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Tag: Osun State

  • LAUTECH: Oyo has paid N5bn out of N8bn to Osun govt – Oyelade

    LAUTECH: Oyo has paid N5bn out of N8bn to Osun govt – Oyelade

    The Oyo State government on Monday said it has paid up to N5 billion to the government of neighbouring Osun State in full compliance with the agreement of sole ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (Lautech), Ogbomosho.

    Oyo Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, in a statement, said that although the total takeover amount stood at ₦8 billion, the Oyo state government has been paying ₦1 billion per year and is expected to make the full payment before the end of the Seyi Makinde administration in 2027.

    The Commissioner recalled that both states struck a deal on November 20, 2020 to cede LAUTECH to Oyo state.

    Prince Oyelade said the joint ownership of LAUTECH was acrimonious between the governments of the two states from 2007 to 2019, when Governor Seyi Makinde took over but surprisingly reached an agreement with his Osun counterpart to make Oyo the sole owner of the Institution.

    He added that, ever since, the institution has grown in leaps and bounds, reclaiming its position as the best state University in Nigeria.

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    He said, “The academic excellence in the wake of this development notwithstanding, LAUTECH has also expanded physically and in scope with the establishment of the LAUTECH Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iseyin campus.”

    The Commissioner revealed that last Thursday, just as Governor Makinde approved the release of ₦1 billion to the Osun state government, he also released ₦650 million as a take-off grant for the Teaching and Research Farm at the Iseyin Campus.

    He noted that the government has also commenced simultaneously, the construction of health centres and road networks at LAUTECH Iseyin campus, the Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan and the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo.

  • 200 Osun residents benefit from free medical outreach

    200 Osun residents benefit from free medical outreach

    No fewer than 200 residents of Okinni community in Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State benefited from free medical outreach organized by a non- governmental organization, Bells Initiative.

    The Quality Control Officer of the organization, Mr Olusoji Odeyemi said the objective was to ensure early detection of ailments and treatment before complications set in.

    The National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA) used the occasion to sensitize Okinni residents on the need to enroll for health insurance to prevent out-of-pocket medical expenses.

    BELLS Initiative also organized a support programme for 200 people in the community to help them secure loans to run and sustain their businesses.

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    The NGO also facilitated an interface between the women and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) so as to enlighten the residents on government facilities that they could benefit from.

    Similarly, 200 youths benefited from youth empowerment organized by the organization geared towards getting employment opportunities for youths in the community with the support of National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    Odeyemi said BELLS Initiative was committed to helping the communities towards enhancing welfare and well-being of the people so that they would live modest lives and fulfil their full potential.

  • Ilesa prison break: NCoS yet to brief us – Osun Police

    Ilesa prison break: NCoS yet to brief us – Osun Police

    The Police Command in Osun is yet to receive any official communication on the escape of seven inmates from the the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun.

    The Police Spokesperson for the command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the police state command had not been officially briefed or informed of the incident by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

    “We heard also about the escape, but there is no official report made to the police by the NCoS.

    “Our Intel revealed to us that actually, there was an escape.

    “The cause of the escape is what we don’t know because our men have gone there.

    “From the intelligience report we got, there is nothing we can lay hands on that made the inmates escape.

    “The NCoS should inform us about what actually happened,” he said

    Ojelabi said: “the police is out to protect lives and property and any criminal we see, we will apprehend”.

    NAN reports that the NCoS declared seven inmates missing as a result of rain that damaged the security perimeter of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The heavy rainfall around 2:00 a.m. caused a breach in the facility’s structure, allowing the inmates to escape.

    Read Also: Osun police confirm six dead in APC-PDP clash over LGA control 

    Confirming the development, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, in a statement signed by Umar Abubakar, Deputy Controller of Corrections, Public Relations Officer, on Tuesday, ordered an immediate investigation into the incident and assured the public that efforts were underway to return the escapees to custody.

    “The service is working closely with sister security agencies as well as community leaders to recapture the escapees and bring them back to custody,” the NCoS said in the statement.

    “However, the Service solicits the cooperation and support of the public in providing information that may lead to the recapture of the fleeing inmates.”

    Authorities have since launched a manhunt to recapture the fugitives. 

