Archive February 4, 2026

Moore Meets With Mutfwang, Pledges US Support To Protect Nigerian Christians

image

United States Congressman Riley Moore has met with the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.

The duo met during Mutfwang’s trade and security mission to the United States, where the US lawmaker pledged America’s continued support in addressing security and economic challenges in Nigeria, particularly the protection of Christians and other vulnerable groups.

Moore said the engagement with the Plateau governor was productive and forward-looking.

“It was an honor to meet with the governor of Plateau state in Nigeria, Caleb Mutfwang, yesterday,” Moore wrote on his X handle on Tuesday, sharing a photo of himself and the Plateau governor.

“We had a meaningful and productive conversation about deepening the ties between our two countries.”

The US lawmaker said Washington remains committed to working closely with Nigeria to confront shared challenges.

READ ALSO: US Congressman Riley Moore Visits Tor Tiv, Catholic Bishops

“I remain committed to working with the Nigerian government in coordination and cooperation to address these security and economic challenges, especially the persecution our Christian brothers and sisters face,” Moore said.

The meeting comes nearly two months after Moore announced that the Federal Government and the United States were close to reaching an agreement on a “strategic security framework” aimed at tackling terrorism in Nigeria.

On January 25, Moore said the establishment of the US-Nigeria working group is a necessary step toward combating the security challenges facing Nigeria.

Country Of Particular Concern

In November 2025, the United States redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom, a move that was accompanied by threats of possible US military intervention.

U.S. President Donald Trump thereafter threatened to attack the country, alleging the West African nation is not doing enough to protect its Christian citizens.

Following the allegations, the West African country was designated as a Country of Particular Concern, a congressional designation in the U.S. for countries responsible for religious oppression.

The Nigerian government firmly rejected the claim of Christian genocide, saying the armed groups target people regardless of their faith.

The diplomatic dispute has led to increased military cooperation between the two countries. The terms of the cooperation have been unclear. The U.S has supplied Nigeria with military equipment and carried out reconnaissance missions across Nigeria.

Nigeria has been battling several armed groups across the country. The groups include Islamist sects like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

‘Years in the making’ – are Arsenal ready to shed ‘nearly-men’ tag?

Andy CryerBBC Sport Senior Journalist and Steven SutcliffeBBC Sport Journalist
  • 230 Comments

The wait is over.

After nearly six years and four failed semi-finals, Arsenal’s 4-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final has put them back into a major final.

It will be their first under Mikel Arteta since he guided them to FA Cup victory in 2020 – and just their second in his time at the club.

It was tight, it was tense and it was pretty dull at times but, as Kai Havertz rolled in an injury-time goal to confirm their place at Wembley, the euphoria from fans and players alike at Emirates left you in no doubt about the significance.

In a match that saw both sides only manage two shots on target each, the Gunners rarely looked troubled as they showed all the qualities that have made them so hard to beat.

The result means Arsenal will compete in a ninth EFL Cup final when they take on either Manchester City or Newcastle on Sunday, 22 March in the tournament’s showpiece match.

Should they face City, it will be a repeat of the 2018 final, won by the Manchester club, when Arteta was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff.

However, aside from it being an opportunity for Arsenal to gain a measure of revenge for that loss and winning their first League Cup for 33 years, it would also be a step towards changing a few perceptions.

Arsenal manager Arteta said: “There was a special atmosphere inside our stadium. It makes such a difference. We’ve been waiting a few years to get into this position and we’re certainly going to enjoy it [the final].

“It’s the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies because we’re playing every three days. But the fact that you worked so hard to achieve those moments and to have these moments together is just magical.

“You can see the joy, the smile, the energy and everything that works at the club.”

Midfielder Declan Rice, added: “We deserve it. The last three or four years we’ve been at the top of the Premier League, competing and got really close but haven’t been good enough.

“That’s why this season we have that extra desire and fire in our bellies to go one step further in every competition. There’s a long way to go but to be in a cup final with this club is amazing.”

For the last few years, Arteta’s Arsenal reign has been a story of near-misses, both in cup competitions and in the Premier League.

Now, just one game away from ending their trophy drought, are the Premier League leaders about to silence accusations of being the ‘nearly men’ for good?

‘The momentum is great for Arsenal’

Since winning the FA Cup in 2020, Arsenal had reached four semi-finals – and lost them all.

During that time, they hadn’t even managed to win a leg, so seeing the job out on Tuesday could act as a huge psychological boost – as would going on to lift the trophy in March.

In recent seasons, they have also seen themselves losing leads in the Premier League to miss out on the title, with many putting pressure on Arteta to deliver silverware this season more than ever.

They will have bigger ambitions than the Carabao Cup but no one should underestimate what securing some early silverware could do for the rest of their campaign.

Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think the supporters are just as keen and eager as the players and manager to win a serious trophy. They want a Premier League, but this is a big part of achieving that goal.

“It is important that they win a semi-final. It is important that they win a trophy again because they’re not winning enough, given they have been amongst it for quite a while.

