An explosion has reportedly killed 33 persons at a mining site in Kampani Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Joyce Ramnap, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Jos, the state capital.
The commissioner, who commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones, said the injured were currently receiving treatment at hospitals.
“The Plateau Government received with deep shock and profound sadness reports of a tragic explosion at a mining site in Kampani Zurak, reportedly owned by Solid Unit Nig. Ltd.
“Preliminary information has it that 33 persons were said to have been inside the mining tunnel at the time of the explosion.
“Others who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.
“Government is deeply concerned about the development and is working closely with relevant security agencies, emergency responders and health authorities to ensure that the situation is brought under control,” she said.
The commissioner, however, called on residents of the community to remain calm and law-abiding.
Earlier this month, in another local government, the Chairman of Bokkos LGA, Amalau Samuel Amalau, ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities—both legal and illegal—across the council.
The measures followed a series of deadly assaults on local miners, which reportedly led to the killing of youths by gunmen suspected to be militias.
On January 22, PUNCH Online reported that gunmen attacked a mining site in the Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area, killing seven people.
Similarly, on December 17, PUNCH reported a tragic incident in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where 12 people were killed at night by suspected militia members. The incident reportedly occurred at a mining site in the Ratoso Fan community of the council area. (Punch)
Nigerian travellers to the United Kingdom will begin receiving electronic visas instead of physical visa stickers from February 25, 2026.
The announcement was made in a statement on Monday by the Senior Communications Officer at the British High Commission in Abuja, Onyinye Madu.
“From 25 February 2026, all Nigerian nationals applying for a UK Visit visa will receive an eVisa, rather than a vignette (sticker) in their passports,” the statement said.
Under the new system, the commission said successful applicants will access their visa electronically through a UK Visas and Immigration account, marking a shift toward a fully digital visa process.
It explained that the requirements for Nigerian applicants remain unchanged, saying “Travellers will continue to apply online, attend a Visa Application Centre to provide biometric information, and meet all existing eligibility criteria.”
The only change, it noted, is the format in which the visa is issued, saying that instead of a physical sticker, applicants will receive a secure digital record of their immigration status.
It added that Nigerians who already hold valid vignette stickers do not need to take any action, as their physical visas will remain valid until they expire or require replacement.
Highlighting the benefits of the transition, the commission stated, “The move to eVisas brings a number of benefits for Nigerian travellers. Passports will be returned more quickly, and travellers can manage their immigration status online at any time, from any location. The digital format offers stronger security as eVisas cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with.”
Also commenting on the development, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Gill Lever, said the change would simplify the process for travellers.
“We are committed to making it easier for Nigerians to travel to the UK. This move to digital visas will streamline a key part of the visa process, making it more secure while reducing dependence on paper documents. We look forward to continuing to welcome Nigerian visitors, students and workers to the UK,” she said.
According to the statement, once a visa application is approved, applicants will be required to create a free UKVI account to access their eVisa. (Punch)
The Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026.
Before the passage, there was a rowdy session as the upper chamber resumed proceedings with a demand for division over Clause 60 raised by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South).
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that he believed the demand had previously been withdrawn, but several opposition senators immediately objected to that claim.
Citing Order 52(6), the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, argued that it would be out of order to revisit any provision on which the Senate President had already ruled.
This submission sparked another uproar in the chamber, during which Senator Sunday Karimi had a brief face-off with Abaribe.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, then reminded lawmakers that he had sponsored the motion for rescission, underscoring that decisions previously taken by the Senate are no longer valid.
He maintained that, consistent with his motion, Senator Abaribe’s demand was in line.
Akpabio further suggested that the call for division was merely an attempt by Senator Abaribe to publicly demonstrate his stance to Nigerians.
The senate president sustained the point of order, after which Abaribe rose in protest and was urged to formally move his motion.
Rising under Order 72(1), Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), specifically concerning the provision that if electronic transmission of results fails, Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis, calling for the removal of the proviso that allows for manual transmission of results in the event of network failure.
During the division, Akpabio directed senators who supported the caveat to stand.
He then asked those opposed to the caveat to rise.
Fifteen opposition senators stood in opposition.
However, when the votes were counted, the Senate President announced that 15 senators were not in support of the proviso, while 55 senators voted in support of it.
Earlier, proceedings in the Senate were momentarily stalled as lawmakers began clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a motion to rescind the earlier amendment.
