Lifestyle, Politics

Police arrest Yoruba Nation agitators ahead of planned Lagos protest

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The police command in Lagos has arrested Yoruba Nation agitators planning to protest in the Alausa area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Sunday on his verified Twitter handle.

“Earlier today, a number of Yoruba Nation agitators commenced setting up camp at Alausa, planned to be used as the base to launch a massive protest. Camp was promptly dislodged while agitators were arrested. Investigation continues at State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID),” he said.

Mr Hundeyin stressed that the state would not tolerate lawlessness, recalling that protests had, in the past, destroyed properties.

“Protests that started with this format in Lagos always snowballed into infringement of the rights of others, destruction of property and difficult-to-manage situations,” Mr Hundeyin explained.

“At Lagos state police command, we put crime statistics to use.”

He said section 4 of the Police Act 2020 stated that the police should maintain public safety, law and order and protect all persons’ lives and property in Nigeria.

Lifestyle

Protesters storm Oyo governor’s office over lingering fuel, naira scarcity

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Angry youths in Oyo have broken into the State Secretariat in Ibadan to protest the lingering fuel and currency scarcity that has crippled businesses and the economy nationwide.

It was gathered that an armed police officer attached to the governor’s office was injured by the angry protesters.

The crowd was said to have forced other security operatives on the ground to take cover.

The protesters were said to have stormed the secretariat with sticks, wood, and other dangerous weapons while forcing the two main gates open.

The youths had earlier in the morning stormed the streets to express dissatisfaction over the scarcity.

Armed with placards bearing different inscriptions, they protesters blocked the ever busy Iwo road, lamenting the current situation in the country.

They decried the stress Nigerians were passing through in getting the newly redesigned naira notes.

The ongoing protest has caused gridlock along the axis with many commuters and motorists being stranded.

A spokesperson for the Oyo governor was unreachable for comment at the time of filing this report .

The situation is coming few weeks to the presidential election and a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress party over the fuel and naira scarcity.

Lifestyle

Male students protest over separation of boys and girls in Bauchi secondary schools

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Male students protest over separation of boys and girls in Bauchi secondary schools Male students of secondary schools are currently protesting on the streets of Bauchi over a new policy by the state government to separate boys from girls in schools.

The Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Mr Aliyu Tilde, had said that the government has concluded plans to separate male and female students in secondary schools in the state.

Tilde, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen after a State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Bauchi, noted that the plan would only be executed whenever and wherever it is possible.

He explained that the idea was to address moral decadence which has become prevalent among students of secondary schools.

According to him, private schools would take a cue from the initiative and separate the males who would be attending their academic activities in one institution and the females in another separate institution.

Business, Lifestyle

Aviation workers embark on nationwide protest

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Aviation workers are currently protesting across the country over an alleged ‘obnoxious’ legislation.

Ben Nnabue, President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) told newsmen that the protest is simultaneously taking place in all the airports in the federation.

Nnabue who revealed that they are demanding the removal of a clause in an act establishing aviation agencies that seeks to prevent trade unions from protesting, gave the federal government a 14-day ultimatum for them to look into their demands, or see them embark on a full-blown strike that might possibly shutdown airport activities.

He said;

“Sometime last year, we went to the national assembly to amend the act establishing the agencies, so that it would be more progressive.

There was one obnoxious clause that talked about trade unions not going on strike. “We were shocked that before they sent it to the president for assent, those clauses were maliciously inserted. So we have to fight for them to remove it.

That’s the whole idea.“It is a peaceful demonstration. It is after now and they didn’t hear us or didn’t look at our demands, then we get to the level of grounding the operations of airports,” he said.

“We have given government 14-days ultimatum to look at our demands, after which we now do what is called strike.”

Ni

Politics, World News

Protesters heard booing King Charles as they call for monarchy to be abolished

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Anti-monarchists booed King Charles and one held up a sign saying “f*** imperialism, abolish the monarchy” in Edinburgh.

