175 Insurgents Killed By Nigeria/USA Joint Military Operations – Defence Headquarters

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May 19, 2026

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Defence Headquarters on Tuesday May 19, 2026, informed that Nigeria/United States of America joint counter-terrorism operations in the North East region, have resulted in the elimination of 175 terrorist elements in the last couple of days.

At a media briefing to provide an update on the joint operations, Defence spokesperson Major General Samaila Uba, highlighted the significant impacts and progress so far made by the joint military efforts.

According to him, the operations have led to a significant decimation of the insurgents’ ranks, including the recent elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of the ISIS, as well as other senior Commanders.

“It will be recalled that the joint strikes started a few days ago. As of 19th May, 2026, assessments indicated that 175 ISIS terrorists have been eliminated from the battlefield.

“The joint strikes have resulted in the destruction of ISIS checkpoints, weapons, caches, logistical hubs, military equipment and financial networks used to sustain terrorist operations.

“The operations have also resulted in the elimination of several senior ISIS leaders including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, one of the most significant ISIS operatives in the world”, Gen Uba stated.

The Defence Headquarters particularly emphasized that the elimination of al-Minuki represents a significant progress in the fight against insurgency in the region.

According to Uba, the death of al-Minuki has severely disrupted the ISIS command structure, operational coordination and external combat operations.

Danjuma Donates N3bn At Gowon’s Autobiography’s Launch

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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May 19, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A retired General of the Nigerian Army, Theophilus Danjuma, popular as T.Y. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the launch of former Head of State , General Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance made a donation of N3 billion.

General Danjuma who was represented as the Chief presenter/launcher, by a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai, also directed that 12 copies of the book be purchased for the libraries of each of the 20 Universities that had conferred on the former Head of State their honorary doctorate degrees over the years.

In his address at the book presentation where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, General Danjuma described the former Head of State as Nigeria’s foremost living statesman, an international icon, and a war time Commander whose leadership prevented Nigeria from disintegration.

“General Gowon is not only a household name in Nigeria, but also a globally acknowledged leader with impeccable record in leadership, nation-building and military strategy.

“His well-recorded slogan of ” no victor, no vanquished” after the civil war set the tone for effective post-war policy of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation” Gen . Danjuma noted.

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, similarly donated the sum of N500 million to support the book.

He was represented at the event by Mansur Ahmed ,who also purchased 25 copies of the book.

Many prominent figures from all walks of life graced the occasion.

“I thought Obasa’s Impeachment Move had Presidential Backing” – Elliott

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 19, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

Embattled Lawmaker, Desmond Elliott, representing Surulere 1 Constituency, has opened up on his involvement in the Impeachment Move against Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in 2025.

The move, which is about costing him his return to LAHA, has seen him running from pillar to post, apologizing for his misdeeds, claiming that he thought the impeachment move had Presidential backing.

Recall that the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, had alleged that Elliott’s involvement in the impeachment saga almost cost him his job, leading to his decision to work against Elliott’s return to the House.

The actor turned- politician is exonerating himself, saying that he was out of the country at the time of the incident and had the impression that the impeachment move had presidential backing.

“I would like to state categorically that I wasn’t in the country. My wife and I travelled during the period of January 13th of 2025.

“We were on recess and then it was an opportunity for us to travel to attend my wife’s younger sister’s wedding,” he said.

He added that the impeachment occurred while he was in South Africa and came as a shock to him.

“That was the time Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached (by Lagos State House of Assembly).

Mudashiru Obasa — **Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa**

“It came to me as a shock because I was in South Africa then. So, obviously, it took me about two days to come back. I was also as confused as everybody was.

“And then I saw that almost everybody had signed. And pretty much we thought it was from the Presidency. In all fairness, we thought it was from the Presidency.

“And, of course, I appended my own signature. I believe I was maybe 30-something person at that point in time because others who had travelled had returned and signed,” he said.

Elliot said the Lawmakers later received clarification from President Bola Tinubu that the impeachment was not authorised.

“But eventually, Mr President called us and made us understand that it was not from him and asked us to return the speaker.

“And we did,” he added.

He however revealed that when Gbajabiamila came up with the accusation, it was a rude shock to him, putting into consideration their longtime relationship.

“So, my leader (Gbajabiamila) coming to say this, that he almost lost his job, one I have served and who has also been there for me for this long, to have said that, it came to me as a shock,” he said.

It is obvious that the rug has been pulled from under the feet of Elliott as almost every who-is-who in his State Constituency is backing another, now, preferred candidate.

2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles Face Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea Bissau

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 19, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has released the fixtures for the 2027 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, Qualifiers to be co-hosted by the trio of Eastern African countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, who came third at the 2025 AFCON Tournament in Morocco has been grouped alongside; Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea Bissau in Group L.

