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OGUN KIDNAP CRACKDOWN: Seriki Fulani held as police recover ransom bag, sons flee

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The Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Abdullai Muhammadu, has been arrested by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command over alleged links to a kidnapping syndicate terrorising communities in Ijebuland, with detectives reportedly recovering a bag used for ransom payment from his kitchen.

Muhammadu, 67, who was arrested alongside his eldest son, Bello, however, denied involvement in kidnapping, insisting that although he knew one of his sons, Bala Muhammadu, had previously engaged in the crime, he believed the suspect had abandoned criminality after serving a prison sentence.

It was gathered that the arrest followed weeks of intelligence-led investigations by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command into repeated abductions in Ijebu Ode, Imodi, Irewon, Iwode, Okun Owa and neighbouring communities.

Investigators reportedly traced the incidents to Bala, a suspected kidnap kingpin who had recently regained freedom after serving a five-year jail term for kidnapping.

Police sources disclosed that operatives, led by the Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, SP Bamidele Shirtu, stormed the family compound following credible intelligence but discovered that Bala and two of his brothers had fled moments before their arrival.

A police source informed that one of the bags allegedly used to deliver ransom to kidnappers was recovered in the suspect’s residence.

The source said, “After painstaking intelligence investigation, one of the bags used in ransom payment for one of the victims was recovered in the father’s kitchen.

“One of the children in the compound saw operatives entering the community and alerted Bala and his brothers. They escaped through the bush before security operatives got there.

“It is not only Bala involved in kidnapping. There is also Ndaji and another brother, and we are on their trail. There was an upsurge in kidnapping around the area after Bala regained freedom from prison, where he spent five years for the same offence.”

Speaking after his arrest, Muhammadu maintained his innocence, stressing that he had lived peacefully in Yorubaland for over three decades.

“My name is Muhammadu Abdulai. I am a cattle rearer and farmer. I have lived in Yorubaland for more than 30 years. I have four wives and 30 children. I was honoured with the title of Seriki Fulani in Ijebu Ode by the immediate past Awujale,” he said.

The traditional Fulani leader denied knowledge of the recovered ransom bag.

“I don’t know anything about the bag found in my house. I live in the same compound with my wives and children. I have never kidnapped anybody in my life,” he stated.

Muhammadu, however, admitted that Bala had a history of kidnapping.

“I know Bala was into kidnapping. He was arrested and sent to prison. After he returned, I took him to the hospital because he was very sick and spent one month receiving treatment.

“I thought he had changed because he returned to farming and cattle rearing. I didn’t know he had gone back to kidnapping. I am not involved in kidnapping and will never encourage it,” he added.

Also speaking, Bello Muhammadu, the eldest son arrested alongside his father, denied involvement in criminal activities, saying he was on the farm when policemen stormed their residence.

He said, “I am not into kidnapping. I only know Bala had been arrested and imprisoned some years ago. I don’t know anything about what he or my brothers are doing.

“If my father knew Bala had returned to crime, he would not support him.”

Confirming the operation, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, CSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the success recorded against kidnappers and other violent criminals in the state was made possible through the support of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the operational leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni.

Babaseyi said the operation, which led to the arrest of suspects and recovery of incriminating exhibits, reflected the professionalism, bravery and intelligence-driven approach of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

He assured residents that sustained efforts were ongoing to dismantle criminal syndicates operating within Ogun and neighbouring states while urging members of the public to support security agencies with credible information.

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Two die as speeding truck, bus collide on Sagamu-Ore Expressway

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Two persons lost their lives while two others escaped unhurt in a road crash involving a truck and a commercial bus at Ogbere Junction along the Ogbere/J4 corridor of the Sagamu/Ore Expressway in Ogun State on Thursday.

The Federal Road Safety Corps said the accident occurred around 5:10 a.m.

The Ogun State Sector Command Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Odunsi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the crash involved a white Mack truck with registration number ABC 660 XC and an orange Peugeot J5 bus with an unknown registration number.

Odunsi said four adult male occupants were involved in the accident, adding that two of them died while the other two escaped without injuries.

He attributed the crash to route violation and excessive speeding.

According to him, the impact of the collision caused the Peugeot J5 bus to burst into flames, leaving its front section completely burnt.

He added that FRSC rescue operatives arrived at the scene within two minutes of receiving the distress call and immediately began rescue and traffic management operations to prevent further accidents.

“Officials diverted traffic to an alternative carriageway to minimise congestion while efforts were made to clear the wreckage from the road,” Odunsi said.

