News
Prepare For State Police, IGP Tells Officers
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has called on officers of the police force to embrace the proposed creation of state police, saying the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu has made up its mind to establish the new policing structure and that the Force must play a leading role in educating personnel about the reform.
Declaring open a one-day workshop on state policing, the IGP described the proposed initiative as one of the most significant security reforms currently under consideration in Nigeria, noting that its outcome would have implications beyond the country’s borders.
“This is a very important topic raging in the country today and in other parts of the world because everything that happens in Nigeria concerns the world,” Disu said.
He explained that discussions on state police have advanced through several stages, including the establishment of committees, constitutional amendment deliberations and the development of an implementation framework.
According to him, the immediate responsibility of the police leadership is to ensure that officers fully understand the concept and objectives of state policing.
“We are leading hundreds of officers who must be told about state police, who must be educated about state police to allay their fears because there are fears everywhere, and it’s our duty to educate them and let them know what state police is all about,” he said.
Disu stressed that the proposed reform should not be viewed as a project of the Nigeria Police Force alone but as a national initiative being driven by the Federal Government in the interest of Nigerians.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria have made up their mind to have the state police, and it’s our duty to assist them to achieve it,” he said.
He added, “This is not the issue of us only. This is the issue of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria.”
The Inspector-General urged participants at the workshop to actively engage in discussions and seek clarification on areas of concern so they would be equipped to enlighten officers in their respective commands.
“So the most important thing is to listen very well, ask questions, how this thing is going to work, so that we’ll be able to go back and talk to our officers and educate them,” he said.
Disu commended Professor Olu Ogunsakin, Director General, National Institute of Police Studies and Head, Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, for his contributions to the development of the framework on state policing, describing him as a key resource person in the ongoing reform process.
The IGP recalled that although there were initial suggestions that the police should remain passive because decisions on state policing had already been taken, the Force instead opted to establish its own committee to contribute meaningfully to the national conversation.
“I’ll go back to when we were about to start. Arguments arose that decisions have been taken and we should just sit down and be complacent and not do anything about it. I’m happy we quickly agreed to set up a committee,” he stated.
He disclosed that although the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had already constituted its committee and made significant progress, the police committee worked swiftly to catch up.
“The governors have already set up their committee. They have already almost concluded, in fact, they have concluded. We started late, we caught up with them, and I’m happy to say our work is what they are deliberating on today,” Disu said.
According to him, the police committee produced the framework within just 17 days, laying the foundation for the ongoing national discussions.
“I think it took us 17 days only to come up with the framework that has become the genesis of what everybody is working on today,” he said.
Disu, however, noted that the framework remains a work in progress and would continue to benefit from expert input before its final adoption.
“We still need to put some finishing touches to it,” he said.
He further disclosed that retired Inspectors-General of Police had met with him to offer recommendations aimed at strengthening the proposed framework.
“Retired Inspectors-General of Police have visited me, and they have shown their concern, and we have deliberated, and they have put in their contributions into this as well,” he said.
The IGP encouraged participants to critically examine the framework and make further contributions to ensure that all important issues are adequately addressed.
“You have the opportunity to help us to look at it so that every detail, every important detail that will be needed, should be input into it,” he added.
Disu also revealed that the committee carried out comparative studies of policing systems in other federal countries to guide Nigeria’s approach.
“A lot of comparative analysis have been done. We have taken time to study nations where they have state police: India, America, and even Pakistan, how things work there,” he said.
He concluded by urging participants to approach the workshop with seriousness, saying their contributions would help shape the future of policing in Nigeria.
News
Court Arraigns Journalist In Benue
A Benue State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Abounu, has arraigned the Benue State correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, Henry Ibya, in Makurdi over alleged cyberstang.
The trial judge had sought the prosecution’s response to the defendant’s argument that the journalist was reliable and should be granted bail.
The absence of the prosecution counsel in court did not stop the proceedings, as the defendant’s counsel, Tom Uja, Esq., notified the court of his bail application for his client.
