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Ilajes Lament Neglect,  Marginalization,  Urge Aiyedatiwa To Wade In

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Lucky Aiyedatiwa

By Akinwale Kasali

“The Ocean no longer knocks, it breaks through”

The Ilaje Parapo Forum,  IPF, has urged Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to  brace up in his responsibility as the Chief Servant and administrator of the State, by as matter of urgency bring development to their area.

Prince Edward Akingboye, the Publicity Secretary, Ilaje Parapo Forum, in a statement said the Ilaje people are worried by the marginalization and neglect of their area.

He stated that the call was not a rebellion, but rather a call for the Governor to heed to the call of reasoning.

The statement reads; “There comes a moment in the life of a people when silence is no longer golden, when docility becomes betrayal, and when unchecked sycophancy becomes a dagger in the chest of justice.

“That moment, for the Ilaje people and the entire coastal belt of Ondo State, is now.

“Today, we, the Ilaje Parapo Forum, rise to speak not with hostility but with deep-seated concern. The tides of our ocean have become hostile, our land groans under neglect, our children cry for education, and our elders lament a future stolen in plain sight.

“Yet, in the corridors of Alagbaka, there is music, dance, and political revelry. But who, we ask, will call Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa for us?”

He said: “Let us be clear: Luck may enthrone a leader, but only vision, wisdom, and performance can sustain governance. Governance is not about flamboyant appearances or ceremonial presence; it is about intentional service delivery, planning, and accountability.

“It grieves us to say that our Governor, our own son, is failing to hear the lamentation of his people in Ilaje”.

Akingboye further stated that communities like Ayetoro and entire Gbeneva are being swallowed by the sea with chilling indifference.

“The ocean no longer knocks. It breaks through, uninvited. Livelihoods vanish. Homes crumble.

“Generations are displaced. Yet, Ilaje, a region whose oil sustains national coffers, lacks a single functional hospital, lacks well-equipped schools, and lacks shoreline protection. Is this what we deserve?

“Let the world know: this is not abandonment by oversight; it is calculated neglect.

“Even the Ilaje Education Authority office in Igbokoda, rather than being a hub of intellectual coordination, now resembles a pond flooded and forsaken.

“The so-called Mega School stands in mockery; its roof sheets curled to the sky like palms begging the heavens. How can we explain this to our children?

“And what of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)? Just two weeks ago, the Commission celebrated its 25th anniversary. A parade of pomp and speeches reached the Governor’s table, but not a single tangible legacy was acknowledged in Ilaje. Not a road. It’s not a shoreline defence. Not a hospital.

“The MD left without reprimand. Mr. Governor clapped. Yet, the people of Ilaje continue to weep.

“Who will tell our governor that strategic governance is not driven by birthday cakes or party jollof rice, but by documented visions, inclusive planning, and measurable outcomes?

“Who will remind him that the real work of OSOPADEC is not to organize feasts but to champion recovery plans for people on the brink of environmental and economic extinction?”

He lamented that it should be known that Ilaje is bleeding.

“Our children are losing access to education. Our youths are migrating in desperation. Our farmlands are now saline fields. And yet, the machinery of the state is mute.”

The Group however demand that Governor Aiyedatiwa should bring forth a clear development blueprint for Ilaje land—covering infrastructure, education, health, and climate adaptation.

It added that the Group is demanding an audit of NDDC and OSOPADEC’s interventions in Ilaje LGA in the past 10 years.

“We further demand an Immediate emergency response to the environmental devastation of our coastline; Stakeholder engagement, including town hall meetings in Ilaje, to enable participatory governance.

“Governor Ayedatiwa, this is your moment to rise. You are the son of the soil. The son of Ilaje. But bloodlines are not enough. Legacy is not inherited—it is built. You stand on the shoulders of ancestors who gave everything for this land. Do not be remembered for standing idle while it sinks.

“This is not hate. This is heritage speaking.

“This is not a shout of rebellion. It is a cry for responsibility. This is not bitterness. It is burden.

“We speak from the heart of the creeks—and we will not be silent again.”

