Category Nigeria News

The operatives of Abia State Police Command say they have successfully rescued eight infants and ten stolen children following a coordinated operation targeting a suspected child trafficking network in Aba and its environs.

The operation also led to the arrest of ten suspects allegedly involved in conspiracy and child stealing.

In a statement made available to Channels Television, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen C. Chinaka, said the operation was launched following a distress complaint received on September 27, 2025, at the Ohuru Isimiri Divisional Headquarters.

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The statement reads, “On 27/09/2025 at about 09:40hrs, a complaint was received at Ohuru Isimiri police Divisional Headquarters that a young woman from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, came to Aba with her two children (male and female) lured by a young man under the guise of marriage. On arrival in Aba, the man asked her to get food for herself and the children while he stayed with the children. On her return, she did not see the man and her children, and all efforts to reach him proved abortive.
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“Acting on credible and actionable intelligence, officers of the Command on 08/10/2025 stormed a residence where stolen children were suspected to be kept, apprehended five suspects namely: Mrs. Best Ndubusi, Charles Enyinnaya, Eunice Ezekiel, Nnena Kalu, and Gideon Esther, and rescued one infant and seven children.

“In furtherance of the investigation, on 09/10/2025, officers of the Command, stormed another residence along Aba/Owerri Road where more stolen children were kept. Four suspects namely: Obiegbunam Von, Ezeoma Rejoice, Ngozi Owoh, and Favour Ernest, were arrested and seven infants and three children were rescued.

“Today, 10/10/2025, officers of the Command apprehended another suspect, Brittney Oyemuwa Zion, and rescued one child. Investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).”

All suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Abia Command.

The police have urged members of the public searching for missing or stolen infants and children to visit the Gender Section of the SCID or contact the Officer-in-Charge (OC Gender) at 08033173846.

Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring the safety of all residents in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has given Raffoul Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the 6.5km Woji–Aleto–Alesa road linking Woji in Obio/Akpor LGA to the Port Harcourt Refinery in Eleme LGA, one month to complete the project or face contract termination.

The road, which includes a 200-metre bridge, is intended to serve as an alternative route to the Port Harcourt Refinery and ease congestion on the busy East–West Road, a federal road currently under reconstruction.

Speaking during an inspection of the site on Friday, Governor Fubara said the handover note he received after the state of emergency indicated that the Administrator under the emergency rule, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, cancelled the contract.

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The governor expressed disappointment that the company has shown unsatisfactory progress despite being granted two contract variations previously by his administration.

“I feel highly disappointed with the level of performance of this contractor, Raffoul,” Fubara said at the site.

“This project was awarded in June 2020 by my predecessor. When I came in I gave variations twice to enable them achieve a good proportion of this job. To my greatest surprise, whenever you sit with them you don’t come out with anything substantial.”

He warned if the contractor cannot complete this job in the next one month, he will cancel the contract.

During the inspection, the governor also raised concerns about indiscriminate dredging along the Woji river near the bridge, calling the activity environmentally dangerous.

“How could a normal human being be dredging very close to the bridge? Is it proper?” he asked. “This is the last warning.

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has directed the recall of students of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Jega, who were suspended following the 2024 student riot that led to the closure of the institution.

The Provost of the college, Hussaini Aliyu, made this known during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.

According to the Provost, the Governor has also approved the sum of ₦60 million for the accreditation of eight academic programs by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The lack of accreditation was a major factor that triggered the riot by the affected students.

Aliyu stated that students suspended on October 17, 2024, will be recalled once the accreditation exercise is concluded.

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He further disclosed that the governor also approved the renovation of student hostels as part of efforts to meet accreditation requirements and improve the learning and research environment.

“The college management, in collaboration with the governing council and the Ministry for Higher Education, remains fully aligned with Governor Nasir Idris’s vision for educational transformation,” Aliyu said.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has signed the ₦695 billion supplementary budget passed by the State House of Assembly into law.

