Igboho’s Iru Ekun, Police IRT Free Kidnapped Mother, Two-Year-Old Son in Kwara Forest

IBADAN – A combined team of operatives from the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Iru Ekun Security Network, a private security outfit led by Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has successfully rescued a woman and her two-year-old son who were abducted in Oyo State .

The victims, identified as Adijat Kubura Aliqlas (also known as Alhaja Kuburat Hamzat) and her son Abdulmalik, regained their freedom during a coordinated rescue operation in the Bode Sadu forest area near Jebba in Kwara State . The mother and child were abducted from Igbope, a community in Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, which is a neighbouring community to Igboho, the hometown of the Yoruba Nation agitator .

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by Igboho’s media office and made available to journalists in Ibadan . According to the statement, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT), working alongside members of Igboho’s security outfit, engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle during the early hours of Saturday, leading to the successful rescue of the victims . The statement explained that the operation, which lasted about three days, was made possible through intelligence gathering, persistent tracking, and a strategy that involved luring the abductors with a ransom payment . It added that the kidnappers fled into the forest with gunshot wounds after the exchange of fire, abandoning their captives .

Igboho provided a detailed account of the operation, stating that his team members, together with ASP Amos Ajegoke and other police officers, had been in the forest for days tracking the movement of the hoodlums to ascertain their location . He explained that on July 2, they discovered the kidnappers were around Bode Sadu before Jebba, and they moved there, remaining in the area until Friday night . He recounted that around midnight, the kidnappers came to collect the ransom as agreed, at which point they launched an attack in the forest, leading to an exchange of gunfire . They pursued the suspects and combed the forest, causing the kidnappers to flee and abandon Adijat Kubura and Abdulmalik . Igboho added that they later heard the victims’ voices calling for help and traced them to where they had been abandoned . The victims were rescued and taken to Igboho General Hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention .

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The statement attributed the success of the operation to the support of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun (some reports also name the IGP as Tunji Disu), noting that the IGP coordinated with the Commissioners of Police in Kwara and Niger states throughout the operation . Reports also indicated the involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the rescue efforts . The collaboration among security agencies contributed significantly to the success of the rescue mission after several days of tracking the suspects through the forests .

The rescue operation comes amid growing insecurity in the Oke-Ogun region of Oyo State and parts of Kwara State. About 20 traditional rulers from Kwara South Senatorial District who fled their communities due to persistent bandit attacks have reportedly engaged the services of Igboho’s Iru Ekun security outfit to help flush out criminal elements and restore peace to affected areas . Igboho recently unveiled the Iru Ekun Security Network, a private security outfit established to support efforts to improve security in Yoruba communities . According to its promoters, Iru Ekun is a regional security force with 50,000 members ready to combat gunmen, kidnappers and bandits across the South-West . The emergence of Iru Ekun has sparked public discussions about regional security outfits and concerns over alleged ethnic profiling, with some Fulani residents expressing fear over what they described as the targeting of their communities .

Confirming the release, a statement issued on behalf of the family of late Alhaji Jimoh Olode described the development as a moment of immense gratitude and relief . The family appreciated security agencies and all individuals who contributed to securing the victims’ release, describing their efforts and dedication as commendable . It was further gathered that the victims’ family had earlier paid an initial ransom of ₦30 million before the rescue operation . The abductors had initially demanded ₦300 million before reportedly reducing the ransom to ₦150 million .

While the woman and her son have been rescued, an engineer who was reportedly abducted alongside them has yet to regain freedom . Recounting her ordeal after her release, the woman said she and her child were separated from the third victim on the day of the abduction and had no information about where the engineer was taken . Security operatives have reportedly launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects .

Igboho reiterated his commitment to protecting lives and property in Oke-Ogun and other parts of Oyo State, assuring residents that lawful efforts would continue to support peace and security . He also urged Nigerians to remain calm, support legitimate security operations and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic .

