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An unconfirmed number of persons were injured and vehicles damaged when suspected thugs attacked Nigerians protesting against police brutality and extortion in Abuja.
The PUNCH gathered that the thugs attacked the protesters at Berger junction a few minutes after the commencement of the protest.
It was learnt that the thugs were armed with cutlass and other weapons.
A former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has reacted to the formation of a new unit to replace the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
DAILY POST recall that the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu had announced the formation of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team to “fill the gaps” arising from the dissolution of SARS.
The IGP also ordered all operatives of the disbanded SARS to report in Abuja for debriefing and medical examination.
However, reacting to the development, Omokri insisted that SWAT will be like when NEPA changed to PHCN.
He tweeted: “The SWAT announced by the @PoliceIGP is a Greek Gift.
“Without weeding out errant cops and recruiting new blood, who must go through a different and better training than SARS, the SWAT will just be like when NEPA changed to PHCN #ENDSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria#SARSMUSTEND.”
The celebrity tailor and fashionista, Yomi casual took to his instagram page early today to celebrate his 3rd wedding anniversary. He celebrated his wife and reaffirmed his love for her.
He stated the following;
“How is it that I still get goosebumps when I see your beautiful face after 9years? Happy wedding anniversary to my amazing wife , no years can erase the special feeling.”
“Each time I look at you, I am reminded why I wanted you to be my wife. I love you my gracious, happy anniversary to us.”
The federal government has rescheduled the commencement date of the special public works.
The programme, which will recruit 774,000 unskilled workers across Nigeria was scheduled for 1st of October.
The Minister of State Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo disclosed that the programme will start on the 1st of November instead.
Mr. Keyamo in a tweet on Tuesday said the President, Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for rescheduling.
“Mr. President has approved the request of @fkeyamo to reschedule the commencement date of the Special Public Works Programme from 1st October to the 1st of November, 2020. The programme is engaging 1000 persons from each of the 774 LGAs in the country for menial jobs for 3 months.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has set up a new unit to replace the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, Tuesday.
The IGP had on Sunday announced the disbandment of the police tactical squad following week-long nationwide protests over its activities.
The statement read: “The Inspector- General of Police, M.A. Adamu, today, 13th October, 2020, in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020, ordered all personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, for debriefing, psychological and medical examination. The officers are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
“The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a unit, which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, re-orientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.
“The unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society and other human rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.
“Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS. Prospective members of this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.
“They are to commence training at the different police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week. While personnel from the police commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the police commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.”
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed details of his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.
In a Twitter post, Sanwo-Olu said he presented the demands of protesters to the president.
According to him, Buhari restated his commitment to a holistic reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Today, I met President @MBuhari to present the demands of the Lagos #EndSARS protesters.
“The President restated his commitment to embark on a holistic reform of the entire Police Force,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He added that “Just today, the President has approved a panel made up of Civil Society leaders to look at all the cases of abuse by the police.
“The benefits of this genuine protest will be fully realized and I will continue to work to defend the rights of all Lagosians any and every day.”
The Senate has observed a minute silence in honour of late Jimoh Isiaka and other youths allegedly killed by police operatives during the #EndSARS protest in Ogbomoso.
This followed a motion by the lawmaker representing Oyo North, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, during plenary.
The motion was titled: “ENDSARS Protest: The death of Jimoh Isiaka and the attack on the palace of Soun of Ogbomosoland: Need to put our security operatives on their toes.”
Abdulfatai lamented young men were cut short “due to the unprofessionalism of some members of the Nigeria Police Force.”
He urged his colleagues to note with grief the death of Jimoh Isiaka and several other promising youths whose lives were cut short at their prime during the recent ENDSARS Protest which started on 8th October 2020.
He said the right to peaceful assembly and free expression were fundamental principles of any democracy.
He insisted that Section 40 of the Constitution guarantees the right of every Nigerian to peaceful protest.
He informed the lawmakers that “under International Law, one of the duties of state and its law enforcement agencies is to facilitate the enjoyment of the right to peaceful protest.
