The Oyo State Government has read the riot act to hoodlums attacking private and public property in the name of the just-suspended #EndSARS protests in the State.
The warning was given by Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, in an interview with journalists after an assessment tour of the places attacked by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protests in different parts of Ibadan, the State capital.
The places visited include Ojoo Divisional Police Headquarters, where 12 vehicles and the building were completely razed, as well as Egbeda Divisional Police Headquarters at New Gbagi Market, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, where the structures and three vehicles were also burnt.
The team led by Operation Burst, a joint security outfit in the State, also visited Moniya, Monatan, Iwo Road Interchange, Agodi Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Agugu, Total Garden, Yemetu, Bere, Ayeye, Agbaje Market, Agbeni Market, Ogunpa Market, Oluyole Estate, and Odo-Ona.
This reporter observed that peace has returned to Ibadan, except for the isolated case of looting the empowerment items in the house of Senator Teslim Folarin, representing Oyo Central in the National Assembly. But seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the looting.
Olatubosun said: ‘We have gone round and I am happy to inform you that everywhere is calm. Business activities have picked up and people have been going out without any harassment.
‘But the peace we are witnessing in the state now would not have been possible but for the community engagement of Governor Seyi Makinde, which has helped the State to douse the tension.
‘Also, the understanding of our people and the belief they have in the leadership of Governor Makinde also worked in our favour. We also give kudos to security agencies, especially Operation Burst.’
Speaking on the dimension of isolated attacks on individuals that hoodlums seemed to be adopting in the state, Olatubosun said: ‘I appeal to those perpetrators that Oyo State is known to be peaceful and we will not condone any form of thuggery, hooliganism, violence and looting.
‘We appeal to parents and community leaders to warn their children and their followers that Oyo State is not a place where they can be destroying private and public property. I appeal to people that are angry to sheathe their swords.’
Like all of us I was shocked and outraged to learn that unarmed youths were confronted by live bullets on Tuesday evening at the Lekki Toll Gate after almost 2 weeks of a peaceful, relatively successful protest.
Initially I had observed the start of the #EndSars demonstrations with admiration for the cause. The lamentations of the youth are genuine and difficult to argue against. If we haven’t personally been affected by an encounter with a callous police officer then I am sure we know somebody that has. Calling out police brutality and demanding an end to the extra judicial killing of predominantly young Nigerian males is a moral duty. It is clear that the vast majority of Nigerians had some empathy for the social movement.
Unfortunately what soon transpired in Lagos and across the nation was a display of anger that was about so much more than police brutality. The open agitation exposed a frustration with the system. What we have witnessed over the past week is an extreme manifestation of decades of youth segregation from governance and opportunity which has left millions of Nigeria’s youths unemployed, under employed and absolutely desperate for a way out of poverty and despair.
According to Naira metrics, data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals Nigeria’s unemployment rate as at the second quarter of 2020 is 27.1% indicating that about 21.7 million Nigerians remain unemployed. The highest unemployment rate was recorded for youths between 15 – 24 years at 40.8%. This is followed by ages 25 – 34 years at 30.7%. To put things into context, Nigeria’s unemployed youth of 13.1 million is more than the population of Rwanda and several other African countries.
Youth Population is also about 64% of total unemployed Nigerians suggesting that the most agile working-class population in the country remains unemployed.I am a firm believer in the economic future of Nigeria and the catalyst to this future is our young people. Youth engagement and youth inclusion in governing arrangements is paramount if Nigeria wishes to succeed.
As 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific recently acknowledged:“Young entrepreneurs have been a source of innovation and economic dynamism, creating jobs and providing livelihoods to millions. To achieve and accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we urgently need their expertise and voices on creating solutions to social and environmental challenges, as well as economic opportunities.First, we need to ensure that the next generation of business leaders think about social purpose as well as profit. To achieve this, education will be critical. Governments play a key role.”
