Why We Fight Govt, “Most Dangerous” Bandit Leader, Bello Turji Opens Up

December 14, 2025

Bello Turji, described in security circle as one of the most dangerous leaders of the Bandits operating in many parts of the Northwest has given reasons why he and his men sre fighting the government.
He also confirmed that he participated in a series of peace meetings with the Zamfara State Government during the administration of former governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, but that he had never received ₦30 million or any material inducement as part of the process.
In a separate video widely circulated online, Bello Turji said that past political leadership in Zamfara and Sokoto states laid the foundation for the lingering insecurity in the Northwest.
According to him, former governments of Zamfara and Sokoto had armed vigilante groups, popularly known as ‘Yan Banga,’ to be constantly attacking Fulani communities unprovoked.
Bello Turji stressed that the attempt by the unjustly attacked Fulani people to defend themselves from such attacks snowballed into deadly violence.
He specifically named former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and former Zamfara State governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima for being responsible for the crisis in the Northwest and called for their arrest.
The Bandit leader insisted that the two former governors should be investigated for their roles in the crisis.
Bello Turji distanced himself from any political influence, saying that he is not acting on behalf of any politician or interest group.
“We openly say that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto, Bafarawa and Ahmed Sani Yerima, are responsible for the calamities that befell these states.
“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us.”
Reacting to a statement by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to facilitate non-kinetic engagement with armed groups, Bello Turji denied receiving any money during the meetings.
He said that though peace talks took place, neither he nor any Fulani leader acting on his behalf received money or vehicles.
“By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira. What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given the ₦30 million you are talking about.”
According to him, the meetings with government officials were solely aimed at reducing violence and restoring peace in the state, stressing that he did not benefit financially from the engagement.
He accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust built during the negotiations and peddling what he described as false and malicious testimony.
Addressing Kamarawa directly, Bello Turji said: “when the Zamfara State government appointed you, we agreed on peace. But what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit. I did not even receive three million naira.”
Kamarawa had alleged in a viral video that the former Zamfara governor held meetings with bandit leaders, including Turji, at the Government House in Gusau and allegedly distributed cash and vehicles to them.
He specifically claimed that Turji collected ₦30 million during the peace initiative.
Although Turji did not address reports of any recent negotiations with the Federal Government, he framed his remarks as a personal defence, insisting he was speaking “before Allah alone.”
Despite his claims, Nigerian security agencies have repeatedly identified Bello Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders operating in the North-West, with the military previously declaring him wanted for terror-related activities.

Dangote, Indians And “Unqualified” Nigerians, Africans

December 13, 2025

There are truths that don’t just hurt pride; they puncture illusions, strip hypocrisy and leave us naked, facing our own creation. The Dangote case is one of them.
Over 11,000 Indian technicians were recruited because Nigeria couldn’t find 100 locally qualified. That is a country of 235 million people, Africa’s largest economy, and a self-proclaimed giant of the continent.
This is the clinical diagnosis of a disease that doesn’t just affect Abuja: it affects the entire African body. Many cry scandal. I see a mirror. And a mirror never lies.
Africa wasn’t defeated by tanks, but by polytechnics
Dangote is accused of preferring Indians. False. Dangote prefers those who know how to run a refinery. Period. It’s not India that humiliates us; it’s our inability to produce skills that match our ambitions.
While Africa organizes summits, national assemblies and endless conferences, India builds classrooms. While we politicize technical education, India professionalizes. While we churn out theoretical degrees, India trains thousands of operational technicians.
The Indians didn’t take Lagos by force. They enter with their screwdrivers, software, and skills.
Without skills, even our billionaires become dependent
Dangote isn’t the problem. He’s proof that wealth isn’t enough to compensate for weak human capital. We can have oil, bauxite, gold, cobalt, lithium and many more, but without people who can transform them. And for that, we remain tenants of our own development.
We provide land, raw materials, tax breaks, sometimes even public funds while others provide modern productive and functional brains. And in the end, they leave with the biggest share of added value.
Africa is a continent where a port can be built in 18 months with foreign labour. But it takes 25 years to modernize a technical high school. That should wake us up.
Technical education is obviously our silent Waterloo Our technical high schools, when they still exist, run on the 1980’s machines, unretrained teachers, frozen curricula, workshops turned into dusty museums with students deemed “less brilliant” than those in general education. That’s where it starts. That’s where India beats us. Not at Dangote. Not in Lagos. At school.
African parents dream of lawyers, doctors, MPs… Rarely of industrial mechanics, electromechanics, maintenance technicians and process engineers. Our societies continue to despise technical trades, even though the modern world relies entirely on them.
The Nigerian problem is African: DRC, Kenya, Cameroon, Senegal and others. It is the same fight
What’s happening in Nigeria today is no exception. It’s the announced future of all African countries if they don’t wake up.
In our countries, our power plants are repaired by foreigners. Our mines are calibrated by foreigners. Our dams are built by foreigners. Our data centers are configured by foreigners. Our roads are asphalted by foreigners. And we applaud, as if modernity was just about inaugural photos.
Real development starts when we no longer need them for basic operations.
The mental revolution begins in turning every technical high school into a talent factory. No magic. No slogans. No empty “2030 visions.” Development is to have qualified welders, certified electronics technicians, industrial mechanics, petrochemical technicians, IT professionals who can code, repair, program and assemble.
Africa must massively professionalize its technical education. Not 200 students per year. Not 1,000. We need 50,000 to 100,000 technicians per country, every year. Only then will Dangote, and all the Dangotes of the continent, no longer need to look elsewhere.
The Dangote’s reality is not a scandal. It’s a wake-up call
Africa will never be respected as long as it asks others to do what it should have learned to do itself. Dangote doesn’t humiliate Africa. He wakes us up.
The question isn’t why does he employ 11,000 Indians? The real question is why haven’t our education systems produced 11,000 Nigerians who can replace them? And that applies to DRC, Kenya, Angola, Ghana and others.
The continent that wants to take off must first learn to run its engine
As long as we don’t understand that the 21st-century struggle is no longer geopolitical but technological, we’ll remain giants with clay feet. As long as our technical high schools are pedagogical graveyards, others will come to work for us, surpassing us, and telling us how to manage our own wealth.
The day Lagos, Kinshasa, or Nairobi train 10,000 qualified technicians per year, Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Turks will knock on our doors. And that day, Africa will stop being a market. It will become the world’s workshop.

