Osogbo Youths Confer Award of Excellence on Federal Polytechnic Offa Rector, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru

Osogbo United Youth Forum has conferred a Meritorious Award of Excellence on Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to youth empowerment, education and community development in Osogbo.

The award ceremony, held on February 24, 2026, celebrated Dr. Kadiri’s years of selfless service, philanthropic interventions and unwavering commitment to the social and economic upliftment of Osogbo indigenes.

Speaking at the event, the Interim General Secretary of the forum, Adeagbo Suraj Ademola, delivered a keynote address on behalf of the Interim President, Ayoola Mutiu, who was absent due to other official engagements. He highlighted several empowerment initiatives undertaken by Dr. Kadiri even before his appointment as Rector of Federal Polytechnic Offa.

According to him, the honouree has consistently sponsored the purchase of JAMB, WAEC and NECO forms for indigent Osogbo indigenes and awarded full scholarships to students across various higher institutions in Nigeria. He also noted Dr. Kadiri’s annual sponsorship of vulnerable indigenes for Umrah and Hajj, describing the gesture as a reflection of his commitment to both educational advancement and spiritual well-being.

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Comrade Adeagbo further appealed to Dr. Kadiri to use his strategic position to facilitate more employment opportunities for Osogbo youths, particularly within the Federal Polytechnic Offa and other relevant agencies nationwide. While acknowledging the Rector’s strong track record in human capital development, he urged him to sustain and expand his interventions.

Responding, Dr. Kadiri expressed deep appreciation to the Osogbo United Youth Forum for the honour. He reaffirmed his commitment to community service and youth development, commending Comrade Adeagbo for his passion and dedication to Osogbo’s progress. He also encouraged principal officers of the Polytechnic present at the event to emulate the culture of generosity and service, describing the youth leader as a cheerful giver.

The Deputy Rector (Administration), Aromole, alongside Deans, Directors, Deputy Registrars and other dignitaries, outlined major developmental milestones recorded under Dr. Kadiri’s leadership over the past three years. They described his tenure as unprecedented, citing achievements such as the establishment of the Polytechnic’s bread industry, bottled and sachet water factories, construction of motorable internal roads, renovation of lecture theatres, and accreditation of nearly 90 academic programmes.

Other notable achievements include the successful hosting of the NIPOGA Games and securing hosting rights for the 2027 edition, strategic partnerships with 27 local and international agencies, and the cultivation of 450 hectares of farmland along Ojoku Road in collaboration with National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).

Dr. Aromole and other staff members also pledged institutional support for future initiatives of the Osogbo United Youth Forum, including the donation of UTME forms for indigent Osogbo youths starting next year.

The ceremony concluded with prayers, as participants described Dr. Kadiri as a pride of Osogbo, a transformational leader, and a role model whose impact continues to resonate across education, youth empowerment and community development.

Osogbo Youths Confer Award of Excellence on Federal Polytechnic Offa Rector, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru

DSS Arrests Sixth Suspect Linked to 2022 Owo Church Attack

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the sixth suspect linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, an incident in which over 40 worshippers were killed and many others sustained injuries.

Security sources identified the suspect as Sani Yusuf, who had evaded arrest for nearly four years, making him one of the most wanted fugitives connected to the deadly church attack. The arrest followed years of intelligence gathering and surveillance by the DSS.

Yusuf was apprehended in Iguosa, a community along the Powerline axis in Ovia North-East Local Government Area. Security sources said the suspect had been living quietly in the area after fleeing other parts of the country to avoid detection.

According to intelligence sources, Yusuf is a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and played a key role in the planning and execution of the Owo church attack. After the assault, he reportedly fled to Kano State before relocating to Edo State, where he was eventually tracked and arrested.

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During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to his role in the Owo church massacre. Security sources also disclosed that he admitted involvement in other major terror operations carried out by ISWAP across northern Nigeria.

Among the attacks linked to Yusuf are the July 2022 assault on the Suleja military barracks, the Zuma Rock checkpoint attack that claimed the lives of five soldiers, as well as several kidnapping operations in Kaduna State and surrounding areas. Investigators say his confession has provided valuable intelligence on wider ISWAP operational networks.

Further disclosures indicate that Yusuf operated under the command of senior ISWAP leaders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024. Intelligence obtained from Yusuf is expected to aid ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

Meanwhile, the DSS is currently prosecuting five suspects already in custody for terrorism-related offences connected to the Owo attack. They include Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). The suspects are facing charges bordering on terrorism, conspiracy and mass casualty attacks.

Security analysts describe Yusuf’s arrest as a major breakthrough in the long-running investigation into the Owo church massacre and a significant boost to Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign. A security source said the development underscores the DSS’s resolve to ensure justice for victims and to dismantle terror networks, regardless of how long suspects remain at large.

The 2022 Owo church attack remains one of the deadliest terror incidents in southern Nigeria, drawing nationwide and international condemnation and intensifying calls for sustained intelligence-driven security operations across the country.

DSS Arrests Sixth Suspect Linked to 2022 Owo Church Attack

BREAKING: El-Rufai Asks Court to Quash DSS Charges, Demands ₦2bn Damages

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a motion before the Federal High Court seeking to quash criminal charges instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing the case as incompetent, politically motivated, and a gross abuse of court process.

The application challenges Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, which is scheduled for hearing on February 25, 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

In the motion dated February 18, El-Rufai is asking the court to strike out or dismiss the charge, arguing that it discloses no offence known to law and fails to establish a prima facie case. He is also seeking an order discharging him entirely from the suit.

Beyond the request for dismissal, the former governor is demanding ₦2 billion in compensation against the DSS, alleging the unconstitutional use of criminal proceedings to harass, intimidate, and embarrass him.

According to court documents, the motion is anchored on 17 grounds, including claims that the charge cites offences not recognised under Nigerian law, lacks evidentiary backing, suffers from duplicity, and was filed without proper prosecutorial competence. El-Rufai also alleged bad faith, selective prosecution, and political persecution.

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The application further argues that the prosecution violates several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including Section 36(5) on the presumption of innocence, Section 36(11) on the right against self-incrimination, and Section 36(12), which requires that criminal offences must be clearly defined in written law. He also cited alleged breaches of Sections 39 and 40, which guarantee freedom of expression and freedom of association.

El-Rufai’s legal team confirmed that the Director-General of the DSS was formally notified of the application through a letter dated February 18, detailing the filing and listing his legal representatives.

The DSS had earlier fixed February 25 to arraign El-Rufai over alleged cybercrime and national security breaches. The agency filed a three-count charge, accusing the former governor of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

According to the DSS, the alleged acts contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

One of the counts relates to statements allegedly made by El-Rufai during a live interview on Arise TV, where he claimed to have overheard directives concerning his detention. He linked the claim to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport following his return from Cairo, Egypt.

As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has not issued a public response to the motion. Legal observers say the case raises critical questions about national security prosecutions, cybercrime laws, and the balance between state power and fundamental rights in Nigeria.

BREAKING: El-Rufai Asks Court to Quash DSS Charges, Demands ₦2bn Damages