#EndSARS: Matters Arising, By Onujabe Nasir

October 24, 2020

For some days now, the Country has been in turmoil, with youths’ seamless peaceful protests against the excesses of the SARS operatives snowballing into crisis. The initial protest caught the interest and attention of many Nigerians, including the President who insisted that the youths should be allowed to exercise their rights within the democratic norms.

Two weeks into the protests so many gains were made and achievements ongoing with the immediate dissolution of SARS as demanded by the youths, even as state governors swung into action by setting up board of enquires to investigate the level of brutalities by the various State SARS.

At Federal level, the Inspector General of Police recommended over 35 erstwhile SARS members found wanting for dismissal and subsequent prosecution. While among other demands were being considered by the President, the situation suddenly changed from mere protests to revolution, separatism and arson of serious magnitude.

The black Tuesday happened unabated in Lagos, the epic-entre of the protests with loss of lives and wanton destructions of both public and private properties beyond imagination.

The change from peaceful protest to violence, with some unfulfilled selfish politicians infiltrating the rank and file of the innocent youths to course mayhem, seeking for cession and change of government.

The machinations of evil doers are so visible in the reportage of events and occurrences of the protests, with old videos of uploaded in the social media to cause disaffection and hatred amongst the citizenry. They forgot that war is no tea party and no friend to anybody, tribe, political party or religious body; it consumes souls, irrespective of age and status.

It is important to sound a word of caution here, and to remind the general public on the need to observe modesty, and to abstain from distributing and circulating false information that is capable of igniting war and disaffection on our corporate existence.

Protest of this nature ought to have coordinated leader, who can provide leadership as and when due for further engagement of authority on negotiation table.

Both prospective protesters and government should know their limits and to allow the rights of other citizens within the human rights framework to subsist.

Governance is collaboration of all tiers of government like the legislature, judiciary and the executive. They are called upon to wake up to their duties by building stronger institutions that would outlived them in making Nigeria great again.

With all efforts the federal government is making, if both the state and local governments are up to their responsibilities, the poverty level will be abated. It is a fact that poverty and hunger are the propellers of anger and agitations.

Nasir wrote in from Abuja.

Rivers Gov Places N50 Million Ransom On IPOB Leader, Describes Members As Miscreants

Greenbarge Reporters

October 24, 2020

Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike has promised that a ransom of N50,000,000.00 will be given to any person with useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the State, Mr. Stanley Mgbere.
In a broadcast yesterday, October 23 to the people of the State, Governor Wike said that he would not allow IPOB miscreants to disturb the peace of the state.

“We cannot allow IPOB miscreants and other misguided similar groups to threaten our collective peace, security and wellbeing under whatever guise.”

He appealed to the people to remain calm and not to take the laws into their hands despite the intense provocation “as government has the capacity to deal with the challenge and ensure the safety of lives and property.

