AI in Journalism: Adapt to Thrive, Don't Get Replaced
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council, Akeem Abas, has said that Artificial Intelligence can only replace journalists without updated digital skills. Abas said this in Ibadan on Wednesday at a two-day AI training, organised by the state council in collaboration with the American Open University, Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the training is entitled “Empowering Journalists with Artificial Intelligence for Ethical, Innovative and Future-ready Journalism”. “This training of 120 journalists is a direct fulfilment of that promise; AI will not replace journalists, it will only replace journalists who refuse to learn,” he said. Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the emergence of AI as a good development.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 15:21 UTC
Omokri: Sowore cannot rely on my withdrawn statements
Reacting, Omokri admitted that he made the remarks in the past but said he later discovered they were untrue and withdrew them publicly. “In that judgment, the honourable court declared that there were no criminal charges or convictions against the President,” Omokri stated. Addressing the legal argument raised in court, Omokri said Sowore could not rely on statements he had withdrawn years earlier to defend later publications. “Therefore, Mr Sowore cannot rely on statements I made between 2022 and 2023, and then publicly withdrew in 2023, as a defence for statements he made in August 2025,” he said. One clip showed Omokri in a 2023 ARISE News interview saying, “Drug lord is not an unprintable name.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 14:46 UTC
VIDEO: Police tear-gas residents protesting Lagos eviction, demolition
VIDEO: Police tear-gas residents protesting Lagos eviction, demolitionPhoto: Police shoot protester in ongoing protest against evictions and demolitions in various parts of the state. Photo: Johnson IdowuGetting your Trinity Audio player ready...Johnson Idowu Johnson, an avid reader, has over four years experience in journalism covering education, politics and Metro. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Join The Punch Newspapers Channel
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 13:29 UTC
US congresswoman Ilhan Omar attacked with syringe at Minneapolis town hall
A man is tackled after spraying an unknown substance at US Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (L) during a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 27, 2026. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP)US Rep Ilhan Omar was attacked during a town hall she was hosting on Tuesday in Minneapolis. Minneapolis police confirmed that officers observed a man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid at the congresswoman. Despite the incident, Omar resumed the town hall after the suspect was escorted out by her security detail, telling the audience she would not be intimidated. “I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today,” Mace said, adding that, “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 11:59 UTC
Kano governor approves new appointments and promotions
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has approved a fresh round of appointments and promotions aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery across key sectors of the state. In the Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency, Mukhtar Yusuf was promoted from Deputy Managing Director to Managing Director, while Zakari Usman Balan was appointed as the new Deputy Managing Director. The governor also approved the appointment of Mukhtar Bello Maisudan, a senior lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, as Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board. Similarly, Abba Kankarofi was promoted from Deputy Managing Director to Managing Director of the Kano Road and Maintenance Agency. The governor reiterated that his administration remained committed to strengthening public institutions and delivering people-oriented governance across Kano State.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 11:45 UTC
Police Arrest Women for Human Trafficking in Anambra
The Police Command in Anambra has arrested two female suspects in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State for allegedly trafficking a 16-year-old girl to Ghana. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Awka. “Operatives of the Anambra Police Command attached to Ozubulu Division, acting on a technology-driven information on the evening of January 26, arrested two female suspects, Uzoma Nwabueze and Precious Monday. “They were arrested over a reported case of a missing 16-year-old girl, Miss Oluebube Chukwuma, in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA of the state,” he said. The police spokesman said that Orutugu ordered the police operatives to investigate the relocation of the girl to Ghana and identify all those involved for possible arrest.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 11:26 UTC
New Tata Punch Rival Spotted
The Tata Punch has been a hit in the Indian market, and with the recent update, it has pushed other manufacturers to revise their cars as well. Join us on the WhatsApp Community for daily auto news updatesHyundai Exter Facelift SpottedThe Exter was spotted recently testing on Indian roads. It was heavily camouflaged, but we can still get a basic idea of how the Exter facelift would look. However, with Tata adding more features to the Punch, Hyundai will look to refresh this list. The Exter facelift is also rumoured to feature ventilated front seats, reclining rear seats, a powered driver seat, and a 360-degree camera.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 11:04 UTC
How has your local high street changed since 2019? Check your postcode
From department stores to discount shops, bookmakers to beauty salons, the makeup of Britain’s high streets has shifted dramatically since 2019. What remains on Britain’s high streets – and what has disappeared – offers a snapshot of how the country shops, eats and spends its time. Enter your postcode to explore the types of high street businesses that were operating near you in 2019 and how that picture compares with 2025. Find your local high street Search Loading map for your area... The number and type of businesses on each high street in 2019 and 2025 were taken from the PointX dataset published by Landmark Information Group and distributed by Ordnance Survey.
