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

13 Women, 12 Men Arrested as Kebbi Hisbah Cracks Down on Immoral Activities in Hotel

Operation part of ongoing push to enforce Shariah moral codes and curb social vices in northwestern Nigeria

BIRNIN KEBBI, Nigeria – Operatives of the Kebbi State Hisbah Board have arrested 25 youths — comprising 13 women and 12 men — during a targeted raid on a hotel in Argungu, as part of an intensified campaign against alleged immoral activities and social vices in the state.

The raid, which took place on July 3, 2026, was carried out under the authority of the state’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. It forms part of a broader enforcement drive to promote moral values, ensure public decency, and curb conduct deemed contrary to Shariah principles in the northwestern state.

In a statement released to journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, the Director of Shariah at the Kebbi Hisbah Board, Sirajo Kamba, confirmed the operation and its outcomes.

“On July 3, the Kebbi Hisbah Board carried out a raid at a hotel in Argungu and successfully apprehended 25 suspects allegedly involved in immoral activities,” Kamba said.

“Those arrested include 12 males and 13 females.”

Kamba emphasized that the operation was not only about enforcing religious codes but also about public safety, noting that hotels sometimes serve as hideouts for criminal elements beyond moral infractions.

“The raid in the hotel seeks to ensure the safety of people, as hotels can also serve as a hiding place for criminal elements,” he added.

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The director assured that the board would conduct a comprehensive investigation in line with the law, and that any suspect found culpable would face the appropriate legal process. He pledged that justice would be served after due diligence.

“We will carry out a thorough investigation in line with the law. Anyone found culpable will be subjected to the appropriate legal process,” Kamba stated.

The arrests have reignited public debate over the role and reach of Hisbah agencies in northern Nigeria, where similar operations have been conducted in recent months. In March 2026, the Kano State Hisbah Board carried out comparable raids that led to arrests and fines. In a separate development earlier this month, Kano Hisbah operatives also arrested a man for allegedly attempting to traffic two girls for domestic work abroad.

Kebbi State, like several other states in Nigeria’s northwest, operates a Shariah legal system alongside the secular courts, with the Hisbah board empowered to enforce moral and religious codes. Critics have occasionally raised concerns over due process and individual rights, but board officials insist all actions are taken within the bounds of the law.

As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the arrested individuals have not been released, and it remains unclear whether they have been granted legal representation or bail. The board has not disclosed the exact charges that will be filed, though sources suggest they may include immorality, public nuisance, and violation of Shariah provisions on social conduct.

The Argungu hotel raid marks one of the largest such operations in Kebbi this year, and observers are watching to see whether it signals a more aggressive phase of moral policing ahead of upcoming local events and festivities.

13 Women, 12 Men Arrested as Kebbi Hisbah Cracks Down on Immoral Activities in Hotel