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.”

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.

In a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially declared that the 2027 presidential election will be his last attempt at the office.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain will be 80 years of age by the time the next presidential election comes around in 2027.

Abubakar has run for the number one office six times, but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.

Abubakar said young Nigerians seeking power should learn the ropes from older leaders and gain experience first.

“I personally believe that they require experience and tutelage from the older generation,” he said.

Abubakar, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, defected to the ADC in 2025.

In 2024, Abubakar said he would “keep contesting” for the presidency as long as he is hale and hearty.

“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” Abubakar said.