The Oyo State Government has sealed off a collapsed building under construction belonging to Item7go, a popular restaurant located in Dugbe area of Ibadan.
Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, who spoke with newsmen after an on-the-spot assessment of the collapsed building, said the action was to ensure safety of lives and properties.
He declared that an integrity test would be carried out on the collapsed building and on other branches of the restaurant in the state to avoid a recurrence.
Akin-Funmilayo stated that the outcome of the test would determine the next action of the government.
He said: “Earlier this morning, the message got to me that there was a building collapse at Dugbe and we came over here to see things for ourselves.
“We thank God that there is no loss of life. “After seeing the extent of the collapse, we decided that it has to be sealed off because we have to prevent loss of life.
“Professionals from the Ministry of Works would have to come and carry out an integrity test after which the report would advise us on the next action to be taken on the property.
“If they can continue, we will let them know and if it has to be totally brought down, we will let them know as well.
“From what we have seen, substandard materials were used and this has also been corroborated by our professionals from the Ministry of Works. The Director of Public Building has equally looked at it and confirmed it.
“However, we will still go for an integrity test so that absolute professionalism can be ensured and the result thereafter will determine the next action we will take.
“There is an approval for the design. The building has been in existence before but there is a renovation coming up. From the information made available to me, there is a company trying to have an outlet here and they are the people trying to do the renovation. But we never expected what actually happened.
“In addition, this outlet belongs to a popular eatery outfit. I believe the same Engineer doing this place handled the other outlets they have in Ibadan and other cities. But, for this to have happened, it means that we have to carry out an integrity test on all their buildings.
“If we find out that the other outlets fail the integrity test, we will bring them down, because we cannot afford to toy with the lives of our people.”
The Federal Government has declared Friday 6th, and Monday 9th June, 2025 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Muslim Ummah both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Sunday, lamented that President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope has turned into a nightmare for Nigerians.
Afenifere, in a statement by its Leader and National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Justice Faloye, said the midterm report of the Tinubu administration has shown that every human development and sociopolitical index has regressed.
It also accused the administration of engaging in “massive propaganda claiming false successes.”
The statement reads: “The Midterm Report shows that every human development and sociopolitical index has regressed since the coming to office of the President Bola Tinubu administration, turning the promise of renewed hope to a nightmare of regressing hopelessness and despair.
“Rather than take full responsibility for the unmitigated sufferings inflicted on Nigerians in the past two years on account of its wrong policy choices and wasteful spending, the Tinubu administration has engaged in massive propaganda claiming false successes and shifting blames to global and historical factors, and showing scant empathy for ordinary Nigerians.
“Basically, due to unforced errors, especially the oversight of the production element of subsidies and floating the Naira, without any preparation to cushion the predictable impact, the Tinubu Economic Reforms has turned out to be Tinubu Economic Deforms.
“A Prebendal and Government for the privileged and connected* : Despite the Tinubu administration’s economic policies causing huge inflation that cut real wages in over half, only 4.1% of the Nigeria population in the civil service had their wages increased by 38%. Reliance on unproven channels for the distribution of pitiable halfhearted food and other palliatives were corruptly split among those connected, while uncontested mega projects were brazenly given to those with well known connections to the President. It is obvious that the Tinubu administration has no intention of delivering the greatest good the greatest number of Nigerians.
“It has been a harrowing experience living through the pain and anguish of the last two years, inflicted on the nation by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. This Midterm Report is a duty that Afenifere must fulfil to prevent government propagandists from drowning the voices of millions of hungry and deprived Nigerians.
“Rather than focusing on service delivery, the Tinubu administration is focusing on winning the 2027 election regardless of the voters. No amount of propaganda will erase hunger and poverty in the land. Only selfless and empathetic leadership can serve the people, not Prebendalist and hedonistic lifestyle.
If this Midterm Report was an academic exercise, the student will receive an advice to withdraw from the examiner, but we believe there is still room for redemption. We urge the President and his choir of mandate seekers to reflect and for a change just love Nigeria and Nigerians.”
A disturbing incident has unfolded at the “Complete Child Development Center” in Awule, Akure, Ondo State.
The Vice Principal of the school was brutally assaulted by thugs allegedly hired by the parent of a student, Elisha Wisdom, who was caught with an Android phone during the ongoing WAEC examination.
The Vice Principal had disallowed “Elisha Wisdom” from cheating during the examination, which led to the parent’s violent reaction. The parent’s aggression didn’t stop at the assault; they also issued threats to kill the Vice Principal and any member of the school authority if Elisha is not allowed to cheat in future examinations.
The Vice Principal is currently admitted to St John & Mary Hospital, Odokoyi, receiving treatment for the injuries sustained during the assault.
