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Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the procurement of a 60-megawatt gas turbine by his administration was a milestone worth celebrating by the state as it turned 29 on October 1, 2025.

Governor Diri also stated that when fully installed, it would not only guarantee 24-hour power supply in the state but would also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Diri stated this in a statewide broadcast on the twin occasion of Nigeria’s 65th Independence and Bayelsa’s 29th statehood anniversary on October 1, 2025.

While congratulating Nigeria’s leader, President Bola Tinubu, as well as the people of the country and Bayelsa on the anniversary celebrations, Governor Diri expressed the hope of better days ahead.

According to him, his Assured Prosperity administration continues to progress with landmark projects, including the nine-storey state secretariat complex that would provide efficient administrative space for public servants.

Senator Diri equally stated that the ongoing construction of the 25,000-capacity stadium would foster youth development as the facility would inspire young people and showcase Bayelsa on a larger scale.

He said: ‘The recent arrival of the 60-megawatt gas turbines marks a major milestone and brings us much closer to reliable, round-the-clock power in our state. That development will reduce household expenses, attract investment, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

‘Work is also progressing well on other landmark projects. The nine-storey State Secretariat complex is advancing steadily and will provide modern, efficient administrative space for our public servants and the people they serve. To foster sports and youth development, we are building a 25,000-capacity, Olympic-standard stadium – a facility that will inspire our young people and showcase Bayelsa on the national and international stage.

On development in the education sector, he said the state had recorded significant progress in academic performance and infrastructure upgrade.

‘Our schools are improving. Recent NECO results have shown strong performances by our students, with Bayelsa among the top five states in Nigeria. To deepen pragmatic education, we have established science, technical and vocational colleges in every local government area.

‘The ones at Ayamasa, Ofoni, Swali, Sampou and Opume have been completed and functional while others are nearing completion in Brass, Igbeta-Ewoma and Oporoma.’

Bandits killed and abducted many residents of Zamfara on Friday evening.

They also blocked Mayanchi – Anka road in Zamfara where they carried out their enterprise.

One of the motorists that escaped the roadblock Malam Muhammad Ahmad said the bandits were heavily armed.

‘The bandits blocked us on the road and kidnapped many people, some of us scattered and ran into the bushes. Those that escaped among us were those that run into bushes where long crops were planted,’ Ahmad said.

‘My colleague Abubakar Lawali Sardauna was killed because he refused to be abducted saying that, he will not follow the bandits to the bush,’ he added.

Efforts to reach Zamfara Police spokesman, DSP Yazid Abubakar were not successful.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday re-emphasised that no Nigerian mother should lose her life while giving birth, as she commissioned two major health facilities in Gombe State.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 100-bed Senator Oluremi Tinubu Maternal and Child Specialist Hospital, the First Lady described healthcare – particularly maternal and child health – as central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

According to a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said ‘the commissioning of this hospital is not just the unveiling of a building; it is the opening of doors to life, to hope, and to a healthier future for our mothers and our children.

‘Healthcare, especially maternal and child health, is at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which seeks to ensure that every Nigerian child has a healthy start in life, and that no mother dies while birthing life’, Mrs. Tinubu declared.

She commended the Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for building the hospital, noting that the facility would significantly help reduce maternal and infant mortality while bringing relief to families in Gombe and neighboring states.

‘It is my belief that this facility will provide quality healthcare services, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and bring relief to families in Gombe State and beyond,’ the First Lady said, while urging medical professionals, community leaders, and citizens to ensure the facility serves its purpose with excellence, compassion, and integrity.

In addition to the specialist hospital, Senator Tinubu also commissioned the ultra-modern New College of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe, where she interacted with enthusiastic students who expressed gratitude for her visit.

The First Lady’s engagements in Gombe form part of her ongoing nationwide advocacy for improved healthcare and education under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She has since returned to Abuja after her two-day official visit to the state.

A black Lexus RX 350 screeched to a halt in Adebayo Area of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. Its tinted windows slid down and six ladies in skimpy dresses rushed forward. After a brief negotiation, two of them ‘jumped’ into the car’s back seat, and it sped off.

For the passersby, it was just another fleeting moment. But for those familiar with Ado-Ekiti at nightfall, it was another window into a world where prostitution no longer hides in the shadow but flourishes in the open.

From Adebayo to Ajilosun, Bank Road to NTA Road, and into the brothels of Odo-Ado, Isato-Isale and Oke Bola, young ladies stand at the centre of prostitution that now defines Ado-Ekiti’s nightlife.

