Oyo State

By Uzair Adam

In a recent operation, Nigerian Army troops successfully eliminated five terrorists affiliated with the Islamic West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.

The clash with the terrorists resulted in the recovery of significant arms and ammunition, including two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs, two Dane guns, an RPG bomb charger, an AK-47 rifle magazine, 23 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, and six motorcycles.

Additionally, the troops recovered assorted medications and rustled cattle.During ongoing operations in the North East, the Army reported that 44 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered in Bama, Dikwa, and Gwoza Local Government Areas.

In Plateau State, the Army apprehended a notorious cattle rustler, Mallam Maawuya Shuaibu, in Mararaban Kantom, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

Shuaibu, previously on security agencies’ watch lists, was arrested with 32 stolen cows.

In Bayelsa State, a raid in Korokorosie Community led to the arrest of Mr. Donald Emason, who was found with a revolver pistol and two locally made guns.

In Oyo State, Mohammed Bello, 33, was detained in Akinyele Local Government Area for allegedly supplying arms to a kidnap syndicate.

These operations highlight the Nigerian Army’s ongoing commitment to addressing terrorism and criminal activities nationwide.

• News Desk

Oyo State branch of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has waded into the case of rape inside the mosque in Ibadan where a Muslim woman was raped inside a mosque by one Idris, a.k.a. Kesari Rekereke.  

In a press statement released on Wednesday, 1^st February 2023, by Ustadh Ibrahim Agunbiade, the ambassador of MURIC in Oyo State, the group warned that the case must not be swept under the carpet.

MURIC confirmed that the suspect is Kesari Rekereke. The group further noted that Kesari Rekereke is the son of a transport union leader known as Almajiri of the Oyo State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).  

The Islamic human rights organisation called for the prosecution of Idris and warned that the case must not be swept under the carpet. Although MURIC commended the police for arresting the culprit, it maintained that justice must not only be done in this case, it must be seen to have been done.

The group also appealed to Muslims in the state to refrain from attempting any reprisal attack.

Dear sir, dear all,

That security of this country is in a coma is no news. That Ogbomoso, the land of the valiant in Oyo State, is under the siege of abductors is also an incontestable fact.

 In the dead of night on Monday, September 19, 2022, along the express, in Gbede, Surulere local government area, a man identified as Alhaji Yisa Agric was reportedly abducted from his house brazenly. This is shocking. 

Several heinous abductions of innocent inhabitants of Ogbomoso were recorded weeks earlier. One of the attacks, which led to the death of a student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state and some people, exacerbated the ire of the people the most. 

Consequently, a rally which was graced with an avalanche of people was launched to engage in the public debate on the issue. After the demonstration, no reported kidnapping case was heard, at least in August. This was jubilated, not knowing their ram moved backwards in anger to garner more power.

The attention of the Oyo State government under the leadership of a good governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde is herein called to this menace of insecurity in Ogbomoso, which is bedevilling his good administration, for hasty panacea be preferred before it goes haywire. 

Also, the philanthropists are beseeched to financially sponsor the unconventional security personnel to launch a manhunt to arrest the unscrupulous perpetrators of the dastardly acts. The earlier, the better.

Olayode Inaolaji wrote from Ogbomoso, Oyo State, via inaolajiolayode@yahoo.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Former Lagos State governor and leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has expressed his confidence that he would win the 2023 presidential election, noting that stakeholders’ reactions are behind his optimism of becoming the president.

Mr Tinubu stated this when he paid a visit yesterday to Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State.

Mr Tinubu was quoted as saying, “Life is a challenge, and you must be ready to confront challenges and overcome. I have the confidence that I will overcome any form of challenge.

“The reactions of critical stakeholders to my presidential ambition have been very positive, encouraging and overwhelming, and these have spurred me on with the strong conviction that we would succeed and emerge victorious after the election.

“We are forging ahead, and with the strong support of the masses of Nigerians, we are going to achieve a resounding victory.”

Recall that the APC leader had told President Muhammadu Buhari that he was interested in contesting for the office of the president come 2023.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A former governor of Oyo State, Christopher Alao-Akala, is dead.

Alao-Akala died on Wednesday at the age of 71. The sad development was confirmed by the Publicity Secretary of the state chapter of the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr Olatunde Abdulazeez.

Dr Olatunde, in affirming the news, said, “The news of his death is out. He did his best for the state, May his soul rest in peace.”

Mr Alao-Akala was the governor of Oyo State from January 12, 2006, to December 12, 2006. He was also elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2007 as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, where he served till May 2011.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Two suspected kidnappers have been reportedly killed by men of the southwest security outfit, popularly known as Amotekun, in Iwajowa Local Government Area, Oyo State

The state Commandant of Amotekun, Olayinka Olayanju, told journalists that the kidnappers were killed during an operation by the Amotekun security outfit on Friday, July 30.

HumAngle, an online newspaper, quoted him as saying, “It is true. There was an operation yesterday afternoon.

“With the support of local vigilantes and hunters, we killed two of them,” he added

Recall that reports indicated that the kidnappers launched an attack on Iwere Ile town on Friday in a failed attempt to abduct some community residents. Officers of Amotekun engaged the assailants in a gun duel and eliminated two of them.

Killings and kidnappings are not a threat only in Northern Nigeria—the southwest is also badly hit by the menace.