On Sunday, September 11, crowds had gathered in the capital city to hear the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who is responsible for overseeing state ceremonial in Scotland, formally announce King Charles as the Queen’s successor.

His Majesty’s State Trumpeters sounded a fanfare at the famous Edinburgh Castle and the Lord Lyon King of Arms read a proclamation for the King, prompting jeers and boos from other members of the crowd.

As the Lord Lyon King of Arms Joseph Morrow ended his proclamation by saying “God Save the King”, there were audible boos from people in the crowd while others called for a republic at King Charles’ proclamation in Edinburgh.

One protester was at Mercat Cross in the Scottish capital when police arrived and they took her away.

One man shouted: “Let her go! It’s free speech!” Other said: “Have some respect.” Police have confirmed that a 22-year-old woman was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace”.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “A 22-year-old woman was arrested outside St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Sunday 11 September, 2022 in connection with a breach of the peace.”

Lifestyle

Mbaka’s followers protest ban on Adoration Ministry, demand bishop’s removal

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A protester demanded the transfer of the Catholic bishop of the Enugu Diocese.

Several followers of the outspoken Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday, protested the recent ban of the church members from attending services at the Adoration Ministry.

The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Callistus Onaga, Friday, banned Catholic members from attending activities at the ministry, following scathing remarks against Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by Mr Mbaka, who is the spiritual director of the ministry.

Mr Mbaka, during his weekly ministration service, on Wednesday, said Mr Obi would not be president of Nigeria in 2023 because he is a “stingy man who does not give out money to people.”

He also said unless Mr Obi returned to his ministry to apologise for refusing to make a donation to the ministry when he was asked to do so, his ambition to become president of Nigeria would be fruitless.

Many Nigerians, including the diocese, criticised him over his comment on Mr Obi.

The cleric later apologised to the former governor and his supporters saying that his intent was not to malign the LP presidential candidate.

The ban came hours after the cleric’s apology for the outburst.

Mr Onaga, while announcing the ban, explained that the decision was taken because of Mr Mbaka’s refusal to heed several “fraternal corrections and admonitions” extended to him by the diocesan leadership.

He said Catholic members remained banned from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the ministry until the “due process initiated by the diocese is concluded.”

Hours after the ban went public, the cleric announced the suspension of all religious programmes in the ministry beginning from Sunday (today) until further notice.

Although no reason was given for the sudden suspension, it is believed to be in obedience to the ban on Catholic members by Mr Onaga.

But on Sunday, barely two days after, many of the cleric’s followers marched around some streets close to the ministry’s ground at Emene, chanting solidarity songs.

They also demanded the removal of Mr Onaga as the bishop of the diocese.

A video clip of the protest has gone viral on social media.

In the clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the protesters were seen carrying green leaves and sticks and chanting “Onaga must go,” “No more Onaga,” “No more Catholic Church”.

The protesters said they were not happy with the Bishop’s decision to ban Catholic members from attending the ministry.

“Onaga should leave. Other bishops are not talking except him. He should be posted elsewhere,” said one of the protesters.

Lifestyle

Ajasin’s son, others protest insecurity in South-West, preach self-defence

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Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, one of the children of a former Governor of Ondo State, late Chief Adekunle.Ajasin, on Monday led other elderly residents and youths in a protest to demand an end to insecurity in the South-West.

The protesters, who wielded placards with various inscriptions, stormed the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to sensitise the people on the need to begin to prepare to defend themselves due to killings, kidnappings, rape and destruction of properties being witnessed in the region.

They said the recent massacre of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State was not an isolated case, saying similar killings had happened in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State and other parts of Yorubaland.

They said Yorubaland had been surrounded by terrorists from other countries who were waiting to strike at any time warning that the people must not be caught unawares.

Ajasin, in an interview with journalists, said the Federal Government was not doing enough to protect the people.

He said, “Why will the Federal Government recruit pardoned Boko Haram members into the Army and expect them not to be sympathetic to their terror group? There are many youths with no link to terror groups or criminal records who should be recruited.

