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Tag: Kwara State

  • Kwara police vows to arrest killers of ex-controller of works

    Kwara police vows to arrest killers of ex-controller of works

    The Police Command in Kwara has promised to arrest those involved in Wednesday’s killing of a retired controller of works, Abdulrazaq Ajani, in Ilorin.

    The command’s spokesperson, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, gave the assurance in Ilorin on Friday while presenting an update on the incident.

    According to the spokesperson, investigations are ongoing to arrest and make those found culpable face the law.

    “The Kwara Police Command assures the family that those involved in this dastardly act will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “No arrest has been made as of this moment, but our police detectives are working assiduously to unravel this tragic incident.

    “Kwara Police Command commiserates with the entire family of the Ajanis’; we pray that God Almighty consoles and comforts members of the family he left behind.

    “We pray for the repose of the soul of their beloved father. Further updates will be communicated as investigations progress,” she said.

    Recall Ajani was reported murdered by four young persons. He was said to have been trailed to his residence at Dele Gege Street, Aderoju, Tanke area of Ilorin, on Wednesday.

    The incident occurred about 3.00 p.m., a few minutes after Ajani and his family returned from Offa, their hometown, where they had gone to celebrate the New Year.

  • Retired federal civil servant gruesomely killed on New Year’s day

    Retired federal civil servant gruesomely killed on New Year’s day

    Abdulrazaq Ajani, a retired controller of works at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, was on New Year’s Day, tragically killed in Ilorin, Kwara State shortly after returning from a trip to Offa, where he had spent the Christmas and New Year holidays.

    According to family members who spoke with Punch correspondent, the deceased was attacked around 3 pm after he was reportedly trailed by his assailants from Offa to his residence at Dele Gege Street, Aderoju area, off Obafemi Awolowo Road in Tanke, Ilorin.

    The attackers, believed to be young men aged 18 to 22, showed up at Ajani’s compound moments after he arrived with his family.

    “Four young men between 18 and 22 years old, it was not clear how the assassins arrived in the area.

    “A review of CCTV camera recordings showed two of them standing beside the gate of Mr Ajani’s residence, one of them sipping water from a plastic bottle, while the two others strolled into the compound.

    “On noticing the young men from one of the two sitting rooms on the ground floor of the one-storey duplex building, the retired federal officer reportedly rose to meet them at the main door.

    “They appeared to be engaging him in a discussion until he was suddenly lying face down on the ground,” said one of the family members describing what he saw on the CCTV.

    Witnesses described the aftermath as gruesome, with bloodstains on the walls and evidence of severe trauma.

    “Their gruesome task accomplished, the assassins swiftly fled the scene before the howlings of the family members drew the attention of neighbours.

    “The late engineer was attacked and hacked to death in the presence of his wife and children immediately on arrival from Offa where he went for the Christmas and new year break.

    “If you get to his house, there are blood stains on the walls while his brain is also scattered on the floor.

    “Many people have besieged the residence of the man sympathizing with the wife and the children while a team of Police men have visited the scene for investigation,” the witnesses said

    Speaking on the incident, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ejire-Adeyemi Toun confirmed the attack, stating: “Yes, the incident happened. I can confirm to you that there was a report that a retired controller of works was killed in Tanke area yesterday. Police have waded into the incident and have commenced investigation on it.”

    When asked about arrests, the PPRO stated that no suspects had been apprehended, but investigations were ongoing.

  • Abia, Kwara welcome New Year babies

    Abia, Kwara welcome New Year babies

    The wife of the Kwara State Governor, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, on Wednesday in Ilorin, welcomed three babies into the New Year 2025.

    Abdulrazaq, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, Mrs Opeyemi Afolashade, visited the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) in Ilorin.

    She was there to celebrate the arrival of the New Year babies and to share in the joy of their parents.

    She emphasised that the state government, under the leadership of Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was passionate about the care and well-being of children.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, noted that welcoming New Year babies was a yearly tradition for the Governor’s wife, as every newborn was considered precious, particularly at the start of a new year.

