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Tag: Kwara State

  • Kidnappers beat down ransom for release of murdered Oba’s wife

    Kidnappers beat down ransom for release of murdered Oba’s wife

    The gunmen who killed a traditional ruler and kidnapped his wife and one other person have reduced the N100m ransom placed on the abducted victims to N40 million.

    Recall the gunmen had on Sunday first reached out to the king’s family for a N100 million ransom payment.

    The traditional ruler, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, who was the Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti in the Ekiti Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara, was murdered in his palace on Thursday night.

    His wife and another person were at the same time abducted by the assailants.

    Speaking with newsmen late Sunday, Mr Kehinde Bayode, Chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) in the Ekiti Local Government Council of Kwara, also said a suspect has been apprehended.

    He said the suspect was arrested in Eruku town in the Ekiti LGA on Sunday.

    While speaking on efforts made to free the abducted wife of the monarch and the other person, Bayode said: “The kidnappers had got in touch with the family.

    ”They were demanding N100 million ransom, which has now been reduced to N40 million.

    “But we are still negotiating with them and right now, I’m on my way to Koro to get the latest information on the negotiation.

    “We will continue to brief you (journalists) as the situation unfolds and we will keep you posted,” he had said late on Sunday.

    However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, did not confirm the arrest of any suspect.

    She said rather that no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.

    “The Commissioner of Police has deployed a tactical team to Koro-Ekiti to fish out the perpetrators.

    “Policemen are working with other security agencies to free those that were abducted during the kidnapping incident.

    “No arrest has been made yet. We are going to keep you abreast of developments as they unfold,” she said.

  • Kwara House of Assembly passes 2024 budget of N292.7bn

    Kwara House of Assembly passes 2024 budget of N292.7bn

    The Kwara House of Assembly on Wednesday in Ilorin passed the 2024 budget of N292.7 billion for the State.

    This is against the N296.4 billion presented by Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, representing 1.25 per cent decrease.

    Under the passed Appropriation Bill, total Capital Expenditure now stands at N180.2 billion as against the N178.905 billion originally proposed by the executive.

    Also, Recurrent Expenditure is N113.836 billion against N116.43 billion as presented by the governor.

    The budget was passed after considering the Report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation at plenary.

    The committee, which was chaired by Mrs Arinola Fatimah Lawal (APC/Ilorin East) submitted its report during Wednesday’s plenary.

    In his submission, Speaker, Mr Yakubu Salihu, (APC/Ilesha/Gwanara) expressed optimism that the ”budget of economic expansion and collective prosperity” would go a long way in impacting positively on the lives of the people.

    The speaker applauded the governor for ensuring January to December budget cycle as adopted by the Nigerian Governors Forum to engender accelerated implementation.

    The speaker therefore directed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Kareem, to prepare a clean copy of the Appropriation Bill for the governor’s assent.

  • Fire incident renders 120 homeless in Ilorin

    Fire incident renders 120 homeless in Ilorin

    A fire incident, which occurred at Megida Onikanhun Compound, Edun Isale, Ilorin South Local Government, has left 120 persons homeless, razing 44 Rooms of a building and a mosque.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Head of Department of Media and Publicity of the fire department, Hassan Adekunle, on Monday in Ilorin.

    It said that on Jan. 15, 2024, around 11:08 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Megida Onikanhun Compound, Edun Isale, Ilorin South Local Government.

    “Fire fighters, upon arrival, found the entire compound and Edun Market engulfed in flames due to a late call.

    “To enhance firefighting efforts, part of the fence was dismantled for better access.

    “At 11:22 am, an SMS message was sent to the Brigade Headquarters for additional manpower, and the proficient firefighters successfully brought the situation under control within an hour before completely extinguishing the fire.

    “Investigations revealed that an unknown person set some refuse on fire but this unfortunately spread to the nearby compound,” it added.

    Adekunle expressed condolences to Magaji Megida Onikanhun’s representative, Kuranga Adebayo.

