Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Over 700 repentant terrorists who have been deradicalised, rehabilitated, and are ready to be reintegrated into their communities

This is even as the Nigerian military denied claims that clients of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.

The African Independent Television reports that the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, disclosed this known during a media tour of facilities at the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.

Brigadier-General Ali stated that many Nigerians lack adequate understanding of the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism programme under Operation Safe Corridor.

He explained that the program is aimed at rebuilding peace in communities affected by terrorism across the country.

According to the report, some of the clients at the camp explained their involvement in the offences that led to their admission into Operation Safe Corridor.

The media tour of the facility is in preparation for the graduation ceremony of over 700 clients who have been deradicalised, rehabilitated, and are set to be reintegrated into their communities.

Over 700 repentant terrorists ready for reintegration into society – Gen Ali

If at any time you have looked at your payslip recently and noticed that things look a little different, don’t worry. You are not alone. On January 1, 2026, Nigeria introduced one of its biggest tax reforms in years. 

Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, has called on politicians to avoid desperation and focus on real issues as the country heads toward the next general elections.

Jega spoke at the 2nd International Conference organised by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the Federal University Dutse.

He said leadership should be built on integrity, competence, and a clear plan to move the country forward.

In a lecture titled “Challenges of Nation Building in the 21st Century,” delivered on his behalf by Dr. Basiru Musa Makarfi, he warned politicians not to put personal ambition or party interests above Nigeria’s peace and unity.

He said, “As we approach another electoral cycle, politicians must abandon the ‘do-or-die’ approach and commit to democratic ideals. Elections should not be a battleground, but a process for choosing leaders of character and proven capacity.”

Jega also urged citizens to play their part by voting for credible leaders.

According to him, “Nigerians must also rise to the occasion by electing credible candidates an individuals with integrity, accountability, and a demonstrable commitment to public service. Leadership is a trust, and those entrusted with it must prioritise the welfare of the people.”

According to him, good governance depends on leaders who are honest, transparent, respect the rule of law, and can bring people together for progress.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Ahmad Muhammed Gumel, who was represented by the University Librarian, Ahmed Mohammed, praised the speaker and others for their contributions. He encouraged Nigerians to promote unity, patriotism, and shared responsibility for development.

The conference brought together participants from universities, traditional institutions, the security sector, and civil society. They discussed major challenges facing Nigeria, including corruption, weak institutions, poor governance, insecurity, and the effects of globalisation.

Some notable Nigerians were also honoured at the event for their contributions to national development. These included former Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai; former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba; and former Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, among others.

2027: Jega warns against do-or-die politics

Médecins Sans Frontières, a humanitarian medical organization, in collaboration with the Borno State Ministry of Health, has completed a large-scale vaccination campaign against diphtheria.

The campaign which stemmed from a prolonged diphtheria crisis the country has been grappling with, was targeted at children under 14 years in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection that spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with infected wounds. It presents with symptoms such as sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a thick, grey membrane in the throat that can obstruct breathing.

The MSF, in a statement on Thursday, said the vaccination campaign reached hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children in the state capital, a major epicentre of the outbreak.

It further stated that the first round of the campaign, held from February 9 to 15, exceeded expectations by vaccinating about 490,000 children, which surpassed the initial target of 387,000.

“A follow-up round carried out from April 9 to 15 focused on strengthening immunity among 360,000 of those previously reached.”

Despite the scale of the intervention, MSF said the limited vaccine availability constrained the full scope of the response.

“This vaccination will help to significantly boost the immunity levels of children below 14 years old in Maiduguri, the area responsible for most of the diphtheria cases we saw in our treatment centre. This proactive step is essential to controlling and preventing the disease,” the organization said, quoting its emergency coordinator, Nao Muramoto.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported 65,759 suspected cases and 2,229 deaths as of March 22, 2026, since the outbreak began in May 2022 and was officially declared in 2023.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between January and August 2023, a total of 4717 cases were confirmed, including 169 laboratory-confirmed, 117 epidemiologically linked, and 4431 clinically compatible cases.

The case fatality ratio (CFR) was 6.1 percent, with the highest burden of the outbreak among children aged 1-14 years.

Diphtheria cases resurfaced in Nigeria early 2025, claiming three notable lives in just two months with several confirmed and suspected cases.

Borno State remains among the hardest-hit areas, driven by gaps in routine immunisation, population displacement, and limited healthcare access due to years of insecurity.

MSF disclosed that it has treated more than 7,400 suspected diphtheria cases in the state since 2023, including 4,200 cases in the past year alone. It added that it provided extensive logistical support for the campaign, including vaccine storage, transportation, supervision of vaccination teams, and community sensitisation efforts, while the Borno State Ministry of Health supplied the vaccines.

