Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested two notorious gunrunners and recovered arms in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, Media Information Officer, JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 said the suspects, Mr. Abdullahi Balarabe, 40, and his 18-year-old wife, Shafaatu Abdullahi, were arrested with 1,207 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

“In a coordinated operation to enhance security across the Joint Operations Area, troops of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE (JTF OPEP) in collaboration with that of Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) tracked and apprehended two notorious gunrunners on Wednesday, October 8, 2025,” the statement read.

“The suspects, Mr. Abdullahi Balarabe (40) and his wife, Shafaatu Abdullahi (18), were intercepted at a snap checkpoint established by the joint troops of JTF OPEP and OPFY at the outskirts of Saminaka in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“The operation, prompted by actionable intelligence from an intelligence agency in Plateau State, led to the recovery of 1,207 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition. The ammunition was believed to be bound for armed groups operating in the North West.

“Following their arrest, the suspects and the recovered ammunition are in own custody for further investigation and follow-up action to dismantle the wider gunrunning network.”

Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander JTF OPEP, commended the troops for their bravery, vigilance, and proactive efforts.

“This successful operation underscores the critical importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating criminal activities, Major General Oyinlola stated.

He assured the residents of Plateau State that JTF OPEP remains resolute in its commitment to restoring lasting peace and security.

“We will not relent in our efforts to eradicate the activities of terrorists and criminal elements, thereby fostering a secure environment where peace and prosperity can thrive,” he added.

…Why they took 50 Million Naira From Aspirants

Last Friday, October 10, 2025, Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and Anti Corruption Commission, SPFACC, played host to some of the Kingmakers from Idanre, headquarters of Idanre Local Government area.

The Kingmakers were quizzed by operatives of SPFACC for several hours before they were released. Specifically, they were made to answer questions on the alleged large scale corruption perpetrated in the process of selecting the new Owa of Idanre.

The Idanre stool became vacant last year, following the demise of the monarch, Oba Fredrick Adegunle Aroloye. He reigned for 48 years.

The process of selecting a new Owa started recently. The royal family asked all those interested in becoming the next Owa to apply in writing. In all, 21 princes applied.
A week after the applications were collated, the royal family, known as _Omo Owa_ asked all the applicants to pay a sum of two million naira to the palace. Out of the 21 applicants, only 7 paid.

Those who paid the two million naira were:
Prince Ibukun Aroloye, Prince Kayode Aroloye,
Prince Tope Aroloye, Prince Mayowa Aroloye,
Prince Gboyega Aroloye, Prince Siji Aroloye and Prince Fredrick Ayinuola.

In line with the tradition, the royal family forwarded the names of the 7 contenders to the Kingmakers, headed by the regent and Lisa of Idanre, High Chief Christopher Olu Akindolire.

Other members of the Committee of Kingmakers are: Akinloye Akinmboni- Ojomu, Akinuli Akinkuowo- Sasere Bello Ilemobola- Adaja, Akingbola Akinsanmi- Ajana, Bagbemiga Ademujimi- Salaja, Akinlosotu Olorungbagbe- Oshinle,
Jerome Akinmoladun- Egbedowu and Akinnawo- Subale.

Rather than proceeding with the selection process, the Kingmakers imposed another levy of 10 million that must be paid by each contestant. Strange and bizarre, the 10 million naira demand sent tongues wagging in and outside the community. But the Kingmakers insisted. In the end only 5 of the aspirants paid the 10 million naira.

The first thing that raised curiosity was the bank account to which the money was paid. Akindolire, who is the chairman of the committee of Kingmakers directed that the money should be paid into his personal account in Polaris Bank.

Trouble started when some of the Kingmakers expressed reservations about Akindolire style of personalising the selection process, treating other Kingmakers as appendages of his fiefdom. For instance, after collecting 10 million naira each from 5 aspirants, he reportedly told the Kingmakers that the committee would adopt his preferred candidate, the son of the late Owa, Fredrick Adegunle Aroloye who died last year.

The Lisa allegedly threatened the Kingmakers to support his candidate or face the consequences of not doing so.

He reminded them that their oath of allegiance and loyalty to the late Owa included ensuring that his son would succeed him. Some of the aggrieved Kingmakers were afraid of the said oath known as Imole Awe, which is usually administered on them at the point of installation as High Chiefs. Hence, they were grumbling in silence, holding secret meetings.

