The tragic incident occurred shortly after the victim returned from Eid prayers on Friday, sending shockwaves through the Ile Alapo community where the incident took place.

Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said a distress call was received at exactly 10:29 am, alerting the service of a man who had fallen into a well.

“Our operatives were swiftly mobilised to the location,” he stated. “Upon arrival, the firefighters successfully recovered the lifeless body of the victim, who has been identified as Kazeem. Preliminary reports suggest he jumped into the well while under the influence of ‘Colos’, a synthetic and highly dangerous substance.”

Following the recovery, the body was handed over to Inspector Babatunde Amos of the C Division Police Station in Ilorin for further investigation. Authorities await formal identification and claim of the deceased by his family.

Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, expressed profound sorrow over the avoidable loss of life. He used the moment to warn residents—especially youths—against the use of illicit drugs.

“This is a sad and needless tragedy. I strongly urge our young people and community members at large to stay away from drug abuse. These substances are destroying lives and tearing families apart,” he said.

The post Tragedy in Ilorin as Man Jumps into Well After Eid Prayers, Dies Under Influence of Hard Drug first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed that the inferno consumed seven shops out of the 269 within the market. Items destroyed in the blaze included clothing materials, provisions, mineral drinks, and meat products.

According to a statement released by the Fire Service, the fire was triggered by a power surge resulting from fluctuating electricity supply from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). Preliminary investigations, based on reports from market security personnel, pointed to unstable power as the likely cause of the incident.

“The affected shops included meat vendors, clothing material shops, and provision stores,” the statement read.

The Fire Service extended heartfelt sympathies to the market leadership, affected traders, and the entire market community. It expressed hope that the victims would recover their losses in greater measures.

The agency also urged traders and the general public to adopt stringent fire safety precautions to prevent similar disasters in the future.

The post Fire Guts Olusola Saraki Market in Ilorin, Goods Worth Millions Destroyed first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 35-year-old man, Jimoh Abdulquadri, who passed away in police custody in the early hours of Friday.

Abdulquadri, who was arrested on December 19, 2024, reportedly died under controversial circumstances, with his family accusing police operatives of subjecting him to brutal treatment during his detention. Reports indicate that the deceased had been detained over an alleged debt of N220,000 owed to an individual identified as Peter.

In response to the incident, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to immediately take over the case. A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed that the IGP also visited Kwara State to meet with the bereaved family.

During the visit, the IGP was received by the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku Fulani, who represented the family. The IGP expressed his condolences and assured them of a thorough investigation.

“The IGP expressed his profound condolences and assured the family that no stone would be left unturned in uncovering the circumstances that led to the tragic incident. He has ordered the FCID to handle the case with utmost diligence and ensure a conclusive and impartial investigation,” the statement read.

The IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to upholding accountability, professionalism, and respect for human rights. He further called on all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the due process of law to take its course.

The post IGP Steps In: FCID to Investigate Death of Man Detained Over N220,000 Debt first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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Since the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court, which granted financial autonomy to the 774 local governments in the country, voices have been divided about the true say of the 1999 Constitution and the take of the apex court. Some have hailed the decision as affirming the existence of the third tier of government in the polity, while others have also opined that it was an affront to federalism. I have always maintained that no one-cube-fits-all situation to federalism and that even territories that operate a two-tier federalism model still guarantee financially free councils/counties/mayoralties.

The Nigerian scenario is such that state governments want to be seen as co-equal with the central government and want to be known as the federating units, while they emasculate everything about municipal or local governance, even though they agree that the local governments should benefit up to 20.6 per cent of the earnings of the federation set aside by the constitution. So I will agree that it’s something that calls for further discussion and a consensus.

If we want our federalism defined in a two-tier structure, then the funds standing in the name of the councils from the federation account have to be collapsed, such that the states can create the number of councils they deem fit and administer the same with funds at their disposal. But if we go by the system envisaged by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a three-tier structure has been favoured. Something that looks like a homegrown model of federalism

My people in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, had taken advantage of that presidential model at the local government levels, starting from the early 1990s, through the 2000s. The military was operating a three-tier governance system, whereby the councils got their funds directly and utilised the same for the development of their areas. When the then military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) instituted the zero party elections at the councils, the people seized the opportunity to bring in credible administrators who could ensure the development of the town, using the council funds.

The regime of the late Chief Ayantayo Ayandele kick-started the pacy development and when the old council got split into Ogbomoso North and South local governments a sort of competition was ignited as the councils strove to outpace each other in the area of infrastructure development.

