•ISWAP, others using Ondo as litmus test to attack Yorubaland -Investigation
•FG under fire over Tompolo’s contract, non-support for Amotekun
•‘It’s unfair to allow Tompolo’s men to bear sophisticated weapons while denying Amotekun of same’
A litmus test, according to Merriam Webster dictionary, figuratively refers to something that can be used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable or not.
This definition aptly captures the rationale behind the incessant violent attacks on Ondo State in the South West of Nigeria by bandits in recent times. It is believed in parts of the South-West that terrorists and bandits have been using Ondo State as a litmus test to probably assess the capacity, preparedness and readiness of the Federal Government and the South West, to curb their activities, before attacking the other five states in the geo-political zone.
The most deadly attack on Ondo State was the invasion of Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in June, this year, where about 50 worshipers were massacred by gunmen. Ondo State governor and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, announced recently that some of the masterminds of the attack on the cathedral have been arrested.
Few weeks after the attack on the church, gunmen suspected to be bandits also killed some workers at a building site in the same Owo, the country home of Governor Akeredolu. Before the attack on the church, herdsmen were reported to have killed a reigning king of one of the communities in the state. Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, a chieftain of Afenifere, was kidnapped and killed in the same Ondo State.
In the first week of September 2022, about 32 people travelling from Edo State in a coastal bus to Ondo State were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen along Ifon/Benin Expressway and taken to the bush. The victims, as gathered, attended a burial ceremony in Benin City and were returning to Ondo when they were intercepted by the gunmen. It was reported that they were taken to the Benin-Ifon to Owo forest. Gunmen also kidnapped Chief Mukaila Bello, the traditional head of Iku quarters in Ikare in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State. He was abducted alongside three other persons – Messrs Adeniran Adeyemo, Bashiru Adekile and Gbafinro. The victims, according to sources, were kidnapped at Ago Panu area of Owo-Ikare expressway, while travelling from Akure to Ikare. The driver of their car was reportedly shot while trying to escape.
Also, the Ondo State branch of Operation Amotekun Corps intercepted no fewer than 151 people said to be illegal immigrants along Sango-Iju Road in Akure North Local Government Area of the state recently, during a stop-and-search operation. The arrest was believed to have foiled what could have been serious security breaches in the South West. The 151 people were alleged to be bandits on a mission to some states of the region, namely Ondo and Osun. The suspects included five women who were reportedly hidden at the back of bags of beans and rice inside trailers when Amotekun operatives intercepted them.
Though there have been pockets of kidnapping cases and invasion of some communities in Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States in the recent time, the frequency of attacks on Ondo State has, however, become a matter of concern to the people in the South West. In a bid to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the rising insecurity in the Yorubaland, the six governors in the South West, convened security summits, and eventually set up a security network, known as Amotekun Corps in each state of the zone.
Investigation revealed that the Amotekun operatives have been working assiduously to tackle crimes and criminalities in their states. But they do not have the approval of the Federal Government to carry sophisticated weapons to face the bandits, who are believed to carry out their nefarious activities with firearms, such as AK-47 and sub machine guns (SMGs). As gathered, Amotekun operatives have only been using dane guns and native intelligence to wage war against banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping.
Saturday Sun was reliably informed that efforts by the leadership of Amotekun and their governors to get approval from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to procure sophisticated weapons have not yielded positive results.
The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) under the leadership of the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has said it has the capacity to wipe out banditry, being perpetrated by foreign mercenaries in the entire South West within three month or thereabouts. Adams also raised the alarm that bandits have occupied forests in many states in the South West.
In the same vein, the Leader of Apapo Egbe Alaabo Ile Oodua (Homeland Defence and Security Initiative), Dr. Victor Taiwo, said if the group could have the backing of the government, it would see to the end of banditry in the South West within few weeks. In order to forestall any plan by any group or individuals to endanger lives and property in Yorubaland, the leadership of Amotekun Corps, during recent encounters with journalists expressed their readiness to tackle any form of security challenge in any of the six states that make up the region.
According to them, their operatives are adequately equipped to tackle bandits and Fulani herdsmen that may want to strike in any part of the region. Also, the Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the corps is prepared to fight insecurity in all parts of the state. The Field Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Osun State, Amitolu Shittu, said the Amotekun corps has all it takes to guarantee security of lives and property of the people of the region, with the active collaboration of other registered conventional security agencies.
Speaking further on the rising insecurity, Dr Olajide said the alarm raised by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams that bandits have occupied forests in many states in the South West frightened him. He called on Yorubas to be vigilant. Though he noted that the primary assignment of every government is the protection and welfare of its people, he warned that rising insecurity in the country does not mean that the Federal Government has failed totally. The Commander of Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, Col Olayinka Olayanju (retd), assured residents of the state that proactive steps are being taken independently and jointly by security agencies in the state to ensure adequate security of lives and property.
