Two people have been reportedly taken away to an unknown destination by a team of kidnappers who stormed Itesiwaju Local Government of Oyo State at early hours of Saturday.
According to a resident and leader in the community, Mr. Johnson Kehinde who hinted the newsmen. He said the whereabouts of the kidnapped victims is yet to be ascertained while families have not been communicated by hydra-headed evils.
“As we navigate this challenging period, awaiting prompt action from our security forces, we earnestly pray for the safe return of the kidnapped and the comprehensive protection of all.
“Your support is appreciated, and please keep Otu, the headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government Area in Oyo State, in your thoughts and prayers. May God bring healing to our land”.
“The said the incident happened in the night when gunmen approached the house of injured man. He said they shot at his entrance gate several times in order to gain access to the compound when they perceived light from the residence.
“He said the man got injured from the bullets while his wife was abducted since he has been injured. FreshPage sources disclosed that another person was kidnapped from another house in the community”, said an eyewitness.
The incident happened barely days after Iwere-Ile youths in Iwajowa LG staged a peaceful protest to demand for beefing up of security following incessant kidnapping, killing and robbery in the LG.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspects Akeem Alabi (30), Toba Bolu (20), Abah Abdullahi (35), Sulaiman Mohammed (32), and Yusuf Alabi (30) for robbery.
The Lagos Police Command disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Friday.
Sharing a photo of the suspects the command said, “Yesterday, around 10:30 p.m. operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), acting on credible intelligence arrested five robbery suspects at Agege Under bridge for harassing and dispossessing passersby of their valuables.
“The suspects are: Akeem Alabi (30), Toba Bolu (20), Abah Abdullahi (35), Sulaiman Mohammed (32) and Yusuf Alabi (30). Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi has stated that there would be more sting operations in the area to reduce robbery.
“The Commander, acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has directed that the suspect be charged to court immediately.”
Following Tuesday’s explosion which rocked Bodija in Ibadan, Oyo State, one more corpse has been recovered from the rubble, bringing the number of casualties to four as rescue operation continues.
ODUDUWA NEWS reports that the yet to be identified corpse was found yesterday morning.
No fewer than four persons were reportedly killed and 77 others injured in the explosion which also damaged at least 58 buildings and 10 cars.
Meanwhile, details about the alleged illegal miners said to be responsible for the stockpiling of explosives which resulted in the explosion emerged.
A former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Barrister Muideen Olalekan Olagunju, who revealed that Sawane Youssouf, a Malian who was occupying the building where the incident occurred, was the leader of the illegal miners in the state, warned that there was a possibility that people working for illegal miners in Ibadan had explosives in their living apartments.
He revealed that Youssouf and three others, including a Nigerian, registered a company called SDYB International Company Limited, with registration certificat numbered 511184 in 2004, so as to engage in mining activities in the state.
He added that Youssouf, Darame Ibrahima, Yattara Ibrahim and Bakare Hakeem Oladimeji were the directors in the company involved in illegal mining activities, especially in Iwere-Ile in Iwajowa Local Government Area.
He advised that the government must immediately determine the locations of those working for Youssouf and take proper charge of explosives in their possession.
Olagunju said, “How he was able to do that in a residential estate with a few eyebrows raised is a failure of intelligence at both government and community levels.
“To think the location is just a stone’s throw from the government secretariat is damning. His own negligent stupidity, as well as government’s taciturn approach to security of lives and property, has caused unnecessary deaths, injuries and property damage.
“I searched the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission to find that Sawane Youssouf incorporated a company on May 17, 2004, called SDYB International Company Nigeria Limited with RC 511184. This is the list of directors: (1) Sawane Youssouf, (2) Darame Ibrahima, (3) Yattara Ibrahim (4). Bakare Hakeem Oladimeji. By their names, three of the four directors hail from Mali.”
He also alleged that Youssouf made use of security agents to move explosives.
He said, “I have credible information also that Sawane used police, DSS and other security operatives to move his explosives and other logistics. It shows complicity. It is unclear Sawane was in the house when the explosion occurred. If he was, I doubt he would survive the magnitude of the blast. Everything within 100 metres radius of the blast site is flattened.”
A former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, who called for investigation into the unfortunate incident, called on Nigerians to always report suspicious activities to security operatives.
A professor of strategic management and human capital development, Okey Ikechukwu, called on the government to nip the activities of illegal miners in the country. Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that the house will after resumption on January 30, launch a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the explosion in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Similarly, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Orji Kalu, and the Senator representing Abia Central, Austin Akobundu, have commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State over Tuesday’s explosion in Ibadan. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also called for a thorough investigation into the explosion so that those found culpable can be brought to justice.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State, asserts that unidentified miscreants vandalized the school bus, stealing gowns intended for graduates participating in the 54th convocation ceremony scheduled for January 16, 2024.
Graduates, having paid N15,000 for gown collection, were informed of the suspension due to the vandalism.
“We regret to inform you that the distribution of SPGS academic gowns is now suspended. Sadly, the remaining gowns were stolen and our bus vandalised this afternoon,” the university’s email to one of the graduates said.
A lawyer, Malachy Odo, also said he received the same notice from the school via test messages after he had paid the levy meant for the collection of the gown.
“I paid 15k for convocation gown yesterday and this is what UNILAG just sent me. This country is not a real place,” he wrote on X.
In 2023 agitations that trailed the increment of tuition fees by the university management.
For Instance, personnel of the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force arrested Giwa Yisa while protesting with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Students against fees increment by the school authorities.