Alisjahbana is right to call out the government’s role in ensuring their youth are sufficiently educated, however private investment is also needed to solve the problems that the education sector is currently facingin Nigeria. A lack of access to quality education and the sluggishness in adopting new methods of learning has immediate and long-term effects.
The immediate effects have been playing out on the streets of Nigeria over the past few days. The long-term consequences are almost unthinkable.
HESED Learning is an initiative and my own personal contribution to providing quality education to Nigerians, as a borderless structure with an unrestricted curriculum. The e-learning platform compliments the current school system by using a national curriculum with the option of studying an international syllabus. It is time for our youth to become more competitive.
Not a select, fortunate few but the vast majority. Increasingly in the sectors where our children do excel – in medicine, science and finance – they sadly leave the country for better prospects abroad. Who can blame them?Education is the key to nation building.
A quality education propels industry. In countries where the children are educated the likelihood of civil unrest is reduced. We cannot afford to under educate our youth.
Matthew Odu is a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria
No fewer than seven persons have been arrested in connection with the invasion of Sen. Teslim Folarin’s house in Ibadan on Saturday.
Mr Yinka Folarin, the lawmaker’s elder brother, told newsmen on Saturday in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that some hoodlums had on Saturday invaded Folarin’s house, carting away items worth more than N200 million.
NAN reports that among the items carted away are about 300 motorcycles, deep freezers and food items.
He said that the suspected hoodlums were arrested at the residence of the lawmaker by the Oyo State joint security task force ‘Operation Burst’.
“Most of the equipment had been looted before the arrival of the security men, while seven of the them, identified by the residents, were arrested at the scene,” he said.
The lawmaker’s elder brother said that the looted items were meant for the 11 local government areas constituting Oyo Central Senatorial District.
He said that the empowerment programme was postponed due to the ongoing protest.
Hakeem Fahm, the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, has debunked the news that the state government’s website had been hacked.
Fahm said in a statement on Saturday that the information was wrong and should be disregarded by the public.
“The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to a publication by the Guardian Newspapers on Thursday, 22nd of October 2020, claiming that the Lagos State Government website was hacked.
“I wish to come out to clear the air on the issue. This information is not true. Our website was never hacked.
“Members of the public should always verify issues and get facts and figures right before dissemination.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I hereby confirm that the Lagos State website is up and running perfectly,” he said.
The commissioner said that over the past few days, the flow of misinformation on social media and other channels had been alarming, and this has put the security of residents at immense risk.
Fahm also assured Lagosians that the state government remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety of lives and property of its citizens and that of the state.
The Nigerian Army has reduced the academic requirement needed to join the military unit.
This is to allow more citizens join the army and make more soldiers available to execute the war against terrorism in the North-East region of the country, documents sighted by SaharaReporters have revealed.
As part of the basic requirement for enlistment into the Nigerian Army, interested applicants must now possess “a minimum of four passes in not more than two sittings in WASSCE, GCE, NECO or NABTEB at O’ Level including English Language”, the document said.
In the internal memo dated August 20 and signed by Lieutenant General L. O. Adeosun on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, he lamented that soldiers were reluctant to dedicate themselves to the fight against insurgency and banditry in the country.
He said that soldiers preferred to take less risky jobs or further their education in order to avoid being enlisted into battle zones.
Adeosun therefore directed that the academic requirement for enlistment into the Nigerian Army be lowered to encourage more members of the public to join the army.
The memo reads, “It has however been observed that a sizeable number of enlisted men and women are reluctant to dedicate themselves to the ongoing Nigerian Army operations against insurgents and bandits.”
They prefer instead to pursue other less risky endeavours or further their education in view of possessing their requisite educational qualification to gain admission into tertiary institutions.
This is all in a bid to avoid participating in Nigerian Army operations which ought to be a priority. This undesirable trend could be attributed to the emphasis placed on educational qualifications at the expense of passion and commitment to what a soldier stands for.
Consequently, I am directed to convey that henceforth, the minimum educational qualification for enlistment into the Nigerian Army shall be the SSCE or its equivalent with minimum of passes including English Language.