“Apart from that, flushing the criminals from the forests can be done with the aid of equipment like drones and other equipment like that. There must be seriousness on the part of all stakeholders to end terror.”

The Coordinator, Coalition of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Johnson Ajilore, while addressing the people, said Yorubaland had been surrounded by terrorists and criminals who were killing daily across the South-West.

He said, “We are staging this rally to sensitise the people to be vigilant. We are being killed every day but this must stop. We have to defend ourselves if the government is not ready to defend us.

“We say no to these killings. Our hospitality, civility and tolerance should not be mistaken for cowardice.

“People went to church to worship and some terrorists went there and killed them. Similar incident happened in Igangan a year before the Owo incident.  They have killed many and kidnapped many more in many towns and villages in the South-West.”

The coalition’s Secretary General, Chief Steve Abioye, while addressing residents during the protest at Oje, said Yoruba people should wake up and be ready to protect themselves from being slaughtered daily by bandits.

“Our people should wake up, they are being killed every day. Yorubaland has never been conquered and that is why we are calling on our people to defend themselves,” he said.

A 75-year-old protester, Dr Tunde  Arogunmasa, said the youth and the elders must be prepared to defend themselves and their land.

Lifestyle

Army denies complicity in Prelate’s kidnap as youths protest

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The Nigerian Army (NA), yesterday, denied allegations of complicity of its troops in the kidnap incident of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Uche, and two others in Umunneochi, Abia State, on Sunday.

The Prelate, his Chaplain, Very Rev. Abidemi Shittu and the Methodist Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark, were abducted along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway in Umunneochi Local Council.

While narrating his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers, Uche, who was released on Monday after paying N100 Million ransom, had alleged that some soldiers from the North, posted to the area, were aiding kidnappers in the region.

But reacting to the allegation in a statement he sent to The Guardian, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu, who doubted the position of the Cleric, noted that the allegation is false.

Nwachukwu said: “While the Nigerian Army expresses concern and sympathy for the victim of this heinous crime and shares in his pains, the insinuation that troops are complicit in the kidnap incident is not premised on any findings of investigations and, therefore, unacceptable.

“This allegation, therefore, raises some pertinent questions, which are still unanswered.

“Given the spate of insecurity in the region, was the issue reported to the unit covering the area? Did the Methodist Church take the NA into confidence while negotiating the ransom with the kidnappers? The unit has received no formal complaint. More worrisome is the fact that it was alleged that the ransom was paid in less than 24 hours. Was the ransom paid to troops? These are questions that beg for answers.

MEANWHILE, youths of Umunneochi Local Council, where the abduction occurred, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest to the local council headquarters at Nkwoagu Isuochi.

They expressed worry over the recurring incidents of kidnapping, abduction and other acts of criminality within the council and neighbouring Uturu axis in Isuikwuato Local Council, where many students and staff of Abia State University Uturu have fallen victims.

Lifestyle

More drama around ‘Aregbesola shooting’ as group claims Osun govt gave students N1m to protest

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The drama around a shooting incident around the convoy of minister of Interior Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola in Oshogbo the Osun State capital continues taking new dimensions as the days go by.

A group of youths who identified themselves as Concerned Citizens of Osun, have alleged that the state government bought some leaders of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS) with the sum of N1m to protest at the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osogbo on Tuesday.

The group in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Afeez Olakunle stated that the protest was politically motivated, alleging that an unnamed aide to Osun state governor worked with NAOSS leadership to stage the protest.

The group expressed concern that the government could stoop low to dragging students into the internal crisis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

It also lampooned the leaders of NAOSS for making themselves willing tools in the hands of politicians.

The statement reads in part, “It is a shame that NAOSS, a supposed intellectual body of students, could sell itself so cheap to accept a sum of N1m from the state government to protest against the NSCDC in the state.

