Compilations of top 10 key latest stories that you need to know this Thursday morning, 5th February, 2026
Kwara massacre: FG faces heat as 100 feared dead
Over 100 people were feared dead on Tuesday night following a deadly attack on Woro and Nuku communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State by Islamic militants, while several people were also killed after bandits pounced on Abande community in Mbaikyor Ward, Turan, Kwande LG of Benue State.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, however, confirmed the death of 75 persons.
The governor disclosed the figure on Wednesday night while addressing residents at the palace of the Emir of Kaiama, explaining that the victims were “local Muslims massacred for refusing to surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine.”
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to the area to prosecute counter-offensives code-named Operation Savannah Shield.
Lakurawa, an armed group linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province, is believed to have carried out the attack.
The latest development has further put the Federal Government’s security campaign under public scrutiny.
Delayed Electoral Act amendment could disrupt 2027 poll timetable – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned that delays in amending the Electoral Act could affect aspects of the timetable for the 2027 general elections, even as it assured Nigerians of its readiness to conduct the polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), raised the concern on Wednesday during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja.
Amupitan said the commission had already concluded its election timetable and schedule of activities based on the existing legal framework but noted that any changes arising from the amended Electoral Act could require adjustments.
“While we have made our submissions to the National Assembly, the passage of the amendment may have implications for certain items in our timetable,” he said.
“However, for now, the commission has no choice but to operate within the framework of the subsisting Electoral Act.”
He urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing amendment process to provide clarity ahead of the 2027 polls.“We seek your support in urging the National Assembly to speed up work on the amendment of the Electoral Act,” the INEC chairman said.
Diezani trial: UK contractor details luxury property, unpaid bills
A former building contractor has given detailed testimony about the renovation and management of high-value London properties linked to Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, as her bribery trial continued for a fifth day at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Tony Mulcahy, a former director of Bear Rock Construction Ltd, told the court that his company carried out major refurbishment works between 2011 and 2014 on several properties allegedly used by Alison-Madueke and her family.
His evidence, supported by emails and financial records shown to the jury, described a business relationship with Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko that was marked by repeated payment delays.
Mulcahy said Bear Rock was engaged by Aluko to oversee extensive renovations at 39 Chester Close North, London.
Floor plans presented in court showed the installation of a residential lift, which Mulcahy said was required because the intended occupant, Alison-Madueke’s mother, had mobility challenges.
He added that the top floor was designated for the minister’s son and that the total cost of work on the property was about £2m.
75 killed in Kwara communities for resisting extremists, says gov
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has revealed that at least 75 residents were killed in a brutal attack on two villages for resisting extremists who sought to impose a “strange doctrine” on the area.
The governor, speaking during a visit to Kaiama Local Government Area, accompanied by security chiefs and cabinet members on Wednesday, described the massacre as a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells.
The attacks reportedly targeted the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama LGA on Tuesday evening, where gunmen allegedly rounded up residents, bound their hands, and opened fire indiscriminately.
Confirming the incident, the police spokesperson in the state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the attack on the communities began at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Kwankwaso slams Kwara killings, urges action
Former New Nigeria Peoples Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has condemned the deadly attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, describing the killings as barbaric and warning that the Federal Government must not treat the worsening security situation lightly.
The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday evening, have left scores of residents dead and several communities displaced, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the spread of violent extremist groups into previously peaceful areas of the country.
Reacting in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Kwankwaso said he was deeply saddened and horrified by reports of mass casualties in the affected communities.
“I am deeply saddened and horrified by the reported massacre of at least 162 innocent lives in the communities of Woro and Nuku in Kwara State,” he said.
Lagos Assembly audits LGs, LCDAs to strengthen accountability
The Lagos State House of Assembly has initiated an audit of the accounts of 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) as part of its efforts to strengthen accountability at the grassroots level.
Declaring it open on Wednesday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts (Local), Nureni Akinsanya, made this announcement at the Lateef Jakande Hall, Assembly Complex, in Ikeja.
Akinsanya said the audit was to promote transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public funds across the local councils.
He explained that the exercise was conducted pursuant to Section 52 of the Local Government Administration Law 2024 and Rule 116 of the Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, February 5, 2026
The Nigerian Naira extended its winning streak against the United States Dollar during the early hours of Thursday, February 5, 2026.
Building on the momentum from the start of the week, the local currency has significantly improved its position in the official market, as liquidity levels remain robust.
In the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira opened today’s trading session at approximately 1,368.56 per dollar.
By mid-morning, the rate saw a slight adjustment, with the exchange rate settling at 1,371.40.
Reopening Port Harcourt refinery was a waste of resources — NNPC GCEO
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, has declared that the re-opening of the Port Harcourt Refinery and Petrochemical Company was a huge waste of resources.
Ojulari, who spoke on Wednesday at the ongoing 2026 Nigerian International Energy Summit, said the national oil company currently lacks the capacity to operate refineries profitably.
He noted that for refineries to function effectively, there must be adequate financing, competent Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors, as well as efficient operations and maintenance capacity.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, which was rehabilitated at a cost of $1.5 billion under the leadership of former NNPC GCEO, Mele Kyari, was reopened in November 2024 after about three years of rehabilitation.
However, it was shut down in May 2025 due to sustained financial losses.
Dangote Refinery refutes import claims, says allegations are false and misleading
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) has firmly denied reports suggesting that it imports finished petroleum products, describing the claims as incorrect and based on a misunderstanding of global refinery operations.
As a state of the art, large scale merchant refinery, DPRP refines crude oil and processes intermediate feedstocks into premium petroleum products and petrochemicals that meet the highest international standards.
Speaking during a media briefing at the refinery, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, David Bird, explained that processing intermediate or semi processed materials is a standard practice within the global refining industry.
He clarified that this practice does not amount to importing finished.
I don’t need constitution to advise leaders, Emir Sanusi asserts
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has emphasised that traditional rulers remain essential pillars of nation-building and sound leadership.
He stated that “traditional institutions are key to good governance,” calling for stronger efforts at nation-building.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, Emir Sanusi said he does not need the constitution to advise the President or state governors on issues affecting the nation.
According to him, his authority to offer counsel to constituted authorities derives from the people he leads.
Sanusi said:
“Do I need to be told to advise the President?
Do I need the Constitution to tell me that if I think there is something the country needs, I should go to the President and say, ‘Mr President, I think this is wrong?’
“I don’t need the Constitution. I don’t need the Constitution to tell the governor that I think this is what we should be doing. I get that authority from being a leader of the people.
