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Arik Air has confirmed that one of its flights W3 740 to Port Harcourt from Lagos was diverted to Benin Airport as a precautionary measure after an unusual sound from its left engine.

‎‎This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Adebanji Ola, Public Relations and Communications Manager for Arik Air, on Wednesday in Lagos.

‎‎According to the management, all 80 passengers safely disembarked .

”There were no injuries recorded.

”The operating crew of the Boeing 737-700 (5N MJF) aircraft heard a loud sound on the left engine as it decended to land in Port Harcourt.

‎’Arrangements have been made to transport the affected passengers to their final destinations.

‎”‎The airline extended its sincere apologies to the passengers whose journey was disrupted. The safety and well-being of our passengers remain top priority,” the airline said.

‎‎The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that further details regarding the specific reason for the diversion have not yet been released.

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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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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.