“This review would ensure that more willing and committed young Nigerians are given the opportunity to serve in the Nigerian Army without laying emphasis on educational qualifications.”
Last part the memo signed by Lieutenant General L. O. Adeosun
This reduction in academic qualification has now been put in place and effected by the Nigerian Army.
There is violence in Osun State as angry youth on Saturday morning attacked the Iwo Local Government Secretariat. Youth are currently looting valuables in the office. Pictures and videos of perpetrators were seen carting away items and properties belonging to the local government.
Three witnesses said parts of the secretariat building have been set ablaze while the youth are currently moving to Iwo East LCDA.
Some hoodlums are said to be moving towards the house of Adelere Oriolowo, a senator representing the Osun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, an associate of the Senator who pleaded anonymity, said efforts were going on to rescue Mr Oriolowo’s building from damage.
In the same vein, hundreds of youth have invaded the office of the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff.It was gathered that they came on motorcycles, with many of them armed with machetes and axes of different sizes.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a probe into the shootings of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, mentioned this during an interview on Arise Television on Friday.
Sunday Dare
people sustained varying degrees of injuries when the Nigerian army opened live ammunition on the #EndSARS protesters Tuesday night.
Despite public outcry and condemnations from foreign countries and international organisations, Buhari did not say anything about the shootings while addressing the nation.
When asked about the silence of the president on Lekki shootings in his #EndSARS address, the minister said the president would speak after the outcome of the probe he had ordered.
He said, “For sure the president has ordered an investigation, he had a national security meeting yesterday.
President Buhari
“I can tell you that this is already ongoing because the president wants to have all the facts which will absolutely be made public”.
“It is important to get all the facts right before we go forward, in this case, it’s going to be difficult to hide these facts because we live in a multimedia world and we have pieces of evidence and corroboration and I think it is important to get the facts right”.
“I think that’s the path the president has towed and I am sure that when the facts are made available, this president – because he has integrity – will level with the Nigerian people about what happened on Tuesday in Lekki,” Dare said.
He explained that the Federal Government had accepted the demands of the protesters.
The minister said, “Previously, we just had lip service that SARS scrapped. For the first time, you have a presidential pronouncement that SARS has been dissolved followed by the inspector-general and then we saw quick steps thereafter.
“And I think when you look at what has happened in the past and the level of responsiveness and concrete steps, the whole five demands of the youth were wholeheartedly accepted by the president and he set up a process to implement the demands.”
President Buhari has reportedly revealed that 69 persons were killed in the #EndSARS protest across the country.
BBC reported that the Nigerian President disclosed this during a virtual meeting with former leaders and security chiefs on Friday October 23. He said that 51 civilians, 11 police officers, and seven soldiers were killed in the unrest.
Buhari was quoted saying in a statement released by Femi Adesina that the killing came off an “initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths which was hijacked and misdirected”.
It was further gathered that the Nigerian President who stated that his administration will not allow miscreants and criminals to continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country, accused the protesters of refusing to call off the protest in spite of meeting their demands.
The statement read;
Unfortunately, the protesters refused to call off the protest and engage the government to address their grievances. Instead, they became emboldened and gradually turned violent.
We shall also continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected. Here, I want to also reaffirm our commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
“The President thanked the former Heads of State for attending the meeting and their invaluable comments, observations and advice, adding that ‘Nigerians expect nothing less from responsible statesmen’.
Each of the former leaders commended President Buhari for steps taken so far to restore calm and order to the country and also applauded the presidential broadcast of Thursday as detailed and soothing to the country.
The former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign investments were critical to checking youth restiveness.
The former heads of state also condemned the divisive and inciting pronouncements of separatists and were of the opinion that such acts should be stopped.
Equally, the former leaders commended the actions taken by governors to address the demands of the ENDSARS protesters and their efforts to check the excesses of those who perpetrated violent acts and conduct.
Finally, they called on youths to pursue peaceful means, in seeking redress through engagement with government and encouraged further conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the attack on peaceful #ENDSARS protesters on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at the Lekki area of Lagos state.