Ondo Seeks Constitutional Backing For LCDAs, Control Of Resources

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has appealed to the committee on constitution amendment to recommend inclusion of newly created Local Council Development Authorities, (LCDAs) in the proposed constitution.

Welcoming members of the House of Representatives Committee to Akure, the state capital on Friday, Aiyedatiwa also pleaded that states should be allowed to have control over mineral deposits within their purview.

“It is also of interest to the Government and people of Ondo State that additional local governments be created in the State, just as Lagos State Local Development Council Areas (LCDAs) are being proposed for inclusion in the Constitution as fully-fledged Local Government Areas.

“In Ondo State, we have functional thirty three (33) LCDAs duly created by the State Government. We strongly advocate that the proposed bill be expanded and these 33 LCDAs in Ondo State be recognised as fully-fledged Local Governments in the First Schedule of the Constitution.

“Also, it is high time that Section 44(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was amended to remove control over all minerals, mineral oils and natural gas in, under or upon any land or territorial waters in the exclusively economic zone in Nigeria from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.

“It is an understatement that State Governments and the people experience a lot of agonies from the activities of miners, including illegal miners, quarries and others that engage in mineral exploration activities.

“This is because State Governments have little or no control over this sector. It hinders State Governments, especially oil-rich States from harnessing their mineral wealth for local development, while illegal mining continues to flourish due to weak Federal Government oversight and poor local enforcement mechanisms.

“For instance, Ondo State is richly endowed with solid minerals like limestone, granite, bitumen, kaolin and marble, yet many local quarry operators face bureaucratic bottlenecks in obtaining licences and permits from the Federal Government.

“It is, therefore, imperative to remove all extractive resources like quarrying, mines, oil fields, geological surveys from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Residual Legislative List.”

The governor stated that the State aligns with the progressive aspirations of the South-West Geo-political Zone in advocating for true federalism that reflects socio-political, cultural and economic realities of the federating units.

“This would be in tandem with true fiscal federalism where states have full control over their resources and revenues, while remitting about 40% of their revenues to the Federal Government.

“Still on fiscal federalism, it will serve the cause of fairness and justice to have a review of the current revenue allocation formula which is skewed in favour of the Federal Government.  Ondo State is of the opinion that not less than 50 percent of revenue from the Federation should be allocated to the States.

“On State Police and internal security, it is sufficiently clear that the growing insecurity in the country has rendered the centralised policing structure unsustainable.

“The centralised police institution has tried its best, but it has become overwhelmed, underfunded and ill-equipped to solve evolving and diverse security challenges like kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, farmers-herders clashes, cultism and cybercrime.

“These crimes continue to thrive due to delayed response to crimes and lack of local intelligence on the part of the centralised policing architecture. We, therefore, call for the establishment of State Police to strengthen internal security.

“This position is further strengthened by the success story of the Amotekun Corps under the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) which has significantly improved community policing, deterrence and intelligence gathering, in spite of being restrained from handling sophisticated weapons and lack of prosecuting powers.

“States are closer to the people and they better understand the local peculiarities of crimes and security threats.”

On the creation of additional states, the Governor maintained that “Ondo State is not opposed to the creation of new States as requested in some of the proposed bills, but the government and good people of Ondo State strongly oppose excising any part of our territory to merge with any new state or join an existing state.”

NSCDC Approaches Reps Committee, Seeks Full Constitutional Recognition

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nigeria Civil Defence Corps - NSCDC

By Ayodele Oni

The National Assembly has been urged to grant full constitutional recognition to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), in line with its original mandate of securing lives and property, especially the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure.

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, made the call, while presenting a position paper to the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee in Akure on Friday.

Audi requested for a Section of the Constitution that will clearly spell out the corps’ role of protecting the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure; regulating private security practice; providing Public Security Education; engaging in conflict resolution for willing parties; securing agro-allied activities/investments; performing any other functions that may be assigned to it by the President and Acts of the National Assembly.

He stated that such a constitutional backing would lay to rest repeated clamouring and agitation for a merger of the corps with another agency, while improving on its efficiency.