The family of Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, a Nigerian Airforce officer and his wife, Dr. Ganiyat Olawale-Popoola, a practicing medical doctor and Abdulmugniy Folaranmi, a 16year old 100 level student of the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, have pleaded to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to come to the rescue of the victims.
Nurudeen Popoola hails from Ile Iyalosa, Ebu Ikolaba, Ekunle Iseyin while his wife, Dr. Ganiyat Olawale-Popoola is from Ile Idi-Ape, Ijemba, Iseyin and the undergraduate Folaranmi who is from Oke-Oja, Iseyin.
They were snatched by 1am at their residence at the National Eyes Center Quaters, Mando, Kaduna on the 27th December, 2023 and have been with their abductors till the present moment, while an ultimatum of Thursday 18th January has been given to pay the #100milliom ransom to avoid killing of the victims.
A cousin of the Airforce officer, Alhaji Olatunde Rafiu (Isola), who spoke with journalists at Ibadan on Wednesday morning said the family members have made frantic efforts to reach out to the State governor through e-mail, as they could not meet with him physically.
He stated that the e-mail sent to the governor for appeal dated 8th January, 2023 but there has not been any response till date, begging governor Makinde to reach out to the Kaduna State governor, Senator Uba Sani to immediately look for a way out so that the lives of the victims will not be lost.
“Since our brother and his wife with our young brother have been kidnapped in the middle of the night of the 27th of December, 2023, we have made all efforts to gather the money requested by the kidnappers, which is a hundred million naira but all we could get till this moment is just #30million, for two weeks the abductors did not call us till they did on Monday, telling us that they gave us till Thursday to come up with the money.
“We have made public appeal and called on people of means in the society to please help secure the lives of our loved ones in captivity, friends, extended family members have reached out, but we are still far to the figure demanded, which is hundred million naira and we have only today left.
“We are renewing our appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to please help us do something within the little time left of the ultimatum given, God Almighty will protect you, your children and your loved ones,” Folaranmi begged.
The Chairman, Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA), Hon. Abideen Adeaga has commended the prompt action taken by the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde over the explosion that rocked Bodija area of Ibadan on Tuesday.
The explosion which occurred in the early evening of Tuesday has been confirmed to have damaged over fifty residential buildings in the area and caused the death of two people while many people were injured.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday afternoon and signed by Adeaga, he said the cause of the incident would have still remained in the realm of conjectures, had the governor not visited the site on Wednesday evening.
Reports emanating from different news media platforms indicated that the explosion was as a result of dynamites kept in a residential building, used for illegal mining in the State.
He therefore called on the police authority to commence investigation into the causes of the incident and make prompt arrest of those behind it, to serve as deterrent to others that engage in such illegal activities.
“While consoling the people of Oyo State and our dear governor over the sad occurrence, I wish to commend his promptness to visit the scene of the incident immediately after it happened, this is a sign of a good leader and he has made it a clear path for us to follow.
“We urge the police authority to quickly swing into action and find out the cause of the incident and bring into book, the perpetrators, so as to deter others in the same business.”
Ibadan was shocked early Tuesday evening when an booming noise took over the whole city, leading to rumors of earthquake while others were alluding to explosion from a popular gas plant, until the visit of the governor exposed the real cause of the incident.
Oyo State Government has commiserated with those who affected by the explosion that rocked Ibadan yesterday which led to the dead of two people leaving over 72 people injured.
Governor Makinde made this disclosure today via a statement made available to newsmen as read in part:
“We visited the scene of the explosion which occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024 in Bodija, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties. We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night.
“Earth moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident. The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.
“In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and 2 fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government. We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.
“Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book.
I urge all residents to please call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference.
We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured.
Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations.
Oyo Government has appealed for calm due to the recent explosion that just rocked Ibadan.
This was contained in a statement made available by Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelami as read in part:
“Residents of Ibadan and immediate environ experienced an uncommon explosion about 8pm this evening.
There are various interpretations of the incident but it is important for us to state categorically that the state government has taken over and in the full control of the unfortunate occurrence in in order to mitigate the incident.
All security service chiefs including para military chiefs and Fire Operatives have been deployed by the governor to Reign in the spillover from the explosion.
His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde therefore implores citizens to calm down and be rest assured that their interests are being looked after”.
A very loud explosion has been heard in the city of Ibadan and the surrounding area, causing damage at multiple locations, according to local residents. The causes of the sound was not yet known
The incident happened at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday when a very large “blast” or “explosion” was heard in and near the city. Thousands of residents reported hearing and feeling it on social media.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion or where it originated. Windows were blown out at multiple locations, including at homes, and part of the ceiling collapsed at Ace Mall, Bodija.
As at the time of filing this report, it has been confirmed to ODUDUWA NEWS that several people injured.
The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has sent a request to the Oyo State House of Assembly to access a loan of one hundred and fifty billion naira to finance the ongoing Sen. Rashidi Ladoja circular road in Ibadan and other infrastructure.
The Governor made the request in a letter forwarded to the State Legislature which was read on Tuesday by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.
The Governor in the letter said, the request became necessary to enable the State Government to complete the 104km road project and others like it in Oyo State.
The House while deliberating on the loan request directed its committees on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning as well as that of Works to investigate the loan request.
It urged the two joint committees to come up with a comprehensive report on the loan request and the mode of payment.
The Speaker in his submission stressed the need for the committees to get all necessary briefs on the request and report to the House in one week.
” Having one #150,000 billion for Ibadan Circular Road and other infrastructure is a good idea but we have to consider the payback mechanism. I meant the payment procedure. We also want the two committees to get all necessary details about the proposed loan. We need a wholistic report on the request, the economic impacts of the road and other infrastructure when completed among other details.” Oyo Speaker said
