Abuja
The Bill for an Act to amend Police Act, 2014, to provide for enlistment requirement and welfare, align punishments with realities, 2017 scaled second reading at the Senate last Tuesday.
The Bill, sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) scaled first reading on June 15.
Leading debate on the bill, Tinubu said the Nigeria Police Force was the agency of government tasked with the maintenance of peace, law and order within the country’s border.
She said that the Nigeria Police Act empowered the agency to preserve law and order among others, adding that the importance of its role could not be over-emphasised.
She, therefore, argued that there was the need to strengthen such important institution.

Borno
The Police Command in Borno State last Wednesday confirmed that 19 people were killed in the latest deadly Boko Haram attacks in Maiduguri in Nigeria’s troubled North East.
The attacks, which occurred last Tuesday, claimed the lives of 12 Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members and seven civilians, according to the Borno State Commissioner of  Police Borno, Mr Damian Chukwu.
Our source reports that no fewer than 860 CJTF members have lost their lives to the insurgency in Borno since 2014.
Chukwu told reporters in Maiduguri on Wednesday that at least 23 people sustained injuries in the latest attacks.
The commissioner, who had since visited the scenes of the attacks, said that four female suicide bombers attacked Moloi, Judumeri and Polo-Sabongari areas of Maiduguri.

Jigawa
The Nigeria Security  and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State Command says it has arrested six persons for allegedly selling unregistered SIM cards in the state.
The command’s spokesman, Mr Adamu Abdullahi, made this known to journalists in Dutse last Wednesday.
Abdullahi said five out of the suspects were arrested on Hakimi Street and at New Market, Dutse, while an other was held at Hadejia Town.
He said the corps confiscated over 5,000 assorted SIM cards during the raid.
The NSCDC spokesman assured the public that the corps would continue to stop the illegal sale and use of such SIM cards, stressing that illegal sale of SIM cards posed serious threat to national security.
He appealed to Nigerians to stop using unregistered SIM cards.

Kaduna
The General Manager, Freedom Radio, Kaduna, Malam Adamu Ladan, has urged journalists to always equip themselves with more knowledge for effective discharge of their roles to the society.
Ladan gave the advice in a paper he presented at a 2- day workshop organised by Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn (PERL) in Zaria, Kaduna State.
He said journalists must remain disciplined, non-partisan and professional while discharging their duties.
The general manager, particularly said journalists must have the professional competence to hold elected leaders to account.
Earlier, Chairman, Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Mr Nuhu Shadalafiya said journalists must avoid misrepresentation of facts.

Katsina
A political group, Aminu Masari Restoration Awareness Forum, says measures taken by the Katsina State Government have restored sanity and accountability in the state public service.
Daura Zone Coordinator of the forum, Malam Sani Salele, said problems of truancy and laxity recorded in the past have been addressed.
According to him, `Gov Aminu Masari-led administration has restored dignity, probity, confidence and accountability in the service through various incentives introduced in the past two years.
“Now there is the feeling of job security among the civil servants and freedom of expression as the government is amenable to promoting democratic ideals,” Salele said in an interview with newsmen in Daura last Wednesday.

Kogi
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has appealed to members of the state University Academic Staff Union to call off their strike and resume work.
Bello, who visited the university at Ayagba last Tuesday, pledged to pay all the salary arrears of lecturers and non-academic staff of the institution this month.
He said that the payment would cover those on contract and study leave, as well as those employed in 2015.
The governor, however, said those who took the government to court would not benefit from the payment.

Lagos
A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police  (DIG), Mr Israel Ajao, last Tuesday appealed to members of the public to stop killing suspected members of the badoo cult group terrorising Ikorodu,  Lagos.
Chairman, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Ajao made the appeal during a security town hall meeting organised by the corps for communities in and around Ikorodu.
He described the killing of suspected badoo members by a mob as uncivilised.
According to reports, traditional rulers, religious leaders, transporters, traders, the youth,  military, paramilitary  and private security organisation’s attended the meeting.

Nasarawa
The management of Breeze 99.9 FM, Lafia, has dragged the Nasarawa State Government to court over the demolition of the private radio station.
In the suit filed at High Court 4, Lafia, the station is demanding N1.5 billion as compensation for damage it suffered following the demolition of the structures housing the outfit, and the communication equipment inside them.
According to  Counsel to Breeze FM, Mr Ocha Ulegede, the station is also praying the court to declare the action of the state government “illegal, unconstitutional, high-handed and vindictive”.
“We are asking for public apology and monetary damages totalLing  more than of N1.5 billion.

Niger
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger S last Tuesday met with former Niger governors, ministers and political leaders over the security situation in the state.
The meeting, held behind closed doors at the state house in Minna, also discussed other crucial issues affecting the state.
Retired Col. Yohanna Madaki, former military governor of Kastina State, who briefed newsmen after the meeting, listed issues discussed to include security challenges, Internally Generated Revenue and infrastructure.
“The meeting also agreed to set up a six-man committee to play an advisory role toward moving the state forward.

Ogun
A 35-year-old man, Fatai Adeboye,  who allegedly stole a blackberry phone valued at N60,000 at a bus stop, was last Wednesday brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State. Adeboye, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge of stealing.
Police Prosecutor, Chudu Gbesi told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 5 at 2.00 p.m. at Ijoko near Ota.
Gbesi said the accused robbed the complainant, Hannah Akinwande, of a Blackberry phone valued at N60, 000 at a bus stop in Ijoko.
“But the accused was caught and handed over to the police,’’ he said.
The offence contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun.

Ondo
Two men, Samuel Akande (39) and Adewale Oluwatayo (24), were last Wednesday arraigned in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for allegedly stabbing one Akorede Akintade with a knife.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused, on May 30, around 12:30 p.m. at Bako Club in Okitipupa, had a mild misunderstanding with Akintade, when the incident happened.
He said that the accused, who drank to stupor, unlawfully assaulted Akintade by beating him, before using the knife, with which he caused serious harm and severe injuries to him.
Orogbemi added that the offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 516 and 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol.1, Laws of  Ondo State, 2006.
The accused, of no fixed addresses and occupation, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge levelled against them.

Plateau
An NGO, Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse (YIAVHA), has decried the rising spate of drug abuse and addiction among youths in the country.
The Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Jacob Pwakim, said this in an interview with newsmen last Wednesday in Jos.
According to him, consumption of illicit substances by youths poses a serious challenge to the growth and development of the Nigerian society.
He explained that over 60 per cent of Nigerian youths consumed various forms of illicit drugs, a development he said had made them irresponsible to themselves and the society.
‘’We will look for credible hands that will give us purposeful leadership in the nearest future and we won’t find any.”