The protest comes after a 17-day power disconnection by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company due to unpaid bills.

The hospital is being billed under the “band A” tariff structure, resulting in a monthly bill of N80million.

The lack of power supply has affected essential services at the hospital, including surgeries, diagnostic tests, and other critical medical procedures.

A video shared by Oyo Affairs on X shows patients and their families gathered at the hospital to express their frustration.

“Stop k!lling people. People are d¥ing here. The managers are thieves. We need light,” One of the protesters was heard saying.

The state governors are also planning more logistics support for security agents, including the military, the police, Amotekun, vigilantes and local hunters, among others, to tackle the resurgence of kidnapping and killings in the region.

The region, known to be peaceful in the past, has become a hotbed for kidnappers and other criminals.

A few days ago, gunmen killed two Ekiti monarchs – the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.

The traditional rulers were returning from a security meeting in Kogi State when they ran into an ambush mounted by the kidnappers who were operating on the highway between Ipao and Oke Ako in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Also, in the same area, kidnappers attacked a school bus and whisked away five pupils of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, three teachers, and the bus driver.

A few days earlier, the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Philip Aivoji, was abducted by some yet-to-identified gunmen along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Although Aivoji was released four days later, several others are not that lucky to come out unhurt.

Reacting to this, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said although he could not speak for all the governors in the region, Governor Seyi Makinde’s government was beefing up security in every area in the state.

He said, “That is why, recently, the government gave out vehicles to the security agencies in the state to ensure that they can operate without any problem. Apart from giving out vehicles, they also got communication gadgets.

“The vehicles are being fuelled by the state, and the essence is for them to be able to cover all parts of the state.

“Because of the government’s pro-activeness, incidents of kidnapping are low in the state and we intend to improve on this. The special adviser to the governor on security and his team regularly meet with the team in Ogun State. They meet regularly and they discuss strategies to checkmate the security threat that may occur.”

Also speaking on the matter, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Ogun State Governor, Kayode Akinmade, said the state government was deeply concerned about the resurgence of crime, particularly kidnapping, in the state.

The aide also stated, “With global best practices, we are undertaking the deployment of drones and other special equipment for monitoring and intelligence gathering.

“The initial technical hitch experienced during the test-run has been addressed. I think that puts us in a vantage position; it puts us ahead of criminals who are increasingly adept at their evil activities, even using technology for their pernicious purposes. We will work with other states to jointly patrol our region,” he added.

The Special Adviser on Media to Ekiti State Governor, Olayinka Oyebode, said the governor had indicated interest in lobbying the Federal Government to allow Amotekun, the region’s security outfit, to carry arms.

He said, “It is important that Amotekun carry arms, even though there had been an agreement that Amotekun can exist, if they do not carry arms, they are useless.

“The local gun they are currently using cannot be called real arms. The idea is to be able to do local information gathering, to secure the bushes and forest. Definitely, there is going to be more recruitment from our end here and there will be change on the dimension of the recruitment and also get local authorities involved.”

Also speaking, the Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 11, comprising Oyo and Osun states, Benjamin Ayeni, said that at the zonal level, a tactical team had been created to checkmate the increased criminality in the region.

He said, “You know each state has their jurisdiction. The zone is just overseeing the state commands and each command has various measures that have been put in place.

“I am aware that Osun and Oyo states both have anti-kidnapping teams, and they have technical intelligent response units and other technical teams in place. The teams are headed by people who are operationally viable to handle situations.

“Recently in Osun State, the Commissioner of Police put together some team called the Joint Task Force, which involved civilians, Amotekun personnel, vigilantes and local hunters so that they can see what is going on within our bushes, and if you look at it there is no such problem in Osun and Oyo states because crime is local and we are working locally against it.

“Osun and Oyo states would soon receive theirs because the IG said he did not want to flush criminals out of Abuja and have them move to the neighbouring states.”

No fewer than 10 persons were feared killed and 15 others hospitalised following the explosion that also affected a section of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Oyo State House of Assembly, the residence of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, some buildings at Ologuneru, Apete, New Garage, Bashorun, Akobo, Sango and Eleyele.

