The Israeli military said on Wednesday that four soldiers were killed during fighting in southern Gaza on Tuesday.

A female paramedic was among those killed, the military said, adding that six soldiers were also wounded, three of them critically.

The latest fatalities bring the military’s losses in the Gaza campaign to 348 since the start of a ground offensive in the Palestinian territory on October 27.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has officially approved the transfer of regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Kogi to the Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

This development followed the compliance of the state government with the stipulations outlined in the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended).

In a statement on NERC’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the commission highlighted the legal basis for this decision.

“In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Kogi State from the Commission to the Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC),” it stated.

NERC retains its role as the central regulator, overseeing inter-state and international electricity generation, transmission, supply, and trading activities.

However, the Electricity Act of 2023 allows states to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets, provided they submit a formal notification to NERC and fulfil all legal requirements.

“The EA also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes and request NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the state to the State Regulator,” the statement added.

Kogi having complied with these requirements, formally requested NERC to transfer the regulatory oversight of its intrastate electricity market. In response, NERC has issued an order that outlines several directives for the transfer process.

Key provisions in the transfer order include directing the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to incorporate a subsidiary, referred to as AEDC SubCo, which will handle the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Kogi State.

“The AEDC shall complete the incorporation of AEDC SubCo within 60 days from 13th September 2024. The sub-company shall apply for and obtain a licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from KSERC,” NERC emphasised.

NERC has set a deadline for the completion of all transfers under this order by 12th March 2025.

Hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon Tuesday, killing at least nine people and wounding around 2,800 in blasts the Iran-backed militant group blamed on Israel.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the wave of explosions, which came just hours after Israel announced it was broadening the aims of the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks to include its fight against Hezbollah along the country’s border with Lebanon.

The blasts “killed nine people, including a girl”, Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said.

He added that about “2,800 people were injured, about 200 of them critically”.

“This was more than lithium batteries being forced into override,” said Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute.

“A small plastic explosive was almost certainly concealed alongside the battery, for remote detonation via a call or page.”

Israel’s spy agency “Mossad infiltrated the supply chain”, he said.

The influx of so many casualties all at once overwhelmed hospitals in Hezbollah strongholds.

At one hospital in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an AFP correspondent saw people being treated in a car park on thin mattresses, with medical gloves on the ground and ambulance stretchers covered in blood.

“In all my life I’ve never seen someone walking on the street… and then explode,” said Musa, a resident of the southern suburbs, requesting to be identified only by his first name.

The 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member was killed in east Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley when his pager exploded, the family and a source close to the group said.

A son of Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar was also among the dead, a source close to the group told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Tehran’s ambassador in Beirut was wounded but his injuries were not serious, Iranian state media reported.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, has urged states along the Benue River to increase their vigilance.

The call is coming following the ongoing plan by the management of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon to open the dam for water to gush out.

In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday by the NIHSA, signed by the Director General and the Chief Executive Officer, Umar Ibrahim Mohamed, he said the states likely to be affected by the flow of water from the dam are: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers.

The agency also called on governments at all levels to implement adequate preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding that may result from rising river levels during this period.

The release of water, the statement said, will begin at a rate of 100 cubic meters per second (8.64 million cubic meters per day) and is expected to gradually increase to 1,000 cubic meters per second over the next seven days, depending on inflows from the upstream Garoua River, the primary feeder of the reservoir and a significant contributor to the Benue River.

“The Cameroonian dam authorities assured NIHSA that the water releases will be regulated to avoid exceeding the capacity of the Benue River and triggering major flooding downstream in Nigeria.

“The controlled water releases will cease once there is a noticeable decrease in inflow into the Lagdo reservoir,” the statement read.

NIHSA emphasized that there was no immediate cause for concern, as significant flooding downstream in Nigeria was not anticipated, adding that current water levels along the Benue River remained within safe limits.

The agency also assured the public that it would continue to closely monitor water levels along the Benue and other national inland rivers, providing regular updates to prevent any flood-related disasters.

Four persons have been burnt to death and eight others severely injured in an auto crash that occurred at RCC, Ogbere, Ore-Ijebu Ode expressway.

The crash involving a white Toyota Hiace bus with the registration number XA690AKU happened at about 2:00 p.m on Monday.

Confirming the crash, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps’ Ogun Sector Command, Florence Okpe, said 18 persons were involved in the accident.

She blamed the cause of the crash on fatigue and loss of control of the driver.

Okpe said, “A total of 18 people were involved, which comprised of eight male adults and 10 female adults. One male adult and three female adults were killed, while four male adults, four female adults were injured (burnt), while others were unhurt.”

