NEWS
Brave taxi driver rams into bandits blockade, kills three in Niger
Some bandits terrorizing communities in Niger State have met their death, as a brave taxi driver rammed into their blockade killing three and zooming off on the ever-busy Minna Gwada highway on Sunday
The courageous driver had no other option but to use the high speed as a defense against the heavily armed men suspected to be bandits killing three of them on the spot.
The bandits were said to have invaded the highway to wreak havoc on motorists when the brave commercial driver who was on top speed ran into them
It was gathered that the bandits had earlier carried out their offensive attacks on some communities in Mutndaya, Shiroro local government where they rustled some cattles and kidnapped dozens of persons among their victims were three pregnant women from the local government
It was gathered that the bandits were armed with sophisticated weapons such as Ak47, and Ak49 among other dangerous weapons with which they had earlier laid siege on the highway waiting for vehicles to attack.
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It was further gathered that the hoodlums extended their operation to some communities in Kafi Koro in Paikoro local government and engaged the local vigilante corps and the military in a gun duel where two of the bandits were gunned down while another two were arrested by the joint operatives of the vigilante and the military.
Having been overwhelmed some of the bandits took to their heels escaping into the bush with gunshot wounds as they abandoned their motorcycles.
Already the locals in their large numbers have deserted their homes as a result of the invasion of the gunmen that held them, hostage, for over 8 hours unchallenged.
Among the communities invaded by the gunmen, are Mutundaya, Gwada, Sikiti, Ishau, and Adunu in Shiroro and Paikoro local governments?
A visit to the affected Communities by our correspondent indicated that women and children were seen in their numbers trekking to the nearby village to take refuge.
However, our reporter was told that some heavily armed military personnel have been drafted to both communities who have been able to repel the terrorists killing two and recovering the rustled animals.
It was also gathered during the gun duel with the soldiers who came into the communities in sixteen Hilux vans, some motorcycles abandoned were recovered as some of the fleeing terrorists escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.
The Commissioner for local government and internal security in Niger State, Mr. Emmanuel Umar could not be reached for his comments as a series of calls to his cellphone were not responded to.
However, the state commandant of Niger State vigilante corps (NSVC) Yarima Nasir Manta while confirming the report explained that his men and soldiers are already on the trail of the fleeing bandits
Three of the communities are now ghosted towns having been deserted by the locals to take refuge in nearby internally displaced person camps (IDP) in Gwada and a primary school in Chimbi community in Paikoro local government.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has hailed the state’s strong performance in the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination.
In a government house statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo he described the result as a positive reflection of ongoing efforts to reposition education in the state.
Osun placed fifth nationally in the 2026 NECO ranking, with 74.31 percent of candidates recording at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, the statement pointed out.
While congratulating the students, teachers, parents, school administrators and other stakeholders, the governor noted that the state performance has been improving within a single digit rating for three consecutive years namely 2024, 2025 and 2026.
“Osun has moved from 33rd position in the 2022 NECO ranking to 5th in 2026, while improving its pass rate to 74.31 per cent. This is encouraging, and it shows that our sustained interventions in the education sector are yielding positive results,” the Governor said.
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Gov Adeleke said the improved performance reflects his administration’s deliberate investment in the education sector, including the recruitment of additional teachers to strengthen the teaching workforce, while prioritising workers’ welfare and creating a more conducive environment for effective teaching and learning across public schools.
The Governor said the performance reinforces his administration’s determination to continue investing in education, noting that the objective is to build a system that gives every Osun child the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to succeed.
“This result is encouraging, but we see it as a reason to do more. We will continue to invest in our schools, improve the learning environment, support our teachers and provide our students with the necessary tools to excel.
“We are building an education system that prepares our young people not only for examinations but for life,” the Governor said.
He assured that ongoing interventions in the education sector would be sustained and expanded, while urging students to remain committed to their studies.
His Excellency also commended teachers across the state for their dedication and sacrifices, assuring them that the administration would continue to prioritise measures that strengthen the education system and improve workers’ welfare.
Nigeria is gunning for more value through domestic refining, petrochemicals and associated industrial activities.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, stated this on Monday through his Technical Adviser on Regulation, Umar Gwandu, who represented him at the third Nigeria Oil Refining Summit (NORS) put together by the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) in Lagos.
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According to him, Nigeria has, for decades, produced crude oil on a significant scale while remaining heavily dependent on imported petroleum products.
He said the strategic direction for Nigeria is “to progressively move from an economy that primarily exports crude to one that increasingly captures value through domestic refining, petrochemicals, and associated industrial activities”.
Lokpobiri said the Federal Government is strengthening the Domestic Supply Obligation to ensure domestic refineries have reliable access to crude, stressing that the policy is critical to the country’s energy security.
“The Domestic Supply Obligation should therefore not be viewed merely as an administrative allocation mechanism. It is an important instrument for advancing national energy security and strengthening the linkage between our upstream and downstream sectors,” he stated.
He said the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has developed a DCSO framework in consultation with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), the Oil Producers Trade Section, the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, CORAN and other domestic refining interests.
“The Federal Government expects this framework to continue evolving from a regulatory obligation into a reliable, transparent, and commercially bankable crude supply system capable of supporting the sustainable operation of domestic refineries,” the minister said.
With a view to strengthening the enforcement of environmental laws so as to sustain a clean, healthy and habitable environment throughout the state, the Osun State Government has set up a Special Task Force on Environmental sanitation.
The Task Force, according to a government house statement issued on Monday in Osogbo, is to be chaired by the state Head Of Service, Samuel Ayanleye Aina and deputised by the Hon. Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon Mayowa Adejoorin.
The core mandate of the taskforce according to a statement issued by the state commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, is to tackle environmental infractions throughout Osun state particularly indiscriminate waste disposals in drains and roadsides as well as other places that have the potential of constituting environmental nuisances.
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The state government particularly viewed with great concern and accordingly flayed the indiscriminate manner with which people litter many places including road medians with dirts and debris of different kinds, an act which it further noted could cause serious environmental hazards.
The State Government while putting in place the taskforce urged its members to ensure that all enforcement activities are diligently carried out in accordance with the law.
The government warned that offenders will be prosecuted if, henceforth, they are caught or found culpable in one way or the other in negating all the environmental laws of the state.
It also urged the Special Task Force on Environmental sanitation to remain committed to due process in the discharge of its core duties and mandates.
Other members of the Samuel Ayanleye Aina led Special Task Force on Environmental sanitation are the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Alh.Muniru Raji, General Manager, Osun State Waste Management Agency(OWMA), Mr Oyewole Fatai Oladosu and Mr.K.K.Oyelami.
Other members of the taskforce are Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Hon. Omoyele Isaac Adekunle, Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Ayobola Fadeyi Awolowo and Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Mrs Eniola Omotoso.
The task force is to commence work with immediate effect.
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