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Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, Abdulqowiyu “Cook” Olododo, have distributed pillows to traders and market women at Ipata Market in Ilorin, Kwara State, as part of their grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The items were distributed on Tuesday by members of the A.C.O Forum, a support group backing Olododo’s bid to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives.

The outreach formed part of the forum’s door-to-door and market-to-market campaign aimed at engaging residents and building support for the APC candidate ahead of the election.
Members of the group moved around the market, interacting with traders, residents and other community members while distributing the pillows.

The forum described the exercise as a gesture of goodwill and community engagement, while also using the opportunity to promote Olododo’s candidacy and mobilise support for his 2027 ambition.
During the exercise, members of the group also listened to concerns raised by residents and discussed political participation and the need for citizens to remain actively involved in the electoral process.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the A.C.O Youth Forum, Afeez Kolawole, and the Secretary, Akeem Ibrahim, the group said the initiative was part of its broader grassroots engagement strategy.

“The ongoing door-to-door and market outreach is aimed at building meaningful relationships, understanding the needs of the people, promoting peaceful political participation, and encouraging residents to remain informed and involved in matters affecting their communities,” the forum said.

The group said its mobilisation strategy was designed to take political engagement beyond rallies and other large gatherings by reaching residents directly in markets, homes and communities.

It added that similar outreach activities would be extended to other communities and wards across the constituency in the coming days.

The forum described its campaign approach as: “A.C.O Forum — Taking the Message to the People, One Household and Community at a Time.”

Olododo is seeking the APC ticket to represent the Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in the 2027 general elections.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 10 suspected traffic robbers accused of dispossessing motorists and passengers of their belongings on congested roads across Abuja.

The command also arrested 20 motorists for driving against traffic, popularly known as “one-way”, while three kidnapped victims were rescued and two suspected kidnappers arrested in separate operations.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT, Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed this on Wednesday while giving an update on the command’s recent anti-crime operations.

Sanusi said the crackdown on traffic robbers followed complaints from members of the public about criminals who disguise themselves as hawkers and exploit traffic congestion to rob motorists and passengers.

He said he directed all Divisional Police Officers, particularly those operating within the city centre, to ensure that such criminal elements were removed from the roads.

“Following complaints from members of the public regarding the criminal activities of traffic robbers who sometimes disguise themselves as hawkers along congested roads and traffic stops, I charged all Divisional Police Officers, particularly within the city centre, to ensure the evacuation of such persons from our roads,” he said.

The suspects arrested were identified as Umar Salihu, Yusuf Isah, Aliyu Hamza, Abubakar Naziru, Muhammed Musa, Yagugu Mohammed, Suwidi Jibril, Kasimu Taraba, Abubakar Sani and Aminu Umar.

Sanusi said the suspects were in police custody and undergoing investigation.

20 arrested for ‘one-way’ driving

The commissioner said he also directed the command’s divisional police officers to intensify enforcement against motorists who violate traffic regulations, particularly those driving against the flow of traffic.

He said 20 motorists had so far been arrested for various traffic offences and charged to court.

“These operations will be sustained across all roads within the FCT until our roads are safe for all road users,” he said.

Police rescue three kidnap victims

Sanusi also disclosed that the command had rescued three victims kidnapped from their residence in Nyanya, Abuja.

He said the incident was reported on August 14, 2026, at about 6pm, following which he deployed operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, Team 1, to commence investigation.

According to him, investigation revealed that the victims had been taken to New Nyanya in Nasarawa State, where they were held by their abductors.

He said intelligence provided by a resident of the FCT enabled the police to track and arrest two suspects, identified as Godwin Afekhide and Aaron Ogbu, who were allegedly linked to the abduction.

“All three victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their family,” Sanusi said.

Two arrested over robbery, stolen property

The commissioner further disclosed the arrest of two suspects allegedly linked to armed robbery incidents in Nyanya and Kubwa.

He said the investigation followed a robbery reported in Nyanya on July 14, 2026, after which operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Team 2, were deployed to identify and apprehend those responsible.

According to him, investigators later established that a similar robbery had occurred in Kubwa, using a modus operandi similar to the Nyanya incident.

He said intelligence supplied by members of the public, combined with digital investigative techniques, led operatives to a hotel in Jabi, where a 32-year-old suspect, Ismail Tasiu, was arrested.

Tasiu was arrested alongside 35-year-old Adamu Aliyu, whom police identified as an alleged receiver of stolen items.

