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The Aftermath of US Airstrikes on Nigerian Soil: Benue Under Siege; Bandits Influx as Sokoto Terror Networks Disintegrate
The Aftermath of US Airstrikes on Nigerian Soil:
Benue Under Siege; Bandits Influx as Sokoto Terror Networks Disintegrate.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“A Strategic Blow to Extremists Triggers Displacement, Security Gaps and Alarms Across Central Nigeria.”
In the cold aftermath of a decisive December 25, 2025 United States-backed military operation targeting extremist hideouts in northwestern Nigeria, tremors of instability have rippled far beyond the forests of Sokoto State. What was intended as a strategic strike against terror cells has morphed into a multidimensional security challenge; particularly with alarming reports of armed bandits and displaced militants infiltrating Benue State, forcing local leaders and security analysts to raise urgent warnings.
The traditional ruler and Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue, Daniel Abomtse, has unequivocally stated that an influx of heavily armed herders and suspected bandits moving from Sokoto into his domain has been observed since the US-backed airstrikes. He disclosed that these elements have been sighted with sophisticated arms and grazing openly in communities such as Agatu LGA, describing the movement as a direct fallout from the aerial campaign against strongholds up north.
Abomtse’s alarm is neither speculative nor isolated. Security sources and community leaders in Sokoto’s Tangaza, Gudu, and Illela areas report significant dislocation and movement among armed bandits following the strikes. Many criminals have reportedly abandoned known hideouts, choosing to trek in smaller cadres through forest corridors or to disperse across borders to evade increased aerial and ground surveillance.
This shift in criminal dynamics highlights two painful realities: first, the interconnectedness of Nigeria’s security threats; where armed bandits, ethnic militias and jihadist elements often overlap in both motive and geography; and second, that unilateral military action, especially from foreign powers, can sometimes displace the problem rather than extinguish it. Analysts fear that if these armed groups land in regions like Benue, the human cost could be catastrophic.
Context: What the US Strikes Targeted and Why? The airstrikes, confirmed by multiple international sources, were carried out with precision-guided munitions fired from U.S. military drones and launched from naval platforms in the Gulf of Guinea, aimed at camps linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) with particularly a faction known locally as LAKURAWA. These groups are believed to operate near the Nigeria-Niger border, using remote forests as cover to plan raids, kidnappings and violent incursions.
Although Nigerian officials maintain that the operation was conducted within a framework of security cooperation and at Nigeria’s request, the broader geopolitical narrative carries competing interpretations. Some external voices framed the strikes as retaliation for attacks on Christians, a characterization the Nigerian government has publicly rebuffed, stressing the indiscriminate nature of violent extremism affecting all communities.
Notably, no confirmed casualties of militants were officially reported, leading to questions about the tactical impact of the strike and whether it was symbolic more than substantive. Local villagers in the strike regions reported shaking ground and a terrifying glow in the sky as missiles hit nearby lands, but with no concrete evidence of hardened militants being neutralized.
Benue’s Pre-Existing Security Crisis Heightens the Concern. Benue State has long been a crucible of insecurity and a battleground where armed herders, local militias and bandit groups have clashed with farming communities over land, resources and political power. Reports by human rights organizations have documented catastrophic attacks across multiple LGAs like Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Gwer East and West and Agatu, where villages were sacked, boreholes and clinics razed and entire populations displaced.
A respected voice in security analysis, Professor Ibrahim Suleiman, an expert on West African militancy, recently observed:
“When pressure is applied in one theatre of insurgency without comprehensive containment strategies, criminal networks (whether bandits or jihadist proxies) simply adapt and migrate. Zones like Benue become unintentional reservoirs of displaced armed actors unless multi-layered strategies are deployed.”
His warning underscores that the movement of bandits into Benue could inflame already volatile fault lines between pastoralist and agrarian communities which is a tinderbox that has devastating humanitarian consequences.
