The founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has cautioned young Nigerians against relying on sports betting as a means of achieving financial success, urging them to embrace patience and hard work instead.

Speaking during a sermon on Sunday, Oyedepo described betting as a distraction that could derail the future of young people, insisting that lasting prosperity comes through diligence rather than gambling.

“Young people, naija bet is not the way to financial fortune. Stop wasting your destiny, stop wasting your time. I have never been once deceived. Stop!” he said.

The cleric acknowledged that progress in life may not always come quickly but maintained that genuine success is certain for those who remain committed to the right path.

“Things may be slow, but it is sure,” he added.

Oyedepo also reflected on his personal journey of faith, recalling how he gave a car to the woman who led him to Christ decades earlier as a gesture of gratitude.

“My mother of faith led me to Christ at 15. When I turned 60, I got her a car that they took to her place in the U.S, she wept. You had better wake up,” he said.

The sermon comes amid growing concerns over the increasing popularity of sports betting among young Nigerians, with religious leaders and social commentators repeatedly warning about its financial and social consequences.

A former Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, retired, has called on the Federal Government to review Nigerian soldiers’ welfare.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Saturday, Enenche said Nigerian army’s personnel should not earn less than N250,000 a month.

“For me, a Nigerian soldier from the base, shouldn’t be paid anything less than N250,000 per month,” he said.

According to him, the amount was a modest benchmark considering the rising cost of living.

Enenche argued that military personnel make sacrifices that distinguish them from other public servants.

The retired Army general stressed that soldiers remain on duty round the clock and are required to respond whenever called upon, even after retirement.

“No soldier is ever off-duty, even as I’m retired now,” adding that a senior officer calls him now, ‘General Enenche, sir, we want you to…’ I would do it, even in retirement.”

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A senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified as Musa Usman, has surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State.

Acting Military Information Officer

Headquarters Joint Task Force(North East) Operates HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, July 25, 2026 said the development marks another significant blow to the terrorist group’s financial and logistics network.

According to the statement, troops of 24 Task Force Brigade to the planned surrender of the high-profile ISWAP member along the Ladari–Jegarawaji–Tunokalia corridor on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route.

Acting on the intelligence, troops of 3 Battalion (Mechanised), in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and Hybrid Forces, mobilised and intercepted the terrorist at about 6:45 a.m. on July 25.

The surrendered insurgent arrived with his two sons, Abubakar Musa, 10, and Awwali Musa, 15.

Preliminary interrogation revealed that Musa Usman served as the Chief Finance Officer of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he was responsible for overseeing the group’s financial operations, logistics and resource management.

Items recovered from him include one AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, and N40,000 in cash.

“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have recorded another major operational breakthrough with the surrender of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) finance operative, underscoring the sustained impact of ongoing kinetic and intelligence-driven operations across the North East,” the statement read.

“The development comes amid a growing wave of terrorist surrenders, with approximately 46 terrorists and their family members voluntarily surrendering to troops in recent days, further highlighting the mounting pressure on terrorist strongholds.

“The terrorist surrendered to troops of 3 Battalion under 24 Task Force Brigade at about 6:45 a.m. on 25 July 2026 along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route.

“His decision to lay down his arms follows the recent series of coordinated and decisive land and air offensives conducted by Operation HADIN KAI against terrorist enclaves.

“Preliminary profiling indicates that the terrorist served as the Chief finance operative of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he was responsible for managing the group’s financial activities and logistics. He surrendered alongside two male children.

“Items recovered from the terrorist include one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, and the sum of N40,000.

“The individual is currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to exploit actionable intelligence that will support ongoing operations and facilitate the targeting of remaining terrorist elements across the Theatre.

“The surrender of such a key finance operative represents another significant setback for ISWAP, reflecting the growing erosion of the group’s command structure, operational capability, and sustainment network under the relentless pressure of Operation HADIN KAI.

“Coupled with the increasing number of recent surrenders, this development confirms deepening disillusionment within terrorist ranks and points to an accelerating wave of defections from terrorist camps.

“Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its mission to restore enduring peace, security, and stability across the North East.

“The Theatre Command therefore calls on all remaining terrorists to take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by laying down their arms before it is too late.

“The Command also urges members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information that will enhance ongoing counter-terrorism operations.”

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