Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa says his victory in the just-ended governorship poll is a call to deliver more for the people of Ondo State.

Aiyedatiwa won the Ondo governor election which was concluded on Sunday, beating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Ajayi Agboola in the largely peaceful exercise.

Speaking to reporters after he was declared as the winner of the poll, the Ondo governor promised better days for residents of the South-West state.

According to him, having visited every part of the state during campaigns, he is more in tune with the needs of the people.

“The people should expect better service. And that’s what they’ve been looking forward to because I campaigned across the entire local government,” he said.

“The only candidate that went through the entire local government, not just the capital city of the local government, all communities. In almost all the communities we visited, we saw the roads and the way they look like, the environment they are living in, we heard their voices, we read their messages and we listened and responded to questions and their yearnings and aspirations.

“So, they have that belief that their hope is in me. They believe that whatever we say is what we will do. We will not tell them what we cannot do. We will do all that we have promised within the limited resources available to us.”

The new terror group, Lukarawa, set up camps in 10 local government areas of Sokoto and Bauchi states before its operations became known to the public three weeks ago, Sunday PUNCH reports.

According to sources, members of the terror group initially established camps in some villages bordering Nigeria and Niger Republic, including Gwanaguano, Mulawa, Wassinya, and Turigaic communities.

They eventually infiltrated Nigeria and set up camps in different communities, especially in Gudu and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto in 2018.

Some leaders of the group, according to credible sources, include Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahaman (Idi), Dadi Gumba, Muhammed Abu, Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Walia, Ibrahim Suyaka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.

Our correspondents learnt that they use Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic languages in their preaching while they name their camp, Darul Islam.

A source said, “Their ages are between 18 and 50 years. They have been attacking villages in Gudu, Tangaza, Illela, and other local governments to collect taxes, though they did not kill anyone until the recent Mera attack.

“They will count the number of cattle in their custody and calculate the tax based on the percentage which they will take from the cattle,” a community leader in Tangaza LG said.

A researcher with the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Dr Murtala Rufa’i, told Sunday PUNCH that the group had been planning to establish its caliphate for over 25 years.

He said though members of the group had camps in different communities in about 10 LGAs in Sokoto and Kebbi states, they did not stay in a particular place as they were always on the move.

“They are always on the move using their motorcycles. You can see them today in Bachaka or Kangiwa and see them tomorrow at Bachaka Tambo and the next day at Bachaka in Gudu. This makes it very difficult for our security operatives to locate them unless their paths cross,” the don added.

He disclosed that the group had between 1,500 and 1,800 followers, including clerics and youths in the Tangaza and Gudu axis, the ancestral home of the Lukarawa leaders.

Rufa’i said the group was dislodged by combined security agents around 2020, but later regrouped in December 2023.

“Since then, Lukarawa’s activities have spread to about 10 local government areas which include Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Gwadabawa, Kware, Silame, Binji in Sokoto State and Augie and Kangiwa, Argungu, in Kebbi State,” he stated.

Lukarawa, according to the don, is a Malian-based group known in the Sahel as Jama’atu Muslimina with members cutting across different tribes and sects.

He identified the leader of the group as Ahmadu Kofa, whose ancestors were originally Nigerians from a community called Kofa under the old Kebbi empire.

Rufa’i said, “He is from Kofa. He has siblings like Ibrahim Kofa, Umar Kofa. They are presently in Mali, but their ancestors were Nigerians, from the Kebbi empire.

“Their parents and grandparents like Umar Kofa and Sa’idu Kofa had all acquired their religious knowledge in a place called Balle, the present headquarters of Gudu LGA of Sokoto.”

He noted that the group was luring locals with money, farm inputs, and pumping machines, adding that some of the people joined Lukarawa because of hunger.

Rufa’i described members of the group as criminals hiding under religion.

The don said some of the residents of the affected communities were afraid to report members of the Lukarawa because they threatened them.

“When they came back, they assembled the people of those areas and told them they were using drones to monitor them and their activities. They threatened to kill anyone who tried to report them. So, the locals are in perpetual fear. They don’t discuss their issue,” he stated.

Narrating his experience, a resident of Gongono in Tangaza LGA, who identified himself as Mainasara, confirmed the presence of Lukarawa in the area.

He said, “The Lukarawa people, a few days ago, abducted and killed one of our youths whom they accused of having a link with security operatives.”

Counter-terrorism centre allays fear

However, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre has estimated that Lukarawa had about 150 fighters, describing the group as insignificant.

The Centre attributed the group’s current recruitment drive to efforts aimed at increasing their numbers.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the National Coordinator of the centre, Major General Adamu Laka, downplayed fears surrounding the group’s presence, stating that the threat was not as severe as perceived.

Laka assured Nigerians that, with ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, the Lukarawa group would soon be eliminated as a security concern.

He also cautioned Nigerians against spreading fears in the minds of the populace about the group.

