable,” he said. “They are the product of leadership choices. What is required now is the will—and the courage and audacity—to choose differently.”

His message was unmistakable: without decisive reforms, Africa risks remaining a battleground for external powers; with them, it has a chance to secure its future on its own terms.

Obasanjo Unveils Bold Blueprint for Africa’s Security Overhaul, Warns Against New Scramble