The family members, neighbours and friends of a 37-year-old farmer, Kehinde Egbeyi, are currently in a mourning mood after his corpse and that of his wife, Bukola, were found at their residence at Oke Erinja, Ilaro-Owode Road, in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the couple, who lived with a relative identified simply as Joel, were watching a movie with their colleagues at Joel’s residence and later went to sleep in their various rooms in the building.
Things, however, took another turn when everyone except the couple came out of their respective rooms to prepare to go to the farm to do their job for the day.
It was learnt that Joel called Kehinde and his wife to come out of their room but got no response.
Surprised by the development, Joel and his other colleagues, broke down the door of Kehinde’s apartment and they found him and his wife lying motionless on their bed.
Speaking with our correspondent, a source said the couple retired into their room without any sign of sickness on Monday evening, adding that when their corpses were found in the room, they alerted the police to the incident.
“Joel, Kehinde and his wife, and some other colleagues were all watching a movie in the sitting room that night. After watching the movie, all of them went into their rooms and Kehinde went to meet his wife in the room.
“But in the morning when others were set to go to the farm, they did not see Kehinde and his wife, and they decided to knock on the door of the room but no one answered.
“It was when they did not get any response after some time that they forced the door of the room open and saw their corpses on the bed. Blood was dripping out of Kehinde’s nostrils while a foamy substance was coming out of his wife’s nostrils,” the source said.
The source ruled out the possibility of the deceased dying from generator fumes, saying no such item was in the room or outside the premises of the building.
In a bid to ascertain the cause of death of the couple, it was learnt that some of the family consulted a herbalist while some other aggrieved family members reported the case at the Owode Idiroko Police Station from where policemen were sent to the scene.
On getting to the scene, our correspondent gathered that the policemen insisted on evacuating the corpses to the mortuary for an autopsy to reveal the cause of death but the bereaved family rejected the plan, insisting that they had taken the couple’s death as the will of God.
Their remains were said to have since been buried.
Kehinde’s brother, Joel, confirmed the development in an interview with our correspondent.
He said although the family suspected that the death was not natural, they have decided to move on.
“I was the one that went to the police station at Owode to report the mysterious death of my brother and his wife. Some policemen came here to see for themselves.
“Our family decided to just let this matter end there because we don’t want the issue to escalate. My mother is distraught now and she cannot even talk,” Joel said.
He confirmed that his family members had buried Kehinde’s remains while members of his late wife’s family also took her corpse away for burial.
A friend of the bereaved family, Kayode Adejobi, also confirmed the development.
“I have been coming here every time since this inicident happened. This is an unfortunate incident,” he lamented.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development to our correspondent.
He said, “What happened was that the husband and wife were found dead in the room. The deceased husband is a twin and was living with his brother in the same house.
“After discovering their corpses, they reported to the police and the police visited the house and were about to evacuate the corpses to the mortuary to do a post-mortem but the family declined because they did not suspect any foul play.
“So, we told them to do an affidavit since they insisted on not doing a case and they went to the court to do the affidavit and the corpses were released to them. If they are now suspecting any foul play, it is an afterthought.”
COAS Storms Borno as Tinubu Orders Rescue of All Abductees, Destruction of Terrorist Camps
MAIDUGURI — Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has arrived in Borno State as the Nigerian military intensifies its security operations following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to rescue all abducted persons and eliminate terrorist and bandit camps across the country.
Shaibu arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, at about 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, two days after Tinubu issued the directive to security chiefs during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The army chief’s visit comes amid renewed pressure on security agencies to intensify counterterrorism operations, dismantle insurgent hideouts and secure the release of Nigerians being held captive by criminal groups.
Although it remains unclear whether the visit was directly triggered by the President’s order, Shaibu is expected to meet with theatre, field and unit commanders involved in military operations across the state.
His arrival at the headquarters of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri signals continued military engagement in a region that has faced years of insurgency and attacks by armed groups.
Tinubu’s directive was disclosed on Thursday, October 15, by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), after a security meeting with the President and heads of security agencies.
According to Musa, the President ordered security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue all abducted persons, regardless of where they were being held.
“The directive from the President is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are,” the minister quoted Tinubu as saying.
The President also directed security chiefs to ensure that terrorist and bandit camps were dismantled across the country.
“There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorists or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” Musa said, relaying the President’s position.
The directive comes as the Federal Government faces continuing security challenges, including kidnappings, terrorist attacks and the activities of armed groups in parts of northern Nigeria.
Borno remains a major theatre of counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have carried out attacks on civilians, security personnel and communities in the North-East.
Military operations under Operation Hadin Kai have focused on confronting insurgents, disrupting their movements and restoring security to affected communities. The latest visit by the army chief is expected to provide an opportunity for engagements with commanders overseeing operations on the ground.
Tinubu has also directed security chiefs to ensure adequate security for Nigerians during the elections scheduled for January, according to the Defence Minister.
