Author: oduduwanews

In a heartbreaking and anger-filled response to the tragic loss of his wife and son, an Imam from Ondo has placed a curse on those responsible for the senseless violence.

The Imam’s family members were innocent victims of the recent cult clash in Owo, which has left many dead and injured.

Overcome with grief and a sense of justice, the Imam has called upon divine retribution, declaring that every child born in the families of the perpetrators will face dire cons£quences.

This poignant and powerful curse reflects the Imam’s deep p∆in and frustration, as well as his desire for accountability and justice.

The people of Ondo and beyond are in mourning, and many are calling for an end to the senseless violence that has plagued the community.

Just eight days after being granted a pardon by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, former inmate Sunday Omisakin has been remanded in the Ilesa Correctional Facility for allegedly breaking into a home and stealing a television.

Omisakin, who was pardoned for a minor offence on December 26, 2024, as part of the governor’s prerogative of mercy list, was arrested on January 3, 2025, for allegedly burglarising a house in Osogbo and stealing a plasma television worth N600,000.

He was brought before the Osun State Magistrate Court in Osogbo, where Magistrate Adekanmi Adeyeba presided over charges of burglary and theft.

According to police prosecutor Inspector Kayode Adeoye, “On January 3, 2025, at about 12:00 p.m. at Al-Medinat Area, Iludun, Osogbo, Omisakin broke into the house of one Shittu Damilare and stole a plasma TV worth N600,000.

The offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 411 (1) (2) 363, 390(9) of criminal code cap 34 vol.II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”

Meanwhile, he pleaded not guilty to the offence and Magistrate Adeyeba ordered that he should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Facility and adjourned to January 10th 2025 when he was denied bail.

He subsequently adjourned to February 2025 for hearing.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has advocated the establishment of more General Hospitals in underserved Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State.

The call was contained in a motion, sponsored by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, and co-sponsored by Hon. P.G. Ojedokun of Ibarapa North/Central.

The motion was tagged “Need for the Executive arm of Government to establish General Hospitals in underserved LGAS, increased Healthcare personnel and expanded training opportunities for intern students across the State.”

According to the motion, six LGAs – Atiba, Ibadan South East, Ido, Ogo Oluwa, Ona Ara, and Oyo West – currently lack General Hospitals, leaving residents without access to essential healthcare services.

The motion noted that the absence of infrastructure has resulted in residents often having to travel long distances to access emergency, diagnostic, and other crucial healthcare services.

The motion also highlighted the challenges posed by inadequate healthcare personnel in existing facilities.

“Despite the recent recruitment drive of the Oyo State Government, a significant gap remains in delivering efficient, timely, and comprehensive healthcare across the state. Expanding this staffing initiative would help alleviate the workload on current staff, reduce burnout, and ensure a higher standard of care for all residents.”

Furthermore, the motion emphasized the importance of intern students in the health sector, including nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, and physiotherapists.

“The current provision for intern students is insufficient, with only 24 pharmacists, 20 nurses, 23 laboratory scientists, and 25 physiotherapists accommodated annually.”

The motion urged the Executive Arm of Government to expand these internship provisions to support the immediate workforce needs and ensure a smooth transition into the professional workforce.

The motion applauded Governor Seyi Makinde for his efforts towards providing quality healthcare for the people.

It also called for sufficient funding and resources to train and develop intern students, ensuring they receive quality mentorship and hands-on training while equally recommending an integrated approach, combining the establishment of new General Hospitals with expanded healthcare personnel and increased intern opportunities.

The motion further instructef the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Health to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all the State Government healthcare facilities.

This assessment is aimed at identifying facilities requiring upgrades as well as determine their viability.

Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin campus, took to the streets on Monday to protest issues affecting their education and well-being.

The Iseyin campus, home to LAUTECH’s College of Agriculture, was established by Governor Seyi Makinde to expand the university’s reach.

However, students have expressed frustration over persistent challenges, including the absence of lecturers and soaring living expenses.