Ladies in early twenties emerge from the shadow corners with short dresses and stand in clusters waiting for clients. They lean on parked cars, shift weight from one leg to another, and scan the road with sharp eyes.

Each headlight beam is a possible transaction. Their main clients are internet fraudsters, the so-called Yahoo boys, who dominate the city’s nightlife with flashy cars, music and reckless spending.

Female students of tertiary institutions struggling to make ends meet or seduced by the lure of fast money, also join the trade. Some of the ladies operate discreetly, arranging meetings through WhatsApp groups. Others work through bar owners, hotel managers or informal networks of pimps who take a cut of their fees.

Rates range between N20,000 for short time to N100,000 for trips outside the state.

Between 9pm and 10pm, Adebayo one of the busiest nightlife hubs, bursts into spectacle. Convoys of exotic cars pull up outside hotels and lounges and men in expensive gold chains and wristwatches storm in as they order for bottles of Azul and Hennessy.

Sex workers, popularly called ‘Olosho’, swarm their tables like bees.

On the streets, the trade is visible. Young women in high-heeled shoes negotiate loudly on phone calls or disappear into cars with clients.

In brothels, the transactions are more structured. In one brothel at Odo-Ado, this reporter observed more than a dozen women sitting on plastic chairs, waiting for patronage. The negotiation process was brisk. A man would arrive, point to his choice, whisper a few words, and disappear into a small room with her.

At roadside lounges, the scene is similar. The smell of grilled suya mixes with that of cigarette smoke as men sip bottles of red wine and beer and DJ spun different Afrobeats tracks.

Beyond the open bar, women linger by hotel gates, their short dresses shimmering under fluorescent light. A smile becomes an advert and a wave is an invitation.

By morning, the same women retreat into normal lives. On the streets, they were indistinguishable from students rushing to lectures, traders arranging their wares, or apprentices heading to the workshop.

But when night falls again, they return to the streets aggressively searching for ‘daily bread’.

Our correspondent went undercover not only to the streets but also into hotels with three different sex workers on three different nights.

Each encounter was staged, not for sex, but for conversation, giving them the chance to tell their stories. The young ladies attempted to seduce the reporter, mistaking the purpose of the meeting. One sat on the reporter’s lap, another tugged at his shirt with smiles. But in each case, the urge was resisted even though their fees were paid in full..

The first encounter was at a hotel in Adebayo area. A 21-year-old Sussy (not her real name) from Auchi, Edo State was quick to settle into the room and ask for her fee. When told the arrangement was only for conversation, she looked puzzled, then sat on the edge of the bed and relaxed.

A 300-level student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), she said it was financial hardship that forced her into the trade. She said she turned to prostitution after her father lost his job and her mother’s petty business could no longer sustain the family and meet the demands of tuition, hostel rent, and books.

She explained that she first ventured into what she called ‘runs’ in her first year, when family support dwindled to almost nothing.

‘I was not comfortable at first,’ she said, tracing a circle on the tabletop with her finger. ‘But My friend told me how she managed.

‘One night, I tried it and it really helped. Now it has become a routine’, she added.

Sussy, at one point, drew closer to the reporter and eased herself onto his lap before she was gently asked to return to her seat. She obeyed without protest, but the gesture carried the heaviness of routine. She gave a half-smile, almost bitter, and shrugged.

She admitted thst most of her clients are Yahoo Boys (internet fraudsters). ‘Ordinary students cannot afford us. They spend freely, even pay for trips outside the state,’ she said.

For Sussy, prostitution is less a choice and more about survival borne out of the arithmetic of hardship and the urgency of need.

In front of KSSD Hotel along NTA Road, Ado-Ekiti, another young lady in her early twenties, caught the reporter’s attention. Slender with a golden ankle chain and scarlet lipstick, Kaffy stood under a street light. Approached by the reporter, she wasted no time on pleasantries. ‘Short time is N20,000; full night, N40,000. No reduction,’ she said with a tone of finality.

She agreed to a short-time arrangement and followed the reporter to a nearby hotel. Inside the small room, she laughed when asked if stigma ever bothered her.

‘Stigma doesn’t feed anyone,’ she said, revealing that she had a child to care for. ‘The father is not there, but the child must eat,’ she said.

‘Yahoo Boys pay well, though they can be rough. Sometimes they want two or three girls at once. We take the risk because the money is there.’

As the conversation continued, Kaffy tugged at the reporters’ long sleeves before she was told that the night was only for conversation. She shook her head and gave a smile.

‘You’re different. Most men say that and change their minds later,’ she said.

Her fee was paid in full via transfer and she left with a mix of gratitude and disbelief.

