Like the storyline goes in the popular British historical TV series, Merlin (which explores the life and rule of Britain agelong monarch, King Arthur and his servant/wizard, Merlin), the reappearance of the dreaded vigilante group, Bakassi Boys, maybe the much-needed salvation the people of the South East have been calling out for.
Before the latest developments, the southeastern region of Nigeria has tried to have an effective security apparatus – something that mirrors the Western Nigeria Security Network popularly known as Operation Amotekun.
This has led to the creation of regional security outfits such as the Eastern Security Network (ESN) created by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Ebubeage security outfit championed by the South Eastern governors.
However, the impact of both organizations has not been felt and some could argue that the effort has been counterproductive – to say the least.
This may have led to the reappearance of the disbanded matchet-wielding security group – the Bakassi Boys – whose modus operandi is jungle justice. The latter fact is the reason their return may not go down well with a lot of people as it is a touch-and-go kind of situation.
They have been seen in vans on the streets of Awka, Anambra State, chanting war songs and no one can tell why they have suddenly reappeared or who is behind them at this time.
The police seem to be powerless at the moment, however, although he denied knowledge of the fact, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, has said the command is willing to partner with other stakeholders in combating crimes in the state as the spate of insecurity continue to rise unabated.
It would be recalled that the reign of the group in Nigeria started in 1998 as the crime rate in the commercial city of Aba, Abia state reached astronomical heights. With the blessings of the then governor, Ori Uzor Kalu, they achieved success in terms of crime reduction in the city.
They would further gain national popularity when they moved to Anambra State at the behest of the then governor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, and saw to the capture and killing of the popular occultic prophet, Eddy Nawgu.
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has denounced efforts made by some private individuals and stakeholders to turn over the management of the Eastern security outfit, Ebubeagu, to them.
In a statement released by the secretary-general of the apex-Igbo organization, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said it would be illegal to so as the constitution does not require that they carry out such responsibility. The statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Thursday, June 17, 2021, read:
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has rejected the calls from well-meaning Igbos to take over Ebubeagu Southeast Security Outfit, saying that there were no consultative meetings and people’s approval or authorization for the outfit before its formation.
“Southeast governors should be encouraged to sufficiently provide necessary logistics and reinstate the chairman of southeast Governors Security Committee who resigned based on logistics deficiencies in operation.
“Unlike the Amotekun, where the southwest Governors provided adequate facilities and logistics, Ebubeagu was built on emotional ground and sentiments.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo are not saddled with the Constitutional rights of protection of lives and properties in the Southeast, and we are independently funded through communal support of Ndigbo without any governments consent, it will be horrible to compound the responsibility of Ebubeagu on us, Southeast Governors are capable of providing logistics and we are in full support of them.”
Asake Drops fourth studio album M$NEY, featuring DJ Snake, Tiakola Amongst Others
Four albums in, two Grammy nominations to his name, the most entries on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, and the most-streamed artist on Spotify Nigeria, Asake drops M$NEY, his fourth studio album released on the 1st of May via GIRAN REPUBLIC and EMPIRE.
The 13-track project is Asake’s most sonically varied to date. It opens with a live choral performance (an unusual choice that immediately signals this is not going to be a straightforward Afrobeats record) and moves through orchestral arrangements, jazz-tinged strings, dance production, and amapiano before it is done.
Speaking on the album, Asake said: “M$NEY is a reflection of my spiritual and creative journey. Everything flows from a place of gratitude to God, and every moment that’s shaped me. I stay true to myself but also weave in new creative expressions from my life experiences and personal evolution.”
Fans got their first taste of the project as far back as February 2025 with ‘Why Love’, followed by ‘Badman Gangsta’ featuring French artist Tiakola, a track built around a reimagined sample of Amerie’s ‘1 Thing’ that turned out to be one of the more interesting sonic swings of his singles run.
Then came ‘Worship’ with DJ Snake, which pushed the project into full cross-continental territory.
The full album expands on all of that. Outside the previously released singles, the album includes ‘Gratitude’, ‘Forgiveness’, and ‘Asambe’, a collaboration with South African amapiano producer Kabza De Small. It’s a pairing that will likely draw attention, given both artists’ standing in their respective markets.
The album artwork was created by Iraqi-Dutch artist Arthar Jabar.
Tinubu Names Bianca Ojukwu New Foreign Affairs Minister
In a major reform of his administration’s foreign policy team, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the official Minister of Foreign Affairs. The appointment, announced on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, follows the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
Tuggar stepped down to pursue the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections. As part of this move, the President also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending confirmation by the Senate.
Yusuf Tuggar’s departure marks the first high-profile exit following the presidency’s March 31 deadline for political appointees with 2027 ambitions. Tuggar, who had led the ministry since August 2023, is shifting his focus to the Bauchi State Government House. His resignation paved the way for a reshuffle that moves Ojukwu from her previous role as minister of state to the head of Nigeria’s foreign policy system.
While many recognise her as a former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) and the widow of the late Biafran leader and statesman Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu. She served as Nigeria’s Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs and held key postings as the country’s Ambassador to Ghana and the Kingdom of Spain. A trained lawyer with a degree from the University of Nigeria (UNN), she also holds a Master’s degree from Spain, specialising in international relations.
Alarm Bells As Attorney General asks court to deregister ADC, 4 other political parties
Nigeria’s Attorney General has filed a court case seeking the deregistration of five political parties, including ADC and others, over alleged failure to meet constitutional electoral requirements, sparking concerns about electoral fairness and political freedom. Concerns about Nigeria’s electoral system are growing after the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to order the deregistration of five political parties, a move that critics say could reshape the country’s political landscape ahead of future elections.
The parties listed in the suit include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party, and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). In court documents, Fagbemi argued that the continued existence of these parties violates constitutional provisions, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is failing in its duty by keeping them on the register.
According to the filing, INEC would “continue to act in breach of its constitutional duty” if the court does not step in.
The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was brought by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. Both INEC and the Attorney General are listed as defendants.
The move is already stirring political controversy. Opposition figures have accused the administration of Bola Tinubu of trying to weaken alternative voices in the system.
Some parties allege a broader strategy to shrink the political space, including claims of interference in internal party affairs, though the government has not officially responded to those accusations in this case.
Nigeria currently operates a multi-party system, with over a dozen registered political parties. Analysts say enforcing deregistration rules could streamline the ballot and reduce voter confusion, but it could also limit political diversity if applied selectively.
The Supreme Court had previously ruled in 2020 that INEC has the constitutional authority to deregister parties that fail to meet requirements, leading to the removal of several parties at the time. However, legal debates continue over how strictly those provisions should be enforced.
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