“The question to ask NAOSS leadership is that: why had it remained silent on the series of insecurity occurrences and political violence in the state? Why did NAOSS choose to protest against NSCDC which is doing its job of protecting the lives and property of the people of the state? Why is it that it was a government official, SSA, that was mobilising media for the NAOSS protest?”

Meanwhile, NAOS President, Moshood Yusuf, in his reaction, challenged the group to bring out proof that he collected money to mobilise students for the protest.

Yusuf, who claimed to have witnessed the alleged shooting by NSCDC operatives on Monday, stated that he did not need to be paid before protesting on behalf of the masses.

“During the protest, my people could not even afford sachet water for themselves. Can I have N1million and I won’t be able to provide ordinary water? I have been expecting something like this because when you fight for masses, it is bound to happen this way. They should provide proof.

“I was around Olonkoro Area (of Osogbo) when the (Monday) shooting happened. Will I fold arms while people are killed? I witnessed the (shooting) incident. I was around Olonkoro (Osogbo). All of us had to flee. Nobody sponsored us. It is our thoughts; thoughts of the students. I can’t fold arms when a paramilitary organisation engage in an activity such as this,” he said.

The NAOSS had protested at the NSCDC office on Tuesday over a shooting incident that involved the convoy of Aregbesola which has generated different accounts from authorities concerned.

While the state police command stated that some people suspected to be political thugs on Aregbesola’s convoy shot into the air without provocation, the NSCDC said its operative Attached to the minister’s convoy returned fire from some thugs suspected to be government agents.

Politics

SSS invites another #NoMoreBloodShed convener over protest against insecurity in the North

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Another convener of #NoMoreBloodshed protests embarked upon by youths in some northern states against escalating insecurity in the region, has been invited by the State Security Service (SSS).

According to a Facebook post by one of the conveners of the protest, Rahma Abdulmajid, the invitee, Ibrahim Birniwa, one of the leaders of the protest in Kaduna, was invited by the secret police on Saturday for organizing the protest.

The youth protesters had, on Friday, hit the streets of Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto States and Abuja simultaneously to register their anger over the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by bandits and terrorists with the government doing little or nothing to protect the people.

The invitation of Birniwa makes the second of such by the SSS following the invitation on Friday of Zainab Ahmed, who led the Kano leg of the protest for questioning over her participation in protest.

Shortly after her interrogation which lasted for over two hours, Ahmed promptly released a statement that she was no longer part of the protest.

She also tried to dissuade other youths from continuing with the protest, claiming she had Information that the protests would be hijacked by certain unnamed people for political reasons.

Entertainment

Group holds counter protests against #endSARS memorial

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As the #endSARS memorial protests raged across the country, a group of pro-Buhari protesters in Abuja slammed reports about the massacre at Lekki Toll Gate in 2020.

A report by BBC Pidgin on Wednesday captured the group on video at its meeting point at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, after the #endSARS protesters had left the venue.

The protesters who were conveyed to the venue by a bus held up placards stating, ”#EndSarsProtest; Lekki shooting was a hoax”, and ”Nobody died at Lekki tollgate”.

One of the organisers of the group, named Justice Vanguard, told the BBC Pidgin that nobody died during the 2020 #EndSARS protests in Lekki.

He said, “We found out that some miscreants peddled lies which is why we are here to protest against it; they claimed that there was a massacre.

Where are their bodies; we are here to put those lies to rest? There was no massacre and nobody was killed. Let there be incontrovertible evidence. We will resist any group attempting to destabilise the country. We won’t allow foreign interest groups destabilise Nigeria.”

On the reason for their small number—with the group comprising around 15 persons, the organiser rejected claims of being sponsored by the Federal Government.

“We are not sponsored, unlike the other people who are hired thugs which is why we are here in our small numbers. Nigeria will succeed irrespective of evil machinations in the form of Boko Haram and bandits.

“The truth must be established; the #EndSARS protest ought to have been stopped immediately after the former IGP dissolved the unit. The protesters ought to give the FG time to implement the five-point demands but they went after regime change because they are sponsored by foreign elements,” he noted.

