Some senior officials of the Kwara State Local Government Service Commission have been kidnapped by gunmen along the Omu-Aran/Ilorin Road.

The victims were abducted on Friday evening.

Those kidnapped are: the Head of the Legal Department of Oke-Ero Local Government, Elizabeth Arinde, and the Head of Personnel Management of the council, whose name could not be immediately confirmed.

It was  gathered on Saturday night that the two senior administrators were among seven individuals kidnapped at Corner Eleyin along the Omu-Aran/Ilorin Expressway while returning to Ilorin, the state capital, for the weekend on Friday, April 25, 2025.

The incident occurred at about 5:45pm where  five gunmen ambushed the two private vehicles before leading the passengers into the bush.

The Kwara State Police Command has  confirmed the incident.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, on Saturday.

The statement added “The Kwara State Police Command confirms a kidnap incident reported at about 5:45 p.m. on Friday, 25th April 2025, at Eleyin village via Isanlu-Isin. It was reported that about five armed men blocked the highway, stopping two private vehicles, forcefully taking all occupants to an unknown location.

Following the report, the command, in collaboration with the military and vigilantes, launched a swift operation, leading to the successful rescue of two victims, Ganiyu Ajayi and Kolawole Adeyemi.

“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining five victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

“The command has intensified security measures across the area, including aggressive bush combing, strategic patrols, and intelligence-driven operations to prevent further occurrences”

Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

An umbrella platform of hundreds of Northern Youth Groups, from the 19 Northern states, commends the Emir of Daura Alhaji Umar Farouk, for his conferment of Hon Nasir Bala Ja’oji, member Governing Board, Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum, Yobe State, as the Adon Garin Hausa.

In a letter sent to Ja’oji by the umbrella body, signed by the Regional Chairman, Makama Dan Kaduna, after an emergency meeting in Kaduna, they all agreed Ja’oji’s contributions to youth development, cut across many states of the federation. Assuring that, he is one of the Top Ten youth leaders in the North.

While appreciating how the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) identifies itself with Ja’oji, quoting the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON, who signed APC’s Message of Fecilitation, who said, “This conferment by the Daura Emirate in Katsina State is truly a befitting one for an accomplished businessman and an undisputed philanthropist,” they concurred.

According to the umbrella platform, APC was right when it observed that, “This recognition is a testament not to Hon. Ja’oji’s contributions to the development of the Hausa community and the nation at large but his dedication to the cause of human development through his empowerment initiatives from which a lot of people in our society have benefitted.”

The letter from the platform places greater premium to Ja’oji, as great youth leader who deserves all sorts of commendation from government and the people in general.

They also revealed that,” In a recent research and opinion poll we conducted across 19 Northern states, through our professional members, it shows that Ja’oji is one of the Top Ten Youth Leaders in Northern Nigeria.”

Adding that, they would soon unveil the result of their opinion poll and organize an Award ceremony for the individual winners,” But we will start with Honourable Nasir Bala Ja’o’ji as one of the frontliners in the category of Ten Most Influential Youth Leaders in the North,” they disclosed.

“Emir of Daura’s decision to confer Ja’o’ji with the traditional title of Adon Garin Hausa, speaks a lot in authenticating our result,” they defended.

They also concurred with the APC National Chairman in his argument, that Ja’o’ji “Indeed, touching lives positively in our society can be described as the trademark of Ja’oji, an epitome of humility who gives and not allowing his left hand to know what his right hand is giving as an offering.”

At least five people were killed on Saturday following a deadly explosion at a residential building used for the illegal storage of petroleum products in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State. The tragic incident has once again highlighted the severe risks associated with illegal refining activities.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the explosion and subsequent fire at the site, where illegally refined petroleum products, including condensate, were being stored for resale. The blast occurred late in the morning around 11:00 AM, engulfing the building in flames and killing four women and one man, all burnt beyond.