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Deploy Ancestral Powers Against Bandits, Ooni Tells Yoruba Monarchs, Ifa Worshippers

Published

3 months ago

June 8, 2026

Ooni of Ife and Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II

Deploy Ancestral Powers Against Bandits, Ooni Tells Yoruba Monarchs, Ifa Worshippers

Ile-Ife, Nigeria – The Ooni of Ife and Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has called for an end to banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities threatening lives and livelihoods across Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

The revered monarch made the call on Sunday at his Ile-Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, during the grand finale of the 2026 World Ifa Festival. According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Ooni—who also serves as the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN)—expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in parts of the country and urged all stakeholders to join hands with government authorities in restoring peace and safety.

The Ooni specifically called on traditional rulers across Yorubaland to strengthen collaboration among themselves and work closely with security agencies to combat criminal elements operating within their domains. He stressed that traditional rulers must take greater responsibility in safeguarding their communities while supporting the efforts of the government and security agencies.

“We must rise collectively against the menace of banditry and kidnapping. Enough is enough. Our people deserve to live in peace and move freely without fear. Traditional rulers must take greater responsibility in safeguarding their communities while supporting the efforts of the government and security agencies,” the Ooni stated.

Oba Ogunwusi further urged Ifa devotees and traditional worshippers across the country to deploy the spiritual and cultural resources embedded in African traditional institutions in the fight against insecurity.

“We must bring together our traditional powers, spiritual heritage, and communal values to chase bandits, kidnappers, and all criminal elements out of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. Our ancestors stood for justice, peace, and communal harmony, and we must invoke those values at this critical time,” he added.

While acknowledging that insecurity remains a major challenge for the Federal Government, the monarch commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the ongoing efforts of his administration in tackling insecurity across the country. He noted that although challenges remain, the government has demonstrated commitment towards addressing security concerns. He stressed that sustainable peace can only be achieved through collective responsibility and national unity.

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“This is a time for unity. Government alone cannot solve the security challenges facing the nation. Traditional institutions, religious leaders, community stakeholders, and citizens must work together in support of ongoing efforts to secure our country,” the Ooni said.

As part of the spiritual activities marking the festival, the Ooni offered special ancestral prayers for the safe release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in recent attacks in Oyo and Borno states. He described the incidents as painful and unacceptable, praying that divine intervention would secure the immediate freedom of all victims and comfort affected families.

The Ooni’s ancestral prayers followed the abduction of over 40 schoolchildren, including toddlers, and seven teachers during coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026. The affected schools include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle; and L.A. Primary School. During the attacks, gunmen reportedly killed one teacher and later beheaded another teacher while in captivity.

According to reports, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has repeatedly assured residents that the government is working “round the clock” to secure the release of the victims, revealing that federal security personnel had been actively involved in the rescue mission for weeks. The governor disclosed that several suspects, including alleged informants and logistics suppliers linked to the attackers, had been arrested, and security operatives continuing rescue efforts reportedly encountered improvised explosive devices planted by the kidnappers.

Similarly, in Mussa, Borno State, gunmen attacked three educational institutions and abducted more than 50 children, most of them between the ages of two and five years. The affected schools were Government Day Secondary School, Mussa Central Primary School, and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Secondary School.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, has called for the immediate and safe release of the abducted pupils and teachers, warning that the incidents pose a serious threat to education and child protection in the country. “The UN Resident Coordinator is deeply saddened that these school children and their teachers are still being held by armed groups. Schools must remain safe havens for learning and not places of fear. Children should never be a target,” Fall said.

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Also reacting to the security situation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised South West governments to empower Amotekun and vigilante groups like the Oduduwa Peoples Congress (OPC) and Iru Ekun in order to halt the advance of bandits. In a statement issued on Friday, the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, noted that the recent incursion of bandits into Oyo State, where they killed a teacher and kidnapped dozens of pupils and teachers, has heightened security concerns in the South West.

Speaking at the World Ifa Festival event, the Araba Awo Agbaye, Chief Awodotun Aworeni, urged Nigerians to embrace their cultural heritage and uphold the moral teachings embedded in Ifa tradition. According to him, Ifa remains a divine source of wisdom, guidance, and moral direction capable of fostering peaceful coexistence and sustainable development.

“The message of this year’s World Ifa Festival revolves around peace, unity, good relationships with fellow human beings, respect for elders, and collective responsibility for societal progress. If humanity embraces these values, the world will become a better place,” the Araba Awo Agbaye stated.

Also speaking, a tourist from Brazil, Paulo Silva, expressed admiration for the richness of Yoruba culture and the spiritual significance of the festival. He said his participation in the event deepened his understanding of African traditional heritage and strengthened the cultural connection between Africa and the African diaspora.

“I am deeply impressed by the preservation of Yoruba culture and traditions. The World Ifa Festival has provided an opportunity for people from different parts of the world to reconnect with their roots and appreciate the enduring relevance of African civilization,” he said.

