Television Nigerian

During a coordinated expedition inside Orokam Forest, a border zone between Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State, troops from the Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force, Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch, released 14 kidnapped individuals.

Zagazola Makama was briefed by security sources that the operation was conducted on Friday at approximately 1:30 p.m. after locals provided actionable intelligence that indicated the location of a suspected kidnappers’ camp concealed within the forest.

One of the sources claims that troops stationed in Udenu LGA went straight to the scene with Neighbourhood Watch members.

The outlaws opened fire on the troops as they got closer to the hideout. The kidnappers were forced to flee in confusion and abandon the abducted victims as a result of the joint team’s heavy fire response, according to the source.

All 14 of the victims who were kidnapped over the weekend while coming from a funeral were safely and unharmedly recovered, according to the sources.

According to preliminary results, the kidnapped people were from two distinct communities: Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue State, and Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA, Enugu State.

Later, the casualties were turned over to the Udenu Division Divisional Police Officer so they could be reunited with their relatives right away.

The source claims that during the shootout, troops shot 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and returned to their base at approximately 7:21 p.m. without reporting any casualties.

In order to stop criminal gangs from regrouping or working freely, security agents have now increased monitoring throughout the area, according to the sources.

Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd), a former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to the Benin Republic, has vehemently refuted claims that he financed terrorists, calling them wholly false and at odds with his principles.

In a statement signed by Brig. General Sani Kukasheka Usman, a former Army spokesperson, Buratai made this claim on Saturday in reaction to an online exposé that accused him and other notable people of having ties to terrorism financing.

The statement called the allegations “false, unfounded, mischievous” and said they were a part of a smear effort meant to damage Buratai’s reputation. It emphasized that he had never been questioned, looked into, or connected to the funding of terrorism during his illustrious military career.

“He has never been questioned, investigated, indicted, or associated with any such matter by any official body or authority at any point in his distinguished career,” the statement states.

“He has never been connected in any way to the financing of terrorism by any security institution, intelligence agency, court, diplomatic mission, oversight mechanism, or administrative body.”

The former Army chief refuted the accusations, stating that they were based only on Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi’s (rtd) unconfirmed personal assertions in the Sahara Reporters piece. The publishing, according to him, was a “clear misrepresentation borne out of malice” with no legal or factual foundation.

Buratai’s statement also denounced the online magazine for its repeated attempts over the years to damage his reputation, all of which were unsuccessful because of his long-standing, open, and honorable service to Nigeria.

The statement stated, “His record remains forthright, transparent, and distinguished by honorable service to the nation, which is why every attempt has failed.”

Buratai had served the nation with “honour, courage, and steadfast commitment” to combating terrorism for more than 40 years, according to the statement. It emphasized his leadership in the Nigerian Army’s battle against ISWAP and Boko Haram, which resulted in the resettlement of displaced Nigerians, the recovery of territory, the restoration of civil administration, and the considerable degradation of these terrorist organizations.

The statement continued, “It defies logic and conscience to suggest that the same person who led decisive actions against terrorism would in any way be associated with the very elements he spent his career confronting.”

Major General Ali-Keffi (rtd) and Sahara Reporters were urged by Buratai’s legal team to promptly withdraw the accusations and apologize in public. The statement cautioned that Buratai would be forced to take legal action to defend his name if he didn’t comply.

“If this isn’t done, we will have no choice but to take appropriate legal action to safeguard his reputation and seek compensation for this malicious attack,” the statement stated.

In order to maintain competitiveness with importers, Aliko Dangote, the founder and president/chief executive of Dangote Group, has reiterated that his refinery will keep lowering gas prices.

Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock on Monday, Dangote told State House media that the refinery’s continuous pricing adjustments were a part of initiatives to increase the competitiveness of Nigeria’s domestic petroleum prices.

“The cost is decreasing. We must lower prices because we must compete with imports, Dangote stated. He went on to say that despite changes in the price of crude oil throughout the world, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals is still dedicated to upholding pricing stability.

The refinery reduced its fuel gantry price from ₦877 to ₦828 per litre on November 6, 2025, a 5.6% decrease. Its coastal price also decreased to ₦806 per litre from ₦854.

Dangote recognized that smuggling remains a major issue despite efforts to reduce fuel prices. Fortunately for us, however, there is still some smuggling. Because the prices in Nigeria are roughly 55% lower than those in our neighboring nations, there is still a significant amount of smuggling, he noted.

He went into detail regarding the difficulties caused by the large price difference, pointing out that petrol in neighboring nations costs between ₦1,500 and ₦1,600 per litre, while in Nigeria, the price is around ₦800.

“There is so much money to be made that people will continue to smuggle regardless of how you police the borders,” he continued.

Nigerians were reassured by Dangote that petroleum items, such as gasoline and diesel, will be available at fair pricing. He underlined that the refinery’s objective is to create a long-term, sustainable business rather than to rapidly recoup its $20 billion investment.

Dangote stated, “We are not here to make our $20 billion back quickly; it’s a long-term investment.”

Dangote praised President Tinubu’s vision and the efforts of the ministerial committee in charge of the Naira for Crude policy, calling it a win-win situation for Nigeria. However, he pointed out that one of the difficulties was obtaining crude oil from foreign vendors.

