Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has inaugurated a new security arrangement to safeguard the zone against banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminal activities.
The move by Adams, who is also National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), was to strengthen the security architecture of the South West, Saturday Sun gathered.
The security arrangement, known as Oodua Dependable Security Team, has been launched in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states already, with Ekiti and Ondo the only remaining states in the region.
Investigation revealed that Yoruba indigenes, who are mostly members of OPC, constitute majorly the team in each state, and the arrangement runs through each local government and wards in the four states. As gathered, the same thing would be repeated when the remaining two states are enlisted in the team set up to complement efforts of the government against crimes and criminalities.
The thrust of his addresses at the separate inauguration ceremonies in Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Osogbo echoed that the era of insecurity in the South West was gone. He also warned terrorists to stay away from the region or face the wrath of the OPC.
He explained that the composition of the dependable security team was an intervention strategy of the OPC to nip the security challenges in the bud across the South West region.
The new security arrangement, he said, became necessary as a result of various cases of insecurity, including rape, killings and kidnapping, which had hindered peace and tranquillity across the region.
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An alarm was raised some weeks ago that terrorists had surrounded and infiltrated the South West and had started using Ondo State as a litmus test to know if their operations would be successful in the entire Yorubaland or not. Several attacks by terrorists have been launched in different states in the region, with Ondo State, recording the highest number, including the attack on a Catholic church in Owo, which claimed scores of lives.
Aare Adams added that the leadership of OPC came up with the new security strategic approach in order to rescue the present situation in the region.
Speaking during the inauguration of the team in Osogbo, Osun State, he said: “We are worried that the security situation in the South West is getting worse by the day. We are worried that peace has eluded us in recent times because of the spate of insecurity across the southwest. It was not like this in the past.
“We had it so good in the past. Our security then was fantastic. Issues of killings and kidnapping for ransom were alien to our tradition in the South West. Our leaders prominently catered for our needs in education, and health, and all the social facilities were available for the people. Those were the legacies of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when the people of the region could sleep with our eyes open.
“But things have taken a drastic turn today, because politicians of today clearly abandoned their responsibilities and created a huge gap between them and the electorate. It is a fact that, if the situation continues like this, it will definitely consume the entire nation. Nigeria has lost the battle, and I don’t think this country could survive the next two years under these failed security challenges. As a group that has the capacity to defend our region, we consider it pertinent to rise to the occasion by making sure that the South West is safe for all residents.”
In Oyo State, over 200 persons were verified in each of the 33 local government areas and 35 local council development authorities in Oyo State. In the same vein, more than 100 members were also drawn from each of the 69 local government and LCDAs in Osun State.
According to Adams, it is the job of the team “to assist by complementing the efforts of the police and other security agencies in securing the state.”
During the inauguration of the team held in Ibadan, Adams said: “The OPC Dependable Security Team is a child of necessity that was borne out of our desire to secure the South West region against intruders. It is a combination of about 200 members each from each of the 68 local government and LCDAs in Oyo State, and it is just to show the strength of our dependable forces in the state.
“We are using this to send a strong message to the terrorists masquerading as kidnappers and killers and across the South West region. We will resist any attempt to turn Yoruba land into a hub of terrorism. The South West is no longer a home for terrorists.”
Adams said a recent exploit of the OPC Dependable Security Team was along Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, when the team intercepted two buses loaded with caches of live cartridges, heading for the North, and were handed over to the police for proper investigation.
“We are beginning to see the results with the Ikorodu experience. It is my belief that the new security arrangements will usher in a moment of peace in the South West. OPC will not relent in its efforts to rid the region of terrorists and their allies.”
Explosion kills ISWAP bombmakers, foreign IED experts in Borno
Five suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a medical officer and four alleged improvised explosive device (IED) specialists, have reportedly been killed in a premature explosion while assembling explosives in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the explosion occurred at Maina Daya village, located between Sabon Tumbu and Jubilaram in the Marte axis, an area within the wider Lake Chad region where ISWAP has maintained a presence.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, those killed included an ISWAP medical officer identified as Usman Dan Fulani, two foreign nationals described by the sources as Arab IED technicians, and two suspected bomb-making specialists.
The identities and nationalities of the foreign nationals had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Sources said the suspected ISWAP members were assembling improvised explosive devices when the explosives detonated unexpectedly.
The group was reportedly preparing the devices for possible deployment along strategic military supply routes in Sector 1 of Operation HADIN KAI, raising concerns that the explosives may have been intended for attacks on security forces or vehicles operating in the area.
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The explosion reportedly destroyed the location where the devices were being assembled and prevented the suspected explosives from being deployed.
Security analysts said the deaths of experienced bombmakers could represent a significant setback to ISWAP’s IED network, particularly in the Marte-Monguno axis, where explosive devices have been used to target military patrols, security convoys and major transport routes.