He also commended the Ooni of Ife for his relentless efforts in promoting Yoruba culture, African spirituality, tourism, and cultural diplomacy on the global stage.

The Ooni’s call to action comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in the South-West region. By urging monarchs and Ifa devotees to collectively invoke ancestral powers, Oba Ogunwusi has positioned the traditional institution as a critical partner in restoring peace and safety across Yorubaland, emphasizing that while the government has demonstrated commitment, sustainable peace requires collective effort from all stakeholders.

Deploy Ancestral Powers Against Bandits, Ooni Tells Yoruba Monarchs, Ifa Worshippers

Related Topics:Ancestral Powers Bandits monarchs Ooni

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NDLEA arrests herbal tea seller behind Saudi-bound cocaine shipment

Published

13 minutes ago

September 6, 2026

Trends Admin

NDLEA arrests herbal tea seller behind Saudi-bound cocaine shipment

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old convicted drug trafficker who allegedly operated under the guise of a herbal tea businessman while masterminding illicit drug shipments, including a 1.2kg cocaine consignment allegedly destined for Saudi Arabia.

The suspect, identified as Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, was arrested during a sting operation at Article Market, opposite Trade Fair Market, in the Ojo area of Lagos State, on Friday, September 4, 2026.

According to the NDLEA, his arrest followed an intelligence-led investigation into the interception of a 1.2kg cocaine shipment concealed inside phone chargers at a courier company in Lagos on July 31.

The consignment was allegedly headed for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The agency said operatives from its Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) began tracking the person behind the shipment after the cocaine was intercepted.

Following weeks of investigation, the operatives traced the alleged mastermind to Ebubechukwu, who was reportedly operating a herbal tea business as a cover.

The NDLEA said the suspect admitted during interrogation that he had masterminded illicit drug shipments in the past.

He also reportedly discarded his telephone SIM card after learning that the cocaine shipment had been intercepted by the agency.

Further investigation, according to the anti-drug agency, revealed that Ebubechukwu had previously been arrested and convicted for drug trafficking.

The NDLEA said he was first arrested in 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after allegedly ingesting 900 grammes of cocaine and 130 grammes of heroin while attempting to travel to Austria.

He was subsequently prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.

The agency said he was then known as Dunu Chukwuyenre Enoch but later changed his name to Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu before allegedly returning to the illicit drug trade.

Following his latest arrest, NDLEA operatives searched his residence at 6 Yemishola Street, Ejigbo, Lagos.

The search reportedly led to the recovery of phone chargers similar to those allegedly used to conceal the Saudi-bound cocaine shipment.

According to the agency, the internal components of the chargers had been removed to create spaces capable of concealing drugs.

The NDLEA said the arrest was part of a wider nationwide operation during which its operatives recovered large quantities of cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, methamphetamine and other controlled substances across several states.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives at the airport recovered 966,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg, valued at more than N1.1 billion.

The tablets were reportedly concealed among thrift trousers contained in a 21-carton consignment imported from Pakistan.

Another operation in Lagos resulted in the recovery of 57.8kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from cartons of disposable hand gloves imported from Singapore.

The agency said the consignment had remained unclaimed for weeks before NDLEA operatives, alongside officials of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, conducted a joint examination on Thursday, September 3.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 20,000-litre fuel tanker marked MKA 960 XC along the Akoko-Lokoja Expressway.

The driver allegedly refused to stop when the vehicle was flagged down and later abandoned the tanker at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko before escaping into the bush.

A search of the tanker uncovered a concealed compartment containing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg, alongside the legitimate fuel cargo reportedly destined for Jos, Plateau State.

At the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, the agency intercepted another consignment containing 598.08kg of cannabis-laced cookies and gummies, packed in 890 packets inside a 40-foot container.

The seizure was linked to three suspects already in custody over an earlier seizure involving 842.54kg of cannabis-laced cookies.

The suspects were identified as Yashim Dauji, Larry Ifeanyi and Joseph Moji.

In Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives recovered 864,000 opioid pills, including tramadol, from a residence linked to a fleeing suspect identified as Patrick KC Frank.

The agency said Frank’s Honda Civic rammed an NDLEA patrol vehicle before he escaped.

In another operation in Michika, 35-year-old Calistus Ebubechukwu, whom the NDLEA described as a major methamphetamine supplier operating between Lagos and the Mubi-Michika axis, was arrested with 2kg of methamphetamine.

The NDLEA said the series of operations reflected its continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks, intercept illicit consignments and apprehend individuals allegedly involved in the movement and distribution of controlled substances.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain their intelligence-led approach to combating drug trafficking.

Marwa also warned individuals involved in the illicit drug trade against attempting to evade law enforcement by changing their identities or hiding their activities behind legitimate businesses.

He said the agency would continue to track down suspected traffickers and disrupt their operations.

The arrest of Ebubechukwu also highlights the role of intelligence-led investigations in tracing suspected drug trafficking networks after illicit consignments have been intercepted.

