The Indian government has so far rescued 250 citizens in Cambodia who were forced to run online scams.

They were promised jobs but “forced to undertake illegal cyber work”, India’s foreign ministry said.

Recent reports have said more than 5,000 Indians stuck in Cambodia were forced to operate cyber-fraud schemes.

Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world are estimated to have fallen prey to human traffickers running job scams in South East Asia.

Victims, mostly young and tech-savvy, are promised jobs and then lured into illegal online work ranging from money laundering and crypto fraud to so-called love scams, where they pose as lovers online.

A UN report said in August 2023 that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar, and another 100,000 in Cambodia, were forced into operating cyber-fraud schemes.

This is the latest in a series of rescues of such victims in South East Asia. In March, police rescued hundreds of people from a scam centre in Philippines where they were forced to fool people by expressing romantic interest online under a fake identity. A few weeks before that, China repatriated hundreds of its citizens from scam centres in Myanmar.

Over the weekend, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of India’s foreign ministry, said that the country was working closely with Cambodian authorities to “crack down on those responsible for these fraudulent schemes”.

India said it had rescued 75 people in the past three months while the timeline for the rest isn’t clear.

The BBC has emailed the Cambodian embassy in India for comment.

Last week, the Indian Express newspaper reported that India’s embassy in Phnom Penh had received 130 complaints of Indians being held in Cambodia against their will.

They were among thousands of others who were allegedly forced to scam people in India or in some cases, extort money from them by pretending to be law enforcement officials.

The victims in India had been duped of a total of at least 5bn rupees ($59m; £47m) in the past six months, the newspaper reported.

In another report, the paper quoted an official in India’s embassy in Cambodia as saying that they received four-five complaints every day on average from people trapped in Cambodia after being offered jobs.

One of the rescued men, identified only as Stephen, told the newspaper that he was recruited by an agent from the southern Indian city of Mangaluru and offered a data entry job in Cambodia.

After reaching the country, he says he was asked to create fake social media accounts with photographs of women and use them to contact people.

An indigene of Benue State, one Sunday Ogah, reportedly drowned in the Eyinwa River in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State on Saturday.

One Abayomi Otusanya of Igbe Laara, Ikorodu, Lagos State, was said to have reported the tragic incident to the Odogbolu Divisional Police Station.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

Otusanya was said to have informed the police that he brought the deceased, who happened to be his friend, into Eyinwa around 12pm.

He explained that he did not know when his friend, Ogah, left him and went to an unknown destination.

The statement partly read: “It was a disheartening afternoon for people of the Eyinwa Community in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State where one Otusanya Abayomi ‘m’ of Igbe Laara, Ikorodu, Lagos State, reported at the Odogbolu Divisional Police Station that at about 1200hrs on 30/03/2024, he came with his friend, one Sunday Ogah ‘m’, an Igede man from Benue State, to his community.

“He stated further that his deceased friend left him and others to an unknown destination without notifying anyone.

“Information later got to him that the said Sunday Ogah ‘m’ had gone to swim in the Eyinwa River where his friend drowned.

“Upon receipt of the information, the DPO Odogbolu detailed surveillance police officers in collaboration with some local divers to locate the corpse, but their efforts proved abortive.”

Odutola added, “Efforts are still ongoing to recover the corpse and further reach out to the family to inform them of the sad occurrence.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun, while extending his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, assured that the command remained committed to promoting public safety and preventing such tragedies in the future.

He further warned restive young persons to steer clear of rivers whose depth they cannot predict.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi begins his third term this week buoyed by massive fresh financing, but experts say the road out of economic crisis will still be long and arduous.

Sisi won December’s presidential election with 89.6 percent of the vote, standing against three unknowns.

He is set to begin his third term officially on Wednesday, with local media reporting that he will swear the oath before parliament the day before.

This six-year term is set to be the 69-year-old’s last, unless another constitutional amendment again prolongs his tenure.

Pundits have speculated about a potential cabinet reshuffle as Cairo struggles to contain the fallout from two years of punishing economic crisis and dire foreign currency shortages.

As 2024 began, the Arab world’s most populous country seemed to be hurtling towards default and economic collapse, analysts said, before it suddenly received more than $50 billion in loans and investments.

