Author: Nouman Ali

Two officers of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) have been killed after armed men ambushed a joint security team in Ago Oyinbo village, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred last week when the operatives were reportedly attacked as they left their base in the village.

The spokesperson for the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Jimoh Adeniken, confirmed the deaths of the two officers in a statement issued on Friday, commiserating with their families and colleagues.

Adeniken said the assailants opened fire on the operatives, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire between the security personnel and the attackers.

He explained that the security agencies were ambushed by suspected criminal elements, adding that despite the operatives’ resistance, two of them sustained fatal injuries and died in the attack.

Adeniken added that the command immediately deployed reinforcements to the area to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

He said the Amotekun Corps had also intensified patrols, security operations and intelligence gathering in the affected area to prevent further attacks and reassure residents of the safety of their lives and property.

‘The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, remains resolute and will not be deterred by the unfortunate incident.

‘The Corps, in conjunction with other security agencies, will continue to protect lives and property and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,’ he said.

The spokesperson called on residents to remain calm and vigilant, and urged members of the public to provide credible information that could help security agencies identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

He said the state government, led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Amotekun Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, commiserated with the families, colleagues and loved ones of the fallen officers, while saluting their courage and sacrifice in the line of duty.

Meanwhile, the families of the deceased officers lauded the state government and the Amotekun Corps management for the arrangements made for the burial of their loved ones.

The families appealed to the government to remember them in future recruitment exercises into the Corps and to consider other benefits due to the dependants of the fallen officers.

The Kebbi State Government is to establish a forest reserve in Kalgo Local Government Area for traditional medicine practitioners, as part of efforts to preserve indigenous knowledge and prevent the extinction of medicinal herbs.

Governor Nasir Idris gave the directive when he received leaders of the Coalition of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Kebbi State chapter, at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, yesterday.

‘We do not want our traditional medicine to vanish. I have directed the Ministry of Environment to find a forest reserve for the association in Kalgo Local Government Area,’ he said.

Idris pledged to fulfil earlier commitments to the association, including appointing one Senior Special Assistant from each of the state’s four emirates, and said the government would organise a capacity-building workshop for members. The government had also donated two vehicles to support the association’s activities.

The Governor listed ongoing federal projects in the state, including the Malando-Warra-Ngaski, Koko-Dabai and Koko-Besse-Zaria Kala-Kala-Bagudo road projects, and said more than 2,000 primary and secondary schools had been renovated statewide. He added that 26 of the state’s 30 general hospitals had been renovated, along with 176 of 225 primary healthcare centres, with the remainder to follow.

Idris said his administration’s achievements justified continued support for President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging the association to sustain its cooperation.

NANTMP Kebbi Chairman, Alhaji Rilwanu Wasagu, reaffirmed the association’s loyalty to Idris and pledged to mobilise its more than 40,000 members for the APC in 2027, commending the governor’s record in infrastructure, healthcare, education and agriculture.

He also praised the free fertiliser and farm input distribution, and appealed for land allocation for medicinal plant cultivation as well as a permanent secretariat for the association.

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), which coordinated the re-election campaign of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has thanked residents of the state for their support that secured the governor’s victory at the polls.

The council, in a statement jointly signed on Friday by its Director-General, Senator Lere Oyewumi, and Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, also appreciated traditional rulers for their prayers and support throughout the election period.

The council said the victory reflected the people’s confidence in what it described as the Imole vision and their desire for continued development and good governance in the state.

It said, ‘We extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the good people of Osun State for the confidence, support, prayers, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment demonstrated throughout our journey.

‘The victory we celebrate today belongs, first and foremost, to God Almighty and to the good people of Osun State. It is a testament to the strength of your faith in the Imole vision and your determination to see Osun continue on the path of progress, development, and good governance.’

The council also commended traditional rulers for their counsel, prayers and contributions to their communities.

‘To our Royal Fathers and Traditional Rulers, we salute your wisdom, dignity, and invaluable counsel. Your leadership remains a pillar of our communities, and we deeply appreciate your prayers and support,’ it said.

Religious leaders were also recognised for their prayers, guidance and commitment to peace, unity and the wellbeing of Osun State.

The council said the victory belonged to all residents of the state, including those in the diaspora, and urged them to remain united.

‘To every citizen of Osun State-at home and in the diaspora, we see and value you. You will never be taken for granted. This moment belongs to all of us,’ it said.

