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 Anambra Lawyer assaulted by Ocha Brigade for allegedly challenging them during their enforcement of law and order  Anambra Lawyer, Barr Charles Ifeanyi was allegedly beaten up by members of Ocha Brigade for interfering in their job while they were enforcing law..it was reported that the lawyer was later locked up in their office and the lawyers younger brother who came to check up on him was also detained.. A press release for the Nigeria Bar Association(NBA), Awka branch reveals that even the Human Right committee of NBA visited the assaulted lawyer and his brother in detention, they were denied Access and threatened that they would lock them up where they locked up Onye eze Jesus. Below is the press release from the publicity secretary of the NBA AWKA BRANCH👇 PRESS RELEASE  ASSAULT ON A LAWYER BY OCHA BRIGADE  I was at CPS Awka attending to a client when I got a call from Barr Charles Ifeanyi's number. I picked up and the voice identified himself as the brother ...

 TROOPS OF  OPERATION  FANSAN YAMMA RESPOND  HEROICALLY TO TERRORIST AMBUSH IN  ZAMFARA Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), Joint Task Force North West, have demonstrated exceptional bravery, professionalism, and resilience following a terrorist ambush along the Bingi–Kekun Waje–Gusau Road in Zamfara State on 19 January 2026. The ambush followed a series of successful offensive operations conducted from  17 to 19 January 2026, when troops of Sector 2 OPFY, in conjunction with the OPFY Mobile Strike Team and DIA Tactical Support Team, carried out coordinated raids, ambushes, and fighting patrols across Birnin Magaji and Anka areas of Zamfara State. During these operations, three suspects—Isiya Kwakwatawa, Ibrahim Dan Musulu, and Makau Lamba Goma—were arrested, while four  terrorists were neutralised and others fled into the forest. Items recovered included 1 PKT machine gun, 5 AK-47 rifles, 3 Ak 47 magazines, other items are  rounds of 7.62mm ...

 Goods worth millions destroyed as fire guts building in Computer village Good worth millions of naira have been destroyed following a fire outbreak on a storey commercial building on Somoye Osundairo Street in Computer Village, Ikeja area of Lagos state in the wee hours of Tuesday, January 20.  In a statement released, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said that the incident happened about 1:55 am prompting the immediate activation of the state’s emergency response plan from its Command and Control Centre in Alausa. “Upon arrival of the LASEMA Response Team at the incident scene, it was observed that a fire outbreak had occurred in a one-storey commercial building accommodating dealers in computers and accessories in Computer Village, Ikeja. Responders observed active flames and dense smoke, indicating intense combustion within the structure. The high volume of combustible materials contributed to the rapid spread of fire,” the statement read  While no fataliti...

 EFCC Arraigns Businessman, Company in Lagos for  Alleged $550,000 Fraud   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, arraigned a businessman, Wilson Opuwei, alongside his company, Dateline Energy Services Ltd., before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged $550,000 fraud.   Opuwei was docked on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretences and stealing.   Count one reads: " Wilson E. A. Opuwei and Dateline Energy Services Ltd sometimes in April 2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja judicial division with intent to defraud obtained the sum of $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) through one Chimaobi Anyast, from Prince Donatus Okonkwo under the false pretence that the money represent payment for allocation of 5000 metric tons of Due Purpose Kerosene (DPK) to him from Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC) which pretence you knew was false". ...

‘Stop wasting people’s time’— Interior minister blasts officials during surprise visit to passport office The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday paid an unannounced visit to the Nigerian Immigration Service passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, where he condemned delays in passport processing and warned applicants against making extra payments. Tunji-Ojo inspected operations at the VIP and Children section of the passport office and engaged both officials and applicants, questioning why people were still waiting long after the office was expected to begin service. During the visit, the minister took feedback from applicants and cautioned them against paying money outside official fees, insisting that Nigerians had “paid for their passports completely” and should not be charged for additional items. “I don’t want to hear that you are collecting money for diesel or paper. Nigerians have paid for their passports completely. Serve them diligently,” he said. He expressed d...

