Oyo State Police Command has recorded yet another significant breakthrough in its sustained efforts to combat cultism, violent crimes, and other criminal activities across the State.

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, operatives attached to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Oyo Base, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended two suspected members of a notorious cult group at their hideout in the Oke-Apo area of Oyo Town.

The suspects, identified as Oparemi Kabiru, alias “Ikebe”, and Fasasi Taofeek, alias “Bufalo”, were arrested following intelligence indicating that they and their associates had been involved in activities threatening public peace and security within Oyo Town and its environs.

A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one locally made pistol and two live cartridges. During preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Eiye Supremo Confraternity and admitted involvement in several violent criminal activities within Oyo Town and surrounding communities.

The successful operation underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the critical role of actionable information provided by members of the public in combating crime. The Command notes that the arrest was made possible through credible intelligence, further reinforcing the importance of sustained cooperation between the Police and the communities they serve.

The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command CP Abimbola Ayodeji, Olugbenga psc, mnips, reassures residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property and to ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven anywhere within the State. He emphasizes that security is a shared responsibility and calls on all residents to remain vigilant and actively support law enforcement efforts through timely, accurate, and credible information.

The Commissioner further urges members of the public to embrace the principle of “See Something, Say Something,” stressing that prompt reporting of suspicious persons, movements, and activities enables proactive police intervention and helps prevent crimes before they occur. He assures citizens that all information received by the Police will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and professionalism.

The Oyo State Police Command remains fully prepared, strategically positioned, and operationally equipped to respond swiftly to security threats across the State. The Command therefore encourages residents to continue partnering with the Police in building safer communities and maintaining the peace and security currently being enjoyed in Oyo State.

The Command remains resolute in its determination to rid the State of cultism, armed violence, and all forms of criminality.

Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), led by its Chairman, Dr. Afeez Adeniyi, on Thursday, June 18, 2026, held an interactive meeting with representatives of registered political parties in Oyo state as part of preparations for the forthcoming local government council elections in the state.

During the meeting, which took place at the Commission’s headquarters in Ibadan, copies of the election guidelines were distributed to political parties by OYSIEC ahead of primaries scheduled to hold between June 29 and July 27, 2026.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Adeniyi emphasized the critical role political parties play in the electoral process, urging them to diligently discharge their constitutional responsibilities to ensure a credible and peaceful election.

He stressed the importance of conducting party primaries within the stipulated period and forwarding the names of successful candidates to the commission as required by the electoral law.

The OYSIEC Chairman also urged political parties to carefully study and adhere to the election guidelines issued by the commission, noting that compliance would help prevent avoidable pre-election disputes and litigation.

Responding to questions and concerns raised by party representatives, Dr. Adeniyi reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to strictly adhere to the laws governing the conduct of local government council elections in Oyo State.

He called on political parties to promote greater inclusion of women in leadership and elective positions, describing women as vital contributors to national development.

“Today, we engaged representatives of registered political parties under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). This meeting is part of our preparations for the local government council elections scheduled for December 29, 2026,” he said.

“We had fruitful discussions and exchanged ideas. Our officials will be available during the party primaries to monitor the process and provide necessary guidance where required.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and National Rescue Movement ( NRM), Oyo State , Mr. Kabiru Akinade, expressed concerns over some of the challenges associated with the conduct of local government council elections in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Oyo State Woman Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Mrs. Olajumoke Odususi, advocated increased inclusion of women in electoral processes and decision-making structures as preparations for the elections gather momentum.

The Permanent Secretary of OYSIEC, Mrs. Abisola Kafayat Ogunmola, advised political parties to ensure accuracy in the personal data of successful candidates to be submitted to the commission in the interest of the parties and their candidates.

She appreciated the participants for their attendance and valuable contributions during the engagement.

The meeting also featured special prayers for the safe and speedy release of the abducted school children and teachers from Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to efficient service delivery, human capital development, and sustainable economic growth, as the newly appointed Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Alhaja Faosat Joke Sanni, formally assumed office.

Speaking at her maiden meeting with the Ministry’s management staff held inside the Conference room of the Ministry, the Commissioner expressed profound appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, for the confidence reposed in her, pledging to consolidate on existing gains and drive policies that will further strengthen the State’s economic landscape.

