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Gov Sacks Kwara Poly Rector Over Students’ Protest

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Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has ordered the removal of the Rector of the state polytechnic in Ilorin, Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, over Tuesday’s protest by students against continued use of the institution for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation programme.

A statement by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, on Wednesday, quoted the governor to have also announced a three-man panel to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the protest at the state polytechnic.

According to the statement, the committee is headed by the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Barrister Senior Ibrahim Sulyman.
Other members are the Commissioner for Environment Hon. Nafisat Buge and the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Dr. Mrs. Mercy Olufunke Shittu.

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It gave the committee two weeks to submit its report to the governor, while their terms of reference are: (1) to look at the remote and immediate causes of the protest and handling of same; (2) recommend ways to prevent such things in the future; (3) make further recommendations on the growth of the school.

READ ALSO:Police Warn Against Protest In Aso Rock, Environs

“The governor has meanwhile directed the Rector of the Polytechnic, Engineer Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, to immediately step aside from his role until further notice, while the most senior Deputy Rector acts in his place in the interim.

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“The committee will engage with all relevant stakeholders on its assignment”, it said.

Governor Abdulrazaq had on Tuesday directed the closure of the school over protest by some students and to ensure safety of lives and property

The Guardian Newspaper reported that students of the Kwarapoly protested over disagreement with the school authorities on continued use of the school for the NYSC orientation course.

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It was learnt that the management of the school had granted students a three-week break effective Monday, January 19, 2026 to facilitate successful conduct of the NYSC orientation camp as a way to manage the situation and prevent any breach of law and order.

READ ALSO:Bandits Invade Kwara Community, Kill One, Kidnap Eight Others

However, some students reacted negatively to the directive, on the ground that they just resumed from Christmas/New year break.

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The development resulted in tension that necessitated police intervention. The police were initially tasked with dispersing the crowd at the Polytechnic’s main gate.

Unfortunately, some officers went beyond their mandate by throwing tear gas canisters into the Polytechnic premises, including student hostels.

This action adversely affected several students and staff, including Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer who sustained injury.

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In a statement by the acting registrar of the school, AbdulHafis Amin, the government had earlier designated Kwarapoly as the temporary orientation camp for the NYSC due to prevailing security challenges in the State.

READ ALSO:Bandits Invade Kwara Community, Kill One, Kidnap Eight Others

“During the first camp exercise, students were on break, and during the second, students had not fully resumed. However, for the current exercise, students are fully in session.

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“To manage the situation and prevent any breach of law and order, the management granted students a three-week break effective Monday, 19th January, 2026 to facilitate the successful conduct of the NYSC orientation camp.

“Regrettably, some students reacted negatively to this directive, on the ground that they just resumed from Christmas/New year break.

“This resulted in tension that necessitated police intervention. The police were initially tasked with dispersing the crowd at the Polytechnic’s main gate.

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READ ALSO:Police Rescue Mother, Baby, Five Others From Kidnappers In Kwara

“Unfortunately, some officers went beyond their mandate by throwing tear gas canisters into the Polytechnic premises, including student hostels.

“This action adversely affected several students and staff, including Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer who sustained injury.

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“Consequently, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of the State, Mall. Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq has directed the closure of the Polytechnic to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the entire Polytechnic community.

“The management, therefore, call on all students, staff, and stakeholders to remain calm and cooperative as we continue to engage with the relevant authorities to resolve this matter amicably and swiftly,” it stated.

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Man Charged After Fatal Southall Collision

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A 20-year-old man has been charged after a fatal road collision in Southall, west London, which claimed the life of a 17-year-old passenger.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at about 1:04 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, following reports of a collision involving a Ford Mustang on South Road, Southall.

Officers attended the scene alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and firefighters from the London Fire Brigade.

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Despite efforts by emergency responders, 17-year-old passenger Ranbir Singh died at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

READ ALSO: US Boxer Mylik Birdsong Shot, Killed In LA Drive-by Shooting

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Another passenger, a 26-year-old man, sustained serious injuries in the collision and remains in hospital, according to police.

The driver of the vehicle, Sukhveer Singh, 20, of Townsend Road, Southall, was arrested at the scene.

He was subsequently charged on Sunday, September 20, with causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.

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He was also charged with driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle without insurance.

Singh appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 21, and was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday, October 19.

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READ ALSO: Reps Shoot Down Bill Seeking Rotational Presidency

Detective Inspector Fiaz Janjua, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This is a truly tragic incident in which a young man has lost his life and another remains in hospital with serious injuries.

“Our deepest sympathies remain with Ranbir’s family and friends, who continue to be supported by specially trained officers. during this extremely difficult time.

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“While a man has now been charged in connection with this collision, our investigation remains ongoing and we are continuing to establish the full circumstances leading up to the incident.

