Gov. Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday inaugurated the renovated Oredo Girls Secondary School, Benin, ending years of neglect and abandonment.

Okpebholo who spoke at the ceremony said improved staffing and infrastructure showed his administration’s education interventions were producing results.

“One thing that gives me joy today is the number of teachers I am seeing in this school.

“Previously, I saw just two or three teachers here, but today I am seeing over 20, showing we are on the right path.

 “We will fix the electricity challenge here and do our best to improve this school for our children,” the governor stated.

 Education Commissioner, Paddy Iyamu, said the project reflected “practical governance”, recalling the school had become an eyesore and hotspot for undesirable activities.

 “The governor declared a state of emergency in schools to ensure every child learns in a safe, conducive environment,” Iyamu said.

Students and staff welcomed the governor, thanking the Okpebholo-led administration for reviving the long-abandoned school and restoring hope to the learning environment.

A student, Osarun Wense, said the formerly dilapidated structure had been transformed, enhancing the school’s appearance and learning conditions.

The commissioning aligns with Okpebholo’s broader agenda to rehabilitate public schools and improve education quality across Edo.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned and rejected plans by Gov. Dikko Radda’s administration to release 70 suspected bandits currently in custody.

The opposition party described the move as dangerous, unjust, and a grave betrayal of victims of banditry across frontline local government areas of the state.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Katsina, the party’s spokesperson, Lawal Tukur-Batagarawa, warned that freeing the suspects would severely undermine public confidence in the government’s fight against insecurity.

According to a leaked “Secret” letter from the Ministry of Justice, dated Jan. 2, 2026, the state government has initiated legal processes aimed at securing the release of the 70 detainees.

The letter, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, requested the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the suspected bandits.

The state government said the move was part of efforts to sustain an ongoing peace deal with armed groups operating in the state.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Nasir Muazu, said the decision was taken to consolidate peace agreements reached between affected communities and repentant bandits across several frontline areas.

Tukur-Batagarawa said the decision, if carried out, would demoralise security personnel, dishonour officers who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, and embolden criminal elements terrorising rural communities.

“As a party, we condemn in the strongest terms the planned release of 70 suspected bandits by the Katsina State Government.

“It is totally unacceptable and irresponsible for any government to free criminals while communities continue to bleed,” he said.

He also announced the inauguration of the ADC’s state leadership, headed by Ahmed Aliyu-Yar’Adua, as well as the constitution of a membership mobilization, registration and revalidation committee, chaired by Dr Mustapha Inuwa.

 Gov. Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara has directed the closure of Kwara Polytechnic, to ensure the safety of lives and property in the entire Polytechnic community.

The directive is contained in a statement signed by the Acting Registrar, AbdulHafis Amin, on Tuesday, in Ilorin.

According to the statement, the state government had earlier designated Kwarapoly as the temporary orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) following prevailing security challenges in Kwara.

“During the first camp exercise, students were on break, during the second, students had not fully resumed,  however, for the current exercise, students are fully in session.

“To manage the situation and prevent any breach of law and order, the Management granted students a three-week break effective Monday, to facilitate the successful conduct of the NYSC orientation camp,” he said.

The Acting registrar said that some students reacted negatively to the school’s directive, on the grounds that they had just resumed from the yuletide break.

He said that the students’ reaction caused tension which necessitated police intervention.

“The police were initially tasked with dispersing the crowd at the Polytechnic’s main gate.

“Unfortunately, some officers went beyond their mandate by throwing tear gas canisters into the Polytechnic premises, including student hostels.

“This action adversely affected several students and staff, including Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer, who sustained injury,” he said.

The Management consequently, enjoined all students, staff, and stakeholders, to remain calm and cooperative, as they continue to engage with relevant authorities to resolve the matter amicably. (NAN)