The Amotekun Corps has mobilised over 2,000 personnel to flush out bandits and other criminals operating in forests in the South-West region.

Ogun and Osun states top the list with targeted 1,000 recruits each, while Oyo recruited 480 men last October as part of efforts to curtail the influx of bandits.

The state commanders of the corps confirmed to The PUNCH on Tuesday that more men would soon be recruited to strengthen the South-West Security Network and enhance its operations against bandits, kidnappers and other hoodlums hibernating in South-West forests and reserves.

The targeted operation follows reports of increased kidnapping incidents and other illicit activities by bandits from the Sahel countries and other shady characters.

The National Bureau of Statistics revealed in a survey last December that Nigerians paid a total of N2.23tn as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024.

According to the NBS’s Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey report, an estimated 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded across Nigerian households in the reference period.

The survey indicated that the South-West recorded 6.9m crime incidences during the period.

The North-West region had the highest incidence of crime, with 14.4m cases reported, followed by the North-Central region with 8.8m incidents.

To bolster security in the southwest, the Ondo State Amotekun Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, explained that “Amotekun rangers” had been deployed in the forests to evict the bandits.

Adeleye, who is also the Chairman of the Amotekun Commanders in the southwest, stated, “The Amotekun rangers are in the forest already to flush out the bandits who may want to use our forests as hideouts. Like I do say, no room for bandits in Ondo State.”

He, however, sought more support for the corps in terms of weapons and other security hardware.

‘’What they provided for us is what we are using and that is what we will continue to use. Automatic weapons are on the exclusive list and we will not go near there.

“I would also say we want technology for tracking the location of the criminals and other gadgets to enhance our operational capability and improve intelligence gathering. These are the major areas where we would want to improve upon.”

The Ogun Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig-Gen. Alade Adedigba (retd.), disclosed that his men, numbering over 1,000, had been given the marching orders to move against bandits occupying forests in the state.

Adedigba announced plans to recruit more men, adding that Governor Dapo Abiodun has also given a directive that an additional 1,000 operatives should be recruited to further boost the efficiency of the security outfit.

Speaking with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, the commander said, “Our current strength is over 1,000 and the governor on Saturday has also given a directive that an additional 1,000 officers should be recruited.

“All of these steps are geared towards strengthening the corps and make it much more responsive and combat any form of insecurity.”

The Corps Commander in Osun, Adekunle Omoyele, said the organisation would soon recruit about 1,000 new operatives in addition to the 320 men operating across the state.

Omoyele, who commended the state government for empowering Amotekun to prosecute offenders, said the corps personnel should be allowed to bear sophisticated weapons “since those criminals they would be contending with are also carrying dangerous arms.”

He noted, “We currently have 320 personnel but we plan to recruit 1,000 more. The process will commence soon. Our men will soon go for training and be properly placed to earn salaries, according to the civil service scale.

“We are interested in carrying sophisticated arms. The government should come up with a law that will grant us that opportunity,” Omoyele further said.

Commandant, Oyo Amotekun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), in a conversation with The PUNCH, said the state, last October, recruited, trained and deployed 480 forest rangers.

The forest rangers, he said, had been trained and deployed to 25 local government areas of the state with a specific task to address kidnapping, banditry and other illegal activities in forests across the state.

Olayinka said Amotekun, in conjunction with Community-Based Security Oriented Groups, had stepped up border patrols.

He added that the community-based groups, traditional and opinion leaders have been tasked with surveillance and intelligence-gathering tasks, particularly those around settlements and the state’s forests.

“All the security agencies within the state, including the military, have been mobilised by Governor Seyi Makinde to be on red alert to respond appropriately to any threats. More resources mobilised include community-based security-oriented groups for surveillance and intelligence-gathering tasks.

“Furthermore, border patrol activities have been stepped up by my operatives, in conjunction with CBAG, as well as sensitisation efforts by the traditional and opinion leaders, particularly around settlements at the fridges of our forest resources is on the upwards trajectory,” Olayanju said.

The commanders of Amotekun across the southwest states also spoke on the desire to have their personnel equipped with sophisticated arms to deal with banditry and other forms of criminality.

Speaking, Olayanju said the Oyo Amotekun had consistently sought such approval for its personnel, adding that authorities kept responding that such approval would require amendments to the laws of the country.

“The state had been seeking approval for Amotekun operatives to use sophisticated weapons since 2023 and recently a reminder on the issue was activated and tabled before the appropriate superior authority. However, I’m aware it’s a constitutional issue that would require amendments to the LFRN,” Olayanju said.

Commenting on the need for sophisticated arms by the corps, the Ekiti commander of the corps, Brig. Gen. Olu Adewa (retd), noted, “It is part of the Act which established the Amotekun that they can bear light arms. So, from the outset, the corps has always operated that way.”

