Oduduwa News

The Ondo State Security Network, also referred to as the Amotekun Corps, a few days ago paraded no fewer than 27 suspects reportedly linked to kidnapping, theft, murder, and burglary across the state.

Giving a press briefing at Amotekun headquarters in Akure on Tuesday, the Amotekun Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, explained, “Today we are presenting to you 27 suspects. “Within the last two weeks, we have made an arrest of 27 suspects involved in one criminal activities or the other.

While there have been isolated incidents of kidnapping in areas bordering the state, according to Adeleye, “All 18 local government areas are peaceful.” The Amotekun Corps has been not only supportive in terms of security and stability but has also worked actively in support of community and investor confidence, with its rangers positioned on farmlands and government forest reserves.

He cited the examples of a 30-year-old suspected cultist accused of the attempted murder of law enforcement agents.

Gbenro, 42, was said to have assaulted Amotekun officers. Samuel Peter, 21, who allegedly took to attempted murder. Akimade Friday, for the murder of a 65-year-old man. Others were related to theft, one of them was Segun Owolabi, 20 years, who reportedly specialized in stealing motorcycles. Then a group of young men of ages between 22 and 25 were also linked to house burglaries. Adeleye identified those individuals to include suspects named Toba, Pelumi, Ogumade, and Oriade.

Community Peace, Conflict Resolution Efforts
Commander Adeleye further enumerated community peace restoration and conflict resolution occasions recorded by the corps during the year under review to include the amicable resolution of five herder-farmer clashes. “The herders volunteered to compensate for losses incurred and paid government fines for any infringements,” he added.

…as government’s delegation visits family of late student

The Ogun State Government has shut down Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-emi over the death of Master Monday Arijo, an SS2 student of the school.

This followed the arrest and suspension of the teacher allegedly responsible for the death of the student on Friday last week as a result of corporal punishment.

The Principal of the school, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo, who was earlier issued a query for allowing corporal punishment to be used on the pupil against the established rules and regulations in the state, has also been suspended.

The closure of the school was based on the directive of the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who has also directed that a panel should be set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.

The governor has promised that those liable by the outcome of the investigation will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology have also visited the family of the late student.

The visit was to offer condolences to the family and express the Ministry’s sorrow over their loss as well as collect first-hand accounts of the incident for a thorough investigation.

The team comprised of the Director, Secondary and Higher Education Department in the Ministry, the Principals General, Egba and Yewa Divisions, Zonal Education Officer, Imeko Afon, representatives of ANCOPPS, Ogun State President, Trade Union Congress and the Ogun State Chairman of ASSUS.

The Principals General, Egba and Yewa Divisions as well as the Director of Education, Secondary and Higher Education, who spoke during the visit, expressed their heartfelt condolences even as they pledged the support of the state government to the family during this challenging time.

The officials assured the family that thorough investigation would be launched to determine the facts surrounding the incident and that accountability would be pursued.

They reiterated the government’s commitment to learners’ safety, the creation of a more supportive school environment, and justice for the bereaved family over the sudden death of their son.

The DPO, Idi emi, assured the family that the situation around the ugly incident would be unravelled to the core, and justice would be served. He assured them of the safety of their wards in the school.

A condolence letter to commiserate with the bereaved family over the loss as well as a cash gift of N500,000 were handed over to the representative of the deceased family.

The officials were received by the family who expressed their grief and shock at the sudden loss of their child.

Petrol consumption has drastically reduced in Nigeria with filling stations recording sharp drop in patronage as reports from across the country indicate.

This is largely connected to the high cost of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, with a litre selling as much as N1,200 in some parts of the country.

The outright removal of fuel subsidy from PMS by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on May 29, 2023, has triggered an increase in pump price, rising from N198 first to N580, and ultinately to between N998 and N1,200.

This represents an increase of about 600 per cent from N198, when it was sold pre-May 29.

With the high cost of the product, it has become virtually unaffordable to many Nigerians with citizens parking their vehicles at home, and filling stations recording low sales, as confirmed by stakeholders in interviews with our reporters.

There are conflicting reports on the daily petroleum consumption. While some reports said it has dropped by over 50 per cent, another report suggested it has dropped by 92 per cent from what it was in 2023.

But reports from across the states indicated a drastic drop with some filling stations complaining of very low patronage while many states that they are at the brink of shutdown.

In a bold call for continued reform, Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in Nigeria’s National Assembly, urged President Bola Tinubu to further intensify his recent cabinet reshuffle by dismissing additional underperforming ministers. The senior lawmaker made his appeal in a statement released on October 26, 2024, lauding Tinubu’s commitment to restructuring while advocating for deeper, more strategic changes to fully realize the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

“The President has taken a commendable step by restructuring his cabinet, but some ministers are still not up to the task,” Ndume stated, endorsing Tinubu’s recent decision to replace five ministers, reassign ten others, and establish the Ministry of Regional Development to succeed the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

Ndume further proposed that President Tinubu convene a national economic summit to foster home-grown solutions for the country’s pressing economic challenges. He recommended an expert panel comprising respected Nigerian economists and former ministers, including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili, Akinwumi Adesina, Mansur Muktar, Arunma Oteh, and economist Tope Fasua.

