Author: CSNews

FCT Police Nab 10 Suspected Vandals Targeting Cables And Solar Streetlights In Abuja

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested 10 suspected vandals in separate operations across Kubwa, Wuye and the National Mosque area of Abuja, in a coordinated crackdown on infrastructure vandalism. According to a statement by SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command, a patrol team from Kubwa Division sighted five persons allegedly vandalising armoured cables around Bazango Kubwa on September 2, leading to their arrest and identification. In a separate operation, a patrol team from Wuye Division arrested one suspect while allegedly digging out armoured cables along the road between Magic Land and the National Stadium in Abuja. A surveillance team from Wuse Division also arrested four other suspects around the National Mosque area after they allegedly cut down a solar powered street light in an attempt to vandalise it and remove its components. The command said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected vandalism syndicates, including those allegedly involved in receiving stolen public infrastructure. All suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations, the command said in its statement. Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, commended the police teams for their vigilance and timely intervention in protecting public infrastructure across the territory.

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Twenty Five Family Members Of Terrorists Flee Enclaves As Pressure Mounts In Borno

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Twenty five family members of terrorists, made up of seven women and 18 children, have reportedly surrendered after fleeing terrorist enclaves in Borno State, as the Nigerian military continues to intensify operations against terrorist groups across the North East. Some of the individuals are said to have escaped amid clashes between rival terrorist factions, adding a new dimension to the growing pressure being felt within these groups. Security analysts say the development goes beyond fighters simply leaving the battlefield, noting that when families connected to terrorist groups begin fleeing enclave territories, it reflects just how difficult life inside those areas is becoming under sustained military pressure. The terrorist groups are said to be facing pressure from security forces on the outside, while internal divisions and clashes create additional strain within their own ranks, disrupting their movements and restricting their freedom of action. Authorities say the 25 individuals are currently in military custody for profiling, investigation and other necessary procedures before further steps are determined. The development is being viewed as a small but notable sign of the cumulative effect of sustained counter terrorism operations in the region. Security officials say the trend of families fleeing enclaves will continue to be monitored closely as operations against terrorist groups in the North East continue.

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Fintiri Suspends Adamawa Schools Board Boss Over Alleged Irregularities

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary of the state’s Post Primary Schools Management Board, Mr Birsan Penuel, over alleged irregularities in the discharge of his official responsibilities. The suspension is intended to allow for a thorough investigation into the matter, with the most senior Director in the Board directed to take over its affairs in the interim and ensure the uninterrupted continuation of its activities. The Governor said his administration remains committed to sanitising and repositioning the education sector for improved service delivery, citing measures over the past seven years including the recruitment of qualified teachers and rehabilitation of classrooms. Fintiri said these steps had helped reverse negative trends that once plagued the sector, reiterating his determination to build a functional, effective and credible post primary education system in the state. He said he would not hesitate to take necessary steps, no matter how tough, to protect the integrity of the system and ensure children receive the quality education they deserve. The government warned all political appointees and public officers to uphold due process, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing that any act undermining progress made in the education sector would be dealt with decisively. The suspension signals a firm stance from the administration as it continues efforts to strengthen accountability within the state’s education management structures.

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IGP Brings Back MOPOL In Renewed Push Against Kidnapping And Banditry

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Inspector General of Police has announced the revival and repositioning of the Police Mobile Force, popularly known as MOPOL, as part of renewed efforts to combat kidnapping, banditry, insurgency and other violent crimes across the country. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the operational readiness of the specialised police unit and enhancing its capacity to respond swiftly to emerging security threats nationwide. Police leadership said the move would improve rapid response operations, intelligence driven policing and the overall fight against organised criminal networks operating in various parts of the country. Speaking during a training programme for Mobile Police instructors, the IGP stressed the critical role of MOPOL in tackling insecurity, noting that the unit possesses the specialised training and tactical capabilities required to confront banditry and insurgency head on. He urged officers to build on their expertise and contribute meaningfully to ongoing efforts to restore peace across affected communities in the country. The police disclosed that ongoing reforms and retraining exercises are designed to ensure Mobile Police squadrons remain well equipped, properly led and fully prepared for deployment in security operations nationwide. The development forms part of broader measures by security agencies to address persistent security challenges and improve the protection of lives and property across Nigeria.