Adewa revealed plans to recruit more personnel for the security outfit of the state government.

Adewa said, “They (state government) said they would recruit. We are waiting, we are eager, we are on it. This will be made public.”

Disclosing that the outfit had a little over 300 personnel, the commander said the threat perception and the financial capacity of the southwest states would determine the operations of the corps in each state.

He said, “Amotekun in Ekiti State is barely 300. The threat perception or threat level, the purse and the land mass of the different states are different. These are the factors.”

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration had done a lot to keep Ekiti communities and people safe.

Olatunbosun said, “We are doing a lot and we will continue to do a lot. We are investing in technology to prevent crime anywhere in the state.

‘’The state government has also ensured collaboration among the conventional security agencies and the local arm to work together to ensure the safety of lives and property.”

He touted the deployment of Agro Rangers and Peace Corps as a game-changer in the state’s security strategy.

He stated, “The establishment of the Agro Rangers to join the Amotekun and the Peace Corps that we have as the local detachment of our security to collaborate with the conventional ones is also part of the move.

‘’They understand the terrain, they understand the environment and the nooks and crannies of the state and that has helped.

“We have equally established a security committee that involves both the traditional rulers and the leadership of the local councils, which involves all security networks. We have done that to make Ekiti a safer place for everybody.’’

Speaking further, the commissioner noted that the governor had also secured the support of the military and police at the federal level.

He added, “Mr Governor went ahead to meet with the security chiefs at the national level to get their support, which has assisted in a way with the deployment of the military in some strategic places in Ekiti State.

“Apart from that, we have established a task force of security that we have deployed in some of our farm cluster areas where we have our farm settlements across Ekiti ie Emure/Ise axis, Iyemero/Ayede axis, Oke Ako axis, Erio/Aramoko axis, Ikere/Igbara Odo axis etc, we have ensured that we have established a task force patrolling those places.

“The cluster farming, the agricultural revolution and mechanised farming that we are involved in have equally made it impossible for anybody to have a hiding place in Ekiti.

“We are clearing more farms, which have made those areas a no-go area for anybody willing to operate in the dark, either bandits, kidnappers or their likes,” the commissioner stated.

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, yesterday, called their witnesses to justify their claim that the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the election, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, did not win the election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Led in evidence by PDP counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, one of the witnesses, Kennedy Osifo, tendered agents’ copies of the election results for 76 polling units in Ward II of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, where he alleged four electoral irregularities.

He told the tribunal that irregularities were observed when the agents’ copies were examined alongside the certified true copies of the results of BVAS accreditation report obtained from the INEC’s IREV portal, and that the discrepancies had been highlighted in his witness statement on oath, which he urged the tribunal to adopt in evidence in the case.

Osifo said he was the PDP local government collation officer in the poll and alleged that the INEC relied on incorrect scores to announce the final result of the election.

When cross-examined, Osifo said his testimonies were based strictly on the two documents and not on contacts with the agents.

On his part, Adebayo Ogedegbe told the tribunal of irregularities in 45 units across Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state and claimed to be the party collation officer for the local government, testified that the INEC computed incorrect scores that negated the records in the certified true copies.

For Owan West Local Government Area, Lucky Aroye, tendered agents’ copies of results in nine units where he said overvoting took place.

Aroye said there were no prior recordings of sensitive materials in seven units of the local government area, urging the tribunal to adopt his statement on oath as evidence in the case.

Meanwhile, Kalu Agabi, SAN, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN and Ijala, SAN, counsel to the INEC, Okpebholo and the APC respectively objected the admissibility of the tendered documents, but reserved their grounds to the final written addresses.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the Chairman of the tribunal in his ruling, said the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence.

The first petitioner’s witness from Ikpoba-Okha testified that he was neither an agent at any of the polling units or wards nor directly involved in the election process but that his role was limited to observing and personally examining the results in a “situation room.”

The PW2 from Akoko-Edo council said he was not a polling unit or ward agent but coordinated all the results from 241 polling units and 10 wards in a single day.

Under cross-examination, PW1 admitted that the sensitive BIVAS materials were not available for inspection in the situation room.

The tribunal adjourned till today for continuation of hearing.

Nigerian disc jockey, Nonso Temisan Ajufo, known professionally as DJ Big N, has recounted a near-death robbery attack during a visit to South Africa.

In a post via instagram page on Tuesday, DJ Big N said he was attacked alongside an acquaintance, and his personal belongings worth $114k were stolen from him.

He described the night as his worst and most teachable experience of life, attributing his survival to divine intervention and his mother’s prayers.

