Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has explained the difficulty of securing Sambisa Forest, saying its vast size makes the military operation there far more complex than many people assume.

Musa said the forest should not be viewed as a small, easily contained area, stressing that its scale presents a major challenge to security forces operating against insurgents.

“Sambisa Forest is as big as Belgium as a country, so when people talk about these things, they make it look as if it is one small football field and we are refusing to do anything,” he said.

His remarks come amid continued military efforts to contain insurgent activity in parts of northeastern Nigeria, where Sambisa Forest has historically served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and other armed groups.

The forest has been the focus of several military operations over the years, with Nigerian forces carrying out ground and aerial operations against insurgents operating in the area.

Musa’s comments were aimed at putting the security challenge into perspective, arguing that the scale of the terrain makes the fight considerably more demanding than public discussions sometimes suggest.

The comparison with Belgium has circulated widely following his remarks, although estimates of the size of Sambisa Forest vary considerably depending on the boundaries and definition used. The comparison should therefore be understood as Musa’s description of the scale of the area rather than a settled geographical measurement.

The defence minister’s broader argument was that the complexity of the terrain and the continued presence of armed groups require sustained military efforts rather than an expectation of an immediate resolution.

Peter Onwubuasi Gregory Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, declared on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that he was prepared to risk his life to protect his votes in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the declaration during an “Obi Talks Nigeria” town hall meeting with voters in Port Harcourt, where he spoke about the need for Nigerians to defend their electoral choices and ensure that votes cast at polling units are counted.

He said neither he nor his supporters would allow intimidation to determine the outcome of the election.

According to reports of the meeting, Obi said he was ready to die while protecting his votes, stressing that the 2027 election would not be treated in the same manner as the 2023 poll.

“Nobody will intimidate us again,” Obi was quoted as saying.

He also warned those who might attempt to manipulate the election, saying Nigerians would resist efforts to undermine their votes.

The comments come as Obi begins his campaign under the NDC banner after emerging as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

His campaign was formally launched in August, with the former Anambra State governor presenting an economic message focused on transforming Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into one centred on production.

Obi’s political position has shifted considerably since the 2023 presidential election, when he contested under the Labour Party and finished third behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He later moved to the African Democratic Congress before joining the newly formed NDC, where Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is serving as his running mate for the 2027 contest. Reports in July said Obi and Kwankwaso had reached an understanding under which Obi would serve one term if elected.

At the Port Harcourt meeting, however, the focus was firmly on the electoral process and the determination of Obi and his supporters to ensure that their votes are protected.

The declaration adds a forceful note to the early campaign season, as political parties and candidates intensify efforts to mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Nigerian national Olumide Adebiyi Adediran, who has been wanted in the United States since 2002 over federal allegations involving bank fraud, identification document fraud and credit card fraud.

According to the FBI, Adediran allegedly entered a bank in Champaign, Illinois, in August 2001 and attempted to withdraw funds from a fraudulent cheque he had deposited.

The bureau also alleges that he used stolen information belonging to United States citizens to open bank and charge accounts.

Adediran was facing federal charges in the Central District of Illinois when he fled the jurisdiction towards the end of December 2001, shortly before his trial was due to begin.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for him on 2 January 2002 in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Urbana, after he was charged with violating the conditions of his release.

The case has remained unresolved for more than two decades, with Adediran still listed by the FBI as wanted for violation of conditions of release.

The FBI’s current wanted notice says the reward is worth up to $10,000 for information leading to both his arrest and conviction. The agency also says he has ties to South Florida.

Adediran, born on 11 October 1968, is listed as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds. The FBI describes him as having black hair and brown eyes.

The bureau’s wanted notice also lists numerous aliases allegedly used by Adediran, including Kevin Olumide Adediran, Kevin Deumiof Adediran, Eric O. Williams, Stephen Dediyi, Maxo Alexandre, Olumide Adkins, Ademola O. Adebiyi, Edward N. Anderson and James Gill.

The number of aliases and the length of time since his alleged flight have made the case a long-running fugitive investigation.

The FBI has urged anyone with information about Adediran’s whereabouts to contact a local FBI office or the nearest American embassy or consulate. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the bureau’s official tip system.

The allegations against Adediran relate to events in Illinois more than 20 years ago. The FBI’s listing does not state that he has been convicted of the alleged fraud offences, and he remains wanted in connection with the outstanding federal case.