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Osun Guber: IGP Deploys New Election CP as INEC Identifies 11 Flashpoint LGAs
Osun Guber: IGP Deploys New Election CP as INEC Identifies 11 Flashpoint LGAs
- CP Erale Samuel Etaifo takes over security operations for August 15 poll as former CP Gotan is redeployed to Force Headquarters amid neutrality concerns.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has deployed a new Commissioner of Police in charge of Elections, CP Erale Samuel Etaifo, to Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The deployment comes as part of measures to strengthen security arrangements and ensure the neutrality of security agencies during the poll. In a statement signed by the Osun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Police said the deployment reflects the Inspector-General’s commitment to neutrality, professionalism, and adherence to democratic principles throughout the election. CP Etaifo will oversee the entire security architecture for the poll and coordinate election security operations with other security agencies and stakeholders.
CP Etaifo’s deployment follows the redeployment of the former Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on special duty. His redeployment was conveyed in a police wireless message issued by the Force Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday and marked “Most Immediate,” with a directive for immediate implementation. The move comes after persistent calls from the state government and civil society organisations for Gotan’s removal over allegations of partisanship. The Accord Party had accused the police of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation against its members and top government officials ahead of the election. According to the party, about 100 Accord leaders, candidates, members, and supporters across the state have been arrested and detained by the police, with some reportedly moved to Abuja. However, a senior police source clarified that the redeployment was not linked to any specific allegation against CP Gotan and that he may be redeployed back to the state after the election. Sources familiar with the development also noted that Erale’s posting came shortly after his promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police, having been decorated with his new rank on July 21.
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According to the Osun Command, CP Etaifo will ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act, the Code of Conduct for Security Personnel on Electoral Duty, and other extant laws guiding the electoral process. The police assured residents that comprehensive security measures have been put in place across the state to protect lives, property, and critical electoral materials before, during, and after the election. All officers deployed for election duty have been directed to remain impartial, professional, and respectful of the rights of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation. The Command also issued a strong warning to political actors and their supporters, stating that electoral violence, vote buying, voter intimidation, the spread of misinformation, and any other form of criminality will be met with the full weight of the law. Residents were urged to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security agencies, and report any suspicious activities through the Command’s emergency channels. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to providing a level playing field for all political parties and ensuring that the will of the people prevails through a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has reiterated that INEC has no preferred candidate for the election, assuring that the Commission will provide a level playing field for all candidates and parties. He urged residents to come out en masse and vote, assuring that adequate security will be provided. “The Independent National Electoral Commission has no preferred candidate, holds no political allegiance, and seeks no outcome other than the lawful choice of the electorate. Our sole loyalty is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” Amupitan said at a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo. During a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Amupitan declared that the next governor of Osun State would emerge through the ballot and not through violence. “We don’t want violence. And the blood of every Osun citizen is not worth to be shed, just for the purpose of election to the office of the governor,” he said. The INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission had identified 11 Local Government Areas as potential flashpoints that would receive specialised, high-visibility security deployment. These include Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun, and Oriade local government areas. “Security forces have been issued strict operational directives to neutralise thuggery, cult activities, and any attempt at ballot disruption, while maintaining absolute professional neutrality,” Amupitan stated.
According to INEC, the election will feature 2,339,233 registered voters spread across 30 Local Government Areas, 332 Registration Areas (Wards), and 3,763 Polling Units in the state. Fourteen political parties will participate in the contest. A total of 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices have been customised and deployed for the election, including 664 dedicated backup units representing a 15% operational reserve. All polling unit result sheets (Form EC8A) will be scanned and uploaded directly from the polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), guaranteeing public transparency from the moment voting closes. The Commission also announced that a statewide Mock Accreditation Exercise is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, 2026, across 12 selected Local Government Areas to test its preparedness ahead of the governorship election.
Osun Guber: IGP Deploys New Election CP as INEC Identifies 11 Flashpoint LGAs
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Fire Guts Lagos Workshop, Destroys 21 Exotic Cars, Sparks Fears Over Petrol Station
Fire Guts Lagos Workshop, Destroys 21 Exotic Cars, Sparks Fears Over Petrol Station
A fire outbreak at a mechanical workshop in the Isheri-Idimu area of Lagos State has left 21 exotic vehicles destroyed, raising fresh concerns about fire safety in automobile workshops operating close to petrol stations and residential buildings.