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Benue Approves $250 Million National Food City Complex In Historic First For The State

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Benue State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has approved the National Food City Complex project, spanning 30,000 hectares of land across Otukpo, Obi and Ado local government areas, as the state’s equity contribution to a more than $250 million agro industrial partnership. The project is a large scale public private partnership between the Benue State Government and Rexzodeneh Group Limited, backed by a technical partnership with M.K International Inc of South Korea, designed to transform the Otukpo area into an integrated agro industrial hub and Nigeria’s flagship response to the national emergency on food security. It marks the first formal public private partnership agreement in Benue State’s 50 year history, a landmark shift from subsistence farming toward mechanised, value added agricultural production, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2025 and a formal agreement signed the following month after a due diligence process led by the Benue Investment Promotion Agency. The project runs on a 25 year Design Build Operate Transfer concession, under which the state provides land and critical infrastructure while Rexzodeneh Group finances, builds and operates the complex, with full ownership transferring to the state at the end of the concession period free of encumbrances. At full scale, the project is expected to create more than 20,000 direct and permanent jobs, integrate over 40,000 smallholder farmers, generate 20 to 25 megawatts of hybrid power and establish five processing lines covering rice, maize, cassava, soybean and poultry feed production. Officials say the state holds a protected 10 percent equity stake at zero cash outlay, covered entirely by land and infrastructure contribution, with a 70 percent local hiring rule designed to maximise employment benefits for Benue residents. The Alia led administration says the project reflects its broader commitment to restoring Benue’s status as the food basket of the nation, with ambitions of positioning the state as a leading agricultural hub across Africa.

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Nigeria’s Data Protection Chief Meets EUROJUST And EUROPOL Over Cross Border Cooperation

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The National Commissioner and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, received a delegation from the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, led by its Vice President José de la Mata Amaya, alongside representatives of EUROPOL. Amaya commended the Commission for the remarkable progress it has made within its few years of existence, while outlining EUROJUST’s role in supporting judicial cooperation and coordination in criminal matters across Europe. He gave insights into an ongoing project being implemented in partnership with EUROPOL to strengthen information exchange, evidence sharing and coordinated operations in criminal investigations, noting that the project involves the sharing of personal data between security agencies and service providers. The delegation expressed interest in Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023, describing it as a robust framework and indicating a desire to learn more about the Commission’s work and explore areas of collaboration. In his response, Dr Olatunji welcomed the delegation and noted that the processing of personal data by security and law enforcement agencies is sensitive and requires appropriate safeguards to protect citizens’ rights. He explained that the Commission works closely with several security and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, providing guidance on lawful data processing and supporting investigations and capacity building initiatives involving data protection. Dr Olatunji expressed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with EUROJUST and EUROPOL, with the meeting concluding in a technical session involving officials from all three institutions.

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Convicted Cocaine Trafficker Caught Posing As Herbal Tea Seller As NDLEA Sweeps Nine States

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a convicted cocaine trafficker who had disguised himself as a herbal tea businessman, in a sweeping series of operations that spanned nine states across the country. The suspect, 34 year old Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, was arrested at Article Market in Ojo, Lagos, following an intelligence led operation that traced him after the interception of 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in phone chargers destined for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said Ebubechukwu had previously been arrested in 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport after ingesting cocaine and heroin under a different name, and was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison before changing his identity and returning to trafficking. Alongside the arrest, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 20,000 litre fuel tanker fitted with a concealed compartment for drugs in Ondo State, recovering 165 bags of cannabis weighing over 2,145 kilogrammes after the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush. At the Lagos airport, the agency recovered 966,200 tablets of Tramadol valued at more than ₦1.1 billion hidden among second hand trousers, while at Tincan Port, 598.08 kilogrammes of cannabis infused cookies and gummies were seized in a 40 foot container. Further operations across Adamawa, Kogi, Taraba, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ekiti and Enugu states led to the recovery of large quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine, cannabis and other controlled substances, along with the destruction of a four hectare cannabis farm in Ekiti State. The coordinated sweep underscores the scale of ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating across the country’s land, sea and air routes.

