The Ndigbo Young Professionals has dismissed allegations by self-acclaimed human rights activist, Francis Nwapa, who accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of weaponising insecurity in Nigeria and persecuting pro-democracy activists.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Amb. Chinonso Chukwuemeka, the group described Nwapa’s comments as “false, mischievous, and deliberately aimed at misleading Nigerians and inciting disaffection against constituted authorities.”

The statement further clarified that Omoyele Sowore, leader of the African Action Congress (AAC), should not be mistaken for a pro-democracy activist.

According to the group, Sowore has consistently used his platform, Sahara Reporters, as well as his social media accounts, to spread falsehoods, make reckless allegations, and peddle defamatory claims against individuals and government institutions.

On Nwapa’s accusation of double standards by security agencies, the Ndigbo Young Professionals stressed that neither the Department of State Services (DSS) nor the Nigeria Police Force has acted outside the law.

“It is a blatant lie to suggest that the Police are ignoring those terrorising Nigerians while targeting Sowore. What is at play is simply the enforcement of the law against false information,” the group stated.

The group also faulted Nwapa’s attacks on the DSS and Police, insisting he lacked the moral standing to question their competence. “His utterances only expose him as a mouthpiece acting out the script of his paymaster, Omoyele Sowore,” the statement read.

The Ndigbo Young Professionals cautioned that Nwapa had no authority to brand political leaders as “criminals” or accuse them of plotting to destroy the country. It described such remarks as reckless, destabilising, and unacceptable.

In conclusion, the group advised Sowore to concentrate on addressing his pending court cases rather than “sponsoring faceless groups and individuals like Francis Nwapa to defend indefensible publications.”

….Recover AK-47 and Ammunition

A joint operation between the Delta State Police Command and operatives of Operation Delta Sweep has resulted in the neutralization of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with ammunition.

According to the Command, the breakthrough followed credible intelligence received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Owa-Oyibu, at about 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The report indicated the presence of suspected kidnappers at Nniogbo Owa Ekei, Boji-Boji Owa.

Acting swiftly, the DPO led a combined team of police officers, vigilantes, and two units of Operation Delta Sweep to the scene. On sighting the operatives, the suspects reportedly opened fire, prompting a gun battle. Two suspects sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange and were rushed to Owa-Alero General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead by the attending doctor.

Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle, forty rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and two magazines. The police confirmed that a manhunt has been launched for the fleeing members of the gang.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the development in a statement issued in Asaba, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intensifying the fight against crime and criminality across the state.

The Delta State Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its fight against crime with the arrest of two suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate that specialised in attacking churches and carting away instruments and valuables.

The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Emiowor (21) and Noah Philip (20), both of PTI Road, Warri, were intercepted on September 16, 2025, by operatives of the Ogwashi-Uku Division, led by Divisional Police Officer CSP Israel Okomoyon, following a distress call about an imminent attack on Dominican City Church, along Polytechnic Road near Sticals Hotel.

The police, working in synergy with local vigilantes, stopped a gold-coloured Toyota Sienna van with registration number EFR-150-XB, occupied by the duo. A search of the vehicle uncovered a cache of arms, including one pump-action gun, three single-barrel locally made guns, a locally fabricated revolver, one live cartridge, and an iron rod allegedly used for breaking into church doors.

According to police sources, the suspects confessed to belonging to a gang notorious for raiding churches at night. Some stolen items from previous operations have already been recovered, while further investigations are underway.

Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the swift response of the officers and reiterated the Command’s resolve to flush out criminal elements from Delta State. He assured residents that the State would never be allowed to become a haven for crime and called on citizens to continue supporting security agencies with credible information.

He also urged the public to make use of the Command’s emergency line 08036684974 or report suspicious activities at the nearest police station.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed that the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.

….. Marwa commends Saudi counterpart, attributes success of NDLEA interventions to President Tinubu’s commitment, HAGF, Foreign Affairs, Aviation Ministers, NSA’s support

Saudi Arabia authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah, since last month following their arrest over alleged drug trafficking. The three Nigerians who were freed from detention after four weeks in custody include: Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi; Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu; and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.

Their freedom came following weeks of relentless engagements by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia with the full support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the assistance of the Hon Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Yusuf Tuggar and the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

According to a press release on Wednesday 17th September 2025, signed by the NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Kano had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the three unsuspecting Nigerians who travelled on an Ethiopian Airline flight ET940 which departed Kano on 6th August 2025 to Jeddah on lesser hajj. They were later arrested in Saudi for alleged drug trafficking.

