A roundup of key developments across Nigeria on June 29, 2026

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Security Crisis Deepens as Gunmen Abduct Students in Borno

In a troubling escalation of violence in northeastern Nigeria, gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School in the town of Lassa, Borno State, on Monday morning and abducted students as they sat for their National Examinations Council exams. Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso confirmed that the attackers fired sporadically as they charged into the school around 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). A teacher was killed in the attack.

Authorities are still working to determine the exact number of students taken, as some remain unaccounted for. The military, police, and other agencies have launched search operations in nearby forests in an effort to rescue the abducted students, who are typically 16 and 17 years old. Borno State remains the epicenter of a 17-year Islamist insurgency waged by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), where criminal groups have also seized people for ransom.

Military Offensive Forces ISWAP Leaders, 76 Fighters to Surrender

In a significant counter-terrorism breakthrough, intensified military operations in Nigeria’s North-East have forced senior ISWAP leaders to surrender, with the military confirming that 76 terrorist fighters and members of their families laid down their arms within the past week.

The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, announced the development on Sunday, describing it as a major milestone in its sustained campaign against Boko Haram and ISWAP. According to the military, the surrenders followed sustained offensives supported by credible intelligence, which have continued to dismantle terrorist enclaves across the theatre. The surrendered insurgents have been moved to a secure location for profiling and debriefing.

State Police Reform Advances with Widespread Support

Momentum toward decentralizing Nigeria’s security architecture reached a critical milestone last week as Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, state governors, and the Labour Party collectively endorsed the Constitution Alteration Bill to establish state police. The bill, which passed the Senate on June 24, would transition Nigeria from a centralized system to a dual policing framework, with federal police retaining jurisdiction over national security matters while state police services would enforce state laws and manage local crime.

To become law, the bill must be ratified by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly before being transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. Governors and lawmakers across the federation have praised the swift action, citing the urgent need to address security challenges through localized law enforcement.

However, the African Democratic Congress and presidential candidate Peter Obi have raised concerns, warning that the reform could be vulnerable to political abuse if implemented without adequate safeguards. Obi has urged that implementation be suspended until after the 2027 general elections.

Economic Outlook: Inflation Projected to Ease to 15.8%

On the economic front, analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited have projected that Nigeria’s headline inflation rate will moderate to 15.8 per cent in June 2026, citing improving food supply conditions, relative stability in the foreign exchange market, and softer global crude oil prices. This follows a rise to 15.93 per cent year-on-year in May 2026 from 15.69 per cent in April, marking the third consecutive monthly increase.

Food inflation declined sharply to 16.96 per cent year-on-year in May 2026 from 24.55 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025, offering some relief to households. The moderation was attributed to slower price increases across major staples such as maize, onions, tomatoes, cassava products, and pepper.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has warned that despite improved macroeconomic outlook, economic gains have yet to translate into meaningful relief for many households, with 63 per cent of Nigerians living in poverty.

Evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa Underway

The Federal Government has commenced the final phase of its emergency evacuation of Nigerians stranded in South Africa, deploying an Air Peace aircraft to airlift 271 citizens back home ahead of the June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration vigilante groups. The flight departed Nigeria on Monday at 3:00 p.m. and is expected to arrive in South Africa at approximately 9:00 p.m. local time, with the return flight scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

Sports: Oluwafemiayo Named Commonwealth Games Captain

Team Nigeria has announced multiple Paralympic and world champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo as captain of the nation’s contingent to the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland (July 23 – August 2, 2026). Oluwafemiayo is a four-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist who set a world record of 152.5 kg at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships. The National Sports Commission described her as “one of Nigeria’s most decorated para athletes”.

Health: Cholera Outbreak Continues in Borno

A cholera outbreak that began in early May in Borno state has killed at least 74 people and infected more than 7,800, overwhelming health facilities in the region. Médecins Sans Frontières reported 7,850 suspected cases across 14 local government areas as of June 7, with infections rising sharply each day. The outbreak is straining an already fragile healthcare system in a region at the heart of a 17-year insurgency, mass displacement, and poor water and sanitation.