IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in a sustained crackdown against crude oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region. The operation was conducted between March 24 and 30, 2025, in collaboration with sister security agencies, according to the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.

In a statement, Danjuma said security forces also confiscated over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and dismantled illegal refining infrastructure. He said that in Rivers State, troops intercepted an inbuilt fabricated twin tank containing 18,000 litres of stolen crude along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area. Additionally, a MAN Diesel container truck with registration number LXA 44 XA was seized while attempting to smuggle stolen petroleum products concealed in bags of sawdust. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting security forces.

According to him, further anti-oil theft operations along the Imo River led to the dismantling of several illegal refining sites, with over 15,000 litres of stolen products recovered. The crackdown extended to Rumuekpe Forest in Ahoada East LGA, where two refining sites were destroyed, and 2,800 litres of stolen crude oil were confiscated. Similar operations were carried out in Ebocha, Omoku (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA), and Jelikri Creek in the Degema Local Government Area, where illegal refining sites, drum ovens, hoses, and metal pipes were destroyed.

The Army statement also highlighted significant breakthroughs in Bayelsa State, particularly in Yenagoa LGA, where two illegal refining sites containing over 8,000 litres of stolen crude in drums and sacks were dismantled. In Southern Ijaw LGA, troops uncovered another illegal operation, recovering 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). 

As Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts across the world to celebrate this year’s Eid-El-Fitr, some state governors, in their Eid messages, urged them to pray for peace in the country.

Eid-El-Fitr, meaning the festival of breaking the fast marks the end of Ramdan, and is a time of gratitude, charity and communal harmony. In his Eid message, Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, urged citizens to continue living in peace and love while praying for the state and nation.

“Our government is committed to promoting peaceful coexistence. I urge Muslims to sustain these values after Ramadan to build a prosperous and peaceful Adamawa State,” Fintiri said. Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State urged Muslim Ummah to intensify efforts in consistent prayer for prevailing peace across Nigeria.

The governor described prayer as a sure path to securing the entire nation from its current security challenges. Extending warm greetings and heartfelt felicitations to the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of Eid-El-Fitr, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, said the prayers are powerful instrument for change.

“Our collective prayers are powerful instruments for positive change. Let us continue to pray for divine intervention in overcoming the challenges facing our dear state and country at large,” Governor Radda urged. 

The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar on Sunday asked Nigerians to continue to pray and support leaders at all levels of government to be able to bring about the needed growth and development of the country.

Speaking in his Sallah message shortly after the prayers to mark this year’s Eid-El-Fitr celebration, the Sultan urged Nigerians to pray for peace and against the rising insecurity in the country. He expressed concern over the security challenges in parts of the country while commending the security forces for their efforts.

He urged citizens to engage in constructive criticism rather than engaging in frivolous attacks on leaders who are working towards finding solutions to the challenges facing the country. The Sultan commended the efforts of the Sokoto State Government for embarking on many transformative projects in the state, saying citizens need to support the government to do more. Abubakar said the contract between citizens and leaders is a continuous one and urged the government to continue the good work they have started so as to take the state to a greater height. He was particularly grateful to the government and other wealthy individuals in the state who supported residents to observe the Ramadan fast with ease through support of all kinds.

He praised the state governor, Ahmad Aliyu, for assisting the orphans and widows by making special provisions for them during Ramadan and even providing for them to celebrate the Sallah. Sultan Abubakar appreciated the clerics and Ulamas for conducting themselves well during the different Tafsir (sermon) during Ramadan. 

The Court of Appeal in Enugu has affirmed the ruling of the Enugu State High Court, declaring the arrest and detention of Stephen Egwuatu by the State Security Services (SSS) as unlawful. Presided over by Justice Abdul-Azeez Waziri, the court upheld the N5 million fine imposed on the SSS for violating Egwuatu’s fundamental rights.

Egwuatu, now 16, was arrested at age 12 on November 8, 2021, and released three days later. The High Court had ruled in July 2023 that his detention was illegal, prompting the SSS to appeal. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal as lacking merit and reaffirmed the penalty. 

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reduced its immigration backlog, improving visa processing efficiency. As of March 2025, the backlog has dropped to 821,200, a 7.95% decline from January’s 892,100, marking three consecutive months below one million.

IRCC processed 1,208,200 of the 2,029,400 total applications within standard timelines. However, delays persist, with Express Entry backlogs at 25%, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) at 36%, and visitor visa delays exceeding IRCC’s 50% target.

To address delays, IRCC has adopted automation, AI-driven analytics, and study permit caps. The Immigration Levels Plan 2025–27 maintains targets at 485,000 new residents in 2025 and 500,000 annually in 2026 and 2027. While processing improvements continue, early application remains crucial. 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony Elumelu, to its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, convened by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. His appointment was disclosed in a statement on Friday.

The Advisory Council of the IMF comprises global business leaders, policymakers, and academics, dedicated to identifying and addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. Its mandate is to recommend policies that enhance resource allocation, stimulate innovation, and catalyse sustainable private sector-led economic growth.

“Elumelu, Africa’s leading advocate of entrepreneurship and whose Foundation has funded, mentored and trained over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, champions entrepreneurship as the engine for the economic transformation of Africa. “A self-made entrepreneur, Elumelu’s embracing of entrepreneurship is fundamental to his concept of Africapitalism, his belief that Africa’s private sector can and must play a leading role in the continent’s development, making long-term investments, that deliver social and economic value.

“Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policymaking. 

Other members of the Council include: Harberger Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, Professor Ufuk Akcigit; Saudi Ambassador to the United States, HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud; Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Salesforce, Mr. Marc Benioff; Executive Chair, Banco Santander, Ms. Ana Botín; Chairman, Tata Group, Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran; Chief Executive, Vodafone Group, Ms. Margherita Della Valle; Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners, Mr. Robert Smith and Argentine Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Mr. Federico Sturzenegger.