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A coalition of civil society groups on Wednesday gave Federal Government and Nigerian Army fifteen days ultimatum to fish out the soldiers that shot the #EndSARS, protesters at Lekki Toll Gate Lagos. The groups comprising the Campaign for Democracy, CD, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation, HURIDE, Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, and Igbo Elders Forum, IEF, threatened another protest at the expiration of the ultimatum. They flayed the Lagos State government and the Nigerian Army for feigning ignorance of persons behind the shooting when in actual sense they were united in sending troops to Lekki toll gate, which they said the Army finally exposed on Tuesday. Speaking on behalf of the groups in Onitsha, Publicity Secretary of CD, and Chairman CD, South East Zone, Dede Uzor Uzor, the group also said the Federal Government should set up a fund to compensate the families. He said, “The protest was peaceful and very well organized, until some suspected thugs spons...

 The closed-door meeting which was held on Wednesday at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja lasted for five hours with newsmen being excused after opening remarks were made ASUU National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, led the delegation of striking lecturers to the meeting which had the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in attendance. In his opening remarks, the Minister said the Federal Government sees the meeting as a top priority and efforts were being made to ensure that Universities reopen as soon as possible. The ASUU delegation, however, insisted that lecturers will not register on the Government Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), but would prefer the platform of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution when it is established. The ASUU delegation, however, insisted that lecturers will not register on the Government Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), but ...

The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development, (CNEEPD) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for adopting civil approach in tackling the uprisings that resulted in mass looting and burning of private and public infrastructures in some states. The group, which comprises of elders from the north, said the President’s directive to security forces was why violent protesters were handled professionally in spite of the quantum of looting and destruction of properties during the ugly development. The northern elders said the President’s wisdom in handling the youth uprising was the reason normalcy is returning in a short time in spite of the violence that trailed the youths’ action. In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Engr Zana Goni and National Women Leader, Hajiya Mario Bichi, the elders also hailed the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohaneze Ndigbo for distancing itself from inciting statements credited to the leader of the Indigenous People of Bi...

  PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday urged Nigerians to be wary of actions and utterances that can injure the nation’s unity and progress. the president spoke at the launching of the 2021 armed forces remembrance day (afrd) emblem and appeal fund in abuja. he said the event should remind nigerians of the need to guard jealously the unity of the nation, which was won at a great cos in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, mr. femi adesina, president buhari said: “we honour the memory of our gallant officers and men who have paid the supreme sacrifice in order to keep the country united as one entit “the nation remains grateful for the efforts and sacrifice of the armed forces, especially in the fight against insurgency and other internal security challenges confronting nigeria. “the armed forces remembrance day or veterans’ day, as it is known in some parts of the world, is an important event observed in commemoration of the end of the second world war. “in...

  The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, on Tuesday, sacked one of its officer identified as, Corps Assistant Illiya Ibrahim of the Gwagwalada Division Abuja, for joining the hoodlums in looting Covid-19 palliatives in Gwagwalada, A statement released on Tuesday by Ekunola Gbenga, Media Assistant to the Commandant General NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, said Ibrahim’s dismissal was approved after a series of investigations and deliberations by the junior disciplinary committee. ”The recommendation was given after the officer was charged under the public service rule which is related to unbecoming conduct of officers. “This disciplinary measure was taken after a series of investigations and deliberations by the junior disciplinary committee and recommendations were made to the management,” it said. The CG, however, appreciated officers and men of the Corps, including members of the public for providing useful information that has continued to assist the Corps in identifying ...

 Nigerians have reacted to Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed's call for the regulation of social media in the country. Recall that the Minister who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values to defend the 2021 budget proposal on Tuesday, October 27, had stated that the biggest challenge facing the country is the issue of fake news and misinformation. The Minister stated that China has no google, Facebook, and Instagram as everything is "well censored and well regulated. " He warned that the next war that will be fought in the country and across the globe may be fought through social media. He also pointed out that #EndSARS protesters mobilized using social media. Some Nigerians have however pointed out the flaws in Lai Mohammed's insistence on social media regulation.

After one week of silence from the Nigerian Army on the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos, it has declared the allegation as unfounded, describing it as the handiwork of mischief makers. Recall that the protest took a violent twist after the alleged Lekki massacre, as hoodlums  hijacked the  opportunity to attack police formations, killing six policemen and destroyed over 40 police formations, including government and civilians properties. However , the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Victoria Island, Lagos  where the soldiers were deployed from, exonerated its men from killing any protester. In a statement signed the Acting Deputy Director, 81 Division Army Public Relations , Major Osoba Olaniyi, the division, clarified  that the intervention of the soldiers was on the request of the Lagos State Government. The statement read: “The attention of headquarters 81 Division of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on soci...

