There is growing fear in parts of Kwara State as bandits launched multiple attacks on communities in Edu Local Government Area, kidnapping several residents and injuring others within 24 hours.
In the early hours of Sunday, gunmen invaded Lafiagi town and abducted a well-known agro-chemical dealer popularly known as Alhaji Chemical. The attack occurred around 1 a.m. along Taiwo Road, causing panic among residents.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were heavily armed and engaged local hunters in a brief gun duel before overpowering them and escaping with the victim. “They came around 1 a.m., started shooting, and went straight to his house. The hunters fought back, but the bandits had more weapons,” a resident said.
Barely hours after the Lafiagi incident, another attack was reported in Kokodo village, a border community between Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas, where two Hausa men were kidnapped around midnight on Monday.
According to villagers, the Kokodo attack happened just two hours after the kidnapping of a POS operator in Lafiagi town. The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the community and took the victims from their homes.
During the Kokodo invasion, a teenage girl reportedly escaped from the kidnappers, while a resident who attempted to raise the alarm was shot by the attackers.
“The bandits came with heavy weapons. They kidnapped two men and shot a man who tried to shout for help,” a source told The Informant247.
These incidents follow closely on the heels of a deadly attack on Lile village in Patigi LGA, where several residents were killed, and bandits demanded a N200 million levy from the community.
Banditry has become increasingly rampant in Kwara North, especially in Edu and Patigi LGAs, where communities are being frequently targeted for ransom-related abductions.
In a renewed fight against economic saboteurs targeted at critical national assets and infrastructures of government across the country, the ondo state command officers have intensified intelligence-led surveillance across the state.
Acting on credible intelligence, the command tactical team on 26th June, 2025 at about 1000hrs, intercepted and arrested four suspected vandals at old Ore Toll Gate, Lagos Expressway, Odigbo LGA.
The suspects have been identified as: • Mogaji Ibrahim, 40 years old, male, of Kano State, • Umaru Adamu, 32 years old, male, of Yobe State.
Abba Muhazu, 19 years old, male, of Yobe state, and
Adamu Idris, 25 years old, also from Yobe state They were apprehended while transporting vandalised telecommunication wires,PHCN equipment such as transformer parts, high tension cables, copper and armoured cables and other cut-to-size metal objects from Kano to Lagos.
The exhibits have been recovered and secured as evidence. The suspects are currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the master minds and the likely syndicates.
The state Commandant has warned all criminal elements in the state and those using the state as a thoroughfare to other states to stay clear of ondo state as operatives of the command are on high alert to flush out criminal elements from the state.
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan’s outer city zone have warned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, against extravagant spending and poor financial management.
Their concerns focus on controversial state projects, including the proposed ₦63.5 billion renovation of the Agodi Government House and the ₦14.3 billion payment for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Ladoke Akintola Airport—projects they claim already received significant prior funding.
In a communiqué issued after their quarterly meeting at the APC Secretariat in Egbeda, the party leaders criticized what they called “unnecessary spending” despite the state’s public debt nearing ₦500 billion. They noted the state receives over ₦22 billion in federal allocations and about ₦10 billion monthly in internally generated revenue.
They urged the government to prioritize prudent financial planning and channel fuel subsidy savings into long-term development.
Notable signatories included Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Rasaki Akilapa, Moshood Erubami, and others. Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central) was also in attendance to support the party leadership.
The Ondo State Police Command on Thursday said it had arrested a man Chief Adeniyi Ifedayo, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Laaagba community in Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.
Ifedayo, who was the traditional ruler of the community, was said to have lured the girl into his house in the community and harboured her in the house for two weeks, where he allegedly harassed her sexually.
A source stated that the victim was allegedly lured to the house of the traditional ruler by a yet to be identified commercial motorcycle rider in the community, adding that the suspect allegedly kept her in his house for two weeks and fed her with pap, while he assaulted her sexually on a daily basis.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Olayinka Ayanlade, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said the matter had been transferred to the state headquarters of the command.
He simply stated, ” The case has been transferred to the headquarters, and a thorough investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile state chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists Inna statement, has condemned the alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl by the suspect.
In the statement issued by the Chairperson and the Secretary of the group, Mrs Tola Gbadamosi and Tosin Ighoteguono respectively, the association urged the state government and security agencies to ensure the suspect faces the full weight of the law.
In a reaction to the sustained false criminal and slanderous accusations by one Ayodeni Aluko against Elder Wole Oyelese over a land matter, a socio-political group, Egbe Omoluabi,has cautioned the said Ayodeni to desist from her public criminal outburst and media campaign or else face the legal consequences of her action. This is because clear and incontrovertible evidence has shown that the land Ayodeni is laying claim to actually forms part of a larger piece of land belonging to former Minister of Power and Steel and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Elder Wole Oyelese.
In a statement issued by the group’s Chairman, Engr. Waheed Ajani, Egbe Omoluabi described the actions of Mrs. Aluko as ” irresponsible, misleading,criminal and a calculated and deliberate attempt to smeer the impeccable public image of Elder Oyelese in order to gain public sympathy instead of pursuing legal steps.