READ ALSO: Heated Rhetoric As Republicans Blame Biden For Trump Shooting

“I would ask anyone who witnessed the collision, the manner of driving beforehand, or the movements of the Ford Mustang in the Southall area during the early hours of Saturday, 19 September, to come forward.”

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Police are particularly appealing to anyone who may have CCTV footage, doorbell recordings, mobile phone footage or dashcam recordings that could assist the investigation.

The Met urged anyone with information to contact police on 101, quoting reference 01/8080469/26.

The force said the investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.

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(MetPolice)

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Return Of Fuel Subsidy: Atiku Plotting To Plunder Nigeria’s External Reserves, APC Alleges

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All Progressives Congress (APC) has again kicked against the declaration by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to return the fuel subsidy regime if elected into office.

National Publicity Secretary of the governing party, Felix Morka, in a statement on Thursday alleged that the proposal to return fuel subsidy as being canvassed by the former vice-president was not informed by any altruistic motive but to plunder the country’s foreign reserves, which he noted, has risen to over $54 billion.

“Atiku’s sudden u-turn from his 2023 policy position in favour of fuel subsidy removal to his new promise to restore the fuel subsidy regime, if elected, must be understood as his latest device to lay his hands on, and squander, the country’s 18-year foreign reserve high of over $54 billion built up from $3 billion by President Bola Tinubu in less than 4 years through bold and prudent economic reforms.

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“The National Treasury that President Tinubu has built strong is what Atiku desires to scatter and plunder under the cover of his fake and unrealistic promise to restore the ruinous fuel subsidy regime.

READ ALSO: 2027: ADC’s Imansuagbon Rejects Zoning, Backs Atiku

“In his book, My Watch, President Olusegun Obasanjo characterized Atiku as possessing a propensity for corruption, a tendency toward disloyalty, poor judgment, and a readiness to sacrifice the national interest for selfish gains. In August 2026, Obasanjo described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the biggest mistake of his presidency.”

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He stated, “The man I picked as my running mate, my number two, if I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him.” That is an open-and-shut reference by the former President, Atiku’s principal, to his unfitness for public office.

“Atiku was an accidental Vice President, and categorically unfit for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The APC further alleged that  “as a former public official, Atiku’s record is an executive summary of some of Nigeria’s vilest episodes of corruption and cronyism that pulverized our economy and decimated public trust.”

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READ ALSO: Why Peter Obi Will Defeat Tinubu, Atiku In 2027 – Sam Amadi

The party urged the electorate to reject the ADC presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections.

“Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election presents the electorate the opportunity to deal a final blow to Atiku’s desperate quest for presidential power, and save the country from his ravenous plunder.

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“From the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and the Siemens bribery scandal to the William Jefferson case, the PTDF funds controversy, and the US Senate investigation into suspicious financial transactions, Atiku’s name is engraved ingloriously on files and dossiers of onshore and offshore financial scandals and atrocities.

“These are not mere allegations. They are matters that are well documented in official records, tribunal proceedings, government investigations, national and foreign legislative reports, and international financial inquiries. Together, they raise legitimate questions about the fitness for probity and accountability of this serial presidential contender.”

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Man Charged After Fatal Southall Collision

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A 20-year-old man has been charged after a fatal road collision in Southall, west London, which claimed the life of a 17-year-old passenger.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at about 1:04 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, following reports of a collision involving a Ford Mustang on South Road, Southall.

Officers attended the scene alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and firefighters from the London Fire Brigade.

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Despite efforts by emergency responders, 17-year-old passenger Ranbir Singh died at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

READ ALSO: 

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Another passenger, a 26-year-old man, sustained serious injuries in the collision and remains in hospital, according to police.

The driver of the vehicle, Sukhveer Singh, 20, of Townsend Road, Southall, was arrested at the scene.

He was subsequently charged on Sunday, September 20, with causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.

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He was also charged with driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle without insurance.

Singh appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 21, and was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday, October 19.

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READ ALSO:

Detective Inspector Fiaz Janjua, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This is a truly tragic incident in which a young man has lost his life and another remains in hospital with serious injuries.

“Our deepest sympathies remain with Ranbir’s family and friends, who continue to be supported by specially trained officers. during this extremely difficult time.

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“While a man has now been charged in connection with this collision, our investigation remains ongoing and we are continuing to establish the full circumstances leading up to the incident.

READ ALSO:

“I would ask anyone who witnessed the collision, the manner of driving beforehand, or the movements of the Ford Mustang in the Southall area during the early hours of Saturday, 19 September, to come forward.”

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Police are particularly appealing to anyone who may have CCTV footage, doorbell recordings, mobile phone footage or dashcam recordings that could assist the investigation.

The Met urged anyone with information to contact police on 101, quoting reference 01/8080469/26.

The force said the investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.

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(MetPolice)

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