    El-Imam added that Kwara was one of the best places to be born, due to the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of the state’s citizens.

    She reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to improving healthcare delivery in Kwara.

    The the entourage was guided around the ward where the babies were born by the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at KWASUTH, Dr Idowu Ogunlaja.

    The first baby was born at 3:25 a.m., weighing 4.1 kilogrammes; the second at 3:50 a.m., weighing 3.1 kilogrammes; and the third at 10:16 a.m., weighing 3.4 kilogrammes.

    The babies were presented with gifts by the Governor’s wife.

    In response to the kind gesture, one of the parents, Abdullahi Olaoye, who spoke on behalf of the families, expressed gratitude to Abdulrazaq for her kindness.

    Olaoye prayed for continued blessings and support for both the Governor’s wife and the state government.

    Otti’s wife welcomes first baby in Abia

    Similarly, the wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, on Wednesday welcomed the first baby of 2025 at the Aba South Ward Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC).

    A baby boy, Chiudo Favour, was born to Mrs Comfort Favour at exactly 12:08 a.m. on New Year’s Day, weighing 3.5 kilogrammes.

    Otti also welcomed three other babies born at the facility between 12:10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

    Otti presented gifts, including post-natal care products, nutritional supplies, and cash gifts, to Chiudo and the other babies born on New Year’s Day.

    She expressed her joy, calling the birth of a baby a miracle and a wonderful testimony.

    Otti emphasised that the baby’s birth at a Primary Healthcare Centre demonstrated the success of the government’s healthcare interventions.

    “I am really happy that this is happening at a Primary Healthcare Centre because our goal is to reduce maternal mortality, which is very important.

    “The government is determined to ensure that all maternal and child mortality indices will be reduced in Abia.”

    She urged the mother of the newborn to prioritise good nutrition and practice exclusive breastfeeding for the health of her baby.

    Otti also prayed for the child’s future success and hoped he would be a blessing to both his family and society.

    Prof. Enoch Uche, the Commissioner for Health, also spoke, noting that the event highlighted the efficiency of state-owned hospitals and primary healthcare centres.

    “The visit to the babies born in the health centre is symbolic and shows that the award won by Abia is not a fluke.

    “It also shows that we are working actively to deliver live babies in our health facilities,” Uche said.

    He lauded the ongoing renovation of more than 200 PHCs in the state as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to provide quality healthcare services.

    The Chairman of Aba South Local Government Area, Mr Obilor Anyanwu, also stated that the birth of the first baby of the year symbolised the blessings of 2025.

    He added that the number of births at the health centre had increased, with 144 babies born in 2023 and 110 babies in 2024, showing the impact of the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access.

    Favour, the mother of the first baby, expressed her gratitude to the Governor’s wife for her kind gesture and prayed for God’s blessings upon her.

    Otti later visited the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, where she also welcomed New Year’s Day babies with gift items.

  • Police rescue 13 kidnap victims in Kwara

    Police rescue 13 kidnap victims in Kwara

    The Police Command in Kwara State says it rescued 13 kidnap victims in a swift and coordinated operation in the state.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, said this in a statement on Saturday in Ilorin. According to Ejire-Adeyemi, the achievement demonstrates the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents in the state.

    He said a joint operation involving the Police and the Oke-Ero Local Government Security Initiative personnel rescued the victims, who were forcefully abducted by armed assailants on their way to a wedding in Kogi.

    “The Kwara State Police Command has achieved yet another remarkable success in its fight against criminal activities with the rescue of 13 kidnapped victims following a distress call on Dec. 21, 2024.

    “Acting on credible intelligence and with the support of local informants, the security operatives swiftly mobilised to the suspects’ hideout located in the Idofin-Igbana area.

    “Upon sighting the security team, the kidnappers, six in number and some dressed in military uniforms, engaged the operatives in a gun battle but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the rescue team.