The Commandant-General who was represented by Commandant Hammed Abodunrin traced the origin of the corps to the Nigerian Civil War era when it emerged as a voluntary quasi-military organisation to assist the civil populace.

Talking about the legal backing of the security agency, the Commandant-General noted that the National Assembly passed an Act in 2003 to change it to a full-fledged federal security outfit.

With the backing, more responsibilities were also assigned by various national policies, including the National Security Strategy (NSS) of 2019 and the National Protection Policy and Strategy for Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (NPPS-CNAI) of 2024 recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The NSCDC praised the National Assembly for granting it power to bear arms in 2007 and the Nigerian Army for providing the first 5,000 units of arms and ammunition to the corps and training its personnel at no cost.

“It is noteworthy, that an organization that started with only 12,512 employees today is growing to about 70,000 officers and men.

“It is a thing of joy that, with your singular worthy action, the NSCDC today is a registered member of the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) headquartered in Geneva.”

The NSCDC boss, however, lamented that Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution which states that there shall be only one police force in the country has been misinterpreted over the years, leading to an unhealthy relationship between the corps and the police force.

He added that the appointment of a retired police officer as Acting Commandant of the corps at inception to mentor the personnel also contributed to a misunderstanding of the role of the NSCDC.

“This led to untended consequences of vigorous and repeated attempt of integration instead of collaboration as the expected mentees are subsequently being treated as competitors.

“It is no longer news that NSCDC personnel are repeatedly harassed, brutalized, arrested, detained and even killed for doing what is always referred to as constitutionally guaranteed exclusive police jobs.

“Sometimes, NSCDC personnel and their Commanders were ordered to produce the Act that empower them to be carrying out security and safety assignments.

“Even as brothers and sisters that share the same goal of protecting lives and property, things always change when it comes to the issue of constitution.”

Atiku’s Mortal Sin And Why We Worked Against Him

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
Samuel Ortom

A member of the G5 Governors that worked against former vice president Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election says the Peoples Democratic , Party, PDP presidential candidate committed a mortal sin by picking the party’s ticket that year, when there was an agreement that the position should be zoned to the south.

This was the reason why the five PDP governors under the aegis of G5 worked against his election, according to the former governor Samuel Ortom. They all worked for the APC candidate in the election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who later won the election , Ortom said.

The five ‘rebel’ governors included Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo).

Ortom spoke on Arise Television on Thursday, stressing that the PDP failed the test of ‘equity, fairness and Justice” by picking Abubakar as its candidate, after a northerner, President Muhammadu Buhari had taken the slot of the region.

Buhari ruled for eight years, and based on gentleman arrangement in the country, the presidency was expected to return to the south.

Revealing why the G5 worked for Tinubu, the former governor said Abukakar and PDP breached the power rotation agreement between the north and south, accsing them of betrayal.

“We had thought the PDP would uphold equity, fairness, and justice. But unfortunately, they did not,’ Ortom said.

“I couldn’t understand how, after eight years of a northern presidency, the party would support another northern candidate,” he said.

Ortom withdrew support for Abubakar in the election and backed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

“For us in the G5, it was about equity. We believed the presidency should go to the South. That was why I worked against the PDP in 2023.

“Even if I lost my senatorial election after serving eight years as governor, it didn’t matter. I wanted it to be known that there are still people who believe in justice, equity, and fairness.

“Politics is selfish. When your interests are not protected, you look elsewhere. Yes, Wike is my friend, we worked together, and he remains my friend,” he said.

Navy Intercepts Smuggled Rice, Fuel, Rescues Trafficked Victims In Badagry

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Trafficking Victims

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base, FOB, Badagry, Lagos State, recorded a major operational success in its ongoing efforts to combat smuggling, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes within its Area of Operations.

The FOB intercepted a total of 423 bags of foreign parboiled rice during intelligence-driven operations conducted between June 22 and July 14, 2025. The seizures occurred at key smuggling routes including Badagry Market Waterside, Badagry-Porto Novo Creek, Erekiti axis, Point of No Return, T-Junction, Isalu, and Tongeji Creek.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Navy Captain B.O. Omotayo, Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry.

