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Tag: Oyo state

  • Mob attacks driver after crushing pupil in Ibadan

    A teenage secondary school girl was Wednesday crushed to death by a driver of one of the Oyo State-owned mass transit buses, popularly known as Ajumose in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

    The incident which attracted scores of other students, led to a mob attack on the bus.

    All the windscreen, side mirror, and parts of the bus were smashed by angry mob who swooped on the driver of the bus.

    The driver of the bus, a middle aged man, however escaped death after sustaining severe injuries.

    The sad event which occurred around Mokola area of Ibadan on Wednesday saw many people running towards the bus parked in front of Lafia Hospital.

    The unidentified driver was said to have also injured some other pupils in the accident that happened after schools closed for the day.

    An eyewitness, Isaac Ajibade, said the bus was damaged by the mob, who seized the driver before he could escape from the scene.

    Read Also:Reps move to curb mob killings, jungle justice

    He said, “The traffic was light and there were many pupils who were going home. Suddenly, the bus appeared and hit the pupils, killing a secondary school girl immediately. Passengers in the bus quickly alighted but the driver was grabbed by the angry mob. He was beaten before the police came to rescue him from the mob.”

    The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the accident, said the driver was recovering at Police Hospital in Eleyele, Ibadan.

    He said, “The erring driver is in our custody. He has been taken to the Police Hospital, Eleyele for medical attention following attack on him by angry mob before the arrival of the police who eventually rescued him. The corpse of the schoolgirl had been deposited at Alafia Hospital morgue for autopsy. Meanwhile, discreet investigation has commenced in earnest.”

  • My administration has delivered on its promises – Ajimobi

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State  on Monday said his administration had  delivered dividends of democracy to the people of the state in the last seven years.

    Ajimobi, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr  Bolaji Tunji,  scored his administration high in infrastructural development, security, education, agriculture and healthcare.

    He  also said that his government had built more roads than all the previous administrations combined since the inception of the Fourth Republic.

    “Our administration dualised strategic township roads in Ibadan such as Toll Gate Interchange; Challenge; New Garage-Toll Gate Interchange and Onireke-Jericho-Aleshinloye-Dugbe-Agbarigo road.

    “This administration dualised major township roads in Oyo, Ogbomoso and Iseyin.

    “ Some ongoing road projects are Eleyele-Ologuneru-Eruwa road and dualisation of Saki township road.

    Read Also: Ajimobi’s wife distributes food items to women

    “Others are Idi-Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Junction road, Gate-Old Ife road-Alakia and expansion of Oke Adu-Iwo road,” the governor said on the eve of this year’s Democracy Day.

    Ajimobi also stated that his administration constructed the Mokola flyover which he said was the first to be constructed by any civilian administration in the state.

    The governor said that his administration restored security in all parts of the state through the establishment of a special security outfit, provision of patrol vans, communications equipment and armoured personnel carriers for security agencies.

    Ajimobi said no fewer than 36 companies had been attracted to the state in the last seven years, generating about 4,000 direct employment for residents according to figures from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

    “Our state was rated fifth most investment-friendly by the National Bureau of Statistics having attracted more than $61m (N22.4 billion) in foreign direct investment,” he said.

  • Oyo police command arrest 43 kidnappers, armed robbers

    Oyo state police Command on Thursday said it has arrested 43 criminal elements, including kidnappers, armed robbers and fake security agents terrorizing the residents of the state .

    Among the men of the underworld who were paraded in a crowded press briefing at the state Police Headquarters, Eleyele , Ibadan was an alleged notorious kidnap kingpin, Duru Daniel , who was said to have  masterminded high profile kidnap of several victims including Senator Iyabo Anisulowo between 2015 and 2017 .

    The suspected kidnapper, an ex-convict  was arrested in 2016 and charged to court, he was however, granted bail in January ,2018 .

    Addressing newsmen while parading the suspected armed robbers, the state Commissioner of Police , Mr Abiodun Odude said barely four months after the 31 year old suspected kidnapper was released from the Agodi Prison , the unrepentant kidnap/armed robbery suspect formed another armed robbery gang which operated along the Ibadan/Ijebu-Ode axis, terrorising ,maiming and robbing motorists of their valuable property.

    Read Also: Police arrest 14 ‘robbers’, ‘kidnappers’

    Other members of Daniel’s armed gang who were arrested by the police included Umaru Mohammed (23), also an ex-convict who admitted to have served jail term in Lokoja Prison, and Aminu Abubakar  ( 22), the gang’s armourer, a herdsman who was said to the one procuring arms from one Sara ( at large) in Zamfara state.