In the midst of the governors in the South West, asking for the backing of the Federal Government to reduce insecurity rocking the geo-political zone to the barest minimum, and some groups in the zone calling for government backing to end banditry in the South West, the Federal Government within the past few weeks took an an action that attracted criticisms from some grassroots and influential Nigerians, especially from the South West.
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration awarded a multi-billion naira pipeline security contract to a former armed militant, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, fondly called Tompolo.Governor Akeredolu, the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, whose state has been in the eyes of the storm, took the Federal Government to the cleaners on the action. He spoke on behalf of the other governors in the zone in his reaction, entitled: ‘Who Actually Needs Weapons?’
He said: “The news concerning the purported award of pipeline contracts to some individuals and private organisations by the Federal Government has been unsettling. More disquieting is the barely disguised hostility displayed against either the idea or the actual establishment of security outfits by some state governments to fill the widening gaps in the scope of security coverage noticeable nationally.
“The Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, has been consistent in its refusal to accede to the request by some states in the federation to strengthen the complementary initiatives adopted to protect lives and property. This is done in spite of the knowledge that the very issues which necessitated the creation of these outfits support providing adequate weaponry.
“All attempts to persuade the Federal Government to look, critically, into the current security architecture have been rebuffed despite the manifest fundamental defects engendered by over-centralisation.
“It is, therefore, shocking to read that the Federal Government has maintained the award of the contract to ‘protect’ the country’s pipeline from vandals to private organisations. This story, if true, leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
“The NSA will, obviously, not advise the President to approve the award of a contract of such magnitude if the operators have not displayed sufficient capacity to checkmate the criminal activities of equally powerful groups.
“Consequently, it is safe to conclude that the Federal Government has, impliedly, permitted non-state actors to bear heavy assault weapons, while denying same privilege to the states, the federating units.
“The award of contract to private organisations to protect vandalisation of pipelines raises fundamental questions on the sincerity of the advisers of the government on security issues. The open and seeming enthusiastic embrace of this oddity, despite the constant and consistent avowal of the readiness by the security agencies in particular, the Navy to contain the pervasive and deepening crises of breaches and threats to lives and property, attracts the charge of insincerity bordering, deplorably, on dubiety.
“If the state governments, which are keenly desirous of protecting their citizens, establish ancillary security outfits and there has been pronounced reluctance, if not outright refusal, to consider permitting them to bear arms for the sole purpose of defence, granting private individuals and or organisations unfettered access to assault weapons suggests, curiously, deep-seated suspicion and distrust between the Federal Government and the presumed federating units.
“The engagement of private organisations to handle serious security challenges reinforces the belief that the whole defence architecture in the country needs an urgent overhaul. The Federal Government cannot be seen to be playing the Ostrich in this regard.”
But the decision to award the pipeline contract to Tompolo has been defended by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC). The oil company said it was a ‘right decision’ because Nigeria has been suffering huge losses from pipeline destruction by vandals.
The opinion poll conducted for some Yoruba elders also revealed that they are not on the same page with the Federal Government. According to one of them, who did not want his name mentioned in print: “Bandits are kidnapping, raping, and killing us in Yorubaland, and our governors established Amotekun Corps. The Federal Government did not allow the Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapons. But the pipeline security contract, which the FG awarded to Tompolo, what will Tompolo use to tackle vandals and protect the oil pipelines? Is he going to use dane guns like Amokun Corps? We need to fear God in this country. And we are watching.”
Maiduguri, June 4 — Suspected bandits have abducted at least seven students of a polytechnic in Zamfara State, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing northwestern Nigeria.
According to the Zamfara State Police Command, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, June 3, when armed men invaded an off-campus student residence located on the outskirts of the Low-Cost area in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
The attackers reportedly stormed the rented accommodation at about 4:00 a.m., overpowering occupants before whisking away seven students to an undisclosed location.
In a statement issued on Thursday, police authorities said joint security operatives, including tactical police units and military personnel, were immediately deployed to the scene following reports of the attack. However, the abductors had already escaped before security forces arrived.
The command disclosed that intensive search-and-rescue efforts are currently underway, with security agencies working to secure the safe release of the victims and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of kidnappings and violent attacks linked to armed bandit groups operating across Zamfara and other states in Nigeria’s northwest region. The criminal gangs have been notorious for raiding rural communities, abducting residents for ransom, and carrying out attacks that have disrupted economic and social activities in affected areas.