“The 1990 United Nations basic principles on the use of Force and Firearms by Law enforcement officers provide that, in the disposal of assemblies that are unlawful but non-violent, law enforcement officers shall avoid the use of force or, where that is not practicable, shall restrict such force to the minimum necessary.”
He lamented the protest snowballed into confrontations between security operatives and the protesting youths in some part of the country and even turned violent in Ogbomoso, Oyo for instance, “as Nigerian police were alleged to have injured seven protesters and shot dead a young man known as Jimoh Isiaka, a constituent of mine, during the protest.”
He said it was saddening as a reaction to the death of Isiaka, the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, was attacked by the protesters while several properties were wantonly destroyed and many palace officials sustained injury.
He noted that the Inspector General of Police has forthwith disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in response to the calls by many Nigerians.
He said: “The Senate is convinced that non-violent protests have been a feature of democracy, with demonstrators calling for a declaration or a cancellation or even expressing their displeasure at a particular decision of the government.
“So while preserving freedom of speech and legitimate protest is of course imperative, attention must be paid to how security operatives handle peaceful protest with professionalism.
An african woman; strong and resilient, bold and stern, disciplined and hardworking, the real home maker! Hi readers, you would agree with me that a typical african woman has the qualities I mentioned in my first sentence, these qualities make an african woman unique.
However, it occured to me that the greatest enemy of an african woman is her fellow women. Why? Africans, right from inception (according to history) are known to be ignorant of so many things. Thankfully, formal education was introduced to us by the white men and we became aware of so many things we called “our curse”. Unknown to us, these things could be explained by science and technology. In this dispensation, the 21st century, our mentality as Africans is still clouded with a lot of ignorance.
Yes , I repeat that the greatest enemy of an african woman is her fellow women. It baffles me to see a woman making stunts to oppress and tarnish the image of another woman just for selfish motives. Excuse me, this is done to what end? Feminist would fight to achieve gender equality but unfortunately, their battle to empower women has not become a total success because even within the female gender, a lot of lackadaisical attitude towards one another’s affair is predominant.
An illustration of such is what happens in some african communities where the educated but ignorant people still think that a woman is responsible for the gender of a baby. In such communities, those who take the first line of action to eject a woman from her husband’s house are the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The mother-in- law forgets that she has daughters who are yet to be married and she would not stop until she ruins the happiness in her son’s home because she wants a grandson. You would agree with me that stories such as this, is still a major headline in one out of ten african homes.
The questions are these: “is gender associated with success?” , “is gender associated with relevance?”, who isn’t relevant? Anyone has the ability to achieve anything , regardless of gender. History has recorded so many women who are achievers in the world today. Another question is, “is gender still associated with leadership?” Women are leading in so many fields as the decision-making head. I was once opportuned to be amongst the interns on a project which happened to be led by a female architect. So tell me, why would women still make lives of other women unbearable just because they see themselves as inferior to the men?
The story of the trials , struggles and pursuit of an african woman can not be told without emphasizing on the level of antagonism received from fellow women. It hurts deeply to see women raising their sons to disrespect other women when they have the ability to raise kings and not beasts! Why would a woman fabricate lies which reflects pure hatred for another woman just because she wants her son to do her bid(s)? Would you agree with me that this isn’t necessary? As a woman, all you need do is train your son to appreciate value and modesty…he will never trade you, “his mother”, for anything. In the real sense, african magic stories are true in this regard.
A woman struggles to succeed amidst the voices of naysayers, she tries to be independent amidst the voices of the spiteful. Most importantly, she tries to keep her home but the voices of female relatives keep distracting her husband. If only the animosity of women towards fellow women can be eliminated, we would live to be happy!
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has warned that the ongoing End SARS protests may consume Nigeria.
Adams said “there are signals” of a national crisis, and advised authorities to properly manage the situation.
He condemned the use of live bullets against demonstrators by policemen.
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives since the protests began.
