society
Fueling Terror: The Unforgivable Betrayal Within Nigerian Borders
Fueling Terror: The Unforgivable Betrayal Within Nigerian Borders
By George O. Sylvester
On a quiet day in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Nigerian troops made a disturbing discovery: a local filling station was caught red-handed loading fuel into 500 jerrycans, intended for supply to Boko Haram insurgents. This act of treachery is not just a crime, it is a deliberate betrayal of our nation, of our armed forces and of the innocent citizens who have lost everything to terrorism.
For over a decade, Nigeria has battled the Boko Haram insurgency that has killed more than 350,000 people either directly or as a result of hunger and disease, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Yet, even as our soldiers shed blood on the battlefield, there are unscrupulous individuals amongst us; traitors in civilian clothing who aid and abet the very terrorists we are trying to defeat.
This filling station’s role in supplying fuel to Boko Haram is not an isolated event. It is a manifestation of a deeper rot, a network of collaborators, profiteers and sympathizers who live among us, walk our streets and pretend to be victims, while secretly arming and feeding monsters that burn our homes, kidnap our children and massacre our people.
“The enemy within is always more dangerous than the enemy without.” – John F. Kennedy
Indeed, how can our gallant military forces win a war when the people they are protecting harbor the very insurgents they fight? Nigeria is not just fighting terrorism; it is fighting complicity, cowardice and criminal opportunism disguised as business.
A System Compromised from Within
The discovery of this fuel station is a grim reminder that Boko Haram has long depended on local collaborators to sustain its reign of terror. According to a 2022 report by the International Crisis Group, much of Boko Haram’s logistics like fuel, food, spare parts and medicines are supplied by civilians living in northeastern Nigeria. These individuals are either coerced, corrupted or ideologically aligned with the insurgents.
There are several documented cases of civilian fuel vendors, transporters and food suppliers secretly delivering goods to terrorists in exchange for money or protection. In 2016, the Nigerian Army intercepted fuel tankers and food trucks heading towards the Sambisa Forest, filled with supplies meant for insurgents. In 2021, six people were arrested in Adamawa for transporting fuel and foodstuff to Boko Haram camps. The pattern is clear: terrorism in Nigeria thrives on an internal supply chain that continues to operate, largely unchecked, due to poor enforcement and widespread corruption.
Fuel as a Weapon of War
Why fuel? In the northeastern war theater, fuel is as lethal as ammunition. It powers the motorbikes and trucks that insurgents use to ambush soldiers, raid villages and abduct schoolchildren. It enables the mobility and tactical reach that have made Boko Haram a resilient force despite military offensives. Fuel theft and illegal distribution are critical elements in the insurgents’ logistics strategy.
When a fuel station deliberately loads 500 jerrycans with petrol and prepares to deliver it to Boko Haram, it is no different from handing them guns and bullets. It is an act of terrorism in itself and the perpetrators must be treated as enemies of the state.
“To supply fuel to terrorists is to light the match that burns down our homes.” Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Political Scientist
Infiltration, Corruption and the Failure of Intelligence
The ease with which such operations are carried out exposes a failure in our local intelligence and security infrastructure. How does a fuel station accumulate hundreds of jerrycans for delivery without detection? Who authorizes and monitors fuel distribution in conflict zones? What systems are in place to flag suspicious transactions?
Clearly, we are dealing with a porous system vulnerable to manipulation by both terrorists and their enablers. This incident raises serious questions about the integrity of some petroleum marketers, the oversight capacity of local authorities and the effectiveness of the Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies tasked with internal monitoring.
The Economic Undercurrent: Blood Money
Behind every jerrycan of fuel delivered to Boko Haram is the scent of blood money. The people involved in this supply chain are not just criminals but they are economic vampires, feeding on the suffering of millions. The business of terror in Nigeria has become so lucrative that some individuals are willing to trade their conscience for profit.
“The worst kind of poverty is the poverty of morality.” Wole Soyinka
The government must follow the money trail. Who owns this filling station? Who are the middlemen? Who is financing the purchase and transportation of fuel to terrorist enclaves? Only by disrupting the financial architecture of terrorism can we hope to win this war.
The Role of Communities: Silence Is Complicity
It is unacceptable that such an operation could take place without the knowledge of the local community. Someone saw something. Someone knew. Yet no one spoke.
Communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa must understand that silence is not neutrality, it is complicity. The culture of silence, either out of fear or loyalty, is killing Nigeria. There must be a renewed effort to involve civilian intelligence, with protections and incentives for whistleblowers who expose terror collaborators.