Authorities have assured residents that all necessary measures are being taken to rescue the students and restore security in the area.
Schoolchildren Abductions: Pastor Ibiyeomie Drops Bombshell, Names Sponsors
The founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has dropped a bombshell allegation that politicians are actively sponsoring the kidnapping of schoolchildren across Nigeria, as the nation grapples with a worsening abduction crisis that has seen over 600 students and teachers taken from their classrooms since 2024.
Speaking during a fiery church service that has since gone viral across social media platforms, the outspoken cleric did not hold back as he tackled the growing insecurity head-on, questioning why security agencies—particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) —have been unable to apprehend those responsible despite possessing advanced tracking technologies. Ibiyeomie made the explosive claim amid a recent wave of abductions involving students and teachers in states such as Sokoto and Oyo, which has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for urgent school safety reforms.
Standing confidently in his signature white attire before his congregation, Ibiyeomie declared that the kidnappers could not possibly be carrying out such large-scale operations without the backing of powerful and influential individuals. He argued that the brazen nature of the abductions—where victims are publicly displayed and ransom demands are widely circulated—points to the involvement of high-profile sponsors who operate with impunity. “They are not just picking these children without sponsors. Politicians must be behind it; they cannot abduct children and publicly display their pictures without support from powerful people,” Ibiyeomie declared to his congregation. The pastor’s comments have since ignited intense debate across Nigeria, with many citizens demanding that security agencies investigate his allegations while others call for concrete evidence to back the claims against political figures.
The clergyman directed sharp criticism at the Department of State Services (DSS) , questioning why the agency has failed to track and arrest the perpetrators despite its technological capabilities and legal mandate. He argued that modern surveillance, phone tracking, and geolocation technologies should make it possible to locate anyone making calls or sending messages in connection with these crimes, yet no arrests have been made. “Do you know that even the DSS can track people and know where they are, so how come they are not tracking these kidnappers?” Ibiyeomie queried during his sermon. The pastor further suggested that the continued success of kidnappers—who operate freely across multiple states—points to the strong possibility of hidden forces actively aiding their operations and shielding them from arrest. “There must be an invisible hand behind it because if you are calling from anywhere, they would know the spot where you are, so how come in Nigeria nobody is ever caught?” he added.
The pastor’s allegations come against the backdrop of alarming statistics that reveal the true scale of Nigeria’s school abduction crisis under the current administration. According to a media tally compiled from verified reports, no fewer than 603 students and teachers have been kidnapped in seven mass abductions across schools in Nigeria between March 2024 and May 2026 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. These figures represent only the major incidents and do not account for smaller, unreported abductions in remote communities. The repeated attacks have raised serious questions over the effectiveness of the N145 billion Safe Schools Initiative, a fund introduced after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to protect educational institutions across the country. Stakeholders have repeatedly blamed weak implementation, lack of basic infrastructure such as perimeter fencing and guard posts, poor security presence in rural schools, and insufficient coordination between federal and state governments for the continued vulnerability of Nigerian schools.
On March 7, 2024, armed men on motorcycles attacked LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, abducting 137 schoolchildren in one of the largest mass abductions of the year. Just two days later, on March 9, 2024, gunmen stormed a Tsangaya (Islamic) school in Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto State, abducting 15 students in a raid that highlighted the vulnerability of non-formal education institutions. In November 2025, a deeply troubling incident saw 25 schoolgirls abducted from Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, raising fresh fears about the safety of female students in northern Nigeria. Later in 2025, a staggering 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, marking one of the largest single abductions in recent memory. On May 15, 2026, armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 students and seven teachers. Two teachers—Michael Oyedokun, who reportedly died while in captivity, and Adesiyan Adegboye, who lost his life during the attack—were killed, along with one pupil. Just two days after the Oyo attack, on May 17, 2026, 42 students were abducted after suspected Boko Haram fighters invaded a school in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, underscoring the persistent threat of Islamist insurgent groups targeting educational institutions.
Switching from political criticism to spiritual warfare, the fiery cleric turned to the Bible to declare divine judgment on all those involved in the criminal enterprise of kidnapping schoolchildren. Quoting Ezekiel 35:6, Ibiyeomie prayed passionately over his congregation: “Everyone sponsoring this evil in Nigeria, let them and their children die by blood,” warning that the sword of judgment would never depart from the wicked. His imprecatory prayer has since sparked heated debate online, with some applauding his boldness while others question the appropriateness of praying for death upon alleged perpetrators. This is not the first time the Salvation Ministries founder has made such dramatic declarations against kidnappers. In a November 2025 video shared on his official Facebook page, Ibiyeomie declared that any kidnapper who abducts a member of his church would die within seven days. “Any kidnapper who dared you before will die in seven days. Anyone that dares any member of Salvation Ministry or any of our loved ones, by Sunday this week, I pronounce them dead,” he had said in the viral video that attracted millions of views.
