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Kogi SDP condemns abduction of campaign official, killing of three police officers by security operatives

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Kogi SDP condemns abduction of campaign official, killing of three police officers by security operatives
• Inspector Samson Ubile Atabo murdered during the raid by security agents at Anyigba on Tuesday
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• Three ‘political thugs’ killed during joint security operation in Anyigba, says Kogi police spokesman

Three policemen officially assigned to provide security for the campaign team of the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka were gruesomely murdered by their fellow security operatives who stormed the residence of the party’s Campaign Director in search of political thugs at Anyigba Tuesday morning.

The Director of New Media for the MuriSam Campaign Council of the SDP, Comrade Isaiah Davies Ijele and five supporters of the party present at the time of the raid on the residence of the campaign DG, Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin, were reportedly taken away and the party said they could not be reached by press time.

The SDP governorship candidate, Ajaka confirmed the casualty figure from the early morning attack during a Channels Television programme Tuesday night, alleging that the attack was sponsored by Governor Yahaya Bello as part of the series of political violence targeted at his campaign team.

Ajaka said he had formerly reported the killings and abduction of members of his campaign team to the police authorities expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the evil act would be brought to book.

One of the police officers killed on Tuesday was identified as Inspector Samson Ubile Atabo officially attached to the SDP Campaign DG, Sheik Jibrin. He was shot dead by the security men and some persons identified as All Progressives Party, APC thugs at the Campaign DG’s residence in Anyigba.

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The Advocate learnt that the security operatives and hoodlums who attacked the house at about 6am  also took away the corpse of the police inspector and other victims from the scene.  Though they could not be immediately identified, reports said three others shot and taken away were believed to be security men on duty.

Kogi SDP condemns abduction of campaign official, killing of three police officers by security operatives

• Police release photo of the arrested persons at the Police Command’s Headquarters in Lokoja on Tuesday

According to a release by Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the spokesman, Muri/Sam Gubernatorial Campaign of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the hoodlums were a “rogue force” allegedly put together by Governor Yahaya Bello ahead of the Saturday governorship election in the state.

Adejoh-Audu said, “A rogue force assembled by the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bethrand Unuoha on behalf of the governor, killed a serving policeman while attacking the home of the Director-General of the SDP Campaign Council for Kogi State, Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin with an Armoured Personel Carrier (APC) at Anyigba this morning.

“The rogues force made up of thugs led by one Friday Makama officially declared wanted by a Federal High Court, one Supol Ojo of the Lokoja Mopol office and navy mercenaries led by N.U Akalezi of the Nigerian Navy killed the police guard, officer Atabor at about 6:00am this morning.

“The rogue force which reportedly included DSS operatives contributed by Deputy Director General of the Service who is in Lokoja acting in a lower responsibility as director, Mr Tosin Ajayi relentlessly attacked for over one hour during several persons were shot but officer Atabor was confirmed killed on the spot.

“The APC broke down the gate of Sheikh’s County home to gain access to the compound before releasing the rogue force who opened fire indiscriminately killing Atabor while the other guards ran for cover.

“They took away the corpse of policeman Atabor and about six other persons among whom are believed to be four policemen on official duty.

“It is also feared that our campaign Head of New Media Comrade I D Ijele may have also been abducted. He was last heard from at 6: 00am this morning while the attack was in progress.

“The rogue force is still prowling around Anyigba with the Armoured Personnel Carrier ( APC) as at the time of writing this statement.

“The police in Kogi just like they did during the 2019 Governorship Elections when they procured a helicopter to shoot at voters are executing Bello’s desperate plans to overwhelm the will of the people. The attack using a rogue force of thugs and mercenaries Navy was deliberately designed to commence few days to elections.

“It is our information that (CP) Bethrand Unuoha and some other compromised security chiefs in Kogi will sustain this sporadic attacks on our Campaign leadership and supporters particularly in Kogi East until the day of election.

“This is to achieve Bello’s plot to suppress the voter’s turnout in Kogi East which he believed is a stronghold of the SDP. The Muri/Sam Campaign Council is once more calling on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to transfer this commissioner who is an eager enforcer of Bello’s desperate violent schemes to allow for a free and fair election in Kogi State.”

Speaking on the security operation that claimed some lives on Tuesday, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, said those killed  were political thugs who engaged the security operatives in a gun duel.

He wrote: “Based on series of credible Intels on the repeated/recurring incidences of violence in Kogi East Senatorial District, which recently led to an attack on a Police Team and disarming and snatching of one AK47 Rifle from one Policeman, early this morning, Tuesday 07/11/2023, a Special Joint Operation involving the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was carried out on building where Political Thugs are being housed by Political Parties.

“During the Cordon and Search Operation, the Team, even after identifying themselves came under serious gun fire and in response three of the Political Thugs were gunned down and Two AK47 Rifles recovered while two members of the Team sustained gunshot injuries and seven suspects arrested.

“To this end, to make for a peaceful Election in the State, the Raids on suspected Criminal/Thugs hideouts will be sustained to deny them safe heavens to operate. The ongoing operation will be sustained until after the Election, please.”

Aya was silent on the party’s claim that Police Inspector Atabor and two others officers were killed during the raid as he described the three victims as “political thugs”.

The Advocate reports that the Nigerian Army had last weekend commenced deployment of soldiers and patrol vehicles to different parts of Kogi State including the university town of Anyigba and they were seen on video conducting patrol activities in some towns on Tuesday to provide the needed security for lives and property during the election.

The police authorities also announced on Tuesday, the deployment of 40,000 police men to the state for election duty.

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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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