Omotayo stated that in separate series of anti-smuggling operations conducted between May 29 and July 9, 2025, the Base also intercepted 16,895 litres of illegally transported Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, across locations such as Bollington, Idale-Badagry, Owode-Apa, Ijofin, Ashikpa, and again at Badagry Market Waterside.

The seized fuel was subsequently destroyed as a deterrent to future smuggling activities.

In line with the Nigerian Navy’s Standard Operating Procedures and existing inter-agency protocols, the Base formally handed over the 423 bags of rice to the Nigeria Customs Service. Specifically, 364 bags were transferred to Superintendent of Customs I.N. Dauda of the Western Marine Command, while 59 bags were handed to Deputy Superintendent of Customs A.U. Abubakar of the Seme Area Command for further administrative processing.

The Base also made significant strides in its anti-human trafficking efforts, rescuing 11 suspected victims of human trafficking in three separate incidents between June 27 and July 9, 2025. Among the victims were three 15-year-old girls rescued at Owode Border, a 19-year-old girl intercepted en route to the Republic of Benin, and seven teenagers found onboard a passenger boat heading to Porto Novo—some of whom were suspected to be recruiters.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims, mostly from Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Abia States, were being trafficked to destinations including Mali, Cotonou, and Ghana under false pretenses. All rescued individuals have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigation and family reunification.

These achievements, the Navy said, are in line with the strategic vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, as outlined in CNS Strategic Directive 06–2023. The directive emphasizes the Nigerian Navy’s pivotal role in securing the maritime environment, safeguarding national economic assets, and fostering inter-agency cooperation.

FOB Badagry reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and community partnership in the fight against transnational crime and economic sabotage.

First Bank: FG’s Secret Deal With Otedola, Otudeko; The Controversial 25 Percent Stakes

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola, the Chairman of First Holdco has not increased his stakes in the company to 40 percent as being speculated, THISDAY newspaper reports.

There were reports on Wednesday  that the business tycoon had secured a humongous off-market transaction of 10.43 billion units of the financial institution’s shares estimated at N323.4 billion.

The transaction, the reports claimed, raised his stake in First Bank or First Holdco to 36.7 percent, having acquired the shares of two major shareholders in the company, Oba Otudeko and Tunde Hassan-Odukale.

Otudeko and Hassan-Odukale  were once Chairmen of First Bank Nigeria Holding Company, FBNH the mother company of Nigeria’s premier commercial bank, First Bank Nigeria Limited, FBNL.

Otudeko was sacked in 2021 by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, after scrutinizing his tenure as the company’s Board Chairman.  He’s being prosecuted on fraud realted charges.

According to the  newspaper, Otedola still retains his 15 perecent shares in First Holdco. The 25 percent reportedly acquired by him was acquired by a trustee of the federal government, under a special arrangement and settlement with Otudeko and Odukale.

Otudeko, the reports said was forced to sell his shares in the financial institution in exchange for the federal government to drop the court case against him, while Odukale agreed to exchange his shares for cash, and seek opportunity elsewhere.

The deal, the report stated further was facilitated by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation  and Minister of Justice and the CBN, a strategic move by the government to ensure that the company met the CBN recapitalization requirement deadline set  by the apex bank.

“The shares are now with the trustee for the next two or three weeks  when they will decide how to proceed and reach a strategic decision on what to do with the shares and also look at FBN’s plan for capital raise to meet CBN requirement”, a source familiar with the deliberations said.

It will be recalled that following shareholders infighting, Oba Otudeko was charged to Federal  High Court based on a criminal complaint by Otedola-led FBN management – the infighting among shareholders left the CBN concerned that FBN may not meet the new capital requirement if the infighting continues. The apex bank working with the Attorney General decided to seek a none legal solution to the infighting,  resulting in the exit of Oba Otudeko in return for withdrawing the criminal complaint and prosecution by First Bank.

