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Ooni’s wife, Naomi, may return as Deji of Akureland intervenes in feud
Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi has intervened in the conflict between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his estranged wife, Olori Naomi.
Vanguard quotes a source as saying Oba Aladelusi had reached out to both parties in a bid to end the feud.
Olori Naomi who hails from Ondo town, in Ondo state got married to the monarch in the year 2018.
She has reportedly moved from the palace in ile- lfe, Osun state to Akure, the state capital before the announcement of her separation from the monarch.
Olori Naomi had announced she was walking away from the three-year-old marriage over some irreconcilable differences via her verified Instagram page citing irreconcilable differences.
But in a swift reaction, the Ile-Oodua Palace said that the alleged separation of Queen Silekunola Naomi Ogunwusi was unknown to the palace.
The spokesperson for the Ooni of Ife, Comrade Moses Olafare said the palace is not aware of such separation, saying the king and queen went to bed last night (Wednesday) as husband and wife.
He also said, “Separation is a two-way affair, it is not something that is announced by one party. The announcements of separation are subject to agreement by both parties, so, to that extent.
“The palace is not aware of such separation because we all went to bed last night having the king and queen being together.
“So, if by this morning, the queen went to her social media to write that she is no longer in marriage with Ooni, we will look into it to see whether or not the Instagram page truly belong to her, and to know the reason behind it.
It was learnt that Deji of Akure intervened by meeting personally with Oba Ogunwusi and the Olori separately in Akure and Ile lfe.
The meeting it was said was successful as both parties reportedly responded positively to the intervention of the Deji of Akure land.
A source privy to the meeting said, ”lt is true that the chairman of the Ondo state council of Obas and the Paramount traditional ruler of Akureland, the Deji took it upon himself to wade into the conflict between his fellow Oba and the Olori.
”It will interest you that the matter would soon be resolved as both parties have agreed to sheathe the sword.
” Their differences are normal in marriage, it’s nothing unusual, its a teething problem and within a couple of days, the Olori will move back to the palace and life will continue.
”Dont believe all the stories in the social media, it was over-bloated, the couple would soon reconcile going by the intervention of the Deji of Akure.
Contacted for comment, the Press Secretary to the Deji of Akureland, Michael Adeyeye confirmed the intervention of the monarch.
Adeyeye said that ” yes the chairman council of Obas in the state, the Deji of Akureland has personally paid a private visit to both parties and the matter was discussed and being ironed out.
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Sai Mallam Sect: Kebbi Authorities Confirm Presence of New Terror Group in Argungu
Sai Mallam Sect: Kebbi Authorities Confirm Presence of New Terror Group in Argungu
Security adviser confirms presence of new terror group as stakeholders meet to address growing insecurity across the state
The Kebbi State Government has raised a serious alarm over the high presence of a new terror group identified as the “Sai Mallam” sect in Argungu, adding to the state’s growing security challenges. The development was disclosed during a town hall meeting between the Deputy Inspector-General of Police supervising the North West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Suleiman Muhammad Abdul, and security stakeholders at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
The Security Adviser to the State Governor, retired Col. Danladi Ribah, expressed grave concern about the infiltration of the group, which was first discovered in the Zuru Emirate and was dislodged by security agencies but has now reportedly resurfaced in large numbers in Argungu. “We have one burning issue now, which is the discovery of another terror group. They are called ‘Sai Mallam’. We dislodged them in Zuru when we discovered them. But I was in Argungu, and I saw them again,” Ribah stated. He further revealed that the sect allegedly engages in ritual practices, noting, “They use blood for sacrifice among their members. It is high time the police take note of this sect and deal with it decisively.” The Security Adviser provided a comprehensive breakdown of the multiple security threats facing Kebbi State, explaining that Lakurawa terrorists are “coming into Kebbi on hit-and-run invasion from Sokoto State and the Republic of Niger,” Mamudawa elements enter the territory “from Kwara and Niger states,” while bandits attack Kebbi “from Zamfara state.” Despite the concerning situation, Ribah assured stakeholders that the state government was actively consulting with security agencies to reverse the trend. “Kebbi State Government is on top of the situation, we shall continue to do whatever is necessary to safeguard lives and property of our people,” he said. The governor has been providing “logistics, material and financial support to all the security services, which have been doing an excellent job to contain bandits, Lakurawa, Mamudawa and other criminal elements.”
