Oduduwa News

The Islamic High School Old Students’ Association has called on the Oyo state police command to release Mr. Abdullah Fasasi, the school principal, on administrative bail.

The school principal was arrested and detained in connection to the Ibadan funfair tragedy that claimed 35 lives.

The president of the alumni association, Bayo Busari, has clarified the claims suggesting that the school principal approved the use of the facility for the funfair.

The National President of the Islamic High School Old Students Association, Mr Bayo Busari, made the demand in Ibadan on Saturday.

Reacting, Busari, said the association was neither averse to police investigation nor willing to obstruct it.

Busari, also refuted claims that the school principal approved the use of the facility for the funfair, clarifying that approval came from the Oyo State Ministry of Education.

He said, he wondered why the police detained the principal, while he was neither the organiser nor the person who approved the school facility for use.

“The narrative is not true; the Oyo State Ministry of Education gave the approval for the use of the school facility to Agidigbo FM since 2023, and it has been using it for its programme since then.”

“Our demand is that the principal be released, and we are ready to have him released on administrative bail.

“We will stand as surety for him,” the president said.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sympathised with Nigerians, particularly the residents of Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following two reports of stampede, which claimed many lives and left many others injured at Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.

He said the two tragedies happening a few days after 35 people died in Ibadan during a children’s carnival at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, is worrisome and calls for concern.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, also extended his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones during the sad events.

Sanwo-Olu, who wished the injured a quick recovery, also sympathised with President Bola Tinubu, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, over the ugly incidents.

He said: “It is with profound sorrow that I express my heartfelt condolences to Nigerians, particularly the residents of Anambra State and Abuja, over the tragic loss of many lives during food distribution stampedes at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, and a community centre in Okija, Anambra State.

“On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I extend our deepest sympathies to all those who are grieving at the moment. We share in their sorrow and stand with them during this difficult time.

“Following the trend of stampedes leading to the untimely death of some people, I want to urge individuals and organisations to be cautious in how they carry out their charitable and humanitarian activities.

“Taking care of the needy and vulnerable at this crucial time is the best thing to do, but adequate plans and safety measures should be put in place to prevent the reoccurrence of the stampedes recorded in Ibadan, Abuja and Okija.

“We pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of the innocent Nigerians who died in the stampedes, and may the Almighty grant the families of the departed the strength to bear the irreparable loss.”

Government has warned residents of the state to be wary of scammers claiming that there is ongoing Chrismas Cash Grant for residents from Governor Dapo Abiodun, saying such message did not emanate from the government.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the copy which was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Saturday.

The statement expained that the said message on social media platforms is the usual antics of fraudsters to swindle unsuspecting members of the public as they warned residents to disregard it in totality.

” We hereby warn residents of the state to disregard such message as antics of unscrupulous elements who are always out during festive periods like this to defraud innocent citizens of their hard earned resources”, the statement read.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that a 45-year-old suspected ritualist, Taiwo Yemitan, arrested at Lafenwa Area of Abeokuta. The suspect was caught with a fresh human head and dismembered body parts of a female victim.

According to SP Omolola Odutola, the command’s spokesperson, Yemitan was arrested at 1:40 a.m. on Sunday at his residence behind Atinsola petrol station, Sanni, Abeokuta. The police acted on a tip-off from local security outfits, the Agbekoya and Vigilante operatives.

Yemitan confessed to the crime, admitting that he lured the victim, identified as Darasimi, to his residence with the intention of killing her. He also named two accomplices, Kehinde Yemitan and Kazeem, stating that their intention was to sell the victim’s head and body parts.

The dismembered body has been taken to the general hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, for post-mortem examination. Efforts are underway to arrest the accomplices and locate the victim’s relatives.

This incident is not an isolated case, as a similar occurrence was reported earlier in the year. Azeez Adebayo, a suspect, confessed to killing three ladies who were lured through hook-up arrangements on a social media platform called “MY CHAT”.

The police spokesperson warned young ladies to be cautious of online dating sites and hook-up arrangements, emphasizing the need for parents to educate and protect their daughters from potential harm.

Tragedy struck across the country in the span of five days as stampedes during food distribution campaigns claimed scores of lives and left many injured. The incidents, which occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State; Okija in Anambra State; and the nation’s capital, Abuja, have highlighted the harsh realities of growing hunger and systemic failures in Nigeria.

The most recent tragedies took place on Saturday morning during events organized to distribute food to vulnerable communities. In Abuja alone, reports indicate that at least ten individuals lost their lives, with several others sustaining injuries. Similar chaotic scenes played out earlier in the week in other parts of the country, underscoring the desperation faced by many Nigerians in their quest for survival.

Reacting to the heartbreaking events, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, expressed deep sorrow and concern. “I am deeply saddened and distressed by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food,” Obi wrote on his official X account on Saturday afternoon.

The former governor of Anambra State noted that while the organizers of these food distribution campaigns had noble intentions, the incidents underscored systemic issues plaguing the nation. “While I will not cast blame, but instead appreciate the organizers of these respective events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor, these tragedies reflect the systemic failures that plague our society,” he said.

