A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State Council, Ben Osuagwu, has alleged that the administration of Senator Hope Uzodimma is allegedly overlooking individuals involved in criminal activities at the state Environmental Transformation Commission.

He alleged that the government might have inadvertently armed these individuals to engage in looting and other malicious activities under the guise of environmental sanitation, targeting vulnerable citizens, including widows and the poor.

In a statement made available to South-East Punch, Osuagwu urged the state government to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the recent looting at the Toronto Market in Owerri, where ENTRACO operatives allegedly broke into shops and stalls, stealing groceries and other goods.

Osuagwu emphasized, “It is imperative that the government initiates the process of imprisoning these ENTRACO personnel who have turned to armed criminals, looting the goods of widows and the poor under the pretext of maintaining environmental sanitation.

“The government should, as a matter of urgency, arrest all individuals involved in the looting of goods belonging to poor traders at the Toronto Market.

The manner in which these government-sanctioned criminals broke into locked shops and stalls, making away with goods including money, handsets, grinding machines, and bags of rice, is utterly absurd.”

“All elements involved in this act of lawlessness must be swiftly rounded up and handed over to law enforcement agencies to put an end to this menace.”

He stressed that no responsible government would tolerate such egregious acts of lawlessness.

Osuagwu demanded that the government intervene immediately, directing these criminal elements to return the stolen goods and money to the rightful owners within 24 hours.

He expressed dismay that the stolen items might have been taken to the families of these individuals, who would then claim ignorance of their children’s actions, and reiterated that the goods, including every item, must be returned.

Osuagwu concluded that if the traders were operating in unauthorized areas, the law should take its course, but under no circumstances should government-armed individuals break into shops and steal goods.

This incident, according to him, was not isolated to the Toronto Market but occurred in all markets in Owerri Municipal and its environs, necessitating an immediate intervention.

However, when called on phone for reaction the Chief Press Secretary to Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, Mr. OguwuikeNwachukwu declined comments saying

“Idon’t want to meddle into the issue. I don’t want to react on the matter please. Who is he to meddle in the activities of the government?”

The Jigawa State Police Command has presented 59 cheques amounting to the sum of N31,450,025.16k to families of fallen police officers.

Spokesman of the command, SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, disclosed this in a press statement issued to DAILY POST.

CP Dahiru presented the cheques on behalf of the Inspector General of Police under the Group Life Assurance (GLA) and IGP Family Welfare Scheme to the fifty-nine (59) families of police officers who died while in active service.

He said the gesture is part of the ongoing welfare initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, aimed at providing financial relief and moral support to the families of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

He, however, described the fallen officers as “heroes who laid down their lives in defense of peace, justice, and the unity of the nation.” He emphasized that their sacrifices would never be forgotten and that the Nigeria Police Force remains firmly committed to ensuring that the welfare and well-being of their dependents are adequately catered for.

CP Dahiru Muhammad urged the beneficiaries to make prudent and judicious use of the funds for the benefit of their families and dependents.

He further reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force, under the visionary leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, remains resolute in upholding the principles of discipline, accountability, and welfare enhancement for both serving and retired personnel.

The CP assured that the Command will continue to support all initiatives aimed at improving personnel morale and family welfare.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Surajo Shehu expressed deep appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Command, for their compassion and unwavering commitment to the welfare of families left behind by deceased officers.

He pledged that the money received would be used responsibly and meaningfully to sustain the legacy and uphold the memory of their loved ones.

The Conference of Directors and Chief Road Traffic Officers of the Federation has called for improved motor vehicle administration to enhance national security and road traffic safety in Nigeria.

The National Chairman of the association, Paul Bepeh, made the call in Jos, Plateau State, on Monday while addressing a press conference, as part of the activities marking the 2025 national conference for officers from the 36 states of the federation.

The conference, hosted by Plateau State, has the theme: “Enhancing National Security and Road Traffic Safety through Effective Motor Vehicle Administration in Nigeria.”