    Some of the exhibits recovered from them included three AK 49 rifles, one English made pistol, eighty seven rounds of 7.63mm live ammunition and sixteen expended 7.62 ammunition.

    Also, a soldier Private Azeez Olaide (22), confessed to series of criminal acts ranging from kidnapping , robbery and rape along with two members of his gang , Ibrahim Lawal (22), who claimed to have deserted from the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria in 2014, and Kehinde Adeniji (29).

    The soldier, as at the time of his arrest serves in 202 Battalion, Bama , Maiduguri in the fight against Book Haram insurgents.

    According the state Police Commissioner, Private Olaide has been responsible for robbery incidents in some parts of the state in recent times.

    ” The modus operandi of the suspects who were usually clad in military camouflage /fatigues was to go about kidnapping people , robbing them and sexually abusing female victims. The suspects armed had been carrying out these criminal activities for some time until nemesis caught up with them recently.

    ” The suspects armed with guns , jack knife, and other dangerous weapons abducted one Rasak Michael and his girl friend , Rashidat at Mobile area, Oluyole , Ibadan on 31 April, 2018 and took them into a hotel where they were kept till the day before they released.

    “While in captivity, the suspects took turns to rape the female victim and video taped the sexual escapade for purpose of blackmail in future. The suspects also stole ATM cards having forcefully obtained PIN numbers of the cards and unlawfully withdrew a large sum of money from their bank accounts, ” Mr Odude told newsmen .

    Items recovered from them are four pairs of military fatigue, a pair of military desert boot , a fake military ID card, a jack knife , seven different ATM cards belonging to victims, two mobile phones. a Rolex wrist watch and a gold necklace, one WIFI , and the sum of one hundred and thirty five thousand naira cash.

    Also, apprehended were members of vigilante group who confessed to have conspired with an armed robbery gang to rob the community which paid them for security.

    The seven suspects, the state Commissioner of Police said betrayed the trust reposed in them by the Osungbade Community when they invited armed robbers to rob residents of the community while they provided them cover .

    The suspects included Wasiu Adejare aka DJ Keze (27), who claimed to be the gang leader and was once arraigned in court for unlawful possession of firearms, Solomon Okeke (22), Korede Afeez (23) , Aliu Abiodun ( 19) , vigilante, Oladepo Nurudeen (32), vigilante, Tunde Popoola(25),and  Kazeem Ajao aka Sokoti (50) .

  • Culture is one of our Legacy Pillars – Ajimobi

    The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Monday disclosed that the culture sector is one in which his administration would leave a legacy with tangible projects to ensure the revitalization of the Cultural tourism sector in the state.

    The Governor stated this at the Government House Ibadan during the cultural activities marking 2018 World Culture Day and the official launch of the state’s quarterly cultural magazine tagged Dundun produced by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to promote and document our culture, values and historical places among others.

    Senator Ajimobi said that Ibadan is the melting point of the Yoruba Culture, saying that the promotion and preservation of our culture and heritage is one of the Legacy pillars of his administration.

    He explained that the other legacy pillars are Education, Technology, Agriculture and Health, stressing that his administration will strive hard to ensure the revival of the cultural tourism sector of the Oyo State economy which he said can be easily modeled after the Californian economy given the inherent similarities.

    The Governor stressed that his administration has embarked on the establishment of the Ibadan Media City as a first step in the realization of this noble objective pointing out that the facilities of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State would serve as its launch pad.

    Read Also: Ajimobi swears in elected council chiefs

    Senator Ajimobi pointed out that Yoruba Culture is centered on Godliness, integrity, morality and good value system which are the Omoluabi ethos, adding “it is unfortunate that we are losing this ethos. People no longer have respect for our culture, fear of God is missing, there is disrespect for people and people no longer value integrity.

    “There should be fear of God in what we do, integrity and morality should be part of our life and this is why we must use our culture to reclaim the Omoluabi ethos. We will ensure that we leave a formidable legacy in the cultural tourism sector of the state,” he added.

    In his own remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun urged that culture should be used to propagate peace and unity among the different tribes in the country, saying “we should always remember our culture. A wise man once said ‘a people without culture are like a tree without root.’ And therefore, like you all know that culture is the way of life. We must always remember our way of life.

    “If you look at the insecurity that we have, if you look at all the disturbances here and there, they are also related to culture. Our understanding and appreciation of it is crucial, because culture is not just related to the way we do things, there is also religion. We have religions and our culture to shape our life.

    “The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) set May 21 aside for people all over the world to remember their culture, to celebrate their culture and to promote their culture. But more importantly for us here, it is to preserve our culture, because if you notice you will see that our culture is going into extinction.