Some of them said there was nothing like Imole Awe and that Akindolire was only trying to cow them into submission.

The last straw was the sharing formula of the 50 million naira largesse. It is believed that Akindolire and a senior Kingmaker had perfected how to share the money without being fair to the others. He was quoted to have informed the Kingmakers that only 30% of the 50 million naira would be shared among all the Kingmakers.

That the remaining 70% will be kept in his bank account for hiring of lawyers in case anyone drags them to court after the selection exercise. Kingmakers who were not satisfied with this formula started breaking into rebellious groups, each plotting how to deal with the issues of unfairness in the sharing of their loot.
Some resorted to direct billing of the aspirants. Some were asking for between 3-5 million naira from the aspirants.

Today, speculations are rife about the monetization of the selection process in Idanre. This ugly development is rubbing mud on the reputation of the historic town.

In the petition addressed to the SPFACC by the Concerned Citizens of Idanreland signed by Adebayo Adeola, the group expressed deep concerns over the monitisation of Owa Stool which is now being sold to the “highest bidder”

The petitioner urged the SPFACC to investigate the allegations of graft against the Kingmakers. That was why the agency summoned them for interrogation. In their defence, the Kingmakers told the anti graft body last Friday October 10 2025, that the 10 million naira was a levy, and not a bribe.

They justified the levy which they claimed would be used for the renovation of Owa’s ancient palace in Oke Idanre.

Close watchers of the Kingmakers’ activities have dismissed their defence as an afterthought, hurriedly fabricated after receiving the SPFACC’s invitation.

A Kingmaker who prefers to be anonymous confirmed that palace renovation was never discussed in their meetings. He challenged Akindolire to produce the minutes of Kingmakers’ meeting where palace renovation was discussed. ” What we are doing now is damage control” he declared.

In a statement jointly signed by Akinlosotu, the Oshinle and Akinkuowo, the Sasere, the Kingmakers maintained that” the fund was transparently earmarked to cover the entire selection process, traditional rites, and the renovation of the long- abandoned palace” The statement describes Akindolire as a man of proven integrity whose reputation is without blemish.

However, the question being asked by most people in the community today is ‘Why do you need to levy aspirants to renovate the ancient palace?

The last time Owa’s palace in Odode was renovated, Idanre indigenes home and abroad gladly contributed money towards the project.

Undoubtedly, the Kingmakers have alot of explanations to make to Idanre people, either now or in the future.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday, warned the federal government to stop threatening members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) with its “unproductive ‘no work, no pay’ policy”.

The Congress said it would not hesitate to mobilise all workers across the country including those critical sectors to paralyse economy if the government failed to heed the request of ASUU. Joe Ajaero, President of NLC, who stated this via a statement shared with journalists on Monday, called on the government to immediately set aside its threat against ASUU and use the two-week window to resolve all the issues.

All branches of ASUU across all universities nationwide have been directed to embark on a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike against the government over unmet demands. The government, while banking on labour laws and some sections of the constitution, subsequently threatened that it would invoke ‘no work no pay’ policy if the university teachers carried out their directive.

Reacting to the development, Ajaero said ASUU’s struggle is not a fight of university teachers alone but a fight for Nigeria’s future, insisting that any attempt by government to invoke ‘no work no pay’ will be met with stiff resistance.

“This struggle extends beyond an isolated industrial dispute. It reflects a broader societal issue. While the children of the elite attend private institutions or study abroad, the children of the working class and the poor are left in a public education system being systematically weakened.

“This creates an educational divide that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality. An educated populace is essential for a progressive nation, and the current approach appears designed to reserve quality education as a commodity for the privileged few.

“In light of this, the Nigeria Labour Congress hereby declares its full solidarity with ASUU and all other unions in the tertiary education sector. Consequently, we state the following:

“We call on the Federal Government to immediately set aside its threats and address the core issues in the negotiated agreements with ASUU.

“We serve notice that if, after this two-week warning strike, the government remains unresponsive, the NLC will not stand idly by.

“The NLC will convene an emergency meeting with its affiliates in the tertiary education sector to develop a comprehensive strategy for engaging the government.

“The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future. We will no longer allow these unions to stand alone.

“We demand that the Federal Government use this two-week window to present a concrete plan for the full implementation of all agreements.

“The choice is clear: honour the agreements and salvage public education, or face the resolute and unified force of the entire Nigerian workforce,” the labour leader declared. DailyTrust