Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that the state is well-positioned for the establishment of its own police force, with over 6,000 personnel of the Ogun State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, and the So-Safe Corps available to provide an experienced manpower base.

Abiodun, who disclosed this at the weekend, said the state had already established a strong security foundation that would facilitate the transition to state policing and strengthen the protection of lives and property.

The governor spoke at the 50th anniversary celebration of Ereke Day in Ikenne, Ikenne Local Government Area, where he described the Ogun State House of Assembly’s approval of state police as a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to strengthen its security architecture.

Abiodun, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Committee on State Police Creation and represents President Bola Tinubu in the committee, said Ogun was prepared to translate the initiative into an effective policing structure.

“I am the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum on State Police Creation and the representative of the President in the Governors’ Forum on State Police Creation. I am proud to announce that the Ogun State House of Assembly has approved the creation of State Police.

“Between Amotekun and So-Safe Corps, we have over 6,000 personnel. We are ready for the Ogun State Police Command, and that will make the difference in protecting the lives and property of our people,” he said.

The governor said effective security remained fundamental to economic growth and sustainable development, stressing that collaboration between communities and security agencies was essential to creating a safe environment for residents, businesses and investors.

In a related development, Abiodun directed the immediate reconstruction of the Delabo-Ikenne Road, promising that the intervention would improve accessibility, facilitate economic activities and strengthen connectivity within the community.

Speaking on the golden jubilee of Ereke Day, the governor described the 50-year milestone as a remarkable testament to the unity, shared heritage and collective determination of the people of Ikenne.

“Fifty years is very remarkable in the tradition and history of any people. It speaks to a united and common heritage, shared values and a collective determination to build a better future,” he said.

He commended the traditional rulers and the Ikenne Traditional Council of Chiefs for their leadership, wisdom and commitment to preserving the unity of the community and promoting development.

Abiodun also congratulated the people of Ikenne on sustaining the celebration for five decades, describing it as evidence of the foresight of their forefathers, the sacrifices of successive generations and the enduring strength of their communal spirit.

He noted that Ereke Day had evolved beyond an annual cultural gathering into a platform for intellectual engagement, institutional development, infrastructure advancement and the preservation of the community’s heritage.

“Ereke Day represents much more than an annual cultural gathering. It is a powerful demonstration of what a united and purposeful community can accomplish,” he added.

The governor praised the Ikenne Community Development Association for mobilising the human, intellectual and financial resources of the people to address the developmental needs of the community.

He noted that while government had a responsibility to provide leadership and create an enabling environment, sustainable development required active community participation and ownership.

Describing Ikenne as a community of considerable historical significance to Ogun State and Nigeria, Abiodun recalled its association with prominent national figures, including the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and renowned educationist, Dr Tai Solarin, whose contributions to education, democratic governance and national development remain enduring legacies.

He said the community’s development initiatives demonstrated the importance of collective action in creating lasting assets for present and future generations.

Abiodun disclosed that his administration had constructed and rehabilitated more than 1,700 kilometres of roads across Ogun State, including over 40 roads in Remoland, as part of efforts to improve connectivity, open up rural communities and stimulate economic activities.

The governor reiterated that peace and security were indispensable to development, noting that no society could achieve meaningful progress in an atmosphere of insecurity.

He also urged young people in Ikenne to shun political violence and resist attempts by politicians to manipulate them ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“No political ambition is worth the peace of our community, and no temporary inducement is worth sacrificing your future,” he cautioned.

He urged the youths to embrace political maturity, patriotism and responsible civic participation, stressing that elections should be driven by ideas, credible leadership, performance and issue-based engagements rather than violence, intimidation or destruction.

Abiodun further appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, professionals and indigenes of Ikenne in the diaspora to sustain their contributions to the development of their ancestral community.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Kunle Soname, described Abiodun as a true son of Remoland and commended his administration’s contributions to Ikenne, particularly the donation of a 500KVA transformer and the reconstruction of Awolowo Road, among other interventions.

Soname assured the governor of the continued support of the people of Ikenne and Remoland for his administration.

