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The United States has deployed about 200 troops in Nigeria to train the country’s military in the fight against Islamist militants, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

An American military official told the newspaper that the deployment comes weeks after US President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks.

The report said the troops were expected to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity through training and operational support.

It added that the newly deployed personnel would supplement a small number of US military advisers already in Nigeria, who assist local forces with intelligence to identify targets for military strikes, US and Nigerian officials said.

Speaking during a virtual briefing last Tuesday, the Commander of the United States Africa Command, Gen Dagvin R. Anderson, confirmed increased collaboration between both countries following high-level engagements.

He said, “I was able to meet President Tinubu. We were able to share some thoughts and agree that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small US team that brings unique capabilities from the United States to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.” [The Punch]

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Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with manager Thomas Frank after a disappointing run of results left the club hovering just five points above the relegation zone.

Frank’s departure comes after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, which saw the team slide to 16th place in the Premier League table with 29 points from 26 matches.

The decision to sack Frank was made due to the team’s poor performance, which saw them win just twice in their last 17 league games.

Despite being given time and support since his appointment in June 2025, Frank struggled to replicate his success at Brentford, where he consistently over-performed with limited resources.

Recall that Frank was appointed as the new Tottenham head coach in June 2025, succeeding Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked despite winning the Europa League.

Frank’s tenure was marked by inconsistent results and setbacks, including a notable incident where he was seen drinking from a coffee cup bearing the badge of rivals Arsenal.

Frank won just 13 of his 38 games in charge, with a Premier League win percentage of 26.9%, the lowest of any Tottenham manager in the Premier League era.

The team’s fans had been vocal about their discontent with Frank, booing him and chanting for his sacking during Tuesday’s defeat.

The club thanked Frank for his contribution and wished him well in the future.

With Frank’s departure, Tottenham are now searching for itheir sixth permanent manager in seven years, with potential candidates including Roberto De Zerbi, who recently left Marseille.

The team faces a tough challenge in the coming weeks, including a Premier League match against Arsenal on February 22.

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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has concluded plans to commission a mosque, which he single-handedly built, on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The commissioning will also commemorate his 21-day annual thanksgiving programme, which began in January and will end on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The mosque building, which the prophet announced plans for last year, is the first of its kind, as there has never been a prominent Christian leader reported to have built a mosque before now.

According to Primate Ayodele, his decision to build the mosque is not because he wants to change his religion, but rather a representation of a direction given to him by God many years ago.

He explained that his church has been home to Muslim faithful, and at different times, he has been invited to preach at Muslim gatherings. Therefore, building a mosque was not difficult, especially after receiving divine direction regarding it.

“My decision to build a mosque is not because I want to become a Muslim, but a direct representation of what God told me to do. I have Muslims attending my church, I attend Muslim programmes to preach when I am called upon, and I have several Muslim friends, so following the God-given instruction was not too hard for me.”

Primate Ayodele also noted that building a mosque as a Christian cleric sends a message of religious tolerance across the globe and further showcases his love for humanity, regardless of differences.

“Beyond being a divine instruction, this is a message of religious tolerance across the globe. If we can resolve the issue of religion in the world, it would definitely be a better place for all of us. I love everyone, regardless of their religion or tribe, and building a mosque further showcases that. God created everyone equally; we should not celebrate things that further divide us.”

Speaking on the operations of the mosque, Primate Ayodele explained that he would be handing it over to the Islamic community without any form of interference in its administration.

“By God’s grace, the mosque will be named after the late mother of President Tinubu, and we will be handing over its operations to the Islamic community without any interference.”

It is worth noting that Primate Ayodele has both privately and publicly supported other churches, especially financially. He has donated funds for church buildings, empowered individuals who are not members of his church, and raised funds for churches other than his own.