General

Police Parade First Bank Staff Involved in Foiled Abuja Robbery

Published

6 years ago

31/12/2019

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A member of staff of First Bank Nigeria, Mr Larry Ehizo, has been paraded by police over his alleged involvement in the botched robbery at the Mpape, Abuja branch of the financial institution last Saturday.

Until the incident, which was foiled by the combined efforts of security agents comprising the police, military and the secret police fondly called the DSS, Mr Ehizo worked at the bank as a Customer Service Officer.

Speaking when he was paraded by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Mr Ehizo claimed one of the masterminds of the robbery, one Ernest, who is at large, had threatened to kill him, his girlfriend and his family if he did not help them rob the bank.

According to the 30-year-old 2014 graduate of Political Science from the University of Abuja, he drove the five robbers into the bank premises in his vehicle under duress.

“I met a friend (Ernest) in November and we had a discussion where we used to hang out. We almost had a serious argument after he complained about our services at First Bank. I tried to calm him down, but he was very furious, threatening not to bank with us again.

“He, thereafter, said he was going to hurt someone, but I told him not to do that, saying the worst he could do was not to do business with our bank again and possibly rob the bank. I never knew he took the second suggestion seriously. He used that to threaten me that I must allow his guys easy access into the banking hall for robbery.

“He went as far as threatening my family, myself and even the people around me, including my girlfriend. I was afraid to report this matter to the police because he warned me not to try such, threatening to kill me and others with the help of his friends, who he said were cultists.

“During the planning, he said he was going to give his friends N7 million and then promised to give me 20 percent of whatever we make from the deal, but I told him I wanted nothing from him. He insisted that I must collect it.

“I am a Customer Service Officer. I have been with the bank for over two years. If I had gone to the police, I would not have been here talking now. Members of my family also would not be. He knows my family house and knows where I stay personally at Mpape.

“When he brought his friends to me, I still begged him, but he insisted on robbing the bank. On the day of the attack, he said I should put them in my car for easy access into the bank. He even followed me to the premises. He waited to see when we entered inside and he immediately called me and I did everything out of fear of not dying and not having anyone dying because of me.

“Ernest is a customer at the bank. He comes around. There is a place I go to hang out in Mpape. He is a barman there. He sells drinks,” Mr Ehizo narrated.

One of the robbery suspects, Mr Princewill Obinna, said they did not expect to encounter any difficulty as they were assured by Ernest and Ehizo that the operation was going to be smooth.

“I was among those people that robbed the bank. It happened that Mr Larry invited us. Mr Ernest met us and told us there was a job we wanted us to do, but that he would connect us to the person with the operation.

“I asked him who the person was and called and introduced us to Mr Larry, who told us that there was an event that he wanted us to carry out because Ernest had been troubling him about it.

“He said he and Ernest have the background and survey of the job and that they would guide us on how to go about it, promising that it would be without stress and be completed within some minutes.

“I asked what the deal was about and he said it was a bank. I was shocked and said I have never done such job before. He said we should not worry that there was a tinted vehicle that would take us in without people noticing us. He asked if I knew some persons that could help us and I introduced them to other members of the gang.

“They also never wanted to do it, but we all agreed at the end of the day. That was how we came to find ourselves there.

“The message came to me on Tuesday that the operation was on Saturday. They promised to give us N7 million to share. I coordinated the other boys.

“The ammunition we took there was a local pistol that our late friend (robber who was shot) brought. He said he would be the one to stand at the gate and that I should hold this one and threaten the Mobile policeman,” he said.

General

Tinubu Confirms Killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki by Nigerian, US Forces

Published

21 hours ago

16/05/2026

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday confirmed the killing of a senior ISIS leader, Mr Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, in an overnight operation carried out by the United States and Nigeria.

President Donald Trump had earlier announced the elimination of the notorious terrorist via a post on his Truth Social.

Later, in a statement today, Mr Tinubu praised the action, describing it as “a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism.”

“Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State,” he said in the statement.

