Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, visited the Abolongo Correctional Center at Oyo town, saying that government will take immediate steps to protect the facility.

The governor, while speaking after an inspection of the attacked centre, said that he has ordered that the main road leading to the facility be immediately graded.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde also promised to install security cameras in the facility and link same with the security situation room in the state.

The governor said: “This is shocking and, unfortunately, we lost a soldier and an Amotekun Operative. Another person is on danger list at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as we speak.

“In the main, investigation is still on-going and we cannot say precisely whether this is an isolated event or the beginning of a wider issue that we have to deal with. But whatever the case is, we have made an assessment and taken some immediate decisions.

“We have asked that the main road to this facility be graded immediately. “We will position security cameras here and link it back to our security situation room. It is not just only for this facility but for other correctional facilities in the state.

“We are also making a list of critical state assets that we need to monitor and I have also asked that the entrance and exit points into the state be monitored. We still have almost 300 criminals that are on the loose in the state. So, efforts will still continue to try and apprehend the criminals and bring them back here.

“About the high-profile suspects here, people are very quick to start talking about conspiracy theories. What I can say is that investigation is still on. Yes, there were high profile criminals that were held in this facility.

“Again, I will appeal that our people should be calm. We have challenges around the country – banditry, insurgency and terrorism. And we can only deal with those issues when we have the people in alignment with what the leadership is trying to do.

The Nigeria Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, said 837 awaiting trial inmates escaped from the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo Town when suspected gunmen attacked the facility.

Public Relations Officer, Olanrewaju Anjorin, confirmed the figure.

Anjorin said all the 837 awaiting trial inmates were freed by the attackers but the cell housing the convicts and the inmates were not vandalised.

He said that a total of 262 escaped inmates had been recaptured, while 575 were still at large. One officer of Amotekun Corps was also killed during the gun duel between security officers and the assailants while one inmate trying to escape was shot dead.

“The invaders arrived the centre heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and after a fierce encounter with the officers on guard, they gained entrance into the yard, using dynamite to blast the wall.

“All the awaiting trial detainees were forced out of custody, the cells housing the convicts and the female inmates were not vandalised.

“Meanwhile, a total of 262 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 575 still at large.

“Following the directives of the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, the State Controller, Noel Ailewon, has commenced the process of search and recapture after visiting the scene of the incident,” Anjorin said.

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has congratulated the prominent gaming magnate, Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu; Odole Oodua, on the commemoration of his birthday.

Ooni Ogunwusi in a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, described Sir Kensington as an outstanding Yoruba leader whose investment in human development, capacity building for the youth, humanitarian activities and sustainance of peace nationwide cannot be overemphasized.

“Sir Adebutu is an asset to us in Yoruba land in particular and the world at large ko, we are always proud of him and his activities which are the basis upon which he was installed as the Odoole Oodua.

“On this special day, we wish him a healthy long life filled with prosperity from the throne of Oduduwa.” The statement read.

Also in the statement, Ooni Ogunwusi congratulated the Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism(NIJ) and General Manager/Managing Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Gbenga Adefaye on the occasion of his 60th birthday anniversary, describing him as a worthy ambassador of Ile-Ife and patriotic Nigeria who has a clean record of tremendous contributions to the society.

“The good people of the kingdom of Ile-Ife are celebrating the Deputy President of Ife Development Board Mr Gbenga Adefaye on the occasion of his 60th birthday anniversary.

Mr Adefaye has served the masses of this country as a seasoned journalist with a clear professional journey of 30 year using his journalistic pen in the defense of truth as the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers and currently as Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. These he has combined with his native responsibility at his home town where he currently serves as Deputy President, Ife Development Board(IDB). He is certainly worthy of celebrations as a worthy ambassador”. Ooni said.

Mr Gbenga Adefaye clocked 60 last Thursday while Odole Oodua, Sir Adebutu Kesington clocks 86 tomorrow Sunday, 24th October 2021.

The Federal Government has reacted to gunmen attack on the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town in Oyo State.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a statement on Saturday by his Media Officer, Sola Fasure, said it was about 10pm on Friday that the heavy gunmen attacked the Custodian centre.

Aregbesola said: “At about 10.00 pm yesterday, October 22, 2021, a large number of heavily-armed gunmen attacked the Abolongo Custodial Centre, in Oyo, Oyo State.

“Armed squad unit members of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies on guard at the facility engaged the attackers in a gun duel that lasted for 20 minutes before they were overpowered.

