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The Ondo State Police Command has neutralised two suspected kidnappers following a fierce gun battle with operatives at Ilu-Abo along the Akure–Owo Expressway.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the incident occurred after officers attached to the Federal Highway Patrol Unit, Ilu-Abo, responded to a distress call over the activities of suspected armed men at Olaiya Block Industry, located beside Ilu-Abo High School.
According to the statement, about seven masked gunmen stormed the block industry and demanded to see the owner before the police patrol team arrived at the scene.
On sighting the operatives, the suspects allegedly opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire. During the encounter, two of the suspected kidnappers were fatally shot, while the remaining members of the gang fled into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the scene include a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks, and two ATM cards believed to belong to the suspects or their victims.
The police said the bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, while the case has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
The command added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and appealed to healthcare providers and members of the public to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot wounds or displaying suspicious movements.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing. He urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to assist security agencies in protecting lives and property across the state.
The Adafin Olusanyero of Owo Kingdom, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, FISN, DCG (Rtd), Commander of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps, has congratulated the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba (Dr.) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
In a goodwill message made available to journalists, Adeleye described the Olowo as a rare and remarkable monarch whose reign has been marked by wisdom, dignity, and divine grace.
He noted that the monarch’s exemplary leadership has continued to foster peace, unity, and development in Owo Kingdom, while preserving the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the ancient town.
Adeleye prayed for the continued good health, strength, and long life of the royal father, expressing confidence that his wisdom would continue to guide the kingdom and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
“On this special day, we celebrate a rare and remarkable monarch, a symbol of wisdom, dignity, and divine grace. May your reign be long, your wisdom continue to guide, and your legacy endure for generations,” the message read.
He concluded by wishing the monarch a joyous celebration, declaring: “Long live the King! Long live the Kingdom!”
Ondo State Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Olowo of Owo and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, on his 60th birthday.
In a birthday message Governor Aiyedatiwa noted that the monarch has distinguished himself over the years as a royal father of wisdom, integrity, and remarkable foresight, providing purposeful leadership to the people of Owo Kingdom and making invaluable contributions to the peace, unity, and development of Ondo State.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also acknowledged Oba Ogunoye’s wealth of experience as a legal practitioner, accomplished administrator, retired Permanent Secretary, and Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State, noting that it has continued to enrich his service to humanity.
He said: “On behalf of the Government and the good people of Ondo State, I heartily congratulate His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Olowo of Owo and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, on the joyous occasion of his 60th birthday.
“This milestone is a celebration of a life devoted to service, leadership, and the preservation of our rich cultural heritage. Over the years, Kabiyesi has distinguished himself as a royal father of wisdom, integrity, and remarkable foresight, providing purposeful leadership to the people of Owo Kingdom and making invaluable contributions to the peace, unity, and development of Ondo State.
“As Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Kabiyesi has continued to foster harmony among our revered monarchs while strengthening the partnership between the traditional institution and government in our collective quest for sustainable development. His wealth of experience as a legal practitioner, accomplished administrator, retired Permanent Secretary, and Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State has continued to enrich his service to humanity.
“On this special occasion, I join your family, the sons and daughters of Owo Kingdom, friends, and well-wishers in thanking Almighty God for His faithfulness over your life. It is my prayer that He grants Your Imperial Majesty many more years in sound health, renewed strength, divine wisdom, and a peaceful, prosperous, and impactful reign.”
The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the long-standing policy separating Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), describing the arrangement as one of the factors responsible for overcrowded junior secondary schools, underutilised senior secondary facilities and rising school dropout rates.
The announcement came as the Federal Ministry of Education inaugurated the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee to fast-track the implementation of Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools across the country.
Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the committee’s success would be judged by the number of schools that become fully operational and actively provide quality education to Nigerian children.
He stressed that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education remains a top national priority, adding that government interventions must produce measurable results.
According to the minister, the Smart Schools initiative is aimed at equipping learners with digital skills required in today’s technology-driven economy, while the Bilingual Schools programme will promote linguistic inclusion, improve learning outcomes and foster national integration.
He added that the Alternative Schools initiative is designed to expand access to quality education for vulnerable and underserved groups, especially girls and out-of-school children.
Expressing concern over the slow pace of several UBEC-funded projects, Alausa directed the implementation committee to work closely with UBEC, state governments, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and other stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of projects, provision of furniture and essential facilities, deployment of teachers and full operationalisation of schools.
