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Student Killed in Senegal Amid University Protest, Police Clash

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Student Killed in Senegal Amid University Protest, Police Clash

The government of Senegal announced Tuesday that a student had died as a result of altercations between students and police at a university in the west African nation over unpaid stipends.

According to the statement, the disturbance started on Monday at the Sheikh Anta Diop University in the capital, Dakar.

According to the government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Ba, a second-year medical student, passed away as a result.
Throughout the past few months, there have been intermittent protests at a number of Senegalese colleges as students demand payment of their stipends.

Bugaje Alleges Repeated Misconduct by Akpabio-Led Senate Over Electoral Act, Tax Law, Budget Padding

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Bugaje Alleges Repeated Misconduct by Akpabio-Led Senate Over Electoral Act, Tax Law, Budget Padding

According to Dr. Usman Bugaje, a political activist and Islamic scholar, the Senate leadership, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has consistently undermined Nigeria’s democratic process by dishonesty and subpar legislative behavior.

In an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Bugaje reportedly defended the continuing effort to change the Electoral Act following a Supreme Court decision.

He claimed that the revision was now required to improve electoral openness and give clarity, especially by requiring the results to be transmitted electronically in real time.

“You see, we now need to go back and amend the law for clarity, accuracy, and precision so that everybody will be clear precisely because of that Supreme Court ruling,” Bugaje stated.

“Everyone should be able to see the precise location of the votes, and the best way to achieve this is to ensure that the results are made available electronically, instantly, or in real time.”

Bugaje pointed out that the House of Representatives had already approved the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recommendation to require real-time results transmission.

But he said the Senate was against the change.

Even further, INEC has stated that real-time results transmission need to be required. He remarked, “The Senate is constantly caught cheating or deceiving people, but the House of Representatives has done just that.”

Legislative Gaps Accusations
The activist further claimed that the Senate had a history of legislative failures, including disputes over budgetary procedures and tax legislation, which cast doubt on economic planning and governance.

After this amendment, we truly need to handle this one issue. In terms of their primary duty of enacting laws, the Senate has been observed dozing off or engaging in dishonest behavior on previous occasions, Bugaje stated.

With the tax law, they have accomplished that. Because of the chaos they created, we now have almost three budgets, none of which are truly useful. They accomplished this by padding budgets. You have no idea where you actually are.

Because they are unsure of which budget will be financed and which will be implemented, businesses are unable to plan.

Bugaje demanded that the Senate leadership’s conduct be closely examined and characterized it as a significant governance concern.

Therefore, we must start to question the purpose of Senate leadership, as it is currently the nation’s largest issue. He asked, “What kind of careless behavior is this?”

Even after the Electoral Act change process, he continued, the matter will continue to be a topic of national discussion.

According to Bugaje, “we’ll have to take that up after we have gone through the amendment.”

He maintained that nationwide mandated electronic transmission of election results was gaining public acceptance.

“However, I believe that there is a widespread belief throughout the nation, including among their fellow House lawmakers, that this real-time, mandated transmission is what everyone wants and what ought to be done. He declared, “Nigerians are not prepared for anything less.”

Benue Church Attack: Nine Worshippers Abducted During Vigil

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Benue Church Attack: Nine Worshippers Abducted During Vigil

During a vigil on Sunday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area, Benue State, at least nine worshippers were kidnapped by suspected bandits.

According to local authorities on Monday, the attack happened at around two in the morning while the church was conducting a vigil as part of a 30-day program.

Comrade Jude, the LGA’s National Publicity Secretary for the Ufia Development Association Nine worshipers, including ladies and young people, were kidnapped from St. John’s Catholic Church as they were attending the vigil at around two in the morning, Onwe informed our correspondent.

Ado LGA Chairman Sunday Oche confirmed the occurrence and bemoaned the church’s failure to call in security personnel in spite of earlier advice.

That’s what we’ve been fighting for. I have called in all of the security services once we learned of the tragic kidnapping. We’re working diligently,” Oche declared.

Residents should involve security officers in nighttime activities, he suggested, adding that disregarding such warnings puts individuals in danger. He expressed concern that people disregard the police’s advise to call the police anytime a nighttime event, such as a wedding, funeral, or celebration, lasts past nine o’clock.

In response, Benue State Police Command spokesperson Udeme Edet stated that tactical teams had been sent to the scene to rescue the victims. “Efforts are underway to rescue the worshippers, and security personnel are pursuing the abductors,” he continued.

