At least 300 people have been arrested near the US Capitol after a protest against the Israel-Hamas war.

That number is likely to rise as more arrests are processed, police said, adding that three people were charged with assaulting a police officer.

Most were arrested inside the Cannon House Office Building, where protests are not permitted.

The demonstrators called on President Joe Biden and Congress to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The rally in Washington DC was organised by two fringe left-wing Jewish campaign groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, which advocate against the State of Israel.

Police closed streets around the Capitol complex on Wednesday, saying a large group of protesters were walking in the road.

Some were seen being restrained with zip-ties and led away to police vans. Three of those arrested were later charged with assaulting a police officer.

One protest organiser at the Capitol used a megaphone to call for “equality, justice and freedom”.

“The only way towards true safety… is to de-escalate, and address the root causes of this horrific violence,” the woman said.

The protest came on the same day that President Biden landed in Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet.

Mr Biden said during the visit that Israel had a right to hit back for the Hamas attack on 7 October that left 1,400 people dead.

At least 3,000 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.

Lobi Stars striker, Tiza Samuel, has expressed his team’s readiness for the Nigeria Premier football League, NPFL, matchday four encounter against Abia Warriors.

The Pride of Benue will host Abia Warriors at the Lafia City Stadium on Saturday.

Samuel said the players are ready to record their second win of the season against the Ochendo Boys.

“I’m personally ready and my teammates are good to go to snatch the maximum points against Abia Warriors,” he told the club’s media.

“The camp mood is high and my teammates are good to go ahead of the encounter.

“We are hoping to win the match by God’s grace.”

Lobi Stars are unbeaten in the NPFL this season.

Goods reportedly worth millions of naira were destroyed during a fire outbreak at Watt, a popular market in Calabar, Cross River.

The fire, which was said to have started around 2:00 am on Thursday, affected no fewer than six shops in the market.

Mrs Olumayowa Olomola, Commanding Officer, Calabar Command, Federal Fire Service, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the fire was caused by a power surge in one of the shopping malls in the market.

Olomola, who could not give an estimate of the the value of the goods destroyed, however said that the affected shops were well stocked.

She noted that but for the timely intervention by her team, the fire would have affected more shops.

Olomola said, “Our response was timely and we could only prevent the fire from spreading beyond the six affected shops.

“My advice is that we should always adopt preventive measures by ensuring we put off all appliances to avoid incidents like this.”

A former economist and accountant, Olabode Agusto, founder of AGUSTO & CO Limited, Nigeria’s first credit rating company, is dead.

Dele Momodu, Publisher of Ovation Magazine, announced Augusto’s death through his official X handle on Thursday.

The economic guru was born on September 14, 1955, and died at the age of 68.

“One of Nigeria’s biggest economic wizards, Mr Olabode Agusto, has passed on. He founded AGUSTO & CO Ltd., a credit rating company.

“His darling wife, Edna and children were in Portugal (his adopted country) when he passed on at close to 70. May his brilliant soul rest in peace,” Momodu wrote.

Agusto served as the Director of the National Pension Commission, member of the Central Bank of Nigeria Monetary Policy Committee and Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation.

He also had years of experience in the private sector.In 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded Agusto the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, for his contributions to the Nigerian economy.

A 55-year-old spiritual healer, Samuel Zungwe, was on Thursday remanded by a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a woman of N16.5 million.

Zungwe, of Samuel Compound, Orlufaga, Den Street, Gbanka, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue, was arraigned by the Police on a one-count charge bordering on fraud.

The Magistrate, Mrs Adah Jack, did not, however, take the defendant’s plea for want of jurisdiction.

Jack ordered that the defendant be remanded in Makurdi Correctional Centre, pending further investigations.

She adjourned the case till November 7 for further mention.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp Regina Ishaya, told the court that a petition, dated October 3, was written by one Pevigo Peter to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command.

Ishaya said that the complainant said in his petition that sometime in 2011, his wife, Mrs Hajara Peter, came in contact with the defendant who convinced her that he could heal her of her abdominal pain.

He stated that the self-acclaimed religious healer lured Hajara to consistently pay him sums of money ranging from N70,000 to N120,000 monthly, all amounting to N15 million, under the pretence of building six churches.

She added that the defendant then warned the victim not to tell anybody or else, she and all her family members would die.