    (NAN) 

  • One dies in Osun as Amotekun operatives, masquerade adherents clash

    One dies in Osun as Amotekun operatives, masquerade adherents clash

    Tragedy struck in Ikirun headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State when a masquerade adherent was killed in a clash with Amotekun corps. 

    The Nation gathered the incident happened during procession of popular Orogunmeji Egungun festival in Ikirun. 

    A source confided in The Nation the incident took place around 2pm on Monday during a procession ahead of the festival. 

    He said: “During the parade of the Orogunmeji festival, close to a supermarket in Ikirun, chaos erupted and led to the dragging of riffle with one of the Amotekun Corps and one of the followers of the Orogunmeji Masquerade, named Olubukola, who is was also a truck driver at Eko-Ende Tipper Motor Park. 

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    “While dragging the rifle with the Amotekun, one of them squeezed the trigger, the bullet hit the Masquerade adherent on the leg.”

    Another source confirmed that immediately Oluwabukola was shot, he was rushed to the hospital but died on Tuesday night.

    When contacted, Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the incident. 

    He informed the Command invited the head of Orogunmeji masquerade for questioning, stating “investigation was ongoing over the matter.”

  • Two reportedly die as landgrabbers clash in Osun

    Two reportedly die as landgrabbers clash in Osun

    No fewer than two people were on Thursday reportedly killed when two groups of land grabbers clashed. 

    The Nation gathered that the land grabbers clashed at Latona area via Olohunkoro area of Osogbo when a group led by popular political thug, Emir arrived the area to collect money from a developer of a property in the area. 

    However, another group named Latona boys resisted the Emir group noting that they are in charge of the area and should collect the tip from the developer. 

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    A source in the area said:  “The Emir boys were angry because they were resisted, they told the Latona boys that Emir is the number one in Osun State and his action must not be impeded by anyone. 

    “The argument resulted in brawl and they started shooting and two of them died. The skirmish forced business owners to quickly close their shops and offices.”

    When contacted the Police Public Relations Officers, 

    Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the incident, saying, “immediately the incident happened, we drafted our men to the area but no further report has been made as regards the incident.”

  • Gunmen kill Osun Amotekun operative in ambush, colleague missing

    Gunmen kill Osun Amotekun operative in ambush, colleague missing

    A corps of Osun State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Lamidi Abiodun has been killed in an ambush by gunmen. His colleague was also missing in Iwo town. 

    The Nation learnt during the ambush on Wednesday, one Alex Sola and a member of Vigilante group went missing. 

    Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the outfit, Yusuf Abass, said: “The farmers alerted the Iwo Area Command of Osun Amotekun Corps about an ongoing attack on their farmland. In swift response, a team of Amotekun operatives, in company with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), mobilised to the scene to confront the threat and safeguard lives and property.

    “Upon arriving at the location, the team was ambushed by a group of armed men allegedly led by a notorious criminal known as Akeem Olofa, who has been a menace in the region.

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     “During the confrontation, Mr. Abiodun was attacked. Although initial gunfire did not penetrate his body, he was brutally assaulted with a machete to the head and died instantly at the scene.

    “While most of the operatives managed to escape the ambush, one member of the VGN identified as Nurudeen Alowonle remains unaccounted for as of the time of this report and one Alex Sola was shot on the leg. The tragic loss of Mr. Abiodun has sent waves of grief throughout the Amotekun Corps and the entire security community in Osun State.

    “The incident has been formally reported to the Nigeria Police in Iwo, and the body of the fallen hero has been deposited at a local mortuary for further procedures. Investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.”

  • Five killed, N.5m recovered in Osun Easter auto crash

    Five killed, N.5m recovered in Osun Easter auto crash

    No fewer than five travellers were killed on Saturday, on the eve of Easter celebration, in an automobile crash along the Ife/Ilesa highway.

    It was learnt that the accident involving two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux with registration number FKJ 691 HZ and a trailer with no registration number, occurred at 10:15 am.

     The Public Enlightenment Officer for the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Osun State Sector, Mrs. Agnes Ogungbemi, confirmed that nine people were involved in the fatal crash, which was caused by a route traffic violation- one way.

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    She disclosed that ”five people (3 males, 1 female, and a female child) were killed while one other was injured in the fatal crash adding that the injured victim has been taken to the hospital.