In a statement on Tuesday, Adams told the Police that it is the right of Nigerian youths to express anger over extra-judicial activities of law enforcement agencies.
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has warned that the ongoing End SARS protests may consume Nigeria.
Adams said “there are signals” of a national crisis, and advised authorities to properly manage the situation.
He condemned the use of live bullets against demonstrators by policemen.
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives since the protests began.
In a statement on Tuesday, Adams told the Police that it is the right of Nigerian youths to express anger over extra-judicial activities of law enforcement agencies.
“It is most disturbing seeing the number of casualties in the protests growing by the day. It is unfortunate that some bad eggs in the police have become utterly lawless, killing Nigerians raising their voices against SARS brutality.
“Those youths protesting are of the digital age, they are the leaders of the future and they are entitled to express their voices and concerns against the state of the nation.”
“In the history of our nation, it has never got to this level where the entire system is in comatose. It behoves on the Federal Government to listen to the cries of Nigerians over the spate of insecurity, hike in electricity tariff, increase in the prices of food commodities, and high cost of living.
“Many of the youths protesting are students that left the universities years ago and are still unemployed. With their hopes bleak, they are frustrated with the government; they have lost confidence.
“More importantly, I think we must restructure this country to regionalism, based on federating units or we exit through referendum peacefully without shedding of blood. Liberia, Rwanda, Congo and Somalia started like this before they were engulfed in war”, Adams warned.
The demands include halting use of force against protesters and the unconditional release of arrested citizens.
The presidency has released the statement below indicating the government’s readiness to meet the demands of the #ENDSARS protesters.
The demands include halting use of force against protesters and the unconditional release of arrested citizens.
The decision was taken at a meeting between the government, the police, and civil society, a statement by presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina said.
“The Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission were also present at the meeting that affirmed that the five-point demands of the protesters and the ENDSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the Government,” the statement says.
More than 20 people are feared dead following a fuel tanker explosion at Igbelajewa area, along Ilesa-Akure expressway in Osun State.
The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC, Mrs Agness Ogungbemi, who confirmed the crash to newsmen, said the driver of a MACK Tanker loaded with diesel lost the control of the vehicle.
According to her, the vehicle fell on the road and caused fire which affected other vehicles.
The FRSC spokesperson said eight vehicles were involved in the accident.
She said those that sustained injury were rushed to RTC Clinic, Ipetu-Ijesa and Wesley Hospital, Ilesa for medical treatment.
However, she also noted that the exact number of those killed and injured were uncertain.
Hundreds of protesters campaigning against police brutality and calling for the disbandment of the notorious police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), have shut down the Osun State governor’s office.
The protesters on Monday disrupted vehicular movements and locked the entrance gate of the State Government Secretariat in Osogbo, Osun capital.
Some protesters who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES said except Governor Gboyega Oyetola agrees to address the protesters, his office gate will remain closed.
Protests seeking the disbandment of SARS having taken place since last week. Demonstrations have spread across the country and have drawn wide international support.
The police announced a dissolution of the unit on Sunday after multiple attacks on protesters. However, protests have continued with activists expressing dissatisfaction with terms of the announced reforms.
The Osun State’s Commissioner of Information, Funke Egbemode, did not respond to our correspondent’s calls and text messages on whether the governor will address the protesters or not.
This development, which has led to heavy traffic on all roads leading to the airport, comes as protests continue across the country.
Nigerians calling for an end to police brutality in the country have blocked the toll gate at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
This development, which has led to heavy traffic on all roads leading to the airport, comes as protests continue across the country.
The protesters are demanding the unconditional release of all detained protesters, punishment for erring officers as well as compensation for families of victims of police brutality in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari has lost 100,000 Twitter followers in just three hours as bestselling author, Reno Omokri, started a hash tag, #UnfollowBuhari in Twitter.
At exactly 5 p.m. last Friday, Omokri had tweeted via his verified Twitter handle as follows: “If we all mean business with this #EndSARS movement, let us send a strong message to General @MBuhari. He has 3.5 million followers.
