.As DHQ confirms terrorists’ presence before US strike in Sokoto
.Gunmen abduct ex- Ogun lawmaker inside mosque
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Nigerians for making it to 2026, saying the country survived, not because of government competence, but because of the resilience of its people
Atiku made the remark in his New Year 2026 Message to Nigerians which was made available to newsmen.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate in 2023 noted that he is aware of the despair confronting millions due to what he described as callous and soulless policies of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC, government.
Atiku wrote, “I extend my compliments of the season as we welcome the New Year, 2026.
“For millions of long-suffering Nigerians, the only consolation is that 2025—one of the most punishing years in our recent history—has come to an end. It was a year defined by economic suffocation, political recklessness, and governance without empathy under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
“The past year exposed, in stark terms, the incompetence and policy bankruptcy of President Bola Tinubu. Governing for months without a functional budget, the administration relied on propaganda while borrowing recklessly, pushing the nation to the brink of economic collapse.
“Nothing better captures the decay of this government than the scandal of a forged tax law, shamelessly branded a “reform.” Even more disturbing was the President’s refusal to allow due legislative and legal processes to address what is clearly a criminal act.
“A government that begins reform with forgery cannot end with prosperity.
“In the same year, Nigeria’s democratic foundations were deliberately weakened, as the APC worked systematically to deform our multiparty democracy into a de facto one-party state through coercion, intimidation, and state capture.
“While drowning the nation in debt, the government falsely claimed to have met revenue targets.
“Meanwhile, insecurity worsened dramatically. Kidnappings, abductions, and violent crimes surged, affecting citizens young and old alike.
“Lives were lost, livelihoods destroyed, and communities terrorized, while government assurances rang hollow.
“The administration spoke endlessly of economic recovery, yet unemployment, underemployment, labour unrest, and collapsing small businesses defined the year. Industries shut down. Workers were sent home. Hunger spread. Suffering became normalized.
“Despite these failures—compounded by the appointment of undistinguished and unfit individuals to represent Nigeria abroad—the country survived, not because of government competence, but because of the resilience of its people.”
He urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in the face of the hardships, saying “This is one of the most painful New Year messages I have ever written, fully aware of the despair confronting millions due to the callous and soulless policies of the Tinubu-led APC government.
“Citizens are repeatedly told to “make sacrifices.” Sacrifice is patriotic—but it becomes cruel when demanded by leaders who live extravagantly, insulated from the suffering of the people. Leadership without shared pain is not leadership; it is exploitation.
“Small businesses—the backbone of job creation—are collapsing. Workers are losing jobs. Yet those in power prioritize comfort over conscience. This contradicts every principle of democratic governance.
“The arrogance of this administration is unprecedented. Its contempt for public opinion, its hostility to criticism, and its willingness to punish Nigerians through bad policies reveal a government fundamentally hostile to the people.
“Never in our recent history have we seen an administration so openly dismissive of public sentiment, so casual in breaking laws, and so reckless with democratic norms.
“A government capable of forging or tampering with laws cannot be trusted to conduct free and fair elections in 2027.
“Still, we must not surrender to despair. These hardships must become the fuel for national awakening. Democracy gives the people the power to change a failing government—peacefully and decisively—through the ballot.
“Do not allow religion or ethnicity to divide you. Division only serves those who benefit from your suffering. Unity is the path to rescue.
“The so-called anti-corruption crusade of this government is a façade—selective, vindictive, and politically motivated. It has become a tool for persecuting opposition figures rather than cleansing the system.
“Fighting corruption is essential, but when agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are weaponized against opponents while allies enjoy immunity, justice is mocked. Institutions must act without fear or favour.
He called on Nigerians to remain patriotic and engage, mobilize, persuade, and organize by preparing to vote, and to defend votes in 2027.
Meanwhile the Defence Headquarters says a battle damage assessment of the recent United States strikes conducted in conjunction with Nigerian forces is still ongoing.
US President Donald Trump announced on Christmas Day that the American military conducted lethal strikes against Islamic State targets in northwestern Nigeria.
The Federal Government confirmed the joint effort, describing it as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation.
There has, however, been debate in the country on whether the strike was successful or not.
Speaking while fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja said the military would make its findings public after the assessment was completed.
“On the United States strikes in conjunction with Nigerian forces, there is a process of battle damage assessment.
We are still in that process, and I can assure you that once that is completed, we will communicate to the public all our observations.
In due course, we will give you all the information that you require from the US–Nigeria strikes,” Onoja said.
Responding to questions on whether terrorists were present at the bombed locations, Onoja said intelligence reports confirmed their presence in the area before the strikes.
“You know, terrorists are ubiquitous, and we cannot confine them to one location. Of course, there is evidence to show that they were in the Sahel.
So we can also take it further since the proximity of the Sahel to Sokoto. Intelligence reports have confirmed their presence there before those strikes were conducted against them. So yes, they were there because those strikes were based on intelligence reports.
They have confirmed their presence in those areas. The fact that it was not publicised is sometimes for operational security reasons,” he said.
He also said the military was monitoring the movement of terrorists outside the targeted locations and coordinating with field commanders to prevent their infiltration into communities.
According to him, the armed forces are also engaging civilians to support security agencies with timely information.
“We are monitoring them, and we are doing the necessary things, communicating with all the force commanders in the areas that we have identified as threat areas, so that they will prevent them from assimilating into the community and causing further havoc.
And as time goes on, you will hear about all the activities that we are doing. You know, it’s important that while we are acting, we keep it confidential. With time, I will call you here and brief you about all the things that we are doing.
“Also, we are mobilising the civilian population so that they will be vigilant and give information to the military and other security agencies, so that any issue of insecurity or any movement of these terrorists can be acted on quickly.
“The truth is that security or insecurity can only be addressed through the cooperation of every member of society. It’s called the whole-of-society approach,” he said.
Onoja also appealed to persons who may have taken possession of ammunition or fragments from the operation to return them to security agencies for safe recovery.
“We don’t expect anybody to take away those materials… they should return them to the military or security divisions so that we can disarm those things before they cause greater damage,” he said.
Commenting on criticisms of the joint strikes, the defence spokesman said it was not the role of the armed forces to respond to every public statement and that relevant agencies were responsible for addressing such concerns.
Meanwhile, gunmen on Tuesday evening abducted a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Moruf Musa, at Ibiade in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.
Musa, who served as Majority Leader of the Assembly between 2007 and 2011, was reportedly seized at about 7 pm while observing Muslim prayers inside a mosque located within his compound.
The abduction to Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, Ganiyu Odunoiki, said the abduction occurred during the evening prayer, adding that the attackers also fired shots along the road while fleeing.
Odunoiki said, “The report is true, the former lawmaker was abducted on Tuesday evening. The gunmen also reportedly shot some people on the road.
“We are now combing the surrounding bushes together with some police officers, though, we are still expecting the anti-kidnapping unit, who are already on their way to join us in the search.
The Area Commander for the Nigeria Police from Ogbere is here as well.”
The Ogun State Police Command also confirmed the abduction.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the command was aware of the incident and had activated security measures to ensure Musa’s safe return.
“The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the reported abduction of Hon. Musa Moruf in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
“Security measures have been activated, including the deployment of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the public is advised to remain calm pending official updates,” Babaseyi said.
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