Police arrest robbers during third-party insurance enforcement (Guardian)
The Kogi State Police Command said it has arrested two suspected armed robbers along Anyigba-Egume road in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The suspected armed robbers were reportedly arrested at a checking point during the nationwide Third-Party Insurance policy enforcement exercise.
Police spokesman, William Ovye, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Lokoja. Read more
Deportation: Nigerians in America now hide, avoid quarrels, says US-based prof (Channels)
A Professor of Social Ethics at Boston University, Nimi Wariboko, has said that the sweeping crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the United States has triggered palpable fear among Nigerians living in Donald Trumpโs America.
The don spoke virtually from the US on the Friday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
โHere, of course, there are a good number of Nigerians that donโt have papers. So, there are worrying,โ Wariboko said while describing the mood of the Nigerian community in the US barely three weeks after Trump resumed at the Oval Office. Read more
Revised N54.2t 2025 Budget: We welcome Tinubuโs proposal โ Reps (Sun)
The House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubuโs proposal for an increase in the 2025 budget from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion.
Speaking with pressmen in Abuja, the House Deputy Spokesman, Hon. Philip Agbese disclosed that the House is ready to assist Tinubu in delivering the dividends of democracy to citizens.
Agbese called the move a bold one, adding that it is driven by additional revenue from key government agencies. Read more
Gunmen invade Sokoto Mosque, abduct worshippers (DailyTrust)
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted several worshippers from a Mosque in the Bushe community, Sabon Birni Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto state.
The suspected bandits stormed the mosque at dawn on Thursday while worshippers were performing their early morning Subhi prayer.
Not less than 10 worshippers, including the Imam, were reportedly whisked away during the attack. Read more
Speaker Meranda calls for action to end Female Genital Mutilation (Vanguard)
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has reiterated her commitment to the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), urging collective action to eradicate the harmful practice.
In a statement marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, Meranda stood in solidarity with global advocates condemning the human rights violation affecting millions of girls and women.
โThis yearโs theme, #StepUpThePace, is a call to action. We must accelerate efforts to end this barbaric practice once and for all. It is not just the responsibility of governments but of every individualโwhether youโre a legislator, healthcare worker, professional, or simply a concerned human being,โ she stated. Read more
Fraud: US to deport convicted Nigerian (Punch)
The United States Department of Justice has disclosed that a Nigerian, Edwin Okoronkwo, who was sentenced to 75 months imprisonment for defrauding some Americans, will be deported after completing his jail term.
Okoronkwo was said to have connived with his wife, Julie Okoronkwo, who was also sentenced to 25 months imprisonment for her role in the catfishing scheme that targeted unsuspecting Americans.
The conviction was contained in a statement obtained by PUNCH Metro from the US Department of Justice website on Thursday. Read more
Police probe mysterious death of officer in Ondo (Leadership)
The Ondo State Police Command has begun an investigation into the mysterious death of Inspector Yusuf Suleiman Blessing, who was serving in the State.
Blessing, a native of Ikoro-Ekiti, Ekiti State, was serving at Akotogbo, Irele local government area of Ondo State, reportedly died under questionable circumstances on Monday, January 27, 2025.
The Police Inspector was allegedly burnt to death, according to his wife, who resides in Osi community, Akure North Local Government area of the state. Read more
Gov Sule dissolves all political appointees (Nation)
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has dissolved all political appointees serving in his government.
Governor Sule announced this Friday, February 7, at the Executive Council Chambers, Government house during a valedictory session with the Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants.
He thanked them for all the services and contributions they made in the cause of their appointments to the development of the State and assured them that some may still be re-appointed in other capacities. Read more
California โTeacher of the Yearโ sobs as she admits to abusing two students, ages 11 and 12 (NYPost)
An award-winning California teacher broke down in tears in court as she confessed to sexually abusing two of her students, ages 11 and 12.
Jacqueline Ma, who was named โTeacher of the Yearโ in San Diego County just months before her arrest, was facing a staggering 180 years behind bars for the shocking abuse at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City.
That was knocked down Wednesday when she admitted lewd acts with her students as part of a plea deal that could still see her sentenced to 30 years to life. Read more
A bunch of Bob Marley classics are being reissued on vinyl in celebration of his 80th birthday (Uproxx)
Bob Marley, tragically, is on the list of legendary musicians who were taken from us too soon. The icon was only 36 when he died in 1981, and yet, he managed to become the face of reggae, and perhaps of Jamaica as a whole. Today (February 6) would have been his 80th birthday, and Acoustic Soundsโ Analogue Productions label is celebrating with a batch of reissues.
A handful of Marleyโs most enduring works are included in the series: 1973โs Catch A Fire, 1973โs Burninโ, 1974โs Natty Dread, 1976โs Rastaman Vibration, 1977โs Exodus, 1978โs Kaya, and 1980โs Uprising. Across the releases are Marley hits like โStir It Up,โ โGet Up Stand Up,โ โI Shot The Sheriff,โ โNo Woman No Cry,โ โThree Little Birds,โ โEasy Skanking,โ โCould You Be Loved,โ and โRedemption Song.โ
The releases, created in partnership with the Marley family and Tuff Gong International, launch this spring and come in a variety of formats, including 33rpm UHQR, 45rpm UHQR, 2LP 45rpm, SACD, and reel-to-reel tape (15 IPS on 1/4 inch tape). Read more
US service member, 3 contractors killed when surveillance plane crashes in Philippines (USAToday)
A US military service member and three defense contractors were killed Thursday when their aircraft crashed in the Philippines while conducting routine reconnaissance, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
The crash occurred in the Maguindanao del Sur province of the southern Philippines. The service member and defense contractors were the only people aboard, the command said in a statement.
