The Chairman, Oyo State Leauge Of Veteran Journalists, Veteran Banji Ogundele has joined all members and well wishers of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists, Oyo State Council as it celebrate the maiden _Unity Sallah Soirée_

In a press statement he personally signed on Saturday, June 6, 2026, Veteran Ogundele said he feels greatly delighted with the uniqueness of the occasion and its innovation. The title of the celebration laid emphasis on unity. And there is no better time for members to unite than now at the celebration of Sallah, a feast of faith, sacrifice, forgiveness and divine mercy. As the famous proverb goes, “United we stand but divided we fall.” This emphasises strength in collaboration and weakness in division.

Veteran Ogundele said, since Oyo State Council of the NUJ remains the bastion of Nigeria’s free press, it behoves it to lead by example.

“I, therefore, urge all members to demonstrate the spirit of good sportsmanship and let bygone be bygone, because, in all contests, there must be winners and losers”, Veteran Ogundele said.

While winners should show magnanimity in victory, losers should not be discouraged but see it as a momentary setback. Participation itself is enough joy.

Veteran Ogundele therefore urge all aggrieved members to return home, since, _insha Allah,_ another contest is always around the corner.

Let every hand be on deck to strengthen the union to let it retain its pride of place as the _*primus inter pares*_ – the first among equals – in the country, Veteran Ogundele added.

Congratulations and enjoy your well-deserved _Soirée._

_*A s’eyi s’amodun. Oju wa yio ma r’odun.*_

*Banji Ogundele*
_Chairman, LVJ._

Oyo State Police Command has observed with grave concern the circulation of a malicious and entirely unfounded report alleging that one of the schoolchildren abducted during the recent incident at Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, has died while in captivity.

The Command categorically states that the report is false, misleading, mischievous, and without any factual basis whatsoever. At no time has the Oyo State Police Command, nor any other recognized security agency involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, confirmed such development. The publication is a fabrication carefully crafted by individuals whose objective is to arouse unnecessary public sentiment, create panic, spread fear, and undermine ongoing security operations.

It is particularly disturbing that the authors of the report deliberately employed emotional narratives, speculative claims, and unverified accounts in a calculated attempt to manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents. Such conduct not only constitutes a disservice to responsible journalism but also advances the very objectives of criminal elements and terror merchants who thrive on fear, uncertainty, and public distress.

The Command wishes to assure members of the public that concerted efforts by security agencies remain ongoing and that all operational activities concerning the incident are being pursued with the utmost professionalism, diligence, and confidentiality. The dissemination of false information at such a critical time has the potential to jeopardize ongoing efforts, cause unnecessary trauma to affected families, and mislead the general public.

Consequently, the Oyo State Police Command strongly cautions individuals, bloggers, social media influencers, online content creators, and media platforms against the publication or amplification of unverified security-related information. The indiscriminate sharing of false reports, particularly those capable of inciting fear or causing public disorder, is irresponsible and unacceptable.

The Command therefore appeals to all media houses, bloggers, and online content creators to exercise professionalism, responsibility, and due diligence in the discharge of their duties. They must refrain from becoming unwitting accomplices to those whose stock-in-trade is misinformation, fearmongering, and the deliberate distortion of facts for ulterior motives.

Members of the public are advised to disregard the said publication in its entirety and rely solely on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorized government agencies.

The Oyo State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to public safety and security and will continue to keep residents appropriately informed of verified developments as circumstances warrant.

Civil servants in Oyo State have been charged to seek knowledge beyond their present human capacity training to remain relevant in office, as the state government organized a one-day training workshop for 85 workers on a series of capacity-building sessions.

The workshops comprised four groups of participants, including auditors, account officers, secretaries, and train-the-trainers, drawn from 25 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Professor Abdulwaheed Saliu Adelabu, made this charge in an interview with journalists shortly after declaring the workshop open held at Simeon Adebo Staff Development Center, Secretariat. He encouraged participants to “learn to earn” in order to increase their source of income.

The Commissioner emphasized that civil servants need to undergo more training and acquire additional skills that will enhance their efficiencies and responsibilities at the state level.

According to him, the government, through the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Center, is not relenting in ensuring that all cadres in the service are trained; both the academic and non-academic staff are working to sustain the legacy of Simeon Adebo.

Addressing the economic situation in the country, Professor Adelabu assured that the welfare of workers remains a priority for the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde. He noted that the economic hardship is not peculiar to Oyo State alone and that the government has been doing its best to cushion its effects.

“A couple of years back, it was only in Oyo State that we had an initiative called Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER). Also, there is a fuel subsidy allowance of N10,000 for each worker to ease transportation burden, as well as buses to convey them to and from different location,” he said.

