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Military Veteran Lauds Synergy Between Aba Power and Abia Communities

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Nigerian electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have been advised to study the type of cooperation between Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th and newest power distribution firm, and various communities in Abia State to learn how to protect their assets which are frequently vandalised across the country.

A security consultant, Air Commodore Nicholas Orjiudeh (retired), gave the advice in Aba today while speaking to journalists.

“The deep cooperation between the power firm and the communities has led to a series of arrests in recent times of young men vandalising the power infrastructure in nine out of the 17 local government areas in Abia State serviced by Aba DisCo”, Air Commodore Orjiudeh, also an engineer, stated.

“Due to the impressive cooperation, two neighbourhood watches have just caught the same day in two communities the leaders of two gangs of robbers notorious for attacking transformers and armoured cables and other vital power components. They were caught in action”.

He gave the names of the two robbery gang leaders as one Ifeanyi, a 27-year-old man with no visible means of livelihood, and Ezinwa Amanze, a 38 year -old jobless person from Umuekwe village in Aro Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

According to Commodore Orjiudeh, Ifeanyi was attacking power facilities on Umuimo Avenue, off the famous Aba-Owerri Road in Aba, when the local vigilante service saw him and quickly pounced on him while his colleagues fled.

It was easier to catch Ifeanyi than his colleagues because of his reputation in the locality as a robber.

Amanze was apprehended while vandalising the power infrastructure at Isiala Osokwu in Isiala Ngwa South LGA.

Regius Amaechi, a retired commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who now works as the Deputy Chief Security Officer at Geometric Security Service, confirmed to correspondents that the two vandals were arrested by members of different neighbourhood watches who handed them over to his service.


He stated: “After interrogation, we handed over Ifeanyi to the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police Force while Amanze was handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Aba”.

Both suspects are being tried at magistrate courts in Aba.

Air Commodore Orjiudeh noted that the spate of electricity vandalism in the Aba Ring-Fenced Area used to be much higher but was reduced significantly by a mechanism which the management of Aba Power introduced after it commenced operations in the Aba Ringed Area late last year.

“Just the way the police authorities now emphasise community policing to enhance security in the country”, he continued, “ is the way electricity distribution companies should be focusing on working with communities where their assets are located to protect them because official security agents cannot be everywhere.

“The locals are in an excellent position to provide intelligence which organisational or official security agents can act on quickly”.

While decrying vandalism against critical public assets like telecommunication cables, petroleum pipelines and electricity infrastructure whose social and economic costs are almost incalculable, Orjiudeh counselled various organisations affected by the criminal acts to borrow a leaf from “a new company like Aba Power to reduce the menace significantly”.

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Crime

Immigration Confirms four persons died in Kangiwa Border Attacks

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The Nigeria Immigration Service on Sunday, confirmed Friday’s attack by a suspected
terrorist group on border facilities and contractors on site, at the Kangiwa Border in Kangiwa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, which left four dead.

DCI KT Udo, Service PRO Nigeria Immigration,  confirmed the development in a statement signed electronically .

It reads: ” The Service regrets that the attack led to the death of four persons; a local watchman and three contractors.


No Immigration officer was killed during the attack.

However, the Service recorded substantial damages on it’s Border facilities.

Our heartfelt condolences goes out to the families of the deceased.

The Service is actively working alongside other sister security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for these heinous acts and bring them to justice.

The Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast in fulfilling its core mandate of Border Security, aligned with the overarching
objective of enhancing National Security.”

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Crime

Naira abuse: EFCC invites billionaire Okoya’s sons

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited Wahab and Raheem Okoya, sons of billionaire businessman, Chief Razaq Okoya, for questioning over alleged naira abuse.

Raheem and Wahab are expected to report to the commission’s Lagos office for questioning on Monday.

The brothers sparked widespread criticism after a video surfaced showing them flaunting and spraying bundles of N1,000 notes in a promotional clip for Raheem’s new song titled “Credit Alert.”

In the video, the duo, dressed in white agbadas, danced while a mobile policeman held stacks of crisp naira notes, which they flung into the air.

The act, perceived by many as disregard for the law, drew condemnation on social media, with some Nigerians expressing doubts about accountability due to their father’s influential status.

The Nigeria Police Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday said the officer seen in the video had been identified and detained.

In an invite signed by the Acting Director of the Lagos Directorate of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas, the Okoya brothers were directed to report to the Head, Special Operations Team, at 15A Awolowo Road Office of the commission by 10 am on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Confirming the report on Saturday, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said, “Yes, they have been invited.

Although, one of Okoya’s sons, Raheem issued a public apology via his X account, stating, “To the Nigerian people, my actions were not intended to cause any trouble or harm.

My intentions were pure and naive. I ask for your forgiveness and support as I had no intention of raising such an alarm. I wasn’t fully aware of the consequences of my action.”

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IGP Orders Clampdown on Borno Cop-killers 

The IGP expresses deep condolences to the families of the deceased officers, affirming that their sacrifice in the line of duty will not be forgotten, as their benefits and entitlements will be immediately paid to their families.

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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has condemned the explosion attack at Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters, Borno State, on 9th January 2025, at about 12.10am, which led to the death of two police officers -Inspector Bartholomew Kalawa and Corporal Mustapha Huzaifat.

Consequently,  the IGP has therefore directed the Zone 15 Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, to mobilize adequate resources and personnel, collaborate with other security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this nefarious act are found and caused to face the full wrath of the law.

The IGP directive is stated in a statement with the Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/329 Date: 10th January, 2025, signed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force PRO, Fore Headquarters Abuja.

The IGP expresses deep condolences to the families of the deceased officers, affirming that their sacrifice in the line of duty will not be forgotten, as their benefits and entitlements will be immediately paid to their families.

As investigations continue, the IGP reaffirms the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to holding accountable those who jeopardise and disrupt the security arrangement and safety in Nigeria. 

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