Man Arrested For Killing Okada Rider Over Four-Year Grudge

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, identified as Adebayo, for the alleged murder of a commercial motorcyclist, Tiamiyu Afeez, in what authorities described as a premeditated attack linked to a grievance dating back four years.

The suspect was apprehended by detectives from the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Osogbo, on Saturday, April 18, about two months after the victim was killed. Police also confirmed the recovery of the deceased’s stolen motorcycle.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the case began after the victim was declared missing by his family on February 23, 2026, after leaving home on February 21 for his commercial motorcycle work and failing to return.

He said the family later received information that an unidentified male corpse had been discovered along the Ojo/Ara-Ejigbo road, with the throat slit. The body was later identified as that of Afeez, prompting a full murder investigation which was transferred to the SCID in Osogbo for further action.

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Police said intelligence-led investigation and technical analysis eventually led to the arrest of the suspect, while the victim’s stolen Bajaj motorcycle and two ignition keys were recovered from him.

According to investigators, Adebayo allegedly lured the victim through phone contact and arranged to meet him in a remote area under the guise of transportation. He was said to have attacked the victim mid-journey, slit his throat with a knife, and fled with the motorcycle.

The suspect reportedly confessed that he disposed of the weapon and the victim’s phone after the attack to avoid detection.

In his account, Adebayo admitted killing the victim but said the act was motivated by a long-standing personal grievance. He claimed that four years earlier, the victim had accused him of wrongdoing and taken him to a police station, where he was detained and later released.

He alleged that during the incident, some of his belongings, including phones and money, were not returned, which he said caused him hardship and resentment over time.

The suspect further explained that he contacted the victim in February and arranged a meeting before leading him to a secluded bush path where he carried out the attack. He said he struck from behind with a knife, leading to a struggle between them.

He added that the victim attempted to escape but was eventually overpowered, after which he fled the scene. He also said he initially used the motorcycle but later abandoned it due to fear of being arrested.

The police confirmed the recovery of the stolen motorcycle and said it would serve as evidence in court proceedings alongside other exhibits gathered during investigation.

DSP Ojelabi stated that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigations, adding that the Command remains committed to ensuring justice in the case.

Security officials also warned against taking the law into one’s hands, stressing that grievances should be addressed through lawful and proper channels rather than acts of violence.

As of the time of filing this report, the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

Man Arrested For Killing Okada Rider Over Four-Year Grudge

2027: Support Tinubu For Stability, Omokri, FFK Tell Nigerians

Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, and ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, have openly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians across political and regional lines to support his second-term bid.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the duo declared Tinubu as their preferred candidate for the next election cycle, arguing that maintaining the North-South power rotation arrangement remains critical to Nigeria’s unity, stability and democratic continuity.

According to them, the zoning understanding introduced at the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999 has helped reduce political tension and preserve national balance since the return to civilian rule.

“In view of recent political events, it has become necessary and expedient for us, Ambassadors Designate Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Mr Bemigho Reno Omokri, to state categorically that we believe it is in the best interest of the stability, unity, and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in keeping with the Gentleman’s Agreement which ushered in our Fourth Republic in 1999, for there to be a balanced and orderly rotation of power in Nigeria between the North and the South,” the statement read.

The two political figures argued that Northern Nigeria had already completed two uninterrupted presidential terms under former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023, insisting that fairness and political balance require the South to complete a similar eight-year cycle under Tinubu.

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“We further affirm that, having completed and made full and unfettered use of two terms of four years under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Northern Nigeria had its full, uninterrupted and undisturbed tenure in this power rotation arrangement,” they stated.

They warned that attempts to return presidential power to the North after only one southern term could destabilise the country’s delicate political balance and create unnecessary regional tension.

According to Omokri and Fani-Kayode, Tinubu also played a major role in supporting Buhari’s emergence in 2015 and therefore deserves reciprocal political backing from northern stakeholders.

“We are of the opinion that one good turn deserves another and that one good term deserves another,” they added.

The duo further praised Tinubu’s economic policies and infrastructure agenda, claiming that the administration has already recorded measurable progress despite prevailing economic hardship and criticism from opposition figures.

They credited the current administration with achieving 12 consecutive quarters of Gross Domestic Product growth, improved trade balances and increased investor confidence.

