The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the abduction of the Orirre School children as one of the darkest moments in both the history of Oyo State and that of his almost eight-year old administration.
This is as he insisted that his call for an independent and international inquest into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident was not borne out of the desire to undermine the operations of Nigeria security agencies ,but to establish some basic facts about the abduction.
Governor Makinde who spoke on Friday July 31, 2026, on the occasion of the formal inauguration of a probe panel into the school children kidnap said he is desirous of conclusively establishing the actual circumstances surrounding the abduction of the about 39 school children and their seven teachers.
The Source reports that the Governor’s call for the United Nations to launch an investigation into the kidnap saga which occurred on May 15 ,2026, had triggered mixed reactions with the All Progressive Congress APC-led Federal Government accusing him of undermining both the integrity of the Nigeria and its security agencies.
However, speaking at the inauguration of the panel of Inquiry which held at the Executive Chamber of the Oyo Government House , Governor Makinde emphasized that the probe is primarily aimed at resolving some unanswered questions about the school children kidnap.
According to him, while the efforts of security agencies in securing the release of the victims are appreciated, the Governor insisted that their freedom and that of their teachers should not stop the efforts to establish conclusively what actually happened for the purpose of preventing a similar occurrence in the future.
“My call for an independent international examination of the incident was not intended to undermine the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies whose sacrifices we acknowledge and appreciate.
“The objective was to ensure that every lesson from this unfortunate incident is learnt ,and every question deserving an answer receives one”, Makinde stated.
He maintained that the attack represents a very dark moment in the history of the State, describing it as not only targeted at the affected communities, but also an assault on the children’s right to and quest for education in a conducive environment.
He expressed the confidence that the probe panel will get to the root of the abduction saga, noting that the move represents his administration’s unflinching commitment to uncovering the truth, identifying institutional or operational shortcomings, as well as making recommendations on how to adequately protect schools and communities across the state.
“Rescue brings relief ,but truth brings closure. Accountability and reform restore public confidence and help prevent a recurrence.
:Justice is not only about punishing wrongdoing; it is about learning enough to ensure that the innocent are never again placed in harm’s way”, Makinde noted.
The Panel which has a retired Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Mojid Adekunle as Chairman, has four weeks to conclude and submit its findings.
The Governor, however, assured that the timeframe could be reviewed upward should the need arises .
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe hss clarified that the Federal Government has not removed the subsidy on electricity in Nigeria, contrary to public speculation.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday, Tegbe declared“I did not say the subsidy is gone. We are addressing the issue, and by next year we will begin implementing measures to resolve it.”
Tegbe explained that improving electricity generation alone will not resolve the nation’s power challenges, stressing that reforms must address the entire electricity value chain to deliver reliable supply.
He stated that electricity must be generated, transmitted, distributed, and paid for efficiently for Nigerians to enjoy stable and sustainable power supply.
The Minister revealed that the federal government’s “Resetting the Sector” initiative was designed to strengthen the electricity value chain, improve service delivery, restore investor confidence and make the market financially sustainable.
According to him, the reform programme will include a nationwide technical audit of the transmission network to identify ageing infrastructure, overloaded substations, weak transmission corridors and other operational bottlenecks.
He added that the ministry would work with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state electricity regulators to harmonise electricity regulation, eliminate regulatory overlaps and provide greater certainty for investors.
Tegbe assured that government remained committed to improving power supply, accelerating metering, strengthening the national grid and maintaining current electricity tariffs.
“Our goal is simple: make electricity more available, make the grid more reliable, make the market financially sustainable and ensure power becomes a driver of economic growth rather than a constraint.”
The minister disclosed that procurement challenges that previously slowed meter deployment had largely been resolved, paving the way for faster installation of prepaid meters nationwide.
Tegbe added that Nigeria had consistently generated about 5,000 megawatts of electricity over the past two weeks due to improved coordination among market operators and increased availability of power plants.
According to him, the government is advancing the Power Sector Bond Initiative to clear legacy debts owed to generation companies, gas suppliers and other market participants, a move he described as critical to restoring liquidity and investor confidence.
