On Sunday, 13th September 2026, another life was lost in Osun State. Within hours, the response followed a pattern Nigerians have become painfully familiar with after violent incidents: condemnation, an order for arrests, a call for calm, instructions to security agencies and the promise of a new measure intended to prevent recurrence. None of those actions is unnecessary. But there is a more uncomfortable question Osun cannot afford to avoid: Why did the state arrive here again? The killing of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Ajagungbade Emir, in Ile-Ife should

not be examined only as the story of one man, one political association, one motor park or one confrontation. It should force a wider examination of the security system in Osun State. Because this death did not occur in a vacuum. It came after months of warnings. It came after political killings. It came after meetings between the governor and senior police authorities. It came after a statewide suspension of National Union of Road Transport Workers activities in motor parks. It came after security agencies were instructed to arrest anyone

violating that order. It came after gunfire had already been reported around a motor park in Ile-Ife. It came after another violent confrontation around a motor park in Ikire resulted in deaths, wounded police officers and the alleged snatching of a police rifle. And that is precisely why Sunday's shooting should not end with another statement promising that those responsible will be brought to justice. Osun deserves answers about what happened between the previous warnings and the latest death. The Warning Signs Were Already There On June 26, a senior

police delegation sent by the Inspector-General of Police met Governor Ademola Adeleke over increasing political violence in Osun. The governor publicly spoke of three unresolved political murders within a matter of weeks. His demand was reasonable and direct: the violence must stop, perpetrators must be arrested and those found responsible must be prosecuted. Days later, the Inspector-General of Police himself met the governor over the deteriorating situation. This was not a government unaware of security concerns. The danger had been recognised. The warnings were public. The security conversations were already

taking place. By July 23, the situation around Osun's motor parks had become serious enough for the government to announce the suspension of NURTW activities across motor parks in the state. The directive was sweeping. Union activities were to stop. Levy collection was to stop. Anyone operating in violation of the directive could be arrested. Security agencies were instructed to enforce the decision. The parks themselves were not being closed, but union activity within them was suspended until peace and order could be restored. That was an extraordinary intervention. And

extraordinary interventions should produce measurable outcomes. Did this one? That is the question. Restoring Normalcy Is Not the Same as Solving a Crisis Only days after the suspension, gunfire was reported around Mayfair in Ile-Ife. Commercial drivers, traders, passengers and residents reportedly fled as shots were fired during another episode connected with the struggle surrounding control of motor parks. Police later said normalcy had been restored. That phrase deserves attention. Normalcy can be restored in an afternoon. A road can reopen. Gunmen can disappear. Vehicles can start moving again. Traders

can return. But restoring normalcy is not necessarily the same as resolving the forces that produced the violence. Were the armed groups identified? Were weapons recovered? Were prosecutions initiated? Was control of the affected parks clearly settled? Were the rival interests behind the disturbances dismantled? Was Mayfair subsequently classified as a security flashpoint requiring sustained surveillance? What intelligence was gathered after that incident? And, most importantly, what changed? Those questions become even more important now because another deadly confrontation has

occurred in Ile-Ife less than two months later, with reports again connecting the incident to a dispute involving a motor park. If the underlying struggle survived the first security intervention, then perhaps Osun restored calm without removing the conditions that made another outbreak possible. That distinction matters. Ikire Should Have Deepened the Alarm Then came Ikire. On August 24, violence broke out around the Naira and Kobo motor park area. Initial reports differed over the number of casualties, but police subsequently confirmed that two passers-by died after gunfire erupted during

the confrontation. The Police Commissioner said armed hoodlums confronted officers responding to a distress call, a police rifle was allegedly snatched, officers were shot and civilians were hit. Four suspects were later arrested. Governor Adeleke responded by establishing a Coroner Inquest and Panel of Inquiry. Again, that response was significant. The panel was empowered to investigate the killings, examine the role of security operatives, identify those whose actions or omissions contributed to the violence and recommend prosecution, disciplinary action or institutional reforms. But Ikire should also have elevated the motor-park

problem from a union disagreement to a major internal-security concern. When control of a garage can produce armed confrontations, dead civilians, injured police officers and an allegedly stolen assault rifle, the issue is no longer simply about transport workers. It becomes a question of the state's capacity to control spaces where money, political influence, territorial power and organised groups intersect. And that brings us back to Ile-Ife. Government Directives Must Eventually Become Outcomes Governor Adeleke has not been silent about insecurity. That point must be stated plainly. His administration has