The motion to rescind the bill was formally seconded on Tuesday, paving the way for the upper chamber to dissolve into the committee of the whole for detailed reconsideration and reenactment of the proposed legislation.
During the session, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reeled out the clauses one after the other for deliberation.
However, the process stalled when at clause 60, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South), raised a point of order, drawing immediate attention on the floor.
Following the intervention, murmurs spread across the chamber as lawmakers began speaking in small groups and approaching the Senate President’s desk for consultations.
The session immediately moved into a closed door session. (Channels)
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan 1447AH.
He declared that the crescent moon was sighted in almost every part of the country earlier on Tuesday, which is the 29th day of the Month of Shaban and thereby signifies Wednesday as the first day of Ramadan 1447.
Sultan Abubakar, in a press statement made available to Channels Television in Sokoto and signed by the Chairman of the advisory committee on religious affairs, Sambo Junaid, however, called on the entire Muslim communities in the country to start fasting on Wednesday in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
He said the council got information of the moon sighting from many Islamic leaders cut across the country, which he said signified the start of Ramadan fast.
“The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, in conjunction with the National Moonsighting Committee, received reports from various moonsighting committees across the country confirming the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan 1447AH, on Tuesday, 17th February, 2026, which is the 29th day of Sha’aban 1447AH.
“His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has accepted the reports and accordingly declared Wednesday, 18th February, 2026 as the first day of Ramadan 1447AH,” the statement partly read.
He urged Muslims to use this month of Ramadan to pray against the insecurity ravaging some parts of the country.
He also called on Muslims across the country to use the month of Ramadan to continue to pray for the leaders of the country and to curb the security challenges in the country. (Channels)
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of 100 US military personnel and equipment in Nigeria, saying they arrived at Bauchi airfield.
Defence spokesman, Samaila Uba, in a statement on Monday, said the deployment follows a recent security agreement between Nigeria and the US.
Uba noted that the Federal Government had made a formal request to the US for assistance in terms of military training, technical support, and intelligence sharing with the members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorists’ threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” the statement reads.
Uba said the US personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity.
Noting that the US personnel are not combat forces, the defence spokesman noted that all training activities will be conducted under the authority, direction and control of the federal government and in close coordination with the Nigerian military.
Uba said Nigerian troops, alongside the US trainers, will commence a series of joint training engagements and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives in the coming days.
“These activities are designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian troops to effectively identify and neutralize extremist terrorist groups seeking to destabilize the nation,” he added.
Uba said the military remains fully committed to degrading and defeating terrorist groups that threaten the country’s sovereignty, national security, and the safety of its citizens.
He also assured Nigerians of continued transparency and the provision of clear, accurate, and timely information regarding the military cooperation efforts.
The deployment comes after months of mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has strongly criticised Nigeria’s government for what he describes as its failure to adequately protect Christians from deadly attacks carried out by Islamist militants and armed groups.
He declared Nigeria a country of particular concern (CPC). But the Nigerian government has since rejected Trump’s claim, insisting that violence in the country affects people of all faiths and not only Christians.
Trump ordered airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day, saying they targeted Islamic State terrorists in the North-west who are responsible for killing Christians.
He and Nigerian authorities later confirmed that the action was a collaborative effort.
Following discussions with Nigerian authorities in Abuja, the head of US Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, confirmed that a small team of US military officers was in Nigeria, focused on intelligence support.
Critics questioned the move, which they claim undermines Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
However, the DHQ clarified that the partnership with the US primarily focuses on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and strategic dialogue.
According to Uba, all engagements with the US are done with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and existing bilateral frameworks.
Nigeria is facing a protracted fight with dozens of local armed groups increasingly battling for turf, including the homegrown Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP).
There is also the ISIL-linked Lakurawa, as well as other “bandit” groups that specialise in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining.
Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations. (Channels)
Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has visited the scene of a fire at the Singer Market, calling for the Federal Government’s intervention to provide modern firefighting equipment.
This is contained in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, in Kano on Sunday.
The Governor visited the Gidan Gilas section of the market where the fire was still raging, causing damage to shops and property.
Yusuf commended the efforts of the Kano State Fire Service and the security agencies battling the inferno, urging traders and residents to remain calm and to cooperate with emergency responders.
