The traditional ruler of Ifetuntun community in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Taofeeq Osunmakinde, the Obawure of Ifetuntun, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged threats to destroy the community
The monarch also appealed to the IGP over incessant clashes arising from a boundary dispute between his community and a neighbouring community in the Ijebu West Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The monarch who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday, urged Egbetokun to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators of unrest stemming from the ongoing border dispute between Ife South and Ijebu West over the 30-mile land area known as Ifetuntun.
Osunmakinde recalled that in 2001, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, a conflict erupted between the settlers of Ifetuntun and the Ijebu communities, prompting the Federal Government’s intervention.
But the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation demarcated the borders, allowing both communities to coexist peacefully until now.
According to him, the Ifetuntun community had been existing before 2010, and the recognition of the throne solidified their peaceful way of life, which has persisted since.
He, however, alleged that some top government officials are threatening to destroy the community, noting that armed hoodlums were beginning to take control of the community while security agencies are victimising his people.
He said, “Ifetuntun has experienced the rule of nine military and civilian administrations without significant conflict or disarray in the community.
“However, in 2016, we faced their first attack led by a forest guard from the Ministry of Natural Resources. They hired thugs who burned homes and caused damage estimated at N2 billion in our community.
“Several arrests were made then, while the principal suspects disappeared, and the matter was eventually settled out of court through intervention from the then Ooni of Ife and the former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.
“But in recent times, a group of hoodlums has been harassing our residents along the federal road connecting Ife South to Ijebu West LGs ( in Osun and Ogun states, respectively). The hoodlums have been extorting money from passersby, claiming to be acting on behalf of the state government. Continue reading Osun monarch petitions IG over threat to destroy community
Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has condemned the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing the gruesome killings suspected armed herdsmen as a direct consequence of leadership failure in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Obi expressed heartbreak over the attacks, which claimed the lives of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons.
He called for an urgent national response, warning against the growing normalisation of mass killings in the country.
“My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, all senselessly slain.
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According to the former Anambra State governor, the scale of the killings goes beyond isolated violence and reflects systemic governance failure.
“Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin. This is not merely violence.
“It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience,” Obi stated.
He lamented the continued inability of governments at all levels to perform their primary duty of securing lives and property, saying each loss of life is a deep wound to the nation.
He said, ”Every life lost is a Nigerian life, each one precious, each one irreplaceable. We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable.
“The primary duty of any government, federal, state, or local is to protect lives and property.
“When it repeatedly fails, we must ask: What kind of nation are we bequeathing to our children?.”
Obi offered words of solidarity to grieving communities in Benue, assuring them that their suffering is not in vain.
“To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain.
“The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice.
“The survival of our people must not be negotiable; it must be urgent, deliberate, and comprehensive action.”
He also called on authorities to move beyond mere rhetoric and take concrete, decisive steps to protect vulnerable communities.
Obi wrote,”To all relevant authorities, I say that the time has come to move beyond symbolic gestures to decisive deployment.
“Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements.
“A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask,it is our moral duty, our national duty.”
Closing his statement, Obi said the current state of insecurity does not reflect the Nigeria that citizens deserve or aspire to live in.
“This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to.
“We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity,” Obi added.
PUNCH Online had reported that armed herders invaded Yelwata and Daudu towns in Guma Local Government Area of the state, killing hundreds of people, including security operatives, between Friday night and Saturday morning.
A local leader, Matthew Mnyan, claimed the death toll could be as high as 200, including five security personnel.
A helicopter carrying seven passengers, the pilot included, has crashed in the northern Indian state of Uttarakh, leading to the death of all its occupants.
BBC reported that five passengers, one child, and one crew member were on board.
This happened barely three days after an India Air plane crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad and killed more than 270 people.
Local media in India reported that the Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, following a pilgrimage path through the Himalayan mountains.
The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the pilot and a two-year-old child were among those killed, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will be investigating the crash.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department said,” At around 5:30 AM, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham, could not be located.”
According to the State Disaster Response Force, local administration and other rescue teams have begun engaging in relief and rescue operations. The agency described the incident as “very sad news.”
Meanwhile, the toll from last Thursday’s India Air crash has continued to increase.
Rescue teams in the aviation industry have continued to search the site and debris of the ill-fated Boeing 787 aircraft.
The Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad told The Associated Press that the facility had received 270 bodies, and only the surviving passenger is still under observation for his injuries.