 Popular Nollywood actress, Sarah Martins, has been hospitalised following a sudden health emergency that caused her to collapse. The actress shared details of the incident on her Instagram page, revealing that she woke up unable to feel parts of her body and briefly feared she was lifeless. Despite the alarming symptoms, Martins said she pushed herself to go to her shop to take inventory and interview prospective staff. She reportedly slumped during the process and was immediately rushed to the hospital. According to the actress, doctors conducted over 30 medical tests, including checks for cancer, fibroid, kidney and liver function, malaria and typhoid, all of which returned negative. Narrating her ordeal, she wrote, "Woke up today and couldn’t feel any part of my body. For a second, I felt lifeless. I still struggled and went to my stores to do inventory and a few interviews for incoming employees, and that was when I slumped". She attributed her condition to prolonged exh...

 A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun State, has adjourned the trial of Adeniyi Kayode, the driver involved in the fatal road accident that claimed the lives of heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, on December 29, 2025. The case was adjourned to February 25, 2026. Kayode, a 46-year-old driver, was arraigned before the Sagamu Magistrate’s Court on January 2, with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding. He is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on dangerous and reckless driving. The charges include dangerous driving causing death, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F:135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State); reckless and negligent driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the Act; driving without due care and attention causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1); and driving without a valid national...

 Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday, appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London for a preliminary hearing in her ongoing bribery trial. The matter was listed before Justice Thornton in Court 8, ahead of the commencement of the full trial scheduled for January 26, 2026. Alison-Madueke was charged in August 2023 by UK authorities over an alleged £100,000 bribe. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said it suspected the former minister accepted bribes in exchange for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts while in office in Nigeria. She served as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and was elected president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2014. In October 2023, Alison-Madueke was granted bail in the sum of £70,000 by a Westminster Magistrates’ Court, which described her as a flight risk. The court imposed a...

 NYCN Kajuru Condemns Kurmin Wali Mass Abduction, Faults LGA Leadership Over Security Claims The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kajuru Branch, has condemned the mass abduction of worshippers in Kurmin Wali community, Afogo Ward, describing the incident as a grave failure of security and a reflection of worsening insecurity across Kajuru Local Government Area. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the youth body confirmed that 167 worshippers were abducted on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when armed bandits invaded Kurmin Wali at about 9:00 a.m.  According to the NYCN, the attackers arrived on dozens of motorcycles and split into groups to simultaneously attack three churches—ECWA, Albarka Cherubim and Seraphim 1, and Haske Cherubim and Seraphim 2. The council disclosed that although some elderly women and children were later released and 11 victims reportedly escaped, the majority of those abducted remain in captivity.  The group noted that the attack followed an earli...

 77,792 arrested, 14,225 convicted, 14.8m kilograms drugs seized in 5 years, says Marwa . Honours 166 NDLEA personnel, 17 Commands at bi-annual CCEO awards and commendation ceremony; charges officers to go all out against drug cartels, barons  ABUJA, Tuesday, 20th January 2026 – Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has declared that with an outstanding record of 77,792 arrests including 128 barons, 14,225 convictions and over 14.8 million kilograms of illicit substances seized in the past five years, the era of Nigeria serving as a safe haven for criminal drug enterprises is over.  Marwa stated this in his remarks at the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) Awards and Commendation ceremony held at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja where he charged NDLEA officers to brace up for more tactically sophisticated operations against drug cartels, barons and their mules in the ne...

 BAUCHI STATE POLICE COMMAND       PRESS RELEASE  The editors,  POLICE INTERCEPTED A STOLEN TRICYCLE, ARRESTED SUSPECT On 17th January 2026 at about 0621hrs, operatives led by DPO 'A' Divisional Police Headquarters Bauchi, CSP Hassan A. Musa on confidence building patrol, intercepted a tricycle driven by one Isiyaka Mohammed 'm'. Upon interrogation, the suspect couldn't give a satisfactory account of the tricycle. The Intelligence investigation discovered that the tricycle was stolen two (2) months ago from one Babangida Moh'd 'm' by unknown individual (s), around Kobi area of Bauchi.  The tricycle was green in colour after which it was repainted to yellow for camouflage. CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, psc (+), mni ordered for an in-depth investigation to explore and arrest other accomplices responsible for the act. SP Nafiu Habib, ANIPR, FFIS Police Public Relations Officer FOR: THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 20th January 2026.