The State House of Assembly, on Tuesday passed a supplementary appropriation bill of ₦695 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, following the adoption of the report presented by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

While presenting the Committee’s report during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Itorobong Etim, explained that the supplementary budget would be financed through various revenue sources, including statutory allocation, internally generated revenue, derivation funds, 13% derivation arrears, signature bonuses, exchange gains, and value-added tax (VAT), among others.

The report stipulates that the ₦695 billion supplementary budget comprised ₦125.66 billion for recurrent expenditure and N569.33 billion for capital expenditure, bringing the revised total budget size for 2025 to ₦1.65 trillion.

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The new figure includes ₦425.66 billion for recurrent services and ₦1.22 trillion for capital expenditure. The original 2025 budget of ₦955 billion was passed by the Assembly in December 2024.

According to the statement obtained from the Government House Press unit, the signing ceremony took place during the October edition of the State’s Project Delivery Meeting held at Government House, Uyo.

In his speech after signing the budget, Governor Eno expressed appreciation to the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

Governor Eno reiterated his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and people-centred governance.

“Let me assure the people of Akwa Ibom State that all hands are on deck and we will continue to carry out our duties with probity and dedication for the benefit of all. With the passage and signing of the supplementary budget today, we are further fired up to ensure the full implementation of government programmes and projects as contained in the budget.” the governor said.

In a move to accelerate project execution, the governor further released the sum of ₦60 billion to contractors whose Interim Payment Certificates were ready and charged heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, along with Delivery Advisors, to ensure strict adherence to project timelines and standards.

The October edition of the Project Delivery Meeting featured 12 key presentations on ongoing projects across various sectors, namely: Tree Crop Revolution, State Electricity Market, Tourism Destination Marketing, Arise Senior Citizens Centre, Arise Resort, Ibom Tourism Summit, Renovation of Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, Christmas Unplugged, Oron Maritime and Jetty Project, CNG City Bus Project, AKBC House, Ikot Ekpene International Market, Renovation of the House of Assembly Complex and Speaker’s Lodge, Court of Appeal Complex, 10-Airport Projects, Itam Industrial Park, Equipment Leasing Company, Ibom Model Farm, RAMP Project, Ibom International Hospital, General Hospitals in Ukanafun and Ibiono Ibom LGAs, Mother and Child Hospital, and the Aviation Village.

In his comments, the Speaker lauded the Governor for his inclusive leadership style and innovative governance approach.

“We have never witnessed this kind of delivery review in our state. It gives us a clear understanding of what is happening across sectors. For me, this is a strong oversight function,” he said while thanking the governor for the ongoing renovation of the Assembly Complex.

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have foiled an attack by armed hoodlums in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State leading to the recovery of weapons and motorcycles.

On 9 October 2025, troops deployed at Tapga Ngasawa village received credible information from locals around Majebiyu Village in Ibi Local Government Area that a group of armed men suspected to be bandits had invaded the community, shooting sporadically, vandalising properties, and dispossessing residents of motorcycles and other valuables.

In a swift response to the distress call, the troops immediately mobilised to the location and made contact with the assailants.

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On sighting the advancing troops, the armed men withdrew hastily and fled into a nearby bush, with possible gunshot wounds sustained in the process.

A press statement by Lieutenant Umar Muuhammad, 6 brigade public relations officer, said a subsequent search and clearance operation within the area led to the recovery of five (5) dane guns and two (2) motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing assailants.

The Commander 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their professionalism, courage, and swift response.

He further reaffirmed the Brigade’s unwavering commitment to mopping up all illegally acquired arms and ensuring such weapons are not used to perpetrate criminal acts within the state and its environs.

The Senate has issued a two-week ultimatum to the executive to submit a comprehensive, documented progress report on the implementation of the 2024 budget, as well as projections for the 2025 budget, before it will entertain the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Sani Musa, gave the declaration during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu’s economic team, led by Minister of finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Wale Edun, at the National Assembly.

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Senator Musa noted that the legislature requires detailed performance data to properly assess the assumptions and projections in the proposed MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper.