The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun Command, said that five persons died in a lone accident at Oyama Egbado, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Thursday.

It said that 10 others sustained injuries in the accident, which occurred on the second day of the public holidays declared to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.

The FRSC spokesperson, Superintendent Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi, said in Ota that the accident happened at about 11.

Odunsi explained that the lone accident involved one white Mazda E2000 bus with registration number KRD 809XC and 20 people comprising six adult males, 11 adult females, one male child, and two female children.

According to him, the five persons who died in the accident comprise one adult male, two adult females, a male child, and one female child.

He said that the persons that sustained varying degrees of injuries were being treated in hospitals, while five others escaped unhurt.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the probable causes of the crash were speeding and overloading, as the road was paved and weather conditions at the time of the incident were cloudy.

“The corpses of victims were taken to General Hospital, in Ifo, while some survivors are receiving treatment at the same hospital and General Oreofe Specialist Hospital, Itori,” he said.

He said that the accident victims were rescued by FRSC Itori Unit Command in Ogun.

Odunsi quoted Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, of the Ogun Sector, as sympathising with the families of the victims.

According to him, Ogunjobi admonished motorists to avoid speeding, overloading and all forms of traffic violations capable of endangering lives.

 He said that Ogunjobi also advised drivers to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations, especially during the festive period, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of Joint Task Force North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to intensify military operations aimed at decisively eliminating kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements threatening peace and security in the North Central region.

Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the directive on Thursday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Addressing the troops, the Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property across the country.

He assured the personnel that the Army Headquarters was deploying the necessary combat enablers and operational resources to strengthen ongoing clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts in Kwara and Niger states.

Lieutenant General Shaibu also reiterated his commitment to the welfare of troops and their families, describing improved welfare as essential to maintaining high morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.

He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the democratically elected government.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Major General Y Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership, timely interventions and sustained support towards improving the operational capacity of the task force.

Major General Yahaya assured the Army Chief that troops under the operation would remain committed and steadfast in carrying out their mandate of restoring lasting peace and stability across the region.

By David Torough, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu and governors of Oyo and Ogun states on Wednesday intensified efforts to address growing concerns over school insecurity following the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, with renewed assurances that the victims would be rescued safely.

In a Children’s Day message personally signed by him, President Tinubu assured parents and families of children being held captive in Oyo and Borno states that his administration would not relent until the victims regained freedom.

The President disclosed that he had directed security agencies to intensify intelligence-driven rescue operations across the country, stressing that the safety of schoolchildren remained a top priority of his administration.

Tinubu also announced plans to strengthen school protection mechanisms in vulnerable communities through improved security coordination, early warning systems and implementation of the Safe Schools framework.

He assured that rescued children would receive medical care, counselling, education support and reintegration assistance, insisting that the government’s responsibility did not end with securing their release.

The President urged parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, vigilante groups and community members to work closely with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements around schools and communities.

Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, reassured families of abducted teachers and students that efforts were ongoing to secure their safe return.

Makinde spoke during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration at his private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan, where he received the state Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, and other Muslim faithful.

The governor said his administration was working round the clock to reunite the abducted victims with their families, while expressing sympathy with affected families and praying for divine intervention.

Scores of pupils and teachers were abducted during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Makinde also called for unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians ahead of the political season, warning against the use of religion and ethnicity as divisive tools.

In a related development, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, announced plans to strengthen security around schools across the state to forestall similar attacks.

Speaking while hosting the League of Imams and Alfas at his Iperu residence during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, Abiodun said the state would deploy security agencies, Amotekun Corps, So-Safe Corps, hunters and vigilante groups to protect schools.

The governor said the initiative became necessary following recent attacks on schools in neighbouring Oyo State, where dozens of students and teachers were abducted.

Abiodun disclosed that traditional rulers, religious leaders and local security outfits would be integrated into the security architecture to improve surveillance and rapid response around schools.

He added that the government would provide stipends to support the security initiative and ensure immediate implementation across the state.

The governor stressed that while prayers remained important, practical steps were necessary to secure educational institutions and protect children from emerging security threats.