Four states have so far approved the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police, according to the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Moghalu, who also serves as Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a parliamentary lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps.

He identified Edo, Rivers, Osun and Oyo as the four states that have approved the proposed amendment.

The bill requires the endorsement of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before the constitutional amendment can become effective.

Moghalu explained that the constitutional amendment is separate from the National Policing Bill currently being developed by the Federal Government.

According to him, the constitutional amendment would provide the legal foundation for a dual policing system, while the national legislation would establish the operational framework for implementing the system.

“The required threshold is twenty-four states. The constitutional process continues until that threshold is met.

“The distinction between that constitutional amendment and the national policing bill we are now working on is important. The amendment would create a constitutional basis for the dual policing model,” he said.

Moghalu added that individual states would thereafter be expected to enact relevant laws and establish the institutions required to operate their police systems.

“The national policing bill is intended to provide the operational framework through which that constitutional model can work. State legislation and the practical work of building capable institutions must follow within the resulting legal framework,” he said.

The presidential aide, however, warned against the possibility of state police being abused by political actors.

He cautioned that governors must not deploy state security agencies against political opponents, just as local majorities should not be allowed to use security forces to target minority groups.

Moghalu called for the proposed framework to clearly define the powers of state police authorities and establish appropriate sanctions for abuses.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Henry Nwawuba, urged lawmakers to move beyond expressions of sympathy over insecurity and pursue legislative solutions to the problem.

“We can’t keep saying our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of insecurity and we call ourselves legislators,” he said.

Former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, also expressed support for the proposed policing reform but called for strong safeguards.

Elumelu said the system must be built around professionalism and accountability, while ensuring respect for human rights and adequate training for personnel.

He also emphasised the need to protect state police from political interference.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, who represented the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, urged journalists and lawmakers to assess the proposal based on its principles, provisions and potential consequences.

He cautioned against judging the initiative based solely on the identities of those sponsoring or supporting it.

The Chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the Federal Capital Territory, Grace Ike, said policing closer to communities could improve responses to local security challenges.

She, however, stressed that the system would require effective oversight, adequate funding and strong accountability measures to prevent abuse.

The Osun State Government is set to hold a security meeting following a rise in security breaches, particularly the recent killings allegedly linked to rival cult groups across the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Naija News reports that the meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, will focus on addressing the growing security concerns and finding ways to curb the killings.

Speaking to The PUNCH, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Samuel Ojo, confirmed that the meeting would bring security agencies together to deliberate on the situation.

According to Ojo, the meeting would also examine measures to improve security in forests across the state, particularly following the recent killing of an alleged ISWAP leader in Owo, Ondo State.

“We are holding a security meeting on Wednesday, by the special grace of God, to reassure our people and put our security agencies on their toes.

“What happened in Ondo is a lesson to those criminals hibernating in the forests.

“We will not take it lightly with anyone using the forest as a hideout,” he said.

Ojo further disclosed that the government would use the meeting to address the spate of killings involving rival cult groups in recent weeks.

“Aside from that, we are also using the meeting to address the incessant killings by rival cult groups in the past weeks.

“We need to meet and discuss how to stop these killings by cult groups or any other violent crimes hiding under that canopy,” he added.

The governor’s aide stressed that the government was determined to end the violence in order to protect the image of Osun State.

He warned those involved in violent crimes to desist from such activities or face severe consequences.

“We need to stop it, so as not to give our state a bad name, because nobody knows what they are fighting for or why they are killing themselves,” Ojo said.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has experienced a number of aircraft accidents in recent years, with some incidents resulting in fatalities while others ended with the crew surviving.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

1. Ondo ATR-42 Aircraft Crash

The latest incident occurred near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, where an ATR-42 aircraft crashed while conducting a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

The NAF later confirmed that 25 people, including 20 passengers and five crew members, were aboard the aircraft and that there were no survivors.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated. The Aviation Minister had initially stated that 32 people were on board.