Because Nigerian petroleum sells for a high price, some foreign oil corporations aren’t really prepared or willing to sell for us. I think the government’s new budget would address this teething issue,” Dangote said.

Additionally, he revealed that the refinery has informed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of its capacity to provide 50 million liters of gasoline every day, greatly easing Nigeria’s protracted fuel scarcity.

Fuel lines have plagued Nigeria since 1972, but Dangote emphasized that his refinery is assisting in their eradication. He also mentioned that Nigeria is now providing fuel to the United States and Europe for the first time.

We’ll be able to offer roughly 15 to 20 million liters more than Nigeria’s needs by February. We must thus continue to export,” he stated.

Dangote announced plans for future growth, aiming to make the refinery the biggest in the world by 2028.

“We will defeat India’s Reliance. Our daily output will be 1.4 million barrels, compared to Reliance’s 1.25 million. We have already signed the necessary agreements, and we will begin piling for the expansion by January. It will be delivered on time,” he added.

Information on the abrupt departure of former Defense Minister Badaru Abubakar after just two years in office has surfaced.

Although Badaru stated that health issues were the cause for his resignation, sources suggest that a long-running cold war between him and Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, was a major factor.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu promptly appointed retired General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defense Staff, as the new Minister of Defense after Badaru formally resigned on Monday.

The President’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, acknowledged in a statement that Badaru’s resignation was due to ill health.

But according to Saturday Punch’s investigation, Badaru’s resignation was actually due to a long-standing disagreement with Matawalle.

After serving two terms as governor of Jigawa State, Badaru was appointed on August 21, 2023, mostly because of his administrative background and regional clout in the North West, an area beset by growing banditry and terrorism.

Badaru was supposed to concentrate on counterterrorism activities, intelligence reforms, and military modernization after being appointed.

In order to assist Badaru in carrying out defense programs, Matawalle was named the same day as the Minister of State for Defense.

But as the nation’s security situation deteriorated in recent weeks, tensions between the two men increased. The Defence Ministry was under tremendous strain due to the rise in terrorism and banditry as well as the widespread kidnappings of youngsters.

Public and international scrutiny increased as a result of the student abductions and the growing insecurity, particularly after President Tinubu declared a national security emergency.

Nigeria’s leadership is also under pressure from the international community, especially the Trump administration. Due to the widespread murders of Christians in Nigeria that were purportedly connected to terrorists, the United States re-designated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” in late October.

As public indignation grew, some analysts and citizens started advocating for Badaru’s dismissal. He finally resigned on December 1st, citing health issues as the official reason, as a result of this pressure.

Behind-the-Scenes Tensions: Sources
According to many military insiders in the Defense Ministry who spoke with Saturday Punch, Badaru’s departure was a result of his tense relationship with Matawalle rather than just health issues.

The two ministers had a friendly public relationship, but their private meetings were tense, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Although they seemed to get along well in public, Matawalle and Badaru had a chilly relationship for the most of his tenure as minister. However, the official stated, “It is a known fact here that they had something against themselves.”

He claimed that certain facets of the ministry’s operations, such as media coordination, were impacted by the conflict.

Part of their work was impacted by this. Do you think the media unit is coordinated, even as a journalist? Was it operating in this manner prior to their arrival?

“It should not have happened in the first place to pair the two as ministers,” he continued.

According to a second military source, Matawale was thought to have a close relationship with the president and was starting to take control of the ministry.

According to the source, several All Progressives Congress party leaders saw Matawale as a political asset for the current administration, especially in the country’s northwest.

Matawale has a significant political influence in Zamfara State, where he is a native. For the 2027 election, the APC leaders saw him as a valuable asset. Thus, they consistently support him. He has connections and political support.

But politically, Badaru is weak. When it comes to politics and power struggles, the president does not really take him into consideration, the insider clarified.

The final burial rites of Ogaba Oyi Api were held in a colourful and memorable ceremony that drew family members, friends, well-wishers, and members of the wider community. The event, which took place over the weekend, was marked by unity, heartfelt tributes, and cultural displays that reflected the rich traditions of the family.

The ceremony was made exceptionally remarkable by the joint efforts of Okanga’s sisters and brothers, whose coordination and support ensured that every aspect of the burial was beautifully executed. Their contributions brought a sense of order, warmth, and honour to the proceedings, turning the solemn occasion into a celebration of a life well lived.

Guests described the burial as “well-organized, peaceful, and culturally vibrant,” with many commending the Okanga family for standing together to give Ogaba Oyi Api a dignified farewell. Traditional rites, hymns, and emotional speeches highlighted the impact the deceased had on the community, especially in the areas of kindness, leadership, and family values.

Community leaders and relatives also offered words of comfort, urging the family to remain united and to preserve the legacy of love and integrity Ogaba Oyi Api embodied during his lifetime.

As the ceremony came to a close, the atmosphere was filled with gratitude, reflection, and hope. The Okanga family expressed appreciation to everyone who attended or supported the burial in any way.

Ogaba Oyi Api may have departed, but his memory lives on in the hearts of those he touched.