General News
Trump says Iran Has Reached Out for Talks After Deadly Strikes
U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that Tehran has initiated contact for possible negotiations following the recent escalation in hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump said Iran reached out seeking talks and that he agreed to engage.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk,” Trump told the magazine’s reporter, Michael Scherer, during a telephone interview. “They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long.”
The president also stated that several Iranian officials who were previously involved in negotiations are no longer alive, referencing the recent strikes.
“Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone because that was a big hit,” Trump said.
The remarks come in the wake of coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iranian strategic sites. The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as well as the country’s armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi. Reports also indicate that members of Khamenei’s immediate family, including his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, were among those killed.
Following Khamenei’s death, Iran is said to be under transitional leadership as the country’s Assembly of Experts prepares to select a successor.
Trump did not provide details about who is directly handling or overseeing the renewed diplomatic outreach from Tehran.
Twelve Nigerians have been rescued after a Nigerian tugboat, LEO, conveying 18 persons, sank in South African waters late Saturday night. One person has been confirmed dead, while five others remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.
The Federal Government confirmed the incident on Monday in a statement signed by Dr. Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
According to the statement, South African transportation authorities reported that the vessel, which had travelled to South Africa for repairs, ran aground about 18 nautical miles offshore in stormy conditions between Cape Town and Durban while returning to Lagos.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the South African Ministry of Transportation confirmed the rescue of 12 occupants and one fatality, with five persons still unaccounted for.
“The South African Ministry of Transportation informed us of this development,” she said.
She added that the South African Maritime Safety Authority had conveyed that the rescued survivors were being transported to Port Elizabeth, where officials of the Nigerian High Commission were en route to receive them.
The minister further assured that search and rescue efforts remain ongoing, as South African authorities continue coordinated operations to locate the missing crew members.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary consular assistance to the affected Nigerians and their families.
General News
ICPC: Wiretapping Devices, Sensitive Security Documents Recovered From El-Rufai’s Abuja Residence
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it recovered electronic surveillance devices and classified security documents during a search of the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
In documents filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the anti-graft agency disclosed that it obtained a remand order from a Magistrate Court in Bwari, FCT, permitting it to detain the former governor for 14 days to conclude preliminary investigations. The remand order is due to expire on March 5, 2026.
El-Rufai is currently challenging his detention, alleging a violation of his fundamental human rights. However, the commission insists his custody is lawful and in line with due process.
According to an affidavit deposed to by ICPC litigation officer David Efuk, operatives executed a search warrant on February 19, 2026, at the former governor’s residence on Mambila Street, Asokoro. The operation was reportedly witnessed by his wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed.
The commission stated that investigators recovered electronic magnetic devices allegedly capable of intercepting communications, alongside sensitive documents said to belong to various security agencies. It further claimed that el-Rufai declined to grant access to certain equipment found on the premises.
ICPC also referenced a television interview in which the former governor allegedly admitted to monitoring telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The agency said attempts to interrogate him have been unsuccessful, as he has chosen to remain silent pending formal arraignment in court.
In addition, the commission alleged that an aide connected to the investigation has fled the country, while at least one potential prosecution witness has requested protection over alleged threats.
The investigation, according to the commission, followed a petition accusing the former governor of multiple financial infractions during his tenure. The allegations include unexplained foreign currency withdrawals totalling €1.4 million; 180 payments amounting to over N2.15 billion from a Consolidated Revenue Account linked to Kaduna State’s internally generated revenue; and transfers exceeding N428 million into undisclosed accounts.
Other accusations involve alleged diversion of public funds, irregular use of a government revenue debit card, discrepancies in the state’s debt profile, and breaches of procurement regulations under Kaduna State’s financial laws.
ICPC said it made several attempts to invite el-Rufai for questioning before eventually locating him in Abuja.
In a sworn statement to the commission, the former governor denied any wrongdoing and described the probe as politically motivated. He maintained that he would exercise his constitutional right to silence and respond only before a competent court of law.
“I will respond to any allegations only in a court of law,” he reportedly stated, characterising the investigation as political persecution.
The commission has urged the court to dismiss his fundamental rights enforcement suit, arguing that investigators should be allowed to complete their work and, where necessary, file formal charges before the expiration of the remand order.
The Kuwaiti government has confirmed that multiple American fighter jets crashed in the country early Monday, sparking fresh concerns amid the escalating regional conflict involving the United States and Iran.
According to a statement from Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence, the aircraft went down shortly after dawn while engaged in active operations. Authorities did not immediately disclose the cause of the crashes but confirmed that the pilots survived the incidents.
Two separate videos broadcast by Al Jazeera appeared to show fighter jets crashing at different locations. Unofficial sources also claimed a third aircraft may have gone down, though no verified footage had emerged at the time of reporting.
One of the videos reportedly showed what appeared to be an F-15 Eagle descending rapidly with flames visible near its tail before impact. However, officials have not formally confirmed the specific aircraft models involved.
The crashes come against the backdrop of intensifying hostilities in the Middle East. Iran reportedly struck an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, igniting a major fire and further raising fears of a broader regional escalation.
The three-day conflict has already resulted in significant casualties, with Iranian officials reporting multiple deaths. American forces have also suffered fatalities, while Israeli authorities confirmed at least 10 deaths linked to ongoing hostilities.
The growing instability has severely disrupted air travel across the region, with more than 1,500 flights reportedly cancelled as airlines reroute or suspend operations over safety concerns.
Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the aircraft crashes, as regional tensions show no immediate signs of easing.