The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc, charged Strategic Police Managers of the Nigeria Police Force, including Deputy-Inspectors-General of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to embrace intelligence-driven approaches towards effective policing of the nation.

The IGP who gave the charge while drawing the curtain on the 2nd Nigeria Police Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers held on 7th – 9th February, 2022 at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, also reiterated the commitment of the Force to restoring its primacy and stabilizing the internal security of Nigeria. The IGP further charged participants at the retreat to strategically deploy their assets, both human and material, to drive intelligence in a bid to tackling the current internal security dynamics in tandem with his vision and mission statements.

The Retreat with the theme – “The New Policing Vision: A Road Map for Stabilizing Internal Security” which was declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria who was represented by the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, had in attendance a total of one hundred and forty-eight (148) senior police officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police and above from the whole Federation. It played host to dignitaries from governance, the security sector and the academia including Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Alhaji Haliru Jika, Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, and Alhaji Bello Usman Kumo, Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs.

The Retreat had in attendance prominent scholars and professionals on various associated fields such as Prof. Etannibi Alemika, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd.), CP (Dr.) Olubunmi Afolabi Ogunsanwo, Rose Alabo-George, and Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwen, who made informed presentations on Crime Trends Analysis, the role of ICT, intelligence-led policing and public relations in transforming police operations, and the significance of a healthy lifestyle for police personnel.

The Retreat reached a Communique where it re-affirmed the Police as the lead agency in internal security while acknowledging the importance of collaboration and synergy with other security agencies; charged strategic police managers to imbibe a professional orientation aligned to policing framework that encourages inter-agency collaboration rather than rivalry; acknowledged the significant strides of the IGP in the acquisition of critical ICT assets; emphasized the importance of a sound police-public relations as a strategy towards addressing the trust deficit in policing.

The communique also emphasized on intelligence as the brainbox of policing and proposed a legislation that will place an obligation on government agencies, corporate bodies, estate developers and private individuals to install CCTV cameras and security sensors on their facilities as a standard practice amongst others. The communique has been distributed to relevant stakeholders including the Office of the President, Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Assembly, Ministry of Police Affairs, Office of the Chief of Defence Staff etc.

The IGP emphasized the importance of engagement and re-evaluation of critical issues relating to internal security and policing as a key to achieving professionalism. He equally expressed immense appreciation to the government and good people of Akwa Ibom State, and other critical stakeholders for their significant roles and contributions to the success of the Conference/Retreat.

Vice-President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), South West Zone, Comrade Ronke Samo has urged Journalists and media practissioners to ensure that trustworthiness becomes the hallmark of the profession in every facet they find themselves, ad against all odds .

Comrade Samo said trust, though is a fragile cord, such that once it is broken, either by error of commission or ommission or a deliberate act, is difficult to mend, Journalists must, however, ensure that it is one of their most cherished values, as only in doing this can they defend the truth which is the profession’s duty.

Samo in a release heralding the World Radio Day, said it is only through trust, which journalists should be known for, that fulfillment, success and progress can be achieved in the noble profession of journalism.

This year’s edition of the World Radio Day celebration which holds annually on February 13, has been tagged : Radio and Trust, according to a release from the the United Nations’ UNESCO organisation. It is the 11th edition of the celebration.

Samo’s statement reads in part:
On this glorious day of the World Radio Day celebration, I urge my colleagues in this noble profession to ensure that trust is a virtue they hold dearly and uphold as journalists and media practitioners. Trust itself is a virtue and it is very rare to find a trustworthy fellow. But with the nature of our job, trust is central, especially given the fact that the public trusts us as Reporters.

“We must therefore ensure that we do not disappoint the public who repose such absolute confidence in us. We must therefore, also stay clear of fake news. And we should ensure that we represent the truth in whatever inormation we disseminate.

“This year’s theme for the World Radio Day, according to Susan Asthworth is Radio and Trust. It is a further testimony that the public trusts radio and by extension, the radio broadcasters and journalists.

” Radio is regarded as the most accessible medium of mass communication to the public because of its cheap and very wide accessibility to the grassroots and this elicits the trust the public has in this medium of mass communication.

“By extension, as we celebrate the trustworthiness of Radio today, we should also emulate this virtue by being trustworthy in our dealings as Reporters. While l join millions of radio users, listeners and broadcasters world-wide to celebrate this unique day, l urge my colleagues to remain trustworthy so that we can meaningfully contribute our quota to nation building. Thank you and happy celebration.

The families of Barovbe Obovwe of Ovu Inland and Ebeghre of Okpara Inland of Agbon Kingdom, both of Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State have announced the programme of events for the burial ceremony of Octogenarian, High Chief Johnson Barovbe.

A statement made available to newsmen by the family stated that the programmes would kick start with A Day of Tribute Part One holding at the Haven Event Centre, Oba Akinjobi Street, beside Archbishop Vining Anglican Church, Ikeja GRA, Lagos on Tuesday , February 15th, 2022, by 2.00 pm.

The statement further disclosed that there will be service of songs at St. Agnes Catholic Church Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday , February 17th, 2022 by 7.00 pm, adding that this will be followed by a requiem mass at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, February 18th, 2022 by 10.00 am. The aforementioned programmes of events will take place in Lagos State.

According to the release, A Day Of Tributes Part two will hold at the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge, Delta State on Thursday, February 24th, 2022 by 1 pm.