“If we all stop following him and he sees his Twitter following drop by one million, he will sit up. Who is with me? Let’s go there!”
As at that time, President Buhari had 3.5 million followers. Three hours after Omokri’s post, Buhari’s followers dropped to 3.4 million with indications to lose more followers.
Announcing the breakthrough at the weekend, Omokri, also known as #BuhariTormentor, tweeted as follows: “Dear Nigerians, when I started the #UnfollowBuhari campaign as part of my #EndSARS protest, some laughed.
“In just one hour, we have reduced Buhari’s followers by 100,000. Never underestimate your influence. When Nigerians wake up, the government will be afraid of us!”
Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said that President Muhammadu Buhari yielding to the demand of Nigeria on Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), was a demonstration of good leadership.
Following widespread protests against the activities of SARS, Nigerian government on Sunday, October 11, disbanded the police unit.
Responding to the development in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, Lawan commended President Buhari and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu for disbanding SARS.
“I am applauding the president because it is a demonstration of good leadership to yield to the demand of the populace in difficult situations like this,” he said.
Also applauding Adamu, he said that the police boss should beyond the disbursement of SARS come up with measures for the transformation of the Nigeria Police into an effective law enforcement and crime fighting agency that would be a true and respected friend of the Nigerian people.
Further noting that all the measures should completely address all the concerns that led to the fate that befell SARS, Lawan added:
“The expectation is that this situation offers us another opportunity to reform the operations of the entire Force.
“I also reiterate my call for the prosecution of all security personnel whose extra judicial killings and other acts of misconduct brought us to this sorry state.
“I hope that the steps taken by the Inspector-General of Police will be followed with more comprehensive reform of the police.”
End SARS protesters have shut down Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
This has caused traffic jam on the Lekki-Ajah express.
The campaigners had announced on Sunday that workers and other commuters would be affected.
They are demanding that the Police go beyond disbandment of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protesters want investigation and prosecution of all officers accused of murder and assault over the years.
Meanwhile, the petition to have the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other senior officers banned from the United States, United Kingdom and others is gaining traction.
Thousands have signed and many more have indicated interest to do the same this week.
Nigerians, on Monday, shifted attention to the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, after his comment on SARS.
Dingyadi, Sunday night, reacted to the disbandment of the police unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
The minister told citizens to consider the development a sign that the federal government was ready to fix the issues.
“I urge Nigerians to see the disbandment of SARS, as government’s commitment to deepening relationship between Nigerians and the police, for better service delivery.
“Let’s continue to work together to secure our communities”, he tweeted.
Hundreds of respondents expressed shock that Nigeria had a Police Minister.
They rejected Dingyadi’s submission and asked where he was while the notorious SARS unit operated with impunity.
“So the government are committed to deepening our relationships with police. Of course they have been allowing SARS to kill us like chickens. The government didn’t condemn them neither did the so called police”, @Siwai_rid tweeted.
“Who are you fooling? We must continue our protest until our demand is fulfilled. This just the beginning of our protest”, @AfoxAbdullah also replied.
Lifeless body found in Makurdi drain
A truck has crushed seven persons to death around Gbatse community in Ushongo Council of Benue State.
The Guardian gathered that the accident, which occurred around 5 p.m. at the weekend, killed two lecturers from the University of Mkar, Gboko, as well as two children and three others.
According to witnesses, the accident occurred when a trailer, whose driver was trying to evade a police check, ran into a stationary Toyota Camry car and crushed the seven occupants.
It took the combined effort of the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other individuals over five hours to evacuate the bodies trapped in the mangled car under the truck.
The Chairman of Ushongo Council, Asawa Joseph, was said to have cut short his engagement in Makurdi, rushed to the scene and directed that bodies of the victims be deposited at Ostra Gum’s hospital at Ushongo.
From documents recovered from the scene, the two lecturers were identified as Mr. Leva Joshua of the Mass Communication Department and Moses Tarnongo.