Occupants of chairmanship seats like Hon.Remi Odetomi and the late Adebayo Alao-Akala, continued the tradition after Chief Ayandele, and before long, most internal roads within Ogbomoso town had become not just motorable but reference points to other towns. Not many cared about the state of the federal road that cut through the town because they could easily access their locations once they veered off that main entry from either Ilorin/Ibadan/Oyo/Osogbo end.

It was a thing of pride for those visiting the town during Christmas and New Year and for the never-ending ceremonies. Many were never really bothered about the federal highway that traverses the town, which was always busy with crawling articulated vehicles and their troubles. Some would fall at critical junctions, obstructing traffic. Some would cause accidents, breaking fences and stalls. Because the internal roads were okay, many Ilorin/Ibadan bound buses easily made detours into the interiors of the town and found their way.

When President Olusegun Obasanjo on January 3, 2001, approved the award of the four-lane Ibadan /Oyo/ Ogbomoso/ Ilorin Expressway, many were upbeat that the traffic challenges posed by the trucks on the federal road would soon be over. But this is 2024, 23 years after the road was inaugurated, the Federal Government is yet to complete the Ibadan/Ilorin expressway, especially the Ogbomoso/Oyo end. With the complete collapse of the single-lane Ibadan/Ilorin federal road, the only option left for the trucks was to make a detour into the main town, and that led to the total collapse of the interior roads as well. The situation now is such that motorists seeking to cross from Ibadan to Ilorin must spend some six hours between Ogbomoso and Ilorin, a journey of less than 30 minutes.

Sometime last week, a former Senator, one whom I will regard as one the finest Ekiti State had produced in recent years experienced the fall of the old Ogbomoso/Oyo road. When he made a call to me, the voice sounded frantic and desperate for a solution. He started a journey from Ilorin, en route to Ibadan and was therefore condemned to use the Ilorin/Ogbomoso/Ibadan road. 30 minutes after the start of his journey, he got stuck in Ogbomoso and had to engage an okada rider to help navigate through the town. After the Okada rider had tried three possible outlets and was unsuccessful, he was on his way to the fourth, when the Senator called. The road was completely blocked and there was no way to navigate the main North-West/South-West highway.

Now that the internal roads have equally collapsed, the trucks conveying foodstuffs from the North and those conveying other products from the South had to dance unwarranted konko below in the ancient city, wasting lots of man hours. Some five, or six hours are devoted to that unbecoming dance steps daily. The effect is that the already biting food insecurity is further enamored, and we see that in the food inflation data presented by the National Bureau of Statistics month on month. Unfortunately, unlike the situation in the 1990s, the local governments have lost the power. So the people can no longer rely on their councils to effect their local version of federalism and ensure the roads are fixed to ease their travails.

Commentators would say that the federal road belongs to the Ministry of Works in Abuja. The same with the Ibadan/Ilorin Expressway, which has been under construction for 23 years! But the Federal Government is far away in Abuja. My checks revealed that the Oyo/Ogbomoso end of the expressway is just left with some 10 kilometres to link the already completed Ilorin/Ogbomoso section. Someone needs to appeal to President Bola Tinubu and his Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to focus on this main artery before the Sokoto/Badagry super highway takes their attention away.

Moved at the danger to the North/South economy the Ogbomoso road was already constituting to food and energy security, Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, moved a motion last week for the house to summon representatives of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in the state to give reasons why the main access to the North Western part of Nigeria must be left in such decay. We can only hope that Umahi will break the 23-year jinx and deliver the Ibadan/Oyo/Ogbomoso/Ilorin Expressway this time. His predecessors promised to no avail.

The post Ibadan/Ogbomoso/Ilorin Expressway As Signposts Of Nigerian Federalism | By Taiwo Adisa first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Ibadan/Ogbomoso/Ilorin Expressway As Signposts Of Nigerian Federalism | By Taiwo Adisa appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

According to reports, the violence erupted when Abiodun, a suspected cultist, shot Yusuf, a member of a rival group, following a weekend disagreement.

Yusuf, who had recently celebrated his marriage to his pregnant wife, tragically lost his life in the altercation.

Abiodun fled the scene following the incident and is currently evading authorities.

However, tensions escalated when members of Yusuf’s alleged group retaliated by storming Abiodun’s residence at Gana Compound on Saturday.

Armed with firearms, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons, they sought to avenge Yusuf’s death.

The reprisal attack destroyed numerous vehicles and left many individuals injured. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as gunfire erupted and people scattered in panic.