Bandits, Militias and the Crime-Terror Continuum. Nigeria’s insecurity landscape is not monolithic. Many of the actors involved in banditry are motivated by a mix of criminality, local grievances, economic incentives and ideological influences. In northwest Nigeria, some bandit groups have sustained uneasy alliances with extremist organizations like ISSP in pursuit of logistical support, revenue streams and territorial leverage.
Benue’s case illustrates this complexity. Local militias and armed herders are often not ideological insurgents but have become increasingly militarized, sometimes working with or benefiting from larger networks. Earlier research highlights how porous borders, ungoverned forest corridors and socioeconomic deprivation make states like Benue vulnerable to such infiltration.
Security expert Dr. Maryam Audu elaborates:
“When displaced bandits and militant elements enter a new region with fragile governance and social dislocation, they do not simply disappear. They embed, co-opt local grievances and often transform into even more complex threats whereby exploiting ethnic tensions and weak law enforcement.”
Her words resonate loudly as reports from Benue increasingly speak of newly sighted armed men blending into herding and farming communities.
The Human Toll and Societal Impact..Beyond the strategic chessboard of military engagement lies a human catastrophe. Benue’s agricultural heartland, often hailed as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has already seen its production crippled, educational systems disrupted and communities devastated. Internally displaced persons (IDPs), already numbering in the hundreds of thousands in northern states, may see fresh waves of distress if bandit presence expands.
Dr. Chukwuemeka Udeh, a humanitarian specialist, warns:
“Displaced fighters entering agrarian zones push fear, disruption and food insecurity to the forefront. We risk not only violent conflict but long-term societal collapse especially when communities abandon farms, schools close and trust in the state erodes.”
Policy Gaps and the Way Forward. The current situation reveals critical gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture: reactive tactics without strategic depth, piecemeal enforcement without socio-economic anchoring, and foreign military intervention without robust domestic stabilization plans. A narrow focus on kinetic strikes must be recalibrated to include:
Strengthened border security and intelligence sharing to track movement of armed groups beyond political frontiers.
Community-based peacebuilding initiatives to undercut local recruitment into bandit ranks.
Integration of socio-economic development programs that address poverty and exclusion in rural and pastoral zones.
Judicial and security reforms to restore confidence in law enforcement and accountability.
In the words of veteran peace negotiator Chief Bola Osagie:
“Security devoid of justice is a mirage. Unless we combine force with fairness, strategy with empathy and enforcement with opportunity, we will chase shadows while our people suffer.”
Rhe Way Forward. The airstrikes, while a bold strategic gesture, have inadvertently underscored the interdependence of Nigeria’s security challenges. Benue’s rising bandit influx is a clarion call that the battle against violent extremism cannot be waged through sporadic bombardment alone. It demands cohesive policies, community resilience, and a relentless pursuit of justice.
As Nigeria navigates this turbulent chapter, the fate of Benue hangs in the balance with a stark reminder that when one front of insecurity is pressured, another can erupt unless the root causes are confronted with courage, clarity and compassion.
Null and Void: Atiku Declares Gazetted Tinubu Tax Act a Constitutional Nullity.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“How a Flawed Tax Law Threatens Nigeria’s Constitutional Order, Rule of Law and Economic Stability.”
In a development that has ignited a legal and constitutional firestorm in Nigeria’s political landscape, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has publicly declared that the recently gazetted Tinubu Tax Act is a nullity (a law without legal force) because the version published in the Federal Government Gazette does not reflect the version duly passed by the National Assembly. Atiku’s assertion is not mere political rhetoric; it is rooted in the constitutional framework of Nigeria, the sanctity of the law-making process, and the very foundations of democratic governance.
This explosive controversy transcends partisan politics and goes straight to the heart of constitutionalism: Can a law be deemed valid when it has been fundamentally altered after legislative passage, without the approval of the legislature itself? According to Atiku, the answer is resoundingly no.
Constitutional Foundations: What Makes Law Valid in Nigeria?
To understand Atiku’s argument, it is vital to grasp how a law is constitutionally enacted in Nigeria. Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution clearly outlines that the power to make laws resides with the National Assembly, and a bill must undergo a strict procedural sequence before it becomes law:
Passage in identical form by both Houses, the Senate and House of Representatives.
