Minister of Interior Tunji-Ojo has retracted his earlier statement, that a Chinese expatriate had a hand in the shooting of a Nigerian immigration officer at a Chinese firm in Niger State.

The minister in a statement signed by his spokesman, Alao Babatunde said further investigations revealed that the gunshot was not ordered by a Chinese national.

The statement read: “Following the report of the alleged shooting of an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Niger State, further investigations have revealed that the officer was hit by a stray bullet that was neither shot on the order of the Chinese company nor its employee.

“A full-fledged investigation has been launched into the shooting of the personnel in collaboration with other security agencies. This is to unravel the detailed circumstances surrounding the shooting while giving assurance that anyone found culpable will be brought to book.

“The Minister reaffirms his strong commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and professional integrity of all law enforcement officers. He emphasises the government’s ongoing support for law-abiding businesses in Nigeria and reiterates the Ministry of Interior’s dedication to fostering strong partnerships with foreign nationals, aiming to build sustainable collaboration for social economic development.”

The minister had earlier been reported to have at a stakeholders sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the Nigeria Visa policy 2025, declared that the Nigerian government will take up the matter of the shooting as a diplomatic issue.

He said the development alone is an attack on Nigeria. “It will never happen. It will never be tolerated.”

Earlier the China Chamber of General in Nigeria in a statement signed by its Director General Dr. Cui Guangzhen had described the statement credited to the minister as utterly false and not a reflection of what happened

The Defence Headquarters has announced the successful dismantling of 16 illegal refinery sites in the Niger Delta as part of ongoing counter-oil theft and security operations across the country.

Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed on Friday that troops also deactivated 29 crude oil cooking ovens, 31 dug-out pits, and 21 storage tanks while arresting 11 suspected crude oil thieves and saboteurs. The operations prevented the siphoning of crude oil worth over ₦536.7 million and led to the confiscation of 48 smuggling boats. Additionally, security forces recovered 392,174 litres of stolen crude oil, 138,757 litres of illegally refined diesel (AGO), 830 litres of petrol (PMS), and 375 litres of kerosene (DPK). Other seized items included pumping machines, drilling equipment, motorcycles, tricycles, mobile phones, and vehicles.

Beyond the fight against oil theft, troops conducted multiple operations targeting terrorist groups, bandits, and other criminal elements. These efforts led to the neutralization of several terrorists, the arrest of gunrunners, oil theft collaborators, and violent extremists, as well as the recovery of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, RPG tubes, pump-action guns, and explosives.

In Anambra and Imo States, troops arrested three suspected terrorists and rescued four kidnapped victims. In Delta and Rivers States, six criminals—including a suspected kidnapping kingpin—were detained. Operations in Borno and Yobe States resulted in the arrest of key insurgents, including senior ISWAP fighter Abdullahi Ali. Dozens of ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists surrendered due to intensified military pressure.

Troops repelled terrorist attacks, destroyed improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and neutralized threats in multiple states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi. Security forces also targeted criminal hideouts in Plateau, Kaduna, and Kogi, leading to the arrest of extremists and the recovery of weapons, ammunition, and stolen vehicles.

Maj. Gen. Kangye reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging citizens to report suspicious activities. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to protect Nigerians in line with our Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for Internal Security Operations,” he stated.

Women from the oil-rich Ilaje region of Ondo State have called on President Bola Tinubu to end what they describe as longstanding marginalization and neglect of their community despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s oil wealth.

Under the umbrella of the Niger Delta Network for Ondo Indigenous Women, the group expressed deep frustration over the lack of development projects in their region compared to other Niger Delta communities. In a statement signed by their President, Chief (Mrs.) Otunba Funmileyi Omogbemi, and Secretary, Adetoke Owoyemi, the women decried the “grave injustices” faced by Ilaje residents.

“While other Niger Delta regions have enjoyed continuous developmental and empowerment projects, Ilaje-Ese Odo has remained at the tail end of these initiatives. This has hindered socio-economic progress while we battle environmental degradation head-on,” the statement read.

The group also accused the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), led by Dr. Dennis Otuaro, of excluding Ilaje communities from key engagements and benefits. They claimed that despite Ilaje’s crude oil production of approximately 60,000 barrels per day and an estimated 4 billion barrels in reserves, the region has received little to no attention in terms of resource allocation and economic development.

“Despite the programme’s stakeholders’ engagement across the region, Dr. Otuaro has refused to visit our oil-rich local government area, denying us the opportunity to interface with him and address our concerns. This is a clear indication of the marginalization we face,” they stated.

The group recalled that Ilaje youths were disarmed under an amnesty agreement in 2017 but have since been sidelined while their counterparts in other regions continue to receive benefits. They warned that the growing frustration among the youth could lead to heightened agitation if urgent action is not taken.

The women urged President Tinubu to:

• Ensure that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is administered fairly.

• Implement a transparent and equitable distribution of benefits across all Niger Delta regions.

• Hold Dr. Otuaro accountable for the perceived exclusion of Ilaje communities.

• End administrative favoritism and unfair allocation of resources.

“The level of marginalization faced by Ondo State in the Niger Delta region is unbearable. Our agitations grow by the day, and we want change!” the statement warned.

They called for swift intervention from the presidency, demanding a clear response on steps to address their concerns. “A timely intervention is crucial,” they concluded.