The Abia State Government has announced that it will deploy personnel from the Abia State Homeland Security to the 20 smart schools currently under construction in the state, in order to secure the facilities from vandals and other criminal elements.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Chinedu Ubochi, stated this on Saturday during the signing of a contract between the Abia State Government and Blue Giraffe Ltd.

The commissioner, who noted that all 17 local government areas of the state would receive one smart school each, added that three additional schools would be built, one in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.

He explained that the construction of the 20 smart schools represents the first phase of a broader initiative by Governor Alex Otti to build more of such schools across the state, aimed at equipping Abia students to compete with their global peers.

The commissioner, who emphasised that the smart schools would be open to children from both wealthy and poor backgrounds, made it clear that no child from a poor home would face discrimination in enrolment or learning.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Basic and Secondary Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, warned criminal elements that any attempt to loot the schools would result in arrests and prosecution. He noted that closed-circuit cameras would be installed around the schools to capture the faces of anyone approaching the premises.

Nwosu stated that the digitisation of Abia’s school system would give children in the state an advantage over their peers in major examinations and enable them to compete with global standards.

He assured that the project would not be a white elephant but would be sustained.

Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Rear Admiral Harry Ngonadi (retd) and Orieji Okwara-Emele of Blue Giraffe Ltd said that with the smart schools, the use of chalk and other analogue teaching methods would gradually be phased out of the Abia State education system.

“What we are trying to do is that the teachers will no longer have to use chalk, it will be smartboard, for the 20 pilot schools and others will follow later,” said Okwara-Emele.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said its operatives have arrested six persons for alleged internet fraud in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, on Saturday.

The statement partly read: “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate, have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters at Ekamba and Ekpri Nsukara areas of Nwaniba, in Akwa Ibom State.

“The intelligence-driven arrest led to the recovery of the following items, eight mobile phones and two laptops. The suspects will be charged to court soon.”

The Anambra State Police Command has recovered two vehicles suspected to have been stolen by armed hoodlums in the state.

While one of the vehicles, a red 2005 model Toyota RAV-4, with registration number YAB 122 AZ, was recovered in Obosi, the other, a school bus belonging to SUSU College, was found abandoned in Asaba.

A press release by the state police command, signed by the Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, revealed that the vehicles were snatched from their owners.

He said: “Two stolen vehicles were successfully recovered on July 12, 2025, in separate intelligence-led operations in Anambra and Delta States.

“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the swift synergy between both Anambra and Delta Commands and reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation between sister security agencies in tackling crimes that transcend state boundaries.

“Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the theft is ongoing, and efforts are intensified to apprehend the perpetrators.”

Speaking on the circumstances that led to the recovery, Ikenga said: “Acting swiftly on the intelligence-led information, the Divisional Police Officer of Obosi led a team of police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilante personnel, in a coordinated search and recovered an abandoned 2005 model Toyota RAV-4, red in colour, with registration number YAB 122 AZ (Abuja) at along Fresh Air Hotel Road, near Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Odume-Isiowulu, Obosi.

“The vehicle was reportedly snatched from the owner in the early hours of July 11, 2025, by three armed men in Oba.

“In a related development, and furtherance of a prior case reported on July 6, 2025, the Anambra State Police Command, working closely with the Delta State Police Command, has successfully recovered an abandoned school bus belonging to SUSU College.

“The police officers attached to the Isiowulu Police Division, who had been investigating the case, acted on credible intelligence received in the early hours of July 12, 2025. The vehicle was found abandoned opposite the Magistrate Court, Asaba, Delta State.”