Guinea-Bissau’s ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has arrived safely in Senegal after being released by the military officers who removed him from power earlier this week, according to a statement from Senegalese authorities.
His transfer followed intense negotiations led by the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, as political tensions continued to rise in Guinea-Bissau.
Senegal’s foreign ministry confirmed that Embaló landed “safe and sound” late Thursday aboard a chartered military aircraft.
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau’s military has sworn in a transitional leader, Gen Horta N’Tam, who is expected to oversee the country for the next year. The coup occurred just one day before officials were scheduled to release provisional presidential and parliamentary election results.
The army has now suspended the electoral process and withheld the results, claiming it acted to prevent a conspiracy by unnamed politicians allegedly backed by “a well-known drug baron.” A night-time curfew has also been imposed.
Before the coup, both Embaló and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, had declared victory in Sunday’s election. Dias was backed by former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, who had been barred from contesting.
Government sources earlier told the BBC that Dias, Pereira, and Interior Minister Botché Candé were also detained.
The junta has banned all public demonstrations and prohibited “all disturbing actions of peace and stability in the country.”
Tensions remained high in the capital, Bissau, on Thursday, with shops and markets shut and soldiers stationed across the city, AFP reported.
Gen N’Tam, previously serving as the army’s chief of staff, was announced as the transitional president for one year. In his address, he said the military intervened “to block operations that aimed to threaten our democracy.”
Shortly after he was sworn in, the military reopened land, air, and sea borders that had been sealed when the coup was declared.
Some civil society groups in Guinea-Bissau have accused Embaló of orchestrating a “simulated coup” with military support to prevent the release of election results if they showed he lost. Dias echoed this claim, describing the event as an “organised coup.”
Dias has insisted he is the rightful president-elect, estimating that he secured around 52% of the vote. Embaló has not responded to these accusations.
The 53-year-old leader has previously said he survived several coup attempts. Critics, however, have often accused him of creating political crises to suppress opposition.
Ecowas has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies until constitutional governance is restored, calling the military takeover a “grave violation of Guinea-Bissau’s constitutional order.”
The African Union has also condemned the coup, urging respect for democratic structures. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” and called for the “immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.”
Guinea-Bissau has experienced at least nine coups or attempted coups over the past five decades.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has safely left Guinea-Bissau after Wednesday’s military coup that toppled the government, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Jonathan departed the country aboard a special flight alongside members of his delegation, including Mohamed Ibn Chambas. Jonathan had been in Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections before soldiers seized power.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Jonathan, former Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, and ECOWAS Mission Head Issifu Kamara condemned the coup, describing it as an attempt to derail Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process. They urged residents to remain calm and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country during what they called a sensitive and uncertain period.
The Federal Government also denounced the coup, expressing “profound dismay” over what it described as an unconstitutional change of government and a breach of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. Abuja warned that the takeover poses a serious threat to regional stability.
Guinea-Bissau descended into chaos on Wednesday after soldiers declared they had taken “total control” of the country, shut its borders, and suspended all electoral activities. Heavy gunfire erupted around the presidential palace, and key routes were blocked by troops. General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a joint command of the armed forces would run the country indefinitely.
Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló later confirmed his removal in a phone call with France24. Both he and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had already declared victory in Sunday’s tightly contested polls, with provisional results scheduled for release the same day the coup unfolded.
The military claimed it acted to foil a plot involving drug traffickers and the illegal importation of weapons aimed at subverting the constitutional order. Later on Thursday, General Lansana Mansali announced that the country’s borders had been reopened.
More than 6,700 security personnel, including ECOWAS Stabilisation Force members, had been deployed for the elections amid heightened political tensions. Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s most unstable nations, has experienced four successful coups and multiple failed attempts since independence.
On Thursday, the coup leaders appointed the army’s chief of staff, General Horta N’Tam, as transitional head of state for one year.
Nigeria renewed its demand for the swift return of democratic governance, the protection of all those detained, and full respect for Guinea-Bissau’s constitutional framework.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised the alarm over a worsening hunger crisis in northern Nigeria, warning that nearly 35 million people could face severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, the highest number ever recorded in the country.