Entertainment

#BBNaija: Pere’s fans organise protest, threaten to end Big Brother Naija over ‘unfair’ twist

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Fans of Big Brother Naija’s housemate, Pere, are planning to protest today against the organizers of the reality TV show over alleged unfairness to their favourite.

This is coming after Pere and Angel who were asked to leave the house during the Sunday live eviction show, were moved to a white room.

They were then told that they would compete for a chance to go back into the house.

But Pere’s fans felt this was an unfair twist as the ex-US army officer who got 25% percent voted earned enough votes to scale through to the finale ahead of Angel with 14%.

According to circular circulating on social media, Pere’s fans threatened a protest aimed at ending the show over the unfair treatment to their favorite.

The circular reads; “IF YOU ARE IN LAGOS PLEASE COME OUT TO ILUPEJU SPAR TOMORROW BY 7AM CALL 09022971519 OR +234 807 306 6317 for more info. Justice for Pere Rally… @pereegbiofficial @lylaws@bigbronaija @multichoice_group We’re coming for you! since you want to rig votes, expect the show to end instantly. You’re not ready for what is comin….”

Politics

Northern group protests in Abuja, demands referendum

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A group of women under the aegis of the Amalgamation of Northern Women Associations, on Saturday, demanded a referendum to allow Biafran agitators to chose whether or not to remain in Nigeria.

The coordinator of the group, Hadiza Adamu, spoke on behalf of other members, during a protest in Abuja, on Saturday.

She said, “Nigerian History has shown that women carry the heavy burden of war and acts of insurrections and terrorism. We have gone through it from 1967 to 1971, our men died and left us with the children to cater for out of nothing, other men that survived simply moved on but we never moved on.

The aftermath of the war and the sufferings left lifetime scars in our hearts and on our bodies. It is for this reason that we (have) come together today and say we don’t want another war, another insurrection.

We, therefore, unanimously call on President Muhammadu Buhari as the leader and father of the country; and the leadership of the National Assembly, President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawal; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; to immediately call for a referendum in the country.

“Let people choose to live in peace in Nigeria or leave, any other group or nationality that wants to secede to exercise their rights of self-determination like the South-East has been agitated for decades to be allowed to leave Nigeria peacefully, without resorting to a second civil war.

“Today the Igbo nation has turned the entire South-East to almost a war zone, northerners irrespective of their tribes are no longer safe, states’ infrastructures are no longer safe, service personnel from police to army are not safe, INEC offices and other symbols of democracy in the country are being destroyed on daily basis, our husbands that go to do business in South-East no longer return home safe, our political leaders who travel to the South-East on national assignments are assassinated in broad daylight.”

Lifestyle

Protest on Lagos-Ibadan highway as cows cause accident

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There was pandemonium on Tuesday, around Onigari at the Ogun State end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as motorists and residents blocked the road after an accident involving a truck and some strayed cows.

The Punch reports that some Fulani herdsmen were leading the cows when they strayed onto the road and caused the accident.

An eyewitness at the scene of the incident said that the herders fled the scene after the accident.

People are protesting to show their anger over the incident. It is causing traffic on the road as we speak,” he added.

Politics

Reno Omokri to lead protest to ”harrass” Buhari out of Paris

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Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri is set to lead a protest in Paris, France, to ‘harass’ President Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians in Paris to convene at the Temporary Exhibition Centre, in front of the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday for a peaceful protest.

The author and communications specialist earlier conducted a poll on his Facebook page soliciting the idea of Nigerians particularly the youths to ascertain whether to protest or allow President Buhari remain in France.

At the end of the poll, he concluded to embark on the protest after majority of his supporters opted in for the #harassBuhariOutOfParis.

Omokri made his decision known in a post on his official Facebook page.

“Do you love Nigeria? Are you based in Paris? Join us for the #HarassBuhariOutOfParis peaceful protest tomorrow, 12 noon, Paris Time, at the Temporary Exhibition Centre, in front of the Eiffel Tower.

