The All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has raised the alarm over Governor Seyi Makinde’s alleged penchant for converting large expanses of land on which agricultural practices are being carried out by farmers into housing estates warning that the trend was capable of worsening cases of food crisis and hunger in the land.

In recent times, the administration of Gov. Makinde has faced intense criticisms over issues relating to commercialization or outright sales of choice properties and pieces of land belonging to the state government as well as acquisition of some pieces of land owned by some private individuals, families and organizations claiming that the steps were taken ”in overriding public interest”.

In a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC decried the ongoing destruction of tree crops belonging to local farmers in parts of Akinyele and Ido local government councils allegedly by some estate developers who have been engaged by the state government to convert the farmlands on which they are making both ends meet into housing estates.

“The rate at which the present PDP administration in Oyo state is inflicting hardship on the masses has reached its crescendo and we, at the APC, can no longer keep silent. On daily basis, the Makinde administration rob the poor to further enrich the affluent few in the guise of urbanization policy and improved internally generated revenue drive. As the agents of the state forcefully eject traders and shop or office owners from their legitimate business premises, farmers are not only being chased away from their farmlands even as their growing crops and plants are destroyed to pave the way for residential buildings.

“As at last Friday; hundreds of local farmers in Idi-Igbaro and Akufo in Ido local government area as well as their colleagues in Ajibade, Olosa-oko, Alaase, Alagbaa, Oloje, Elekuru, Agbirigidi among other ancient settlements in Akinyele local government area were thrown into collosal losses as agents of the state government had destroyed all the crops on their farmlands. Among the crops which were sacrificed for housing estates are several thousands of cocoa, cashew, mango, oil palm trees and coffee as well as arable crops such as maize, cassava, yam and vegetables.

“This happened at a time citizens face food crisis in the mode of scarcity and high cost of food commodities. While states like Niger, Borno, Kebbi and Kwara are doing so much to assist and encourage their local farmers, the PDP administration in Oyo is making life unbearable to them and our governor keeps deceiving the world that he is promoting Agribusiness. As it stands, Oyo state cannot boast of a single agricultural produce which is being made available to the global market despite the vast fertile land resources and favourable weather which God has blessed the state with. This is shameful.” Oyo APC lamented.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, have arrested two Chinese and six Nigerians for alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

The suspects: Zhang Hang Lin, Gao Pei Hai, Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo
Wasiu Ademola Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen
Ibrahim Yinusa and Saidu Shuaibu were arrested on Friday, 9 May 2025, during a sting operation following credible intelligence received by the Commission and detailed surveillance carried out on them.

At the point of arrest, operatives recovered three trucks loaded with sacks of substances suspected to be ground lithium powder and other yet-to-be-identified solid minerals.

Other items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, samples of low grade lithium, Automated Teller Machine, ATM cards, the suspects’ international passports, four pieces of LED Flashlight and other documents.

The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Solomon, the suspect arrested by the police for allegedly stealing 28 female pants for ritual purposes in Ikoro-Ekiti, Ekiti State was brought to the Olukoro Royal Palace for further interrogation this afternoon, Friday, 9 May 2025.

In the pictures attached, the suspect was seen seated on Esu Shrine in the Ode-Ajo section of the Palace where ibura-Esu (deity’s oath) was administered to him.

According to the Ekiti Police Force PRO, investigation has begun and as soon as investigation is completed the suspect shall be charged to the Court.

Details later.

Operatives of the Ogun State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, have arrested a suspected drugs dealer in Yewa axis of the State.

The suspect, a 35 years old Obi Emmanuel, who was allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade was arrested on Thursday evening in front of a chemist shop in the bustling market area of Ayetoro in Yewa North local government area of Ogun State.

Director of Intelligence and Investigation, retired Chief Suprinrendent of Police, Shodeke Sholanke, who confirmed the news to newsmen, said the suspect already in custody undergoing interrogation.

Sholanke explained that the arrest followed a credible intelligence received by the Ogun State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), suggesting that Emmanuel was orchestrating drug deals in the region.

The Security Chief added that the suspect had enlisted the help of a commercial driver, popularly referred to as Alausa, who is currently in NDLEA custody To transport a substantial quantity of suspected hard drugs from Abeokuta to Ayetoro.

According to him, the hard drugs has the market value of an estimated in the sum of millions of Naira.

On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, just a day before Emmanuel’s arrest, the Ogun State NDLEA intercepted the driver and a vehicle – a commercial 18-seater Mazda bus Amotekun along the Abeokuta/Ayetoro road. During questioning, the driver revealed that Emmanuel was the owner of the seized items, leading to the swift action of Amotekun operatives after an intelligence was equally received from the State NDLEA, which resulted in Emmanuel’s capture.

“The Ogun Amotekun therefore expresses its commitment to further collaborate with operatives of NDLEA in tackling drug abuse and trafficking in and around Ogun State, noting that the operation underscored the agency’s ongoing efforts to rid society of criminal elements involved in the drug trade.

A corpse of a yet-to-be-identified woman was found dumped in a drainage along OGTV Road in Ajebo area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, with her private part mutilated.

A source told Newsmen on Thursday, May 8, 2025 that residents woke up on Tuesday to the gory sight and alerted the police.