    “The suspects fled the scene with various degrees of injuries, abandoning their captives in the process,” he said.

    According to him, the rescued victims include three females and 10 males from various locations, including Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero LGA, Ilorin, Ogbomoso, and a group of trailer drivers enroute to Kogi.

    “While two victims sustained minor gunshot injuries, all other victims were immediately provided with medical care at a nearby hospital, stabilised, and subsequently reunited with their families, Ejire-Adeyemi said.

    Ejire-Adeyemi quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, as commending the resilience and swift response of the operatives.

    “Olaiya expressed gratitude to the local communities for the timely provision of credible information.

    “The CP assured the public of the command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against criminality in all forms,” the command’s spokesperson said.

    The CP urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency hotlines 07032069501 or 08125275046.

  • Kwara govt threatens to seize November salary of workers

    The Kwara State Government has urged public sector workers who are yet to register with the the Kwara State Residents’ Registration Agency (KWSRRA) to do so immediately because anyone without it will not get salary or bonuses for November.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru, on Monday in Ilorin. Nuru reports that the registration started in July.

    The KWSRRA, she said, is empowered by law to have relevant data of everyone resident in the state and allocate unique identities to each person for effective planning, resource management, service delivery, and public safety, among others.

    “In line with the administration’s commitment to accountability and transparency in resource administration, a directive had since been issued mandating all state employees, including those across the 16 local government areas, to complete their registration.

    “Effective from November,  workers who have not registered will not receive salary payments or bonuses”, she said.

    The commissioner noted that the KWSRRA registration was a vital step towards establishing a comprehensive and accurate database that enables us to serve Kwara residents more effectively and  ensuring that every state worker is registered strengthens our payroll system, enhances service delivery, and builds trust in our processes.

    “The integrity of our data impacts all our financial and administrative systems. A complete database helps us make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure that every eligible worker is compensated fairly and accurately. All state employees who have not yet registered are advised to do so,” she said.

    She urged all the state employees who are yet to register to promptly visit the nearest KWSRRA centre to complete their enrollment.

    “By following this directive, Kwara government is working to establish a more efficient and equitable system for its workforce and residents alike,” she said.

  • Gov AbdulRazaq approves bonus for Kwara workers

    Gov AbdulRazaq approves bonus for Kwara workers

    Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has approved a financial bonus that is equivalent to the monthly Pay As You Earn (PAYE) obligation for every civil servant in the State.

    The State’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Ilorin, saying it was an emergency support measure. She said the bonus was for at least three months.

    “This bonus has been approved as a buffer to bridge the gap that the correct PAYE deduction may have wrought on the newly-implemented minimum wage.

    “It is meant to serve as a soothing balm as workers adjust to the PAYE that was just correctly implemented in line with the Personal Income Tax Act. Payment of the bonus is effective from October and will run till December,” the Commissioner explained.

    She then pointed out that it was a significant step by the state governor to support workers. Nuru also said workers who had not registered with the Kwara State Residents’ Registration Agency (KWSRRA) should do so immediately.

    “This is because anyone without it will not get the bonus for November and December,” she said.

    The Commissioner disclosed that labour unions in the state have come to an agreement with government on some deductions.

    “The unions agreed to a refund of the special levy deducted from workers’ salary and a suspension of deductions of same until further notice,” she stated.

  • Kwara State approves N70,000 minimum wage

    Kwara State approves N70,000 minimum wage

    Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has approved the payment of N70,000 as the minimum wage to enhance workers’ welfare in the State.

    This decision was made public by the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru, in a statement on Saturday in Ilorin.

    She said the approved wage would take effect immediately from October 2024, across the Kwara public service, including workers in the 16 Local Government Areas.

    She also said the development followed a successful tripartite meeting between government representatives, labour leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), and representatives from the organised private sector.

    Nuru expressed gratitude to Gov. AbdulRazaq for granting the committee full autonomy to reach a consensus beneficial to all parties.

