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Delta Police Refute Allegations of Trafficking, Say It’s Malicious, Unfounded and Intended to Tarnish Image
The Delta State Police Command has refuted allegations of child trafficking leveled against it by section of online broadcast, saying it is malicious, unfounded and meant to tarnish the reputable image of the Command and rubbish its hard work over the years.
Speaking through a statement signed by the Command’s PPRO DSP Edafe Bright, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ali Ari, frowned at the originator of the story, asking to what end.
The online collaborators (not NAOSNP Members) had alleged that the Command was in the habit of returning rescued victims of child trafficking to the Ministry of Women Affairs, thereby trafficking them anew, making one wonder what else is the right thing to since that is the appropriate agency to take responsibility.
The CP lambasted the originator, one Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, for the allegation while clarifying that “it is solely the responsibility of either the State or federal government to cater for a found child and provide requisite facilities or ensure that the facilities are provided by approved adoption services as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority when, and if the need arises.”
The statement in full:
The attention of Delta State Police Command has been drawn to several online publications including Sahara reporters credited to one Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, a self-acclaimed human right activist and State Coordinator Take it back (TIB), Delta State Chapter.
In the said publication, he alleged that Police Officers of the Command, after rescuing victims of child trafficking, hands over the rescued children to the Ministry of Women Affairs in a way of aiding the Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, in trafficking the rescued children. One question which remained unanswered by the said Aghogho is how handing over found children to the Government Ministry empowered by the constitution of Nigeria to take custody of such children translates to child trafficking?
For the avoidance of doubt and for the purpose of clarification, the Command wishes to emphasize that it is solely the responsibility of either the State or federal government to cater for a found child and provide requisite facilities or ensure that the facilities are provided by approved adoption services as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority when, and if the need arises. Section 125 of the CHILD’S RIGHT ACT of Nigeria states that;
(i) Every State Government shall, for the purpose of adoption, establish and maintain within the State and, in the case of the Federal Government, within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja a service designed to meet the needs of;
(a) a child who has been or may be adopted;
(b) parents and guardians of the child specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection; and
(c) persons who have adopted or who may adopt a child, and for this purpose, every Government shall provide requisite facilities or ensure that the facilities are provided by approved adoption services as may be prescribed by the appropriate authority.
(ii) The facilities to be provided as part of the services maintained under subsection (1) of this section include‐
(a) temporary board and lodging, where needed by a child and, in exceptional circumstances the mother of a child;
(b) arrangements for assessing a child and prospective adopters and placing of the child for adoption; and
(c) counseling for persons with problems relating to adoption.
Section 174-178 of the Child Right Act deals extensively with the processes of adoption which extends to the custody of found children.
Succinctly, it is noteworthy, as it is crystal clear, that the Command has done no wrong by handing over any child found in the State to the State ministry under which purview such responsibility falls. If the self-acclaimed activist is not comfortable with the law as it is stated in the Child’s Right Act of Nigeria, he can and is advised to seek redress in the court of law.
Undoubtedly, the effort of the said Aghogho is aimed at blackmailing the Command into abandoning the numerous criminal cases against him with a view to escaping justice. However, the Command will not fold its hands, watch a misinformed, ill-intended and disgruntled individual rubbish its good work, drag the Command to the mud or make comments that are capable of bringing the name of the Commissioner of Police into disrepute.
The Command will therefore take every necessary step to ensure that he is brought to justice sooner than later.
The West African Examinations Council has revoked the licences of 574 secondary schools in Nigeria.
WAEC announced that the affected schools were found to have committed examination malpractices.
The examination body also stated that the schools will not be allowed to conduct examinations even as the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, commences from Thursday, April 24, 2025.
This was disclosed by the Head of WAEC’s National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, during a press briefing on Thursday at the headquarters of the examination body in Lagos.
Dangut said WAEC had forwarded the list of the affected schools to the Nigerian government.
“This year, we have shared with them a total of 574 schools that have had their recognition withdrawn, and that is also going to be the same for all examining bodies.
“So, these are those that have got their license revoked as far as the examination centre is concerned. So we will not conduct examinations there. We don’t know them as far as conducting examinations,” Dangut said.
For the forthcoming 2025 WASSCE, Dangut stated that 1,973,253 candidates registered for the examination from 23,554 schools.
He added that 979,228 males and 994,025 females would take part in the examination.
The Punch
Jigawa State governor, Umar Namadi, has cautioned against calls for self-defence from mauruding bandits and killer herders, warning that such a move could plunge the country into anarchy.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Governor Namadi responded to recent comments by retired General Theophilus Danjuma, who urged Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and armed attackers, particularly in Benue and Plateau states.
General Danjuma, a former Minister of Defence, had argued that reliance on the government for protection was no longer tenable given the spate of violence and killings in the country.
“It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us. We must stand up and defend ourselves, our families, and our lands before these criminals overrun the entire country,” Danjuma said during a public event in Takum, Taraba State, on Saturday.
But Governor Namadi rejected that approach, describing it as a dangerous path.
“He (T.Y. Danjuma) is a very senior security person, and his words deserve respect and analysis,” Namadi said. “But I think if you say citizens should be allowed to defend themselves, you’re causing anarchy. I don’t think we’ve reached that level yet.”
He argued that rather than encourage armed self-defence, the government at all levels must continue to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“The government is doing its best in terms of security arrangements. If you allow the people to defend themselves, that means you are encouraging a crisis between farmers and herders,” the governor warned.
Namadi cited his administration’s approach to resolving the long-standing farmer-herder clashes in Jigawa State as a better alternative. According to him, when he assumed office, he prioritised non-violent conflict resolution strategies.
“When we came in, we decided to employ a lot of strategies and tactics, including dialogue,” he said. “We engaged traditional rulers, as well as representatives of both farmers and herders. We sat down, reached a consensus, and established standing committees to reconcile all parties.”
He added that these efforts helped halt a decades-long conflict:
“The people now understand that the 25 years spent fighting and killing each other were not worth it. Today, they are able to work, interact, and live together in peace.”
Governor Namadi further noted that Jigawa is currently not among the states facing severe threats such as insurgency or mass killings by bandits. Instead, the primary challenge had been farmer-herder clashes, which his administration has successfully curtailed.
“We thank God that Jigawa State is not affected by insurgency or insecurity for no. The major issue we are dealing with is the herders-farmers clash, and we are addressing it decisively,” he said.
Despite the worsening security in other parts of the country, Governor Namadi insisted that self-defence is not a viable solution and could deepen the crisis:
“So, I think the government is doing its best, both at the federal and state levels. The issue of asking people to defend themselves — I think we have not reached that level yet.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has revealed that the North will, in the next six months, take a stand on who to support for the presidency in 2027.
He boasted that no politician can win the presidency in 2027 without the support of the region.
In a video interview he granted in Hausa language, Baba-Ahmed, who appeared alongside a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf, lamented the state of the nation and urged northerners to resist divisive and deceptive politicians ahead of the next general elections.
He said: “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support.
“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” Baba-Ahmed asked.
According to the former presidential aide, the North has suffered greatly during the Boko Haram insurgency, which affected all groups, Muslims, Christians, Fulani, Baju, and others, highlighting the need for unity.
“Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time Northerners had to unite. Today, no politician can just show up and expect Northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” he questioned.
He therefore warned against further marginalization of the North, noting that continued disregard for the region would have consequences.
“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching, elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say “enough is enough ‘. The injustice and sidelining must stop.
Baba-Ahmed urged the northern region to look beyond identity politics, stressing that competence and integrity should guide voter decisions.
“We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said.