Presidential assent, the President must sign the bill within 30 days of submission.
Gazetting — publication in the Official Federal Government Gazette as evidence of law.
The Constitution does not grant any authority to amend, alter, or rewrite a bill after it has been passed by the legislature and assented to by the President. Gazetting is not a creative or amendatory act; it is an administrative publication of a law that should already be definitively passed and assented.
As one constitutional expert put it, “a law that was never passed in the form in which it was published is not law. It is a nullity.” This principle is not only rooted in domestic law but reflects global norms that legislative supremacy cannot be undermined by post-passage tinkering.
Atiku’s Charge: Nullity and Forgery, Not Clerical Error.
Atiku’s criticism of the Tinubu Tax Act goes beyond semantic or procedural quibbles; he asserts that the discrepancies between the gazetted version and the version passed by the National Assembly are so significant that they constitute forgery and illegality, not mere clerical errors.
In his statement, he declared unequivocally:
“A law that was never passed in the form in which it was published is not law. It is a nullity.”
He emphasised that any insertion, deletion, or modification of a bill after passage (without the approval of the legislature) is unconstitutional. Atiku warned that attempts to correct these discrepancies through administrative directives or rushed re-gazetting undermine parliamentary oversight and set a dangerous precedent for executive overreach.
Atiku argued that no administrative directive from the Senate President or Speaker of the House can validate or cure a law that has been fundamentally altered after passage. The only lawful path, he says, is a fresh legislative process which re-passage by both chambers in identical form, followed by presidential assent and proper gazetting.
Constitutional Integrity Vs. Administrative Shortcuts.
Atiku’s stance highlights a larger constitutional doctrine central to democratic governance: the separation of powers. In a constitutional democracy, the legislature (representing the people) makes the laws; the executive executes them; and the judiciary interprets them. None can usurp the role of the other.
By suggesting that changes made after the National Assembly passed the Tax Act could be corrected administratively, federal officials appear to blur these distinctions. Atiku believes such “procedural shortcuts” threaten not just this particular law, but the legitimacy of the entire legislative process, creating a precedent where laws could be altered post-enactment without democratic sanction.
This is more than theoretical. Human rights and governance experts have warned that if the law-making process is not transparent, predictable, and fully constitutional, it can violate the rule of law and a cornerstone of democratic societies and a requirement under both the Nigerian constitution and international human rights law.
Economic and Governance Implications.
Beyond constitutional chaos, the controversy has immediate economic implications. The Tinubu Tax Act includes sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s tax regime, affecting individuals, businesses, and multinationals. The law was slated to take effect on January 1, 2026. Its disruption could create uncertainty for tax administration, compliance planning and investor confidence.
Critics say enforcing a potentially invalid law could lead to a flood of litigation, paralysis of tax authorities, and inconsistent enforcement. Some legal scholars argue that this sort of uncertainty erodes public trust and could chill economic activity which is also a particularly dangerous outcome for a country struggling with revenue generation and economic instability.
Counterarguments and Legal Debate.
Not everyone agrees with Atiku’s position. Some legal scholars and policymakers argue that once a law has been gazetted, it becomes authoritative and enforceable, even if discrepancies exist. This view holds that the gazetted text is what courts and tax authorities will recognise as the legal standard unless a court determines otherwise.
Yet, even under this argument, the lack of a mechanism to correct post-passage alterations without returning to the legislature underscores the real constitutional dilemma. There is no clear statutory or constitutional basis for correcting errors once a law is gazetted without revisiting the legislature.
This legal uncertainty was exemplified in past cases where courts have emphasised adherence to constitutional processes over procedural expediency and a reminder that the rule of law must prevail over political convenience.
Broader Democratic Stakes.
Atiku’s declaration frames this crisis not merely as a technical legal dispute, but as an existential moment for Nigeria’s democracy. If a government can retroactively alter legislation outside the constitutionally prescribed procedure, then legislative supremacy (and therefore popular sovereignty) is at risk.