At a brothel in Isato-Isale, rainbow bulbs flickered above the entrance. Inside, the narrow hallways reeked alcohol and cigarette smoke. Women lounged in doorways, waiting for potential clients.

At the brothel, this reporter met a young lady who introduced herself as Sandra, saying she had worked there for seven years. She insisted the conversation must take place inside her room for her to talk.

Inside her small room, the air was warm. A tired electric ceiling fan barely stirred the curtains. A single bed lay in a corner with a mosquito net tied to one side. Sandra poured a gin into two small glass cups and offered one to the reporter, which he politely turned down.

She explained that going into prostitution was not a sudden decision but an outcome outcome of pressures that left her with no choice.

According to her, her mother’s roadside stall barely brought in enough to survive, and when she gave birth, the weight of responsibility grew heavier. The child’s father, she said, disappeared soon after, leaving her with no support.

She added that sex work presented itself as the only option that could produce money that matched her responsibilities.

‘You think of other things but hunger doesn’t wait. School fees don’t wait. A child crying at night for food doesn’t wait’, she said.

On another night at Cozy Lounge along Ado-Iworoko Road, two young ladies sat side by side. They sipped a sachet alcohol carefully in order not to ‘dull the moment’ or their senses. The music from speakers rattled the bottles before them, reducing conversation to quick whispers and nods.

A moment later, a pot-bellied man in his fifties eased into the empty chair beside them. He leaned close and spoke into their ears over the noise. The discussion was brief and punctuated by laughter from the two women. Minutes later, they left their chairs, tugging at their dresses as they followed him.

At PDF Arena Lounge beside First Bank in Adebayo Area, a young lady named Ifedolapo stirs the ice in her glass. Slim and neatly braided, her voice is soft.

‘This is not the life I want. I am only managing. My dream is to own a boutique. If I can save enough, I will stop,’ she said.

At a popular brothel in Oke Bola, beside Ifa Chapel, a woman in her forties, who introduced herself as Mama T, disclosed that she had been in the ‘runs business’ for nearly a decade; a path she said was never her choice but became a necessity after her marriage collapsed.

‘I am a mother of three and my children must eat, school fees must be paid. That is why I continued.

‘I have been to Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Akure for this business. Everywhere it’s the same story. Men are looking for pleasure, women are only looking for ways to survive.’

She admitted the work is dangerous. ‘It is not an easy life. Sometimes you meet a good client who will pay well. Other times, you face insults and violence. But at the end of the day, you return because the children depend on you. There is no other choice.’

Our correspondent observed that by 2am, the frenzy began to wane. Some women hung outside lounges and hotels, their eyes heavy with fatigue. For those who could secure clients, it was a night wasted. For others, the money paid for the services they rendered meant a cashout for survival.

Singer and songwriter Seyi Shay has stirred reactions after disclosing that she was once a member of the Illuminati.

The revelation came during her appearance on the OffAir Podcast with Gbemi and Toolz, where the ‘Right Now’ crooner openly admitted to joining the controversial group.

‘That’s when I was in the Illuminati. That’s when I joined the Illuminati,’ she said, sparking wide conversations online.

Seyi Shay added that contrary to popular belief, it is not fans who know the most about such affiliations but insiders in the entertainment industry, suggesting that much goes on behind the scenes that the public may not be aware of.

Her comments quickly went viral, drawing mixed responses. While some listeners doubted her claim, others applauded her for speaking candidly about a topic often wrapped in secrecy and conspiracy theories.

Clips of the interview have been widely circulated on social media but the full context of her statements has yet to be released.

Popular skitmaker, Adeoye Isiah Ojewumi, better known as Kasala, has been unveiled as the new brand ambassador for Margaret Mosunmola College of Health Science and Technology, Owo, Ondo State.

The appointment, announced at the institution’s campus in Owo, is part of efforts by the management to deepen engagement with young Nigerians and promote health education through creative platforms.

Kasala, who has built a massive following online with his comic skits, expressed excitement at the recognition.

‘This is more than just an endorsement for me; it’s an opportunity to use my influence to inspire young people,’ he said. ‘Health is wealth, and I believe combining entertainment with education is one of the most powerful ways to reach the next generation. I’m proud to be associated with an institution that is shaping future health professionals.’

Speaking on the choice of Kasala, the Provost of the college, Dr. Oyegoke Temidayo Isaac, described the entertainer as a perfect fit for the school’s vision.