In a statement on Thursday, October 22, 2020, the former president said the ‘use of deadly force’ will only worsen the situation.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, a team of police and soldiers shot at protesting youths at the Lekki toll gate and Alausa protest grounds.
According to Amnesty International, not less than 12 Nigerian youths were killed.
Reacting to the incident, Jonathan urged the federal government to ensure that such does not recur again.
He said, “As leaders, we must understand that a nation can never win a battle against its own people.
“Thus, the use of deadly force against citizens only aggravates tense situations rather than assuage it. We must therefore move away from battlegrounds to middle grounds in our individual and national life. This, I believe, epitomises the essence of democracy.
“I condemn any unnecessary loss of life and urge efforts to be stepped up to ensure that there is no such reoccurrence.
“We all must accept that we are all brothers and sisters of one Nigeria, and always act towards each other accordingly.”
The ex-president also asked security agencies to ensure maximum restraint is applied in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the terms of reference of the Judicial Panel set up to investigate police brutality and rights violation has been expanded.
He disclosed this on Friday, while briefing reporters at the Lagos House in Marina.
It comes three days after some #EndSARS protesters were killed in a shooting at the Lekki toll gate.
“So what we have done is that we have consulted and we are now expanding the terms of reference of the panel that we have set up because it is exactly the same kind of composition,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
“That same panel headed by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi will be investigating all of the issues that happened at the Toll Plaza on Tuesday night. Their terms of reference have been expanded and for emphasis, the sitting will start on Monday at the Lagos Court of Arbitration International Centre in Lekki.”
The governor also asked residents to provide the panel with useful information that will help in the effective probe against SARS operatives.
He said: “They will be receiving petitions from Monday. If you need to send the petition via email, their address is judicialpanelonSARS@lagos.gov.ng.
“We will expect everyone that has a case or petition or something to pass unto this panel. They have been empowered extensively to determine how they run and conduct themselves at the panel.”
During the swearing-in of the panel members on October 19, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted the panel will sit for six months.
Lagos state governor, governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has addressed Lagosians via his social media page after a tour round Lagos to observe the level of destruction done by hoodlums , below is his speech;
We are Lagosians. We are known for our creativity, enterprising and can-do spirit. I am convinced that we will heal and rebuild our land. We have no other choice. It is our land and our home. We must do right by it.
Lagos will not burn. Not on my watch. Enough is enough. We want peace and we will get peace.
As shocking and sad as this situation is, we must come out of the ashes of destruction strong and with a determination that this unfortunate situation will not kill the spirit of Lagos.
We also visited the various hospitals today to check on the progress of victims that were brought in from events this week.
It was heartwarming to note that quite a number have been discharged. We have also indicated that we will be picking all the bills.
I will like to advise and implore citizens to resist the urge to instigate or incite people to violence especially on social media.
It is wrong to spread misinformation and create mass hysteria.
This is not the Lagos we know. I am the 15th governor of the state and Lagos has never witnessed this level of destruction. The oldest court in Nigeria was razed down. Many properties were completely destroyed. It is time to heal ourselves and time to heal Lagos.
Our beautiful city has seen a level of destruction almost akin to a war zone. It was a shocking and very sad spectacle. Our land took a beating and this hurts. Historical buildings, cultural centres, private malls, government holdings and private businesses were pillaged & burnt.
Lagos belongs to us all. No other state has this unique combination of people living in peace, harmony and progress so it saddened me when I went round for an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the level of destruction to public assets and private properties.
Today, on our journey across Lagos, we paid respect to the ones we have lost. It was an emotional time for everyone, and we will find a way to remember them in the coming days.
Hoodlums on Friday evening stormed an uncompleted building owned by the Cross River State government and looted some food items believed to be part of the COVID-19 palliatives stored there.
The building, housing the proposed West African Fabrication Academy, was where Governor Ben Ayade last April held a symbolic flag-off exercise for distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.