convened security meetings, engaged the police hierarchy, demanded arrests, suspended union activities, established an inquiry into the Ikire violence, raised concerns about arms proliferation and sought greater security attention for vulnerable parts of the state. It would therefore be inaccurate to claim that the Osun Government has simply watched events unfold without responding. But governance cannot ultimately be measured by the number of directives issued. It must also be measured by outcomes. How many people have been arrested for the violent incidents recorded over recent months? How many have been

charged? How many weapons have been recovered? How many identified violent groups have been dismantled? What happened to individuals previously declared wanted? What recommendations have emerged from past security meetings? Which recommendations have actually been implemented? What happened after the July suspension of NURTW activities? Was that suspension effectively enforced across the state? If it was lifted, when was it lifted and on what security assessment? If it was never lifted, how did rival groups continue exercising influence around motor parks? These are not opposition questions. They are governance questions.

They should be asked of any administration confronting recurring violence. There is another reality that responsible commentary must acknowledge. Nigeria's policing system limits the operational control of state governors. The Commissioner of Police in a state remains part of a federally controlled police structure under the Inspector-General of Police. A governor can give lawful directions concerning public safety, chair security meetings, share intelligence, fund security initiatives and demand action, but the governor does not possess unrestricted operational command of the Nigeria Police Force. That makes any attempt to place every

failure of policing solely on Governor Adeleke simplistic. The Osun State Police Command, other security agencies and federal police authorities must answer questions too. When government warns of threats, what intelligence response follows? When arrests are ordered, are suspects actually apprehended? When suspects are arrested, are investigations completed professionally enough to sustain prosecution? When areas repeatedly experience violence, are preventive deployments maintained after journalists and cameras leave? When intelligence identifies armed political actors or violent groups, are they treated as criminals irrespective of political connection? Security cannot work if enforcement

becomes selective. And it will collapse completely if violent actors begin to believe that political relationships can place them beyond consequences. But Political Leadership Still Has a Duty to Ask What Failed The limitations of Nigeria's policing structure do not remove the governor's responsibility for political leadership. A governor who repeatedly receives security briefings must ask difficult questions when violence repeats itself. If an intervention failed, why? If a directive was ignored, who ignored it? If a security agency failed to enforce a decision, was that failure documented and escalated?

If rival transport groups continue fighting for lucrative parks despite government orders, who benefits from that ambiguity? If political actors maintain relationships with individuals capable of mobilising violence, when does political convenience become a threat to public safety? And are political parties themselves willing to stop treating powerful street actors as useful assets during elections and dangerous liabilities only when relationships collapse? These questions extend beyond one party. Osun has endured accusations and counter-accusations from competing political camps, each blaming the other for violent incidents. But citizens cannot be protected

by press releases trading blame. Whether an armed actor wears the colour of Accord, APC, PDP or no party at all should become irrelevant the moment a weapon is raised against another citizen. The test of a functioning security system is simple: Can the law reach everyone? Why Return to a Park Management System Now? Following Sunday's killing, Governor Adeleke announced plans to reintroduce a Park Management System and promised an Executive Order to provide a new framework for the administration of parks and garages. That may prove useful. But

the decision itself raises another legitimate question. What precisely failed under the previous arrangement? Osun has already experimented with transport-sector restructuring. The state subsequently recognised an NURTW leadership. It later suspended union activities amid violence. Now it is moving back toward a Park Management System after another killing. A serious policy response should explain the lessons from each stage. Changing the name or structure controlling motor parks will achieve little if the same individuals, rivalries, weapons and political patronage remain beneath the new arrangement. A Park Management System cannot simply

be an administrative reshuffle. If it is to become a security reform, the government should tell Osun residents what will be structurally different. Who will appoint its leadership? How will members be screened? How will revenue collection work? What security checks will prevent known violent actors from occupying positions? How will disputes over parks be resolved without street mobilisation? Will membership and leadership structures be publicly accessible? Will security agencies maintain permanent intelligence around historically volatile parks? Without answers, a new structure risks becoming another reset that postpones rather than

resolves the underlying conflict. Osun Needs a Security Scorecard, Not Another Cycle of Assurances This is perhaps the most important step the Adeleke administration can take now. Publish the outcomes. Not sensitive intelligence. Not operational secrets. Outcomes. Tell residents how many politically linked killings have been recorded. Tell them how many suspects have been arrested. How many are being prosecuted? How many wanted suspects remain at large? What happened to major security directives announced since June? What is the status of investigations into previous killings? Has the Rapid Response mechanism