For Chief Jite Tesigimoje, polygamy is not a lifestyle of excess; it is, in his words, a practical truth of human nature. His household is a microcosm of Nigeria’s diversity. He is married to women from nearly all the major ethnic groups-Igbo, Yoruba, Bini, Ijaw, Fulani, Urhobo, Isoko, and his own Itsekiri. To him, it is a reflection of unity and inclusiveness.

‘Every man wants to marry two or three wives if he has the capacity,’ he said without hesitation.

‘The reality is this: after a few years of marriage, a man begins to see his wife differently. He sees her naked from time to time-when she is going into the bathroom and when she comes out and perfects her beauty routines.

‘Familiarity sets in, passion fades, and intimacy becomes more like a duty. That is why you hear women complain their husbands no longer love them like before when they just got married.

‘It is not that the love is gone; it is that desire has been dulled by routine.’

He advised couples in monogamous relationships to live apart. ‘If they cannot afford different apartments, they should live in separate rooms.’

He gestured towards one of his wives who sat beside him throughout the conversation, saying: ‘She is listening and smiling. She knows what I am saying is true.

‘She is stunningly beautiful, just like the others. But if she were the only woman in my house, things would be different.

‘Men don’t talk about this openly, but I will. No matter how beautiful a woman is, one woman alone cannot sustain a man’s passion forever.’

His argument is not a dismissal of women but a critique of Western ideals. ‘Our colonial masters told us monogamy is the best way of life. Yet those same people are caught daily in scandals, with mistresses, colleagues, even staff members.

‘Why sneak around? Why live in lies? If you admire another woman, marry her. That is better than deceit.’

Tradition and the role of privacy

Chief Tesigimoje links his views not only to personal experience but also to cultural tradition. ‘In our culture, there is mystery between husband and wife,’ he explained.

‘When you share the same room, wake up and see everything about your wife every single day, where is the excitement?

‘When you start to see her as a sibling, that spark is gone. And incest, as our tradition teaches, is a taboo.

‘So why push a man into a life where his wife feels like a sister? Distance and privacy keep the love alive.’

This is where polygamy, in his view, plays a balancing role. ‘When a man has two or three wives, he creates space. He comes to each one renewed, excited, and appreciative. That freshness keeps love burning.

‘I can tell you confidently that many women in polygamous homes are more sexually satisfied than their monogamous counterparts.

‘But let us continue to deceive ourselves and build up angry and frustrated women, which will eventually lead to more divorces.’

The demands of a polygamous household

Though he champions polygamy, Tesigimoje admits that marrying more than one wife is not meant for everyone. ‘Polygamy is cheap only in theory. In reality, it requires enormous financial strength and emotional intelligence.

‘It would be suicidal for someone to dabble into polygamy simply because he sees someone else, or because I am doing well in it. You must ask yourself some questions, and one of those is: are you capable?’

Providing insight into the enormous cost he bears in keeping everyone happy and comfortable, Tesigimoje said: ‘In Lagos, I live in Eko Atlantic City and have 15 houses. Each of my wives lives in a five-bedroom duplex, and they all receive hefty allowances and other perks regularly.

‘That is why, when I am in Warri, we can all stay together under one roof peacefully, with some of the wives sharing rooms without any grudges.’

He reiterated that fairness and equity are the backbone of his successful management of his home. ‘Once I do something for one wife, everyone must get the same treatment. Whether you are the youngest, the oldest, or yet to have any child, you get your due.

‘Let me give you an example: yesterday (a day before the interview), I sent some of my wives ?250,000 each for outings with their children.

‘Within minutes, every one of them had heard about it. Those who didn’t get theirs called me to demand answers.

‘I got calls from Abuja and Lagos, while those who were in Warri and yet to get their alerts stormed into my room. They had already heard!

‘Before the day ended, I spent about ?3 million on ice cream. That is polygamy. You cannot afford to neglect anyone.’

Honesty, keyUnitunity in the home

Contrary to outsiders’ assumptions, the billionaire business mogul revealed that his household thrives on cooperation, not rivalry.

‘At my last wedding, all my wives came dressed in the same attire. They danced, they laughed, and they welcomed the new bride. Can you imagine that?

‘If there wasn’t unity, they would not have been there, smiling.

‘People often think polygamy breeds jealousy, but if you are honest from the start, your home can be harmonious.

‘So, even in sharing my bed, my wives are cooperative.

‘There is an order as to who comes into the master’s bedroom, but the cooperation of the women makes it even more seamless.’

While hinting at wife No. 20 soon, he warned men against deception. ‘Do not promise a woman or give her the impression that she will be the only one if you plan otherwise.

‘If your heart is set on five or six wives, say it from the start. Once she accepts, she will be at peace with it.

