NEWS

The United States has stepped up its supply of military equipment and intelligence support to Nigeria as part of a wider effort to counter Islamic State–linked militant groups across Africa. The Deputy Commander of the US Africa Command, Lt.-Gen. John Brennan, revealed this during an interview with AFP following a US–Nigeria security meeting held in Abuja last week. According to Brennan, Washington has adopted a tougher strategy against IS-affiliated groups on the continent. He said the US is working closely with African partners to directly target threats linked to ISIS, noting that militant activities from Somalia to Nigeria are interconnected. Brennan explained that the US is now placing greater emphasis on empowering partner nations by sharing intelligence, providing equipment...

Iran’s Supreme Leader has reportedly been moved to a fortified underground bunker amid growing fears of a potential US military strike, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to rise. The move comes as senior Iranian military officials warn of an increased likelihood of US action. At the same time, protests persist across the country, with security forces responding through a deadly crackdown. The underground facility is said to be designed to safeguard the leader during wartime situations. Reports also indicate that his third son, Masoud Khamenei, has assumed responsibility for managing his father’s daily affairs while the Ayatollah remains out of public view. The heightened alert follows remarks made last week by US President Donald Trump, who confirmed that American wa...

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said Nigeria is on the right path under President Bola Tinubu, even though many Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of the government’s economic policies. Dogara made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he defended Tinubu’s performance and argued for continuity in governance. Asked to assess the state of the nation and whether the president had delivered on his campaign promises, Dogara said Tinubu had made key commitments, including “improving the economy, strengthening security, and implementing long-term systemic reforms.” “I think we are on the right track, even if people are not feeling it,” Dogara said. “When we talk about the challenges relating to security, t...

Several thousand people took to the streets of Paris on Sunday to protest the death in police custody of a Mauritanian immigrant worker, chanting slogans against “a police force that kills us,” according to an AFP journalist at the scene. The protest followed the death of 35-year-old El Hacen Diarra and comes amid a series of cases in which activists have accused French police of racism and excessive use of force. Demonstrators gathered at the shelter in northeast Paris where Diarra had been living and outside which he was violently arrested by police on the night of January 14. From there, protesters marched to the local police station, carrying banners reading “Justice” and “RIP.” Members of Diarra’s family also took part in the march. Video footage filmed by neighbours and ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought more air defence support from allies on Sunday as hundreds of buildings in Kyiv were without heating in freezing temperatures for a second day after Russian strikes. Russia has hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure throughout the nearly four-year war, but Kyiv says this winter has been the toughest, with hundreds of Russian drones and missiles overwhelming air defences during particularly fierce frosts. “This week alone, the Russians have launched more than 1,700 attack drones, over 1,380 guided aerial bombs, and 69 missiles of various types,” Zelensky said as he arrived in Vilnius. “That is why missiles for air defence systems are needed every day, and we continue working with the United States and Europe to ensure stronger protection o...

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has announced an extension of the registration period for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into technical colleges. The development was confirmed by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Aminu Mohammed, in a statement issued on Sunday in Benin through the board’s Deputy Director of Media and Protocol, Uchechukwu Olisah. Dr Mohammed said the board approved a four-month registration window after receiving clearance for the 2026 examination and registration schedule from the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. According to him, registration will open on January 26 and end on May 24, while the examination is scheduled to hold nationwide on June 6. He explained that the decision...

Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has returned to Nigeria following her release from a United Kingdom prison, The Punch has reported. Mrs Ekweremadu arrived in the country on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, after serving the custodial part of her sentence linked to a widely publicised organ-harvesting case. She was welcomed by family members and close associates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, marking her first return to Nigeria since her legal troubles began in mid-2022. Her arrival has reportedly triggered celebrations in her hometown of Mpu, located in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, even as her husband continues to serve his sentence in the UK. Mrs Ekweremadu was convicted in May 2023 by the Old Bailey ...

The Lagos State Government has defended the demolition of structures in Makoko and other waterfront communities, describing the action as a necessary measure to protect lives and property. Government officials made the defence during Ask Lagos, a weekly X-space discussion designed to engage residents on governance issues. Participants at the session included the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Abiodun Babatunde. Addressing the controversy surrounding the demolitions in Makoko and similar communities, the officials said the exercise was carried out for security, environmental, and safety reasons, and forms part of broader efforts to make Lagos a safer and more sustainable megacit...

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two masquerades and their leader for the alleged breach of public peace in Etinam Local Government Area of the state. The spokesperson of the command, DSP Timfon John, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, January 26, 2026 said the suspects are currently assisting the police with ongoing investigations. “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammad Azare, fsi, in its sustained efforts to maintain peace and public order across the State, has arrested three individuals for their alleged involvement in violent and disorderly conduct carried out under the guise of masquerade activities in Etinan Local Government Area,” the statement read.  "On Friday, January 23,...

A 30-year-old Brazilian lady, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for bringing into Nigeria a total of 30.09 kilograms of white heroin concealed in factory sealed coffee packs worth over N3 billion in street value. The suspect who works as a private security officer in Brazil was arrested at the Abuja airport on Friday 23rd January 2026 upon her arrival on a Qatar Airways flight QR1431, following processed intelligence. After her arrest, a search was conducted on her two checked-in bags where 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee were found. Confirming her arrest to newsmen, Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, said when the coffee bags we...