Hon. Sanni outlined a clear policy direction anchored on capacity building, institutional efficiency, and technology-driven governance. She emphasized that continuous professional development and the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) remain critical to modern public service performance.

As part of her agenda, the Commissioner disclosed plans to introduce structured in-house training programmes aimed at enhancing staff productivity, while also encouraging officers to embrace self-development and skills acquisition as tools for career advancement and improved service delivery.

Reiterating the administration’s commitment to a result-oriented public service, Hon. Sanni charged staff to uphold the highest standards of diligence, integrity, and teamwork. She stressed that a culture of mutual respect, collaboration, and accountability is essential to achieving the Ministry’s mandate.

Drawing from her extensive experience within the Oyo State Civil Service, the Commissioner commended the professionalism of officers and underscored the importance of mentorship, particularly in grooming the next generation of public servants for greater responsibility.

On stakeholder engagement, Hon. Sanni highlighted the Ministry’s resolve to deepen collaboration with traders, cooperative societies, investors, and other critical stakeholders through sustained dialogue and inclusive engagement. She noted that strategic consultations with market leaders and relevant groups would be intensified to stimulate economic activities and boost the State’s internally generated revenue.

The Commissioner further assured that resource management would be guided by prudence, transparency, and strict adherence to government regulations. She also emphasized the need to strengthen security within the Ministry to guarantee a safe and conducive working environment.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olajide Mahmud Okesade, welcomed the Commissioner and congratulated her on her appointment. He assured her of the unwavering support and cooperation of the management and staff, expressing confidence in her capacity to advance the Ministry’s strategic objectives in line with Governor Seyi Makinde’s sustainable development agenda.

The meeting featured detailed presentations by Heads of Department, outlining their mandates, achievements, and operational priorities. Responding, Hon. Sanni commended their contributions and reaffirmed her commitment to providing the necessary leadership and support to enhance institutional efficiency.

The Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State, Hon. Kunle Olatunji, has urged eligible residents across the state to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the July 10, 2026 deadline.

In a statement he personally issued on Thursday, June 18, 2026, Olatunji called on all citizens who have attained voting age of 18years, as well as those seeking to transfer their voter registration, replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), or update their voter information, to complete the process before the registration window closes.

The ADP governorship candidate emphasized that voter registration is a fundamental civic responsibility of the citizenry and a critical step in strengthening democracy and ensuring that citizens actively participate in determining the future of Oyo State and Nigeria.

He further appealed to community leaders, youth organisations, women groups, market associations, religious bodies, civil society groups, and political stakeholders to intensify efforts in sensitising and mobilising residents across the state to register.

According to him, Permanent Voter Card remains one of the most powerful tools available to citizens, enabling them to exercise their constitutional right to vote and influence leadership choices and public policies.

Olatunji noted that meaningful development in areas such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, youth empowerment, and economic growth can only be achieved when citizens actively participate in the democratic process.

He therefore urged residents not to wait until the last minute before registering, stressing the importance of obtaining a PVC and encouraging others to do the same.

The governorship hopeful maintained that no eligible voter in Oyo State should be left behind in the registration exercise, adding that widespread participation would contribute significantly to the advancement and development of the state.

He concluded by encouraging all residents to register, mobilise others, and prepare to make their votes count in future elections.

Can you believe it that Ibadan raised a king for Oke-Ila Orangun? Kabiyesi Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Aroyinkeye 1, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, last week, recounted this story to me, “Ibadan raised me”. But wait a bit. Let me preface the story this way: how lbadan raised a king for Oke-Ila Orangun. On April 3, this year, I published a piece titled “Chief Zaccheus Adewumi Adeyemi, JP: Africa’s First Television Set Owner and the Ibadan Contractor Who Built E9/70 Itutaba-Gbenla, Ibadan”. The response was global. Calls poured in from around the world confirming the facts. His children reached out.

But what intrigued me most was another historical dimension the piece took from the palace of the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Osun State. Nigeria. On social media, many formed an emotional attachment to the story because they had once watched television in that house. One of them is His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Aroyinkeye 1, the Orangun of Oke Ila, Osun State, Nigeria.