The organisation added that the vaccination drive also led to increased case detection, with a surge in patients presenting at the diphtheria treatment unit in Maiduguri Teaching and Training Hospital, reflecting improved awareness and referrals by community health workers.

According to the statement, MSF is also supporting diphtheria response efforts in Bauchi, Kano, and Sokoto states, where thousands of suspected and confirmed cases are being managed in partnership with state authorities.

“Sustained routine immunisation against diphtheria, improved access in volatile areas and tackling vaccine hesitancy remain essential to prevent future surges of vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria,” the organisation said.

“Access to more vaccines is needed, as efforts to reach the children of Borno State should remain a priority to avoid further contaminations, to cut transmission and save lives,” MSF added.

MSF, Borno Vaccinate 490,000 Children Against Diphtheria is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, has lauded the judgment of the Federal High Court in Kano for sentencing a 20-year-old drug suspect, Muhammad Maharazu, to 15 years’ imprisonment. Maharazu was convicted on Wednesday by Justice S.M. Shuaibu of Court One, following offences linked to his arrest at the notorious Filin […]

The Nigeria Police Force, through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, has successfully facilitated the extradition of one Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi to the United Kingdom to face charges bordering on murder and drug trafficking. This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesperson, DCP Anthony […]

Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has declared that Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada is his preferred candidate to

Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking a significant development in the state’s political landscape. Mimiko’s resignation from the PDP was contained in a letter dated April 10, 2026, and addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ward 7 in Ondo West Local Government Area. […]

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi on Thursday, conducted an inspection of security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB Computer-Based Test, CBT centres across the territory.

According to the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the exercise forms part of the proactive measures to ensure the smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.

DAILY POST reports that the examination is scheduled to hold across the country from 16th to 18th April, 2026.

SP Josephine said during the inspection that the CP evaluated security arrangements put in place to protect candidates, officials, and examination facilities.

She noted that the CP also interacted with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.

“CP Sanusi further reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the process will be met with decisive action in accordance with the law”, she added.

FCT CP inspects security deployment at JAMB centers in Abuja [PHOTOS]

A convicted inmate has escaped from custody in Yobe State after the vehicle transporting him between correctional facilities was involved in a road accident — the latest in a pattern of prison breaks that has become a deepening security challenge across Nigeria.

The Nigerian Correctional Service in Yobe State declared Dahiru Mohammed, 30, wanted on Wednesday after he fled the crash scene on April 13 while being transported from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Potiskum to Damaturu. Mohammed, of Askiwari village via Tarmuwa, bears prison number J/1539/24 and had been in custody since November 29, 2024.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed the escape in an official notice, describing Mohammed as dangerous and warning the public against any direct contact with him.

The escape adds to a grim national record.

THE WHISTLER gathered that over 7,000 prisoners have escaped from Nigerian facilities since 2010, and the trend has shown little sign of abating.

Since 2020 alone, more than 5,000 inmates have escaped during various prison breaks across the country.

A European Union report published in November 2025 documented a decade-long pattern of prison escapes across Nigeria, citing persistent security lapses, overcrowding, structural deficiencies, and chronic underfunding as major contributors.

The report noted that thousands of inmates escaped from 13 custodial facilities between 2019 and 2025, including many awaiting trial for serious offences such as terrorism and armed robbery.

The systemic nature of the problem is further underscored by the state of the facilities themselves. Nigeria’s more than 240 prisons currently house over 80,000 inmates, with two-thirds awaiting trial.

Out of a total 77,800 inmates across 240 prisons, only 26,898 have actually been convicted of a crime — meaning the vast majority of those held are unconvicted detainees, a situation that compounds congestion and strains already overstretched security arrangements.

The Yobe escape is particularly concerning because it occurred not within a facility but during a transfer operation — an area experts say receives insufficient attention in Nigeria’s correctional security framework.

Critics point out that the recurring pattern of jailbreaks reflects a systemic problem related to how jails are managed in Nigeria, with calls for greater inter-agency intelligence sharing and investment in rehabilitation infrastructure.

The Yobe command has warned that sheltering Mohammed constitutes a criminal offence punishable under Nigerian law. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the nearest police station or correctional facility.

Emergency lines include 07038397460, 07063348987, the MSCC Potiskum Duty Office on 08062211873, and the Yobe State Command headquarters on 08038452982.

Efforts to recapture Mohammed are ongoing.

Convicted Inmate Escapes After Prison Vehicle Crashes In Yobe is first published on The Whistler Newspaper