The family of Taiwo, one of the pupils recently rescued after nearly two months in captivity in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area, has revealed the harrowing details of the child’s ordeal.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with TVC News on Wednesday, relatives recounted the abuse the children endured at the hands of their abductors. According to the family, the captors frequently beat the pupils whenever they asked to see their parents or relatives. Furthermore, the victims survived almost entirely on meager rations of garri without sugar throughout their time in the forest.

The emotional toll of the captivity remains evident, as the child is deeply traumatized. Family members noted that upon seeing journalists, the pupil clung to them in fear and shook uncontrollably, even attempting to run back into the bush to hide from strangers. The child continues to share painful memories of the experience, emphasizing the cruelty they faced whenever they expressed a longing for their families.

The Kogi State Police Command has initiated a rescue mission following the kidnapping of students and officials at Government Secondary School, Olowa, located in the Dekina Local Government Area. The incident occurred while 10 candidates were taking part in the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Official Response: Following the attack, State Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and operational teams to the scene.

• Assessment Visit: Commissioner Kankarofi visited the location alongside the Commander of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Kasim Sidi, and the state Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (retd.), to coordinate rescue efforts and evaluate the security situation.

• Unauthorized Use of School: Although the Kogi State Government had previously closed the school due to security concerns and its remote location, preliminary investigations indicate that the facility was being used without authorization as a “special examination centre”.

• Ongoing Investigations: Authorities are currently probing how the abandoned premises were reopened, who facilitated its use, and allegations regarding examination malpractice associated with the center.

• Commitment to Justice: The police have warned that anyone responsible for the illegal reopening of the school or involved in examination malpractice will face prosecution, and they have assured the public that efforts to rescue the victims are ongoing.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has emphasized that any proposed state police services must possess guaranteed financial independence to protect them from potential manipulation by governors, political actors, criminal elements, and other powerful interests. Bamidele, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, proposed that funding for these services should be placed on a first-line charge as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Key aspects of Bamidele’s proposal and the National Assembly’s approach include:

• Addressing Stakeholder Concerns: Bamidele acknowledged that fears regarding the potential abuse of state police by influential individuals are legitimate and well-founded, noting that these concerns are partially rooted in Nigeria’s experience with regional police control during the First Republic.

• Multi-layered Safeguards: The National Assembly is working to develop a system of checks and safeguards designed to ensure professional discipline, institutional independence, and financial autonomy.

• Judiciary-Style Funding: To prevent police chiefs from being subject to the “whims and caprices” of state governors, Bamidele suggested a funding model similar to that of the judiciary, which is protected under the Constitution and does not require routine executive approval.

• Constitutional Guarantees: Bamidele stated that the 1999 Constitution should provide guaranteed funding sources for both State Commissioners of Police and State Police Service Commissions.

• Continued Engagement: The National Assembly intends to maintain stakeholder engagement throughout the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police services across the country.