“Muhammadu Buhari can’t be globetrotting, while Nigeria is drifting. Go back and fix Nigeria!

“Please do this for the love of Nigeria”, he wrote.

Recall that Omokri had initiated a protest in Abuja House, London, over a month ago during the president’s medical trip to the United Kingdom.

Football

Davido calls Yomi Fabiyi ”Mumu” over protest for Baba Ijesha (Video)

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Nigerian afrobeat singer, David ”Davido” Adeleke has reacted to the video of actor, Yomi Fabiyi protesting the continued detention of Baba Ijesha.

Fabiyi hit the streets on Wednesday, and demanded the release of his colleague Baba Ijesha on grounds of human rights.

Baba Ijesha, real name, Olanrewaju James is currently in detention after he was arrested for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl, an action that has been condemned by some Nigerians.

However, Fabiyi has been consistent in defending Baba Ijesha and he staged his much-anticipated protest earlier this morning to demand his release.

Reacting to the protest, Davido slammed the actor and described him as a mumu.

”Notice he the only one without a mask .. mumu”, the singer tweeted.

See his post:

Entertainment

#EndSARS: Drama as SARS brutality victim rejects N7.5m compensation because it’s ‘not enough’

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There was drama during the sitting of the Lagos state judicial panel on Tuesday, when Ndukwe Ekekwe, a petitioner who was paralysed as a result of police brutality, was awarded compensation.

Doris Okuwobi, the panel chairperson, awarded the sum of N7.5 million to the petitioner on Tuesday.

The petitioner, who is a shop owner at Alaba international market, had told the panel how officers of the now-disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) came to his shop in 2018 and threw him from a two-storey building, leaving his spinal cord damaged.

Immediately the announcement of the compensation sum was made, the petitioner and his mother reacted, saying the money is not enough.

The petitioner, who appeared before the panel on a wheelchair, said he spent more than N30 million to treat himself, adding that his shop has become empty.

“Maybe they think I’m an illiterate. All those investments, I sold all of them. My shop is currently empty. I sold everything. I spent everything to take care of myself in the hospital. What is N7.5 million?” the petitioner queried.

The aged mother of the petitioner also created a mild drama at the panel as she was shouting, saying she had also sold some landed properties to ensure that her son was able to get back on his feet.

Amid the drama, the petitioner and his mother angrily left the courtroom to continue their protest.

Outside the courtroom, the petitioner’s counsel appealed to him to enter the courtroom and collect his cheque from the panel.

Presenting the N7.5 million cheque to the petitioner, Okuwobi urged him to accept the compensation.

Lifestyle

Police assures Osun community of peace after protests against herdsmen molestations

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The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, has assured residents of Otan-Ile in Obokun Local Government Council Area that he will ensure that peace returns to the town permanently.

This is as he also promised that the Nigerian Police will work in the interest of the town and ensure that justice is served.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola made this known while confirming to DAILY POST the recent protest against molestation by Fulani herdsmen by residents of Otan-Ile town.

She revealed that the initial tension has been doused adding that the Divisional Police Officer, Ibokun has been to the palace of the traditional ruler and after a meeting with the concerned parties, peace has finally been achieved.

Meanwhile, the member representing Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewumi Adeyemi had earlier condemned the violent activities of the herdsmen and commended the bravery of the youths and women who had trooped out en masse to peacefully to express their grievances.

In a press release he personally signed, the legislator stated that the sad and avoidable development is what the people were coping with.

In his words, “Profound and bold steps must be taken to rescue the situation. The protest is sending a message of survival, peace, and safety.

“Recall that this is not the first time this is happening in Obokun State Constituency. I, therefore, call on the Federal and State Governments including all security agencies to help secure our communities and rescue our people from being casualties of banditry, kidnapping among others.

“I have contacted some leaders including members of the ancient town where I assured them of the government’s intervention to resolve the issue.