He appealed for air support and essential tools to contain the fire and prevent recurrences, strengthening the capacity of fire services to respond effectively to emergencies in major commercial centres. (Vanguard)
The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has relaxed the curfew imposed in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, restricting movement from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Governor Nwifuru announced this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after the State Security Council meeting at his office, New Government, Centenary City in Abakaliki, the State capital.
The curfew earlier imposed in Amasiri restricted movement from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. following the attack on Okporojo, Oso-Edda in the Edda Local Government Area, that claimed the lives of four with their heads severed.
The governor stated that the Amasiri community’s failure to produce the heads of the victims of the Okporojo killings after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum issued earlier would attract stringent measures for them to produce the severed heads.
He maintained that schools in Amasiri remain closed for safety, as security agencies continued to carry out investigations.
Nwifuru added that all the suspects involved and arrested would be charged in court.
The Okporojo incident was said to have happened on the afternoon of January 29, 2026, when unidentified armed men reportedly ambushed the community, setting houses on fire.
At least four people were said to have been allegedly beheaded and their heads taken away by the assailants.
In a viral video that circulated online, houses were seen set on fire, as the community called on the state government and security agencies for help.
Following the incident, Nwifuru dismissed all government appointees, dissolved community development union leadership, and village heads in the Amasiri community, Afikpo Local Government Area of the state, with immediate effect.
He also dethroned the traditional ruler of the community.
Nwifuru, who was visibly angry over the killings, described the attack as most unfortunate and said he never expected such a level of brutality to occur in the state.
“So on this note, for the time being, the development union executive and all of the villages in Amasiri communities are hereby dissolved. The traditional ruler certificate is thereby withdrawn all the government appointees from Amasiri are thereby sacked,” the governor said.
“All the government appointees from the management committee down to the commissioner, anyone from Amasiri, are hereby sacked. All the village heads in all Amasiri villages in all the autonomous communities are hereby removed.
“For the time being, we will do more. And we will show everybody why we’re government”, the governor added.
He also assured the affected community that the state government would decisively deal with those responsible, stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain. (Channels)
As part of measures to tackle insecurity in some parts of the country, the Senate has called for an upgrade of the joint security operation in Niger and Kwara states.
It mandated the Committees on Defence, Army, Air Force, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to conduct a joint assessment of the security situation in the North-Central region and report back within four weeks with clear recommendations.
This followed a motion sponsored by Sani Musa (APC/Niger East) in the wake of the brutal killing of over 50 people and the abduction of several women and children in Konkoso District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
In his argument, Musa regretted that the North-Central region has increasingly witnessed organised attacks on rural communities, farmlands, and settlements, threatening food security and national stability.
The lawmakers thereafter further raised concern that the persistent pattern of attacks on remote communities indicated gaps in intelligence coordination and deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The upper chamber, which observed a one-minute silence for victims of the attack, also urged the strengthening of joint security operations between Niger and Kwara States to dismantle cross-border terrorist networks.
Last Saturday, motorcycle-riding gunmen swept into three villages in a central region of Nigeria, shooting dead or cutting the throats of at least 46 people.
The violence again threw the spotlight on Nigeria’s efforts to contain security threats — efforts that have been strongly criticised by US President Donald Trump.
A security report seen by AFP said the attackers had used “41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three men”.
The three villages targeted by the gunmen are part of the Borgu in Niger State, on the border with Kwara State, where jihadists killed more than 160 people in an attack earlier this month.
The bloodiest attack happened in the village of Konkoso, where at least 38 people were shot dead or had their throats slit, the humanitarian source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Most of the homes in the village were burned down, and apart from those already counted as dead, “other bodies are being recovered,” the source said.
A resident of Konkoso told AFP the gunmen had first attacked the nearby village of Tungar Makeri before heading to his village.
A spokesman for the Niger State Police Command told AFP that six people had been killed in Tungan Makeri when the gunmen overran the village at around 6:00 am.
“Some houses were set on fire, and an as-yet undetermined number of people were abducted,” and officers were seeking information about the attacks on the other two villages, the police spokesman said.
The Konkoso resident said his nephew was among those killed in Konkoso.
“They burned a lot of houses and abducted four women,” he said.
“After Konkoso, they went to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person.
“At the moment, many people are missing,” he said.
The border between Kwara and Niger states is home to the Kainji Forest, a known haven for bandits and jihadists.