On the proposed education reform, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government would present the plan to abolish the JSS-SSS disarticulation policy at the next National Council on Education meeting for consideration.
He noted that the reform is part of broader efforts to expand access to education and improve learning outcomes nationwide.
Also speaking, the Director of Basic Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folake Davis, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary coordination and support for the successful implementation of the committee’s mandate.
In her remarks, UBEC Executive Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Garba, described the committee as a strategic mechanism for strengthening implementation, accountability and sustainability of basic education projects.
She revealed that 37 Smart Schools have so far been established nationwide, with 24 already operational, while 30 Bilingual Schools are currently being implemented across nine states under the UBEC-Islamic Development Bank partnership.
Garba added that the Alternative Schools Programme continues to provide flexible and inclusive learning opportunities for out-of-school children.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Professor Rashid Adewumi Aderinoye, thanked the Federal Government for the confidence reposed in members and pledged to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, professionalism and transparency.
He assured that the committee would collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure government investments in education translate into sustainable, fully functional schools that deliver improved learning outcomes for every Nigerian child.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has resolved to name the biggest hall at the NUJ Press Centre, Alagbaka, Akure, after the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Wisdom Olawande, in recognition of his contributions to the upgrading of facilities at the secretariat.
The resolution was part of a communiqué issued at the end of the union’s monthly congress held on Thursday at the NUJ Press Centre, Alagbaka, Akure, and presided over by the State Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite.
The Congress also applauded Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the Ondo State House of Assembly for the timely enactment of the law incorporating Owena Press, publishers of The Hope newspaper, following sustained advocacy by the NUJ.
It, however, urged the State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, and the Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, to ensure the immediate implementation of the law establishing the Ondo State Government Printing and Publishing Corporation to achieve its intended objectives.
On the federal media sector, the union called on the Federal Government to urgently address manpower shortages in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON), stressing that adequate staffing and funding are critical to effective public service broadcasting.
The Congress also commended the national leadership of the NUJ under Comrade Alhassan Yahya for organising a National Security Summit in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), urging the authorities to implement the summit’s recommendations to tackle insecurity.
On infrastructure, the journalists praised the Aiyedatiwa administration for commencing the construction of the flyover on Oba Adesida Road, Akure, while urging the government and the contractor to ensure its completion within schedule.
The union also called for the removal of illegal parking, particularly by commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators, along Arakale Road to ease traffic congestion arising from the ongoing flyover construction.
It further appealed to the state government to expedite ongoing road projects across the state and expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Akure-Owo-Benin dualisation project, especially along the Akure/Ogbese axis, urging the contractor to improve traffic management and complete one carriageway before commencing work on the other.
The Congress equally decried the increasing rate of road accidents caused by traffic light violations within Akure metropolis and urged the Ministry of Transport and relevant law enforcement agencies to enforce traffic regulations and sanction offenders.
The union also expressed concern over the influx of unidentified persons posing as beggars and mentally unstable individuals in Akure and other parts of the state, describing the development as a potential security threat and calling for heightened surveillance by security agencies.
On environmental sanitation, the Congress lamented the deteriorating waste management system in the state, urging the government to provide additional waste disposal equipment, operational vehicles and recruit more personnel to improve refuse collection.
The journalists also commended the peaceful conduct of the Ondo South Senatorial bye-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders, congratulating Senator (Prof.) Adedayo Faduyile on his victory and assumption of office.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Congress.
The Nigeria Police Force categorically disclaims the false and misleading narrative accompanying a viral video circulating on social media which alleges that a uniformed police officer was seen interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State.
For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
The video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and these security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in support of efforts to combat criminality and enhance public safety. Any claim suggesting otherwise is entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.
The Nigeria Police Force strongly condemns the deliberate distortion of facts and the circulation of misinformation capable of causing public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions, and frustrating ongoing security operations.
Members of the public are urged to disregard the misleading claims attached to the video and rely only on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorized government sources.
The Force warns individuals and groups engaged in the creation, publication, or dissemination of false information capable of prejudicing public peace and security to desist immediately, as appropriate legal action may be taken against violators.
The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to working with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners in the collective effort to protect lives, safeguard communities, and combat crime across the country.
CSP ANIETIE OKOKON EDEM INIEDU Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja 24th June, 2026.
Others face expulsion as principals, school officials queried
The Ondo State Government has withheld the WASSCE results and school testimonials of 17 students involved in a controversial “sign-out” celebration that went viral on social media, while ordering the immediate expulsion of non-final-year students captured in the footage.