The President’s instructions place renewed emphasis on rescuing abductees, dismantling armed groups’ operational bases and improving the security environment ahead of the polls.
However, the army chief’s arrival in Maiduguri should not be interpreted as confirmation that all abductees have been rescued or that terrorist camps have been eliminated. No such outcome was established in the reports announcing his visit.
The military’s next steps and any operational results from the engagements in Borno are likely to be closely watched by families of abducted persons and communities affected by insurgency.
For now, the government’s stated objective remains clear: intensify security operations, rescue people held in captivity and dismantle the camps used by terrorists and bandits to carry out attacks across Nigeria.
COAS Storms Borno as Tinubu Orders Rescue of All Abductees, Destruction of Terrorist Camps
Lagos Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Fatal Crash, Driver Rescued
A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus has been set ablaze by an angry mob in Ikorodu, Lagos State, following a road accident involving a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an Okada rider.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, around Ogolonto Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road, where the crowd reportedly attacked the bus driver before security operatives intervened to rescue him.
Kolawole Ojelabi, LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, confirmed that an accident had occurred between a BRT bus and a motorcycle on the BRT corridor. He said the motorcycle rider was reportedly using the dedicated bus lane, contrary to traffic regulations.
Ojelabi condemned the destruction of the bus, warning that the incident would affect public transportation in the area. According to him, the damaged vehicle would have served at least 400 Lagos residents daily.
The attack reportedly escalated after news of the collision spread, prompting a crowd to set the bus on fire. Police officers and personnel of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) intervened and rescued the driver from the angry crowd.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also responded to the emergency. Its spokesperson, Amodu Shakiru, said the service received a distress call at about 10:21 a.m. and that firefighters found the bus engulfed in flames on arrival. Firefighters subsequently worked to extinguish the blaze.
Shakiru confirmed that the driver had been beaten but was rescued by security operatives and received medical attention. He said he could not provide further details about the circumstances of the collision.
The identity of the motorcyclist and the precise cause of the crash had not been officially established in the reports available after the incident. It was also unclear whether anyone had been arrested over the burning of the bus.
The incident has renewed concerns about road safety, the use of dedicated BRT lanes and mob violence following road accidents. While fatal crashes can provoke anger and grief, attacking drivers and destroying public transport vehicles can endanger lives, disrupt services and impose additional costs on the public.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances of the accident and determine responsibility for the destruction of the bus.
Lagos Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Fatal Crash, Driver Rescued
Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community Bets on 20 Chiefs to Drive Education, Economic Growth
New chiefs urged to promote unity, shun partisan politics in mosques, invest in youth, Islamic education
The ancient community of Imodi-Ijebu in Ogun State recently witnessed a blend of tradition, faith and renewed development aspirations as 20 distinguished sons and daughters were turbaned as chiefs of the Muslim community, with a ₦1bn fundraising drive launched to support education and empowerment initiatives.
Beyond the colourful ceremony and conferment of prestigious titles, the gathering presented an opportunity to redefine leadership within the community, with prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders challenging the new titleholders to translate their honours into tangible benefits for the people.
Held at the Tititlayo Agbaje Memorial Comprehensive High School, Imodi, the event brought together Islamic leaders, professionals, traditional titleholders and other stakeholders united by a common aspiration to strengthen the Muslim community and accelerate the development of the town.
At the heart of the ceremony was a strong message: the new titles must not become symbols of prestige alone but instruments for service, unity, religious advancement and social transformation.
The National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Shaykh AbdurRahman Ahmad, set the tone with a warning against the intrusion of partisan politics into mosques, stressing that religious institutions must remain places of worship and unity rather than platforms for political mobilisation.
He reminded the newly turbaned chiefs that Muslims were entitled to support political parties of their choice, but cautioned that those occupying leadership positions must not exploit their influence to impose their political preferences on others.
“The chiefs should abstain from bringing politics into the mosque. Any Muslim is entitled to belong to whatever party he wants to belong to. A chief must not use his position to influence other members of the mosque to join his party,” he said.
Shaykh Ahmad also reminded the titleholders that their new positions came with significant responsibilities, urging them to exercise restraint, uphold exemplary conduct and deepen their knowledge of Islam.
He called on them to support the advancement of the religion by paying greater attention to the welfare of Islamic clerics, whose services remain central to the spiritual and social wellbeing of the Muslim community.
A call for accountable leadership
The Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, reinforced the message of responsibility, urging the new chiefs to protect the integrity of Islam, promote religious tolerance and discharge their duties with accountability.
Citing Qur’an 33:57, he emphasised the need for the titleholders to appreciate the consequences of their actions and ensure that their conduct advanced rather than undermined the interests of the religion.
For him, the responsibilities attached to the titles demanded more than public recognition. They required a conscious commitment to protecting Islamic values and creating an environment in which Muslims could deepen their understanding of the faith.
