US Pulls Troops from Nigeria, Keeps Intelligence Tie

On Thursday, the United States removed the majority of its troops involved in a collaborative anti-terrorism mission within Nigeria's Lake Chad region. Nevertheless, the nation maintains information exchange and various types of security collaboration with Nigeria.

The head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, revealed this during an online media conference discussing the findings from the 2026 African Chiefs of Defense Conference, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Nigeria intelligence collaboration in combating terrorism linked to ISIS/Daesh.

He stated that although the particular military action had concluded and the majority of U.S. staff concerned had departed, Washington continued to be dedicated to assisting Nigeria via intelligence cooperation as requested by the Nigerian administration.

"And thus, the operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only aided the nations within that nearby area; it also benefits global efforts by disrupting the ISIS network," Anderson stated.

"And thus—then we have pulled back a significant portion of our troops that had been stationed there for that mission, yet we remain committed to the collaboration Nigeria requested, aiding in ongoing information exchange and fostering the comprehension needed to effectively carry out these challenging operations," he added.

A U.S. general referred to Nigeria as an effective ally possessing a robust armed forces and mentioned that collaboration between the two nations has produced notable achievements in combating ISIS.

As per his statement, U.S. intelligence assistance, along with actions taken by the Nigerian armed forces, resulted in an effective mission targeting the deputy leader of the ISIS worldwide structure.

I believe the collaboration we've demonstrated lately with Nigeria, which is a highly competent and significant nation—It has a robust economy; it possesses a large, well-educated populace; it also has an exceptionally skilled armed forces.

"But through our experiences in combating terrorism over many years, we've been able to support and collaborate with them, assisting in intelligence gathering and facilitating information exchange, which ultimately resulted in joint efforts. This allowed us to leverage the specific skills that the United States offers and work collectively to apprehend the second-highest-ranking individual in the ISIS or Daesh group, who plays a major role in their worldwide activities, including their international media presence and recruitment," he stated.

Anderson emphasized that the operation's success highlighted the importance of intelligence collaboration instead of prolonged international military presence.

"So I believe that as we move ahead, this serves as an illustration of how we are considering collaboration with allies to enhance their effectiveness by offering distinct U.S. strengths that enable the ally to perform better in these conflicts," he stated.

He further promoted enhanced information exchange between African nations to address terrorism, illegal smuggling, and other cross-border criminal activities.

He stated that successful communication and strong collaborations have led to the seizure of a historic 31-ton cocaine cargo coming from South America and passing through the West African coastline.

"I managed to organize with various agencies within the U.S., including AFRICOM, and informed some allies. Eventually, a Spanish vessel intercepted the ship carrying 31 tons of cocaine, which turned out to be the biggest drug seizure at sea we've ever recorded," Anderson stated.

He stated that ongoing collaboration between African nations, global allies, and the business community will continue to be essential for tackling safety challenges and fostering financial stability and investment throughout the region.

Approximately 200 U.S. military staff were sent to Nigeria in February 2026 to assist with intelligence gathering, monitoring activities, and combating terrorism within the Lake Chad area. This move occurred as relations between Washington and Abuja strengthened in their joint efforts against ISIS and additional extremist organizations active in this part of Africa.

Following the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by U.S. President Donald Trump, military forces were deployed, as he had pledged to increase American assistance targeting extremist organizations active within the nation.

On Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, American forces conducted aerial attacks against two militant hideouts located within the Bauni Forest in the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The collaboration reached its peak in May 2026 with a combined U.S.-Nigeria mission that resulted in the death of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the deputy leader of ISIS, at his location in Borno State.

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US Senators Push Bill to Label Sudan's Warring Factions as Terrorists

June 10, 2026 (WASHINGTON) – A coalition of U.S. senators from both major political parties has proposed fresh legislation seeking to bring an end to the fighting in Sudan, with a provision requiring the Biden government to assess if the conflicting groups meet the criteria for being designated as international terror entities.