He added that officers of the Nigeria Police Motor Traffic Division, Ogbere Division, evacuated the bodies of the deceased and deposited them at a nearby mortuary.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the bereaved families and urged motorists to obey traffic rules to avoid needless loss of lives.

He warned drivers against speeding and route violations, especially during periods of poor visibility and on wet roads, stressing that reckless driving remains one of the leading causes of fatal road crashes across the country.

The FRSC also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring safer highways through sustained enforcement of traffic laws, public enlightenment campaigns and prompt emergency response to road crashes.

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Bode Market Fire Heartbreaking, Oseni Sympathises with Victims, Seeks Urgent Relief

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has expressed profound sympathy with traders affected by the devastating fire that ravaged the Bode Traditional Herbs and Other Products Market, popularly known as Iso Alagbo, in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

‎The inferno, which broke out overnight into Friday, swept through the bustling market, destroying shops, traditional herbs, medicinal products and other valuable goods worth millions of naira. By daybreak, many traders were left in tears as the fire reduced years of hard work, sacrifice and lifelong investments to ashes.

‎In a statement issued on Friday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), described the incident as heartbreaking, saying the tragedy had dealt a devastating blow to hardworking men and women whose livelihoods depend on the market.

‎”I received the news of the fire with a heavy heart. My thoughts and prayers are with every trader and family affected by this unfortunate incident. It is deeply painful to imagine that years of dedication, sacrifice and investment could be wiped away within a few hours.

‎”This is more than the destruction of shops and goods. It is the loss of livelihoods, the disruption of family income and the uncertainty of tomorrow for many hardworking people who depend on their businesses for survival. I sincerely share in their pain during this difficult time.

‎”I can only imagine the emotional trauma many of the victims are going through. For many of them, the market is not just a place of business; it is the source of livelihood that sustains their families and secures their future.”, the statement party read.

‎Oseni appealed to the Oyo State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), corporate organisations, philanthropists and other well-meaning Nigerians to urgently come to the aid of the affected traders with financial assistance, relief materials and other forms of support to help them rebuild their businesses.

‎”This is a moment for compassion and collective responsibility. I urge governments at all levels, intervention agencies, corporate organisations and kind-hearted Nigerians to extend a helping hand to these traders. A timely intervention will not only help them rebuild their businesses but will also restore hope to families whose means of livelihood have been suddenly taken away.

‎”Together, we can help these hardworking men and women rise again. I am confident that with the support of government and compassionate Nigerians, they will overcome this painful setback and rebuild stronger”, it added.

‎He prayed that God would comfort the victims, strengthen them to bear the painful losses and grant them the courage to rebuild their lives.

‎”I pray that Almighty God restores the losses of every affected trader, grants them renewed strength and opens doors of greater opportunities for them. May He comfort every family affected by this unfortunate incident and protect our markets from such devastating disasters in the future.”

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Tragedy strikes Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Five die, eight injured in fiery multiple crash

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It was a night of sorrow and devastation in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as a horrific multiple-vehicle crash along the Ibadan axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed at least five lives and left eight others injured in a fiery chain collision involving trucks, tankers, and smaller vehicles.

The accident occurred at about 10:00 p.m. on Friday around the Satguru Maharaji Ji Village axis, just before the Ibadan Toll Gate, throwing the busy highway into chaos as flames and thick smoke engulfed the scene.

The crash involved six trucks, including gas tankers and trailer units, two Toyota Hilux vans, and two cars, according to emergency officials who described it as one of the most severe road accidents in recent times on the corridor.

Eyewitnesses said the tragedy began when one of the trucks reportedly suffered brake failure and rammed into another vehicle ahead of it, triggering a chain reaction that quickly escalated into a multi-vehicle inferno.

In moments, several vehicles were trapped in the blaze, while terrified motorists and bystanders watched helplessly as the fire spread across the expressway.

Eight persons were rescued alive with varying degrees of injuries and were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said the crash was caused by brake failure which spiralled into a massive fire outbreak.

“Upon arrival, we discovered that the accident involved six trucks (gas tankers and trailer trucks) and two cars, resulting in a fire outbreak,” he said.

“Five persons were recovered dead, while eight others were rescued and handed over to the team of the Federal Road Safety Corps led by SRC Adegbite from Toll Gate, Ibadan, for further medical attention at the nearest hospital.”

Firefighters eventually brought the inferno under control after hours of operation, while security operatives and traffic officials worked to clear wreckage and restore movement on the busy expressway.

Normalcy has since returned to the road, but the tragedy has left behind a grim reminder of the dangers of mechanical failure and unsafe haulage on Nigeria’s busiest highway.

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