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Varsity strike: Labour shutdown Abuja in solidarity protest

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4 years ago

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• Don’t deny our children quality education, NLC tells FG •NASS to step in

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates unions stormed the National Assembly, yesterday, in solidarity with the trade unions in the public universities – the Academic Staff Union of Universities  (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of University and Allied Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) -over the lingering strike in the tertiary institution.

The protesters in large numbers hit the street of Abuja to continue the two-day protest which had earlier held in various states of the federation to push the Federal Government towards ending the month long strike in the university system.

The protest held amidst the shaky security situation of the nation’s capital, attracted huge security presence of the police, the personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to monitor things.

The protesters carried placards with various to drive home their points.

At the ‘Abuja Mega Protest Rally’ which began from the Unity Fountain at about 9:30am, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, called on the Federal Government not to deny children of the less privileged quality education.

ASUU and other trade unions in the education sector have been on strike for more than five months over alleged failure of government to keep to agreements entered with the unions.

Their demands include non-implementation of 2009 agreement, funding of universities, salaries and earned allowances of lecturers, among others.

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Submitting the unions’ demands list to the law makers, the NLC president condemned the Federal Government for paying lip service to education and the welfare of workers in tertiary institutions and warned that further delay could attract a shutdown of the labour force in an industrial action.

He said most of those at the helm of affairs were beneficiaries of a thriving education sector as they enjoyed free and quality education. He decried the level of hardship and the spate of insecurity in the country, and warned that depriving children of the poor access to quality education would only fuel the insecurity situation of the country. He said government must do the needful to respond effectively and promptly to resolve the issues affecting the education system.

The NLC president noted that over 10 million children in the public institutions, including three sets were waiting for their admission to be sorted out.

“If we denied our children quality education, they will become menace to the society and all of us will be sleeping with our eyes opened, that is a reality and it is a wakeup call.

“Comrades, we must be angry because this is not what we bargained for. We bargained for good government that will listen to us because democracy is all about the people, and you cannot talk of people without quality education. So, that is why we are here. We will continue from here.”

He said the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, among others had pending issues with the government.

“Those issues are straightforward; some of them are not even monetary policy issues. Yet, our leaders cannot listen to fix those issues.

“It has been promises and those promises have not been kept, we are tired but we are not tired of their antics. We will take our destinies in our own hands and that of our children, which is very important and fundamental,” he said.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, bemoaned the ratio of students to lectures in tertiary institutions, which he said was was part of the factors eroding the quality of education in the system.

SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said: “These agreements must be respected. Universities must take a universal look. We must have the best of our brains. We must have our teachers, lecturers, members of staff, academic, non-academic, junior, senior security, everybody is important, and therefore, government must rise to the occasion. The issue of IPS is no longer news to you. IPS has made everybody in university community poorer. Registers are paid salaries of cleaners and so on and so forth. What you get today you don’t know what you get tomorrow. And that is why we are challenged. We have come up with our solutions. The UGPPPS is there. The UTAS is there. We are ready to work together. We will give them the best. our students should go back to classrooms. Our hospitals should look decent. “Gentleman, the security has become something else. Our people, lecturers, teachers, everybody, no one is safe in the university community.”

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who was represented by Deputy Majority Leader, Robert Borrofice, promised that the National Assembly would intensify efforts to ensure the issue is addressed.

“There is no country in the world where children of universities will be away from class room for five months. So, we are with you. I confirm the receipt of this letter from the NLC.”

Also, House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, represented by Mohammad Wudil, assured he would to ensure ministers of finance, labour and employment, education as well as all relevant stakeholders are brought together immediately to resolve the contending issues.

Presenting the report of the meeting at the plenary, Wudil said the NLC made a seven-point demand, adding that the engagement with the congress was fruitful.

Sun

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Osun Speaker: CP Gotan Arrested SSG Igbalaye for Laughing When Police Boss Was Booed

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11 minutes ago

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July 31, 2026

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Osun Speaker: CP Gotan Arrested SSG Igbalaye for Laughing When Police Boss Was Booed
Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG) Teslim Igbalaye

Osun Speaker: CP Gotan Arrested SSG Igbalaye for Laughing When Police Boss Was Booed

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has alleged that the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, in retaliation for laughing when the police chief was booed at a public event. The accusation deepens the controversy surrounding the SSG’s detention, which has sparked a heated political backlash ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The Speaker’s account directly contradicts the official narrative from the Osun State Police Command, which has maintained that the raid and arrests were based on credible intelligence concerning suspected electoral offences and criminal activity.

