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Gambari to World Leaders: Tackle insecurity in Gulf of Guinea now

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  • Says region’s economic potential under threat

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has issued a call to action, urging regional and international leaders to confront the security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea towards unlocking its vast economic potential.

Gambari lamented that though the region is rich in oil, gas, and critical minerals, it remains plagued by piracy, oil theft, and illegal fishing, which continue to scare away investors and destabilise communities.

He spoke in New York during a high-level roundtable on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

The diplomat noted that despite the challenges, there was hope, pointing to the decline in piracy in some areas due to improved cooperation.

“We are not helpless,” Gambari declared. “When states coordinate naval patrols and share intelligence, tangible results follow.”

He highlighted Nigeria’s move to host a Combined Maritime Task Force, approved by the African Union in April 2025, as a sign of renewed political will.

To move from talk to action, Gambari laid down a five-point agenda for the region which included Strengthening of Security Frameworks, Merging of Security with Development, Bringing in the Private Sector, Embracing Technology and Forming a Business Council for the Gulf of Guinea to drive sustained cooperation.

Gambari insisted that for the region to become an economic hub, its natural wealth must be managed transparently to benefit local communities and avoid fuelling grievances.

“Economic opportunity, when paired with inclusive governance, is itself a powerful deterrent to insecurity,” he argued.

He anchored the plan to broaden continental goals like ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the AU’s Agenda 2063, warning that without decisive collective action, the Gulf of Guinea’s promise would remain unfulfilled.

“The future must be shaped by a shared commitment: to protect its waters, invest in its people, and transform its natural wealth into a driver of inclusive growth,” Gambari admonished.

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Kwara: Security Team Kills Two Bandits, Rescues Two Kidnap Victims

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A security team, comprising operatives of DSS and forest guards, has rescued two victims of abduction in a forest between Oba Isin/Owa Onire area of isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

The rescued victims are 16-year-old Fatima Azeez and Ibrahim Azeez who is five-year old.

The team also eliminated two armed bandits, while others escaped with severe injuries as the security forces stormed their hideouts, according to a report by DSS and local authorities.

The security team also recovered several items from the kidnappers, including one Ak-47 rifle; one single barrel; one fully loaded magazine with nine empty; mini-solar panel; and food items.

The rescue operation is connected to the multi-agency counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts of the government.

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Kwara: Police Launch Investigations Into Killing Of Farmer On Farmland

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has commenced full-scale investigations into the killing of a farmer, Mr Azeez Garba, whose body was discovered on his farmland along the Owa-Onire axis, the boundary between Isanlu-Isin and Owu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area of the State.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, described the murder as “cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” and directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those behind the attack.

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased left home for his farm in the morning but did not return, prompting his family members and local vigilantes to organise a search.

The search party reportedly found his motorcycle parked on the farmland before discovering his lifeless body a short distance away. Police said the victim had sustained deep machete cuts.

Reacting to the incident, CP Adekimi ordered investigators to deploy all available intelligence and investigative resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“The killing is cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” the commissioner of Police said, assuring residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Although no suspect had been arrested as of Monday, the command said all available leads were being diligently pursued.

The police also assured the bereaved family, the people of Isin Local Government Area and the general public that investigators were working tirelessly to track down everyone connected with the crime.

“The Kwara State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and will not relent until every person responsible for this reprehensible act is brought before the law,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

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Kwara: Joint Security Team Arrests Alleged Cultist, Recovers Firearm

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A coordinated security operation involving the Kwara State Police Command, other security agencies and the Kwara State Polytechnic Security Unit has led to the arrest of a suspected cultist, Agboola Olamilekan, with a locally fabricated pistol recovered from him in Ilorin.

The operation, carried out as part of ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state, was described by the police as another breakthrough in intelligence-driven policing aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reducing the circulation of illegal firearms.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the suspect was apprehended during the joint operation while in possession of the firearm.

According to the statement, the operation is part of the Command’s sustained strategy to disrupt cult-related activities and deny criminal elements the opportunity to operate within the state.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.

“Every successful operation represents another step towards dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety across the state through proactive and intelligence-led policing,” the commissioner said.

The police disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the criminal network linked to the suspect.

The Command added that it remains committed to advancing the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, through intelligence-led policing, strategic collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sustained operations aimed at ensuring that those responsible for threatening the peace and security of Kwara State are brought to justice.

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