Author: Herald Newspaper

The Oke-Ode Community Development Association (OOCDA) has expressed deep concern over last Sunday’s bandit attack on the town in which about 15 vigilantes and a village head were killed and about five others abducted. The National President of the Community Association, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Ajala- Bello, described the incident as dastardly and a call for intensified security efforts on the part of government and need for more vigilance on the part of residents of the community. Alhaji Ajala-Bello, in a statement issued on his behalf by the National Publicity Secretary of the Association, Mr Kunle Akogun, commiserated with the families of…

By Zarumi Mashood The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called for increased security deployments to the state to rout the criminals involved in attacks in parts of the state. In a statement following an unfortunate attack on the positions of the forest guards and surrounding areas of Oke-Ode, the Governor said the state requires more military deployments to roll back the activities of the criminals in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North. He regretted the loss of innocent civilians and the forest guards who mounted a spirited resistance to the assailants in the early morning incident on…

By Zarumi Mashood The Nigerian Army on Thursday arrested five “persons of interest” at a checkpoint after six AK-47 rifles were found with them along Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state. “Five suspected kidnappers were arrested today along SHARE axis. They concealed six AK47 under the charcoal in a Golf saloon car this afternoon,” a top security aide said on Thursday night. “They were intercepted by the Nigerian Army team on patrol. The five suspects are undergoing interrogation.” Their arrest came a day after six persons suspected to be couriers for the kidnappers were arrested around Babanla,…

By Zarumi Mashood The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has continued his drive for a stronger and inclusive future anchored on solid infrastructure and human capital development, with the State Executive Council approving construction projects across different sectors. In what signalled the major takeoff of the Kwara Smart City project, the council has approved the construction of a four-storey administrative/senate building for the Kwara State University of Education (KWSUED). Following a presentation on the tender process by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Dr. Segun Ogunsola, the construction work for the Senate building was awarded to M C…

By Rukayat Abdulraheem, Lawrence Okedare, Toyosi Kareem and Haliru Idris. Fresh vistas are opening up in Ogoniland, thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately engage the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Ogoni people, and all relevant stakeholders towards finalising modalities for the resumption of oil production in the area. The President’s Special Adviser (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga informed that the presidential directive followed the presentation, on Wednesday, of the report by the Presidential Committee on the Ogoni Consultations, chaired by Professor Don Baridam, at the State…

By Kayode Olasehinde and Zarumi Mashood Leaders and critical stakeholders in the Kwara South Senatorial District on Monday met to discuss and drive change on issues affecting the interest and general welfare of their communities. Issues discussed at the meeting which was tagged “strategic stakeholders’ consultation”, bother on security, economic growth, and quality representations in governance. Held in Ilorin the capital city, the programme was organized by the Kwara South Development Initiative (KSDI), under their leader, Dr Johnson Adewumi. It was themed: “Reawakening the Giants”. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was represented at the event by Deputy Chief of Staff, Princess Olubukola…

By Ruth Adebayo Ladies and waiting couples have been advised on behavioural approaches to ensure the achievement of desired results with In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Health experts, who spoke in separate interviews, highlighted the importance of the approaches. A Senior Registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Dr Olufiade Oyerogba, assured that IVF has brought succour to many women who were hitherto stigmatized as infertile. She described IVF as the manipulation and processing of the female egg and male sperm outside of the human body with the aim of both forming an embryo…

By Rukayat Abdulraheem and Lawrence Okedare (With Agency Report) A senior Chinese official informed on Tuesday that the country’s higher education system produced over 55 million graduates during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education made the disclosure during a news conference while highlighting the sector’s role in supporting economic and social development. According to him, during this period, vocational education accounted for over 70 per cent of the skilled workers newly added to the country’s modern industries. China’s higher education institutions have won more than 75 per cent of the country’s national awards in natural…

By Toyosi Kareem and Haliru Idris (With Agency Report). The West African countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The military-led countries hinged their decision to withdraw on the perception of the ICC as “a tool of neocolonial repression.” Their decision was made public vide a joint statement published on Monday. It comes as the latest in recent instances of diplomatic upheaval in West Africa’s Sahel region following eight military coups that took place between 2020 and 2023. The three countries, which are currently being ruled by military officers, have already…

By Kayode Olasehinde and Zarumi Mashood Leaders across the seven local government areas of Kwara South Senatorial District have called for credible leadership selection as the pathway to good governance, stronger security, and sustainable development in the zone. At a strategic consultation convened by the Kwara South Development Initiative (KSDI) in Ilorin, traditional rulers, business leaders, academics, youths, and political stakeholders raised concerns over rising insecurity, weak representation, and worsening poverty. Delivering his welcome address, the chief convener, Engr. (Dr.) Johnson Adewumi, said the summit was organised to “reawaken the zeal of patriotism, redeem the zone from insecurity, and promote…