Within weeks, the United Arab Emirates announced a $35-billion land development deal for Egypt’s Ras al-Hikma, the International Monetary Fund more than doubled a $3-billion loan, and the World Bank and European Union inked fresh financing agreements.

The massive bailout has saved Egypt “from falling into the abyss”, according to former deputy prime minister Ziad Bahaa-Eldin.

Following the deals and a fresh currency devaluation — the country’s fifth since 2016 — economic indicators seemed to be improving.

Financial services companies raised Egypt’s credit ratings, as months-worth of blocked inventory began to be released into the import-dependent economy.

Not less than 3,065.255kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) substances were razed on two farms at Amahor waterside forest in the Igueben area of Edo state, says the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesman, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said three suspects, James Thankgod, Wisdom James and Akpa Festus, were arrested on Thursday, March 28, in connection with the farms.

Meanwhile, 278kg of the same substance going to Idoani in Ondo State was recovered during a raid on Oloma-Okpe forest, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State.

Also, at least 127.5kg of cannabis loaded in a Volkswagen Vento saloon car marked NTT 215 AA was recovered along Isua/Kabba road, Idoani area of Ose LGA, Ondo State.

In another development, Mr Babafemi said a 30-year-old female suspect, Chinasa Christopher, was arrested with 400 bottles of codeine syrup in the Sabon Gari area of Kano.

Mr Babafemi said the owner of a consignment of illicit drugs intercepted along Zaria-Kano road, Bakura Goni, was arrested at Mile 2 market in Lagos on Tuesday, March 26.

He said Mr Goni, caught during a follow-up operation, had been flown to Kano to face charges.

“The consignment, consisting of cannabis and tramadol, weighing 73.8kg, was earlier seized in a truck conveying it from Lagos to Kano,“ he said.

The police command in Cross River, on Sunday, confirmed the abduction of three students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

The spokesperson of the command, SP Irene Ugbo, who gave the confirmation, said the students were abducted on Thursday night at one of the university hostels inside the campus.

Ms Ugbo, who did not give details of the abduction, however, said the police were working in collaboration with other agencies to rescue the students.

A source who pleaded anonymity gave the names of the students as Ojang Ebejin, a 200-level student of the Department of Medicine and Surgery; Ugwu Chukwuemeka, a 300-level student of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, and Damilola Dickson, a final-year student of the same department.

The police in Ondo State have arrested a 39-year-old motorcycle snatcher, Dolapo Babalola, who allegedly killed his childhood friend, Opeyemi Oyelakin, and stole his motorcycle.

SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the command’s spokesperson, told journalists in Akure on Sunday that the incident happened in Ondo town.

She said the suspect was arrested following the complaint received on March 25 that a motorcycle, marked KAK 136 VF, was stolen, and the rider was nowhere to be found.

According to Ms Odunlami-Omisanya, consequent upon this report, detectives swung into action and arrested one Babalola on the same date.

She said that during interrogations, the suspect confessed that “the said Opeyemi Oyelakin, the ‘deceased’, was his childhood friend, and they had not seen for a very long time until March 14, 2024”.

The PPRO explained that the suspect and one Sikiru Mutiu, aka S.K., still at large, deceived Mr Oyelakin on March 15 into taking them on his motorcycle to their farm in the Oke-Igbo area.

“As soon as they dropped, Mutiu gripped Oyelakin from behind while the suspect used a stick and stone to hit him on his head, and the victim died.

“The corpse was dragged to a shallow pit, and they covered it with leaves before his motorcycle was stolen,” the PPRO quoted the suspect as saying.

Ms Odunlami-Omisanya, who said the suspect took the detectives to the crime scene, said the corpse, together with the stick and stone used in carrying out the crime, was recovered.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspect stated that he has a large syndicate and has been snatching motorcycles since 2021.

“Since 2021, the suspect has snatched an uncountable number of motorcycles, and he normally uses sticks and stones on his victims while his operational zones are Ondo town, Akure, Ekiti, Ilesha and Ife town.

“Meanwhile, the command is intensifying efforts to get everyone connected to the crime arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” she said.

The PPRO warned members of the public, particularly motorcycle riders, to be mindful of the type of people they carried and the terrains they entered with their motorcycles.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), on Saturday, inducted honourary and regular mayors to expand the scope of volunteerism in traffic control and enforcement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Yusuf Suberu, FCT squadron leader of the Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) mayor’s, during the 3rd induction ceremony in Abuja, expressed satisfaction with the number of responses to participate as volunteers.

