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Showing posts from October 18, 2020

Don’t Send Soldiers After #EndSARS Protesters, Gani Adams Tells President Buhari

Gani Adams The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to use soldiers to forcefully stop the #EndSARS protests that had gripped more than 20 states in Nigeria. On Saturday, the Nigerian Army announced plans to kick off ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ amid the ongoing protests. Gani Adams In a letter to President Buhari on Sunday, Adams said he could not imagine soldiers being sent to stop street protests, adding that the military was programmed to fight external aggression and not peaceful demonstators. He added that using soldiers to quell protests by civilians had already been declared illegal by a Federal High Court in July 2020. Adams said, “I can’t imagine soldiers being sent to stop protests. Soldiers are to fight external aggression. We are dealing with peaceful protesters. It is wrong to give the impression that Nigeria is at war with its citizens. We must do everything to promote and defend democratic culture. “I condemn v

Bayelsa Government Shuts Down Schools Over Flooding

Duoye Diri Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has directed that all schools in the state be closed due to rising flood water that had taken over homes, schools and farmlands.  A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said the directive takes effect from Monday, October 19. Governor Diri said the decision was taken to avert further danger to lives.  Duoye Diri He gave the directive after leading a team on a visit to some of the flooded communities in Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw local government areas on Saturday. The governor, who lamented the devastating effect of the flooding on the people and communities, said his administration would not abandon them at their time of need.   He said, “Due to the devastating effect of the flooding that I have seen, I hereby direct the Commissioner for Education to immediately shut down all secondary and primary schools pending when the floods would abate. We do not want to lose lives and we do not want repti

#ENDSARS: Protesters Dare Military, Commence Camping Near CBN Headquarters In Abuja

Nigerian youth protesting against police brutality and rights violations on Sunday commenced camping near Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja. The protesters also vowed not to be intimidated by the threat of the Nigerian Government to use soldiers to dislodge them from streets of major cities across the country. The protesters vowed to block the Mararaba-Nyanya Highway and Airport Road ahead of Monday morning in continuation of the demonstration. Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, had on Saturday issued a statement on the plan to commence operation ‘Crocodile Smile VI’ from October 20 to December 31. See Also #EndSARS #ENDSARS: Kill Protesters, Face International Criminal Court, Falana-led Coalition Tells Nigerian Army 0 Comments 10 Hours Ago   #EndSARS Human Rights Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  from 24HRSNEWS via 24HRSNEWS from EDUPEDIA247https://ift.tt/2II6

Tanker Drivers Barricade Yola-Jalingo Road Over Police Brutality

Angry tanker drivers have blocked the Yola-Jalingo Road to protest police brutality against a tanker driver. The attack by police on the tanker driver allegedly occurred near Mayo Belwa town in Adamawa State. This comes amidst nationwide protests by Nigerian youth against police brutality and bad governance. PT An eyewitness, Muhammad Ali, said the incident occurred when police officers from Karewa Area Command in Yola accosted the tanker driver, who was transferring fuel from his reserve tank to the main tank and demanded bribe. “A tanker driver whose fuel got exhausted was trying to transfer fuel to the main tank from his reservoir. “Some policemen from Karewa Area Command who are notorious for extorting motorists accosted the tanker driver and demanded bribe from him. “When he failed to heed to their demand, they descended on him, beat him up to stupor and even tore his clothes. Onlookers had to intervene to rescue the man and rushed him to hospital,” he disclosed. An

Lagos Residents Ask Governor Sanwo-Olu To Disband Egbeyemi-led Task Force Over Extortion, Brutality

Olayinka Egbeyemi Some Lagos residents have asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to disband the ‘vicious and monstrous’ Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force led by Olayinka Egbeyemi. Those, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said like the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, operatives of the task force extort hapless citizens with impunity and in most cases forcefully hijack vehicles from alleged traffic offenders in a most debased manner. “If you don’t cooperate, they are quick to shoot and also brag that nothing will happen,” one vehicle owner said. Olayinka Egbeyemi The people alleged that Egbeyemi’s operatives were daily nightmares to Lagos motorists. They asked Sanwo-Olu to show leadership by immediately dismantling the task force and replace Egbeyemi with a professional. In a viral video, one of the operatives of the task force was caught after he shot dead a peaceful #EndSARS protester. “They are laws unto themselves. The vicious and monstrous Lagos

#EndSARS: What Next On The Youth Movement? By Gidado Shuaib

Beyond #EndSARS protests, I see the ongoing mass action against the brutality of the Nigeria Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad as a social movement which can hardly be subdued by force. The movement which was initially started on Twitter by Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, saw its recent resurgence after a video started trending on Twitter showing a SARS police officer shooting a young Nigerian in front of a hotel In Ughelli, Delta State. Soon after, #EndSARS began trending globally, triggering a mass action engineered by the youth. The video was an eye-opener for most Nigerians that the brutality and inhuman treatments by security operatives could no longer be condoned; else the country could plunge into a human rights crisis. While the Federal Government has granted most of the demands including disbanding SARS Unit of the police, the protesters have sustained their agitation against worsening insecurity in the country. Celebrities including CEO of Twitter

