News
Re: Questions, tensions in Ikole over unexplaimed absence of traditional ruler.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Our attention has been drawn to a malicious and very mischievous publication in the Tribune Newspaper and other newspapers sponsored by some insignificant and attention seeking persons in the town on 18th March, 2024.
In an attempt to give credence to their ploy, they employed a juvenile Journalist to write the biased report and released it to the public through the newspapers.
We wouldn’t have bothered replying them but for the uninformed general public particularly Ikole-Ekiti indigenes in the diaspora – for clarity purpose, the people in Ikole are not unaware of the king’s whereabout, he is indisposed like any other human being could be, and he is receiving treatment abroad.
The good thing is that he is recuperating and that was apparent when he addressed the chiefs and a large number of the town’s people on January 20, 2024 via virtual means. Where their journalist got it from that the king has remained incommunicado is what we do not know.
When the king was travelling, he took all necessary steps and procedures by seeking approval from the state government which is the constitutional requirements and he duly informed members of Elekole-in-council and other chiefs.
How does one describe a journalist of a national newspaper who claimed to have come to the town to do a report over the absence of the king but refuse to visit the palace and interview the chiefs there, he, instead, sat somewhere and quoted non existing people.
Even a hundred level journalism student would have been taught objectivity as a quality of journalism.
It is laughable how the Save Ikole Group, SIG, claimed they prevented the youths from protesting and beating up the chiefs, how on earth would Ikole youths resort to these persons of questionable characters for advice? virtually all the acclaimed members of the said SIG have record of one crime or the other and this is a public knowledge, isn’t it incredible how they now claim to be an interventionist on Ikole matter?
We have challenged them and we are doing so for the umpteenth time to mention the names of the youths they met with but they have been unable.
The only youth body in Ikole-Ekiti – Ikole Youth Forum has denied ever planning a protest let alone meeting them.
The good sons and daughters of Ikole are still full of joy over the state specialist hospital in the town that has just been upgraded to a Federal Medical Center and other developments happening in the town in spite the absence of the king.
They could only have gotten the unhappy people they interviewed in their illusions and we are not bothered about that, the sadness can live in them till eternity as long as it does not stop Ikole from developing.
Signed:
Ikole Council of Chiefs.
The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Friday announced that it had released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
A statement by the JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin noted that the results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, he advised candidates to send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number (SIM) used during registration.
He, however, said that at this stage, candidates may view their results only; printing is not yet available.
The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.
How To Print Your Official Result Slip
The result slip carries the candidate’s passport photograph, full scores, and details required for admission processing.
It will be made available for printing on JAMB’s e-Facility portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng and attracts a fee of N1,500.
Once activated, candidates should follow the steps below.
– Visit efacility.jamb.gov.ng.
– Log in with your registered email address and password.
– On your dashboard, click Print Result Slip.
– Click Continue with Payment and pay the N1,500 fee.
– Select 2026 as the examination year and enter your JAMB registration number.
– Download and print the result slip.
Check Your Score Via SMS
– Make sure you have at least N50 airtime on the phone number linked to your JAMB registration.
– Send UTMERESULT to 55019.
– Your score will be delivered to you via SMS.
Other Tips
– If you have forgotten your password or email address, use the Forgot Password option on the portal or visit a JAMB office with your registration details.
– Keep multiple printed copies of your result slip, as institutions typically request it during screening and admission.
– Use only JAMB’s official websites — efacility.jamb.gov.ng or portal.jamb.gov.ng to avoid scams.
JAMB Cautioned Against Manipulation
Candidates were strongly cautioned against manipulating the SMS received from the official platform (55019/66019) to fabricate or alter scores with the intent to mislead others, including parents.
“Such actions constitute a serious criminal offence. The Board treats such misconduct with the utmost gravity.”
“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means. Any candidate found culpable will face the full consequences of the law”, JAMB warned.
The examination is ongoing, and results will continue to be released as they become available.
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have arrested nine suspected Berom militia members responsible for targeted killings, and recovered arms and ammunition following an operation in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
This followed the ongoing security concerns linked to recurring attacks and cycles of violence in the area.
A counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a post on X.
He stated that the suspects were arrested at about 0135 hours on April 18, 2026, when troops deployed at Ganawuri responded to reports of suspected criminal movement towards the Danwal general area.
He said that troops intercepted and arrested the suspects, who were found with blood stains on their bodies, raising suspicion of recent involvement in silent killings.
According to him, those arrested were identified as Gyang Dantoro, Samson Davou, Choji Yakubu, Vincent Adamu, Pam Dalyop, Femi Badung, Jacob Musa and Choji Chaga, all residents of Danwal and reportedly of Berom extraction.
Items recovered from them include three motorcycles, one pistol, one submachine gun, one locally made revolver rifle, 20 rounds of pistol ammunition, and one locally fabricated rifle, among other items,” he said.
Fear in the Middle East as Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of violating prior understandings amid an ongoing naval blockade.
In a statement on Saturday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that control of the strategic waterway had “returned to its previous state,” citing continued US restrictions on Iranian ports as justification for the move.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global transit route, is a chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s crude oil passes daily. Any disruption is expected to send immediate shockwaves through global energy markets.
Reacting to the development, US President Donald Trump insisted that Washington would not back down, stating that the naval blockade “will remain in full force” until “our transaction with Iran is 100% complete.”
He did not elaborate on the specifics of the “transaction.”
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had offered a contrasting position, saying the strait remained “completely open” to commercial vessels.
He emphasized that maritime activities were proceeding “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon” and along “the coordinated route as already announced.”
The conflicting statements have added to confusion over the actual status of the waterway, with shipping companies and global observers scrambling to assess risks in real time.
Meanwhile, President Trump also disclosed that Israel had been “prohibited” from launching further strikes on Lebanon, as a fragile 10-day ceasefire entered its first full day.
The pause in hostilities has allowed tens of thousands of displaced civilians to begin returning to their homes after weeks of intense Israeli bombardment.
The situation remains fluid, with fears mounting that any miscalculation in the Gulf could trigger a wider regional confrontation.
Observers say the coming hours will be critical in determining whether diplomatic channels can ease tensions or if the standoff will deepen further.
JAMB: See How To Check, Print 2026 UTME Result Slip
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