This Week in a Nutshell: Top 10 Weekend Recap Stories

In the spirit of the weekend, here’s a review of the week’s top 10 stories to bring you up to speed on everything you might have missed.

Fresh Carnage On The Plateau

Amidst the ongoing tensions following the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State, armed jihadi terrorists once again attacked inhabitants of Kwahaslalek village, Mangu Local Government Area. The targeted assault resulted in the tragic loss of 30 lives.

A gory video from the attack showed a group of jihadis slaughtering a Christian man as they chanted “Arna” (infidel) and Allahu Akbar.

Accusations from the state CAN chairman pointed towards military bias, asserting that troops allegedly supported the assailants. In response, the Plateau State Government urged a military investigation into these allegations, emphasizing the need for an impartial examination.

Meanwhile, residents have fled their homes, seeking refuge in the bush amidst the escalating turmoil.

As Fire Burns On The Mountain, Tinubu Travels To France

At a time when insecurity has surged to its peak in Nigeria with kidnappings, terror attacks and multiple mass killings, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, made his way to France for a ‘private visit’ on Wednesday, 24 January.

This announcement was made known to the public in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngalale. According to him, the President is set to return in the first week of February 2024.

Opposition parties raised their brows as PDP and LP expressed suspicion and question the President’s health while challenging him to come clean about the trip.

It will be recalled that France is the abode of his close Tinubu associate Gilbert Chagoury, who rose to prominence in the 1990s after helping former military dictator Gen. Sani Abacha to launder more than $4bn of stolen Nigerian government funds. This visit is Tinubu’s third unexplained trip to France since he assumed office eight months ago.

FAAN, CBN relocation – North Is Not Having It!

The relocation saga continued this week, as Tinubu’s recent decisions to relocate key government offices sparked criticism and dissent. Several northern senators, youth groups and prominent individuals would not have it despite assurances from the Presidency that there are no plans to move the Federal Capital back to Lagos. The directive to relocate the Department of Banking Supervision of the CBN and the head office of the FAAN to Lagos has been perceived as a pre-meditated attempt to disadvantage the northern region of Nigeria.

The Secretary of the Katsina Elders’ Forum, Aliyu Mohammed, warned against moving any department to the southern part of the country, saying:

“Therefore, we are warning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as long as he is interested in coming back in 2027, as long as he is interested in the votes of the northerners, to reverse these unconstitutional decisions. Whoever is advising him to make such decisions is an enemy of the country.”

AFCON: “I am not impressed” – Tinubu to Super Eagles

Tinubu expressed dissatisfaction with the Super Eagles’ performance in their recent AFCON Group A match against Guinea-Bissau, as revealed by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh. He disclosed this during a Zoom meeting with the team in preparation for Nigeria’s round of 16 clash with Cameroon. Tinubu acknowledged the team’s qualification but conveyed his less-than-impressed sentiment about their last match, saying:

“We managed to qualify for the Round of 16. Tell our players I wasn’t too impressed in our last match, but I know that now that they are off the Group stages, I know they are going to impress me more and more.”

Responding, the Super Eagles captain said:

“We don’t want him to watch the game on TV anymore, we want him over here to come and cheer us together.”

Meanwhile, Peter Obi in an X post commended the players for their efforts, as he encouraged them to do better.

David Hundeyin Releases His New Book!

Multiple award-winning investigative journalist David Hundeyin on Jannuary 25 released his latestt book titled, “Breaking Point: A Journalist’s Quest for Salvation in Nigeria’s Chaos.”

Having established himself as an investigative journalist with an intimidating reputation for telling Nigeria’s most carefully hidden stories, Hundeyin once again busies himself in highlighting a local and international conspiracy against Nigeria in his new book.

Here’s a glimpse of 2021 – 2023 through David’s eyes.

Exposed: Sanwo-Olu’s Taxpayer-Funded Trip To Granada

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu reportedly flew to the Spanish resort city of Granada on an unofficial taxpayer-funded trip to a birthday party of one Aisha Achimugu, spending billions of naira in the process.

Despite the reports, Sanwo-Olu has not clarified whether the trip was indeed funded with public funds or if he hosted the luxurious birthday party in Spain on his private tab – an uncomfortable silence that has sparked questions from citizens and stakeholders.

Despite public outcry from Lagosians and opposition parties, Sanwo-Olu is yet to make a statement addressing the issue.

Blinken Completes 4-Nation African Tour

The U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, on Thursday, January 25 completed his tour to Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola.

Analysts believe this tour served as a way of signaling to African countries that Biden’s administration still has the continent’s interest in mind. It might also have been intended to make up for Biden’s failure to uphold his promise of visiting Africa in 2023.

The African tour is also important for the U.S. as its political rivals, Russia and China, continue to strengthen their relationships with African countries.

Yemen’s Houthi Rebel Group Warns UK-US

The Houthi rebel military group in Yemen on Tuesday, January 23, issued a warning statement that the joint attack carried out by the United States and the United Kingdom in Yemen “will not go unanswered or unpunished.”

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said via the X social media platform that the US and the UK had fired 18 airstrikes on Yemen on Jan. 22.

The UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron explained that the joint military action with the US against the Houthis had been taken to “further degrade the Houthis capacity to carry out these attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.”

Super Eagles Crush Indomitable Lions, Tinubu Impressed?

On Saturday, the Super Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Ivory Coast. Following this triumph, Nigeria is set to face Angola in the quarterfinals on February 2, aiming to secure a fourth continental title.

See details of the hard-fought match that has maybe, just maybe, impressed the President.

Klopp To Leave Liverpool At The End Of The Season

The announcement by Jürgen Klopp on Jan. 26 that he will be leaving Liverpool after this season shook the football world. No one saw it coming, especially when it seems Liverpool are getting back to their best, topping the league at the moment.

In a sombre announcement video, the German gaffer said that he was “running out of energy,” to manage the club. He said he had informed the club about his decision in Nov. 2023.

While Liverpool fans will be feeling sad about this development, they can at least take consolation in the fact that Klopp promised he won’t be coaching any other Premier League club.

Read more: Abia Govt. Bans Use of Styrofoam Foils, ‘Take Away’

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Joy Chukwu

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Emmanuel Ejiofor

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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