Students’ lodges were reportedly invaded at about 2am.

Some students have taken to social media, sharing videos and alleging that the men broke into rooms and arrested some students.

Videos circulating on social media show broken window frames from what is believed to be an attempt at forced entry.

One social media user named J Brandy wrote, “I thought they said EFCC should not raid at nights again. This hostel (Celebrity Lodge, FUTA ) is right behind mine. When will this endemic? EFCC (officials) moving like thieves at night!”

A man wearing the EFFC jacket was seen in one of the videos circulating online.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, had in November ordered that sting operations at night be stopped.

He gave this directive after the arrest of suspected internet fraudsters in Ile-Ife, Osun State, by operatives of the EFCC which sparked nationwide outrage.

When the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, was contacted on the matter on Wednesday, he asked our correspondent to call back in 20 minutes.

He hasn’t taken his calls again as of the time of this publication.

Though details of his death have not been revealed, it was gathered that he  died in the early hours of Wednesday.

The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, who confirmed the incident, said the party would soon make official communication to the media on the matter.

“Yes it is true but we will soon communicate you properly on the incident,” Peretei said.

The State Working Committee of the PDP in Ondo State had announced the suspension of Adams last month.

The party alleged that he was involved in some anti-party activities.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Akure, the state capital, by the institution’s Director of Corporate Communication, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo.

Adebanjo said that the management had also directed all students currently on campus and in hostels within the university, to vacate them within 24 hours.

He said the university’s management directed that registration and payment of fees of all returning students for the academic session via the university portal, scheduled to begin on Monday, be put on hold.

He stated that the university has not yet opened the portal for returning students for the new session, contrary to what is being bandied in the public domain.

Earlier, students of the institution staged a peaceful protest, alleging that the university’s management had increased the school fees despite economic hardship in the country.

Addressing the protesting students, the President, FUTA Student Union Government, Mr. Oluwasoromidayo Olayemi, pleaded with the management of the school to revert to the old school fees.

Olayemi said the last increment in tuition fees was not up to one year before the new hike.

He alleged that the management increased the school fees to over N200,000 for new students, while returning students paying N35,000 would now pay at least N130,000 depending on the academic programme.

He said that the peace protest would continue until the fees were reverted.

But the institution’s spokesman denied the alleged increment in school fees by the university management, saying that tuition was free.

“On the proposed new fees and charges, they are mainly for students-related services which are sourced from the economy.

“And the costs of such goods and services provided by the university for the students will certainly be impacted by costs of goods and services in the economy.

“To ensure smooth running of the university, certain consumables and payments for municipal services such as electricity, water, hostel maintenance and cleaning and sundry other services are necessary.

“And the costs of providing the services have shot up and the new charges are in response to this,” he said.

“Other costs that were adjusted as a result of economic reality include medical examination for all new students, biometric identity cards and Tertiary Institutions’ Students Health Insurance Programme, administered by NHIS for students and final yearbook.

“The management reiterates that tuition remains free for all students and that it has inbuilt mechanism within the system to look into and build consensus on matters affecting students including charges and fees.

“And that mechanism is working on this matter and consensus will be achieved,” the institution’s spokesman said.

A family source revealed this on Wednesday that Akeredolu died in Lagos.

Report has it that he was managed by State House doctors up to his death because they could not fly him abroad.

“Akeredolu is dead; he died in Lagos,” the source said.

“They were looking for dialysis machines to be sent to his secret location in Lagos last week.”

The ailing governor returned to Nigeria in September following a three-month medical leave in Germany and only recently proceeded on another one after he was directed by President Bola Tinubu to hand over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

His deputy, Aiyedatiwa has been standing in as Acting Governor.

Following his return to Nigeria in September, Akeredolu stayed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and tried to govern his state from there, leading to public outrage.

On July 9, Akeredolu’s wife, Betty announced the suspension of activities lined up to celebrate her 70th birthday.

The Ondo first lady announced the suspension of the activities in Twitter posts after questions were raised over plans to have a fanfare despite her husband’s ill health.