    “So today is a day of celebration. And that is why you would see that the students have gone to school today in their traditional attires and will be engaged in cultural activities. If you go to offices, you will see that everybody is dressed in traditional outfits.

    “It is a way of remembering where we came from, the way we do our things and one of the ways you can distinguish people is the way of their culture. We have gathered people from diverse culture at the cultural center and we are having a cultural rendezvous. Everybody is going to be there, the local food, music, dance, arts and craft and everything that is related to culture will be exhibited there today. We will be showcasing the culture of Oyo State,” Arulogun added.

  • INEC fixes June 2 for Ibarapa bye-election

    Following the untimely death of the Ex-speaker, Oyo state House of Assembly, late Michael Adeyemo, who represented the Ibarapa state Constituency, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday fixed Saturday, June 2nd for the bye-election to fill the vacant seat at the hallowed chamber.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State, Mutiu Agboke, made the disclosure at the Agodi, Ibadan, state headquarters of the Commission during a press briefing, on Tuesday.

    Michael Adeyemo died on Friday, April 27. He was aged 47.

    Agboke, a lawyer, called on political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election to ensure they conduct their primaries between Wednesday and Saturday 19, May, just as he assured voters in the area of conducting a credible election.

    He said the Commission arrived on the date after putting all legal and administrative tendencies into considerations.

    The REC, who remarked that the election would be conducted in 140 polling units of the constituency, said political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders had been invited to discuss the timetable and activities that would lead to the election.

    He said machinery was set in motion to fulfil extant laws as soon as the House of Assembly informed the commission formally of the death of Speaker Adeyemo and the consequent vacancy of his position as a lawmaker.

    Read Also: INEC to redistribute 1.4m unclaimed PVCs in Lagos

    He disclosed that the permanent voter cards (PVCs) for those who freshly registered in the 2017 continuous voter registration had been produced and were ready for collection from Monday next week.

    However, he added that the PVCs for those who registered in 2018 had not been produced, explaining that they would be ready for use in the 2019 elections.

    He said, 630, 853 PVCs were yet to be collected in the state, disclosing that the commission had embarked on a series of advocacy campaign and engagement with stakeholders to ensure make the owners of the cards claim them.

    He said, “The total number of new registrants under CVR is 290, 960 comprising 149, 554 males and 141, 406 females. Incidentally and quite disturbing as at today, 630,853 Permanent Voters Cards are yet to be collected by their owners.”

    He explained further that the commission had taken the campaign to churches and mosques, urging those yet to collect their PVCs to do so at the INEC local government offices in the 33 local government areas of the state.

  • Earth Quake: Oyo allays fear of residents

    The Oyo State Government has allayed the fears of the people of the state especially in the Oke-Ogun area on what was misinterpreted to be Earth Quake incident last month, saying that the land shaking was as a result of force exploration leading to Meteorite breakages of Galatica Rock in the earth surface.

    The government said that samples of the meteorite have been sent to the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan to analyse the body of the rock and its composition determined, noting that the government wants to discover the rock radioactive and hazard associated with the meteorite breakages as investigation result is being expected.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Solid Minerals, Hon. Mathew Oyedokun explained that on April 19, a solid piece of debris from an object such as a comet, asteroid or meteoroid that originate from the planetary orbit between Mars and Jupiter survived its way through the atmosphere to reach the surface of the earth and hit villages nearby Ipapo in Itesiwaju LGA, Aba Leke, Anberee Oke, Owode and Tede in Atisbo LGA.

    Read Also: National committee: Oyo records success

    Hon. Oyedokun said that meteorite was accompanied by series of reverberating and disturbing noise in the Earth’s subsurface as observed by residents of the affected localities and other parts of the state including Ibadan, Oyo and Ibarapa, stating that he was accompanied on 2-day investigation visit to the localities by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola and the Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Community Relations, Alh. Abidemi Siyanbade to ascertain the level of impact and damage to the communities.

    He urged the residents to be calm, saying that the meteorite impact that occurred in the state didn’t occur in a built-up area, gas station among others, which could have resulted in catastrophic events claiming lives and properties.

    He said however that ground impacts were made in the localities and a tree was completely burnt down as meteorites are hot bodies moving at high velocity.

    Hon. Oyedokun said that the government has embarked on further investigation on the meteorite breakages, saying that the government visited the affected areas a day after the incident to determine the level of the exploration force and allay the fear of the residents in the area.

  • LG poll: Ajimobi laments killing of teenage girl

    Gov.  Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State  on Saturday  condemned the resurgence of the cult war in Idi-Oro and Ayeye areas of Ibadan North West Local Government Area which  claimed the life of a teenage girl  on Saturday.