Tegbe said strategic investments under the Grid Stabilisation Programme would target key transmission corridors in Lagos, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, while the proposed Super Grid Programme would strengthen the national transmission backbone, improve grid resilience and support industrialisatiaon.
The minister also highlighted the increasing adoption of renewable energy, noting that many factories, offices and commercial facilities now generate more electricity than they consume through solar installations.
Tegbe, therefore, assured Nigerians that vulnerable consumers would continue to enjoy government support as reforms progressed, while solar energy would remain central to expanding electricity access in rural and underserved communities.
Tegbe further disclosed that the government had reconciled outstanding debts owed to power generation companies, reducing disputed claims from about N6 trillion to an agreed N3.3 trillion as of March 2025.
He said N501.3 billion had already been paid, while another N700 billion was being processed, bringing total payments to about N1.2 trillion.
Tegbe expressed optimism that Nigerians would begin to experience noticeable improvements in electricity supply within the next few months, while a more stable and resilient national grid would emerge over the next two to three years.
He urged electricity market operators, investors, development partners, state governments, organised labour, consumer groups, and the media to support the federal government’s reform agenda aimed at delivering stable, affordable and sustainable electricity nationwide.
Indigenes of Delta state that returned from South Africa following the recent xenophobic attacks, have cause to smile. The state government has doled out a ₦2 million grant for each affected family to support their reintegration.
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, who announced this on Friday approved a comprehensive welfare package with each individual returnee receiving a monthly welfare stipend of ₦200,000, while every affected family will receive ₦300,000 monthly, effective from August 2026 until the end of the governor’s tenure on May 29, 2027.
Speaking during the reception of the returnees at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Johnson Erijo, condemned the xenophobic attacks, describing them as a gross violation of human dignity.
He said no individual should be subjected to violence, intimidation or discrimination on account of nationality and expressed sympathy with the victims over the physical, emotional and financial losses they suffered.
The governor also commended President Bola Tinubu for his prompt intervention, which he said facilitated the safe evacuation of the affected Nigerians from South Africa.
As part of measures to cushion the effects of their ordeal, Oborevwori announced that the state government would provide free medical screening for all returnees at government-owned health facilities.
He also directed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Services to provide trauma counselling and psychosocial support for the victims and their families.
Urging Deltans to receive the returnees with compassion, solidarity and kindness, the governor said such values reflected the true Delta spirit, assuring the victims that the unfortunate experience would not define their future.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating opportunities for all citizens while calling for sustained protection of the rights and dignity of Nigerians living abroad.
Earlier, the Commissioner in charge of the Bureau for Special Duties, Hon. Ejiro Etacherure, assured the returnees of the state government’s commitment to helping them rebuild their lives, describing their safe return as a testament to compassionate leadership and effective collaboration between the federal and state governments.
He recalled that the reports of the attacks, which claimed lives, destroyed property and livelihoods and left many victims traumatised, were received with deep shock and sadness.
Etacherure thanked God for preserving the lives of the victims and commended Governor Oborevwori for his swift intervention and unwavering commitment to the welfare of the returnees.
He disclosed that the governor personally directed that every returning Deltan be properly identified, documented and received with dignity, while relevant agencies were mandated to provide the assistance required for their reintegration into society.
Welcoming them home, Etacherure encouraged the returnees to take advantage of the numerous economic and empowerment opportunities available in the state, expressing confidence that Delta remained a land of opportunities under Governor Oborevwori’s administration.
Responding on behalf of the returnees, Mr. Jacob Agbada expressed profound appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for approving the ₦2 million grant and the monthly stipend, describing the gesture as timely and life-changing.
He said they were deeply grateful to the governor for his compassion, generosity and unwavering support during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
The traipsing horde of marabouts represent a mortal paradox. They are his beginning and they are about to be his end. They are like the stubborn flies that are lowered along with the casket.
If Khalifa Atiku Abubakar’s life has run like a fairytale, the political aspect of the last four decades or so, has been an Arabian serenade.
The boy from rustic Jada, around the Adamawa-Cameroon borders, providence must have made him for the sole purpose of leading his people. Imbued with innate qualities from the onset, he has continued to direct the affairs of his people at every level of his life.