Traditional rulers, religious leaders and local governments must also take greater responsibility. Moral authority must be backed by action, not platitudes.
Consequences and Accountability
This filling station must be shut down immediately and the owners and staff must be prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (as amended). Their assets should be confiscated and repurposed for victim support and counter-terrorism operations. The Nigerian government must make an example out of them, zero tolerance for internal sabotage.
Furthermore, security agencies must conduct a sweeping audit of all fuel vendors in conflict zones. All distribution should be tracked, documented and subject to random inspections.
A Nation on the Brink
Every act of internal betrayal pushes Nigeria closer to the brink. As we speak, over 2 million Nigerians remain internally displaced, forced to flee their homes due to terrorism. Thousands of school-aged children have been denied education, entire villages have been reduced to ashes and soldiers continue to die in ambushes, sometimes because fuel supplied by local collaborators made those attacks possible.
“If we do not confront the traitors within, then Boko Haram has already won.” Col. Hassan Stan-Labo (rtd.)
Nigeria must wake up. The war is no longer just in the forests, it is in our towns, markets, homes and filling stations. The enemy is not only wearing camouflage and carrying rifles. Sometimes, he is wearing a suit and selling petrol.
The Way Forward: This War Must Be Won From Within
The discovery in Maiduguri should trigger national outrage. It should awaken every Nigerian to the urgency of rooting out the enemy within. We cannot defeat Boko Haram without defeating the internal enablers, those who profit from war, those who protect killers and those who feed the flames of destruction.
The federal government must rise beyond lip service and act decisively. National security is not negotiable. Fueling terrorists is not a business, it is an act of treason and it must be punished accordingly.
Let the world know that Nigeria will not tolerate traitors, collaborators or blood merchants. If we are to restore peace, we must first cleanse ourselves of the betrayal that lives among us.
You Against Crime Founder Tayo Folorunsho Praises Winners of Abuja Schools Festival.
Abuja, Nigeria – The maiden edition of the You Against Crime – Schools Festival 2026 Grand Finale has concluded, marking a significant milestone in youth engagement and crime prevention efforts across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The event, held at the University of Abuja, brought together 78 secondary schools from the six Area Councils of Abuja, with the top six schools competing in the Grand Finale.
*Winners Emerge*
Tudunwada School, Bwari took the top spot, followed closely by The Golden Crest Royal in second place, and Government Secondary School, Kuje in third.
*CULTURE, THE CURE FOR CRIME*
The festival’s theme, “Culture, The Cure for Crime,” highlighted the importance of values, identity, mentorship, and positive engagement in preventing crime and shaping responsible citizenship among young people.
*DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKERS*
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman, Amnesty International, praised the initiative, saying, “This festival is a beacon of hope for our young people, promoting values and principles that can shape a brighter future for Nigeria.”
Aisha Mohammed, Head of Enlightenment & Re-orientation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, emphasized the importance of mentorship, stating, “Empowering young people with the right guidance and opportunities is key to preventing crime and building a stronger nation.”
*PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT*
The 2026 Grand Finale Edition was proudly sponsored by Civicx Technology Ltd Int’l, reinforcing a shared commitment to youth empowerment and crime prevention through cultural reorientation and innovation.
Tayo Folorunsho, Host & Founder, You Against Crime International, addressing the media and appealed to government agencies to support initiatives like this, targeting young minds early.
You Against Crime International is a movement advocating cultural change as a long-term solution to crime. The organization remains committed to advancing youth development, civic responsibility, and nation-building across Nigeria.
TICP Customs Launches Paperless Regime, Warns Against False Declarations
The Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has launched a roadmap for the full implementation of a paperless regime at the command.
Onyeka disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos, stating that the command was fully prepared for seamless digital operations ahead of the nationwide rollout scheduled for the second quarter of the year.
He described the engagement as the first in a series of consultations aimed at sensitising stakeholders on the strategies, operational framework and expectations under the new regime.
The controller commended the media for its constructive reportage since his assumption of office and sought continued collaboration to ensure the success of the initiative.
Presenting the command’s performance report, Onyeka said the Tin Can Island Command generated ₦609 billion in revenue in 2025, describing it as the highest in the history of the command.
He added that revenue collection rose from ₦116 billion recorded in January of the previous year to ₦145 billion in the corresponding period last month, representing an increase of over ₦29.9 billion.
