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Tag: Kwara State

  • Kwara to partner EFCC in fight against financial crimes

    Kwara to partner EFCC in fight against financial crimes

    The Kwara government has expressed readiness  to partner the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) in efforts to  tame the scourge of internet fraud and other financial crimes in the state.

    Hajiya Nnafatima Imam, the state’s Commissioner for Social Development, said this during a working visit to the Director, Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Mr Daniel Isei, on Monday in Ilorin.

    Imam said that building partnership frameworks towards addressing the tide of internet fraud and other financial crimes was paramount to ridding the public and private sector of economic and financial crimes and corruption.

    “The EFCC has continued to make commendable progress in restoring integrity in our institutions and society at large.

    “Your efforts have brought renewed hope and a sense of justice to our people.

    “The state government is keenly interested in working closely with your commission to address the root causes of these crimes. Together, we can change the narrative for our youth,” she said.

    In his remarks, Isei expressed delight at the visit and welcomed the interest of the state government to partner with the commission in addressing financial crimes in the state.

    He said that the EFCC remained committed to not just on enforcement, but also prevention of crimes through public engagement and education.

    “We believe enforcement must go hand-in-hand with advocacy. Cybercrime is not just a legal issue, it is a social one.

    ”That is why partnership with agencies like the ministry of social development is critical.

    “We welcome this collaboration and look forward to creating joint initiatives that target risk communities and empower young people with the right values and opportunities,” he said.

  • First batch of 560 Kwara intending pilgrims transported to Saudi Arabia

    First batch of 560 Kwara intending pilgrims transported to Saudi Arabia

    The first batch of 560 intending pilgrims from Kwara have been transported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin.

    The pilgrims departed the airport onboard Max Airline aircraft at about 12:40pm. on Monday.

    The departure was witnessed by Kwara Amirul Hajj, Olupo of Ajase-Ipo Oba Ismail Yahaya, and the Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulkadir AbdulSalam and other government functionaries.

    Addressing Journalists shortly before the departure, Oba Yahaya urged the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and the country while in the Holy land.

    He expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exercise.

    “I thank Almighty Allah because everything went as planned. No hitch whatsoever,” he said.

    In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, AbdulSalam said the successful take-off of the inaugural flight was due to the extra efforts by the state government.

    He urged the pilgrims to obey the rules and regulations of Saudi authority and shun all forms of indiscipline throughout the Hajj exercise.

  • Kwara pilgrims set for May 12 Hajj departure

    Kwara pilgrims set for May 12 Hajj departure

    The Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced that the first batch of intending pilgrims will depart from Ilorin International Airport to Saudi Arabia on May 12.

    Alh. Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, Executive Secretary of the Board, made this known  during an enlightenment programme for 2025 intending pilgrims on Sunday in Ilorin.

    He revealed that the second batch will depart on May 14, the third on May 16, and the final batch on May 17.

    According to him, accommodation and catering services for the pilgrims have already been arranged in Saudi Arabia.

    Abdulkadir confirmed that preparations are underway, with vaccines scheduled for distribution on April 28, uniforms on April 30, and bags on May 1.

    He added that pilgrims who paid more than N8.4 million in Hajj fees will receive refunds after returning from Saudi Arabia.

    “The Board’s preparations for the 2025 Hajj are nearly complete, with visas processed for all 2,174 intending pilgrims,” he said.

    Justice Abdul-Lateef Kamaldeen, Grand Khadi of the State Sharia Court of Appeal, educated the pilgrims on Hajj rituals and expectations during his lecture.

    He urged the pilgrims to perform Hajj with reverence, patience, and fear of Allah for a successful journey.

    The second sensitisation session for intending pilgrims was attended by key stakeholders, including former Executive Secretary, Alh. Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh.

  • Gunmen abduct commuters again in Kwara State

    Gunmen abduct commuters again in Kwara State

    Gunmen have once again struck in Kwara State, abducting several commuters traveling in two vehicles near Eleyin village, along the Isanlu-Isin road in Isin Local Government Area.

    This incident follows a similar abduction that occurred last week near Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti LGA, where seven travellers en route from Abuja to Offa were kidnapped.