The most recent kidnapping underscores the state’s increasing instability following a string of violent incidents, such as the June 2025 massacre in Yelwata that left over 200 people dead and sparked national and international outrage.

El-Rufai: I Was Never Tinubu’s Friend, Reveals Why Relationship Broke Down

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El-Rufai: I Was Never Tinubu’s Friend, Reveals Why Relationship Broke Down

According to Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, he and President Bola Tinubu disagree on governing philosophy.

In an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai reportedly stated that he and Tinubu never had a strong personal relationship, emphasizing that his early support for the President was motivated by principles rather than a personal connection.

Former FCT Minister El-Rufai emphasized that the conflict with Tinubu was never personal.

He added that he would have quit the administration due to those basic philosophical disagreements even if he had agreed to Tinubu’s offer of ministerial posts.

“I was never Tinubu’s friend,” he added. I developed a personal contact with General Buhari that we never had before.

Some Islamic stakeholders in the southwest approached me to offer their support for the rise of a Muslim presidential contender from the region.

That was how the conversations began. Being the governor of Kaduna and one of the APC’s founders, I was aware that there was an agreement that power would shift back to the south following Buhari’s eight years in office. Tinubu was only an unintended beneficiary; it wasn’t about him.

We failed to identify points of agreement and didn’t have a falling out. I am in government to serve the people and accomplish goals, not to make money or install friends.

“As a Muslim, a Northerner, and a Nigerian, the ideology of this regime runs counter to everything I’ve been taught. They arrived to control the cake and make money. We are distinct individuals living on opposite sides of a line that will never intersect.

Additionally, El-Rufai said that his dedication to maintaining party unity following Tinubu’s victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary was founded on his values.

“It is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election, whether I like the candidate or not,” he said.

“I would do everything in my power to ensure his victory because he emerged as the party’s candidate.”

Morning Briefing: Rivers Crisis Truce, US Deportations, Senate Emergency Session Dominate Headlines

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Morning Briefing: Rivers Crisis Truce, US Deportations, Senate Emergency Session Dominate Headlines

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike left the Presidential Villa together in a symbolic show of reconciliation following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the long-running political dispute in Rivers State, while the United States declared its intention to deport 18 Nigerians who were on its “criminal list.”

Amidst the banditry crisis, the Senate met again in response to public outcry over changes to the Electoral Act, Oyo princes filed a legal challenge to maintain the Alaafin’s stool’s supremacy, and the Federal Government denied requests from northern governors to halt mining operations.

The top stories of the day are listed below:

As Fubara and Wike leave Villa together, Tinubu mediates a settlement.

The fact that Fubara and Wike left the Presidential Villa in the same car following separate talks late Sunday seemed to be a symbolic peace gesture from President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the protracted political turmoil in Rivers State. Officials saw the event as a potential sign of a thawing of hostilities between the political personalities who had been at odds for almost two years.

The United States will deport 18 Nigerians on the criminal list once more.

Nigerians on the removal list now number 97 after the US Department of Homeland Security added 18 more to its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal list that is set to be deported. Consistent with the United States’ growing assault on criminal immigrants, the revised list includes people convicted of crimes like identity theft, mail fraud, and wire fraud.
3. FG dismisses the plea from northern governments to halt mining due to the banditry situation.

Although northern governors and traditional leaders have jointly called for a six-month moratorium to reduce insecurity associated with illegal mining, the Federal Government has rejected a complete suspension of mining operations in northern Nigeria. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development explained a tailored security plan to deal with criminal groups near mining operations, stating that a complete prohibition would have dire economic repercussions.

4. Amid outcry over Electoral Act revisions, the Senate reconvenes.

Tuesday’s emergency plenary session of the Nigerian Senate will take place amid ongoing national indignation over the Senate’s handling of Electoral Act revisions, namely the removal of the provision requiring the electronic transmission of election results in real time. In order to preserve election integrity, civil society organizations, labor unions, and political activists protested and called for the emergency session to be held.

5. Oyo princes start a legal battle to uphold Alaafin’s dominance

Legal action has been taken by Oyo State princes to defend the Alaafin of Oyo’s supremacy and traditional authority. Concerns about legal and political trends undermining the Alaafin’s long-standing cultural status and influence within the traditional hierarchy are the reason behind the court challenge, according to the royal family and other parties.

Osogbo Mosque Death: Court Orders Imam, Four Others into Custody

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Osogbo Mosque Death: Court Orders Imam, Four Others into Custody

Five individuals, including the Imam, have been placed on detention by an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in relation to the death of a worshipper during morning prayers in the state capital.