Ishaya said that sometime in September, the defendant also told the victim that he had completed the churches and needed money for fencing and furnishing.

She said that the defendant again forced the victim to again transfer N1.5 million to a Polaris Bank account number: 3043305117, with the name: Zungwe Samuel Atim.

The prosecutor said that the complainant further explained that when his wife demanded to see the churches being built, the defendant could not show her any.

She said that it was then that the victim realised that she had been duped by the defendant and reported the matter to her husband.

Ishaya said that during Police investigations, the phone number of the defendant was tracked and he was found in a hideout in Gboko East, Benue State, and arrested, adding that he had confessed to committing the crime.

She, however, said that the matter was still under investigation and prayed the court for another date for mention.

According to her, the offence contravenes Section 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 398 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State, 2004.

Wife of Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal has revealed her intention to marry out fifty female orphans under the State’s ministry of Women, Children and Social Development Affairs.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant, SSA Media and Communication, office of the Governor’s wife, Zara’u Musau.

She said that the First Lady made the declaration when she visited the orphanage home in Gusau, promising to cater for the upbringing and well-being of the orphans in the State.

The statement further stated that the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal will do everything humanly possible to shoulder all the responsibilities of the wedding.

“Complete sets of beds, cushion chairs, utensils and foodstuffs for the marriage couples have been prepared”, the statement said.

The wife of the Governor further advised those orphans to be disciplined, obedient and steadfast in their matrimonial homes.

Speaking earlier, the State commissioner for women, Children and Social Development affairs, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun assured the State government’s readiness to conduct a seamless mass wedding for the orphans in Gusau.

Former Arsenal defender, Mikael Silvestre believes the Gunners could finally end Manchester City’s stranglehold on English football by winning the Premier League this season

.Arsenal have made a superb start to the campaign, winning six out of eight Premier League matches.

Mikel Arteta’s side sit second in the Premier League table, behind Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference.

They made plenty of changes to their squad in the summer, bringing the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and goalkeeper David Raya to the Emirates.

“They could do it [win the Premier League title], but I’m not going to say they will win it as that would be a foolish thing to say when you consider how long the season is.

They are better equipped than they were last season, they’ve strengthened their squad in key areas and they have greater self-belief,” Silvestre told GGRecon.

“Last season they competed for the Premier League title with a young squad, but now they are a year older and I believe the experience they’ve gained from last season will make them stronger as a group and in March and April, when the games become even more crucial, they will be better prepared to deal with the tougher tests that come their way.”

Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester City last season.

Aformer power minister, Barth Nnaji, has accused diesel suppliers and generator dealers of sabotaging regular electricity supply in Nigeria.

On Wednesday, Mr Nnaji said this while featuring in a Flo FM programme, ‘The South East Political Roundtable’ by Flo FM, Umuahia.

Mr Nnaji said the endless breakdown of the national power grid had remained a significant concern among Nigerians.

According to him, this is despite the federal government’s claim of spending N7 trillion as direct interventions in the power sector, even after privatising the industry’s electricity generation and distribution arms in November 2013.

Nnaji, chair of Geometric Power, Aba, identified diesel suppliers and generator sellers as other obstacles for those in the power generation business.

The former minister said the sector needs professionals who understand Nigeria’s electricity supply industry to manage it.

“There are two areas when you talk of cabal in the sector – the diesel suppliers and generator users. Nigeria is a big user of generators because of our enormous power needs, and those who are in the business would not want any interruption.

“The diesel suppliers feel that stable power supply would destroy their business,” said Mr Nnaji.

Like others, the former minister further alleged that the power sector had some cabals who made gains from erratic electricity supply.

He said, “A graphic picture of how dangerous the diesel suppliers can be was experienced when we were in government, somewhere in this country, some men cut down 30KVA line to stop electricity supply to thousands of users.

“Unfortunately, the diesel supplying company sponsored the operation. Incidentally, the power cable fell on one of them, who later confessed to the crime.”

Nigeria on Wednesday called on member states to endorse the proposed resolution on the Tax Convention that would ensure a fairer taxation system globally.

The permanent mission of Nigeria to the United Nations called for continued support toward a comprehensive UN Tax Convention.

During the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Nigeria presented a historic resolution entitled ‘Promotion of Inclusive and Effective International Tax Cooperation at the United Nations’.

