Category: PM News

The Oyo State Police Command has detained 10 people suspected of dealing in human body parts, following an intelligence-driven operation that led to the recovery of suspected human remains and ritual items.

The suspects were apprehended at different locations in Iseyin and Saki after months of intelligence gathering and discreet surveillance by the command’s monitoring unit.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday.

According to him, police operatives searched the suspects’ hideouts after making the arrests and recovered several items believed to be human parts.

‘Following their arrest, operatives conducted searches of the suspects’ hideouts, during which several suspected human parts were recovered.

‘The exhibits include one suspected human heart, human flesh, pieces of human skull and assorted charms,’ he said.

Ayanlade said the recovered exhibits had been secured for forensic analysis as investigators continued to probe the case.

He added that the suspects were helping detectives establish where the items came from, how they were obtained and what they were intended to be used for.

The police spokesman said the investigation had also been expanded, with operatives working to track down other individuals allegedly linked to the suspected syndicate.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Abimbola Olugbenga, praised the officers involved in the operation for their diligence and professionalism.

Ayanlade quoted the commissioner as assuring residents that the command would continue its efforts to dismantle criminal networks and safeguard human life across the state.

The Accord Party has defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polling unit of former Osun State Deputy Governor and ex-National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in the ongoing Osun governorship election.

Results uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed that Accord secured 131 votes at Polling Unit 003, Ife Ward 1 (Moore), St. Gabriel Primary School, in Ife East Local Government Area.

The APC came second with 85 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 10 votes. Other political parties recorded marginal votes at the polling unit.

The result gives Accord a 46-vote lead over the APC at Omisore’s polling unit.

The outcome is notable given Omisore’s prominent political history in Osun State and his former position as National Secretary of the APC.

The result also adds to a series of victories recorded by the Accord Party at the polling units of prominent political figures as counting and collation continue across the state.

Earlier, Accord also secured victory at the polling unit of former Osun Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area.

According to the result uploaded on the IReV portal, Accord polled 125 votes at Oyinlola’s polling unit, while the APC secured 85 votes and the ADC recorded five votes.

Meanwhile, INEC has continued uploading polling unit results to the IReV portal as the election moves into the collation stage.

Voters across the state’s 30 local government areas went to the polls on Saturday to elect the governor who will lead Osun State for the next four years.

The election is being keenly contested by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, ADC candidate Najeem Salaam and other candidates.

Nigerian troops have intercepted a 57-year-old man, Sani Umar, with 180 units of 20mm Superpower explosives allegedly being transported for delivery to suspected terrorist elements from Zamfara to Katsina State.

Umar was intercepted in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State by troops of Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) who were conducting routine snap checks on vehicles.

Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA in a statement on Saturday said the suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation.

Danja added that in other operations, the troops recorded significant successes through the killing of terrorists and recovery of weapons.

Giving detail of the operations, the spokesperson revealed that troops of Sector 2 killed two terrorists, recovered two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles after a fierce firefight with the insurgents around Garin Kaso area of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the state.

‘As the operation progressed, another group of terrorists attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions. The troops responded decisively and successfully fought through the ambush, inflicting further casualties on the terrorists and forcing the surviving elements to flee.

‘Although the exact number of terrorist casualties from the subsequent encounter is yet to be confirmed, reports from the communities within the general area indicated that several terrorists with apparent gunshot wounds, as well as bodies of their neutralized colleagues, were evacuated by the fleeing elements following the encounter. This further indicates the significant pressure being brought to bear on terrorist groups as troops continue to take the fight to their enclaves,’ Danja said.

He added that the operations demonstrated the sustained offensive posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in simultaneously taking the fight to terrorist enclaves and disrupting the logistics networks that provide them with weapons, explosives and other resources required to perpetrate violence.

‘The Theatre Command remains resolute in sustaining the momentum of ongoing operations and will continue to deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West,’ said Danja.

Police on Saturday released shocking videos of a large number of non-residents of Osun who were allegedly imported by an Accord Party member to vote in the ongoing gubernatorial election in the state.

The voters carrying new Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, were camped at Babs Hotel in Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke, ahead of the election.

In a video clip going viral on social media, the alleged imported voters were seeing being interrogated by security operatives.

They confessed that they were imported from other states such as Ekiti and Ondo to Osun to vote in the election for a pay.