“He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,” the facility said on Saturday.
Relatives of the victims have also commenced the submission of DNA samples to identify and claim their relatives.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has called on President Bola Tinubu to initiate an urgent investigation into the unresolved and suspicious deaths of key figures associated with the June 12 pro-democracy struggle.
He said this included Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, and Kudirat Abiola.
DELE GIWA
Soyinka made this appeal on Saturday during a reflective fireside conversation with selected journalists at Freedom Park, Lagos.
The dialogue, themed, “June 12: Romancing the Embers,” was held to mark the anniversary of the annulled 1993 presidential election, a watershed moment in Nigeria’s democratic history that is now commemorated as a national holiday.
According to him, Tinubu should initiate a formal probe into the strange circumstances that led to the deaths of Nigerians who paid the ultimate price during the struggle for democracy to give some closure to the matter.
While commending the symbolic significance of June 12, Soyinka noted that honouring its legacy must go beyond annual rituals and speeches.
He argued that justice for those who died in the fight for democracy would lend deeper meaning to the day’s commemoration.
The playwright and activist also announced that he would be dedicating any honours or recognition bestowed upon him on June 12 to the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti.
He said Beko was not just a defender of human rights, a champion of good governance, and a tireless campaigner for democracy, but an intelligent, resourceful, and fearless individual willing to take dare-devil risks in pursuit of justice.
Meanwhile, Soyinka described former military president Ibrahim Babangida’s memoir, ‘A Journey in Service,’ as incomplete, insisting that the retired general owes Nigerians the duty of finishing the 405-page book, which was published in February 2025 by Bookcraft Africa.
Soyinka said Babangida must write a follow-up book, as his autobiography remains unfinished.
“I called him (Babangida) and I said that your memoir is not finished. And I said, isn’t it about time that we name names in this matter? Babangida’s book should be read side by side with Professor Omo Omoruyi’s. Omoruyi was there,” Soyinka said, referring to Professor Omoruyi’s own account of the annulment, The Tale of June 12: The Betrayal of the Democratic Rights of Nigerians.
“I told him, you haven’t finished your book. You have to write another one. That’s my position,” Soyinka asserted.
It will be recalled that Professor Omoruyi was Babangida’s close friend and confidant throughout his eight-year tenure as military president.
The Nobel Laureate also described Babangida as “a general without an army.”
“We know of a certain move which he made. We know those who visited him at the time, those who added their weight to the annulment, both within the military and the civil. We know the royal fathers who went to visit and said on no account will they accept the implementation of that election.
“We know all of that. It’s not me who should write it. It’s he. He owes it to the nation,” Soyinka maintained.
The Anambra State Government has expressed its preparedness to respond effectively to any flood related emergency by taking precautionary measures across the state to avert any disaster.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, made this known in an interview with journalists in Awka, on Saturday, adding that the ministry in collaboration with relevant agencies, has intensify the sensitisation of the people to this year’s rainfall and likely flooding.
This is coming ahead of the three-day rainy weather conditions predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency starting from Saturday to Monday across Nigeria.
Also, fears have gripped residents since last Monday when a heavy downpour caused severe flooding around Zik’s Avenue, Iweka Road, near the popular Ochanja Market in Onitsha, the commercial centre of the state, ravaged some shops and disrupted business activities in the area.
The flood, triggered by several hours of non-stop rainfall and worsened by blocked drainage channels, submerged the entire stretch of Zik’s Avenue, displacing traders and halting commercial operations as well as both vehicular and non-vehicular movements throughout the day.
Videos of the flooding still circulating online showed when traders and residents struggled to salvage goods from flooded shops, while tricycle operators were seen struggling to rescue his vehicles from being swept away by the rising waters.
Reacting to these developments, Odimegwu stated that the campaign and sensitisation was in response to early warnings from NiMET indicating that Anambra was among the states at high risk of flooding during the rainy season.
He said, “After the first six months seasonal prediction by NiMet, we disseminated the information and notified residents, especially those living at the coastal areas about the upcoming rainfall and flooding consequences, and urged the general public to be absolutely careful and prepared for it.
“The state government has consistently sensitises the people to desist from blocking water channels and drainages in and around surroundings of their houses to pave way for easy flow of flooding. The blockage of water drainages is the root cause of man-made flooding.