According to Egbedun, he was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting alongside the Deputy Governor and the SSG when the incident began. He claimed that during the meeting, members of the public booed Commissioner Gotan while he was on the podium, and upon returning to his seat, the police chief noticed Igbalaye laughing at the situation. “We all witnessed the unfortunate moment when Commissioner Gotan was booed while on the podium by citizens of Osun State. Immediately he returned to his seat, he looked directly towards us. At that moment, the SSG laughed,” Egbedun stated. The Speaker said he became suspicious after watching Gotan reach for his phone and make several calls. “The next thing I observed was Commissioner Gotan picking up his telephone and making a series of calls. From what I saw, I turned to the SSG and said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest,'” he alleged. According to Egbedun, his prediction was confirmed within minutes when Igbalaye received a call informing him that police officers were waiting at his residence. “A few minutes later, the SSG received a telephone call informing him that police officers were waiting for him at his residence. He immediately stood up and left the event, leaving the Deputy Governor and me behind,” the Speaker said.

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The Osun State Police Command has presented a markedly different version of events. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said operatives acted on intelligence reports that a criminal gang was operating from a location in Osogbo, leading to the raid on the SSG’s residence in the Oroki Estate area. Police said they recovered significant exhibits during the operation, including ₦4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, and a printer. Six suspects were arrested, including Igbalaye and one Oladele Abiodun, described as a wanted suspect already on the police watchlist for alleged criminal offences. The command stated that the recovered items “raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other criminal activities,” specifically citing vote-buying contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, and harbouring a wanted suspect.

Egbedun insisted that the SSG’s arrest was not an isolated incident, describing what he called a broader pattern of intimidation against officials of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration. He recounted a separate incident in which, after receiving intelligence about a planned attack on his residence, Commissioner Gotan allegedly ordered all police officers attached to his security detail to report for questioning. “We received credible intelligence that some thugs were planning to attack my residence. My security personnel and I remained on high alert in anticipation of the attack. However, to my greatest surprise, my police orderly received a call from Commissioner Gotan directing that every police officer attached to me should report to his office for questioning that very day,” the Speaker alleged. Egbedun said he confronted the commissioner directly, telling him he would not be intimidated. “I immediately telephoned the Commissioner and told him that I am a proud son of Onikoyi, and that I neither fear nor bow to intimidation,” he said.

The Osun State Government strongly condemned the police action, with the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, describing it as a major threat to a free and fair election. The government insisted that Igbalaye was not at home during the raid, as he was attending the INEC stakeholders’ meeting. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) offered a contrasting interpretation, describing the raid as vindication of its allegations that the ruling party was planning vote-buying. The Accord Party has also demanded the immediate redeployment of Commissioner Gotan, with the Imole Campaign Council alleging that 86 Accord Party members had been arrested in the preceding days.

The Osun State Police Command released Igbalaye on Thursday, less than 24 hours after his arrest. The Imole Campaign Council spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, welcomed the release, describing it as a “triumph of justice,” while the police confirmed that investigations into the recovered exhibits and alleged offences are still ongoing. Egbedun has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to urgently intervene and review the conduct of Commissioner Gotan. He argued that the people of Osun deserve “policing that is professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law.”

Osun Speaker: CP Gotan Arrested SSG Igbalaye for Laughing When Police Boss Was Booed

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Police Release Osun SSG After Controversial Arrest Over Alleged Electoral Offences

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33 minutes ago

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July 31, 2026

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Police Release Osun SSG After Controversial Arrest Over Alleged Electoral Offences
Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye

Police Release Osun SSG After Controversial Arrest Over Alleged Electoral Offences

The Osun State Police Command has released the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, less than 24 hours after his arrest during a raid on his residence in Osogbo. His release was confirmed on Thursday, July 30, by both the police and the Imole Campaign Council, the group coordinating Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign. The spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, announced the development on his verified Facebook page, commending the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police for what he described as heeding public concerns over the arrest. Olajengbesi described the release as a triumph of justice, stating, “The Nigerian Police Force best serves the nation when it stands against oppression and upholds justice and the rule of law. Welcome back, Chief Igbalaye Teslim. Your courage and sacrifice for the people of Osun State will not be forgotten. Our SSG is out, back and solid.” The Police Public Relations Officer in Osun, Abiodun Ojelabi, also confirmed the SSG’s release during a telephone interview with journalists in Osogbo, but maintained that investigations into the case were still ongoing.

Igbalaye and five others were arrested on Wednesday, July 29, after police operatives raided his residence in the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo. The police stated that the operation followed intelligence reports that suspected criminal elements, including a wanted suspect, were operating from the location. One of those apprehended was Oladele Abiodun (also known as Abiodun Arowomole or “Ashipa”), who was said to be on the command’s watchlist over alleged criminal offences. Others arrested were identified as Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40. During the operation, police recovered exhibits including ₦4,810,500 in cash, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15. The police said the recovery of cash and voters’ details raised concerns about possible electoral offences, including vote-buying contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, and harbouring a wanted suspect. The command stated that all exhibits had been secured for forensic examination and further investigation.