The resolution laid the foundation for creating a new system of international tax cooperation that should be universal in scope and approach. With this, member states agreed for the first time to have a convention on tax cooperation, discuss global tax issues, and review progress annually.

The motion, submitted for consideration by Nigeria on behalf of the 54-member African group of states, was adopted by consensus after some discussions on a failed amendment.

“We call on all Member States to endorse this crucial initiative aimed at tackling tax evasion, illicit financial flows, and ensuring a fairer taxation system within and beyond national boundaries.

“The proposed UN Tax Convention offers an inclusive and transparent avenue for meaningful reform, vital for fulfilling UN commitments on Sustainable Development Goals.

“We reiterate our call for immediate, collective action. The world cannot afford further delays in addressing this urgent issue,” the mission explained.

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the UN, said Nigeria would continue to champion the discussion on tax convention at the ongoing 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

“We are just at the beginning of the process now that it has been mandated that something be done. What will happen now is to sit down and see what can be done to ensure that such a convention or treaty is arrived at,” said Mr Muhammad-Bande.

The diplomat added, “That will be a lot of negotiations; countries, blocs, coalitions, but by and large, globally, it is understood that it is important to have a binding document relating to taxation that looks at the interest of all parts of the world at the same time.”

On Wednesday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) destroyed fake and expired goods worth over N500 million in Abuja.

During the exercise, the NAFDAC director-general, Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that some goods were also voluntarily submitted to the agency.

She stated that the exercise is carried out routinely all over the country.

The NAFDAC boss said that the destruction of the products was done to prevent their re-introduction to the supply chain.

Ms Adeyeye listed some of the products destroyed as drugs made up of psychoactive and controlled substances like antibiotics, antihypertensive, antimalarials, herbal snuff and herbal remedies, and drugs confiscated from drug hawkers.

She also listed the food products such as Spaghetti, vegetable oil, and non-alcoholic beverages, including one by 40ft container of unregistered Faurecia instant-powdered milk handed over to the agency by the Nigeria Customs Service.

Others were cosmetics such as creams, lotion, and pomade, including skin lightening creams seized from Spa and beauty centres, chemicals such as fake insecticides and medical devices.

Also destroyed were expired and unwholesome products voluntarily handed over for destruction by compliant companies, non-governmental organisations and the Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria (ACPN).

According to the NAFDAC boss, the estimated street value of the products destroyed was N535,000,657.

“I have said on several platforms that drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage, and it also represents a serious threat to public health, and NAFDAC, under my watch, has been repositioned to fight this menace.

“The agency has adopted a proactive approach by engaging political, traditional, faith leaders, journalists and other Nigerians to sensitise their wards on the dangers of dealing with substandard and falsified medicine.

“I wish to use this medium to urge all and sundry to be on the lookout for spurious and counterfeit medicines, unwholesome foods and other regulated products and report the same to NAFDAC,” she said.

Gunmen on Wednesday killed five persons in Ayilamo, a village in Logo local council of Benue.

According to Sewuese Anene, spokesman of the police command in the north-central state, the attack occurred on Tuesday night.

“A few others sustained injuries,” Ms Anene added.

She said another attack occurred in the Mbachohon community in the Gwer-council area but added that details regarding the incident were unavailable.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that six people were killed in the Mbachohon attack.

“The attacks are unfortunate. More security men are being deployed to the areas to restore peace,” Mr Anene stated.

The Adamawa Mass Education Board, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is training 3,000 youths and women in the Hong Local Government Area of the state in vocational education.

The training was developed by UNICEF, funded by the German government, and implemented by the mass education board.

Speaking at the opening of the training on Wednesday in Hong, the board’s executive secretary, Aminu Umar, said the beneficiaries would be trained in sewing, welding fabrication, interlocking and tiling, poultry farming, fashion design, shoe and bag making.

He lauded Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for providing an enabling environment for non-governmental organisations that bring meaningful programmes to the state.

The UNICEF education consultant, Joel Jutum, charged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the training and acquire new technical knowledge.

He said that the initiative was meant to teach the youth various skills that would make them self-reliant.

Earlier, the state commissioner for education, Garba Umar, urged the trainees to ensure that they fight poverty through the gains of the training.

Silas Timothy and Amina Hamidu, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the state government and UNICEF for giving them the opportunity to participate in the training.

The Nigerian Army has commenced a sensitisation campaign in Rivers and Delta States aimed at boosting its regular personnel intake shortfall in the areas.

