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Twitter Suspends B/Haram Account as Followers Hit 4,000 in Hours

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Twitter has suspended an account purportedly set up by Boko Haram, the Nigerian terrorist group causing havoc in the country’s north, which it had used to post pictures of child soldiers in training.

Telegraph, UK based newspaper reported that some of the children look as young as ten years old

The account, @Alurwa_Alwuthqa, was set up on January 18 as part of what is believed to be a bid to mimic the successful PR and recruitment campaigns of groups like al-Shabaab in Somalia and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Within days, it had gained 4,000 followers and on January 25, announced in Arabic the capture of Monguno, a strategic town close to Maiduguri, the state capital of Borno province and Boko Haram’s birthplace.

Pictures have also been posted on the account to suggest Boko Haram, which means “Western Education is Sinful”, was actively training child soldiers, a tactic borrowed from conflicts in other parts of Africa.

They showed children as young as ten dressed in dark robes, training in military formation and holding AK-47 assault rifles.

“Photo of Cubs nation,” the caption reads. “Generation of conquest and victory, God willing.”

The profile also posted a link to a video interview with Abu Mus’ab Al barnawi, who is said to be the group’s spokesman, in which he discussed the capture of Baga, the village where an estimated 2,000 civilians were killed.

A second video showed an interview with a group of Boko Haram fighters, explaining their motivation.

There has been intense speculation online about whether the account was genuine, since others set up previously have proved to be fake. However, the suspension of the account by Twitter boosted claims that it was.

The US State Department also lent credibility to the claims by tweeting a photo of the purported child soldiers, writing: “Amid its massacres of innocents, Boko Haram running training camps for child soldiers.”

The videos posted to the account, if genuine, reflect a growing sophistication in Boko Haram’s publicity machine, which previously was limited to disseminating shaky clips showing the group’s leader Abubakabar Shekau flanked by arms-laden pick-up trucks and ranting in rudimentary Arabic.

Across the continent, al-Shabaab in Somalia has some prolific tweeters in its ranks, with several British-born jihadis thoughts to be among them, and live-tweeted the attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall before its account was shut down by Twitter.

Isil already has proved similarly fluent in social media, posting videos, pictures and messages on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr, using hashtags to tap into popular searches. Social media monitors suggest that its PR campaign is gaining results, with hundreds of thousands of online accounts discussing the group.

In response, the head of GCHQ has accused social media websites of helping terror groups and called for closer ties with intelligence agencies.

Ryan Cummings, chief Africa analyst for Red 24, a crisis management firm, said the Twitter account appeared to be just one outlet in a “media network” launched by Boko Haram in mid-January through trusted jihadi channels also used by Isil.

He said the interviews reflected a desire to dispel the notion that Boko Haram was killing indiscriminately, and emphasised the group’s Islamic credentials.

“It does seem very legitimate and until it was shut down, offered some very interesting insights into the operations and methodology of the organisation,” he said.

“The fact that there was no mention of Abubakabar Shekau, for example, suggests a new degree of factionalism, and the strengthening of links with groups like Isil which is something he never supported.”

 


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NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

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Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has denied reports that the federal government has introduced a new tax on vehicles.

NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

The clarification follows the circulation of a viral message online claiming that all vehicle owners would be required to start paying a new tax from July 1, 2026.

In a statement released on Sunday, the NRS said the information in the message is false and did not come from the agency or any official government institution.Nigeria Travel Guides

According to Dare Adekanmbi, spokesperson for the NRS, the viral message was designed to mislead the public. He explained that it was made to look genuine by using official government logos and formatting.

The message reportedly instructed owners of private, commercial, and corporate vehicles to pay an unspecified fee either online or through approved banks and agencies. It also included a website that was wrongly presented as an official government platform.

Adekanmbi stressed that the website mentioned is not connected to the government and warned Nigerians not to make any payments based on such information.

He said the NRS has not introduced any new vehicle tax and that any official policy or tax change would be properly announced through verified government channels.

The agency urged citizens to ignore the fake message and avoid falling victim to possible fraud. It also advised Nigerians to always confirm such information through trusted and official sources before taking any action.

The NRS further encouraged the public to follow its official communication platforms to stay informed about genuine tax policies, updates, and government directives.

 


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NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

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National Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed that piracy remains a major threat to the nation’s creative economy, vowing to intensify its nationwide crackdown on illicit networks to protect intellectual property.

NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

Pic credit…soundcloud.com

Dr. John Asein, director-general of the NCC, disclosed this in a statement to mark the 2026 World Book and Copyright Day.

The commission noted that piracy remains a major threat, undermining legitimate enterprise and eroding the economic value of creative works.

Asein lamented that inadequate distribution systems and limited access to books also constrain the growth of readership.

He described the event as an important occasion, which showcased the enduring value of books as foundations of knowledge, instruments of cultural preservation, and drivers of national development.

He described the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Read Books, Respect Copyright,’ as a call on Nigerians to embrace reading as a lifelong habit, while recognising that respect for copyright is essential to sustaining creativity and rewarding authors.

The commission noted that Nigeria’s book industry has evolved significantly, from the post-independence emergence of indigenous publishing to today’s digitally driven ecosystem.

“Nigerian authors continue to gain global recognition, while publishers are expanding capacity. However, challenges persist,” he said.

The commission commended the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, describing it as a bold step toward repositioning intellectual property as a driver of economic transformation.

The policy, according to him, provides a roadmap for revamping the book sector for the benefit of authors and publishers, and is accessible at ippolicy.ng.

The NCC also reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive access through the Marrakesh Treaty, as reflected in the Copyright Act, 2022, enabling accessible formats such as Braille and audio texts.

It urged Nigerians to respect copyright and purchase books only from authorised sources.


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Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

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Fusewall Holdings, founded by Azeez Amida, has announced the acquisition of a 100 percent equity stake in Coloplus Worldwide Service Limited, in a move aimed at strengthening its position in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure space.

Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

Fusewall Holdings

The deal marks a significant milestone in Fusewall’s broader strategy to build an integrated and future-ready platform across key sectors, particularly within the country’s fast-evolving digital economy.

The transaction was led by Amida, whose role in structuring and executing the deal was described as pivotal. According to the company, his leadership helped align stakeholders and navigate complex negotiations to ensure a successful close while positioning the business for long-term growth.

A spokesperson for Fusewall Holdings said the acquisition represents “a deliberate step forward” in the company’s expansion strategy, noting that the focus remains on building platforms that combine operational efficiency, resilience, and scale.

Coloplus brings a substantial operational footprint to the deal, including access to about 900 partner locations and roughly 20 owned sites. This combination of reach and infrastructure control is expected to give Fusewall a strategic advantage as it scales operations nationwide.

Fusewall said it plans to deploy capital, strengthen governance structures, and enhance operational execution as part of the integration process. The move is expected to improve service delivery, boost infrastructure reliability, and support expansion into underserved and high-demand areas.

The acquisition also aligns with the company’s broader ambition to help bridge Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure gap by expanding connectivity, improving network resilience, and advancing digital inclusion.

Fusewall Holdings said the deal reflects its commitment to disciplined execution and long-term value creation as it continues to grow its footprint in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.


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