Leadership therefore comes to him as a divine entitlement and not a ceremonial bequeath. Not an endorsement he must crave. Not a turban he must wear.
His gait, his mannerisms and all the appurtenances of a deity, he wears them like babanriga.
ENTER THE MARABOUTS
Of course, royalty is sauce for marabouts. The one cannot do without the other
For many years, the fable has cemented about the Khalifa’s horde of marabouts. They are said to be a permanent part of his existence. They visit from some of the most exotic monasteries.They serenade him ceaselessly, offering prayers and supplications to Allah on his behalf so he doesn’t have to take the trouble to do so, or be troubled at all. They make angelic appearances and ululations to keep his very presence holy and consecrated. Every malevolent adversary to the Khalifa is intercepted at the supernatural levels.
They also whisper to him how he would ultimately lead Nigeria. For about 30 years, this message has been reinforced so much that it has virtually become part of their worship songs.
ATIKU probably listens to no other song or any contrary message.
Steve Osuji
As long as Allah lives, Khalifa will rule Nigeria. Unless of course he declines the diadem.
There are also the urban marabouts like Dele Momodu (and lately, Kenneth Okonkwo.) Momodu is best described as a GBAJUE strategist who operates from five-star hotels. He’s those kinds of rogue consultants who would borrow their clients wristwatch to tell them time and send them a fat invoice.
Therefore, it’s only for a pernicious motive such as described above that a rational and supposedly educated adult like Momodu would insist an Atiku is the best candidate to lead over 200 million Nigerians in this age. To think that Momodu once contested for the same seat he now vows only an octogenarian is deserving of today.
A man visibly incapacitated by age and ailments. Not many serious minded people support this Atiku bid.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Chairman of ACF recently weighed in thus: “As for my senior brother Alhaji Atiku Abubakar…. I respected his persistence and his decades of experiences running for president. But for 2027, it’s a firm NO from me.
“At his old age, he should have taken a bow after 2023, transitioned into an elder Statesman role, and thrown his weight behind a younger, very competent candidate with a fresh anti-corruption mindset.
“Instead, we see the same recycled playbook, the same alliances of convenience, and the same transactional politics tagged around him.”
HOW ATIKU DERAILED THE ADC GRAND Prix TRAJECTORY
If you believe Allah has already made you president even before the ballot is cast, nothing would make you step down for any opponent, even if the life of the coalition depended on it.
This explains why Atiku dug in when ADC emerged.
It soon became obvious to all that the ticket wasn’t negotiable. It was in his back pocket from day one!
No logic of geography, equity, competence, capacity, age, ail, hailstones and hellfire would permeate Atiku’s head. This was the time long foretold by the shrouded fairies.
ENTER PETER OBI AND THE EASTERN BLOC
Instead of backing down, the wily, old, political fox dug in. He rallied the old guard of Oriental politics. He co-opted them into convincing their star boy, Peter Obi to run with him.
He convinced them that half bread was always better than none. He asked them the last time an Igbo man was in Aso Rock? Never!
Not since Aso Rock was built!
Is there any other route to the Villa than the North? No.
Is there anyone living today who could hitch them a ride to the promised place if not the Khalifa? None.
His gambit worked. On the eve of this year Obi and Igbo grandees made a historic entry into the new coalition.
Momentum welled instantly and ADC suddenly became the cause celebre.
OBIDIENTS kicked – Obi or nothing – and the movement shook to its seams. Khalifa maintained his trademark ice cool!
HOW APC BUBBLE BURST
With Obi seemingly delivered and tucked in the bag, Atiku and his inner Marabouts must have held an elaborate thanksgiving! They had never been wrong, they must have sang through the night. The numbers have added up at last.
But they neglected to cross the T’s and dot the I’s. They got arrogant already.
They foreclosed negotiation; they gave no inches – not to Obi, not to Ndigbo, not to obidients. They foisted an Atiku Show as they began to play down the Obi Mo!
Atiku couldn’t be held down to give an inch or make concrete commitments at least on paper. For the Igbo elders he cajoled to ‘rein in’ Obi, he couldn’t guarantee them an affidavit sealing a one-term of four years. They bought time, they delayed to make the time lapse so that decamping would become impossible.
