Armed attacks intensify as Tinubu okays U.S.-Nigeria security plan

• Bandits abduct 31 in Niger, Bwari; one feared dead in attack on Ngige’s convoy

• Ezekwesili flags defence corruption behind rising insecurity

• ‘Washington pledges intelligence, equipment support for operations’

ABDUCTIONS and armed attacks intensified across several states yesterday as President Bola Tinubu approved the Nigerian contingent for the new U.S.–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a move aimed at boosting security cooperation even as concerns persist over corruption, underfunding and failures weakening frontline operations.

The establishment of the Working Group followed a recent high-level engagement in Washington, D.C., led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The Nigerian team comprises senior officials drawn from key security, intelligence, and diplomatic institutions. Members include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard M. Doro; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

President Tinubu urged the delegation to work closely with their US counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of all agreed areas of cooperation.

The Nigerian delegation held strategic discussions with officials of the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of Defence.

During the engagements, the Nigerian side dismissed allegations of genocide, maintaining that violent attacks affect citizens across religious and ethnic lines. It warned that mischaracterising the crisis as targeting a particular group distorts reality, fuels division, and feeds extremist propaganda.

U.S.