around motor parks delivered results? What is the status of the Ikire inquiry? Which recommendations have already been implemented? Transparency will do two things. First, it will allow citizens to distinguish between genuine progress and recurring statements. Second, it will make it harder for every violent incident to disappear from public attention once another crisis takes over the headlines. Because that is one of the dangers facing Osun now. One death becomes yesterday's story. One shooting replaces another. One investigation is announced before the public discovers what happened to the

previous investigation. And gradually, extraordinary violence begins to feel ordinary. That must not happen. The Question Is What Happens Before the Next Gunshot Sunday's killing deserves a thorough police investigation. Those responsible must be identified through evidence, prosecuted through lawful processes and given no protection because of politics, transport-union affiliation or proximity to powerful individuals. But justice after a killing is only one part of security. The higher test is prevention. Osun has received warnings. Osun has held security meetings. Osun has issued directives. Osun has witnessed arrests. Osun has

established inquiries. And Osun has repeatedly declared that violence will not be tolerated. The question now confronting Governor Adeleke, the police, political parties and the entire security architecture is no longer whether they recognise the danger. Clearly, they do. The question is whether recognition is being converted into prevention. Because after Mayfair, Ikire and the other violent episodes of recent months, Osun cannot afford another cycle in which the state discovers urgency only after another family has lost someone. The most important security statement the government can make now is

not another promise that violence will not be tolerated. It is evidence that the next act of violence was stopped before the gun was fired. That is the standard Osun residents should demand. And it is the standard by which this government, the police and every institution entrusted with their safety should now be judged.

Workers in Federal Unity Colleges have maintained their withdrawal of services, disrupting the scheduled resumption of students for the 2026/2027 academic session on Monday amid a deepening dispute with the Federal Government over the concession of King’s College, Lagos. The development puts the workers at odds with the Federal Ministry of Education, which had directed all Federal Unity Colleges to resume academic activities on Monday, September 14, 2026, assuring parents and students that arrangements had been made for a safe and orderly reopening. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of

Nigeria, alongside unions within the Federal Ministry of Education, however, insisted that its boycott remained in force until the government addressed its objections to the King’s College concession. Reports from some colleges showed that the disagreement had already affected resumption. At Federal Unity Colleges in Abuja, some school premises were reported to have remained locked, with students and teachers absent. Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, and Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, were among institutions reported to have been affected by the union action. The dispute centres on the Federal Government’s

decision to transfer responsibility for the financing, rehabilitation, modernisation, operation and maintenance of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association under a concession arrangement. The Ministry of Education has rejected claims that the historic school was sold or privatised. Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the Federal Government would retain legal ownership of King’s College and continue to exercise oversight responsibilities. Under the arrangement, a transition committee is expected to oversee the transfer of management responsibilities. The government has also maintained that the public character and national identity of

the college would be preserved. Workers and some other stakeholders remain opposed to the arrangement, arguing that the King’s College concession could create a precedent for similar changes at other Federal Unity Colleges. They have also called for broader consultation with teachers, workers, parents and other stakeholders before major changes are made to the management structure of the schools. The Nigeria Union of Teachers has backed concerns over the concession, with its leadership calling for engagement between the Federal Government and affected stakeholders. The Federal Government, before Monday's resumption date,

had urged parents and guardians to continue preparations for their children to return to school. The ministry said relevant security agencies had been informed of the reopening arrangements and directed school authorities to maintain close coordination with security agencies to ensure the safety of students and staff. However, the continuing workers' action has created uncertainty for parents and students awaiting clarity on when normal academic activities will begin at affected colleges. The dispute is expected to remain under close watch on Monday as the government and organised workers maintain conflicting

positions over the reopening and the future management of King’s College.