“The attackers subsequently used grenades and other explosives to gain access into the awaiting trial section of the facility and set free many of the awaiting trial inmates. Other sections of the facilities were left untouched.

“The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been on the situation immediately the incident occurred.

“The Minister of Interior has been briefed on the attack. He is monitoring the situation.

“He has assured members of the public to go about their normal businesses as the situation is under control. He also requires members of the public to report any suspicious movement or any sign of the escaped inmates and the gunmenin and around the vicinity to the nearest security post around them.

“Security agencies are on the trail of the escaped inmates, while a joint security services manhunt has been launched immediately for the apprehension of the assailants.

“This has led to the capture of some of the inmates while others returned voluntarily. However, those who are on the run are advised to turn themselves in, as escape from lawful custody is a serious offense. The full weight of the law will be brought on them when arrested!.”

The Management of Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA) has suspended two of its officers involved in unruly behaviour and acts of misconduct towards one Mr. Adedotun Clement (an Uber driver) during the #EndSARS protest held at the Lekki toll gate on the 20th of October, 2021.

The General Manager of the Agency, Prince (Dr) Ifalade Oyekan, who disclosed this today at the Command Headquarters of the Corps at Safety Arena, Bolade Oshodi, said the behaviour of the two officers in the viral video on social media was inappropriate and unbecoming for any member of the corps.

He explained that the two officers and their supervisor have faced a disciplinary committee for assaulting a member of the public, noting that their unsanctioned conduct is capable of breaching public peace contrary to the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps handbook, particularly sections (ii), (iii), (iv) and (x), which covers the conduct with the general public.

Oyekan declared that the committee found the two officers guilty of the charge of misconduct and they were immediately suspended from the Agency while further investigations are ongoing to determine other appropriate disciplinary action against them in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

While reiterating the readiness of the Corps to ensure the safety of lives and property, he appealed to all its officers to imbibe the highest level of professionalism while carrying out their official duties of ensuring the safety of lives and property of residents working, living and doing businesses in the State.

The General Manager, however, apologised to the victim, stressing that the State Government places a high premium on its relationship with all residents, who are the Agency’s partners in achieving its mandate and assured that the ugly incident would not repeat itself.

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The Management of Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA) has suspended two of its officers involved in unruly behaviour and acts of misconduct towards one Mr. Adedotun Clement (an Uber driver) during the #EndSARS protest held at the Lekki toll gate on the 20th of October, 2021.

The General Manager of the Agency, Prince (Dr) Ifalade Oyekan, who disclosed this today at the Command Headquarters of the Corps at Safety Arena, Bolade Oshodi, said the behaviour of the two officers in the viral video on social media was inappropriate and unbecoming for any member of the corps.

He explained that the two officers and their supervisor have faced a disciplinary committee for assaulting a member of the public, noting that their unsanctioned conduct is capable of breaching public peace contrary to the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps handbook, particularly sections (ii), (iii), (iv) and (x), which covers the conduct with the general public.

Oyekan declared that the committee found the two officers guilty of the charge of misconduct and they were immediately suspended from the Agency while further investigations are ongoing to determine other appropriate disciplinary action against them in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

While reiterating the readiness of the Corps to ensure the safety of lives and property, he appealed to all its officers to imbibe the highest level of professionalism while carrying out their official duties of ensuring the safety of lives and property of residents working, living and doing businesses in the State.

The General Manager, however, apologised to the victim, stressing that the State Government places a high premium on its relationship with all residents, who are the Agency’s partners in achieving its mandate and assured that the ugly incident would not repeat itself.

In the late hour of Friday, the Abolongo Correctional Centre, a Medium Prison facility has been attacked by yet to be identified Gunmen.

The coordinated attack which was successfully used in rescuing several inmates. According to our sources, “the armed perpetrators arrived in their numbers at the Correctional Centre heavily armed and within short period of time, they engaged the guards, Wardens in a fierce gun battle”.

“The casualties and total number of affected inmates are yet to be ascertained.

It has been gathered that few of the escaped inmates have been recaptured while others are still on the run.

More details to follow

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that there was firec incident at the Plank Market at Okobaba in Ebute Metta.

Though the cause of the fire outbreak can not be ascertained now by our Correspondent. The residents of the community were seeing making frantic effort to curtail further spread of the fire.

The Lagos State Fire Service and the State’s Emergency Management Agency LASEMA were later seeing mobilizing their men to the scene.

Details later.