The suspects comprised 30 males and three females and were apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were brought into Osun from neighbouring Ondo and Ekiti states for alleged unlawful electoral activities.

The suspects were arrested on Friday evening by security operatives in the state.

Some Permanent Voter Cards were reportedly recovered from the suspects and taken as exhibits.

The police said some of the suspects, during preliminary questioning, claimed that a politician had recruited them and promised to pay them in exchange for voting during the election.

The command said further investigation would be conducted to establish the identity of the alleged recruiter, determine the specific roles of those involved and uncover the full circumstances surrounding the movement of the suspects into the state.

In a related development, the Osun State Police Command has arrested an Accord party member and serving lawmaker, Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly found at his residence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday during a police operation carried out as part of heightened security measures for the ongoing Osun governorship election.

According to the police, no fewer than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were recovered during the operation.

A video clip obtained following the arrest showed the lawmaker making a preliminary statement in which he identified himself and allegedly said he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects from neighbouring states into Osun.

The suspects were allegedly brought into the state to participate in the governorship election.

Confirming the arrest, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Inaolaji was apprehended in the early hours of Saturday.

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a multi-pronged attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a military base in Borno State, according to the military.

The attack occurred at about 2am on Saturday, August 15, 2026, when the terrorists simultaneously advanced on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragirau in Biu Local Government Area from two directions.

The Joint Task Force (North East) said troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion detected the advancing fighters through early-warning and surveillance systems before they could reach the base.

A combat team was subsequently deployed to intercept one group along its approach route, triggering a heavy exchange of fire in which the attackers were repelled.

The military said a second group attempted to circumvent the troops and infiltrate the base but was also met with superior firepower, forcing the insurgents to withdraw.

Troops then launched a hot pursuit and exploited the area of contact as well as the routes used by the fleeing terrorists.

According to the statement signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, several terrorists were neutralised during the engagement.

The troops also recovered AK-47 rifles and loaded magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, RPG bombs and chargers, a camcorder and other items described as combat equipment.

The military further said surveillance footage showed some of the fleeing terrorists dragging the bodies of their colleagues towards the Timbuktu Triangle, an area that has remained a significant theatre of counter-insurgency operations in Borno.

The Army said there were no casualties among its personnel during the attack.

The successful defence of the Mandaragirau base comes amid sustained military operations against ISWAP and Boko Haram elements across the North-East. Operation HADIN KAI troops have repeatedly engaged insurgents attempting to attack military positions, disrupt civilian movement or maintain operational footholds in Borno and neighbouring areas.

In March, for instance, the military reported that troops repelled another major ISWAP assault and subsequently neutralised 38 terrorists during the engagement and follow-up operations around Mandaragirau and the fringes of the Timbuktu Triangle.

The latest incident, however, also highlights the continuing ability of ISWAP fighters to mount coordinated attacks against military positions despite sustained pressure from security forces.

The Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI commended the troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion for what it described as their courage, professionalism and tactical effectiveness.

The command said it would continue efforts to dominate the operational environment, restrict the terrorists’ freedom of movement and action, and support the restoration of lasting security across the North-East.

Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has cast his ballot in the ongoing governorship election, as voters turned out early across parts of the state to participate in the exercise.

Adeleke arrived at Polling Unit 009, Ward 02, Abogunde Compound, in Ede North Local Government Area at about 8:10 a.m., where he subsequently exercised his franchise.

The governor’s arrival came amid an early turnout of voters in Ede, his hometown, as well as parts of Ilesha and Osogbo, with residents trooping to their respective polling units to vote and determine who will lead the state.

In Ede, some voters arrived at their polling units as early as 6:40 a.m., while vehicles were seen conveying voters and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to various locations ahead of the commencement of voting.

Security personnel were also deployed across Ede North and Ede South local government areas, with checkpoints mounted in compliance with the restriction on vehicular movement imposed for the election.

Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen at several polling units before the arrival of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and election materials.

Local election observers were also present at some polling units, monitoring preparations and the voting process.

While accreditation and voting had commenced at some locations, INEC officials were yet to paste the register of eligible voters at some other polling units visited.

The early voter turnout was not limited to Ede, as similar activity was reported in other parts of the state, including Ilesha and Osogbo.

