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Details Of Nigeria‑US Military Partnership After CPC Redesignation

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Details have emerged surrounding the scope of Nigeria’s evolving military partnership with the United States, following a series of strategic engagements and operations sparked by rising security concerns and international attention.

The intensified collaboration gained momentum after US President, Donald Trump, re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October over alleged Christian persecution, a move the Nigerian government repeatedly denied.

A month later, Trump threatened to send American troops into Nigeria to “wipe out the terrorists killing Christians,” raising concerns over international law and sovereignty.

In response, President Bola Tinubu dispatched National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to Washington for a high-level meeting with US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth.

Following the meeting, Hegseth revealed the US was “working aggressively” with Nigeria to end religiously motivated violence by jihadist groups, though no specifics were provided.

Soon after, contractor-operated US surveillance flights began operating from Ghana into Nigerian airspace. While initially unclear, the flights preceded a Christmas Day missile strike on terrorist camps in Bauni forest, Sokoto State, executed with US drone technology, not Tomahawk cruise missiles as earlier speculated.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the operation was the result of coordinated intelligence sharing and described it as in line with “established international practice and bilateral understanding.”

Communities in Sokoto and Kwara States reported explosions during the airstrikes. The federal government later confirmed that debris from US-fired precision-guided munitions (PGMs) had landed in Kwara.

Drone Refuelling Station Proposed In Nigeria

According to insiders who spoke with The Cable, the US has proposed setting up a drone refuelling station in Nigeria to extend surveillance and strike capabilities beyond Ghana. While Lagos and Abuja were suggested, Nigeria opted for a north-eastern state already housing local drone operations.

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A top government source said, “We’re not going to have boots on the ground. They are only going to support Nigeria either in equipment or intelligence… not in a fighting capacity.

“It would possibly be an advisory capacity, maybe training, which are already ongoing.”

The planned station would allow US military logistics teams to fly into Nigeria from Ghana to coordinate with Nigerian forces.

On Tuesday, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Dagvin Anderson confirmed the deployment of a “small team” of US troops to Nigeria, marking the first public acknowledgement of such presence since the Christmas Day operation.

While the announcement sparked debate, a Nigerian official clarified that AFRICOM has maintained a presence in Nigeria, with only a shift in the scope of its assignment.

The new scope, TheCable learned, falls under the mandate of the US 3rd Special Forces Group, which specialises in unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defence, information operations, and security force assistance.

Defence Minister Confirms Advisory Role

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, affirmed the presence of US personnel but emphasised they are not combat troops.

“It’s a small advisory team supporting intelligence gathering and training,” Musa said, without disclosing details of size, base location, or duration of stay.

A government source confirmed the team’s involvement in coordinating the Christmas Day airstrikes, further signalling a deeper operational alignment between US and Nigerian forces.

Bilateral discussions between officials, such as NSA Ribadu and US Under-Secretary of State Allison Hooker, are ongoing as both countries fine-tune the scope of their military collaboration to tackle terrorism.

See also  Nigeria condemns Israeli airstrike in Qatar targeting Hamas leadership

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Lagos CP threatens to dissolve task force if police officers violate human rights

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The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, has issued a stern warning to members of the state task force, stating that the unit risks being disbanded if found culpable of human rights violations.

Jimoh issued the warning on Saturday while addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja, in reaction to a viral video showing the arrest of a traffic offender.

Recall that the incident sparked widespread debate online, with some residents alleging that task force officials used excessive force.

Speaking in response to a viral video involving the arrest of a traffic offender, the police chief maintained that there was no indication of abuse in the incident, stressing that the suspect was handled in accordance with established legal procedures.

He said that the individual arrested for driving against traffic was treated in line with the law and due process.

Jimoh explained that the suspect was promptly taken before a mobile court, where the charges were read, and bail was granted.

However, the individual was later remanded after failing to meet the bail conditions.