How Terrorists, Bandits Block Security Tracking – Communications Minister

Greenbarge Reporters

December 13, 2025

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has revealed how bandits and terrorists operating in Nigeria rely on sophisticated technology to protect their communications from security agencies.
According to the minister, the criminal groups use call-hopping technology, which allows their phone calls to bounce across multiple cell towers, making them difficult to track.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics yesterday, December 12, the minister explained that the criminals deliberately operate from areas with little or no telecommunications coverage to further evade detection.
“There was a special kind of technology they were using to make calls. They weren’t using normal towers. They bounced calls off multiple towers. That is why they enjoy staying in areas that are not connected at all.”
According to Bosun Tijani, this method ensures that their communication signals disappear once they move from one location to another, enabling them to launch attacks from unserved or poorly connected areas.
He assured that Nigeria is upgrading its communication satellites to serve as a backup in situations where ground-based telecom infrastructure is unavailable or disrupted.
“If our towers are not working, our satellites will work. Nigeria is the only country in West Africa with communication satellites, and we are bringing in new ones to upgrade their capabilities.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed recently declared an emergency on security to upturn the trend.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, had accused Tinubu’s government of not being able to deliver results in tackling insecurity.

We Are Resolving MTN, Airtel Network Challenges In Abuja, NCC Assures Subscribers

Greenbarge Reporters

December 13, 2025

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured subscribers of its swift moves to resolve the Quality of Service (QoS) challenges being experienced in Abuja, especially the network connections.

In a statement, Head of Public Affairs of NCC, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, said that the Commission is collaborating with major stakeholders and licensees to address these challenges, which was largely caused “by disruption to diesel supply affecting IHS Nigeria Limited, the colocation provider responsible for powering Airtel and MTN base stations in the affected areas.”
NCC confirmed that the challenges are a result of the activities of the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA), which disrupted diesel supplies to sites with the attendant telecommunications services outages in Abuja.”
It assured subscribers of its commitment to ensuring seamless communication services for all Nigerians, saying that it recognizes the importance of reliable power supply for the provision of optimal telecommunication services.
“The NCC is actively engaging with relevant stakeholders to address the diesel supply issues and explore sustainable solutions.”
The Commission urges all parties to work together to collaboratively resolve these challenges swiftly by removing the diesel supply bottlenecks affecting critical telecommunications infrastructure, arising from NOGASA’s actions.
” In the face of these challenges, we reiterate our commitment to fostering a conducive environment for the growth and sustainability of telecommunications services in Nigeria. We are taking proactive steps to facilitate dialogues between the impacted service providers and other stakeholders to promptly resolve the diesel supply concerns that have negatively impacted service quality.
” The Commission remains dedicated to effectively managing the situation and will keep the public updated on progress towards restoring full telecommunication services in Abuja.
“We thank telecommunications subscribers for their understanding and patience during this period and reaffirm our commitment to delivering high-quality telecommunications services nationwide.”

