NEWS
Edo Students Get N1bn Largesse From Okpebholo
The Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the sum of ₦1 billion as bursary support for students of Edo State origin in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
He made the disclosure at a town hall meeting with young people in Edo State recently, and pledged to look into a passionate request made by various youth leaders.
The youths, had requested for the introduction of bursaries to assist Edo indigenes pursuing higher education in various institutions nationwide.
The approval of the bursary initiative by Governor Okpebholo, barely eight months in office, is expected to become an annual program designed to ease the financial burden on students and their families.
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According to Governor Okpebholo, eligibility for the bursary will be based on proper verification through the applicant’s Local Government of Origin to ensure that only genuine indigenes of the State benefit from the scheme.
Governor Okpebholo emphasized that the initiative aligns with his administration’s broader vision to enhance access to quality education, encourage academic excellence, and support the aspirations of Edo youths to contribute meaningfully to the development of the State and the nation.
Further details on application procedures and timelines will be made available by the various relevant government agencies.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has broken its silence on the controversy surrounding Nigerians detained in India, saying the Nigerian High Commission in the country has been actively attending to their cases.
The commission also addressed the case of Ekene, a Nigerian whose detention in India recently sparked a public exchange between broadcaster Rufai Oseni and NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on X.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, NiDCOM said officials of the Nigerian High Commission in India had, as of September 1, visited 198 inmates across five prisons in Maharashtra, Mumbai.
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The commission said there were still more Nigerians in prisons in other provinces of India.
NiDCOM also disclosed that the Nigerian High Commission had secured amnesty for thousands of Nigerians detained in Indian prisons between September last year and May this year.
According to the commission, the amnesty mainly covered Nigerians detained for immigration offences and other irregularities.
“They have been released and returned home but some did not take advantage of the amnesty as at the time it was given,” the statement said.
NiDCOM added that Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, had been engaging her Indian counterpart over another six-month amnesty for Nigerians who have no pending trials but remain in detention camps over various offences or immigration-related irregularities.
On Ekene’s case, the commission said the Nigerian High Commission in India would investigate his situation and determine whether he qualifies for an early release.
“In the case of the Mr Ekene being mentioned in India, the Nigerian High Commission in India would look into his matter and if he is one of those that can leave as soon as possible, he will, if his family can raise funds for him. But there are processes to be followed,” NiDCOM said.
The commission maintained that the Nigerian High Commission was already handling Ekene’s case alongside those of other Nigerians in similar circumstances.
It also said the diplomatic mission had been putting pressure on the Indian government to expedite the cases of Nigerians awaiting trial for various offences.
The development comes after Oseni accused NiDCOM of failing to act promptly after he forwarded information about Ekene’s situation to the commission.
Oseni had claimed that NiDCOM received his email on Monday but did not respond until 7:59am on Sunday, after he publicly raised the matter on X.
He accused the commission of inefficiency and questioned what could have happened to Ekene during the period he said his correspondence went unanswered.
Dabiri-Erewa subsequently responded that Oseni had been asked to send the relevant details to NiDCOM’s official email and that further updates would be provided through the commission’s official channels.
She also said she had blocked Oseni on X, describing the platform as having become “a very toxic space.”
Oseni later rejected her explanation, accusing the NiDCOM chairman of misrepresenting the timing of the commission’s response and challenging her to publish the timestamp of the email.
However, in its latest statement, NiDCOM sought to highlight the broader efforts of the Nigerian government and its diplomatic mission in India, including prison visits, previous amnesty arrangements and ongoing negotiations for another amnesty.
The commission urged Nigerians living irregularly in India to take advantage of any new amnesty once it is effected, warning that those who remain in the country illegally risk arrest.
Dabiri-Erewa also clarified that the amnesty would not cover Nigerians awaiting trial for criminal offences such as drug-related cases.
NiDCOM appealed to Nigerians living abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and avoid activities that could lead to their arrest or prosecution.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the BRICS 2026 Summit in New Delhi, India, with both countries committing to significantly improve trade and economic cooperation across major sectors.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Office of the Vice President.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria-India relations and expanding cooperation in areas including oil, renewable energy, defence, power, capacity building, technology, health and clean energy.
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Prime Minister Modi specifically thanked Nigeria for protecting and peacefully hosting about 80,000 Indians living in Nigeria, while also making a case for renewed crude oil purchases from Nigeria.
Modi said increased crude oil purchases from Nigeria would help boost trade between the two countries, noting that bilateral trade had declined to about $9 billion annually, from approximately $14 billion in previous years.
The Indian Prime Minister’s call for renewed crude purchases formed part of broader discussions on strengthening economic ties between both countries.
In response, Vice President Shettima promised to look into the request, while emphasising the importance of strategic partnerships that are vital to Nigeria’s economic development.
Shettima particularly highlighted the pharmaceutical, defence, creative and digital technology sectors as areas where Nigeria seeks stronger partnerships and investment.
According to Shettima, President Bola Tinubu is keen on developing these industries to benefit millions of Nigerian youths through foreign investments and strategic partnerships.
The Vice President’s position underscores the Federal Government’s push to attract foreign investment and build partnerships that can expand opportunities for young Nigerians while strengthening key sectors of the economy.
The two countries also committed to drastically improving trade across major economic sectors, including oil, renewable energy, defence, power, capacity building, technology, health and clean energy.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspects in separate intelligence-led operations and recovered two pump-action guns, 18 live cartridges and other dangerous weapons in its continued efforts to curb violent crime and the proliferation of illegal firearms across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, in Asaba.
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According to the statement, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and the Command Anti-Cult Unit (CACU) carried out the operations in separate locations across the state.
VCRU Arrests Suspect, Recovers Gun and 18 Cartridges
The statement said that on September 12, 2026, operatives of the VCRU, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a residence in Obiaruku after receiving information that the occupant was allegedly in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Joel Iwomi, a male resident of Umuebu, Obiaruku, reportedly resisted the operatives’ attempt to gain access to the premises.
The operatives, however, succeeded in gaining entry and conducted a search of the residence.
During the search, the police recovered one pump-action gun and 18 live cartridges.
Iwomi was arrested and taken into custody, while investigation into the matter is ongoing.
CACU Arrests Suspected Arms Dealer, Recovers Weapons
In another intelligence-led operation conducted on September 9, 2026, operatives of the CACU arrested Chukwuka Nzete, also known as “Ododo,” a male resident of Isupe Community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
The suspect was allegedly involved in the illegal sale and proliferation of firearms.
The police also alleged that Nzete operated a shrine where suspected criminal elements were fortified.
A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of one pump-action gun, four dagger knives, one battle axe and pots containing substances suspected to be charms.
The suspect was subsequently taken into custody.
The command said investigation was ongoing to unravel the full extent of his activities and establish possible links between him and other criminal elements.
Police Warn Criminal Elements
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, psc, mnips, reaffirmed the command’s resolve to deny criminal elements access to illicit firearms and other weapons capable of threatening public safety.
Erale also called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide credible information about suspicious persons, illegal firearms and criminal activities within their communities.
The Commissioner assured residents that all actionable information would be treated with the necessary confidentiality.
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