    He commended the fire service’s efforts, but said the incident left over 120 occupants homeless, affecting 44 rooms and a mosque but no casualties were recorded in the 75-room compound.

    Kwara State Fire Service Director, Mr. Falade Olumuyiwa, urged the general public to always play safe, especially during this period.

    He urged the public not to hesitate to call the fire brigade on time whenever there was any fire emergency in their areas, as this would save lives and properties of people in the state.

  • 2024 will be more fulfilling for Kwara – AbdulRazaq

    2024 will be more fulfilling for Kwara – AbdulRazaq

    Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara on Sunday expressed optimism that 2024 will be more fulfilling for the people of the state.

    The governor made this known in a New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, and made available to newsmen in Ilorin.

    AbdulRazaq, however, urged the public to work with the present administration to promote sustainable development and a more fulfilling year in 2024.

    “The government will continue to deliver on its core mandate of ensuring safety of lives and properties, maintaining law and order, and providing basic amenities and infrastructure within available resources,” he said.

    AbdulRazaq called on civil servants to put in more positive energy and constructive engagement for better service deliveries.

    The governor also called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu-led reforms, saying the objective is to build a more resilient economy for the betterment of everybody.

  • 12 die in Kwara road traffic accident

    12 die in Kwara road traffic accident

    A total of 12 persons have been confirmed dead in a road traffic crash involving three vehicles at Peke, along Olooru-Okoolowo-Ogbomoso road, in Kwara.

    Those involved in the accident included 21 males and one female, out of which 12 were burnt to death and 10 others who sustained various degrees of injuries were evacuated  to hospital for treatment.

    The Kwara Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Stephen Dawulung, confirmed the incident on Wednesday in Ilorin.

    Dawulung said that the burnt corpses were given mass burial after consultation with the Hausa community in Okoolowo.

    “On receiving the report of the crash, our operatives at Olooru Unit Command were immediately mobilised to the crash scene for rescue.

    “Vehicles involved in the accident were a petrol tanker, a trailer and an 18-seater bus.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the empty IVECO tanker coming from Okoolowo committed route violation enroute Ogbomoso, which led to head-on collision with the oncoming DAF truck, which ignited the fire,” he said.

    The sector commander said that the bus which was on its way to Katsina and behind the DAF truck, rammed into the crashed vehicles.

    He sympathised with families of the deceased and prayed for the recovery of the injured victims.

    Dawulung advised drivers to avoid route violation, speeding and night journeys, and ensure they maintain safe distance with other vehicles while on the road.

    He said full investigation had commenced into the crash, and assured that the command was committed to ensuring the safety of all road users.

  • 8 persons dead as bus collides with truck in Kwara

    8 persons dead as bus collides with truck in Kwara

    Eight persons died in an auto crash at Oke-Onigbin on the Omu-Aran-Ilorin Highway in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Friday.

    An articulated vehicle and a bus were involved in the accident.

    Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Kwara, Mr Stephen Dawulung, said in a statement issued by its spokesman, Mr Busari Basambo on Saturday in Ilorin that the accident happened in the night.

    “Preliminary investigations showed that the Ilorin-bound Mitsubishi bus was overtaking another bus when it had head-on collision with the articulated vehicle.

    “The collision resulted to the death of eight persons on the spot. They were one male adult, three female adults and four children.

    “Six other persons sustained of injuries in the crash,’’ he said.

    Dawulung said the dead were deposited in a morgue while the injured were taken to another hospital for medical attention.

    He added that the crash was blameable on over-speeding, wrongful overtaking and poor visibility.

    He advised motorists to always avoid night journeys and over-speeding and to ensure they rested for 30 minutes after every four hours of driving.

    “This is to avoid crashes resulting from poor visibility, fatigue, dozing or loss of control of vehicles.

    “The highest level of caution and concentration must be exercised while driving,” Dawulung advised.

  • Emir of Ilorin celebrates 28th anniversary on throne

    Emir of Ilorin celebrates 28th anniversary on throne

    The Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has thanked the people of Ilorin Emirate, government and people of Kwara for their fervent prayers and support since his enthronement in the last 28 years.

    Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, who is also the Chairman Kwara Council of Chiefs,  expressed his delight in a statement signed by his spokesman, Malam Abdulazeez Arowona.

    The Emir lauded the peaceful conduct of his people  in spite of their political and tribal differences.

    He stated that his prayers had always been for the people of Ilorin Emirate, Kwara and Nigeria as a whole, to continue to excel globally.

    He said that some of the achievements he recorded in the last 28 years on throne included infrastructural growth and human capital development across all facets of human endeavours.

    According to him, others are educational and economic advancements, remodeling of Ilorin central Mosque to a world-class standard, upgrade of the Emir’s Palace to modern status, preservation of Ilorin Emirate, promotion of peace and harmony among residents of the community.

    The Chairman of Kwara Council of Chiefs thanked the people for standing firmly by him in prayers and good conducts since he ascended the throne of his forefathers in 1995.

    He urged the people of the state to continue to live together peacefully and not allow division and disruption of peace under any guise.

    The Emir also commended all successive administrations in the state for supporting traditional rulers and ensuring grassroot development across the state.

    He noted that the current administration under Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of had been so supportive and instrumental to the growth of traditional institution.

    Alhaji Sulu-Gambari therefore prayed for love to continue to manifest as his reign continue to enjoy the solidarity of the people and government at all levels.

  • Insecurity deprives Nigerians access to quality healthcare – NMA

    Insecurity deprives Nigerians access to quality healthcare – NMA

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says the spate of insecurity in parts of the country has deprived Nigerians access to quality healthcare.

    Dr Ola Ahmed, the Kwara branch Chairman of the NMA, stated this in Ilorin on Tuesday during a news conference organised as part of the activities marking the 2023 Physician’s Week.

    He said: “The spate of insecurity in our nation is unbearable and has negatively impacted on our members and invariably on the healthcare delivery to our people.

    “The fear of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery has really deprived our citizens of access to quality care especially in the rural communities where the menace is rampant.”

    Ahmed appealed to governments at all tiers and revered traditional leaders to review their approaches to tackling insecurity and come out with workable strategies to secure the lives and properties of the citizens.

    He observed that the country is passing through difficult time, while the citizens bear the brunt.

    He however assured that the association is exploring all peaceful avenues towards securing some economic reprieve for members.

    The NMA chairman also decried the slow pace of payment of their slightly improved salary to members.

    He appealed to the Kwara Government to immediately commence payment of recently reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Scale ( CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) with thier arrears and also the Accoutrement allowances for medical doctors and dentists.

    “I hope there won’t be need for us yo engage in another round of agitation for the implementation of what has been circulairised since July 2023,” he said.

    The NMA chairman, however, commended Gov. AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq for efforts in rehabilitation of hospitals across primary and secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

    He also commended the government’s initiative on health insurance for citizens, noting that the KwaraCare is for the indigent to access healthcare affordably.

    Ahmed, who also noted the commitment of the Kwara government to recruit more doctors, lamented the dearth of doctors willing to stay, due to Japa syndrome.

    “Subsidy removal has eroded everything, our members are leaving. And in the last few years because of COVID-19, we have not been able to graduate doctors. But we are hopeful to get more young doctors,” he said.

    Ahmed explained that the Physician’s Week is a time-honoured tradition and celebration of Kwara doctors as well as doctors across Nigeria who tirelessly work to improve the lives and health of citizens.

    “Some of the activities marking the week includes Scientific Conference, discussions on medical doctors welfare, courtesy visits and young doctors day,” he said.

    He further stated that the theme of the Physician’s week is entitled: “This is Our Chance: To Get it Right in the Health Sector”.

    He added that the sub-themes are: “The Abuja Declaration – 22 Years After”, and also “The Ethical Issues in Human Organ Donation”.