Makinde, who visited the scene of the explosion Tuesday night, said though further investigations were still ongoing, anyone found culpable would be brought to book.

Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book,” he tweeted on Wednesday

no fewer than 10 bodies were recovered from the site and taken away in ambulances.

But the governor said two people died while 77 others were injured in the explosion

In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged, and two fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Makinde added.

The governor also revealed that the “medical bills of victims will be picked by the government” while promising to ensure that all those whose houses were affected were ‘supported to rebuild their lives”

The governor urged residents to be calm, noting that rescue operations had already started at the scene of the incident.

“Earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident. The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan.

“Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.

“I urge all residents to please call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference,” he added.

She made this known in Ibadan, the state capital, at the UCH physiotherapy departmental get-together for physically challenged children in the state.

Akintayo said, “Meningitis, jaundice and careless handling of babies during delivery are some of the common factors that have contributed to several deformities in children.”

The director, therefore, called on governments at all levels to implement policies that uplift the living standard of people with disability in Nigeria.

She said, “We have policies, we have Disability Act that was signed by our immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, in January 2019. But what we need now is implementation. If we can implement these policies, it will help a lot, especially by involving them in the National Health Insurance Scheme, because their care is very expensive, and some parents cannot afford it.

“It is imperative for the physically challenged to have easy access to public buildings, so the Federal Government should include them in the health insurance scheme. We are appealing again that the government should, please, enforce the implementation of that Act. The Act is very good but implementation is what we want from the government now.”

In her remarks, the planning committee chairperson, Mrs Oyinlola Kehinde, said the event was to help the children have a sense of belonging during the festive season and to raise awareness of the need for members of the public to care for them.

In his address, the chairman on the occasion, Damola Awosika, promised to mark his birthday with them every year and donate whatever gifts he received during the celebration to the department for onward distribution to them.

One of the people with disabilities, Oluwasegun Akinlosotu, who just celebrated his 48th birthday, said he had been participating in the yearly programme since he was one year old.

He said, “I have been coming to this end-of-the-year party since I was one year old. My grandmother used to bring me here every year until I became a fully grown-up man, and since then I never missed a year. We know the month, date and time we celebrate the end-of-the-year party in this department, so we don’t wait until UCH call us because it’s a fixed yearly programme.”

Two parents of the beneficiaries, Mrs Awelewa Temitope and Mrs Okome Folorunso, who was elated with the quality of gifts and hospitality given to the children, showered encomium on the department for their yearly gesture.

Different gift items including crutches and toys were presented to the beneficiaries.

The women among the protesters threatened to strip naked to resist the alleged plan to render them homeless

Addressing journalists after the protest, the Secretary of Sobaloju Descendants, Basiru Adelabu, said the family had no plan to sell the property, and, therefore, warned intending buyers.

Crisis looms in Sobaloju family in the Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, as some family members staged a peaceful protest, on Sunday, in Ibadan, over an alleged plan to sell off their heritage to a finance house.

The women among the protesters threatened to strip naked to resist the alleged plan to render them homeless

Addressing journalists after the protest, the Secretary of Sobaloju Descendants, Basiru Adelabu, said the family had no plan to sell the property, and, therefore, warned intending buyers.

Eyewitnesses said that the driver of the 18-passenger white Toyota Hummer bus with number plate Lagos JJJ 941 XA, who was at a high speed, took off at the popular Akinyele market in Akinyele Local Government, Ibadan, before he suffered a tyre burst and lost control.

It was further gathered that the occupants of the bus, all males, were heading towards the northern part of the country before the accident.

When our correspondent visited the Atiba Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the unit commander, Bayode Olugbesan, confirmed that four persons died before the arrival of the corps members, while the injured were quickly rushed to the state General Hospital in Oyo.

Olugbesan, who attributed the cause of the accident to speeding and overloading, also confirmed that 20 persons were involved in the incident. He added that the corpses have been deposited at the mortuary.