With voters arriving at polling units from the early hours of the morning, the election has recorded active participation as residents exercise their civic rights in choosing the next governor of Osun State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded 3,191 of the 3,763 expected polling-unit results from Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to its Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

The latest update, recorded at 8:18:05 p.m. on August 15, 2026, represents 84.80 per cent of the results expected from the state’s 30 local government areas.

With 3,191 result sheets now available on the portal, 572 polling-unit results remain to be uploaded, according to the latest figures displayed by INEC.

The development marks a significant increase in the electronic publication of results as the commission continues the collation process following voting across the state.

The figures show that results have been uploaded from all 30 local government areas, although the level of completion varies across the councils.

Osogbo Local Government Area, which has 282 polling units, recorded the highest number of uploaded results at 258, leaving 24 outstanding.

Ife Central had 194 of its 215 results uploaded, while Ife East recorded 181 of 200. In Ilesa East, 115 of 132 expected results had been uploaded.

Other areas with substantial uploads included Ifelodun, with 126 of 145 results; Aiyedade, 121 of 150; Irepodun, 120 of 133; Ila, 117 of 124; and Ede North, 116 of 139.

The latest figures also show that some local government areas are approaching full electronic transmission. Boluwaduro had 73 of 74 results uploaded, while Ifedayo had 60 of 63 and Isokan had 73 of 95.

At the time of the update, Ola-Oluwa had the lowest proportion of uploaded results among the listed councils, with 41 of 62 result sheets available on the portal.

The 84.80 per cent upload figure, however, does not represent 84.80 per cent of votes counted, nor does it indicate the percentage of the election won by any candidate.

Rather, it reflects the proportion of expected polling-unit result sheets that had been electronically uploaded to the IReV platform at the time of the update.

The remaining 572 result sheets will therefore be crucial to the completion of the electronic publication process, although the official winner of the election will ultimately be determined through INEC’s established collation and declaration process.

The increasing number of uploaded results provides voters, political parties and observers with greater access to polling-unit result sheets as the state awaits the final outcome of the governorship contest.

Attention is now focused on the remaining uploads and the official collation of results from the state’s 30 local government areas.

Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi has ordered closure of all markets, stalls and shops in Akure and its environs on Monday, Aug. 17 and Tuesday Sept. 1 for celebration of Aheregbe and Amole festivals.

This is contained in a statement on Friday in Akure by the Chief Press Secretary of the traditional ruler, Mr Michael Adeleye.

‘The closure is indeed an integral part of the requirements to observe the age long tradition of the annual Aheregbe and Amole festivals.

‘We wish to emphasize that there shall be no trading or opening of shops under any guise on these revered days.

‘Residents, market women and shop owners are kindly enjoined to take note and comply with this directive accordingly, ‘ the statement said.

According to the statement, only registered pharmacy stores are allowed to open during the festivals excluding patent medicine stores.

The statement, however, added that there would be no human and vehicular restriction during the days of the festivals.

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for greater investment in second-chance education for girls whose schooling has been disrupted by early pregnancy, economic hardship, cultural barriers and other challenges.

Tinubu made the call on Friday at the commissioning of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, where she urged government and other stakeholders to ensure that no girl is denied the opportunity to complete her education and fulfil her potential.

The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, expressed satisfaction with the rehabilitation and equipping of the school through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The Alternative High School for Girls was established in 2007 by then Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of Nigeria, to provide girls whose education had been interrupted with an opportunity to return to school, complete their secondary education and acquire vocational skills.

The First Lady said the initiative had grown beyond its original purpose, with similar alternative schools now being established in other parts of the country under efforts to provide out-of-school girls with renewed opportunities.

She disclosed that another alternative high school was under construction in Ikorodu to serve the Lagos East senatorial district, and urged the Lagos State Government to establish another facility in Lagos Central.

‘I therefore urge the Lagos State Government to complete the plan by establishing an additional school in Lagos Central, while ensuring the smooth operation and proper maintenance of all the schools so that more girls can complete their education,’ she said.

According to her, every girl deserves the opportunity to overcome circumstances that may have interrupted her education and build a productive future.

She urged the students not to allow their past experiences to determine their future, stressing the importance of determination, discipline and hard work.

‘To the students, I encourage you to take the most of this opportunity. Let your past not define your future. With determination, discipline, and hard work, you can achieve your dreams and become positive contributors to our nation’s development,’ she said.