“It is unfortunate and disheartening that a respected elder statesman like Elder Wole Oyelese is being dragged into a matter as this with baseless allegations. The accuser, rather than follow the appropriate legal channels to prove her claims if she has any has resorted to a media trial,” Engr. Waheed Ajani stated.
He further stressed that land acquisition issues, especially those involving tenancy or disputed ownership, are not resolved in the court of public opinion but through proper legal processes.
Engr. Waheed Ajani further claimed that they’ve concluded their investigations into the land issue and it has been confirmed that Ayodeni Aluko unfortunately conducted her transactions with an individual who has now been identified as a land fraudster and a member of the family that initially sold the land to Elder Oyelese. At no time was the former minister brought into her matter.
“We gathered that the said fake vendor whose name was given as Yekini Abule fraudulently presented himself as having the authority to sell the land and so misled Aluko during the transaction.
It is important to clarify that the land in question was originally and legally sold to Elder Wole Oyelese, who possesses all valid documents proving ownership. Several other victims of this fraudulent scheme by Abule have since acknowledged their situation and mistake and are already taking steps to resolve their matters directly with Elder Oyelese.
Elder Oyelese is a man of integrity, blessed by God, and has no need to unlawfully lay claim to what does not belong to him. The said property in question measuring about forty nine acres we gathered was acquired over twenty years ago by the former minister with valid documentation. If Mrs. Aluko truly believes she has a claim to the one acre she claimed she bought three years ago, she should present her case before the appropriate authorities instead of seeking emotional validation through the media.”
The group also advised Mrs. Aluko to desist from “false and defamatory assertions,” urging her to embrace the rule of law if her claims are genuine.
Egbe Omoluabi concluded its statement by commending the former Honourable Minister for the mature and dignified way he has so far handled the matter. The group while asserting their support for Elder Oyelese, described him as a statesman who has contributed immensely to both the state and the nation and should not be subjected to unnecessary discomfort.
SIGNED Engr. Waheed Ajani Chairman,Omoluabi Group Oyo State.
Mr. Kazeem Olalekan Bello Secretary, Omoluabi Group Oyo State
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has described African leaders as haters of democracy, saying that they lacks basic economics knowledge to push the continent forward.
Obasanjo also blamed Presidents of African nations over deficiency for underdevelopment, corruption, and dependency on foreign aid.
The former Nigeria president led this out on Thursday, during a panel session at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja.
Obasanjo called for a re-evaluation of Africa’s governance systems, saying that Western liberal democracy, inherited from colonial powers, no longer serves the continent’s best interests.
He said: “How many of our leaders even understand basic economics to be able to run the affairs of their country?
“Look at how we go about borrowing and wasting money. Waste and corruption, they are strange bedfellows of development. And that is what most of our leaders engage in.
“In most African languages, opposition is the enemy. Where do you talk of a loyal enemy?
“Our democracy is not a democracy, it is a monocracy. You buy everyone; you become treasurer, and the money goes into your pocket.
“In the African system, we never talk of opposition. We sit down, argue, and get a consensus. Not government versus opposition. Now is the time to say it is not working for us. Even for them, it’s not working.
“If we have knowledge, we will get the right policies from the community level to the national, sub-regional, and continental levels. And those policies will reflect the world we live in.”
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared Nigerian entertainer, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, wanted over alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
NAPTIP made this known in a post on its official Instagram account on Friday, urging the public to report his whereabouts.
The action follows Okoye’s failure to honour multiple invitations by the agency after a viral video showed him claiming he had sex with a 15-year-old girl.
Okoye was first invited to appear at NAPTIP’s Abuja office on May 30, 2025, following the viral Instagram clip that sparked public outrage. He responded by requesting a rescheduled date of June 26, claiming prior commitments. But he failed to appear on that day as well.
In a follow-up, NAPTIP informed him the matter was of urgent national interest and could not follow his personal schedule. The agency said archived videos also showed the singer making disturbing remarks involving minors, which could constitute criminal offences.
NAPTIP’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, said the agency is working with other law enforcement bodies to ensure Okoye is brought in, adding that the agency has activated partnerships to prevent the singer from fleeing the country.
An official disclosed that Okoye’s repeated absences and shifting excuses are being reviewed by the agency’s legal department. Despite Okoye’s claims that the video was a publicity stunt, NAPTIP insists that his statements cannot be dismissed as a joke.
The Lagos State government had earlier reported the matter to NAPTIP, prompting the initial invitation for questioning.
Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor, said the girl mentioned in the video plans to file a police complaint.
NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Bello, is said to be closely monitoring the case, describing it as a serious matter involving child rights.
The Oyo State Government has justified the proposed spending of ₦63.4 billion to overhaul the over 70 year old Government House.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said this while fielding questions from a BBC reporter.
The controversy concerning the amount of money to be spent on reconstructing the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan was triggered after a press release signed by the commissioner after the last Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, 17th of June, 2025.
The Commissioner said the section of the media that touted the impression that the Government House was going to be renovated is either ignorant or mischievous.
