The Oyo State Government through the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) has confirmed an attack on two schools in Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area, which left one teacher dead and some pupils kidnapped.
In a press statement issued Thursday, OYOSUBEB said gunmen attacked LA School and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, in what it described as “a dark and painful moment” for the state’s education family.
According to a source who pleaded anonymity confirmed also to Oduduwa News, that a secondary school principal and teachers were equally abducted.
The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board expresses profound sorrow and deep concern over the unfortunate attack on LA School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, Oriire LGUBEA, which resulted in the killing of a teacher and the kidnapping of some pupils,” the statement said.
The Board said the exact number of pupils abducted was yet to be ascertained as security agencies continued to comb the area and gather details. It added that the safety of children remained its utmost priority.
OYOSUBEB Executive Chairman, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, said security operatives under the coordination of the Commissioner of Police were “fully on top of the situation.” A tactical response team has been deployed, and intelligence and operational measures are ongoing to secure the release of the pupils and restore calm to the community.
“In the interest of safety, the Board has directed all primary schools in neighbouring communities, including Surulere, Oyo East, Oriire, and Olorunsogo, to immediately vacate their schools until further notice,” Adeniran said.
He explained that the temporary closure was to prevent further incidents and allow security agencies to stabilise the area.
Adeniran appealed to parents, guardians and community leaders to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could cause panic. He assured that the government would not abandon the affected children.
“We understand your pain. We understand your fears. But we want to reassure you, your children will not be abandoned, and this government will not rest until every child is safely returned,” he said.
The Board also expressed condolences to the family of the slain teacher, saying his “service, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
OYOSUBEB said it was in constant communication with security agencies and would provide updates as new information emerged. It urged residents to cooperate with security operatives and remain vigilant.
Tension gripped the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday as aggrieved party members reportedly stormed the party’s state secretariat in , forcing some aspirants and party executives to flee the premises amid violence and confusion.
The incident occurred at the APC State Secretariat located in the Oke Ado area of Ibadan, where disgruntled members had gathered to protest what they described as unresolved internal crises and dissatisfaction over recent developments within the party.
Eyewitnesses said the protest quickly escalated into chaos, causing panic within and around the secretariat as party officials, staff, and visitors scampered for safety.
Security operatives were later deployed to the scene to restore calm and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Confirming the attack in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Wale Sadare, strongly condemned the invasion of the party secretariat.
According to him, the attackers arrived in large numbers, allegedly armed with dangerous weapons and charms, and unleashed terror on party members and officials present at the venue.
“The hoodlums who reportedly unleashed terror on members of the state executive committee, staff and others who were present at the secretariat, were armed with dangerous weapons and charms as they came in high numbers to carry out their nefarious acts,” Sadare stated.
He further disclosed that the attack, which reportedly lasted for about two hours, caused extensive damage to vehicles and property within the secretariat.
“The attacks, which lasted for about two hours, left in its wake damage to private cars and the secretariat building as windshields, tyres, office windows, doors, among other things, were shattered,” he added.
The incident is believed to be connected to deepening internal disagreements within the Oyo APC as political consultations and realignments intensify ahead of the .
As of the time of filing this report, no arrests had been officially confirmed by security authorities.
There is nothing wrong with ambition. In fact, democracy dies the day only a privileged few are considered qualified to dream of power. But democracy also demands honesty, and honesty requires us to separate aspiration from delusion, momentum from noise, and a genuine national project from a well-packaged local ego trip. That is the burden now hanging over Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential declaration.
Because in Nigerian politics, not every man who can fill a hall in his state can fill a map of the country.
Makinde’s bid has been greeted in some quarters with admiration, in others with curiosity, and in many places with the kind of polite skepticism reserved for political projects that sound larger on television than they do on the ground. In Oyo State, especially in Ibadan, he is a formidable political figure. He has visibility, a loyal base, and enough confidence to convince his supporters that the road from Agodi to Aso Rock is merely the next logical step. But presidential politics in Nigeria is not a promotion exercise for successful governors. It is not a reward for local popularity. It is not an enlarged version of a state election. It is a brutal national contest that punishes vanity, humiliates overreach, and exposes the difference between being admired at home and being accepted across a fractured federation.
