WATCH: Residents Alarmed As Truckloads Of Suspected Fulani Herders Flock To Kwara Border Communities For INEC Registration
https://x.com/i/status/1981728020197953707

Abducted Kwara Businessman Freed After N110 Million Ransom Payment.

A businessman identified as Suleiman Ndana, popularly known as “Manager,” who was abducted last month from Tsaragi community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, has regained his freedom following the payment of a ₦110 million ransom just hours before a military rescue operation.

Sources close to the victim confirmed that Ndana was among those recovered by Nigerian Army troops during a raid on the kidnappers’ hideout on Friday. A friend of the businessman disclosed that the abductors had issued grave threats as military pressure mounted in the forest where they were hiding, vowing to kill Ndana if the ransom was not paid immediately.

Under the intense ultimatum, his family and associates reportedly delivered the ₦110 million ransom at an undisclosed location. Shortly after the payment, soldiers stormed the area, leading to Ndana’s release.

His freedom marks a breakthrough for the ongoing military operation tagged Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Kwara North, even as it underscores the moral dilemma faced by families forced to negotiate with kidnappers under life-threatening circumstances.

Meanwhile, residents of Patigi Local Government Area recently staged mass protests over the worsening insecurity in Kwara North. Youths, elders, and community leaders took to the streets demanding urgent government intervention, alleging that persistent killings and abductions had crippled economic life and driven medical personnel out of local hospitals.

Protesters accused the state government and federal representatives of neglect, citing the exodus of doctors from Patigi General Hospital and the growing presence of suspected armed herders in rural settlements. They called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to deploy more security forces and relocate Kara Market, which they claim has become a hotspot for criminal activity.

The protesters warned that without swift action, insecurity could lead to total economic collapse in parts of Kwara North, lamenting that millions are lost daily to ransom payments, farm attacks, and the loss of livelihoods.

Bigger Than Africa: The Yoruba Story That Conquered Continents and Captivated Netflix Audiences

The Yoruba people — one of Africa’s most influential tribes with over 40 million members worldwide — take center stage in the breathtaking documentary Bigger Than Africa, directed by Toyin Ibrahim Adekeye.

Premiered on February 12, 2018, this cinematic masterpiece takes viewers across six countries — Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba, and the United States — to explore the global influence, spirituality, and resilience of Yoruba culture.

A Story That Transcends Borders
Bigger Than Africa focuses not on what divides Africans, but on what unites them. Through powerful storytelling and insightful interviews, it reveals how Yoruba traditions survived slavery, crossed oceans, and became embedded in cultures across the Americas.

The documentary features some of Africa’s most respected figures — former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, the King of Port Novo, and Fame Elebuibon, among others.

Global Recognition and Awards
Produced by Motherland Productions, the documentary has earned several international accolades, including:

Best Documentary, International Houston Black Film Festival (2019)

Best Documentary, Charlotte Black Film Festival

Jury Special Award, Festival International du Film Panafricain de Cannes


It has also been screened at prestigious venues such as the Schomburg Center for Research on Black Culture and even at the United Nations.

The Inspiration Behind the Masterpiece
Toyin Ibrahim Adekeye’s inspiration came during a visit to Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina — a Yoruba cultural haven in the U.S. What began as a short school project soon evolved into a global film celebrating African heritage.

Raised in Kwara State, Nigeria, Toyin moved to the U.S. in 2001, later enrolling at the Los Angeles Film School to pursue his passion for filmmaking. His journey, fueled by creativity and cultural pride, birthed Bigger Than Africa — a documentary that redefines how the world sees Yoruba culture.

Now Streaming on Netflix
Since May 13, Bigger Than Africa has been available for global streaming on Netflix, distributed by KAP Film and EGMNY (New York). This gives millions worldwide a chance to experience the beauty, depth, and unity of Yoruba heritage.

Protest Rocks Kwara Community Over Insecurity As Residents Accuse Governor AbdulRazaq, Lawmakers Of Abandoning Them

The Senate has asked the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the Kwara South Senatorial District.

Chelsea Scouts Target 16-year-old Nigerian Football Sensation, Abduljelil Kamaldeen.