It was a free- for- all exercise as the hoodlums carted away bags of rice, beans, cartons of noodles and other food items believed to be transferred from the warehouse to the uncompleted building.
Video of the looting on social media showed some of youths shouting: “This is wickedness. This is what they were supposed to give us, they did not. Somebody when and kept it in uncompleted building. Let security come, we don’t care.”
Earlier on Friday, hoodlums had also stormed Calabar South Local Government Secretariat where office of the local government chairman was vandalised.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman, Hon Esther Bassey, said: “Hoodlums attacked the political block in the secretariat premises looting items and destroying structures.
“They started burning tyres in the premises, destroying windows and other property. Staff and limited security that were in the secretariat had to leave for safety before calling for re-enforcement.
“It was when re-enforcement of security arrived and they started hearing the siren sound, then they escaped through the nearby creeks.
“What we are telling our people is that there is no sense in destruction of public properties. People should go stay at home and parents should advice their wards to maintain peace in the community.”
As at the time of this report, youths were reportedly heading to the SEMA warehouse.
In a swift response, Ayade announced a 24-hour curfew from 6pm.
A statement Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor Christian Ita, said: “Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums, the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has imposed a 24hr curfew in the state starting from 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.”
“Residents of the state are advised to observe the curfew as security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it.”
The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that he deployed infrastructure, economic development and employment to tackle insecurity and militancy as the governor of Rivers State.
Amaechi stated this when he delivered a lecture to participants of National Defence College Course 29 in Abuja, Friday.
President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with former Nigerian presidents on Friday morning.
The meeting started at 10:00 a.m. with Buhari presiding from the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, a pool report said.
Former leaders who joined via a video conference include Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan and Ernest Shonekan.
Reports said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, cabinet secretary Boss Mustapha, chief of staff Ibrahim Gambari and NSA Babagana Monguno are physically at the meeting with the president.
Gabriel Olanisakin, Mohammed Adamu, Yusuf Bichi and Ahmed Rufai are amongst security chiefs at the meeting.
The restricted meeting comes as the president moves to find a solution to the country’s security challenges arising from the #EndSARS campaign.
On Thursday night, the president addressed the nation after persistent demand from Nigerians.
Although Mr. Monguno told Nigerians critical decisions would be taken during the announcement, the president failed to mention the deployment of soldiers against protesters in Lagos that sparked additional crises of looting, vandalism and killing.
The Oyo State Police Command on Friday said that some hoodlums have carted away some police arms and ammunitions.
DAILY POST gathered that there was a confrontation between some policemen and some angry Nigerians who were protesting against police brutality on Tuesday in Ibadan.
Also on Thursday, there was a confrontation between some policemen and some angry youths.
The state police command has, however, revealed that some arms and ammunitions belonging to the state police command have been taken away by some hardened criminals.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joe Enwonwu in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Friday, described the act as dangerous and inimical to the general safety of residents in the state.
Enwonwu in the statement signed by Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi advised parents/guardians and all stakeholders to warn their children/wards to desist from acts that can lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.
He assured the people of the state to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of threats or molestation from any quarters.
He maintained that military and other sisters security agencies are complementing the efforts of the Police.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, has been moved with deep concerns that despite repeated pleas and advice to the End SARS protesters, traditional rulers, religious leaders, leaders of thought that miscreants/disgruntled elements would hijack the protests and capitalize on the situation to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens. It was clear that, all that were envisaged had actually come to pass. He stated further that, undue hardships, needless deaths were meted out to some Police officers/innocent citizens in Oyo State.
“Consequent upon this, the CP wishes to further implore genuine protesters to yield to the plea of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhamadu Buhari, GCFR and the Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde to stop the protests forthwith to prevent needless deaths occasioned by the activities of miscreants who are using it as an opportunity to carry out coordinated attacks to loot people’ properties, but allow for a while for government attention to all their demands.