Atiku began to live in Aso Rock in his head, already, instead of taking Obi to his inner sanctum swear before him as Obasanjo did to him the other day…
THE ASO ROCK IN ATIKU’S HEAD
Atiku’s Arise TV interview last April broke ADC’s camel’s back. His body language was already presidential. He reduced Obi and his movement to merely eastern votes. And Rabiu Kwankwaso as a mere Kano champion. He of course presented as master of the north and the last pan-Nigerian!
That interview gave Atiku away for what he really is: an obdurate and insufferable autocrat. He thought he had captured the ADC and all the men were backed to the wall as all party doors and windows were closing. He was already baring his fangs…
HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
Of course Obi, Kwankwaso and their followers saw through Atiku’s bait, for that’s what it is. Atiku would become a barracuda if he became president. He would run a one-man show. He would stake for two terms and he would frustrate all the coalescing elements out of ADC in less than less than two years to carry through his plan.
ATIKU’S LAST GAMBIT: NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE HISTORY
If Atiku could chase away all his marabouts today, both the spiritual and urban. If he swallows his pride yet, forgoes his ambition and leads his supporters to forge one formidable opposition going into the 2027 presidential election he may still have waged one foot in the door of history.
The grandswell movement would signpost a turning point not only for Nigeria, but represent a glorious finale for Atiku.
His epitaph shall then read: HERE LIES ATIKU ABUBAKAR, THE FATHER OF NEW NIGERIA!
LASTLINE: ANOTHER OFFICER DOWN, WHEN WILL THE NIGERIAN ARMY ACT?
It seems Nigerian army officers are particularly being targeted and cut down with utmost ignominy.
After the rather humiliating incident of the abduction of Maj. Gen Rabe Musa and his wife in Borno last June, one would have thought the Nigerian military would read the riot act.
But a few days ago bandits struck again killing another officer, Col. Abdulsalam Udeh in an ambush as he arrived at his home from work.He resisted abduction and died in the process. His wife and driver were also injured.
Hoodlums used to be in awe of the military. Today, the fight is being carried home to the military officers.
Let the military do a deep soul search. Let them determine and set a deadline to end and indeed, stamp out terror in Nigeria.
The war against terror has lasted for embarrassingly too long. And in all the conversations, there’s no word about resolution or closure. In fact we can’t see any presidential strategy on the table to end the war.
Perhaps the Nigerian military needs to go to Ghana and study why terror is not as prevalent there as in Nigeria.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has sacked Dr. Qrisstuberg Msughter Amua as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, UAST, Ihugh, Benue State.
Amua’s was disclosed by Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Tersoo Kula, in a statement on Thursday.
The statement stated that Dr. Amua was relieved of his duties for administrative reasons.
The reason for his sack was not disclosed in Kula’s statement.
In his place, Professor Leonard Karshima Shilgba was appointed by Alia in acting capacity. The appointment takes immediate effect.
Shilgba, a Professor of mathematics, University administrator, scholar, author, educationist and academic leader, hails from Ushongo Local Government Area of the North-Central state and has had a distinguished academic and administrative career spanning over three decades.
His academics also include advanced postdoctoral research experience.
In 2009, he was awarded a Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) Fellowship, through which he undertook postdoctoral research in Japan.
His experience in university leadership has also included participation in strategic planning and institutional development at a period of significant transformation in Nigerian higher education.
He also contributed to establishing UAST, Ihugh.
In 2017, Late President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Professor Shilgba as the Chairman of the 9th Governing Board of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), where he served with vision, distinction, and uncompromising disposition.
Congratulating Shilagba on his new appointment, Governor Alia stated: “This is a position of great responsibility, and we trust you will lead with wisdom, integrity and fairness”.
If the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was sick when Professor Ishaq Oloyede was appointed Registrar 10 years ago, it might have been said that even great institutions have their difficult times. That’s not unusual. But JAMB wasn’t sick.