Chelsea scouts are closely monitoring Nigerian wonderkid Abduljelil Kamaldeen, who has caught global attention at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

The Blues’ vast scouting network has reportedly identified the 16-year-old midfielder as a top prospect after his impressive cameo in Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to Norway U-20 on Monday. Despite being one of the youngest players at the tournament, Kamaldeen showed composure and creativity against opponents nearly five years older, almost salvaging a late equalizer for the Flying Eagles.

Sources suggest the Kwara Football Academy talent could start Nigeria’s next group match against Saudi Arabia, with several European clubs now tracking his progress.

Chelsea’s interest in Kamaldeen began earlier this year at the WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys Cup in Ghana, where he delivered standout performances — including a goal in Nigeria’s 4-1 win over Benin — and impressed against Niger and Ivory Coast in the later stages. Initially deployed as a left winger, his growing maturity on the ball has seen him move into a central attacking midfield role, where his pace, vision, and dribbling have drawn comparisons to Alex Iwobi.

Football analysts believe his flair and confidence echo that of Iwobi’s uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha, one of Nigeria’s greatest football icons.

Chelsea, renowned for developing African stars like Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel, view Kamaldeen as a potential long-term project. His technical ability and versatility reportedly fit the club’s new youth recruitment strategy.

Meanwhile, Chelsea already have another Nigerian teenager, Chizaram Ezenwata, in their youth setup. The London-born striker, who joined from Charlton Athletic, was not released for Nigeria’s pre-tournament training camp and remains eligible to play for England, Nigeria, or Cameroon.

In a related development, first-team star Cole Palmer was spotted supporting Chelsea’s U-19s this week, praising the club’s rising talents — further evidence of the Blues’ growing focus on youth development.

Osun Shooting: Death toll rises, as Adeleke orders probe.

Death toll has risen to four following reported shootings by Osun Amotekun operatives in Akinlalu town, Osun State, last Tuesday, as one of the critically injured victims was confirmed dead in the early hours of yesterday.

Akinlalu residents claimed that Amotekun operatives invaded the community last Tuesday and shot sporadically, leading to the death of three persons, while eight others were critically injured.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr Babarinde Olamide said the Amotekun operatives invaded the community at noon over claims that a suspect seized its operative’s locally-fabricated weapon.

He said the operatives came in three different vehicles and on getting to the heart of the town, started shooting sporadically at residents, while those who ran at them were cut severally with cutlass.

“In the process, three persons were killed on the spot and several others severely injured. Surprisingly, the operatives took the dead bodies away and those critically injured. We received that one of those injured has died at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo after surgery early on Saturday,” he said However, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered investigation into the killings, dispatching government delegation to the community.

The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, yesterday, said: “I am a rule of law governor. This matter is being investigated and any infraction will be dealt with within the context of the law. I have ordered a Security Council meeting on this incident and others such as fears of spill over from Kwara banditry attacks.I sent my condolences to the victims of this unfortunate incident. I urge the good people of Akinlalu to keep calm as our government acts on the matter. I feel their pains but investigations are ongoing,” the governor said.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state berated the Amotekun operatives for involving in extra-judicial killings, calling on the Governor to be transparent in the process of unravelling those behind the killings.

Court strikes out Saraki’s suit for protection against EFCC, ICPC, others.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out two separate suits filed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to seek court protection against the plan by EFCC to probe him.

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the two cases following a notice of discontinuance of the suits sighted in the court record and after no lawyer appeared for parties at the resumed hearing.

The former Senate president had filed the suits following the EFCC’s decision in 2019 to probe Saraki’s earnings between 2003 and 2011 when he was governor of Kwara.

The anti-graft commission was reported to have seized some of his houses in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.

However, Saraki, on May 10, 2019, filed the two separate suits, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019, before retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo to challenge the action of the EFCC.

The ex-Senate president named the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and State Security Service (SSS) are 1st to 3rd defendants.

Others are EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.

Justice Taiwo, who was the presiding judge then, had ruled on an ex-parte application filed along with the substantive suits.

Kwara Emir allegedly Orders Arrest of Youth Leader Over Protest Against Insecurity.

The Emir of Tsaragi in Kwara State, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi Kpotwa Goshi II, has allegedly ordered the arrest of Musa Saidu Tsaragi, leader of the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB), after youths staged a peaceful protest against kidnappings and banditry in the community.

Saidu told SaharaReporters that the monarch became unsettled by Sunday’s demonstration in Edu Local Government Area, which he coordinated. “On Sunday I led a protest of kidnipping and banditry in the Taragi community, and it was peaceful and we’ll coordinate,” he said.