She stated that the injured victims were taken to the state hospital, Ijebu-Ode for medical attention and the corpses were also deposited at the state hospital mortuary, Ijebu Ode.

The Sector Commander, Akinwumi Fasakin, advised motorists to ensure they have the maximum rest before embarking on a journey, he urged drivers to observe a 15 to 30 minutes rest after four hours driving.

US Representative James Hill (R-AR) has warned that the prolonged detention of Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria could jeopardise bilateral relations between the two countries.

Hill made this known in a statement via his verified X handle on Tuesday.

He wrote, “I’m surprised Nigeria, a country considered a friend to America, is holding a US citizen in detention over a matter he’s not directly involved in. I urge President Biden to push harder for his release.”

Hill, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and Chairman of the subcommittee overseeing digital assets and financial technology, emphasized Gambaryan’s contributions to combating cybercrime.

According to him, Tigran has helped America bust many cybercrime rings and It’s time to return the favour.

This comes as Gambaryan’s case continues to linger, with many calling for his immediate release.

Gambaryan has spent six months in detention, facing charges of tax evasion and other financial crimes in Nigeria.

However, this is not the first time Hill is making a strong case for Gambaryan, urging Biden’s government to put more effort towards getting him out of detention.

In June, Hill and another lawmaker Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Democrat, representing Pennyslyvania, had called for the release of the Binance Executive.

The lawmakers said they called for his release due to the condition they met him in prison when they visited him.

“We have asked the U.S. embassy to advocate for the humanitarian release of Gambaryan because of the horrible conditions in the prison, his innocence and his health.

“We have a taskforce in Congress that is on Americans wrongfully detained abroad, or held hostage. Clearly in our view, Tigran fits in that camp,” Hill and Houlahan stated.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has confirmed the rescue of five persons and recovery of nine bodies from the boat accident that occurred on Sunday in Mashayar Yandaga River in Gummi Local Area of Zamfara State.

NEMA said that the boat involved in the incident was conveying over 40 passengers and crewmen when it capsized as a result of overload and high river currents.

In a statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Head of the Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, the agency, said following the accident, rescuers, who were mostly local divers and fishermen, were mobilized.

While condoling with the government and people of Zamfara State over the incident, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar advised boat operators to adhere to safety measures in the conduct of their activities.

She added that other passengers consisting of men, women, and children were yet to be accounted for.

According to her, communities situated downstream along the river channel have been alerted to look out for bodies that may be floating to their location.

As search and rescue operations continue, NEMA said its Sokoto Operation Office, in conjunction with Zamfara State Emergency Agency, Gummi Local Government authorities, community leaders, the Red Cross, and other stakeholders, are involved in the operation and carried out an assessment of the disaster.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, has unsealed Donald’s Fast Food (De-Angels Night Club) a restaurant in the Lekki area owned by nightlife businessman, Cubana Chiefpriest.

LASEPA earlier sealed the restaurant due to persistent noise pollution and other environmental infractions.

The Commissioner, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a post on Tuesday said that the business proprietor has signed an undertaking to stick to the environmental laws of the state.

Wahab wrote: “Following the seal-up of Donald’s Fast Food (De-Angels Night Club) in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017, Part VI Section 177 by the Lagos State government, the business proprietor has signed an undertaking to stick to the environmental laws of the State, promising to maintain the approved fast food business enterprise as against using the facility for any form of clubbing or partying as it is a residential area and state laws forbid it.

“Consequently, the Fast Food facility has been ordered unsealed.

“The Lagos State government continues to show commitment to ensuring safe environment for all Lagosians.”

A Catholic missionary priest working in Gambia, Fr Kelvin Ugwu, has urged people not to be carried away by the miracle testimonies they hear in churches or ministries.

The statement comes amid controversial videos of members of some churches sharing their extraordinary testimonies that have gone viral online, leaving many social media users skeptical.

In one of the videos an elderly woman claimed she was attacked by four armed robbers in the dream.

According to her, she “miraculously gained control of their guns and ensured the arrest of three of the robbers”.

Similarly, a man revealed that he survived kidnapping, machete attacks, and gunshot wounds “without injury”, sparking questions and concerns about the authenticity of the miracles.

However, the catholic priest stated that people should treat them as fake and lies as long as they have not been independently verified.

“Don’t be carried away by the miracle testimonies you hear in churches or ministries; as long as they have not been independently verified, treat them as fake and lies,” he wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.