That is why the question must be asked without sentiment: is this truly a presidential project, or is it simply an extended statewide confidence boost dressed in national clothing?
Nigeria has seen too many versions of this movie to pretend otherwise. Governors have emerged from their states convinced that their local achievements, media profile, elite friendships, or personal wealth had prepared them for the presidency. They declared. They consulted. They traveled. They printed posters, assembled think tanks, booked hotels, hired image-makers, and surrounded themselves with the familiar orchestra of praise-singers who specialize in converting private ambition into public illusion. But when the moment of truth arrived, most found out what Nigerian politics has always known: that the presidency is not won by self-belief, regional applause, or glossy branding. It is won by reach, structure, coalition, timing, ruthless arithmetic, and national trust.
The graveyard of overestimated ambition is already full.
Orji Uzor Kalu projected presidential ambition more than once, but never built the kind of national coalition that could carry him to serious contention. Rochas Okorocha cultivated the style of a national populist and never lacked for confidence, yet his reach remained far louder than his viability. Ibikunle Amosun flirted with presidential relevance, but influence in Ogun and visibility in elite circles never became a path to Aso Rock. Kayode Fayemi entered the 2022 APC race with clear credentials, intellectual heft, and institutional experience, yet discovered that in Nigeria, a polished résumé is not a substitute for political force. Anyim Pius Anyim brought establishment pedigree and national experience, but his campaign only reinforced the old lesson that being known in Abuja is not the same as being wanted by Nigeria.
This pattern is not new. It is one of the oldest deceptions in Nigerian politics: the illusion that local strength can be inflated into national destiny.
And this is where Makinde’s aspiration begins to invite mockery. It is one thing to be strong in Oyo. It is another thing entirely to persuade voters in Jigawa, Borno, Adamawa, Delta, Rivers, Kano, or even Lagos that your candidacy is more than a regional confidence ritual. The problem with homegrown political enthusiasm is that it often mistakes familiarity for inevitability. In Ibadan, Makinde may look presidential. In much of Nigeria, he is still being measured against harder questions. Can he build trust outside his comfort zone? Can he cut through entrenched regional loyalties? Can he unsettle Bola Tinubu where it matters, compete with Peter Obi for reform-minded and urban voters, and deepen the PDP’s internal anxieties around Atiku Abubakar? Or is this all just a beautifully staged exercise in expanding Oyo self-belief to national dimensions?
That is why the cruel line remains so effective: perhaps this is not a bid for president of Nigeria at all, but an audition to become the first president of the United States of Ibadan.
Cruel, yes. But Nigeria’s political class has earned the cruelty directed at its vanities.
Because what often makes these declarations even more insulting is the cost. Presidential ambition is not a harmless hobby. It swallows money, time, attention, statecraft, political focus, travel, consultation fees, media management, strategy sessions, accommodation, logistics, and the endless maintenance of perception. Even when the funds do not come directly from public accounts, governance itself still pays a price. Energy that should go into roads, schools, hospitals, agriculture, water systems, rural development, urban planning, and job creation is redirected into the theatre of ambition. Meetings are held. Loyalists are mobilized. Images are polished. Alliances are courted. And all the while, the business of governing waits quietly in the corner like an inconvenience.
That is the real obscenity of failed presidential vanity projects in a country like Nigeria. They are not just political miscalculations. They are developmental distractions.
If this ambition ends the way many similar ambitions have ended, what exactly would Oyo have gained? What becomes of the months spent chasing headlines rather than hard outcomes? What happens to the political oxygen consumed by a dream that never had enough national legs to walk? How many rural roads could have been rehabilitated with the money burned on consultations and image-laundering? How many schools could have been better equipped? How many primary health centres could have been upgraded? How many communities could have seen improved water access, stronger flood control, safer transport links, or better agricultural support if the machinery of presidential fantasy had been redirected toward practical governance?
These are not small questions. They go to the heart of leadership.