30 regular mayors and seven honourary mayors were inducted and decorated in Abuja.

According to Mr Suberu, volunteering marks an important aspect of service delivery to society because the rate of road traffic violations, crashes, injuries and deaths are on the rise and still worrisome.

He called for more proactive measures to reduce and finally eliminate the carnage effect of the low level of road safety education and poor road attitude of drivers, riders, and other road users.

According to him, this has resulted in avoidable traffic congestion and fatal crashes in various parts of the country.

“Surprisingly, the FCT, which has the best road networks, is still experiencing a very high rate of these traffic challenges.

“As part of the proactive measures by the DRTS, RTO/VIO mayors was established as a strategic measure to enhance effective traffic management, safety and security in Nigeria roads.

“The RTO/VIO mayors in the past few years of its establishment has been up and doing in complimenting the efforts of the DRTS and other relevant agencies.

“This is solely in the promotion of free flow of traffic as well as maintaining law and order on our roads,“ he said.

Mr Suberu, who doubled as the national coordinator, RTO/VIO mayors encouraged intending mayors to see the assignment as a call to help save the lives of road users.

According to him, this will also be a way of contributing towards the reduction of the pressure of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) on the roads.

“I urge well-meaning Nigerians who have passion for the safety of irreplaceable lives and valuable properties to join the DRTS RTO/ VIO mayors’ volunteers.

“This is to further strengthen the mechanism of effective road traffic management and road safety in Nigeria.

“I want to use this platform to plead with international donors, corporate organisations, highly placed individuals and patrons to increase their support to the agencies and volunteer groups in road traffic management,” he said.

Earlier, the DRTS director, Bello Abdul-Lateef, called for more volunteerism from people on traffic-related matters.

Mr Abdul-lateef emphasised that the directorate and other vehicle inspection offices could not do it alone, saying that lending of hands by the public would curtail the difficulties with ease.

He commended the honourary and regular mayors saying that despite their tight schedules, they agreed to render service to humanity particularly taking the complication of traffic control and enforcement.

“I can conveniently say that we have moved from embryonic nature. This is because our work has been strengthened by the volunteers to help in managing road traffic crashes.

“We should all understand that road traffic management should not be left alone for the traffic agencies.

“I must commend the volunteers who have been working, we are proud of you as you have shown love to our fatherland, “he said.

Also, the assistant commissioner of police, (ACP) Habib Rabiu, reaffirmed commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service excellence in performance of duties.

“The responsibilities entrusted to each of you are of paramount importance.

“As Mayors of RTOs/VIOs, you are entrusted with the task of assisting the already existing traffic agencies in the management of traffic control and promoting road safety awareness among the public.

“Your role is not merely to assist the traffic management but also for education, outreach, and community engagement, decongestion of our roads, and safety of the road users in the FCT,” he said.

In his goodwill message, RT. Hon. Chinedum Elechi, the mandate secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), congratulated all inductees for heeding the demands of the moment to serve the public.

Mr Elechi, who was represented by the director of BRT buses, Richard Aderinwale, also commended them for their energy, time and resources in the area of traffic control and auxiliary amenities.

“Your induction today is, therefore, very timely and necessary. I have been informed that the Mayors’ is a special arm of DRTS/VIO. This includes men and women of proven integrity and passion.

“I urge you to take this initiation as a call to duty and your activities shall not go unrecognised by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s led administration,” he said.

The theme of the year 2024 induction ceremony is “Renewed Commitment to Ensuring Effective Road Traffic Management and Safety on our Roads”.

The police command in Enugu state says it has raided an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) criminal hideouts in the Akwuke axis of Enugu metropolis.

The police operatives, however, met with resistance from the renegades, who opened fire upon sighting them, but they were subdued by the superior firepower of the police, leading to the neutralisation of two of the renegades.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Sunday that the police conducted the raid on Saturday at about 2:30 a.m.

Mr Ndukwe said that other members of the outlawed group escaped with various gunshot wounds.

He said that one AK-47 rifle, one Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), one stainless Pump-Action Gun (PAG), 27 live and 23 expended rounds of 7.62 mm calibre ammunition were recovered after the raid and gun duel.