Chamber Of Commerce Commends Gov Ododo For Establishing Ajaokuta As Industrial Hub

Greenbarge Reporters

December 13, 2025

The Ajaokuta Chamber of Commerce,
Industries, Mines and Agriculture (AJACCIMA) has commended the State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo for the establishment of Ajaokuta as a new industrial hub in the State, describing it as visionary.
In a statement by the Director General, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, AJACCIMA said that the establishment of Ajaokuta city as the
new industrial hub of the state is a game-changer for the state’s economy and
a testament to Governor Ododo’s commitment to revitalizing the industrial sector and driving sustainable growth and development in Kogi State.
AJACCIMA applauded the governor’s efforts to attract investments, create jobs and stimulate economic activity in Ajaokuta and its environs.
“The development of Ajaokuta city as
an industrial hub is expected to unlock new opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs and the local community.

The Director-General of AJACCIMA, particularly assured members of the group as well as stakeholders of the unwavering support “for this initiative and our commitment to partnering with the state government to drive the growth and development of Ajaokuta city.
“We urge all stakeholders to join us in celebrating this milestone achievement and to seize the opportunities presented by this
initiative.”

Supreme Court To Tinubu: You Can’t Exercise Executive Power Over Case Of Culpable Homicide

Greenbarge Reporters

December 12, 2025

The Supreme court of Nigeria has written off Presidential pardon on Maryam Sanda as granted by President Bola Tinubu recently.
In a split decision of four-to-one, today, December 12, the Supreme court affirmed the death sentence handed Sanda by the Court of Appeal, Abuja which upheld the decision of a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). She would now face death by hanging.
In a lead judgement, Justice Moore Adumein held that it was wrong for the President to seek to exercise executive power of pardon over a case of culpable homicide, in respect of which an appeal was pending.
The Supreme court insisted that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required, adding that the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the judgement of the trial court.
The Apex Court looked at all the issues raised in the appeal she filed against her and dismissed the appeal for being without merit.
Maryam Sanda, a housewife in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, was in 2020, sentenced to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.
President Tinubu later this year, cancelled the judicial pronouncement and reduced her sentence to 12 years imprisonment on what was termed “compassionate grounds.”

Dangote Refinery Crashes Fuel Price To N699 Per Litre

Greenbarge Reporters

December 12, 2025

Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper has indicated the tumbling down of ex-depot petrol price of the Dangote Refinery to N699 per litre. The pump price was before now N828 per liter.
This is coming about 24 hours after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced the reduction of its pump price to a little above N900 per liter.
The reduction by the Dangote Refinery in price of fuel represents 15.58 per cent from the previous price.
The latest adjustment, according to information, is the company’s 20th price review this year.
Dangote Refinery’s ex-depot price review came today, December 12, in the wake of announcements by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and fuel filling stations of at least two price reductions in the past three weeks, pushing the retail price between N915 and N937 per litre in Abuja.

Insecurity: President Tinubu Opts For Ranching

Greenbarge Reporters

December 10, 2025

President Bola Tinubu has directed the establishment of ranching, especially in conflict areas of the country.
According to the President, implementing ranching is being aimed at reducing conflicts between herders and farmers as well as attacks on the most vulnerable members of society.
He directed the Minister of Livestock, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today, December 10, “to see which village or grazing area can be rehabilitated for ranching.”
He also directed the minister of livestock to commence the mobilisation process, with particular emphasis on areas facing conflict.
“We must eliminate this area of conflict and make the livestock reform economically viable.
“The opportunity is there. Let’s utilise it. “You should emphasize the constitutional requirement that the land belongs to the state.”
Tinubu asked Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), to sensitise governors and other stakeholders on the implementation of the reforms on ranching.
The President Tinubu insisted that villages and communities facing conflicts must be salvaged.
The President made it clear that his directive for the withdrawal of police officers from VIPs, VVIPs and ministers and redeployment of same “is not negotiable.”
He directed all the ministers to ensure immediate compliance and warned against non-compliance.
” If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignments, please contact the IGP and get my clearance.”
President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egebtokun, to follow up on the implementation of the order.
He said that police officers were trained to protect the lives and property of citizens, especially the most vulnerable in society, and that the protection of a select group of VIPs and VVIPs is not their responsibility.
President Tinubu said that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, would make arrangements for the replacement of police officers by the Civil Defence Corps.
“The National Security and Civil Defence Corps are trained for VIP protection, and they are armed too.”
The President said that the police would be mobilised appropriately to tackle the country’s security challenges.
He said that the entire structure would be reviewed to better address vulnerable citizens and communities.
“We face challenges here and there of Kidnapping, banditry and terrorism. We need all forces utilised. I know some people are exposed; we will make the exceptions. The Civil Defence is very much around.’
Tinubu said that ministers should meet the Inspector General of Police and get his clearance for special assignments that require police protection.
The President asked the NSA to ” “take this (directive) very seriously.”

