Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested five suspected bandits in Kwara State.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, he said the suspects were nabbed on Thursday at a checkpoint along Share town in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state after six AK-47 rifles were found with them.

He said the arrest of the suspected bandits came a day after six persons suspected to be couriers for the kidnappers were arrested around Babanla town, also in the Ifelodun LGA, with a large consignment of bread and petrol.

“Five suspected kidnappers were arrested today along the Share axis.

“They concealed six AK-47s under the charcoal in a Golf saloon car this afternoon.

“They were intercepted by the Nigerian Army team on patrol. The five suspects are undergoing interrogation,” Ajakaye said.

“They have been transferred to the police headquarters in Ilorin for further investigation,” the CPS added.

He also said that many criminals were eliminated in a coordinated assault by government vigilante forces in Omu Aran-Eruku earlier on Tuesday.

“Six motorcycles, assault rifles, and many loaded magazines were recovered from their hideouts.

“Four women and two young men, all suspected to be abduction victims, were rescued and handed to the police divisional post in Omu Aran,” the statement added.

The contractor handling the 260-meter road project sponsored by Ogun East Senator Gbenga Daniel in Sagamu has accepted the engineering standards set by the Ogun State Government.

In a letter dated September 26, 2025, and addressed to the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, the contractor, Minim and Tonye, said it had been directed by the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) to “commence the drainage works with the drainage specifications recommended by the Ogun Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.”

The letter, signed by the contractor’s Director, Abimbola Ayodeji, confirmed that the drainage dimension will be a “600mm x 600mm RC drain with Grade 25 concrete in order to be in uniformity with the existing drainage.”

Earlier this month, the Ogun State Government had ordered the contractor to suspend work until it obtained proper regulatory approval. It said the drawings initially submitted by the company did not meet the Federal Ministry of Works (FMW) standard for road design.

In its September 22, 2025 correspondence, the government listed several observations and asked the contractor to correct them before resubmitting.

The ministry stressed that “concrete binding should be of Grade 20,” while the reinforced concrete base, walks, and deck must use “a minimum of Grade 25, with a high yield tensile strength of not less than 460 N/mm².”

It also instructed the company to use a “220mm thick reinforced concrete pavement of not less than Grade 35 concrete, preferably Grade 40 concrete,” instead of the 150mm, Grade 20 concrete it had proposed. The stone base, it added, should “preferably be 200mm.”

Beyond this, the contractor was directed to submit a full layout with elevations, grades, reinforcement details, a list of engineering materials, material testing for quality assurance, and relevant design codes.

With the contractor now agreeing to these standards, the Ogun State Ministry of Works says the road project can move forward once the revised plans are approved.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  Mr. Ola Olukoyede has charged new cadets of the Commission to be driven by the values of integrity and discipline in the course of their duties as officers of the EFCC.

He gave the charge on Friday, September 26, 2025 at the Passing out Parade of 404 EFCC cadets at Nigeria Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende Hills, Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

The cadets comprise 294 detective superintendents and 110 detective inspectors.

The EFCC’s boss charged the new officers to be anti-graft fighters buoyed by patriotic disposition and accountable conducts.

“Being an operative of the EFCC carries heavy responsibilities of personal discipline, integrity, courage and accountability.  Your training essentially offered you a firm foothold in law enforcement and organisational discipline. The EFCC has zero tolerance for corruption and compromise.  You are coming into an organisation that places a high premium on integrity and rectitude”, he said.

Continuing,  Olukoyede stressed that,  “you must fit adequately into the mould of officers that are well-rewarded and morally upright. Integrity, for us, is not a slogan, it is a rule of engagement and an article of faith in the work we do.   It is often said that he that comes to equity must come with clean hands.  Nothing can be truer than this.  You cannot offer the nation what you don’t have.  Anti-corruption officers must be above board at all times”

“For the umpteenth time, prepare your minds to be professional and diligent. Sanctions and punitive measures against corrupt practices by officers of the Commission are stiff.  I wouldn’t want such for any of you”.

He further stated that, the sustenance of the Commission’s culture of exemplary law enforcement, anchored on global best practices is at the heart of its huge investment in the training of its cadets.

“The Commission has invested heavily in your training. This is because we believe in turning out officers that are moulded and grounded in sound intellect, physical agility, courageous comportment and accountable conduct.  Our officers are trained to square with and even tower above their global counterparts. This is owing to the scope of our mandate which is broad and global.  So, in your individual capacities, you are equipped as an international law enforcement officer and you must see yourselves as such”

Talking about the issue of corruption, the anti-graft czar stated that to tackle it,  concerted efforts, energy, passion and drive of every patriotic Nigerian are needed.   He scored the EFCC high in its adherence to its mandate because  “the Commission has shown that it is capable of tackling any economic and financial crime and this is not just self-adulation or aggrandisement. It is owing to its development of effective manpower that can weather the storms of investigations and prosecution of cases.  We will continue on this trajectory. Fresh officers coming into the fold of the EFCC should seek to surpass existing records of progress in their various sections and units.  We are eager to break the siege of graft in our land and by our individual and corporate determination, we will surely sail through”.

