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No fewer than five persons have reportedly lost their lives in a tragic road accident that occurred on Friday along the Etikan axis of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

According to a report by Ondo South TV, the victims were said to be returning from Araromi Beach in Ilaje when the fatal crash occurred.

Eyewitnesses attributed the incident to overspeeding, noting that accidents frequently occur along the stretch of the road, especially during festive periods.

Some residents described the area as a recurring accident spot, calling for urgent intervention by relevant authorities.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been released by the police or other emergency agencies regarding the incident.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from security agencies were unsuccessful.

….No life lost, no church attacked during incident – Police Commissioner.

Following the New Year’s eve attack on the Ipele police station in Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed intensified patrols across communities and forest areas, stressing that security remains a 24-hour responsibility, particularly during festive periods.

The Governor spoke on Thursday after an emergency meeting with the heads of security agencies at the Presidential Lodge of the Government House in Akure, where he reviewed the response to the attack and measures to prevent its recurrence.

He explained that the attack occurred late on Wednesday night while many residents were attending night services to usher in 2026.

The Governor said that upon receiving the report, he immediately contacted the police and the Brigade Commander of the army, instructing that security personnel be deployed to support officers on patrol and protect residents.

Governor Aiyedatiwa noted that security operatives, including members of the Joint Operations Task Force and Amotekun Rangers, were already on patrol throughout the state and in forested areas.

Their rapid mobilisation, he said, ensured that the attackers, who gained access to the police station and discharged an explosive, were unable to harm anyone.

“Somehow they were able to breach security, but the swift response of the security agencies helped greatly to curtail the situation. Nobody lost their life,” the Governor said.

The Governor said that only the police station was damaged. All officers survived and were able to rejoin their colleagues on patrol to prevent further criminal activity.

He added that the emergency meeting with security chiefs focused on reviewing the incident, assessing the security response, and ensuring that similar acts do not happen again.

Also speaking, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, said the governor convened the emergency session with the heads of the police, military, DSS, Civil Defence and Amotekun to assess the situation and activate strategies to apprehend the perpetrators.

Lawal dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting casualties or attacks on churches, affirming that no lives were lost and no church was affected.

He added that investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of damage, including items looted from the police armoury, cautioning that it is premature to label the incident as a terrorist attack until arrests are made.

“It is too early to conclude that they were terrorists. Once investigations are complete and arrests are made, we will identify those responsible,” the commissioner said.

Lawal reassured residents that Ondo State remains one of the safest states in Southern Nigeria and urged citizens to remain calm and maintain confidence in the security agencies.

Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
January 1, 2026.

A Magistrate Court in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has ordered the arrest of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Seun Osamaye, over an alleged assault on a Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Temitope Alphonso.

According to the charge, the alleged assault occurred at the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs while Chief Magistrate Alphonso was on an official engagement with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, in the presence of ministry staff.

In an affidavit attached to the charge, Magistrate Alphonso stated that the incident followed a judgment she had earlier delivered which was unfavourable to the commissioner. The affidavit alleged that the commissioner responded by verbally abusing and physically assaulting the magistrate.

Part of the affidavit reads:

“That when I asked her to stop cursing, the defendant told me to shut up and said I was just a mere Magistrate, adding that even the Chief Judge of Ondo State cannot open his mouth when she is talking.”

“The defendant further warned me to watch my back, claiming she had all the apparatus to make me go missing if I was not careful. She beat her chest while making the threat.”

“She also stated that by the time she was finished with me, the Governor of Ondo State would not be able to rescue me, let alone the Chief Judge.”

At the hearing of the case today, the commissioner reportedly failed to appear in court. Her counsel, Barrister Adewusi, informed the court that she was receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Ilara-Mokin and requested a stand-down to allow time to present evidence of her hospitalization.

Magistrate Damilola Sekoni stood down the matter for one and a half hours, after which he ruled that the commissioner must appear in court or face legal consequences.

Upon resumption, a medical report was presented by the defence, but it sparked controversy as the prosecuting counsel challenged its authenticity.

In his ruling, Magistrate Sekoni rejected the medical report, describing it as unsatisfactory because it failed to confirm that the commissioner was admitted or medically unfit to attend court. The document did not include key details such as the date and time of admission, prompting the prosecution to describe it as hastily prepared and possibly forged.

Citing what he described as the commissioner’s disregard for the authority of the court, Magistrate Sekoni ordered her arrest and remand in prison custody. The case was adjourned until January 12.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ondo State Government had yet to issue an official response.

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World boxing champion Anthony Joshua is currently recovering in a hospital following a road traffic accident that took place along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Monday.

The accident, which occurred around midday, involved a Toyota Lexus jeep carrying Joshua and three other passengers. Tragically, two passengers, identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu (36), a Nigerian/British citizen, and Gami Sina (36), a British citizen, lost their lives in the incident.

The Ogun State Government confirmed the accident and extended its condolences to the families of the deceased. Governor Dapo Abiodun promptly visited the hospital where Joshua is receiving treatment, later joined by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Together, both governors spent several hours at the hospital to oversee the situation and ensure that Joshua received appropriate medical care.

Reflecting on the incident, Governor Abiodun stated, “As soon as I was informed, I headed straight to the hospital and was later joined by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. We both took charge of the situation, oversaw Anthony Joshua’s care, and remained at the hospital for over seven hours.”

Other senior officials who visited the hospital included the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Bukola Olopade, both of whom offered institutional and professional support.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was fully briefed on the incident and reportedly spoke separately with Anthony Joshua, his mother, and Governor Abiodun, conveying his sympathies and condolences.

The British High Commission was formally notified about the accident, and its officials are monitoring developments while maintaining contact with the hospital and the Ogun State Government. The Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Simon Field, visited the hospital to meet with Anthony Joshua and the two governors. The families of the deceased have also been contacted through the High Commission.

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Regarding Joshua’s health, the Ogun State Government confirmed that he remains in stable condition and is receiving adequate medical attention. The government expressed satisfaction with the quality of care being provided by the medical team.

This information was relayed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Tuesday.

Governor Abiodun assured the public that every effort is being made to ensure the best possible medical care for the boxing champion. “We are comfortable with the doctors and the quality of care at the hospital, and we appreciate the medical team for their professionalism,” he stated.

He also confirmed that authorities have ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, promising that the findings will be made public upon completion. The governor emphasized that his government would continue to provide updates on Joshua’s condition and any developments related to the incident as necessary.

Quoting President Tinubu, he remarked, “This immense tragedy has cast a deep shadow over this season. These are very difficult moments, and we must stand firm, united, and encourage one another as brothers and sisters with a shared destiny.”