He proposed the establishment of an Islamic library to improve access to learning resources, encourage continuous religious education and provide members of the community with opportunities to expand their knowledge.
The proposal added an educational dimension to the broader development agenda emerging from the ceremony, underscoring the importance of knowledge in sustaining religious values and preparing future generations for leadership.
Former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, also challenged the Muslim community to look beyond conventional religious activities and embrace a broader developmental role.
He said the mosque should serve as an institution for promoting education, economic development and youth empowerment, helping young people build confidence, acquire useful skills and prepare for the challenges of life.
His position aligned with the spirit of the ₦1bn fundraising initiative, which placed education and empowerment among the key priorities of the community.
New chiefs unveil their priorities
For some of the newly installed chiefs, the ceremony marked the beginning of a fresh commitment to community service, with promises ranging from strengthening Islamic institutions to improving social welfare and expanding economic opportunities.
Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, a retired director of NAHCON who was installed as Aare Adeen, said his immediate priority was to support the Central Mosque, promote unity among Muslim faithful and strengthen Islamic education.
He also pledged to work towards establishing a welfare system for the less privileged and widows, highlighting the need for religious leadership to respond to the everyday challenges confronting vulnerable members of society.
Sanni urged young people to take pride in their faith, pursue Western education, avoid social vices and contribute meaningfully to the development of Islam in Imodi.
His message reflected a wider concern expressed at the gathering: that religious identity, formal education and responsible citizenship should reinforce one another in preparing young people for the future.
Dr Abdulfattah Olufowobi, former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Science at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who was installed as Baba Adeen of Imodi, pledged to bring fresh ideas and positive change to the community.
He said he intended to promote unity within the Muslim Ummah and address the lingering hierarchical disagreements within the Council of Imodi Muslim Chiefs.
His remarks pointed to the importance of internal cohesion in enabling the community to pursue its development objectives effectively.
Alhaji Oduwole Azeez, installed as Otun Balogun Adeen, promised to advance Islam through personal example, support for Da’wah activities and investment in the next generation.
He stressed that honesty, integrity and the fear of Allah must define the conduct of Muslim leaders, adding that children should be grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah to preserve the values of Islam.
From farming to digital skills
For Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Chief Correspondent with The Nation, who received the title of Giwa Adeeni, the development agenda must extend beyond religious affairs to the economic and social needs of residents.
He identified infrastructure, women and youth empowerment, information and communication technology education, agriculture and healthcare as priority areas requiring attention.
Adebanjo also advocated a renewed focus on farming, urging residents to explore agriculture as a viable source of income and employment.
He said efforts should be made to improve the movement of agricultural produce from Imodi to Lagos, where farmers could access larger markets and potentially earn better returns.
According to him, stronger connections to urban markets could help residents take advantage of the relatively lower cost of living in their community while building more sustainable livelihoods.
His proposals highlighted the importance of connecting local production with wider commercial opportunities, particularly for young people and households seeking alternative sources of income.
The 20 titleholders
The 20 distinguished sons and daughters honoured at the ceremony were Dr Abdulfattah Olufowobi, Baba Adeen of Imodi; Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, Aare Adeen; Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Giwa Adeeni; Chief Abdul Waheed Sanni, Otun Asinwaju Adeen; and Chief Azeezat Sanni, Ekerin Iya Sunnah.
The remaining honourees were Chief Alimot Oresajo, Otun Osupa Adeen; Alhaji Ismaheel Yekeen, Balogun Adinni; Alhaji Musiliyu Hussaini, Otun Giwa Adeen; Prince Abdul Rasheed Lawal, Sarumi Adeen; Chief Yunus Ahmed, Otun Aare Musulumi; and Chief Salamat Adesanya, Otun Agbesinga Adeen Obinrin.
Also honoured were Chief Wosilat Oduba, Otun Iya Adeen; Chief Balikis Hassan, Otun Iyalode Adeen; Chief Jemilat Lawal, Otun Alatunse Adeen Obinrin; and Alhaja Risikat Arowolo, Otun Asiwaju Adeen Obinrin of the Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community.
A legacy measured by service
As the celebrations gave way to the responsibilities ahead, the central challenge for the newly turbaned chiefs will be translating their promises into measurable progress.
The proposed ₦1bn fundraising initiative offers an opportunity to strengthen education, empower vulnerable groups and support community development, while calls for an Islamic library, youth engagement, agricultural investment and improved welfare point to a broad vision of progress.
The success of that vision will depend on the community’s ability to mobilise resources, sustain cooperation among its leaders and ensure that development priorities are matched by practical action.
For Imodi-Ijebu, therefore, the turbaning of 20 illustrious sons and daughters represents more than a celebration of achievement. It is a call for leadership that unites faith with service, tradition with innovation, and religious responsibility with the pursuit of a better future for the entire community.
Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community Bets on 20 Chiefs to Drive Education, Economic Growth