Laka said, “Their total number is not more than 150 to 200. However, they are looking for more people to join them, and Nigeria is resilient, that’s why the issue came up. They are looking for people to recruit.”

He also doused fears that the group might expand its activities beyond its current location, insisting they lacked the numerical strength.

Laka added that intelligence agencies were working tirelessly to deliver timely and actionable intelligence to prevent and counter threats the group poses.

Security experts call for decisive step

A security expert, Kabir Adamu, attributed the emergence of Lukarawa to a lack of intelligence and coordination by the security agencies.

He said security agencies should have taken note of the activities of the group and crushed it before now.

“This group, a couple of years ago, killed a member of our security forces. They attacked the Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State several times. So, they are not new. We should have taken note of developments in the Sahel region where we have seen terrorist groups taking strongholds across the Sahel.

“If we had taken note of that, we would have seen the steady progress and incursion of this group into what has been described as the littoral states, the states that share borders with the ocean,” he stated.

Adamu noted that security agencies should have planned to prevent the incursion of the terror group into Nigeria, warning that other new terror groups might have infiltrated the country as well.

He called on security agencies to implement the provisions of the national counterterrorism strategy.

What is missing in Nigeria’s security system, according to Adamu, is intelligence and coordination, stating that the agencies are more interested in operations.

Adamu added, “They’ve forgotten their role as coordinators. They should have galvanised us and made sure that every Nigerian understands the provisions of that national counterterrorism strategy and supports it.

“But the coordinators are more interested in operations than actually doing their work, which is the coordination of our national counterterrorism strategy.”

Also, a former director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, advised security agencies to take decisive steps and prevent the new group from forming alliances with bandits in the region.

He said, “The government should take decisive action to uproot them before they take root now that they are only in Sokoto and Bauchi states. They should not be allowed to ally with any bandit groups, because if that happens, it becomes a greater security challenge for the northwest and the country at large.

“The government should also call for support from the local populace and the society for necessary information, which is converted to intelligence to get the group uprooted.”

A retired brigadier general in the Nigerian Army, Bashir Adewinbi, attributed the presence of the terror group to the country’s porous borders and the compromise of some people.

Adewinbi said the porosity of Nigerian borders made it possible for criminals to infiltrate border communities to perpetrate evil.

He said, “Our borders are too porous; anybody can come from outside and do anything they like in Nigeria. It’s not supposed to be like that. They should fortify our borders, seriously. Any criminal can come in and organise whatever they like.

“The security agencies should first of all flush the terrorists out and make sure they don’t have freedom to operate. They should also monitor our borders.”

Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian President, has conferred Nigeria’s second-highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister.

Tinubu made the announcement during a bilateral meeting with the Indian leader at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President stated that the honour was “to signify our appreciation of India as Nigeria’s partner.”

Modi, who arrived in Abuja on Saturday evening, was received at the forecourt of the Villa at around 10:20 a.m. on Sunday.

Upon arrival, the Indian leader was welcomed with the Indian anthem, after which a Guard of Honour, mounted by a Brigade of Guards, rendered the Nigerian anthem and led the visiting PM in an inspection of the mounted parade.

This was followed by a 21-gun salute, after which Modi inspected the Guard of Honour.

Tinubu then led him into his office for closed-door talks.

Both leaders are expected to discuss and sign several bilateral agreements during their private meeting.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu and Modi will seek to further strengthen Nigeria-India ties during this visit.

“President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi will aim to deepen Nigeria’s and India’s ties during their bilateral discussions.

“Both leaders will exchange signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to enhance collaboration in critical sectors,” the Presidency said on Saturday.

Modi’s visit is the first by an Indian PM since Dr Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007 when the two nations established a strategic partnership.

Details later…

Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, has been declared winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

He was returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission after winning the governorship poll in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

Ayedatiwa who won in Ese Odo Local Government Area in the last LG result presented on Sunday at the State Collation Centre in Akure, had previously won in the 17 LGs that had earlier been announced.

In the final declaration of the result by the State Returning Officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, he said APC’s Ayedatiwa polled in total of 366,781 votes to defeat Agboola Ajayi of PDP, who got 117,845 votes.

The Returning Officer said, “That Ayedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby returned elected.”

Details later…

Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, the Nigerian indigenous rapper, who is popularly known as Phyno, has revealed why he raps in his native Igbo dialect.

He said he started his career rapping in English but later switched to Igbo because he wanted to offer something unique to the Western world.

Speaking in the latest episode of the ‘In My Opinion’ podcast, Phyno stated that his upbringing also influenced his decision to rap in Igbo language.

He said, “Growing up, I listened to emcees that were very lyrical like the Busta Rhymes, the Jay-Zs, the 2Pacs, the Biggies and the rest. I listened to everything. I had that Western influence in my music but then at some point in my life when I was still trying to find myself, I was rapping in English, too.

