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Interpol arrests 11 leaders of terrorist groups in Nigeria

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The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has arrested 11 suspected “high-level members of several terrorist groups” in Nigeria.

The suspected insurgents were among the 83 persons arrested in six African countries by the international police and AFRIPOL in an operation codenamed ‘Operation Catalyst’.

The six African countries are Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

In a statement, Interpol said the two-month operation targeted “terrorism financing and the illegal activity supporting it”, adding that over 15,000 persons of interest and entities were combed.

The Interpol said the operation uncovered $260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies “potentially linked to terrorism-related activities” adding that over $600,000 has been seized.

“Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 were for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 were linked to cyber-enabled scams and a further 18 were related to the illicit use of virtual assets,” the statement reads.

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“In one significant case from Angola, 25 individuals of multiple nationalities were detained following investigations into informal value transfer systems that were identified as connected to potential terrorist financing and money laundering.

“The operation included the inspection of 30 commercial establishments, where police seized approximately USD 588,000, 100 mobile phones and 40 computers. Sixty bank accounts were also frozen.

“In Kenya, a suspected money laundering operation using a virtual asset service provider was identified as having potential links to terrorism financing.

“The scheme, worth approximately USD 430,000, involved 12 people, two of whom have so far been arrested. In a separate case in Kenya, two individuals were arrested for the online recruitment of young people from East and North Africa into terrorist groups.

“The funds used for the recruitment and radicalization were traced through a cryptocurrency trading platform, back to individuals in Tanzania.

“In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-level members of several terrorist groups.

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“One notable transnational case involved a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme, which claimed to be a legitimate online trading platform, affected at least 17 countries around the world, including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria.

“The scheme accumulated more than 100,000 victims around the world, with an estimated loss to victims of USD 562 million.

“The investigations related to Operation Catalyst found that several large-valued wallets were potentially linked to terrorism financing activities. The case is still ongoing, with investigations currently in progress.”

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First Lady Oluremi Tinubu addresses religious leaders at Lambeth Palace

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The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday addressed a gathering at Lambeth Palace in central London.

Lambeth Palace is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Mrs. Tinubu interacted with religious leaders.

She also met representatives of the Church of England, including Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, and Bishop Emma Ineson, acting Bishop of London.

The First Lady and President Tinubu met King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Wednesday, as part of activities lined up for the President’s two-day state visit.

They were received by the heir to the throne, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, who travelled with them to Windsor on the same day.

King Charles also hosted a state banquet at Windsor in the evening in honour of the President and his wife.

Tinubu has visited Britain several times in his tenure, and the two countries remain major partners in trade, aid, and defense. London is also home to a massive Nigerian diaspora.

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Tinubu meets UK PM Keir Starmer

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President Bola Tinubu has met Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of his two-day state visit to the United Kingdom.

The two leaders met on the steps of 10 Downing Street in central London on Thursday.

The president’s historic state visit to the UK is the first state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years (since the last one before the return to democracy in 1999).

Tinubu arrived in the UK on Tuesday, where he was received by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.

The visit included royal engagements, a state banquet, and discussions on various bilateral issues. It involved closed-door bilateral talks.

The president is expected to sign a £746 million financing deal related to port infrastructure, along with other agreements/MoUs on trade, defence, and culture.

Today also marks the final day of the visit, after a farewell from the royal family.

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EFCC hands over N3.93bn recovered from ‘certain individuals’ in oil firm to NNPC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over a total sum of N3.93 billion to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

In a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s head, media & publicity on Wednesday, the anti-graft agency said the presentation was made on behalf of Ola Olukoyede, executive chairman of the commission, by Mohammed Hammajoda, secretary to the commission, in a ceremony at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC, on Thursday, March 18, 2026 handed over a total sum of N3,936,145, 822 ( Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six Million, One Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Naira) to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd,” the statement reads.

In his remarks at the event, Hammajoda reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to combating economic and financial crimes.

He emphasised that the funds were recovered through thorough investigations and the professional exposure of fraudulent activities involving certain individuals within the NNPC.

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“On behalf of the Executive Chairman, we will continue to put ourselves on the line to serve over 220 million Nigerians,” Hammajoda said.

“Along the line, many of our colleagues have paid the price and others will still pay the price as we continue to do our work with courage and integrity.

“We will serve and continue to serve this country.  So, on behalf of the EFCC, I present the sum of Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six million, One Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Naira to you.”

Receiving the funds on behalf of NNPC, Mumuni Dagazau, executive vice-president, downstream,  thanked the commission for its support in the recovery “which goes to show the core unity that exists in our system”.

“NNPC over the years has had its struggles and challenges and one thing we have always tried to do is correct the system. When the opportunity came for this recovery from your people that handled this,  it was something I was really proud of,” Dagazau said.

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“I was also happy that we brought it to EFCC to help and support us.”

The executive vice-president expressed enthusiasm, noting that it was a significant day for all, and affirmed that the NNPC would continue to depend on the EFCC for support, emphasising that this represents a genuine commitment going forward.

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