Troops of the Nigerian Army, working in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected kidnapper while allegedly collecting a ₦200,000 ransom from a female resident of Nasarawa State.

The suspect, identified as Mukaila Iliyasu, was apprehended at Akwaba in Eggon Local Government Area during an intelligence-led operation involving troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, and DSS personnel.

The arrest followed intelligence reports that Iliyasu had allegedly threatened to abduct a woman unless she paid him ₦200,000.

The Acting Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, confirmed the arrest in a statement.

According to the statement, DSS operatives alerted the military to the alleged threat on October 29, prompting a coordinated operation to track down the suspect and prevent the planned abduction.

As part of the operation, a soldier reportedly went undercover and posed as the person assigned to deliver the ransom.

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The security operatives subsequently arrested Iliyasu while he was allegedly collecting the money.

They also recovered ₦200,000, believed to be the ransom demanded from the intended victim.

The military described the operation as a successful intelligence-led intervention that prevented a possible kidnapping, highlighting the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling criminal activities.

Following his arrest, the suspect was handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding 5 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Kolo Gara, commended the troops and DSS operatives for their professionalism, courage and effective coordination during the operation.

Gara urged security personnel to sustain their collaboration and strengthen intelligence sharing to tackle kidnapping and other security threats across their areas of responsibility.

He also stressed the importance of continued inter-agency cooperation in protecting lives, safeguarding communities and maintaining peace across the region.

The deposed Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has instituted a legal action against Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking to stop the state government from appointing a new traditional ruler to replace him.

Oloyede, who was removed from the throne following his conviction for fraud-related offences in the United States, is challenging the legality of his deposition and asking an Osun State High Court to prevent the government from filling the vacant stool pending the determination of his suit.

The former monarch is listed as the second claimant in suit number HIF/50/2026, filed before the High Court sitting in Ile-Ife.

In a motion on notice dated September 16, 2026, Oloyede sought an interlocutory injunction restraining Adeleke and other government officials from taking steps to appoint another person as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu until the substantive case is determined.

He argued that the state government failed to formally notify him of any wrongdoing or give him an opportunity to respond before taking the decision to remove him from the traditional institution.

The monarch also challenged an instrument reportedly signed by Adeleke on May 7, 2026, which formalised his removal from the throne.

Oloyede maintained that the process leading to his deposition violated his right to fair hearing, insisting that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself against the allegations before the government acted.

Other claimants in the suit include Princes Oyewusi Adewusi, Isaac Adewuni and Abiodun Oyetoro. They instituted the action on behalf of themselves and other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.

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The defendants include Governor Adeleke, the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Afolabi Adedeji, the Asalu of Ipetumodu and head of the kingmakers, Chief Adesoye Babalola, the Malefon of Ipetumodu, and Ife North Local Government.

The latest court proceedings took place on Monday, November 2, 2026, but the hearing could not proceed because of disagreements over the service of hearing notices on the defendants.

Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and counsel representing the fifth defendant, Soji Oyetayo, appeared before the court.

Ogbewe informed the court that the defendants had been served with the relevant court processes.

However, Oyetayo disputed the claim, telling the court that he had not received the hearing notice. He consequently requested an adjournment to allow proper service on all parties.

In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the matter until January 21, 2027, directing that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.

The legal battle follows Oloyede’s conviction by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio over his involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving COVID-19 relief funds.

The former monarch was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment on August 26, 2025, after pleading guilty to offences involving wire fraud, filing false tax returns and conducting financial transactions involving proceeds of criminal activity.

The US court also ordered him to pay approximately $4.4 million in restitution.

Following the conviction, the Osun State Government initiated steps that culminated in his removal from the traditional stool.

Adeleke approved the deposition in May 2026 after the state government obtained a certified true copy of the American court judgment.

The administration said the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the traditional institution and subsequently declared the Apetumodu stool vacant.

However, Oloyede’s latest court action challenges the procedure adopted by the state government, particularly the circumstances surrounding his removal and the proposed appointment of a successor.

The outcome of the case could determine whether the state government’s action withstands judicial scrutiny and whether the process of installing a new Apetumodu can proceed without further legal complications.

For now, the traditional stool remains at the centre of a legal dispute, with the court expected to resume proceedings on January 21, 2027.