“The CP wishes to inform the general public that, due to the incessant attacks on the Police Stations and Police personnel, some Police arms and ammunitions have been carted away by hardened criminals. This act is extremely dangerous and can be inimical to our general safety and co-operate existence, and in lieu of this, he wishes to plead with all and sundry within and outside Ibadan metropolis to be on the lookout for those enemy of progress to promptly report any group/individual who are not Police/military/other security agencies personnel in possession of such arms and ammunition and report to the nearest Police station or other sister security agencies immediately for recovery and necessary action.
“In conclusion, the CP wishes to continue to advise parents/guardians and all stakeholders to warn their children/wards to desist from acts that can lead to breakdown of law and order and wanton destruction to lives and property. He equally assures the good people of Oyo State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of threats or molestation from any quarters as the military and other sisters security agencies are complementing the efforts of the Police, while he strictly warns those criminal elements that hijacked Police arms during the protests to have a rethink and quietly return the prohibited firearms immediately before the full weight of the law catches up with them.”
Dana Air and Arik airlines have announced their readiness to resume flight operations from Lagos airport tomorrow, Saturday following the belief that the Lagos State government will lift the 24 hours curfew it imposed on the state.
The curfew was imposed by the State governor Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu on Tuesday to forestall further breakdown of law and order following series of EndSARS protests.
Confirming the likely resumption of domestic flights, the spokesman for Dana Air, Mr Kingsley Ezenwa said: “Following our earlier announcement on cancellation, we are pleased to inform you that we will resume full flight operations from tomorrow, Saturday, the 24th of October 2020.”
Ezenwa also said that tickets purchased for flights within the period of the curfew remains valid and can be ” rescheduled for free by sending an email to contact@flydanaair.com”.
“Once again our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters who lost lives and properties during the protest, ” he said.
Meanwhile, Arik Air has also said it will be resuming limited flights to some destinations where there are no curfews on Friday, October 23, 2020.
According to Mr Banji Ola, spokesperson for the airline, Flights from Lagos to other parts of the country will however resume upon the lifting of the 24 hours curfew by the Lagos state government.
“Specifically, the airline will be operating flights from its second hub in Abuja to Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Benin, Kano and Yola.”
“On Friday, Arik Air will operate one flight each from Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja to Port Harcourt, Ilorin and Kano. Also, on Saturday, the airline will operate one flight each from Abuja to Port Harcourt, Benin and Yola,” Ola said.
The two airlines had on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, suspended their flights’ operations due to the 24 hours curfew announced by the Lagos State government.
•Obiano imposes 24-hr curfew, plans N200m compensation •Makinde visits hot spots in Ibadan
Youths in Ondo State went berserk yesterday, destroying several public infrastructures across the 18 councils.
In Okitipupa town, the headquarters of Okitipupa Council, over 100 angry youths invaded the National Correctional Service (NCS) Centre, setting about 58 inmates free.
The Guardian learnt that they also destroyed several facilities and burnt a lot of cars in the premises, looting and razing the council secretariat.
They also torched the Okitipupa High Court Complex and the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company (OOPC), though letting the employees go scot-free.
Also, the Independent National ElectoralnCommission (INEC) office in the council was torched by the mob.
The NCS Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the state, Mr Babatunde Ogundare, confirmed the incident.
In Akure South Council, the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s campaign office was destroyed, while two persons were allegedly killed in Ondo West Council.
Similarly, in Awka, Anambra State, banks, markets and other business premises were shut as youths chanting anti-government slogans marched on the major streets and later poured into the Enugu/Onitsha expressway.
In Onitsha, the protesters marched from Zik Roundabout to Awka road and diverted to the Inland Town Police Station, but were resisted by the officers on duty who shot into the air to disperse them.
Also at Nnewi, hoodlums who sang war songs razed the Central Police Station yesterday but attempts to attack the Police Area Command were repelled by the officers on duty.
It was gathered that two persons lost their lives during the protest at Nnewi and Okpoko, as hoodlums tried to raze Okpoko police station but were overpowered by the police.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra has, however, imposed a 24-hour curfew throughout the state.
