Nigeria officially labels the Lakurawa group as a terrorist organization after years of violent attacks in rural communities.
The decision follows top-level instructions to Nigeria’s army to either kill or remove Lakurawa radicals from Nigerian territory.
“This is a great concern for the Nigerian government. They’re already trying to fight off the Boko Haram, Fulani herdsman, [and] ISIS West Africa,” Greg Musselman with Voice of the Martyrs Canada says.
The ‘terrorist’ designation allows Nigerian forces to arrest suspects, freeze assets, and dismantle Lakurawa’s networks. However, questions remain about whether these measures address the conditions that enable the group to flourish.
“A lot of these terrorist groups feed on the fact that many of these young men don’t have jobs,” Musselman says.
“They’re poor, and [then they see] here’s an opportunity to join this group, cause all sorts of havoc in the name of Islam, and use it to get material gain.”
Meanwhile, religious minorities suffer.
“You’ve got these competing Islamic groups with their version of Sharia law. They’ll go against each other [and] there’s all this violence breaking out, and the innocent people are often getting caught into it,” Musselman says.
Ask the Lord to protect and strengthen believers in northern Nigeria. Consider providing practical help and biblical counseling through VOM Canada here.
“When you look at what has gone on in Nigeria, you see amazing, brave followers of Christ. But you also see the devastation and pain are real,” Musselman says.
“You’ve got so much violence and so much death and destruction. The only hope is Jesus.”
By Katey Hearth, Mission Network News
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Monday, January 27, 2025
Nigerian star 2Baba announces separation from wife
Popular Nigerian musician and performer Innocent Idibia, widely known as 2Baba or Tuface, has announced his separation from his wife, Annie Idibia.
One of Nigeria's biggest celebrity couples, Annie and Tuface got married in 2012 and had two daughters together.
In a post on Instagram, the African Queen singer said they had been separated for some time and had taken steps toward a divorce.
The post was later deleted but 2Baba then released a video to confirm that its contents were accurate.
The singer is seen as being one of the pioneers of the Nigerian music scene that is now popular around the world, paving the way for musicians like Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy.
The couple had a star-studded wedding ceremony in 2013, an event which was widely followed in Nigeria even though it took place in Dubai.
The star is still widely known as Tuface even though he announced in 2014 that he had changed his name to 2Baba.
News of the separation has shocked fans and admirers across the continent as the couple had overcome previous problems and are one of Nigeria's longest-lasting celebrity couples.
The former Plantashun Boyz member says he plans to hold a press conference to provide more details, adding that he is committed to sharing his perspective directly with his supporters and music lovers around the globe.
"I and Annie Macauley have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce," he said in the Instagram post.
In a bizarre twist, the post was deleted minutes later, followed by another saying the account had been hacked.
But 2Baba then went live on his Instagram account to confirm his initial post about the separation.
"No-one hacked my account, I said what I said, I come in peace," he said in the video.
The couple have also cut ties on social media, unfollowing each other on their respective platforms, backing the performer's statement about their split.
In the video of his most popular song, African Queen, Annie played his love interest and it is believed that their relationship blossomed from there.
Annie, an actor, recently trended on social media after she shared personal details about her marriage, including a miscarriage and struggles with her husband's other relationships, on the reality show Young, Famous & African.
By Mansur Abubakar, BBC
One of Nigeria's biggest celebrity couples, Annie and Tuface got married in 2012 and had two daughters together.
In a post on Instagram, the African Queen singer said they had been separated for some time and had taken steps toward a divorce.
The post was later deleted but 2Baba then released a video to confirm that its contents were accurate.
The singer is seen as being one of the pioneers of the Nigerian music scene that is now popular around the world, paving the way for musicians like Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy.
The couple had a star-studded wedding ceremony in 2013, an event which was widely followed in Nigeria even though it took place in Dubai.
The star is still widely known as Tuface even though he announced in 2014 that he had changed his name to 2Baba.
News of the separation has shocked fans and admirers across the continent as the couple had overcome previous problems and are one of Nigeria's longest-lasting celebrity couples.
The former Plantashun Boyz member says he plans to hold a press conference to provide more details, adding that he is committed to sharing his perspective directly with his supporters and music lovers around the globe.
"I and Annie Macauley have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce," he said in the Instagram post.
In a bizarre twist, the post was deleted minutes later, followed by another saying the account had been hacked.
But 2Baba then went live on his Instagram account to confirm his initial post about the separation.
"No-one hacked my account, I said what I said, I come in peace," he said in the video.
The couple have also cut ties on social media, unfollowing each other on their respective platforms, backing the performer's statement about their split.
In the video of his most popular song, African Queen, Annie played his love interest and it is believed that their relationship blossomed from there.
Annie, an actor, recently trended on social media after she shared personal details about her marriage, including a miscarriage and struggles with her husband's other relationships, on the reality show Young, Famous & African.
Nigeria man indicted in sextortion scheme after South Carolina teen dies
Nigeria man indicted in sextortion scheme after South Carolina teen dies.
At least 20 Nigerian soldiers killed in attack on remote army base
At least 20 Nigerian soldiers have been reportedly killed in a suspected attack by fighters from the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The attackers targeted an army base in the remote Malam-Fatori town in the northeastern Borno state on Friday, with a surviving soldier saying the attack lasted for more than three hours.
Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters mainly operate in Borno and have attacked both security forces and civilians, killing and displacing tens of thousands of people.
Reuters news agency, citing security sources and residents, on Sunday said a commanding officer was among those killed after ISWAP members arrived on gun trucks and attacked the Nigerian Army’s 149th Battalion in Malam-Fatori, gateway to the border with Niger.
“They rained bullets everywhere,” one of the surviving soldiers told Reuters by phone, adding that the troops were taken by surprise.
“We tried so much to repel the attacks and after more than three hours of gun duel, they overpowered us, killing our commanding officer, a lieutenant colonel,” the soldier said, declining to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
He said 20 soldiers died while several were injured.
Residents who left the town said some of the attackers were seen in Malam-Fatori as late as Saturday night.
Malakaka Bukar, a member of the local militia recruited to help the army, said the fighters also burned buildings, forcing some residents to flee the town.
“They preached to some of the residents,” said Bukar.
ISWAP split from the mainstream Boko Haram in 2016 to become the dominant armed faction in northeastern Nigeria.
Although weakened by military assaults and internal fighting over the years, Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up attacks in Borno since the turn of the year, killing dozens of farmers and fishermen in a series of raids.
The 15-year-old conflict has killed nearly 40,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes in the northeast.
The violence spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, leading to the creation of a regional force to fight the armed groups.
The attackers targeted an army base in the remote Malam-Fatori town in the northeastern Borno state on Friday, with a surviving soldier saying the attack lasted for more than three hours.
Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters mainly operate in Borno and have attacked both security forces and civilians, killing and displacing tens of thousands of people.
Reuters news agency, citing security sources and residents, on Sunday said a commanding officer was among those killed after ISWAP members arrived on gun trucks and attacked the Nigerian Army’s 149th Battalion in Malam-Fatori, gateway to the border with Niger.
“They rained bullets everywhere,” one of the surviving soldiers told Reuters by phone, adding that the troops were taken by surprise.
“We tried so much to repel the attacks and after more than three hours of gun duel, they overpowered us, killing our commanding officer, a lieutenant colonel,” the soldier said, declining to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
He said 20 soldiers died while several were injured.
Residents who left the town said some of the attackers were seen in Malam-Fatori as late as Saturday night.
Malakaka Bukar, a member of the local militia recruited to help the army, said the fighters also burned buildings, forcing some residents to flee the town.
“They preached to some of the residents,” said Bukar.
ISWAP split from the mainstream Boko Haram in 2016 to become the dominant armed faction in northeastern Nigeria.
Although weakened by military assaults and internal fighting over the years, Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up attacks in Borno since the turn of the year, killing dozens of farmers and fishermen in a series of raids.
The 15-year-old conflict has killed nearly 40,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes in the northeast.
The violence spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, leading to the creation of a regional force to fight the armed groups.
Friday, January 24, 2025
Visa invests in Nigeria's Moniepoint
Founded in 2015, Moniepoint initially focused on providing infrastructure and payments technology for banks and financial institutions.
It has since grown into Nigeria's leading business banking provider and is now the country's largest merchant acquirer, powering most of the country’s Point of Sale transactions. In 2023, it expanded beyond SMEs and entered the personal banking market through its subsidiary, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank.
The firm now claims some 10 million businesses and individual customers, helping them access payments, banking, credit, and business management tools and processing $22 billion monthly.
Visa's investment comes soon after a $110 million Series C investment led by Development Partners International’s African Development Partners III fund and joined by Google’s Africa Investment Fund and African VC Verod Capital.
Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO, Moniepoint, says: "Visa’s expertise in global payments and Moniepoint’s proven ability to serve African businesses make this partnership an exciting opportunity in shaping the continent’s economic future even as we pave the way for a more inclusive and dynamic financial ecosystem."
Andrew Torre, regional president, CEE and Middle East and Africa, Visa, adds: "By making financial services and digital payments more accessible and efficient, Moniepoint is helping transform how businesses operate in Nigeria and beyond. We are excited to support their next phase of growth and innovation."
It has since grown into Nigeria's leading business banking provider and is now the country's largest merchant acquirer, powering most of the country’s Point of Sale transactions. In 2023, it expanded beyond SMEs and entered the personal banking market through its subsidiary, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank.
The firm now claims some 10 million businesses and individual customers, helping them access payments, banking, credit, and business management tools and processing $22 billion monthly.
Visa's investment comes soon after a $110 million Series C investment led by Development Partners International’s African Development Partners III fund and joined by Google’s Africa Investment Fund and African VC Verod Capital.
Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO, Moniepoint, says: "Visa’s expertise in global payments and Moniepoint’s proven ability to serve African businesses make this partnership an exciting opportunity in shaping the continent’s economic future even as we pave the way for a more inclusive and dynamic financial ecosystem."
Andrew Torre, regional president, CEE and Middle East and Africa, Visa, adds: "By making financial services and digital payments more accessible and efficient, Moniepoint is helping transform how businesses operate in Nigeria and beyond. We are excited to support their next phase of growth and innovation."
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