Metro
Police Arrest, Label Sick Woman’s Son Buying Foodstuff IPOB/ESN Operative
Gideon Dominics, the relative of a suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network, Elvis Okafor, has called on the police to release him, saying he is being framed up.
According to Dominics, the 23-year-old was arrested on Sunday, August 1, 2021, at the Afo Okporo Market in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, branded an IPOB member and paraded at the police command headquarters.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim left his house to buy foodstuffs in the market before he was allegedly beaten up and arrested alongside two other persons.
Dominics had raised the alarm after searching for his cousin to no avail and later saw his photograph on Facebook while being paraded alongside 15 others with different locally-made guns.
Dominics, in a post on Facebook, said, “This is my little cousin, Elvis Okafor; have you seen how dramatic Nigeria is? A little boy that went to buy foodstuffs for his sick mum is now a member of IPOB?
“A boy that came back from church and hasn’t eaten anything is now brandishing a gun as an ESN member? You see the Nigerian magic? Is this how innocent people are being framed daily?
“My kid brother has been arrested in Orlu by the Nigeria Police Force. And yet, we have no glimpse of his whereabouts till now; a boy that went to buy foodstuffs for his sick mom yesterday (August 1).”
Speaking in a telephone interview with PUNCH Metro on Sunday, Dominics said he could vouch for the young school leaver that he had nothing to do with IPOB or ESN.
He expressed surprise that while the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mike Abattam, maintained that Okafor was not in the command’s custody, he (Abattam) posted a photograph of a group of persons, including his cousin, paraded with guns on Facebook.
He said, “I asked the police PRO if Elvis (Okafor) was brought there. But he said no person like that was with them. Elvis is about 23 years old. He is a very quiet person.
“I later went home and opened the PPRO’s Facebook page. It was then I noticed that he posted the picture of my brother, describing him and others as IPOB/ESN operatives that the police arrested. I was angry and called him several times on the phone until he responded.
“I told him that my brother was innocent and should not be paraded. I asked him that if Elvis was his son and he (Elvis) was paraded, how would he feel? I told him to have conscience, but he cut the call on me.
“The boy’s mother is seriously ill. She is mentally challenged. It happened after the death of her husband. The most important thing for me now is to get her son out of the police cell.”
The police spokesman, Abattam, while reacting to the allegation, said people should allow the police to do their investigation.
“Investigation will vindicate the innocent. The state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, is committed to justice,” he said.
The Punch
In a move to enhance the mental resilience and professional effectiveness of personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, through Rashtriya Raksha University, the pioneering National Security and Police University in India, has concluded discussions to commence strategic partnership that will lead to result oriented capacity building for Officers and Men of the Corps.
Through the first-of-its-kind collaboration, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), 1000 FRSC personnel will undergo intensive training in stress management and emotional wellbeing in August, 2025. An initiative that underscores Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed’s determination to safeguarding not only the lives of road users, but also the health and wellbeing of the Management and Staff of the Corps.
The capacity development program aims to increase awareness of occupational stress/personal stress and its impact on physical and mental health of FRSC personnel; equip staff with practical tools for stress management, promote psychological resilience, emotional regulation, as well as foster peer support and a culture of mental health awareness.
Speaking on the partnership, the Corps Marshal stated thus:
“Our personnel operate under immense pressure every day to keep Nigerian roads safe. By investing in their mental and emotional health, we are strengthening our capacity to serve the nation with professionalism, empathy, and excellence.”
“The training program will leverage the world-renowned expertise of Indian professionals in stress reduction, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence, combining modern scientific approaches with time-tested wellness practices. Participants will gain practical tools to manage stress, improve decision-making in critical situations, and promote a culture of mental health awareness within the Corps,” he added.
The programme facilitators will comprise mental health professionals including clinical psychologist,
research officers and administrative officer from the University.
It is expected that at the end of the training, both Management and Staff will exhibit an increased self-awareness of personal stress triggers, improved skills in emotion regulation and peer support, Strengthened sense of community and psychological safety
and improved capabilities to address crisis situation efficiently.
This landmark collaboration reflects the shared vision of Nigeria and India to build resilient institutions that prioritize the wellbeing of public service officers, ensuring safer roads and healthier communities across Africa’s most populous nation.
The training is set to commence later this year and will run in phases, in 4 specific locations including the FRSC Academy Udi, Enugu State, FRSC Marshal Inspectorate Training School, Owo-Alero with both physical and virtual learning sessions to maximize participation and impact.
Recall that the partnership between the University and FRSC commenced sometimes in March with the training of some of the Corps personnel in Gujarat State of India.
As continuation of that partnership, 10 personnel are already finalizing arrangements for Masters Programme sometimes in August this year to study different courses among which include; information technology, cyber security, data management and traffic enforcement.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has commenced the process of transferring the regulatory oversight of electricity market in Abia State to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA) via Order – NERC/2025/058 in line with Electricity Act 2023, as amended, with effect from June 25, 2025.
The NERC said that Abia State has fully complied to the provisions of section 230 (2) of the Electricity Act 2023 and had dully notified the Commission and requested the transfer of the regulatory oversight of the State electricity market to Abia State.
By this transfer order, the successor DisCo in the State, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is expected to incorporate a subsidiary to assume the responsibilities of Intra State Supply and distribution of Electricity in Abia State.
Confirming the development, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, said the transfer of regulatory oversight of intrastate electricity markets from NERC to ASERA is in line with the promise of Governor Alex Otti to provide reliable electricity access to unserved and underserved industries and communities in Abia State.
He further stated that it will bring several benefits to the people of Abia state such as localised State-tailored tariff structures, which will set end-user tariffs that reflect local economic conditions, encouraging fairer pricing and better cost recovery.
Also, the commissioner said that ASERA can rapidly adjust rules and incentives to suit local goals such as supporting mini-grids or renewable energy projects.
He further said that Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency located in Umuahia will be able to provide a faster local and closer oversight which reduces delays in licensing, complaints handling, and issue resolutions to bolster local service quality among other functions.
According to him, the deadline for the transfer of the regulatory obligations is December 24, 2025.
Following a video in circulation condemning the Police community over neglect regarding welfare and retirement benefits of retired police officers by a retired retired Superintendent of Police, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered a thorough investigation into the allegations.
The IGP, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, has tasked the NPF Pensions Limited to urgently examine the claims, identify any possible lapses, and ensure that appropriate action is taken to address the concerns raised.
The Nigeria Police Force is not insensitive to the plight of its pensioners, many of whom dedicated their lives to the service and safety of our nation. The IGP views the welfare of both serving and retired officers as a priority and recognizes that timely and adequate pension administration is crucial to sustaining morale and institutional integrity. While efforts have consistently been made to improve the pension system, the IGP acknowledges the importance of constructive feedback in prompting necessary reforms.
The IGP therefore reassures all officers, both serving and retired, and their families of the Force’s commitment to improved welfare, and to building a system that honours their sacrifices. He urges stakeholders to remain calm and patient as the NPF Pensions carries out its investigations and engages relevant agencies to ensure lasting solutions.