Sanusi said police recovered five motorcycles, three knives, a vehicle number plate and a face cap bearing the inscription “Kaduna State Vigilante Service” from the suspects.

He said the suspects and exhibits remained in police custody and would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

Six arrested over burglary, armed robbery

The commissioner also disclosed the arrest of six suspects allegedly involved in burglary and armed robbery.

He said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Team 1, arrested the suspects on July 28, 2026, following intelligence-led operations.

The suspects were identified as Sanusi Yusuf, Zakari Mohammed, Sani Adamu, Abdulwasi Yahuza, Abdullahi Abah and Aliyu Mohammed.

Sanusi said investigation showed that the gang allegedly specialised in breaking into residential buildings at night, stealing valuables and stabbing victims.

He said the suspects remained in custody and would be charged to court after investigations.

The commissioner assured residents that the command would sustain its operations against criminal elements across the FCT.

“We will identify their hideouts, disrupt their networks, recover their instruments of crime, and bring those responsible to justice,” he said.

Sanusi urged residents to continue providing the police with credible information about suspicious persons and activities in their communities.

“With your continued support and cooperation, we will make the Federal Capital Territory safer for all,” he added.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that at least 10 major road and infrastructure projects in Abuja will be completed and ready for commissioning before the 2027 general elections.

Wike gave the assurance on Wednesday during an inspection of the ongoing Tungan Madaki-Zuba Road and Nile University-RR3 Road projects, saying the contractors handling them had demonstrated the capacity, equipment and commitment required to meet their delivery timelines.

The minister said the inspection was part of efforts to assess the progress of projects flagged off during the FCT Administration’s third anniversary and determine whether the contractors would meet their commitments ahead of the planned commissioning.

At the Tungan Madaki-Zuba Road project, Wike disclosed that five of the six box culverts had been completed, describing the pace of work as commendable.

He said the contractor, China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC), had assured the administration that the project would be completed and handed over by December.

“They have the capacity. I mean, they are not a new company. They have the capacity, they have the equipment. What’s important is if you have the equipment, and they have the equipment as part of capacity. So, they’ve been tested before now, so I have so much confidence in them,” Wike said.

The minister commended CGC for its commitment, noting that the company had demonstrated willingness to support the development of the FCT.

Wike also disclosed that the projects were capital-intensive and that contractors had yet to receive up to 30 per cent mobilisation, but had continued to execute the projects.

He assured the contractors that the FCT Administration would meet its financial obligations to ensure timely completion.

“On our part, we will not take it for granted that they are committed to the realization of the project. We will do our own part to pay them their money,” he said.

According to Wike, the administration plans to have at least 10 major projects completed and lined up for commissioning before the 2027 elections.

“We are also visiting some other two projects tomorrow, believing that by the end of the year, we would have had up to 10 projects, as promised, lined up for commissioning before the general election,” he said.

Wike also said the FCT Administration had intensified efforts to tackle flooding by removing structures obstructing waterways across Abuja.

He said the ongoing demolition exercise, which commenced in Maitama on Tuesday, would be extended to other areas affected by blocked waterways.

“We’ve just started somewhere. After that, we will move to another area. We are not going to end just with what we started yesterday,” he said.

The minister further disclosed that the Director of Development Control was being queried over approvals allegedly granted to car dealers to operate on designated green areas.

He ordered the immediate removal of car dealerships operating on such spaces, insisting that green areas must be preserved for recreational and environmental purposes.

“This morning, the Director of Development Control is being queried now for giving approval to car dealers to use green areas for the sale of cars,” Wike said.

“I’ve already stopped it, and I’ve set up a task force to make sure that every car dealer is moved out of the green areas. If you want to sell your car, you go and purchase somewhere, or rent somewhere, and then develop it.”

The minister maintained that the decision would not be reversed, regardless of the individuals or businesses affected.

He said the removal of structures erected on waterways would restore the free flow of stormwater and reduce the risk of flooding in affected communities.

Reacting to criticism on social media over the demolition of structures obstructing waterways, Wike challenged critics questioning the exercise to explain whether the construction of buildings on water channels followed due process.

“What is due process? What is due process? You went to block a water channel, is that due process?” he asked.

The minister maintained that the FCT Administration was enforcing planning and environmental regulations in line with its responsibility to protect public infrastructure and communities.

Wike vowed that the enforcement exercise would continue until structures obstructing drainage channels and other public infrastructure were removed.