However, analysts also noted that the long-term impact of the incident would depend on the group’s ability to replace the personnel and restore its technical capacity.
The development comes amid sustained military operations aimed at disrupting terrorist networks, destroying logistics facilities and limiting the movement of insurgents across Borno State and other parts of the North-East.
ISWAP has continued to use roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices as part of its campaign against military formations, security personnel and civilian targets in the Lake Chad region.
Military sources said troops under Operation HADIN KAI had been directed to take advantage of the development by intensifying patrols, intelligence gathering, cordon-and-search operations and targeted offensives across the Monguno, Marte and Gamboru Ngala areas.
The operations are expected to focus on preventing surviving members of the suspected network from regrouping, relocating their activities or rebuilding their IED-manufacturing capacity.
Security forces are also expected to strengthen surveillance along routes that have previously been targeted with explosive devices.
The Nigerian military has continued to carry out intelligence-led air and ground operations against suspected ISWAP camps, logistics hubs and movement corridors across Borno.
While the latest explosion may temporarily disrupt the group’s operations, security analysts said sustained military pressure, improved intelligence gathering and continued collaboration with local communities would be necessary to prevent ISWAP from rebuilding its explosives network.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military had not issued an official statement confirming the incident, the identities of those killed or the reported involvement of foreign IED technicians.
Alleged Coup Mastermind Suggested Approaching Wike for Funding, Court Documents Show
FCT Minister’s name surfaces in alleged 2025 coup conspiracy testimony, yet records confirm he was never contacted or aware of the plan
The name of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has surfaced in court documents linked to the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration. However, investigation records indicate there is no evidence that the minister was contacted or that he had any knowledge of the alleged plan. This distinction is crucial as the trial of six defendants continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged 2025 coup conspiracy against the Nigerian government.
The emergence of Wike’s name came from the statement of retired naval captain Erasmus Victor, one of the defendants currently standing trial. Victor admitted that he was aware of discussions surrounding the alleged plan but maintained that he repeatedly advised the alleged mastermind, Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, to abandon the idea. His testimony has become a focal point in the proceedings, though investigators have been careful to distinguish between mere mention and actual complicity.
According to investigation records, Victor said Ma’aji approached him because of their long-standing relationship dating back to their time at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Victor explained that the two had remained in contact after their military careers crossed paths at the academy, where he once served as commanding officer of the Burma Battalion while Ma’aji worked as his adjutant. This existing trust and familiarity reportedly made Victor a natural confidant for the embattled colonel.
Victor told investigators that Ma’aji became deeply frustrated after he failed to secure a promotion around 2023. He said he reached out to encourage the officer and urged him to focus on retirement instead of allowing the disappointment to consume him. “He was very devastated,” Victor reportedly said. According to Victor, Ma’aji rejected the advice and instead declared that he was prepared to do “anything necessary,” even if it cost him his life. Victor said he interpreted the comment as a sign that the officer intended to pursue an unconstitutional takeover of government and claimed he consistently discouraged him from doing so.
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The retired naval officer also disclosed that Ma’aji later began searching for wealthy individuals who could allegedly provide financial backing for the operation. Victor said several influential Nigerians were mentioned during their discussions, and among them was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Explaining why his name came up, Victor said he had previously served as chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area in Rivers State during Wike’s tenure as governor. “I have been a local government chairman for Ogu/Bolo LGA under Nyesom Wike, and I left office in 2021,” he stated. “He suggested I bring Nyesom Wike into the plan in order to seek funds from him.”
Victor insisted that despite the request, he never approached Wike or any other individual for financial assistance. He said he only informed Ma’aji that his efforts to secure sponsors had failed. He further stated, “I was not under compulsion to tell Col Ma’aji I was going to get him sponsors.” This admission is critical because the investigation records reportedly do not suggest that Wike was aware of the alleged plot or took part in any discussion connected to it. The absence of any evidence linking the FCT Minister to the conspiracy has been a recurring theme in official briefings on the matter.
Security agencies launched investigations after the alleged conspiracy was uncovered in September 2025. Prosecutors alleged that the suspects planned to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, service chiefs and other senior government officials before taking over power. Investigators further alleged that different roles had been assigned to members of the group, including military operations, logistics, recruitment of financiers, intelligence gathering, propaganda and spiritual consultations. The scale and audacity of the alleged plot have drawn significant public attention, with many Nigerians closely following the court proceedings.
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Victor is standing trial alongside serving and retired military officers accused of participating in the alleged conspiracy. In his statement, the retired naval officer said he eventually began to doubt whether Ma’aji genuinely intended to stage a coup. “I suspected it was 419,” Victor reportedly told investigators. He explained that he wondered whether the officer was simply trying to obtain money from wealthy individuals under the guise of planning a takeover, arguing that anyone who voluntarily funded an illegal operation would likely be unwilling to report the matter to security agencies if the money disappeared. This skepticism, he claimed, was part of the reason he never took active steps to support the plan.