Because Oyo does not need a governor auditioning for history while everyday development waits for attention. The state still needs stronger infrastructure beyond headline projects. It needs deeper investment in public schools. It needs better-equipped hospitals and primary healthcare centres. It needs support for farmers and rural markets. It needs serious urban planning, flood prevention, youth employment, and local productivity. These are the quiet, difficult tasks of governance. They do not trend. They do not produce presidential optics. But they improve lives.
And that, ultimately, is the standard by which ambition should be judged.
To be clear, nobody is saying Makinde has no right to run. He does. That is democracy. But democracy also permits citizens to ask whether a declaration is rooted in strategy or vanity, whether it is powered by national possibility or hometown intoxication. A serious presidential project must prove itself beyond the applause of loyal supporters. It must build structure where sentiment is absent. It must create discomfort among serious rivals. It must demonstrate strength where the candidate’s name alone carries no emotional premium. It must show that it can travel.
If Makinde can do that, then skeptics will have to adjust. But if he cannot, then this declaration will join the long and embarrassing archive of Nigerian ambitions that mistook confidence for capability and media attention for momentum.
And history will be merciless.
It will not remember this as a bold democratic intervention. It will not remember it as the rise of a compelling national alternative. It will remember it as what so many of these declarations become in the end: a local success story inflated into a presidential costume, a statewide confidence boost dressed in national clothing, marching toward Aso Rock with the map of Oyo tucked proudly in its pocket — and discovering too late that Nigeria is a much larger country than Ibadan applause ever imagined.
Wale Ajani writes from Ibadan, Oyo State 08055660077
Political developments in Oyo State took a dramatic turn on Thursday as Governor Seyi Makinde and the national leadership of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) moved to formalize a strategic political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The much-anticipated event, scheduled to hold today, will witness the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied People’s Movement (APM), a move political observers describe as a major realignment that could reshape Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
According to sources within both parties, the agreement is expected to provide a new political platform for loyalists of Governor Makinde, with many of his key supporters reportedly set to contest future elections under the APM banner.
The alliance has further fueled speculations over Makinde’s national political ambitions, as reports indicate that the Oyo governor is also expected to formally declare his intention to contest for the presidency in 2027.
Following the MoU signing ceremony, members and supporters of both parties are expected to converge at the historic Mapo hall in Ibadan for what organizers have described as a “grand unity rally.” The gathering is anticipated to draw thousands of party faithful, political stakeholders, youth groups, and supporters from across the state and beyond.
Political analysts say the partnership could serve as a strategic backup structure for Makinde and his allies, potentially strengthening their political reach while expanding influence beyond the traditional PDP framework.
Neither the PDP nor the APM has officially disclosed the full details of the agreement, but insiders suggest the pact may include cooperation on candidate nominations, grassroots mobilization, and broader electoral strategy ahead of the next election cycle.
The development is expected to trigger fresh reactions within Nigeria’s political space, particularly within the opposition camp, as alliances and realignments continue to shape the road to 2027.
The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to establish a standalone University of Medicine and Health Sciences as part of strategic efforts to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals and position the state as a leading medical hub in Africa.
Speaking during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Lagos State Ministry of Health held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, disclosed that the proposed institution would help strengthen the training of medical personnel and improve healthcare delivery across the state.
Abayomi revealed that Lagos currently requires about 40,000 doctors to effectively cater to its rapidly growing population but presently has only about 7,000 medical practitioners, creating a deficit of nearly 30,000 doctors.
According to him, the planned specialised university is part of broader reforms aimed at expanding medical education, improving healthcare infrastructure, and ensuring the availability of skilled health workers in the state.
The commissioner noted that the initiative aligns with the state government’s vision of transforming Lagos into a centre of excellence for healthcare services, medical research, and innovation on the African continent.
He added that the government remains committed to investing in the health sector despite increasing pressure on medical facilities caused by population growth and migration into the state.
Health experts have repeatedly warned about the growing burden on healthcare systems in Lagos, stressing the need for increased manpower, better facilities, and improved funding to meet rising healthcare demands.