“Hello Family and Friends. This is to inform you that all activities lined up to mark my 70th birthday are hereby suspended till further notice due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this development.”

“Nevertheless, be assured that I will be celebrated in style upon my return. Thank you for your understanding. I remain Arabinrin a.k.a Ada Owere I,” she tweeted.

The institution said the development was part of its efforts towards contributing to the development of humankind.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Samuel Obeka, disclosed this on Monday, in a statement, made available to our correspondent.

According to him, the 50 per cent discount in tuition fees is for some of the programmes in the departments of Natural and Applied Sciences, Education, Agriculture, Finance and investment and Economics of the institution.

The VC explained that the affected programmes are very significant to national development but are not well-subscribed to, by students due to their “high tuition fees and assumed abstract or ambiguous nature.”

He said , “The gesture was implemented to encourage parents and guardians to allow their children and wards to enjoy the benefits and endowments inherent in the institution. This is also done in fulfilment of the promise made at the inception of our university to give opportunity to all Nigerians for professional and academic development, and thereby, contribute to national development. “The Methodist Church Nigeria thought it wise to establish Wesley University, Ondo as part of her efforts to midwife effective and robust national ethos and practical implementation of national development policies.”

The Don said the university offered 44 academic programmes spread across nine colleges which were all approved and accredited by the National Universities Commission.

Some of the programmes, he said, were in the Colleges of Law, Arts, Education, Natural and Applied Sciences, Environmental Design and Management, Agriculture, Food Science and Technology, Health Sciences and Social and Management Sciences.

“Wesley University also runs a school of postgraduate studies, a School of Continuing Education, as well as an Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, all ready to develop the skilled and well-informed manpower needed to move Nigeria forward in her quest for giant developmental strides, and to take her pride of place among the comity of progressive and developed nations.

“The programmes in these colleges include – Community Health, Early Childhood Education, Special Education and Library and Information Science, as well as Law and Nursing Science, ” he mentioned.”

Obeka, however, noted that the government should addressed the issue of fuel subsidy removal and the realities of the proposed palliative measures first, instead of increasing the tuition fees of the government-owned universities.

The beneficiaries were treated of some ailments which include hypertension, diabetes, eye-related diseases and other medical complications, by the medical team of the lawmaker. The programme was said to have started on Monday and ended on Friday.

Speaking on the programme, the organiser and senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Nicholas Tofowomo said the free medical outreach was a necessary intervention for the residents of the area.

He noted that with the free medical examinations and tests for the residents of the local government, the patients who required surgery would be taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo for the surgery.

Patients that need surgery would be taken to the Federal Medical Centre at a later day for the surgery,” the senator stated.

On the motive behind the gesture, Tofowomo said it was borne out of his passion to help and improve the health condition of the people of his district.

“What is driving me is the love and affection I have for my people. I am part of them. I have been adding value since my university days. In the 80s, I was the general secretary of Ile-Oluji student union and we introduced a lot of activities to better the lives of the people.

Ever since then, that spirit has remained in me; it is already part of me. Even when I was in the UK, I always come home to add value to my people,” the senator said.

One of the beneficiaries, Fasola Kike commended the organiser of the programme, saying it had really impacted on the health and living of the people.

The governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday, inaugurated the committee at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital.

Akeredolu implored the committee to ensure it properly educate, inform and sensitise residents of the state on the conduct and relevance of the year 2023 Population and Housing Census.

the census population was shifted to May due to the presidential and governorship elections held recently.

Members of the Committee include the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Owena Press Limited, publishers of the Hope titles, Sir Ademola Adetula; the Chairman, Ondo State Radiovision Corporation Media Group, Mr Kunle Adebayo represented by Taiwo Ibitoye; the General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority, Akure, Mrs Olubunmi Oke; the Nigeria Union of Journalists Chairman, Ondo State Council, Prince Leke Adegbite; Heads of Media organisations in the state; among several others.

Others include Chairman, League of Imams and Alfas, Ondo State; Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe; Ondo State Christian Association of Nigeria Chairman, Rev. Fr. Anselm Ologunwa; Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi; members of Ondo State House of Assembly; leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students; the Iyalajes/Iyalojas in the state.