The Federal Government has warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder if the issue of fake news is not urgently addressed, insisting on the regulation of social media in the country. The House of Representatives has, however, warned against clamping down on free speech and press freedom. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values were sharply divided on the matter on Tuesday. Mohammed had appeared before the committee to defend the 2021 budget proposed by his ministry. The minister, while responding to questions from members of the committee, noted that the next war to be fought in the country and across the world might be fought on the social media, making reference to the ongoing #EndSARS protests. Mohammed stated that the government was not seeking to shut down social media space in the country because “the social media has come to stay.” He, however, stressed the need to have a poli...

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday. Adesina disclosed that President Buhari had nominated Professor Yakubu for an appointment as INEC chairman for a second and final term in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. He explained that the President’s action was in accordance with the provision of Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Professor Yakubu’s reappointment is, however, subject to approval by members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly. “I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the nomination of Professor Mahmood Yakubu for appointment as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a second and final term,” President Buhari was quoted as saying in the letter. He first appointed the INEC chairman to oversee the activities of the electoral umpire in November 2015, six months after he assume...

 Some hoodlums on Tuesday morning broke into the Orientation Camp of the National Youth Corps in Kubwa, Abuja. The thugs armed with knives and other sharp objects blocked the road and ordered motorists to turn back. They were seen coming out of the premises with mattresses, plastic chairs and other items. Residents in the neighbourhood also took advantage of the unrest to participate in the looting.

 The National Broadcasting Commission has sanctioned Africa Independent Television, AIT, Arise TV and Channels for what it calls, a gross violation of the broadcast code, top of which is the use of unverifiable online video footages on the social media. The sanction according to the Acting Director-General, DG of the commission, Armstrong Idachaba, will be a fine of not less than 2 million Naira. He says that this will be the last warning before a heavier sanction will be introduced. The DG also announced that DAAR Communications will be fined separately for using an unverifiable news item on the fire incident at the National Christian Centre. It noted the retraction by the station, but says that there must be consequences.

 The Federal Government says the risk of a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria is high due to the large gatherings of the #EndSARS protesters and the mayhem that followed. Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, made the disclosure at a joint national media briefing of the taskforce in Abuja on Monday. “Over the past two weeks, Nigerians have focused attention on two important issues “Namely, the protests by youths which has unfortunately metamorphosed into an unprecedented safety and security situation and COVID-19 developments in the country and around the world. “Both activities are critical to our nation because the security situation impacts negatively on our economy, social life, an international reputation, and the ability to effectively coordinate the national response. “Also, the large gatherings witnessed during the protests and during the break-ins at various warehouses, homes, and looting of stores put us at a great risk ...

 Against the backdrop of the wholesale looting of COVID-19 palliatives from warehouses across Nigeria, the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) that donated many of the items has explained why the distribution was delayed in some states. CACOVID, consisting of Nigerian businesspersons and corporate organisations, contributed billions of naira to help the country reduce the impact of the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic on the most vulnerable citizens. The #EndSARS protest, in which youth demanded the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, was hijacked by hoodlums who have been on a looting spree across Nigeria since last week. It was reported that many cases of jailbreaks, destruction of properties and massive looting of government warehouses and private businesses. Warehouses for the COVID-19 palliatives donated by CACOVID were massively looted in Lagos, Osun, Kwara, Cross River, Kaduna, Plateau and some other stat...

Following the discovery of undistributed COVID-19 palliatives in warehouses across the country by youths who have continued to loot the items, one of the daughters of the President Muhammadu Buhari, Zahra Buhari-Indimi, has absolved her father from the blame over Nigeria’s problem. In a post on her Instagram stories on Sunday, she suggested that her father has done her part by distributing the items but others have apparently deprived the people of the benefit. She said with the discovery, Nigerians now know that the president is not the problem. “Now that people confirmed that Buhari distributed enough palliatives nationwide, it is clear Buhari is not our problem,” she posted. Tribune Online reports that Saturday, in particular, was a day of rage as hungry and angry Nigerians stormed government COVID-19 palliative warehouses in different cities to loot goods. From Abuja FCT, Buruku, Jos Plateau State, Iwo Oyo State, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, Calabar Cross River, Osogbo Osun State to Benin ...

Senate President Ahmed Lawan on Monday assured the National Assembly would ensure justice for all victims of the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) police outfit. Lawan, in a statement personally signed by him in Abuja, called on security agencies to stop the orgy of looting and vandalism now prevalent across major cities in the country. He called for thorough investigations into all acts of vandalism and looting being perpetrated by hoodlums in the name of protests. Lawan’s statement reads: “I want to seize this opportunity to re-assure our youths that the National Assembly will collaborate with the Executive to ensure justice for victims of misconduct and rights abuses by personnel of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police. “In the same vein, to discourage impunity, we will insist that the perpetrators of the alleged abuses be prosecuted and sanctioned as appropriate. “We will also work with the Executive to ensure that the five-point demands of the #...

