Lagos denies Sanwo-Olu ordered crackdown on End SARS protests

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did not order a crackdown on End SARS protests, the state government insists.

Information Commissioner, Gbenga Omotoso spoke on Wednesday in an interview with Arise News.

Omotoso denied Sanwo-Olu stopped event centres from renting their facilities to organisers of programmes commemorating the October 20 anniversary.

The commissioner disclosed that the governor actually interceded when such case was recorded.

He recalled how some planners of a memorial gathering visited the governor some days ago.

The citizens complained they were being blocked from using the Landmark Centre in Oniru.

Omotoso said the governor immediately put a call through to the manager.

“The man stated that the governor never issued such order, adding that they had not spoken for several months.

“This was to the hearing of the protest organisers that came to make the complaint. They even recorded the call.

“We did not order any event centre not to allow them to hold their memorial protest,” Omotoso clarified.

EndSARS: Govt has failed to resolve issues, police brutality – Saraki

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said the government has failed to resolve issues raised by the youths during EndSARS protest in October 2020.

Saraki on Wednesday said despite sobering events of that day, none of the policemen accused of torturing and extrajudicially murdering Nigerians have been brought to justice.

The former Senate President also highlighted that incidents of torture in security facilities across the country still existed and no improvement in the funding or quality of the Nigeria Police Force.

Part of the statement read: “On the first anniversary of October 20th, 2020, like many Nigerians, I have struggled with coming to terms with the sobering events of that day.

“Thoughts and prayers to those who lost their lives, loved ones, sustained injuries, or sustained various losses at the Lekki Toll Gate and at various locations in Lagos and around the country when security agencies were deployed to clamp down on the protests and non-state actors took advantage to cause chaos and mayhem.

“It is worrying that despite the acceptance of the “5 for 5 Demands,” nothing has really been done to resolve the issues that caused the protests in the first place.

“Also none of the perpetrators of the attacks on Nigerians exercising their rights to peaceful assembly have been arrested or prosecuted, despite many of them being identified Instead, young Nigerians are still held in detention facilities across the country without trial.”

According to Saraki, it appeared that the lessons that ought to be learnt from the events last year have been lost.

He hoped that common sense prevailed and the young people who seek to hold events to mark the first anniversary of the events at the Lekki Toll Gate be allowed to peacefully gather and be protected from any forms of violence.

“Today represents an opportunity for the government to begin the police and justice sector reforms our country so badly needs. It is an opportunity I appeal to the government to take.

“This is the only way we can honour the memory of those who gave their lives for this cause,” Saraki said.

EndSARS: What’s your retirement plan, are you okay – Pop star, Falz, others ask policemen at toll gate

Pop star, Folarin Falana, aka Falz, led a group of Nigerians to a peaceful protest on Tuesday morning at the Lekki toll gate.

The protest was to mark one year of the #EndSARS protests that claimed the lives of many Nigerians.

Falz and the rest of the protesters chose to remain in the cars, as they drove around the tollgate.

Although he refused to grant interviews, Falz and occupants of his vehicle could be heard questioning the stern looking officers.

Some of the questions asked were “are you okay? Have you eaten today?

“What are the plans for your retirement? What will happen to you after service.”

Another person could be heard explaining “we are doing this for you, for all of us. Nigeria is our country”.

They then dropped the Nigerian flags they were holding at the toll gate.

Brave Nigerian youths embark on #ENDSARSMEMORIAL protest amid presence of heavily armed Police men [VIDEO]

At least one protester has been arrested and hauled into a police truck, and a journalist with Legitnews has been beaten by security personnel and arrested, at the time of filing this report.

The October 2020 protests against police brutality, extortion and profiling culminated in gunshots, when soldiers and police officers fired live rounds into a crowd of unarmed, peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll.

Amnesty International reports that at least 12 young people died on the night, with other reports claiming that the death toll was much higher.

Many were also left critically injured.

Arsonists and hoodlums seized on the breakdown of law and order that ensued, to burn down government property, buildings and buses.

Much of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, was engulfed in fire and smoke in the hours that followed.

A judicial panel of inquiry set up to investigate the shooting, packed up without submitting a report.

Young people had sent out notice that they intend to commemorate the events of the period with a car procession or drive-through protest, beginning from 8am today, October 20, 2021.

The Lagos State Police Command has however outlawed street protests in the city, with Lagos Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu announcing on the eve of the commemoration that only indoor or virtual protests will be tolerated.

“Therefore, in the interest of security and public safety, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, wishes to warn the organisers of the protests that the police will deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests,” a statement from the police command in Lagos, reads.