 LAWMA ADVOCATES RESPONSIBLE WASTE DISPOSAL … Urges Waste Sorting, Support For Circular Economy, Halt To Indiscriminate Dumping The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin has called on residents of Lagos State to embrace responsible waste disposal practices as proper handling of waste is central to achieving a cleaner, livable, and sustainable city. Dr. Gbadegesin made the call on Saturday while featuring on Sunrise Daily, a flagship programme on Channels Television, where he spoke on the realities of waste management in a rapidly urbanising city and the shared responsibilities required to keep Lagos clean and liveable. He said that LAWMA had continued ongoing waste evacuation and management operations across the state; just as it is strengthening routine collection services and embarking on persistent clearing of identified flashpoints, which resulted from indiscriminate dumping and poor waste handling...

 COAS REAFFIRMS ARMY’S COMMITMENT TO ENDURING PEACE ON PLATEAU The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Army to restoring lasting peace and security on the Plateau and across the country. The COAS gave the assurance on Tuesday 20 January 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, at the Government House, Jos, as part of his operational and familiarisation tour of Army formations in the state. Lieutenant General Shaibu commended the Plateau State Government for its consistent support to the Nigerian Army, particularly the Armoured Corps, describing Plateau State as a strategic partner and the proud home of the Armoured Corps. He noted that while the security challenges on the Plateau are complex, they are surmountable through sustained collaboration, intelligence sharing and the collective efforts of all stakeholders. “The Nigerian...

 Israeli crews start demolishing UN agency headquarters for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem   Israeli forces carried out multiple operations targeting United Nations facilities in and around East Jerusalem on Tuesday, including firing tear gas at a Palestinian vocational school and bulldozing parts of the headquarters of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. According to UN officials, Israeli forces arrived at a UN-run trade school in Qalandia, on the northern outskirts of Jerusalem, where more than 300 young Palestinian refugees receive job training in fields such as technology and welding. Tear gas was deployed during the operation, marking the second UN facility targeted in the same day. Earlier, Israeli crews moved heavy equipment into the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem and began demolishing sections of UNRWA’s main headquarters compound. Staff had largely vacated the site months earlier due to security concerns, but Israeli forces reportedly ...

 ICE detainee dies in Texas detention facility in what agency calls a presumed suicide An undocumented immigrant from Nicaragua died while being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Texas, according to federal officials. ICE said Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, died on Jan. 14 at Camp East Montana, a large tent-based detention complex located at Fort Bliss in El Paso. The agency described the death as a “presumed suicide,” though it said the official cause remains under investigation. Diaz had entered the United States illegally in March 2024 and was ordered removed in absentia by an immigration judge in August 2025. ICE said Diaz had been in federal custody since Jan. 6, when officers encountered him in Minneapolis during intensified immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. He was arrested for an immigration violation and processed as a final order of removal on Jan. 12. Two days later, security staff found him unconscious and unresponsive in hi...

 Indiana caps perfect season with first national championship  Fernando Mendoza lowered his shoulder into a defender, spun through contact, steadied himself with one hand, and then launched his body across the goal line. The play — a sprawling, fourth-down touchdown — felt cinematic, the kind of moment that defines championships and lives forever in program lore. That run sealed Indiana’s 27-21 win over Miami on Monday night, completing a perfect season and delivering the first national championship in school history to a program that had spent nearly 140 years buried in losing seasons and obscurity. “We won the national championship at Indiana University,” coach Curt Cignetti said. “It can be done.” Cignetti took over a program that had accumulated more losses than any in the nation and transformed it into the sport’s ultimate winner in just two seasons. At 64, the longtime coach authored one of the most dramatic turnarounds college football has ever seen, and Mendoza became ...

 Alexander brothers poised to face federal sex trafficking charges For years, Oren and Tal Alexander cultivated an image built on extreme wealth, glamour, and nonstop access to elite social circles. As prominent figures in ultra-luxury real estate, the brothers were fixtures at exclusive parties and high-end destinations, often photographed traveling by private jet or yacht and surrounded by models and influencers. That public image, federal prosecutors now argue, concealed a far darker reality. According to authorities, the Alexander brothers — along with Oren’s twin, Alon — used their wealth, status, and promises of luxury to systematically lure women into situations where they were drugged, assaulted, and raped over the course of more than a decade. All three brothers were arrested in December 2024 and charged with federal sex trafficking offenses that carry potential sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison. Prosecutors allege the brothers operated a coordinated scheme...

