A 12-year-old student of a private secondary school was, on Thursday, kidnapped in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. One of the eyewitnesses, who preferred not to be named, said, “The incident happened around 7:20 am. They escaped through the Challenge area of Ibadan. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed this in a statement released in Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday. He said, “In response to your inquiry, the state Police command confirms an incident of suspected kidnapping reported in the Challenge area of Ibadan in the early hours of today, Thursday, February 12, 2026.

Now, the focus shifts to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where the International Committee of AFRIMA will host another high-level Media and Stakeholders’ Parley on February 17, 2026, in the Ivorian capital. Among those billed to attend are 9th AFRIMA winners from Cote d’Ivoire, including Didi B, who won Best African Lyricist/Rapper; Milo, winner of Best Male African Inspirational Music; Team Paiya, which clinched Best African Duo, Group or Band; and Morijah, who emerged Best Female African Inspirational Music. Algerian star, DJ Moh Green, who clinched the Best African DJ Award, is also expected at the event. Speaking ahead of the event, Guy Neza, an Ivorian and member of the AFRIMA International Jury, said the Abidjan parley forms part of a strategic build-up to the 10th edition. As a proud Ivorian and member of the AFRIMA International Jury, I view this gathering as a vital platform for collaboration, representation, and visibility for our creative community.

French Gendarmes gather outside the house where the bodies of two infants have been discovered in a freezer in Ailleviller-et-Lyaumont, eastern France on February 12, 2026. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)French police have detained a woman in her fifties after two newborn babies were found dead in a freezer in eastern France, sources close to the case told AFP on Thursday. According to one source, a man alerted police on Tuesday after finding the body of a newborn in his freezer at his home in the eastern town of Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont. In 2022, two newborn babies were discovered in a woman’s freezer in southern France. In 2015, five bodies were found in a similar case, which saw the mother handed an eight-year jail term.

Agama said the Commission remains committed to ensuring that illegal investment schemes are not allowed to thrive, warning that the proliferation of Ponzi schemes and other fraudulent platforms continues to impoverish unsuspecting Nigerians. “This collaboration is important because it will go a long way in ensuring that Nigerians are no longer victims of these fraudulent schemes. Responding, NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu commended the SEC for what he described as the remarkable performance and resilience of the Nigerian capital market in recent times. These platforms, he said, would be deployed to amplify the campaign against Ponzi schemes and promote sound financial literacy. We have to encourage people to have the right attitude so they do not fall victim to Ponzi schemes,” he said.

The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially received the Torch of Unity for the second edition of the Niger Delta Development Commission Games. Receiving the torch on Wednesday at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, Otti said the torch signifies unity, resilience, sportsmanship and progress across the Niger Delta states. According to him, sports remain a strong platform for youth development, social cohesion and national pride. Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in youth development, sports infrastructure and equal opportunities for women. “For this, we salute you because your achievements reinforce our administration’s commitment to investing in youth development, sports infrastructure and equal opportunities for our women.

Stakeholders during the inauguration of new League of Imams for South West, Edo and Delta States in Iwo, Osun State. When we talk of the League of Imams, it consists of the Chief Imams of Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States. Before the inauguration of the new group, the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, founded in 1964, oversaw issues relating to Islam in the South-West, Edo, and Delta States. The League comprises the Chief Imams of the capital cities of the six South-West States and is usually chaired by the most senior of the six Imams. The formation of the new League of Imams and Alfas comes shortly after the six Chief Imams, in a meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, February 5, declared that Ramadan would commence on February 18.

Beyond the visible artwork lies a complex interaction between foreign chemicals and the immune system, an area scientists are still actively studying. In this article Tribune online examines seven key ways tattoos can affect the immune system, according to emerging research. Tattoo pigments can trigger long-lasting inflammationAs immune cells surround and isolate ink particles, they release chemical signals that can keep the immune system activated. Tattoos may influence how the body responds to vaccinesRecent studies suggest that tattoo pigments can interfere with immune signalling, the system immune cells use to coordinate responses. As research continues to uncover how tattoo inks interact with the immune system, experts say better regulation, transparency, and long-term studies are increasingly necessary.

Food items, including essential drugs worth several million naira, were distributed on Thursday to individuals displaced by bandits’ attacks in Kebbi State. This initiative was carried out by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Services and Poverty Reduction, led by the Minister of State, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu. In his opening speech, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Olubunmi Olusanya, stated that the distribution of emergency food was in accordance with the directive of President Bola Tinubu. The President approved this intervention to provide emergency food assistance in areas prone to bandit attacks in the Northern Region of the country. Dr. Olusanya emphasized that President Tinubu aims to reduce poverty through food interventions, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Food Security is primarily responsible for achieving this socio-economic goal.