‘Problems only come when men pretend. My wives know that I love women, and this (19th wife) might not be the last.’

Strength, fitness and tradition in coping with the demands of 19 wives

Asked how he manages the physical and emotional energy required for such a large family, the billionaire laughed heartily. ‘Sex is the best exercise-better than any gym. It keeps blood flowing, strengthens the body, and prolongs life.

‘Western diets and drugs weaken men. In our tradition, we have herbs that keep a man virile all his life, no matter how long he lives.

‘My father is almost 90, and he recently impregnated two women. Virility runs in the family, and I rely on our roots to keep me strong.

‘Having many wives and failing to satisfy them would be an abomination.

‘Those who have tried my roots and herbs, including traditional leaders and friends, can confirm that I have some of the best herbal roots in the land (laughs).’

Beyond family: A heart for humanity

Despite his colorful personal life, Tesigimoje insists his legacy must be measured not only by his marriages but also by his enormous philanthropy. He recently launched the GIM Brown Foundation to streamline his charitable activities, which escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the lockdown, he supported widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Today, more than 800 widows are on his payroll, as well as hundreds of other PWDs.

‘Everything I have is by God’s grace, not my strength. How do I repay Him? I can only do that by helping those who are less fortunate.

‘My advice to wealthy Nigerians is: if you have the capacity to uplift others, do not hold back, because the government alone cannot solve the myriad of problems in our society.’

As for his community of Ajudaibo, Escravos, he revealed his plan to kick off an 83-suite hotel, as part of his drive to bring development and opportunity home.

‘I love my wives, my children, and my people.

‘This is the life I have chosen. It is not for every man. It requires honesty, responsibility, and strength.

‘But with God’s grace, I have managed it. And I will continue to use what I have, not just for my family, but for my community and for humanity.’

Afenifere, a pan- Yoruba socio-political, has described the recent attacks on communities in Kwara and Kogi states as an attempt to destabilise the country, by people it described as territorial expansionists, terrorists, and disgruntled elements.

The group, in a statement, Friday, raised concern in a statement, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, Oyo State, condoled with Kogi and Kwara, over the calamities, including a recent boat mishap and flooding incidents.

The group maintained that the sacking of communities in Kwara and Kogi, as well as other parts of the Middle Belt, were grim reminders that terrorism in those areas posed serious threats to the South-West and the entire country, it therefore, expressed ‘deep sympathy’ over the boat mishaps and flood disasters that occurred in the two states recently.

‘The method of operation of the terrorists in Kwara went beyond those who are kidnapping for ransom or are just interested in finding fodder for their livestock.

‘The types of weapons they use, the derring-do manner with which they attack and the intensity of the damage they cause clearly indicate that they have very powerful people sponsoring them both locally and internationally.

‘The usage of the adjective ‘very’ here was deliberate with a view to underlining the deep involvement of powerful interests locally and internationally in the life-taking experiences we are having presently. So-called ‘illegal miners’ etc. could be suspected here,’ said Afenifere.

Afenifere further decried the invasion of Kwara communities, where lives were lost, properties destroyed, and socio-economic activities disrupted. ‘However, those supporting, collaborating and sponsoring the evil doers need to remember that when the country is destabilised, they are not going to be immune. What is happening in Afghanistan presently and what has been happening since the unwarranted ouster and murder of Muammar Ghadaffi of Libya should serve as lessons.

‘It is on record that since Ghadaffi was ousted, Libya has not known peace. As for Afghanistan, it is as though the government of that country wants to strip Afghan women and girls of their rights to those things that are basic to human existence – education, work, freedom of movement and participation in public life.

‘From August 2021, when Taliban took over government in that country, it has come up with over 70 decrees violating the rights of girls and women, especially their right to education, according to Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.’

South African TV personality and rapper Nadia Nakai, who was in a relationship with the late hip-hop star AKA, has claimed that she has no intention of dating another rapper or anyone in the entertainment industry.

In an exclusive interview with Fresh Men Magazine, Nakai reflected on the devastating loss of her late boyfriend, Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, and its lasting impact on her life.

She revealed that the experience has reshaped her outlook on love and privacy, leading her to keep future relationships away from the public eye to protect her peace and healing journey.

She said : ‘I will not date another rapper or anybody in the [entertainment] industry ever again. I never want to do that again,’

she further said: ‘I want to have a very private relationship. I don’t want it to be public because if he had to die, that experience was terrible for me.

South African TV personality and rapper Nadia Nakai, who was in a relationship with the late hip-hop star AKA, has claimed that she has no intention of dating another rapper or anyone in the entertainment industry.

