Egbetokun made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja during the Guard of Honour Parade held in honour of the late Arase, at the NPF Hangar, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has stated that the late Dr. Solomon Arase will be honored for his outstanding service to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the nation at large.
Arase was appointed as 18th Indigenous I-G of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in April 2015.
Egbetokun made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja during the Guard of Honour Parade held in honour of the late Arase, at the NPF Hangar, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
He said the Guard of Honour was a solemn duty carried out with deep respect, as a final farewell to the late former police chief.
According to Egbetokun, the parade was not merely a ceremonial event, but the last guard of honour to be mounted by the NPF in tribute to the departed former I-G.
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“Our last salute to a man who devoted his entire life to public service through his distinguished career in the NPF.
“The late former I-G was one of the finest officers that had ever served in the Nigerian Police Force.
“He will be remembered for his legacy of distinguished service to the NPF and to our nation Nigeria.
“Today, I do not just mourn the departure of the late former I-G, we celebrate a legacy.
“His life teaches us that every career and tenure will end, but the impact of true service will endure across generations,” he said.
The I-G said no other police officer had yet, matched the record of serving as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to three consecutive I-Gs after the late former I-G.
“Yes, we may have other officers who served as PSO to two or more I-Gs, but to serve three consecutive I-Gs in succession, that record is yet to be matched.
“In April 2015, he was appointed the 18th Indigenous Inspector-General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“His journey to that peak was not accidental, it was a culmination of excellent service, dedication, and discipline,” he said.
The I-G said the late I-G’s tenure was marked by profound policy and national reforms in the Nigeria Police Force that emphasised professionalism, discipline and respect for rule of law.
He said Arase’s administration believed that effective policing required not just the strength of arms but also the strength of character and compassion.
Egetokun said Arase’s service to the nation did not end with his career in the NPF, but was again, extended by his appointment as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
He said the late former I-G had also, approached his oversight as the chairman of PSC with the same candour and vision that defined his policing career.
“On behalf of the NPF, I extend our profound heartfelt condolences to members of his family, the PSC, the government and the people Nigeria,” he said.
Nigeria Police Force honours late Ex-IGP Solomon Arase with Guard of Honour Parade in Abuja, led by IGP Kayode Egbetokun pic.twitter.com/OMFGHTmWiu
The official social media page of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), 𝕏 to be precise, has been attacked by suspected hackers.
Naija News reports that the DHQ confirmed the development in a statement made public on Saturday, August 15, by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. General Samaila Uba.
He said the body has hence treated the incident as a cybersecurity matter, with technical measures activated to secure the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“The incident is currently being treated as a cybersecurity matter, and appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access,” the statement noted.
The DHQ urged members of the public to disregard any publication from the account at the moment while ensuring that efforts were ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“Consequently, members of the public are advised to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may be posted from the account during this period,” he said.
Uba stressed the DHQ’s committment to maintaining high standards of information security and ensuring that Nigerians continued to receive accurate, timely and credible information on the activities and operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“We appreciate the understanding and vigilance of the public and will provide further updates as necessary,” he said.
He further urged Nigerians to henceforth check its verified accounts on other platforms, including Facebook under the name “Defence Headquarters Nigeria,” Instagram at @defenceheadquarters and its WhatsApp Channel, Defence Headquarters Nigeria for reliable information.
At least seven workers were killed and 13 injured following a landslide that sent water and debris gushing into a tunnel under construction in north India, officials said Friday.
The incident occurred late Thursday in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where workers were constructing a tunnel for a state-run hydropower project.
At least three workers are still missing, while 19 were rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
Videos shared by local authorities showed rescue workers equipped with head-mounted torches using makeshift rafts to reach the flooded section of the tunnel.
Uttarakhand has been battered by heavy monsoon rains in recent days.
Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.
Last month, 20 people working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project were killed in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim.
In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.
Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.
Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, with the ‘Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award’, as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary
RATTAWU conferred the award on Ajayi on Thursday at his office, when the National President of the group, Emeka Kalu, led members to a media/security-critical engagement and strategic partnership meeting for national development in Abuja.
Kalu praised the appointment of Ajayi in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as putting “a round peg in a round hole.”
He added that the award was an initiative of the union designed to recognise individuals and institutions that had made outstanding contributions to national development, security, democracy, culture and the growth of Nigeria.
He said, “Your appointment by Mr President demonstrates the importance of placing capable Nigerians with integrity and professional competence in strategic positions of national responsibility.
“The role of the DSS in protecting Nigeria’s national interests, gathering critical intelligence and supporting national security cannot be overemphasised.
“Particularly now that this country is confronted with complex security and emerging technological challenges, appointments like yours are the best ever done by Mr President.
“That is why this union decided to honour you with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award.”
Responding, the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RATTAWU for the honour.
Ajayi described the recognition as a significant gesture that would further encourage him and the service to remain committed to their responsibilities to the nation.