    “The driver is presently in NPF custody and will be charged in court. We recovered a small bag containing pieces of jewelry, bags of clothes, and cash of N508,900.

    “The bodies were taken to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) mortuary. The items recovered were handed over to the family members of the victims at the scene in the presence of NPF Edun Abun, NPF Toll Gate. The crashed vehicles had been taken over by the Nigerian Police Force, Edun-Abon.”

    Ogungbemi added that the Osun Sector Commander, Corps Commander, T. A. Sokunbi, thereby warned road users to desist from the offence of one-way and excessive speeding.

  • How to resolve Osun LG control crisis between APC, PDP—CSOs

    How to resolve Osun LG control crisis between APC, PDP—CSOs

    A Coalition of civil society groups(CSOs) has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to embrace peaceful resolution to solve the crippling of the local government amid control crisis.

    The CSOs under the auspices of The Osun Masterminds (TOM) blamed the imbroglio on political gladiators noting that “local governments take development close to the people and where this critical arm of government becomes dysfunctional, the people suffer direct consequences.”

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    Speaking during  the monthly State-of-the-State address, the Executive Director of the coalition, Professor Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli said:  “We are deeply bothered by the ongoing impasse that has crippled the Local Government and is showing potentials of crippling the finances of the entire State, considering that Internally Generated Revenue from across the Local Governments form an important part of the State’s income.

    “The Osun State Government being directly responsible for the peace and security of the State should have prioritized peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict, by approaching relevant offices of government, or relevant courts, to seek important legal clarifications, or, how do we explain the swearing-in of a new batch of Local Government Chairmen who have until date, one month after swearing in, not stepped foot in the Local Councils.

  • Ex-Police Affairs minister calls for state of emergency in Osun

    Ex-Police Affairs minister calls for state of emergency in Osun

    Former Minister of Police Affairs, Oyewale Adesiyan, has called for declaration of state of emergency in Osun State.

    Adesiyan, in a statement yesterday in Osogbo, hinged his call on Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution.

    He said: “As a watcher of events in Osun State in the last few months, we could see breakdown of law and order in the state. Beginning from local government crisis where the governor of the state refused to obey the pronouncements of the Court of Appeal and sought to glorify the state High Court above Court of Appeal in a case already decided and un-appealed at the highest court of the land.

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    “Where the chief executive indulges in disobeying the law, the resultant effect is a state of anarchy. This single event leads to the deaths of scores of innocent people, including reinstated Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Remi Abass.

    “With the political instabilities in Osun State and having incompetent governor to handle the situation in the fragile state, I think it is better to invoke the relevant portion of the constitution to restore peace to Osun State.”

    Adesiyan lamented that people were killed during the control of council crisis, adding that during the recent communal clash, scores of people were also killed and displaced.

  • Ex-Police Affairs Minister calls for State of Emergency in Osun

    Ex-Police Affairs Minister calls for State of Emergency in Osun

    The former Minister of Police Affairs, Oyewale Adesiyan has called for declaration of State of Emergency in Osun State.

    Adesiyan, in a statement on Sunday made available to newsmen in Osogbo hinged his call on Section 305 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

    According to him “As a watcher of the events in Osun State in the last few months we could see the breakdown of law and order in the state. Beginning from local government crisis where the Chief Executive of the state refused to obey the pronouncements of the Court of Appeal and sort to glorify the State High Court above Court of Appeal in a case already decided and un-appealed at the highest court of the land.

    “Where the chief executive indulges on disobeying the law the resultant effect is a state of anarchy. This single event leads to the deaths of scores of innocent people including reinstated chairman of Irewole local government Hon Remi Abass.

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    “With the political instabilities in Osun state and having incompetent governor to handle the situation in the fragile state I think it is better to invoke the relevant portion of the constitution to bring back peace to Osun state.”

    He lamented that people were killed during the control of council crisis adding that during the recent communal clash scores of people were killed displaced.

    He queried that prior to the clash was there no security report on governor’s table indicating likely violence.

    He said “It is belated for Mr Governor to impose 24 hours curfew when the deeds have been done. What kind of a governor do we have in Ademola Adeleke. Not for the timely intervention of Mr President what could have happened in Rivers State would have been unimaginable. A stitch in time saves nine.”