The Ondo State Police Commissioner has launched a manhunt to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act including the parents and the hoodlums.
Operatives of Osun State Police Command have arrested three suspected thieves, identified as Ademola Olaosun, Adedokun Isiaka, and Abdullahi Hassan for allegedly engaging in burglary in Abiodun community, Ota-Efun, Osogbo.
In a statement by the Command’s Spokesman, Abiodun Ojelabi on Saturday, revealed that the suspects carried out the act on May 8, 2025, around 5 p.m. after breaking into the victim’s house.
Ojelabi identified some of the stolen properties as two 6kg gas cylinders, three 3kg gas cylinders, one mattress, one LG 32-inch plasma TV, one smart LG 32-inch plasma TV, two pressing irons, two speakers, one 14-inch plasma TV, two video CD player machines and others.
He said: “In its unwavering efforts to improve on the existing low crime tempo in the state, in collaboration with the members of Abiodun community, Ota-Efun, the Command succeeded in the arrest of one Adewumi Ademola Olaosun, ‘m’ 42 years.
“The suspect on 8th May, 2025, at about 5 p.m., broke into the house of the complainant and stole one LG plasma TV, one 6kg gas cylinder, and one umbrella.
“The complainant raised the alarm, and he was apprehended with the help of the community members.
“Four other victims of their nefarious acts from the two communities identified the suspects as having burgled their houses, which was earlier reported on April 24, 2025.
“The following items were recovered from the suspects: five kegs of palm oil, two 6kg gas cylinders, three 3kg gas cylinders, one mattress, one LG 32-inch plasma TV, one smart LG 32-inch plasma TV, two pressing irons, two speakers, one 14-inch plasma TV, two video CD player machines, one aluminum fabricator cutting machine, one Orion standing fan, one LG DVD player, one StarTimes decoder, one single tabletop fridge, one small umbrella, a sack containing a lot of foodstuff, and kegs of vegetable oil.”
“Ask a man what his greatest fear is about serving jail time, and he will almost inevitably say he fears being raped. What can we deduce from the fact that jail is to men what life is to so many women?” -Soraya Chemaly
If I had my way, a lot of, in fact, seventy per cent of all entertainers would be cancelled. This week, I read the controversial statement of Speed Darlington during a livestream. During the livestream, he admitted to “going down” with a fifteen-year-old teen. I must say I was gladdened when netizens called him out online for admitting to committing rape. However, in Speed Darlington’s response to the backlash, he retracted the statement by saying he was only trying to get attention, and as an entertainer, one must continually be in the spotlight, either negatively or positively, to be booked. In other words, Darlington is saying he must joke around serious issues like rape to court attention. I wondered why his social media account is still on. He should have been reported a thousand times so such h message isn’t be passed on again. Then I remembered that it is a common feature in the entertainment industry to be controversial.
Oxlade’s sex tape pushed him to the limelight once again. Chinko Ekun’s and Oladips fake death promoted them. But where do we draw the line?
I remember growing up as a teenager and having access to comic skits of skit makers on my friend’s phone. Then, one particular skit had a lady being wooed and love-bombed by an admirer. He would spend money on her, give her gifts and be her “mumu” until one day, the lady came to visit. Then he made an aside statement in Yoruba, “Aja to ba wo le tekun o ma fi eje we”, loosely translated to mean ” the dog that goes in with the cheetah would be bathed in blood”. Seconds later, there was a background scream from room, the lady saying” ” Please stop”, but he kept reminding her of how much he had spent on her as a means of justifying his unpermitted access to her, and the background “banging” sound that accompanies sex took over. Looking back, I realized what was done to me and my friend with that skit. I was made to understand that for everything a guy gives me, my body is the reward. And to my friend, a male, once he spends on a girl, he is entitled to her body. You’d be biased to say the messages both my friend and I got aren’t a current reality.
A lady in my neighborhood was raped in my father’s building years back. My family resides in the first building while the building at the back was uncompleted. Beside both buildings, was a narrow path people tread to get to the next street. So it was not uncommon to hear footsteps and voices even late at night. The rape happened at night while we slept and heard nothing. It was the chairman and some community elders who came to our house to narrate the unfortunate incident to us. Although I was a teenager, I was sad for her. But people went on to victim-blame the lady. They blamed her for collecting money from him when she knew she wasn’t ready to have sex. And I wondered when loving someone became synonymous with sex work, where you give body in exchange for body. The lady shamefully left the area and I think the guy was arrested but later released. Afterwards, parents and clerics during sermons warned their girls not to receive gifts from men, but not one told their sons to leave a woman once she said No.