The post read, “On Sunday, January 12th, a night out turned into both the worst and most teachable experience of my life. I went out with some friends to a fancy lounge in Johannesburg, SA. From there I decided to head to another club with another acquaintance. On the way, at a traffic light, we were ambushed by two cars carrying six armed men with automatic rifles.

“In the chaos, I tried to escape but got shot in the leg. One of the robbers put the rifle to my head and demanded my watch, which I struggled to remove, along with my chain and other jewelry. Bleeding heavily, I managed to get back to the car, and the driver rushed me to the nearest hospital. The bullet had passed through my leg, narrowly missing a major artery and bone. Doctors described this as miraculous, calling me “lucky.” I credit my survival to divine intervention and my mother’s prayers.

“The experience changed my perspective on life. I lost over $114k worth of valuables that day, but I realized material possessions mean nothing. Life is fragile, and validation is meaningless. God gave me another chance, and I’m committed to living more authentically and appreciating life without unnecessary stress.

“This event restored my focus and reminded me of what truly matters. I am Nonso Temisan Ajufo, also known as Big N, and this is my truth. I met so many wonderful people in SA, and went to so many beautiful places…. and like any other country, there would be bad eggs that paint the nation bad.

“South Africa ?? …. I Visit, I Don’t Judge. P.S (I stopped using the crutches 2 days right after, I’m way better now).”

In a surprising turn of events, notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji has reportedly released all individuals held captive by his group.

This was disclosed by Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counter-terrorism and insurgency expert, on Tuesday.

The development comes amid heightened military operations aimed at capturing the fugitive and dismantling his network in Zamfara State and surrounding regions.

Makama said Turji’s decision to “free the captives is linked to the intense pressure mounted by the Nigerian Armed Forces under Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Forest Sanity.”

Recent airstrikes and ground offensives targeting his hideouts in Fakai, Shinkafi, and surrounding areas have significantly weakened his group, forcing them into retreat.

Makama added: “The release of the captives is being seen as a strategic move by Turji to avoid further escalation or a direct confrontation with security forces who have been closing in on him.

“The troops have vowed to get him whether dead or Alive.”

The Association of Mobile Money & Bank Agents in Nigeria has said its members may have no option but to increase service charges.

Ogungbayi Ganiyu, the National Public Relations Officer at AMMBAN, disclosed this in an interview with DAILY POST on Monday.

His comments followed the Federal Government’s 50 percent telecommunications services tariff hike approval.

Reacting, Ganiyu said AMMBAN members’ businesses are centered around telecom services, especially data, and hence would be most impacted.

He, however, noted that POS operators may want to bear the cost of the increased telecoms tariff.

“The telecom tariff hike will impact the operations of our members. I am afraid this may also have a multiplier effect on service charges.

“We have not sat down and looked at the latest tariff hike,” he stated.

DAILY POST reports that the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers on Monday vowed to drag the federal government to court over the 50 percent telecoms tariff hike.

Recall that the last time telecoms tariffs were increased was in 2013.

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps otherwise known as So-Safe Corps has apprehended 54-year-old Adelani Oriyomi at a burial ground in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, while allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Commander of So-Safe Corps,  Soji Ganzallo, through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.

Ganzallo said, “At about 2:35 a.m. on January 21, 2025, officers of the So-Safe Corps on routine patrol observed suspicious activity on a parcel of land behind a church.

“The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Adelani Oriyomi, was spotted trying to hide.

“Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene, apprehending him before he could escape.”

The statement revealed that the suspect, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, confessed to the crime during interrogation.

He was said to have admitted that on January 18, 2025, he had exhumed a skull from a tomb on a plot of land behind his residence.

Oriyomi reportedly confessed that he was attempting to retrieve another skull to complete the number required for a money ritual preparation known as ‘Osole’ when he was caught.

The suspect was also said to have confessed to being a serial offender, having sold nearly ten skulls in the past.

Oriyomi, during the interrogation, also explained that he had previously been arrested for similar offences committed at Ado-Odo and served two years of imprisonment and a further six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Centre following another conviction in Obada-Oko.

Ganzallo confirmed that the suspect and the recovered exhibit—a fully dried human skull—have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Obada Divisional Headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The So-Safe Corps Commander urged community leaders to thoroughly screen tenants and visitors to prevent harbouring undesirable individuals.

He emphasised that such vigilance could ensure 70% of home security, with the remaining 30% relying on alertness to external threats.

The Federal Government has approved a Federal Polytechnic in Gwarinpa, one of the largest estates in the nation’s capital.

The development was disclosed in a letter dated January 16, 2025 and addressed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

According to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the federal government approved the establishment of the institution and also named it after President Bola Tinubu.

Alausa explained that the establishment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic, Gwarinpa, is to promote technological, vocational and entrepreneurial training in line with the national policy on education.

