Reconciliation: I’ve no running battle with Tinubu – Bode George
Following his prolonged frosty relationship with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, weekend, said he bears no grudge against the former Lagos State governor.
False Bandit Attack Alert Triggers School Closures in Six Osun LGAs
The rumour of bandits’ invasion of some parts of Osun State, particularly Ikirun and Ila, on Tuesday led to a widespread panic across the state, forcing both public and private schools to abruptly shut down and driving both students and teachers home in fear. Communities across the state were thrown into serious panic upon receiving information that suspected bandits had allegedly dropped a threatening letter to one of the public schools in the area. What began as a single unverified report quickly escalated into a full-blown security scare, affecting thousands of students, parents, and teachers across multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The fear originated in Ikirun and rapidly spread to neighbouring communities including Obaagun, Iree, Eripa, Otan Ayegbaju in Boluwaduro Local Government Area, and Ila-Orangun in Ila Local Government Area. Some public and private schools in Ila, Odo Otin, Boripe, Ede, Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas shut down before 11am following the rumour. Students from several schools were seen running out of premises in fear, with viral videos on social media showing the chaotic scenes. Affected schools included the Community Second Grammar School, Obaagun; NUD in Iree; Kidvarc in Iree; Baptist Day School, Iree; and schools in Eripa, Otan-Ayegbaju, Ila-Orangun, Osogbo and Owode Ede. At Sasa Area, Oke Baale, Osogbo, many parents stormed a public primary school to pick up their children as the rumour spread. A similar situation unfolded in Eweta Area, a community located along the Ikirun-Inisa Road, where many parents rushed to schools to collect their children before the official closing time. Some private schools in Osogbo reportedly began calling parents directly, asking them to come and retrieve their children as a precautionary measure.
Investigations into the incident revealed that the panic originated from the Ila Orangun axis early on Tuesday morning. According to security sources, some residents claimed that a schoolgirl had been abducted at Faaje village along Oyan Road in Ila Orangun. This unverified report quickly spread through Ila Local Government Area and the neighbouring Oyan community in Odo Otin Local Government Area, fuelling widespread fear across multiple communities. However, further checks by security agencies later discovered the claim was entirely false. The girl in question was reportedly found to have gone into hiding simply to avoid going to school that day. But by the time the truth emerged, the damage had already been done – the rumour had spread like wildfire across communities in Ila and Oyan, triggering a cascade of panic that shut down schools in at least six LGAs.
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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, swiftly responded to the situation, dismissing the rumoured bandit invasion as a “false alarm” and urging residents to remain calm. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the rumour as the handiwork of “evil opposition elements” seeking to plunge the state into chaos. “I task our people to go about their normal activities without fear. Our government has taken steps to secure our schools. The Ministry of Education and the relevant security agencies have worked out a security strategy that is being implemented,” Adeleke stated. The governor reiterated that parents and guardians should not panic, confirming that fact checks from border areas and across the state confirmed no case of kidnappings had occurred. He insisted that the alarm was false and deliberately orchestrated by opposition elements.
Governor Adeleke also used the opportunity to highlight his administration’s efforts to strengthen school security across the state. He disclosed that the state’s Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) , which were inherited in a “knocked down” condition from the previous administration, have been fully refurbished and are ready for deployment to deal with any security threats. “The Oyetola administration inherited the APCs from the Aregbesola administration. The last administration however left them to rot. My government has rehabilitated them and the public will soon witness a new security plan to strengthen the security of lives and properties in Osun State,” the governor noted. He warned against incitement to criminal conduct by evil elements, adding that the local intelligence network is actively monitoring border towns and identified hotspots. “No stone will be left unturned to guarantee the security of our schools, our pupils, residents, citizens and properties,” Adeleke added.
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The Osun State Police Command also weighed in on the incident, issuing a strong warning against the circulation of false and misleading reports alleging a bandit invasion. In a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the Command described the reports as “unfounded, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary panic, fear, and tension” among law-abiding residents. The statement noted that “extensive intelligence gathering and security assessments conducted by the Command have not substantiated the claims being circulated” . CP Gotan warned individuals and groups involved in the deliberate creation, publication and dissemination of false security information to desist immediately. He stated that “the spread of unverified information undermines public confidence and poses a threat to public peace and security across the state” . The police advised residents to verify security-related information through official channels before sharing it, adding that anyone found spreading false information capable of causing public disorder would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law. The Command reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging them to remain calm, vigilant and continue their lawful activities without fear. It added that security agencies remained on alert, with covert operatives and Violent Crime Response personnel deployed across the state.
Meanwhile, the development has reignited calls from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) for improved security in schools located in remote and border communities. Babalola Babatunde, Chairman of the NUT in Osun State, disclosed that the state Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, had called an emergency security meeting following discussions with the union. “Schools near forests and border communities are often far from urban centers, making them vulnerable targets for bandits and kidnappers. It shouldn’t be a crime to be a teacher,” Babatunde stated. The union has requested additional security personnel to be deployed to schools in border villages, including officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) , the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) .
Following the kidnapping of some students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, Governor Adeleke had earlier ordered the immediate revitalisation of the Safe School Initiative in Osun. Adeleke said the revitalisation of the initiative was a proactive measure aimed at preventing any spillover effects of the incident in Oyo State into Osun. The governor also directed intensified intelligence gathering in rural and border communities and announced stronger collaboration between the Amotekun Corps and community peace organisations. The nationwide crisis stems from the abduction of about 39 students and seven teachers across three schools in Oriire LGA of Oyo State, which has prompted the NUT to direct all state chapters to hold solidarity rallies nationwide demanding the unconditional release of abducted teachers and learners.