According to him, police also recovered five live cartridges and a small blue-coloured Gideon New Testament Bible, probably used to conceal objects suspected to be charms.

“In pursuance of the proactive/crime prevention strategies devised by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, police operatives of Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad carried out an intelligence-guided raid of a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout in Akwuke community in Enugu metropolis.

“A preliminary investigation reveals that the breech number of the recovered AK-47 was wiped off.

“The criminal elements are responsible for several attacks and carting away of police officers rifles, as the rifle’s magazine bore the Nigeria Police Force colour. Further discreet investigations are ongoing,” he said.

The spokesperson noted that the CP while commending the operatives for the feat, reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to rid Enugu State of unrepentant criminals.

He said that the commissioner solicited the continued support of the citizenry while urging them and owners of medical facilities, in particular, to report persons found with gunshot wounds to the nearest police operative or station.

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Oluwafemi Idris, popularly known as Alfa, for unlawful possession of human parts in the Akoko area of the state.

SP. Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer said this in a statement on Sunday in Akure.

The spokesperson said the police got intel from a reliable source that Alfa kept human parts in his house and intended to use them for ritual purposes.

According to Odunlami-Omisanya, the police swung into action and apprehended the suspect.

“A search was conducted in his house at Akoko and the following human parts were found in his possession, human hands, three kidneys, three hearts, spine, and tongue.

“The suspect claimed he is an Islamic cleric and some of the human parts were supplied by his friend, an Alhaji who is also a cleric, and Samuel Kutelu.

“While he (suspect) supplied Babatunde Kayode (an Oluawo) three human heads. Oluawo and Babatunde Kayode have been arrested.

“Meanwhile, efforts are on to arrest the other cleric who he claimed sourced the human parts for him,” she said.

Pope Francis has called on the faithful to rejoice and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in spite of the personal and global political crises.

These crises are “boulders of death,” the head of the Catholic Church said at Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Particularly, he mentioned the ruthlessness of hatred and the cruelty of war, which break the longing for world peace, but also selfishness and indifference.

The 87-year-old said Easter would roll away those boulders.

Around 6,000 people attended the celebration to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in St. Peter’s Basilica.

According to the pontiff, Easter should encourage people and give them hope: “This is the power of God: the victory of life over death, the triumph of light over darkness, the rebirth of hope in the midst of the ruins of failure.”

After Holy Week, the Easter Vigil is a cause for joy, he said.

“Sister, brother, may your heart burst into joy on this holy night!” the pontiff said in his homily.

On the night before Easter Sunday, Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his death on the cross.

At the beginning of the celebration, the Easter candle was carried through St. Peter’s Basilica in a procession in complete darkness – the darkness is intended to symbolise life without faith.

The candles of the priests and faithful were then lit from the Easter candle to the cry of “Lumen Christi,” Latin for the “Light of Christ.”

During the celebration, Francis baptized eight adults: four Italians, two South Koreans, a Japanese man and a woman from Albania.

The pontiff performed the ceremony sitting down.

Francis read his sermon himself, but his voice was hoarse.

On Good Friday, he had surprisingly decided not to take part in the Stations of the Cross service in order to preserve his health.

On Sunday, he plans to preside over the Easter Mass and give the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing for to the city and the world.

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets again on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government.

This comes as there is no sign of a let-up in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza almost six months in.

In Tel Aviv, demonstrators demanded early elections, as well as the release of the remaining hostages held by the Palestinian extremist organisation, Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Protests also took place in other cities, including Jerusalem and Haifa.In Jerusalem, hundreds of protesters broke through a barrier near Netanyahu’s official residence.

Opponents of the government are planning major demonstrations in Jerusalem from Sunday onwards, which are to last for several days.

They also plan to demand the resignation of the government.

A former hostage, whose husband is still being held in Gaza, addressed the demonstration in Tel Aviv, calling on Netanyahu to “Bring them home!”

The woman called on the premier to give the Israeli negotiating team a “broad mandate” in talks on an agreement to release the remaining hostages in return for a ceasefire and a release of Palestinian prisoners.

“Don’t come home without a deal, bring our loved ones back,” she said.

The ongoing Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre committed by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in southern Israel on October 7.

They killed some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took some 250 more hostage.