The warning follows the release of the latest Cadre Harmonisé, a regional food security analysis that measures the severity of hunger. WFP highlighted that growing instability, including a surge in attacks by insurgent groups, is driving communities to unprecedented levels of deprivation.
“Communities are under severe pressure from repeated attacks and economic stress,” said David Stevenson, WFP Country Director and Representative in Nigeria.
“If we can’t keep families fed and food insecurity at bay, growing desperation could fuel increased instability, with insurgent groups exploiting hunger to expand their influence, creating a security threat that extends across West Africa and beyond.”
Northern Nigeria is experiencing its most severe hunger crisis in a decade, with rural farming communities hardest hit. Nearly six million people in the conflict zones of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are projected to face crisis-level hunger or worse during the 2026 lean season from June to August.
Borno State alone could see approximately 15,000 people confronting catastrophic, famine-like conditions. Children remain particularly vulnerable in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, where malnutrition rates are highest.
The surge in hunger is closely linked to escalating violence. Insurgent groups, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate that reportedly carried out its first attack in Nigeria last month and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is expanding across the Sahel, have intensified attacks throughout 2025.
Recent incidents include the killing of a brigadier in the northeast and attacks on public schools, leaving hundreds of teachers and schoolgirls missing.
The humanitarian crisis has been compounded by funding shortfalls that limit WFP’s ability to provide life-saving assistance. In the northeast, where nearly one million people rely on WFP’s food and nutrition programs, the agency was forced to scale down services in July, affecting over 300,000 children. Malnutrition in some areas worsened from “serious” to “critical” after clinics were closed in the third quarter of the year.
Despite soaring needs, WFP warns it will run out of resources for emergency food and nutrition assistance by December. Without urgent funding, millions will face hunger in 2026, further destabilizing northern Nigeria and threatening broader regional security.
“This is not just a humanitarian issue, it is a security issue that requires immediate global attention,” Stevenson emphasized. “Millions of lives are at stake, and action must be taken now to prevent further catastrophe.”
For three decades, the PEARL Awards has stood as a benchmark for excellence in Nigeria’s capital market, honouring quoted companies strictly on merit through transparent, data-driven assessments. Its unwavering commitment to credibility and empirical evaluation has made it one of the most respected platforms for recognising corporate performance in the country.
As President of the PEARL Awards, Tayo Orekoya joins LN247’s Morning Show to discuss the evolution of the awards and their influence on Nigeria’s capital market. The conversation explored the driving force behind the awards’ longstanding success and highlight what stakeholders can expect from this milestone 30th anniversary celebration, including insights on how the PEARL Awards has shaped corporate standards over the years.
Firefighters in Hong Kong are continuing a desperate search for more than 270 people still missing after a catastrophic fire ripped through several high-rise apartment buildings in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate. At least 83 deaths have been confirmed, making it the city’s deadliest fire in over seven decades.
The massive blaze erupted on Wednesday in Tai Po district while the buildings were undergoing extensive renovation. Although the exact cause remains unknown, police say materials used on the exterior walls may have accelerated the flames, prompting the arrest of three construction company executives on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has promised a full investigation.
The fire engulfed seven of the estate’s eight towers, sending thick smoke billowing across the skyline. Authorities raised the incident to a level-five alert — the highest classification — by early evening. Despite the fire now being “basically under control,” the rescue operation has been slowed by intense heat, dangerous debris, and the threat of collapsing scaffolding.
Among the victims was 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who was found unresponsive roughly half an hour after losing contact with his team. Eleven other firefighters sustained injuries, while emergency crews have managed to rescue at least 55 residents.
Public anxiety has grown as families await updates on their missing loved ones, and anger is rising over signs of possible negligence. Several residents reported that fire alarms did not activate when the blaze began. One resident, Kiko Ma, told the BBC that some alarms had been disabled due to construction workers frequently using fire escapes.
