The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that precision air strikes killed more than 15 terrorists in a newly identified enclave near Zuwa in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, the operation was executed on September 3, 2025, under Operation Hadin Kai, based on credible intelligence and surveillance.

Ejodame explained the mission targeted fighters and commanders responsible for recent attacks in the Bitta area. The air strikes “proved devastating, neutralising over 15 terrorists and demolishing key structures critical to their operations.”

He added that the successful precision mission underscores the NAF’s professionalism and its commitment to supporting ground forces in dismantling terrorist networks and restoring peace in the Northeast.

The Presidency has announced that non-oil sectors contributed ₦15.69 trillion, accounting for three out of every four naira collected by the government between January and August 2025, signaling a major shift away from oil dependence.

According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, total government revenue during the eight-month period amounted to ₦20.59 trillion—a 40.5% increase from the ₦14.6 trillion collected in the same period in 2024 .

The sharp rise in non-oil earnings reflects a combination of fiscal reforms, enhanced compliance, and digitised tax administration, including customs automation and broader enforcement measures .

Customs collections alone tallied ₦3.68 trillion in the first half of 2025, exceeding the target by ₦390 billion and accounting for 56% of the full-year goal .

This fiscal strength has translated into historic FAAC disbursements: for the first time, monthly allocations to states and local governments surpassed ₦2 trillion in July—funds critical for supporting food security, infrastructure, and social services .

Significantly, the Presidency also confirmed that the federal government has not borrowed from domestic banks in 2025, a notable departure from prior reliance on local borrowing .

While the gains are substantial, officials acknowledge that revenue still falls short of the government’s spending goals for education, health, and infrastructure, and urged continued efforts to bridge the gap .

President Bola Tinubu says the establishment of state police has become inevitable as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking at the presidential villa on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of prominent Katsina citizens led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu said his administration would adopt decentralised policing to strengthen security at the grassroots.

The president directed security agencies to review their operations in Katsina following renewed banditry in the state and announced the deployment of advanced military hardware, including drones and surveillance equipment.

“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” Tinubu said.

“I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones. I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity.”

Tinubu added that the federal government is considering upgrading the recently deployed forest guards in Katsina into a more structured force.

Buhari’s Legacy

The president also assured the delegation that his administration would preserve the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,” he said.

“We just have to continue praying that Almighty Allah should grant him Aljannah Firdausi and give the rest of us the ability to stand very strong and push Nigeria forward.”

Katsina’s Demands

Governor Radda thanked Tinubu for his continued support to the state, noting that Katsina needs more security interventions, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.

Former Governor Aminu Masari commended Tinubu for honouring Buhari with a “true state funeral,” while Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin Katsina, called for the upgrade of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and greater security focus on southern Katsina.

The move towards state policing follows earlier steps by the federal government. On February 15, 2024, a committee was inaugurated to explore its creation. Vice-President Kashim Shettima later confirmed that all 36 states had supported the initiative, though 20 were yet to submit reports.