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US conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria – Report
The United States has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November.
An exclusive report by Reuters on Monday said the purpose of the surveillance missions could not be immediately and independently confirmed.
The operations come weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump warned in November that Washington could intervene militarily in Nigeria over what he described as the government’s failure to halt violence against Christian communities.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump posted on social media in November.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and swift, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
Flight tracking data for December shows that the contractor-operated aircraft typically departs from Ghana, flies over Nigerian airspace, and returns to Accra, Ghana’s capital.
The aircraft is operated by Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace, a company that provides special mission aircraft and works closely with the U.S. military, according to its website. However, the report says the company did not respond to a request for comment.
Liam Karr, Africa team lead at the American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project, who analysed the flight data, said the operation appeared to be run out of Accra, a known hub for U.S. military logistics in Africa.
Karr said the renewed flights suggest Washington is rebuilding intelligence capacity in the region after Niger ordered U.S. forces to leave a major air base last year and shifted its security partnership towards Russia.
“In recent weeks we’ve seen a resumption of intelligence and surveillance flights in Nigeria,” Karr said.
A former U.S. official said the aircraft was among several assets moved to Ghana in November and that the missions included efforts to track the kidnapped U.S. pilot and gather intelligence on militant groups operating in Nigeria, including Boko Haram and its splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
A current U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed the aircraft had been flying over Nigeria but declined to provide further details, citing diplomatic sensitivity.
Another administration official said the United States continued to work with Nigeria to address religious violence and the spread of terrorism.
In a statement, the Pentagon said it had held productive meetings with Nigerian authorities following Trump’s remarks but declined to comment on intelligence operations.
Nigeria’s military spokesperson and Ghana’s deputy defence minister did not respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
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Supreme Court to rule on ADC, PDP cases Thursday
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
News
Tinubu to reconstitute NHRC board, retains Ojukwu as ES/CEO
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
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Breaking: EFCC investigates Pastor Jerry Eze over alleged money laundering
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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