According to him, he was invited to the Emir’s palace on Monday, where he was hara§§ed and accused of leading protesters to the palace. “So yesterday evening, the Emir of Taragi… called a meeting that the police of Taragi Division should get me arrested,” Saidu alleged. “I want to inform you that Estu Tsaragi said the police should arrest me because I led a protest yesterday.”

The protest came hours after gunmen abducted a local businessman, Suleiman Ndana. Residents said Ndana placed a distress call before the attackers broke into his home, but security operatives never showed up. The kidnippers reportedly spared his pregnant wife after he surrendered himself.

The youths, chanting solidarity songs, demanded that Fulani settlers leave Tsaragi land and called on the Emir to convey their grievances to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, accusing him of failing to protect communities in Kwara North.

Tragedy struck Oke-Ode community in Kwara State following a suspected bandit attack that left several people dead, including members of a vigilante group, while some were kidnapped.

A grieving widow, who lost her husband and his friend in the incident, shared an emotional video lamenting government inaction.

“Kwara Government, they have killed my husband! He was on his way home. They killed him and his younger one. They also killed the husband of the younger one. They killed 14 people. They killed 10 vigilante and kidnapped a couple. We are at Oke-Ode Police station. Even the Police are not at rest, they can’t handle the situation,” she cried.

The woman further condemned the security response, accusing authorities of failing to deploy promised resources.

Kwara Police Seize Cannabis Hidden in Yam Tubers.

The Kwara State Police Command, working with operatives of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), and local vigilantes, has intercepted a vehicle transporting 127 bags of suspected cannabis concealed beneath tubers of yam.

Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement on Saturday, described the seizure as another major breakthrough in the fight against crime and drug trafficking.

The operation, conducted on September 26, 2025, around 4 p.m. along the Babanla–Oreke–Oke-Ode axis, led to the arrest of two suspects, Dan-Teni Haruna and Rabiu Ibrahim both from Saliku in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing to unravel the wider network behind the smuggling attempt.

One Killed, Six Abducted, Several Injured As Bandits Attack Kwara Communities, Police Confirm

BREAKING: Pregnant Woman Killed, 18 Abducted, Cattle Stolen As Terrorists Launch Fresh Attacks On Kwara Communities

BREAKING: Bandits Attack Cattle Settlement In Kwara, Burn Vigilante Vehicle, Steal Cows

Armed bandits on Sunday morning attacked a cattle settlement in Ekuku, Kwara State, near the border with Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The attackers, who reportedly arrived in large numbers around 6:30 a.m., stole several cows and set ablaze a vigilante vehicle.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, a member of the local security team confirmed the incident in English and Yoruba, lamenting:

“Bandits attacked us at Ekuku today. Many cows were stolen and a vigilante vehicle was burnt to ashes. State government, please, come to our aid; these bastards are everywhere. They are uncontrollable.”

This latest incident comes barely a day after SaharaReporters reported a deadly ambush in Isanlu Isin, Isin Local Government Area, where bandits killed two vigilantes, left six missing, and destroyed over 27 motorcycles belonging to community defenders.

The Isanlu Isin Community Development Association had earlier raised alarm over escalating insecurity, citing repeated bandit raids, kidnappings, ransom demands, and the occupation of abandoned buildings by displaced Fulani settlers.

Despite prior intelligence warnings, security agencies have yet to respond decisively, leaving local vigilantes and residents vulnerable.

Community leaders are now calling on the Federal Government, police, and military to launch urgent operations, replace destroyed vigilante equipment, and rescue missing defenders before the situation worsens.

#Kwara #BreakingNews #Banditry

Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Price, To Begin Direct Supply Nationwide

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and will begin direct distribution of the product to filling stations across Nigeria starting Monday, September 15, 2025.

In a statement on Thursday, the refinery said the gantry price has been reduced to N820 per litre, with pump prices varying across key states. Lagos and other South-West states will retail at N841 per litre, while Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Kwara will sell at N851 per litre.

“The first phase of the deployment will cover the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Kwara, Delta, Edo, Rivers, and South-West states, with nationwide expansion planned as more trucks are delivered,” the company stated.

The refinery noted that the use of CNG-powered transportation in the supply chain will save Nigeria over N1.8 trillion annually, cut distribution costs, and help ease inflationary pressures. It added that the initiative will directly benefit more than 42 million MSMEs by lowering energy costs.