“Not once in the 21 paragraph press release, did we use the word ‘renovation,’ whereas we emphasized total overhauling and reconstruction of the old Government House.” Oyelade reaffirmed.
The Commissioner said that the present administration has over 200 ongoing projects, including the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, The 110KM Circular Road, LAUTECH Iseyin campus, Fashola Agro-industrial hub and several other infrastructural development projects across the seven zones of the State and the Government House overhauling and reconstruction is one of them.
The Seyi Makinde administration is the least that can be accused of not getting its priorities right and for six years, the government has nurtured the finance of the State efficiently, such that the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, has increased by over 300% within this period from about ₦1.5 billion to ₦7.8 billion as at the end of May 2025.
The administration has also vigorously pursued the welfare of its workers such that it would pay over ₦174 billion annually in salaries and wages at ₦14.5 billion monthly, to the largest State workforce in Nigeria.
The Commissioner said that an administration that has employed over 27,000 workers, spent a record ₦13 billion on gratuities and pension for the aged, subsidizes the transportation fare of over 42,000 commuters everyday till date and promoted 45 permanent secretaries in one fell swoop, cannot be accused of profligacy.
On the reconstruction and overhauling of the Government House itself, 21 structures would be affected.
The decrepit presidential lodge and the banquet hall, which will be ready for the State’s 50th anniversary celebration next year February, will be totally reconstructed while the Governor and the Deputy Governor’s main residences will be overhauled and structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical works will be comprehensively carried out.
Also affected are several Quarters and chalets for visitors, senior and junior staff, whose duties would necessitate dwelling in the Government House.
According to Prince Oyelade, the mosque, church, external botanical garden, roadworks, landscaping, fencing and furniture are also affected in the reconstruction.
It is instructive that the new Government House will also accommodate a helipad to allow VIP visitors including the presidency, fellow Governors, important dignitaries and the host Governor himself to commute seamlessly to and from their destinations in helicopters.
In arriving at this decision, the State Governor had factored-in, the pride of the State, a befitting official residences for the numbers one and two citizens of the State and a legacy of a beautiful ambience for a place that once had the likes of Sir. John Rankin, Sir. Adesoji Aderemi and others as tenants.
The Commissioner for Information described as laughable and kindergarten the suggestion by a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2027 that the people of Oyo State would be better served by distributing ₦3 million of the ₦63.4 billion to 20,000 citizens.
Those who live in Oyo State know that, that is a poor imitation of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) program of Governor Seyi Makinde that is impacting effectively in the lives of the people since the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy.
The overhauling and reconstruction of the Government House is yet another legacy that the Seyi Makinde administration will bequeath to the people of Oyo State.
Panic and grief have gripped the Bokungi community near Gbale in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State after armed bandits launched a deadly attack, killing a local vigilante and abducting several residents.
The assault took place on the evening of Wednesday, June 25, 2025, when the gunmen stormed the village, shooting sporadically and causing widespread chaos. In a bid to defend his community, a courageous member of the vigilante group lost his life.
Though the exact number of abducted persons remains unclear, the incident has left families in shock and mourning, with many residents still missing and others traumatized by the harrowing experience.
This incident occurred barely 24 hours after a similar attack in Lile village, Patigi Local Government Area, where suspected bandits brutally murdered a PDP chieftain and his son.
Communities across Kwara, particularly in the northern and southern regions, have witnessed a disturbing rise in violent attacks in recent months, with many killed and countless others kidnapped.
The Osun State Police Command has arrested four suspected criminals found with dangerous weapons in a vehicle branded with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) presidency plate number.
The suspects, identified as Adewale Kehinde (25), Adebayo Ayuba (22), Olasupo Abeeb (23), and Adeniyi Mustapha (21), claimed to be students when apprehended.
Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, told journalists in Osogbo on Thursday that the suspects were intercepted on June 24, 2025, around 8:30 p.m. by the CP’s Surveillance Squad along the Osogbo-Ilesa road.
The suspects were driving a Toyota Camry with registration “PRESIDENCY NANS 27ZD.” A search of the vehicle uncovered an English Beretta pistol, two empty magazines, a cutlass, and criminal charms concealed in a box.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the group had been terrorizing Ilesa, Osu, and surrounding areas with their criminal activities.
IMG 20250626 WA0069 In a separate operation, the Swift Action Squad (SAS) arrested two suspects, Usman Abubakar (25) and Bashiru Garuba (26), alleged scrap dealers caught with stolen Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) cables and wires near Modakeke along the Ile-Ife/Ibadan expressway.
The operation also led to the recovery of seven motorcycles—three registered and four unregistered—as well as two sacks of stolen IBEDC cables and two saw blades.
The police further arrested two suspected cultists, Adeparusin Kehinde (23), alias “Kehinde Mansion,” and Ariyibi Dada (25), alias “Enu-Ose,” linked to the killing of one Awoniyi Kazeem during the Osogbo masquerade festival on June 1, 2025. Items recovered from them included two unregistered Qlink motorcycles and three English-made Beretta pistols.