“What we are doing is that whatever would cause flooding in the urban areas by man, we will try to prevent it. But, if it is the flooding caused by river rising above the sea level, we will give warning to people living in the riverine areas to prepare on how to vacate.”
The Commissioner further said that the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is equally showing great concerns to flood devastations in the state in the last three years and as a result, has constituted committees headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim.
According to him, the committees constitute officials of the ministry of environment, ministry of health, ministry of information, ministry of education, local government chairmen, and State Emergency Management Agency.
“The reason for constituting the committees is for us to start in time to strategise and put measures in place ahead of this year’s flooding in case it occurs. The Committees were formed since 2022 when flood devastated about nine local government areas of the state.
“After that 2022 flood devastation, we vowed that such disaster cannot occur again, but if it eventually happens, the effects will not be as severe as it was in 2022 because of the measures we have put in place.
“Now, rains have started, every week I send notice of early warnings to some other stakeholders who are in the standing Committees which local government chairmen are also among them because they have their own local emergency management committees who manage the crisis if it occurs.
“The early warning signs have become important because it will alert to how and when it will rain heavily and provides avenue for them to prepare and be careful whether the rain will cause flooding or not,” he added.
He also pointed out that the weekly early warning alerts will equally help farmers in the riverine areas to harvest their products to avoid being submerged by flood, stressing that the early warning/ signs of rains also helps traders, artisans and civil servants to adjust their movements to avoid being caught up by rain.
The commissioner said, “We will continue posting the early warning signs until we reach the peak of rain season. During this period, we will now embark on manual preventive measure ‘Called Marking’. There is an object that has different coloured edges which we buried in the ground that shows the level of rising water from the sea.
“From the object, when water level reaches the green edge, it indicates that there is no problem, but if it rises from green to yellow edge, it indicates that people should be vigilant and by then, we will tell people to start packing to where we arranged for them. If the water level rises to red edge, then there is great danger. Red edge is a situation where flood begins to carry people and destroy properties.”
No fewer than 64,000 candidates from Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo on Saturday participated in the National Common Entrance Examination for admission into Federal Government Colleges.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the examination is conducted by the National Examinations Council.
Speaking after monitoring the exercise at Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, expressed satisfaction with the exercise.
Ahmad emphasised that the turnout of candidates reflected the continued public trust in the Unity School system.
“I am very happy with the way the exams have been conducted.
”They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active.
“We had 64,000 candidates, 30,000 male and 34,000 female, which shows a strong interest in our Unity Colleges.
“Nigerians are still eager to have their children in Federal Government Colleges.
”This turnout shows that parents still value the role of Unity Schools in national cohesion,” she said.
On his part, the NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, said Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with more than 15,000 while Togo had the lowest with 17.
Wushishi said that 109 candidates from Benin Republic and Togo combined took part in the examination with Nigerian citizens residing there.
“This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our Unity Colleges,” he said.
He noted that no challenges were reported during the conduct of the examination.
“Materials arrived on time, the exam started as scheduled, and so far, we’ve seen no issues.
“This smooth process gives us hope that upcoming senior secondary exams, both WAEC and NECO will follow suit,” he said.
The NECO boss also acknowledged the inclusion of children with special needs, saying braille materials and support personnel were provided for them during the examination.
Also speaking, the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Binta Abdulkadir, said admissions into Unity Schools would be based on merit, state quota and exigency, the latter catering largely for children of civil servants.
Abdulkadri added that final admissions would depend on the released results, promising to remain committed to a fair and inclusive process.
NAN reports that the examination, which is yearly, enables pupils access Federal Government colleges, popularly called Unity Colleges.
Admissions into the first term academic session will begin after the release of the results.
The Kebbi State Government has commenced the evacuation and clearance of drainage systems across sensitive areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Urban Development, Hayatu Bawa, made this known on Friday in a statement issued to journalists in Birnin Kebbi.
He explained that the exercise is part of ongoing efforts to prepare the state ahead of the rainy season.
According to the commissioner, the clearance is aimed at removing waste and other blockages from waterways to ensure the free flow of rainwater, thereby preventing the overflow that often leads to flooding in residential areas.
“We have already begun clearing drains to allow water to flow freely during the rainy season. This is intended to prevent the devastating effects of flooding,” Bawa said.
He commended Governor Nasir Idris for approving the initiative and for providing the necessary financial and logistical support to the ministry, which he said has ensured a smooth and effective operation.
