The Kogi State Government has ordered the temporary closure of markets and motor parks in parts of Kogi West Senatorial District as part of renewed security measures to combat terrorism and banditry.

The directive was announced on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who said the move is intended to cut off the flow of food, fuel and other essential supplies to criminal groups and their collaborators.

Fanwo explained that the decision is in support of ongoing security clearance operations being carried out in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other security agencies operating in the state.

He noted that restricting access to logistics would weaken the operational capacity of terrorists and informants who depend on such supplies to sustain their activities.

According to the government, the shutdown affects selected communities across seven local government areas, including parts of Lokoja, where markets and motor parks in Oshokoshoko, Jakura, Ogbagbon, Agbaja, Atsawa, Obajana, Apata, Abugi, Amomi, Ebee and Budon have been closed.

Authorities said the measure is temporary and aimed at restoring security and stability in the affected areas while ongoing operations continue.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned of possible nationwide protests and an election boycott over what it described as uncertainty surrounding the Senate’s stance on electronic transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act.

In a statement on Sunday, NLC President Joe Ajaero accused the Senate of creating confusion through conflicting explanations on whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory, a situation he said could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The labour body demanded that the National Assembly provide an immediate and clear explanation of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording of the amendment and the rationale behind the decision.

According to the NLC, ambiguity over the role of electronic transmission threatens electoral integrity and could undermine transparency, insisting that Nigerians deserve a system where votes are not only counted but visibly verifiable.

The controversy followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after rejecting a proposal to make real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal compulsory.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision that allows INEC to determine the mode of transmission, a move that has attracted criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures who fear it could open the door to manipulation ahead of future elections.

The position also contrasts with that of the House of Representatives, which had earlier endorsed mandatory electronic transmission, making harmonisation necessary before the bill is forwarded to the President for assent.

Reacting to the backlash, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the upper chamber did not discard electronic transmission but removed the “real-time” clause to allow flexibility, citing technical and network limitations.

The NLC, however, insisted that the amended law must clearly compel INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass action before, during and after elections.

The Congress also stressed that Nigerians are closely monitoring developments and urged lawmakers to prioritise transparency and credibility in the electoral system.

The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared the total cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home in the South-East, saying the directive takes effect from February 9, 2026.

The group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, made this known in a statement on Sunday, noting that the order was issued directly by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The sit-at-home protest, which began in August 2021 following Kanu’s rendition and detention, had led to repeated shutdowns of markets, schools, banks and offices across the region every Monday.

According to the statement, residents are now expected to resume normal activities, including opening businesses, attending work and sending children to school, as there is no longer any justification for staying indoors on Mondays.

Powerful emphasised that the decision reflects Kanu’s desire to restore economic and social life in the South-East and to ensure that people go about their lawful activities without fear or intimidation.

The group warned that anyone attempting to enforce sit-at-home orders henceforth would be acting contrary to Kanu’s directive and against the interests of the people.

It also alleged that some individuals and groups have been using threats and attacks to compel residents to observe the order, urging the public to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding.

IPOB further stated that state governments should not intimidate or sanction traders who voluntarily choose to stay at home, while stressing that any reconstruction or relocation involving markets must be carried out with the consent of stakeholders and provision of alternative trading spaces.

The group concluded by urging residents across the South-East to return fully to their normal routines, declaring that the era of the Monday sit-at-home had come to an end.

A petrol tanker explosion along the Ihiala axis of the Onitsha–Owerri Road in Anambra State on Sunday left two persons dead and one injured.

The incident, which occurred around 9:30 a.m. opposite the Federal Road Safety Corps office, happened after the tanker reportedly collided with a vehicle, lost control, and rammed into a roadside barricade.

The impact led to a spill of its contents and a subsequent fire outbreak.

Eyewitnesses said the tanker was travelling at high speed before the crash. The explosion that followed caused panic in the area and disrupted traffic flow as flames spread to nearby sections of the road.

According to one witness, the tanker driver and his conductor were burnt beyond recognition, while a motorcyclist riding behind the tanker sustained injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the incident, noting that the crash involved the tanker and a motorcycle, both of which had no registration numbers.

She attributed the accident to excessive speed and loss of control, stating that three adult males were involved, with two fatalities recorded and one survivor receiving medical attention at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.

Onabe added that FRSC rescue officials promptly contacted the fire service, and both agencies worked together to extinguish the fire and restore normalcy.

She sympathised with the families of the deceased and urged motorists to obey speed limits and exercise caution on the roads, stressing that safety remains a collective responsibility.

Fresh violence swept through parts of Kaduna State on Saturday as suspected bandits killed three residents and abducted a Catholic priest alongside several others in coordinated attacks across Kauru and Kagarko Local Government Areas.

The incident in Karku community, Kauru LGA, occurred in the early hours of Saturday when armed men reportedly stormed the area, firing sporadically before whisking away a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, and other residents. Three people were confirmed killed during the attack.

Fr. Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku, was abducted along with 10 villagers, according to the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan.

The Chancellor of the diocese, Jacob Shanet, confirmed the development in a statement, describing the incident as tragic and calling on Christians and people of goodwill to pray for the safe release of the victims.

“With deep sorrow, we announce the kidnapping of our priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye… This terrible event has resulted in the killing of three people, aside from those abducted,” the statement read.

The deceased were identified as Jacob Dan’azumi, Maitala Kaura and Alhaji Kusari.

Residents said the attackers invaded the priest’s residence and surrounding homes around 3:20am, leaving the community in fear and confusion.

In a related development, the Chief Imam of Janjala Central Mosque, Bello Abdullahi, and a Fulani community leader, Shehu Bello, were also kidnapped during separate attacks in Kagarko LGA.

Sources said the gunmen invaded several villages, including Iddo, Gidan-Makeri, Kohoto and Janjala, abducting residents and rustling cattle.

Many villagers reportedly fled their homes, with some seeking refuge in nearby towns such as Kagarko and Sabon-Wuse, while others spent the night in the bush.

A community source disclosed that the attackers were heavily armed and operated with ease, moving from one target to another.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Joseph Hayab, described the incident as another sign of worsening insecurity in the region.

He lamented the growing trend of attacks on religious leaders and innocent citizens, calling for urgent and decisive action to curb the menace.

Security sources at the Kaduna State Police Command said joint security forces comprising the military and police engaged the attackers in gun battles in the Kauru axis, expressing optimism that the perpetrators would be apprehended.

Meanwhile, the latest attacks reportedly followed a seven-day ultimatum issued by bandits demanding a ransom of ₦6m for a previously kidnapped woman and her four children.

Community leaders said the deadline expired without intervention from security agencies.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the police were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached.

Calls to his phone went unanswered, and messages sent had not been delivered as of the time of filing this report.