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Nine killed, 78 injured in 13 road crashes during Sallah

Published

2 years ago

June 19, 2024

Nine killed, 78 injured in 13 road crashes during Sallah

The command also said 78 others who sustained varying degrees of injury in the crashes, involving 21 vehicles and 128 people, were swiftly conveyed to hospitals across the zone, while 41 other persons were rescued without injuries during the period.

Reviewing activities in the first three days of the command’s special operation for Sallah, which started on Friday, covering major routes within its jurisdiction in a statement obtained in Osogbo, the acting Zonal Commanding Officer, Leye Adegboyega, further said the corps deployed a total of 3,018 personnel, 57 patrol vehicles, five ambulances and two heavy-duty tow trucks, during the period.

According to him, the personnel from the command covered about 65 major routes across the zone daily to ensure good visibility to reduce avoidable speed-related crashes, while standby rescue teams were also stationed across all commands in the zone for quick response to distress calls from accident scenes.

The statement further read in parts, “The 2024 Eid El Kabir Sallah Special Patrol Operation is scheduled to be held between Friday, June 14 and Friday, June 21, 2024 across the country. Zone RS11 Osogbo of the Corps, which comprises Osun, Ondo and Oyo states, has keyed into the mission of the operation, which is to ensure a free flow of traffic, minimise the occurrence of RTCs, provide prompt rescue services in the event of crashes and ensure timely clearance of obstructions on all major roads and the critical corridors across the three states of the zone during and after the Sallah festivities.

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“For the zone to achieve the mission of the operation, a total of 3,018 personnel (comprising 2,155 Regular Marshals and 863 Special Marshals), 57 Patrol Vehicles, five ambulances and two Heavy Duty Tow Trucks have been deployed across the component commands.

“Included in the roads we cover on a daily basis are the following critical corridors which we give particular attention: i. Ibadan-Lagos Expressway;

I. Ibadan-Ife Expressway; iii. Ife-Ilesa Expressway; iv. Ilesa-Ipetujesa-Akure Expressway; v. Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway and vi. Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway.”

The zonal commander said in the first three days of the operation, they recorded the following achievements: i. The arrest of 737 traffic offenders who were duly contravened for 766 various traffic offences that might otherwise have led to avoidable road traffic crashes. ii. Execution of 219 various public enlightenment activities across the news media, motor parks, churches, mosques and other public places, to drive home the road safety message and create public awareness on the need for safety consciousness. Others were the provision of prompt rescue services for the victims of 13 RTCs which involved 21 vehicles and 128 people, out of which nine unfortunately lost their lives and 78 others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were swiftly conveyed to hospitals across the zone where they sustained cordial relationship, for treatment and 41 other persons who were rescued without injuries and continued their journeys.

On the plans of the command for the future, Adegboyega on behalf of the zone, appealed to the public and all road users to use the roads responsibly and contribute their quota to reduction in the loss of lives and valuable property.

Nine killed, 78 injured in 13 road crashes during Sallah

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Zulum Defends NAF Airstrike, Says Jilli Market Closed Five Years Ago

Published

2 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum

Zulum Defends NAF Airstrike, Says Jilli Market Closed Five Years Ago

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has defended the Nigerian military over a controversial airstrike in Jilli, insisting that the location widely described as a “market” had been shut down for years due to insurgency.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor said the Jilli market in Gubio Local Government Area—located along the Borno–Yobe border—was officially closed about five years ago as part of security measures to curb terrorist activities.

Zulum described Jilli as a notorious hub allegedly used by insurgents and their logistics networks, stressing that it no longer functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace.

“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on Jilli market… Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago,” the governor said.

He added that his administration is in active consultation with the Yobe State Government and military authorities to fully assess the situation and ensure proper coordination going forward.

The airstrike, carried out on April 11, 2026, by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, reportedly targeted suspected terrorist positions in the area following intelligence reports and earlier operations in the corridor.

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However, initial reports indicated that over 50 people were feared killed, sparking concern over possible civilian casualties and raising questions about the nature of the target.

Eyewitness accounts suggested that the strike hit a location believed by locals to be a weekly trading point, triggering panic among residents as explosions rocked the area.

In response, Zulum emphasised that the Borno State Government maintains strict protocols before reopening markets or resettling communities affected by insurgency, noting that such decisions are made in close coordination with security agencies.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting civilians while supporting military operations aimed at dismantling insurgent networks across the North-East.

The governor also urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces by providing credible intelligence that could aid ongoing counterinsurgency efforts.