Mrs Odunayo Olubayode is the Secretary of the Committee.

The NPC Federal Commissioner in Ondo State, Prince Diran Iyantan, disclosed the target of the 2023 census is to produce accurate, reliable and inclusive data that will be used for planning and critical programme interventions.

He called on the committee members to be proactive while urging residents of the state to make themselves available during the exercise

The death was confirmed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to the statement, the deceased passed on “peacefully in her sleep early this (Thursday) morning. Mama was 90 years.”

The statement read, “She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members.

“Further announcements will be made by the family in due course.”

Akeredolu alleged that the Federal Government was playing the ostrich by abandoning states to their fates concerning the security of lives and property of the people but rather empowering some private security outfits in the country.

The governor stated this in a statement he issued through his Chief Press Secretary on Wednesday. This was in reaction to the recent purported award of contracts by the Federal Government to some private security outfits to protect the pipelines from being vandalised.

According to the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, the action of the FG has implied that it permitted
private security outfits “to bear heavy assault weapons while denying the same privilege to the states, the federating units,” to tackle insecurity.

The statement read in part, “The news concerning the purported award of pipeline contracts to some individuals and private organisations by the Federal Government has been unsettling. More disquieting is the barely disguised hostility displayed against either the idea or the actual establishment of security outfits by some State Governments to fill the widening gaps in the scope of security coverage noticeable nationally.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, has been consistent in its refusal to accede to the request by some states in the Federation to strengthen the complementary initiatives adopted to protect lives and property. This is done in spite of the knowledge that the very issues which necessitated the creation of these outfits support providing adequate weaponry. All attempts to persuade the Federal Government to look critically into the current security architecture have been rebuffed despite the manifest fundamental defects engendered by over-centralisation.

“It is, therefore, shocking to read that the Federal Government has maintained the award of the contract to ‘protect’ the country’s pipeline from vandals to private organisations. This story, if true, leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The NSA will, obviously, not advise the President to approve the award of a contract of such magnitude if the operators have not displayed sufficient capacity to checkmate the criminal activities of equally powerful groups. Consequently, it is safe to conclude that the Federal Government has, impliedly, permitted non-state actors to bear heavy assault weapons while denying the same privilege to the states, the federating units.”

The governor added, “The award of contract to private organisations to protect pipelines raise fundamental questions on the sincerity of the advisers of the government on security issues. The open and seeming enthusiastic embrace of this oddity, despite the constant and consistent avowal of the readiness by the security agencies, in particular, the navy to contain the pervasive and deepening crises of breaches and threats to lives and property, attracts the charge of insincerity bordering, deplorably, on dubiety.

“If the state governments, which are keenly desirous of protecting their citizens, establish ancillary security outfits and there has been pronounced reluctance, if not outright refusal, to consider permitting them to bear arms for the sole purpose of defence, granting private individuals and or organisations unfettered access to assault weapons suggests, curiously, deep-seated suspicion and distrust between the Federal Government and the presumed federating units.

“The engagement of private organisations to handle serious security challenges reinforces the belief that the whole defence architecture in the country needs an urgent overhaul. The Federal Government cannot be seen to be playing the ostrich in this regard.”

The Federal Government had earlier blamed the attack on the Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists, a claim the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu contested.

On Wednesday that the security operatives had identified the sponsors and directed all port and border authorities to watch out for them.

A security source told one of our correspondents that no fewer than nine of those involved in the bloody attack were in custody. The source also disclosed that security agencies were launched manhunt for five financiers.

The source said, ‘’The security agencies have nabbed nine persons for direct or indirect involvement in the bloody attack on the Owo Catholic Church. They are now in the process of apprehending the financiers and sponsors of the terror attack. Officers at the nation’s airports and borders have been ordered to watch out for and arrest the culprits who are on the run as they may be desperate to leave the country to evade justice.’

When contacted, the Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said he had no information on the fleeing terror financiers or the efforts being made to arrest them.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Luck Irabor had on Tuesday disclosed that suspected terrorists involved in the Owo attack were arrested in Kogi state on August 1.