Following complaints to the NDLEA boss by families of the three victims over the detention of their family members in Saudi Arabia after the completion of their lesser hajj on an allegation of trafficking in illicit substances, an investigation was launched to unravel what happened.

The probe led to the arrest of 55-year-old drug kingpin Mohammed Ali Abubakar alias Bello Karama and three other members of the syndicate including the airline officials behind the shipment of the illicit substances for which the three innocent pilgrims were arrested and detained in Jeddah. Charges had since been filed against Mohammed Ali Abubakar and other members of the syndicate: Celestina Emmanuel Yayock; Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi and Jazuli Kabir.

Armed with the outcome of NDLEA investigation and charges filed against members of the syndicate as well as other evidences to prove the innocence of the three Nigerian pilgrims, Marwa engaged with his Saudi counterpart at multiple levels and different locations including Saudi Arabia in compliance with President Tinubu’s agenda that no Nigerian suffers unjustly in a foreign land.

Following the series of engagements one of the three Nigerians was released from custody on Sunday 14th September and the remaining two on Monday 15th September 2025.

Expressing happiness over the development, Marwa commended his counterpart at the Saudi GDNC for upholding the essence of the Memorandum of Understanding between NDLEA and GDNC on collaboration and partnership.

“The biggest support of our effort on this case came from President Tinubu who is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian gets their deserved respect and fair treatment wherever they are across the world. And that is what has come to play in this case, that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about anywhere in the world.

We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Yusuf Tuggar and the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who were with us all the way on the matter.”

….. insists a police officer must understand the law, police orders and instructions and development attributes of efficiency, courtesy, tact, integrity and impartiality

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, has said that a Police Officer in all circumstance must have a thorough understanding and knowledge of the law, and of Police orders and instructions and must develop the attributes of efficiency, courtesy, tact, integrity and impartiality.

DIG Argungu in a key note address presented to the participants of an ongoing high-level workshop which began in Abuja yesterday, September 15th 2025 and organised for security personnel by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Development Partners and Governments of Bornu, Adamawa and Yobe States also noted that current threats to the future of Policing and security in Nigeria are no longer primarily coming from the conventional (traditional) factors of the usual narrative – unemployment, poverty, out-of-school children, etc.

According to a press release on Tuesday, September 16th 2025, signed by the  PSC Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, ee spoke on “Ethics, Mental Health and the Future of Policing and security in Nigeria” with theme “Command Leadership for Ethical and Trauma-Informed Security Response” where he noted that it is important for Police Officers to study ethics and professional code of ethics since according to him they are the bedrock of Policing code of conduct.

DIG Argungu said ethics training will help Police departments/institutions recognise their full potential since Officers use a lot of discretion in the conduct of their duties which include the enforcement of the law at appropriate time or place.

The PSC Chairman also spoke on the implications of medical health requirements for enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force adding that medical health examination will help evaluate “if the candidate is medically fit to meet the physical requirements of the job”.

He said deformities and abnormalities test must be carried out as part of the medical health requirements, adding that a candidate for admission must be free of impediment in speech, gross malfunction of teeth or jaw preventing proper mastication of food, knock knees, bent knees, bant knees, flat feet, bent arms. Others include; deformed hands, defective eye sight or squint eyes, amputation of any kind etc.

DIG Argungu explained that Police stress stems from operational factors like trauma exposure and dangerous incidents, organizational issues such as poor management, shift work and lack of peer support and external societal pressures “which can lead to issues like burn out, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD)”.He noted the categories of stressors which he said includes operational stressors which is inherent in the nature of police work including exposure to violence, traumatic events and the potential to danger; Organisational stressors that comes with issues of insufficient staffing, poor leadership, excessive overtime, lack of proper equipment and strict or poorly enforced policies.

Others include Personal/External stressors such as factors like financial difficulties, social and family pressures, societal influences as well as internal factors related to individual Officers’ emotional well being.

DIG Argungu said the consequences of Police stress is that it can lead to various mental and physical health problems including; mental health disorder, burn out, substance misuse and suicide.

On the future of Policing and security in Nigeria, the PSC Chairman said the key challenges and threats that the country is facing now are “social media as well as digital channel which can also be used for malicious content and propaganda and “hooligans, employed by undesirable elements to recruit and mobilise followers “

The PSC Chairman noted that at this era of 21st Century, “all security Officers will have to have training in the recognition of offences committed by computer and how electronically based technology affects businesses and everyday life.