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IGP, Solomon Arase orders immediate investigation of Journalist’s torture by police officer

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The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered an investigation over claims of torture by a Lagos-based journalist last Friday, which was published by Punch on Monday.

Aproko247 reproduced the said report on Monday and from what we learnt, authorities of the Nigeria Police have contacted the journalist to apologise for the treatment meted out on him by their men. Below is the report published by Punch on Tuesday concerning the query sent to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni.

Following the PUNCH publication, it was learnt that the Force Headquarters, Abuja, reached out to the journalist and ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.

A top police source said the IG had given the Lagos police boss 48 hours to investigate what happened with a view to arresting the culprits.

The source said, “The IG has been briefed of what happened to the journalist last Friday and he has given the Lagos CP 48 hours to investigate this and give him a report. The Deputy Commissioner of Police at the SDCI has also been ordered to call the journalist to verify his claims and see if he can identify the policemen that tortured him.”

Owolabi confirmed to PUNCH Metro that the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abayomi Shogunle, had contacted him and apologised over the incident.

He said, “The Force Deputy PRO called me over the phone. He continually asked about my health and told me how sorry he was.

“He asked if I got the names of those policemen who assaulted me and I gave him the only name I could pick, Isiaka.

“I, however, told him I could identify the others by their faces. He told me my phone number had been forwarded to the CP and he should reach me before the end of today (yesterday), to invite me so I could further assist with their investigation.”

However, activists who spoke to our correspondent on Monday said an apology was not enough.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, said the police must pay damages to Owolabi while the policemen who carried out the alleged crime must be jailed.

He said, “The apology is good because it is an acceptance of wrongdoing but it is not enough. They must compensate him monetarily. They must also penalise the officers that were involved so as to serve as a deterrent to other trigger-happy goons within the system.

“The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who is a lawyer, knows the importance of protecting the sanctity of human life.”

Ozekhome decried the increase in police brutality and extra-judicial killings but attributed them to bad political leadership. He said any policeman that kills must be charged and killed in accordance with the law.

Another activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said extra-judicial killings and police brutality had increased under the present administration.

He said the impunity of politicians was rubbing off on policemen. He said Owolabi’s ordeal in the hands of policemen could be likened to the torture of a blogger, Emmanuel Ojo, who was allegedly arrested on the orders of Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, for publishing a story against the governor’s wife, Olufunso.

Adegboruwa said the police institution must stop seeing itself as a ‘force’ but as a service-oriented agency.

He said, “When it is clear that a citizen has been denied his fundamental human rights, an apology is not enough. The constitution states in Section 34 that nobody must be treated in a degrading and inhumane manner. It states that nobody must be subjected to torture such as flogging and beating and that once that happens, it is an assault and the only remedy is exemplary damages which is meant to teach the officer involved a hard lesson.

“So, an apology is an insult. There must be damages and they must be deducted from the salaries of those involved and not just from the purse of the Nigeria Police.”

Another activist, Mr. Fred Agbaje, commended The PUNCH for dedicating two pages daily to report and expose police brutality and misdemeanours.

Agbaje said most policemen were not happy with the government and were taking their anger out on the people because they had no easy access to those in power.

He said, “The press must continue to be an uncompromised mouthpiece of the people against all forms of brutality against the helpless people. If not for the critical role the PUNCH has played over the years, how many of such cases would have gone unnoticed?

“The IG is a lawyer and knows the importance of human rights including freedom from arbitrary punishment. The IG has every opportunity to make the needed change. He should quickly investigate the matter and anyone found wanting should be punished.

“Apologising to the journalist is not enough. If the matter is taken to court and a case of brutality is established against the police, it attracts a substantial amount in damages.”

The National Coordinator, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said police brutality and corruption remained shocking despite attempts by the IG to restore sanity.

He said the Police Service Commission must look into crimes committed by policemen instead of the police institution investigating itself.

He said, “Police cover up their colleagues who are responsible for abuse and this is where a civilian external oversight mechanism, such as the PSC is important.”