Igboho’s Iru Ekun, Police IRT Free Kidnapped Mother, Two-Year-Old Son in Kwara Forest

Islamic Scholar Cautions Students Against Wasteful ‘Signing-Out’ Shirt Tradition

The Grand Imam of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, Imam Alli Ismail Adebayo, has urged graduating students to avoid extravagance and un-Islamic practices associated with the increasingly popular “signing-out” shirt tradition observed at the end of examinations.

In a statement titled “Extravagance or Celebrations? An Islamic Perspective on Signing-Out Shirt Traditions,” the Islamic scholar said while Islam permits believers to celebrate lawful achievements, such celebrations should be guided by the principles of moderation, gratitude and modesty.

According to the cleric, completing one’s studies is a blessing deserving of thanksgiving to Allah, stressing that Islam does not forbid expressions of joy over academic success.

He cited verses from the Qur’an, including Qur’an 10:58 and Qur’an 14:7, to support the position that Muslims are encouraged to rejoice in Allah’s blessings and express gratitude for His favours.

However, Imam Adebayo warned that the practice of purchasing white shirts solely for classmates to sign and then discarding them could amount to isrāf (extravagance) and tabdhīr (wastefulness), both of which are prohibited in Islam.

He referenced Qur’an 7:31, which cautions believers against extravagance, and Qur’an 17:26–27, where wastefulness is strongly condemned.

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According to him, if the shirts are rendered unusable or thrown away after the celebration, such actions become blameworthy because they involve the unnecessary destruction of property.

The cleric explained that where the clothing remains usable after being signed and the activity does not involve unnecessary spending, the level of concern is reduced, although he maintained that Muslims should still avoid adopting customs that offer little meaningful benefit.

Imam Adebayo also cautioned against blindly imitating social trends without considering their compatibility with Islamic values.

Quoting a saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he said Muslims should be mindful of practices that encourage extravagance, vanity or behaviour inconsistent with Islamic teachings.

He further reminded students that wealth is a trust from Allah and that every individual would be accountable for how they acquire and spend their resources.

The scholar also emphasised the importance of modesty during graduation celebrations, warning against activities that promote indecent messages, inappropriate drawings, free mixing between male and female students or other forms of behaviour prohibited in Islam.

Drawing on the opinions of renowned Islamic scholars, including Ibn Kathir, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin, Imam Adebayo noted that customs are generally permissible unless they involve sin, wastefulness or conflict with Islamic principles.

He explained that celebrations become objectionable when they encourage showing off, excessive spending or neglect of religious obligations.

The cleric outlined circumstances under which the signing-out tradition could be considered permissible, saying it would be acceptable if students merely exchanged congratulatory messages, avoided offensive words or images, ensured the shirts remained usable and refrained from unlawful interactions or extravagant spending.

Conversely, he said the practice becomes discouraged if it is pursued simply to imitate fashionable trends or encourage vanity, and prohibited where it involves destroying clothing, indecent content, unlawful interaction between the sexes, or activities such as immoral entertainment and other acts forbidden under Islamic law.

Imam Adebayo encouraged graduating students to adopt more meaningful ways of celebrating the completion of their studies, urging them to prioritise gratitude to Allah, moderation and responsible use of resources.

He concluded by praying for divine guidance for students and the wider Muslim community, stressing that genuine celebrations should reflect faith, gratitude and good character rather than temporary social trends.

This version is written in a conventional newspaper style, presenting the cleric’s views objectively while maintaining readability and journalistic balance.

Islamic Scholar Cautions Students Against Wasteful ‘Signing-Out’ Shirt Tradition

MPAC Condemns Appeal Court’s ISI Hijab Verdict, Backs Supreme Court Challenge

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has condemned the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, which overturned an earlier High Court ruling affirming the right of female Muslim students at the International School, University of Ibadan (ISI) to wear the hijab as part of their school uniform.

The group described the majority judgment as a direct assault on the constitutional right to freedom of religion and warned that the decision could set a dangerous precedent for schools across Nigeria.