The source disclosed that details of how she was dropped there could not be ascertained, but upon closer examination, they realised that her private part had been cut off.

“A lady was found lifeless on Tuesday in a gutter along OGTV Road, Abeokuta. She was suspected to have been used for a ritual; her private part was missing. The police came around and took her body to the State Hospital Morgue in Ijaiye,” the source said.

Meanwhile, a senior security officer in the area who was privy to the incident told the publication that the deceased was a commercial sex worker.

The officer disclosed that her friends narrated that a man had picked her up at their popular spot in Oke-Ilewo a day before the incident.

However, her lifeless body was found with machete wounds on the neck and hands, while her private part was cut off.

“The lady was a commercial sex worker. Her friends said she was picked up by one man at their spot in Iwe-Iroyin, Oke-Ilewo. She had machete wounds on her neck and her hands, and her private part was cut off,” the officer said.

Fear and confusion gripped the Mushin area of Lagos early Wednesday morning as a notorious gang known as the Kasari Boys unleashed terror on residents in a coordinated robbery spree that left many properties destroyed and several residents traumatized.

The criminal syndicate, infamous for its violent operations across parts of Lagos, reportedly stormed several streets in Mushin, robbing households, vandalizing property, and causing widespread panic. Eyewitnesses say the gang operated freely for hours without any police presence or intervention.

“We were helpless,” a resident told Lagos Reporters. “They came in large numbers, broke into homes, carted away valuables, and beat up anyone who resisted. We kept calling the police, but no one came.”

The gang’s brazenness and the lack of immediate security response have reignited fears of a growing breakdown in neighborhood safety across Lagos. Community leaders and affected residents are now calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take swift action to secure the area and dismantle the Kasari Boys gang once and for all.

“We are tired of living in fear,” another resident lamented. “We are pleading with Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government to rescue us from these criminals.”

As of press time, the Lagos State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has received a brand new Nord A9 SUV from indigenous automaker, Nord Motion, after a friendly match with the firm’s CEO, Oluwatobi Ajayi.

Onakoya shared his excitement via his X account on Thursday, posting photos of the car and expressing his gratitude to the firm.

He wrote, “Just got home to the most heartwarming surprise from my #nordmotion family—the stunning new Nord A9 SUV. Hands down the most beautiful car I’ve ever owned, but even more beautiful is the love behind this incredible gift. Grateful beyond words.

“Of course the only way to get the new car was by not losing this match.”

Onakoya revealed that the gift also came with an extension of his ambassadorial contract with the brand for another year.

He added, “I call #OluwatobiAjayiJ the “Elon” of Africa because while most people only know him for being one of the pioneers made in Nigeria cars, he’s also a great thinker and innovator across board.

“Proud to extend our partnership as Brand Ambassador for another year. Up Naija. A beauty to behold + made in Nigeria. Thank you #nordmotion for this incredible gift.”

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures are yielding results, especially within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system.

His remarks come amid nationwide concern following JAMB’s release of results showing that out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 420,000 scored above 200 — meaning more than 78 percent failed to meet the 200-mark threshold.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa said the drop in performance reflects a significant decline in examination malpractice due to JAMB’s tightened security protocols.

“That’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done the proper way,” the minister said. “JAMB conducts its exam using a computer-based testing system. They’ve implemented strong security measures, and as a result, fraud or cheating has been completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.

“We have to use technology to fight this fraud,” Alausa said. “There are so many ‘miracle centres’, and that is simply unacceptable. People cheat during WAEC and NECO exams and then face JAMB, where cheating is nearly impossible. That’s the disparity we’re seeing now. It’s sad.

“The worst part of cheating is that it disincentivises the hard-working ones,” he said. “If I’m preparing for WAEC or NECO and I know some classmates already have access to the questions, do you think I’ll still study hard? No, I’ll be tempted to join them. That’s how good students are corrupted, and that’s exactly what we must stop.”

Alausa stressed that the ministry remains committed to using technology-driven solutions to restore credibility in Nigeria’s examination and admissions processes.

Helen Kayode, a graduating student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), has been arrested by the Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly staging her own abduction to spend time with her boyfriend.

Her action reportedly caused panic across Iworoko-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti, following a message she sent to her sister on May 1, claiming she had boarded the wrong bus and was kidnapped, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

According to the Police Command, the viral message led to public fear and disrupted the otherwise calm security situation in the state.
“Kayode stated that she was kept and held hostage in an uncompleted building surrounded by bushes,” the command’s spokesperson, SP Sunday Abutu, said on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.

“The information went viral on social media, causing some reactions that undermined the security and peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the state.”

Investigations revealed that she was not kidnapped but instead spent the night with her boyfriend before travelling to Lagos.

Abutu said, “The suspect confessed during investigation that she sent out the false information to enable her to stay back in Ado-Ekiti to celebrate her birthday with her boyfriend, who promised her a ‘surprise package.’

He added, “The student stated that her parents told her to return to Lagos against her wish due to the birthday party.”

The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, condemned the incident and warned that those who spread false information would face the full force of the law.

He said the suspect would be charged in court after investigations and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace in Ekiti.