The inferno, which broke out at about 3.05am on Friday, October 30, along Oladunni Street, beside Eternal Filling Station in the Alimosho Local Government Area, engulfed a workshop where several high-value vehicles were reportedly parked.
The situation triggered fears among residents and business operators in the neighbourhood as the flames threatened to spread to the adjoining filling station, raising the possibility of a much bigger disaster.
However, the timely intervention of emergency responders prevented the fire from reaching the petrol station and nearby buildings, although a section of a neighbouring building sustained minor damage.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that about 21 exotic vehicles were affected in the incident, while assuring residents that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
In a statement, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said its Dolphin Response Team, stationed at Igando, was immediately activated following a distress call.
He explained that the team arrived at the scene and discovered that the workshop had been engulfed by fire, with several luxury vehicles parked within the premises.
The emergency operation involved personnel of LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the coordinated intervention of the agencies helped contain the fire and prevented it from spreading to the nearby filling station and surrounding structures.
He said the fire had been completely extinguished and damping-down operations concluded, adding that preliminary assessment indicated that 21 exotic vehicles were affected.
The LASEMA boss commended the emergency responders for their swift intervention, which he said prevented what could have developed into a major disaster.
Questions over fire service response
Meanwhile, developments surrounding the incident have generated concerns beyond the immediate destruction of the vehicles, particularly over the circumstances surrounding the emergency response.
A report by TELL Magazine, published on Saturday, cited allegations by some witnesses that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service initially arrived at the scene with an empty water tank.
The allegation, which has not been independently verified, raises questions about the adequacy of emergency firefighting preparedness, particularly in densely populated areas where workshops, commercial facilities and fuel stations operate in close proximity.
However, no official response from the fire service addressing the allegation was available at the time of filing this report.
There have also been reports of suspicions among some residents and affected customers about the possible cause of the fire, including suggestions of arson. However, no evidence has been established to substantiate these claims, and the cause of the outbreak remains undetermined.
The full extent of the damage to the affected vehicles, their individual owners and the financial implications of the incident have also not been officially established.
Fresh concerns over workshop safety
The incident has once again drawn attention to fire safety challenges in Nigeria’s automobile servicing and repair industry, particularly workshops where expensive vehicles are kept alongside fuel, lubricants, solvents, electrical equipment and other potentially combustible materials.
Automobile workshops routinely handle inflammable substances, including petrol, diesel, engine oil, transmission fluids and cleaning chemicals. Electrical faults, welding activities, poor storage practices and inadequate firefighting equipment can also increase the risk of fire outbreaks.
The danger becomes more pronounced when such facilities operate close to petrol stations and residential buildings, where an uncontrolled fire could quickly escalate into a major emergency.
Industry stakeholders have consistently stressed the importance of proper workshop layout, electrical maintenance, safe storage of combustible materials, functional fire extinguishers and adequate access for emergency vehicles.
The Isheri-Idimu incident also highlights the vulnerability of customers’ vehicles left in the custody of automobile workshops for repairs, servicing and maintenance, with questions likely to arise over insurance coverage and compensation for damaged property.
While LASEMA urged residents, particularly mechanical workshop operators, to observe safety precautions when handling inflammable materials, the incident underscores the need for stronger enforcement of fire safety standards and periodic inspections of high-risk business premises.
The agency also advised members of the public to report emergencies promptly through Lagos State’s toll-free emergency numbers, 767 and 112.
Although the swift intervention of emergency responders prevented the flames from reaching Eternal Filling Station, the destruction involving 21 exotic vehicles serves as another reminder of the potentially devastating consequences of fire outbreaks in commercial and residential neighbourhoods.
For the affected vehicle owners and customers, attention will now turn to establishing the cause of the fire, determining the extent of their losses and addressing the question of compensation.
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₦50,000 Monthly Relief: FG Begins Cash Payments to Vulnerable Nigerians
The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of ₦50,000 cash assistance to vulnerable Nigerians under a new intervention aimed at helping low-income households cope with rising food prices and the increasing cost of living.
The initiative, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction as part of efforts to provide financial support to households facing economic hardship.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the programme on Friday, October 30, 2026, explaining that the intervention was designed to provide immediate relief to eligible Nigerians.
According to the minister, the ₦50,000 cash support is intended to help beneficiaries meet essential household expenses amid persistent increases in the prices of food and other basic commodities.