According to him, the task force is legally empowered to enforce environmental and sanitation laws across Lagos State, noting that their activities are essential to maintaining order in a densely populated city.

The commissioner said that he had already engaged task force personnel in retraining sessions focused on respecting human rights and maintaining professionalism in the course of duty.

“I will not hesitate to dissolve the task force and bring in a new set of personnel if there is clear evidence of human rights violations, as no officer is indispensable,” he said.

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He also acknowledged the role of social media and the media in bringing such incidents to public attention, describing it as part of the responsibility of citizens to hold institutions accountable.

However, he cautioned against spreading misinformation that could undermine public trust.

Calling on residents to remain law-abiding, the police boss urged members of the public to report any misconduct to the police, assuring that all complaints would be thoroughly investigated.

He said that policing in Lagos required a balance between enforcing the law and respecting the dignity of citizens.

“Lagos has a population estimated between 20 and 25 million people, making strict adherence to laws essential to prevent disorder and chaos,” he said.

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Iran Warns UK That Allowing US To Use British Bases Is Participation In Aggression

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Iran’s foreign minister has warned the United Kingdom that Tehran considers Britain’s decision to allow the United States to use British military bases as “participation in aggression.”

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi criticised the UK’s “negative and biased” stance toward the US-Israeli assault on Iran during a call with his British counterpart.

Araghchi warned that granting America access to UK bases “will certainly be considered participation in aggression.”

However, in response to the allegation, a spokesperson of the UK Prime Minister told reporters the UK granted the United States access only “for a specific defensive and limited purpose” in response to Iran’s strikes across the Middle East.

“Our position has been crystal clear from the outset. We didn’t participate in the initial strikes, and we’re not getting drawn into the wider war,” the spokesperson said.

According to reports, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially refused Washington’s request to use UK military bases for its attacks on Iran, with the PM considering the strikes illegal.

However, Starmer joined the defence against Iran’s retaliation after Iranian forces attacked British military assets in the Middle East.

It was reported earlier that Starmer said his country accepted a United States request to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in storage depots or launchers.

“The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose. We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region,” Starmer said at the time.

See also  Names, profiles of 16 Nigerian military officers detained for alleged coup plot. . .

Tehran’s warning escalates diplomatic tensions between Iran and Britain as the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel enters its fourth week.

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British Government Gives US Permission To Strike Iranian Missiles Sites Targeting Ships From UK Bases

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The British government authorised the United States on Friday to use military bases in Britain to strike Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a decision that prompted Iran to warn the move constitutes “participation in aggression.”

According to a British spokesperson, ministers met on Friday to discuss the war with Iran and Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.

“They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.

It was reported earlier that Iran’s foreign minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, warned the United Kingdom that Tehran considers Britain’s decision to allow America to use British military bases as “participation in aggression.”

Araghchi criticised the UK’s “negative and biased” stance toward the US-Israeli assault on Iran during a call with his British counterpart following Friday’s authorisation.

Starmer Reverses Earlier Position On Base Use
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said earlier this week Britain would not enter a war over Iran. He initially rejected an American request to use British bases for strikes on Iran, saying he needed confirmation that any military action was legal.

However, Starmer changed his stance after Iran conducted strikes on British allies across the Middle East, allowing America to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean.

It was gathered that President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Starmer since the conflict started, complaining he was not doing enough to help America.

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On Monday, Trump said there were “some countries that greatly disappointed me” before he singled out Britain, which he said had once been considered “the Rolls-Royce of allies.”

Meanwhile, the British spokesperson’s statement on Friday called for “urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war.”

The authorisation now expands Britain’s involvement in the Middle East conflict beyond defensive operations. The UK previously limited its participation to intercepting Iranian missiles and drones threatening British military assets and allies in the region.

In response to what Iran tagged “agression “ it has effectively halted oil passage through the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a global energy crisis as the waterway serves as the route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies.

The conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel enters its fourth week with casualties mounting on both sides.

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