The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has raised the alarm that bandits from the Northwest are fleeing to the southern state.

According to him, the development is due to a continued military onslaught in the Northwestern region which has forced the bandits to flee to Ibadan, the state capital.

He made this assertion at the 2025 annual inter-faith service for workers held in Agodi area of Ibadan, the state capital.

Makinde, however, vowed to smoke out the fleeing bandits and deal with them.

He said: “The year 2024 was challenging, particularly in terms of safety and security.

“We had incidents of fire outbreaks, armed robberies, and kidnappings. However, in 2025, we will redouble our efforts to address these issues.”

“During a security briefing this morning, I learned that some bad elements from the North-West are relocating here due to military heat in their zones. But we will find and deal with them.”

“During my birthday retreat, bandits had camped less than two kilometres from where I was staying.”

“This underscores the seriousness of the situation.”

The governor urged residents and traditional rulers to report any suspicious movements.

“To our traditional rulers, who are custodians of your domains, and to all residents, this is no joke. If you see suspicious movements, report them immediately.”

“For us in Oyo, bandits will have no foothold. I will not sleep until every inch of this state is safe,” Makinde noted.

Nigerian states especially in the Northern region are battling from activities of bandits and terrorists, a situation that has usually led to deaths, kidnappings, destructions and destabilisation of states.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO Plc” or the “Group”) (NGX: GTCO) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the first tranche of its equity capital raise programme, following the completion of the capital verification exercise conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the approval of the Basis of Allotment of the Offer by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Offer, which garnered substantial interest from domestic retail investors, raised a total of ₦209.41 billion from 130,617 valid applications for 4,705,800,290 Ordinary Shares, fully allotted. This milestone concludes the first phase of GTCO’s phased equity capital raise programme, which is structured on a balanced allocation strategy based on an equal split between institutional and retail investors. This balanced approach aligns with GTCO Plc’s commitment to fostering a well-diversified and robust investor base.

Commenting on this phase of the recapitalization exercise, Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, expressed his gratitude: “We extend our sincere appreciation to our new and existing shareholders, as well as the regulatory authorities, for their unwavering support during this initial phase of our equity capital raise. The strong participation and successful capital verification exercise and allotment process reaffirm the confidence investors have in our fundamentals and execution capabilities. This sets a solid foundation for accelerating our strategic roadmap, which aims to pivot the Group for transformational growth and unlock greater value across the Group’s Banking and Non-Banking businesses.”

GTCO Plc continues to lead its peers in key profitability metrics and financial performance. Building on this successful first phase, the Group will commence the second phase of its recapitalization plan in 2025, which is strategically positioned to attract significant foreign institutional investments, reinforcing its reputation as a “Truly International” financial services brand.

Proceeds from the combined equity raise will be strategically deployed to recapitalize the Group’s flagship subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Bank Limited (GTBank Nigeria), enhancing its ability to meet regulatory requirements and further solidify its position as a leading financial institution. Additionally, the funds will support Group-wide growth initiatives, including footprint expansion, product enhancement, and innovation across both Banking and Non-Banking subsidiaries. GTCO remains committed to delivering sustainable value to its stakeholders and driving innovation across the financial services landscape in Africa.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed confidence in the party’s ability to reclaim Kano State from the New Nigeria People’s Party, claiming that the influence of its leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is waning.

Speaking at the 8th and 9th APC Kano State House of Assembly Forum dinner on Monday, Ganduje, represented by Kano State APC Chairman Abdullahi Abbas, said that many of Kwankwaso’s supporters were abandoning him due to dissatisfaction with his leadership.

He said come 2027, the NNPP would not be able to repeat the 2023 electoral victory, which saw it capture Kano State.

“I always get surprised when Rabiu Kwankwaso claims he is the one who has the people. If not for our internal issues that caused some of us to leave, he wouldn’t have won any election in the state,” Ganduje stated.

He further alleged that those who once backed Kwankwaso now regret their decision. “Those who helped him are already disappointed and regretting it. I assure you that we are done with Kwankwasiyya. Even the governor is unaware of all that is happening within his administration,” he added.

Ganduje stressed the importance of unity among APC members, describing it as the key to reclaiming power.

“Unity is the only way out for us; it’s the only option we have to get what we want. God has already intervened in our situation. The current government is distorting the state, and we are just waiting for the right time. The next election will be like shifting a hen from its eggs,” he said.

The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, also emphasised the need for unity and expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects. “What is left for us in Kano is just unity. If the elections were held today, we wouldn’t have any cause to be afraid. The one we didn’t win was God’s will. Let’s just pray and forge ahead in unity,” Ata said.

Criticising the current NNPP administration, Ata remarked, “We must work towards reclaiming Kano because the way the state is being handled now, we all know it’s not in good hands. Nobody is enjoying the leadership.”

Ata also commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising Kano State in national development initiatives, including the allocation of 500 housing units, compared to 250 for other states.

The forum chairman, Abdul’azeez Gafasa, acknowledged the contributions of past APC leaders and reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to unity.

“Our leaders are working tirelessly to bring us together, and this unity will help us achieve our goals,” he said.

Efforts to get the reaction of Kano NNPP Chairman, Alhaji Hashim Dungurawa, were unsuccessful as he did not take repeated calls placed to his mobile line.