Olamide Badoo’s story for the Gods lyrics is one that explicitly describes a rape scene where the victim pleads
“she says it’s getting late o she say she wants to faint o. Story for the gods o”
It is common for victims of rape to be mostly cornered by their assailants. Either by the deliberate tactics of keeping them delayed longer than they should or drugging them(she wants to faint might connote lightheadedness from exhaustion or the influence of drugs). Then is a response, “story for the gods” connotes in its entirety one who doesn’t give a damn about her concerns and her pleading.
While an artist is at liberty to communicate his view or share his emotions, the message should be clear. In this song of Olamide, it’s not clear if he was the assailant or narrating from the perspective of the victim, but we see how music can, if not channelled towards a particular theme, trigger negativities.
Popular singer Niniola narrates a case of unconsenting sex in her song titled “Boda Sodiq”
“Boda Sodiq
Will you promise me not to touch it?
O de jor
Boda Sodiq
I just had a sip of liquor”
Here, we see a vulnerable lady who’s drunk and telling a man to promise her not to touch her after having a night time at the club. It could be deduced that they both went out as indicated by the video, but Boda Sodiq had other plans.
“Gbemi lo ile
Did you have to
Gbemi lo
Oh
Boys quarters
What happened in your boys’ quarters?
Boys quarters”
In Yoruba, gbemi lo Ile can be loosely translated to mean “take me home” The ambiguous nature in the structure of this verse makes it difficult to ascertain if she requested to be taken to her home (gbemi lo Ile) or if she was repeating the line “gbemi lo Ile” for emphasis sake before asking the question she intends to. “what happened in your boys quarters?” “Did you have to take me home?”
The onus is that culture, especially popular culture, has contradicted the human inherent empathetic nature, making them not only join the bandwagon of what people do or what’s a norm but also create a pattern of insensitive people.
Cruises about serious issues like rapes, and assault have often crossed the line making people who perpetrate the violent act emboldened. For instance, viral memes once read.
“You say Dem rape you but na doggy style”
“Dem dey rapes you, you dey moan. Anita how?
A “cruise”, a lyric, a slang that downplays the severity of rape, is a typical feature of rape apology, and the earlier we call ourselves to order, the better.
Nusrat Lasisi is a writer and women rights advocate. She’s a graduate of English and currently a masters student at the University of Ibadan. She can be contacted via Gmail. nusratlasisi2000@gmail.com
In what it likened to be Islamophobia and barbaric act, the Muslim Community of Oyo State has strongly condemned a recent attack on a Muslim woman, Hajia Shukuroh Olapade, who was wearing a Niqab (veil) at Oje Market in Ibadan on May 21, 2025.
The community described the attack as “barbaric” and “a serious breach of the dignity of womanhood.
In a press statement signed by Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni (Chairman) and Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade (Secretary-General), the Muslim Community alleged that the attack was an orchestrated plan by enemies of Islam to unleash crisis and accused some anti-Islamic groups of clandestinely stoking crisis and using the press and public opinion to blame Muslims.
The community called on governments and security agencies to identify the perpetrators, unravel their grand plan, and nip the crisis in the bud.
They also urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to refrain from being deployed as an instrument towards attaining this nefarious intent to cause a major religious disharmony.
The Muslim Community emphasized their commitment to peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationships with other religious groups, citing the Quranic verse “Your faith directs you to one way and mine, to another” (Q109:6). However, they warned against allowing societal devils to infiltrate their ranks and cause evil.
The community’s call for action highlights the need for proactive measures to prevent escalation and promote interfaith understanding and respect.
The statement read in full:
MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA
Press Statement – Saturday, 31st May, 2025
ATTACK ON ‘ELEHA’ AT OJE IBADAN: GOVTS AND SECURITY AGENCIES SHOULD TAKE PRO-ACTIVE STEPS TO AVOID ESCALATION – DON’T EXONERATE C.A.N.
Attack on a Muslim sister, Hajia Shukuroh Olapade on Wednesday 21st May, 2025, adorning Niqab, in line with the regulations of Islam, is an orchestrated plan by enemies of Islam, to unleash crisis, where there is none.
That was a very barbaric action. How can someone just imagine in his head that a woman is walking like a man and immediately suspect the person behind the clothe is a kidnapper?. As if we were still in stone age, the woman was savagely and crudely stripped naked. A very serious breach of the dignity of woman-hood.
After discovering that the person attacked was a woman, they still went on with the attack. So barbaric!
It is a known fact, the knack for some anti-Islam body/ies to clandestinely stoke crisis and go for cover. When Muslims now react, they then go for the kill. They ignite tension through the instrumentality of the Press and the court of public opinion. The Muslims are then perceived as the law-breakers. We know their strategy. They had employed such approach before, It will never work again.
A similar event was reported to have taken place at ljora, in Lagos, shortly before the Ibadan incident.
