The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has announced plans to recruit and train 24,000 soldiers to boost the operational strength of the Nigerian Army amid rising security challenges.

This was made known in a post on X Wednesday by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency security expert.

According to the report, Shaibu revealed the plan on Wednesday during an operational visit to the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna, where he addressed officers ranging from second lieutenants to lieutenant colonels.

He said the initiative is part of the Army’s strategy to enhance its readiness and expand manpower for deployments across the country.

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According to him, three new training facilities approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will train 12,000 soldiers within six months, with the capacity to double the figure to 24,000 if two streams are run simultaneously.

Shaibu noted that the facilities are strategically located to produce recruits equipped with modern warfare skills, tactical knowledge, and improved weapon handling.

He said the focus is not only on increasing troop numbers but also on ensuring high-quality training.

He added that the recruits will be trained in basic tactics, combat operations, and leadership principles to strengthen the Army’s professional standards.

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The COAS reiterated the Army’s commitment to the “Soldier First” concept, promising improved welfare and support systems for both new and existing personnel. He urged senior officers to mentor incoming recruits to sustain discipline, core values, and operational excellence.

The recruitment drive is expected to significantly boost manpower, strengthen troop deployment in critical areas, and enhance the Army’s capacity to respond to threats nationwide.

During his visit, Shaibu also held discussions with officers on operational logistics, welfare initiatives, and ongoing efforts to improve the Army’s capabilities in the North West and other theatres of operation.

Folarin Falana (FALZ) and President Tinubu
Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, demanding his resignation following the bandits’ attack of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Falz, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, accused the President of failing in his primary duty of securing the lives and property of Nigerians, describing the alleged government inaction as unacceptable.

Tribune Online reports that the Kwara State Police Command confirmed that the attack occurred around 6 p.m. on November 18. Security operatives and local vigilantes were said to have engaged the attackers and eventually repelled them.

During the assault, the armed gang reportedly invaded the church during a service, killed at least one person, and abducted several worshippers.

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Reacting to the incident, Falz expressed frustration, questioning the president on the state of insecurity in the country and asking how many more people must die before meaningful action is taken.

He wrote, “How many more people have to be kidnapped and murdered in cold blood? How many more lives do you want to waste? How many more futures do you wish to erase with your incompetence and inaction?

“You have consistently shown your unwillingness to protect the lives and property of our people despite pretending to care in the past. RESIGN NOW!”

How many more people have to be kidnapped and murdered in cold blood? How many more lives do you want to waste? How many more futures do you wish to erase with your incompetence and inaction? @officialABAT

LJustice Rahman Oshodi of Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced two men, Hamza Zakaria and Nurudeen Ibrahim, to 26 months’ imprisonment each for N8.56 billion fraud.

Zakaria and Ibrahim were convicted and sentenced after the court found them guilty of unauthorised access to a new generation bank’s computer systems. They were formerly arraigned on May 2, 2025, alongside other defendants, on four counts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Their offences bordered on conspiracy, stealing and unauthorised access to a computer system, contrary to Sections 409 and 331 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. They had pleaded not guilty at the time.

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The defendants, however, changed their plea following the presentation of amended charges, prompting the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

During the review of the facts, prosecution counsel, Muhammad Bashir, called a witness, Airende Monday, an operative of the EFCC, who tendered documents that were admitted as exhibits.

While delivering judgement, Justice Oshodi stated: “I find the defendants guilty in the two-count amended information, and I convict them accordingly. This is the judgement of the court.”

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The court jailed them eight months on count one and one year and six months on count two. Both sentences are to run concurrently, with an option of a N50,000 fine.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants and other persons at large, sometime in January 2025 in Lagos, within the court’s jurisdiction, conspired to transfer and retain criminal proceeds from unauthorised access to Wema Bank’s computer and servers.