Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday evening directed close collaboration between federal and state agencies to provide immediate support and relief to communities affected by the deadly terrorist attack in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The President, in a message posted on his verified X handle, said the directive was also aimed at ensuring that those behind the atrocity are pursued and brought to justice.
2. United States President Donald Trump publicly recognised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, February 5 at Washington, D.C. The event, a long-standing tradition in the U.S. capital that brings together political and religious leaders, took a notable turn when the American president paused his address to spotlight the Nigeria’s First Lady.
3. The Defence Headquarters has stated that all engagements involving United States troops are being conducted in full respect of Nigeria’s sovereignty and in accordance with established bilateral agreements. This follows viral media reports suggesting that United States troops are on the ground in Nigeria to fight terrorists.
4. Worshippers kidnapped from churches in Kurmin Wali town in the Kufana axis of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released. The victims were whisked away while attending church service in the community, on January 18, 2026. A community leader, who spoke to reporters said the release took place late Thursday.
5. The Naira on Thursday appreciated to N1,446 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,450 per dollar on Wednesday. However, the naira recorded its first depreciation this week in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM, to N1,368 per dollar.
6. Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has expanded Nigeria’s political landscape with the registration of two new political parties – the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC. This was as it strongly wondered why it should continue to register parties or have existing parties retain their registration if they keep having persistent leadership infighting.
7. The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Roberts Orya, to 10 years’ imprisonment for bank fraud involving N2.4bn. Justice F. E. Messiri delivered the judgment on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after finding Orya guilty of 49 counts of obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
8. Operatives of the police cybercrime unit in Gurgaon, India, have arrested two Nigerians for allegedly impersonating directors of Indian companies on WhatsApp to defraud unsuspecting employees. The police disclosed that the suspects deceived victims into transferring money into bank accounts controlled by the ring.
9. The African Democratic Congress has appointed and sworn in a former Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Alhaji Rahman Owokoniran, as its South West Zonal Chairman. The ceremony was conducted under the authority of the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark.
10. Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to investigate his court registrar, Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu, as well as the 2nd defendant in an alleged N10 billion fraud trial, Daudu Sulaiman, for allegedly tampering with exhibits tendered before the court.
Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Friday morning
