Royal News

Tag: ondo

  • Citizens Protest Kidnappings Across Ondo and Oyo States

    Citizens Protest Kidnappings Across Ondo and Oyo States

    Residents in Ondo and Oyo states staged protests on Tuesday over escalating kidnappings, killings, and insecurity in their communities. In Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo, demonstrators from Ilu Abo, Kajola, and Owode blocked the Akure/Owo road with corpses of kidnapping victims following a fresh attack that left two people dead and three abducted. Protesters demanded urgent government intervention, accusing authorities of failing to address the persistent violence.

    The demonstrators rejected efforts by Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, to restore order, insisting they would not allow traffic until Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited the area. Residents claimed kidnappings had become frequent, disrupting daily life and preventing farmers from working safely. Similar protests occurred in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, where communities blocked major roads following multiple abduction attempts and brutal attacks on residents.

    Governor Aiyedatiwa responded by vowing to tackle kidnappers and their sponsors decisively. He revealed that security agencies had arrested about 90 suspects in connection with abductions, some of whom had begun making confessional statements. The governor emphasized that all criminal collaborators, regardless of influence, would face prosecution and urged traditional leaders and community members to help identify criminal elements.

    Security forces also intensified operations in neighboring states. In Kwara State, police and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) operatives arrested 32 suspects linked to kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling, recovering firearms, ammunition, and communication devices used by criminal networks. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended officers for their professionalism and called on residents to provide credible intelligence to aid ongoing security operations.

    Meanwhile, socio-political group Afenifere expressed concern over rising insecurity across the South-West, stressing that proposed state police structures should not be hindered by fears of misuse. The group highlighted that the frequency and spread of kidnappings and banditry had heightened public fear, calling for stronger collaboration between communities and security agencies to restore safety in affected areas.

  • Three Ondo Amotekun Operatives Suspended Over Social Media Remarks

    Three Ondo Amotekun Operatives Suspended Over Social Media Remarks

    The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has suspended three of its operatives for allegedly posting defamatory remarks about the agency on social media.

    The suspended operatives were identified as Taiwo Abu, Victor Akinsipe, and Julius Akinjumi.

    The Corps’ commander, Adetunji Adeleye, explained that the officers’ actions were intended to distract the agency from its core mandate. He made the remarks while parading suspects in Akure, the state capital.

    According to Adeleye, the operatives breached the agency’s rules, including their oath of secrecy, by circulating false allegations online. “Every organisation has its own rules; the Ondo State Security Network Agency is no exception. The law establishing the Corps specifies that identity and warrant cards are issued only to full staff,” Adeleye said.

    He added that the social media claims, which involved 15 points, were entirely false. “Disciplinary measures have been instituted. As of today, the three operatives have been reprimanded. We refuse to be drawn into controversies surrounding individuals. The management staff is focused on ensuring the agency remains undistracted, as these officers were acting in isolation,” he said.

  • Ogun community appeals over hazardous waste

    DUMP
    Waste

    Residents and traders in the Pakuro area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, have called on the state government to relocate an illegal dump in the community, expressing fears that it could trigger a disease outbreak.

    PUNCH Metro correspondents who visited the area on Sunday reported a large heap of refuse on the road, emitting a strong, putrid smell. People waiting for commercial buses were forced to endure the offensive odour.

    In interviews, residents said the stench from the dumpsite had made breathing difficult. They attributed the growing heaps to inadequate waste collection and improper disposal.

    Okafor Sunday, a local business owner, said, “As we sit here, we can barely breathe because of the odour coming from the refuse dump. The government has refused to do its job, and it is killing us slowly.”

    Another resident, identified only as Peace, said the community had resorted to burning some of the waste due to the negligence of the waste management agency. “It has been almost three months since the waste officials came to collect the refuse. Some residents burn the waste every Thursday, but the smoke is also harmful and unbearable,” she said.

    A trader, Godwin, explained that the dirt had blocked drainage channels, preventing proper water flow and worsening the smell. He appealed to the government to address the waste and pollution problem. “The way the refuse is dumped indiscriminately is really harmful to our health. We need a proper waste disposal system,” he said.

    Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that the government had begun efforts to clear the waste. “I have instructed the Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Abayomi Hunye, to close the dump immediately. I am confident that the necessary action will be taken promptly,” he said.

    Illegal dumps have been a longstanding concern in Ogun State. In February, Oresanya noted the proliferation of such sites and stated that the ministry was working to close them pending the full functionality of the state waste management system.

  • Police brutality claims follow Yusuf Dada’s death

    Police brutality claims follow Yusuf Dada’s death

    Ondo state map

    The family of 23-year-old Yusuf Dada has accused the Ondo State Police Command of involvement in his death, claiming he sustained fatal injuries while allegedly being unlawfully detained and mistreated by officers.

