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Insecurity Escalates: Kogi Shuts Schools, Markets, And Motor Parks.
The Kogi State Government has ordered the temporary closure of selected markets and motor parks in seven local government areas as part of intensified security operations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to a Sunday statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the closures aim to support efforts to flush out terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and state security agencies.
Fanwo explained that the measure is intended to cut off logistics, limit the movement of consumables, and prevent criminals and their informants from accessing food and other resources during the operations.
In Lokoja Local Government Area, affected locations include Oshokoshoko Market and Motor Park, as well as Jakura, Ogbagbon, Agbaja, Atsawa, Obajana, Apata, Abugi, Amomi, Ebee, and Budon.
In Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, markets and motor parks in Ike Bunu, Aba Marian (Isado), Ofere, Abaa Dola (Ihale Bunu), Aiyede, Oke Offin, Aiyegunle Bunu, Okebukun, Odo Ape Bunu, Agbadu Bunu, and Agbede Apa Bunu are covered.
In Yagba West Local Government Area, the closure affects Okoloke, Isanlu Esa, Okunran, Ogbe, Ejiba, Odo Eri, Igbaruku, Iyamerin, Ogga, Omi, Odo Ara, and Oke Ere.
In Yagba East Local Government Area, Irunda Ile, Iyeh Ilotin, Gada, Odogbe, and Ilafin are included.
In Kogi Local Government Area, affected markets include the Rice Market at Adingere, Koton Karfe, Okpareke, and Girinya, the Okro Market at Opanda, and the Perishable Market at Edeha.
In Mopamuro Local Government Area, closures cover Otafun Amuro, Oroke Amuro, Takete Ide Amuro, Okeagi, Illai, Ilemo, and Ijagbe.
In Ijumu Local Government Area, markets affected include Ayegunle Gbedde, Iyah Gbedde, Ayetoro Gbedde, Ayeh Gbedde, Iluhagba, Odokoro, and Okoro.
The government stressed that the closures are temporary and will be lifted immediately after the successful conclusion of security operations.
This move follows the recent temporary closure of schools across Kogi State, which was described as a precautionary measure to protect students, pupils, and teachers.
Everton manager David Moyes has thrown his support behind the club’s decision to leave Jack Grealish out of the squad for Thursday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle United following a reported disciplinary issue.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The England international was absent from the encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium after allegedly missing training without permission on Monday. Although Everton have yet to officially explain the circumstances surrounding the incident, reports indicate that Grealish could face a fine for his unauthorised absence.
Speaking after the victory, Moyes refused to disclose further details but made it clear that he supported the club’s decision.
“You probably know I’m not going to give any details,” Moyes said. “It’s a club decision, it’s something I don’t want to speak too much about.”
Grealish joined Everton from Manchester City on a season-long loan before the close of the transfer window. He has made five Premier League appearances this season and also featured in the club’s third-round Carabao Cup victory over Wolves.
The 31-year-old had previously missed Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last Saturday due to illness before the reported disciplinary incident.
Despite his absence, Everton progressed to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they will meet League Two outfit Fleetwood Town.
James Garner gave the hosts the lead in the 34th minute, while Hayden Hackney extended their advantage shortly before the break with his first goal since completing a £16 million transfer from Middlesbrough.
Thierno Barry added Everton’s third in the 69th minute, converting a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, before Dan Burn scored a late consolation for Newcastle.
Reacting to his team’s performance, Moyes praised the players for remaining focused and emphasised the importance of maintaining the club’s standards both on and off the pitch.
“The one thing about Everton is that it has got good values behind it,” he added.
“All the players stand up to the values on pitch and off the pitch. The players did a brilliant job tonight.”
Grealish had enjoyed a promising start to his previous loan spell at Everton last season, earning the Premier League Player of the Month award for August. However, a foot injury brought his campaign to an end in January.
The former Aston Villa midfielder has made 39 appearances for England but has not featured for the national team since scoring against Finland in September 2024.