“We will soon carry out on the spot inspection and assessment of the destruction they have suffered.”
We reproduce full text of the broad here:
My Dear Good People of Rivers State,
The Rivers State Government views with serious concern the unending destructive activities of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB) in Rivers State.
Recall that the IPOB was classified as a terrorist organization by the Federal High Court and subsequently proscribed in September 2017 by the Federal Government.
However, despite its ban, the group has continued to operate in parts of the country, including Rivers State in furtherance of its alien political objectives.
Since its proscription, the group has carried out intermittent processions in parts of Rivers State, especially in Oyigbo and some notorious suburbs in Port Harcourt Local Government Areas.
More often than not, these illegal processions have become regular occasions for armed IPOB members to disturb the peace of the State by unleashing violence and destruction on lives and property at will.
The Rivers State Government had severally pleaded, warned and even advised IPOB and its members to discontinue its insurrectional actions in Rivers State to no avail.
Instead, we were all witnesses to yet, another orgy of violence and destruction inflicted by IPOB at Oyigbo Local Government Area and some parts of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area on Tuesday 21st October 2020.
This evil, wicked and audacious action resulted in the unnecessary loss of scores of lives, including soldiers and police officers, and the destruction of both public and private properties, including police stations, court buildings and business premises.
Not done, they also visited physical violence on members of some targeted community which, but, for the quick intervention of the State Government and the security agencies, would have resulted in some form of internecine bloodbath in the State.
Today, IPOB continued with its devilish and destructive activities at Rumukwurushi, Iriebe and Oyigbo in open defiance of the State Government’s curfew on human movements.
Security intelligence and surveillance have revealed that IPOB has continued to expand its membership drive, holding meetings regularly, and expanding its logistical base, including the maintenance of illegal detention cells in Emenike and other parts of Diobu, Port Harcourt.
As a matter of fact, Oyigbo town has practically become the group’s main operational base in Rivers State, from which they’ve become notorious for launching premeditated violence and terror on the State, businesses and innocent citizens.
As a people, we have become very much unsettled by the terrorist acts and endured the continuing irritations, violence, destruction and provocations of IPOB in and against the people of Rivers State.
We agree that Rivers State is part of Nigeria and has always been a home for all Nigerians and will continue to be because this is our true character.
But it must also be understood that Rivers State belongs to the indigenous people of Rivers State.
As a stranger element with strange political ideology therefore, IPOB has no legal or moral right to invade Rivers State or any part therefore at its behest; to disturb public peace; and subject lives and property to violence or threat of destruction under any guise.
What is clear from this behaviour is that our love, accommodation and hospitality towards all are being mistaken for weakness by the banned IPOB.
This being so, the time has come for us to sound this notice of warning that: enough is enough!!! We can no longer tolerate this IPOB evil monster in Rivers State. Never.
As a Government, we owe our people and all residents the responsibility to protect their lives, property and wellbeing and to prevent trouble-makers of all shades and character from violating our collective peace, security and pursuit of happiness.
Therefore, in view of the fact that IPOB has since been proscribed throughout Nigeria; and
Having come to the firm conclusion that the activities of the banned IPOB are not just dangerous to lives and property but also constitute clear and present threat to the existential interest and aspirations of Rivers State and all our people;
We have decided to reinforce, implement and enforce the existing judicial and national ban on IPOB by putting a total and complete stop to its presence and or activities in Rivers State or any part thereof.
Accordingly, as from today 23rd October 2020, the Rivers State Government has:
[ ] (ii) Outlawed IPOB from existing and or operating in Rivers State or any part thereof in line with the proscription order of the Federal High Court and the Federal Government.
(ii) No form of procession and or agitation by IPOB or any of its affiliates is allowed to take place in Rivers State or any part thereof, hence forth.
(iii) Security agencies are hereby directed to stop any form of procession or agitation by IPOB in Rivers State or any part thereof and arrest and prosecute any person or group that identifies with the membership or activities of IPOB in the State;
(iv) Government will issue an executive order to strengthen and ensure the effective enforcement of these measures;
(v) I will be meeting with all leaders of youth groups and community development committees in the State on Monday 26th October 2020 to take wholistic measures to counter and stop all IPOB activities in Rivers State;
(vi) Mr. Stanley Mgbere from Onne is hereby declared wanted for leading members of the banned IPOB to cause the recent violence and destruction of lives and property in Onne in Eleme Local Government Area; and
(vii) A ransom of N50,000,000.00 will be given to any person with useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the said Mr. Stanley Mgbere.
I wish to appeal to the people of Oyigbo Local Government Area to remain calm and not to take the laws into their hands despite the intense provocation as government has the capacity to deal with the challenge and ensure the safety of lives and property in the Local Government Area.
We will soon carry out on the spot inspection and assessment of the destruction they have suffered and take appropriate measures to mitigate the loss and damage caused to lives and property.
We hereby express our sympathies to the families of all those that have either lost their loved ones or suffered damages to their properties from the destructive acts of IPOB in our State.
Be assured that they have not died in vain and we will do everything within our powers to give all the victims justice.
We appeal to leaders of the various ethnic groups residents in the State to ensure that their members respect the sensibilities of our people and refrain from provocations and acts of hooliganism that could breach peace and security in the State.
Finally, I wish to assure all Nigerians that Rivers State will continue to be the home for all tribes as we will not shirk in our responsibility to ensure the peace, security and happiness of all residents in Rivers State.
We cannot allow IPOB miscreants and other misguided similar groups to threaten our collective peace, security and wellbeing under whatever guise.

Thank you and may God continue to bless Rivers State.

11 Chinese, 20 Other Foreigners Deported From Nigeria, Zamfara Gov Reveals

Editorial staff

October 23, 2020

The governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has said that so far, more than 30 foreigners, including 11 Chinese, found to be illegally mining in the State have been deported back to their countries.

The governor, who spoke to news men today, October 23 shortly after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that the porous nature of borders around the state made it possible for all sorts of elements to gain access to the mines with the state.

According to him, most of the illegal miners in the state are foreigners, adding: “as you are aware, most of these illegal miners are not Nigerians, but with the support of the army, police and other security agencies in the state, some of them were apprehended and repatriated to their respective countries.

“We have deported 11 Chinese and over 20 from Burkina Faso and Mali. You know we have the problem of a very porous border particularly from Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Niger Republic.

“People used to cross freely but with the measures that have been taken by Nigeria Immigration Services, I know they have put some measures in this border to checkmate the movement of other nationals into Nigeria. I am confident that very soon we won’t have the problem of other nationals illegally coming into our country anymore.