Kabiyesi said I captured the house and its environment very well. Then, he suggested it is time to document his own strong, chronological connection to Ibadanland and to that same hub. “I think it’s important to do this”, He made available a video recording to capture our discussion on how Ibadan influenced him.

Who am I to say no to my teacher; the man who taught me “Elements of Government” at the then Oyo State College of Arts and Science (OSCAS) in Ile-Ife, now in Osun State, in 1985? Many people are unaware of our close relationship. He could call me at any time for humanitarian purposes, and whenever he was in Ibadan, he would visit me at the University of Ibadan. Kabiyesi Abolarin, I deeply appreciate your love, thoughtfulness and kindness.
According to Oba Abolarin, I was born on a date and at an address: 24 September, 1958, E9/70 Ebenezer Chamber, Okebukola’s Gbenla Residence. Listen and read him further in this synopsis and condensation.
“My parents chose Ibadan that same year. In 1958, the city was the capital of the Western Region and it was the loudest proof that federalism could work. Cocoa money built schools. Awolowo’s government offered free education and politics filled the air like harmattan dust”.
“My father answered a different call. He became the Headmaster of the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Agodi, Ibadan. He taught with chalk and conscience. The region taught with budgets and laws. From both, I learnt early: to raise a child and to raise a country take the same virtue—discipline.”
“Ebenezer Chamber was like a stone. It was located in the ancient heart of Ibadan and it was our home. Beere was on one side, Oje was on the other and Mapo Hill kept watch like an old sentinel. We had rented rooms and our street served as a syllabus for learning.
“The landlord was a policeman, always on transfer from one station to another. His children became our first, unseen role models. Olu and Peter Okebukola were the serious-minded school children of the house. Books before play, questions before answers. Years later, Olu Okebukola would retire as the Head of Service for the Oyo State Civil Service in Ibadan. Peter Okebukola would become the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University and Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja. The Okebukolas are from Elegbaada, Lagelu Local Government, Oyo State”.
“Faith was our anchor. Every Sabbath, we made the trek to the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Irefin, a church established in the 1930s when the Advent message first reached Ibadan. I learnt four-part harmony and one-part truth: that “service is worship and temperance is strength”. The Adventist ethic became my first code of conduct”
“My mother’s shop (Iya Dapo) was at Itutaba. If Okebukola’s residence was my bedroom, Itutaba was my newsroom. Her stall sat near the compounds of Baba Allen and Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye.
“Between 1960 and 1966, that axis of Bere–Oje–Oja’ba Road was a parliament without a mace. Action Group megaphones clashed with NCNC drums, and later, it was NNDP versus UPGA, with the chant “Bo ro wo mi, o rinu mi o Demo mo wa!!” By 1965, “Operation Wetie” ignited the night with its fervour. I was seven, packaging books and other items after school while democracy argued in the open. Long before I read Plato, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Obafemi Awolowo or Azikiwe, Itutaba taught me Political Science: all politics is local and the local is loud”.
“Agugu later became a new classroom. In 1965, we moved to Agugu, Renascent High School Road, E7/470 and later E7/747c. The streets were wider, the silences deeper. Here the city gave me a new class of neighbours. We grew up with the Adisas, Olubodes, Akinyemis, Adedejis, Sunmonus, Aderintos, Oparindes, Tayos, and Ilesanmis from Ifon Osun and the Aseres from Modakeke—families whose names were spoken with respect across the land”.
“And among us was a boy who would rewrite African history itself: Prof. Toyin Falola, now the world-renowned historian. In Agugu, we shared streets, festivals and ambitions”.
“One man in Agugu became my true north: Chief Samuel Adebimpe Adisa. He was a Government College Ibadan (GCI) old boy and a senior civil servant who worked under Awolowo and S.L. Akintola. He wore restraint like a chieftaincy cap. He never preached to me. He simply lived and I remained observant.”.
“Through him, I met Permanent Secretaries who wrote the Region into being, Judges who made law breathe, and Obas who governed with proverbs. From him, I took a simple creed: competence is a form of patriotism”.
“Yet Ibadan was more than government and grammar. It was also spirit. Every year the “Oke Ibadan Festival” drew the city to Mapo’s foot to salute Lagelu, the war camp founder who turned a thicket into a home. We were not just Yoruba. We were Ibadan, people who forged a city from war and dared to love it”.
“Then there were the egungun, my professors in raffia. Ololu, father of them all. Alapansanpa, whose entrance cleared the street. Duronkika, Ooyi, Kodurogbejo, Abidielege—names that made boys run and elders straighten their backs. In our quarters, Adandohun and Sokoro ruled the afternoons. They were not spectacles. They were law and memory and satire stitched into one costume. From them, I learnt that a people who can mock the living and mourn the dead in the same hour will not be easily ruled”.
“Ibadan indeed shaped a life. Agodi gave me letters. Irefin gave me faith. Itutaba gave me politics. Ebenezer Chamber gave me role models. Agugu gave me a generation. Egungun gave me a face”.
“Whoever knows honour, knows gratitude. I have been a teacher of Political Science, a lawyer and now a Yoruba traditional ruler, the Orangun of Oke-Ila. Titles change. Origins do not”.
“When I close my eyes, I still hear four sounds: the drum from Mapo, the hymn from Irefin, my mother’s voice from Itutaba (a proud Ipoti Ekiti woman) and the laughter of boys in Agugu who would one day remake Nigeria”.
“I am the boy from Ebenezer Chamber, E9/70, Gbenla. And Ibadan is the city that raised me”, Oba Abolarin concluded.