It was dying and becoming so irrelevant that those it was supposed to serve were wishing it dead. JAMB was not just a problem; it had become the problem of gaining admission to higher institutions, with heartbreaking stories of thousands of candidates for whom hard work and good WAEC grades no longer seemed to matter.
Beating the system became the sport, and fraudulent coaches, often assisted by JAMB insiders, established “miracle centres” with large signboards offering hallelujah promises of how to pass your exam without sitting for it. We can smile now, but believe me, it was not a laughing matter.
Centralised national school placement was not always the thing. Before JAMB was created in 1978, universities and other higher institutions conducted their own admissions.But once JAMB was established andadmissions were centralised, schools’ discretion was curtailed.
As the demand for higher education outstripped supply and public and private higher schools proliferated, standards collapsed.The regulator, which was supposed to serve candidates, began to serve itself instead, feeding off the misery of desperate candidates.
It was at this point, wheredesperation met corruption, that Oloyede was appointed JAMB registrar.
The power of one
In an article entitled “JAMB: Dirty Secrets of a Cut-off War,” which I wrote nearly a decade ago, I cited how the broken admission system was only able to cater to the needs of about 25 per cent of largely qualified students who applied yearly, and how registrars and admission officers were worsening the problem by trading in cut-off marks.
As if the problem outside was not serious enough, the problem inside JAMB at the time was even worse. As I wrote in an article last year, one of the biggest dramas in the institution’s 48-year history unfolded two years after he was appointed registrar, following his exceptional record as vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin.
JAMB introduced computerised examinations in 2014, but the system, still in its infancy, was marred by delays, confusion, and scratch-card fraud.
Oloyede ordered an investigation, which found that the place was infested with snakes, including boa constrictors in human form, that had allegedly swallowed millions of naira from scratchcardsales.
Snake-charmer’s den
One Philomina Chieshe, a clerk at JAMB’s Benue State office, “swallowed” N36 million from the sales of scratch cards and told investigators and the court that it was indeed a snake that had mysteriously devoured the money.
Seven yearsafter she was arraigned before Justice Peter Affen at the FCT High Court, Abuja, in 2019, neither Chieshe nor any of the reptiles in the scratch-card hole have been held accountable for the fraud. Apart from swallowing N36 million, which was equivalent to $100,000 at the time, the snakes also appear to have swallowed the court and the prosecutors.
This was the mess Oloyede inherited – a regulatory institution no longer fit for purpose, but never short of scandalous, self-serving ingenuity.
The original idea of JAMB, which, interestingly, was recommended by vice chancellors ofseven federal universities at the time, was to serve as a clearinghouse. Multiple admissions by candidates were creating a problem for the growing number of those seeking admission. While some candidates were offered multiple admissions and ultimately used only one, other qualified candidates were shut out. So, JAMB was a child of necessity.
Band-Aid or what?
As a sworn enemy of centralised systems, which often breed corruption and tyranny, I expressed the view, even in the early days of Oloyede’s tenure,that the system was unreformable.I thought the best we could hope for was a Band-Aid before JAMB finally collapsed under the weight of its corruption.
Prof Ishaq Oloyede
Oloyede’s tenure has proved that occasionally, elephants dance. Over the last 10 years, the board has transformed from a snake-infested wasteland of corruption and mediocrity into one of Nigeria’s most responsive and better-run public institutions. To promote openness, accountability, and inclusiveness,it has expanded the decision-making process to include independent and other professionals to monitor and evaluate the board’s activities, particularly the UTME exam.
A new sheriff
Of course, some problems remain, like the increasing and more sophisticated cases of impersonation and the challenges presented by the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI), parents’ active involvement in examination fraud, and the rising cost of managing examinations, which could be up to four times the present cost of N4 billion, when the Federal Government’s review ofthe allowances and benefits of civil servants takes effect in October.
The new registrar, Professor Olusegun Aina, will find, as he takes over, that sooner than later, JAMB may be heading into a serious financial crisis due to rising operational costs. Unless steps are taken, it could move from a regulator that remitted over N55 billion to the federal treasury – compared to less than N60 million the year before Oloyede took office – to an institution that will struggle to survive financially.
