Compilations of top 10 key latest stories that you need to know this Sunday afternoon, 8th February, 2026
Troop deployment in troubled Ebonyi community to protect residents — Army
The Nigerian Army has clarified that its ongoing security operation in Amasiri community, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, is a joint effort to protect residents and combat criminal elements, not an invasion as suggested in some social media videos.
The statement, signed by Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 82 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, and shared via the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Sunday, was issued in response to videos featuring journalists criticising troop deployment in the area.
According to the Army, troops were deployed following the killing and beheading of four individuals in Okporojo village, Edda Local Government Area, and the discovery of shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri.
“These atrocities demanded urgent intervention to restore peace, protect innocent lives, and bring perpetrators to justice.
NDLEA arrests businessman with 95 cocaine pellets at Kano airport
A 62-year-old Lagos-based businessman, Nwabueze Izueke, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State.Izueke had attempted to traffic 95 jumbo-sized wraps of cocaine weighing 1.589 kilograms to China to raise funds to complete a house he is building in his village.
A statement on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said Izueke was apprehended on Saturday, January 31, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers travelling to China via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940.
Babafemi said NDLEA officials subjected him to a body scan, which confirmed that he had ingested illicit drugs.
Tinubu’s ambassador-designates in limbo
Storms may be brewing for many of President Bola Tinubu’s recently nominated ambassadors who face the prospect of being rejected by host countries due to time constraints on their tenure, findings by Sunday PUNCH have revealed.
High-ranking officials in the Presidency and the foreign service disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was grappling with the challenge of securing agrément, the formal consent of receiving states, for the nominees.
According to them, several countries may insist that ambassadors have a minimum tenured period of a year or two tied to the life of the sending country’s administration.
With the next presidential election scheduled for February 2027 and Tinubu’s first tenure set to conclude in May that year, the officials expressed concerns that host countries may be reluctant to accept many of the envoys for now.
Nigeria records 43,000 snakebites yearly amid antivenom shortages
Health experts have urged the Federal Government to prioritise antivenom production and availability across hospitals nationwide as Nigeria records 43,000 snakebite cases annually.
The senior health professionals stated that limited access to the life-saving treatment continues to fuel snakebite deaths in the country.
The experts noted that aside from the scarcity of antivenom, snakebite victims pay between N180,000 and N250,000 per dose, an amount equivalent to about four months’ total income for Nigerians earning the N70,000 minimum wage.
The experts who are researchers on Neglected Tropical Diseases explained that weak health systems, poor infrastructure, and shortages of antivenom continue to drive preventable deaths and long-term disabilities, as 50 per cent of health facilities in the country lack the capacity to treat snakebite envenoming.
Lagos shuts down Ladipo Spare Parts Market over environmental violations
The Lagos State Government has closed the Ladipo Spare Parts Market, located along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway), citing repeated environmental violations.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the closure via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
He stated,
“This morning, the Lagos State government sealed Ladipo Spare Parts Market along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway) due to repeated environmental infractions, including indiscriminate refuse disposal on the median and highway, as well as illegal street trading. #ZeroToleranceLagos.”
Tinubu accepts king’s invitation for UK state visit in March
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, March 18 to Thursday, March 19, 2026.
The development was announced on Sunday via posts shared on X by the UK Government’s official account in Nigeria and the Royal Family.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, while The King and Queen will host the visit at Windsor Castle.
In its post, UK in Nigeria stated: “President @officialABAT has accepted His Majesty The King’s invitation to undertake a State Visit to the UK in March—the first by a Nigerian leader since 1989.”
The UK mission added that the visit “provides an opportunity to further strengthen the enduring partnership between our two nations.”
Heart goes out to his wife and daughter’ Nigerians mourn footballer Sabiru who died in UK
Nigerians have taken to social media to pay tribute to late footballer Sabiru Olayinka Adeniji, expressing grief and offering condolences to his grieving family following his tragic death in the United Kingdom.
Many described his passing as heartbreaking, particularly for his wife and young daughter, who he leaves behind.
Adeniji, who played as a winger for Kings Park Rangers in Halstead, Essex, passed away in hospital on Friday after being admitted to intensive care on January 25 with a severe brain stem injury.
The club rallied around his family, who travelled from Nigeria to be with him but arrived after his death.
A fundraising appeal launched to support them has raised more than £16,000 of its £17,000 target to help cover expenses, including travel and accommodation.
2027: Electoral Act row escalates as Falana, Utomi, Bugaje kick against rejection of e-transmission of results
Controversy over a new Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 elections deepened yesterday, as notable activists under the auspices of Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) condemned, in strong terms, the decision of the Senate to remove mandatory electronic transmission of election results as proposed by the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026.
The body subsequently called on the Senate to immediately reinstate and pass the mandatory electronic transmission of results in the bill, as well as publicly account for those members who opposed the clause.
Leaders of the Steering Council of the newly launched MCE include Dr. Usman Bugaje, Prof Pat Utomi, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, Hajia (Dr) Bilikisu Magoro, Comrade Ene Obi, Comrade Salisu Mohammed, and Comrade Bala Zakka.
Imo @ 50: Udenwa, Okorocha absent as Uzodimma honours past governors
However, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Chief Ikedi Ohakim and Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha attended the event, held in Owerri on Saturday, where they received the Grand Service Star of Imo State Award.
The same honour was also conferred on Udenwa, Okorocha and other former governors, as well as other distinguished individuals, with the exception of the state’s first civilian governor, Chief Samuel Mbakwe.
Mbakwe, who was represented by his son, received the Golden Star Governor of Imo Award, an honour also bestowed on the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
However, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Chief Ikedi Ohakim and Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha attended the event, held in Owerri on Saturday, where they received the Grand Service Star of Imo State Award.
The same honour was also conferred on Udenwa, Okorocha and other former governors, as well as other distinguished individuals, with the exception of the state’s first civilian governor, Chief Samuel Mbakwe.
Mbakwe, who was represented by his son, received the Golden Star Governor of Imo Award, an honour also bestowed on the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
“It has been one surprise after another surprise” – Omotola Ekeinde overwhelmed as she speaks on her 48th birthday celebration
Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is speaking on her 48th birthday celebration.
Kemi Filani reported on Saturday, February 7th, that Omotola had shared photos of herself in Edo regalia, expressing gratitude to her Maker for 48 glorious years.
Omotola noted how God has been so good to her and that she is returning to give Him the Glory.
Taking to her Instagram page to speak about her birthday celebration, she revealed it was an eventful day, as she received countless surprises.
Describing her celebration as overwhelmingly mind-blowing, she expressed gratitude to her Maker.