Bepeh stressed that effective motor vehicle administration was crucial to achieving road safety and national security.

“The administration of motor vehicles is far more than a matter of routine regulation; it is a pillar of national security.

“A country’s ability to identify, track, and regulate vehicles and drivers directly affects its capacity to safeguard lives, protect property, and enforce laws.

“When vehicle registration, inspection, and licensing processes are inconsistent or poorly coordinated, unroadworthy vehicles, untrained drivers, and untraceable vehicles find their way onto our roads.

“These gaps not only endanger road users but also provide loopholes for crimes such as smuggling, kidnapping, terrorism, and vehicle theft,” he said.

Bepeh highlighted the challenges facing Vehicle Inspection Officers and Motor Vehicle Administration systems, including overemphasis on revenue generation, neglect of vehicle inspection, poor legal framework, and lack of standardised processes.

He called for a unified legal framework, automation and digital transformation, capacity building, public enlightenment, and inter-agency collaboration to address these challenges.

“To address these challenges, the conference advocates for a unified and strengthened legal framework for vehicle inspection, registration, and licensing across the 36 states and the FCT.

“Automation and digital transformation of all motor vehicle administration processes to enhance transparency and traceability.

“Capacity building through continuous training and retraining of VIOs in modern inspection techniques and technology.

“Public enlightenment and attitudinal reorientation to change the perception of vehicle inspection from a punitive measure to a safety service.

“Inter-agency collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, police, customs, and other relevant bodies to ensure a coordinated approach to road traffic enforcement,” he said.

Bepeh, who was represented by the General Secretary, Durojaye Olalekan, also advocated for adequate funding and institutional reform to strengthen VIO structures and improve officer welfare.

“This conference will provide us the opportunity to deliberate on these critical issues, learn from global best practices, and design sustainable reforms,” he said.

Plateau State Commissioner for Transportation, Jatau Gyang, welcomed participants to the conference, highlighting the state’s transportation initiatives, including the Jos Greater Master Plan and Tin City Metro Buses.

Gyang noted that these initiatives had improved commuting safety and convenience in Jos, aligning with the conference theme of enhancing security and safety in road transportation.

The Association of Igbo Town Unions, ASITU, has taken its grievances to the international stage, petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice over what it described as the “systematic demolition” of properties belonging to Igbo traders and investors in Lagos State.

Addressing journalists in Umuahia, Abia State, the National President of ASITU, Chief Emeka Diwe, decried the continued targeting of Igbo-owned businesses and structures, alleging that the actions amounted to “economic cleansing.”

Diwe lamented that Nigeria was “gradually dying from the cancer of ethnic discrimination and selective justice,” accusing government institutions of failing to uphold fairness and equality.

Flanked by members of ASITU’s national executive council drawn from various Igbo communities, Diwe explained that the petition followed multiple unsuccessful attempts to engage with relevant Nigerian authorities.

“We have not lost faith in Nigerian institutions, but they have consistently failed to respond to our documented complaints. That is why we have turned to regional and international bodies for intervention,” he stated.

The ASITU president faulted the Lagos State Government’s justification that the affected buildings were constructed on waterways, describing it as a misleading claim designed to mask deeper biases.

“These properties were lawfully acquired and duly approved by relevant agencies. Such demolitions send a disturbing message to investors, that property rights in Nigeria are insecure and that ethnicity may determine how justice is applied,” Diwe asserted.

He argued that the destruction of legitimate businesses not only discourages investment but also threatens job creation, economic stability, and Nigeria’s international image as a country governed by the rule of law.

According to ASITU, most of the demolition notices were served just days before enforcement, denying property owners the opportunity to seek legal remedy.

The group also accused officials of disregarding valid approval documents submitted by affected traders.

“Many of these buildings had valid permits issued by the same Lagos State Government that later tore them down. This is not law enforcement. It is the deliberate erasure of livelihoods and a violation of constitutional guarantees of equality and justice,” Diwe said.