    A statement by the Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the Governor, Mr  Bolaji Tunji, said  the governor was pained by the disturbing news, especially coming on the heels of the conduct of the state’s first local government election in 11 years.

    The governor, the statement said,  condoled with the family of the victim and vowed to ensure that the perpetrators are  brought to justice.

    Ajimobi said:  “From the intelligence reports at my disposal,  the perpetrators of this heinous and condemnable crime were the recalcitrant cultists engaging in supremacy battle in Idi Oro and Ayeye areas of Ibadan who are yet to embrace our peace initiative.

    “That they chose to disturb the peace of the neighbourhood on the day Oyo had a very peaceful LG  election across the state is regrettable.

    “ I was told that elections took place successfully in the polling booth closest to the scene of the incident without any hitch before the cultists struck.

    “I want to use this opportunity to condole with the family of the victim for the irredeemable loss. Let me again warn that those bent on scuttling the peace that we have enthroned across the state in the last seven years will live to regret their action.

    “I have directed the security agents to ensure that they fish out the perpetrators of the crime and ensure that they are brought to justice. I want to appeal to the good people of Oyo State to join hands with the government to sustain our hard earned peace.”

    Meanwhile, Ajimobi  has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the council election  across the state, saying he was highly impressed with the turnout of voters.
    The governor cast his vote at 12:07 pm in company with  his wife, Florence,  at Ward 09, Unit 20, Community Grammar School, Oluyole, Ibadan.

    He said that reports reaching him from 33 local governments and35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state indicated that the exercise was peaceful, orderly, free and fair.

    The governor expressed confidence that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),  would win in all the local governments and LCDAs in the state due to the outstanding performance of his administration in the last seven years.

    Ajimobi said that his administration had enthroned peace and security since its inception, thus erasing the typecast of Oyo as a state of brigandage and violence.

    He also expressed happiness that in spite of the several failed attempts at conducting the council elections occasioned by some legal encumbrances, the exercise eventually held in a peaceful atmosphere.

  • Oyo LG Polls: Process commences amidst heavy security

    The scheduled local government elections into the office of chairmen and councillors has commenced across Oyo state amidst heavy security presence.

    Although vehicular and human movement restrictions has been placed between 8am to 3pm, few vehicles were seen moving round as early as 9am when The Nation moved round to access the compliance.

    The Iwo Road roundabout had vehicular presence, mostly private vehicles.

    Many early morning travellers were seen waiting at bus stops with loads and luggage’s, an indication that such people might not be aware of the movement restrictions

    When The Nation visited Ibadan North East LG, Iwo Road at about 8:30am, the vehicle conveying election materials to the various wards and units was seen leaving the council premise.

    At Ibadan North LG, at few minutes to nine, the electoral officers were just arriving and about setting up their tables as that the time of the visit

    In some parts of the capital cities along, along Moniya-Ojoo-Akinyele axis, youths were seen in their large numbers on the street playing football

    At many of the designated polling units, policy security were seen even before the arrival of election materials or electoral officers.

    As at the time of filing this report, election is said to have commenced in many parts of the state with good turnout of electorate, largely of the ruling All Progressive Congress.

  • Ajimobi swears in three customary court of Appeal judges

    Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal is set to kick off full operation of administration of justice to common people as Governor Abiola Ajimobi, on Friday swear in three newly appointed judges.

    The swearing in is coming on the heels of the appointment of Justice Solomon Akinteye as the President of the court earlier in the year.

    The government says the state took a bold step by creating the Grade A Customary Courts and appointing officers and members to the Bench of the Customary Court to expand access to justice.

    The court is expected to mediate in matters involving land in the rural areas, marriages, inheritance, guardianship and custody of children among other matters.

    The sworn-in Judges are, Mr Mikail Oyafajo, Mrs Abimbola Olatunji-Daniel and Mr Tajudeen Abdul-Ganiyu.

    The event was witnessed by members of the State executive council, the State’s Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Solomon Akinteye, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, religious leaders and families of the newly-sworn-in Judges among others.

    Read Also: Ajimobi promises better welfare

    Speaking at the event which held at the Executive Chamber of the Agodi Government Secretariat, Ibadan, Governor Ajimobi noted that although the law establishing the customary court of appeal was enacted in 2008, the court was not actualized until this year.

    He said, “The concept of a customary court of appeal was borne out of the need to decongest the caseload of the High Courts. This Court would equally afford a platform for a closer and more efficient administration of customary law in our state’s legal system.