Video and images published online show wreckage from the crash a rice field in the rural municipality. Multiple outlets, including CNN, reported that the aircraft, which was contracted by the Defense department, was a Beechcraft King Air 350. Read more
Outraged shoppers stunned by hefty import duties as Trump tariffs take effect (DailyMail)
Shoppers are already feeling the pain of President Donald Trump’s new rules on goods imported from China, which started Tuesday.
Canada and Mexico were also set to be hit with tariffs, along with the end of a rule that previously allowed small packages to enter the US duty-free.
However, after last-minute negotiations, those changes were delayed for a month. Read more
China slams US as Panama quits Belt and Road Initiative (AlJazeera)
China has slammed Washingtonโs โCold War mentalityโ in Latin America after Panama quit its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peopleโs Republic of China on Friday hit out at the United States for sabotaging the global infrastructure programme.
Beijing โfirmly opposes the United States using pressure and coercion to smear and undermine Belt and Road cooperation,โ said Lin Jian in a statement. โThe US sideโs attacks โฆ once again expose its hegemonic nature.โ Read more
Scams, casinos and high-rises: The BBC visits a bizarre city in a war zone (BBC)
The tall, shiny buildings which rise out of the cornfields on the Myanmar side of the Moei river are a sight so jarring you find yourself blinking to be sure you haven’t imagined it.
Eight years ago there was nothing over there in Karen State. Just trees, a few roughly-built cement buildings, and a long-running civil war which has left this area of Myanmar one of the poorest places on earth. But today, on this spot along the border with Thailand, a small city has emerged like a mirage. It is called Shwe Kokko, or Golden Raintree.
It is accused of being a city built on scams, home to a lucrative yet deadly nexus of fraud, money-laundering and human trafficking. The man behind it, She Zhijiang, is languishing in a Bangkok jail, awaiting extradition to China. Read more
Kanye West defends Sean โโDiddyโโ Combs, pleads with Trump to โFree My Brother Puffโ (Deadline)
With Sean โDiddyโ Combs awaiting trial on multiple sex trafficking and abuse charges, Kanye West is attempting to leverage his friendship with President Donald Trump.
The 24x Grammy winner came to Diddyโs defense Thursday on social media, calling for Trump to pardon the rapper ahead of his trial, which is set for May 5, after he has pleaded not guilty and was denied bail three times.
โFREE PUFF,โ wrote West on X. After supporting Trump in the 2016 election, the Yeezy mogul wrote in another post, โ@realDonaldTrump PLEASE FREE MY BROTHER PUFF.โ Read more
Enyimba will win continental ticket, Eguma assures (Guardian)
Enyimbaโs Head Coach, Stanley Eguma, has assured fans of the Peoples Elephant that their team will return to the continent despite their current poor position on the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) table.
Enyimba, who have an outstanding game, are currently in the eighth position with 31 points on the log led by Remo Stars (45 points).
Shooting Stars of Ibadan are second with 37 points, while third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh-placed Rivers United, Enugu Rangers, Abia Warriors, El Kanemi, and Ikorodu City have 35, 34, 33, 32, and 31 points respectively. Read more
Super Eagles goalie returns to training (Nation)
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has fully recovered from his injury and has re-joined training with his Udinese teammates.
The Nigerian goalkeeper is reuniting with his teammates amid a betting scandal he is currently facing.
The 25-year-old shot-stopper had been sidelined since December 2024 due to a torn Scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.
As reported by Italian outlet Tutto, Okoye returned to training on Wednesday alongside the rest of the squad. Read more
Heat pull ruthless move on Jimmy Butler immediately after trade (LarryBrownSports)
The ink is not even dry yet on the trade sending Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, but the Miami Heat are already scrubbing any leftover traces of him.
On Thursday, Miami formally announced the multi-team trade involving Butler heading to the Warriors and Andrew Wiggins headlining the return package for the Heat. In the middle of the official release, the Heat made a ruthless announcement. They revealed that Wiggins will be wearing the No. 22 jersey for them.
Here is the link to the release, where you can also see an edited image of Wiggins wearing No. 22. Read more
Sergio Perez backed for huge F1 comeback with this team (SI)
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has asked Formula 1’s new team, Cadillac, to consider an experienced driver like Sergio Perez in one of its cars when it becomes a part of the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
After overcoming several hurdles, Cadillac was finally approved to enter the premier class of motorsport towards the end of last year, after General Motors announced a greater role in its collaboration with Andretti. While the American outfit has been gearing up for its F1 debut by announcing key hires, it is yet to finalize its driver lineup.
The team’s board member, Mario Andretti told NBC that a preferred driver lineup would be to have a young American driver alongside an F1 veteran. When asked if American drivers like Colton Herta would be in the mix, he told NBC News: Read more
Robbie Fowler names the ยฃ65m star who will cost Arsenal the Premier League title (Metro)
Former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler has revealed Kai Havertz is the player who will stop Arsenal from winning major titles this year.
Fowler’s prediction comes after the Gunners crashed out of the Carabao Cup as they lost 4-0 on aggregate against Newcastle on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old German featured in the starting line-up and played the entire game, yet failed to significantly impact the team’s performance and managed only one shot on goal. Read more
Tokyo world athletics party can make up for Olympic lock-out, says CEO (JapanToday)
Full crowds in Tokyo for this year’s World Athletics Championships can make up for fans being locked out of the city’s pandemic-postponed Olympics in 2021, the event’s CEO told AFP.
The Tokyo Games took place a year later than planned and behind closed doors in a bid to halt COVID infections, creating an eerie atmosphere in venues and forcing fans to watch the action at home on TV.
There will be no such restrictions when the Japanese capital hosts the World Athletics Championships in September at the National Stadium, which seats over 65,000 and was the main venue for the Olympics. Read more