This piece preserves Kabiyesi’s chronology, place names and personalities exactly as they were recounted. It serves as both a testimony and a tribute to the formative power of Ibadan, originating from Ebenezer Chamber to the throne of Oke-Ila.

By the grace of God and the will of our ancestors, Kabiyesi, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, Aroyinkeye I, the Orangun of Oke Ila, will this December attain 20 glorious years on the throne of his forebears. Congratulations in advance, Kabiyesi. May your reign remain peaceful, progressive, and blessed with long life and good health. Oke Ila o ni bàjé o. Ibadan o gbe wa o!

Tunji Oladejo, mnipr, JP, MANUPA, mspsp, writes from the University of Ibadan, is the Chairman of The Progressive Forum, Ibadan (TPFI); and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Bayo and Bimpe Oyero Foundation (BBOF) and the 2026 Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) Icon of Ibadan Heritage Awardee via oladejo65@gmail.com. 08077284442

The Chairman of the Oyo State Pension Board, Hon. Tunji Rafiu Adekunle (JP), has announced that the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, FNSE, DSC, GSSRS, has approved the immediate commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the State.

Hon. Adekunle disclosed this on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, through the Permanent Secretary, Post Service Board, Rev. Adekunle Victor Adesola, in a circular with Reference No. OYPB/G/24/VOL.IV/11, issued to inform all stakeholders, Ministries, Commissions, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as civil/public servants across the state.

According to the Chairman, the scheme will apply to officers employed into the service of Oyo State with effect from January 1, 2025, while the Contributory Pension Scheme will officially commence on July 1, 2026.

He explained that the pension contribution rate will be 12 per cent from the employer (Oyo State Government) and 8 per cent from the employee, in line with the approved contributory structure in the state. He added that the state government will ensure the immediate payment of accrued benefits to all affected employees upon the commencement of the scheme.

Hon. Adekunle therefore directed all MDAs to forward a comprehensive list of employees recruited into the Oyo State Civil/Public Service from January 1, 2025, using the attached proforma to the circular, in Excel format. The submissions are to be made in both hard and soft copies to the Board.

He further stated that each Ministry, Department and Agency is required to designate a Pension Desk Officer to serve as a liaison between the respective MDA and the Board.

“This measure is aimed at facilitating effective coordination, capacity building, accountability and the seamless processing of all matters relating to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The details of the nominated Desk Officer should include full name, designation/post, grade level, WhatsApp number, email address and phone number,” he said.

The circular also directed that all requested information and relevant documents be submitted to the Board on or before Monday, June 22, 2026.