The students who stormed the major streets in Iseyin to register their displeasure carried placards with various inscriptions.

A notorious cultist identified as Nasir Isiaka in Owo, headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

He was killed a few days after four persons were killed in the ancient community during a cult-related clash, after which a curfew was imposed on the town.

The state police command said Mr. Isiaka was killed by two masked men in the Gbanasa axis of the community.

He had been on the wanted list of the police over his alleged involvement in violent crimes in the state.

Spokesperson of the command ,Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya,
confirmed the killing of the suspect.

She stated that the deceased had, during the End SARS protest, along with his group, attacked Uso Police Division in the local government and stole one AK-47 rifle and bulletproof vest belonging to the police.

Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the tanker fire explosion that claimed 77 lives and injured 25 others along Dikko-Maje road in Suleja, Niger State, as a devastating tragedy.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Sunday, Abiodun, who said that the governments and the people of the southern states were deeply troubled by the tragedy, commiserated with Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and his cabinet, as well as the people of Niger State, urging them not to allow their spirits to be dampened by the extremely tragic event.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims of the fire while expressing hope that the injured will have speedy recovery and be back on their feet in the shortest possible time.

He said: “To say that we in the Southern Governors’ Forum are terribly shocked by this devastating tragedy in which as many as 77 people lost their lives and no less than 25 others were grievously injured would be an understatement.

“This is a soul-crushing event that has befallen Niger State, and we pray that Almighty Allah will comfort the families that lost their loved ones in the incident.

“We also hope that the security agencies will up their ante and enforce the directives given by His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, to ensure strict enforcement of traffic rules in the state, especially given that this was an entirely avoidable tragedy.

“It is also important to warn Nigerians to desist from the practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, as most of the victims of this tragedy were people who ran to the scene of the accident to scoop fuel.”

While calling on state and federal agencies to redouble their efforts in managing the fallouts of the tragedy, Abiodun urged the Federal Government to liaise with the Niger State Government and render any assistance that the state may require at this time.

Tragedy struck on Sunday when gunmen suspected to be hired assassins shot and killed the Shepherd-in-charge of a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Idiroko Border town of Ipokia local government area of Ogun State.

The deceased, identified as Yomi Adetula was shot dead right inside his church during the Sunday service around 11a.m. while preaching.

An eyewitness at the scene told ODUDUWA NEWS that Adetula’s assailants, wielding AK-47 rifles and numbering about six, all clad in Celestial Church’s garments, stormed the Hebrew Celestial Church located at the Odo Eran area of the Old Garrage Road in Idiroko where they rained bullets on the deceased pastor, waiting to certify him dead and dismembering his body inside the church before leaving the scene.

ODUDUWA NEWS further gathered that the deceased was the Idiroko Unit Commander of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-SAFE Corps; one of the community security outfits established and funded by the Ogun State government.

While the reasons behind the murder could not be immediately ascertained, our correspondent however, gathered that late Adetula had for the past few months been having running battles with certain smuggling cartel in Idiroko Border town, which necessitated his transfer to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in December 2024.

Sources within his church in Idiroko also confided in this newspaper that the development led to the forceful closure of his church in December by some suspected smugglers.

The State Commander of So-SAFE Corps, Soji Ganzalo, who confirmed the incident said that he received the news of Adetula’s assassination with a rude shock.

Ganzalo however, assured that the Corp would not relent until the matter is properly investigated, while also promising to assist appropriate security agencies with necessary information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.

Lagos State Government has shut Smiley Kids Montessori School in Sangotedo, Lagos Island after a two-year-old pupil of the school,Rapheala Ogbodo, reportedly died.

The Lagos State Government has closed Smiley Kids Montessori, a school in Sangotedo, following the tragic death of a two-year-old student in a swimming pool incident. The move comes amidst allegations and public outrage surrounding the circumstances of the child’s death.

