Abbas Lawan Garkuwa was arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on February 27, 2026, for his involvement in a large-scale currency counterfeiting operation. He was apprehended at Kwankwasiya City, along Zaria Road in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State. Authorities seized $600,000 in counterfeit U.S. dollars, which at current exchange rates is valued at nearly N1 billion. Investigations revealed Garkuwa had already defrauded a victim of N9 million by issuing $6,200 in fake currency at an exchange rate of N1,452. Seized Evidence In addition to the counterfeit cash, the following items were recovered from the suspect: Counterfeiting Materials: Chemicals used for forging currency, 10 empty chemical containers, and plain paper sheets. Personal Items: A travel ticket to Cameroon, a security ID card bearing his name, and ATM cards from GTBank and Zenith Bank. Other Objects: Large quantities of substances suspected to be charms. Garkuwa is also linked to...

  Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has consistently advocated for the Nigerian government to engage in dialogue with bandits and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), provided they agree to disarm and abandon violent tactics.  Gumi argues that a purely military approach ("kinetic action") is ineffective for solving insecurity in the Northwest, suggesting instead a "holistic" approach involving amnesty and rehabilitation. Here are the key points regarding Gumi's stance as of late 2025 and early 2026: Dialogue Over Force: Gumi maintains that speaking to armed groups is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step for peace, arguing that many bandits are driven by a desire for survival and revenge due to past injustices, rather than a desire to overthrow the government. Conditions for Peace: While pushing for dialogue, Gumi's position is that these groups must first be willing to lay down their arms. Contrasting Bandits and IPOB: Gumi has differentiated betwee...

  On Sunday, March 8, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any successor to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would "not last long" without official U.S. approval. This statement comes nine days after Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli decapitation strike on February 28. Key Developments in the Succession Crisis Approval Demands: In an interview with ABC News, Trump asserted that Iran’s next leader must be vetted and approved by the White House to prevent future conflicts and nuclear proliferation. Successor Selection: Members of Iran's Assembly of Experts confirmed on Sunday that a new leader has already been chosen through a majority vote, though the official name has not yet been released due to "wartime conditions". Leading Candidate: Multiple reports and Iranian clerics have strongly indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late leader, is the frontrunner. Trump has previously dismissed the younger K...

On March 6, 2026, British counterterrorism police arrested four men on suspicion of spying for Iran by conducting surveillance on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in London. The arrests are part of a long-running investigation into "malign activity" suspected of being backed by the Iranian regime. Key Details of the Case The Suspects: The group includes one Iranian national and three dual British-Iranian nationals. Specific Locations: Arrests were carried out shortly after 1 a.m. at addresses in Barnet, Harrow, and Watford. Ages of Detainees: The men are aged 22, 40, 52, and 55. Additional Arrests: Six other men, aged 20 to 49, were arrested at the same Harrow location on suspicion of assisting an offender. They have since been bailed. Legal Basis: The men are being held under the National Security Act 2023, which was designed to modernize laws against foreign interference and spying. Current Status According to a BBC News report, detectives have been ...

In a series of recent statements as of March 2026, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has explicitly accused the Iranian government of sponsoring terrorism and extremist groups within Nigeria. The primary allegations made by the ambassador include: Sponsorship of the IMN: Freeman claimed there is "documented proof" that the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a prominent Shia organization, is sponsored and backed by the Iranian regime. He cited social media posts from Iran's Supreme Leader as evidence of this support. Regional Destabilization: The ambassador warned that Iran is actively working to destabilize not just Nigeria, but the wider West African and Sahel regions. Global Terror Network: He described Iran as an "extremist terrorist regime" that funds proxies worldwide, comparing the radical terrorism seen in Nigeria to that faced by Israel. Offer of Assistance: Freeman reiterated Israel's willingness to partner with Nigeria to tackle t...

In recent months, several U.S. lawmakers have intensified their calls for action against the ongoing attacks and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, which they have characterized as the "deadliest place globally to be a Christian". The primary figure leading these efforts is Representative Riley Moore (R-WV), who was tasked by President Donald Trump to investigate religious violence in the country. On February 24, 2026, Moore submitted a comprehensive report to the White House following a months-long investigation and visits to Nigeria. Key Congressional Actions and Demands CPC Designation: Lawmakers successfully urged the Trump administration to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October 2025, a status previously removed under the Biden administration. This designation allows for diplomatic pressure, including potential sanctions and arms embargoes. Legislative Measures: H.R. 860: Introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), this bill seeks to update...