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EFCC PRESS STATEMENT
Why EFCC Froze Osun State's Government Account
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is compelled to publicly address issues pertaining to its preventive moves in freezing the bank account of the Osun State government, without prejudice to the imminent governorship election in the state.
The Commission has been busy investigating the Osun state government since March, 2026, regarding alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC account to the tune of N11, 000,000, 000(Eleven Billion Naira only). To this end, some officials of the state government, especially the Accountant General of the State, have had interview sessions with investigators of the EFCC.
These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026. The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved.
The EFCC’s preventive mandate is a public-inclined framework of safeguarding public funds, assets and resources. The Commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged. While the Commission is fully aware of the impending governorship election in Osun State, it has a responsibility to act in defence of the sanctity of the funds of the state. It will be uncharitable for the Commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions.
It is equally needful to state that the Commission is keeping watch over the finances of other states like Osun State. Many of these states are on the investigative radar of the Commission to ensure accountability and probity. The Commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians. The Osun State government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted.
The public is enjoined to ignore false narratives and deliberate demonization of the works of the EFCC. The interests of all Nigerians are greater and will always be protected by the Commission.
OPERATION HADIN KAI TROOPS CRUSH ISWAP INFILTRATION ATTEMPT IN CROSS KAUWA, INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES…Preliminary Forensic Findings Point to Foreign Facilitators Behind Failed Attack
Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray. The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North East Theatre.
The failed attack occurred at about 2220 hours (10:20 p.m.) on 11 July 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops' location. Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses. The attempted looting further lends credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports of the execution of some affected members by the group.
The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials. Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded prior to the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai'ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators. They include a Palestinian Arab identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP's overall trainer; a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established. The presence and active involvement of these foreign nationals further reinforces intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages.
Following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists' losses. During the operation, troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62 mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat enablers. Initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery revealed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their neutralised fighters during their withdrawal. This has since been corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds during the engagement. Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care. Both personnel remain in stable condition.
The failed infiltration attempt represents yet another significant operational setback for ISWAP and caps a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North East Theatre. The outcome underscores the increasing difficulty the terrorists face in executing coordinated attacks against highly alert and combat-ready troops, while further degrading their combat capability, morale and freedom of action. Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in sustaining offensive operations, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are fully restored across the North East.
MOHAMMED GONI
Captain
Acting Military Information Officer
Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI
MAIDUGURI
12 July, 2026
Pastor Adeboye said the rescue of Orire Students and Teachers would be dramatic and it was, actually. Just like it was in the beginning when Seyi Makinde was announcing his Presidential Ambition and kidnapping was taking place, he was also playing politics in far away Bauchi when the victims were being rescued.
DRAMATIC
Tonight, our nation has reason to give thanks.
The children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State have been rescued by our security forces, alive and unharmed. No ransom was paid. No concession was made.
I salute every officer and operative whose courage, discipline, and professionalism made this possible.
To those who seek to spread fear through terror, know that the Nigerian state will pursue you relentlessly. We will protect our people, defend our communities, and never relent until peace and security prevail across our country.
BOLA AHMED TINUBU
President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
HOW THEY RESCUED THE KIDNAPPED CHILDREN OF ORIRE LG OYO STATE.
Joint Security Operation Secures Unconditional Release of Abducted Children from Ansaru Terrorists in Oyo National Forest,Ibadan, Oyo State | 10 July 2026
In a decisive demonstration of inter agency coordination and operational resolve, Nigerian security forces at about 6pm local time have secured the unconditional release of children and their teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State. The intelligence led Search and Rescue operation, which concluded on 9 July 2026, followed a direct presidential mandate and was executed by a Defence Headquarters directed Joint Inter Agency Task Force that included the Army,Navy and Airforce as well as support elements from the NPF, DSS, NIA, DIA and NSCDC.
The successful outcome followed the abduction of the children in Oyo State on 15 May 2026. Acting on the President’s explicit directive to secure their safe return, the Chief of Defence Staff, in close consultation with the Service Chiefs and heads of other security agencies, immediately constituted a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF). The Task Force comprised elite elements of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, the 2 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army, and a specialised tactical unit mobilised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Overall coordination was entrusted to the General Officer Commanding 2 Division.
Upon assembly, the force executed a meticulously planned, multi sectoral advance deep into the Oyo National Forest, the terrorists’ principal sanctuary. Troops led by their respective Commanders deployed simultaneously from several axes and progressively advanced within a 3 weeks period constricting the terrorists’ room for manoeuvre and compelling them to withdraw into a confined enclave. This ground manoeuvre was significantly enabled by persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) support from ONSA assets and close air support provided by the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Police Force.
The integrated application of these capabilities permitted the precise identification of critical terrorist infrastructure. Precision engagements and ground actions resulted in the destruction of communication nodes and logistics caches while ensuring that the Children and their teachers were not harmed.
The subsequent seizure of all key landmarks within the operational area placed the terrorists under severe and sustained pressure, degrading both their command and control architecture and their capacity to sustain operations.
Concurrently, security agencies conducted targeted operations against the terrorists’ support network. Key associates, informants and enablers in communities adjoining the forest were apprehended, while family members of Ansaru operatives residing in various parts of the country were also detained. These measures precipitated a cascade of defections, with the majority of the terrorists abandoning their leader and the enclave.
The cumulative effect of unrelenting military pressure, the systematic dismantling of their logistical and communication infrastructure, and the collapse of internal cohesion ultimately compelled the Ansaru group to release the abducted children and teachers without precondition.
The children in the process of being handed over to the Oyo state government to be reunited with their families following comprehensive medical assessments and initial psychosocial support. Senior military sources described the operation as a textbook example of intelligence driven joint action, noting that the seamless integration of kinetic and non kinetic effects proved decisive in breaking the terrorists’ will while ensuring that the Children remained unarmed.