From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Plateau State Police Command has burst a criminal hideout along Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area of the State and recovered 500 rounds of 7.65mm ammunition.The Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina addressed journalists on Wednesday at the Police Headquarters in Jos the state capital.

He noted that the success of the operation was based on credible intelligence that led to a raid on an abandoned Ash colour Golf Wagon with Reg. No. JJN 812 AH carrying the ammunition.”On 04/05/2025 at about 09:40pm, based on credible intelligence, a criminal hideout along Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area of the State was raided and an abandoned Ash colour Golf Wagon with Reg. No. JJN 812 AH was recovered.”When a search was carried out on the vehicle by our operatives, 500 rounds of 7.65mm ammunition were recovered.”It will be recalled that a case of culpable homicide was reported on 03/05/2025 where a yet to be identified person was killed and we swung into action to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the victim.”It was in the process of this investigation, the above recoveries were made. I want to assure you, that we are making frantic efforts to arrest the perpetrators and recover their operational weapons,” The CP notedHe expressed concerns that the successfully recovered cache of ammunition would have been used by criminal elements to unjustifiably take the lives of innocent citizens of the State and destroy properties.The Commissioner urged citizens of Plateau State to provide them with any relevant information that could help in their investigation as they launched a man hunt for those men of the underworld.Adesina maintained that the Plateau State Police Command remained resolute in its mission to protect lives and properties and maintain law and order in the state. “We are dedicated to creating a habitable environment for all residents of Plateau State,” he promised.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

The outgoing Rector, Osun State College of Technology, OSCOTECH, Esa-Oke, Dr. Samson Akinbamide Omobayo Adegoke, has said his tenure recorded unprecedented academic excellence, infrastructural development and improved students and workers welfare.

Dr. Adegoke while answering questions from journalists during a personality interview, expressed profound gratitude to God, declaring that he is leaving the institution as peacefully as he met it when he assumed the office. The Ipetumodu born Rector, reflected on his tenure with a sense of fulfillment and calm satisfaction, saying he has every reason to be grateful to Almighty God. “I met OSCOTECH in peace, and I am leaving it in peace, that is no small blessing”.Sharing insights into his tenure, Dr. Adegoke emphasised that the relative tranquility enjoyed throughout his term was critical to the institution’s achievement saying, “Without peace, no meaningful progress could have been made”.Dr. Adegoke further maintained that OSCOTECH never experienced student or staff unrest under his leadership. “This is not my making but God, and the absence of protest or major distractions speaks volumes about the environment we cultivated” he asserted.Dr. Adegoke, who is also the Chairman, Committee of State Rector’s, COSREC, appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke for his quick response and intervention on the institution’s needs, adding that his greatest wish is to see the OSCOTECH ranked number one in the Country.The Chairman, COSREC, said he came in with the determination to pursue aggressive institution and infrastructural development and we were able to achieve it through the Grace of God and unflinching support by Governor Ademola Adeleke.According to the OSCOTECH outgoing Rector, “Our amiable Governor Adeleke has been supportive in ensuring the progress of the entire institution with regular financial support for the infrastructures among other activities that enhanced complete development of the institution.”Also, I can’t forget the efforts of my board Chairman, Hon Diran Odeyemi, D-ROY, as his adequate support to the upliftment of the OSCOTECH cannot be over emphasised; he is very accommodating, loving and friendly”.Dr. Adegoke equally said his tenure enjoyed robust relationships with the stakeholders, staff and entire management of the institution in ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations laid down.The outgoing Rector said the journey was not without significant hurdles as he recalled the day he was attacked by gunmen along Esa-Oke road.Dr. Adegoke, however, admonished the students to pursue their goals with determination, believing in their own abilities and drawing strength from their inner resilience as he emphasised the importance of perseverance and faith in God when facing challenges.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Plateau State governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has flag-off a pilot project for women in agriculture scheme with 120 women in Bassa local government area of the state with climate smart agricultural practices in the State.The project spearheaded by the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Technology and Carbon Credit Management is set to equip women with various modern opportunities in the agric sector.

The Special Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Nuhu Yakubu Chayi during the opening ceremony of the pilot project held at the Miango Rest House in Bassa LGA on Wednesday noted that the N18 million project is aimed at regenerating the ecosystem through sustainable agricultural practices in the state by the women.”This pilot project will help generate data that will inform government decision making that has to do with climate change and smart agriculture, while the same scheme is going to be deployed to other LGAs of the state.”This will help farmers’ farms in line with the climate changes we are witnessing. So, the workshop is towards deepening their knowledge of climate change, and how they can adapt and have a climate change smart agriculture as the rainy season begins.”These 120 women selected across the various wards in Bassa local government will be put into clusters and will also be having mentors that will guide their farms throughout the farming season.”Each of these women is going to be given an incentive. A minimum of N50,000 and a maximum of N200,000 based on what they’re going to be doing and the total investment to support them is around N18 million naira.” He statedHon. Chayi maintained that the choice of women for the project is born out of the agricultural outputs that often comes out of subsistent agricultural practices that form the larger quantity of farm produce in the market due to lack of commercial agricultural practices in the state.Former Minister of Water Resources Dr. Sarah Reng Ochepke said the program will further strengthen the capacity of women financially as well as cutting costs in the daily expenses of most families with the deployment of the modern agricultural practices.”This initiative and intervention is important for the women to be educated on how best to engage with farming. Most of the women in Bassa and Plateau states in general are into agriculture and it is important to engage them so that they don’t get frustrated after channeling their energy on old ways of farming.”Women can venture into farming within their flower bed; grow crops and vegetables that are for everyday use behind their backyard. I expect them to go back and share the knowledge and information they get here with other women.” She noted.The Program Manager Plateau Agriculture and Development Agency (PADP) Ishaku Jilemsan disclosed that a report of shorter rainfall this year required adaptation of new ways of farming by farmers.He maintained that the engagement will further help farmers’ plant crops that have shorter lifespans as well as plant drought resistant varieties of seed crops this year’s farming season.”This year’s weather report has shown that rainfall is expected to end in October, this means that farmers need to get drought resistant varieties of seed, early maturity crops, rice varieties that do not need to stand inside water. So, farmers can come to PADP to get them and to know what they should do at whatever level of their farming season.”So, this pilot project is very important, this will help our farmers to also shift from the old agricultural practices. As the climate is changing, we too will have to change, by adapting smart agricultural practices that are sustainable in nature and will not affect the environment,” he noted.