American entertainment mogul Sean ‘Diddy Combs was arrested in Manhattan, New York City, on Monday evening after a grand jury handed down a sealed indictment, deciding there was enough evidence to charge him with a crime.

According to the New York Times, a source familiar with the case said Combs is facing serious charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking.

The charges remain undisclosed due to the sealed nature of the indictment.

Combs’s legal team disappointedly responded to the indictment, asserting that the 54-year-old had fully cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation.

In a statement, they revealed that Combs had voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of the charges. His defence emphasized his standing as a celebrated music icon, a successful entrepreneur, and a dedicated family man.

“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community,” his legal team stated. “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.”

The indictment represents a new chapter in a growing legal storm surrounding Combs, who has recently been embroiled in multiple sexual assault lawsuits, which have drawn renewed public and media scrutiny starting from last year November when his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit accusing him of years of sexual and physical abuse.

These civil allegations have already led to a series of high-profile professional setbacks for the music mogul.

The racketeering and sex trafficking charges, if confirmed, could carry devastating consequences for his decades-long legacy in the entertainment industry.

Combs, known by his stage names Puff Daddy and Diddy, is a Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, and entrepreneur whose business ventures have ranged from music to fashion and liquor brands.

He is widely credited with shaping the careers of numerous artistes and revolutionising hip-hop culture.

While no trial date has been set, the indictment signals that federal prosecutors are moving forward with the case.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reopened the rehabilitated Odo Iya Alaro (Ojota-Maryland link) bridge on Monday, marking a significant step toward easing persistent gridlocks in the area.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the rehabilitation aligned with the administration’s commitment to ensuring adequate traffic management and ease of transportation.

The governor urged citizens to take responsibility for protecting the infrastructure.

Mr Sanwo-Olu warned against removing newly installed manhole covers, threatening prosecution for those caught doing so. He explained that the new manholes were made of fibre.

“The newly replaced manholes are now made of fibres and not metals, so this makes them useless to whoever takes them. Let the manholes be. They are there to protect human beings so that they do not fall off the bridge.

“They are there for safety. Anyone caught removing the manholes from the bridge will be prosecuted,” said the governor.

The governor commended stakeholders involved in the project’s early completion, which took 54 days instead of the planned 90 days.

Olufemi Daramola, the governor’s special adviser on infrastructure, explained that the rehabilitation included installing new expansion joints and remedial works, making the bridge motorable and ready for use.

“The project was completed ahead of schedule to ease the suffering of road users in the corridor,” stated Mr Daramola. “The rehabilitation of the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge is a significant step towards improving traffic management and transportation in Lagos state.”

Tito Jackson, a founding member of the legendary ‘Jackson 5’ and a staple of American music history, died at 70.

His three sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson, announced his demise on Monday via a statement on an Instagram dedicated to their music group, 3T.

“with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us,” they stated.

Born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, Tito was the third of 10 Jackson siblings, growing up in Gary, Indiana.

While his younger brother, Michael Jackson, rose to extraordinary fame as a solo artist, Tito played an instrumental role in the family’s early success. As the lead guitarist of the Jackson 5, Tito’s musical talents helped define the group’s signature Motown sound.

The Jackson 5, which included Tito, Michael, Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie, became international superstars in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Hits like ‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’, and ‘I’ll Be There’ made them household names, and their influence on pop, R&B, and soul music remains undeniable.

Tito’s quiet but steady presence on guitar provided a crucial foundation for the band’s upbeat and energetic sound.

After the group’s transition from Motown to Epic Records in the mid-1970s, Tito continued to work with his brothers as The Jacksons.

The group evolved their style and scored hits such as ‘Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)’ and ‘Can You Feel It’.

Despite the challenges of maintaining their collective career while Michael’s solo star ascended, Tito remained a dedicated musician, frequently performing with the family during reunion tours and special appearances.

In the 1990s, Tito stepped out as a solo artist, showcasing his blues guitar skills and releasing his debut album, ‘I Gotta Play’, in 2003.

His sons formed the group 3T and enjoyed success in the mid-1990s, often with Tito guiding and supporting their careers behind the scenes.

The Zamfara State Government has confirmed the d3ath of 40 persons following a boat accident in the Gummi Local Government Area of the state.

The boat carrying more than 40 persons capsized in the Bakin Kasuwa River of Uban Dawaki community on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, who confirmed the incident, said the governor described it as a monumental disaster.

“We received the tragic report of a boat accident in Bakin Kasuwa River in Uban Dawaki ward, Gummi Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of over 40 lives,” the statement read.

