The caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has asserted that no politician in the state, including the governor, has the power to dismantle the political structure of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Okocha made this statement on Thursday while speaking to journalists in Abuja.

His words: “I don’t see any politician in the next 10 years torpedoing Wike’s structure, not even one. Like I said, I am not God, but I am talking about what is within human possibilities. From what I can see, it is not possible. Not so soon.

READ MORE: Wike Expresses Concern Over High Number Of Out-of-School Children In FCT

“The structure is embedded in the 23 LGAs of the state and they are “can-do-men” and women. They are not the type of people who follow because of reward so to speak. They are ardent, unrepentant supporters, believers; 10 of Governor Fubara and his antics will not go 30 per cent into destroying Wike’s structure.”

Asked when Wike is joining APC, Okocha said: “Wike has never told anybody he wants to be a member of APC. Wike cannot be swayed from his membership and support for PDP.”

The Benue State Government has successfully rescued three children, victims of human trafficking, who were taken from Ukum and Katsina-Ala local government areas to Benin, Edo State.

The rescue operation was disclosed on Thursday by Jonathan Modi, the chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, who commended the efforts of security operatives in apprehending the traffickers.

The three rescued children, Favour Shidoo Mngerior Fan Adure, Mecivir Kume Jessica from Mbayingo Shitile in Katsina-Ala, and Joy Dooyum Fan Adure, were reportedly subjected to severe hardship and forced labour by their traffickers in Benin.

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The distressing situation came to light when Aku T. Enoch, the security secretary of Ukum LGA, alerted authorities about the trafficked children. Enoch coordinated with security agencies, leading to the arrest of the traffickers and the safe return of the children.

In a ceremony held in Makurdi, Modi, represented by his deputy Ivasekwan, formally received the rescued children. During his address, Ivasekwan urged parents to exercise caution when entrusting their children to others, stressing the growing danger of child trafficking for financial gain.

Parents of the rescued children expressed profound gratitude to the Benue State Government, particularly Jonathan Modi, for the swift and effective intervention. They pledged to take greater care in protecting their children in the future.

This rescue highlights the ongoing efforts of the Benue State Government and local security agencies to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable children from exploitation.

The arrest of the traffickers is a significant victory in the fight against child trafficking, and the government is calling on parents and communities to remain vigilant in safeguarding their children.

For more updates on human trafficking rescue operations in Nigeria, follow the Benue State Government’s efforts to protect children and hold traffickers accountable.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticized the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the rising number of out-of-school children in the country, urging the agency to step up its efforts to address the issue.

During a meeting with UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Hamid Bobboyi, and his delegation in Abuja on Thursday, Wike expressed frustration over the increasing number of out-of-school children in the FCT, calling it “annoying.”

According to the FCT Minister: “All of us know the problems of not just girl child education but out-of-school children. I don’t know what you are doing as regards all our children roaming the streets. It is the function of UBEC.

READ MORE: Wike Launches Investigation Into UBEB Activities

“When we were in education, that’s when we started the Almajiri schools. In fact, in the whole northern states, the only state I never visited was Yobe. I visited virtually all the states in the North, South West, South-South and South East where you have more boys dropping out. We tried to see what we could do.

“In the North, we talk about Almajiri and the girl child education and I do know that through UBEC, we were able to build a lot of schools. We were able to buy clothing and sandals and feed them.

“I don’t know what it is now because the number has tripled. It’s so annoying. I do know that you are doing your best but I do know that the states too need to complement your efforts. So many states do not want to pay the counterpart funding, which is very unfortunate.

“The insecurity we are talking about today can never be resolved if we don’t bring these children back to school.”

Wike further pointed out that the growing influx of people into the FCT from other regions is exacerbating the issue of out-of-school children in the nation’s capital. He added that the FCT Administration is making efforts to tackle the situation as well.