“That is what this season is all about. If you go all the way and do it. What that will do for the Premier League boost, then it is massive. The momentum and the feel of the stadium at the end is great for Arsenal.”

Arsenal defender William Saliba said: “It’s a big club, so there’s a lot of pressure every time. It’s good when there is pressure. We play football for that.

“We have a lot of games – there’s four months left. We want to win every competition. We have the squad for that and we have the coach for that.”

He may have a point, with seven of the last 12 winners of the EFL Cup going on to win at least one other trophy in the same season.

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports: “They are ready to win, They have suffered over the years but this result may relax them, they may enjoy it a bit more.

What information do we collect from this quiz?

How good could it get for Gunners?

With 17 weeks to go until the Champions League final – and zero trophies won yet – it feels far too early to talk about a quadruple but Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Arteta’s side host League One strugglers Wigan in the fourth round of the FA Cup and are already through to the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition having won all eight of their matches in the league phase to top the table.

Since it first became achievable in 1960, to become champions of England, conquer Europe and win the FA Cup and League Cup in the same campaign, there have been four different trebles.

No English team has ever won the Quadruple.

Liverpool won the First Division, League Cup and European Cup in 1984, City managed a domestic clean sweep in 2018-19 and became the second club after neighbours Manchester United in 1998-99 to triumph in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in 2022-23.

That term City were just three wins from the elusive clean sweep, while the United team that came closest to all four trophies was their 2008-09 side, which won the Premier League and League Cup.

They made it to within three wins of a quadruple but lost to Everton in the FA Cup last four and Barcelona in the Champions League final – and had to settle for ‘only’ two in the end.

So on that basis alone it cannot be discounted out of hand given Arteta’s side are already closer than the club’s legendary ‘Invincibles’ who went the entire league campaign undefeated in 2003-04.

But that was the only silverware they secured that season and their quadruple hopes were ended on 3 February, 2004 ,by Middlesbrough, who beat them 3-1 on aggregate in the League Cup semi-finals.

Related topics

  • Premier League
  • Arsenal
  • Football

More on this story

  • Arsenal logo
  • Ask Me Anything logo

Several Killed, Houses, Others Burnt As Bandits Attack Katsina Community

image

An attack by armed bandits in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State has left several persons dead, houses, shops, and vehicles destroyed, and many rendered homeless.

The fresh attack took place in the Doma Community, Tafoki area, about 4:30 pm on Tuesday.

The bandits, armed with dangerous weapons, including AK-47 rifles, invaded the community five months after the peace agreement, where prominent traditional leaders and security personnel became their first target.

According to the Chairman of Faskari Local Government Council, Sirajo Daudawa, the incident was a suspected reprisal attack.

“The situation is indeed very unfortunate. We have not recorded any bad moments over the past five months, except for this that we found ourselves.

“We lost at least 20 people. Several houses and vehicles were burnt down by the hoodlums, security agencies were duly informed, but unfortunately, none of them was able to report to the scene until after the Bandits achieved their mission.

“The bodies of the deceased were retrieved at the Tafoki area, and will be buried tomorrow morning,” he added.

“We are sympathising with the Doma community and Tafoki ward, Faskari LGA, and Katsina State people in general over this tragedy. May Almighty Allah have mercy on those killed and bring this to an end”.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Seven Suspected Bandits, Recover Five Firearms In Kaduna

Police Condemn Incident, Deploy Team

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State, Bello Shehu, has commiserated with the families and friends of the victims of the deadly armed bandits attack. 

Shehu, who also condemned the attack, further directed the deployment of additional resources to expedite the investigation and arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

The Commissioner, in a statement on Tuesday night by the Public Relations Officer of the Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Sadiq, said armed with dangerous weapons and shooting sporadically, upon receipt of the report, the DPO mobilised operatives, in collaboration with the military, and members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC), to the scene of the incident. 

He noted that, unfortunately, the assailants had fatally shot 13 persons and escaped the scene before the arrival of the operatives.

While normalcy has since been restored to the affected area, investigations into the incident have also commenced.

Chelsea adopt Match of the Day tactic to stop Arsenal set-piece threat

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Andy Cryer

BBC Sport Senior Journalist

How do you stop Arsenal causing chaos from set-pieces?

It’s the question everyone keeps asking – but few find an answer.

The Gunners are Europe’s leading force in scoring from set-plays over the past couple of seasons and it has proved to be such a formidable tactic.

Step forward Liam Rosenior and Chelsea, who tried an innovative way of stopping them in their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg tie on Tuesday night – just days after former Manchester City and Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given had suggested similar on Match of the Day.

While it wasn’t able to stop the Gunners securing a 1-0 win – and 4-2 aggregate success – to book their place in the EFL Cup final, it might at least have given rivals some food for thought.

Just as Arsenal were about to whip in their two corners, Chelsea sent three players sprinting from defence to attack – forcing the hosts to quickly react and send players back themselves.