The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), on Thursday, said that it has received 75,000 metres from the Federal Government under its free metering programme for its four franchise states. Lawani, however, regretted that customers were rejecting the meters on the assumption that the meters consumed more electricity. According to him, “We have received 75,000 for BEDC for the four states of Ondo, Edo, Delta and Ekiti States. Out of the four states we serve, we allocated 38,000 to the three regions in Edo State and installation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has assured that it remains committed to establishing a Meter Assembly plant in the state.

A yet-to-be-identified man lost his life on Thursday morning after a truck loaded with granite crushed his vehicle at Eleko Junction along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, Lagos. The fatal crash was reportedly caused by the truck driver, who allegedly lost control of the vehicle before ramming into the couple’s car coming from the opposite direction. The mechanical fault reportedly caused the driver to lose control, veer off course and slam into a Toyota saloon car heading inward Epe from the Ajah area. LASTMA explained that the force of the collision caused the truck to overturn and fall on the smaller vehicle, trapping the driver inside the wreckage. In the aftermath of the crash, the truck driver reportedly fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle and escaping before authorities could apprehend him.

The judge arrived at the decision on Monday, February 9, 2026, while delivering judgment on the suits initiated by the oil firm. The lead case, filed by Shell Nigeria Oil Products Limited, was marked FHC/L/CS/2340/2024, while Shell Nigeria Business Operations Limited instituted the other suits (FHC/L/CS/2339/24), Shell Nigeria Gas Limited (FHC/L/CS/2338/24), Shell Exploration and Production Africa Limited (FHC/L/CS/2341/24), and Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator Limited (FHC/L/CS/2342/24). The companies argued that under the Finance Act (Effective Date Variation) Order, 2023, the 3 per cent TET rate only took effect from September 1, 2023. However, FIRS, represented by Bolanle Oniyangi and Moses Ideho, maintained that the Tertiary Education Tax is an annual tax assessed on a company’s full accounting period, running from January 1 to December 31. Justice Osiagor consequently dismissed all five suits in their entirety and affirmed the FIRS’ assessment.

The Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training, Prof. Obiageli Nnodu, said early screening and continuous care significantly reduce under-five mortality among children living with Sickle Cell Disease. According to Nnodu, the absence of universal newborn screening means Nigeria still relies on estimates rather than population-based data to determine the incidence of the disease. “Without universal newborn screening, SCD epidemiologic data in Nigeria continue to rely on estimates instead of population-based incidence. The consultant said current newborn screening efforts across the country were limited and largely dependent on research initiatives, donations and public-private partnerships. Experts say newborn screening remains limited across the country, leaving most cases undetected until complications occur.

Market capitalisation mirrored the advance, appreciating by N283.24 billion to close at N114.66 trillion, reflecting renewed investor appetite for select large- and mid-cap stocks. Market breadth remained positive with 45 advancing stocks outpacing 35 decliners, an indication that buying interest was moderately broad-based across counters. The Oil & Gas Index emerged as the clear outperformer, surging 4.64 per cent on the back of strong buying interest in upstream and downstream players. The Commodity Index followed with a 3.14 per cent gain, reflecting sustained interest in agro-allied and resource-based stocks. Investors appear to be rotating funds into high-impact sectors such as Oil & Gas, while adopting a cautious stance in banking, insurance and consumer-facing stocks.

Seplat is a key supplier of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network. He stated: “Periodic maintenance of this nature is essential to sustain optimal system performance, strengthen operational resilience, and minimise the risk of unplanned outages. “During the four-day maintenance period, there will be a temporary reduction in gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network. “As a result, some power generation companies reliant on this supply may experience reduced gas availability, which could modestly impact electricity generation levels within the timeframe. “NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy are working closely to ensure that the maintenance is executed safely and completed as scheduled.

The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Engineering on Thursday stepped down the 2026 budget proposal of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) following the failure of its Director-General, Dr Olushola Odusanya, to appear before it for the agency’s budget defence. He noted that if President Bola Tinubu could personally present the national budget before the National Assembly, heads of government agencies should not consider themselves too important to honour invitations from lawmakers. The committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the 2025 budget performance and the 2026 budget proposal of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFOST). The committee also queried the sharp increase in the agency’s overhead expenditure, which rose from N95.40 million in the 2025 budget to N195.73 million in the 2026 proposal. Nkechi-Eze further disclosed that the increase in overhead was not part of the budget estimates initially submitted to the Budget Office.