This is ISLAMOPHOBIA of the highest order!
The Muslim Community is in the vanguard for a peaceful society where harmonious and religious co-existence.
When Muslims now start defending ‘Elehas’ that are attacked in such manner and there is counter reprisal, they then place the blame at the doorstep of Muslims.
Let us remember the recent brouhaha against the inauguration of a Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Oyo town. A Panel that has existed in Kishi, Saki and Ibadan, in some cases, since over thirty years ago, and which is just for arbitration between willing Muslims, who only subject themselves to the laws of Islam, to a mere panel that has no power of enforcement.
It is unfathomable how this affects non-Muslims.
This attack on Muslim women in Niqab (Eleha) could be another ploy to whip public opinion against anything Islam, linking it to the erstwhile misunderstanding of the Shari’ah Arbitratation Panel.
Why is it that some non-Muslim groups and organisations in Yorubabaland just find it difficult to come to the realisation that Islam will survive and we shall co-exist. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
“They wish to extinguish Allah’s light with their mouths, but Allah will certainly perfect His light, even to the dismay of disbeleivers” – Q61:8
We hereby call on Governments; Directors of DSS and; Heads of other Security Agencies, to:
1. Identify the perpetrators;
2. Unravel their grand plan and,
3. Nip the crisis in the bud.
We equally urge the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), to refrain from being deployed as an instrument towards attaining this nefarious intent to cause a major religious disharmony.
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
“Your faith directs you to one way and mine, to another” – Q109:6
Thus, on issues of faith, we have different systems. On social and co-existential issues, we can work together. However, we should refrain from allowing societal devils from infiltrating our ranks to cause evil.
Therefore, the searchlight for averting the crisis being orchestrated, should also be beamed to the doorsteps of CAN, in order to ensure we are not chasing shadows.
Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, CHAIRMAN
Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade, SECRETARY – GENERAL
The Super Eagles of Nigeria clinched the 2025 Unity Cup title on Saturday, defeating Jamaica 5–4 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a thrilling 2–2 draw in regulation time.
Nigeria took the lead through Moses Simon in the first half, before Jamaica equalized. Samuel Chukwueze restored Nigeria’s lead after the break, but the Jamaicans responded again, sending the match into penalties.
The tournament, held from May 27 to 31 at the Brentford Community Stadium in London, was a lively celebration of football and cultural heritage, bringing together teams from Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Organised to promote unity and pride among African and Caribbean diasporas in the UK, the 2025 edition marked the return of the Unity Cup after a 21-year hiatus—the last edition was held in 2004.
A moment of political tension unfolded on Sunday during the official commissioning of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appeared to snub Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a handshake with state governors.
The incident, which occurred in full view of dignitaries and national media, saw President Tinubu greet other governors present at the high-profile event but noticeably skipped Sanwo-Olu, raising eyebrows and fueling speculations about possible cracks within the Lagos political establishment.
The 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the current administration’s flagship infrastructure projects, expected to boost inter-state commerce, tourism, and logistics across Nigeria’s southern corridor. The event was meant to be a celebration of progress and development, but the President’s body language stole the spotlight.
Observers noted that while the atmosphere remained officially cordial, the gesture or lack thereof between Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu has already sparked conversations in political circles and online platforms.
As of press time, neither the Presidency nor the Lagos State Government had issued a statement to clarify the incident.
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 46 young men following a deadly clash between rival cult groups that erupted in Ondo town on Tuesday evening. The violent confrontation claimed the lives of four individuals and left several others injured, spreading fear and tension across the ancient town.
According to reports, the violence broke out in multiple neighborhoods, including Ife Garage, Sabo, and Christ Land in the Oka area. Masked gunmen believed to be members of a cult group launched coordinated attacks, opening fire on their targets. At least three individuals associated with the Ẹiyẹ confraternity were reportedly k!lled at Ife Garage, while another fatality occurred in the Sabo area.
In a statement released on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, described the incident as a serious threat to public safety. He disclosed that police operatives conducted a series of coordinated raids across identified hotspots in the town, resulting in the arrest of 46 suspects. Several firearms and rounds of ammunition were also recovered during the operation.
“These are desperate times, and they call for desperate actions,” Ayanlade stated, emphasizing that all arrested suspects had varying levels of involvement in the violent unrest. He affirmed the command’s commitment to tracking down every individual connected to the conflict.
Ayanlade urged residents to remain calm, avoid panic, and cooperate with security agencies. “We will not rest until we arrest the remaining people who are responsible for the crisis,” he assured.
Meanwhile, local authorities and community leaders have called for heightened vigilance and unity among residents to prevent a recurrence of such violence. They emphasized that restoring peace and ensuring long-term security in Ondo town must be a collective effort.