According to him, early assessments confirm the elimination of the wanted IS senior leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, along with several of his lieutenants, during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.

He commended the partnership between Nigeria and America in waging war against terrorists, thanking his US counterpart “for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort.”

“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation,” the Nigerian leader added.

General

Nigeria Steps up AI Surveillance, Anti-Drone Systems for National Security

Published

2 days ago

15/05/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria is set to strengthen its defence architecture by deploying artificial intelligence-powered surveillance systems and advanced anti-drone technology as part of efforts to modernise the country’s military capabilities, according to the Minister of Defence, Mr Christopher Musa.

He disclosed this during a high-level visit to Monaco, where he led a Nigerian delegation to conclude discussions on the multi-domain Hybrid Intelligence Shield (HIS) project.

According to Mr Musa, the initiative is designed to enhance border security, protect urban centres and improve the country’s response to emerging security threats.

The project is expected to introduce AI-driven surveillance systems capable of identifying threats rapidly through smart algorithms, while anti-drone technology will be deployed to intercept and neutralise unmanned aerial threats.

The government also plans to establish national and regional command-and-control centres to improve real-time coordination and response to security incidents across the country.

Mr Musa said the initiative would place strong emphasis on technology transfer and local capacity development through the establishment of a military Centre of Excellence in Nigeria.

He added that the federal government would leverage partnerships with international firms, including Marss UK Ltd, while simultaneously building indigenous capabilities to address insurgency, illegal mining, piracy and other security threats.

Nigeria has continued to battle multiple security challenges in recent years, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West, farmer-herder clashes in the North-Central region, crude oil theft in the Niger Delta and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigeria is stepping up its defence as the border region of Nigeria, Benin and Niger on the southern edge of the Sahel region is becoming a new stronghold for jihadists, as militants turn forests and pastoral networks in West Africa into bases for recruitment and international attacks.

Attacks in Nigeria have also risen, with data from the website of the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a conflict-monitoring group, affirming that the number of suicide bombings in Nigeria by March already matched the annual average over the past six years.

The Nigerian military has also been dealt a blow to its military bases and senior figures targeted. In April, Brigadier-General Oseni Omoh Braimah was killed when Islamist fighters attacked a base in Borno State.

To also meet the defence goal, Nigeria is stepping up efforts to build domestic arms-manufacturing capacity.

General

Nigeria, Morocco to Seal Atlantic Gas Pipeline Deal by Q4 2026

Published

2 days ago

15/05/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria and Morocco are set to sign a major intergovernmental agreement later this year to push forward the long-delayed Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, a multi-billion-dollar energy corridor expected to reshape gas trade across West Africa and Europe.

The agreement, expected to be signed in the fourth quarter of 2026 by President Bola Tinubu and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, follows the completion of preliminary technical studies for the ambitious project, according to officials from both countries.

The pipeline, also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, is projected to stretch about 6,900 kilometres along offshore and onshore routes across West Africa, making it one of the largest gas infrastructure projects on the continent.

With an estimated cost of $25 billion, the pipeline is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually once completed.

Discussions on the project gained fresh momentum during a telephone conversation between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Moroccan counterpart, Mr Nasser Bourita.

The project would not only strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries but also improve regional economic integration and expand Africa’s access to European energy markets.

According to Morocco’s hydrocarbons and mining agency, ONHYM, part of the gas supply will support Morocco’s domestic energy demand, while large export volumes will be directed to Europe.

The project, first proposed about a decade ago, is seen as a strategic alternative gas supply route amid rising global energy security concerns and Europe’s search for more diversified energy sources.

Beyond the pipeline, Nigeria and Morocco are also exploring broader economic partnerships, particularly in fertiliser production and distribution to support food security across Africa.

Both countries also agreed on the need to revive the Nigeria-Morocco Business Council to strengthen trade and investment relations under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.

Analysts noted that the project could significantly boost gas monetisation opportunities for Nigeria, expand regional infrastructure development, and deepen economic ties between West African nations and Europe if successfully executed.