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Kogi Political Violence: SDP demands probe of Police Response team leader for aiding thuggery

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The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has called on the Inspector General of Police to probe the activities of the Head of Police Quick Response Team in the State for allegedly aiding the activities of political thugs.

Addressing a press conference in Lokoja on Thursday, the Chairman, Muri/Sam Campaign Council, Col. Suleiman Babanawa told journalists that an officer attached to the Quick Response Team acted on the instructions of his boss to allegedly follow some political thugs to cause mayhem on supporters of SDP in Ajaka, under Igalamela Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State House.

Babanawa, who expressed displeasure over the activities of some serving police officers, appealed to the Inspector General of Police to call the accused police officer to order.

Narrating how an officer attached to Kogi State Police Quick Response Unit was arrested when he allegedly accompanied some political thugs to Ajaka community, the former military officer stated that he met his waterloo after he and his gang (alleged political thugs) were overpowered by supporters of SDP in Ajaka.

He said, “When political thugs entered Ajaka community, they started attacking our supporters, destroying our properties.

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“Fortunately for us, our supporters overpowered them. The people were able to apprehend a suspect who happens to be a serving Police Officer attached to the Quick Response Unit, (QRU) in Kogi State.

“When the people wanted to lynch him, immediately he pleaded with them insisting that he is a police officer acting under the instructions of his boss.

“We perceive that the CP is a man of integrity. He should watch that the few bad eggs will not dent his image. The inspector General of Police should look into the activities of the Quick Response team in Kogi.

“It is a known fact that some bad eggs in the command have been deployed to Kogi East, and we are aware of their evil plans.

“It is totally unbelievable that security agencies that were supposed to protect the people were seen harassing and intimidating those they are supposed to serve.

“We are calling on the world to see what we are going through in Kogi State.”

Also speaking, the Deputy Governorship Candidate of SDP, Sam Abenemi, who spoke alongside Hajia Mariam Salifu, women Leader of SDP, decried the level of attack on supporters of the party, calling on the Federal Government led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that security agencies maintained their absolute discipline in discharging their duties.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command, has begun investigation into a trending video where a police officer was seen in the pool of his blood as a result of the political clash in the Eastern part of Kogi State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) SP William Ovye Aya disclosed this on Thursday.

The Police spokesperson, who did not mention the name of the officer, added that the suspect has been transferred to Lokoja, and is currently in their custody.

“We are investigating the issue that happened yesterday. When we get full information, the police will brief the press,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the said police officer, who identified himself in the trending video as Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Samuel, was on an illegal duty when the incident occurred.

He confessed to have escorted Friday Makama, an appointee of Governor Yahaya Bello, who was in-charge of the outlawed State Taskforce on Illegal Firearms, to Anyimgba.

According to ASP Samuel, Makama and gang of thugs who were in control of the vehicles that conveyed them for the journey diverted to Ajaka town where they had serious confrontation with supporters of SDP but were overpowered by the party supporters leading to his arrest.

Makama and some members of his gang, who are said to be enjoying the strong backing of the state government, escaped through the bush during the incident abandoning two Hilux Vans which were recovered and taken to Idah Police Division along with ASP Samuel.

The Advocate reports that the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by Justice J.K. Omotosho, has made an order of perpetual injunction dated October 13, 2023, restrained the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and his agents from controlling or attempting to regulate the possession of or dealing in firearms in the state.

Justice Omotosho gave the order on October 5 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/697/2 filed by Hon. Ahmadu Danjuma against the Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Friday Sani Makama, the Director General, State Security Service, the Director-General, National Intelligent Agency, the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser.

In a certified true copy of the order dated October 13, 2023 made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the court set aside the appointment of Mr. Friday Sani Makama as Director General of the Special Task Force on Illegal Smuggling of Firearms in Kogi state by Governor Yahaya Bello.

The state government is yet to react to the order of the court but Friday Makama was seen on a viral video saying that the court order was of no effect as his position as chairman of task-force on firearms in the state could not be challenged.

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Enugu Air Launches New Website

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…moves online services to www.enuguairlines.ng

Enugu Air has announced the launch of its new official website, enuguairlines.ng, as part of efforts to provide passengers and customers with a better, safer and more convenient digital experience.

The airline said the migration to the new website is designed to improve how passengers connect with Enugu Air and access its services online, including flight bookings, schedules and the latest updates.

Announcing the development, the airline said: “We’ve moved! We’re innovating! We’ve migrated to a better, safer and convenient website to connect you to the world.”

Passengers can now access Enugu Air’s online services through its new web address, enuguairlines.ng, which the airline described as its new digital home.

The airline urged passengers and prospective travellers to save the new web address and use it for flight bookings, checking schedules and obtaining the latest information about its operations.

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“Same Enugu Air. New web address,” the airline stated, emphasising that the change represents an improvement in its digital platform while retaining the Enugu Air brand and services.

The airline further encouraged customers to visit, www.enuguairlines.ng for all flight-related information and online services.