He added that based on the economic indices, Oyo State is among the three best states in Nigeria in terms of workers’ welfare.

In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishments and Training, Alhaji Alade Bello, who was represented by the Director, Pension and Gratuity, Mr. Olufemi Ogungbile, encouraged participants to listen with rapt attention, noting that competence must be involved; otherwise, it will expire.

He explained that capacity building is not about the number of years spent in service but about continuous updating.

He added that knowledge acquired for competence yesterday may not be sufficient to address the present challenge, which is why regular updates are necessary.

The Executive Secretary, Simeon Adebo Staff Development Center, Mrs. Stella Okedum, in her welcome address, stated that given where the world is heading, it is no longer business as usual. She assured that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not take the position of anyone who continues to learn.

Oyo State Police Command, in furtherance of its unwavering commitment to ensuring a safer and more secure environment and in line with ongoing efforts to rid the State of violent crime and other forms of criminality, has commenced a statewide enforcement operation targeting unmarked vehicular objects, fake and obscured number plates, as well as unauthorized covering of vehicle plates.

This enforcement action, which commenced on Thursday, June 4, 2026, is aimed at ensuring strict compliance with lawful vehicle identification standards and enhancing overall public safety and security architecture within the State.

Oyo State Police Command said, any person or persons found violating these directives will be promptly arrested, while such vehicles or motorcycles will be impounded in line with extant laws and operational procedures.

Furthermore, Oyo State Police Command will sustain intermittent stop-and-search operations, intelligence-led patrols, and coordinated raids of identified criminal blackspots across the State. There will also be increased police visibility and strategic deployment of personnel within key locations across urban and rural areas.

These measures are part of a broader security framework designed to deter criminal activities, enhance rapid response capabilities, and strengthen public confidence in policing operations.
Members of the public are therefore urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperative with Police personnel during the course of these operations, as these actions are strictly in the interest of public safety and security.

The Command appreciates the continued support and understanding of residents and assures that all operations will be conducted professionally, lawfully, and with due respect for human rights.

The Oyo State Police Command has recorded another significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat cultism and other violent crimes across the State with the arrest of two confessed members of a secret cult group.

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, while conducting a routine stop-and-search operation along the Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway, intercepted and arrested two suspects identified as Ajala Bukola, male, 28 years, and Caleb Adesoye, male, 24 years.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo had been on the Command’s watchlist for some time owing to their suspected involvement in cult-related activities within Ogbomoso and its environs. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to membership of a dreaded secret cult group. Further investigation indicated that they occupy strategic positions within the group’s hierarchy and may be linked to other criminal activities currently under investigation.

A search conducted on a Lexus ES 350 vehicle, grey in colour. The search led to the recovery of three axes, one cutlass, one hammer, one Apple laptop computer, one HP laptop computer, two iPhones, one Samsung mobile phone, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.

The suspects remain in police custody and are assisting investigators with credible information aimed at identifying and apprehending other members and associates of the criminal group. Concerted efforts are ongoing to dismantle the network and bring all those connected with its activities to justice.

The Oyo State Police Command reiterates its unwavering commitment to combating cultism and all forms of criminality across the State. The Command therefore urges members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and actionable information to security agencies.

The Command assures law-abiding residents that it will sustain its proactive crime-fighting strategies and ensure that all individuals involved in activities capable of threatening public peace and safety are dealt with in accordance with the law.

Oyo State Police Command has noted with serious concern a widely circulated publication containing detailed and purported operational information on the recent abduction incident in Ahoro-Esinele, Oriire Local Government Area, including alleged identities of suspects, communication interception details, and supposed financial transactions linked to ongoing investigations.

The Command wishes to categorically state that the said publication is misleading, speculative, and not an official security report. It contains numerous operational claims and technical assertions that did not emanate from the Oyo State Police Command or any constituted security authority involved in the ongoing investigation.

For the avoidance of doubt, the investigation into the unfortunate incident remains active, sensitive, and intelligence-driven. As it’s the standard practice in matters of this nature, operational details, identities of suspects, investigative leads, and financial intelligence components are strictly protected to safeguard ongoing efforts, prevent compromise of field operations, and ensure successful apprehension of all perpetrators.

Oyo State Police Command therefore cautions members of the public, bloggers, and online publishers against the dissemination of unverified, exaggerated, or operationally sensitive information capable of misleading the public, causing panic, or undermining active security operations.

Oyo State Police Command will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any individual or group found deliberately circulating such false information, interfering with investigations, or attempting to obstruct ongoing security operations.

Members of the public are also urged to rely strictly on official communication channels of the Oyo State Police Command for verified information on the case and other security-related developments.
Oyo State Police Command reassures residents of its unwavering commitment to ensuring that all those involved in the crime are identified, arrested, and brought to justice in accordance with the law.