The result is the movement seen in the market on Wednesday when a total of N324.47 billion value for 10.47 billion units of shares in off-market block trading on First Holdco Plc shares, took place on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

Oba Otudeko, the erstwhile Chairman of FirstHoldco, was forced to sell off over 20 percent of shares linked to him. Also, another long-term shareholder, the Hassan-Odukale family, voluntarily exited the bank and sold five percent of their holdings in a mega transaction as they sought better shareholder value elsewhere.

It was gathered that the off-market deal was executed at a fixed price of  N31.00 per share on NGX as the lender’s stock price yesterday gained 9.9 per cent to close at N32.2 per share.

Yahaya Bello Gets Himself New Wife – Number Four

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Yahaya Bello and His New Wife

By Akinwale Kasali

Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor, has  “acquired” a new wife – an addition to his harem. He has already tied the knots, secretly with the lucky one  –  Hiqma.

He took her as the fourth wife, in a ceremony held in the nation’s Capital, Abuja.

While the event was kept low-key, it drew close friends and family members who gathered to witness the union.

The news broke publicly after Bello’s third wife, Hafiza Yahaya Bello, took to Instagram to share her warm welcome to the new bride.

“Our family just got a little bigger and more loving,” she wrote.

She further offered  prayers for harmony and divine blessings in their home.

Bello, served as Governor of Kogi State from 2016 until 2023 under the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He has maintained a relatively private personal life despite his high-profile political career.

He is already married to Amina Oyiza Bello, Rashida Yahaya Bello, and Hafiza Yahaya Bello.

The former governor’s educational background includes both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Though his time in office was marked by intense political activity, he has generally kept his domestic affairs out of public view.

With the addition of Hiqma to the family, the 2023 APC stalwart continues a new chapter in his life post-governance, maintaining a steady presence in both political and personal spheres.

INEC Bows To Pressure, Extends Anambra Voter Registration Exercise

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Mahmood Yakubu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday July 17, 2025, announced an extension to the   ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in Anambra State.

The decision to extend the exercise is coming on the heels of the widespread calls  by many interest groups, including the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth, for the registration process to be extended.

The Source reports that the Anambra State Chapter of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Comrade Uzo Ekemezie, had earlier on Thursday, condemned the exercise, alleging shortage of registration materials, and INEC officials.

According to the group, the avoidable glitches trailing the exercise have made it difficult for many eligible persons to be captured.

The Ohaneze Ndigbo Youths expressed concern that such unnecessary bottlenecks and difficulties may have been  part of an orchestrated plot to disenfranchise eligible voters in the State in the  forthcoming polls.

But in a statement, the  INEC, while acknowledging the high level of voters turn out, said the exercise, rather than ending today Thursday July 17, has been extended to Sunday July 20, 2025.

The electoral umpire noted that the decision to extend the exercise was informed by appeals from well meaning quarters.

According to the Commission, after the extended period, the voter register will be publicly displayed to allow for a period of claims and objections.

This is as it promised to carry out a further clean-up of the data using Automated Biometric Identification System ABIS.

“The Commission is pleased with the turnout of registrants in Anambra State and the peaceful conduct of the CVR  in all the 326 registration centres in the State.

“As of yesterday, Wednesday, 16th July, 2025, 96,085, new voters have successfully registered in nine days.

“On average, the Commission registered over 10,600 voters per day. In addition, 12,595 voters applied for transfer of their registration both within and outside the state, while 7,061 persons applied for the update of their records, or to the replacement of their damaged ,or lost Permanent Voters Cards  PVCs.

“The CVR in Anambra ends today.  However, in response to appeal from citizens, the Commission hereby extends the exercise for three more days. It will now end on Sunday, 20th July 2025.

“Thereafter, the Commission will display the register for claims and objections by citizens as provided by law, followed by a further clean-up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System ABIS .

“Subsequently, the detailed breakdown of the new registrants by age ,gender ,occupation and disability will be published for public information .

“At this preliminary stage, 56,017 (%58) of the new registrants are female , while ,%50,429( %52.48 are young people between the ages of 18 and 34″ the INEC statement reads in part.”

