THE FRAME

INTRODUCTION  The recent confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran has once again demonstrated the strategic importance of the Middle East to global politics, energy security, and international commerce. While many observers predicted that Iran would quickly succumb to military and economic pressure, events have shown that the country possesses significant resilience, strategic depth, and regional influence. At the center of Iran's leverage lies one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, serving as the primary gateway for energy exports from the Gulf region. Approximately 20 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait daily, accounting for roughly 20% of global petroleum consumption and about one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade. WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS  The Strait of Hormuz is bordered b...

In the realm of public discourse, facts are expected to prevail over conjecture, evidence over speculation, and truth over sensationalism. It is therefore both regrettable and necessary to respond to the publication circulated by WikkiTimes questioning the academic credentials of Dr. Yakubu Adamu, the All Progressives Movement (APM) Governorship Candidate for the 2027 Bauchi State gubernatorial election. The publication alleges that Dr. Yakubu Adamu does not possess a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, that his claim of obtaining the degree from the International University Bamenda (IUB), Republic of Cameroon, is fraudulent, and that the institution itself lacks the authority or academic capacity to award doctoral degrees. These assertions are entirely devoid of factual foundation, unsupported by credible evidence, and have now been conclusively disproved by the official records of the awarding institution. In a formal letter of confirmation dated 16 June 2026, the Internat...

A few days ago, I received an email from a man who introduced himself as Dr. Masafumi Kuroishi, claiming to be the CEO of a Japanese pharmaceutical company interested in purchasing kaolin from Nigeria. As someone involved in mineral resources marketing, the proposal immediately caught my attention. According to the email, the company needed a reliable Nigerian contact to facilitate discussions with a mining company that had been recommended to them. They provided details of the mining company, including an address in Potiskum, Yobe State, and the phone number of a contact person. At first glance, everything appeared legitimate. The names, addresses, and business proposal were carefully presented to create an impression of authenticity. However, experience has taught me that when it comes to business opportunities, especially those initiated through unsolicited emails, caution is essential. From the very first message, I noticed several red flags. The language used was unusu...

The rise of global terrorism in the twenty-first century has generated intense debates about religion, extremism, and security. Unfortunately, one of the most persistent misconceptions emerging from these discussions is the tendency to associate terrorism exclusively or predominantly with Islam. While some terrorist organizations claim to act in the name of Islam, a careful examination of history, religious teachings, and contemporary realities reveals that terrorism is not a product of Islam and cannot be attributed to any single religion. Islam is a religion of peace, justice, mercy, and respect for human life. The word "Islam" itself is derived from the Arabic root "Salam," which means peace. The Holy Qur'an repeatedly emphasizes the sanctity of human life and the importance of justice. In Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:32), Allah states that whoever kills an innocent person, it is as though he has killed all of humanity, and whoever saves a life, it is ...

For more than a decade, Nigeria has been trapped in a vicious cycle of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and violent criminality. From the deadly campaigns of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East, to the ruthless bandit networks terrorising the North-West, to separatist violence and criminal gangs operating in other parts of the federation, the country has become a battlefield where innocent citizens pay the ultimate price. The bitter truth is that Nigeria is at war. This is not a conventional war fought with tanks across international borders. It is an asymmetric war against terrorists, kidnappers, insurgents, and criminal syndicates who have relentlessly challenged the authority of the Nigerian state for years. Yet, despite the magnitude of the threat, the national response often appears fragmented, reactive, and insufficient. The statistics are frightening. According to security reports, Nigeria recorded approximately 12,954 deaths from violent incidents in ...

INTRODUCTION  Few government policies in Nigeria have generated as much controversy as the rehabilitation and reintegration programme for repentant Boko Haram fighters, popularly known as Operation Safe Corridor (OSC). Since its establishment in 2015/2016, the programme has sought to deradicalize, rehabilitate and reintegrate former insurgents who voluntarily surrendered to Nigerian authorities. While supporters describe it as a pragmatic strategy to weaken insurgency and encourage defections, critics argue that it rewards violence and may be encouraging future armed groups to seek similar concessions. More than a decade after the Chibok schoolgirls' abduction in 2014, insecurity remains a major challenge across Nigeria. The Northeast continues to battle Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants, the Northwest faces banditry, the Southeast grapples with separatist violence, while oil theft and militancy remain concerns in the Niger Delta. This reality raises a difficult question : ...