    “Appeals from other Grades of Customary Courts will now go to Customary Court of Appeal, rather than coming to the High Court by way of judicial review.

    “An integral aspect of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, as enshrined in Chapter two of our Constitution requires the government to ensure due access to justice. This is as provided in Section 17(2)e of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which provides for the independence, impartiality and integrity of the courts of law and easy access thereto.

    “Access to justice in any society is critical and fundamental, as is the dispensation of justice. Access to justice is not only the most basic requirement of any system of justice or the most basic human right of any system, but also the hallmark of any sane and civilized society.

    “Even though the Constitution provides for superior courts of records, it recognizes the need for lower courts which can be readily approached by ordinary citizens in society, especially in the hinterland. Hence, it allows for States, through their respective Houses of Assembly, to establish other levels of Area and Customary Courts for the administration of justice at the grassroots without undue regard to technicalities. Customary Courts can safely be referred to as the grassroots Courts, deepening access to justice.

    “Although the law establishing the Customary Court of Appeal was enacted in 2008, but the court was not actualized until this year. The concept of a Customary Court of Appeal was borne out of the need to decongest the caseload of the High Courts. This Court would equally afford a platform for a closer and more efficient administration of customary law in our State’s legal system.

    “Appeals from other Grades of Customary Courts will now go to Customary Court of Appeal, rather than coming to the High Court by way of Judicial review.”

    According to the governor, the State’s House of Assembly had recently passed another executive bill, tagged the High Court (Amendment) Law, to allow the State High Court to have the power of transferring cases to other courts that have jurisdiction in the State.

    He added that the Customary Court Grade A and Customary Court of Appeal were positioned to benefit from the passage of the Executive Bill and would bring more sanity to the system as the High Court docket would be decongested.

  • Heritage Bank restates commitment to agriculture

    Heritage Bank Plc says it is committed to the sustenance, growth and development of the nation’s agricultural sector.

    Mr Fela Ibidapo, Divisional Head of Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Ibidapo said the bank was committed to leading the way in agricultural financing in the country.

    He said that the bank was currently funding various agricultural projects in several states of the country, especially in Oyo, Kaduna and Zamfara states.

    He said Heritage Bank had entered into a partnership with the Oyo State Government to support the multi-billion Oyo State Agricultural Initiative ( OYSAI ), a programme designed to revive agriculture.

    According to him, it will also boost agro-allied businesses and empower the youth and women across the state through the creation of thousands of jobs in the sector.

    “Heritage Bank is also supporting an agro-investor, Triton Aqua Africa Ltd ( TAAL ), with a N2 billion facility, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ), under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme ( CACS ).

    “The facility will enable TAAL to set up a fishery production chain in Lagos, Oyo and Osun states,” he added.

    Ibidapo said support to the agro-investor became imperative after research showed that Nigerians consume about 2.7 million metric tonnes of fish yearly, compared to 800,000 metric tonnes, produced locally annually.

    “Consequently, the country has had to rely on importation to augment the shortfall with an estimated cost implication of about $700 million yearly in foreign exchange.

    “The partnership between Heritage Bank and TAAL will help reverse the trend; and the firm will use the facility to expand its aquaculture businesses.

    This, he also said would be done by setting up a nursery or hatchery for the production of fingerlings and brood stock, as well as earthen ponds for catfish and tilapia in the three states.

    Ibidapo said that “Under the arrangement, TAAL is expected to assist small-scale farms in the three states to increase their fish production by making fingerlings available to them.

    “In the short term, the loan is expected to help the group double its current production capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes with a projection to scale it up to 100,000 metric tonnes in five years.’’

    “Ultimately, the partnership between Heritage Bank and TAAL will help to boost local production, conserve scarce foreign exchange and enhance food security, and ultimately result in the creation of hundreds of new jobs.

    Read Also: Heritage Bank partners CeLD Innovations on Cashtoken

    “Heritage Bank is also supporting thousands of smallholder farms in Kaduna and Zamfara states.”

    The spokesman said that smallholder farmers stand to benefit from the bank’s financial support for rice and soya beans production under the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme  ( ABP ).

    Ibidapo said the bank’s drive to support the agriculture sector was an act of patriotism aimed at helping government’s desire to achieve food security and sufficiency in the country.

    It is also based on the conviction that agribusiness could be profitable, he said.

    He noted that there were myriads of constraints facing the agriculture sector such as poor road network and electricity supply to farmlands that were mostly located in the rural areas, “while majority of the smallholder farms are financially excluded with no access to banking services.’’

    He said the bank was taking steps to clear the bottlenecks for smallholder farmers who wished to gain access to banking services.

    NAN