To back up its statement, a horde of police trucks and personnel have been encircling the Lekki toll all week long.

Police officers have also been stationed at both Lekki tolls to crackdown on protesters.

Eagle-eyed police officers have also been prancing round Lagos to forestall any crisis and prevent protests.

‘We’re sorry,’ Facebook apologises as crashed apps are restored

Facebook has apologised to its billions of customers after it restored three of its social media services that crashed for hours on Monday, October 4, 2021.

Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram all suffered outage in Nigeria and across the world, frustrating billions of users.

The company offered an apology in a brief statement released after the services were restored just close to midnight in Nigeria.

“To the huge community of people and businesses around the world who depend on us: we’re sorry.

“We’ve been working hard to restore access to our apps and services and are happy to report they are coming back online now,” Facebook said on Twitter.

No official reason has been given for the disruption, but Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, lost more than $6 billion in personal wealth in just a matter of hours.

A report by Bloomberg said a selloff sent Facebook’s stock down 4.9%, in addition to a 15% drop two weeks ago.

Zuckerberg’s net worth dropped to $121.6 billion, making his the fifth richest person in the world at the time of reporting.

Anxiety as Southern govs meet in Port Harcourt

Governors under the aegis of the Southern Governors’ Forum are currently meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Governor Nyesom Wike, who is hosting the event, earlier received his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, the first of the guests to arrive at Government House in Port Harcourt.

Others who are currently on in the state for the meeting include the Chairman of the forum, Governor Okowa of Delta State, and his counterpart, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom.

The agenda for the meeting is yet unknown, however, the forum has severally met regarding is the issue of open grazing and the collection of Value Added Tax, VAT.null

Another issue expected to come up in the agenda is the zoning of the 2023 presidency to the region which has stimulated controversies recently as the Northern governors insisted that zoning is unconstitutional.

Buhari govt waging war against IPOB, journalists – Falana

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of waging a war on members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and journalists.

Falana made the accusation in a statement released on Sunday.

According to him, the government treats bandits, who are not different from Boko Haram terrorists, with kid gloves.

He accused the Federal Government of “deliberately refusing” to declare bandits as terrorists.

Part of his statement in part reads, “For reasons best known to the Federal Government the criminal elements who are responsible for the brutal killing of innocent people and abduction of thousands of people including primary school pupils in the North West Zone are called bandits and not terrorists.

“While the Federal Government is waging a full-scale war against the Shiites, IPOB members and journalists have continued to treat the so-called bandits with kid gloves.

“It is undoubtedly clear that the criminal elements who abduct unarmed Nigerians, kill them or release them after collecting ransom in millions of Naira are terrorists.”

Falana stressed that these bandits who attack police stations and attack innocent Nigerians are terrorists and should be declared so.

“The criminal elements who attack correctional centres and release inmates therein are terrorists. The criminal elements who destroy government properties or public facilities are terrorists,” the statement added.

NUJ condemns EFCC invasion of journalist’s home in Abia

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, has noted with dismay and deep sense of sadness the unwarranted invasion of the residence of her member, Norah Okafor by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) who were on manhunt of internet fraudsters, popularly known as “yahoo boys”.

It was gathered that the Port Harcourt zone of the Nigeria anti corruption agency had on Wednesday, 22nd day of September, 2021, hooded about 21 people on a sting operation in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, bursting into the Journalist’s apartment in the dead of the night, after disconnecting the wire used to electrify the fence, scaled the wall and broke the gate key to gain unfettered access into the building.

Reacting, the NUJ Abia Council, in a press release by the Chairman, Comrade Victor Ndukwe and issued to newsmen in Umuahia, on Saturday, condemned in totality the midnight invasion of Norah’s residence which according to the body, amounted to a brazen violation of her fundamental human rights, a naked display and awfully wrong application of power by the EFCC.

The NUJ demanded an immediate unreserved apology from the EFCC for this inexplicable wrong mission and remedy for all damages.

The Abia body posited that this Gestapo-style invasion by the EFCC operatives was shy of due diligence and betrays the agency’s claim that it arrested about 21 suspected Yahoo boys in Umuahia during that operation without any incident because it was preceded by due diligence and verified intelligence.

According to the body, “Nothing could be farther from the truth. You can’t subject an innocent and a decent citizen to such horrifying, life-shortening, unforgettable experience and claim to have carried out due diligence based on excellent intelligence.

“It is common knowledge that in every of this kind of EFCC operation, nay any other security arm in Nigeria, is fraught with visiting a very high degree of both mental and physical torture on their targets who, often times are innocent, as exemplified in the case of Norah”.