The Igbokoda tragedy has added to a series of military aviation incidents involving NAF aircraft over the years.

2. December 6, 2025 – Alpha Jet, Niger State

An NAF Alpha Jet crashed near Karabonde in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State following an in-flight emergency during a post-inspection functional check flight.

The two pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft before it crashed.

The NAF subsequently constituted a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident.

3. March 7, 2024 – Super Mushshak, Kaduna

A Super Mushshak trainer aircraft belonging to the NAF was involved in a minor accident approximately 3.5 nautical miles from the Kaduna Military Airfield.

The aircraft was returning from a routine training mission when the incident occurred.

Both pilots escaped without injuries, while the Chief of the Air Staff ordered an investigation into the accident.

4. December 1, 2023 – Mi-35P Helicopter, Port Harcourt

An NAF Mi-35P helicopter crashed shortly after take-off while heading for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State.

All five crew members survived the incident, although they sustained minor injuries and were taken to a medical facility for treatment.

5. August 14, 2023 – Mi-171E Helicopter, Niger State

An NAF Mi-171E helicopter crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State while conducting a casualty-evacuation mission.

The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School for Kaduna when the accident occurred.

Eleven people were killed in the crash.

The NAF subsequently launched rescue efforts and began a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

6. July 2023 – FT-7NI Trainer, Makurdi

An FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed during a routine training exercise in Makurdi, Benue State.

The two pilots survived the accident and were taken to an NAF medical facility for treatment.

7. April 19, 2022 – Super Mushshak, Kaduna

Two NAF pilots died when a Super Mushshak training aircraft crashed at the NAF Base in Kaduna.

The victims were Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Muhammed Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Haruna Karatu.

Following the incident, the Chief of the Air Staff set up an Accident Investigation Board to establish the circumstances that led to the crash.

8. July 18, 2021 – Alpha Jet, Zamfara

An Alpha Jet crashed in Zamfara State after reportedly coming under intense enemy fire while returning from an air interdiction mission between Zamfara and Kaduna states.

The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft and survived.

9. May 21, 2021 – King Air 350i, Kaduna

One of the most notable NAF aircraft crashes in recent years occurred near Kaduna Civil Airport when a King Air 350 aircraft crashed.

All 11 people aboard the aircraft were killed.

Among those who died was the then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru.

The incident was subsequently investigated jointly by the Nigerian Air Force and the Accident Investigation Bureau.

10. March 31, 2021 – Alpha Jet, Northeast Nigeria

An NAF Alpha Jet disappeared from radar while conducting an operational mission in the Northeast.

The Air Force later stated that intelligence suggested the aircraft may have crashed.

The two pilots, Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele, were never found and were presumed dead.

11. February 21, 2021 – King Air B350i, Abuja

A King Air B350i aircraft crashed while returning to Abuja after reporting an engine problem during a flight towards Minna.

The aircraft had been scheduled to conduct surveillance operations in the area.

All seven personnel aboard the aircraft died in the crash.

The NAF subsequently constituted an investigative panel to determine the cause of the accident.

12. 2019 – Multiple NAF Aircraft Incidents

Several incidents involving NAF aircraft were recorded at different locations across Nigeria in 2019.

The incidents involved both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, with circumstances and casualty figures varying from one case to another.

Because the incidents occurred separately and involved different aircraft, they are more appropriately viewed as a series of incidents recorded during the year rather than as a single crash.

13. January 2, 2019 – Mi-35M Helicopter, Damasak

An NAF Mi-35M helicopter crashed during combat operations while providing close air support to troops of the 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno State.

All five crew members aboard the helicopter were killed.

14. September 28, 2018 – Two F-7NI Fighter Jets, Abuja

Two NAF F-7NI fighter jets collided during rehearsals for Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary celebrations in Abuja.

One of the pilots, Squadron Leader Bello Mohammed Baba-Ari, was killed in the incident.

The other pilots