From Samuel James, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested 16 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers in a crackdown led by the State Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo.Ojo, who spoke to newsmen stated: “We are waging war against these criminals, particularly kidnappers and armed robbers and I have inspected high-crime areas where criminal elements frequently operate of which 10 of the arrested suspects were specifically targeting the Offa axis.

He explained that tactical teams were redeployed, leading to the arrests, and that ongoing raids of criminal hideouts have forced some suspects to flee the state. The commissioner confirmed that charges have been filed against some suspects, while others remain under investigation.Ojo reiterated that Kwara State is now safe and peaceful, crediting the joint operation with the Nigerian Army and other sister security agencies.”Police Tactical Team arrested some suspected cult members of Eiye Confraternity involved in armed robbery and cult clashes. SCID detectives arrested some suspects for murder and rape. They have been charged to court.”Our officers are on constant patrol. We remain resolute in our mission to protect lives and properties; and maintain law and order in the state. We urged citizens to report suspicious activities and furnish police with useful information to enable us to flush hoodlums out of the state.”

From Samuel James, Ilorin

The North Central People’s Forum (NCPF), a non-partisan coalition of stakeholders from six states and FCT has expressed dissatisfaction over the exclusion of its members from the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).The Forum disclosed these at its Board of Trustees (BOT) and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja recently, while also announcing a six-month extension of its current council’s leadership tenure to allow for proper elections and transition.

In a release by the Secretary General, Khaleel Bolaji, the forum noted that they had resolved for all members to continue contributing to the organisation‘s progress, with state chapters nominating candidates to fill leadership vacancies during the November elections.The Forum said the composition of the NCDC’s Board and its Executive Management does not reflect the principles of inclusiveness, balance, and fairness to the zone, as it undermines the delicate ethno – political balance that has sustained harmony in the North Central zone.They pointed out that it’s politically imperative for leadership and strategic positions in the Commission to be equitably distributed between the bloc in the zone as they cited that leadership and strategic positions like the Chairman and Managing Director as well as situated of the Commission’s headquarters was concentrated in Upper North Central bloc.While appreciating President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the creation of the NCDC as part of a broader strategy to bring development closer to the people through regionally focused commissions, also urged him to consider members of the very organisation that led the campaign for the establishment of the Commission to be part of its management.They further requested for the increase in numbers of Executive Directors to seven with each state and the FCT nominating one excluding the state that providing the Chairman, added that since the Act establishing the Commission mandates the Chairmanship to be rotate alphabetically beginning with Benue State, the Managing Director position should be allocated to a state within the Lower North Central bloc (i.e., Niger, Kogi, Kwara, or the FCT).The Forum also acknowledged and commended the National Assembly for initiating legislative amendments to the Act to expand the Commission’s executive structure, urging that their observations should be adequately captured in the amendments and they should fast-track the amendments in order to strengthen regional confidence and inclusion.Also Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on the issue, Prof. Kamar Bello, who is the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at NOUN Abuja, advocates for prevailing of equity and fair in composition of NCDC, saying the Chairman or MD of NCDC should go to either Kogi Kwara or Niger state since the headquarters is in Lafia, Nasarawa state.He added that in order to have a sense of belonging by all states in the north central, and since HYPADEC and NECO is in Minna and NiWA is in Lokoja then Kwara state also should be considered.However in related developments, the North Central zone has been pushing for positions of APC National party Chairmanship ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the region has long been marginalised in party hierarchies.It was argued that the zone does not hold the national chairmanship of any major political party like; the APC, PDP, SDP, or Labour Party, and therefore urged APC leadership to listen and take corrective action before it is too late.They further stressed the region‘s political significance, declaring that the combined votes from the zone outnumber those from the some zones and anyone should not underestimate the voting strength of the North Central.

By Laide Akinboade, AbujaThe Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike at the weekend said he has renovated over 60 schools in less than two years.The minister, who spoke after inspecting road projects in the territory’s Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils, dismissed speculations of a possible obsession with road projects.

He added that his administration is touching every sector of Abuja; from good roads enhance security, health, agriculture and education by providing unhindered access to facilities and services. According to him, “Don’t worry. One by one, we have done a lot of work on schools. We wish to take you round after the commissioning of the road infrastructure and then to the commissioning of schools.“The schools we have renovated are innovative and polished. There are more than 60 schools, you know.“But I can tell you, no sector will be left abandoned. Every sector will be focused on. But again, you know that road networks are essential for development. When there are no roads, which school can you attend? When there are no roads, which hospital can you visit? So, first, the key thing is that development relies on road networks worldwide.”Now, if you are talking about Agriculture, how can you transport your produce without roads? So, those farming here now will be happy that we prioritized roads. We cannot take our produce to the city, to the market, to sell without good roads. And then again, fighting insecurity is key. When people commit offences, and there are no roads to trace them, it becomes a problem. But if you see this kind of road with streetlights, you will think twice before committing an offence”.Wike also commended the residents of both area councils for appreciating President Bola Tinubu’s interventions in their communities, saying the President has given a lot of support to the FCT Administration. So there can be no excuses for failure.