    Relatives maintain that Yusuf’s death was linked to the treatment he received in custody, reigniting public concerns over alleged police brutality in Nigeria.

    Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Afolabi Bisoye, a family member, said Yusuf was arrested on August 31 by operatives from the Scorpion Squad in Akure. He claimed that Yusuf was subjected to physical abuse while in detention, leaving him unconscious.

    “The family was not immediately informed. We only learned after he was taken to a clinic in Akure, and later transferred to another hospital. Despite medical intervention, he did not survive,” Bisoye stated.

    According to the family, Yusuf was allegedly shot in the chest while in police custody and later placed on oxygen support at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where he passed away on September 7, 2023.

    “Instead of safeguarding him, the officers reportedly attempted to conceal the incident. Witnesses say the operatives were intoxicated and assaulted bystanders who tried to intervene. This is a clear case of police brutality, and justice must be served,” Bisoye added.

    Responding to the allegations, Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer SP Olushola Alayande denied that Yusuf’s death resulted from torture.

    He explained that Yusuf developed a medical condition while in detention and was initially treated at the police hospital before being transferred to the Federal Medical Centre for dialysis.

    “The command firmly rejects claims that the victim was tortured. He was referred for dialysis, which is unrelated to any alleged assault. The Ondo State Police Command adheres to best practices and does not condone torture,” Alayande said.

    He confirmed that the Commissioner of Police has ordered an internal investigation and assured that the results would be made public.

    “Currently, the officers involved are under investigation, and any misconduct will be met with appropriate disciplinary action,” the PPRO added.

  • Court convicts man for killing co-tenant

    Court convicts man for killing co-tenant

    Law

    An Ondo State High Court in Akure has sentenced a middle-aged man, Sunday Omoniyi, to death by hanging for killing his co-tenant, Michael Oyebanji, during a dispute.

    Omoniyi was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder, contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

    According to witness testimony, the incident occurred on July 23, 2022, at about 6:30 a.m. at 4, Canaanland, Ijoka Road, Akure. One witness, Ismaila Adefaka, told the court that both men were his tenants. He said he heard noises that morning and found Oyebanji lying in a pool of blood after being stabbed with a knife by the defendant. Oyebanji was later confirmed dead at the hospital.

    Other co-tenants — Adedeji Gift, Adedugbe Opeyemi, and Aremu Opeyemi — testified that the two men had earlier argued over closing the house’s main door. The quarrel was reportedly settled, but moments later, they heard Oyebanji’s voice and rushed in to find him bleeding on the floor while Omoniyi held a bloodstained knife.

    One witness stated that Omoniyi admitted to stabbing Oyebanji in retaliation after being punched. Police prosecutor, Inspector Fisayo Oladepo, told the court the defendant confessed to the crime after his arrest.

    Delivering judgment, Justice W. Olamide held that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced Omoniyi to death by hanging.

    Do you also want me to rewrite the Ogun okada riders extortion article in the same style so both match? That way, they’ll have a consistent, professional tone.

  • 10 foreign nationals arrested for human trafficking in Ondo

    10 foreign nationals arrested for human trafficking in Ondo

    The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 10 foreign nationals allegedly linked to a human trafficking ring uncovered in Akure, the state capital.

    Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed the arrests during a press briefing on Sunday at the command headquarters. He said the suspects, primarily from the Republic of Benin, entered Nigeria illegally and were apprehended following intelligence reports of suspicious activity at a residence along Oda Road.

    The operation also led to the rescue of a 29-year-old Congolese national, Nzaou Yelica Christ-Olse, who was reportedly lured into Nigeria under the guise of receiving online business training. According to the police, the victim was abandoned by the group upon arrival.

    “On July 31, 2025, around 2:30 p.m., operatives of the command arrested ten foreign nationals in Akure,” Lawal said. “Investigations showed they crossed into Nigeria without valid documents. Some had expired passports; others had no identification at all.”

    The arrested individuals were identified as: Atouh Joel (37), Mohamed Atta Amidou (35), Saibou Akateliwe (33), Abdul Jahao (26), Ndah Severin (27), Kumpori Ruth (19), Kumpori Martin (31), Tatiana Madous Dianne (32), Martias Sossa (22), and Ndapola Oba Giove (30).

    Lawal described the case as a clear violation of Nigeria’s immigration laws and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act. He confirmed that the matter had been transferred to the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.

    He added that the rescued victim is currently safe and receiving care from the appropriate authorities.

  • NSCDC arrests four for burglary in Ondo community

    NSCDC arrests four for burglary in Ondo community

    nscdc

    The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended four individuals suspected of burglary in the Peace and Joy community, located off Airport Road in Oba Ile.