“The governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to embark on immediate rescue and recovery of the dead bodies.

“The governor also instructed the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters to coordinate all efforts to provide immediate relief support to the victims and their families.

“Governor Lawal prayed for the souls of the departed victims, grieved with families, and assured of the state government’s commitment to prevent such occurrences in the future.”

“The governor also directed the agency to take immediate action to assess the extent of the accident and provide urgent assistance.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has apprehended five suspected Chinese illegal miners in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, Ibieno LGA in Akwa Ibom.

EFCC announced this in a statement on Sunday.

The anti-graft agency said its Special Task Force made the arrests on Illegal Mining in Uyo.

The EFCC stated that the arrests followed credible intelligence on foreign mining companies’ illicit activities in Eket and Ibieno LGAs in Akwa Ibom.

“The five arrested Chinese suspects are Zhon Qinping, apprehended on 10 September, and Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng, arrested on 29 August.

“They were arrested at an illegal mining site, where a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral, was being extracted.

“The suspects will face charges in court once investigations are concluded,” EFCC said.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has announced that his administration has been actively implementing a Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, conversion and adoption initiative for the past eight months.

The initiative, aimed at modernising the state’s transportation system, includes plans to convert the state-run Imole buses to CNG-powered vehicles, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional fuel.

In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke disclosed that the project had been in motion since January 2024.

Governor Adeleke revealed that the state was working in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the initiative.

He stated that the state was involved in public-private partnership negotiations with three companies, including a local CNG firm, which has made significant progress in advancing the project.

“As a part of the initiative, the state’s Imole buses, which are currently providing palliative transport services, will soon be converted to CNG models.

“Additionally, Osun State is set to benefit from a federal initiative aimed at promoting the nationwide adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel source.

“To support this transition, plans are underway to establish dedicated CNG charging points across the state. The government is also exploring partnerships for the acquisition of CNG-powered buses through public-private partnership (PPP) agreements

“This expansion is expected to enhance the existing transport palliative system, which has been providing essential services to residents of Osun,” he stated.

No fewer than 10,000 commercial vehicles will benefit from the Federal Government’s compressed natural gas conversion initiative.

This is as the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative continues the free conversion of commercial vehicles across the federation.

The CNG conversion, which targets 10,000 commercial vehicles in its first phase, was kickstarted in Lagos on Saturday.

Speaking at the vehicle compatibility inspection exercise held at a conversion centre in the Ajah area of Lagos on Saturday, PCNGI Strategic Project Adviser, Olayinka Rufai, noted that the programme also targets 1,000,000 vehicles by 2027.

Rufai noted that the exercise would convert 1,000 commercial vehicles in one week at the pilot stage of first-come, first-served.

Rufai stressed, “We have a conversion incentive programme that is supposed to take, in its first tranch, about 10,000 vehicles. With this particular first-come, first-served initiative, we are looking to push out as many as a thousand vehicles before the end of the week.

“Our objective in the long run is to convert a million vehicles by 2027. We have twenty centres nationwide, and we will continue to increase along the line.

“Conversion centres are not regular mechanic workshops. There are safety measures that must be checked and put in place before we can certify a place as a conversion centre.”

He urged investors and private entities to support the initiative by setting up CNG stations across the nation.

“We are encouraging private investors to do what they can to establish CNG stations. We do not believe that this is something that is going away, so I call on any organisation, groups, or individuals to get on board and support this initiative,” he said.

He stated further that the decision to target commercial vehicles was to ensure that the major idea of reducing the hardship of the common man through a reduction in their daily spending on transportation.

He continued, “We are targeting commercial vehicles because they carry a large number of people and by doing so, we are reducing the cost spent on transport for a large number of people and if we can do that, we can have a lot of impact on the disposable income which transportation is a major part. We are not just doing this for doing sake. There is an economic justification for targeting commercial vehicles.”

Also speaking, the Technical Head at the Ajah conversion centre, Azeez Adekanmbi, stressed that the conversion process requires each vehicle to be inspected for compatibility with the available conversion kits.

“We are currently conducting an inspection of vehicles to assess their compatibility because of the available kits, which are four cylinders and six cylinders.

“CNG, unlike petrol, combusts completely when used, so there are almost zero emissions released, thereby reducing the danger. It is also not prone to explosion in the case of a leak,” Adekanmbi stressed.

The PCNGi had earlier begun the distribution of free CNG kits to commercial drivers in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory.

It was disclosed that the initiative would reduce the current cost of transportation by about 40 per cent.