“They later invaded the compound and attacked family members sighted with machetes, leaving many injured,” a source revealed.

Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, the spokesperson for the Kwara Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are ongoing.

The post Cult Clash Leaves One Dead, Many Injured In Ilorin {Photos} first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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The victim, an unidentified vulcaniser, sustained gunshot wounds to the stomach, leading to immediate panic among residents.

The unsettling event unfolded at approximately 8:00 a.m. when a group of prison inmates was being led out of the facility. Seizing the opportunity, one inmate took control of a warder’s rifle and discharged several rounds, hitting the unsuspecting vulcaniser.

The wounded vulcaniser was swiftly transported to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment, while the assailant was apprehended and is currently held at the ‘C’ Division Police station, Isale-Ojo, in the Ilorin metropolis.

Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as residents scrambled for safety during the alarming incident.

Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the inmate’s access to the weapon and the events leading up to the shooting.

The post Prison Inmate Shoots Roadside Vulcaniser in Ilorin first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested no fewer than 13 Chinese nationals over offences bordering on illegal mining activities, in Kwara State.

The offence, as gathered, is contrary to, and punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17, 1983.

The suspects, including one female and twelve (12 ) males were arrested on Wednesday at the Government Reserved Area in Ilorin, the state capital, following credible intelligence about their activities such as illegal mining and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by law.

Briefing journalists, the Ilorin Zonal Head of the EFCC, Michael Nzekwe, explained that before their arrest, the investigation revealed that the operators have different illegal mining sites in almost all the 16 local government areas of the state.

The suspects were also arrested for the illegal production of marble and were arrested at a house near the EFCC office.

The official of the anti-graft agency said efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspects’ Nigerian collaborators.

The suspects, according to him, would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

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Dr. Ayodele Joseph, the Chief Medical Director of Ayodele Hospital, has been accused of raping his patient who came for medical treatment in his hospital at Sawmill Area in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The suspect was arraigned on a two-count charge of an act of gross indecency, and rape contrary to sections 285 and 283 of the penal code.

According to a police report,  the defendant – (Dr. Ayodele) – sedated the patient, who is a professional nurse and eventually had sexual intercourse with her outside her consent.

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° As OYSCATECH felicitates governing council chair on appointment

The newly appointed Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Sanni has appreciated the Federal Government of Nigeria over his appointment as the Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute in Ilorin.

Prof. Sanni also extended his gratitude to the Almighty God for the opportunity.

According to him, “There is the need for one to sustain one’s excellence, integrity, and productivity. And I will make sure that I work together with other team players in solving so of the sustainable development goals and by God’s grace, success is ours.”

The Management of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora under the leadership of Prof. Akinola Akinlabi, and the Governing Council Members of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora have congratulated the institution’s Governing Council Chairman, Prof. Lateef Sanni over his appointment as the Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin

In a congratulatory message signed by the Registrar of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Mr. Rasheed Fasasi Adenrele Adeniji, the Rector described Prof. Sanni as an erudite scholar, exemplary, visionary leader of an impeccable standard and exceptional international researcher whose leadership acumen have not only impacted the academia, industry, the international community and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora in particular but the nation as well.

The Rector noted the remarkable contributions of Prof. Sanni at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), while serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Developments) and to building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seeds System Phase II (BASICS II) and Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase I & II.

Prof. Akinlabi opined that  Sanni will record unprecedented achievements in the new assignment, considering his intellectual capacity and professionalism with which he conducts the affairs of the Governing Council of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.

The Rector on behalf of the Management, Board of Studies, Staff, Students, and Alumni of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora therefore, wishes Prof. Lateef Sanni God’s guidance, good health, and unparalleled success in his new assignment.

Prof. Sanni is a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, and President, of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops.

Prof. Lateef Oladimeji Sanni until his appointment was the former Head of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Station in Abuja and Project Manager for Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seeds System Phase II (BASICS II).

He is the Chairman, of the Steering Committee of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).

Prof. Sanni has over thirty years of experience in research, consultancy, and collaborations as a post-harvest expert on tropical roots crops mostly implemented by the Natural Resources Institute, United Kingdom, Association of African Universities, Council of Agricultural Research Forum, West and Central Council for Agricultural Development and International Institute of Tropical Root Crop with over seventy overseas trips to six continents.

Prof. Sanni graduated from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta with a Bachelor of Science degree; Second Class Upper Division in the Department of Food Science and Technology in 1990. He obtained Masters’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees at the Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan in February 1993 and April 1999 respectively.