It reminded EFCC that it was this form of brutality visited on Nigerians, especially the youths and innocent, that birthed the nationwide ENDSARS protest, and cannot forget the dire consequences in a hurry.

The NUJ further stressed, “It is trite that no society is without criminal elements. But in hunting down these criminal elements, the security agents must, as a matter of the rules of engagement, employ utmost discretion and apply high degree of caution in tracking their targets as invading the homes of the innocent constitutes the worst form of violation of the fundamental human rights of citizens.

“In this digital age, it is high time the EFCC reviewed its modus operandi by deploying technology in its operations of tracking suspects, to end its constant picking on wrong targets and subjecting innocent citizens to untold torture and national embarrassment, “the body added.

The Abia NUJ release partly stated, “Norah’s account of the incident depicts a horror scene from a hit office box not even seen in security operations against the dreaded drug czars of Columbia.

“After subjecting the poor lady and other occupants of the building to over two hours of gruelling physical stress, emotional trauma and destruction of their properties in the name of searching for non-existent incriminating evidence, the operatives declared “we have just wasted our time.

“The declaration, in clear language, is a wholehearted, voluntary expression and admission of a disastrous omission of a mission; that they were in in the wrong place clearly for the wrong reason and at the wrong time. This leaves a sour taste in the mouth, to say the least.”

Buhari to address UN General Assembly amid protest

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to address the 76th Session of the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday.

However, in a four-minute video that emerged online, some protesters stormed New York, where the United Nations meeting is ongoing to state their demands.

In the video, one of the protesters, who claimed he was not a Nigerian, was seen carrying a placard with the caption, ‘Nigerian Christians not target of genocide.’

The protesters, clad in a green and white shirt, were also seen with another placard with the caption, ‘stronger together.’

Some of the protesters insisted that they have no idea why they are protesting.

Meanwhile, Buhari would deliver his address around 9 am (around 2 pm Nigerian time) to other world leaders during the morning session.

The Nigerian leader will speak to the theme of the Assembly and other global issues.

The theme for the 76th session is, “Building Resilience Through Hope – To Recover from COVID-19, Rebuild Sustainably, Respond to the Needs of the Planet, Respect the Rights of People and Revitalise the United Nation’’.

Friday’s session will also include speeches by leaders from The Gambia, South Sudan, Republic of Benin, Senegal and Germany, among others.

Buhari has participated in some bilateral meetings with a number of leaders of other countries’ delegations and heads of International Development organisations.

He has met with the President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, held a meeting with Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and also attended the UN Food Systems Summit.

The Nigerian leaders also held a bilateral meeting with Her Majesty, Maxima Zorreguieta, Queen of The Netherlands and participated in a hybrid High-Level event, tagged “Transformative Actions for Nature and People”.

NYSC denies advice for corpers to prepare ransom when using high-risk roads

In what appears to be a tardy disposition to the review of official documents, the management of the National Youth Service Corps has denied an express advice in the handbook issued to youth corps members.

The handbook is titled, Security Awareness and Education Handbook For Corps Members and Staff.

The handbook, on page 56, had advised corps members travelling on “high-risk” roads to alert their “family members, friends and colleagues to have someone on hand to pay off the ransom that could be demanded” in case they are kidnapped.

The Scheme listed such roads as “Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene, or Aba-Port Harcourt” roads.

The NYSC denies giving the advice, even when each corps member has the handbook, which has also been obtained from a youth corps member currently undergoing the mandatory one-year national youth service in the Batch B Stream 1 cohort.

The NYSC emphatically states that the clause quoted is not embedded in NYSC Security Tips pamphlet, which was allegedly put together by “a highly respected retired security expert.”

Also, page 57 of the handbook tutored corps members on how to conduct themselves when kidnapped.

The section titled, ‘Advisory Action When Kidnapped Or Taken Hostage’ partly reads, “Do not antagonise your captors, be polite and operate with reasonable regards. Give reasonable cooperation to your abductors.

“Establish personal relationship with your abductors as soon as possible.

“The kidnappers may ask for contact persons, do not mention your place of work, but your close friends and parents. They will reach them to negotiate for your release.

“Advise your friends involved in the negotiations, they should be friendly with the captors.

“Take no risk by attempting to escape. DO NOT BE A HERO.

“Make no statement to the media after your release without official clearance but share your experience with close associates.”

However, in a statement, the NYSC management refuted the content of the handbook despite the fact that the authorities issued the handbook to every corps member during their orientation exercise across the country.