The Osun State Amotekun Corps has said its Corps Commander, Isaac Omoyele, voluntarily handed over four of its operatives to the police over the recent attacks in Ile-Ife and the death of Oyeyemi Ajagungbade Emir, an aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The Corps dismissed reports circulating on social media that five of its operatives were arrested by the police in connection with the incident, describing the reports as misleading.

In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Idowu Abass, the Corps clarified that its operatives were not arrested.

“The attention of the Osun State Amotekun Corps has been drawn to reports circulating on social media alleging that five operatives of the Corps were arrested by the police in connection with the death of the late Oyeyemi Ajagungbade Emir and the recent attacks in Ile-Ife.

“The Osun Amotekun Corps wishes to state categorically that the report, as presented, is misleading and does not reflect the true circumstances of the matter,” the statement read.

Abass explained that Omoyele personally handed over four operatives attached to NURTW chieftain, Alowonle Nurudeen, to the Osun State Police Command in the interest of transparency and accountability.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Police did not arrest the Amotekun operatives in question. Rather, the Corps Commander, in the interest of transparency, accountability and a thorough investigation, personally handed over four operatives attached to NURTW chieftain Alowonle Nurudeen to the Osun State Police Command.

“The decision was taken to enable the police to conduct their investigation and unravel the circumstances surrounding the attacks in Ile-Ife,” he said.

He urged the public and media practitioners to distinguish between arrest and voluntary handover for investigation, and to avoid sensationalising the matter before the conclusion of police investigation.

“The circumstances surrounding the four operatives should not be misrepresented or sensationalised before the conclusion of the police investigation.

“The Osun State Amotekun Corps remains committed to professionalism, discipline, accountability and cooperation with other security agencies. The Corps does not condone indiscipline or any conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the security architecture of the state,” Abass added.

The Corps appealed to journalists, bloggers and social media commentators to verify information before publishing, especially on sensitive security matters, and urged the public to allow police investigation run its full course without passing premature judgment.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and supporting relevant security agencies to ensure anyone found culpable faces the law.

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has raised concern over rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging victims and witnesses to speak out and seek help.

The council also disclosed that it recently rescued a girl who was trafficked from Benue State to Abuja under the guise of employment and subsequently forced into prostitution.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja at the weekend, the Special Adviser on Women Affairs to the AMAC Chairman, Hon. Loveth Izekor, said GBV was not limited to rural communities, stressing that women and girls in the FCT were also exposed to various forms of abuse.

Izekor, who spoke on the theme, “Unite to Protect: Empowering AMAC Women Through Knowledge and Action,” said one of the major challenges in tackling GBV was that many victims did not recognise that they were being abused

She said societal expectations, stigma and fear of judgment had also discouraged victims from speaking out or seeking assistance.

“Most people don’t even know they have been abused. They don’t even know they are victims of such circumstances. They feel like, okay, it is right; what this person is doing to me, what my husband or whoever is doing to me, what this woman is doing to that child is right, is disciplining the child and all that,” she said.

According to her, the normalisation of abusive behaviour had made it difficult for some victims to identify harmful situations and seek intervention.

“There are so many barriers. Even society, I think, the shame of even coming out to speak or seek help,” she said.

Giving an insight into cases that had come to her attention since she assumed office about three months ago, Izekor said her office recently intervened in the case of a girl who was brought to Abuja from Benue State purportedly to secure employment.

“Getting here, she realised that it just was not work. Unfortunately for her, she was brought here for prostitution. And she fled from the place seeking help,” she said.

Izekor said the case highlighted the need for stronger community-level awareness and intervention to protect women and girls from trafficking and other forms of abuse.

“This is happening in FCT. A lot of these cases are happening,” she said.

She said some of the cases brought to her office had been critical, prompting the council to strengthen its efforts to protect women and girls and improve access to support services.

Izekor said AMAC’s 12 wards covered a wide range of communities beyond the city centre, making it necessary to take sensitisation programmes directly to residents at the grassroots.

She said: “Abuja Municipal Area Council is a very big area council. With communities in Karshi, Kuje, Bwari, Orozo, so many communities; it is not limited to the city centre alone.

“We have a lot of work to do. We have women, we have communities to understand more, to know their rights more, to understand more what gender-based violence is, so that we can stand united to address such matters.”

The council, she said, had also unveiled an emergency intervention helpline to enable residents to report cases, request urgent intervention and access appropriate security, legal, healthcare and other support services.

Izekor urged women to create safe spaces where victims could seek help without fear, while calling on residents who witnessed abuse to report such cases.

She said the campaign would involve traditional rulers, royal mothers, ward and community coordinators, councillors’ wives and women leaders, who would work with the council to take sensitisation and orientation programmes to communities.

“As women, we also need to come together and stand united against gender-based violence, and also educate our younger ones, the girl child, to know their rights as females, to know when to speak up, to know when to say no and all that,” she said.

The Special Adviser also called on traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to promote the dignity and protection of women and girls.

She said the council was still working to understand the scale of GBV in its communities, urging residents not to ignore cases of abuse or wait until they became critical before seeking help.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to conduct a thorough investigation into Monday’s crash of an ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The President’s directive came as he mourned the 25 passengers and seven crew members involved in the crash, describing the incident as a painful loss to the Armed Forces and the nation.

The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, Tinubu said the investigation was necessary to establish the cause of the crash and prevent a recurrence.

“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” the President said.

Tinubu also commended the NAF for immediately activating search and rescue operations following the mishap, as well as first responders and the Ondo State Government for their swift response at the crash site.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said.

The President extended his condolences to the families of those involved in the crash, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and for God to grant their families and the NAF the strength to bear the loss.

Tinubu also assured the Nigerian Air Force of the continued support of his administration as it carries out its responsibilities in securing the country.