 

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Ogun Unveils Plan for ₦1bn AI-Driven Digital Classroom at Remo Secondary School

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Ogun Unveils Plan for ₦1bn AI-Driven Digital Classroom at Remo Secondary School

 

The Ogun State Government has announced plans to deliver a 900-capacity, Artificial Intelligence-enabled digital learning complex at Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, in a move aimed at strengthening technology-based education across the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed activities marking the institution’s 80th anniversary, noting that the proposed facility represents a deliberate investment in modern learning infrastructure designed to prepare students for a rapidly evolving, knowledge-driven global economy.

He explained that the digital classroom project complements ongoing smart-education initiatives within the school, which already features a functional resource centre and a state-of-the-art robotics laboratory established to nurture innovation, problem-solving skills, and digital competence among learners.

Reaffirming his commitment to the school’s growth, the governor announced a financial pledge of ₦100m, stating that ₦50m representing half of the amount would be released immediately to kick-start development efforts. He also assured stakeholders that at least one of the outlined projects would be fully executed before the end of his administration.

Abiodun further disclosed that the state government had upgraded the school’s science laboratories, equipping them with modern facilities and teaching tools to ensure safer and more effective practical learning experiences for students.

He added that renovation works had also been completed on both the male and female hostels to improve accommodation standards, enhance security, and promote the overall well-being of boarding students.

Describing Remo Secondary School as a symbol of enduring heritage, the governor said the anniversary celebration went beyond mere commemoration of years of existence, emphasising the institution’s long-standing role in shaping generations of leaders and professionals.

He praised members of the old students’ association for their unwavering support and contributions to the school’s development, stressing that their collective efforts demonstrate a shared commitment to sustaining its legacy of excellence.

According to him, the projects and improvements carried out at the school reflect a strong belief in education as a foundation for future growth, as well as the power of collaboration between government, alumni, and the wider community.

Abiodun also revealed that the institution had been recognised as one of Ogun State’s model schools, urging students to remain focused on their academic pursuits, uphold strong moral values, and continue the tradition of excellence for which the school is known.

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BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Calls for Shift from Extraction to Value Addition at AFC Event during Mining Indaba 2026

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BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Calls for Shift from Extraction to Value Addition at AFC Event during Mining Indaba 2026

Cape Town, South Africa

 

Founder and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu CFR CON, has called for a decisive shift in Africa’s development strategy, urging governments, financiers, and the private sector to move the continent from raw material extraction to large scale industrial processing and value addition.

Rabiu made the remarks as Special Guest of Honour at an Africa Finance Corporation forum during Mining Indaba 2026, where African leaders, policymakers, financiers, and industry executives gathered to discuss the future of mining, industrialisation, and real sector development on the continent.

Commending AFC for its role in mobilising long term capital for Africa’s industrial sectors, Rabiu noted that the institution’s leadership and recent S&P Global rating with a positive outlook underscored the importance of strong development finance institutions in shaping Africa’s growth trajectory.

Drawing from BUA Group’s experience, he recounted the company’s decision over sixteen years ago to transition from cement importation to local production in Nigeria, despite the capital intensity and long gestation periods associated with mining and heavy industry.

“At the time, Nigeria was importing cement despite being richly endowed with limestone,” Rabiu said. “We were spending more time chasing foreign exchange than selling cement. The real question was not whether the resources existed, but whether there was enough conviction to stop importing and start producing locally.”

Today, he noted, BUA mines and processes about forty thousand tonnes of limestone daily, producing roughly one million tonnes of cement every month. That shift has helped Nigeria move from being a cement importer to a net exporter, saving the country billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually.

Rabiu stressed that such transformation would not have been possible without patient, long term financing from DFIs, particularly the Africa Finance Corporation, which has supported BUA’s cement and industrial operations with over four hundred million dollars in financing.

He added that a significant portion of those facilities has already been repaid, demonstrating that well structured African industrial projects are not only developmental but also commercially viable and recyclable.

