The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a large consignment of weapons and ammunition allegedly being smuggled from Niger Republic to armed bandits in north-west Nigeria.

What was seized

According to security sources quoted in reports on Thursday, 12 November 2026, the interception took place on Tuesday, 10 November, at Dawakawa in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Operatives reportedly recovered 21 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and 825 magazines. The suspected smugglers were said to have been using camels to move the weapons along remote routes to avoid detection.

Why it matters

Security analysts described the seizure as a significant blow to an alleged cross-border arms supply network that is suspected of arming bandit groups in the North-West. The use of camels shows how criminal networks are using unconventional methods to move weapons across the long, porous border with Niger. Some reports described the operation as foiling a major terror plot.

Arrests

It is not clear whether any suspects were arrested.

Households in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states are paying much more for cooking gas after a sharp rise in prices over the past month.

The new prices

According to reports on Thursday, 12 November 2026, retail prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at several outlets rose from around ₦1,200 to ₦1,800 per kilogramme. In parts of Ogun State, including Magboro, Mowe and Ibafo, some residents said they were paying as much as ₦1,900 per kg. In Oyo State, prices reportedly range from about ₦1,450 per kg at direct outlets to between ₦1,500 and ₦1,650 at neighbourhood retailers.

Why prices rose

The increase follows a reported 31.8 per cent rise in depot prices, from ₦1,100 to ₦1,450 per kg, which has pushed up costs along the supply chain.

Impact on households

Some households say they are considering returning to charcoal because they can no longer afford gas.

Background

The latest increase comes even as petrol prices have eased slightly, with Dangote Refinery reportedly cutting its petrol price this week.

A court in Abuja has ordered that investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu be held in prison pending a hearing on his bail application.

The charges

Ojukwu, who works for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, was arraigned on a 12-count charge of allegedly breaching Nigeria's Cybercrimes Act, and the court ordered his remand on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The charges relate to reports he published about Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was senior special assistant on the Sustainable Development Goals under former President Muhammadu Buhari and now holds the same role under President Bola Tinubu. The charges have not been tested at trial.

Press freedom concerns

The decision drew widespread criticism from media freedom advocates, who have long argued that the cybercrimes law is used to silence journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 29 journalists have been prosecuted under the law since it was enacted in 2015. Nigeria is ranked 112th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

Background

Ojukwu was previously detained by police for several days in 2024 over a report on the same official, a case that also drew national and international criticism.

The federal government has reopened its programme offering free registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to small business owners.

The programme

The scheme, run through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), targets 250,000 nano, micro and small enterprises across the country, according to reports on Thursday, 12 November 2026. It covers the cost of business name registration, which is one of the barriers that keeps many small businesses informal.

Who can apply

The programme is aimed at owners of small businesses not yet registered with the CAC, including traders, artisans, retailers and service providers. Business owners already registered with SMEDAN but not with the CAC may also qualify, subject to the agency's requirements.

Why it reopened

The portal was reopened after applicants earlier reported difficulties accessing it, which disrupted the application process.

Background

The reopening comes as the government also rolls out a ₦50,000 cash grant to vulnerable households.