ODUDUWA NEWS previously highlighted the heartbreaking story of Rapheala Ogbodo, the mother of the deceased child. On January 15, she took to social media to demand accountability after her healthy daughter failed to return home from school alive. The school initially claimed the toddler drowned in their swimming pool. However, Ms. Ogbodo later alleged that her child was electrocuted and that the body was placed in the pool to disguise the actual cause of death.

The allegations prompted swift action from the Lagos State Safety Commission, the Office of Education Quality Assurance, and the Ministry of Education. These agencies conducted a preliminary investigation at the school to ascertain the root cause of the tragic incident.

“While the school is presently under lock pending further investigation, the State Government extends its deepest condolences to the family of the victim and expresses its commitment to preventing future occurrences,” read a statement from the Safety Commission.

Lanre Mojola, the Director-General of the Safety Commission, emphasized the importance of strict adherence to safety regulations in schools to avoid similar tragedies. He assured the public that further updates would be provided once investigations are concluded.

This incident has reignited discussions on child safety in educational institutions and the enforcement of safety standards. The Lagos State Government has reiterated its resolve to ensure all schools comply with safety protocols to protect the welfare of students.

The wife of a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has been kidnapped from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State.

According to available information, Mrs. Odumosu was abducted in the early hours of Friday by heavily armed men.

The kidnappers were said to have stormed the home of the Odumosus, shooting sporadically. The Ogun State Police Command was yet to issue an official statement on the issue as at press time.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has approved the recruitment of an additional 1,000 Amotekun personnel to effectively police all nooks and crannies of the state, just as he warned criminals that the state would not be a haven for their criminal activities.

The governor also pledged to provide more patrol vehicles, electric motorcycles, communication gadgets, and other necessities to enable the Corps members to discharge their duties effectively.

The governor announced this on Saturday at the passing-out parade ceremony of 690 Batch D trainees of the Corps, held at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu.

He said the establishment of the Corps was aimed at strengthening security, particularly at the grassroots, as well as reducing unemployment in the state.

“We will also continue to strengthen the Ogun State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) to ensure that you have the tools and infrastructure required to perform your duties effectively and diligently.

“I am today, based on what I have seen regarding your level of preparedness and commitment, approving the extra requirement of another 1,000 Amotekun Corps.

“This will bring the total strength to over 2,000. They will, of course, be enumerated very well in line with the civil service structure.

“I will also be approving additional logistics, including but not limited to vehicles, electric motorcycles, and all that is required to allow you to discharge your responsibilities to the best of your abilities,” the governor said.

He stated that the passing-out event represented a milestone in securing the state, as they would be made to patrol major roads and communities across the state.

The establishment of the Corps, the governor emphasized, was meant to complement the federal government’s efforts to address insecurity, as the Corps is to cooperate with other security agencies in tackling criminal activities in the state.

Governor Abiodun, who was impressed with their level of training, discipline, and conduct, noted that with their commitment and sense of duty, those who left the organization would be motivated to rejoin.

He urged them, as custodians of security and peace in the state, not to use their position to intimidate or molest the people, but to secure them through intelligence gathering and cooperation with the traditional rulers to ensure effective community policing.

While maintaining that the training of the Corps is to serve as a warning signal to criminals that the state would not be a haven for their activities, Prince Abiodun, however, stated that he expects improved security across the state in the coming days.

He commended the pioneer Commander of the Corps for laying a solid foundation and called on the people to cooperate with the Corps by providing useful information to enable the members and other security agencies to nip crimes in the bud.

In his welcome remarks, the Commandant of the Corps, Brig. Gen. Alade Adedigba (rtd), said the trainees were exposed to physical training, weapon handling, and intelligence gathering.

While appreciating the state government for providing the needed resources for the smooth operation of the Corps, the Commander said operatives of the Corps have been able to repair some broken-down patrol vehicles and motorcycles, while the government has provided new sets of uniforms and communication gadgets to the agency.

He called on the trainees to operate within the confines of the law, serve the people with renewed commitment, and cooperate with other security agencies for the peace and tranquility of the state.

Highlights of the ceremony included the distribution of prizes to teams that emerged at the top in football matches, tug of war, and cultural displays.