The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has successfully rescued a three-year-old girl abducted in Abak Local Government Area and arrested a suspect, following a swift, intelligence-driven response to a distress call on Wednesday. The dramatic rescue, which occurred barely hours after the incident was reported, has been widely commended as a major boost to public confidence in security efforts across the state. ALSO READ: Edo: Police rescue two kidnap victims, arrest eight suspectsThe operation led to the arrest of one Saturday Ofonmbuk, 29, from Afaha Ikot Inyang Village in Ukanafun Local Government Area, and the successful rescue of the abducted child. The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the suspect’s motive and to establish whether he has links to similar crimes within or outside the state. In a stern warning, the Command declared that Akwa Ibom State will not serve as a haven for child abductors or criminal elements, stressing that anyone involved in crimes against children will face the full weight of the law.

Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has opened up about what he described as one of the biggest regrets of his life, saying his focus on work and money cost him a relationship with a woman he believed was his soulmate. However, Timini said he was more focused on building his career and achieving financial stability, believing that providing money was his way of showing love. He added that he expected her to understand his frequent absence because he felt pressure to work harder and secure a better future. The actor also explained that listening, paying attention to small details, being present, and showing genuine interest in a partner’s daily life are key parts of keeping a relationship stable. Timini also admitted that selfishness and poor communication played a role in some of his past relationships.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has thrown her weight behind the real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing any failure to adopt the system as a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic future. The Kogi Central lawmaker made her position known in a post on her official Facebook page on Thursday. Her words; “I, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, support the real-time electronic transmission of results. Failure of such steals a lethal assault to Nigeria’s democracy.”ALSO READ: JUST IN: Senate rejects electronic transmission of election resultsHer statement comes amid renewed national debate following the Senate’s recent rejection of a proposed amendment that sought to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory. Building on her position, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that real-time electronic transmission is no longer optional in a modern democracy, but a necessary safeguard against manipulation, delays, and post-election disputes.

A man allegedly smashed his girlfriend’s phone after she rejected his marriage proposal at a supermarket in Lagos. The incident was captured in a video that later went viral on X (formerly Twitter). The clip shows the man going down on one knee in the middle of a busy supermarket aisle, holding a ring as shoppers watched and recorded the scene. The woman appeared uncomfortable and repeatedly asked him to stop, but bystanders continued filming as the situation became tense. The situation escalated when the man allegedly smashed a phone he claimed to have bought for her on the floor, saying he had spent a lot of money on her despite her rejection.

The party described the 10th Senate’s decision as retrogressive and called on all Nigerians to reject it. The party also faulted the Senate’s decision to shorten the notice periods for elections and the timelines for the publication of the list of candidates. According to the ADC, the Senate’s actions reveal the ruling party’s fear of free and fair elections in 2027, despite its political dominance. “As Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the ADC unequivocally condemns this retrogression of the Nigerian Senate and calls on all Nigerians to reject it. “We also call on the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reject the Senate’s submission.

The House of Representatives has constituted a bipartisan conference committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, in accordance with legislative procedure for harmonising areas of difference between the versions of the Bill passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly. This development was contained in an internal correspondence dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, conveying the directive of the House leadership. According to the correspondence, the bipartisan conference committee is composed as follows: Rep. Adebayo Balogun – Chairman; Rep. Fred Agbedi; Rep. Sada Soli; Rep. Ahmadu Jaha; Rep. Iduma Igariwey Enwo; Rep. Saidu Musa Abdullahi and Rep. Zainab Gimba. ALSO READ: Electoral bill: Reps step down consideration of outstanding clausesThe bipartisan conference committee was mandated to confer with its counterpart from the Senate with a view to harmonising the differing provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill as passed by both Chambers, ahead of final passage by the National Assembly. Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, who confirmed this via a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja, reiterated the House’s commitment to advancing electoral reforms that strengthen transparency, credibility, and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has suggested that wealth does not guarantee happiness. In a post shared on X on Thursday, Musk reflected on the popular saying that money cannot buy happiness, implying that it carries a deeper truth. He tweeted, “Whoever said “money can’t buy happiness” really knew what they were talking about 😔.”His remarks come just days after he became the first individual to reach a net worth of more than $800 billion following a major corporate deal involving his companies. Before the merger, Musk held significant stakes in both SpaceX and xAI, with SpaceX alone accounting for the largest share of his assets. He also maintains major holdings in Tesla, including shares and stock options, alongside a potential future compensation package tied to long-term performance targets.

A Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing and deputy vice chancellor (Administration) at Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Prema Kirubakaran, has allayed fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace humans, noting that the technology is designed to enhance human capacity, innovation and productivity. “Will AI define who we are as human beings, or will we continue to define AI? In an interview after the lecture, Professor Dogo disclosed that Nile University has made AI literacy compulsory for all students and staff, describing it as essential for relevance in the 21st Century. Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor of Nile University, Mr John Vermaaten, expressed optimism about the future of artificial intelligence, particularly in healthcare, business automation and drug research. “I am very hopeful, and I believe Nile University can be a leader in AI research in Nigeria and globally.”He acknowledged that while AI remains transformative and full of uncertainties, the university’s academic and management team is well positioned to promote responsible innovation.