The sanctions followed the circulation of a viral video showing students from Oyemekun Grammar School, Aquinas College and CAC Grammar School, Akure, engaging in what government described as unruly and indecent conduct after completing the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The video, widely shared on TikTok, Facebook and other social media platforms, sparked public outrage as it showed students tearing school uniforms and chanting inappropriate slogans during the celebration.
Announcing the disciplinary measures after an emergency meeting with school administrators and education officials in Akure, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said the affected students would have their official testimonials and examination results withheld until further notice.
The Ministry also directed that the names of the students be entered into the “black book” of their respective schools as part of efforts to strengthen discipline across public secondary schools in the state.
In addition to the sanctions against the students, senior officers of the affected schools have been issued official queries for allegedly failing to provide adequate supervision and allowing the celebrations to degenerate into disorderly conduct.
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, said the state government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining discipline and the integrity of the education sector.
According to him, while students are free to celebrate academic milestones, such celebrations must be conducted responsibly and within acceptable standards.
“The growing sign-out culture among secondary school students must be guided by decency. We will not fold our arms and watch the discipline we have painstakingly instilled in our schools be eroded for the sake of social media clout,” he said.
Ajibefun stressed that the government remained committed to protecting the moral values and reputation of schools across the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Akindele Ige, urged principals to promptly report potential cases of student unrest to the appropriate authorities before they escalate.
The Commissioner also appealed to parents to guide their children against acts that could jeopardise their future, noting that the sanctions would serve as a deterrent to others.
Parents and students involved in the incident have been summoned to the Ministry to receive official letters conveying the disciplinary actions.
A ray of hope beamed on residents of Abuja satellite towns, Monday, as President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared that the era of neglecting suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is over under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the Renewed Hope Agenda is his administration’s sacred covenant with the Nigerian people, recalling that he had promised that governance would no longer be a theoretical exercise confined to the boardrooms of city centres while residents in the periphery thirsted for basic amenities.
Speaking in Kurudu, Abuja, when he officially commissioned the massive Water Supply Network linking Karu, Orozo, Jikwoyi, Kurudu and other adjourning satellite towns, the President, who was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said he “promised a government that listens, a government that plans, and, crucially, a government that delivers.”
The Nigerian leader expressed a deep sense of fulfilment and gratitude to God, noting that the massive Water Supply Network is a fulfilment of that promise.
“We are here not just to cut a ribbon, but to breathe life into a fundamental human right that has eluded this bustling community for far too long. Today, we declare that the era of neglect for our satellite towns is officially over,” he stated.
President Tinubu recalled that just about a year ago, when his administration commissioned the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, he stood before the nation and gave a clear directive.
“The metropolitan loops must not end in the elite districts. They must stretch. They must expand into our satellite towns, where the heartbeat of Abuja’s working-class population truly resides,” he recalled
He said when the FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, brought the proposal for the Karu Water Supply Project, he did not hesitate, adding that his administration knew that water is life, and that denying people clean water amounts to denying them health, dignity, and economic progress.
To demonstrate the administration’s unwavering commitment, the President said the government did not allow the traditional shackles of bureaucratic delay to obstruct funding, as payments were approved on time and the contractor, CGC Nigeria Limited, delivered promptly.
“And today, we are commissioning over 194 kilometres of secondary and tertiary pipeline networks, bringing treated, safe, and potable water directly to the doorsteps of Karu, Orozo, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, and surrounding communities,” he stated.
President Tinubu commended the FCT Minister for delivering, stressing that leadership is not measured by the eloquence of television commentary or the bitterness of empty rhetoric, but by its tangible and verifiable impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, what we are witnessing in the FCT today—across transport, healthcare, education, housing, roads, and now massive water infrastructure—is a testament to what happens when vision meets executive capacity. Thank you, ‘Mr Projects,’ for your leadership,” he said.
The Nigerian leader regretted that for decades, while residents of Karu watched their community grow into a thriving and teeming population, they were left to depend on unsafe boreholes and water vendors.
He added, however, that previous administrations left promises in their wake, even as he said his administration “does not trade in promises” but results.
Charging the people of Karu, Jikwoyi and other surrounding communities on infrastructure maintenance, the President said, “This infrastructure belongs to you. It was built with your commonwealth and designed for your well-being.