#EndSARS Protest Beyond Police Brutality, IYC Says, Demands End To Impunity

The Ijaw Youth Council has said that the ongoing nationwide protest on EndSARS was a metaphor for a structured Nigeria and not just an end to police brutality.  The IYC through its spokesperson, Ebilade Ekerefe, commended the undying spirit of the Nigerian youth to ensuring that the country was habitable for all and appealed to them to stay focused on the course and not derail no matter the provocations by retrogressive forces. He said, “Ijaw Youth Council are very much concerned over the ongoing nationwide EndSARS protests and we are monitoring the unfolding events as a region and will take appropriate action in days to come. “For us in the IYC, the EndSARS protest is a metaphor for a restructured and reorganised Nigeria and there is no better time than now. “Now is the time to bring back the 2014 National CONFAB Report for its full implementation in the interest of peace, unity and political stability in the country. “This is not the time to joke with things that matters.

Nigerian Politics And Extinction Of Godfatherism By Alabidun Shuaib Abdulrahman

Globally, politics is dynamic, they say. But it seems it is more dynamical in Nigeria, considering the sequence of political happenings since the return to democratic rule in 1999.  The tempo of playing politics of godfatherism, in recent times, especially by political elites and those who are opportuned to be at decision making helms for the country, is ‘fast and furious’.  Known as Africa’s largest economy and battling for stability in its diversity, Nigeria has had a fair share of being described as a nation not living its full its potential, and its brand of politics riddled by godfatherism has been identified as a cause. Unlike in saner climes where godfathers are more concerned to regulate public policies in favour of the citizens, Nigerian politicians have proven to be after how they can appropriate government’s contracts, political-cum-public appointments and plundering the coffers of the state. Politics in Nigeria has also been made very expensive beyond the reach of o

Attacking #EndSARS Protesters May Lead To Nigeria’s End, Fani-Kayode Warns Nigerian Government

Former Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, not to deploy troops against the #EndSARS protesters. He said any attempt to do such may turn the #EndSARS movement into #EndNigeria campaign, adding that no force will be able to resist or stop it. In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, Fani-Kayode said that Nigerians had the constitutional right to protest against bad leadership without fear of intimidation and therefore governnent must not attack them. He said, “We will not wait before more blood is shed before we speak and before we send out this warning. “We will not wait until there is another mindless and needless massacre and massive shedding of innocent blood by our security forces before we shout out. “We say this today, we say it without fear or favour and we say it for everyone, both friend and foe, to hear loudly and clearly: the determination to use brute force and to kill innocent young men and wome

#ENDSARS Protesters Raise Over N4m Within Hours For Young Lady Who Participated In Abuja Demonstration To Buy Prosthesis

Some participants of the ongoing #ENDSARS protest across Nigeria have raised over N4m for a young lady named Jane to by a prosthesis. Jane, who uses crutches, joined the demonstration in Abuja to demand for an end to police brutality and human rights abuses by law enforcement agents. SaharaReporters gathered that a doctor noticed her in the crowd and called for donations to get her an artificial limb to enable her walk properly. Shortly after the doctor made the request, 278 people were said to have raised the money.  It was learnt that the doctor had asked people to stop donating because the money raised so far had surpassed the initial amount targeted. Many Nigerians have commended the kind gesture and love exhibited by the youth towards the young lady. #EndSARS News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  from 24HRSNEWS via 24HRSNEWS from EDUPEDIA247https://ift.tt/2T4zbwL via EDUPEDIA

Igbo Youth Group Condemns Disbandment Of SARS By Nigerian Government

The Biafra Nations Youth League has faulted the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the Nigerian Government through the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. The group said it was in total support of the call by some Northern groups calling for transfer of SARS to the North. National Leader of BNYL, Princewill Chimezie Richard, in a statement said that the IG would be appreciated if he had deployed SARS to Borno to fight Boko Haram terrorists. The statement reads, “Transferring SARS to the North especially Borno would have been the best decision to take. They needed to engage Boko Haram, only then they will understand that ‘Kaki no be leather’.” Reacting to attacks on Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, by some celebrities over his ban on street protests, BNYL stated that the governor was the person, who started fighting SARS and was not supported by any of his colleagues. Richard hinted that the atrocities SARS had committed in Rivers is far beyond what t

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Hails #EndSARS Protesters

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, has hailed #EndSARS protesters for their courage in fighting against police brutality in the country. Okonjo-Iweala, who is a candidate for the leadership of the World Trade Organisation, also applauded the resourcefulness of Nigerian youth in making their voices heard. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Getty Images Her tweet on Sunday reads, “I applaud the resourcefulness and courage of Nigerian youth in the #EndSARS. Powerful to let your voices be heard peacefully. Let’s join hands for a positive outcome through a One Nigeria approach.”  I applaud the resourcefulness and courage of Nigerian youth in the #EndSARS . Powerful to let your voices be heard peacefully. Let’s join hands for a positive outcome through a One Nigeria approach. — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) October 18, 2020 #EndSARS Human Rights Police Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable