Oduduwa News

Gunmen on Monday attacked a police checkpoint at Ipele Junction in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, leaving two police officers and a female civilian injured.

According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants opened fire on officers on duty at the checkpoint, triggering panic among residents and commuters in the area. The unexpected shooting caused people to scamper for safety as bullets rang out around the busy junction.

The two police officers were reportedly shot during the attack, while a female civilian was hit by stray bullets. Security operatives at the checkpoint responded swiftly, returning fire and engaging the attackers in a brief gun duel.

The exchange forced the gunmen to flee the scene. However, security sources confirmed that one suspect was later arrested in connection with the attack, following a manhunt launched by security agencies.

The injured officers and the civilian were rushed to a nearby medical facility, where they are currently receiving treatment. Meanwhile, security presence has been reinforced around the area as investigations continue to track down other members of the fleeing gang.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has asserted that he holds the exclusive traditional authority to confer chieftaincy titles that extend beyond local domains and cover the entire Yorubaland. According to him, such titles are distinct from community-based chieftaincy titles and are rooted in pan-Yoruba history and tradition.

The monarch explained that titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” are not local honours and therefore should not be conferred by any other traditional ruler outside the authority of the Alaafin. He anchored his claim on historical precedent, customs, and what the palace described as established legal interpretations.

The statement has reignited debates within Yoruba traditional circles, particularly amid recent instances where other monarchs have conferred titles with pan-Yoruba significance. The Alaafin maintained that such actions amount to an overreach of traditional jurisdiction.

The controversy gained wider attention following the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on Seyi Tinubu, which drew public reactions and renewed scrutiny of traditional hierarchy and authority within Yorubaland.
While supporters argue that the Alaafin’s stance preserves historical order and Yoruba unity, critics insist that no law or court ruling grants absolute supremacy to any single monarch. Many elders and cultural stakeholders have therefore called for dialogue to prevent divisions and safeguard Yoruba cultural heritage.

The Alaafin of Oyo has conferred the revered traditional title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, meaning “the worthy child of the land,” on a prominent Yoruba son in a ceremony that blended age-long customs with contemporary relevance. The conferment underscores the monarch’s enduring commitment to recognising individuals whose conduct and contributions reflect the values, resilience, and aspirations of the Yoruba people.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Alaafin described the Okanlomo title as one reserved for individuals who embody service, loyalty, and a deep sense of responsibility to society. He noted that the honour goes beyond prestige, carrying with it a moral obligation to champion unity, cultural preservation, and development across Yorubaland.

The event drew traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and dignitaries from across the South-West, highlighting the cultural weight of the title within the Yoruba chieftaincy system. Cultural displays and traditional rites marked the occasion, reinforcing the historical roots and symbolism associated with the honour.

Observers say the conferment reflects a broader effort by the Oyo Palace to inspire younger generations to embrace leadership, integrity, and service, while strengthening the relevance of traditional institutions in modern governance and social development.

The Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) has fired a surgeon for secretly removing a patient’s kidney during a medical procedure. The dismissal was confirmed by the state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, on Friday.

The incident came to light when Joshua Afolayan, a kidney transplant recipient, reported that his organ had been taken without his knowledge or consent. The hospital acted swiftly following the revelation, terminating the surgeon involved and initiating necessary investigations into the breach of medical ethics and patient rights.

The case has raised serious concerns about surgical consent and patient safety, prompting calls for stricter oversight and adherence to medical protocols within healthcare institutions.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered the recall of Indomie Vegetable Flavour noodles following safety concerns over the presence of undeclared allergens in the product.

According to the agency, investigations revealed that the noodles contain milk and eggs, which were not listed on the product label. NAFDAC warned that this omission poses serious health risks, particularly to individuals with allergies or intolerances to these substances.

NAFDAC noted that although the likelihood of the affected product circulating in Nigeria is low due to the federal government’s ban on the importation of noodles, the product could still enter the country through unauthorized channels, including online purchases and international travel.

The agency has therefore advised consumers, distributors, and retailers to immediately stop the sale and consumption of the product and report any sightings or adverse reactions to the nearest NAFDAC office, as surveillance and enforcement activities have been intensified nationwide.

A Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Ibadan and former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State, Engr. Professor AbdulGaniy Raji, FNSE, has passed away.

Professor Raji died on Friday, December 19, 2025, at his residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, family sources confirmed.
A respected academic, seasoned engineer, and public servant, the late Professor Raji made significant contributions to engineering education, environmental sustainability, and Nigeria’s electoral administration.

He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and was widely regarded for his professionalism and commitment to national development.
The Janazah prayer is scheduled to hold on Saturday at the Ogbomoso Central Mosque, Oja’agbo, by 11:00 a.m., after which he will be laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.

Colleagues, former students, and associates have begun paying tributes, describing him as a disciplined scholar, principled administrator, and mentor whose impact will be long remembered.
May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and comfort his family and loved ones. Ameen.

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, has paid a condolence visit to the family of late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, a leader within the Tijaniyaa sufi order and one of the largest Islamic organizations in the world.

The Ex Presidential Candidate, who shares the same birthday 28th June with the late cleric, spoke in Hausa, which he later translated. He said, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi stood out in an era where religiosity is often divorced from godliness, noting that while many claim religious authority, few truly fear God.

“Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was not just a religious man; he was highly learned, informed, and above all, a man who genuinely feared God.

Dr Hashim came with a large delegation which included Sheikh Haliru Abdulahi Maraya (Kaduna),Dr Ibrshim Umar (Kaduna),Mr Kamaldeen Adebayo Sanni (FCT), Hajia Rabi Musa (Nassarawa),Mr Ezekiel Dinfa(Plateau)and Cordinators of the Hashim Organization in the three Senatorialcdistrics and 20 LGA’s of Bauchi State.

The Ooni of Ife and Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has awarded a total of ₦19 million to outstanding graduating students and lecturers of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, at the institution’s convocation ceremony held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

At the event, the overall best graduating student, Kemisola Yusufa, a Microbiology graduate who recorded a 3.87 Grade Point Average, received a cash prize of ₦6 million from the monarch.

Also rewarded were six best graduating students, one from each of the institution’s six faculties, who received ₦1.5 million each, amounting to ₦9 million.

In addition, two lecturers emerged winners of the Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Award for Innovation and Technology and were presented with ₦2 million each.

Oba Ogunwusi, who is also the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC) and an alumnus of the Polytechnic, commended the management of the institution for sustaining its tradition of academic excellence.

Describing the Polytechnic, Ibadan, as the foundation of his success, the Ooni recalled his days as a student of the Accountancy Department over 30 years ago.

“This citadel of learning remains my foundation in life. I left this great school 30 years ago as an accountancy student, and it is a joy to reconnect with my roots today,” he said.

‎The Palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland has dismissed allegations credited to ace film maker and thespian, Chief Lere Paimo regarding the alleged remaking of the Ogbórí Elemoso film, describing the claims as misleading and capable of causing unnecessary public speculation.

‎In a statement issued by the Media Assistant to the Soun, the Palace said it was compelled to respond in order to set the record straight, despite its reluctance to engage in public controversy, particularly involving Baba Lere Paimo, a respected Chief of the Palace and the Aare Arobajo of Ogbomosoland.

‎According to the statement, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, had earlier informed Baba Lere Paimo of plans to creatively remodel aspects of Ogbomoso history into a movie project designed to meet global storytelling standards, including platforms such as Netflix. The monarch reportedly invited Baba Lere Paimo to participate in the project as a character and contributor.

The contest over the Awujale stool has taken a decisive legal turn. And it promises to be fascinating!

Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has instituted a lawsuit against the Ogun State Government, the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, and the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

The action signals an escalation of the succession dispute, shifting the battleground from traditional processes and administrative deliberations to judicial interpretation. That K1 has approached the court means that he is seeking legal clarity and intervention in a matter that sits at the intersection of custom, governance, and law.

The case now places the judiciary at the centre of a sensitive traditional institution, one whose authority derives from history, lineage, and communal consensus, but increasingly finds itself shaped by modern legal frameworks.

As proceedings progress, attention will turn not only to the claims and counterclaims before the court, but also to what this moment says about the evolving relationship between traditional authority and state power in Ogun State.