Omokri and Fani-Kayode also referenced reports projecting Nigeria as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies by contribution to global GDP expansion in 2025.

The statement highlighted several flagship infrastructure projects being executed under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Illela-Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and the proposed Trans-Saharan Road corridor expected to improve trade and connectivity between northern and southern Nigeria.

According to them, continuity in leadership would accelerate the implementation of the projects and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term economic prospects.

Drawing comparisons with Switzerland’s political power-sharing culture, the duo urged Nigerian politicians to embrace zoning and rotational leadership as tools for national stability and peaceful coexistence.

They argued that countries with structured political balancing mechanisms often enjoy stronger democratic institutions and reduced regional conflict.

“If we all extend the right hand of fellowship to President Bola Tinubu, we will, with the help of God, collectively see Nigeria become a $1 trillion economy by 2031,” the statement added.

Their endorsement comes amid growing political realignments and early consultations ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties and coalition groups already intensifying discussions over possible alliances against the ruling APC.

The public declaration by Omokri and Fani-Kayode has generated mixed reactions across political circles, especially given their previous criticism of Tinubu and the APC before their recent alignment with the current administration.

Political analysts believe the endorsement could further energise pro-Tinubu mobilisation efforts while also reigniting debate over zoning, equity and regional power rotation ahead of the next presidential election.

2027: Support Tinubu For Stability, Omokri, FFK Tell Nigerians

Nigerian Doctor, Wife Slammed With Nearly $1m Fine Over Illegal Tree Cutting In California

A Nigerian-born medical practitioner in the United States, Matthew Bernard, and his wife, Lynn Warner, have been ordered to pay nearly $1 million after authorities in Oakland, California, found them guilty of illegally cutting down dozens of protected trees around their property.

The couple was hit with a massive fine of $915,135.40 following a heated public hearing before the Oakland City Council on Tuesday. The sanction stemmed from the removal of 38 protected trees between 2021 and 2022 on and around their property located on Claremont Avenue in the Oakland Hills area of California.

According to reports by American media outlets including KQED and the San Francisco Chronicle, the trees included mature coast live oaks, buckeyes and broad-leaf maples protected under Oakland’s environmental laws.

Residents in the area strongly opposed the tree removals, insisting the dense canopy played a major role in wildfire prevention, erosion control, environmental stability and public health. During the council hearing, more than 20 community members reportedly urged city officials to strictly enforce the city’s tree preservation regulations.

City authorities said Bernard and Warner failed to obtain the necessary permits before cutting down the trees. Officials also claimed the couple ignored repeated warnings issued by city workers and police officers during the period the trees were being removed.

Investigators further alleged that some of the trees were located on neighbouring properties and city-owned land, escalating the severity of the case.

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Defending their actions, Bernard told the council that the trees were either “dead, dying, leaning,” or in a “hazardous condition.” He maintained that the removals were carried out based on recommendations from a professional arborist and were necessary to reduce wildfire risks around the property.

The couple also disputed the number of trees allegedly removed, arguing that some had already fallen before they acquired the property while others collapsed during storms.

Despite the explanation, Oakland officials rejected the defence and proceeded with the financial penalty, describing the environmental impact as severe and long-lasting.

Community tree specialist Erys Gagnez told the council that replacing trees of such magnitude would take decades, if not centuries.

“Trees of that size are not commercially available for replacement. Even with replanting, it will take decades, even centuries, to restore the ecological and protective functions that were lost,” Gagnez said.

Authorities have also placed a lien on the property, meaning Bernard and Warner may be unable to sell, develop or secure permits for the land until the fine is fully settled.

The development has sparked debate within Oakland’s political circles, with some council members insisting the punishment was necessary to deter environmental violations, while others questioned whether the fine was excessively harsh.

Councilmember Janani Ramachandran defended the sanction, stating that Oakland’s identity and environmental safety depended heavily on preserving its tree population.

However, another council member, Carroll Fife, reportedly questioned whether the enforcement process had been applied fairly, noting concerns about unequal treatment in previous environmental cases.

The case has continued to attract widespread attention online due to the size of the fine and the environmental implications surrounding the illegal removal of protected trees in California.

Nigerian Doctor, Wife Slammed With Nearly $1m Fine Over Illegal Tree Cutting In California