The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has directed police officers from the Tactical Squad and Intelligence Unit deployed for duties during the Edo State governorship election to remain in the state.
The Tide’s source reports that Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress polled 291,667 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party’s Asue Ighodalo, who came second with 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who emerged third with 22,763 votes.
The outcome of the election conducted on September 21 had been widely rejected by candidates and some election monitoring organisations.
However, in a statement yesterday by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, the IG said the special squads should continue to stay in the State till further notice.
Egbetokun noted that their continued stay in the State was to fortify the security architecture in place in the State.
The statement partly reads, “The Inspector General of Police assures members of the public of steadfastness in the commitment of the Nigeria Police to ensuring the safety and security of the people of Nigeria
“The IGP has therefore directed tactical squads and intelligence contingents to remain in the state to continue to fortify security measures until further notice.
This proactive measure aims to maintain stability and public safety throughout the state.”
Egbetokun also said those arrested for electoral offences during the election would be prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, adding that the police would try those apprehended for criminal offences.
He added, “All arrested persons for electoral offences will be prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC while those arrested for other criminal offences will be arraigned before the court on completion of investigations.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting democracy and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. We will continue to strive for excellence in our duties, upholding the principles of fairness, justice, and accountability.”
Egbetokun also condoled with the families of the five policemen who died in a fatal car accident in Kano State.
He said, “In another development, the Inspector-General of Police commiserates with the Kano State Command, families and friends of the five policemen who lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident on Tuesday at Karfi village in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, along Zaria-Kano Expressway, while returning to Kano after the Edo State election duties. The IGP prays for the repose of their souls.”

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said his administration was encouraging investment in the state with incentives such as tax holiday and provision of land.
The governor who was the keynote speaker at the 10th International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership in New York, United States of America, on Tuesday, also stated that with power now on the concurrent list, his administration was committed to enhancing electricity supply in the state with the signing of its electricity law as well as revamping its gas turbines to generate and distribute 24-hour power.
The Bayelsa helmsman, who showcased the investment and economic potentialities of the state, averred that its wealth were more in its maritime domain and that the government was diversifying the economy from its dependence on largely oil revenue.
He said this necessitated the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the first state to do so in Nigeria, as well as vigorously constructing roads to access the Atlantic Ocean on the three senatorial flanks of the state.
He also urged investors to take advantage of the state’s abundant gas reserves to partner the government in establishing industries and create employment opportunities.
Diri stated that the government had prioritised security to encourage investors to come into the state.
“During the first four years of our administration, we made a deliberate choice to brand our government as the “Prosperity Government.” Prosperity has been the guiding principle of our work, merely an attractive mantra, but an honest belief that propels us as we strive for the betterment of our people.
“Bayelsa has enormous economic potential based on its location and natural resources. It sits on an extremely fertile land area, which is part of the third largest wetlands and mangrove forests in the world, contributing immensely to carbon sequestration.
“Our state is endowed with the longest coastline in Nigeria, measuring 203km, and is a natural access point to the Gulf of Guinea (one of the richest fishing waters in the world),” Diri said.
“Bayelsa has the widest access to the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. Therefore, it is an ideal location for international trade for West Africa, the Gulf of Guinea and beyond”, he said.
“In addition, Bayelsa has the largest gas reserves in Nigeria, exceeding 18 trillion cubic feet and supplies 60% of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) resources.
“We are also developing a template for tax relief to investors just as we are looking at providing land as the state’s equity contribution to interested investors.
“Security of lives and property is our priority. We employed more of a non-kinetic approach to conflict resolution by engaging stakeholders. We have invested significantly in upgrading our security apparatus by deploying state-of-the-art equipment and technology”,he added.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive said government was leveraging technology to improve the education sector with the introduction of a technology-driven tool known as BayelsaPRIME (Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education) as well as establishing of technical and vocational schools across the state to equip students with the skills to be self-dependent.
He added that the tuition, accommodation and feeding cost of the students are borne by the state government.
The governor expressed the hope that Bayelsa would gain a lot from the forum and solicited partnership to “develop innovative solutions to our environmental challenges, create jobs and economic opportunities for our people, improve access to healthcare and education, and build infrastructure that support business and investment.”
Director-General of the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA), Barr. Patience Abah, also spoke on the investment prospects in the state.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the Best Performing Governor Award by Founder/Executive Chairman of the African Leadership Magazine, Dr Ken Giami, as well as the bestowing of honorary citizenship of the State of Georgia on Diri and legislative recognition of the South Carolina State Legislature.
Another honoree, Senator Sunday Katung representing Kaduna South, received the African Leadership Legislative Excellence Award.
The event held on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and organised by the African Leadership Magazine.
The Tide learnt that the programme attracted several political, business and industry leaders, including President and Chairman, United States Export-Import Bank, Reta Jo Lewis, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. Kevin Greenidge, and President/Chief Executive Officer of Hightower Petroleum, Stephen Hightower.
Also in attendance were Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, a member of the South Carolina House of
Representatives, Dee Dawkins-Haigler, former chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Harry Kalaba, former Zambia Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, Citizens First Party of Zambia as well as Ms Nomvule Mokonyane, Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress in South Africa and other leaders from Angola, Ghana, Uganda and South Africa.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

The Delta State Police Command has paraded 123 suspected internet fraudsters arrested in an estate in Warri, Delta State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a video shared on X.com yesterday.
According to Edafe, the suspects were lured into a trap with promises of learning BTC trading and forex, only to find themselves in “Hustlers Kingdom” (HK), a notorious cybercrime training network.
Edafe wrote, “Arrest of 123 suspected internet fraudsters in an estate in Warri Delta State. Some of these boys are 17 years old and deceived that they were coming to learn BTC trading and forex instead found themselves in HK(hustlers kingdom)”
In the video, Edafe said in part, “We are here at Ekpan Police Station Effurun Divisional HQ, where we will be parading about 123 suspected internet fraudsters who were engaged in the business of internet fraud.”
Edafe revealed that the suspects, some as young as 17, were deceived by agents flaunting fake wealth on social media, convincing them to join the fraudulent scheme. The agents would then lure them to the estate, where they were subjected to physical abuse and exploitation.
“Their modus operandi is that they engage their agents who go on social media to flaunt wealth that most times isn’t even theirs and convince unsuspecting boys from the ages of 17, 18, 19, 20 that they want to teach them Forex and crypto business.
“They lure some from Kaduna, Akwa-Ibom, and Ibadan to that particular estate and beat the hell out of them, feeding them only when they feel like feeding them,” he said.
This is connected to a previous raid by military personnel from the 3 Battalion Nigerian Army Barracks, who stormed the “Hustle Kingdom” school in Effurun, Uvwie, Delta State, and arrested over 100 suspected internet fraudsters.
The school was reportedly training aspiring cyber criminals, and the suspects were handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
Army Estate is a highbrow residential Post Service Housing Estate for retired military officers and civilians in Uvwie, Delta State.