The distinguished Prof. Sanni received Harvard Business School, Boston, USA training on Leading Change and Organizational Renewal from 17th to 22nd March 2013.

Prof. Sanni joined the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), now FUNAAB in 1993 as an Assistant Lecturer and became Professor of Food Science and Technology in 2008.
As a distinguished scholar, Prof. Sanni has published over 109 Technical Journal articles; 30 Books, and 30 Conference proceedings.

He has supervised in collaboration with colleagues well over 100 undergraduates, 17 Masters and 24 PhD students.

Prof. Sanni is globally cited with 3,809.
He successfully served as the Country Manager for Nigeria in a Five-Country project, Cassava: Adding Value for Africa II (CAVA and CAVA II) projects sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 2008 to March 31, 2019.

Professor Lateef Sanni won the World Bank Facility for Academic Staff of Universities to the Natural Resources Institute, Kent, UK in 1995.

The International Foundation for Science, Sweden, launched Prof. Sanni Lateef as a leading contributor to multi-million dollar projects on cassava since 1999.

The erudite Professor was the leader (of Food Processing and Value Addition), Center of Excellence in Agriculture and sustainable environment in 2013 for the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Prof. Lateef served as the Resource Person, World Bank Sponsored project titled “Upscaling the Nigerian Flash Drying Experience for Sustainable Regional Trade and Income Generation in West Africa”(Ghana, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone, Nigeria).

He also served as the Country Manager for the European Union-African Caribbean Pacific (EU-ACP) Science Technology Capacity Building Project, Nov 2009 to October 2012 in collaboration with the Greenwich University/Natural Resources Institute, Chatham.

His wealth of experience made him serve as Project Coordinator, Cassava Value Chain Development project in West Africa, covering Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin Republic; a three-year project, sponsored by the Common Fund for Commodities from August 2008 to March 2012 and implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria.

Prof. Sanni has won several awards, some of which include; the 2008 Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Award, Regional Technology Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, Outstanding Award-2006 Academic Accomplishment by Junior Chambers International, Abeokuta, Gateway Hotel, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and the Best Oral Presenter Award at the 7th African Crops Science Conference organized by African Crops Science Society, Entente, Uganda in December 2005.

Prof. Sanni also won the Research Productivity Award (Senior Academic Category) in January 2011 and the Most Outstanding International Ambassador Award of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in January 2012, and the FUNAAB Students’ Union Award of Excellence in May 2013.

He was an editorial board member of the International Journal of Food Science, and Technology from 2005 to 31st July 2015 and is currently serving as a reviewer to so many international journals around the world.

As a true ambassador and alumnus of FUNAAB, Prof. Lateef Sanni was a member of, Governing Board of FUNAAB and former Dean, of the College of Food Science and Human Ecology, FUNAAB.

Prof. Lateef Sanni facilitated the donation of a Modern Garri Processing Factory worth sixteen Million Naira to the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora on the bill of Cassava Adding Value for Africa II.

Prof. Lateef Sanni is a seasoned scholar, dynamic leader, Postharvest innovator on cassava and root crop development, a facilitator on the enhancement of skills for early career scientists, and a consultant to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Cassava Value Chain, NGOs, and international bodies like FAO, UNIDO, and IITA.

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A Point of Sale (POS) operator, simply identified as Alfa Rafiu has been arrested in Kwara State for allegedly lavishing 280 million naira mistakenly sent to his account.

The suspect, as gathered, is a resident of Akuji compound, Abayawo area in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state.

Sources in the area, who are familiar with the issue, explained that Rafiu had suddenly gone on a spending spree after he received the alerts in batches of several millions some weeks ago.

“About two weeks ago, he received several bank alerts that scaled up to N280 million, which he knew nothing about.

“But instead of him drawing the attention of the bank that mistakenly transferred the huge fund, he went on a speeding spree.

“Rafiu bought houses, cars and sponsored people to the lesser Hajj. Some of those he sponsored are presently in Saudi Arabia as we speak. Although he was generous to several people in the community, some residents were surprised about his sudden wealth as a POS operator,” one of the sources said.

It was also learnt that the suspect had been arrested by police officers from the “C” Division Police station, Oja-Oba, Ilorin which is in charge of the area, accompanied by some bank officials.

The POS shop has been closed and some residents in the compound said he has travelled, and they don’t know when he will be back.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Kwara State Command, Ajayi Okasanmi (SP), confirmed the incident.

“Yes, the matter is true, but his arrest was effected by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) from Alagbon-Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, which makes it completely out of our purview”, Okasanmi replied.

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