Nigeria has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency in the northeast for over 16 years. (Channels)
The challenge of leadership dominated deliberations on Thursday as regional leaders and diplomats examined issues confronting the African continent at the Murtala Muhammed International Lecture and Leadership Conference.
The lecture, themed “Has Africa Come of Age?”, drew an array of distinguished personalities, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Ghanaian President John Kufuor; former Malawian President Joyce Banda; and former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Obasanjo observed that one of the enduring legacies of the late General Murtala Muhammed was the emergence of capable successors who sustained his vision and development agenda. He acknowledged that successive administrations, including his own, had not effectively replicated that standard.
According to him, the late leader ensured continuity by leaving behind individuals equipped to advance his ideas and reforms.
“We cannot make progress if we take two steps forward, one step sideways, and three steps back, which is what we have been doing,” Obasanjo said. “The failure of all leaders after Murtala, including myself, is that we have not been able to create successors who could go on after us.”
“I handed over to civilians, and their ideas were completely different from the ideas we handed over to them. I will give you just one example. By the time we left in July 1979, we wanted to be self-sufficient in rice production. We asked that a report be prepared on what was in the fields. The report showed that we would be self-sufficient in rice production that year.
“Based on that, we banned the importation of rice before we left the government. In October 1979, when the civilian administration came in, one of the first things they did was to lift the ban on rice importation so they could allocate import licences to their supporters and political associates.
“One of the barons, who obtained a rice import licence from America, ordered rice and then asked the suppliers to add $5 million to the cost. They did. He then went back to New York and demanded $2.5 million out of the $5 million. They refused and gave him only $1 million. He wanted $2.5 million but had taken no risk. So, they gave him $1 million.
“Since the lifting of the rice import ban in 1979, we have not recovered from it. That is why we are still importing rice today. These are the kinds of things that go wrong.”
The former president said what is needed right now is reform and building the capacity to produce for both local consumption and export.
“When I became elected president, cocoa production in Nigeria was 150,000 metric tons. We introduced a new system to boost production, and within four to five years, we were producing 450,000 metric tons; we tripled output.
“Today, I understand we are producing no more than 300,000 metric tons. That is not how Africa will come of age. We must grow at nine to 10 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually to come of age”, he said.
On his part, Former President Goodluck Jonathan said, “While Murtala symbolised decisive leadership, our democratic future depends on strong institutions. These include credible electoral management bodies, independence of the judiciary, well-trained security officers, and accountable governance systems. Democracy requires vision rather than decree, persuasion instead of command, and it depends on institutions, not individuals.”
Jonathan, however, pointed out that Africa’s current challenge is the absence of a lasting democratic culture built on credible and transparent elections.
He said, “Such a culture must respect term limits, protect the independence of the judiciary, press freedom, and credible elections.”
Jonathan also added, “More importantly, it is essential to emphasize the transformative power of vision in leadership. General Murtala assumed office as Head of State at the very young age of 38. Despite a tenure of only 200 days, his achievements were profound because he was driven by a clear, unyielding vision for a greater and more prosperous Nigeria.
“The President we are celebrating today was Head of State at the age of 38. If we are looking for people who can run nations in Africa, we should look at the age within 30 and 40 years. That is the way you can be very vibrant, physically strong, and mentally sound. If they need to stay awake for 24 hours, they can, but if you subject an older person to that kind of stress, the person will spend 50 per cent of the time in the hospital.”
Jonathan urged African countries to lower age barriers and strengthen institutions that allow youth participation in governance.
Describing Africa as a predominantly young continent.
Jonathan said growing frustration among youths should not be mistaken for a rejection of democracy.
He said it reflects a demand that democracy must deliver opportunities, dignity, and justice, adding that where justice is absent, “there are fractures within democracy.
He anchored his argument on the legacy of the late Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, who assumed office at the age of 38 and governed with what he described as clarity of purpose and selfless national vision.
According to Jonathan, Murtala’s brief but impactful leadership showed that age is not a barrier to effective governance when leaders are driven by patriotism and discipline.
“General Murtala Muhammed assumed office as Head of State at a very young age. Despite a tenure of only 200 days, his achievements were profound because he was driven by a clear, unyielding vision for a greater Nigeria,” he said.
He lamented the future of democracy in Africa, saying the continent cannot sustain democracy while excluding its most vibrant population.