    She noted that the immediate implementation of the new wage underscored the governor’s proactive and worker-friendly approach, demonstrating his commitment to the welfare of public servants and citizens.

    She said that the state government prioritised the well-being of its workforce and the general populace, fostering growth and prosperity for all in Kwara.

    Nuru commended the collaborative spirit between the government and labour unions, which made the achievement possible, describing the new minimum wage as a testament to the state’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

  • Osun, Kwara declare public holiday for teachers

    Osun, Kwara declare public holiday for teachers

    Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has declared Monday, Oct. 7 a public holiday for public and private school teachers in the state, to commemorate World Teachers Day.

    This is contained in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi.

    The statement quoted Adeleke as saying that the holiday was to acknowledge the teachers’ invaluable contributions to the growth of the education sector, not only in the state and Nigeria, but the world at large

    “I heartily congratulate all teachers worldwide and, in particular, in my dear state, Osun, on the celebration of the annual World Teachers’ Day,  marked on Oct. 5.

    “While it gladdens my heart and that of my administration to declare a public holiday throughout the state, I admonish all teachers to use the one-day public holiday to review the past and present of the state and envision the future development of the education sector in the area.

    “I am using this opportunity for the umpteenth time to assure you that my administration will continue to do everything morally and officially possible to put smiles on your faces to make you happy and fulfilled as purveyors of knowledge in the state,” the governor said.

    Similarly, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has declared Monday, 7 October, a public holiday to commemorate the 2024 World Teachers’ Day.

    This is contained in a statement on Sunday by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu.

    She said the gesture was a mark of appreciation for the state’s teachers, recognising their vital contributions to advancing human progress through quality teaching and nurturing young minds.

    According to Modibbo-Kawu, the holiday is intended for teachers in both the public and private sectors.

    “The Governor expressed his commendation for the teachers’ dedication and wished them a blessed holiday.

    “This move demonstrates the Kwara State Government’s commitment to valuing its educators and acknowledging their impact on the community.

    “By declaring a public holiday, the Governor aims to show appreciation for the teachers’ hard work and dedication to shaping the state’s future generations.”

  • Offa bank robbers to appeal de@th sentence

    Offa bank robbers to appeal de@th sentence

    Lead defence counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, has said the de@th sentence slammed on five men involved in the Offa bank robbery of 2018 would be appealed against. Emeribe said this on Thursday after a High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State on Thursday sentenced the five men charged with the Offa bank robbery incident to death by hanging.

    The court convicted Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham. Delivering judgment, Justice Haleema Saliman held that the five defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of fire arms. Saliman said that the defendants caused the death of people, including a police officers and civilians during the armed robbery in Offa, on April, 2018, which is punishable by death.

    Speaking after the verdict, the lead prosecuting counsel,  Rotimi Jacob, SAN, said that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Jacob said that the six years spent on the case was worth it, as evidence clearly showed that the convicts were involved in the robbery and killings.

    Also speaking, the lead defence counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by Abdullahi Jimba said that the judgment was not surprising, considering the evidence presented in court. He, however, said that in line with the case of AG Oyo state with Bello, there would definitely be an appeal and record would be compiled and moved to the court of appeal.

    The prime suspect, a policeman, Michael Adikwu died in police custody during the trial while the remaining five pleaded for mercy but were convicted.

  • Court sentences Offa bank robbers to death

    Court sentences Offa bank robbers to death

    Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court has found the five accused individuals  involved in the Offa robbery, guilty of unlawful possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.

    In a verdict delivered today September 26, the judge while presiding over the case, held that these offenses are punishable by death.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Offa robbery incident happened in 2018 after the suspects stormed a bank  on April 5, 2018, and in the course of carrying out their criminal activity, killed 30 persons.

    Six suspects, including a police officer, Michael Adikwu (now deceased), Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham, were arrested and convicted in connection with the bloody bank robbery.