By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The House of Representatives has taken decisive action to secure the swift release of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft and its crew, currently detained in Burkina Faso.

On Tuesday, the House adopted an urgent motion sponsored by Hon. Ojuawo Rufus Adeniyi, mandating its relevant committees to engage security and foreign affairs authorities to resolve the matter.

Background of the Incident

According to Hon. Adeniyi, the aircraft was on an authorized ferry flight to Portugal for scheduled depot maintenance when it executed a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, on December 8, 2025. He emphasized that the landing was conducted solely on safety grounds and in full compliance with international aviation protocols.

However, the Burkina Faso government claimed it trespasses their airspace, citing threat to their sovereignty as a nation.

Clarification and Rebuttal of Misinformation

The lawmaker provided critical clarifications to counter circulating misinformation:

Hon. Adeniyi reiterated that the aircraft was not on an operational mission and was not involved in intelligence gathering, espionage, or surveillance.

He stressed that the flight was properly documented and did not violate Burkina Faso’s airspace, nor was it intercepted.

The landing was a routine safety procedure consistent with global aviation standards.

The lawmaker warned that the proliferation of false narratives risks damaging Nigeria’s diplomatic relations, eroding public trust in national institutions, and creating unnecessary regional tension.

Resolution Made By The House

In response, the House has directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Air Force, National Security, and Intelligence to interface jointly with the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, and relevant intelligence agencies. Their mandate is to ensure the prompt resolution of all issues pertaining to the aircraft and its crew, facilitating their immediate return.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The United States has imposed new travel restrictions on Nigeria and a host of other nations, citing national security concerns and deficiencies in immigration vetting. President Donald Trump formalized the policy in a proclamation signed Tuesday, marking a significant expansion of his administration’s controversial travel ban.

In an official statement, the White House justified the move as necessary to “protect America’s national security and public safety,” targeting countries with what it described as “persistent and severe deficiencies” in passenger screening and information-sharing protocols.

Nigeria features prominently in the rationale. U.S. authorities pointed to the operational presence of groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates in parts of the country, asserting that these security challenges “create substantial screening and vetting difficulties.” Beyond security, the administration highlighted compliance issues, noting a 5.56% overstay rate for Nigerian business and tourism visas and an 11.90% rate for student and exchange visitor visas.

This latest action revives and expands a hardline immigration policy emblematic of Trump’s presidency, which has previously faced widespread international condemnation and legal battles.

The updated restrictions now apply to fifteen countries, including Angola, Tanzania, Sudan, and several other African nations.

The immediate impact will be felt by Nigerian families, students, and business travelers seeking entry to the U.S. As of Wednesday morning, the Nigerian government had not issued an official reaction to the announcement, which is poised to further strain diplomatic relations and disrupt cross-border exchange.

Kano State Government says it has renewed its commitment to a citizen-led security approach as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen community policing and improve public safety across the state.

Mrs Maimuna Sherif, Special Adviser on Community Policing to Gov. Abba Yusuf, stated this at the stakeholders meeting on improving police community relations organised by the Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI) on Friday in Kano.

Sherif said the administration was deepening its engagement with community structures to boost intelligence gathering and enhance collaboration between residents and security agencies.

She said Kano’s large population and social diversity require a policing model that empowers citizens as active partners in the state’s security architecture.

“Our communities know the environment, they know the people, and their support provides critical information that helps security agencies identify criminal hideouts,” Sherif said.

The special adviser also disclosed that the government was finalising arrangements to establish a Security Trust Fund to mobilise resources from the public and private sectors to support security operations.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of VAI, Mr Musa Aboki, said the Police Reform Project builds on earlier phases implemented in Bauchi and Zamfara, with similar interventions underway in two South-East states.

Aboki explained that Phase III features community scorecard assessments, intra-dialogue sessions and follow-up engagements aimed at addressing gaps in trust between the police and the public.

He said previous assessments revealed concerns such as bribery, slow police response, confidentiality issues, traffic indiscipline among some officers and reluctance by residents to volunteer intelligence.

According to him, many of the challenges undermining community policing are shared responsibilities between citizens and the police.

He added that gaps in early warning and early response systems remained key concerns, stressing the need for timely reporting of threats of violence or criminal activity.

Speaking also, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Kano State Police Command, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said that the Police would partner with the Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI) to strengthen police-community relations and promote mutual accountability across the state.

He said the collaboration was part of the Police Reform Initiative Project aimed at enhancing trust and cooperation between security agencies and the public.

Represented by ASP , Muhammad Jawad, explained that the initiative involved a series of meetings and engagements with communities in Rano and Gwale Local Government Areas, focusing on improving understanding and collaboration between the police and residents.

The Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Dorayi Babba community of Gwale Local Government Area, Alhaji Auwal Garba, stated that fewer than 500,000 police officers were responsible for securing more than 220 million Nigerians.

He said the disparity highlighted the importance of community involvement in maintaining law and order.

“Community policing enables citizens to participate in the security structure. Through vigilantes and early reporting of suspicious activities, the community becomes a partner in sustaining peace,” he said.

Garba reaffirmed commitment of the PCRC to work with the government, security agencies and civil society groups to strengthen community policing initiatives across the state