While urging those affected to remain calm and law-abiding, ASITU called on the Igbo business community to rechannel part of their wealth into the South-East to foster economic independence.

“To our brothers and sisters in business, do not lose hope. Let us embrace the philosophy of Aku Ruo Ulo, let wealth return home,” Diwe advised. “When we invest in our homeland, we create jobs, security, and dignity for our people.”

He clarified that the association’s call for justice was not an agitation for secession but a demand for fairness, mutual respect, and equitable treatment of all ethnic groups in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Police Command says it has deployed officers across strategic locations to forestall any disruption of public peace following intelligence reports of a planned protest on the Third Mainland Bridge by some youths in the Oworonshoki area.

In a statement released in the early hours of Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the police assured residents that robust security measures have been put in place to maintain law and order throughout the state.

“The Command is aware of information circulating regarding a planned disruption on the Third Mainland Bridge by some youths in the Oworonshoki area,” the statement read.

According to Adebisi, officers have been fully mobilised to safeguard road users, prevent obstruction of vehicular movement, and ensure the safety of lives and property.

She urged residents to remain calm and go about their normal activities without fear, adding that police personnel have been strategically positioned to respond promptly to any potential security threat.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to go about their lawful activities without fear and to cooperate with security personnel carrying out their duties,” Adebisi stated.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property while ensuring the free flow of traffic across Lagos.

The lawmaker representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, has said that the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will bring peace to the Southeast.

This was as he said peace has continued to elude the Southeast geopolitical zone due to the perceived marginalisation of the region by successive governments.

Nwoko stated this in an interview on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST.

According to him, the Southeast has witnessed persistent unrest in recent years, following agitations by the separatist group, which has been calling for the creation of an independent state of Biafra.

He maintained that the creation of Anioma State and the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, will almost certainly bring lasting peace to the Southeast.

“The problem in the Southeast has to do with the perceived injustice by successive governments.

“So, what needs to be done, and it’s one of the reasons I am here today, is the creation of a new state to make up the number to six, and then the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

“By the time you do these two things, I am almost certain that peace will return to the Southeast,” he said.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted varying weather conditions, including dust haze and rainfall, across different parts of the country between Monday and Wednesday, urging residents to stay alert.

In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet projected slight dust haze with good visibility over Borno, Zamfara, northern Kaduna, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States on Monday.

The agency added that isolated thunderstorms with light rain were likely in parts of Taraba and Adamawa States during the afternoon or evening hours on Monday.

NiMet forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds over the central region, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms and light rain in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States later in the day.

The statement read, “Cloudy conditions are expected in the southern region on Monday morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

“Later in the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are anticipated in Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

“On Tuesday, NiMet forecast continued slight dust haze in good visibility over northern states, while Taraba and Adamawa may experience isolated thunderstorms and light rain throughout the day.

“Sunny skies with intermittent clouds are predicted in the central region, alongside chances of early morning thunderstorms in Benue and later moderate rain across FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States.”

NiMet also projected cloudy skies across the southern states, with moderate rainfall over Rivers, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom in the morning, intensifying later in the day.

The agency warned of possible flooding in parts of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States, urging local authorities to activate emergency response measures where necessary.

For Wednesday, NiMet anticipated sunny skies across the northern region, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain expected later in the day, particularly over parts of Taraba State.

“The central region will experience sunny skies with patches of clouds, while isolated thunderstorms with light rain are likely over Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.

“In the south, cloudy conditions are expected in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains later in the afternoon and evening across Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom,” it stated.

NiMet reiterated a high risk of flash floods, urging motorists to exercise caution when driving in rain and for authorities in vulnerable areas to implement flood response measures immediately.

The agency also advised individuals with asthma and respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure due to dust particles suspended in the atmosphere over the northern parts of the country.

Airline operators were urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for flight planning, while the public was encouraged to follow updates via the agency’s website and communication channels.