In an exclusive interview with Fresh Men Magazine, Nakai reflected on the devastating loss of her late boyfriend, Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, and its lasting impact on her life.

She revealed that the experience has reshaped her outlook on love and privacy, leading her to keep future relationships away from the public eye to protect her peace and healing journey.

She said : ‘I will not date another rapper or anybody in the [entertainment] industry ever again. I never want to do that again,’

she further said: ‘I want to have a very private relationship. I don’t want it to be public because if he had to die, that experience was terrible for me.

The spate of kidnappings and cowardly attacks on lives and property in Kwara State lately is eroding its reputation as state of harmony. Kidnapping incidents, which began as isolated cases in parts of Kwara South some years ago, have now assumed an astonishing dimension.

Initially, the bandits and kidnappers had restricted their activities to the part of the state around Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Ifelodun, Isin and Irepodun local government areas in Kwara South. However, the criminals have extended their tentacles to Patigi and Edu local government areas in Kwara North.

Patigi and Edu are communities on the border between Kwara and Niger states, giving rise to widespread belief that the criminal elements flushed out from Niger State by security agents might have find a new abode in Kwara North forests from where they are now unleashing fear and terror.

Since last year or so, the bandits have become more daring, abducting, killing and maiming scores of innocent people in the state.

About one year ago, some gunmen had invaded the palace of Onikoro of Koro, Ekiti Local Government Area, shooting the monarch, a retired army general, dead. Since then, the area has witnessed series of attacks by bandits and kidnappings accompanied with demands for ransom payment.

The latest in the series was last Sunday’s early morning attacks on Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area where a monarch and 11 vigilance members were gruesomely dispatched into early graves.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after former Senate President Bukola Saraki lamented the precarious security situation in the state.

Confirming the attack, the spokesperson of Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said: ‘At about 7 am on Sunday, armed men invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode, shooting sporadically.

‘A combined team of police operatives and members of the National Forest Security Service responded swiftly to the scene, where they discovered 12 lifeless bodies of vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo.

‘The victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Additionally, four persons who sustained injuries were immediately taken to hospital for treatment, while the deceased were evacuated.

‘Prior to this, some bandits had invaded Motokun, a village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State. The invaders came on 50 motorcycles and attacked the village around 6 am. The operation, it was gathered, lasted for four hours.

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The state’s Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said ‘Matokun village was attacked by bandits on about 50 motorcycles, six people missing, suspected to have been kidnapped.

‘A woman suspected to have been hit by a gunshot eventually died from the injuries.’

In a related development, the police chief said bandits killed a police officer in Agboro, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

‘The assailants targeted a private company. In the course of the attack, one police officer gallantly lost his life in active service, while properties within the facility were also vandalized.’

Earlier in August, bandits had also allegedly attacked Babanla, also in Ifelodun LGA, killing four persons and carting away goods and wares from the market.

Scores of residents of the agrarian community fled their homes and sought refuge in Amoyo, a community on Ilorin outskirts.

Empathising with his subjects, Babanla’s monarch, Oba Adegboyega Yusuf Alabi, said: ‘Today, I speak with a heavy heart. On Friday, the 8th of August, our dear Babanla was struck by a cruel attack. Bandits invaded our land, leaving sorrow and destruction behind.

‘We lost four precious souls, many hardworking traders lost their goods, shops were looted, hotels were destroyed, and countless youths who depend on their motorcycles for daily bread were stripped of their means of survival.

‘These wounds cut deep into the very fabric of our community.

‘As the Chief Security Officer of Babanla, I feel the pain of every family that has lost a loved one, every mother who now weeps, every father whose hope has been shaken, every youth whose hope has been dashed, and every household now living in fears.

‘Though our efforts have been tireless, I admit with regret that we have not yet been able to fully shield you from these evils. But I assure you, peace will be restored.

‘With the approval and support of government, and with the bravery of our hunters, vigilantes and the unyielding resilience of our people, we shall prevail.

‘For those kidnapped, let it be known that since day one, necessary steps have been taken. Security operatives and community leaders have worked tirelessly, though for security reasons, details cannot be disclosed here.

‘Therefore, I plead with all those invited by security operatives, those interrogated, and those living in fear to come forward with useful information that can aid our fight against insecurity.

‘Do not see it as a burden, but as your role in saving our community, and be assured that anyone found guilty of collaborating with criminals will face the full weight of the law.’

The Chairman, Ifelodun Local Government Council, Hadji Femi Yusuf, said as part of activities to surmount the growing challenge of banditry and kidnapping in the area, his administration had employed and trained no fewer than 100 forest guards.