    According to reports, the latest attack took place around 5:45 p.m. on Friday. Armed assailants reportedly blocked the highway, intercepted two private vehicles—a Honda and a Toyota—and forcefully led their occupants into the surrounding forest. As of the time of reporting, the exact location of the victims remains unknown.

    Kwara State Police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident on Saturday, revealing that two of the abducted individuals, Ganiyu Ajayi and Kolawole Adeyemi, had been rescued through a joint operation involving the military and local vigilantes.

    She added that efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining victims, as well as apprehend those responsible. Residents were urged to stay calm and vigilant, and to assist law enforcement by providing useful information.

    “The Command has intensified security efforts in the area, including thorough bush combing, strategic patrols, and intelligence-led operations,” she stated. “We remain committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.”

  • New CP blows hot over crime in Kwara

    New CP blows hot over crime in Kwara

    The newly appointed Kwara Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, has declared his determination to tackle activities of kidnappers and terrorists in the state.

    The CP, while briefing newsmen at his maiden conference in Ilorin on Thursday, said the state command would take the fight to the criminals’ hideouts.

    He, however, said that breakthroughs against criminals had been recorded in communities such as Koro, Oke Ode, Isapa and Obo Aiyegunle, located near the neighbouring Ekiti.

    Ojo noted that officers of the command, with the complementary efforts of members of the local vigilance teams in the state, would embark on the task.

    Recall that the new CP had served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the Kwara State Police Command.

    He had also served three Commissioners of Police before he was promoted to assume this office.

    He stated his dedication to strengthening the security architecture of Kwara and ensuring that all residents live and work in an atmosphere of peace and safety.

    “Under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, we will continue to uphold the principles of community policing, which have proven to be highly effective in maintaining peace and security.

    “Our approach will involve working closely with vigilante groups, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, and all well-meaning individuals to ensure that Kwara remains free from criminality,” he said.

    Ojo, however, emphasised that discipline and professionalism would be the hallmark of the state police command under his leadership.

    “Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face the full weight of the law, as I have zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct, like extortion and human rights violations,” he said.

    According to him, society thrives when there is trust between its institutions and its citizens.

    “I will work assiduously to gain the trust of the good people of Kwara. As I assume this responsibility, I call on all stakeholders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, the press, and other law enforcement agencies to collaborate with us in this mission.

    “Together, we can build a safer Kwara, where every citizen can sleep with their two eyes closed, knowing that they are protected by the police and other security agencies,” the CP said.

  • Just In: Many feared dead as fuel tanker explodes in Ilorin

    Just In: Many feared dead as fuel tanker explodes in Ilorin

    Several people have been killed following a devastating fuel tanker explosion in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

    According to SaharaReporters, the unfortunate incident occurred on Friday morning at the Iyemanja community along the expressway in the Okolowo axis of Ilorin.

    A Facebook user, Orioye Chanter Ijobaibile, streamed a live video of the raging fire, describing the harrowing scene.

    “People are inside the cars, and it is burning. What is even worrisome is that many other trucks that always carry fuel are passing near the fire. That is risky. They may also catch fire. We are just waiting for security operatives to show up so that they can stop them. People are getting burned inside the fire,” he narrated.

    As of the time of this report, emergency responders had yet to arrive, while the fire continued to spread, endangering nearby vehicles and properties.

  • Gunmen abduct 3 family members in Kwara

    Gunmen abduct 3 family members in Kwara

    The Kwara Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three family members by gunmen on the Oro-Agbamu Road in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the command’s Spokesperson, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi on Sunday in Ilorin.

    “It was reported that unknown armed men stormed Owoyale Village along Oro-Agbamu Road and forcefully whisked three persons to an unknown location.

    “The victims were Alhaji Moshood Owoyale, his brother, Alhaji Abdulkazeem Owoyale, and the wife to Alhaji Moshood.

    “The Police alongside the vigilante/hunter groups has swung into action; combing the forest to rescue the victims unhurt and apprehend the criminals behind this act.

    “Further developments on the outcome will be communicated as it progresses,” the statement said.