Ohaneze Ndigbo Alleges Deliberate Plot To Disenfranchise Anambra Voters

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Ohanaeze Ndigbo

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Youth wing of the Apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Worldwide, Anambra State Chapter, has strongly condemned the alleged chaotic nature of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in the State.

This is as the group alleged a hidden plan to systematically disenfranchise a large section of the voting population of the State.

The Source reports that as part of the preparations for the forthcoming August 16, 2025, Anambra South Senatorial District by-election and the November 8, 2025 off-circle Governorship contest, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has embarked on Continuous Voter Registration exercise in the State.

But in a statement from its spokesperson, Comrade Uzo Ekemezie, on Thursday, the Ohaneze youth condemned what it described as the spate of avoidable glitches that have so far defined the exercise, particularly, in Ogbaru, Obosi, Isiagu, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ihiala and several other parts of the State.

According to the body, the unfortunate development has regrettably resulted in several thousands of potential voters, being systematically denied their constitutional rights to register and participate in the electoral process.

Ekemezie alleged that the unexplained and avoidable difficulties being experienced by the electorate, in what should, otherwise, be a seamless exercise is a deliberate  scheme to disenfranchise the people of the state in future elections.”

According to the Ohaneze Youth, reports from various parts of the State paint a very disturbing picture of an exercise primed to fail with glaring cases of under supply of registration materials, including machines and even officials.

The body expressed serious concern that the limited supply of registration materials and non-availability of enough INEC officials have placed the people at the mercy of the few personnel who are alleged to be extorting the people.

According to the Ohaneze youths, in some cases, people are being forced to travel long distances from their areas to register.

“Even at that, after trekking such long distances ,the people are still faced with difficulties registering owing to shortfalls both in registration materials and  registration officials.

The resultant effects include ,the mindless extortion of the people,by the few personnel available.

The situation is also not helped by inadequate network, infrastructure, leading to INEC field officers relying on individuals to provide personal data connectivity to power their systems.

There are reports of extortion, where citizens are being forced to pay money ( bribes) to registration officers in order to exercise their civic right.

“Transaction-driven bottlenecks, especially in populous wards like Obosi , Nigeria’s largest ward where most eligible voters have been unable to register”, the Ohaneze noted.

While describing the situation as totally unacceptable, the body called on the Electoral umpire to as a matter of urgent necessity, consider an extension to the CVR exercise to ensure that no eligible voters are disenfranchised.

The group also demanded for the immediate deployment of adequate human and material resources to ensure a hitch free exercise.

Several Killed, Ringleader, 25 Others Arrested In Statewide Crack Down On Criminals In Kwara

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Police on Duty

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kwara State Government on Thursday July 17, 2025, confirmed the arrest of the notorious wanted leader of a daredevil criminal syndicate terrorizing some parts of the State, particularly Edu and Patigi Local Councils.

Tambaya, and over 15 members of his dread criminal gang, were said to have been rounded up by the Kwara State Joint Security Taskforce in a renewed clampdown on identified criminal hideouts in some parts of the State.

A statement from Malam Rafiu  Ajakaye ,the Governor’s spokesperson, on Thursday, informed that Tambaya and his gang members have been linked to a series of high profile security breaches in the two Council Areas.

The group according to the State Authorities has been identified as being responsible for several attacks on security personnel ,and vigilantes in and around Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas of recent.

Ajakaye noted that during the coordinated crackdown, said to have been conducted in partnership between the Office of the National Security Adviser ONSA and the Kwara state Government , several members of the Tambaya gang were also killed.

“More than 15 criminals including the out law named Tambaya ,have been arrested in the new security clampdown in the areas.

“Tambaya was the major mastermind of the recent attack on security forces and vigilantes in Gada, Lafiagi.

“Tambaya and eight others were arrested in one encounter with the security forces , while several of his gang members were eliminated”, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary stated.

The operation, the statement added, led to the rescue of two victims and the recovery of the sum of N11 million from the camp of the criminal syndicate.

This is as the Joint Security forces  on Wednesday July 15, also arrested over 20 criminal elements in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State.

The Governor’s spokesperson emphasized the unwavering commitment of the joint security team to rid the State of the activities of criminal elements.

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