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 aut...

  Civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the age of 84, his family announced. Known for his "Rainbow Coalition" vision and work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he died peacefully in Chicago while dealing with a neurological condition. Key Details Regarding Rev. Jackson's Passing: Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Age: 84 years old. Cause: The family did not immediately specify a cause, but noted he had been dealing with a neurological condition (progressive supranuclear palsy) in recent months. Jesse Jackson was one of the most influential figures in American politics and civil rights for over six decades: Civil Rights: He was a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was present at the Lorraine Motel when King was assassinated in 1968. Presidential Runs: He mounted historic campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, paving the way for future Black political le...

  The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have confirmed they will again permit brief, in-game pauses for Muslim players to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins this week and lasts until March 18, 2026. Referees will identify natural, mid-game stoppages (e.g., goal-kicks, free-kicks) to allow players to drink water or consume energy gels at sunset. The pause is intended to be a natural stoppage in play rather than a scheduled break. Team captains and match officials will agree on an approximate time for the pause before the game begins. Referees will then stop play during a natural break, such as a goal-kick or throw-in, to allow players to rehydrate or take energy supplements. These pauses are exclusively for breaking the fast and not for team drinks or tactical discussions. Procedure: Players and officials will agree beforehand if a pause is required. The stoppage will not be a formal "drinks break" but a quick, temporary pause in pla...

  Hon Minister of State Agriculure and Food security - Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi By Oluseye Arowolo - Ibadan. The Federal Government says, tackling of pests affecting tomatoes and sugarcane remains it's priority by curbing the surge to boost their production. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi stated this at the flag off of Emergency Intervention to tackle the spread of Tuta Absoluta and African Sugarcane Borer; pests threatening tomato and sugarcane production nationwide held at the Federal Crop Production Technology Transfer Station in Dan Hassan, Kano State Senator Abdulahi, who described the outbreak as a national agricultural emergency said that the infestations are affecting harvest, farmers' income and Agro-Industrial investments. The minister explained that the initiative will sensitiise farmers and extension workers, provide approved pest control inputs as well as deploy integrated pest management strategies to contai...

  As of February 13, 2026, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) is leading an effort in Congress to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from purchasing, constructing, or renovating properties in Georgia to be used as new detention centers. Senator Warnock filed an amendment to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill aimed at preventing ICE from converting warehouses into detention centers in Social Circle (Walton County) and Oakwood (Hall County). The amendment prohibits federal funds from being used for the acquisition, construction, renovation, or expansion of these specific facilities without explicit Congressional approval. ICE has already finalized plans to purchase a large warehouse in Social Circle, which has raised concerns among local officials about the strain on infrastructure, as the facility could hold up to 10,000 people in a town with a population of roughly 5,000. Opposition: Warnock stated that Georgia communities do not want "massive ...

  Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, a 21-year-old U.S. Marine from Florida, was declared dead on February 10, 2026, after a massive 72-hour search-and-rescue operation in the Caribbean Sea. He fell overboard from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) on the evening of February 7 while conducting operations. Key Details of the Incident Search Effort: The multi-branch operation involved five U.S. Navy ships, a rigid-hull inflatable boat, and 10 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Military Role: Oforah was an infantry rifleman with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Mission Context: His death is reportedly the first U.S. military fatality associated with Operation Southern Spear, a Trump administration initiative targeting drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean. The USS Iwo Jima had recently been used to transport captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Ongoing Investigation: While military officials have expressed deep gri...