Abdulgafar Sakariyah, 51, the Imam of Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, was among those remanded in detention together with four other individuals: Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Fokorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29.

On Monday, the suspects were taken before Magistrate A. Daramola after the Osun State Police Command filed a plea to hold them until the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions could provide guidance.

The police asked an order putting the suspects to a detention facility while investigations are completed and legal counsel is obtained in a motion filed ex parte.

Inspector Bashir Sulaiman of the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Osogbo, deposed to an affidavit supporting the application.

The document states that “the incident occurred on January 30, 2026, at about 6:15am during Subuhi prayers at the central mosque in Osogbo.”

The deceased, identified as Ahmed Najeem, allegedly entered the mosque and “forcefully collected the microphone from the Imam during the morning prayer,” according to Inspector Sulaiman.

Additionally, the affidavit stated that the Imam was “beaten to death by the respondents in an attempt to hit him with the microphone stand.”

The police informed the judge that the application was filed in accordance with Osun State’s 2018 Administration of Criminal Justice Law and emphasized that a remand order was necessary in order to legitimately hold the suspects.

Additionally, it stated that “there is no other way to remand the respondents in a correctional center pending the outcome of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, unless the application is granted.”

Magistrate Daramola approved the request after reviewing the application and directed that the five suspects be placed under remand at the Ilesa Correctional Center.

The subject was postponed to February 24, 2026, for additional discussion while the DPP issued legal advice.

It has been reported that on Friday, January 30, 2026, a group of worshippers severely injured Najeem, a vehicle painter.

But he passed away later that day due to his injuries, which led to chaos as his friends and family stormed the mosque during Friday Juma’at prayers.

El-Rufai Throws Weight Behind Electoral Act Protest, Slams Senate

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El-Rufai Throws Weight Behind Electoral Act Protest, Slams Senate

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that if he had been in the nation, he would have participated in the demonstration against the National Assembly spearheaded by Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate for the Labour Party.

In a Monday interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai criticized the Senate for changing the proposed Electoral Act revisions’ provisions on the electronic transmission of election results, arguing that real-time transmission is crucial to avoiding manipulation.

He claims that the reform’s opposition and delay are politically driven and intended to maintain electoral advantages.

“I regret that I was unable to travel back to Nigeria; I would have joined Mr. Peter Obi and other party leaders in demonstrating before the National Assembly to reinstate the mandatory and real-time transmission of polling station results,” El-Rufai stated.

He claimed the ruling party was against the move for survival reasons and that implementing real-time electronic transmission would greatly reduce election rigging and increase election credibility.

The former governor also pointed out that although the House of Representatives had supported the reform, the Senate had not yet given it its complete support.

It had stated that Obi led hundreds of demonstrators to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday to protest the Senate’s decision to strike the word “real-time” from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill’s provisions on electronic results transmission.

The Obidient Movement and pro-democracy organizations organized the demonstration, which was dubbed “Occupy the National Assembly.” They claimed that the MPs’ conduct was a planned attempt to undermine electoral transparency in advance of the general elections in 2027.

After a third reading last week, the Senate approved the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill, 2026. However, the removal of the term “real-time” from portions pertaining to electronic results transmission sparked controversy, as some argue that this creates an opportunity for post-election manipulation.

Demonstrators maintain that eliminating “real-time electronic transmission” leaves gaps that could be exploited, notwithstanding the Senate’s later clarifications that it did not completely eliminate electronic transmission.

Protesters held signs that read, “Our votes must count,” “No to electoral robbery,” and “Protect democracy now” as they marched from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly while chanting solidarity songs.

Protesters were forced to hold their rally outside the main gate after security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps blocked access to the compound.

Speaking to reporters at the event, Obi emphasized that legitimate elections continue to be the cornerstone of national growth and cautioned that Nigeria’s democratic progress was in jeopardy.

He declared, “We have to put an end to this criminality and demonstrate that we are a country that shines in Africa.”

The former governor of Anambra also urged legislators to enact legislation ensuring results are transmitted electronically.

“There was an evident danger. We have had to endure the risk. That is what we have endured in the past. We do not wish for another glitch. That’s it. We want everything to return to normal. “No more glitches,” he continued.