Transparency, Efficiency: Presidency Votes NCC Best Performing Federal Agency Amongst Others

Greenbarge Reporters

December 10, 2025

The Presidency, under the auspices of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has voted the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as one of the top five best-performing Federal Government agencies for 2025 under the Transparency and Efficiency Category.

The NCC was recognized alongside the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, which emerged overall best-performing agency; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which placed second; as well as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
At the PEBEC Awards and Gala Night at Aso Rock Presidential villa, Vice President Kashim Shettima said: “we salute the men and women driving these institutions, when we commit to working together across MDAs, across states and across sectors, Nigeria wins.”
The award were celebration of transparency and efficiency in Nigeria’s public service. NCC was honoured for its “commitment to openness, accountability and operational excellence in Public Service Delivery.”
Senator Kashim Shettima, who chaired the council, said the awards reflect the government’s commitment to a more efficient and competitive public service.
“The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has spent the last couple of years championing reforms that speak to the whole of our economic aspirations.
“The reforms that make it easier to do business, that restore your best confidence, that ensure our institutions work in the spirit of national growth.”
Receiving the award on behalf of the NCC, its the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Dr. Aminu Maida reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to sustaining transparency and accountability in its regulatory approach. He said that these principles remain central to improving industry performance and fostering a conducive environment for telecommunications businesses to thrive.
“The Commission is proud to be listed among the Top Five Best-Performing Federal Government Agencies for 2025. “This recognition is an affirmation of the values that guide our work: transparency, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence. “It signals that the reforms we have pursued, the systems we have strengthened, and the decisions we have taken are yielding the right results.
“For us at the NCC, this honour is both a validation and a responsibility. It reassures us that we are on the right path, and at the same time challenges us to deepen our commitment to the Nigerian people
“As an economic regulator, our mandate is to create an environment where operators can thrive—an environment that attracts investment and sustains healthy competition, ensuring consumers enjoy the best possible choices.
“Nigerians can rest assured that we will not rest on our oars. We remain fully committed to ensuring that the telecom consumer receives the highest quality of service, supported by a fair, transparent, and competitive industry. “We will also continue to strengthen our collaborations with all stakeholders—because meaningful progress in our sector can only be achieved through shared commitment and collective action.”
The PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, said that the event was organised to celebrate reform champions and highlight progress made in improving the country’s business climate.
“This evening is not merely an awards ceremony; it is a powerful affirmation of possibilities, honouring the champions who have moved beyond compliance, embracing excellence as the new standard for public service delivery.
“The achievements we acknowledge are the tangible result of collective resolve to make Nigeria the most attractive and predictable competitive destination for business in Africa.
“Under the unwavering leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, and the active chairmanship of Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima, our reform efforts have been characterised by intentionality, accountability, and the strategic deployment of data.
“We understand that to fix the operational environment for businesses, we must first fix the government’s framework.”

Nigeria’s President Tinubu Aborts Military Coup In Benin Republic

Greenbarge Reporters

December 8, 2025

“Acting on two separate requests from the Government of Benin, President Tinubu first ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.”
This was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson to President on the foiled coup yesterday, December 7, aimed at toppling 35-year old democratic government of Benin Republic.
The statement said that the Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “in a Note Verbal,” requested immediate Nigerian air support in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.
“In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.
“The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces, strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed Groups.
“Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said all the requests have been fulfilled, with Nigerian ground forces now in Benin.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu.
“Constitutional order was upended in the Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s neighbour, when some soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri announced a coup on Sunday morning. The putschists seized the National TV and claimed they had toppled President Patrice Talon and suspended all democratic institutions.
“It took some hours before the government’s loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reacted to the development by commending the gallantry of Nigeria’s military for responding swiftly to the request by the Government of Benin Republic to save its 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn today.
Tinubu saluted the Nigerian armed forces for standing firm as a protector and defender of democracy.
“Today, the Nigerian armed forces stood gallantly as a defender and protector of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin on the invitation of the government. Our armed forces acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and have made us proud of their commitment to sustaining our democratic values and ideals since 1999. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”

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