It further stated that the old website, enuguairlines•com has been discarded and no longer in use.

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Kidnapped female Police officer found dead in Ebonyi

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A kidnapped female police officer has been found dead in Ebonyi State after a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate was arrested and led police operatives to the scene where her remains were recovered.

The Nigeria Police Force disclosed this in its state-by-state operational update issued by Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Ani Iniedu on Monday, detailing several arrests, rescues and recoveries recorded across the country between September 19 and 20, 2026.

According to the police, the suspect was arrested following a sustained intelligence-led and technology-based investigation into the kidnapping of the female officer.

The suspect reportedly led combined police teams to the crime scene, where the remains of the officer were recovered.

The police said the case is being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki.

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In a separate operation in Adamawa State, police operatives rescued two kidnapped victims from a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Shako Forest, Toungo Local Government Area.

The operation, carried out on September 20 following actionable intelligence, also led to the recovery of two magazines containing 10 rounds of 7.62×39mm live ammunition.

A National Identification Number (NIN) card, mobile phone, passport and chain were also recovered from the suspected hideout.

In the Federal Capital Territory, police arrested 334 suspects during coordinated raids on criminal hotspots, black spots and uncompleted buildings across several locations.

The operation, conducted on September 19, also resulted in the recovery of various quantities of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

Meanwhile, police in Anambra State arrested a suspected child trafficker who was allegedly intercepted while travelling with a six-month-old baby boy.

The baby was recovered and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action, according to the police.

In Kaduna State, four suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate were arrested following intelligence-led operations.

Police said the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in kidnapping and provided information about fleeing accomplices. A locally made Dane gun was recovered.

Another suspected kidnapping syndicate member was arrested at Soba Market in the state. Police said the suspect also confessed and gave information implicating five fleeing accomplices.

In Ogun State, police arrested a suspect linked to a fatal shooting incident in Isara, Remo North Local Government Area.

One single-barrel gun, one live cartridge and one expended shell were recovered during the operation.

In Imo State, a suspect was arrested during a raid on a suspected criminal gathering at Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area, with police recovering a locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun.

Police in Ekiti State also arrested two suspects linked to multiple shop-breaking and stealing incidents in Ado-Ekiti and recovered suspected stolen iron rods.

In another operation in Ado-Ekiti, police recovered an abandoned white sack containing a pump-action gun loaded with two live cartridges and a locally made single-barrel gun from a farmland.

In Benue State, police tactical teams, supported by personnel of the Police Mobile Force and military, intervened in a renewed communal conflict at Akpa-Mbakor Community in Tarka Local Government Area.

The security teams dispersed the rampaging youths and restored normalcy in the area, according to the police.

In Oyo State, police arrested a truck driver allegedly involved in a fatal road traffic incident along the Ijebu-Ode/Idi Ayunre Road.

The truck was impounded for further inspection and investigation.

The police said all the cases remain under investigation by the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments.

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UK excludes Nigerian, Ghanaian-trained teachers from teaching qualification list

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Teachers trained in Nigeria and Ghana are no longer eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England under the United Kingdom’s overseas-trained teacher application route.

The change took effect on September 9 and means teachers trained in the two West African countries can no longer use the route to obtain QTS, a status recognised by many schools in England.

The UK Department for Education said countries included in the scheme must meet specific requirements to ensure that applicants’ qualifications, professional standing and teaching experience can be properly verified. One of the requirements is that a country must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional status and providing authenticated references.

According to the department, Nigeria and Ghana did not meet the reference-verification requirement.

“Our data shows that more than 70% of applications from teachers in Ghana and Nigeria include work history references that use public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than a school’s official email domain. This means assessors spend additional time and resources trying to verify information provided in applications,” the department said.

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The UK department said about 90 percent of applications are assessed within 12 months.

India was also removed from the eligible list because it does not have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing.

South Africa is now the only African country remaining on the list of countries whose teachers can use the QTS application route.

The department said the verification process was necessary to ensure that information provided by applicants was genuine and that teachers awarded QTS possessed the required skills and experience to teach in England.

To apply for QTS, overseas-trained teachers must have a valid passport, an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree and professional recognition as a teacher in the country where they trained.

Applicants must also have completed any mandatory induction requirements needed for full teacher registration in their country of qualification.

They are required to demonstrate that they are qualified to teach children aged between five and 16 and have at least nine months of teaching experience gained after qualifying as a teacher.

Applicants must also provide employment references that verify their work history and use an email address linked to the school’s official domain.

Depending on the country where a teacher trained, additional requirements may include qualifications to teach pupils aged between 11 and 16 and a specialism in subjects such as mathematics, science, biology, chemistry, physics, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian or Spanish.

However, because teachers in England are employed by individual schools rather than the Department for Education, schools may consider alternative routes into teaching.

The department said teachers who are no longer eligible to use the QTS application service can explore other routes into teaching in England.

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