People carry belongings on a flooded street in Monteria, Colombia on February 9, 2026. (Photo by AFP)Colombia declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after floods killed 18 people and left thousands of families displaced in the country’s northern cattle belt. Water submerged homes after a dam and rivers overflowed in Cordoba, one of the worst-hit departments, where more than 150,000 residents have been affected. The floods have destroyed more than 4,300 homes and submerged vast swathes of the country used for grazing and agriculture, authorities said. Colombia’s disaster relief agency had reported 22 deaths nationwide on Monday, but later revised the figure down.

National Assembly legislative aides appointed on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday formally declared their support for the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, pledging to mobilise voters for him nationwide. The declaration was made by the National Coordinator of the group, Ayoola Fakunle, at the inauguration of members of the National Assembly Legislative Aides into the APC Support Groups Council in Abuja. “We have legislative aides at the National Assembly, State Assembly and local government. So, legislative aides abound everywhere you go. “Today’s inauguration of legislative aides is an added advantage to the APC, because we need more members and groups like this.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has again emerged as a potential candidate for another coaching job, following multiple reports that French club Marseille are considering him to replace Roberto De Zerbi, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Marseille are in search of a replacement for the Italian manager, with Chelle emerging as a potential candidate. France-based Nigerian journalist Babatunde Ojora reported that the Super Eagles coach has been recommended to the French club. “It’s not just about interest in him because he has gotten results with the Super Eagles. He has so much belief in the Super Eagles.”

(FILES) This photograph taken on January 13, 2025 in Toulouse shows screens displaying the logo of Grok, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, the American company specializing in artificial intelligence and it's founder South African businessman Elon Musk. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)Brazil on Wednesday told Elon Musk’s social network X to stop its chatbot from creating sexually explicit images, the latest country to pressure the billionaire to fix the artificial intelligence tool. Indonesia became the first country to block Grok entirely last month, while Britain and France said they would maintain pressure after the chatbot cranked out a flood of lewd photos of women and children. X claimed it had deleted thousands of posts and suspended hundreds of accounts after Brazil issued a warning last month, Brazilian authorities said. But checks found that Grok users were still able to generate sexualised deepfakes, they added.

The Lagos State Police Command has sealed Signatious Hotel in the Ajao Estate area of the state following the mysterious death of Mattias Airenekhueme at the facility, after PUNCH Metro reported the incident. Airenekhueme disclosed that three persons — the hotel manager and two of Mattias’ friends — were initially arrested in connection with the incident. The source added that the organiser of the pool party had also been arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four. The organiser of the pool party is also currently in police custody,” the source said. He further claimed that the pool party continued that same night despite the discovery of his son’s body.

The Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Oba Idowu Adediwura, who is the Second-in-Command to Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for executing infrastructural projects in the ancient town. He said the projects have helped preserve the town’s cultural heritage and saved it from global embarrassment. ‎Adediwura, however, said the ongoing N14bn flyover and 17 road projects initiated by the Adeleke’s administration had improved access to cultural centres across the town. ‎According to him, the projects would promote culture and bring honour to Ile-Ife as the origin of the Yoruba race. ‎“I want to commend Governor Adeleke for saving us from global embarrassment through the ongoing flyover project and other township roads.

Ademola Lookman will face Barcelona when Atletico Madrid welcome the Catalan giants to the Metropolitano on Thursday (today) for the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final clash, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The Copa del Rey represents a significant opportunity for Diego Simeone’s side, who secured their semi-final spot emphatically by dismantling Real Betis 5-0 in the quarter-finals, with Lookman scoring on his debut. Lookman has added an attacking edge to Simeone’s side since joining from Atalanta during the winter transfer window. Barcelona, meanwhile, arrive in formidable form, having won their last six matches in all competitions, scoring at least twice in each of those victories. They remain in contention for multiple trophies, having progressed to the Champions League last 16 and eyeing another Copa del Rey final appearance as part of a potential treble charge.

Operatives of the New Juaben South Municipal Police Command in Koforidua, Eastern Region of Ghana, have arrested 13 suspected commercial sex workers, consisting of 12 Nigerians and one Ghanaian, during a special operation targeting prostitution and human trafficking. Further enquiries led officers to a suspected brothel in the same area, resulting in the arrest of 12 additional suspects. So far, about 15 persons, the youngest aged between 15 and 32 years, are in police custody and will be put before the court immediately,” Superintendent Nsiah said. Police said about 15 suspects aged between 15 and 31 are currently in custody and will be arraigned in court after investigations. The suspects, police said, have violated Sections 273, 274, and 277 of the Act, which prohibit prostitution, human trafficking, and brothel operations.

