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Ooni-Alaafin rift: Powers of monarchs end at LG level, ex-gov aide says

Published

11 months ago

August 27, 2025

Ooni of Ife and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade

Ooni-Alaafin rift: Powers of monarchs end at LG level, ex-gov aide says

A former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties to the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Doyin Odebowale, has faulted the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, over his demand that the Ooni of Ife revoke a chieftaincy title conferred on an Ibadan businessman.

Odebowale, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, argued that traditional rulers derived their powers only within their local government areas and were not superior to elected officials at that level.

“With respect to most of these rulers now, there is a misapprehension of roles. They want to be addressed as kabiyesi, but they are not.

“They are under the local government chairman in their respective localities. So this idea of somebody sitting in Oyo and legislating on what happens in Ile-Ife is a misnomer,” Odebowale said on Wednesday.

He said the Alaafin must have been misled into believing there was a jurisdictional dispute between his office and that of the Ooni.

“I want to believe that the Alaafin of Oyo must have been misled into believing that there is an extant issue to be resolved between that office and that of the Ooni. I don’t see any justification for this distraction,” the ex-government official said.

‘Haste To Discard Tradition’

Odebowale attributed the recurring tussles among traditional rulers to “permissive decadence” in the system.

“It is a very pathetic situation in the sense that most of those who parade themselves as traditional rulers do not even know their function. It appears to me that they are in a hurry to discard tradition.

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“They are so happy when they are addressed as Oba, assistant pastor, or Alhaji; that is total abnegation of traditional values,” he lamented.

The former aide added that historically, the British colonial administration had “downgraded empires into stools,” introducing chieftaincy laws that limited the influence of monarchs.

According to him, those who had accepted colonial titles and knighthoods could no longer claim supremacy over other rulers.

“By government structure, their powers do not go beyond their local government, if you want to, by their letter. The Ooni of Ife is in Osun state, and they have their traditional council. The Alafin of Oyo is in Oyo state, and they have a traditional council.

“By the Oyo State chieftaincy law, only four Obas are recognised as imperial majesties. The Alaafin cannot act beyond his local government. By law, he is under his local government chairman,” he said.

Title Conferment Controversy

The remarks came amid a row between the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, over the conferment of the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” title on businessman Dotun Sanusi at an event in Ibadan last weekend.

The Alaafin had, on Monday, issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that the Ooni revoke the title, describing the conferment as an “affront” and claiming exclusive authority to bestow titles covering the whole of Yorubaland.

He argued that a Supreme Court ruling had affirmed his sole prerogative in such matters.

However, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum as an “empty threat,” saying the monarch would not dignify it with a formal response.

“We cannot dignify the undignifiable with an official response. We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

In a follow-up statement, the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaiye, clarified that the monarch was not seeking supremacy over any other ruler but was only protecting the sanctity of Yoruba tradition.

Ooni-Alaafin rift: Powers of monarchs end at LG level, ex-gov aide says

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Former okada rider excretes 100 wraps of methamphetamine after arrest at Lagos airport

Published

10 minutes ago

July 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Former okada rider excretes 100 wraps of methamphetamine after arrest at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an okada rider, after he allegedly excreted 100 wraps of methamphetamine he swallowed in Uganda in an attempt to smuggle the illicit drug into Nigeria.

The arrest, described by the anti-narcotics agency as another breakthrough in its fight against transnational drug trafficking, was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, and shared on the agency’s official X account.

According to the agency, the suspect had worked as an okada rider in Lagos for about 15 years before allegedly joining an international drug trafficking syndicate in search of better financial opportunities.

The NDLEA said intelligence gathered by its operatives led to the suspect’s interception shortly after he arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on a commercial flight from Uganda.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly ingested 100 wraps of methamphetamine before boarding the flight to Nigeria, hoping to evade airport security and anti-drug screening procedures.

Following his arrest, the suspect was placed under medical observation by NDLEA officers, where he reportedly excreted all 100 wraps of the suspected illicit substance over a monitored period. The agency said the recovered exhibits have been secured while forensic examination and further investigations continue.

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Investigators believe the suspect was working for a transnational drug trafficking network operating across East and West Africa. The NDLEA said efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate, including those who recruited him and those expected to receive the drug consignment in Nigeria.