The proposed university is expected to complement existing medical training institutions in the state while creating more opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals.
The development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Government to improve healthcare access, reduce brain drain in the medical sector, and strengthen emergency and primary healthcare services across the state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that Nigeria is projected to spend approximately $11.6 billion on debt servicing in 2026, a figure that represents nearly 50 percent of the country’s expected revenue for the year.
The President made the disclosure while speaking at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where he called for urgent reforms to the global financial system, arguing that African nations are being burdened by unfair borrowing costs and limited access to affordable financing.
According to Tinubu, the rising debt servicing obligation poses a major challenge to Nigeria’s development efforts, as a significant portion of government income is being diverted toward loan repayments instead of critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social welfare.
He noted that Nigeria’s debt servicing costs are expected to more than double from the estimated $5.15 billion recorded in 2025, highlighting the increasing strain on the nation’s public finances.
Despite the mounting debt burden, the President defended his administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, and ongoing tax reforms, insisting that these measures are necessary to stabilize the economy and restore investor confidence.
Tinubu also stated that Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decline to 32.3 percent in 2026, suggesting that while debt repayments remain high, the overall debt level is still considered manageable relative to the size of the economy. He added that the country’s external reserves have improved to $45.5 billion, signaling growing resilience in the financial system.
The President, however, criticized what he described as a “punitive” international financial architecture that treats African countries as high-risk borrowers, leading to expensive interest rates that undermine long-term development.
“Africa does not seek charity,” Tinubu said. “What we need is a fair and equitable global financial system that allows developing nations to access affordable capital and invest in sustainable growth.”
His remarks come amid increasing public concern over Nigeria’s rising debt profile, especially as inflation, high fuel prices, and the rising cost of living continue to put pressure on households across the country.
Economic analysts have warned that unless revenue generation improves significantly, Nigeria may face tighter fiscal constraints, with debt repayments consuming funds needed for development and poverty reduction.
Residents of Ipojo Golden Estate in the Oke-Eri area of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, were thrown into fear and confusion after suspected bandits invaded the community and abducted three members of the same family.
The incident reportedly occurred around 7:00 p.m. on Monday when about 15 heavily armed gunmen stormed the residential estate, forcing their way into one of the homes and ransacking the property before whisking away the victims.
Sources in the community said the abducted victims include two women and a man. The head of the family, identified as Yesiru Badewa, was said to be away on official duty when the attackers struck.
Speaking after the incident, a distressed Badewa appealed to the authorities and members of the public for urgent intervention, revealing that one of the kidnapped victims is currently ill and may require immediate medical attention.
“This has devastated us. One of those abducted is sick, and we are deeply worried her condition may worsen in captivity. We appeal to the authorities and kind-hearted Nigerians to come to our aid,” he said.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers caused panic in the estate, with many residents running for safety. Reports also indicate that another woman was shot during the attack as the gunmen fled into a nearby forest.
A community leader, identified simply as Mr. Kehinde, described the incident as shocking and unprecedented, noting that the estate had long been considered a peaceful and secure neighborhood.
“We never imagined such an incident could happen here. Residents were caught completely unaware. We urge the government and security agencies to strengthen security in this area,” he said.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the command has launched tactical and intelligence operations aimed at rescuing the victims and apprehending the kidnappers.
“The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the incident at Ipojo Golden Estate, Oke-Eri, Ijebu-Ode, and has intensified tactical operations to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he stated.
The attack has heightened fear among residents of the area, many of whom are now calling for increased security presence and urgent government intervention as kidnappings continue to raise concerns across parts of the country.
A United States-based Nigerian doctor narrowly escaped death after being falsely accused of kidnapping and attacked by an angry mob in Ibadan, Oyo State, before officers of the Nigeria Police Force intervened and rescued him.
According to reports, the doctor, who had recently returned to Nigeria from the United States, was in Ibadan when confusion broke out after some residents allegedly misidentified him as a suspected kidnapper. Eyewitnesses said alarm was raised in the area, prompting a crowd to descend on him.