The First Lady also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for their support for education and the rehabilitation of the school before formally commissioning the facility.

Representing Governor Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony, his wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, described the occasion as a homecoming, recalling that the Alternative High School for Girls was initiated in 2007 when Oluremi Tinubu served as Lagos State First Lady.

She said the school had since become a model for restoring educational opportunities to girls whose schooling had been disrupted by early pregnancy, economic hardship and cultural barriers.

According to her, the institution has helped young women return to education, obtain Senior Secondary School Certificates and acquire vocational and life skills.

‘Since then, this institution has quietly restored dignity and destiny to countless young women, guiding them back to the Senior Secondary School Certificate and equipping them with skills and values for life,’ she said.

She added that some graduates of the school had gone on to become professionals, entrepreneurs and mothers, describing their achievements as evidence of the transformative impact of second-chance education.

Sanwo-Olu assured that Lagos State would sustain the rehabilitated facility and preserve its mission of providing a pathway back into education for girls who had been left behind.

‘Educating a girl, as you all know, is educating a family, a community, and a nation,’ she said.

She further pledged that the state would ensure that the school remained a ‘sanctuary of second chances’ while using its model to strengthen efforts to reach out-of-school children across Lagos.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, also urged the students to look beyond their present circumstances and pursue their ambitions with confidence.

He told them that their backgrounds or past challenges should not determine their future, noting that they could become teachers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, lawyers, innovators, public servants and community leaders.

‘The nation is awaiting what you will become,’ Alli-Balogun told the students.

He commended Oluremi Tinubu, the Federal Government, UBEC, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for their contributions to the initiative and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing quality and inclusive education for girls.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of empowerment items and gifts to outstanding students. Ten of the best-performing students in various vocational departments received prizes, while students graduating from skills programmes received support in areas including catering, makeup, cosmetology, hairdressing and gele-making.

A deep freezer was also presented to the school by the wife of the Vice President.

Christian leaders have called for sustained intercessory prayers for President Bola Tinubu and other political leaders to navigate Nigeria out of its current security and economic challenges.

?The call was made at a national prayer gathering organised by the Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) on Thursday in Abuja.

The meeting brought together leaders from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), and various church groups.

?Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, urged Christians to stand in the gap for President Tinubu, describing him as a leader committed to the nation’s unity, greatness, and well-being.

?Adegbite acknowledged the economic difficulties currently faced by many citizens but expressed optimism that ongoing reforms would yield long-term benefits for the country.

?’You are not the type that will be bringing Nigeria down; you are building Nigeria up,’ Adegbite said, emphasising that intercessory prayer remained essential amidst insecurity and real-world uncertainties.

?The Convener and Leader of NOCRELA, Archbishop JohnPraise Daniel, declared that in spite of banditry, bloodletting, and financial strain, Nigeria could overcome its plight through divine intervention and collective citizen action.

?’Nigeria will rise. Don’t give up. Great things will happen. There shall be healing in our land,’ Daniel said.

?He stressed that nation-building was a shared responsibility rather than a duty meant solely for political officeholders.

?’If Nigeria must change, things must happen. It must come from every one of us. Not just from the President, Vice President, governor, or Senate. Every one of us has something to contribute to make our nation great,’ he added.

?Delivering a message, the CAN President, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Okoh, noted that Nigeria stood at a critical juncture as political activities build toward the 2027 general elections.

Okoh was represented by the Director of Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Very Rev. Princewill Ireoba.

?He cautioned against political manipulation, asserting that the country’s primary need must move beyond political strategies to divine wisdom, justice, and responsible leadership.

?’We should encourage our members to participate actively and responsibly in the democratic process and remind all political actors that political power is a trust, not a licence for oppression and corruption,’ Okoh stated.

?He reaffirmed CAN’s commitment to collaborating with NOCRELA and other bodies to promote peace, democratic integrity, and social justice across the nation.

?Quoting biblical principles from 2 Chronicles 7:14, the faith leaders jointly urged Nigerians to maintain hope, practice humility, and embrace repentance as fundamental steps toward national recovery.

?The national prayer session featured intense intercessions for divine wisdom for leaders, an end to violent crime, economic revitalisation, peaceful elections, alongside worship and song ministrations by interdenominational choir.