“I am using this opportunity to call for calm and appeal to our people to remain peaceful as security agencies continue to do everything within their powers to keep our community safe.”

A community member, Magbo Christian Chikezie stated that all the people wanted was to be safe as the majority of them living in the town were farmers.

He also complained that the king has not acted accordingly to assure the town’s people of their safety and douse the tension.

Chikezie disclosed that it all started when a Fulani herdsman was allegedly shot somewhere and other Fulanis claimed that a person from Otan-Ile was responsible for the shooting.

“They went and reported the case to the police and they came and started arresting people on the farm, and those on the way to farm on the orders of the king.

“Each of the arrested persons was bailed with N30,000 and the king still insisted that they should pay the Fulani for damages.

“This is where the people got angry that enough was enough.”

DAILY POST recalls that on Wednesday, 28th of April, 2021, residents of Otan-Ile took to the streets of the town in protest against alleged molestations from Fulani herdsmen.

Students and pupils of public schools in the town boycotted their classes in order to join the protest.

Entertainment

Plateau varsity student falls off vehicle, dies during protest

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A 100-level student of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, identified as Israel Emmanuel, has died after he fell off a vehicle during a protest by the students over the incessant attacks on the institution by bandits suspected to be herdsmen.

The students embarked on protest on Wednesday after four female students were reportedly abducted and raped by the bandits before they were dumped in a bush on Saturday.

Emmanuel, who was the Mathematics Department class representative at the university, fell off a vehicle and later died from the injuries he sustained in the incident.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Yohana Izam, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Wednesday, described the student’s death as an unfortunate incident that has thrown the university into mourning.

He said: “To us as an institution, Emmanuel’s death is shocking and a great loss to us considering the cause of his death.

We have been cautioning the students against demonstration and protests, which are not jamborees, yet they keep doing it.

“Our pain and regret is that the protest has robbed us of a precious soul and forced us into mourning.”

Speaking on the incident, the institution’s Student Union Government (SUG) President, Luepai Ezekiel, expressed sadness over the death of Emmanuel whom he described as strong member of the SUG.

“Emmanuel fell off from one of the vehicles during our protest against the insecurity in the institution and landed with his head on the tarred road.

We rushed him to the Bokkos Cottage Hospital but unfortunately, he couldn’t make it as he later died,” the SUG president said.

Politics

Cross River magistrates resume protest over 26 months’ unpaid salaries

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Magistrates in Cross River State have resumed a protest over their unpaid 26 months salaries and allowances.

The aggrieved magistrates, who occupied Governor Ben Ayade’s office on Monday, carried several placards highlighting their plights and begged the governor to come to their aid as they were going through serious hardship.

The inscriptions on some of the placards read: “29 esquires are in penury; pay us our 26 months salaries,” and “Ayade stop oppressing Cross River Judiciary, pay us our salaries.”

The magistrates had on January 8 occupied the Government House in Calabar to protest their unpaid salaries but were persuaded to call off the protest after a dialogue with the state government.

The leaders of the protesting magistrates, Solomon Abuo, a Chief Magistrate with the Cross River Judiciary, said they suspended the first protest in January to give room for the government to start work immediately on the demand.

He said the governor called them to a meeting and formed a committee headed by the Deputy Governor to look into the issues and make recommendations.

The magistrate said: “That meeting took place on January 19. We waited till the end of January and nothing happened, so, we went to the Deputy Governor and he told us that they couldn’t conclude their work within one week.

“He told us that it won’t be possible for us to receive January salaries but that we will start receiving our salaries from February because by then, they would be done with their report.

“Even when Olumide Apata, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association came down to Calabar and had a meeting with the state government and proffered suggestions on how the issue could be resolved, nothing was done.

Recently, we learnt that the committee had completed its work and sent its recommendations to the governor and he has refused to act on it.

“We have given the governor enough time and made some concessions which are four possible options on how to add us to the payroll system and pay us but nothing is being done.”

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