The mob reportedly beat the doctor severely, accusing him without evidence and attempting to inflict further harm before police officers arrived at the scene. Officers were said to have acted swiftly to disperse the crowd and take the injured victim into protective custody.
Sources said the victim sustained multiple injuries and was immediately taken for medical treatment. His condition was described as stable after receiving urgent care.
Preliminary findings suggest the accusation may have stemmed from misinformation and heightened public fear over rising kidnapping incidents in parts of the country. Authorities have urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and to always report suspicious activity to security agencies for proper investigation.
The Oyo State Police Command is reportedly investigating the incident and may take action against individuals involved in the assault.
The case has sparked renewed concern over mob justice in Nigeria, with many calling for greater public awareness and stricter enforcement against jungle justice, which has led to several wrongful attacks on innocent citizens.
The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of one of its students, Favour Olaniyi, a 100-level undergraduate of the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, who was found lifeless near his off-campus residence in Akure, Ondo State.
According to reports, the disturbing incident occurred on Saturday, May 9, 2026, when the student’s body was discovered in a bush close to the university’s North Gate area, sparking fear and sadness among students and members of the university community.
In a statement released by the institution’s Director of Corporate Communication and Protocol, Adegbenro Adebanjo, the university confirmed the unfortunate development, describing it as a painful and shocking loss. The management disclosed that immediately the incident was brought to its attention, the university’s security team alerted the police, while medical personnel and security officers coordinated the evacuation of the body to a mortuary.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents and family members during this difficult period,” the statement read, adding that the institution is fully cooperating with security agencies to uncover the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The Ondo State Police Command has also confirmed the incident and launched a full-scale investigation. Police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, revealed that detectives who visited the scene found no visible signs of physical violence on the deceased. However, an empty bottle suspected to contain a toxic substance was reportedly recovered near the body, raising concerns about the possible cause of death.
“The corpse has been deposited at the morgue for preservation and further examination, while investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” the police statement said.
Meanwhile, FUTA management said counseling and emotional support are being provided to students, especially classmates and close associates of the deceased who may be affected by the tragedy. The university also urged students facing emotional or personal difficulties to seek help through available counseling services.
The heartbreaking incident has sparked conversations around student mental health, safety, and welfare, with many students and Nigerians expressing grief and calling for greater support systems within higher institutions.
The camp of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has cautioned opposition political parties against zoning their 2027 presidential tickets to the South, warning that such a move would hand President Bola Ahmed Tinubu an easy path to re-election.
The warning comes amid growing discussions within opposition circles over possible coalition arrangements and zoning considerations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to key figures aligned with Atiku, the political realities of the country suggest that only a strong northern candidate with broad national appeal can effectively challenge President Tinubu at the polls. They argue that presenting another southern candidate against Tinubu, who is expected to seek a second term, would divide southern votes and weaken the opposition’s chances of mounting a serious challenge.
Sources within the former vice president’s political camp reportedly insist that the opposition must prioritize electability and strategic political calculations over regional sentiments if it hopes to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
“The focus should be on presenting the most formidable candidate capable of defeating the incumbent. Zoning the ticket to the South at this time may only strengthen President Tinubu’s chances and fragment the opposition’s support base,” a prominent ally of Atiku was quoted as saying.
The statement is likely to intensify political debates over power rotation and zoning, a longstanding issue in Nigeria’s political landscape. While some political stakeholders insist that fairness demands another southern candidate after President Tinubu’s first term, others believe national interest and electoral viability should take precedence.
Analysts say the emerging debate could shape alliance-building efforts among opposition parties, especially as discussions continue around possible mergers and strategic partnerships aimed at challenging the APC in 2027.
Former Vice President Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has remained a key figure in opposition politics, though he has yet to formally declare his intentions for the next presidential race.
Meanwhile, political observers believe the controversy surrounding zoning and candidate selection may test the unity of opposition parties as they seek to present a united front against President Tinubu’s administration.
With political permutations already gathering momentum, the battle for Nigeria’s 2027 presidency is gradually taking shape, and debates over regional balance, party strategy, and leadership succession are expected to dominate the national conversation in the months ahead.