 Additional details revealed in Kiefer Sutherland’s arrest New information has surfaced regarding Kiefer Sutherland’s Jan. 12 arrest. Authorities say the 59-year-old actor allegedly struck an Uber driver multiple times and attempted to choke him. The driver reportedly exited the vehicle to escape and contacted 911 during the incident. Law enforcement noted that Sutherland appeared to be under the influence, and Uber’s dash camera may have captured part of the encounter. The Los Angeles Police Department previously stated that Sutherland entered a ride-hail vehicle, assaulted the driver, and made criminal threats. He was arrested on suspicion of felony criminal threats and released after posting a $50,000 bond. No injuries requiring medical attention were reported. His first court appearance is set for Feb. 2. Sutherland is widely recognized for his role as Jack Bauer on the TV series 24. His film credits include Melancholia, Tinsel Town, The Lost Boys, Young Guns, and appearances i...

Supreme Court reviews Hawaii’s so-called ‘vampire rule’ for gun owners  The Supreme Court on Tuesday is considering a challenge to Hawaii’s gun restriction known as the “vampire rule,” named for the requirement that people carrying firearms must obtain permission before entering certain private properties—similar to how vampires in folklore and Bram Stoker’s Dracula must be invited inside. The court will decide whether the 2023 law, part of a broader set of gun regulations, violates the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms. Hawaii is among a handful of states, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and California, that limit where permit holders can carry guns on private properties open to the public, such as stores, gas stations, and restaurants. Violating the rule can result in up to a year in prison. The law was challenged by three Maui residents with concealed carry permits—Jason Wolford, Alison Wolford, and Atom Kasprzycki—along with the Hawaii Firearms...

 ICC finds evidence of war crimes in Sudan The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it has found evidence that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Sudan's Darfur region, citing repeated atrocities in Al Fasher and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. ICC deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told the UN Security Council that the office's assessment was based on video, audio and satellite data collected during the reporting period. "Based on information and evidence collected by the office in this reporting period, including video, audio and satellite data, it is the assessment of the office of the prosecutor that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Al Fasher, including in October as a culmination of the city's siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)," she said. Khan said video material showed "a similar pattern of crimes previously seen being allegedly committed by the RSF in other areas of Darf...

 Egypt's Sisi to meet Trump in Davos Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Egypt's presidency said on Tuesday, TRT Afrika reported. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders since the US announced it was launching the second phase of its plan to end the war in Gaza. Sisi and Trump met in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in October during a summit convened by Egypt to sign a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war. On Friday, Trump said that he was also ready to restart US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve the dispute over an Ethiopian dam, which both Egypt and Sudan consider a serious threat to vital water supplies. Collapsed talks Washington-led mediations began during Trump’s first term, but they effectively collapsed in 2020, when Ethiopia withdrew — though some discussions later continued under the African Union. Ethiopia formally inaugurated the Gr...

 Togo expels ex-Burkina Faso leader after coup plot claim, sources say Togo has arrested and expelled Burkina Faso's former president to his home country after officials there accused him of attempting a coup, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Paul-Henri Damiba came to power in 2022 after a coup against Burkina Faso's civilian government which had lost support over rising violence by Islamist militants. Damiba's failure to stop the militant groups led to anger in the ranks of the armed forces in the former French protectorate, and he was ousted in a coup later that same year by Ibrahim Traore, who continues to head the military-led government. Earlier this month Burkina Faso announced it had disrupted a plot to kill Traore allegedly orchestrated by Damiba, who had sought refuge in the Togolese capital Lome. A security source and a source close to Togo's presidency told Reuters on Tuesday that Damiba had been arrested on Saturday and flown to Ouagadougou. The source c...

 EFCC Arraigns Mompha’s Associate,  Companies for Alleged N206m Fraud  in Lagos   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1,  on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, arraigned one Sarumi Samusudeen Babafemi for an alleged N206,000,000 (Two Hundred and Six Million Naira) fraud before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.   Babafemi alongside his companies, 606 Autos Limited, 606 Music Limited, and Splash Off Entertainment Limited, were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment, and transfer of proceeds of crime to the tune of N206,000,000 (Two Hundred and Six Million Naira), contrary to Section 332(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, and punishable under Section 332(3) of the same law.   Count one reads: "That you, Sarumi Samusideen Babafemi, while being the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of 606 Autors Limited, 606 Music Limited, and Spl...

