By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

A Benue State governorship hopeful, Dr. Simon Ater, has called for unity among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state following the successful conduct of the party’s recent congress.

Ater stated this in an interview in his office in Abuja while commenting on the outcome of the state Congress.

The governor congratulated the newly elected State Chairman of the APC, Augustine Agada, and other members of the State Executive Committee, describing their emergence as a reflection of the party’s internal democratic process and the collective will of its members.

He urged the new leadership to work tirelessly to strengthen the party’s structure across the state, emphasizing that unity, loyalty, and cooperation among party faithful would be crucial for the APC’s continued success in Benue.

According to Ater, the congress marked an important milestone for the party, adding that the exercise demonstrated the APC’s commitment to transparency and grassroots participation.

He noted that the outcome should not be seen as a victory for any individual or group but rather a victory for the entire APC family in Benue State.

The governorship hopeful called on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain loyal and committed to the ideals of the APC. He stressed that there was no division within the party and urged members to put aside any differences that may have arisen during the congress process.

Ater also emphasized the need for party members to continue to support and remain loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, whom he described as a respected leader and pillar of the APC in Benue State.

He noted that Senator Akume has played a significant role in strengthening the party and promoting unity among members, adding that his leadership and guidance remain invaluable to the progress of the APC in the state.

Ater further encouraging party stakeholders to rally around the new executive committee and give them the necessary support to reposition the party ahead of future political engagements.

He reiterated that the APC in Benue State remains strong, united, and focused on delivering good governance to the people, stressing that collective commitment and loyalty to the party’s leadership would ensure continued growth and success.

Ater concluded by appealing to all members to work together in the spirit of brotherhood, unity, and party discipline, noting that a united APC would be better positioned to meet the aspirations of the people of Benue State.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

The Osun Amotekun Corps has successfully apprehended two suspected highway robbers during a routine patrol operation along the Ilesa–Ibadan Expressway in Osun State.

The suspects, identified as Chimar Eze (29) and Sunday Okori (41), both natives of Ebonyi State and residents of Mowe in Ogun State, were arrested on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at approximately 11:35PM.

According to preliminary reports, the suspects and their accomplices had set up a trap along the highway in an attempt to intercept the commercial vehicle. However, the driver of the vehicle managed to escape from the ambush and immediately alerted nearby operatives of the Osun Amotekun Corps who were on routine patrol in the area.

Acting swiftly on the information received, the Amotekun operatives mobilized to the scene. Upon sighting the security personnel, the suspects attempted to flee into the surrounding bush and abandoned the already robbed vehicle. The operatives pursued the fleeing gang members and successfully apprehended two of them, while the remaining two suspects managed to escape.

During preliminary interrogation, the arrested suspects reportedly confessed to being members of a four-man robbery gang.

They disclosed that the group had begun their criminal operations in the early 2025, targeting motorists and commercial vehicles along major highways and they admitted to having committed the act numerous times on the road.

The suspects further stated that they joined the gang because their street hawking business in Lagos was not progressing.

They explained that one of the gang members, who is currently at large, introduced them to highway robbery. They added that after robbing motorists plying the expressway, the items taken from the victims would be transported to Lagos and sold.

The suspects took the operatives to their rendezvous in an uncompleted building inside a forest along the expressway where the following exhibits were recovered (a) Cartons of Solar Lights, (b) Different types of Baby clothes (c) Two Tape rule (d) one touch light and Two long wood.

Reacting to the development, the Corps Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, High Chief Dr. Hon. Adekunle Isaac Omoyele, commended the operatives of the Ilesa Area Command for their prompt and professional response to the incident. He specifically praised the team led by Area Commander (AC) Ilori John for their outstanding performance in apprehending the suspects believed to be responsible for recent robbery activities along the Ilesa–Ibadan Expressway.

The Corps Commander assured the public that the suspects will be made to face the full weight of the law upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations. He also stated that efforts are currently underway to track down and arrest the remaining members of the gang who fled the scene.

Dr. Omoyele further urged residents of Osun State to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities or criminal elements within their communities to the appropriate security agencies.

He reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Osun Amotekun Corps to its mandate of protecting the lives and property of residents across the state, assuring that the corps will not relent in its efforts to combat crime and maintain peace and security.

The suspects will be handed over to the DSS for further questioning and legal proceedings.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, in collaboration with the Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), has commenced moves to strengthen alternative education for Out-of-school Adolescent Girls and vulnerable learners in the state.

Following this development, the AGILE Project in partnership with PIBCID has carried out a comprehensive monitoring exercise across Mass Literacy Centres in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to strengthen alternative education programmes for out-of-school adolescent girls and vulnerable learners.

The monitoring exercise forms part of the implementation of Subcomponent 2.

During the exercise, standardized learners’ registers were presented to facilitators across the centres to improve documentation, accountability and effective tracking of learner participation.

On the initiative, the State Project Coordinator of Kogi AGILE, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Oricha, said the monitoring exercise reflects the project’s commitment to ensuring quality implementation of alternative learning programmes targeted at vulnerable girls across communities in the state.

Oricha noted that the AGILE project remains focused on addressing the challenge of out-of-school girls by providing inclusive learning opportunities that equip them with literacy, numeracy and life skills to improve their future prospects.

He emphasized that continuous monitoring and data-driven supervision are key to the success of the initiative, adding that the introduction of standardized registers would strengthen documentation, enhance transparency and support evidence-based reporting.

The Subcomponent Lead for Alternative Education, Hajia Mariam Bello, explained that the monitoring exercise was aimed at assessing the level of implementation of the Mass Literacy Centres across the state and identifying operational gaps requiring attention.

According to her, monitoring teams engaged directly with facilitators, learners and community stakeholders during the field visits to evaluate programme delivery, learner participation and the learning environment in the centres.

She added that the standardized registers would enable facilitators to maintain accurate records of learners’ biodata, attendance and learning progress, thereby improving programme tracking and accountability.

“The registers will ensure uniform documentation across all centres and enable the project to effectively monitor retention and completion rates among learners,” she said.

The Executive Director of PIBCID, Rachel Akande, described the monitoring exercise as a critical step toward strengthening programme delivery at the community level.

Akande commended the dedication of facilitators and the enthusiasm of learners across the centres, noting that the programme has attracted strong community interest, particularly among adolescent girls seeking opportunities to acquire literacy and life skills.

She assured that PIBCID would continue to work closely with the Kogi AGILE Project to support effective implementation and ensure that vulnerable girls in rural and underserved communities benefit from the initiative.

Activities carried out during the monitoring included inspection of learning environments, verification of learner enrolment, review of teaching materials and lesson delivery methods, as well as interactive sessions with facilitators and learners.

The teams also identified operational challenges affecting some centres and provided guidance to facilitators on the proper use of the newly introduced learners’ registers.

Key observations from the exercise indicated increased enrolment of adolescent girls in literacy programmes and strong community support for the initiative.

However, the monitoring team also identified challenges such as inadequate learning materials in some centres, irregular attendance in a few communities due to economic pressures and limited infrastructure in remote areas.

To address these challenges, the team recommended sustained supervision, provision of additional learning materials, continuous training for facilitators and intensified community sensitization to improve learner retention.

The monitoring of Mass Literacy Centres across the 21 LGAs marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Kogi AGILE Alternative Education programme.

With continued collaboration between the Kogi AGILE Project, PIBCID and support from the World Bank, the initiative is expected to further expand access to education and empower thousands of adolescent girls and vulnerable learners across Kogi State.