The army during an advocacy visit to the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the two states in the South-South zone fell below its 60 per cent quota during the last recruitment exercise.

Leader of the Army delegation in Rivers, Brigadier-General Timmy Mackintosh, said the anomaly needed to be quickly addressed to avoid complaints of marginalisation in the next one to two decades.

Mackintosh, specifically said Rivers State could not make up 60 per cent of its own quota, saying it was not good enough.

He further said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, having observed the trend mandated the team to sensitise the indigenes of the state, in a bid to grow intakes.

Mackintosh stated, “We are here from the Army headquarters to sensitise Rivers State on the Nigerian Army requirement that is ongoing and the major reason we are doing this is that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has realised that Rivers and Delta state in the South-South zone are lacking when it comes to recruitment into the Nigerian Army.

“The recruitment that is ongoing is regular intake 86, for 84 and 85 regular intakes, Rivers State, in particular, could not make up 60 per cent of its own quoter which today we may not see it as a problem.

“But in the next 10, 15, 20 years, it will be a problem because, at that time, we will be the ones shouting we are marginalised.“So, the Chief of Army staff deemed it fit that we should come and speak to you to assist us in speaking to your indigenes.”

He stated that the minimum academic requirement was four credits, adding that the army usually caters for the academic upliftment of its personnel.

He added, “In as much as we are looking to join the Army, the military is not a place where we do not take care of our own, we do take very good care of our own in areas such as uplifting them academically, medically and otherwise.

“One of the requirements for us is a minimum of four credits for those that want to join the army. I can tell you that with those four credits today, there are people who are going for master’s degrees especially for the lower cadre, because the army sent them to school, both in military institutions and even civil.

“I know a lot of my soldiers that the army sponsored them up to their BSc, Masters and some are even doing their PhD. So, it is an opportunity for our people to come, you don’t need to know anybody to join the army. Just make sure you meet the basic criteria.”

Speaking, the Secretary to the state, Danagogo, attributed the low turnout of Rivers people to the Army recruitment to ignorance and information gap.

The SSG stated, “Why we have this problem is basically caused by either ignorance or lack of information, a lot of times, most of the people in the oceanic areas, Riverine areas, in the hinterlands, they don’t regularly see the newspapers.

“You may have published this in the newspapers, but go the extra mile to reach these people in these areas who don’t regularly read newspapers.

“Only the few people in the cities like Port Harcourt would know and that is why it is our responsibility.

“Once we know that something like this is happening, we make sure we spread it to all in the state.”

The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, on Wednesday, sealed three private guard companies for non-registration and non-renewal of licence.

Ochacho Security and Justigo Security and Allied Services were sealed for non-renewal of licence while Maco Security Services was sealed for not registering with the agency as stipulated by law.

The command also arrested some guards of the sealed PGCs.

The FCT Commandant, NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, made it known that any unrenewed licensed and unregistered PGCs are all restricted from carrying out their businesses because it is unlawful, illegal, and a threat to national security.

“We are sealing these three private guard companies for threatening internal and national security, failure to renew the licence when due, refusal to be subjected to the licensing authority, employing guards without approval and failure to register as a private guard company,” Odumosu noted.

The commandant noted that the monitoring and enforcement exercise on PGCs in the FCT would be sustained, adding, “We are sanitising the private guard industry.

“It is about internal security. The country is facing many security challenges and that is why the corps must be on its toes. If we compromise internal security, one is indirectly compromising national security.”

“We will not allow quacks to take over the business of security in this country,” he stressed.

Odumosu added, “Once they fulfill all the necessary requirements, we will unseal this place and they will continue their businesses.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) FCT command, has unveiled new strategies to curb drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the territory.

The FCT commander, Mr Kabir Tsakuwa made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Tsakuwa said that the FCT was a major gateway connecting the southern part to other parts of the country, as well as the cosmopolitan nature of the city.

He said that the command had strengthened the interdiction efforts at the major entry points.

This, he said, were in addition to the many recreational centres like parks and gardens where a lot of social activities take place.

He also said that a well fashioned out and intelligence-driven motorised patrol along the major entry points like Abaji- Lokoja road, Gwagwalada-Kwali road, Bwari-Jere road and Mararaba/Nyanya road had been ensured.