 Tennis legend Venus Williams made history at the Australian Open on January 18, becoming the oldest woman ever to compete in the tournament's singles main draw at age 45.  The seven-time Grand Slam champion surpassed the previous record held by Japan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she competed in 2015. Although Williams fell to Olga Danilovic 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round, she delivered an inspiring performance that had the crowd on their feet. After leading 4-0 in the final set, Williams battled through an epic 14-minute service game, saving break points with powerful aces and winners before ultimately falling short. The tennis icon left the court with a smile and a wave, clearly moved by the energy and support from fans. Williams, who recently married Italian Andrea Preti in December, shared that she's "having to relearn how to do things again" but feels proud of her effort and is playing better with each match. She will continue competing in doubles at the ...

 Bandits Abduct Baptist Pastor, Family Members In Kaduna Community Suspected bandits have reportedly abducted a Baptist Church pastor, Pastor Daniel Bagama, and his three daughters in Tudun/Bussah village, Kakau Ward of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State. According to residents, the incident occurred late on Sunday night, January 18, 2026, at about 11:00 p.m., when the attackers stormed the village and forcefully took away the victims. Eyewitnesses said the assailants arrived under the cover of darkness, creating fear and panic among residents before escaping with their captives to an unknown location. As of the time of this report, security agencies are yet to issue an official statement, while efforts are ongoing to gather more details surrounding the abduction. Kaduna State has continued to experience similar attacks in recent times, raising serious concerns over the safety of rural communities.

 After nearly a decade on the run, Alejandro Rosales Castillo, one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, was captured in Mexico on January 16, 2026.  The FBI's Law Enforcement Attache Office in Mexico City coordinated with Mexican authorities to apprehend Castillo in Pachuca, Hidalgo, and he is now detained in Mexico City pending extradition proceedings to North Carolina. Castillo was wanted in connection with a 2016 case involving the death of 23-year-old Truc Quan "Sandy" Ly Le in Charlotte, North Carolina. The two had worked together at a restaurant, and authorities say the incident occurred after a dispute over money. Castillo was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list in October 2017, and the FBI offered a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to his capture. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that Castillo is the fifth fugitive from the Ten Most Wanted list to be apprehended since the beginning of 2025, marking significant progress in these cases. F...

 Renovations are underway at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate, reportedly Prince Andrew's next residence following his departure from Royal Lodge in Windsor.  Workers have been spotted at the property installing updates and making improvements to prepare the home, which previously belonged to a tenant farmer and has been unoccupied for years. At least six workers were seen on site working both inside and outside the building despite winter weather conditions. Prince Andrew gave 12 months' notice in October 2025 that he would surrender his lease on Royal Lodge, the 30-room property he has shared with Sarah Ferguson since 2004. A removal truck was spotted at Royal Lodge on January 14, and the couple must vacate by January 25, 2026. The move represents a significant downgrade from the 98-acre Royal Lodge estate, which includes a swimming pool, chapel, and multiple cottages. Marsh Farm is located a few miles from Sandringham House, one of King Charles' private royal residen...

 Sultan of Sokoto declares Tuesday as First Day of Sha’aban 1447AH The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has declared Tuesday, 20th January, 2026 as the first Day of Sha’aban 1447AH. This is in a statement issued on Monday, 19th January, 2026 by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto.

 A heartbreaking case has unfolded involving 35-year-old Madeline Daly from Wyoming, accused in the death of her 11-month-old son, Basil Stoner, amid a family court custody battle.  Court records show a judge had awarded custody to the child's father, Jake Stoner. Daly reportedly left the state with the infant against the order. On December 23, 2025, authorities located her in New Mexico. During a law enforcement response involving negotiations and a SWAT team, the child was found to have suffered fatal injuries. The infant passed away despite rescue efforts. Daly faces serious charges, including first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. She remains in custody as the case proceeds. This incident, occurring just before the holidays, highlights the devastating impact family disputes can have and underscores the importance of following court orders to protect children's well-being. (Shared for awareness of child safety issues in custody matters; source: public news ...