Online, previous complaints from 2023 about renovation plans have resurfaced. Residents had raised concerns about high fees and questioned whether the materials being used met fire-safety standards. Police confirmed that mesh coverings, plastic sheets, and polystyrene materials found on the buildings were likely not fire-resistant and may have fueled the rapid spread of the fire.
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has launched a criminal investigation into the renovation works. Fire safety expert Prof. Jiang Liming noted that bamboo scaffolding, which connected several towers, may also have helped the blaze spread. While bamboo scaffolding is widely used in Hong Kong, the government is now considering replacing it with metal alternatives.
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, houses nearly 4,600 residents — many of them elderly. According to government data, nearly 40% are aged 65 or older, with some having lived there since the complex opened.
China’s President Xi Jinping has expressed condolences to affected families and urged authorities to deploy all necessary resources to contain the disaster.
The tragedy is Hong Kong’s worst since 1948, when a warehouse explosion killed 176 people.
On 26 November 2025, gunfire broke out near key government buildings in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. Later that day, a group of army officers appeared on state television to declare that they had seized “total control” of the country.
They announced the arrest of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, suspended the electoral process, closed borders, and imposed a curfew, establishing a “High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order” to run the country until further notice.
The coup comes on the heels of the 23 November general election — a tightly contested vote in which both Embaló and his challenger claimed victory, with an official result still pending. The 2025 takeover is now the latest in a long series of political ruptures in this small West African nation, underscoring just how fragile civilian rule remains.
A history of military interventions: how often and why
Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has become one of the world’s most coup-prone countries. Official records from regional and international institutions count four successful coups d’état — along with at least 16–17 attempted, plotted, or alleged coups, and a civil war between 1998 and 1999.
The first of these occurred on 14 November 1980, when then-Prime Minister João Bernardo Vieira overthrew President Luís Cabral in a mostly bloodless takeover, a turning point that reoriented the country’s post-colonial trajectory.
Subsequent decades brought a cycle of instability: coups, attempted coups, mutinies, and once, a civil war. That civil war, triggered by a failed coup attempt in 1998, led to widespread violence, displacement of hundreds of thousands, and a collapse in economic output.
More recently, overthrow plots, dissolutions of parliament, and contested elections, including in 2022 and 2023, have kept Guinea-Bissau locked in perpetual political uncertainty.
In short: the 2025 coup isn’t a singular shock — it is part of an entrenched, recurring pattern of military interventions triggered by political rivalries, weak institutions, and disputes over power, often exacerbated by economic fragility.
Economic toll: how coups and instability have set back development
Guinea-Bissau remains one of the poorest countries globally, with very low per-capita income and widespread deprivation. The country’s per-capita GDP — and its human development indicators, have long suffered under cycles of instability.
According to the World Bank (WB), the accumulated cost of conflict and political instability between 1998 and 2018 amounts to roughly US$1.1 billion — roughly equal to the nation’s entire GDP in recent years.
Repeated coups, institutional fragility, and a volatile political climate have discouraged private investment, undercut economic diversification, and prevented sustained growth.
Even when economic growth is recorded, it has hardly translated into improved living conditions for most citizens. Before the civil war, growth per capita was modest; since then, per capita growth has stagnated, and the reliance on export of a few commodities, notably raw cashew nuts, has made the economy vulnerable to external shocks and climatic variation.
The instability has also undermined public services: long-term investments in infrastructure, education, health, and human development have been minimal. Public spending is often constrained, partly due to volatile fiscal revenues and dependence on external aid.
In short, every political rupture imposes not only a governance cost, but also a tangible economic cost, erasing developmental gains and undermining future growth.
What’s next: uncertainty, potential, and risk
The 2025 coup raises urgent questions about the future trajectory of Guinea-Bissau. The newly proclaimed military junta has signalled its intent to “restore order”, but experience suggests that military rulers seldom deliver stable, democratic governance, and often entrench institutional weakness rather than mend it.