Delegations from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football have arrived in Nigeria for consultations with football stakeholders as efforts intensify to resolve the leadership crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation. The meetings are scheduled to begin in Abuja on Monday, September 14, 2026, with officials of the world and continental football governing bodies expected to engage the NFF administration, members of the federation’s Congress and other major stakeholders. According to a schedule reported on Monday, the FIFA and CAF officials are expected to visit the NFF headquarters in Abuja

at about 11 a.m. before proceeding to the Abuja Continental Hotel for broader stakeholder consultations. The talks come amid uncertainty over the future leadership and governance structure of Nigerian football following the resignation of former NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee. FIFA formally accepted the resignations earlier in September and said consultations would continue with the Federal Government, the NFF administration and CAF on a roadmap for comprehensive reforms. The discussions are expected to focus on the leadership situation, governance

concerns and the framework for restoring stability to Nigerian football. Representatives expected at the consultations include officials from State Football Associations, the coaches’ association, referees, players’ representatives and Nigeria’s domestic football leagues. The NFF had earlier selected nine State FA chairmen and 18 other representatives to participate in the engagement with FIFA and CAF. Representatives from the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria Women Football League, Nigeria National League and Nationwide League One are also expected to participate. Former NFF presidents and secretaries-general have also reportedly been invited to the consultations,

alongside representatives of the National Sports Commission and other football stakeholders. The meetings follow weeks of uncertainty surrounding the administration of Nigerian football. On August 27, the NFF announced that Emmanuel Ikpeme, previously Deputy General Secretary, would oversee the federation’s secretariat following the leadership resignations. The federation also suspended preparations for its elective congress, which had been scheduled for later in September, saying a fresh electoral process would follow consultations on comprehensive football reforms. A subsequent communication from FIFA and CAF also called for the electoral process to remain suspended

while the two bodies assessed the legal, administrative, governance and electoral implications of developments within the NFF. FIFA and CAF have maintained that no final decision has been reached on the structure that will emerge from the process. The Abuja consultations are therefore expected to give the international football bodies an opportunity to hear directly from different constituencies within Nigerian football before determining possible next steps. President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, with emphasis on governance, accountability, stakeholder representation, development pathways and the administration

of domestic competitions. The Federal Government has said the reform process should involve appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under international football rules. Attention will now turn to the outcome of the Abuja meetings and whether the consultations will produce a clearer roadmap for the leadership, governance and eventual electoral future of the NFF.

The Federal Government’s Digital Training Academy is scheduled for its national launch on Monday, September 14, 2026, with 16,000 Nigerians selected for the programme’s inaugural cohort. The free training initiative, implemented through the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to equip Nigerians with internationally relevant digital and professional skills while providing access to globally recognised learning platforms. The government received 72,850 applications from across Nigeria during the first-cohort registration period, which opened on August 17 and closed on September 1. Following the screening and selection process, 16,000 learners were enrolled

for the first phase. Successful applicants have been advised to log into their accounts, accept their training licence offers and begin their courses. Training will be delivered through Coursera and Pluralsight, with participants able to study across several high-demand technology fields. Courses listed for the programme include Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Financial Technology, Product Management, Natural Language Processing, Quantum Computing, Cloud Computing, IT Automation and Agentic AI. The official Digital Training Academy platform currently says the wider programme aims to enrol 32,000 Nigerians in free, government-funded training and

cover more than 10 skill areas. According to the platform, participants will also have access to training centres equipped with internet connectivity and learning devices, providing an option for beneficiaries who may not have suitable equipment of their own. The academy forms part of the Federal Government’s wider push to improve digital skills and prepare more Nigerians for employment and business opportunities in the technology-driven economy. Adebayo Onigbanjo, National Coordinator of the ministry’s programme implementation unit, said ahead of the national launch that the first cohort was intended to establish

the systems and partnerships needed for future expansion of the academy. The programme is being implemented as part of the government's education digitalisation and human capital development initiatives. Participants selected for the first cohort include successful applicants as well as beneficiaries integrated from existing government digital-skills programmes and partner institutions. Learners nominated through institutions including Yaba College of Technology and the National Open University of Nigeria were also incorporated into the programme. The academy says Nigerians aged 18 and above are eligible for the programme, including students, job seekers and

people who are already employed but want to improve their skills or change career paths. Most training tracks are expected to last between eight and 12 weeks, combining self-paced learning with live sessions and practical projects. Participants who successfully complete their courses and meet the required assessment criteria will receive certificates. For the first cohort, however, fresh applications are no longer open following the closure of registration on September 1. Attention is expected to turn to the national launch on Monday, where the Federal Ministry of Education had indicated that

additional information on the expansion of the Digital Training Academy and subsequent cohorts would be announced. Prospective applicants who missed the first cohort will therefore have to await details of the next application window. The official Digital Training Academy portal is dta.education.gov.ng.