Bandits have reportedly released the remaining worshippers abducted during a Sunday attack on churches in the Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, Rev. He also commended the Kaduna State Government, noting that Governor Uba Sani had demonstrated commitment to protecting lives and property in the state. “I can confirm to you that the remaining worshippers have been released, but I cannot confirm the exact number,” the police source said. Efforts to get confirmation from the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says that the proposed Aba Commercial Smart City, a strategically situated Public-Private Partnership investment hub sitting on a 140-hectare land at Osisioma, will, on completion, launch Aba into an industrial centre for sustainable economic development and job creation. Otti, who was speaking on Wednesday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Aba Commercial Smart City and United Market Leaders/Traders held in Umuahia, noted that the project, when realised, will practically transform the state and modernise trade, commerce, manufacturing and logistics. “When we talk about the Aba Commercial Smart City, it is a project that will significantly transform Aba and indeed Abia.”In an address by the Group Managing Director of Aba Commercial Smart City, Professor Chinedu Nebo, represented by the President, Aba Commercial Smart City, Amb. He said that the Aba Commercial Smart City is a symbol of prosperity through enterprise, designed to restore Aba’s pride as Africa’s commercial heartbeat and connect it seamlessly to global trade corridors. In his technical speech, the Manager, Technical Services, Aba Commercial Smart City, Mr David Okoro, said that the project is built on four core pillars of innovation, including automated manufacturing, medical, commerce, hospitality and smart housing, logistics efficiency and smart energy, noting that the smart city is a resilient city where business thrives on intelligence and connectivity.

Pedestrians walk past an electronic quotation board displaying the Nikkei 225 stock prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on February 3, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)Stocks mostly fell Thursday to track more losses on Wall Street, where tech firms were again under pressure as fears over vast AI investments and extended valuations gained momentum. The selling extended into Asia, where Seoul — which has cruised more than 20 per cent to multiple record highs this year thanks to its strong tech presence — sank 3.9 per cent. Oil prices fell more than two per cent at one point after Iran and the United States said nuclear talks would go ahead in Oman this week. And Sony rallied nearly six per cent after announcing it had hiked its full-year sales and profit forecasts thanks to a weaker yen.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted nine members of the same family, including a nursing mother and several children, along the Benin-Akure Road in Edo State. He explained that the family became aware of the abduction when the woman and her baby returned home. According to him, three other children in pre-kindergarten classes were subsequently rescued by local vigilantes and police operatives in the community. She said five of the victims were rescued unhurt, while four others were taken away by the fleeing abductors. The police added that the ongoing operation forms part of broader security measures aimed at dismantling criminal networks across the state.

Australian police charged a man with hundreds of child abuse offences on Thursday after finding 23,000 sexually explicit images on his computer from children allegedly groomed online. Victims were aged from seven to 15 years and lived in Australia and abroad, Clark said. “It will be alleged the man actively targeted the victims on popular social media and gaming platforms and the offending was between 2018 to 2025,” he told reporters. “The trauma that this causes a child is significant.”He has been charged with 596 separate offences, including more than 200 counts of producing child abuse material and 87 counts of sexual activity with a child over the internet. Australia recently banned under-16s from a raft of the world’s most popular social media platforms, in part citing an alarming rise in adult predators finding young victims online.

Lafarge Africa Plc, a building solutions company and manufacturer of cement, mortar, and ready-mix concrete, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local cement production with the expansion of its Sagamu Cement Plant in Ogun State and Ashaka Cement Plant in Gombe State. The company noted that the expansion is expected to improve product availability and enhance Lafarge Africa’s ability to serve customers efficiently across key markets. The development follows the announcement made last year that Huaxin Building Materials Group had acquired 83.81 per cent of Lafarge Africa Plc, a move the company said demonstrates the group’s commitment to Nigeria’s infrastructural development. “The expansion of our plants is a strategic investment that reinforces Lafarge Africa’s role in supporting national development. Lafarge Africa Plc said it remains focused on the disciplined execution of its expansion plans and transparent engagement with stakeholders as it continues to invest in strengthening its operations across Nigeria.

A 59-year-old Chinese national has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman at a quarry site in the Kobape area of Ogun State. PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that the incident occurred on January 25, 2026, at the facility located within the area. “A 59-year-old Chinese national was arrested following an allegation of indecent assault at a quarry in the Kobape area of the state,” the source said. The arrest comes amid renewed concerns over criminal allegations involving foreign nationals in the country. In July 2025, PUNCH Metro reported that operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested a Chinese national, Liang Tak You, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with 50 parcels of “Loud”, a synthetic strain of cannabis, after arriving from Bangkok, Thailand.