The Federal Government has reiterated the need for stronger collaboration among federal agencies, border states, traditional institutions and neighbouring countries to improve border security and address cross-border threats.

The position was highlighted at a one-day national workshop on “Border Security, Resilience and Cross-Border Cooperation” organised by the National Boundary Commission in Abuja.

Representing the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, at the event, the Special Adviser to the Minister, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (retd.), said effective border management remains critical to national security and economic development.

He noted that Nigeria’s borders serve as important channels for trade, interaction and shared heritage, but also remain vulnerable to transnational crimes, irregular migration, smuggling and other security challenges.

Bankole said there was a need to move beyond traditional security approaches by adopting proactive measures such as early warning systems, technology-driven surveillance and stronger intelligence-sharing mechanisms with neighbouring countries.

According to him, “resilient borders are not only secured, but they are adaptive, inclusive and capable of withstanding security threats, climate change and economic disruptions.”

Earlier, the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, said border management requires coordinated action among multiple stakeholders. He noted that Nigeria shares about 4,454 kilometres of land borders with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, in addition to an approximately 853-kilometre coastline.

Adaji said the commission had established cross-border cooperation platforms involving border communities, traditional rulers, local authorities, security agencies and civil society organisations to support dialogue, information gathering and conflict prevention.

The workshop featured presentations on cross-border cooperation, maritime governance and the blue economy, as well as drone technology, border resilience and peacebuilding initiatives aimed at strengthening national security.

The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, called for greater cooperation among countries, noting that border-related challenges cannot be effectively managed in isolation.

Deputy governors and chairmen of State Boundary Committees from Nigeria’s border states also commended the National Boundary Commission’s advocacy efforts and pledged support for initiatives aimed at improving border security and tackling transboundary crimes.

Traditional rulers from communities along Nigeria’s international borders urged the government to deepen engagement with traditional institutions. They described traditional rulers as the “first eyes and ears” of border communities and called for their inclusion in security coordination efforts.

The workshop concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening border security, improving resilience and promoting economic activities in border communities.

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Troops of the Nigerian Army, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, on Monday, rescued Mrs Amina Abubakar, the late General’s wife, late Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted by bandits alongside her husband several weeks ago.

The Defence Headquarters announced the rescue on Monday, saying the operation followed intensified search-and-rescue efforts by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma.

A statement signed by the Director Defence Information, Maj Gen Samaila Uba, said troops made contact with the kidnappers at Tunga Village during sustained offensive operations against criminal elements in the area.

According to the military, the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing in the face of advancing troops.

“The rescue operation followed intensified search-and-rescue efforts conducted by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma. During sustained offensive operations and pressure mounted on the criminal elements, troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga Village, leading to the successful recovery of Mrs Abubakar.

“In the course of the encounter, the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing due to the overwhelming pressure from advancing troops,” the statement said.

The military said the rescued victim was immediately evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment.

“Mrs Abubakar was immediately evacuated and is currently receiving medical attention at a military hospital, where she is responding to treatment,” Uba stated.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria assured that it would provide all necessary support to ensure her recovery and assist her family during the period.

“The leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to ensuring her full recovery and is providing all necessary support to her family during this difficult period,” the statement added.

The military also vowed to sustain operations aimed at apprehending those responsible for the abduction and other criminal activities.

The late Maj Gen Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, died in captivity after he and his wife were abducted by bandits in Katsina State.

The rescue came as troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, launched a major offensive against terrorists and bandits in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The troops destroyed several criminal hideouts and logistics bases during the clearance operations.

The military said the operation, codenamed Operation Clean Sweep III, commenced on June 14, 2026, following the killing of Maj Gen Abubakar (retd), who was abducted alongside his wife by suspected terrorists in the area.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt Col Aliyu Danja, troops had been carrying out aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations, and clearance missions across identified terrorist enclaves within the joint operations area.

Danja said troops recorded significant successes in the Dikkawa Hills area and neighbouring communities, where several terrorist hideouts were discovered and destroyed.

“Since the commencement of the operation on 14 June 2026, troops have conducted aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations and clearance missions across identified criminal hideouts and suspected terrorist enclaves within the Joint Operations Area,” he said.

He added that clearance operations were conducted in Adua, Nasarawa and Karaduwa communities, leading to the destruction of terrorists’ support structures.

“During the operations, terrorists’ life-support structures and logistics bases were discovered and destroyed, further degrading the criminals’ ability to operate within the area,” Danja stated.

The military spokesman noted that the operation was being carried out in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to strengthen security efforts across Katsina State.

“The operation is being conducted in close collaboration with sister services, other security agencies and local stakeholders whose support continues to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts aimed at improving security within the state,” he said.

