An official of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara State, Saheed Aweda, has been killed and three others injured after they were ambushed by suspected smugglers.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chado Zakari, on behalf of the Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 3, said the officers were attacked along Sinau-Kenu Road in the Baruten Local Government Area of the state.
Aweda was said to have been buried according to Islamic rites in his home town in Popogbona in the Ilorin West LGA of the state.
The statement explained that the officers were on a routine patrol and had recovered some contraband goods when they were attacked.
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The statement read in part, “JBPT Sector 3 operatives on information patrol along Sinau-Kenu Road in Baruten LGA of Kwara State intercepted 40 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50kg each, and 30 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, 25 litres each, abandoned on the bush path, Sinau-Kenu Road.
“The operatives immediately swung into action and removed the seized items into their operational vehicles for onward delivery to a government warehouse for safe-keeping in line with rules of engagement. While on transit, a group of hoodlums laid ambush and attacked our personnel with guns, stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items.
“The hoodlums shot sporadically at the officers. In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while three officers sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in a hospital.”
The statement said the Coordinator, JBPT, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, representatives of the Department State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigerian Immigration Service and other security agencies had visited and commiserated with the family of the deceased.
Punch
Tension erupted on Wednesday in Osogbo as protesters stormed the Osun State High Court over the ongoing dispute involving Osun State local government funds and alleged non-compliance with court rulings on the release and control of allocations.
The demonstrators, who marched from the Government House axis to the court premises at Lameco, demanded strict adherence to judicial pronouncements amid rising concerns over governance and legal authority in the Osun LG funds crisis.
The protest is linked to an ongoing legal battle involving allegations that a commercial bank released funds allegedly used in the reinstatement of All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen. The Osun State Government had initiated proceedings at the Magistrate Court over the matter.
However, the Osun State High Court in Osogbo, presided over by Justice Matthias Agboola, had earlier issued an ex parte order quashing the criminal proceedings against United Bank for Africa (UBA) and its officials at the Magistrate Court level.
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Despite the High Court ruling, proceedings were reportedly allowed to continue at the Magistrate Court, a development that triggered fresh protests by reinstated local government officials and their supporters.
Carrying placards with inscriptions calling for respect for court judgments, adherence to the rule of law, and protection of judicial integrity, the protesters accused relevant actors of disregarding valid court decisions.
Security operatives were deployed across the court premises to maintain order and prevent any breakdown of law and order as the demonstration unfolded.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Hon. Maaroof Ogundipe, representing reinstated council executives, warned that continued legal actions against bank officials despite higher court rulings could escalate into a broader constitutional crisis.
He also disclosed that the group may petition the National Judicial Council (NJC), arguing that the situation raises serious concerns about judicial compliance and institutional integrity.
“It is worrisome when court decisions appear to be undermined,” he said.
Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Olayanju Kolapo, also weighed in, stating that aspects of the dispute had already been addressed by earlier rulings, including a Supreme Court judgment delivered in December 2025.
He cautioned that continued disregard for court decisions could heighten political tensions and destabilise local government administration in Osun State.
The dispute over Osun local government allocations has continued to generate legal confrontations, competing interpretations of court orders, and political tension across council areas in the state.
Authorities are yet to issue an official response to Wednesday’s protest, but security presence around the High Court remained heavy throughout the demonstration.
Nigerian Air Force Releases BMTC 46/2025 Shortlist, Fixes Kaduna Interview Dates
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released the list of successful candidates for the Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 46/2025 selection board, marking the next phase of its ongoing NAF recruitment exercise for new airmen and airwomen.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, April 15, by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, the shortlist comprises candidates who passed the Zonal General Aptitude Test conducted across 15 Nigerian Air Force bases on December 5, 2025.
The Air Force said only candidates whose names appear on the official recruitment portal have been selected to proceed to the next stage of the process.
NAF confirmed that all shortlisted candidates are invited for the Selection Board Interview for Trades and Non-Tradesmen/Women, scheduled to hold at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna.
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The interview will run from April 27 to June 13, 2026, and candidates must report strictly according to their assigned batch schedules as published on the official portal.
The Air Force warned that failure to report on the specified dates will result in automatic disqualification from the recruitment process.
Candidates are advised to visit the official NAF recruitment portal at https://nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng/updates/ to:
NAF stressed that only information published on its official platform should be trusted.
The Nigerian Air Force reiterated that the entire NAF recruitment process is free of charge, warning applicants not to pay money to individuals or groups claiming to offer assistance.
It urged candidates to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities linked to recruitment scams.
The Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) is the entry-level training programme for recruits into the Nigerian Air Force, designed to prepare successful candidates for military service as airmen and airwomen.
The ongoing BMTC 46/2025 recruitment exercise follows a structured process including online application, aptitude testing, and final selection interviews before enlistment.
With the release of the shortlist, the recruitment exercise has entered its final phase, where candidates will undergo verification and interviews before final selection into the Force.
NAF urged all applicants to strictly follow official guidelines to avoid disqualification and ensure smooth participation in the selection process.
Video: Fayose Insists Makinde Plotting to Remove Olubadan of Ibadan
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has renewed his allegation that the Oyo State Government led by Seyi Makinde is planning to remove the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
The controversy began on Sunday when Fayose claimed that moves to dethrone the Olubadan of Ibadan would commence this week. However, both the Oyo State Government and the monarch dismissed the allegation, describing it as false, baseless, and unfounded.
Despite the official denials, Fayose has doubled down on his position.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, the former governor insisted that unfolding events would validate his claim, urging sceptics to remain observant.
“Those who are still in doubt about Governor Seyi Makinde’s plot to remove the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, should just keep their fingers crossed and follow unfolding events,” he stated.
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Fayose further alleged that after denying the plot, the state government had shifted narrative by accusing the Olubadan of planning to impeach Governor Makinde, as well as portraying the monarch as partisan—claims he said were meant to justify possible action against the traditional ruler.
The Oyo State Government has, however, maintained that there is no plan to remove the Olubadan, reiterating its respect for traditional institutions and the established chieftaincy system in Ibadan.
Similarly, the Olubadan, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has dismissed the allegation, noting that there is no crisis between the palace and the government that could warrant such action.
The development has sparked wider conversations around the relationship between political authorities and traditional institutions in Oyo State. The Olubadan stool, known for its stability and structured succession process, remains one of the most respected traditional systems in Nigeria.
Political observers warn that such allegations—whether proven or not—could heighten tensions, especially as early political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections in Nigeria begin to emerge.
For now, the situation remains a war of words, with no concrete evidence to support the claim, even as Fayose continues to insist that the public should “keep their fingers crossed.”
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has renewed his allegation that the Oyo State Government led by Seyi Makinde is planning to remove the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja
Raphinha | Seyi Vodi | Temi | Aregbesola | Remontada | Neymar pic.twitter.com/sQOOvcbuMY
— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) April 15, 2026
Video: Fayose Insists Makinde Plotting to Remove Olubadan of Ibadan
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