The Federal Government is set to mark another major stage in its effort to settle longstanding debts owed to electricity generation companies, with a ₦728.979 billion Series 2 Power Sector Bond signing ceremony scheduled to hold in Abuja on Monday, September 14, 2026. The transaction falls under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, established to address verified legacy obligations that have weighed heavily on Nigeria’s electricity market for years. The seven-year amortising Series 2 bond comprises ₦402 billion in cash bonds raised from the capital market and ₦326.979 billion

in non-cash bonds allocated to participating Generation Companies. The financing is being executed through NBET Finance Company Plc, a financing vehicle connected to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. According to details of the transaction, NBET Finance Company has completed the issuance of the ₦402 billion Series 2 Tranche A bonds, while approval has been secured from the Minister of Finance for the ₦326.979 billion Tranche B component. The signing ceremony is expected to commemorate completion of the latest capital raise rather than the initial launch of the bond, which

took place in August. The transaction forms part of the Federal Government’s wider ₦4 trillion multi-instrument programme aimed at settling verified debts owed to power generation companies. The debt problem has accumulated over several years as electricity generated and supplied to the national grid was not fully paid for, leaving GenCos with large outstanding receivables. President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the scale of the challenge in 2025, when the Presidency said the Federal Government was carrying exposure of about ₦4 trillion to generation companies. The government attributed the liabilities largely to

tariff and electricity-market shortfalls accumulated over approximately a decade. Officials subsequently began verifying claims submitted by GenCos before admitting eligible debts into the settlement programme. The Federal Government says clearing the legacy obligations is necessary to improve liquidity across the electricity market and restore confidence among operators and investors.

Nigeria has intensified demands for answers from South African authorities following the deaths of two Nigerian citizens in separate incidents, as diplomatic pressure grows over the safety of Nigerians living in the country. The Federal Government identified the deceased as Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, who died in separate incidents on September 4 and September 5, 2026, respectively. Fakunle, a 58-year-old cleric, was killed at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, while Nwankwo died in Somerset, Cape Town, under circumstances the Nigerian Government says involved South African police

officers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for thorough, transparent and speedy investigations into both deaths and urged South African authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible is prosecuted. The Nigerian Government said Nwankwo died following what it described as harsh interrogation methods allegedly used by officers of the South African Police Service. That allegation has not yet been established through an independent investigation or court process. In Fakunle's case, Nigerian community representatives said unidentified assailants entered his residence and shot him. The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa said

a murder case had been opened at the Jeppe Police Station and called on South African authorities to prevent the investigation from going cold. No suspect or motive has been publicly established in connection with Fakunle's killing. The latest deaths come amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa over recurring attacks and anti-migrant hostility affecting Nigerians and other African nationals. Nigeria's National Assembly has already suspended official parliamentary visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to stay away from legislative programmes organised or hosted

by South African authorities until further notice. The directive does not cover normal government-to-government diplomatic engagements. The National Assembly said its action reflected growing concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa. Nigerian officials have repeatedly raised concerns about killings, attacks, displacement and destruction of businesses belonging to Nigerians amid episodes of anti-foreigner hostility. Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has previously said at least 98 Nigerians have died in mob attacks, hate-related incidents and alleged extrajudicial killings in South

Africa since 2022. The figure represents Nigeria's official account and has become part of the government's diplomatic case for stronger protection of its citizens. The crisis has also led to the voluntary evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa. According to Nigerian officials, 1,695 citizens have returned voluntarily this year amid the deteriorating security situation and anti-migrant tensions. The latest deaths have renewed scrutiny of earlier diplomatic engagements between Abuja and Pretoria. South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola travelled to Abuja in July as part of efforts

to ease tensions between both countries. During discussions with Nigerian officials, Lamola said South Africa condemned xenophobia and other forms of discrimination, while also defending the country's right to enforce its immigration laws. Nigeria, however, has continued to insist that legitimate immigration enforcement must be separated from mob violence, discrimination and unlawful attacks against foreign nationals. The Federal Government has also argued that Nigerians living legally in South Africa deserve the same protection accorded to South African citizens and businesses operating in Nigeria. The case involving Nwankwo is likely to