Source:The Guardian
January 28, 2026 10:18 UTC
Morning Recap: Coup plot probe, Tinubu stumbles, sit-at-home tension, other top stories
Security and political developments set the tone for Nigeria’s news this morning, with fresh revelations from an investigation into an alleged plot against President Bola Tinubu, official reassurance after the President stumbled in public, and renewed tension in the South-East over sit-at-home enforcement. Probe uncovers alleged plot against TinubuAn investigation has revealed claims linking a retired army colonel to an alleged plan to remove President Tinubu from office. https://punchng.com/tinubu-proposes-110-court-of-appeal-justices/Presidency downplays Tinubu’s stumbleThe Presidency has dismissed concerns over President Tinubu’s recent stumble during a public appearance, describing it as a minor incident with no health implications. https://punchng.com/sit-at-home-ipob-tackles-soludo-as-soldiers-enforce-market-closure/UK-based Nigerian jailed six years for sexual assaultA Nigerian living in the United Kingdom has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault by a UK court. The case highlights continued efforts by British authorities to prosecute serious sexual offences, regardless of the offender’s nationality.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 10:14 UTC
IPOB Tackles Soludo Over Sit-at-Home Market Closure
Governor Soludo had, during an on-the-spot inspection of the market on Monday, ordered the shutdown after traders and market leaders reportedly defied repeated government appeals to resume business on Mondays, despite the sit-at-home directive issued by IPOB. The state government said the continued sit-at-home had cost Anambra State about N8bn weekly and the South-East region an estimated N19.6bn, disrupting economic and social activities. “The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens,” Soludo said, warning that the market could remain sealed for up to one month if compliance failed. “It is absolutely wrong for the governor to order the closure of the market without proper consultation. The Anambra State Police Command, however, said the security deployment was strictly to maintain law and order.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 10:11 UTC
JAMB 2026: Student Receives Unexpected SMS While Trying to Register, Posts Screenshot
JAMB candidate struggles to get profile code for registration. Amid this, a young individual who tried to register for the examination has taken to social media to share his frustration. Photo Source: Facebook/Jentro SylvanusSource: FacebookThe report stated that for a candidate to generate a profile code, the person would send NIN alongside the NIN number to 55019 or 66019, numbers provided by JAMB for profile code generation. He shared this on his page while attaching a screenshot showing the message he received via SMS when he used the prompt. Screenshot of the post is below:Candidate shares frustration after getting error message while trying to register for JAMB.
Source:The Guardian
January 28, 2026 10:05 UTC
Man Arrested for Killing Brother in Adamawa Homicide
The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of a man in Gombi Local Government Area of the state. The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje. According to the police, the suspect is the younger brother of the deceased and was arrested following credible intelligence. The police said operatives attached to the Gombi Divisional Police Headquarters, in collaboration with professional hunters, carried out the arrest. The police added that the suspect led operatives to the recovery of weapons allegedly used in committing the offence.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 09:57 UTC
Tinubu proposes increasing Court of Appeal justices to 110
“The bill seeks to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and provide clarification of judicial structure and seniority,” Tinubu stated. According to him, the proposed ADR Centre would operate within the Court of Appeal, allowing certain appellate matters to be referred for settlement. “The bill seeks to establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre within the Court of Appeal, where appellate matters may be referred for settlement,” the President added. Barely a year ago, the Senate considered a separate legislative proposal to expand the number of Supreme Court justices to 30 to address the mounting backlog of cases at the apex court. Meanwhile, President Tinubu has also written to the Senate seeking confirmation of the appointment of Justice Oyewole Kayode as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 09:51 UTC
Akwa Ibom Unveils New Palm Fruit Processing Mill
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has inaugurated a palm fruit processing mill at Oku in Abak Local Government Area of the state, under the Nigeria for Women Project. Speaking through his deputy, Akon Eyakenyi, the governor expressed optimism that the state would soon begin exporting palm oil beyond its borders. “I’m happy today to hear that this Mill now has the capacity to produce eight drums of palm oil daily, as against only one drum produced before. Very soon, Akwa Ibom will commence exportation of palm oil to neighbouring States across and outside Nigeria,” Eno said. A palm fruit processing mill is an industrial facility or specialised machinery designed to extract crude palm oil from fresh fruit bunches.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 09:47 UTC
Femicide in Nigeria: 197 Women Killed in 2025 Report
Photo: FileMore than 197 Nigerian women, including teenage girls, were suspected to have lost their lives to gender-related violence between January 1 and December 31, 2025, according to DOHS Cares Foundation’s femicide report. Details of the findings were published on the foundation’s tracker dashboard, which collates data on suspected femicide cases across the country. According to the UN Women, femicide is defined as “the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender,’ distinguishing it from homicide, where the motive may not be gender-related. DOHS Cares Foundation is a non-governmental organisation focused on combating gender-based violence and monitoring femicide cases in Nigeria. The report documented 172 suspected femicide cases nationwide, which resulted in 197 deaths during the period under review.
Source:Punch
January 28, 2026 08:35 UTC