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Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has revealed that security operatives foiled an alleged terror plot by about five youths who were planning to bomb the Ondo State Government House.

Aiyedatiwa made the disclosure on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four persons to death by hanging over their involvement in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The governor said the suspects were arrested several months ago following intelligence reports received by security agencies.

According to him, the suspects had stocked bomb-making materials and other equipment in a hotel where they were lodged before security operatives moved in and thwarted the alleged attack.

Aiyedatiwa explained that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, acted on the intelligence, raided the hotel and arrested the suspects before they could execute their plans.

He noted that the five suspects remain in detention while investigations continue.

The governor said intelligence available to security agencies indicated that the group intended to target the Government House, although the exact motive behind the alleged plot remains unclear.

Aiyedatiwa cited the incident as an example of ongoing efforts by security agencies to prevent attacks and maintain security across the state, insisting that isolated security breaches should not overshadow the work being done by law enforcement authorities.

“We have been doing so much. I will give you an example. I think it’s about three or four months ago, some youth, about five of them, they wanted to bomb the government house,” the governor said.

“They were in their hotel, they didn’t move into a rented apartment, and they have all the equipment, all the gadgets.

“We got an intelligence report, and the police, and Amotekun moved in, busted them in the house, where they were arrested.

“They are still in detention right now. Their mission was to bomb the Government House. For what reason? Only God knows. So we are working, like I said, maybe one incident happened and it doesn’t mean that we have not been working.”

His comments come amid renewed discussions on security in Ondo State following the conviction and sentencing of four persons linked to the deadly Owo church attack, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.

The June 2022 attack remains one of the deadliest terrorist incidents recorded in the South-West region, with authorities continuing efforts to strengthen security and prevent similar attacks.

In April, the media reported that the Ondo State Police Command said its operatives foiled a suspected attempt to bomb key government facilities in Akure, the state capital, and other parts of the state, and arrested six individuals allegedly linked to the operation.

The police said the suspects had secretly moved into the state after allegedly conducting surveillance and identifying strategic targets for the planned attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Speaking at a press briefing at the command headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed that security operatives acted swiftly on intelligence reports, leading to the interception of the suspects before the plan could be executed.

Lawal said that the operation resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of items believed to be used in the fabrication of explosive devices.

The police identified the suspects as 56-year-old Adekunle Prosper, 39-year-old Ojo Olumide, 40-year-old Tope Kolawole, 40-year-old Ahmed Salihu, 40-year-old Bolaji Adebowale, and 43-year-old Gbadebo Abidemi.

Detailing the items recovered, the police commissioner said, “A thorough search of the scene and a subsequent operation at the suspects’ apartment resulted in the recovery of a cache of items, including 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, criminal charms, 17 mobile phones, the sum of N187,000, two HP laptops, eight slings, one knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, one National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles, among other items.”

Lawal noted that preliminary assessments indicated that some of these materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices, while others may had been used to facilitate coordinated criminal activities.

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Deputy President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Oladejo Ebenezer Akinwole, has congratulated the former General Secretary of the Union, Comrade Joseph Iranola Akinlaja, on his 76th birthday.

In a statement, Oladejo commended Akinlaja’s remarkable contributions to democracy, good governance, and the pursuit of an egalitarian society through his tireless advocacy for workers’ rights.

He said: “Warm congratulations to a former Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and former General Secretary of NUPENG on his 76th birthday. We pay special tribute to Comrade Akinlaja for his unwavering commitment to democracy, good governance, and the development of a free and open society. A valiant fighter for the masses and a strong grassroots mobiliser, he has consistently worked in the interest of the ordinary Nigerian.”

Oladejo described Akinlaja as a groundbreaking labour activist and charismatic leader who fought relentlessly for improved working conditions and better living standards for Nigerian workers.

He further noted that as a former federal lawmaker representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency, Akinlaja championed numerous impactful projects, particularly for youths, senior citizens, and vulnerable groups, leaving behind enduring legacies of quality representation.

Highlighting the respect Akinlaja commands, Oladejo pointed out that youths in Ondo State sponsored his birthday celebrations, describing him as Nigeria’s boldest reformer whose courage and results-driven leadership continue to inspire trust.

Praying for God’s continued blessings, Oladejo wished Akinlaja many more years of good health, wisdom, and strength to keep contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.

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The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, has said that its 2027 presidential candidate, Donald Duke, met all the requirements to be the flag bearer of the party.

The National Chairman of the PRP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed made this clarification on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.

He said, “Former Cross River Governor Donald Duke applied to join the party like everybody else. He complied with all the processes, including the screening of candidates.

“As of the time, the consensus and the attempt to create a consensus meeting, we called the meeting of the three persons, all of them from the southern part of the country to sit to see who can get a consensus, and this is a mandatory requirement.

“He was out of the country, but he joined the meeting involving the three parties online. They consented. They interacted with each other. That is good enough for the party, and it’s good enough for the other contestants.

“So, being absent physically is not in breach of either rules or regulations or etiquettes, but he did everything that every candidate of the PRP should do.”