attract particular attention because the allegation directly concerns members of the South African police. Nigeria has demanded that the circumstances surrounding his death be independently and transparently established rather than relying solely on internal explanations. South African police had not publicly responded to requests for comment reported by international media following Nigeria's latest allegations. The Nigerian Government has meanwhile urged its citizens in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious while diplomatic efforts continue. It has also cautioned Nigerians

at home against retaliatory action against South African citizens or businesses. The latest developments add pressure on Pretoria to demonstrate that allegations involving violence against Nigerian nationals will be investigated credibly and that those responsible, where evidence establishes criminal conduct, will face justice. For Nigeria, the issue has increasingly moved beyond isolated criminal incidents to a broader diplomatic question over the protection of its citizens abroad. Attention will now turn to whether South African authorities provide detailed responses to the two cases, what the investigations establish and whether the latest

diplomatic pressure produces measurable action.

Concerned students of the Osun State College of Health Technology, Ilesa, OSCOHEALTH, have raised questions over what they describe as inadequate attention to their institution by the member representing Ilesa East State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Oladiran Oyewole Olatunbosun, popularly known as De-Roy. The students say their concern centres on basic infrastructure, particularly the continued absence of adequate lighting around the institution despite repeated appeals to political representatives. Their complaints have gained renewed attention following a series of posts circulating within the student community questioning

what tangible benefits OSCOHEALTH students have received from their constituency representative. One of the major concerns raised is the continued darkness around the college at night, which students say has become both an inconvenience and a security concern. The students specifically questioned why streetlights were reportedly provided along the route stretching from the Franciscan area towards Topfaj Junction, while OSCOHEALTH, which falls within the same Ilesa East constituency, allegedly remains largely without such lighting. They said the issue had not emerged overnight. According to the concerned students, several letters have

previously been written and repeated visits made, with assurances allegedly given that their concerns would receive attention. However, they say the expected intervention has yet to materialise. “We sent several letters, made several visits and kept receiving promises,” the students said in one of the messages circulating within the campus community. Their frustration is also directed at what they describe as the limited scale of visible intervention from the constituency representative. The students claim that three waste bins provided to the student community remain one of the most visible interventions

they can directly associate with the lawmaker, a situation they say falls below their expectations after more than three years of representation. The concern is not that waste-management facilities are unnecessary. Rather, the students argue that a tertiary institution with a sizeable student population has broader needs ranging from lighting and security to infrastructure, welfare and stronger political representation. For them, three waste bins cannot become the benchmark by which representation of an entire student community is measured. The official website of the Osun State House of Assembly identifies Olatunbosun

as the lawmaker representing Ilesa East State Constituency, while regulatory records also place the School of Health Technology, Ilesa, within Ilesa East. That connection, the students argue, gives them legitimate grounds to demand attention from their elected representative. Their concerns also raise a broader question about the relationship between tertiary institutions and elected officials representing constituencies hosting large student populations. Thousands of students live, study, trade and contribute economically to the communities surrounding their institutions. For the concerned OSCOHEALTH students, representation should therefore extend beyond election periods to sustained engagement

with challenges affecting their daily lives. The students have also warned political office holders against underestimating the influence of the student community as future elections approach. In one of the messages circulating among students, the writers pointed to previous election outcomes as evidence that young voters and students can influence political contests. Their message was that elected representatives seeking continued political support should be able to point to visible, measurable interventions, rather than relying solely on promises. At the centre of the current agitation is therefore a relatively straightforward demand:

students want their institution to receive greater attention from the constituency it belongs to. They are particularly asking for the lighting situation around OSCOHEALTH to be addressed and for a more sustained relationship between the office of the Ilesa East representative and the student community. The students say their criticism should not be interpreted merely as hostility towards an individual politician. Rather, they describe it as a call for accountability from an elected official whose constituency includes their institution. Their

position is that political representation should be judged not only by legislative activity in Osogbo but also by how effectively elected representatives respond to identifiable problems within the communities they serve. For OSCOHEALTH students, the continuing darkness around their campus has now become a symbol of a larger frustration. As one of their circulating messages put it, the question is no longer simply about streetlights or waste bins. It is about whether the student community of OSCOHEALTH is sufficiently recognised, valued and represented within Ilesa East. The concerns outlined by

the students represent their account of engagements and interventions involving the lawmaker. Hon. Olatunbosun should be given an opportunity to respond to the specific claims, including the alleged previous requests for streetlights, the students' description of his interventions and any constituency projects undertaken for OSCOHEALTH that may not have been mentioned in their account.

