The Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu, has donated critical security equipment to the Enugu State Forest Guard to bolster its operational capacity and sustain the state’s strides in combating insecurity.

The donation, made on Friday at the Forest Guard Command headquarters in Enugu, included tested body armour, bulletproof vests and helmets, long-range binoculars, communication radios, and first aid materials aimed at improving field efficiency and personnel safety.

Speaking during the presentation, Senator Ngwu commended Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as unprecedented investment in the state’s security architecture, noting that Enugu has emerged as a reference point in security management.

“To the glory of God, we have a governor who is overperforming and understands what governance entails across all sectors. Particularly in security, only a few people know that the Command and Control Centre in Enugu is currently the best in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the level of sophistication of the centre surpasses what is obtainable even at the federal level, stressing that the infrastructure has significantly strengthened efforts to safeguard lives and property.

The lawmaker explained that his intervention was inspired by the governor’s commitment to security, emphasizing that governance requires collective responsibility.

He called on citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible information.

“There is a saying in security: if you see something, you must say something. Without information, the work becomes more difficult,” he noted.

Ngwu also acknowledged that insecurity can heighten during election periods, sometimes driven by political activities, but maintained that a responsible government must remain proactive in tackling threats and ensuring that criminal elements are brought to justice.

Highlighting the state’s Security Trust Fund, he noted that it supports multiple security agencies, including the police, army, DSS, neighbourhood watch, and the Forest Guard, adding that his donation was a modest contribution to complement the governor’s efforts.

Reacting, the Chairman of the Enugu State Forest Guard Board, Col. Daniel Chukwu (rtd.), described the donation as timely, recalling that the agency initially met a “broken and dysfunctional system” which required rebuilding from the ground up.

“We thank the governor for the enabling environment and unwavering support. Every proposal aimed at improving operations and welfare receives prompt approval,” he said.

Chukwu disclosed that the first batch of personnel had been trained in Osun State, with positive results already evident, and urged other stakeholders to emulate the senator’s gesture.

Also speaking, the Commander of the Forest Guard, DCP Olasoji Akinbayo (rtd) described the donation as a morale booster, noting that it would enhance ongoing operations across the state’s forests.

“You have set the ball rolling with this uncommon act. We expect more support from citizens so that we can do more,” he said.

He further revealed that the state government had procured over 1,000 sophisticated rifles for the outfit, enabling operatives to intensify efforts in tackling crime and securing forested areas.

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday sentenced a 63-year-old pastor, Chris Mcdouglas to life imprisonment for raping his 18-year-old church member’s daughter, (name withheld).

Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced Mcdouglas, a pastor at the Peculiar Generation Assembly Church, Lagos, to life imprisonment after he found him guilty of rape.

The judge, however, discharged him of six-count-charge out of the nine-count-charge, bothering on defilement, sexual assault, indecent treatment of a child brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

Oshodi, in his judgment on Thursday, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge of rape against the pastor.

Oshodi described the offence as a grave betrayal of trust that left the survivor with lasting psychological trauma.

The court found that the cleric, regarded within his congregation as a “spiritual father” exploited his position of authority to sexually abuse the survivor.

According to the court, the abuse is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of manipulation and coercion.

Evidence before the court showed that the survivor reported the incident to the police shortly after it occurred, leading to an investigation and eventual prosecution.

“The impact on the victim has been devastating, particularly given the trust reposed in you as a religious leader.

“This court reject any suggestion that the relationship was consensual as the victim was a minor at the time the incident happened and she cannot give valid consent.

“Testimony also revealed that the victim’s mother confronted the cleric at the church after learning of the abuse, further underscoring the breach of moral and spiritual responsibility,” Oshodi said.

During the trial, the court heard evidence of the devastating impact the abuse had on the victim.

She reportedly suffered depression and experienced recurring suicidal thoughts, pointing to the lasting emotional damage caused by the incident.

The court scrutinised testimonial, medical and electronic evidence presented by the prosecution, alongside objections raised by the defence under the Evidence Act 2011.

The defence had urged the court to reject a medical report and related police referral documents, arguing non-compliance with statutory provisions.

The court agreed in part, holding that certain documents were improperly admitted and should be discountenanced.

However, it ruled that the oral testimony of the medical expert remained admissible and could stand independently.

Citing precedent, the judge held that expert testimony may still carry weight even where accompanying documentation is flawed.

The court found credible and corroborated evidence supporting allegations of abuse at a family residence and a hotel between September and December 2017.

“The victim gave a detailed account of an initial incident in September 2017, describing how she was a drugged and raped by the defendant and her testimony was corroborated with her mother’s, who observed physical distress shortly after the incident.

“The defendant also confirmed to the court that he took the survivor to hotels on several occasions,” Oshodi said.

The court consequently convicted the pastor on the charge of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The court also ordered that the convict’s name should be written in Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, called five witnesses while Defence Counsel, Mr Yusuf Nurudeen also called five witnesses during trial. (NAN)