Immediate consequences may include disruption of foreign aid flows and foreign investment, which Guinea-Bissau heavily depends on. Following previous coups, especially in 2012, foreign-funded capital expenditures plunged by more than 80%, impacting health, water, education, and energy infrastructure projects.
Economic projections made earlier in 2025 were cautiously optimistic: real GDP growth was expected at around 5%, inflation was moderate, and trends in cashew-nut exports were supportive. But under military rule, those forecasts may unravel, especially if instability scares off investors or donors, or if trade and exports are disrupted.
On the other hand, some might argue the coup could open a transitional window: if the junta opts for reforms, strengthens institutions, and stabilizes security, it might, in theory, create an opportunity for renewed governance. But history of Guinea-Bissau suggests that repeated interventions have rarely produced lasting institutional reform.
Finally, there is the human cost: for a country where a majority already lives in poverty, where social services are weak and where opportunities are limited, any further political and economic turbulence risks consigning another generation to hardship.
Why it matters: beyond Guinea-Bissau
The 2025 coup may seem like a remote event in a small West-African state, but in reality, it resonates much more widely. It is part of a broader wave of military takeovers in West and Central Africa over the past five years.
Guinea-Bissau’s recurrence of coups echoes a pattern across the region: weak institutions, economic fragility, contested elections, and external shocks combining to undermine democratic stability. The turmoil there underscores how fragile democracy can be when political structures remain shallow, governance is weak, and the rule of law is easily subverted.
For regional bodies, donors, investors, and international observers, the crisis is a sobering reminder: without long-term institutional strengthening and economic diversification, gains remain fragile and vulnerable to reversal.
The 26 November 2025 takeover is not simply a momentary crisis; it is yet another confirmation that the cycle of coups and fragility remains the defining political reality of Guinea-Bissau. Whether this time it leads to durable reform or deeper decay, remains to be seen.
It was a historic moment for the church in India, as the president of Loveworld Incorporated, Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome, is in India for a landmark four-day Christian leaders and higher life conference, taking place from November 25th to 27th, 2025, at the historic Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad.
India has experienced remarkable spiritual momentum over the past decades, with the Christian population steadily increasing and churches expanding in influence. Conferences of this nature play a significant role in equipping ministers who serve in a nation known for its cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity.
The atmosphere in the city is charged with anticipation, transformation, and divine illumination as Christian leaders, pastors, and ministry workers gather from across India, South Asia, and around the world.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has presented a N517.5 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly, seeking its approval.
Speaking while receiving the proposal on Wednesday in Lafia, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, assured that the Assembly would work closely with the executive to ensure a smooth and speedy passage of the budget in the interest of the state’s development.
Tagged “Budget of Strategic Consolidation,” Governor Sule commended the lawmakers for their consistent support over the years, especially in passing appropriation bills.
He noted that the 2026 budget aims to consolidate ongoing infrastructure projects, improve economic competitiveness, deepen job creation through industrialisation and SME support, and boost agricultural productivity. It also prioritises better access to healthcare and education, urban renewal, and environmental sustainability.
Governor Sule explained that the total expenditure for 2026 stands at N517,539,050,910.77, consisting of N212.79 billion (41.12%) for recurrent spending and N304.75 billion (58.88%) for capital projects. He said the ratio demonstrates his administration’s continued focus on capital investments.
A sectoral breakdown shows the following allocations:
Administrative Sector: N108.70bn
Economic Sector: N221.84bn
Law and Justice: N16.09bn
Social Sector: N170.92bn
Key subsector allocations include:
Infrastructure: N157.80bn (30.49%)
Education: N92.91bn (7.95%)
Science, Technology & Digital Economy: N4.92bn (0.95%)
Environment & Community Development: N28.32bn (5.42%)
Information & Tourism: N18.65bn (3.60%)
Legislation: N16.59bn (3.21%)
Youth & Sports: N10.01bn (1.93%)
Humanitarian & Women Empowerment: N2.50bn (0.48%)
The governor also highlighted the establishment of six new strategic agencies to strengthen institutional capacity, public safety, economic growth and regulatory frameworks. These include the Nasarawa State Fire & Rescue Service Agency, the Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund (NASET), the Institute of Leather & Science Technology in Doma, and the Nasarawa State Multi-Door Courthouse (NSMDC), among others.