“I therefore urge you to safeguard these installations against vandalism and illegal connections. Do not look the other way if unscrupulous elements try to compromise what has taken years of effort and resources to deliver. Treat this water as the precious resource that it is.”
President Tinubu announced that the government was replicating the interventions in Bwari and other Area Councils, even as he assured residents that the government’s commitment to urban renewal and rural integration remains absolute.
Earlier, the FCT Minister, Wike, said the FCT Administration was immensely grateful to the President for the support he has given for the execution of people-oriented projects across the nation’s capital, including the satellite towns.
He said the completion of the water project was part of the presidential directive for the FCT administration to extend the provision of critical infrastructure to the satellite towns across the capital territory.
The Minister also reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu administration through the FCT management, in delivering projects and programmes that will uplift the lives and livelihoods of residents of the territory.
For her part, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Mariya Bunkure, thanked the President and the Vice President for his untiring efforts in supporting the work of transforming the infrastructure landscape in the FCT and beyond.
In an overview of the project, the Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, said the FCT administration had the wellbeing and interest of the residents of Karu and environs at the conception of the water project, which utilised the existing reservior tank in the area, while the distribution facilities conncets over 1,000 distribution lines to service the satellite town and adjourning communities.
He thanked President Tinubu for the support in the completion of the project which, according to him, marks a significant advancement in the provision of potable water to Karu, Jikwoyi, Kurudu and adjourning communities in the area.
Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to The Prdent on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) 22nd June, 2026
In a decisive move to strengthen security and deny criminal elements safe havens within Ondo State, the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, psc, mnips, mspsp, personally led a team of tactical commanders and operatives on an extensive operational sweep of the Ilu-Abo Forest and adjoining communities.
The operation, which forms part of the Command’s sustained offensive against kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes, involved a thorough combing of identified flashpoints, forest corridors and suspected criminal enclaves believed to be used as hideouts by criminal elements operating within the axis.
During the operation, several suspected hideouts were located and dismantled. Makeshift camps and structures believed to have been used for criminal activities were destroyed, while operatives conducted intensive searches of the surrounding forest to prevent the re-establishment of such camps. The exercise was aimed at disrupting criminal networks, denying criminals freedom of movement and reinforcing the confidence of residents in the security architecture of the State.
Addressing operatives during the exercise, CP Ohagwu reiterated the Command’s commitment to proactive and intelligence-driven policing, emphasizing that forests and remote locations within the State will not be allowed to serve as sanctuaries for kidnappers and other criminal elements. He assured law-abiding residents that the Police Command will continue to sustain aggressive operations across all identified criminal hotspots.
The Commissioner of Police further stated that the operation aligns with the strategic directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, aimed at strengthening internal security and combating violent crimes nationwide. He commended the dedication and professionalism of the operatives involved and charged them to maintain the momentum until all criminal threats within the State are effectively neutralized.
The Ondo State Police Command remains resolute in its determination to protect lives and property and urges members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information that will aid ongoing efforts to keep the State safe and secure.
E-Signed
DSP ABAYOMI JIMOH anipr, mnisma Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ondo State Command 18th June, 2026
An unknown assailant has reportedly beheaded an 18-month-old girl at a farm settlement in Idanre, the headquarters of Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The victim’s father, Mr. Bright Kalu, said the tragic incident occurred at Agoti Settlement, Idanre, on June 8, 2026.
Kalu, a peasant farmer from Abia State, is demanding justice over the gruesome killing of his daughter.
According to him, the child was left in the care of her mother at the farm camp while he was working on another farm located some distance away from the settlement.
Narrating the incident, Kalu said he was returning from a nearby camp where he had gone to purchase food items when he met his wife in a distressed state.
“On Monday, June 8, 2026, I was returning from a nearby camp where I had gone to buy food items when I met my wife looking troubled and distressed,” he said.
“When I asked what had happened, she told me that someone had come to the camp and attacked her. She managed to rescue three of our children, but one was missing.
“My elder brother, Mr. Ifeanyi Kalu, and I immediately followed her to the camp and searched the area.
“We did not find anyone, but we later discovered the lifeless body of my daughter behind our house. Her head had been severed.”
The grieving father appealed to the Ondo State Government, security agencies and human rights organisations to ensure that those responsible for the crime are apprehended and prosecuted.
He said the matter was initially reported at the Olofin Police Station in Idanre before it was transferred to the Ondo State Police Command headquarters in Akure for further investigation.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the case.
Jimoh stated that investigations were ongoing and assured that the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.
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