Ajagungbade was reportedly shot dead allegedly in a clash that allegedly involved Ife Mini-Bus chairman popularly known as Sibi on Sunday evening. In a statement signed by Osun State Governor spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke directed immediate vacation of the motor parks by warring groups and the establishment of a Park Management System with immediate effect. While calling for calm among citizens of the state, the governor further directed security agencies to restore normalcy across the motor parks and ensure the maintenance of law and order across the state.

The governor, promised to issue an Executive Order for the establishment of a park management system to restore discipline and orderliness across motor parks in the state. Adeleke also charged the Commissioner of Police to act immediately to arrest all those involved. Law and order must be maintained. There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book. "We call on members of the public to remain calm. We will ensure restoration of peace in all the affected parks and areas. The security agencies are under

instruction to ensure the sustainability of peace at all cost" "We are reintroducing the Park Management System. I will soon issue an executive order to give effect to the new management system to manage parks and garages across the state”,The governor noted in the statement.

By The Verita Post The Onigbesi of Igbesi Land, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, has died days after regaining his freedom from kidnappers who abducted him in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State. The monarch reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital, where he was receiving treatment following his release from captivity. Oba Iwedunmoye was abducted on August 22, when armed men invaded Igbesi community and took him away. He regained his freedom five days later during a security operation conducted around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis

of Kwara State. The monarch was reportedly among three kidnapped victims rescued by security operatives during the operation. His death was announced on Saturday by the National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Bisi Fakayode, who expressed sadness over the development and prayed for the repose of the monarch's soul. The development was also confirmed by one of the late monarch's sons, Prince Olasunkanmi, who said his father died at a hospital after a brief illness. “Yes, the news is true. He died after a brief illness following his release. We

took him to the hospital, hoping he would survive, but he died there very early this morning,” Olasunkanmi said. The monarch's death comes just days after his rescue, raising concerns over the physical and psychological toll suffered by victims of kidnapping, particularly those who endure prolonged captivity. His abduction had reportedly caused anxiety within Igbesi and surrounding communities, with residents and traditional stakeholders looking forward to his safe return. The security operation that led to his release was carried out around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis, where security operatives rescued the monarch

and two other kidnapped victims. Following the confirmation of his death, tributes are expected from members of the Igbomina community, traditional institutions, family members and other stakeholders who mourn the loss of the monarch. Details surrounding the circumstances of his illness and his eventual burial arrangements were not immediately disclosed as of the time of filing this report. The death of Oba Iwedunmoye has consequently cast a shadow over the community, coming shortly after his family and subjects had celebrated his return from captivity.

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) disclosed this on Thursday, saying a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft delivered the equipment to the Nigerian Air Force over the weekend. AFRICOM, in a post on its official X account, described the delivery as part of a Foreign Military Sales agreement between the two countries. “Partnership in action: A U.S. Air Force C-17 delivers equipment to the Nigerian Air Force this weekend,” AFRICOM said. It added that the equipment would support Nigeria’s efforts to counter terrorism in the region and further strengthen the security

partnership between Washington and Abuja. AFRICOM did not disclose the quantity or specific nature of the equipment delivered. The latest delivery comes amid a significant expansion of security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, following months of high-level engagements between officials of both countries. The latest consignment is not the first military support delivered by Washington to Nigeria this year. In January, AFRICOM announced that the United States had delivered military supplies to Nigeria to support the country’s ongoing security operations. The January delivery came shortly after a US

airstrike against Islamic State militants in sokoto state in December 2025, an operation carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Although AFRICOM did not provide details of the equipment supplied at the time, the delivery was described as support for Nigeria’s operations and a demonstration of the two countries’ shared security partnership. Later in January, the Nigerian government also disclosed that the US had pledged to deliver outstanding military equipment purchased by Nigeria over the preceding five years. The equipment was said to include drones, helicopters, platforms, spare parts and

support systems, following a meeting between a US delegation and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Rabidu. In February 2026, about 100 US troops arrived in Nigeria with equipment to assist in training Nigerian forces, following a Nigerian request for training, technical assistance and intelligence-sharing. The equipment delivery is significant because it comes shortly after Nigeria confirmed plans for the withdrawal of about 200 US troops who had been deployed to assist with training and security cooperation. The Nigerian military said the withdrawal did not signal an end to the bilateral security

