Antonio Guterres arriving Borno state, various of internally displaced persons cheering, various of street scenes, Antonio Guterres speaking, mothers and children in a hospital ward, military checkpoints, armed soldiers.

President Mohamed Bazoum says Niger will welcome foreign special forces to secure the region. He said threats from the militant groups would likely rise as France pulls its troops out of Mali.

It is not the best of times for the Nigerian Armed Forces as the loss of its best hands and equipment is fast becoming unbearable as the country continues its war against insurgents and insecurity. And as we mourn the last victims, one of the questions on the mind of many Nigerian's remains; Why have two American-made Beechcraft Kingair 350 crashed just two months apart from each other? Is it really time to audit the Nigerian Air Force fleet?

Since 2017, the insurgency raging in northern Mozambique has cost close to 3,000 lives and displaced more than 700,000 people. On March 23, 2021, militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group attacked the town of Palma, prompting French energy group Total to shut down its operations in the region, despite having invested more than $20 billion dollars in a liquefied natural gas project there. As this mega-project is put on hold, and the company’s staff withdrawn – at least until stability is reestablished – the Mozambican government is largely refusing outside military assistance.

Mozambican forces claim to have retaken the ransacked town of Palma from armed Islamist fighters. Despite this success, a glaring refugee crisis looms as regional bodies dither on providing military support.

Police determined to cut off arms supply to bandits, insurgents

The story of Leah Sharibu's capture and her continued detention by the Boko Haram insurgents as a result of her defiance of compromise and refusal to renounce her faith is the stuff of legend. Leah, then 14, was abducted with 109 other girls of the Dapchi Technical College. Of the 110 girls abducted, five died in captivity while 104 were released on March 20, 2018. Leah Sharibu alone was not released because she refused to renounce her faith and convert to Islam as demanded by her captors.

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Leah Sharibu is still in captivity after her abduction by Boko Haram insurgents and there are reports that she has given birth to a baby boy.

Five aid workers abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in December have been released in Borno state. According to reports, it has not been confirmed if any ransom was paid to secure their release, following a negotiation with the insurgents.

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Nigerian military to immediately commences the payment of all entitlements of soldiers killed by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.