Headline

US Military Aircraft Drops Ammo In Borno

Published

3 months ago

February 15, 2026

Editor

No fewer than three United States military aircraft landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday, according to The PUNCH.

The aircraft, it was gathered, landed at military bases in Borno and other northeastern states.

Senior officers at the Defence Headquarters disclosed that the aircraft carried ammunition sent to Nigeria by the American government.

The officers, in separate interviews, said the development was part of US interventions to support Nigeria in the fight against insecurity.

“Following Nigeria-US bilateral talks on security, the American government will not only deploy soldiers but also provide necessary logistics, including ammunition, to fight the insurgents,” one of the officers who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Another high ranking officer explained that the delivery was part of operational logistics, noting that the military often requires replenishment of ammunition after operations.

“I know that recently US aircraft came to supply ammunition for our platforms, and that wasn’t the first time. So, what you are saying may be true, though I have not been officially briefed.

“We go for operations and use different calibres of ammunition, which need to be replaced.

“The US and the Nigerian government, under the coordination of the NSA, are working together to end insecurity in the country. So, we should expect more deployments of aircraft and troops,” he added.

The New York Times on Saturday reported that US military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday night.

By Friday evening, the paper reported that three planes could be seen at the base, with equipment being offloaded from one.

“These initial flights are the vanguard of what will be a stream of C-17 transport flights into three main locations across Nigeria,” a US Department of Defense official told the newspaper.

An X account @mobilisingniger, operated by a user who claimed to be a counter-terrorism expert, also disclosed on Friday that a US Air Force military transport aircraft C30J landed at the Kaduna International Airport after departing from Ghana.

It suggested that the Kaduna Depot might serve as a potential training hub for US personnel deployed to train the Nigerian military.

“A US Air Force military transport aircraft C30J has landed at Kaduna International Airport after departing from Ghana earlier this (Friday) evening. The movement is fuelling speculation that US personnel may utilise the Kaduna Depot as a potential training hub in collaboration with the Nigerian military. This signals a potential deepening of US–Nigeria security engagement amid ongoing regional security challenges,” the post read.

Another user, Brant Philip, who claimed to be a tracker on X, said there had been a “massive delivery of equipment” to the Maiduguri Airbase, Borno State.

“The US Air Force C-130J-30 cargo aircraft flew to northeast Nigeria today (Friday) from Accra, Ghana, following the same route as the two previous C-17A, a mass delivery of equipment seems to be ongoing,” he wrote.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, had yet to respond to an inquiry on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

US deploys military officers

The United States President, Donald Trump, had in 2025 declared that he would send military forces to Nigeria if the government failed to stop what he described as genocide against Christians.

Following his threat and the declaration of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the US carried out an airstrike on Islamic State fighters in Sokoto State on Christmas Day.

Both the US and Nigeria have since deepened engagements on enhancing security in the country.

Earlier, it was reported that 200 US officers would be deployed in Nigeria.

The New York Times reported that the first wave of personnel had arrived in the country.

It stated that the development marked the beginning of a deployment of the 200 American intelligence analysts, advisers and trainers to assist the country’s armed forces in targeted counterterrorism operations, partly aimed at protecting Nigerian Christians.

The New York Times further disclosed that several additional aircraft carrying troops and equipment were expected to land over the weekend, with the flow continuing in the coming weeks.

Experts react

Reacting to the development, a retired officer of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Chris Andrew, said the reported arrival of US personnel should not be misconstrued as a combat deployment.

According to him, the Americans were not bringing fighting troops but technical expertise, particularly in drone operations and precision air capabilities.

Andrew said, “It is what it is—nothing more, nothing less. They are not bringing combat troops. Recently, Nigeria has been engaging countries like Turkey and others on drone technology. We already operate locally made drones and Chinese-made drones, but when it comes to advanced drone technology, the West—especially the United States—has the capacity to train us effectively.”

He noted that Nigeria’s recent air operations had shown significant improvement following engagements with the United States, particularly after the Christmas Day bombardment of terrorist hideouts.

“They did not buy us aircraft or attack helicopters. What they are doing is teaching us how to carry out operations with precision,” he said.

Andrew also disclosed that he had heard the US might establish a drone base in Nigeria, a move he described as long overdue, especially following the withdrawal of American forces from Niger.

He said, “With the exit of the United States from Niger, which hosted their drone base, I expected Nigeria to seize that opportunity. Some people ask what the US wants in return, but that is not the issue. The issue is terrorism. Even if they want everything in return, at least they are helping to solve one major problem.”

He added that if he were advising the government, he would support relocating such a facility to the Sambisa Forest, arguing that its presence would significantly deter terrorist activities.

Also speaking, a security expert, Chidi Omeje, described the development as a success of Nigeria’s soft diplomacy.

According to him, failure to properly engage the United States could have been diplomatically damaging for Nigeria.

Omeje said, “It would have been humiliating if Nigeria had not engaged properly. I am glad the government remained calm and turned the initial aggression from the Trump-era rhetoric into partnership and mutual respect.”

“He said the bilateral discussions must have clearly defined the scope of the US deployment, stressing that any support that enhances Nigeria’s capacity should be welcomed. If it is training, intelligence support or technology-driven intelligence, whatever increases our capacity and helps our troops do their job is welcome.”

However, Omeje cautioned that Nigeria must retain full sovereignty over any cooperation.

“What would not be acceptable is humiliation—foreign troops operating without our consent or bombs being dropped on our territory without approval,” he said.

He added that Nigerians bearing the brunt of terrorism, banditry and insurgency were more concerned about solutions than the method.