A bill named the "Preventing External Aggression and Conflict Escalation in Sudan Act of 2026," also known as the "PEACE in Sudan Act," mandates the Secretary of State, along with input from the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, to carry out a legal review of Sudanese military groups. They have to "assess if any armed group in Sudan fulfills the requirements for being classified as a specially designated global terrorist" according to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The government is required to present a confidential report detailing its conclusions and specify its intended measures to the Congressional Committee on Foreign Relations and the Judiciary within 90 days following the law's implementation. . Although the proposed text does not directly identify any particular group for instant classification, it places all combatant groups under review.

The political initiative follows previous efforts led by Republican Senator Jim Risch, the top-ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who proposed the legislation. Risch has consistently urged the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to be classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) or a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), describing their activities in Darfur as genocidal. He revived these calls at the beginning of 2026 after the United States labeled the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist.

The SDGT label enables the U.S. government to seize all assets and interests within U.S. control and prevent financial activities. The FTO designation adds further legal consequences, classifying the provision of "material support" — like money, instruction, or supply chains — as illegal under American legislation, along with subjecting overseas organizations interacting with the group to indirect punishments.

The Department of State would also have to submit periodic updates regarding human rights abuses that occurred after the conflict began on April 15, 2023. These evaluations should record the involvement of underage fighters, the employment of hunger and sexual assault as tools of conflict, assaults on medical centers, and violence driven by ethnic motives.

The executive branch has 180 days to present a plan aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire and a political resolution. This necessitates strong collaboration with global diplomatic organizations, particularly the Quad made up of the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Quintet consisting of the African Union, IGAD, the Arab League, the European Union, and the United Nations.

The legislation grants the president authority to enact property seizures and travel restrictions against any foreign individual who hinders peace initiatives, destabilizes the shift toward civil rule, or provides arms to those involved in hostilities. .

The legislative measures involve extending the term of the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan by five years. It also halts non-humanitarian assistance and directs U.S. representatives at global financial organizations to reject debt forgiveness or rebuilding loans for the Sudanese administration until a confirmed peace accord is established and abuses stop.

Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).

Edo Prioritizes Security: Deploys 1,000 Forest Guards to Protect Communities

Francis Onoiribholo

Due to the present state of instability within the nation, the Edo State administration announced on Wednesday that they will place safety concerns at the forefront of their agenda.

In response to the present security conditions within the state, Commissioner of Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, stated that the state administration is actively working to address instability without taking a passive approach.

During a combined media conference with the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, and the Commissioner of Transportation, Saturday Iyalekhue, Ebea mentioned that more than 1,000 forest rangers have been sent out to protect local areas as part of efforts to address security challenges within the state.

He mentioned that the state government has hired 500 forest rangers to protect the areas of vegetation throughout the state, and the federal government has recently authorized an extra 500, bringing the total to 1,000.

As per Ebea, their headquarters will be located in rural areas to safeguard farmers. He mentioned that staff members will be stationed at problematic locations along the borders of neighboring states.

He mentioned that the state government has recently found out that some young people in the state are now helping herders kidnap locals from the area.

He stated, 'The government has also clearly indicated that they are targeting those involved, and anyone caught will face persecution.'

He also mentioned that the state government has employed 300 members of the Edo State Security Network in every one of the 18 local governments, resulting in an overall count of 5,400 personnel across the state.

The official stated that certain murders occurring in the state are driven by drug-related activities. He mentioned that authorities are pursuing those responsible and that anyone apprehended will face legal consequences.

Ebea stated that to effectively safeguard the state, Senator Monday Okpeholo's administration is working alongside security personnel to thoroughly inspect every part of the region.

He urged the general public to provide security forces with information that could result in the apprehension of criminals, noting that submitting such details directly at their doorstep is handled efficiently.

Earlier, Afegbua stated that Governor Okpebholo is committed to expanding development throughout the state, emphasizing that no local government area will be excluded.

From his side, the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Saturday Iyalekhue highlighted several accomplishments of his department, among them the ban on unapproved vehicle loading. He mentioned that this measure has provided comfort throughout Benin City, the state’s capital.

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