Responding, Speaker Jatau reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to legislative excellence, promising that the 2026 budget proposal will receive timely and diligent attention.
He urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies to strictly comply with budgetary provisions and appealed to citizens to maintain peace and unity across political, ethnic and religious lines.
“We must continue to support Governor Abdullahi Sule as we work together to build the Nasarawa State of our dreams,” the Speaker said.
On November 26, 2025, during a special plenary session of the House of Representatives on Nigeria’s worsening security situation, former Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase alleged that suspected Boko Haram members and other criminals, including armed robbers and gang members, had in the past been found on recruitment lists for the Nigerian Army and Police.
Representing Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State and speaking as leader of the North Central Caucus, he said such infiltration exposes deep flaws in recruitment procedures, allowing dangerous individuals to enter key security institutions and weaken counterinsurgency efforts.
He cited former House Committee on Defence Chairman Muktar Betara as a witness, recalling that “there were moments in time when, in the process of recruitment, Boko Haram were found in the list.”
Speaking emotionally and referencing personal losses to terrorism, Wase urged politicians to endorse only candidates with “good character and integrity.”
The allegation has triggered public concern and demands for investigation, with widespread media coverage and debates on X amplifying calls for reforms in security recruitment.
As of November 27, 2025, neither the Nigerian military nor the police have issued a denial, leaving the claim unchallenged but in need of deeper examination.
What the evidence shows
Independent reports from the plenary session confirm that Wase made the statement during broader deliberations on insecurity, which included presentations from the North West, North East, and South South caucuses.
There has been no official response from Betara or the security agencies, although the session’s focus on a coordinated security strategy aligns with Wase’s call for stricter political vetting.
While the specific incidents Wase referenced have not been confirmed through declassified documents or new investigations, historical evidence strongly supports the possibility of attempts by Boko Haram members to infiltrate Nigeria’s security forces.
In 2012, authorities in Maiduguri, Borno State, detained 11 soldiers suspected of Boko Haram links, with investigations showing some had enlisted under false identities.
In 2014, the Army court-martialed several personnel over alleged ties, including passing information to insurgents.
Former Adamawa Governor Murtala Nyako even accused the federal government of allowing sympathizers into military formations.
Further examples followed. In September 2016, the Department of State Services arrested two suspected Boko Haram operatives attempting to join the Army as recruits.
In April 2024, a repented Boko Haram member, who had been reintegrated and enlisted into the Army, was accused of killing a woman in Enugu barracks. Although the military issued a statement clarifying aspects of the case, it exposed vulnerabilities within reintegration and recruitment systems.
The Nigeria Police Force has faced similar risks, including 2014 reports of officers selling weapons to Boko Haram associates. These patterns, often tied to mass recruitment exercises in conflict-prone areas and weak background checks, reinforce Wase’s concerns and highlight persistent institutional gaps.
Why it matters
If Boko Haram suspects infiltrate the Army or Police, the consequences could be devastating. Insurgents could gain access to intelligence, undermine operations, and launch insider attacks that prolong Nigeria’s 15-year conflict, which has claimed more than 35,000 lives and displaced millions.
Past incidents, such as the 2018 Metele base attack where over 100 soldiers were killed amid suspicions of internal leaks, show how compromised recruitment can contribute to ambushes, improvised explosive device placements, and strategic failures.
Infiltration also creates distrust among personnel, forces repeated internal purges, lowers morale, and weakens public confidence in the nation’s security institutions. This further complicates the 52 percent insecurity burden Wase attributed to the North Central region.
What should be done
Nigeria needs immediate and long-term reforms to close these vulnerabilities. Recruitment processes should adopt independent, technology-driven verification systems, including biometric databases and AI-supported screening, to limit political interference.