Obi linked the stampedes to the severe economic challenges currently affecting Nigerians, pointing to the desperation of individuals in their struggle for basic sustenance. “The desperate quest for survival in these harsh economic times has driven our people to extremes in their search for food, often at the cost of their lives,” he added.

The string of stampedes has reignited calls for comprehensive solutions to address poverty, hunger, and the widening inequality in Nigeria. Observers argue that systemic reforms, better coordination in the distribution of aid, and enhanced social welfare programs are urgently needed to prevent further tragedies.

For many, the images of chaos and loss from these events are a stark reminder of the deep socio-economic divides that persist in the country. As the nation mourns the lives lost, the spotlight turns to leaders and policymakers to find sustainable ways to address the root causes of such desperation.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has declared that the new Alaafin will be installed once the aggrieved parties resolve the lingering crisis and withdraw their litigations.

Makinde said this while answering questions from Journalists in the recently concluded media chat.

Makinde said the delay in installing new Alaafin is caused by some unscrupulous people who are hellbent in bastardizing the selection process of the highly revered stool.

“They have gone to Court and I can only advise the interested parties to sheathe their swords and settle lingering issues amicably for the sake of peace to reign.

“Alaafin stool is very important in Yorubaland. The selection process is tainted with corruption as stakeholders need to withdraw their cases from court. They should also allow the kingmakers do their job without hinderance.

“The only thing I will not allow is to taint the highly revered stool of Alaafin with corruption. It is a sacred stool that needs to be properly guided and protected from being dragged into the mud”.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has reiterated his position not to support old people as the governorship aspirants in 2027 general elections.

He made the disclosure known today while answering questions from Journalists in an ongoing media chat.

Makinde while speaking in a media chat said, while he was struggling to become the Governor, some political gladiators in the State said he was too young for Agodi seat and against all odds he was eventually given the mandate by the people of the State.

Makinde said, “Oyo State needs a very bright mind to steer the affairs of the State to the promised land against the archaic belief that political leadership must be rotated within the circle of old folks.

“I am not going to support any candidate that is not visionary. Any candidate older than me or closer to 70 years of age should not even bother to seek my support and I am only going to support a candidate that is not too old”.

No fewer than four persons lost their lives in Ore, Odigbo local government Area of Ondo State when they were crushed by a truck on Thursday.

According to information reaching Oduduwa News, the victims were three police officers and a female suspect.

It was also gathered that the officers who lost their lives were part of the Monitoring Units of the State Police Command and they were said to have left Akure, the state capital, to make an arrest in the area.

An eyewitness, who narrated how the incident happened, told Leadership that the truck lost control while descending Ore Bridge, and rammed into a Police vehicle, killing the Policemen inside their own vehicle.

It was also gathered that the three policemen and a female suspect died on the spot while another police officer who was seriously injured was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

When contacted, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident.

Odunlami-Omisanya disclosed that the Command has launched an investigation to unravel what led to the incident.

The Oyo State Government on Thursday through the Taskforce Team of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) on Thursday apprehended a number of cows grazing along the fence of the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The cows which were nine in number, grazing openly by the motorcycle park otherwise known as ‘Okada’ park beside the Secretariat gate, were closely monitored and captured thereafter.

The OYRLEA taskforce noting the violation as environmentally and agriculturally related immediately called the attention of the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and an official report was made to the State’s Parliament Police Division, Secretariat Agodi in the Secretariat.

Additional personnel were deployed and the cows were taken to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking on the offence as tantamount to the extant laws on anti-open grazing of 2019, as established by the State, the Chairperson, Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi ordered for the prosecution of the offender without further delay.

Sitting at the Tribunal on the charge number OYRLEA/19/12/2024 which is held at the Ministry of Environment the same day, N.Y. Aderibigbe, the prosecuting counsel levied a four count charge on the offender, drawn from the anti-open grazing law of Oyo State, 2019.

The offender, Nurudeen Semiu on arraignment acceded to the first two of the charges and pleaded not guilty on others.

At the end of the trial, the presiding officer, Barrister Kunle Abimbola pronounced judgement as it relates to open rearing count charges and the option of #1,700,000 fine or five years imprisonment was admitted on the offender.

A fire incident has claimed the lives of a husband, his wife, and their grandson which affected a storey building at Ori-Eru, Idikan area of Ibadan.

According to reports, the fire incident occurred in the early hours of Friday.

Mr Yemi Akinyinka, General Manager of Oyo State Fire Services Agency, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

Akinyinka said the personnel of the agency received a distress call about the incident through a call made by one Hassan at exactly 3:46 am on Friday and immediately deployed personnel to the scene.

“On arrival, we met an upper floor of a residential storey building of six rooms well alight and we swiftly swung into action and the fire was completely extinguished,” he told NAN.

The general manager said three persons made up of a husband, his wife, and their grandson lost their lives in the fire incident while five persons were rescued alive from the building.

According to him, the ground floor of the building and other nearby properties were saved from the inferno.“From our investigation, we discovered that in their attempt to keep their house warm because of the cold weather they resulted to use naked fire which result to fire disaster after they had slept off,” he said.

Akinyinka said that a team of Policemen led by CSP Olaniyan Jibola from Mapo Division and that of Amotekun led by Mr Gbenga Akinyemi from North West Division were on the ground to prevent break down of law and order.