The Reviewing  Officer of the Parade and governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, congratulated the cadets for demonstrating resilience and determination. “I congratulate all of you for going through this and demonstrating exactly that you are indeed ready for Nigeria. After witnessing what you have just demonstrated today, we believe that the future of Nigeria is very bright,” he said.

While applauding the EFCC for its successes in the anti-corruption fight, he urged members of the National Assembly to further strengthen the Commission in the pursuit of its mandate with a recommendation of the creation of a special anti-corruption court. “I also want to thank the members of the National Assembly for the support that they have continued to give you, the EFCC,  for what you are achieving. But as we are going through a constitutional review, I want to use the opportunity to ask the National Assembly to consider a special court that will be given these kind of cases to be managed,” he said.

Congratulatory messages  and admonition to the young cadets were made  by the Senate Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende and his House of Representatives counterpart,  Honourable Ginger Onwusibe .

Some of the cadets earned special recognition for their exemplary performance during the course of the training.  Amagiya Efe Princewill emerged Overall Best cadet in the superintendent category and Sanni Ayoola Blessing emerged Overall Best cadet in the Inspector cadre.

The ancient city of Ibadan was agog on Thursday as former Oyo State Governor and Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, marked his 81st birthday in a jubilant atmosphere that spilled into the streets.

Ladoja, who will on Friday (today) be crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland at the Mapo Hall, received glowing tributes from relatives, friends, community leaders, and well-wishers who thronged his family compound to celebrate the double milestone.

The festivities at his compound, located a stone’s throw from Mapo, drew residents, traders, and supporters who described him as a humble leader with an uncommon love for the people.

The mood was festive as market men and women, neighbours, and family members dined and drank to mark his 81st birthday.

Speaking during the celebration, the Chairman of the Real Born Association Elders’ Forum, Isale-Osi, Toafeek Kayode Agesin, said the occasion was unique for the people of Ibadan.

“We are celebrating two events together. We are celebrating a former senator, a former governor, and now the Olubadan of Ibadanland, who clocks 81 years today.

“Baba is a special person; he loves the masses. He is humble, he is a leader, and he knows what the people need. The only thing we can do for him is to keep praying for him,” he said.

A market woman, Morufat Olaonipekun Adeshina, said, “Baba Ladoja is a good man. He is a man of many parts and we love him. My prayer is that his reign shall be successful,” she declared.

The Kano State Joint Task Force Committee for Peace Restoration and Youth Rehabilitation has announced that it arrested 78 suspected drug peddlers and thugs within four days.

The operation was conducted successfully following a four-day enforcement operation across multiple high-risk areas of the state.

Working in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Police Force, the task force arrested 60 suspects and recovered significant quantities of illicit drugs and other harmful substances.

This is contained in a statement by Sadiq Maigatari, the Public Relations Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano State Strategic Command, a copy of which was made available to Arewa PUNCH on Wednesday

“The operation targeted Mariri Yan’itace, Fagge, Badawa, Kasuwar Rimi, Masallacin Idi, Yankaba, Hotoro Flyover, Kofar Mata, Rijiyar Zaki and Jakara.

“Additional raids were carried out at Rumfa College, Dan’agundi Graveyard and Kofar Wambai. Several locations were revisited during the operation to ensure thorough enforcement,” the statement further noted.

Maigatari said the seized items included cannabis sativa, Diazepam, Exol-5, Pregabalin, rubber solution, Suck and Die, and several unconventional substances.

“Our commitment to eradicating drug abuse and thuggery in Kano is unwavering. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice. The safety and well‑being of our citizens are at the top of the priority list.”

He disclosed that investigations into the arrested individuals were ongoing, adding that the Joint Task Force has vowed to ensure that all those found culpable are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, while simultaneously advancing rehabilitation and youth‑rehabilitation initiatives to address the root causes of substance abuse.

The commander of the NDLEA Kano State Strategic Command, A.I. Ahmad, commended the dedication of NDLEA personnel and thanked the Nigeria Police Force for their partnership in the operation.

He also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Kano State Government in supporting the operations.

The Task Force urged community members to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stressing that public cooperation is critical to sustaining gains and creating a safer, drug‑free environment for Kano’s youth and residents.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, cut short his 2025 annual leave to attend the coronation of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, today (Friday).

The development followed the approval by the state House of Assembly of his notice of early resumption from leave submitted to the legislature on Thursday.

In the letter, the governor said he deemed it necessary to cut short his vacation and resume duty, due to the historic and culturally-significant event.

The House, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Abiodun Fadeyi, acknowledged and approved the resumption letter of the governor.

The Deputy Speaker read the letter of resumption of duty during the plenary of the House of Assembly, and it was approved by the state legislative body.

The letter of resumption read: “I shall resume duty today, September 26, 2025, and hereby assume the full functions of the Office of Governor of Oyo State.”

Makinde expressed appreciation to his deputy, Bayo Lawal, for serving effectively as the acting governor during his absence and announced that the deputy governor would now return to his substantive role.

Members of the House of Assembly welcomed the decision and expressed support for his commitment to the cultural heritage.

They unanimously adopted the resumption notice and commended Makinde for showing leadership and honouring a momentous occasion in Ibadan’s history.

The House, therefore, reaffirmed its support for traditional institutions and lauded the proactive steps taken by the executive arm of government to ensure a smooth coronation ceremony of the 44th Olubadan.