Author: kayode amuda

Niger State’s Police Commissioner Audu Garba Bosso has announced a significant restructuring of the state’s security apparatus, disbanding three controversial squads Tiger Base, Lion Squad, and Scorpion and replacing them with a newly formed unit called the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

According to the Commissioner, the new unit has been established to tackle serious crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent threats, with its operations driven by intelligence gathering and swift response capabilities.

Officers selected for the VCRU were said to have undergone specialized training with a strong emphasis on human rights and professional conduct, setting it apart at least in principle from its predecessors.

To further strengthen accountability, a civilian oversight board comprising lawyers, community leaders, and journalists has been put in place to monitor the unit’s activities.

The VCRU has also already recorded an early win, having reportedly helped foil a kidnapping attempt shortly after its establishment.

Public reaction to the development has been mixed.

While some Nigerians, particularly on social media, have welcomed the reform as a step in the right direction, others remain skeptical, questioning whether the change amounts to anything more than a rebranding exercise.

Critics have raised concerns about whether the same officers from the disbanded squads have simply been reassigned to the new unit, and have called for investigations into alleged abuses committed under the previous formations before the restructuring can be considered a genuine reform.

On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Nigerian naira showed a mixed performance against the US dollar, with rates differing between the official and parallel (black) markets, as market participants kept a close eye on dollar availability and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) activity.

In the official market, the naira was exchanging at roughly ₦1,375.62 to the dollar at the NFEM window, buoyed by a better supply of dollars and healthier trading volumes.

Trading activity at the official window saw a notable spike, with single-day FX turnover reaching approximately $1.89 billion a sign of greater market liquidity and stronger involvement from banks and investors.

Experts noted this helped ease some of the pressure on the naira in recent days.

On the street market side, a dollar was going for between ₦1,395 and ₦1,405, varying by location and deal size.

BDC operators across Lagos and Abuja were buying dollars at around ₦1,385–₦1,395 and selling at roughly ₦1,400–₦1,405.

Notably, the gap between official and black-market rates has narrowed to between ₦20 and ₦30, a marked improvement from the wider spreads recorded earlier in 2026.

Analysts credited the naira’s relative calm to consistent CBN interventions, growing foreign reserves recently standing at about $48.48 billion and improved confidence among investors.

That said, currency traders pointed out that ongoing demand from importers, travelers, and businesses still puts upward pressure on black-market rates, despite the reforms being carried out in Nigeria’s FX sector.

As Nigerian Muslims gear up for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations a festive period marked by the ritual slaughter of animals the prices of rams, food items, and other essential goods have shot up sharply across the country.

A market survey conducted in Kaduna State revealed that while rams, goats, and chickens were available in fairly good supply, their prices had climbed well beyond what many buyers anticipated.

Costs vary based on the size of the animal, with rams in markets like the Central Market going for anywhere between ₦300,000 and ₦1 million.

Even chickens, which some Muslims turn to as a more affordable alternative to rams, have not been spared from the price surge.

A three-month-old chicken now costs between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000, and a bag of rice had risen to ₦80,000 as of Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Traders offered several reasons for the spike. Alhaji Bulama, a senior figure in the Rams Sellers Association, pointed to a shortage of animals caused largely by insecurity, which has driven many rural families who traditionally rear livestock out of their homes and away from farming and animal husbandry.

He also cited the soaring cost of animal feed as a contributing factor.

Fellow trader Mallam Musa Adamu added that high transportation costs have further driven up prices, explaining that because locals in many northern communities can no longer safely rear animals, traders are forced to source them from distant locations, with haulage costs passed on to buyers.

Despite the high prices, some buyers remain undeterred. One consumer, Dr. Musa, said he had been planning ahead and was committed to purchasing a ram regardless of the cost.

He however urged fellow Muslims to spend within their means, cautioning against borrowing money to fund celebrations and reminding them that Eid comes every year, offering another opportunity for those who cannot afford it this time around.