Turning to the broader continental picture, Rabiu highlighted what he described as a structural paradox: Africa remains one of the world’s most resource rich regions, yet exports the bulk of its minerals and agricultural produce in raw or minimally processed form.

 

He cited examples across gold, cobalt, copper, iron ore, diamonds, and cocoa, noting that while Africa supplies much of the world’s raw inputs, it captures only a fraction of the value created downstream.

“Africa does not lack resources,” he said. “What it lacks is processing capacity, industrial scale, and disciplined execution.”

He argued that the same challenge extends beyond mining into agriculture, where Africa holds a majority of the world’s arable land yet continues to import billions of dollars’ worth of food annually.

Rabiu called for coordinated action among governments, DFIs, and the private sector, urging DFIs to scale long term financing targeted at beneficiation and industrial value chains, while governments adopt deliberate policies that incentivise local processing and invest in power, transport, and industrial infrastructure.

“Industrialisation does not happen by accident,” he said. “Countries that industrialised did so by design, not by chance. Africa must do the same.”

He concluded by stressing that Africa’s opportunity lies in aligning private enterprise, patient capital, and supportive policy to move the continent from extraction to transformation, and from potential to shared prosperity.

 

BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Calls for Shift from Extraction to Value Addition at AFC Event during Mining Indaba 2026
Cape Town, South Africa

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Adron Homes Celebrates 14 Years of Excellence, Reaffirms Commitment to Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities

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Adron Homes Celebrates 14 Years of Excellence, Reaffirms Commitment to Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities

 

 

Adron Homes and Properties Limited, a leading player in Nigeria’s real estate industry, proudly celebrates its 14th Anniversary, marking over a decade of transformative impact in affordable housing delivery, sustainable community development, and structured urban growth across the country.

 

Over the last fourteen years, Adron Homes has evolved into a nationally recognised real estate powerhouse, delivering over 60 livable estates and communities across Nigeria and enabling more than 100,000 Nigerians to achieve their property ownership dreams. With strategic developments spanning Ibeju Lekki, Lekki-Epe, Badagry, Shimawa, Papalanto, Sagamu, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger State, and other emerging urban corridors, the company continues to reshape access to land and housing through affordability, innovation, and long-term planning.

 

Speaking on the milestone, the Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, described the anniversary as a celebration of vision, resilience, and unwavering commitment to empowering Nigerians through property ownership.

 

“Fourteen years ago, we set out with a clear vision to make property ownership accessible and achievable for every hardworking Nigerian. Today, we celebrate not only the growth of Adron Homes but the countless families whose dreams have become reality through our communities. Our journey has always been about impact, empowerment, and building environments where people can truly thrive.”

 

Highlighting the company’s philosophy of developing structured environments rather than just selling land, the Chairman emphasised Adron Homes’ focus on sustainable urban planning and community building.

 

“At Adron Homes, we build cities, not just estates. Each development reflects thoughtful planning, infrastructure, accessibility, and a long-term vision for modern living. As Nigeria continues to urbanise rapidly, our mission is to ensure that growth is inclusive, structured, and sustainable.”

 

Aare Adetola Emmanuelking also acknowledged the role of customers, staff, stakeholders, and media partners in the company’s sustained growth and national relevance.

 

“This milestone is a testament to the trust of our customers, the dedication of our workforce, and the unwavering support of our partners and stakeholders. Together, we have demonstrated that affordable housing can be delivered with quality, innovation, and integrity.”

 

Looking ahead, Adron Homes reaffirmed its commitment to expanding mass housing solutions, embracing technology-driven real estate innovations, and strengthening partnerships that contribute to Nigeria’s economic development and housing accessibility.

 

“The future of Adron Homes is defined by innovation, expansion, and deeper community impact. We remain committed to democratizing property ownership, building sustainable communities, and shaping the future of real estate in Nigeria for generations to come.”

 

As Adron Homes marks 14 years of excellence and national impact, the company continues to position itself as a catalyst for structured urban development and a trusted partner in the realization of property dreams across Nigeria.

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