From Francis Sadhere, Delta

Two suspected armed robbers have been arrested in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, after a swift police operation foiled their criminal activities and led to the recovery of firearms, stolen motorcycles, and other valuables.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, said in a statement that the arrest followed a distress call received by the Ogwashi-Ukwu Police Station in the early hours of August 4, 2025.

The Divisional Police Officer, Okoyomon Israel, immediately mobilised the Anti-Crime Squad in collaboration with local vigilante groups to the scene.

Items recovered from the suspects included one pump action rifle with one live cartridge, one Beretta pistol with six live ammunition, three live assault rifle rounds, two stolen motorcycles (a Daylong motorcycle, REG NO: SAP 369 VK, and a Qlink motorcycle, REG NO: URM 750 QV), 25 mobile phones, four laptops, one tablet phone, one PS4 game console, a home theatre set, two Zealot music players, five bags of clothes, and other valuables.

Police said several victims have positively identified their stolen property.

Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, praised the quick and professional response of the officers, noting that the operation’s success was largely due to timely information from the public.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to aggressive, intelligence-led policing aimed at ridding Delta State of criminals, and urged residents to report suspicious persons or activities promptly, stressing that early reporting is vital in preventing crime.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has recorded a significant boost in its efforts to train and certify Nigerian artisans internationally, as City and Guilds of London (UK) has officially approved the ITF as a certified examination centre.

The Director-General of the Industrial Training Funds(ITF), Dr.

He noted that the development has positioned the ITF among six other centres across Nigeria that have received similar approvals as signed by the Chief Executive Officer of City and Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly.

Dr. Ogun maintained that the approval also indicated that the ITF could conduct examinations for Level 2 Diploma in Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Technology and Maintenance Technology, Level 2 Diploma in House Keeping services, Food Preparation and Culinary Art, Foundation Certificate in Basic Electronic Engineering and Basic Plumbing.

Others include Level 2 in ICT Systems and Principles, Level 3 ICT Systems and Principles, Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying, Level 2 IVQ in IT Systems Support and Level 3 IVQ Advanced Diploma in IT Systems support.

“The approval follows multiple visits by the examination body to ITF training facilities nationwide beginning in December 2023 soon after the inauguration of the incumbent Management in the Fund, culminating in a Train-the-Trainer workshop for 22 ITF officers who will be responsible for training trainees in the approved fields and supervising examinations.”

The DG further explained the significance of the approval thus; ”this approval is significant as it will enable Nigerian Artisans to gain internationally recognised qualifications and potentially up opportunities for jobs worldwide, thereby positively impacting the poverty and unemployment situation in the country.

“It also aligns with the ITF mission to set and evaluate Training Standards as well as provide need based Human Capital interventions in line with global best practices.

“It is also especially crucial for the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA), which is a programme implemented by the ITF for the Federal Government to train, retrain, certify and licence Nigerian artisans to international standards.

“SUPA aims to enhance the employability of artisans both locally and internationally by providing access to internationally recognised certifications thereby fostering self-reliance”, noting that apart from City and Guilds, ITF is currently interacting with international certification bodies like Alberk QA and others for similar certification.

Dr Ogun stressed that “we believe that if our efforts come to fruition, Nigeria will become a major exporter of skilled manpower alongside countries like India, China and Indonesia, which will in turn earn Nigeria foreign exchange.

 “Already, the ITF is in communication with some Embassies and foreign missions to determine their artisanal needs to accommodate them in training under the Skill-Up Artisans Programme,” he stated

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have involved the Osun State Command of the Nigerian Police in its search for a female student of the institution who has been missing for four days.

A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the student, identified as Dorcas Oseghale, of the Department of Chemistry with Matric number: CHM/2021/165, was last seen on the evening of August 6, 2025 at about 8:00pm.

When Dorcas, who resides at Adesanmi House, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, said that she was going out to buy food in front of the students’ village, along Ede road axis of the University, did not return on time, her roommate then made several attempts to reach her on phone but surprisingly discovered that her two lines were not reachable.

According to Olarewaju: “at around 3:00pm on August 7, 2025, a report of a missing female student was intercepted on a students’ social media platform and the Security Unit of the University started tracking the conversation around the incident.  But around 6:10pm on the same day, a group of students from the Department of Chemistry, in search of the missing student, alongside a female student (Akinkuade Omobolanle Beatrice), from the Department of Agricultural Extension, identified as her roommate, reported a case of a missing student at the Security Unit of the University.

Considering the complexity of the case and its limitations in terms of human and material resources, the Security Unit of the University then detailed three of its personnel to lead the students and report its preliminary findings to the Nigerian Police, which have enough manpower with sound professional and technical expertise to unravel the mystery surrounding the “disappearance” of the student, for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, has lauded the students of the University for being their brothers’ and sisters’ keeper, thanking them for quickly noticing that one of them is missing and promptly reporting the same to the appropriate quarters. The Vice Chancellor then appealed to the Police and other security agencies to do all within their power to help find the missing student.

Bamire also appealed to anybody who may have useful information that can assist the security agencies on the whereabouts of Dorcas Oseghale to report to the nearest police station or the security unit of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

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