Israel responded by targeting densely populated Gaza with massive airstrikes and launching a ground operation in the sealed-off coastal area at the end of October.

More than 32,500 Palestinians are said to have been killed as a result so far, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, due to the very limited amounts of aid reaching the civilian population.

Some 110 hostages were released in exchange for some 400 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails as part of a temporary truce agreement brokered by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt in November.

However, efforts to facilitate another ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages have stalled repeatedly.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) says it has concluded arrangements to conduct the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) internal examinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This follows the successful accreditation of Nigeria International School, Jeddah, by a delegation led by the minister of state for education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, and the registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi.

A statement signed by the acting director, directorate of information and digital communication of NECO, Azeez Sani, on Saturday, said during the visit, the delegation undertook an assessment of the school facilities.

Mr Sununu in his address, enjoined the staff and students of the school to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria not only in Saudi Arabia but the entire Gulf States Cooperation Council.

He said after a careful assessment of the school’s learning facilities such as the examination halls, classrooms, laboratories, library, curriculum and syllabus and the general security, the school was found worthy of consideration as an International Centre for NECO SSCE Internal.

He said after due assessment, the school was consequently granted full accreditation.

On his part, registrar/chief executive of NECO, Prof. Wushishi, who gave a brief history of the evolution of NECO, explained to the management and staff of the School the importance of school accreditation.

Mr Wushishi said this was to ensure that schools had adequate teaching and learning facilities conducive for examinations.

The delegation was earlier received on arrival at the school by the consular general, Amb. Bello Kazaure and the proprietor of the school, Abdulkadir Maikudi and other staff.

The minister and the NECO registrar also visited the Nigeria House in Jeddah, where they interacted with the consular general and other staff of the consulate.

The National Examination Council has other international examination centres in Togo, Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger and the Republic of Gabon.

A private Nigerian airline, Air Peace, has commenced flight from Lagos, Nigeria to London, United Kingdom.

This was made known on Air Peace official X handle at around 8.13 a.m and the airline expressed delight for its achievement and appreciated those who contributed to the success.

The airline previously announced the flight to London during its pre-launch forum in February, aimed at engaging travel agencies and partners involved in the London flight operations.

Air peace wrote, “London service has commenced and we’re delighted to have achieved yet another feat in our drive to continually provide peaceful connectivity across cities. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this launch.”

At the airline’s inaugural flight to London, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anita, was present, among others.

Meanwhile, in November, Air Peace’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, noted that Air Peace had qualified to operate flights to Europe and the United Kingdom after successfully obtaining the Foreign Carrier Operator Permit and Third Country Operator Permit.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said rehabilitating the Third Mainland and Carter bridges in Lagos will cost N21 billion and 25 billion, respectively.

Umahi disclosed this during a Friday tour of key infrastructure projects in Lagos with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works.

The Minister said there is a need to declare an emergency on the two bridges to avert a reconstruction cost of N6 trillion.

He warned of the substantial financial and safety risks posed by continued delays of the rehabilitation works.

“The cost of rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge is estimated at N21 billion.

I want the National Assembly to note that this is the worst of our challenges on these two bridges. The cost of rehabilitation of Carter Bridge is N25 billion”, he stated.

The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested eight suspects in connection with the murder of its officers on a fact finding mission in Ughelli area of Delta State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said the officers on a fact finding mission were on February 23 ambushed while others on a rescue mission were also ambushed, resulting to the death of six police officers.

Adejobi said the arrest followed intensive investigative efforts of police operatives.

According to him, five suspects were initially arrested shortly after the incident while additional three were apprehended at different locations.

He said the arrest of the additional three followed statements and cooperation of those initially arrested five suspects.

Adejobi said the suspects were currently in police custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.

He said the Nigeria Police Force was committed to ensuring that all those responsible for the murder and other similar crimes were arrested and brought to justice swiftly and decisively.

The police spokesman said the suspects would soon have their day in court, with credible evidence, once investigations were concluded.

He said the Police were deeply saddened by the heinous act of violence against its officers who were diligently performing their duty to protect and serve the community.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen officers during this difficult time.

“We wish to reiterate that killers of our officers in this extant case and many others, have murdered peace and none of them will go unpunished,” he said.

Recall that the officers, who were on duty in Ughelli area of the state, were killed on February 23 and 26, with six others missing.