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The arrest immediately sparked outrage within the Osun State Government, which accused the police of targeting senior government officials ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The state government, through the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, described the raid as illegal and an escalation of what it called targeted harassment of top government officials and members of the Accord Party. The government insisted that ward officials were merely holding a political meeting at the residence while the SSG attended the INEC stakeholders’ forum. The controversy deepened when the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered the SSG’s arrest after being booed at an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting. According to Egbedun, the commissioner was jeered by some attendees, and Igbalaye laughed during the incident, prompting Gotan to make phone calls that led to the SSG’s arrest. “The next thing I observed was Commissioner Gotan picking up his telephone and making a series of calls. From what I saw, I turned to the SSG and said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest,'” Egbedun stated. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), however, described the raid as vindication of its allegations that the ruling party was planning vote-buying.

The police have rejected allegations of political motivation, maintaining that the operation was intelligence-driven and lawful. The command reiterated its commitment to enforcing electoral laws “without fear or favour” and insisted the raid was conducted as part of an investigation into alleged criminal activities and possible violations of the Electoral Act. Although the SSG has been released, the police said investigations into the recovered exhibits and alleged offences are still ongoing.

Police Release Osun SSG After Controversial Arrest Over Alleged Electoral Offences

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‘We’ll Marry Beautiful Ones, Kill the Rest’ – Terrorists Reject N155m Ransom for 176 Kwara Captives

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47 minutes ago

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July 31, 2026

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'We'll Marry Beautiful Ones, Kill the Rest' – Terrorists Reject N155m Ransom for 176 Kwara Captives
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu

‘We’ll Marry Beautiful Ones, Kill the Rest’ – Terrorists Reject N155m Ransom for 176 Kwara Captives

Nearly six months after 176 residents were abducted from Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, families of the captives have made a desperate appeal to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government, and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts. The families alleged that terrorists rejected more than N155 million raised by the affected communities as ransom and have threatened to force some female captives into marriage while executing the remaining hostages. The attack occurred on February 3, 2026, when more than 100 heavily armed assailants launched a coordinated assault on the rural communities, leaving over 260 people dead, more than 30 houses burnt, and 176 residents abducted. The victims, most of whom are women, children, and nursing mothers, have remained in captivity despite months of negotiations and community efforts.

Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim told BBC Hausa that community leaders and residents contributed more than N155 million through community donations, personal savings, and the sale of valuables in a desperate bid to secure the release of the captives. However, the terrorists allegedly refused to accept the money, leaving hundreds of families uncertain about the fate of their relatives. “We raised N155 million and took it to them, but they refused to accept it, saying it was not enough. We returned with the money and have not heard from our relatives since. We appeal to the Federal Government and the Kwara State Government to rescue them because there is nothing more we can do,” Ibrahim said. Ibrahim, who said he lost 10 relatives and still has 35 family members in captivity, added that repeated attempts to secure the release of the abductees through negotiations and public demonstrations had yielded no results. According to him, the kidnappers stated that the victims are from Kwara and Niger States and insisted that both governments should pool resources together. He alleged that the terrorists do not even want to talk to the families and have insisted on engaging only with government authorities.

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Fresh concerns emerged that the abductors had allegedly threatened to marry the “beautiful” female captives while executing the remaining hostages if their demands were not met. Speaking in an interview monitored on the BBC Hausa Service, Ibrahim said the threat had deepened fears among relatives. “They said they would marry the beautiful ones and kill the rest,” Ibrahim said, adding that the terrorists had refused to soften their position despite months of negotiations. The Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, Suleiman Bukata, urged the Federal Government and security agencies to replicate the operation that recently secured the rescue of abductees in neighbouring Oyo State by extending similar efforts to Kaiama. Bukata said the successful rescue in Oyo had rekindled hope among families in Kaiama, stressing that the people deserved the same level of commitment from the authorities. “No Nigerian community should be left to face this kind of tragedy alone. If people could be rescued elsewhere, our people should not be forgotten,” he said.

However, there are conflicting accounts regarding the ransom payment. The National President of the Kaiama Development Association (KDA) stated that “No payment has been made, although negotiation is still ongoing.” For his part, the Village Head, Alhaji Salihu Umar Bio, confirmed the efforts of the community towards the donation but said the terrorists have insisted on engaging only with the government since the incident occurred on February 3, 2026. The lawmaker representing the area in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, also appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue the captives, saying the prolonged wait had increased the suffering of the affected families.

The attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities was reportedly triggered after residents rejected attempts by the armed group to establish an extremist religious presence in the area. Survivors said the attackers, dressed in military-style uniforms and riding motorcycles, killed scores of residents, burnt homes and abducted dozens before fleeing. The incident underscores the growing insecurity in parts of North-Central Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly carried out mass killings, kidnappings for ransom, and attacks on rural communities, despite ongoing security operations. Over 2,700 people were initially displaced following the February 3 attack, with many remaining in temporary shelters in neighbouring communities.

‘We’ll Marry Beautiful Ones, Kill the Rest’ – Terrorists Reject N155m Ransom for 176 Kwara Captives

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