    According to a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, DSC Daniel Aidamenbor, the arrest followed a complaint from a resident who returned from church on Sunday, July 9, 2025, to find her home broken into and valuables stolen.

    Using tracking technology on the SIM card of an Apple iPad stolen during the incident, NSCDC operatives were able to trace and arrest the suspects.

    The individuals arrested include 23-year-old student James Emmanuel Reuben, 19-year-old student Monday Reuben, 21-year-old farmer Japason Joshua, and 23-year-old farmer Lucas Joshua, both of whom hail from Gombe State.

    Aidamenbor noted that James Emmanuel, described as a “soft target,” cooperated with investigators and assisted in the arrest of the other suspects. He has since been released on bail pending further investigation, based on legal advice.

    Recovered items include the stolen iPad, several household appliances, clothing, and food items belonging to the complainant.

    Preliminary investigations indicate the suspects may be connected to other recent break-ins in the same area.

    The NSCDC urged residents to remain alert and report any suspicious activity, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in curbing crime in the state.

    The Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property through continued intelligence gathering and swift response.

  • Ondo first female Assembly Speaker Jumoke Akindele welcomes first child at 54

    Ondo first female Assembly Speaker Jumoke Akindele welcomes first child at 54


    Jumoke Akindele-Ajulo, the first female Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly has just welcomed her first child. She is said to be 54 years old.

    Akindele represented Okitipupa 1 State Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party from 2011-2019. She was elected Speaker in May 2015 and was suspended in January 2017 amid allegations of fraud.

    An ally of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, she attended the St. Louis Girls Secondary School, Ondo where she obtained the West Africa School Certificate in 1981 before studying Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

  • Akeredolu declares Tuesday work-free day in Ondo to collect PVCs

    Akeredolu declares Tuesday work-free day in Ondo to collect PVCs


    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has declared Tuesday, Jan. 24 as work-free day to enable eligible voters yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so.

    INEC had stated on Thursday in Akure that more than 386,000 PVCs were awaiting collection in Ondo State.

    Mrs Olufunmike Segun-Osifeso, head of INEC’s Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Organisations in Ondo State said 1,686,082 PVCs out of the 2,072,092 PVCs received from Abuja had been collected.

    That left 386,010 cards yet to be collected.

    Segun-Osifeso said those who failed to collect their cards at the ward level by Sunday would have to go to INEC offices at local government secretariats to collect them.

    Akeredolu’s media aide, Mr Richard Olatunde, stated in Akure on Saturday that the work-free day would avail those yet to collect their PVCs to go and collect them at INEC offices at local government secretariats.

    The governor urged civil servants, private sector workers, artisans and other potential voters to seize the opportunity to collect the PVCs to be able to exercise their franchise at the forthcoming elections.

    “The importance of the forthcoming elections cannot be overemphasised. There is an urgent need for us to address the low rate of PVC collection in the Southwest.

    “Beyond partisan lines, it is imperative that our people understand that the PVC is their licence to enthrone their desired political leadership.

    “We are constrained to take this decision to enable our people to take this advantage and collect their PVCs. It’s important that we all exercise our civic responsibilities.

    “All political appointees and other government functionaries are also directed to return to their local governments and wards to encourage people to collect their PVCs,’’ Olatunde stated.

  • Akeredolu signs 2023 budget of N275.979bn into law

    Akeredolu signs 2023 budget of N275.979bn into law


    Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has signed the 2023 budget of N275. 979 billion into law.

    Akeredolu had on Dec. 5, presented a total budget proposal of N272. 736 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval and passage.

    The Assembly on Tuesday passed a total budget of N275, 979, 184, 000.00.

    The House Appropriation Committee led by Akintomide Akinrogunde said the budget was increased in cognisance of the current economic realities in the country.

    Akeredolu, while signing the appropriation bill into law on Wednesday in Akure, said N129. 839 billion, representing 47 per cent of the total budget is to cater for Recurrent Expenditure, while N146,140 billion, representing 52.99 per cent is for Capital Development.

    The governor said that the budget was prepared from the inputs garnered during the town hall meetings with various stakeholders across the state.

    Akeredolu further said that the budget preparation was also based on the REDEEMED agenda of his administration, which he said was the guide post for development of the state.

    The governor described as heartwarming, the recent ranking of Ondo State as the State with the least poverty index in the country.

    “The ranking by the National Bureau of Statistics, in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index of States in Nigeria, is a testimony that this administration is on the right track,” he said.

    The governor, however, decried the lean revenue from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

    “I am assuring you that this administration will strive to logically implement the 2023 budget,” Akeredolu said.