The Ondo State Police Command has arrested six suspects following a foiled attempt to bomb government facilities in Akure, the state capital.

On April 16, 2026 , the state Police Commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, described the operation as a “major breakthrough” in neutralizing the planned attack.

The suspects had allegedly infiltrated the state after mapping out the specific location of attacks.

While disclosing the development on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, during a press briefing at the state headquarters of the command, revealed that operatives were deployed to the identified area after receiving the intel.

According to Lawal, the suspects were apprehended before the planned attack could be executed, adding that the operation led to the arrest of six suspects as well as the recovery of materials suspected to be components for the fabrication of IEDs.

The police boss identified the suspects as Adekunle Prosper, 56, Ojo Olumide, 39, Tope Kolawole, 40, Ahmed Salihu, 40, Bolaji Adebowale, 46, and Gbadebo Abidemi, 43.

He said, “A thorough search of the scene and a subsequent operation at the suspects’ apartment resulted in the recovery of a cache of items, including 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, criminal charms, 17 mobile phones, the sum of N187,000, two HP laptops, eight slings, one knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, one National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles, among other items.

“Preliminary assessments indicate that some of these materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices, while others may have been used to facilitate coordinated criminal activities.

“Early findings from the investigation reveal that the group actively engaged in assembling IEDs allegedly intended for deployment on government infrastructures, with indications that their operations may extend beyond the state capital to other parts of the country.”

A faction of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), operating as “Concerned and Vigilant Members,” has alleged a plot by party leaders to bypass direct primaries and impose candidates for the upcoming House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Tunde Samson on behalf of what it described as “concerned and vigilant members,” the group accused key party figures, including James Faleke, Cornelius Ojelabi, and Mutiu Are, of allegedly holding private meetings to compile a predetermined list of candidates for the House of Representatives and the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The group claimed the meetings were taking place at a private residence and described the development as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party’s stated commitment to direct primaries.

“This runs contrary to the party’s clear position on direct primaries and represents a serious threat to internal democracy. It undermines the rights of party members and disregards the principles upon which the party stands,” the statement read.

The members warned that they would oppose any effort to impose candidates, insisting that the Lagos APC should not be controlled by a select group or reduced to a platform for predetermined political arrangements.

They also referenced past controversies surrounding local government elections in the state, alleging that earlier exercises were characterised by irregularities and imposition, a situation they said must not be repeated.

The group further called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that democratic processes are upheld within the party.

According to them, Tinubu has a track record of participating in party primaries and remains an advocate of transparent and credible electoral processes.

Issuing what it described as a final caution, the group stressed that any attempt to sidestep due process could provoke strong resistance within the party.

“There must be free, fair, and transparent primaries. Anything short of that will be resisted,” the statement added.

Efforts to obtain responses from the individuals mentioned in the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The Chairman of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Pa Tajudeen Olusi, has strongly indicated that the current Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, is the likely successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027.

The development comes amid growing speculation surrounding the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, as a potential consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the party’s anticipated primary process.

Olusi, a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, made the remarks on Wednesday during the General Assembly of Indigenous Associations in Lagos State, organised by the IBILE Eko Summit Foundation at the MUSON Centre in Onikan.

While addressing participants at the event themed “Addressing Urbanisation and Urban Challenges of Lagos State,” Olusi repeatedly referred to Hamzat as the “incoming Governor of Lagos,” a statement that drew immediate attention from political stakeholders and observers present.

The comment, delivered in a public forum attended by key figures within Lagos’ political and traditional structure, has since been interpreted as a possible signal of elite preference in the state’s succession dynamics.

Also present at the gathering was former governor Babatunde Fashola, who was seated beside Hamzat during the proceedings, further fuelling speculation over the political undertone of the event.

Observers noted that Olusi’s repeated references to Hamzat suggested continuity within the state’s leadership structure, with the GAC chairman at one point explicitly describing him as “our incoming Governor of Lagos.”

The remarks reportedly drew noticeable reactions from delegates, given their implications for the 2027 race.

Olusi also highlighted Hamzat’s indigenous roots, describing him as a “son of the soil” and referring to him as “a cousin from Egbe,” a comment he said emphasized Hamzat’s deep ties to Lagos’ traditional and political landscape.

The IBILE Eko Summit, which brings together political leaders, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders of Lagos origin, is widely regarded as an influential platform within the state’s political framework, often serving as a space where consensus and direction on governance and succession are subtly shaped.