Also, a Zenith Bank debit card identified another victim as Adaa I. Blessing.
Sector Commander of FRSC in Benue, Aliyu Baba, confirmed that seven people were killed, one injured and four escaped without physical injury.
Baba, however, blamed the accident on over-speeding on the part of the truck driver.
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has condoled with the bereaved families, particularly the management, staff, and students of the University of Mkar.
He described the incident as devastating and urged relevant agencies to investigate it.
IN another development, a lifeless body of a lady was found in a drain at Calabar Street, Makurdi, yesterday about 7 a.m.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident, said the family of the deceased confirmed the corpse to be that of Angbiandoo Gbavaan, who left the house the previous night.
Anene said the corpse had been deposited at Bishop Murray Morgue for autopsy, while the investigation was on to ascertain the cause of her death.
LASEMA officials trying to rescue persons trapped in a collapsed building at 60 Odo, Str. Obalende, Lagos, on Sunday.
The death toll from the collapsed building in Lagos has risen to seven, an official has said.
PREMIUM TIMES reported the collapse of the building in Obalende area on Sunday with an official saying four people had been confirmed dead.
However, the Director-General of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, has now confirmed that seven people have died in the collapsed building.
Mr Oke-Osanyintolu made the confirmation as the LASEMA Response Team tried to clear the debris of the building.
He said that the uncompleted building, at 60 Odo Street, Obalende, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, partially collapsed and injured 15 people.
“Immediately we received a distress call at about 4:30 p.m. on the incident, we activated our emergency response team and all responders headed for the scene.
“Rescue operation is still ongoing while initial findings are as follows: 10 casualties treated with minor injuries, five severely injured persons exhumed from the remains and transferred to hospital,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria.
Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said that seven fatalities were discovered, six male and one female.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the body of another male victim was discovered at about 8:14 p.m., bringing the total number of fatalities to seven.
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Sunday said reports from its preliminary investigations had revealed that the Best Roof Gas Plant Station, Baruwa, Lagos where last Thursday’s gas explosion occurred had no operational licence.
The Director of DPR, Mr Sarki Auwalu, made the disclosure in a statement while commiserating with the victims of the incident.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five persons lost their lives in the explosion while eight persons were rescued alive with various degrees of injuries.
A total of 44 buildings were also destroyed in the inferno which started at about 5:40 a.m. when a a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker was in the process of discharging at the plant located within the densely populated area.
Auwalu said preliminary reports from DPR investigations revealed that the facility was operating without licence and was carrying out illegal operations which resulted in the unfortunate incident.
He promised that DPR would continue to update the public on the progress of its ongoing investigation into the incident.
According to him, the department will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure safe operations of all oil and gas facilities in Nigeria.
To this end, Auwalu said DPR had released guidelines for the establishment and operations of the of downstream gas facilities in the country.
He said it deals with the establishment and operations of LPG refilling plants and retail outlets, auto gas refuelling stations and add-on gas facility and establishment of gas storage and utilisation.
Auwalu stated that the guidelines stipulates the minimum requirements, procedures and conditions to be fulfilled before granting of approvals or licences for the construction, installation, modification, takeover, relocation and operations of downstream gas facilities.
He said that the guidelines were developed to enhance gas penetration and utilisation, enhance operational safety as well as ease of doing business in the oil and gas sector.
Auwalu said that companies intending to establish these facilities must satisfy all necessary requirements stipulated by DPR and obtain the applicable approvals.
According to him, the approvals include Site Suitability Approval, Approval to Construct (ATC), Approval to Install and Licence to Operate.
He said the facilities must also be provided with necessary amenities and equipment like functional automated/manual leak tester, functional fire alarm system, and mounted gas detectors.
The DPR helmsman said they must also have adequate fire water storage and sprinklers, perimeter fence with fire wall amongst others.
He said the objective of the guidelines was to ensure that the baseline standard regarding Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) was achieved and maintained in all the facilities.