Meanwhile, members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have firmly rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with kidnappers over the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso on May 15. The lawmakers insisted that the focus must remain on intensified rescue operations, intelligence-led security action, and sustained pressure on the abductors until all victims are freed unharmed. Speaking during plenary, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, warned that negotiating with kidnappers would set a dangerous precedent that could encourage further attacks and strengthen criminal networks across the state and beyond. “We cannot reward criminality with negotiation. That will only embolden them to strike again,” Ogundoyin was quoted as saying.
The abduction crisis has sparked nationwide protests coordinated by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) across the Federal Capital Territory and multiple states including Edo, Rivers, Cross River, Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Osun, Lagos, Niger, and several others. Teachers wearing red armbands have taken to the streets in major cities, demanding immediate government action to secure the release of abducted colleagues and students and to implement lasting safety measures in all schools. In the National Assembly, the Senate resumed plenary after the Sallah recess and observed a one-minute silence in honour of the victims of school abductions. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the Oyo incident as an attack on Nigeria’s collective humanity, stating: “We resume our work under the mournful shadow of a tragedy that has shaken our nation. The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State is not merely an attack on innocent citizens; it is an assault on our collective humanity.” In the House of Representatives, lawmakers called on the Federal Government and security agencies to immediately secure the release of abducted schoolchildren across the country. They also demanded the urgent implementation of a comprehensive national Safe Schools Security Framework to protect educational institutions nationwide, with specific timelines and accountability measures.
At the time of filing this report, the Department of State Services (DSS) had not issued any official response to Pastor Ibiyeomie’s allegations regarding political sponsorship of school abductions or his questioning of the agency’s tracking capabilities. The agency has historically maintained a policy of not commenting on operational matters or public accusations. However, civil society organizations and concerned citizens have continued to demand transparency and accountability from security agencies as the wave of abductions shows no sign of abating. As Nigeria continues to grapple with this deepening crisis, all eyes remain on security agencies to track down the perpetrators, rescue the remaining captives, and bring an end to the nightmare that has seen hundreds of innocent children torn from their classrooms and held in captivity for weeks and months.
Schoolchildren Abductions: Pastor Ibiyeomie Drops Bombshell, Names Sponsors
According to a public notice issued on Thursday, the regulator said the decision covers service disruptions recorded between February and March 2026, during which several Distribution Companies (DisCos) failed to meet the minimum supply threshold required under the Band A service-based tariff regime.
The affected DisCos include major operators such as Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
NERC attributed the shortfall in electricity supply to a combination of inadequate gas supply to thermal power plants, grid constraints, and vandalism of critical gas and transmission infrastructure, which significantly reduced available generation capacity during the review period.
Under the approved compensation arrangement, feeders that supplied between 18 and 20 hours of electricity daily will still qualify for partial relief under the existing regulatory framework covering both Maximum Demand (MD) and Non-Maximum Demand (Non-MD) customers.
However, customers on Band A feeders that received less than 18 hours of supply daily during the affected months will receive additional compensation. NERC clarified that such feeders will not be downgraded for the period under review despite failing to meet the required service standard.
For Non-MD customers, compensation will be calculated at 20 per cent of the approved February 2026 energy cap applicable to their feeders, while MD customers will receive compensation equivalent to 20 per cent of their average billed energy for February 2026.
The commission directed that prepaid customers should receive compensation through token credits, while postpaid customers will benefit from bill adjustments reflecting the value of the shortfall.
NERC further instructed that DisCos must complete compensation payments for February 2026 by May 31, 2026, while March 2026 compensation must be implemented no later than June 30, 2026.
It also warned DisCos against using compensation credits to offset customer debts, stressing that customers must be clearly informed of the value, period, and basis of the compensation.
The regulator said the intervention is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen consumer protection under Nigeria’s electricity market reform programme, ensuring that tariff increases under the Band A structure are matched with measurable service delivery.
Industry stakeholders have long criticised inconsistent power supply under the Band A classification, arguing that many customers continue to receive less than the promised 20 hours of electricity per day despite paying higher tariffs.
NERC said it will closely monitor compliance by all DisCos and conduct verification exercises to ensure affected customers receive full entitlements, warning that further regulatory sanctions may apply in cases of non-compliance.
Band A Users to Get Relief as NERC Orders DisCos Compensation Plan