The Court of Appeal, in a split decision delivered on Friday by a three-member panel, set aside the May 22, 2024, judgment of the Oyo State High Court, which had upheld the rights of 11 Muslim female students to wear the hijab in school.

The appellate court ruled that ISI should be regarded as a private institution because it does not receive government subventions directly. Based on that finding, the court held that the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat AbdulKareem & Ors, which recognised the right of Muslim students to wear the hijab in public schools, does not automatically extend to ISI.

The court also ruled that the affected students voluntarily accepted the school’s code of conduct at the point of admission and had therefore waived their right to insist on wearing the hijab while attending the institution.

Despite dismissing the students’ principal claims, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s finding that confining the students to the school library for between three and four hours because they wore the hijab amounted to a violation of their fundamental rights. However, the appellate court reduced the damages awarded to each student from ₦1 million to ₦200,000.

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Justice Fadawu Umar, who delivered the dissenting judgment, disagreed with the majority, holding that the appeal lacked merit and that the constitutional rights of the students remained intact.

Reacting to the judgment, MPAC said the ruling was not a neutral resolution of a school dress-code dispute but a significant setback for religious freedom in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, the organisation argued that the majority judgment was legally flawed and inconsistent with Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and practise one’s faith.

According to MPAC, those constitutional protections cannot be determined by whether a school receives government funding.

The organisation maintained that the rights guaranteed under the Constitution belong to every Nigerian regardless of age and should not be lost simply because a student attends a particular school.

MPAC further argued that classifying ISI as a private school solely because it does not receive government subventions amounts to “a bookkeeping test masquerading as constitutional analysis.”

It insisted that ISI remains, in every material respect, an institution established and administered under the authority of the University of Ibadan, a federal government-owned university operating on public land and under public academic supervision.

The group warned that the judgment could create a legal precedent allowing private and faith-based schools to adopt discriminatory dress code policies against Muslim students.

MPAC also faulted what it described as an internal contradiction in the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

According to the organisation, it is difficult to reconcile the court’s conclusion that preventing the students from wearing the hijab did not violate their constitutional rights while simultaneously affirming that confining them to the library for wearing the hijab amounted to a breach of their rights.

It argued that the apparent inconsistency strengthens the case for the matter to be reviewed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

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The organisation further maintained that the Court of Appeal departed from the Supreme Court’s decision in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat AbdulKareem & Ors, describing the apex court’s judgment as a landmark affirmation of Muslim female students’ constitutional right to wear the hijab in educational institutions.

According to MPAC, restricting the application of that precedent only to publicly funded schools weakens its constitutional significance and could encourage discriminatory policies in private educational institutions across the country.

The group commended Justice Fadawu Umar for his dissenting judgment, saying he correctly recognised that the appeal lacked merit and that the students’ constitutional rights remained enforceable.

MPAC also threw its weight behind the decision of the ISI Muslim Parents Forum (ISIMPF) and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision at the Supreme Court.

It urged the Court of Appeal to expeditiously hear and grant the pending application for a stay of execution to preserve the status quo while the appeal is determined by the apex court.

The organisation appealed to affected students and their parents to remain calm and allow the judicial process to take its course.

Beyond the litigation, MPAC called on the National Assembly to enact legislation affirming that the constitutional right to religious freedom, including the right to wear religious attire, applies equally in both public and private schools.

It also urged the Federal Ministry of Education and state education authorities to introduce regulations preventing schools from implementing dress code policies that discriminate against students on the basis of religion.

The ISI hijab case has continued to generate nationwide debate over the balance between institutional autonomy and the constitutional protection of fundamental rights. With MURIC, ISIMPF, and other stakeholders already indicating plans to approach the Supreme Court, the case is expected to shape future jurisprudence on religious freedom, school policies and students’ rights in Nigeria.

MPAC Condemns Appeal Court’s ISI Hijab Verdict, Backs Supreme Court Challenge