In the months ahead, the examiner will be facing its own test, its own JAMB question, namely: how will it square its finances without raising examination fees?
As Oloyede leaves office, he leaves behind a legacy of transforming one of the most lethargic public institutions into a regulator that combines fairness and transparency, especially using biometric controls, CBT centres, e-PINS, USSD, and other digital payment systems.
Today, JAMB operates as one of Africa’s largest and most centralised university admissions systems, through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which has been recognised for improving efficiency and transparency in admissions.
Looking ahead
His sterling tenure has not completely cured my pessimism about centralising admission, especially in a country like Nigeria, already chafing under the tyranny of many things federal. Yet, Oloyede has demonstrated that where there is a will, it’s possible to find a way and make a difference.
His tenure and the public appreciation of his work, even during very difficult times – notably staff negligence that nearly marred the 2025 UTME exam – show that public service can indeed advance the greater public good. His successor has the unique advantage of building on a firmer foundation; yet, that advantage can quickly become his albatross if he mismanages it.
Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book, Writing for Media and Monetising It.
The Supreme Court has banned the use of “Barrister” as a prefix before names of legal practitioners and judicial officers, describing it as “inappropriate.”
This was contained in a memo dated July 13 and signed by the Chief Registrar, Kabiru Akanbi.
The memo reads in full:
“I am directed by the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers that the use of the title “Barrister” as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with standard of professionalism within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“Consequently, all officers concerned are hereby directed to discontinue the use of the title “Barrister” before their names in a official correspondence, records, dicuments, identity materials and any other official engagement with immediate effect.
“Heads of departments and unit heads are expected to ensure strict compliance with this directive by all officers under their supervision. Please be guided accordingly.”
It, however, did not disclose how to address them – simply “Mr, Mrs, Ms. or, Barrister-at-Law.”
A Kano State High Court has sentenced Saudat Jibrin, 19-year old, to death by hanging, for killing her 30-year-old husband, Salisu Idris.
The union between the couple lasted only nine days before Saudat decided to kill her husband.
Saudat who resides
In Kumbosto Local Government Area of Kano, was charged with culpable homicide. She laced her husband’s Zobo drink with poison, and proceeded to slash his throat with a knife.
Justice Maryam Sabo, while delivering judgment on Thursday, 30 July, 2026, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“I hereby sentence Saudat Jibrin to death by hanging for culpable homicide.You have 90 days to appeal,” the Judge ruled.
Before the verdict, the Prosecution Counsel, Lamido Abba-Sorondinki told the Court that Saudat committed the offence on May 5, 2025, at Farawa Quarters in Kano.
He said that at about 9.00pm Jibrin laced her husband’s “Zoho” drink and slashed his throat with a knife nine days after their wedding.
Abba-Sorondinki presented two witnesses to prove the case against the defendant.
The prosecutor said the offence contravenes the provision of Section 221(a) of the Penal Code.
The convict pleaded not guilty to the heinous crime.
The Defence Counsel, Abdulfatah Muhammad, presented the convict to testify in her own defence.
Muhammad pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client, saying she had become a changed person while in custody, having memorised the Holy Qur’an.
He also urged the court to consider that the convict was the oldest child of her parents and that her siblings depend on her for their survival.
None of that impressed the Court as she was handed down the maximum punishment – death by hanging.
Amidst allegation of selective enforcement, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Gotan, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He will serve as Commissioner of Police, Communications Operations, in a strategic reshuffle ahead of the state’s forthcoming governorship election.
He will be succeeded by CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, who assumes leadership of the Osun State Police Command following a directive contained in a police wireless signal issued by the Force Secretariat and marked “Most Immediate.”
The reshuffle represents a direct exchange of responsibilities between the two senior officers.
Before his latest posting, CP Erale headed the Communications Operations Department at the Force Headquarters and was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police on July 1, 2026.
A native of Edo State, he now takes charge of policing in Osun at a politically sensitive period when security agencies are expected to guarantee a peaceful, credible, and violence-free governorship election.
Meanwhile, CP Gotan, while in Abuja will oversee police communications operations, a critical command responsible for operational coordination across the country.
Although the Nigeria Police Force has described the deployment as part of its routine administrative postings, its timing underscores the importance of election security.