“This national economic summit should be purely led by these eminent Nigerians, who will provide recommendations tailored to our context instead of relying on the IMF and World Bank, whose prescriptions are often harsh on ordinary citizens,” Ndume argued, stressing the need for local expertise to alleviate external economic pressures.

In addition to backing Tinubu’s reforms, Ndume acknowledged the President’s efforts to cut down the cost of governance and urged similar measures across other branches of government. He emphasized that input from Nigerian experts could yield the long-term strategic direction the country needs, especially as Nigerians face rising economic hardships.

The Senator expressed his confidence in Tinubu’s willingness to adopt expert recommendations, affirming that, with the right moves, Nigeria’s economic landscape can achieve sustainable progress.

The Ogun State Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has suspended a teacher alleged to have beaten and punished one Master Monday Arijo, an SS2 student of Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-emi, which reportedly led to his demise.

The incident, which happened on Friday, also led to the immediate arrest of the teacher, as the Principal of the school, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo was promptly queried for allowing corporal punishment to be used on the pupil against the established rules and regulations in the state.

The principal was given 24 hours to explain her actions and why disciplinary actions should not be taken against her for acting against the instructions of constituted authority.

Subsequently, a letter of condolence was sent to the bereaved family, commiserating with them on the sudden death of their loving son and promising to get justice for the family.

The letter, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, described the late learner as an exceptional pupil who would be missed by his colleagues, the school, and the state at large.

It then prayed for requisite strength for the family to bear the irreplaceable loss as well as for the repose of the departed soul.

In a tragic incident at Obada Idi-Emi High School, located in Imeko Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, a student identified as Ariyo has reportedly died after a teacher allegedly administered 162 strokes of the cane as punishment for breaking a dustbin.

The incident was brought to light by an activist, Adetoun, who posted about it on Instagram. According to Adetoun’s account, the teacher had brought a dustbin into Ariyo’s class with strict instructions that it should not be broken. Ariyo, in a playful response, allegedly remarked that the dustbin was purchased with student funds, which reportedly angered the teacher.

Following this, the teacher escalated the matter to the school principal, who then ordered Ariyo’s punishment. Acting on these instructions, the teacher allegedly proceeded to flog Ariyo repeatedly. During the course of the punishment, Ariyo reportedly collapsed and lost consciousness.

Adetoun further alleged that school staff, including the teacher, delayed taking Ariyo to a hospital for medical attention. When he was eventually taken to a hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Confirming the incident on Friday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said the student was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital.

She said contrary to reports of being beaten 162 strokes of a cane, Ariyo was made to perform 162 frog jumps and was beaten 24 strokes of the cane.

She said, “The incident happened on October 15, 2024. The deceased was asked to do 162 frog jumps and was given 24 strokes of the cane.

“He was rushed to FMC Idi-Aba for medical attention and he died today (October 25). The deceased body has been deposited at the Ayetoro mortuary for autopsy. An investigation is ongoing.”

The Osun State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. Michael Adaralewa has condemned the allegedo Police brutality, assault and illegal detention of an NSCDC personnel in Police Custody.

Dr. Adaralewa in statement by the State Civil Defence, PRO, ASC Kehinde Adeleke,narrated that the incident intially started last Tuesday, around 8pm, at an Estate around Abeere Area Osogbo, when a group of individuals claimed to be police officers in “ANKARA ” cloth drove recklessly into the estate with a private sienna vehicle,to arrest a suspect.

He explained that the NSCDC who manned the security post, requested for means of identification which the individuals who claimed to be Policemen failed to provide and brutally assaulted the NSCDC official.

The State NSCDC Boss noted that the men came back to the Estate the next day ,arrested the Officer, his uniform was torn, brutalized , disarmed, handcuffed like a common criminal, and forcefully taken to Ataoja Division before being moved to the Police State Headquarters.

Dr. Adaralewa who explained that he was released today, after he had been made to undergo more humiliating treatment in the hands of policemen on duty called for thorough investigation into the matter and bring perpetrators to book.

Dr. Adaralewa “We demand there should be no sacred cow in the matter, and we are not going to allow the matter to be swept under the rug”

Meanwhile, in a statement by the Osun State police public relations officer, Yemisi Opalola, the police denied the allegations.

The statement explains that “Policemen came from Oyo State on investigation activities to an Estate in Osogbo to arrest a suspected criminal, they met Civil defence personnel guarding the place who prevented them from arresting the criminal and in the process; beat-up and injured two police officers and deflated the tires of their vehicle.

“The Policemen thereafter called for reinforcement from the nearest Division around the place. Upon arrival of the reinforcement, the Policemen were rescued and one of the Civil Defence personnel who assaulted the Police officers and prevented them from performing their lawful duty was arrested and taken to State CID for investigation.