Reacting to the incident, the NDLEA said the suspect’s attempt to improve his financial status through drug trafficking ended in failure.

In a post on its official X account, the agency stated:

“After 15 years of working as an okada rider in Lagos, this individual decides he needed to forcefully upgrade and change his social status by joining a transnational drug trafficking organisation.”

“That dream has not only crumbled now but is ending in premium tears following his arrest at the Lagos airport by NDLEA officers after excreting a whopping 100 wraps of methamphetamine he ingested in far away Uganda.”

The anti-narcotics agency also released a video showing aspects of the arrest and recovery process, describing the operation as evidence of its sustained intelligence-led strategy against international drug trafficking.

The latest arrest comes amid intensified surveillance by the NDLEA at Nigeria’s airports, seaports and land borders as the agency continues to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates using the country as a transit route or destination for illicit narcotics.

The agency has repeatedly warned Nigerians against participating in drug trafficking, noting that criminal organisations often lure unsuspecting individuals with promises of quick financial gains, only for them to face arrest, prosecution and possible imprisonment.

Security experts say the use of human couriers who swallow illicit drugs remains one of the most dangerous methods employed by international drug traffickers because of the significant health risks involved, including poisoning, internal injury and death if the drug packages rupture inside the body.

The suspect is expected to be charged in court after investigations are concluded in accordance with the provisions of the NDLEA Act and other applicable laws governing drug-related offences in Nigeria.

Former okada rider excretes 100 wraps of methamphetamine after arrest at Lagos airport

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Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara

Published

3 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Yellow

Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara

Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Yellow has been killed in Zamfara State in what marks another significant development in the fight against banditry in Nigeria’s North-West.

The feared gang leader, who was linked to a series of deadly attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling operations across parts of Zamfara State, was reportedly killed in Anka Local Government Area.

However, conflicting accounts have emerged over the circumstances surrounding his death.

One report claimed that Sani Yellow was ambushed and shot dead at Dan Jibga Market by gunmen allegedly loyal to rival bandit kingpin Dogo Gide. The incident is believed to be connected to the growing power struggle among criminal gangs operating in the state, as rival factions continue to battle for dominance.

Another account attributed his death to a coordinated offensive by Nigerian security forces, supported by members of the Maiduguri Special Vigilantes deployed to reinforce ongoing counter-banditry operations in Zamfara. The operation was said to be part of sustained efforts to dismantle armed groups and eliminate high-profile criminal commanders.

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Kachalla Sani Yellow was widely regarded as one of the most influential bandit commanders in the Anka, Bukkuyum and Maru axes of Zamfara State. He was allegedly responsible for numerous attacks on rural communities, mass abductions for ransom, cattle rustling and violent raids that displaced thousands of residents.

His death is expected to weaken the operational capacity of his network, although security analysts have warned that splinter groups may launch reprisal attacks or seek to reorganise under new leadership.

As of the time of filing this report, Nigerian security agencies had yet to issue an official statement confirming the exact circumstances surrounding the bandit leader’s death.

Security operations have, however, continued across Zamfara and neighbouring states as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle remaining criminal networks and restore peace to communities affected by years of armed violence.

Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara

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BREAKING: 10 Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities

Published

4 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Tragedy in Benue as Woman Allegedly Sets Boyfriend’s Two Daughters Ablaze Over Suspected Infidelity

BREAKING: Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities

No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead following separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The latest wave of violence began on Saturday when the attackers reportedly invaded Akpachi village in the Ugboju community, killing two residents and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.

Less than 24 hours later, in the early hours of Sunday, the gunmen allegedly struck again, this time attacking the Otukpo Nobi community, where eight more people were killed while many others sustained injuries.

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The renewed attacks sparked protests by angry youths and residents, who marched to the palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo to express their frustration over the deteriorating security situation. The demonstrators called on both the Benue State Government and federal authorities to take urgent steps to end the recurring violence in the area.

The latest killings have heightened tension across Otukpo and surrounding communities, with many residents expressing fears over continued attacks and the apparent inability of security agencies to prevent them.

The incident comes barely one month after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, who were attacked and killed around Okwudu in Otukpo Local Government Area after attending a peace meeting in neighbouring Ohimini Local Government Area.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attacks or confirm whether any arrests had been made. Meanwhile, residents have appealed for increased security presence in the affected communities to prevent further loss of lives.