An Oyo State-based journalist, Mr Tony Babatunde Daniel, was on Saturday harassed and brutalised by some personnel of Department of State Service, DSS, in Ibadan.

The incident occurred at an NNPC petroleum station which is a few meters away from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat in the Iyaganku area of Ibadan.

Daniel said that he was on queue to purchase petroleum when the incident occurred.

He was later rushed to a nearby hospital by his colleagues at the NUJ Secretariat.

The victim, while narrating his ordeal, described the incident as traumatic.

He added that his car was also damaged by the armed security operatives.

Efforts made by DAILY POST to get a reaction of the DSS were not successful as at the time of filing this report.

The FCT commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Olusola Odumosu, has inaugurated NSCDC’s female strike force to protect Abuja schools.

A statement by the command’s spokesman, Samuel Idoko, on Thursday said the inauguration followed the completion of three days of training for the personnel.

Mr Odumosu said the strike force’s primary responsibility was to ensure the safety of all schools in the territory. He said the training had equipped them with the needed skills and capabilities to carry out their duties.

According to him, the training is a follow-up to the recent meeting of all FSF unit commanders with the commandant general, Ahmed Audi.

Mr Audi had charged them to be up and doing, given the reported cases of kidnapping in some parts of the country.

“The training is imperative to ensure compliance with the CG’s directive on the mandate of securing schools for the safety of students and staff. Cases of abduction in schools must come to an end, that is the primary purpose of this training.

“We need to restore the confidence of the people in our ability to secure schools in the FCT,” the commandant said.

He called on schools in the FCT to register with the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre to be added to the ecosystem.

Mr Odumosu explained that the registration was free and meant to ensure better coordination and quicker and more efficient responses to emergencies.

Mr Odumosu assured us that personnel would be trained and retrained regularly to respond promptly to any security threat.

“We must make schools safe haven once again for children,” he added.

He charged the female strike force with conducting routine patrols and surveillance of schools to prevent threats and attacks.

He also urged the strike force to hold periodic security awareness and enlightenment talks for students and teachers.

Mr Odumosu also directed the operatives to abide by the corps’ standard operating procedures in discharging their duties and avoid overzealous use of force or firearms.

Three students have sued Al-qalam University, Katsina, over registration fees.

The case is before the Katsina High Court.

The applicants, Hauwa’u Sani-Barda, Rabi’atu Sani-Barda and Hafsat Sani-Barda, were admitted in 2018 and 2019 and graduated in 2022 and 2023.

However, they claimed that the university refused to mobilise them for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) because they had not settled all fees due to the institution.

The applicants’ counsel, Muhammad Mukhtar-Lawal, told the court that his clients filed an ex parte motion in pursuance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Mr Mukhtar-Lawal said the application sought the leave of the court to apply for judicial review.

After the counsel’s submission, the judge, Abbas Bawale, said the applicants should have filed a motion on notice.

However, Mr Bawale granted the applicants a leave order to apply for judicial review by mandamus.

He said that processes would be served on the university after that, enabling the court to hear the case.

The police commissioner in Niger, Shawulu Ebenezer, has presented cheques of N44 million to families of deceased cops who lost their lives in active duties between 2022 and 2023.

Mr Ebenezer presented the cheques on Thursday in Minna on behalf of the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun.

He said the families were invited to collect the cheques under the force’s Group Life Assurance Scheme, and the gesture was to provide a token to their next of kin.

“Unfortunately, sometimes, in the course of duty, some personnel paid the supreme price. I pray that the families find solace and comfort in the Lord,” he said.

He noted that the token was intended to reduce the families’ suffering and advised them to use the money judiciously to improve their families’ living conditions.

The police commissioner said the Group Life Assurance Scheme was in addition to other benefits within the police force for the families and admonished them to utilise the token wisely for a better standard of living.

Similarly, the police chief presented NYSC commendation letters to 17 personnel of the command deployed as the police team to ensure orderliness and security at the just concluded 2024 Batch A, Stream 1 orientation course.

The personnel presented with the letters were Shuaibu Abdulkadir, Istifanus Yakubu, Mafuyai Yak, Nasiru Danlami, Sule Rahman, Mustapha Ndagi, Salihu Mohammed and Magret John, etc.