The investigation also revealed that Victor admitted communicating with Ma’aji through Zangi, an encrypted messaging application. According to him, the platform was recommended because it offered more secure communication than regular phone calls. He said he only downloaded the application to communicate with Ma’aji and another defendant, Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah. Investigators alleged that Bappah received ₦5 million on September 27, 2025, from funds linked to the alleged operation, though Victor denied taking part in any financial arrangement. The use of encrypted communication has been a point of interest for investigators, who are working to piece together the full extent of communications among the alleged conspirators.
The retired naval officer also acknowledged discussions about possible appointments if the alleged coup had succeeded. According to his statement, Ma’aji once asked him what position he would like in the proposed administration. Victor claimed he jokingly reminded the colonel that he had earlier promised to make him Chief of Staff to the President, but the officer instead replied that he would appoint him as a minister. Victor insisted the conversation was never serious and should not be interpreted as support for the alleged conspiracy, framing it as casual banter rather than a genuine planning session.
He further disclosed that Ma’aji estimated the operation would require about ₦2 billion to execute. Victor said he warned that such a plan would be difficult to execute because of modern surveillance systems and communication technology, adding that those realities convinced him the operation would fail. This practical assessment, he claimed, was part of his ongoing effort to discourage the colonel from pursuing what he saw as a doomed enterprise. Although he admitted forwarding some revolutionary-themed social media materials to Ma’aji through WhatsApp, Victor maintained that he consistently advised against the alleged plot and denied participating in any effort to overthrow the government. He also admitted he never reported the alleged plan to security agencies despite knowing about it, claiming he attempted to reach the then-Rivers State Sole Administrator but was unable to get through.
The trial is expected to continue as the Federal High Court considers evidence presented by the prosecution and the responses of the defendants. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges, and legal experts anticipate a lengthy judicial process given the gravity of the allegations. As the proceedings unfold, the distinction between names mentioned in testimony and individuals with actual involvement will remain a critical factor in determining the outcome of the case.
Adeleke challenges EFCC over freezing of Osun government account
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has demanded an explanation from the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over the freezing of an account belonging to the Osun State Government.
Adeleke, who spoke with journalists at the Government House in Osogbo on Wednesday, described the action as unlawful and warned that it could disrupt government activities and affect the delivery of essential public services across the state.
The governor said the state government received a letter from its bank indicating that the EFCC had directed the financial institution to place a restriction on the government account.
According to Adeleke, the action was taken without a court order, adding that the state government would challenge the decision through legal means. (TheCable)
“We are supposed to be in a democracy where the rule of law must always prevail,” the governor said.
Adeleke argued that federal agencies must operate within constitutional and legal boundaries, insisting that the rights and powers of state governments should be respected.
He called on Olukoyede to publicly explain the reason for the account restriction and provide evidence to support the action.
“All I ask is for the EFCC chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and Nigerians in general why he froze the Osun State Government account and show proof to support whatever reason he presents,” Adeleke said.
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The governor alleged that the development was part of a wider effort to intimidate his administration ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election.
He also accused former Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, of being behind what he described as political attacks against his administration. The allegation was not independently established in the reports reviewed.
Adeleke maintained that his government would not accept actions it considered unconstitutional or politically motivated.
He subsequently directed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, SAN, to institute legal action against the EFCC at the Federal High Court in Osogbo. (Vanguard News)
Jimi-Bada said the state government received a “Post No Debit” communication linked to the EFCC’s directive to the bank where the affected government account is domiciled.
The Attorney-General said the state government was prepared to challenge the restriction, arguing that while the anti-graft agency has the power to investigate financial transactions, it must act within the limits of the law.
He said the restriction could affect the day-to-day operations of the state government but expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved through the courts.
Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, also raised concerns about the possible impact of the account restriction on government operations and the welfare of residents.
Ogungbile denied claims that the Adeleke administration was using state funds to finance its re-election campaign and urged the EFCC to consider the potential consequences of restricting access to government funds.
Earlier, Adeleke had raised the alarm over an alleged plan to freeze additional Osun State Government accounts and the accounts of some senior government officials.
In a statement issued through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor alleged that the planned action was intended to paralyse government activities ahead of the governorship election.
Adeleke maintained that there was no legal basis for freezing the state government’s accounts and insisted that the anti-graft agency must follow due process in carrying out its investigations.
The development has heightened political tension in Osun ahead of the governorship election, with the state government insisting that it will seek judicial intervention while demanding a public explanation from the EFCC.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not publicly released detailed reasons for the account restriction or responded to the allegations made by the Osun State Government.
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