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...

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, Catholic priests and faithful from the Dioceses of Wukari and Jalingo staged a massive "solidarity walk" in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, to protest ongoing mass killings in southern communities. Key Details of the Protest Targeted Areas: The clergy highlighted sustained attacks in the Takum, Donga, and Ussa Local Government Areas (LGAs), particularly in the Chanchanji Ward. Protesters condemned the recent deaths of over 80 people within 90 days. Reports indicate that thousands have been displaced, and rural parishes have been abandoned due to the violence.  Carrying placards, the priests called for: The immediate deployment of professional, neutral security personnel to the affected regions. The arrest and prosecution of perpetrators. Urgent humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Church leaders warned that if the Nigerian government fails to guarantee the safety of its citizens, they may be forced to seek interventio...

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso In February 2026, five Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.R. 7457, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.  The bill seeks to address alleged systemic religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria, specifically targeting the following individuals and groups for sanctions: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso: Former Governor of Kano State and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN): A major advocacy group for Fulani pastoralists. Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore: Another prominent Fulani socio-cultural organization. Fulani-ethnic nomad militias: The bill mandates an assessment to determine if these militias qualify as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Key Provisions of the Bill Sanctions: Recommends visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for those responsible for religious freedom violatio...

In February 2026, the United States is deploying approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to provide training and technical support to the Nigerian military. Both U.S. and Nigerian officials emphasize that this is a non-combat mission. Primary objectives Purpose: To train Nigerian forces in countering Islamist militants, specifically groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Roles: Troops will focus on technical training, intelligence sharing, and helping coordinate complex air and infantry operations. Command: Nigerian forces will retain full command authority over all security decisions and lead all missions on their territory. Timeline: The personnel are expected to arrive and be stationed at various locations across Nigeria in the coming weeks. This move follows a period of heightened U.S. concern over extremist violence in West Africa. In late 2025, President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" due to attacks on re...