UK must demand answers from Tinubu on Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction during state visit – Rising Sun Foundation

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UK must demand answers from Tinubu on Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction during state visit – Rising Sun Foundation

Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, pan-Igbo self determination activists, under the aegis of the Rising Sun Foundation, has asked the UK government to demand answers from the Nigerian leader concerning the abduction of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu was abducted in Kenya in June 2021 and forcefully repatriated to Nigeria to face trial, leading to his conviction on terrorism charges brought against him by the Nigerian government on November 20, 2025.

Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu have reportedly accepted an invitation to be guests of British monarch King Charles at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19, 2026.

Reacting to the development in a statement signed by its leader, Dr. Maxwell Dede, on Monday, Rising Sun Foundation said the state visit presents the UK government with an opportunity to demand answers on the abduction of its citizen, Kanu.

Kanu holds a British passport. The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra is currently serving a life prison sentence at the Sokoto Prison.

“Rising Sun Foundation has taken note of reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be traveling to the United Kingdom to meet with His Majesty King Charles III.

“In light of this visit, we respectfully remind the British Government and the wider international community that our only expectation is simple and just: that this meeting must not pass without the United Kingdom demanding clear answers from the Nigerian authorities regarding the unlawful abduction and extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in 2021.

“For nearly five years, the UK Foreign Office has reportedly sent multiple diplomatic communications to the Nigerian government seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding the abduction of a British citizen, traveling on a valid UK passport, from Kenya. To date, there has been no transparent or satisfactory response,” the pan-Igbo self determination activists said in the statement.

The activists condemned what they described as the abandonment of the IPOB leader by the British authorities.

According to Rising Sun Foundation, it is morally indefensible for the very state that created Nigeria, and which remains one of its principal political and economic partners, to abandon its duty of care toward a British citizen simply because of political convenience, economic interests, or historic hostility towards the Biafran cause.

The activists stressed that the continued silence and inaction of the UK authorities, coupled with credible reports about the aircraft and logistical chain used in the rendition, have deepened public suspicion that powerful international actors may have been aware of, or complicit in, the operation. “Such concerns cannot be brushed aside without transparency,” the statement said.

Rising Sun Foundation insisted that Tinubu’s visit is also an opportunity for the UK government to come clean on its role Kanu’s abduction and rendition.

Stating their demands, the activists said: “If the United Kingdom wishes to demonstrate that it was not a silent partner—or worse, an instigator—in the unlawful abduction of its own citizen, then this visit presents a clear and unavoidable test.

“His Majesty King Charles III and the UK Government must: Demand a full and public explanation from President Tinubu on why Nigeria has failed to respond adequately to repeated diplomatic inquiries.

“Seek immediate clarity on the legal and operational basis for the abduction of a British citizen in Kenya.

“If satisfactory answers are not forthcoming, call for an independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, including any possible involvement of UK officials or agencies.”

According to the statement, anything short of these steps will only reinforce the growing global perception that the United Kingdom has chosen political expediency over its obligation to protect the rights and safety of its own citizen.

“The world is watching. Justice demands answers,” the activists declared.

JAMB Stands Firm: 2026 UTME Registration Ends February 26

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JAMB Stands Firm: 2026 UTME Registration Ends February 26

Registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close on February 26, 2026, as potential candidates have been reminded by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The board warned that there would be no extension of the deadline, so candidates who planned to take the test should finish registering right away.

The board’s weekly bulletin, which was made public on Monday, includes this.

The low number of candidates at various certified registration centers at this point in the process has raised worries for the board.

In 2026, it stated that the persistent practice of putting off registration until the very last minute and then requesting an extension would not be accepted.

The practice of candidates purposefully postponing registration until the last few days and then agitating for an extension will not be tolerated in 2026.

The intentional strategies of exam cheaters and people posing as owners of tutorial centers who deceitfully suggest that applicants postpone registration until the last minute are well known to JAMB.

“This tactic is frequently intended to compel an extension of the registration period, which permits the large-scale, group transportation of candidates to centers, thereby facilitating examination malpractice,” the statement stated.

The timeframe stayed the same, according to JAMB, which clarified that the 2026 UTME registration period began on January 26 and was expected to run for five weeks.

A million or so candidates have expressed interest in the test thus far, the board revealed, and many of them have already obtained their ePINs and are anticipated to finish the registration process as soon as possible.

It further stated that because its operating schedule coincided with those of other examination bodies, stretching the registration period was not feasible.

JAMB recommended that applicants register in advance, stay away from last-minute scrambling, and ignore any indication that the deadline might be extended.

Candidates who did not take action within the allotted period would not be held accountable by the board, it emphasized.

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