The bill recommends visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against individuals and entities accused of involvement in religious freedom abuses. Reacting at a press conference heldin Abuja, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed any suggestion that Kwankwaso was responsible for religious freedom violations. “In a statement posted on his X handle at the time, Senator Kwankwaso cautioned against what he described as oversimplified characterisations of Nigeria’s internal challenges. Questioning the allegation, the NNPP asked, “But is this enough to accuse Kwankwaso of severe religious freedom violations? Tensions over religious freedom have intensified amid persistent violence in parts of northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.

The Gombe State Police Command on Wednesday announced the successful rescue of a businessman kidnapped in Tingile Village, Birin Fulani area of Nafada Local Government Area. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said the victim was abducted after a violent attack on his cattle ranch, during which his son was also injured. “On February 11, 2026, at about 3:00 a.m., unknown assailants armed with sticks, cutlasses, and knives invaded the cattle range of Alhaji Adamu Bappah, 48, of Tingile Village via Birin Fulani,” Abdullahi stated. “The victim was safely rescued in the Dawo bush area of Kwani Local Government and taken to the hospital for medical examination before being reunited with his family,” he added. “The command reassures the public of its unwavering commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety and security of all residents within Gombe State,” Abdullahi said.

Experts and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors will, on Tuesday, 17 February, converge in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to discuss how engineering and planning could help to enhance national security. The discussion at the 12th Waheed Kadiri Lecture Series, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Ogun State Chapter, will focus on the topic ‘Designing a Safer Nigeria: Engineering, Planning and the Fight against Insecurity’. The event is scheduled for 11am at Ogun Pensioners Hall, opposite Waheed Kadiri House, NITP Ogun State Secretariat, off Moshood Abiola Way, Ijeun-Lukosi, Abeokuta. The chairman of the organising committee, Oladunjoye Arowosegbe, said the choice of topic for the lecture series was part of the institute’s contributions towards the development of the country. The annual lecture coincides with his birthday and brings together professionals and dignitaries from far and wide in an atmosphere of professional excellence and community service.

AS the world marks the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism on February 12, Nigeria has no cause for ceremonial speeches. According to local officials, the attackers opened fire randomly, leaving families searching for missing loved ones and entire communities traumatised. On the same day, gunmen stormed Woro and a neighbouring town in Kwara State, massacring about 200 people. On this Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism, Nigeria must move beyond rhetoric. Beyond the killings, violent extremism tramples other fundamental rights: the right to education, worship and free movement.

/Manchester City ramped up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by strolling to a 3-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday to cut the gap at the top to three points. Pep Guardiola has sought solutions to his side’s second-half slumps that have cost them precious points in the title race. But the Gunners’ advantage has reduced from nine points to three in four days to give City hope of denying them a first league title in 22 years. The January signings of Semenyo and Marc Guehi have added firepower up front and steel at the back to reignite City’s title charge. Haaland scored his first non-penalty Premier League goal since December 20 when he drilled into the bottom corner from outside the box on 39 minutes.

The Nigeria Customs Service has assured onion farmers and export-focused stakeholders of the service’s commitment to removing non-tariff barriers to boost the onion sector valued at N1.17tn. This is even as the service vowed to tackle operational bottlenecks and work with relevant agencies to create an enabling environment for export trade and boost the N1.17tn onion sector. “So let me assure onion farmers and other export-oriented stakeholders that the NCS will stand solidly behind you. We will remove all known non-tariff barriers and work with other government agencies and stakeholders to create a more facilitating environment for your trade,” Adeniyi said. According to him, while discussions on transit corridors often focus on imports, the engagement with onion exporters presents an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s export narrative and unlock broader economic benefits.

A suspected improvised explosive device detonated early Wednesday at the Bayelsa State Secretariat Complex in Yenagoa, prompting an emergency response by security agencies and a temporary disruption of official activities. Following the incident, the Bayelsa State Government ordered a temporary four-hour suspension of work at the secretariat as a precautionary measure, affecting over 6,000 state employees. Security operatives, including anti-bomb units, cordoned off access roads leading to the Secretariat and the Bayelsa State Government House while investigations and safety procedures were carried out. Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Iyamah, assured residents that no casualties were recorded and no property was damaged. “The Bayelsa State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a suspected IED explosion which occurred today, 11th February 2026, at about 0600hrs within the State Secretariat Complex.