The council acknowledged that the campaign was not without challenges but said the outcome demonstrated the importance of collective support for a shared vision.

It stressed, however, that the electoral victory should be viewed as a renewed responsibility to serve the people.

‘As we celebrate this milestone, we are conscious that victory itself is not the destination. It is a renewed responsibility to serve, to listen, to unite, and to deliver on the aspirations of the people,’ the council said.

It pledged that the trust placed in the administration would not be taken for granted.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November to test its readiness for the 2027 general elections, its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said.

Amupitan disclosed this on Friday when he received the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission to Nigeria, David Sproule, and the Country Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Moritz Sprenker, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

He described the August 15 Osun State governorship election as a ‘superlative benchmark’ in electoral administration, saying the commission would use the experience to guide its preparations for the 2027 elections.

According to him, 3,556 of the 3,763 polling units in Osun State, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 am.

He attributed the outcome to the effective deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), seamless transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and proactive crisis management by field officials.

‘We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,’ he said.

Amupitan said the planned November mock accreditation exercise would serve as a rigorous field test of the BVAS and other electoral processes ahead of the general election.

He said the exercise was intended to identify and address possible operational gaps before the 2027 elections.

The INEC chairman appreciated Canada’s continued partnership with the commission, while also highlighting the need for a voter revalidation exercise.

He said a significant number of voters, particularly elderly persons who registered as far back as 2011, would need to validate their records.

He, however, said the revalidation exercise could not be conducted ahead of the 2027 General Election because of time constraints, adding that it remained necessary to avoid delays in future electoral processes.

He admitted that both engagements came at a pivotal point in the Commission’s calendar, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, 16 January 2027, and the Governorship and House of Assembly elections slated for 6 February 2027.

He said Wednesday, 19 August 2026, marked the official start of public campaigns and rallies for the 2027 General Election, while the Commission, days earlier, joined presidential candidates and party chairmen at the National Peace Committee’s signing of the first National Peace Accord on issue-based campaigning.

The INEC Chairman said the visit of the Canadian delegation reinforced the long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Canada, anchored on democratic values, the rule of law, and good governance.

He commended Canada’s sustained support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening, and gender inclusion in Nigeria.

He outlined five areas of shared strategic priority with the Canadian delegation: consolidating the technological gains recorded in Osun; deepening electoral inclusivity for persons with disabilities, women, youth, and underrepresented groups across the Commission’s 176,000 polling units; strengthening institutional capacity through technical assistance and training; countering election-related misinformation; and the planned mock accreditation exercise.

Prof. Amupitan also informed the Commission’s guests that the Commission had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Unit to strengthen data management, voter registration, and results transmission, while guarding against the misuse of such technologies.

In his remarks, Leader of the Canadian delegation, Mr Sproule, commended INEC’s commitment to a free and credible electoral process and reaffirmed Canada’s readiness to support the Commission in areas it deemed necessary, including election observation. He expressed particular interest in the active participation of women and other segments of society in the electoral process, and said Canada was confident in the Commission’s capacity to conduct credible elections.

Receiving the delegation from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), led by the Country Director, Moritz Sprenker, the INEC Chairman described KAS as a longstanding partner of the Commission and commended the Foundation’s contributions to constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and good governance globally.

According to him, INEC and KAS had collaborated on regulatory frameworks for political parties, including technical retreats held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Lagos, which he said contributed to the Commission’s preparations for the Osun election.

He listed strategic priorities for continued collaboration with KAS, including civic education and democratic culture, electoral technology, institutional capacity building, countering misinformation, and deepening inclusivity for persons with disabilities and marginalised groups, and interagency dialogue for peaceful electoral processes.

Responding, Mr Sprenker said KAS is active in more than 100 countries and has worked in Nigeria for over 25 years across government, civil society, academia, and the media. He recalled a capacity-building workshop on procurement held with INEC in Lagos in March 2026 and expressed KAS’s continued interest in strengthening its partnership with the Commission.

Prof. Amupitan used both engagements to reassure the international community of INEC’s independence, neutrality, and commitment to democratic integrity, as the Commission scales its logistical capacity to deploy approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide for the 2027 General Election.

Nigerian musician and professional keyboardist Temitope Adeoye, popularly known as Temi Comic, brought Afro-fusion to the Nigerian Cultural Day celebration in Plymouth, United Kingdom.

The event, organised by Toskel Community Heritage and Culture CIC on August 8, 2026, brought together members of the Nigerian community and other participants to celebrate Nigerian music, heritage and cultural identity in the diaspora.