Tsakuwa said, “this has helped the command tremendously in checking those that may want to take advantage of the busy roads to traffic drugs along these routes into the FCT directly or on transit as the case may be.”

According to him, “we also embark on aggressive advocacy visits to all the stakeholders within the FCT, particularly the traditional rulers to ask for their support.

“This has made the communities to be well informed of the need to owe the campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

“We also leverage on our call centre with phone No (080010203040) established by the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa.

“The platform is purposely created to enable the public to pass information on 24/7 bases about drug activities in their areas, or about drug dependent persons who may need help without having to disclose their identity for prompt action or response.”

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Chike Nosa Agada, an unlicensed foreign exchange dealer, for an alleged N2bn fraud.

Agada, a 37-year old native of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, was declared wanted by the Commission on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, for obtaining money under false pretence and stealing by conversion to the tune of N2billion.

He was arrested at a residence in the Bourdillon, Ikoyi area of Lagos on Monday, October 16, 2023 during a sting operation by operatives of the Commission, following credible intelligence linking him to the alleged fraud.

Upon arrest, a mobile device was recovered from him.

The commission added that he will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Federal Government plans to cultivate about 70,000 hectares across the wheat producing states with an expected yield of 875,000 tonnes for the National Food Reserve.

The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari said this was in an effort to enhance massive food production and nutrition security.

This is even as he revealed that the Federal Government would grant a 50 per cent subsidy to wheat farmers in the upcoming dry season, to enhance food security and self-sufficiency.

We are fully committed to promoting substantial wheat production in the upcoming dry season farming for both local and foreign export activities,’’ he said.

According to a press release signed by Mrs Eremah Anthonia, the Chief Information Officer on behalf of the Director of Information in the Ministry, the Minister disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar-Maje, in Hadejia, Jigawa State recently.

He stated that 40 hectares would be allocated to Jigawa State, while the remaining 30 hectares would be shared among the wheat producing States.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu was committed to enhancing food security through effective utilization of Smart Agriculture.

The minister added that the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Umar Namadi was also committed towards making the State one of the leading wheat growers in the country.

The Emir of Hadejia, who was represented by the Galadima Hadejia, Alhaji Usman AbdulAziz, in his response, called for the commencement of the wheat season in earnest, noting that the time to start planning for growing wheat was now.

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi has now become CONMEBOL’s leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers.

Messi scored twice as they beat Peru 2-0 on Tuesday, to take his tally to 31 goals.

The 36-year-old has now broken a tie with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.

Messi made his return to a starting lineup after being sidelined or coming from the bench for the last four weeks due to a muscle problem.

The Inter Miami superstar put Argentina ahead in the 32nd minute with a superb effort and doubled their lead 10 minutes later with a fierce finish from Enzo Fernandez’s pass.

Messi was then denied a hat-trick in the second half when he had a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

Zamfara State Governor’s wife, Hajiya Huriya Dauda Lawal has condemned the alarming rate at which bandits kidnap students at the Federal University Gusau.

The Governor’s wife stated this when she paid an official visit to the institution’s management, lamenting that students cannot concentrate under an unsecured environment.

The First Lady sympathized with the management, staff, parents, and the entire students of the University.

“I would like to sincerely apologise to you all my daughters of this great institution for not coming in earlier due to unforeseen circumstances.

“The administration under my husband is not resting on its oars; it is restructuring its security architecture to flush out bandits’ activities from the State,” she said.

According to her, combined security agencies were on top of the situation to rescue the remaining students unhurt.

“I am calling on you students to always be watchful and report suspicious movements. I also would like to advise the management to expand its outfit,” she added.

Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham has revealed his desire to stay at the Spanish club for over a decade.

This is a blow to fans who were hoping to see the Englishman in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old produced another talismanic display for the Three Lions as they came from behind to beat Italy 3-1 to qualify for next year’s European Championship.

Bellingham will now head back to Madrid for the resumption of the LaLiga season and has no plans to leave the Bernabeu any time soon.

Liverpool were heavily linked with Bellingham, but he eventually joined Los Blancos in a £113million deal from Borussia Dortmund.

“With the big transfer the fact is I have to deliver, whether it is a goal or assist or a match-winning performance.

“This is the club I want to be at for the next 10 to 15 years of my life. I am loving it there. Carlo basically said this position is where he sees me,” Bellingham told Channel 4.