  • Managing Director found dead in own hotel in Ilorin

    Managing Director found dead in own hotel in Ilorin

    The Managing Director of a popular hotel in Ilorin has been found dead in one of the hotel rooms.

    Police spokesman in Kwara, CSP Okasanmi Ajayi, stated in Ilorin on Friday that a supervisor at the hotel reported a suspected homicide to the police in Ilorin on Thursday.

    He added that a team of detectives was immediately dispatched to the hotel and the deceased was found lying motionless on the hotel room bed.

    Ajayi stated that the body showed no sign of physical violence and assured that the police would investigate the cause of death further.

    “Doctors at a hospital confirmed the hotel boss dead and the body was deposited in a morgue pending autopsy.

    “Details of the investigation will be made public as soon as possible,’’ Ajayi assured.

  • National Youth Games: Kwara finishes top in Scrabble event

    National Youth Games: Kwara finishes top in Scrabble event

    Kwara State completed her conquest of the scrabble competition at the ongoing 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, South South, Nigeria with gold in the boys team event and silver medal in the girls team event on Thursday at the Multi Purpose Hall of Stephen Keshi Stadium.
    Kwara’s boys team of Abdulqudus Aliu, Boluwatife Sufyan and Khalid Olosun dominated the category from start to finish and hitting the likes of Bayelsa, Edo, Imo, Anambra and Ogun on the way to glory, picking up 8 wins and a massive 2517 cumulative points in the process.
    Bayelsa took the silver medal with 5 wins and minus 438 points and Edo settled for bronze with 4 victories and a minus 311 cumulative points.
    The likes of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ekiti, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau and Rivers could not participate in the team event because they all fell short of the number required to form a team.
    The president of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, blamed this ugly development on the door steps of the various State Sports Council for lack of foresight and poor planning.
    “Most of the State Sports officials don’t understand how sports is administered and some focus on football to the detriment of the so called lesser sports. “Look at most of the States that came with a complete team, are returning home with at least a medal or two to show for their participation.” Aka said.
    The girls team event gold went to Plateau State with 7 wins and 1785 cumulative points ahead of Kwara State that got 6 wins with a 1303 points. Team Ogun came third with 6 wins too but a less cumulative points of plus 1178.
    That bronze medal is Ogun State’s only medal in the scrabble event at the 7th National Youth Games despite the huge financial investment committed to the game of words in the Gateway State by the new Chairman of the State Scrabble Association, Adekoyejo Adegbesan in the last 14 months.
    Just like in the boys event, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, Kebbi, Niger Oyo and Rivers could not field a team despite being at the Games.
     At the end of the scrabble competition at the 7th National Youth Games, 8 States registered their presence on the medal table dominated by Kwara State with 3 gold and 2 silver.
    Other States on the podium after three days of the grueling competition are Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Plateau.
     Abdulqudus Aliu and Boluwatife of Kwara State are the toast and poster kids of the scrabble event. Aliu returns to Ilorin with 3 gold while Sufyan won 2 gold and silver medal in the boys category.
    The chairman of Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BSSSA), Daniel Alabrah is not totally satisfied with the scrabble team’s performance of two silver. “Yes two silver medals is not bad one but it’s not good enough and there is still room for improvement.” Alabrah said.
    Alabrah who is also the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Bayelsa State, further stated that the inclusion of the student category in to the governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship is partly responsible for the growth of the game of words in the oil rich coastal State.
    “Kwara State build up for the Games was longer and better but I can assure you that, Bayelsa State will improve significantly in subsequent Games and national championship.” Daniel Alabrah a seasoned journalist concluded.
    It’s noteworthy to state that all the medalists are part of Team Nigeria to the forthcoming coming World Youth Championship in December in Thailand.
    However, the team may not make the trip due to lack of funds.
    This is the final medal table for scrabble at the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
    Kwara 3 gold 2 silver
    Lagos 1 gold 1 silver
    Plateau 1 gold 1 silver
    Edo 1 gold 2 bronze
    Bayelsa 2 silver
    Delta 2 bronze
    Anambra 1 bronze