General News
Boko Haram Pays Recruits N500, 000
Boko Haram recruits members, not just from Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, it also gets recruits from Niger Republic who it pays N500, 000.
However, their pay is raised should their bombs kill more people in Nigeria, the BBC has said.
The teens, when they are enlisted, are given Tramol [an opiate drug], marijuana and alcohol.
They break into houses for cash; sometimes beat people for money, and steal their animals for food. They gather again for their opium and drinks.
Though the recruits, barely in their teens, do not like the sect and its activities, they said they took to violence as being students they have no jobs and are poor.
The BBC documentary on Boko Haram, entitled ‘Niger hit by Nigeria’s Boko Haram fallout’ yesterday focused on young boys of a Niger Republic border town with Nigeria, Diffa.
In their hangout, the gang explained their association with the sect. “They have paid 500,000 Nigerian naira ($3,085, £1,835) to those of us who followed them over there.
The rest of us, here, we give them information. When they come, we inform them about what’s going on, what the security forces are up to. If they tell you to set off a bomb and it succeeds, if it kills a lot of people, they will pay you a lot of money,”one of the young men said.
Five members of this gang in Diffa, near the border, have joined the group; two have since been killed on operations, he said.
But the ideals for which Boko Haram is fighting – the imposition of strict Sharia, an Islamist caliphate and the banning of Western education – hold no interest for the gang, the report continued.
One of the gang members said, “Boko Haram Islamist militants from Nigeria regularly come across the border, looking for recruits. We can’t contact them, they come to us.”
The documentary showed about a dozen gang members in a tiny, dark room, built with local mud-bricks in the town, with a couple of home made stools and weights for them to exercise just outside the door.
Already, Nigeria’s neighbouring countries – Niger, Cameroon and Chad – are fearful that the group’s insurgency may spill over to their borders.
The Diffa government believes that the emergency rule in place in north-eastern states of Nigeria has not changed anything over the last year.
“It has radicalised Boko Haram more than anything else and generated other gangs and groups of bandits,” one official said.
Asked if they agree with Boko Haram’s reason for fighting, the gang answered in unison: “No. We only do it for the money.”
The boys who do not share the Boko Haram ideology of opposing anything western, were reportedly in skinny jeans, bright coloured T-shirts and shiny chains – like those seen around the necks of American rappers on music videos.
“Their attitude and brand new clothes make them stand out when they walk down the dusty streets of Diffa. The fashion style is clearly inspired by Western consumerism rather than Islamist militancy,” the report said.
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The gang members agreed to talk to us on the condition that we would not reveal their identity.
“We break into houses for cash; sometimes we beat people for money, we steal their animals so we can eat and then we gather up and take Tramol [an opiate drug], smoke ganja [marijuana] and drink alcohol,” one said.
“We have no jobs; some of us are still at high school but we need money. Violence has become a form of work for us.”
The young gang members also showed BBC a stash of machetes, knives, knuckle-dusters and traditional axes. They also claimed to have firearms and grenades but refused to show them.
Boko Haram has also been attacking the Niger region, an official told the BBC, adding that several attacks allegedly planned by the sect on the country’s territory have been foiled over the last months; and dozens of men suspected to have links to the group have been arrested.
Niger’s customs and national guards patrol along the porous border every day but the report said the Nigerian soldiers are yet to join the joint border patrols with their counterparts from Niger. The trading post of Krikri is seeing many Nigerians arrive seeking safety adding that some have relatives on the other side of the border.
“We know that Boko Haram members come across the border, but we are watching them closely,” Diffa government representative Inoussa Saouna, says.
“Just last December, we arrested two dozens of men – we believe they were planning to kidnap the regional governor, the military zone commander and myself.”
Military police, customs officers, as well as national guards conduct daily patrols along the porous border to mitigate the threat, BBC said.
“On paper, the border is supposed to be secured by joint patrols with soldiers from both countries. However, they have yet to start.
“Niger’s security forces are receiving training, logistics and intelligence support from both the US and France. Most of the border between Niger and Nigeria is naturally drawn by the Komadougou Yobe River.
Niger has a growing refugee crisis but without camps, which the authorities are reluctant to allow, fearing they could become new targets, or worse, recruitment centres for Boko Haram.
Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.
The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.
Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has renewed its commitment to deepening financial inclusion across the country. At the CeBIH Annual Conference 2025, themed “Reimagining Financial Inclusion through Cultural Shifts in Consumer Credit,” PalmPay’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, urged industry players to deepen financial inclusion by embracing community-aligned solutions and customer-centric innovations that can better serve Nigeria’s underserved and unbanked populations.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Social Inclusion, A Veritable Tool for Financial Inclusion,” Chika Nwosu joined other industry leaders to share insights on strengthening participation among women, rural dwellers, low-income earners, and other financially excluded groups.
Chika Nwosu highlighted PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive finance through its 500,000-strong agent network, which enables seamless cash-in/cash-out services for unbanked users across Nigeria. He also emphasised the importance of PalmPay’s USSD platform, 861#, which allows users with basic phones or limited internet access to perform essential financial transactions.
“Financial inclusion goes beyond access; it must be equitable and tailored to real-life needs,” Chika Nwosu said. He shared how PalmPay leverages behavioural insights to design impactful services, including affordable health insurance, reliable bill payments, merchant solutions, and automated savings features that support financial discipline among users.
The session further examined the role of grassroots agents and community touchpoints in driving last-mile adoption. Chika Nwosu noted that PalmPay’s widespread community presence continues to build trust and encourage excluded populations to embrace digital financial tools.
The session was moderated by Ronke Kuye of the CeBIH Advisory Council and featured representatives from E-Doc Online, SmartCash Payment Service Bank, SANEF, and EFINA.
PalmPay reaffirmed its commitment to driving accessible, secure, and inclusive financial services for all Nigerians. PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
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