Bawa also used the opportunity to caution residents against constructing buildings on waterways and the indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
He emphasised that such practices contribute significantly to flooding.
He further advised people living in flood-prone communities to consider relocating to safer, upland areas to safeguard lives and property.
“The clearing of drains remains one of the most effective ways of preventing flood disasters, and we urge the public to cooperate with government efforts,” he added.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising environmental safety and protecting citizens from the dangers of seasonal flooding.
The Anambra State Police Command has nabbed two suspects over alleged theft of two related minors at Okpuno-Oba, Idemili-South Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Awka.
Ikenga said that on June 12, police operatives attached to Ozubulu Division rescued the children between the ages of three and five.
He said that during the operation, the operatives arrested one Daniel Onyedika, male, 19 and Nkechi Onuwa, female, 25, at Okpuno-Oba, Idemili-South LGA.
According to Ikenga, the operatives swift reaction followed a report by the mother of the victims, that one of her children came and narrated to her how an unknown person had taken away two of his siblings on their way to her shop along Nwafor Junction, Eziora, Ozubulu.
During the interrogation of the suspects, Onyedika admitted to the crime and took the operatives to Oba where he had already handed over the children to Onuwa for the continuation of their criminal plan.
The police spokesman further said that the command has expanded the investigations for the arrest of the other members of the syndicate.
He said that the case would be charged to court on the conclusion of investigations.
“This achievement showcases the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable members of the society and tackling crimes against children,” he said.
The Executive Chairman of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, Musibau Asafa, is dead.
Asafa was said to have died during a prolonged illness.
His death, which has thrown the LCDA into mourning, was formally announced in a statement shared via Facebook on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Bodunrin Ayodele.
Ayodele, however, did not disclose when the chairman died.
The statement read, “Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area is in mourning following the passing of its Executive Chairman, Prince Musibau Adekunle Asafa.
“Prince Asafa, a respected politician, leader and dedicated public servant, succumbed to a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy of service and commitment to the people he served.
“According to a close family member, Prince Asafa’s passing was confirmed after a long battle with illness. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he was unable to recover and passed on, leaving his family, friends, and colleagues in shock and grief.
“As news of his passing spreads, tributes and condolences are expected to pour in from well-wishers, community leaders, and government officials who had the privilege of working with him. Prince Asafa’s leadership was marked by a commitment to improving the lives of his constituents, and his contributions to the local government will be deeply missed.
“Oto-Awori LCDA has lost a dedicated servant, and his passing will be felt by many. May his legacy live on, and may his family find solace in the memories of his life and service.”
The Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government Area, Abdul-Hamed Salawu through the Somolu LGA social media accounts on Saturday also condoled with Oto-Awori LCDA over the chairman’s demise.
The post read, “The executive chairman of Somolu Local Government, Abdul- Hammed Salawu, has sent the condolences of the Executive, Legislature, Management and the people of Somolu Local Government to the people of Oto- Awori LCDA and APC family, over the painful demise of Prince Musbau Adekunle Asafa, the executive chairman of Oto- Awori LCDA.
Enemies of Development in Our Local Community: The Case of Oshodi
Development is a crucial goal for every community striving for a better quality of life, improved infrastructure, and sustainable economic growth. Unfortunately, many local communities continue to face setbacks due to the persistent activities of what can best be described as the “enemies of development” and Oshodi is not exempt from this challenge.
Under the leadership of Otunba Kehinde Oloyede-Almaroof, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government has witnessed a determined push toward building an egalitarian and progressive society. His administration has implemented transformative initiatives aimed at improving the lives of residents and uplifting the general outlook of the community.
However, it is both disheartening and unfortunate that certain individuals and groups, those who benefit from chaos, stagnation, or political mischief continue to fight against progress and development with aggressive tactics. These enemies of progress resist positive change, spread misinformation, and undermine the collective efforts of well-meaning leaders.
The remarkable transformation Oshodi has undergone in the past four years deserves recognition and appreciation. From infrastructural upgrades to community empowerment programs, the progress is visible and commendable. Rather than sowing division or resisting advancement, every stakeholder in the community must unite to protect and sustain these gains.
In conclusion, development thrives where there is unity, vision, and commitment. As Oshodi moves forward, it is the responsibility of all residents to reject the forces of regression and support the champions of positive change. The future of Oshodi depends not just on leadership, but also on the collective will of the people to resist the enemies of progress.