Monaco and Crystal Palace have also left players up against Arsenal’s set-pieces before – but no team has attempted such a late attempt at forcing Mikel Arteta’s men back towards their own half.

Perhaps they had been listening to Given on Match of the Day on Saturday night.

After watching Arsenal score from two set-pieces in their 4-0 thrashing of Leeds, he said: “I wish someone would try something different.

“Take nothing away from Arsenal, but I see the same set-up every week – Arsenal players loaded at the back and causing carnage. Every set-up is the same.

“Someone can try something different to stop this brilliant form of attack. What can teams do different to create more space? If they leave three up, Arsenal have to leave at least three, maybe four players back.

“Then, in the defending box, that leaves a lot more space for the defenders and the goalkeeper. Yes, it leaves more space for the forwards as well, but all those numbers caused so much confusion.”

Since the start of last season, Arteta’s men have scored 53 goals from set-pieces across all competitions – 13 more than anyone else in the Premier League.

And Chelsea’s tactic – while not enough to secure them a place in the EFL Cup final – at least stopped Arsenal from scoring from a set-play.

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp was less impressed though.

He told Sky Sports: “I like the plan, but my problem is Enzo Fernandez was left marking Gabriel and he has 10 yards to attack the ball.

“Chelsea are trying to negate there being too much traffic in the area, which Arsenal try to cause chaos with. They obviously have a plan but if Arsenal have the right delivery, Enzo Fernandez has no chance.”

Related topics

  • Chelsea
  • Premier League
  • Arsenal
  • Football
  • EFL Cup

More on this story

    • 17 October 2025
    A graphic of Premier League players from every team in the division in 2025-26 season, with the Premier League trophy in front of them.
    • 16 August 2025
    BBC Sport microphone and phone

US House passes $1.2 trillion spending package to end government shutdown

The United States House of Representatives has approved a $1.2 trillion spending package to end a partial government shutdown.

The bipartisan legislation, passed on Tuesday, restores lapsed funding for key federal programmes, including those within the Departments of Labor and Education. The bill passed with 217 voting for it and 214 voting against in the Republican-controlled House.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

Twenty-one Republicans voted against the bill, while 21 Democrats ended up voting for the legislation, which is now headed to President Donald Trump’s desk, where he will sign it into law.

Immigration was a major point of contention. The bill temporarily extends funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) but leaves room for lawmakers to negotiate changes and reforms to immigration enforcement in the wake of federal agents killing two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, last month.

The spending package only funds DHS for two weeks, through February 13. Otherwise, Congress wrapped up 11 annual appropriations bills that fund government agencies and programmes through September 30.

Democrats are also demanding new restraints for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

“Democrats are united in our commitment to compel substantial reform at the Department of Homeland Security. Dramatic changes such as a mask ban, judicial warrant requirement, independent investigations when agents break the law, use of force protocols, mandatory body cameras and an end to the targeting of sensitive locations like houses of worship, schools and hospitals must be part of any full-year appropriations bill,” Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement after the vote.

Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the two sides will be able to reach an agreement by the deadline.

“This is no time to play games with that funding. We hope that they will operate in good faith over the next 10 days as we negotiate this,” said Johnson. “The president, again, has reached out.”

Some Republicans on the party’s right flank had sought, unsuccessfully, to modify the bill to include a provision that would tighten voting requirements.

House Republicans have only a 218-214 majority, which means they can lose only one Republican vote in the face of united Democratic opposition.

Liverpool to rival Man Utd for Wharton – Wednesday’s gossip

Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid eye Adam Wharton deal, Manchester United could move for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Sandro Tonali, Leeds keeper Illan Meslier looks to be heading to Turkey.

Liverpool could rival Manchester United and Real Madrid for the £80m signing of Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, in the summer. (Mirror)

Manchester United could make a move for long-term striker target Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, in the summer after the Frenchman’s proposed deadline-day transfer from Crystal Palace to AC Milan fell through. (Mirror)

AC Milan, Chelsea and Newcastle are all interested in Serbian forward Dusan Vlahovic, 26, on a summer free transfer, even though he has recently returned to Juventus to complete his rehabilitation from an abductor injury. (Football Italia)

Manchester United are also looking to bolster their midfield and Newcastle‘s Italy international Sandro Tonali, 25, is of interest. (Metro)

Everton will be open to new offers for English winger Dwight McNeil, 26, after his deadline-day move to Crystal Palace collapsed. (Football Insider)

Newcastle will resurrect a move for highly rated Reims’ Ivorian midfielder Patrick Zabi, 19, in the coming months. (The i – subscription required)

Leeds United‘s French goalkeeper Illan Meslier, 25, could be set for a move away from Elland Road, with Turkish club Besiktas holding talks. (Teamtalk)

Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, 30, who is out of contract at Bayern Munich in the summer, could be on his way to Arsenal on a free transfer. (Bayern Insider)

Related topics

  • European Football
  • Premier League
  • Football

More on this story

    • 17 October 2025
  • Quiz logo