As the eminent constitutional scholar Ali Ahmad, has consistently argued, the essence of constitutional democracy lies in the clear demarcation of powers and adherence to procedural legitimacy, without which public trust and democratic governance are severely undermined.
In a broader sense, what may seem like a dispute over text and process is deeply linked to public confidence in governance institutions and the belief that the people’s representatives (not the executive or administrative clerks) hold the power to make laws.
Final Take: A Constitutional Battle for the Soul of Nigeria.
The controversy surrounding the Tinubu Tax Act is more than about tax policy; it’s about constitutional fidelity, legislative integrity, and the rule of law. Atiku Abubakar’s declaration that the gazetted act is a nullity has thrust Nigeria into a constitutional reckoning that could redefine the balance of power between its branches of government.
As Nigeria grapples with this challenge, the stakes could not be higher. If constitutional processes are circumvented or eroded, it may set a precedent that weakens democratic structures and erodes public faith in the system. Conversely, upholding the constitutional process (even if it means delaying or revisiting key reforms) could reinforce the rule of law and strengthen democratic governance.
In the words of Atiku himself, “ILLEGALITY CANNOT BE CURED BY SPEED.” That sentiment, echoed by constitutional scholars and governance experts alike, underscores the enduring principle that law must be legitimate to be respected, and respect for law is the bedrock of any democratic nation.
Captain Matthew Ijachi: The Pilot Turned ExxonMobil Powerhouse Making Waves in Nigeria
“Happy Birthday, Captain Mathew Ijachi. May your courage and leadership continue to inspire, and may the years ahead bring you greater heights.”
Few things you need to know about these great man and executive Icon Captain Mathew Ijachi:
Captain Matthew Ijachi is an experienced pilot and a Marine Planning Manager at ExxonMobil in Nigeria. He is a prominent figure in the Nigerian aviation and logistics sectors.
Key highlights:
Profession: He is a seasoned pilot with extensive experience in operations and management across the logistics, aviation, and marine industries.
Current Role: He works as a Marine Planning Manager for ExxonMobil, focusing on commercial strategies, planning, and market development for offshore operations.
Industry Involvement: Captain Ijachi has been a program convener for Mr. and Mrs. Aviation Nigeria (MAMAN) and spoken at industry events, such as the Nigerian Aviation Business Exhibition in 2018, where he highlighted the sector’s potential for GDP contribution.
Expertise: His expertise includes bridging financing gaps for operators, ensuring readiness for capital injections, and developing aviation and aerospace infrastructure.
His also a Sponsorer of Football and Entertainment, who under his great leadership many footballers have been discovered and signed to different clubs/ football academy abroad.
Captain mathew is known for his exceptional, excellent and selfless service to humanity at large.
Keep waxing stronger sir as the years ahead promises to be more brighter and shining
society
HIS EXCELLENCY NGUYEN TAN NHUAN APPOINTED AS UNITED KINGDOM OF ATLANTIS AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
HIS EXCELLENCY NGUYEN TAN NHUAN APPOINTED AS UNITED KINGDOM OF ATLANTIS AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
His Excellency Nguyen Tan Nhuan, a Vietnamese national, has been officially deployed as the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Atlantis (UKA) to Nigeria. Born on December 12, 1972, Ambassador Nhuan holds passport number C3259729 and has been awarded a Certificate of Citizenship by the UKA.
This appointment is part of the UKA’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with Nigeria and other nations worldwide. The UKA, a decentralized sovereign kingdom, has been actively seeking international recognition and cooperation, with diplomatic offices established in several continents, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas
Ambassador Nhuan’s appointment is expected to enhance bilateral relations between the UKA and Nigeria, promoting economic, cultural, and political cooperation.
The United Kingdom of Atlantis is a self-declared sovereign nation, with a global government structure and a vision for a peaceful, crime-free, and sustainable world. The kingdom is led by His Imperial Majesty Dr. Solomon Uchenna Wining, who serves as the UKA Reigning Monarch and Global Chairman of the Board of Governors.
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