Speaking at a parley with editors and media executives at the Defence headquarters, Abuja, Irabor said those in custody include Idris Ojo, an ISWAP commander who escaped from the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre on July 5; Momoh Abubakar, Aliyu Itopa, Auwal Onimisi, Idris Omeiza and Jimoh Ibrahim.

But Irabor identified Omeiza and Ibrahim as the suspected masterminds of the attack.

However, Akeredolu faulted the CDS over the list of suspects in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, on Wednesday.

Akeredolu argued that Ojo was one of the escapees of Kuje Prison and not the Owo massacre perpetrator as claimed by the CDS.

Clarifying the CDS’ statement on the list of suspects, Akpor  explained that Irabor disclosed that four terrorists were arrested in Kogi state.

According to him, out of the four suspects, Omeiza was the one linked with the Owo attack.

Akpor made the clarification in a statement on Wednesday, titled, ‘Gen Irabor meets with media executives, reveals arrest of mastermind of Owo Catholic Church attack.’

Irabor meets with media executives, reveals arrest of mastermind of Owo Catholic Church attack.’

He said, “The CDS said that through the collaborative efforts of military and Department of State Services personnel, four terrorists were arrested at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August, 2022. Those arrested included Idris Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Abubakar, Aliyu  Itopa and Auwal Onimisi.

‘’The Defence Chief said preliminary investigation revealed that Idris Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church as well as the attack on a police station in the Adavi LGA, Kogi State on June 23, 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away.”

He also explained that the Kuje prison escapee, Ojo, was planning another attack before his arrest at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo State, through the combined effort of the military and DSS personnel on August 7.

“Idris Ojo, the CDS said, was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre on July 5, 2022. The CDS also mentioned that Ojo was arrested alongside Jimoh Ibrahim (39 years), a sympathizer of the terrorist group, who accommodated him,’’ Akpor further explained.

Meanwhile, Akeredolu, on Monday  alleged that there was a terror cell in Okene, a town in Kogi State. He linked the Owo massacre to the Okene terror gang.

Akeredolu, who stated that the gang must be confronted and eliminated, said the terrorists often strike in Kogi, Ekiti and in Ondo.

The governor said this when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today programmed on Monday, during which he clarified a statement of his misconstrued to mean he linked the Ebira tribe to the June 5 attack.

He said, “I don’t want to be emphatic on that point because what I said is being mixed up now. I addressed issues on the terrorists who came to Owo on June 5 and at the same time I went ahead to address kidnap incidents that we have had of recent and I said Ebira people were probably involved in this. I also said we were going to call a meeting with the Ebira community within Ondo State. We have lived together for too long for this sort of incident to happen and that was a separate thing.

“But it is clear, from what we have, that a terror gang in Okene… we all know that Okene is a land of the Ebira. The terror gang in Okene were involved in the incident of June 5. What do we make of that? Are they all Ebira? That is for us to find out.

“We can’t conclude with their names because we can see that a number of them have two names like so, so and so Ibn something. The Department of State Security are still looking at this. So, we must live that until they come out with the proper location of where they come from before we jump into total conclusion.

“For me, I know that there is a terror cell in Okene, and everybody knows that, and they strike across the country. They strike in Kogi, Ekiti and strike in Ondo State. But this terror cell is one that must be confronted and eliminated. What I’m trying to say is that my reference to the Ebira during a courtesy visit by the union of journalists were on incidents that happened recently, and I said no, these were our brothers, we have lived together for long, they cannot get involved in this sort of trade. Let them concentrate on their farming and their trade, rather than getting involved in kidnapping. So, that was a different case.”

In a related development, the Nigerian Air Force said the operations conducted by the air component of ‘Operation Whirl Punch’   in Kaduna state killed many terrorists, including a kingpin identified as Alhaji Shanono.

The operations which were conducted between August 9  also led to the rescue of 26 kidnapped victims.

A  statement by the Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, Edward Gabkwet on Wednesday, stated that Shanono was planning a meeting with his soldiers under a tree when the aircraft deployed in the area for a mission sighted