The company also disclosed that it is investing over N720 billion in the programme, which is expected to create thousands of jobs and revive dormant filling stations nationwide.

Stakeholders such as fuel station operators, telecom companies, and large-scale fuel consumers have been urged to partner with the initiative. Petrol station owners were also encouraged to register for free delivery and other benefits tied to the scheme.

Source: Dangote Group

BREAKING: Kwara state APC chairman Alhaji Muhammad Swasun wife and daughter has been kidn@pp€d

EXCLUSIVE: Emir Of Lafiagi Threatens Journalists Over Reports On Terrorist Attacks In Kwara North

Journalists in Kwara State are facing mounting intimidation after the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammad Kudu Kawu, reportedly threatened them for consistently reporting terrorist and bandit attacks in Kwara North communities.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the monarch summoned journalists to his palace on Sunday, warning them to stop publishing reports on insecurity, which he claimed were “embarrassing” Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

According to insiders, the Emir said he was acting on the governor’s directive and cautioned that journalists who defied the order risked arrest.

The threat comes amid rising insecurity in Lafiagi, Patigi, and surrounding areas, where residents have endured repeated kidnappings, killings, and ransom demands by bandits.

Journalists and media platforms including SaharaReporters, Nupeko TV, and Informant247 have previously accused the state government of attempting to silence coverage of insecurity.

The development follows the detention of blogger Abdulsamad Oloyin, popularly known as “Yolo,” by the NSCDC last week over alleged defamation, further fueling concerns of a clampdown on press freedom in the state.

Source: SaharaReporters

#Kwara #PressFreedom #Insecurity

The NSCDC in Kwara State has detained popular blogger Abdulsamad Oloyin, known as Yolo of Awoko Kwara, over alleged defamation of businesswoman Wahab Ramat. She accused him of portraying her as a bandits’ informant, claiming the post damaged her marriage and business. Ramat reportedly demanded N5m and a video apology, later reducing the amount to N1m. Meanwhile, Rep. Yinka Aluko denied involvement in Oloyin’s arrest, clarifying that Yolo is on his payroll and that he was surprised by the incident.

#Kwara #NSCDC #YoloBlogger

The Borno APC Youth Leader, Suleiman Babagana (aka Ali Kwara), has been detained by the state’s special police unit after posting a video lamenting neglect by the Governor Babagana Zulum administration.

Kwara, a grassroots APC figure and once a strong supporter of Zulum, was arrested on August 16, 2025, arraigned before a magistrate’s court, and later remanded in Maiduguri Maximum Prison. His video, urging youths to remain patient despite being sidelined by the government, was interpreted by authorities as intimidation and a threat.

Family and legal sources allege political interference, saying the Attorney General suddenly took over the case after pressure from senior officials, delaying a ruling on Kwara’s bail. The magistrate reportedly admitted being under pressure and transferred the case, leaving Kwara in prison for over a week.

Critics accuse the Zulum government of misusing the state’s crack police unit—originally meant to fight insurgency and violent crime—to silence dissent. This follows earlier arrests and the jailing of two APC members and tricycle operators for creating a WhatsApp group to mobilize protests against the administration.

#BornoPolitics #FreeSpeech #NigeriaDemocracy

Some Bandits Terrorising Kwara Communities Are Foreigners — Community Leader

No fewer than 3,000 residents from 15 communities in Babanla, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State, have fled their homes following repeated bandit attacks, kidnappings, and arson.

Community leader Anu Ibiwoye, a PDP chieftain, alleged that many of the attackers are foreign fighters who infiltrated the state, citing testimonies from kidnap victims who identified strange dialects and appearances among the gunmen.

He recalled how nearly 100 armed bandits on motorcycles stormed Babanla, abducting villagers — including the monarch’s wife — shooting vigilantes, and setting patrol vehicles ablaze.

Ibiwoye accused the Kwara State Government of failing to provide meaningful support, saying communities have been left to raise ransoms, buy fuel, and equip vigilantes themselves.

He warned that over 16 communities now stand deserted, markets shut, and farms abandoned, plunging the region into economic hardship.

“This is no longer politics. Bandits are taking over. If urgent action is not taken, we may lose our villages to criminals who are not even Nigerians,” he said.

#Kwara #Insecurity #Banditry