He therefore called for a deliberate inclusion of the young people in decision-making and leadership positions, reinforcing support for the Not Too Young to Run movement.
He argued that leadership in the modern era requires physical strength, mental alertness, and stamina often found among younger leaders.
“If we are looking for people who can run nations in Africa, we should look at the age within our day and age. That is how you can be vibrant, physically strong, and mentally sound,” Jonathan said.
If Africa has come of age, Jonathan wondered why leaders spend 50 per cent of their time outside the country, stressing that in countries such as America, some governors do not leave the country throughout their tenure in office.
But the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said leadership was not about physical age but about ideas.
Akume, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the occasion, commended the ideals of late Gen. Murtala Muhammed, saying, “He was not just a Nigerian but he loved the country and did so much to restore its glory. Nigerians will continue to remember him for his fight against corruption. He believed in Africa and fought for its liberation. He devoted lots of resources and there were results”
He also commended the late Murtala for putting in place a programme to return the country to democracy before his assassination.
He also pleaded with Nigerians not to despair, noting that the government is working towards implementing its set goals.
In her welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer, MMF and daughter of Mohammed, Dr. Aisha Mohammed-Oyebode, said, “It was about who controls your resources, who shapes your policies, and whose interests define your future. Today, as we look across our continent, that question still challenges us.
“We are politically independent, yet we are still negotiating economic dependence. We are rich in talent and resources, yet still confronting inequality and fragility. We are young, dynamic, and globally connected, yet we are often uncertain about the leadership structures that are meant to serve our people”, she said.
The Keynote Speaker and former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, eulogized Muhammad for capturing the imagination of the nation through the sheer clarity of his reforms, adding that he purged the civil service to confront corruption and inertia, probed military governors, and seized illicitly acquired properties.
“Yet it was his declaration that Africa had come of age that immortalized him, the speech that he made 34 days before he was assassinated”, he said.
“He was speaking of the awakening of responsibility, identity, and self-determination, and his context was the generational obligation of African leadership of his era to fight the viciousness of neocolonialism as those before them had fought colonialism. He was summoning the high values of integrity, dignity, and individual autonomy, by virtue of which African people, like others, had a right and an obligation to determine their own destinies and who they chose to undertake that journey with”, Osinbajo said.
Also speaking on whether Africa has come of age, former President of Ghana, John Kufuor, said the real question should be whether Africa today stands in the world with a settled sense of identity, responsibility, and purpose, not only as a political space but as a moral presence within humanity. (Nation)
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, has condemned the recent killings in parts of Kwara state, describing the attacks as “unacceptable and deeply troubling”.
On Tuesday, at least 75 residents were killed and several houses set ablaze when suspected terrorists attacked the Nuku and Woro communities in the Kaiama LGA of Kwara state.
On Wednesday, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara, said residents of the communities were killed for refusing to bow to extremists.
In a statement on Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was saddened by the loss of innocent lives and extended condolences to the families and communities affected by the attack.
She warned that the continued bloodshed poses a serious threat to national peace and stability, urging governments at all levels to take urgent and decisive action.
“The persistent killings of innocent Nigerians are unacceptable and deeply troubling. My heart goes out to the families who have been plunged into grief by these senseless acts,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said protecting lives and ensuring justice must remain a core responsibility of government.
“Protecting lives and ensuring justice must be non-negotiable. The safety of our citizens should always be the highest priority of government,” she said.
The senator called on federal and state authorities to move beyond rhetoric and implement coordinated measures to curb the rising insecurity.
She said swift and transparent investigations into the Kwara attacks are essential to ensure accountability and restore public confidence.
“Those responsible for these attacks must be identified and brought to justice without delay,” she said.
The senator called on federal and state authorities to move beyond rhetoric and implement coordinated measures to curb the rising insecurity.
She said swift and transparent investigations into the Kwara attacks are essential to ensure accountability and restore public confidence.
“Those responsible for these attacks must be identified and brought to justice without delay,” she said.
“Impunity only emboldens criminal elements and deepens the suffering of our people.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan said political leaders and security agencies have both a constitutional and moral duty to act decisively to prevent further bloodshed.
She stressed the need for proactive intelligence gathering, community engagement, and strengthened security operations.
“These killings underscore the urgent need for a more effective and people-centred security architecture,” she said. (TheCable)
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