The draw was conducted at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo on Tuesday, with former Super Eagles Captain, William Troost-Ekong, as one of the draw assistants.

A total of 48 teams will participate in the qualifiers, with the draw producing 12 groups and 24 teams qualifying for the finals.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will host the tournament from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

Nigeria was drawn from Pot 1 and handed a relatively favourable path to the tournament.

However, due to the presence of Tanzania — which has qualified automatically as co-hosts — in the group, only the top team will qualify for the finals.

The same applies to other groups containing any of the co-hosts, while the top two teams from the remaining groups will qualify.

Among the notable groups, 2023 champions Côte d’Ivoire was drawn alongside Ghana, The Gambia and Somalia in Group C.

Winners of the 2025 edition, Senegal, will face Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia in Group J, while 2025 AFCON hosts, Morocco will face Gabon, Niger and Lesotho.

The qualifying campaign will be played across three international windows. The opening two match-days are scheduled for the FIFA window from September 21 to October 6, 2026, before Match-days Three and Four take place from November 9 to 17, 2026.

The final two rounds of matches will be played from March 22 to 30, 2027, when the line-up for the tournament is expected to be completed.

“How Desperate People Wanted To Pitch The President Against Me” – VP Shettima

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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May 19, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday May 19, 2026, gave an insight into how some power mongers and desperados had tried to incite President Bola Tinubu against him very early in the life of the administration.

Not a few observers are of the strong conviction that the Vice President has been merely tolerated by his principal, since mounting the saddle in 2023.

At the launch of former Head of State , General Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography ” My Life of Duty and Allegiance” on Tuesday, the Vice President relieved how some individuals and political hawks had inundated President Tinubu with tales of his alleged plans to eliminate him.

According to him it took only three months into the life of their Presidency for desperate political schemers to come up with such unfounded , fabricated and baseless rhetorics, for the purpose of pitching him against the President.

He, however, expressed happiness that the President never fell for their evil machinations, mainly because of his liberal trajectories.

” Three months after our swearing-in, some people told President Tinubu that I was planning to kill him so as to take over power.

“Then, the President called me and said ‘sit down. Your people came to me and said stop wearing those Shettima’s clothes.’

“But the President said their story did not add up. He said, when you gave me those clothes, I was an aspirant. I would not have been the candidate, neither were you going to be Vice presidential candidate.

“Some people told him that after the election I was planning to use the clothes to kill him (the president) and take over. However, President Tinubu wore the clothes after that because he is not fetish”, the Vice President narrated.

Shettima admonished Nigerians from all walks of life to embrace and prioritize unity rather than indulging in divisive rhetorics.

WASC Examination Disrupted As Ondo Closes Public Schools For APC Primary Election

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The Source

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May 19, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

To forestall possible outbreak of violence during Wednesday’s House of Assembly primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, the state government has temporary closed down some selected public schools.

Sporadic gunshots were heard on Monday at the venues of the Senate Primary Election in Akure.

According to a statement released by the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Akindele Ige, eleven schools were affected by the order.

Akindele explained that the closure is part of safety and security measures put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property and to facilitate peaceful, secure and orderly conduct of the electoral process within the school environment.

He, therefore, directed all learners, teachers, and other staff in the affected schools to stay at home on the election day.

Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary promised that all the heads of all affected schools will be contacted directly to ensure strict compliance with the closure directive and to reinforce effective enforcement at the school level, in addition to the official press release.

He urged the Staff of the Zonal and Area Education Offices in the concerned schools and Local Government Areas to be available to support and enforce the directive.

He stated that adequate arrangements would be made by school administrators to ensure the continuity of WAEC-SSCE examinations in the affected schools, while also ensuring the safety and security of students in boarding schools.

The Permanent Secretary emphasized that normal academic activities shall, however, resume in the affected schools on Thursday, 21st May, 2026.

DHQ Dismisses Terrorists’ Operational Base In South West

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Ayodele Oni

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May 19, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, and L.A. Primary School in Oyo State was an isolated criminal act and does not reflect the existence of any entrenched terrorist structure in the South West region.

It dismissed claims suggesting that terrorist groups have established a permanent operational base in the South West region following the recent abduction of pupils and staff members in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, described the attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, and L.A. Primary School as “callous and reprehensible.”

The CDS expressed deep sympathy to the families of the victims, the government and people of Oyo State, and Nigerians at large over the incident, assuring that the Armed Forces of Nigeria was deploying all necessary resources to secure the safe return of the abducted victims.

According to the statement, General Oluyede urged Nigerians to remain calm, united and supportive of security agencies during the ongoing operations.

The Defence Headquarters explained that intelligence available to the military does not support reports of any entrenched terrorist infrastructure within the forests or hinterlands of the South West region.