  • SAD: 15 die in multiple accidents in Kwara – FRSC

    SAD: 15 die in multiple accidents in Kwara – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 15 people have died in multiple motor accidents along Olooru/Oko-olowo Road in Ilorin, Kwara, on Wednesday.

    Mr Muftau Irekeola, Kwara Sector Commander, FRSC, who confirmed this on Thursday in Ilorin, said that two commercial vehicles were involved in the accident which claimed 15 lives, while three people were uninjured.

    “On January 22, at about 16:15 hours, we got a call that there was an accident along Olooru/Oko-olowo Road around 16:00 hours and immediately went to the scene.

    “We got there at 16:25 hours and discovered that it was a multiple crash that involved two commercial vehicles; a J7 and Toyota, with registration numbers AYE218XC and TTN556XA respectively.

    “A total number of 18 people were involved in the auto crash, in which 15 died on the spot and three others were uninjured,” Irekeola explained.

    The sector commander said that investigations revealed that the accident was as a result of speeding and wrongful overtaking, which made the drivers hit an obstruction on the road.

    He, however, said that the bodies recovered from the scene had been released to the families, while efforts are still ongoing to clear the obstruction.

  • Kwara revenue service goes all out against tax defaulters

    Kwara revenue service goes all out against tax defaulters

    Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) on Wednesday reiterated the importance of tax to economic and infrastructural development, warning that defaulters could no longer hide in the state.

    The agency’s Head of Department, Corporate Planning, Mr Muhammed Audu, in a sensitisation programme held in Ilorin on Wednesday, also enlightened the citizens on new tax reforms.

    The programme is tagged “Enhancing Tax Compliance through Stakeholders’ Sensitization and Engagement”.

    Audu, while delivering a paper on the implication of non-compliance, said the programme was to reawaken citizens’ responsibility to tax payment compliance and enlighten stakeholders on new tax reforms.

    Audu said the failure to pay tax, underreporting income, non-filling annual returns, overstating deductions and not remitting within record time attract penalties.

    “The penalties are N50,000 for individuals and N500,000 for corporate organisations or six months imprisonment.

    “Non-compliance causes risks to the government in the form of putting pressure on the government, loss of revenue and increase in debt,” he said.

    Warning that tax defaulters no longer have a hiding place in the state, he urged the public to be self-compliant to avoid incurring more expenses.

    “No hiding place for tax defaulters again in Kwara. We have your records. We have the power to ask banks for your bank statements, but we respect you so much and that’s why we ask you to bring your bank statements.

    “There is punishment for tax defaulters or declaration of false statements. Please, always provide us with the true situation of your income to avoid punishment.

    “We want to reduce the level of non-compliance, thus the need to discuss with taxpayers. We don’t want to be tyrannical, and that’s why you have been invited for discussion.

    “Tax compliance is still low in Kwara State as some taxable adults and businesses still try to evade tax payments,” he said.

    Earlier, KW-IRS Chairman, Mrs Shade Omoniyi, said the programme became necessary because of the lack of adequate information and knowledge on the part of taxpayers.

    This, she said, had been hindering the agency’s performance, just as she described taxation as the lifeblood of any economy.

    She said the government could only provide critical infrastructure, quality education, healthcare and other essential public services through faithful payment of taxes.

    “However, tax compliance remains a significant hurdle, and addressing this challenge requires deliberate strategies, collaboration, and continuous stakeholder dialogue.

    “Today’s programme has been thoughtfully designed to address some of the pressing issues surrounding tax compliance and to provide practical insights for all stakeholders,” she said.

    One of the participants, Mohammed Abdullahi, told NAN that the event was an eye-opener.

    Abdullahi urged business owners to be honest and shun tax evasion, saying that the state’s desired economic and infrastructural development rested on tax compliance.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Secretary to Kwara State govt is dead

    BREAKING: Ex-Secretary to Kwara State govt is dead

    A former Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Saka lsau, is dead.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Isau died on Saturday in llorin.

    Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in a condolence message, said Isau would be remembered for his service to the state.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, who released the message in Ilorin, commiserated with the family and associates of Isau.

    The governor prayed to Almighty Allah to admit the late Isau to al-jannah firdaus and uphold his family.

    Sympathisers have been trooping to the Ilorin residence of the late legal icon to condole with the family.