Mandatory psychological tests and polygraph assessments should be introduced to verify loyalty and identity. A dedicated counterintelligence unit is necessary to continually monitor personnel for insider threats.
Lawmakers should initiate a detailed investigation through the House Defence Committee to verify Wase’s claims, while the executive branch must reassess reintegration programs for former insurgents. Addressing deeper structural issues, such as economic deprivation and environmental pressures, raised by North West Caucus leader Sada Soli. will be essential for reducing extremist recruitment over time.
Verdict
Plausible and urgently demanding investigation. Wase’s allegation, although awaiting official confirmation of specific incidents, is reinforced by more than a decade of documented infiltration cases that reveal longstanding recruitment weaknesses in Nigeria’s security system.
Without prompt investigations and reforms, such breaches risk worsening the insurgency. Strengthening verification and accountability is necessary to protect Nigeria’s defence architecture.
In response to escalating insecurity across Nigeria, Southern governors have reinforced their demand for the creation of state police, describing the reform as urgent and “non-negotiable.”
At a recent meeting in Ogun State, the Southern Governors’ Forum, alongside traditional rulers, also approved the establishment of a Zonal Security Fund aimed at enhancing regional security coordination.
The meeting, held at the residence of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun in Iperu, brought together governors from the South-West, South-East, and South-South, as well as key traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Obi of Obinugwu, Eze C. I. Ilomuanya, and the Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi.
Addressing the forum, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to national unity, regional cooperation, and the protection of lives and property across the Southern states.
They stressed the importance of decentralised policing, noting that community-based and regional security outfits have highlighted the need for state-level police forces.
The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting outlined several measures to strengthen security across the region. These include the creation of a Zonal Security Fund to finance joint operations and capacity-building initiatives, the establishment of a unified intelligence-sharing framework, and monthly coordination meetings among state security advisers.
The governors also emphasized support for local security groups, hunter associations, and community surveillance units through improved logistics and equipment.
“The forum reiterates its long-standing demand for State Police, emphasizing that community-based and regional outfits have proven the need for decentralised policing,” the communiqué stated.
It further called on states to collaborate with traditional rulers and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to regulate land allocation and develop a unified resident identification system to prevent security risks.
The Southern governors also condemned illegal mining and its environmental and security consequences, pledging joint action with environmental agencies and traditional councils to curb the practice.
The forum stressed the role of traditional institutions in intelligence gathering and grassroots security, urging their formal integration into state security councils.
The renewed push for state police comes amid a surge in violent crimes nationwide, including mass abductions, targeted attacks on communities, and rising banditry.
Between July 2024 and June 2025, Nigeria recorded 4,722 abductions and 762 deaths, according to SBM Intelligence. Recent incidents include the abduction of 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State and the killing of police officers in Bauchi State.
Experts warn that while the creation of state police could improve responsiveness to security threats, success depends on adequate funding, training, and political will at both federal and state levels. Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo noted that poorly resourced or politically neglected state police units would likely replicate the shortcomings of the existing federal system.
Meanwhile, governors in the South-West, under the Southwest Governors’ Forum, have also taken steps to strengthen regional security.
At a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governors approved the creation of a South-West Security Fund, managed through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. They also agreed to a digital intelligence-sharing platform for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states to enable real-time alerts, data exchange, and coordinated responses to threats.
South-West governors praised federal security interventions and recent rescue operations in the North, including the release of abducted students in Kwara and Niger states.
They urged the federal government to deploy more forest guards to prevent criminal groups from using forest reserves as hideouts.
The forum concluded with a call for unity, vigilance, and continued collaboration among states, traditional institutions, and federal authorities to preserve peace and promote sustainable development in Southern Nigeria.
In a related development, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures emphasized the need for a national peace framework to address the country’s growing security challenges, urging cooperation across political, ethnic, and religious divides.
With state police now framed as a central pillar of Southern governors’ security strategy, leaders across the region are signaling that decentralised policing and strengthened regional coordination are critical to safeguarding communities and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture.
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