Metro
Policemen are Involved in Crimes, Abia CP Raises Alarm
The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mr Ene Okon, has warned policemen in the state to desist from criminal activities, stressing that the number of officers involved in crime in Aba, the commercial hub of the state, was alarming.
The CP gave this warning during his familiarisation tour with members of the Police Community Relations Committee in Aba, on Tuesday.
He urged the officers to eschew indiscipline in its entirety and embrace the tenets of policing in the state.
Okon, who said he wanted to return policing to members of the Aba community, also urged residents to always fulfil their own obligations to the police by volunteering appropriate and timely information about suspected criminals as well as being obedient to the law.
He said, “I have a problem with policemen in Aba. The number of policemen that are involved in criminal activities in Aba is alarming.
“Every policeman in Abia wants to be posted to Aba. My question is, to do what? Does it mean police work cannot be done at Arochukwu, Ohafia, Nkporo, Isuikwuato and Uzuakoli? Why must it be Aba?
“The bottom line is bribery. For those, who have corruption tendencies and come to Aba to destroy the image of the police, I urge you to get ready because it will not work again.
“I don’t know whether you are not ashamed that you as policemen are involved in crime all because of pocket money. I will not spare you.
“Those that have worked with me know my stand on these dirty and corrupt practices. I know the Nigerian society and, especially the Igbo. If you do your work diligently, they will appreciate you.
“Not when you go and extort money from somebody unjustly, how can you expect something good in your life?”
Okon wandered how someone employed to fight crime could turn to a criminal himself, pointing out that there was a problem in the system.
“You may not be happy, but I’ve told you the truth and that is it. I’ll always tell you the truth no matter who is involved,” he added.
On the members of the community, he said, “For the members of the public, it is true you own the police and assignus to protect you and your property. So, it is your right to get that, but mind you that you have an obligation.
“You cannot separate right from obligation here. We know you have your right, but back it up with your obligations. You must obey the law, assist and support this institution you have created to serve you.
“If you fail to obey the law, this police you created will turn against you. Police are not magicians. We need your information to function adequately. We cannot be everywhere.”
The Punch
Globacom has entered into a strategic partnership with the Osun State Government to roll out 20,000 closed user group (CUG) lines for civil servants, teachers, local government staff and political appointees across the state.
The initiative, branded Imole Connect, is designed to foster seamless communication and collaboration among government workers, thereby improving efficiency and productivity.
Speaking at the official launch in Osogbo on Wednesday, Governor Ademola Adeleke commended Globacom for supporting the state’s digital drive. He described the project as a crucial step towards bridging communication gaps in the public sector.
“With the launch of 20,000 Glo Imole Connect lines today, we are taking a bold step towards improving our public servants’ linkage across the State. These lines, operating under a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, come with significantly reduced call and data rates,” Governor Adeleke noted.
He further explained that, “one of the challenges in public governance has always been the difficulty of seamless communication. Information does not always move quickly or efficiently and this has often led to avoidable delays and disconnections between agencies and officers across different levels. With this new arrangement, I am confident that we will begin to close those gaps and work in closer alignment.”
On his part, Globacom’s National Head, Enterprise Business Group, Mr. Adeniyi Odejobi, assured that the company was committed to enhancing service delivery in Osun State through efficient communication.
“Globacom has transformed from being just a telecommunications company to being a digital solutions provider where we offer enterprise solutions to large organisations, government and public sector organisations to enhance digital economy and enhance the operations of smart cities in some sub nationals,” he explained.
Desirous of promoting the love for sciences and pursuit of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the Glo Foundation, Globacom’s corporate social responsibility arm, is staking millions of naira to promote STEM among girls across the country.
This is part of its programme for the celebration of this year’s edition of the International Day of the Girl Child.
The Foundation has put in place the ‘Glo Innov8’ National STEM Competition for girls in Senior Secondary Schools across the country. The competition, a STEM-focused challenge, will see the winning schools carting home N5 million in prizes.
A statement from Glo Foundation explained that the ‘Glo Innov8’ National STEM Competition is aimed at enabling girls in secondary schools to “Compete, Innovate and Win” in the competition and also enhance the confidence and knowledge of the girl child.
It also added that the competition “is our modest way at Glo Foundation of celebrating and encouraging the girl child to focus more on the studies of STEM subjects and pursue careers in these areas in future so as to become problem solvers for the country”.
The overall winning school with the best idea walks away with N2,000,000 prize, while the 2 Students who will represent the school will get a laptop each, and the Teacher/Mentor/STEM Coordinator gets a token of N200,000. The students of the schools that come 2nd and 3rd, as well as the Teachers/Mentors/STEM Coordinators will also get consolation prizes.
The registration for the Glo Foundation National Stem Competition tagged “Glo Innov8”, which kicked off on the Monday September 15th, will end on October 5, 2025.
To register for a chance to win, all that schools across Nigeria have to do is visit https://glo-foundation.com/glo-innov8/ and fill the form, to STEM their way to N5,000,000.
Adron Homes and Properties Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading real estate companies, has reaffirmed its commitment to cultural preservation and community development by officially supporting the 2025 Olojo Festival themed “Tourism for Inclusive Growth with Cultural Rebirth.”
In a press conference held at the Palace of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, the firm highlighted the festival’s enduring significance as a symbol of Yoruba heritage and a catalyst for economic and social development.
Representing the Chairman/CEO, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, the Managing Director of Adron Group, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, described the Olojo Festival as “more than a cultural gathering, a living heritage that connects the Yoruba civilization to the global stage, strengthening local economies, uniting people, and inspiring generational pride.”
She noted that Adron Group’s sponsorship aligns with its mission to build communities that honour tradition while creating sustainable opportunities.
“Tourism and housing share a common purpose which connects people, places, and possibilities. At Adron, we believe that true development must respect heritage while driving progress for future generations. Supporting Olojo Festival reflects our commitment to inclusive growth and cultural rebirth,” she stated.
The Olojo Festival, recognised as one of Africa’s foremost cultural events, continues to attract international attention while reinforcing Ile-Ife’s status as the cradle of Yoruba civilization. With the support of organisations like Adron Group, the festival is expected to further project Nigeria’s culture globally, boost tourism, and inspire unity across communities.
Adron Group extended prayers for the continued reign of His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi Ojaja II, and expressed optimism that the 2025 Olojo Festival would be peaceful, impactful, and a beacon of pride for Yorubaland, Osun State, and Nigeria at large.
