Headline

UK Navy Ship Docks In Lagos For Joint Military Exercise

Published

2 years ago

October 30, 2024

The UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, RFA Lyme Bay, arrived in Lagos on Wednesday as part of a Defence Engagement tour across West Africa aimed at strengthening regional maritime security.

The visit, under the framework of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, established earlier this year, includes stops in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Senegal.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Ndidiamaka Eze.

During his stay in Nigeria, RFA Lyme Bay’s crew will conduct joint training exercises with the Nigerian Navy, focusing on maritime capability and interoperability.

The UK Royal Marines on board will lead boarding and search drills alongside Nigerian counterparts as part of a broader effort to enhance Nigeria’s maritime security and defence skills.

The ship will also host Nigerian dignitaries and offer tours to showcase its capabilities.

Following the Lagos visit, RFA Lyme Bay will participate in Exercise Grand African Nemo, a multinational maritime security exercise off the Nigerian coast involving naval forces from Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and Nigeria.

The UK’s Deputy Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Commander Jonathan Howe, emphasised the importance of the UK-Nigeria partnership in addressing piracy and violent extremism.

Howe stated, “The UK is committed to improving regional maritime security, as well as increasing Nigeria’s ability to constrain security threats ranging from piracy to violent extremist organisations.

“This deployment demonstrates our pledge to work with the Nigerian government to tackle shared international security challenges and help improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”

The Commanding Officer of RFA Lyme Bay, Capt. James Wingrove described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen ties and enhance skills through collaboration.

“It is a great privilege to bring RFA Lyme Bay alongside in Nigeria. The opportunity for my ship’s company and embarked forces to visit the region presents an exciting prospect while the ability to train alongside our Nigerian counterparts to hone skills, improve capability, and demonstrate our interoperability is extremely valuable,” Capt. Wingrove said.

The deployment follows the February 2024 renewal of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, which also addresses counter-terrorism, cyber security and coordinated responses to kidnapping and other regional threats.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

24 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

54 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

57 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.