He said, “All the victims are male and their destination is North. The cause of the crash was speeding and overloading. The bus was supposed to carry 14 passengers but was loaded with 20 passengers.”

The unit commander, therefore, urged the road users to be careful while driving, avoid speeding, overloading and night travelling.

a senior medical personal, who did not want her name in print, said, “The road safety officials brought 15 victims (injured ones) to the hospital, but two of them have given up the ghost after we administered first aid on them.”

The market gutted fire at about 04:30am, on Sunday.

When contacted on phone, the state General Manager of Fire Services, Yemi Akinyemi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

Akinyemi said, “The agency received the distress call at exactly 04:37hrs through Sunday Ogundele, Access Bank security that Agbeni market is on fire. Our men are still battling with the job, we are grateful to Central Bank of Nigeria that allows us to use their water supply. Everything is under control. They are still going to CBN to replenish”, he confirmed.

Makinde made this known on Tuesday in Ibadan while swearing in the new Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

Makinde said he had already communicated to the kingmakers in the two towns that institutional framework should be followed in the selection of new Aalafin and Soun.

According to him, once due process is followed, things generally will work out more efficiently.

“We have gone through a situation where a king was removed by the judiciary in the state after he had been on the throne for over 22 years.

“And I said to myself, not under my watch are we going to repeat the same mistake. I will rather delay and have due process followed. Then, if anybody decides to go to court after the emergence of the new traditional rulers, such exercise might be a nullity.

I believe this is what we need in Nigeria right now – strong institutions.

“But we also need people to build them –  people with experience, capacity and people with strong conviction to do what is right.

“That is why the appointment of people like Justice Iyabo Yerima is important because she has experience in leadership,” Makinde said.

The governors said Justice Yerima’s swearing-in as the substantive Chief Judge of Oyo State was in accordance with Section 271 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

Makinde, while congratulating the new Chief Judge, promised to give her the necessary support to succeed.

He hinted that his administration had taken steps to ensure that the judiciary in the state works effectively, assuring that his government would try its best to provide resources as they were available.

In her remarks, Justice Yerima pledged to take the judiciary in the state to a greater height.

The institution also banned tinted vehicles being used by staff members and students, while learner permits must be placed on the vehicles of beginner drivers.

A memo issued by the registrar of the institution, Kayode Ogunleye, said the decision was reached at a management meeting held on Wednesday.

He said, “The University management at its regular meeting held, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, deliberated on the occurrence of traffic on the campus and decided as follows:

Vehicles owned by students are hereby banned from entering the university campus. Vehicles with no registration numbers are no longer allowed on campus. Roadside parking of vehicles should stop forthwith.”

The registrar also said unauthorised vehicles parked at various locations in the university should be taken out with immediate effect.

“Any unauthorized vehicles parked at various positions in the university should be taken out with immediate effect, failing which the university security will take appropriate action on such vehicles.

Tinted vehicles being used by some staff and students are hereby prohibited. Learner permits must be placed on the vehicles of beginner drivers.

“The acting vice chancellor, bursar, university Liberian, provosts and deans, directors, heads of departments/units and acting head of security unit were copied in the memo,” Ogunleye said.

The Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the INEC, Adeniran Teller, made this announcement in Ibadan on Tuesday, while featuring on the guest platform of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council themed ‘Speak Out’.

Teller, who said over two million voters are expected to vote in the coming elections in the state, added that eligible voters would vote in the 6,390 polling units across the state.

The commissioner said about 760,766 Permanent Voter Cards were yet to be collected by registrants, adding that the commission was ready to conduct a credible and acceptable election in the state.

“I have the opportunity to tell you the level of our preparedness. The level of our preparedness has reached an advanced state in all stages. This is also an opportunity for us to again to come out and talk to you.

“Total number of polling units 6,390. Registered voters in Oyo state: 3,276,675. Total PVCs collected are 2,305,903 while 760,766 are yet to be collected.

“As long as you have your PVC, come out to vote during the elections. So, we are trying to put our heads together.”

He, therefore, urged eligible voters to come out en masse and cast their votes for candidates of their choice during the elections.