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The Sai Mallam group has been a growing concern across northwestern Nigeria. According to police reports, the sect has generated widespread fear through alleged fraud, intimidation, and fetish practices. In Sokoto State, police arrested the group’s alleged leader and chief priest, Mohammed Mukhtar, in December 2025, recovering fetish materials and banners bearing the group’s name from his residence, which reportedly also served as a shrine. Police authorities have expressed concern that most members of the cult are youths aged between 19 and 30, describing the trend as disturbing. “These are the most productive years of their lives,” a police spokesperson said. “Instead of being in school or learning trades, they are being lured into deception, fraud and fetish activities in the pursuit of quick wealth.” More recently, in May 2026, police in Sokoto arrested four suspected members of a counterfeiting syndicate linked to the Sai Mallam cult group, recovering counterfeit currencies, charms, fake gold stones, and a “magic box” allegedly used in producing fake money.
In his remarks, DIG Suleiman Muhammad Abdul emphasized that security agencies need to profile the new group before it gains ground and becomes a monster. He called for increased focus on waterways and riverine areas to block channels through which criminals distribute weapons. “What I will say here is this: please, trust us. If you have any information, share it with us. Whatever you do in the interest of security is protecting and defending your communities. Be free to tell us what we need to do,” the DIG appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders. The DIG addressed concerns about police personnel welfare, noting that “Policemen earn higher salaries than soldiers, but soldiers are being paid allowances which are not accruing to the Police.” He disclosed that the police management team has presented a proposal awaiting approval that would guarantee the sponsorship of four children each of all fallen policemen who died in active service, from nursery to secondary school. DIG Abdul commended officers for recent operational successes against criminal elements, noting that the wellbeing of policemen and their families is of paramount importance to the Inspector-General, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
In his remarks, Governor Nasir Idris, represented by Permanent Secretary Kabir Adamu, said that the state government had distributed several vehicles, motorcycles, and other equipment to security agencies to boost their morale towards restoring peace across the state. He emphasized the critical role traditional rulers could play in securing the state, stressing that collaboration among sister agencies and intelligence sharing would boost security. Ribah added that Mobile Police had been deployed to Danko-Wasagu to curtail the infiltration of bandits.
Sai Mallam Sect: Kebbi Authorities Confirm Presence of New Terror Group in Argungu
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metro
Kwara OPC Leader Abducted During N30m Ransom Delivery Mission
Kwara OPC Leader Abducted During N30m Ransom Delivery Mission
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metro
Nasarawa Police Arrest Gunrunner, Seize 174 AK-47 Rounds in Toto
Nasarawa Police Arrest Gunrunner, Seize 174 AK-47 Rounds in Toto
Lafia, Nasarawa State – In a major crackdown on illegal arms trafficking, operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered 174 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition during a routine patrol along the Toto–Abaji Road.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the development in an official statement issued on Wednesday in Lafia. He described the operation as part of the command’s sustained offensive against illegal arms proliferation and rising insecurity in the state.
According to Nansel, police operatives attached to the Toto Division intercepted the suspect, identified as Abubakar Abdullahi, on June 22, 2026, while conducting a stop-and-search patrol along the strategic corridor. A thorough search of his belongings uncovered 174 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, the type widely used in AK-47 rifles—a weapon frequently linked to banditry, kidnapping, and rural violence across North-Central Nigeria.
“The suspect could not provide any credible explanation regarding the source, ownership, or intended destination of the ammunition,” Nansel stated. “He is currently in custody, and intensive investigations are ongoing to unravel the criminal network behind this illegal consignment and apprehend other accomplices.”
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Security analysts note that the Toto–Abaji axis has become a noted transit route for arms smuggling, often used to ferry weapons into Nasarawa and neighbouring states. This seizure is seen as a significant blow to the logistics chain of criminal elements operating in the region.
Reacting to the breakthrough, the Commissioner of Police for Nasarawa State, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance stance on arms trafficking and all forms of violent crime. He stressed that the police have intensified intelligence-led surveillance, strategic road patrols, and community partnerships to deny criminals freedom of movement.
“There will be no safe haven for criminals in Nasarawa State,” CP Mohammed declared. “We are determined to identify, track, and bring every offender to justice. We will continue to deploy all lawful measures to safeguard residents and maintain public security.”
The commissioner also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information. He assured the public that all shared intelligence would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
This operation underscores the Nasarawa Police Command’s proactive approach to curbing the inflow of illegal weapons, which many experts regard as a primary driver of farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping-for-ransom, and armed banditry in the state.
Nasarawa Police Arrest Gunrunner, Seize 174 AK-47 Rounds in Toto
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