Onyeka stated that his vision was to make the command known for trade efficiency, explaining that under the paperless regime, containers would be released without physical contact between Customs officers and clearing agents, provided declarations were accurate.
He credited the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for providing the leadership and strategic direction driving modernisation efforts across Customs formations nationwide.
The controller urged stakeholders to avoid false declarations and engage directly with the command to resolve concerns, emphasising that transparency and dialogue were essential to achieving efficient port operations.
He assured that consignments with clear scanning results and proper documentation would be released promptly, while those flagged by the risk management system would undergo physical examination, adding that the command would continue to collaborate with other agencies to reduce cargo dwell time and enhance port efficiency.
Love on Display: Katie Price and Lee Put On a Public Show of Affection
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
British media personality Katie Price is once again at the center of tabloid and public attention after being photographed poolside with her new husband, Lee, in a display of affection that quickly circulated across entertainment platforms. The images, reportedly taken during a recent leisure outing at a private resort location in the United Kingdom, show the couple embracing and kissing beside a swimming pool, with Lee prominently displaying a tattoo tribute dedicated to Price.
The photographs, which surfaced in mid-February 2026 through British tabloid outlets, depict the couple appearing relaxed and affectionate. Lee, whose full name has been reported in sections of the UK press but who largely maintains a lower public profile compared to his wife, lifted his arm to reveal a visible tattoo said to be in honor of Price and a gesture widely interpreted as a public affirmation of their relationship.
What happened was straightforward but symbolically charged: a public display of affection between newlyweds, amplified by Price’s longstanding celebrity status. Where it happened (poolside at what sources describe as a private holiday setting) underscores the blending of personal life and public spectacle that has long defined Price’s media journey. During a recent February getaway placed it squarely within ongoing tabloid interest surrounding her latest marriage. Price, 47 and her new husband Lee, whose visible tribute tattoo became the focal point of the moment.
Celebrity culture scholars argue that public figures such as Price operate within a media ecosystem where visibility sustains relevance. “Modern celebrity is performative intimacy,” explains Professor Graeme Turner, a media and cultural studies scholar known for his work on celebrity culture. “Public displays of affection are not merely private acts; they are communicative gestures that reinforce brand identity and narrative continuity.” In Price’s case, her romantic relationships have long been interwoven with her public persona.
Price first rose to prominence in the late 1990s under the glamour model moniker “Jordan,” before transitioning into reality television, publishing and business ventures. Her personal life (including previous marriages and high-profile relationships) has frequently generated headlines in the British press. This latest marriage continues that pattern of intense scrutiny.
The tattoo tribute displayed by Lee is particularly significant in celebrity symbolism. Body art dedicated to a partner is often perceived as a declaration of permanence. Dr. Chris Rojek, emeritus professor of sociology and an authority on fame and public identity, has observed that “celebrity relationships are sustained as much through symbolic reinforcement as through private commitment. Visible tokens (rings, tattoos, coordinated appearances) function as public assurances.” In this case, the tattoo serves not merely as personal expression but as a visual narrative device in an already highly mediated relationship.
How the moment unfolded (casually but conspicuously) reflects the dynamics of contemporary celebrity coverage. Photographs were reportedly captured either by paparazzi stationed nearby or shared through controlled media access, a common practice in the British entertainment industry. Within hours, the images were republished by multiple outlets, accompanied by commentary on Price’s relationship history and ongoing legal and financial challenges, issues that have previously placed her under intense public scrutiny.
Despite recurring controversy throughout her career, Price remains a resilient media figure. Communications analyst Mark Borkowski has previously remarked in interviews that “Katie Price understands publicity better than most. Whether by design or instinct, she maintains a feedback loop with the press that keeps her culturally visible.” The poolside photographs appear to fit squarely within that established pattern of managed exposure and reactive media amplification.
Critically, there is no indication of misconduct, public disturbance or controversy tied directly to the poolside display itself. It was, by all verified accounts, a consensual and celebratory expression of affection between married adults. The wider attention it has generated speaks less to the act and more to the individuals involved; particularly Price’s enduring position within British popular culture.
For global audiences, the episode illustrates a broader truth about contemporary fame: private milestones often become public commodities. The marriage of Katie Price and Lee (and the symbolic tattoo that now marks it) has become another chapter in a life lived persistently under the camera’s gaze.
As celebrity culture continues to blur boundaries between intimacy and publicity, moments like this poolside embrace are no longer trivial snapshots. They are narrative events, reinforcing identity, commitment and brand continuity in equal measure.
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