The minister said the technical team from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) would be visiting the sites and inspecting the recommended locations, adding that base on the reports to be presented by the team, the approval will be given.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has commended Tinubu for approving the establishment of the Polytechnic.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Kingsley Madaki, Maikalangu also appreciated the FCT Minister for the role he played in making the dreams of FCT residents a reality.

Maikalangu said the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic in Gwarinpa was a dream come true and would add to the progress of the FCT residents.

Nollywood legend, Dele Odule, recently ignited a wave of raw emotion across social media after sharing an agonizing experience that continues to torment him—a pain he described as the most unbearable any parent could ever endure.

The veteran thespian, renowned for his exceptional contributions to Nigerian cinema, was a guest junior colleague Kunle Afod’s talk show.

During the candid discussion, the iconic actor opened up about his personal life, decades of experience in the film industry, and the highs and lows of his illustrious career.

However, the mood shifted drastically when Afod posed a deeply personal question, asking Odule to recount the most painful moment of his decades on earth. What followed was a heart-wrenching revelation that laid bare the profound grief the actor has carried for years.

With a tremble in his voice and visible anguish in his eyes, Dele Odule relived the devastating moment he lost his first child—a tragedy that shook the very foundation of his existence.

He went on to describe the haunting emptiness that engulfed him in the wake of his child’s death.

As Odule’s voice faltered, the atmosphere in the room became palpably heavy. Even Afod, a seasoned host, was visibly moved by the depth of his senior colleague’s grief.

Sensing Odule’s inability to delve further into the tragedy, Kunle Afod in a solemn tone, prayed that he would never again experience such profound heartache.

Recognizing the emotional toll the subject was taking, Afod swiftly changed the topic, steering the conversation back to lighter moments from Odule’s illustrious career.

SEE INTERVIEW BELOW

The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, recently graced the historic inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States with his spiritual presence and profound insights.

While in Washington, D.C., the renowned Nigerian cleric sat down with Fox News for an exclusive interview, offering an in-depth reflection on his extraordinary experience at this pivotal moment in history.

Pastor Kumuyi described witnessing President Trump’s swearing-in as an awe-inspiring experience, one that affirmed the enduring power of democracy. He openly celebrated the event as a testament to the resilience of the American democratic system, adding that the ceremony carried an air of divine purpose.

The Nigerian cleric expressed his belief in Trump’s ability to lead and commended the President’s inaugural address, which outlined his immediate plans to hit the ground running. According to Kumuyi, the speech carried a tone of determination, hope, and a commitment to actionable governance.

Touching on the intersection of governance and faith, Kumuyi expressed optimism about Trump’s potential to champion Christian values, peace, and stability.

He remarked that Trump’s speech suggested a commitment not only to revitalizing America but also to fostering unity and promoting peace on a global scale.

Kumuyi conveyed his belief that under Trump’s leadership, there could be a renewed effort to uphold moral and spiritual principles across nations.

At the inauguration event, Kumuyi joined other spiritual leaders in a special prayer meeting, where the focus was on seeking divine guidance for the incoming administration. During the session, Kumuyi prayed fervently for God to grant Trump the wisdom and discernment necessary to navigate the complexities of leadership.

He also interceded for unity between the President and the church in the United States, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in advancing shared values and fostering national harmony.

SEE INTERVIEW BELOW

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation Afenifere has applauded the Nigeria Governors Forum for its unified support for the Tax Reform Bills now awaiting consideration by the National Assembly.

Afenifere commended the federal government for initiating the tax reform bills because of their inherent benefits and lauded those who worked to remove the stalemate that characterised the efforts to pass the four tax bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the organisation and made available to LEADERSHIP in Akure, the state capital, on Monday by Comrade Jare Ajayi, appreciated concerns expressed by various interest groups, particularly the Northern Governors.

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu stated, “These tax reforms are designed with a pro-poor focus to advance national interests, improve our economic competitiveness, and attract local and foreign investments.”
However, there seemed to be a stalemate due to the reservations expressed by Northern state governors and traditional rulers in the north. The meeting held in Abuja last Thursday put an end to the impasse.

Afenifere said, “The way the matter was resolved has much for us to learn from. First, our leaders must be visionary in taking people-oriented initiatives, as President Tinubu demonstrated on the tax bills.

“Second is the need by the society to express their feelings on issues of public concern. Third is the need for leaders to be sensitive to concerns raised by members of the public.

“Fourth is the need to subject issues to consultations with open minds and submit to a superior idea that would be in the majority’s best interest, as demonstrated by the parties involved in the Tax Bills controversy.
“All the above played out in the resolution of the tax bill brouhaha. In this respect, we commend President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for allowing further consultations when issues were raised about the bills.

‘’The outcome demonstrated the benefits of consultations and enhanced the President’s democratic credentials”.