He announced that the curfew would take effect from 8 p.m. to bring the tension under control, adding that the state government budgeted N200 million as compensation to people who have proven cases of rights violations, torture and deaths from the activities of the defunct SARS in the state.
Anchor Insurance Building at Barracks Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State was also set ablaze, following the alleged killing of a protester and injuring of others by officials of the correctional centre at Barracks road.
The incident led to serious tension in Uyo metropolis as the protesters invaded all major streets of the capital city, blocking roads, destroying properties and vandalising items.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, yesterday, embarked on a tour of hot spots of the protests in Ibadan where he declared that his government would continue to do everything necessary to secure the lives and properties of the residents of the state.
Hoodlums yesterday invaded a warehouse where COVID-19 palliative was stored at Mazamaza community in Lagos State.
The community is located in the Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state.
Viral video footages circulating on social media showed the looters, entering the warehouse and looting the COVID-19 palliative.
The warehouse is located on Benster Crescent, popularly called Monkey Village.
The looting started as early as 8:00 a.m.
It was gathered that the hoodlums also set a bonfire at a junction not far from the warehouse. The hoodlums later asked residents in the area to move into the warehouse and pick some palliative.
One of the residents, Sherif Olaiya said: “We heard sounds of gunshots.
The hoodlums attacked a place where COVID-19 palliatives were stored. They then asked residents to pick the palliatives.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has condemned the vandalisation of the warehouse at Mazamaza. In a statement by Abisola Olusanya, acting Commissioner for Agriculture, the government said the warehouse held the food palliative packages donated to the state government by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group.
“The Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on September 22nd formally taken receipt of the food palliatives from the CACOVID team meant for distribution to indigent persons,” the statement said.
“The government notes that the warehouse in question is not state-owned and its usage was made available to the CaCOVID group. The State Government had been allowed to commence rebagging of food items allotted to it from the quantities meant for South-West states.
“The re-bagging was being done to account for each beneficiary receipt, as was required and monitored by the CACOVID team.
The distribution was ongoing but had to be halted due to protests, before the invasion of the warehouse yesterday.
“For effective distribution of the food palliative, groups such as transport unions, ethnic groups, religious associations, artisans and tradesmen association, market men and women association, People Living with Disabilities, orphanages and old peoples’ homes among others were being used as distribution channels to their members.
“The State Government however regrets the invasion of the warehouse and appreciate the support offered by the CACOVID group to the citizenry of Lagos.”
The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), on Thursday said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has directed security agencies to operate within the confines of the law in addressing the violence being witnessed in parts of the country.
Monguno disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by the President. He said since the government had conceded to the demands of the protesters, it appeared that “the riots are taking a different and unwanted dimension.”
“It is not Mr President’s desire to see any loss of lives and he is determined to ensure that things do not cascade into unpleasant situation.
“Therefore, he has directed all the security agencies to operate within the confines of legitimacy, the confines of legality, not to do anything that will aggravate the situation,” he added.
According to Amnesty International, 38 people were killed on Tuesday night during an anti-police protest in the Nigerian city.
On Tuesday night, the Nigerian military opened fire on peaceful anti-police brutality demonstrators in Lagos. Hundreds of activists had gathered at the Lekki toll gate, a busy intersection in a wealthy suburb of Lagos Island that has become the epicentre of the city’s protests and where a large number of protesters have been camping for almost two weeks.
At around midday on Tuesday, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos state governor, announced a 24-hour curfew that would go into effect in just four hours. The short notice sparked citywide panic as millions of people were forced to immediately rush home, leading to gridlock in a city famous for its bumper-to-bumper traffic. While some protesters decided to defy the curfew and continue their demonstration, others were simply stuck with no way to get home.
“We imagined the most they would do was arrest us or tell us to go home, and so before the curfew began the organisers for the protest that day had already told us to go home if we wanted to,” Anthony*, who was at the toll gate on Tuesday, tells VICE News.