“But when I got to a point where I had to make a career out of this, I asked myself a simple question, “What am I going to sell to the world? If I go to the UK, will I sell English to them? They own English language.’ If I go to America right now, I am selling Igbo to them. That’s what it’s. So you have to sell something that they don’t have. I can’t come to your country and sell what you already have. But if I sell what you don’t have, it will be unique.

“I grew up in a highlife influenced neighbourhood. I make sure that I incorporate all the influences into my music and art. I have started wearing the Igbo traditional attire because I have to look different, I have to represent my culture.”

Kizz Daniel, the famous Afrobeats singer, has made a vow to quit music if anyone apart from Runtown comes forward to say they have ever written a song for him.

The singer had taken to his X handle to praise his colleague, Runtown, for being the first person to ever write a song for him.

“For the first time in my life , Person write song for me and na Runtown …… Sound God is not human,” he wrote.

An X user @KTwinBlog then took to the comment section to express doubt over Kizz Daniel’s claim.

“For the first….you sure?,” the user queried.

Responding, Daniel wrote, “Make any mofo come out say dem write for me I go stop music right now.”

While writing songs for artists is a global phenomenon, it’s still relatively overlooked in Nigeria due to fans’ assumption that artists who use songwriters are less talented.

Singer Davido has been constantly bashed for admitting that he uses songwriters.

Lukman Adeleye, the Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday while casting his vote at Ward 15 in Ibefun, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State during the local government election in the state.

It was gathered that the abductors, believed to be military personnel, allegedly took Adeleye to the Ilese barracks. 

PM News reports that the initial investigations suggest the arrest may have been orchestrated by a powerful individual.

The Director-General of Adeleye’s campaign organisation, Hon. Olujimi Oloja, confirmed that the lawmaker is in military custody. 

He condemned the alleged military interference in the local government election, describing it as a direct attack on democratic principles.

“Despite our efforts to secure his release, officers at the barracks insist he will remain detained until the electoral process is concluded,” Oloja stated. 

He assured the public of Adeleye’s safety and affirmed that steps were being taken to facilitate his release.

Oloja also denounced the use of intimidation and force during elections, calling such actions a violation of fundamental rights. 

He highlighted Adeleye’s commitment to community development and education, adding that the lawmaker would address the public once released.

A prominent advocate for education, Adeleye has held various roles within the PDP, including serving as the Local Government Organising Secretary.

Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, has filed a N1.2 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Assembly, accusing them of violating his fundamental rights.

Recall that Bobrisky has been in the eye of the storm since activist VeryDarkMan shared a purported audio conversation wherein he claimed to have paid some EFCC officials N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.

Bobrisky was released on August 5, after he was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12 for abusing the naira.

In the purported recording, the crossdresser also claimed that his “godfather”, alongside Haliru Nababa, Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, ensured he served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not in prison.

The crossdresser, however, denied the recording’s authenticity, threatening legal action against VeryDarkMan.

The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions resolved to probe the bribery allegation.

The House also invited VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky, Ola Olukoyode, EFCC chairman, and Nababa to appear before the committee.

Bobrisky, on Saturday, took to Instagram to share a court file dated October 10 prohibiting EFCC and National Assembly from harassing, detaining, or declaring him wanted.

He claimed, in the lawsuit, that EFCC invited him for investigation based on a hearsay WhatsApp phone call published by VeryDarkMan.

According to him, EFCC failed to investigate the authenticity of the recording, which led to his ridicule on social media, threats from unknown persons, and invasion of his privacy.

The crossdresser, in the document, is seeking N200 million from EFCC for psychotic trauma and N1 billion from the National Assembly for violating his right to a fair hearing.

“The sum of one billion against the 1st respondent being damages for unlawful attempt to violate the right to fair hearing of the applicant, violate his right from discrimination, violate his right to private and family life, right to privacy of his home and telephone conversations.

“The sum of two hundred million naira against the 2nd respondent being damages suffered, psychotically trauma, mental torture and criminal stigmatisation caused by the reckless report given by the 2nd respondent to the 1st respondent without any proper investigation and fair hearing stating that the doctored social media published audio by VeryDarkMan was true, having not carried out any formal and proper investigation by contacting WhatsApp and laying before the committee that the hearsay doctored evidence was confirmed to be true and authentic.

“The violation of the right of freedom of movement, right to privacy of his telecommunication, ” the document read in part.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to Nigeria on his first official visit.

Tinubu disclosed this in a statement through his official X handle on Sunday.

According to him, discussions during the visit will seek to explore strategic and corporate relations between Nigeria and India.

“Look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first visit to Nigeria, which is also the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to our dear country since 2007.

“Our bilateral discussions will seek to expand the strategic partnership between both countries and enhance cooperation in critical sectors. “Welcome to Nigeria, PM Modi,” he wrote.

Modi arrived in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the early hours of Sunday.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga had announced that Tinubu will host Modi on Sunday.