It pointed out that the Armed Forces had previously conducted extensive clearance operations within the Old Oyo National Park, neutralising criminal elements operating in the area and significantly degrading their operational capacity.

“The incident was an isolated criminal act and does not reflect the existence of any entrenched terrorist structure in the region,” the statement noted.

DHQ further cautioned against narratives capable of creating panic among residents or exaggerating the strength and presence of criminal groups in the region.

It also disclosed that troops are currently conducting active operations within the forests in pursuit of the perpetrators and to rescue the abducted victims.

According to the statement, troops made contact with the criminal elements two days ago and have since reorganised to sustain the ongoing pursuit operations.

The Armed Forces said the operations are being carried out in collaboration with other security agencies, local vigilantes and members of affected communities through intelligence-sharing efforts.

It assured Nigerians that security forces remain committed to dismantling criminal networks, clearing forest hideouts and restoring lasting peace across the South West and the country at large.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until every abducted victim is safely recovered and normalcy fully restored,” the statement added.

ADC: Amaechi Attacks Atiku Ahead Presidential Primary, Says Ex-VP Unelectable

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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May 19, 2026

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African Democratic Party, ADC presidential hopeful, Rotimi Amaech has taken a jab at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing him as unelectable as Nigerian president.
Amaechi and Abubakar are set to contest for the ADC sole presidential ticket on Thursday this week.
The former governor of Rivers state spoke on Trust TV despite wide belief that he may be defeated by the former vice president during the ADC presidential primary slated for the next two days.
The former Minister of Transportation said Abubakar has failed to win the presidency despite the fact that he had emerged severally as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on two occasion.
He, however, vowed to defeat the former vice president in the primary to clinch the ADC presidential ticket.
Former Minister of Transportation has expressed confidence in his chances of clinching the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election, saying former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may no longer be electorally viable.
“ I hope this will be the first time he will fail primary,” Amaechi said.
“The issue is that at all times that you have passed primary, you have not won an election. So it’s about electability.”

US-based Nigerian Athlete, Oluwabukola Pereira Shot Dead In US By Robbers

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 19, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, and the entire nation have been thrown into mourning following the killing of Oluwabukola Pereira, a Nigerian athlete, during a suspected robbery at a car service centre in Lockland, Ohio, United States of America.

The Lagos-born Sprinter was a cashier at a Car Service Centre where she was killed by the assailant.

Sources disclosed that her assailant made away with $1,500.

Sadly, the 30-Year Old was preparing for her Master of Business Administration, MBA, graduation at the Xavier University few days before her murder.

It was gathered that the incident happened on May 8th; however, the local authorities has continued to investigate the incident and are yet to officially confirm a motive for the shooting.

Don Simpson, a co-worker, said Pereira had attempted to chase the robber when she was shot twice.

“So the guy came in and robbed her, and when he ran, she ran behind him. And when they got to the back, he shot her,” the co-worker said.

The Lagos-born Pereira had competed in a handful of National Championships before moving to the USA.

According to James Lafferty, the man who discovered and sponsored her immigration to the US, Periera, arrived in the country with only $10 and a scholarship.

Lafferty, a former Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Coca-Cola West Africa, discovered Pereira’s talent while he was based in Lagos.

Pereira had a Bachelor’s degree from Southwest Baptist University, followed by a Master’s in Communication from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Reacting to the demise of Pereira, Dwayne Caldwell said that the late Athlete was devoted to her faith, urging People with Information about the incident to come forward.

Brian Masayesva, a XC and Track Mate of the deceased in 2024 wrote; “Damn, this is a devastating news, she was the kindest soul on the women’s team”.

Linda Cox wrote that justice must be served as she prayed for the repose of her soul.

Sadly, the AFN is yet to issue a statement on her demise, over 11 days after her killing, raising questions over the sensitivity and well being of Nigerian athelets by the Federation.

Fugitive Ex-Power Minister, Saleh Mamman Arrested By EFCC

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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May 19, 2026

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Jailed former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman has been arrested by the Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The former minister has been a fugitive of the law following his conviction to 75 years imprisonment by a court in Abuja two weeks ago.
The Chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede announced his arrest today during a press briefing, saying the disgraced former minister was apprehended in Kanuda where he has been hiding before he was nabbed by EFCC operatives.
The magazine had earlier reported that a Federal High Court presided over by Jsutice Omotosho had sentenced the former to 75 years imprisonment over the diversion of N33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
According to the EFCC who prosecuted him, he diverted the funds using some ministry officials, private companies, and Bureau de Change operators.
Mamman, who recently bought the Taraba State APC governorship forms, also faces a separate case at the FCT High Court in Maitama, where he is accused of diverting N31 billion meant for the Mambilla Power Project.