Military authorities have yet to release a detailed official report confirming casualty figures or clarifying the full circumstances of the strike.

Security analysts say the incident highlights the complex challenges of counterinsurgency warfare, where distinguishing between civilian activity and insurgent logistics hubs remains difficult, particularly in volatile border communities.

Despite the controversy, the Nigerian military has continued intensified operations across key areas in Borno and neighbouring states, targeting supply routes and strongholds used by extremist groups.

Zulum Defends NAF Airstrike, Says Jilli Market Closed Five Years Ago

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BREAKING: Troops Arrest 15-Year-Old Linked to Killing of Gen Braimah in Borno

Published

3 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Trends Admin

BREAKING: Troops Arrest 15-Year-Old Linked to Killing of Gen Braimah in Borno

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have arrested a 15-year-old suspect allegedly involved in the deadly attack that killed Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah, another officer, and two soldiers in Borno State.

The suspect, identified simply as Tijjani, was apprehended on Sunday in Ngamdu while reportedly on an errand to procure food supplies for members of his group.

In a video recorded after his arrest, the teenager confessed to being part of the armed group responsible for coordinated attacks in Benisheik and Ngamdu, areas that have witnessed renewed insurgent activity in recent months.

According to the suspect, the group operated from Jilli, a location described by military sources as a known logistics and movement hub for insurgents in the region. He said they moved from Jilli to carry out the attack and later returned to the same location.

Tijjani further disclosed that he had been sent with about ₦850,000 to collect logistics supplies from Ngamdu before his arrest. He added that he left his colleagues behind at Jilli and was unaware of subsequent developments following the operation.

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The late General Braimah, who commanded the 29 Task Force Brigade under Operation HADIN KAI, was killed on Thursday when suspected Boko Haram fighters launched an assault on a military base in the area. The attack also claimed the lives of another officer and two soldiers, underscoring the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups in the North-East.

Military sources indicate that the arrest of the teenage suspect is part of ongoing intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and cutting off their supply chains across Borno State.

Security analysts say the involvement of minors in insurgent activities highlights a disturbing pattern of recruitment by extremist groups, who often deploy young individuals for logistics, surveillance, and operational roles.

The Nigerian military has intensified surveillance and clearance operations across key corridors such as Jilli, Ngamdu, and Benisheik, following recent attacks, with the aim of preventing further assaults and restoring stability in the region.

Authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive official statement on the arrest, but security operations are expected to continue as efforts to track down other members of the group intensify.

The development comes amid renewed commitment by Operation HADIN KAI to sustain pressure on insurgents and disrupt their activities across the North-East.

BREAKING: Troops Arrest 15-Year-Old Linked to Killing of Gen Braimah in Borno

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Fayose Warns Makinde May Query Olubadan Over Absence at Ibadan Coronation Event

Published

4 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja

Fayose Warns Makinde May Query Olubadan Over Absence at Ibadan Coronation Event

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has suggested that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde may issue an official query to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, following his absence at a recent high chiefs’ coronation ceremony in Ibadan.

The event, held at Mapo Hall, saw Governor Makinde present beaded crowns to three newly elevated traditional rulers as part of ongoing chieftaincy reforms in Ibadanland. However, the absence of the Olubadan from the April 3 ceremony has sparked public debate and political reactions.

Fayose, speaking on the development, claimed that the monarch’s absence—reportedly due to a prior engagement in Lagos—alongside other alleged concerns, could prompt a formal government query in the coming days. He did not provide official documentation but insisted the situation could escalate into a government–palace dispute if not carefully managed.

The Olubadan’s palace has already clarified that his absence was not due to any disagreement with the state government, dismissing speculation of a rift between the traditional institution and Governor Makinde’s administration.

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Some critics of the ceremony have also described the event as a “failed coronation,” alleging that the exercise may have cost over ₦1.5 billion, though no official financial breakdown has been released to confirm the claim.

At the time of filing this report, neither the Oyo State Government nor the Olubadan-in-Council had issued an official response to Fayose’s latest comments or the circulating allegations.

The development comes against the backdrop of long-standing sensitivities in Ibadan chieftaincy politics, where traditional authority structures have often intersected with state governance and public debate.

Observers note that Fayose’s intervention adds a new political dimension to an already delicate issue, especially given his history of public disagreements with Governor Makinde during his tenure in Ekiti politics.

For now, the situation remains fluid, with stakeholders calling for restraint and clarification to prevent further escalation between the state government and the traditional institution.