He said the programme was introduced in response to the pressure of global food inflation and the rising cost of living, which have continued to affect the purchasing power of many households.
The government said the intervention would be reviewed periodically in response to changes in economic conditions, with beneficiaries expected to receive direct communication about any adjustments.
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Under the payment arrangement, the ministry is working with approved digital financial service providers to ensure that the funds reach selected beneficiaries through secure channels.
The programme’s official website lists ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB and NairaGram as approved payment providers. Beneficiaries are expected to receive text messages from the providers and give their consent before the funds are transferred to their accounts or mobile wallets.
The government said beneficiaries would not need to pay any fee, register through an agent or submit an application to access the intervention.
Selection is expected to be based on verified national identity records and information in the National Social Register, which is used to identify poor and vulnerable households.
The ministry also warned Nigerians to be cautious of fraudsters seeking to exploit the cash transfer programme by demanding payments or requesting confidential banking details.
Doro urged beneficiaries not to disclose their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to anyone claiming to facilitate their payments.
He advised Nigerians who receive suspicious messages or are asked to pay money before accessing the support to contact the programme’s official helpline on 0700-022-2222 for clarification.
The intervention is expected to complement existing social protection programmes and other government efforts to cushion the impact of economic hardship on low-income households.
However, there is an important discrepancy over how frequently the ₦50,000 will be paid. Although the minister’s announcement describes the support as a monthly payment, the programme’s official website currently identifies it as a one-off grant.
The ministry should therefore clarify whether beneficiaries will receive the money every month or only once under the current intervention.
For now, Nigerians are advised to rely on official government announcements and verified messages from approved payment providers for information about eligibility and disbursement.
₦50,000 Monthly Relief: FG Begins Cash Payments to Vulnerable Nigerians
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Zamfara Kidnap: Three Imams Regain Freedom After Weeks in Captivity, Three Others Still Held
Zamfara Kidnap: Three Imams Regain Freedom After Weeks in Captivity, Three Others Still Held
Three Islamic clerics abducted by armed bandits in Zamfara State have regained their freedom after spending several weeks in captivity, following a joint security operation involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Police Force.
However, three other clerics abducted alongside them on September 12, 2026, are still being held by their captors, with security agencies intensifying efforts to secure their release.
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Bello, confirmed the rescue on Friday, October 30, during an interview with journalists in Gusau.
Bello said the operation was successful because of the collaboration among the security agencies, which combined intelligence gathering and coordinated tactical operations to locate and rescue the victims.
He explained that the operation involved the ONSA, DSS and police operatives, adding that security personnel were continuing efforts to track down the armed bandits responsible for the abduction.
According to the police commissioner, intelligence supplied by residents and members of affected communities had also been useful in the ongoing operations.
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The rescued clerics were among six Islamic scholars kidnapped on September 12 while travelling to Talata Mafara in Zamfara State.
The victims were reportedly intercepted by heavily armed bandits at about 11:30 a.m. along the Dakko-Damri feeder road near Sububu Forest in Bakura Local Government Area, approximately three kilometres from Damri village.
The clerics were travelling to attend a special prayer gathering organised for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor and Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari.
The gathering was intended to offer prayers for the success of Tinubu’s administration and political future ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Following the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of N30 million for the release of the clerics.
The incident generated concern among their families, religious communities and residents of Zamfara, particularly as the victims remained in captivity for weeks.
A senior security operative involved in the rescue operation said the three clerics were freed unharmed following intelligence-led security manoeuvres.
They subsequently underwent medical examinations and security debriefing and were reported to be in stable condition.
Security operatives said arrangements were being made to formally hand them over to the Zamfara State Government for reunion with their families.
Meanwhile, the police commissioner said operations would continue until the remaining three clerics were rescued and those responsible for the abduction were brought to justice.
He urged residents to provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist in tracking criminal groups operating across the state.
The rescue comes amid persistent security challenges in Zamfara and other parts of north-western Nigeria, where armed groups have continued to carry out kidnappings, attacks on communities and other violent crimes.
The latest development has brought relief to the families of the three rescued clerics, although uncertainty remains over the fate of those still in captivity.
Security agencies have assured that efforts to secure their freedom remain ongoing.
Zamfara Kidnap: Three Imams Regain Freedom After Weeks in Captivity, Three Others Still Held
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