“ The event for final burial ceremonies will take off on Friday February 25th, 2022 where it will lying-in-state from 8.00 am at UPU Cultural Centre at Uvwiamughe followed by a motorcade procession through Ekreravwe, Orhoakpor, Okpara Inland to Ovu Town Hall. There will be a burial mass at St. Theresa Catholic Church by 11.00 am, followed by interment at his residence. After interment, there will be entertainment of guests from 1.00 pm at Ovu Grammar School, Ovu, Ethioep East Local Government Area, Delta State.

“There will be thanksgiving and outing service at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Ovu-Inland, Ethiope-East Local Government Area, Delta State on Sunday, February 27th, 2022 by 10.00 am,” the statement explained.

Before his demise on December 27th, 2021 at the ripe age of eighty-two-years, Olorogun Johnson Barovbe was the proprietor of the prestigious Westminster College Lagos and Westminster Nursery and Primary School also located in Lagos.

He owned the triple title of Tosogbe of Badagry, Okunna of Agbon Kingdom and Ahwotu (crowd puller) of Urhobo Kingdom.

Barovbe was an Urhobo leader, astute businessman, educationist and philanthropist.

He was the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Urhobo (BOT) Social Club Lagos, a foremost Urhobo Club based in Lagos. He was also member of Board of Trustee (BOT) of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) worldwide.

Barovbe attended Catholic Primary School, Ovu- Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State and Catholic Secondary Modern School, Okpara-Inland for both his primary and secondary school education respectively.

He also attended the then Provincial Teachers Training College, Warri, now College of Education, Edjeba, Warri, Delta State.

The deceased thereafter proceeded to Middlesex University, London and University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK for his graduate degrees.

He was awarded Federal Government of Nigeria Postgraduate Scholarship to study at University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK, for his postgraduate studies.

Chief Barovbe worked as Deputy General Manager, Transcap Limited, General Manager, Dumex Industry Nigeria Limited, CICA Nigeria Limited and Managing Director Modika Property Development Company.

May his soul rest in perfect peace (Amen)

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has called on communities embroiled in boundary dispute, which has led to crises and loss of lives to embrace peace to pave way for meaningful development.

Okowa made the call on Saturday at the funeral of late Professor Abednego Ekoko at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.

He said that no land was worth the life of any individual and urged Isoko people to embrace peace in honour of late Ekoko who was an accomplished boundary scholar.

According to him, all Isoko people can be united if you hold on to God and extend love and friendship among yourselves.

Okowa said that Ekoko contributed immensely to the peaceful resolution of crises in many communities and therefore charge his people to end strife and tread the path of peace in memory of the deceased peacemaker.

The governor recalled that Ekoko played vital role in the resolution of Aladja-Ogbe-Ijoh crisis and other boundary issues in the state and across the country when he served as National Commissioner, National Boundaries Commission.

He said “on behalf of my family and the government and people of Delta, I extend my condolences to the Ekoko family of Uzere on the passing of our father, brother and friend.

“We thank God for what is happening today on the day a peaceful man is being laid to rest. Professor Ekoko achieved all that he truly needed to achieve and today we are celebrating his life of great accomplishments.

“In everything he found himself doing he excelled and he taught my wife at the postgraduate level and has impacted directly on my family.

“In the community, he rose to achieve the highest honour in the land and beyond serving God, he served Nigeria at our national governance and through various appointments in the state.

“He was a special appointee of our state government as Executive Assistant (Boundary Matters).

“He was indeed a boundary scholar and I can attest to the fact that he contributed immensely to the peace we have in Aladja-Ogbe-Ijoh today.

“As Isoko people, let us honour Ekoko at his death by embracing peace. There are a lot of boundary disputes and communal crises in Isoko which ought not to be.

“In honour of the death of a boundary scholar that worked for peace in many communities, let us stop fighting and live peacefully.”

He counselled the people to eschew bitterness, especially over land matters, saying “when you fight because of land and for the sake of land destroy lives, those lives you destroyed you cannot recreate them when you settle.

“No land is worth the life of anyone and as leaders and elders, we ought to handover things that will connote peace and development and not crisis.

“I hope that the sermon spoken to us today will touch our lives for a change in honour of the late Ekoko.”

Okowa urged the leadership of Isoko Development Union and the Christian community to organise a collective prayer to rededicate Isokoland to God.

“It is a time for us to examine our faith, a time for self-introspection and reconciliation, and we must realise that it’s only in love the Isoko nation can be built to a greater nation.

“The charge from Christ is for us to reexamine ourselves and it is not too late to start,” he added.

Earlier in his sermon, Bishop of Oleh Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. John Aruakpor, said that late Professor Ekoko was a man who worked for peace across the country.

He described him as a man who was an addicted singer and worshipper of God, adding that his death was a great loss to christendom.

The bishop said that Ekoko worshipped God even through pains and sickness.

He urged Christians to live in peace and shun the spirit of bitterness and acrimony which had pervaded the land in recent years.

“As politicians, it is only when we are united that we can attract dividends of democracy to our land,” he said.

The service which featured prayers for the cleansing of Isoko land, attracted numerous dignitaries from the academia and was also attended by Senator James Manager, Senator Stella Omu; former Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen and Mr Victor Nwokolo of the House of Representatives among others.