In the present case, the 1.2kg cocaine shipment allegedly bound for Riyadh was intercepted weeks before the suspect was arrested, giving investigators time to trace the alleged source of the consignment.

The suspect remains in NDLEA custody as investigations continue into the alleged cocaine shipment and other drug trafficking activities linked to him.

NDLEA arrests herbal tea seller behind Saudi-bound cocaine shipment

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Ondo Tragedy: 3 Siblings, Including Twins, Found Dead Near River on Family Farm

Published

7 hours ago

September 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi

Ondo Tragedy: 3 Siblings, Including Twins, Found Dead Near River on Family Farm

A routine trip to a family farm in Akure, Ondo State, has ended in unimaginable tragedy after three siblings—including a set of 11-year-old twins—were found dead near the bank of a small river on the property, plunging their community into mourning.

The deceased children have been identified as 11-year-old twins Joshua Jonah and Jacob Jonah, and their five-year-old younger sister, Blessing Jonah. The devastating discovery was made on Saturday, September 5, 2026, less than 24 hours after the children were reported missing from their father’s farm located around the Owena Army Barracks area on the outskirts of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

According to family sources, the three children had accompanied their father, Samuel Jonah, to the farm on Friday, September 4, 2026. At some point, they reportedly left the farm ahead of their father to return home. However, when Samuel later returned home and could not find them, he immediately raised the alarm, prompting an extensive search by family members and neighbours around the farm, bushes, and adjoining paths. The search ended in sorrow on Saturday morning when the bodies of the three siblings were discovered near the bank of a small river within the farm.

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The tragic incident has thrown the Jonah family’s residence at Oke Ogba, Akure, into deep grief. When journalists visited the family home, the compound was filled with grieving relatives, friends and neighbours offering condolences, while the atmosphere remained tense and sorrowful as many struggled to come to terms with the loss of three young children from the same household in a single incident. One neighbour was quoted as saying, “It is too painful. Twins and their little sister. All gone together.”

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the tragic incident. The command’s spokesman, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, stated that the children had gone to the farm with their father before their disappearance was discovered upon his return home. He added that a search operation was subsequently conducted, leading to the discovery of their bodies near the riverbank within the farm. “The Command is documenting the incident and investigation is ongoing to ascertain what led to their death,” Abayomi said. He confirmed that the bodies had since been released to their father, Samuel Jonah, for burial.

The police spokesperson also used the opportunity to advise parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance over children, particularly when they are near rivers, streams, ponds, and other potentially dangerous bodies of water. He expressed the command’s condolences to the bereaved family and assured the public that the investigation would continue until the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths are established.

As of press time, the police had yet to establish the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths. While the family prepares for their burial, the community continues to await answers over the tragedy that claimed three young lives from the same household. The incident has also renewed concerns in Akure over child safety on farms and around water bodies.

Ondo Tragedy: 3 Siblings, Including Twins, Found Dead Near River on Family Farm

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Three killed, 20 injured in Ife-Ilesa Expressway crash

Published

7 hours ago

September 6, 2026

Trends Admin

An accident Scene (File photo)

Three killed, 20 injured in Ife-Ilesa Expressway crash

Three people have been killed and 20 others injured in a road crash in Osun State involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a Volkswagen Golf car.

The fatal accident occurred on Saturday at Tonkere town, along the Ife-Ilesa Expressway, according to the Osun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The Osun Sector Commander, Sunday Adebayo, disclosed the casualties in a statement issued in Osogbo, saying preliminary findings indicated that speeding and dangerous driving contributed to the crash.

Adebayo said a total of 23 people were involved in the accident, comprising 11 females, nine males and three children — two boys and one girl.

He said the three people who died were two females and one male, while the remaining 20 victims sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“Three people died. We have about 20 others who were injured in the accident.

“The accident happened due to speeding and dangerous driving,” Adebayo said.

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Following reports of the crash, FRSC patrol teams from Ile-Ife and Ilesa were deployed to the scene to carry out rescue operations and manage the aftermath.

The injured victims were evacuated to hospitals for medical attention, although the FRSC did not immediately disclose the names of the medical facilities where they were treated.

The crash occurred along one of the major routes connecting Ile-Ife and Ilesa, a busy corridor frequently used by commercial and private motorists travelling through Osun State.

The FRSC commander urged motorists to exercise greater caution while driving, particularly on highways where excessive speed can significantly increase the severity of crashes.

Adebayo said driving at a safer speed gives motorists more time to react to unexpected situations and can reduce the severity of injuries when collisions occur.

He also appealed to motorists to recognise their responsibility towards other road users, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility.

According to him, the FRSC will continue its public enlightenment campaigns and road safety initiatives across Osun State as part of efforts to reduce road crashes and prevent avoidable deaths.

The command urged drivers to avoid speeding, dangerous driving and other behaviours capable of putting passengers and other road users at risk.

The Osun road crash is the latest fatal accident to raise concerns about road safety on major highways in the state, with authorities continuing to call for greater compliance with traffic regulations and safer driving practices.