EVENTS
US moves soldiers to remote island amid fears of foreign military
An increase in Russian military planes and vessels near American territory has pressured the US to relocate 130 soldiers along with mobile rocket launchers to a desolate island in Alaska.
Eight Russian military planes and four navy vessels – including two submarines – have come close to the ‘last frontier’ in the past week as Russia and China have conducted joint military drills, beginning on September 10.
A Pentagon spokesperson said there was no cause for alarm as the aircrafts have yet to breach U.S. airspace.
‘It’s not the first time that we’ve seen the Russians and the Chinese flying in the vicinity and that’s something that we obviously closely monitor,’ Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a news conference.
‘It’s also something that we’re prepared to respond to,’ he added.
Russia and China began the military exercises in the Pacific and Arctic oceans on September 10.
As part of a ‘force projection operation,’ the U.S. Army sent soldiers to Shemya Island – some 1,200 miles southwest of the Alaskan capitol – on September 12.
The soldiers brought two HIMARS to the derelict island and the U.S. military deployed a guided missile destroyer and a Coast Guard vessel.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command tracked and detected Russian military planes operating off Alaska over a four-day span with two planes each day beginning on September 11.
The planes operated in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone – a zone beyond U.S. sovereign airspace – but within which the U.S. expects aircraft to identify themselves.
The Russian Embassy in the U.S. did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The number of such invasions have fluctuated yearly, NORAD reports. The average was six to seven interceptions a year though last year, 26 Russian planes came into the Alaska zone and so far this year there have been 25.
In such encounters it is common for the U.S. military to provide photos of the Russian warplanes being escorted by either U.S. or Canadian planes.
However none were released in the past week and a NORAD spokeswoman, Canadian Maj. Jennie Derenzis, declined to say whether jets were scrambled to intercept the Russian planes.
The U.S. Coast Guard said Sunday its homeland security vessel – the 418-foot Stratton – was on routine patrol in the Chukchi Sea when it tracked four Russian Federation Navy vessels about 60 miles northwest of Point Hope, Alaska.
The Russian vessels, which included two submarines, a frigate and a tugboat, had crossed the maritime boundary into U.S. waters to avoid sea ice, which is permitted under international rules and customs.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan called for a larger military presence in the Aleutians while advocating for the U.S. to respond with strength to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
‘In the past two years, we´ve seen joint Russian-Chinese air and naval exercises off our shores and a Chinese spy balloon floating over our communities,’ Sullivan said in a statement.
‘These escalating incidents demonstrate the critical role the Arctic plays in great power competition between the U.S., Russia, and China.’
Sullivan said the U.S. Navy should reopen its shuttered base at Adak, located in the Aleutians. Naval Air Facility Adak was closed in 1997.
EVENTS
Wike at 58: “You’re a Shinning Star in my Cabinet, Tinubu hails Wike.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13.
President Tinubu celebrates with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage.
The President describes Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results.
President Tinubu acknowledges the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road.
The President commends Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments.
President Tinubu thanks the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
December 13, 2025
EVENTS
Lady cries out after her brother was knocked down by keke on his way to early morning test at UniAbuja, faces possible leg amputation
A visibly distressed lady has cried out over a tragic accident involving her younger brother, a student of the University of Abuja.
According to her account, the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when students were struggling to get to school for a test allegedly scheduled around 5 a.m.
She explained that while her brother and a coursemate were trying to cross the road in front of the University of Abuja, a commercial tricycle (keke), reportedly driving against traffic, knocked them down.
As of the time she shared the video, her brother was said to be unconscious and already being prepared for surgery. Doctors, she stated, described his condition as critical, adding that there was a possibility his leg might have to be amputated.
The lady further claimed that although the tricycle rider was arrested, there were moves to release him, and that the school authorities had not reached out or offered any form of support since the incident.
She also revealed that the hospital initially rejected her brother due to the seriousness of his condition before eventually admitting him, while medical bills continued to pile up beyond what she could afford.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSLsOa4DNRv/?igsh=MWI5cjlsNnV0cW1hbA==
📹: TT/Teemhar1234
EVENTS
DSS Officers Seek VIP Escort Roles Amid Police Withdrawal, Stir Debate Over Security Reforms in Nigeria
In the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police officers from providing personal security and escort duties for very important persons across Nigeria, some officers of the Department of State Services are reportedly lobbying influential Nigerians for redeployment as personal security details.
The move comes after the Nigeria Police Force pulled back thousands of officers from VIP protection duties to strengthen frontline policing and respond to escalating insecurity across the country. The withdrawal, championed by the presidency as part of broader security reforms, aims to free up police manpower for community protection and crime prevention.
According to multiple reports, some DSS operatives have approached high-profile individuals, offering their services as security escorts in the emerging vacuum created by the police exit. These approaches have raised eyebrows among security analysts and VIPs alike, as the DSS traditionally focuses on intelligence and national security rather than routine personal protection.
A handful of elite Nigerians told journalists that officers had visited their offices to request intervention with state directors for deployment as personal protectors, describing the assignments as desirable postings.
While the statutory mandate of the DSS does include the protection of certain national assets and persons, any deployment of officers for individual VIP security is subject to established operational protocols, sources stressed.
The shift has also triggered a surge in demand for private security services nationwide. Security companies report that requests for travel escorts and protective details have spiked since the police withdrawal, with many VIPs and travelers seeking alternative arrangements.
Lawmakers and public figures have weighed in on the reforms. Some members of the House of Representatives argue that Nigerian citizens should not be denied access to extra security if they desire it, suggesting a broader debate over security privileges and equity.
President Tinubu has defended the policy, reiterating that the withdrawal of police from VIP protection is intended to reallocate scarce resources toward combating kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism. He has insisted there will be no reversal of the order, urging full compliance by security agencies.
As the debate continues, experts say the success of the reform will depend on how effectively security gaps are filled, whether by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, private security firms, or other authorized entities, and how well public safety is balanced with the security needs of public figures.
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