He reassured residents of Matazu and surrounding communities of the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property and preventing terrorists and bandits from operating freely in the region.

Troops displace Lakurawa terrorists

Troops of Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have overpowered suspected Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi State, recovering a cache of high-calibre weapons, improvised explosive devices and other equipment during a major offensive operation.

The operation was carried out on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in the Dogon Daji area of Dandi Local Government Area, as part of ongoing military efforts to eliminate terrorist and criminal elements operating across the North-West region.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 2 Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt Col Olaniyi Osoba, troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce encounter and forced them to abandon their camp and flee under sustained military pressure.

Osoba said the troops deployed superior firepower against the terrorists, overwhelming them and compelling them to retreat from their positions.

“The gallant troops brought superior firepower to bear on the Lakurawa terrorist group, decisively overwhelming the terrorists and forcing them to flee,” he said.

He explained that troops immediately launched an aggressive pursuit operation along the terrorists’ escape routes, leading to the recovery of a large cache of weapons, explosives, and logistics equipment abandoned by the fleeing suspects.

Items recovered during the operation included rocket-propelled grenade launch tubes, several RPG warheads, multiple improvised explosive devices, two motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, battery chargers, and other personal belongings.

“The follow-on aggressive pursuit along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes led to the recovery of a large cache of arms, explosives and logistics equipment abandoned by the fleeing elements,” Osoba stated.

He added that no casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation.

“The troops emerged from the engagement unscathed, with zero casualties recorded,” he said.

The United States and Iran said they reached a deal to end the Middle East war on all fronts including Lebanon, and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, but offered little indication on the thorny question of Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Washington and Islamabad said the agreement was to be signed on Friday in Switzerland, signalling what would be a major breakthrough to ending months of war that have taken thousands of lives and roiled energy markets.

Few of the details were made public, but US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz — a key conduit for global oil supplies — would reopen after the planned signing of the deal on Friday.

“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” US President Donald Trump posted Sunday on social media as he marked his 80th birthday.

“Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”

Soon after, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in televised comments that the deal put an “immediate end” to the countries’ war and that they would hold talks within two months to seek a “final agreement.”

Just hours earlier, Tehran had vowed to retaliate against a strike by Israel against Iranian ally Hezbollah in the suburbs of Beirut which threatened to push back an agreement.

But later in the day, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement: “Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”

He added thanks to leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their support in the mediation effort.

• Details remain unclear –

The content of the agreement, which follows weeks of fraught negotiations and periodic threats from Trump of fresh hostilities unless Iran reached a deal, remained unclear.

Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that the US would release $12 billion in frozen assets to Iran before the start of negotiations.

It quoted a 14-point “memorandum of understanding” between the two nations, which it said stipulated “the release of 24 billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets during the 60‑day negotiation period” that begins after the MoU is signed.

The Trump administration didn’t immediately comment on the details of the agreement, which may prove contentious as the US presses its effort to end Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and deal with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium — believed to have been buried by US strikes last year.

In an interview with the New York Times on Sunday, Trump said Washington was still negotiating whether Iran would suspend its enrichment for 20 years.

The US leader hinted that he might settle for a 15-year suspension, but said he did not want to negotiate via the press.

• ‘Seize the moment’ –

The announcement of the deal was greeted with international relief and hope for an enduring end to the conflict.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was a “critical step” toward resolving the war in the Middle East.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy said they were prepared to lift sanctions imposed on Iran and will work “with the US, Iran and regional partners to seize this moment, maintain momentum and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement.”

The announcement also brought relief at market opening on Monday. Oil prices plunged more than four percent in Tokyo, and Japan’s Nikkei stock index jumped three percent.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has had a worldwide economic impact, from inflated gas prices that have fueled inflation in the US and many other countries and congested supply chains for goods like fertiliser key to food production in areas far beyond the Middle East.

“What we’re going to be able to do is drive down the cost of energy, not just now but for the long term, and create a real engine of prosperity in the Middle East,” US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News.

He said that he planned to attend the signing of the peace deal, which was slated to take place in Geneva, and that it was possible Trump could also go.

• Israeli strike –

It was a rollercoaster Sunday, with Trump in the morning angrily blaming Israel for delaying its signing with the airstrike on Beirut, which he said had delayed the agreement.

In an expletive-laden phone interview with US news outlet Axios, Trump had fumed about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: “I was so pissed off. I let him know.”

The last time Israel hit the Beirut suburbs, it sparked one of the strongest jolts yet to a ceasefire that has largely held since April, with Iran firing off a retaliatory missile barrage and Israel responding with strikes.

Tehran has long demanded that any agreement to halt the war must include the parallel conflict in Lebanon, where Israel has been pursuing a campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

AFP