“Nobody knew there would be shootings, nobody even knew the soldiers would be coming,” he continues. “It was only after I called my friend who was at another protest in Alausa, Ikeja, and he told me that soldiers had driven past their protest ground and had done nothing to them that I felt the possibility of them also coming to Lekki toll gate. We just felt at peace knowing that the soldiers were friendly at Alausa.”
The shooting started at around 7PM, shortly after street lights surrounding the toll gate were turned off, as was a giant illuminated billboard that towers over the intersection, plunging the sitting demonstrators into darkness. Video from an office building overlooking the toll gate appears to show army officers approaching from the opposite end of the site and firing into the crowd. This happened despite Sanwo-Olu extending the start of the curfew to 9PM.
Photographer Inyene has been documenting the protests at the toll gate since they started. The 26-year-old was there on Tuesday night when the shooting started. Inyene had only planned to stop at the site for a short while, he tells VICE News. But when he arrived shortly after 1PM, he decided to stay and document the evening, inspired by the protesters who couldn’t make it home as a result of the citywide gridlock.
What Inyene was there as shots fired up in the air, and turned into to direct shots aimed at protesters who were sitting down and waving Nigerian flags, singing the national anthem. As the crowd scrambled, many of the protesters took to Instagram Live, showing in real-time activists tripping over themselves in panic and being shot by advancing military officers. The footage also showed that a fire had been started at both ends of the toll, trapping many of the demonstrators in.
Another photographer, Dale*, 30, who was at the scene when the shooting began, tells VICE News that some of the crowd remained seated in the hope that would calm the officers and make it clear that they were protesting peacefully. “People were rushing, and DJ Switch who was making the live video, was trying to control the crowd and get them to lie down,” Dale says. “The soldiers still kept shooting.”
With the Lekki toll gate thrown into darkness, demonstrators struggled to make their way out of the site and could scarcely make out the soldiers surrounding the crowd.
“It was an organised crime,” Anthony adds. “Mobile [signal] went down. The billboard was switched off. I was trying to get out, while helping those that were injured. There were so many of them. I saw an ambulance make away with many more bodies.”
Despite Sanwo-Olu insisting at a press conference the following morning that there were no deaths, Amnesty International reports that more than 50 people have died since the #EndSars protests began, with 38 deaths recorded on Tuesday alone.
“It feels disheartening to hear the governor deny the deaths. It makes it even more painful, it was a calculated massacre,” Anthony adds.
Adebayo*, a doctor who works in a hospital near the Lekki toll gate where injured protesters were rushed to for treatment and many more are still being attended, tells VICE News that he has treated multiple gunshot victims and polytraumatised patients. “We have been dealing with a lot of fractures, blood loss, gunshots to the abdomen, laceration of wrist, gunshot to the lungs, gunshot to the upper limb and other injuries of the sort,” Adebayo says. “Some people were unfortunate and didn’t make it.”
“One out of the three people who contacted us for help during the shooting got a stray bullet on her foot while she was trying to find her way home,” says Temmie Ovwasa, a singer and coordinator at SafeHouse, a program set up to assist queer Nigerians to find safety, shelter, and financial assistance during the protests. “The bullet tore off her skin and chipped at her bones, she had to be operated twice.”
Kokoma, a 22-year old student and comedian, was one of the protesters who couldn’t make it home due the traffic, so she stayed at the site. She later sustained injuries from the stampede that followed the initial gunshots. She considers herself luck to have made it out, and that a close friend of hers was shot in the leg as they ran.
“While I was running to safety, I had to stop by some people who were lying about, seriously injured,” Inyene remembers. “There was an elderly woman. There was a young man with a bullet stuck deep in his thigh. It was a lot but I did my best to take photographs, to collect evidence because I knew that the government would try to deny it.”
On Thursday night, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari broke his nine-day silence with an address to the nation that made no reference to Tuesday’s deadly attack. Instead, Buhari, a former 1980s military dictator who was elected into office in 2015, spoke against any further protests and denounced activists for spreading “deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media.”
“In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy,” Buhari said. “For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated.”
*Names have been changed to protect their identities.
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