Everton are scheduled to travel to Newcastle for their Premier League fixture on Monday, but Moyes declined to reveal whether Grealish would be included in the squad.
Two officials of the Fusengbuwa ruling house in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, have declared that they will not honour an invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS) concerning the alleged sale of nomination forms to candidates seeking the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland throne.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Two officials of the Fusengbuwa ruling house in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, have declared that they will not honour an invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged sale of nomination forms to princes seeking the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland throne.
reports that the DSS invited the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; the Deputy Chairman, Oladokun Ajidagba; and the Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, to its office in Abeokuta on Thursday.
The Awujale stool became vacant following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona in July 2025, after he spent 65 years on the throne.
A letter circulating online, reportedly signed by Yemi Oloto, directed the three officials to appear before the State Director of Security at the DSS office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, at 4pm on Thursday.
The letter stated that the invitation was connected to an investigation into “the sale of expression-of-interest forms to interested princes for the vacant stool of Awujale of Ijebuland.”
However, Ajidagba told The Punch that he received the invitation at about 2:30pm, barely two hours before the scheduled meeting. He said he would not attend because the matter was already before the courts.
“There was, however, no way I could honour such an invitation when all of these matters are already in court. The status quo must be allowed to remain; that is the position of the law,” he said.
Yusuf, a lawyer and professor of mass communication, also confirmed receiving the invitation but explained that he was in Abuja attending to a case before the Supreme Court.
“I just received the letter from the DSS not long ago, but I am in Abuja attending to a matter at the Supreme Court. I have discounted their letter,” he said.
The latest development comes amid an ongoing dispute surrounding the selection of a successor to the late Awujale.
The Ogun State Police Command had earlier summoned the nine Ijebu-Ode kingmakers and the three ruling house officials twice to its headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, over allegations of bribery and inducement in the selection process.
Owoyemi has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the three ruling house officials have approached the court to challenge the state government’s suspension of the selection exercise in January.
In a suit marked HCJ/149/2026, filed on August 21, 2026, at the High Court in Ijebu-Ode, they sued Governor Dapo Abiodun; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN); the State Executive Council; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; and the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government.
The nine members of the Awujale Afobaje/Kingmakers Council, led by Olorogun Sonny Kuku, were also listed as defendants.
The claimants are asking the court to compel the completion of the selection process and determine whether the state government acted lawfully when the Awujale Palace was allegedly locked on January 20, 2026, to prevent the kingmakers from concluding the exercise.
Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has insisted that President Bola Tinubu has done nothing to offend the Igbo people, expressing confidence that the President will win Imo State in the 2027 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okorocha made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he compared the reception of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu in Imo State and the wider South-East.
The former governor said the All Progressives Congress (APC) experienced its most difficult period in Imo during Buhari’s administration.
“You must understand that when we are talking about APC in Imo State, the time we had issues as APC was when Buhari was in government.
“In fact, the hate for Buhari can’t be compared to the imagery hate for Tinubu in Imo State or in the whole Southeast,” he said.
Okorocha cautioned against confusing dissatisfaction with the state government with opposition to Tinubu, warning that public protests against a governor should not automatically be interpreted as rejection of the President.
“So people must be careful not to mistake a transferred hate or transferred protest for what they don’t want as a governor to mean that it’s a protest against Tinubu,” he stated.
He further argued that Tinubu had maintained cordial relationships with the Igbo, noting that some of his closest associates in Lagos were from the South-East.
The former governor also expressed confidence that his emergence as the APC senatorial candidate for Imo West would strengthen the President’s chances in the state.
“Tinubu has done no wrong to any Igbo man, his best friends in Lagos are Igbos. Let me tell you that, with my emergence now with this ticket, Tinubu will win in Imo State,” he said.
Okorocha also challenged Governor Hope Uzodimma to proceed with his planned appeal against the Federal High Court judgment that declared him the winner of the APC primary for Imo West Senatorial District.
“I challenge Uzodinma to go to appeal, when the facts have spoken you can’t manipulate the law,” he added.
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