Vice President Kashim Shettima has affirmed Nigeria’s unwavering stance against nuclear weapons testing.

He made this known during a meeting at the Presidential Villa with a delegation from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation, CTBTO, led by its executive secretary, Dr Robert Floyd.

According to Shettima, Nigeria, like many other African nations, is grappling with numerous socio-economic challenges, including widespread poverty and the adverse impacts of climate change.

He stressed that Africa’s immediate priority is to confront these existential threats, not to engage in the pursuit of nuclear weapons capability.

“The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always the opposite. We are fighting poverty; we are fighting a war against the relationship between the economy and ecology in sub-Saharan Africa. We have no business dabbling in anything that has to do with nuclear weapons,” he said.

The Vice President also commended CTBTO for its broader civilian contributions, such as detecting tsunamis and seismic volcanic activity, and for supporting global ecological stability.

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, have apprehended two suspected cattle thieves during a routine patrol in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, as part of ongoing efforts to combat criminal activity and enhance security across the region.

The arrest, which took place on Saturday, July 6, followed a reinforcement mission in support of the Nigeria Police, who had earlier encountered armed herders near Udei Village.

While on patrol, the troops intercepted two men, Raymond Abina, 32, and Sunday Faga, 21, both from Ukohol Village, riding a motorcycle and carrying a sack of freshly butchered cow meat.

Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed to have purchased the meat from a Fulani herder in the forest.

However, preliminary investigations traced the meat to a stolen cow reported missing from Tse Pokiau Village near Daudu.

Commander of OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspects would be handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.

General Gara condemned the rising incidence of cattle rustling and jungle justice, describing both as serious threats to the peace and security of the state.

He urged residents to shun unlawful acts and instead collaborate with security agencies by reporting any suspicious activity.

The Ika Community Development Association Worldwide, ICDA, in collaboration with other civil society organisations, has raised the alarm over what it described as irregular and illegal coal mining activities in the Ika community of Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

According to the Secretary General of the association, Abuh Shehu, certain individuals and corporate interests are exerting undue pressure on the community to sign a fraudulent Community Development Agreement, CDA.

Speaking with journalists on Monday in Abuja, Shehu stated that the agreement in question was neither transparently negotiated nor representative of the interests of the Ika people.

He, however, warned the community against entering into any form of agreement with a Chinese national, Ms Julie Zhuo, and her company, Afrasia Mineral Limited.

The community leader condemned the move as a breach of ministerial directives and an attempt to erode the rights of the host community.

Shehu noted that the Minister of Solid Minerals had previously directed that all negotiations and engagements concerning CDA be conducted solely between the community and Orbit Exploration and Natural Products Limited, the rightful holder of the original mining title.

He accused Afrasia Mineral Limited of advancing its interests through illegal channels, in clear violation of due process.

While reiterating the community’s readiness to engage constructively with Orbit Exploration on legal and transparent terms, ICDA reaffirmed that Ika remains a peaceful and law-abiding community.

Nonetheless, it vowed to resist any attempt to impose illegality on its people, warning that such actions would be met with firm rejection and, if necessary, legal action.

ICDA and its civil society organisation partners have called on relevant government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Solid Minerals, to intervene and ensure that justice is upheld.

They further appealed to both national and international stakeholders to pay attention to the plight of the Ika community in its ongoing struggle against illegal mining and exploitation.