Compilations of 10 key latest happenings that you need to know this Friday, November 21st, 2025
Boko Haram Ambushes Civilian Joint Task Force In Borno, Kills Eight, Seizes Weapons
Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday launched a deadly ambush on members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the Warabe community, Gwoza Local Government Area, killing eight and leaving three others missing in Borno State.
The attack occurred around 10:00 a.m. on November 20, when the CJTF volunteers, who double as the village’s only active line of defence, went out to collect firewood.
Human Angle reports that a CJTF member from Warabe confirmed the death toll, saying the victims were caught off guard by the insurgents.
“All the members killed are part of the CJTF, except for one,” said a resident.
Warabe, a rural settlement tucked between Pulka and Gwoza town, has no permanent military deployment.
For years, the CJTF and local hunters have been the community’s shield as the Boko Haram conflict drags into its second decade.
Fire guts shops in three-storey building in Anambra
An early morning fire on Thursday destroyed several shops in a three-storey commercial building at Nodu Market, behind Juhel Pharmaceutical Company, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The blaze, which reportedly caused damage worth several million naira, was brought under control by the Anambra State Fire Service.
Fortunately, no casualties were recorded.
The cause of the fire remains unconfirmed, but preliminary reports suggest it may have started after an occupant fell asleep while cooking.
Eyewitnesses said the fire raged for several minutes before firefighters arrived and prevented it from spreading to nearby structures.
MSF strengthens diphtheria intervention amid surge in suspected cases
The Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said it has been scaling up its diphtheria emergency response in collaboration with several state Ministries of Health since August, due to a growing increase in diphtheria cases in Borno, Kano, and Bauchi.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by MSF on Friday and made available to our correspondent.
It stated that hundreds of suspected cases identified and reported by Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DNSOs) over the last three months have strained health facilities, exposing critical gaps in treatment capacity and vaccine coverage.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin of an individual.
It is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium species, mainly by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae and rarely by toxin-producing strains of C. ulcerans and C. pseudo tuberculosis.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, November 21, 2025
The naira traded around ₦1,450 to the US dollar in Nigeria’s official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) on Friday, November 21, 2025, while the Lagos parallel (black) market quoted the dollar between about ₦1,460 (buy) and ₦1,474 (sell).
Official NFEM (volume-weighted) rate — About ₦1,450 per $1 (November 21, 2025).Parallel market — Dealers buying at ~₦1,460 and selling up to ~₦1,474.
The official NFEM rate — the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) daily volume-weighted price derived from transactions in the formal market — remained near the mid-₦1,400s on Friday, according to market trackers.
Traders in Lagos’ parallel market continued to offer dollars at modestly higher levels, reflecting ongoing demand pressure from retail FX needs, importers and remittance flows outside the formal system.
Politics not for rascals, Jonathan insists
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday warned that Nigeria’s democracy was being ‘suffocated’ by reckless political behaviour, cautioning that politics should never be reduced to a playground for unruly conduct.
This came as President Bola Tinubu said that democracy was standing in Nigeria because of the likes of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Jonathan also said no government can succeed without the cooperation of its people, and no people can advance without a government that listens and leads with clarity.
He argued that leadership must be anchored on responsibility, nation-building and restraint.
He said that sustaining democratic stability requires civility and a genuine sense of accountability from all political actors.
Jonathan spoke at the 10th anniversary dinner of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, in Abuja, an event that also doubled as a celebration of his 68th birthday.
IPOB questions legal basis of ruling on Nnamdi Kanu, seeks clarity from Federal High Court
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to clarify the legal provisions underpinning his recent ruling involving the group’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Ian a statement signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB said it intends to analyse and publicly highlight what it views as constitutional concerns arising from the judgment.
According to IPOB, no weapons or attack materials were presented in court in connection with Mr. Kanu, and the group maintains that there was no witness testimony alleging any offence under Nigerian or international law.
IPOB emphasized that its position is based on its understanding of court proceedings and legal representations.
The organisation reiterated its long-held stance that calls for self-determination fall under internationally recognised rights, including provisions in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Insecurity: Senate vows to restore normalcy in S-East
The Senate Adhoc Committee on South-East/North East of the Senate National Security Summit 2025 has assured the people of the South East of its resolve to restore normalcy and adequate security in the southeast zone.
Senator Austin Akobundu, Chairman of the committee, gave the assurance during the security summit in Enugu, yesterday.
The summit is with the theme: “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Security Architecture: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience in a Changing World
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the zonal hearing stakeholders were drawn from the traditional and religious institutions, President-Generals of communities, Security agencies, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, civil society, political office holders, among others.
He said that the National Assembly would continue to play its role in ensuring that inter-agency collaboration among the security agencies was sustained.
“Why Nnamdi Kanu escaped death penalty” – Justice Omotosho speaks out, says ‘mercy’ guided him
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has revealed why he sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday, November 20, 2025, after Kanu was found guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges.
During the proceedings, the prosecution team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adegboyega Awomolo pushed for the death penalty, insisting it was the appropriate punishment for the offences Kanu was convicted of.
But Justice Omotosho said he chose mercy over execution, explaining that many nations are gradually phasing out capital punishment.
He also referenced teachings from the Holy Book, noting that compassion and mercy are strongly encouraged.
Quoting the book of Matthew, the judge stated that Jesus Christ taught His followers to show mercy,” adding that this guided him in rejecting the prosecution’s request for capital punishment.
“The death penalty is gradually being abolished in many countries, and religious doctrines advocate compassion,” he stated.
He also stressed that although the law permits the death sentence, he opted for a less severe punishment.
Bandits reportedly attack Catholic secondary school in Niger, abducts students
Emerging reports have revealed that the Papiri community in Niger State has been thrown into fear after armed militants raided a Catholic secondary school in the early hours of Friday, November 21, abducting several students in another disturbing attack on educational institutions in northern Nigeria.
The incident reportedly took place between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., when gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri and abducted an unspecified number of students.
Mohammed Inuwa, senior legislative aide to Rt. Hon.Jafar Muhammad Ali (Shattiman Borgu), the lawmaker representing Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency and Chair of the House Committee on Muslim Pilgrims Affairs, confirmed the attack to Legit.ng.
While speaking to Legit, Iniuwa was reported to have said …“Yeah, it happened around 3 to 4 am. And the number of students abducted is not yet confirmed.
The police command of the local government is informed.”
Efforts to obtain further information from security agencies have so far been unsuccessful.
Christian Prosecution: “Tinubu’s government is sitting back, not doing enough” – US Congressman Bill Huizenga
A tense moment unfolded in Washington as U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga gets teary while criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a lack of decisive action.
Lawmakers were deeply divided, with some describing the situation as a “Christian genocide,” while others warned that such framing dangerously oversimplifies the country’s multifaceted security crisis.
Renewed controversy over Nigeria’s reinstatement on the U.S. list of worst religious-freedom violators ignited intense disagreements in Congress on Thursday.
President Donald Trump recently restored Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) status and even threatened military intervention over allegations of Christian persecution.
The congressional dispute unfolded shortly after U.S. Congressman Riley Moore—one of the most vocal advocates of the genocide label—held a meeting in Washington with Nigeria’s delegation led by national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Moore later described their talks as a “frank, honest, and productive discussion” focused on alleged Christian persecution and ongoing terrorist threats.