A Soldier, Private Utim Terwase, has bagged a monetary reward of N500, 000 for turning down a bribe of the same amount, from a suspected kidnapper,

The reward is in recognition of his honesty and commitment to duty.

The soldier, who reportedly rejected the money offered in exchange for the suspect’s release, has been rewarded with N500,000 by the Commander of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), Maj. Gen. Maxwell Dangana.

Terwase was said to have apprehended the suspect following an attempted escape. When the suspect allegedly offered him N500,000 to secure his freedom, the soldier turned down the offer and handed him over to the appropriate authorities.

Impressed by his conduct, Dangana approved a cash reward equivalent to the amount he had refused to collect, describing his action as an example of the integrity, discipline and professionalism expected of military personnel.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued at the weekend by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, Capt. Chinonso Polycarp Oteh.

Presenting the reward through the Commander of Sector 6, OPEP, Col. Philimon Malgwi, Dangana said Terwase’s decision to resist the temptation of personal gain reflected the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty and commitment to duty.

He said the soldier had demonstrated that his responsibility to the nation and the values of the military were more important than personal financial benefits.

According to him, the commendation is intended to encourage other personnel to uphold similar standards of honesty, accountability and selfless service.

Oteh said the reward also sent a strong message that integrity and professionalism remained values worthy of recognition, particularly at a time when corruption continued to undermine public trust.

He described Terwase’s action as proof that integrity was a personal choice, even when faced with temptation.

“A soldier who refused N500,000 in dirty money has earned N500,000 in honour. Indeed, integrity pays,” he said.

A Kano State High Court on Friday sentenced Umar Auwalu and Yakubu Dayyabu, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of a housewife, Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her six children at Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters, Kano.

The court also sentenced the two convicts to life imprisonment with hard labour each for conspiracy and armed robbery.

The third defendant, Isyaku Yakubu, 21, of Sabon Gida Sharada Quarters, was, however, discharged and acquitted for lack of credible evidence linking him to the murder.

Justice Nasiru Saminu found the two person guilty of the two count charges filed against them, insisting the prosecution proved charges against them beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Saminu described the killing of the housewife and her six children as a horrific crime that challenged the conscience of the society.

He said the victims were entitled to the protection of their home but were attacked by people who ought to have protected them, particularly as the first defendant, Auwalu, was a nephew of the deceased.

Justice Saminu lamented that seven lives, which could have grown into responsible members of society, had been permanently lost.

“How I wish there is a punishment heavier than this. My emphasis is not to administer vengeance but justice,” the judge said.

On the third defendant, Justice Saminu held that although there were telephone conversations between him and the first and second defendants, the prosecution failed to establish the contents of the conversations or demonstrate that they amounted to conspiracy.

The judge further noted that evidence before the court showed that Isyaku was attending a Qur’anic graduation ceremony at the time of the incident.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel and Attorney-General of Kano State, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on January 17, 2026, at about 11:30 a.m. at Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters, Kano.

He said the defendants allegedly conspired, armed themselves with sticks, iron rod and a sharp cutlass before trespassing into the residence of Fatima. According to him, they robbed the deceased of two mobile phones, an Infinix and an Itel, as well as N200,000 in cash.

The Attorney-General told the court that the defendants attacked Fatima with sticks and iron rod, hitting her on the neck before striking her head with a sewing machine, which resulted in her death.

He further alleged that the defendants attacked her six children, identified as Maimuna, 17; Aisha, 16; Bashir, 13; Abubakar, 10; Faruk, seven; and Abdulsalam Haruna, a toddler, with sticks, knives and cutlasses, inflicting injuries on their faces, bodies and heads.

The prosecution said Faruk and Abdulsalam were subsequently thrown into a well within the premises after the attack.

During the trial, Auwalu pleaded guilty to the charges but denied throwing the children into the well, while Dayyabu and Isyaku pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution presented eight witnesses and tendered 30 exhibits, including medical reports from Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, confessional statements, a bloodstained broken iron rod, a stool, bloodstained trousers, N200,000 cash, two mobile phones and a flash drive containing audio-visual recordings.

The prosecution maintained that the offences contravened Sections 97, 221 and 298(c) of the Penal Code.