Photo caption: A photograph shows the Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, at the centre, flanked by General Sani Abacha on the right and General Abba Abdulkadir on the left.

The night of April 22, 1990 stands as one of the most dramatic and perilous moments in Nigeria’s post independence military history. In the late hours of that night, a group of coup plotters launched a violent and carefully coordinated attempt to overthrow the government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Gunfire echoed across strategic locations in Lagos, radio broadcasts announced a supposed change of government, and uncertainty gripped the nation as Nigerians awoke to the sound of chaos.

At the heart of the crisis was the safety of the Head of State himself. The coup attempt was bold and ruthless, targeting not only key military installations but also the nerve centre of political power. In the confusion of the fighting, General Babangida suffered a deeply personal loss with the death of his Aide de Camp, Lt Col UK Bello, who was killed while performing his duty in the line of fire. His death underscored the gravity of the moment and the real danger confronting the regime.
It was during these critical hours that General Sani Abacha emerged as the central figure in the defence of the government.

Calm, resolute and uncompromising, Abacha took decisive control of loyal troops and countered the advances of the coup plotters. His actions helped secure the seat of power and ensured the survival of the Commander in Chief at a time when the balance could easily have tipped the other way. By the early hours of the morning, the coup had been effectively crushed, and the authority of the Babangida government was restored.

Beyond saving the regime, the events of that night forged a powerful bond between Babangida and Abacha. The loyalty Abacha displayed under fire left a lasting impression on the Head of State. In recognition of his role, courage and steadfastness, Babangida later promoted Sani Abacha to the rank of full four star General. This promotion was historic and unprecedented in Nigeria’s military tradition.

For the first time in the country’s history, a serving officer held the full rank of General while another officer remained the sitting Head of State. The decision signaled not only personal gratitude but also immense trust, elevating Abacha to a position of exceptional influence within the military hierarchy.

The night of April 22, 1990 therefore occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s story. It was a night of bloodshed and loss, marked by the sacrifice of officers like Lt Col UK Bello. It was also a night that reshaped power relations within the armed forces, cemented alliances at the highest level and set the stage for future developments that would profoundly affect the nation. Loyalty was tested in fire, and in its aftermath, history took a decisive turn.

The family of late former Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how some close associates and aides allegedly influenced government decisions during his tenure.

In a new biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Charles Omole and launched in Abuja, Buhari’s family, including his wife Aisha and children, alongside former senior officials, shared accounts of how certain individuals controlled access to the president and issued directives to government officials without his direct approval.

According to Premium Times, the book explains that this inner circle, which included Buhari’s relative Mamman Daura, his associate Isa Funtua, and his Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, shaped key decisions, from security matters to financial transactions and appointments.

While Daura and Funtua held no official roles, they were reported to have had considerable influence over Buhari, and Kyari’s position as Chief of Staff allowed him to reinforce their directives.

Fatima Buhari, one of the president’s daughters, revealed that she discovered forged documents bearing her father’s signature and noted that speeches and official orders were sometimes altered without his knowledge.

In one incident, a speech delivered in the United States had been changed without Buhari’s approval, reflecting the level of control exerted by the aides.

Former officials, including a past police chief, confirmed that instructions circulated as presidential orders were often not authorized by Buhari.

This practice extended to security operations, appointments, and even foreign exchange matters involving the Central Bank of Nigeria, causing delays and confusion in governance.

Babagana Monguno, former National Security Adviser, recounted clashes with Kyari and Daura, who reportedly blocked funds even after Buhari had approved them, affecting the functioning of the NSA office.

The book described Buhari as a leader who trusted long-time associates and avoided public confrontations, creating room for misuse of authority.

Buhari’s children frequently acted as intermediaries, presenting facts and correcting misinformation to ensure their father was aware of key issues.

The biography provides a detailed look at the inner workings of Buhari’s administration and the influence of personal networks on governance.

The United States government has halted the processing of green card and citizenship applications from Nigerians following Nigeria’s inclusion in an expanded list of countries subject to US immigration restrictions under a directive by President Donald Trump.

According to CBS News, a US official confirmed that the Trump administration instructed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend the consideration of immigration petitions from nationals of countries newly placed under partial travel restrictions, citing national security concerns and ongoing reviews of vetting procedures.

The new directive follows a presidential proclamation issued earlier this week, which imposed further limitations on nationals of countries identified as having “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” deficiencies that, according to the White House, pose risks to US national security and public safety.

Nigeria is among 15 countries newly subjected to partial travel restrictions.

While the measure does not amount to a full entry ban, it temporarily suspends the processing of green card and citizenship applications submitted by affected nationals.

President Trump had previously designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” on October 31, citing allegations of widespread violence against Christian communities and broader concerns over governance, security, and cooperation with US authorities.

Under the proclamation, countries under a full travel ban include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone.

Nations under partial restrictions now include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The proclamation builds on earlier restrictions announced in June, which had already limited immigration processing for nationals of several countries.

Notably, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial restrictions to full bans, prompting USCIS to extend the suspension of immigration benefits, including permanent residency and naturalization applications.

Previously affected nations such as Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Yemen, and Venezuela remain subject to similar measures.

US officials stated that the suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of a comprehensive review of screening and vetting procedures, though no timeline has been given.

The review aims to safeguard the integrity of the US immigration system.