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After 20 Years, Nigeria Finally Unlocks Billions In Financing For Local Shipowners

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed More than two decades after it was established, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund is finally being unlocked for Nigerian shipowners, marking what officials describe as a major step toward building a stronger, Nigerian owned shipping industry. Under the CVFF, each successful applicant will be able to access up to $25 million in financing to acquire vessels, subject to the applicable assessment and approval process, addressing a financing gap that has long limited the growth of local shipping companies. Officials say access to affordable, long term financing at low interest rates will allow Nigerian shipowners to acquire modern vessels, expand their fleets and compete for coastal and offshore contracts currently dominated by foreign operators. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has been directed to work closely with 12 approved Primary Lending Institutions to accelerate disbursement of the fund to qualified applicants, with the number of participating banks expanded from five to 12. So far, NIMASA has received 92 applications, with 20 forwarded to the Primary Lending Institutions and one already reviewed and forwarded for approval, while a new CVFF Application Portal has been launched to make the process more transparent and accessible. Officials say the disbursement could help build a stronger indigenous fleet, stimulating activity in shipyards, marine engineering, vessel maintenance and other supporting industries, while creating more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. Beyond vessel financing, the government says it is also investing in people, with 222 seafarers receiving free professional training, 333 cadets completing academic training, 135 cadets obtaining Certificates of Competency and 7,059 Nigerian seafarers placed onboard vessels to gain sea time experience.

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Tinubu Signs NPERA Act, Splits Nigeria’s Ports Into Regulator And Operator

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has announced major reforms to Nigeria’s port sector following President Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act 2026, a move set to reshape how the country’s ports are regulated and run. Under the reform, management of Inland Dry Ports has been transferred from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to the Nigerian Ports Authority, while the Shippers’ Council itself will transition into the newly created Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, known as NPERA. A Ministerial Committee has been set up to oversee the transition, with the changes designed to separate regulation from operations for the first time in the sector’s history. NPERA will now serve as the independent economic regulator, focusing on port charges, service standards, competition and dispute resolution, while the Nigerian Ports Authority handles the day to day running and integration of seaports and Inland Dry Ports. Officials say the goal is to remove overlap, avoid conflict of interest and make the system more transparent for investors and port users navigating Nigeria’s maritime space. For ordinary Nigerians, the reform is expected to translate into fairer port charges, faster cargo clearance and lower costs of goods, while also attracting fresh investment and allowing goods to be cleared closer to inland cities such as Ibadan and Kano. In simple terms, the government says it is building a port system that is faster, cheaper and more competitive, as part of a broader push to grow Nigeria’s Blue Economy.

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Martin Ødegaard Settles A Fiery London Derby As Arsenal Edge Past Chelsea

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Arsenal defeated Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in a fiery London derby, with Martin Ødegaard scoring the decisive goal in a match that swung on moments of composure amid chaotic spells of pressure from both sides. Arsenal 2 – 1 Chelsea Declan Rice was instrumental in calming his teammates during the tensest periods of the match, helping Arsenal see out the win despite sustained late pressure from a determined Chelsea side. Chelsea’s new coach Xabi Alonso admitted his side felt the pain of the defeat, describing it as a lesson for his rebuilding squad as they continue adjusting to his methods early in the season. The result keeps Arsenal firmly in contention at the top of the table, while Chelsea will need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid falling further behind in the early standings. For Alonso, the derby defeat offers a clear marker of the work still required to shape Chelsea into the side he envisions, even as encouraging signs emerged in patches of the performance.

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