“If this partnership helps us stamp out terrorism and violent crime, then it is acceptable. People at the receiving end just want their lives back,” he said.
(PUNCH)

Headline

Woman Passes Out After Receiving 100 Strokes Of Cane

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

A woman has passed out after she and her partner were each flogged 100 times in public for engaging in sex outside marriage under strict Sharia laws in Indonesia’s Aceh province.

The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, was later carried away after the punishment was carried out in Banda Aceh, located at the northern tip of Sumatra island on Thursday.

A masked official dressed in brown robes administered the caning before members of the public who gathered to witness the punishment.

Her partner was also seen wincing in pain while receiving the lashes.

The pair were among several individuals punished for violating Sharia regulations in the province.

Authorities from the Banda Aceh Sharia Court and the Prosecutor’s Office handed down punishments ranging from 25 to 100 lashes for offences including extramarital sex allegedly arranged through online applications.

Aceh remains the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia operating under Sharia law, where unmarried couples are prohibited from having sexual relations.

Caning is commonly used in the province as punishment for offences such as gambling, alcohol consumption, same-sex relations and sex outside marriage.

Under Aceh’s Sharia regulations, child rape offenders face some of the harshest penalties, including up to 200 strokes of the cane, a prison sentence of as long as 200 months or fines equivalent to two kilograms of gold.

The punishments are usually carried out publicly as a way of shaming offenders in addition to inflicting physical pain.

Such canings are often conducted outside mosques or in open public spaces, with residents watching and taking photographs during the exercise.

Human rights organisations have continued to condemn the practice, arguing that it causes emotional trauma and violates international human rights standards.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly criticised the punishments, saying they conflict with Indonesia’s constitution and global legal obligations.

Amnesty said in a statement: “Caning contravenes Indonesia’s constitution and is in clear violation of international human rights law and standards.

‘It constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can amount to torture in violation of the UN Convention against Torture and other international covenants, to which Indonesia is a State Party.’”

Despite the criticism, local authorities have defended the punishments as part of Aceh’s religious and cultural identity, insisting they serve as a deterrent against immoral behaviour.

Earlier in January, another couple in the province reportedly received 140 lashes each after being found guilty of drinking alcohol and engaging in sex outside marriage.

(Daily Mail)

Headline

Senegal’s President Sacks Prime Minister After Months-long Feud

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government following months of rising political tension between the two former allies.

The decision was announced in a surprise decree read on national television by a presidential aide, stating that Faye had “ended the duties” of Sonko and “consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who are members of the government”.

Sonko, who remains a highly influential figure among Senegal’s youth, responded on social media, saying he would “sleep with a light heart”.

The political fallout comes at a time of growing economic strain in the country, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) putting Senegal’s public debt at 132% of its GDP.

His removal followed a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday, where Sonko openly criticised President Faye’s handling of the debt situation.

The development is striking given that Faye’s rise to power was largely tied to Sonko’s popularity and political backing.

Sonko would almost certainly have contested the presidency himself in 2024, but was barred from the race due to a defamation conviction. Instead, he threw his support behind Faye, rallying voters with the slogan “Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye”.

The alliance helped unseat former President Macky Sall in a dramatic electoral victory, despite both men having been released from prison only days before the vote.

Tensions between the two leaders had been building for months, with Faye reportedly accusing Sonko of excessive dominance within the ruling Pastef party, while Sonko accused the president of weak leadership and failing to defend him against critics.

(BBC News)

Headline

Six Nigerians Arrested In Thailand Over AI-Powered Romance Scam

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

Six Nigerian nationals have been arrested by the Thailand Police Force for allegedly operating an AI-powered deepfake romance scam syndicate from a luxury condominium along the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi Province, following a cocaine trafficking investigation that exposed their activities.

Thai authorities said the operation began after police arrested a Nigerian suspect identified as Patrick and three associates in April over alleged drug trafficking offences. During the raid, officers reportedly seized assets valued at about 2.5 million baht.

Investigators said financial transactions linked to the suspects led them to several foreign nationals living in a high-end riverside condominium near Phra Nangklao Bridge in Nonthaburi. Police discovered that many of the occupants were staying in groups of five or six per apartment under student visas despite not being enrolled in any educational institution or engaged in lawful employment.

According to Thai police, officers executed search warrants on three condominium units on May 22. The suspects allegedly refused to open their doors, forcing authorities to break into the apartments.

Videos circulating on X captured the moment police officers forcefully gained entry into one of the apartments before arresting the suspects.

During the operation, one suspect reportedly attempted to escape by climbing over a balcony, while another was found hiding on the bathroom floor while allegedly sending warning messages to occupants in neighbouring units.

Police recovered 18 mobile phones, three laptop computers and three bank passbooks from the apartments. Authorities said some of the phones were still logged into active conversations with victims at the time of the raid.

Investigators alleged that the syndicate specialised in romance scams targeting older Thai women by using AI-generated faces and manipulated video calls to create fake online identities.

The suspects allegedly posed as pilots, United States military officers, doctors and engineers to gain the trust of victims before requesting money under false pretences.

Police said the fraudsters typically claimed that valuable packages or gifts sent to victims had been withheld by customs officials and required payment of clearance fees before release.

Authorities also said they recovered scripts for sexually explicit conversations allegedly used to emotionally manipulate victims into transferring funds. Investigators claimed the group relied heavily on artificial intelligence technology to generate realistic Western faces for fake video interactions.

Thai police said all six suspects are currently facing preliminary charges bordering on illegal association and immigration overstay, while additional fraud and romance scam charges are expected to follow as investigations continue.