partnership, with cooperation in areas including training and intelligence expected to continue.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone D, has launched a seven-day audit of NYSC mobilisation challenges affecting graduates of tertiary institutions across the six states in the region. The exercise will cover Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, with NANS Joint Campus Council chairmen, Students’ Union Government presidents and other student structures directed to document affected graduates. In a statement issued on September 9, 2026, NANS Southwest Coordinator, Comr. Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, popularly known as Billioncodes, said the association had received increasing complaints involving prolonged

mobilisation delays, omission of graduates from approved lists, accreditation complications and other administrative irregularities. The student body said the situation had gone beyond what could reasonably be regarded as an ordinary administrative inconvenience. NANS argued that graduates who had completed their academic programmes should not be forced to spend additional months or years waiting for mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, particularly when NYSC completion or exemption remains important for employment and career progression in Nigeria. “Students must not pay with their future for administrative failures they did

not create,” the association said. According to NANS Southwest, its audit will document each affected graduate's institution, programme of study, year of graduation, duration of delay, current mobilisation status and any explanation provided by the institution concerned. The association said the resulting data would be collated at the end of the seven-day exercise and used to engage affected institutions, NYSC authorities and relevant regulatory agencies. NANS also directed tertiary institutions across the Southwest to immediately review outstanding mobilisation cases and process qualified graduates awaiting inclusion on Senate or Academic Board

approved lists. The association cited NYSC mobilisation procedures which place responsibility on Corps Producing Institutions to submit approved graduate lists for vetting and mobilisation. It argued that where an institution delays submission or unnecessarily leaves out a qualified graduate, the consequences are borne by the graduate despite having no control over the administrative process. NANS Southwest also raised concerns about graduates who only discover during the mobilisation process that their programmes are affected by accreditation or regulatory problems. The association said students who had been admitted, paid fees and completed

years of study should not become victims of institutional failures that were never adequately disclosed to them. It called on the National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, National Commission for Colleges of Education and other regulators to pay particular attention to cases where accreditation problems prevent graduates from progressing to national service. NANS also urged the NYSC management to strengthen communication channels available to prospective corps members so that affected graduates can determine whether their difficulties originate from their institution, regulatory status or the NYSC processing system. The

association said prolonged mobilisation problems could have serious consequences for graduates, including delayed employment, postponed postgraduate studies and extended financial dependence. It warned that administrative delays could effectively prolong unemployment where employers require evidence of NYSC completion or exemption. NANS Southwest further announced that the audit would document allegations involving individuals or syndicates demanding money from prospective corps members under the guise of facilitating mobilisation, posting or relocation. It said allegations supported by credible evidence would be forwarded to appropriate authorities for investigation. At the end of the seven-day audit,

NANS said institutions found to have persistently delayed qualified graduates without reasonable explanation would be publicly identified and formally engaged. The association said dialogue would remain its first approach but warned that where engagement fails, the student movement would consider peaceful and lawful measures to demand accountability. NANS stressed that its intervention was not a debate about whether the NYSC scheme should continue to exist, but about ensuring that graduates are not unnecessarily stranded while participation in the programme remains

part of Nigeria's national system. “The days when graduates could simply be told to ‘keep waiting’ indefinitely after completing their programmes must come to an end,” the statement said. NANS Southwest called on affected graduates across the six states to cooperate with student structures participating in the audit and provide accurate information that can be verified during subsequent engagements.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Orya’s appeal and affirmed the February 2026 judgment of the FCT High Court. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the conviction and cumulative 490-year prison sentence imposed on former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a ₦2.4 billion fraud case. A three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma unanimously dismissed Orya's appeal challenging the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche were also members of the panel.

Orya was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 49-count charge involving allegations including obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud. The alleged offences involved approximately ₦2.4 billion. The FCT High Court, presided over by Justice F.E. Messiri, convicted Orya on all 49 counts on February 5, 2026. The trial court subsequently sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment on each count, resulting in a cumulative sentence of 490 years. However, the sentences are to run concurrently. This means the 490-year figure is a

cumulative total of the individual sentences and does not mean Orya will physically serve 490 consecutive years. Dissatisfied with the decision, Orya appealed to the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn both his conviction and sentence. In its judgment delivered on Tuesday, the appellate court found no merit in the appeal and affirmed the judgment of the lower court. Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016. He was initially appointed in 2009 and was reappointed in 2014. The decision represents another significant victory for the

EFCC in its prosecution of high-profile financial crime cases.