As the Judicial panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government, one of the more dozen states to do so, starts sitting on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his full support and optimism that it will assist the nation to give justice to peaceful protesters who lost their lives, security men who were murdered and property owners whose assets were vandalized and looted. The President, who said he had all along avoided going into a debate about the Lekki Toll Gate incidents until all the facts are established, appealed to the people all over the country to maintain peace and brotherhood as the machinery of the government and the wheel of justice turn against the perpetrators of murder, arson, stealing, rape, assault and malicious damage to public and private property. The President advises that peace, brotherhood, and inter communal harmony are central to our ethos and urges Nigerians “not to turn against one another in hate.” He said it is important that the police an...

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said the #EndSARS protest, and its fallout, including the shooting of the peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate by soldiers, has “complicated matters” for him. Tinubu lamented that he was first accused of sponsoring the #EndSARS protest, then later accused of sending soldiers to shoot at the protesters at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday night to disperse them. He said his political enemies falsely claimed that he sent soldiers to the tollgate because he has financial interest in the tollgate and he was losing revenue due to the prolonged protest. He, however, described the claims as “complete and terrible lie,” saying they were being sponsored by his political enemies to pit him against the state and the Federal Government. In a statement on Sunday titled, ‘The #EndSARS protests: A fundamental lesson in democratic governance,’ Tinubu stressed that he neither have investment in the Lekki tollgate nor sent s...

Lagos Priest Curses Hoodlums Who Stole Staff of Office pic.twitter.com/beF16TDso7 — Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) October 26, 2020 https://twitter.com/i/status/1320647946539573248  

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has slammed All Progressives Congress stalwart, Bola Tinubu, for saying the protesters who came under heavy gunfire from soldiers had questions to answer. Fani-Kayode said this in a Facebook post on Sunday. The former minister said it was disappointing that Tinubu, who is a former Governor of Lagos State, would seek to shift the blame on the victim rather than the attackers. He wrote, “Sadly, instead of exhibiting any remorse or displaying any regret for this abominable atrocity, with a sheepish smile and a sneering and jocular tone, you had the sheer nerve and effrontery to say nothing other than that you are still the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban? “Yet, what was even worse than this and what shocked and astounded all right-thinking people all the more was that you had the temerity to go on even further to say that the ‘casualties at the Lekki shooting have some questions to answer! “You then asked, ‘how are they there?’ “how long wer...

 Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives in warehouses in several states. SERAP made the demand in a petition sent to Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Sunday. The organisations petition followed reports that some people have discovered and taken away COVID-19 palliatives stored in warehouses in several states. The petition dated 24 October, 2020, was signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. The petition, copied to Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), noted that “some people have reportedly discovered and taken away COVID-19 palliatives stored in warehouses in several states including Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kaduna, Lagos, Osun, Plateau and Taraba states, with some of th...

  Days after the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, was burgled, local priests have cursed the assailants. In a footage, they were heard invoking the gods to punish the attackers. Specific reference was made to those who took the monarch’s staff of office (Opa Ase) and other items. Speaking in Yoruba, the man that led the supplication wished the culprits bad luck. "All the individuals that gathered to steal the king’s staff of office, it shall never be well with them. May every good thing meant for them be redirected”, he said. The Opa Ase or Opa Oba is the symbol of authority of a traditional ruler. It was stolen on Wednesday when an irate mob stormed the palace. They carted away food supplies, household items, gadgets and even cooled off in the swimming pool. The whereabouts of Oba Akiolu, a former police officer, remains unknown. Akiolu was extracted by soldiers just before rampaging youths invade his residence. They marched to the palace after the Ebute Ero police post...

  The state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Communications, Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin, on Friday, said the items were meant for the poor and a special group of vulnerable people. The Commissioner said further that CACOVID and the state government on September 23rd flagged off the distribution of the palliatives and had distributed the majority of the palliatives to the identified vulnerable households in 15 of the 16 local government areas of the state. “The remaining palliatives in the terminal, which the hoodlums preyed on until chased away by security agencies, were meant for special vulnerable groups and just one local government where names of the beneficiaries have just been delivered and officials have started distributing when the street urchins breached the wall of the facility,” the statement added. Afolabi-Oshatimehin explained that the looted items were meant for specific households, as dictated by CACOVID, and so names had to be properly gene...

 An angry mob has burnt all shuttle buses parked within the premises of the Okitipupa Local Government Secretariat in Ondo State. The buses are used for transporting pupils and students to schools in Ondo.  The mob had earlier destroyed the local government office and set it on fire before doing the same to the buses. "It is heavy destruction in the Okitipupa. The youth are angry and their agitations were hijacked by hoodlums to perpetrate this evil act. "They had earlier burnt down a whole police station and even the local government office was not spared as they set it on fire.  "They also razed a high vourt and we are seeing the burning of shuttle buses among other properties. This is too sad," one resident, Mrs Bisi, told SaharaReporters.  An official of the local council disclosed that law enforcement agents have been invited to access the level of destruction.