Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria is “concerned” about Amnesty International’s activities, a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari said Monday, just days after the government briefly banned UNICEF over claims it was training “spies” sympathetic to Boko Haram. “The federal government is increasingly concerned about the role that Amnesty International …
Read More »Nigeria’s Buhari signs election ‘peace deal’ with opponents
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and a number of opposition leaders on Tuesday signed a deal for peaceful elections but the main challenger for the country’s top deal was not present. The 75-year-old former military ruler was joined by representatives of dozens of other parties to …
Read More »Nigeria’s president blocks electoral reform bill
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday refused to sign off on plans to overhaul the country’s electoral laws, judging that new rules would cause “disruption and confusion” so close to an election. Africa’s most populous nation goes to the polls to elect a new president …
Read More »Nigerian president denies rumours surrounding his ill health
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday quashed a rumour stemming from his ill health that he had died and been replaced by a lookalike impostor from Sudan, his spokesman said. “It’s real me, I assure you. I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I …
Read More »Nigerian police kill over 100 ‘bandits’ in crackdown
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian police claimed on Friday that over 100 “bandits” had been killed in a crackdown targeting crime in the northwest state of Zamfara, following a surge in kidnappings for ransom and cattle rustling. Zamfara has been plagued by violent crime over the past year, with …
Read More »Nigeria’s Buhari says Boko Haram fight ‘a must-win war’
Maiduguri, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari urged troops to show more commitment in fighting Boko Haram despite scores of losses in a recent assault as he visited the key northeastern city of Maiduguri on Wednesday. The visit came a day before Buhari heads to N’Djamena for talks …
Read More »Nigeria’s Buhari to visit troops fighting Boko Haram
Kano, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari will visit troops on the frontlines of the Boko Haram conflict on Wednesday and is to dispatch his defence minister to Chad following a jump in attacks. The presidential visit comes after months of deadly raids by the IS-affiliated jihadists on military …
Read More »Man charged over Nigerian ‘First Lady’ email scam
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | A 48-year-old man appeared in court on Monday accused of attempting to defraud people around the world of $20.5 million by pretending to be Nigeria’s First Lady. Julius Anyawu Uche was charged with 10 offences under cybercrimes legislation after scam emails were sent in the …
Read More »Nigeria’s Buhari starts presidential election campaign
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday put the fight against corruption at the heart of his bid for another four-year term, as official campaigning got under way for elections next year. Voters go to the polls on February 16, four years after Buhari’s landmark victory …
Read More »Muhammadu Buhari: Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusader
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Muhammadu Buhari swept to power on a wave of optimism in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate in Nigerian history to defeat a sitting president. The candidate who promised change now wants a second term of office and has vowed to double down on his …
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