INEC Identifies Staff Member in Voter Data Leak as DSS Opens Separate Investigation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that a staff member with authorized access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database is under investigation over the alleged unauthorized disclosure of a voter’s personal record linked to a candidate in a recent political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The electoral commission disclosed this on Tuesday amid growing public concern over reports that sensitive voter information had been accessed and circulated outside official channels, sparking questions about the security of Nigeria’s voter database.
In a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC said preliminary findings from its internal investigation indicate that the incident did not result from a cyberattack, hacking operation, or any external compromise of its information technology systems.
According to the commission, an extensive audit trail review revealed that the voter information was accessed using valid login credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
“Preliminary findings from the Commission’s audit trail so far indicate that there was no external breach of the CVR database, no hacking incident, and no unauthorized external access to the Commission’s ICT infrastructure. Rather, the information in question was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing CVR exercise but released without authority,” Haruna stated.
INEC explained that registration officers involved in the nationwide CVR exercise are granted restricted and monitored access to specific sections of the database to perform official functions, including voter registration, transfers, corrections, and updates. Such access, the commission said, is time-bound, supervised, and subject to withdrawal once the exercise concludes.
The commission disclosed that its digital audit system successfully traced the access to a specific user account, enabling investigators to identify the individual involved. Officials said the staff member and other relevant personnel have already been questioned and are cooperating fully with investigators.
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INEC added that a broader review of its technical, administrative, and operational safeguards is currently underway to determine whether internal security protocols were violated and whether additional personnel may have played a role in the unauthorized disclosure.
The commission stressed that the incident involved only a single voter record and should not be interpreted as a compromise of the national voter database. According to INEC, the personal data of more than 90 million registered voters remains secure and unaffected.
“The incident under investigation relates to the retrieval of a specific voter record and does not indicate any compromise of the Commission’s broader voter registration infrastructure,” the statement emphasized.
The controversy emerged after screenshots allegedly containing confidential voter registration details surfaced online and were linked to a candidate who participated in a recent party primary election in the FCT. The disclosure generated widespread debate on social media, with some commentators alleging that INEC’s database had been hacked.
However, the commission insisted that its findings so far point to an internal misuse of authorized access rather than any breach of its cybersecurity architecture.
In a significant development, INEC confirmed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has opened a separate investigation into the matter. According to the commission, the DSS initiated its inquiry independently and has begun gathering evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding the disclosure.
INEC said it is providing full cooperation to the security agency and has made relevant records available to investigators. The commission also assured Nigerians that any individual found culpable would face disciplinary measures and possible legal consequences in line with applicable laws and regulations.
The electoral body further reiterated its commitment to protecting voter information and maintaining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. It noted that safeguarding citizens’ personal data remains a critical component of its digital transformation and election management strategy.
As investigations continue, INEC has urged members of the public, political stakeholders, and media organizations to avoid speculation and allow investigators to complete their work.
The commission promised to make public the outcome of both its internal review and the DSS investigation, including any disciplinary actions, reforms, or corrective measures that may arise from the findings.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over data privacy, insider threats, and cybersecurity within public institutions, with observers calling for stronger access controls, enhanced monitoring systems, and stricter accountability mechanisms to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
VIDEO: Four Killed, Several Injured as Gunmen Attack Soludo Aide’s Convoy
The Chief of Staff to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Ben Nwankwo, narrowly escaped death after suspected gunmen launched a deadly attack on his convoy along the Amansea–Ndiukwuenu–Awa–Ufuma Road in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, leaving four people dead and several others injured.
The attack occurred on Sunday night between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. as Nwankwo was returning to Awka after representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo at an official engagement. According to reports, the gunmen had reportedly laid an ambush in nearby bushes before opening heavy fire on the convoy and other road users travelling along the route.
The sudden attack triggered a fierce gun battle between the assailants and security operatives attached to the governor’s aide. Despite the intensity of the exchange, Nwankwo escaped unhurt, while members of his entourage suffered casualties.
Authorities confirmed that two police officers attached to the convoy and two civilian aides lost their lives during the attack. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to medical facilities for treatment.
Videos circulating on social media showed a police patrol vehicle riddled with bullets and scenes of chaos following the attack. Residents of nearby communities reportedly fled for safety as prolonged gunfire echoed across the area, causing widespread panic.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over security in parts of Anambra State, particularly along strategic roads connecting communities in the state. Security experts say the attack highlights the growing sophistication of criminal gangs operating in the region.
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Reacting to the incident, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Orientation, Dr. Law Mefor, expressed condolences to the families of those killed and described the attack as a tragic development.
Mefor assured residents that security agencies had already commenced investigations and would spare no effort in identifying and apprehending those responsible for the ambush.
“The government remains committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property. Those behind this attack will be brought to justice,” he said.
The attack also prompted an emergency response from the Anambra State Police Command. Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, convened a security meeting with senior officers and tactical commanders, directing an immediate manhunt for the perpetrators.
The police chief reportedly issued a 48-hour operational directive to security formations across the state, urging them to intensify intelligence gathering and coordinate efforts aimed at tracking down the attackers.
He described the killing of the police officers and civilians as an assault on the state’s security architecture and vowed that law enforcement agencies would not relent until those responsible were arrested.
Security agencies have since intensified patrols and surveillance operations across the Amansea–Ufuma corridor and surrounding communities. Authorities are also investigating reports that some criminal groups disguise themselves in security uniforms to evade detection and carry out attacks.
The latest incident comes amid ongoing efforts by the Soludo administration to tackle insecurity and criminal activities in Anambra State. While government officials insist that security operations have recorded successes in recent months, the ambush has renewed calls for stronger measures to protect residents and travellers.
As investigations continue, residents and road users have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies. Meanwhile, attention remains focused on efforts to identify the attackers and prevent similar incidents in the future.
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