He stated that the prosecution had taken the journalist to two other courts in the state on the same charge and that his client had never failed to appear in court whenever required.
Although the prosecutor’s absence did not affect the judge’s decision to proceed and grant bail, which was also believed to be in the interest of justice, the matter was adjourned until November 5, 2026.
One Terna Abuul, said to be the Director of ICT at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, reported Henry Ibya to the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command.
The director had accused the journalist of allegedly reporting mismanagement in the institution’s ICT department.
According to Abuul, Ibya’s report accused him of wrongdoing.
On the strength of the said report, the journalist was arraigned before the High Court in Makurdi.
News
64 Dead, 80 Injured As Two High-Speed Trains Collide
At least 64 people have been killed and dozens seriously injured after two high-speed trains collided near Urda, south of Madrid, in one of Spain’s deadliest rail disasters in more than a decade.
The Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirmed the death toll as emergency crews continued rescue operations at the crash site. More than 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains involved, according to a regional government spokesperson.
The BBC reports that the collision of the two trains involved a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo service operating on the Madrid-to-Seville route. Aerial images analysed by the broadcaster showed parts of the Renfe train leaving the tracks, while carriages of the Iryo train also derailed.
The cause of the collision had not been officially confirmed. However, Spanish media cited preliminary accounts suggesting that the Renfe train struck the Iryo service, which may have been stationary following a problem on the tracks.
The scale of the disaster prompted a major emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters, rescue teams and police officers. At least 80 people were reported injured, with about 50 believed to be in serious condition and 15 in critical condition, according to regional officials.
Several victims were transported to hospitals in nearby areas, while others were taken to Madrid for treatment. Hospitals in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan reportedly suspended planned surgeries to accommodate casualties from the crash.
Blood transfusion centres in Madrid and Toledo also appealed for urgent donations to meet a possible surge in demand.
Survivors described scenes of panic and severe destruction. One passenger, Sebastián Herrero, told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he felt a powerful impact that threw him into the seats ahead. He said injured passengers had broken noses and arms, while smoke spread through the carriages.
Another passenger, Iñaki, told El País that the impact sent him rolling across the floor. After escaping, he saw injured people and bodies around the wreckage.
BBC Verify also examined images and videos appearing to show a section of railway track piercing through a Renfe carriage, with approximately 10 metres of rail protruding through its roof.
The disaster has revived concerns about railway safety in Spain, which suffered another deadly high-speed rail accident near Córdoba in which 46 people died. The country’s previous worst rail disaster occurred in July 2013, when 80 people were killed in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was shocked by the crash and remained in contact with the transport minister. The Spanish royal family also expressed condolences to victims’ relatives and praised emergency workers.
Meanwhile, the Royal Spanish Football Federation postponed 24 Copa del Rey matches in solidarity with the victims, while most political parties suspended campaign activities.
Rescue and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.
News
Police Arrest Suspected Eiye Cultist, Recover Two Pistols, Cartridges In Ogun
Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Squad of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old suspected cultist and recovered two locally made pistols, three live cartridges and a battle axe in the Atan area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council of the state.
The suspect, identified as Okiki Muhammed Adewusi, popularly known as “Baba Obo”, was arrested in the Ore area of Atan on October 26, 2026, following intelligence received by operatives of SWAT Base 7, Abule Iroko, Sango-Ota.
The Police Spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday.
According to Babaseyi, a search of the suspect’s residence after his arrest led to the recovery of a locally made pistol and three live cartridges.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.
Babaseyi said information obtained from the suspect led to a follow-up operation at about 6.30 a.m. on October 27, 2026 during which operatives recovered a second locally made pistol and a battle axe from a separate location.
The recovered items have been secured as exhibits, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects believed to be involved in the activities and recover additional weapons.
The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the case.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the SWAT operatives for their vigilance, professionalism and effective use of intelligence.
Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks, curbing cult-related activities and tackling the illegal possession of firearms across the state.
He urged residents to provide timely and credible information about suspected criminal activities, assuring them that the Command would act on actionable intelligence to protect lives and property and maintain public safety.
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