Temi Comic was among the performers at the event, where he shared the stage with veteran Nigerian musician Jesse King ‘Buga’ in a performance that blended contemporary musical expression with traditional African influences.

His performance showcased the keyboard’s versatility beyond conventional harmonic accompaniment, incorporating melodic phrases, rhythmic accents, and harmonic textures.

Playing alongside Buga, whose style draws from contemporary highlife, Afro-jazz, and traditional African influences, Temi Comic adopted a collaborative approach, responding to the music and complementing the vocalist.

‘Playing alongside Buga was a very special experience for me. There is so much history and culture in his music, so as a keyboardist you have to listen carefully and understand where the music wants to go,’ he said.

He described the performance as an opportunity to learn from an established musician while exploring the connection between different generations of African musicians.

‘What I enjoyed most was the musical communication. Sometimes you don’t need many words between musicians. You listen, you respond, and you allow the music to lead you. Playing with Buga reminded me of that,’ he said.

Temi Comic said his approach was centred on supporting the vocalist and other band members rather than dominating the performance.

‘For me, playing with an experienced artist like Buga is about listening. You cannot just play because you know how to play. You have to understand the artist, understand the rhythm and know when your sound should come forward and when it should step back,’ he said.

He described the collaboration as evidence of music’s ability to bridge generational differences and create opportunities for younger musicians to connect with established practitioners.

‘It was rewarding because you realise that music has no generational gap. When the rhythm is right, and everybody understands the language, experience and youth can meet naturally,’ he said.

Reflecting on the performance, Temi Comic said working with Buga reinforced the importance of continuous learning among musicians.

‘I left the performance feeling inspired. Performing with Buga showed me that there is always more to learn, especially when you are working with someone who has carried African music for so many years,’ he said.

The Nigerian Cultural Day also highlighted the role of cultural events in preserving and promoting Nigerian identity among communities in the diaspora.

For Temi Comic, the performance demonstrated how contemporary musicians can engage with African musical traditions while introducing new sounds and approaches, highlighting the ability of Nigerian music to evolve across generations and borders without losing its cultural roots.

The Ondo and Edo Police commands have begun a ‘joint clearance operation’ on the border communities of the two states to dislodge criminal elements and destroy their hideouts in the flashpoints area.

The operation, which started yesterday, is being led by the Police Commissioner in Ondo,.Felix Ohagwu, in collaboration with his Edo State counterpart, Patrick Daaor.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo, Jimoh Abayomi, the exercise involves tactical teams drawn from both commands and would be sustained.

Abayomi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the operation is focused on the Ondo-Edo border axis, particularly Ala, Ifon, Okelusi and other identified flashpoints and adjoining communities believed to be vulnerable to criminal activities.

He also said the operation comprised intelligence-led patrols, coordinated raids, surveillance and targeted clearance of identified criminal flashpoints and suspected hideouts.

Abayomi added that the exercise is also aimed at disrupting the movement and infiltration of criminal elements across the two states while curbing cross-border criminal activities and also strengthening security.

‘The operation was in line with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which emphasises intelligence-driven policing, inter-command collaboration, proactive crime prevention and sustained efforts to rid communities of criminal activities,’ the statement added.

Ohagwu assured residents of the border communities of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

He urged community leaders, residents and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in identifying, tracking and apprehending criminals.

‘The fight against crime is a collective responsibility,’ Ohagwu said.

He assured the residents that the joint operation would be sustained with the objective of making the Ondo-Edo border corridor safer and increasingly hostile to criminals and their activities.

Ohagwu, however, called for continued cooperation from residents and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the operation.

Eleven-time WNBA All-Star and Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) president Nneka Ogwumike has announced that she will retire at the end of the 2026 season, bringing the curtain down on a magnificent 15-year career.

The 36-year-old forward, who was born to Nigerian parents in Texas, revealed her decision during an interview with Taylor Rooks for Boardroom Talks, explaining that her realization came during this spring’s training camp.

‘I feel very fulfilled with the 15 years that I’ve been able to play and compete at such a high level,’ Ogwumike said. ‘Even though I didn’t know what kind of player that I could be in this league, I never thought that I would play this long.

‘It’s a little bit my body. I still feel very good, but I also feel the comfort of slowing down a little bit. I find myself grateful, fulfilled, and at peace with everything this game has given me and everything I’ve poured into it.’

Drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2012, Ogwumike established herself as one of the most dominant forces in modern basketball. She led the franchise to a WNBA championship in 2016-the same year she claimed league MVP honors. Across her 15 seasons, including 12 years with Los Angeles and a two-year stint with the Seattle Storm before returning to the Sparks on a one-year deal, Ogwumike holds Sparks franchise records for most points, field goals made, steals, and double-doubles.

Over her storied career, the future Hall of Famer has averaged 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while earning eight All-WNBA selections.

Beyond her on-court dominance, Ogwumike’s legacy as WNBPA president has transformed the sport off the court. She spearheaded historic collective bargaining negotiations, including a landmark deal yielding over $1 billion in projected player salaries and benefits over seven years.

‘Nneka will retire at the end of this season leaving the WNBA much better than she found it – a testament not only to the player she has been, but to the person and leader she is,’ WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

Echoing those sentiments, WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson added: ‘Her leadership has been extraordinary. As President for the last decade, Nneka understood that leadership was not simply about having a seat at the table; it was about using that seat to move the game forward for every player.’

If the Sparks miss the postseason, Ogwumike’s final professional appearance will take place on September 24 against the Golden State Valkyries at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

‘I don’t want to treat any transition or any change like the end,’ Ogwumike reflected. ‘I am very proud and fulfilled in what I’ve been able to do on the court, but there are so many doors that will allow me to discover myself and transition on my own terms.’

The Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Sustainable Development Goals and Multilateral Relations, Bamikole Omisore, has commended the people of Ile-Ife for their support for the governor in the just-concluded Osun State governorship election.

Omisore, in a statement on Friday, said the four local government areas that make up the Ife Federal Constituency collectively delivered 75,758 votes to Adeleke.

He described the result as a demonstration of the people’s confidence in the governor’s leadership during his first term.

According to him, Ife East recorded 27,201 votes, Ife Central 21,171, Ife North 13,879 and Ife South 13,507 votes for Adeleke.

Omisore attributed the result to what he described as Adeleke’s performance and growing political support in the ancient city, particularly in Ife East, where the governor’s margin, according to him, rose from a deficit of 1,282 votes in 2022 to 27,201 votes on August 15.

‘This unified support of 75,758 votes from all zones of Ile-Ife demonstrates the people’s confidence in Governor Adeleke’s vision and leadership,’ Omisore said.

‘The victory we are celebrating is not Ile-Ife’s alone. It belongs to all the sons and daughters of Osun State who believed in Governor Adeleke’s vision and worked tirelessly to deliver this mandate,’ he added.

The governor’s aide also commended youths, students, traders, farmers, professionals, political leaders and community elders in Ile-Ife for their contributions to the election.

He commended the traditional institution in Ile-Ife, particularly the Ooni of Ife, for what he described as its contribution to a peaceful and orderly electoral process.

Omisore expressed optimism that Adeleke would use his second term to implement projects and policies aimed at improving infrastructure, economic opportunities and youth empowerment in Ile-Ife.

He urged residents of Ile-Ife and Osun State to sustain the unity displayed during the election, stressing that the mandate had placed a responsibility on the re-elected administration to deliver on its promises.

Former Golden Eaglets midfielder Peter Agba will spend the 2026/27 season on loan at Hungarian club Eto FC.

The 23-year-old defensive midfielder has joined Eto FC on a one-year loan deal that includes an option to buy.

Agba remains under contract with Israeli club Maccabi Haifa until 2028. He joined the club in September 2025.

The Nigerian has one appearance for the country’s Under-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets.

According to Transfermarkt, Agba’s current market value is pound 1 million.

His move to Hungary is expected to give him regular playing opportunities and further experience as he continues his development at senior level.

The Benue State House of Assembly on Thursday recommended the suspension of the Chairman, Kwande Local Government (LGA), Mr Vitalis Neji, for three months over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The recommendation followed consideration of the report of an ad hoc committee constituted by the house to investigate the allegations against the council chairman.

Presenting the report during the plenary, the Majority Leader and Chairman of the committee, Mr Peter Ipusu, said that Neji appeared before the committee but was unable to satisfactorily defend himself against the allegations levelled against him.

Following the presentation and debate on the report, members unanimously called on the Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga, to rule on the committee’s recommendation.

Ruling on the matter, Emberga announced the suspension of Neji for three months to allow for further investigation into the allegations against him.

He said that the suspension took effect immediately pending the outcome of the investigation. (NAN)