Members of Acvord party in Osun stste are expected to heave sigh of relief following the redeployment of Gotan.
Just on Wednesday, the Secretary to State Government and some members if the party were arrested and detained on the orders of the commissioner.
South Africa’s singer Tyla has removed Lagos from her planned African tour billed for December, 2026.
Although neither the Grammy-winning artiste, nor her managers has offered any explanation for the change in her intinerary, it is, however, strongly believed to be linked with the widespread opposition from across Nigeria against her concert, triggered by her country’s widely condemned xenophobic stance against Nigerians and other African immigrants.
For failing to speak out against her country’s relentless xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals, Nigerians of different hues, including hordes of celebrities expressed their opposition to the planned December 2026 Lagos concert by South African music star,Tyla
Launching the social media campaign against Tyla’s proposed concert, many concerned Nigerians roundly condemned the South African music star over her refusal to leverage her status and influence to condemn xenophobic attacks on her fellow Africans.
The Source reports that Tyla, an Afrobeat singer had proposed a mega concert in Lagos, Nigeria, during this year’s Yuletide, and has already set the stage for its promotion.
However, a few days after the announcement celebrities and other Netizens flooded the social media with varying commentaries condemning the concert, with not a few questioning her moral authority to hold a concert in one of the victim-countries of South African’s mindless and senseless xenophobic rhetorics and attacks.
About 98 Nigerians are estimated to have lost their lives, alongside property worth billions of dollars since the former Apartheid enclave launched its systematic xenophobic attacks a couple years ago.
Since launching the media campaign, many Nigerians have taken to their social media handles to express their total support for the cancellation of Tyla’s proposed Lagos concert.
The campaign tagged ” the South Africans think we are fools” has so far gained so much traction since its launch ,as to make the organizers of the concert have a rethink.
Opposition to the proposed concert has also revolved around arguments by some Netizens that the South Africans had previously denied Nigerian artistes entry into their country for similar shows.
” If you stand for anything or not, good for you ,but if you go for that Tyla’s show then you are a bas*ard.
“Burna was issued a warning: threatened to be killed years ago if he ever stepped foot in SA over his stance against AKA’s xenophobic stance. What did you all do about it?
“Instead you crucified your own. We did nothing. They didn’t care . He took it like a gee; moved on and still became a global star. You all forgot.
“But my Nigerians will rather blame people that suddenly take a stance on an artiste that come from a country that constantly desecrate on your national identity and treats Africans in the most inhuman way.
“Nigeria is the Republic of docile and complacent people . We only know how to blow grammar” Popular OAP Do2dtun shared on his official site.
Similarly ,Pere Egbi a former BBNaija Housemate, implored the authorities of the Nigerian Immigration not to allow Tyla entry into the country.
“Nigerian@nigimmigration we are collectively imploring you to intentionally deny Tyla and her team visas as well. They can’t do this to our own and we welcome their own . Madness must match madness” he wrote.
“Tyla is scheduled to perform in Nigeria this December ,and that show must not happen . This is one time that Nigerians have to come together and stand for something.
” Not after the xenophobic attacks that we saw in South Africa ,and how immigrants, especially Nigerians were treated .
“Not one word from Tyla and not even performative activism from her. She never spoke about it, and all of a sudden, she wants to have a show in Nigeria . That is very insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians”, Solomon Buchi stated in an Instagram video.
Popular social media influencer Martins Vicent Otshe , popular as the VeryDarkMan in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, vowed that Tyla’s show will not be allowed to take place
He emphasized that the South African singer should not be allowed to reap from Nigerians whose kits and kins have been made the primary target of the ongoing xenophobic attacks in her home country.
“There will be no Tyla concert in Nigeria. It is not happening. This is a warning to the organizers and the show promoters.
“That show is not happening. Not when Chidinma Adetshina is battling deportation in South African court.
“This is a warning to you (promoters). If you go ahead with that show, we will come to the venue and we will bring the show down”, VDM warned
Tyla had on Monday July 27, 2026 rolled out her itinerary, including a concert in Lagos on December 22,2026.