He said: ‘I call on stakeholders to start praying for our land in these trying times of security instability. I urge them to set aside politics and come together to pray for lasting peace, security and prosperity of Ifelodun Local Government Area and Kwara State as a whole.

‘On security, we procured 20 motorcycles to support local security outfits, employed and trained 100 forest guards, enrolled them in the state Health Insurance Scheme.

‘We also supplied 50 units of bulletproof vests and provided them with modern security gadgets.

‘We institutionalised a non-indigenous registration drive to have accurate data of all residents of the local government.

‘While commending the traditional council for their timely collaboration with the state government to chase out non-state actors from our land, we have continued to carry them along in our administration.’

Commenting on the wave of banditry, a security expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, put the blame at the doorstep of the state government.

He said: ‘The governor should demonstrate a measure of seriousness and political will to root out the criminals.

‘This can be done through establishment of military outposts in those hotspots of the bandits and then deploy a joint team of army and air force personnel.

That will instill fear in those cowardly elements and they will flee. They are no match with the military.

‘That is my candidate submission.

‘As the chief security officer of the state, the buck stops at his table to defend the citizens by liaising with the presidency.

‘He should act fast before things get out of hand.’

Disturbed by the sordid development, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has declared that his administration will fight insecurity in the state with all the resources at its disposal.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, saying that nowhere in the state would be safe for criminal elements, including kidnappers.

The governor, who spoke after a security council meeting, said:

‘The Army Headquarters has since relocated the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division to Ilorin as part of the renewed efforts to strengthen security operations in the state.

‘On Monday night, combined forces of the Army, DSS and Police launched an offensive around Baba Sango, along the Kwara/Kogi border, neutralising about 15 armed bandits.

‘The same operation continued on Tuesday. And yesterday night, I presided over the State Security Council meeting at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin, to integrate state and federal assets into a single strategy for both Kwara North and South.’

Governor AbdulRazaq assured Kwara residents that his administration would not relent in supporting security agencies to keep every community safe.

‘I have assurances of the security forces to smoke out and eliminate the criminals from their hideouts.

‘We will fight insecurity with every resource at our disposal. Kwara will not be a hiding place for criminals.

‘To any criminal who seeks to destabilise the peace in Kwara, you may run, but you cannot escape justice.

‘Kwara belongs to its people, and their peace will be defended,’ the governor added.

Already, joint security agents have heightened operations in some of the affected Lgs.

Therefore, the state government has urged residents of the state, especially people around Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Oke Ero, and Irepodun LGAs, to be vigilant and restrict outdoor activities as much as possible in the interim.

The advisory followed heightened operations by combined security forces in border towns in Kogi and Kwara, where kidnappers are believed to have hibernated.

‘We urge people to be very vigilant and limit their movements to only very necessary routines. That is to avoid being caught unawares as the kidnappers are fleeing their hideouts.

‘We do not want law-abiding citizens to be affected,’ according to a statement by the Commissioner for Communications Bolanle Olukoju.

She said the government regrets the temporary inconveniences the limited movement may cause in the nearby areas.

‘We commend the security forces for the renewed efforts to route the criminals, and charge them to continue until they are totally neutralised and flushed out of our forests,’ she added.

As a result, it was gathered that a notorious kidnapper Maidawa, others have been eliminated during an Isanlu Isin engagement with security forces.

A security source said ‘communications intercepted from the marauding kidnappers revealed that a notorious kidnapper known as Maidawa and many of his foot soldiers have been eliminated in an encounter with joint security forces around Isanlu-Isin in Kwara State.

‘The engagement occurred on September 30 as security forces pressed forward the operation to rout the criminals, according to information intercepted by the state security service.

‘The news of Maidawa’s death was broken to other gang members by another wanted kidnapper Baccujo around Igboro-Idofin Road during a conversation with his associates in faraway Marabar Maigora, Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State.

‘Security forces, spurred by new calls of the state government for urgent interventions, have ratcheted up the efforts to dislodge the kidnappers who often launch cowardly attacks on civilian populations and abduct people for ransom.

‘The operations are phased to cover every area where incidents have been recorded in recent weeks, including Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Edu, and Patigi.’

The parlous security situation has pitted former Senate President Bukola Saraki against Governor AbdulRazaq. Senator Saraki had lashed out at Governor AbdulRazaq for his alleged nonchalant attitude towards the rising insecurity in the state.

But the governor countered, saying the former Kwara State governor did not have any moral grounds to sermonise about insecurity in the state.

Saraki, shortly after the conclusion of the state congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilorin, said ‘the theme of the congress showcased Kwara PDP as a platform of responsible, responsive, and compassionate political leaders who will always show empathy for the plight of the people.

‘Today, Kwara State is in a precarious state. Our State is being overrun by bandits, kidnappers, and killers who have waged a ceaseless, needless, and careless onslaught on our people.

‘Yet, the government in Kwara State and all the people in governance in the state have maintained a posture of apathy, nonchalance, and a carefree attitude.

‘The people in government have watched without a clue on how to stop the violence waged against our people by insurgents.

‘Every day, the story from Kwara State in the national media is about killings, kidnappings, and the displacement of people from their communities.

‘In the last 12 months, about 70 people have been reportedly killed in Kwara North and South while about 50 people have sustained various forms of injury from the assailants.

‘Within the same period, about 42 people have been kidnapped. Also, over 25 communities have been sacked as the residents abandoned their homes in the same period.

‘Under the present government, Kwara State is becoming a one-town-state as everybody in the northern and southern senatorial zones is converging on Ilorin to escape becoming the next victims of the spate of insecurity.

‘It has never been this bad in our state known as the State of Harmony. The state government is living in denial and trying to suppress the facts, figures, and scenarios from coming out.

‘They focus on accusing the opposition, which has been alerting the Federal Government and security agencies of the danger that now lurks in our communities, of playing politics with security.

‘No responsible citizen or party will play politics with the danger to the lives and livelihood of people.

‘But as responsible politicians and political platforms who want to genuinely serve our people, we will not keep quiet. We will continue to alert the national and international communities about the danger that daily confronts our people.

‘We will continue to urge the people who can help to come to the rescue of the Kwara people.’

He added: ‘The spate of killings, kidnappings, and the collapse of the security system in Kwara State is unprecedented.

‘We never witnessed anything of this sort since the creation of the state.

‘Either during the military era, during the tenure of my predecessors, in my time as governor, or during the period of my immediate successor as elected governors, has this type of terrible occurrence ever happened in Kwara State?

‘Why does this government continue to fail the people by folding its arms and being complacent about the security of lives and property?

‘It should be noted that this spate of security crises is just festering in Kwara State to the exclusion of its neighbours. Insurgency is no longer a menace in Niger State.

‘The state government working with security agencies there has chased the criminals out.

‘This is just a reflection of the clueless and lackadaisical government we have in Kwara State.

But Governor AbdulRazaq, through his Special Adviser on Media, Bashir Adigun, described Saraki’s accusation of nonchalance as shameless and false.

Adigun said: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, Saraki is the least qualified person to speak on security matters in Kwara State.

‘Under his political empire, Kwarans lived in fear of cult killings, kidnappings and the notorious reign of terror unleashed by ‘Good Boys’ and political thugs loyal to his dynasty.

‘It is laughable that a man whose era institutionalised violence and thuggery now pretends to be a security advocate.

‘Instead of offering condolences to victims of criminal attacks, Saraki has chosen to play cheap politics with human lives – a shameful display of insensitivity.

‘Must we remind him that insecurity today is a national scourge? Bandits fleeing military bombardments in the North West often spill into North Central states like Kwara.

‘This is not peculiar to Kwara and certainly not a result of government indifference. If anything, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has shown more commitment to securing our state than Saraki ever did in his years of political dominance.

‘Unlike Saraki, Governor AbdulRazaq is not breeding thugs; he is equipping security agencies with patrol vehicles, gadgets, and logistics.

‘He is empowering forest guards, vigilantes, and local hunters to defend our communities.

‘He is working hand in hand with the Army, Police, Air Force, and Civil Defence to flush out criminals.

‘Only recently, following the Governor’s advocacy, the Army Headquarters has directed the GOC Ibadan to relocate to Kwara to lead operations against the bandits.

‘Equally important, the AbdulRazaq administration understands that development is the best antidote to insecurity.

‘That is why schools, hospitals, roads, and water projects are springing up across the state. That is why thousands of youths have been employed and empowered.

‘These are tangible results Kwarans can see and feel. Saraki should be the last to cry wolf.

‘His close ally, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, openly confessed in 2022 that the insecurity Nigeria battles today was worsened by foreign militias imported into the country for elections in 2015 by Saraki’s political camp.

‘Today, those same foreigners are terrorizing Nigerians.

‘This is the dirty foundation of the problem, and Saraki knows it.

‘Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will never play politics with the lives of Kwarans. He will continue to stand with our people, work with security agencies, and invest in the future of our state.

‘Saraki’s attempt to rewrite history and feign concern is nothing but a failed propaganda stunt.

Kwarans know better.’