“Still on the gold mine, what we are doing now with the task force that will be put in place to check illegal miners, I think the central government needs to do something and put measures in place to harness this untapped mineral resources in the state.

“As you are aware, the ministry of solid minerals is working hard with genuine workable document that will benefit both the state and federal government.”

Sultan Of Sokoto Warns Against Religious War Being Tinkered By EndSARS Protesters

Editorial staff

October 23, 2020

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Dr. Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has condemned the #EndSARS protests which he said had now turned into attacking on Muslims and their worshipping centres in some parts of the country, thereby threatening a religious war.

A statement today, October 23 by the Chairman of the Media Committee of the NSCIA, Femi Abbas, said: “the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs is well informed that the Muslims in those regions are now living in fear of uncertainty, having been marked for possible annihilation or massacre, for practicing a religion other than Christianity.

“The danger in this development is that a precedent is being aggressively set for a religious war, the consequences of which no one can predict with precision. The incidents that led to the current nationwide protests are well known and well defined.

“The attention of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has been drawn to a dangerous trend recklessly emerging in certain parts of the South-East and South-South of Nigeria with unbridled impunity.

“From reliable information reaching the apex body of Nigerian Muslim Ummah, the current mass protests embarked upon by Nigerian youths across the country, seems to have assumed a dangerous religious posture as Mosques and Muslim worshippers are now the targets of protesters’ violence in those parts of the country.

“For instance, The Central Mosque of Orlu, in Imo State, was viciously attacked and burnt down last Wednesday (October 21, 2020) with one Muslim worshipper callously killed, while about four others were terribly injured by the so-called ‘peaceful protesters’. Those injured are now in hospital receiving treatment with little hope for survival.

“Before mayhem was fully unleashed on that Mosque, the personal belongings of the worshippers met therein were carted away in a gangsteric style of predators.

“Those incidents, which mainly concern Police brutality, have nothing to do with religion and Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of worship in all parts of the country.

“Judging by many inciting utterances coming out of some houses of worship, in the name of sermon, in certain parts of the country, before the outbreak of the ongoing protests, the NSCIA had suspected that a hidden agenda was being built, in certain quarters, to engender a dubious insurrection that could serve as a precursor for a religious war in the land.”

NSCIA said as a country, Nigeria has enough political and economic problems to grapple with, already: “Therefore, adding any religious dimension to those problems may spell doom for this giant of Africa.”

It called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the dangerous development: “the escalation of which may precipitate a deleterious situation for Nigeria.

“In matters of provocation and aggression, the NSCIA has been patient enough, but it cannot be forced to go beyond its elasticity limit as an apex religious body with millions of worshippers as it’s members.”

EndSARS: US Delegation Visits Vice President Osinbajo In Abuja

Editorial staff

October 23, 2020

A delegation from the United States of American has visited the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo amidst the EndSARS protests in some parts of the country, resulting in riots and deaths.

Amongst the delegation, who came calling today, October 23, are the US Assistant Secretary of the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Bob Destro; the US Assistant Secretary of the Bureau for Conflict Stabilization Operations, Denise Natali; the Counselor of the US Department of State, Thomas Ulrich Brechbuhl and the Charge d’Affairs, US Embassy, Kathleen FitzGibbon. Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama.

Briefing the delegation, Vice President Osinbajo said that the Federal and State Governments are determined to investigate police brutality and prosecute erring police officers.

He said that at least, 13 states in the country, including Lagos, have since established Judicial Panels to seek justice and to compensate those whose rights have been breached.
Responding to the concerns of the US government on instances of impunity in the country, the Vice President said that efforts are being made to implement extensive police reforms adding that the establishment of Judicial Panels of Inquiry nationwide will further ensure that the Police and other security agencies ensure the protection of human rights of citizens.
“The concerns around impunity are some of the concerns that informed the establishment of Judicial Panels of Inquiry across states. Each state is now required to establish judicial inquiry that will look into cases of impunity, excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings etc., especially by law enforcement agents.
“Aside from two representatives of Civil Society groups, these Judicial Panels will have youth representatives and a representative from the National Human Rights Commission, among others. Each State is also required to have what is called the Special Security and Human Rights Committee to ensure that law enforcement and security agencies protect the Human Rights of citizens.
“Government is paying attention. The point we are making is that protests are a means to an end, but they cannot be the end. We are very optimistic that what we have put in place would eventually yield the best possible results for us.”
The Vice President also highlighted what he termed false narratives about Nigeria, including the herder-farmer crisis, especially in North Central states, and the politics behind the allegations.
According to him, the herder-farmer crisis was exacerbated mainly because of land and resources struggle than from the misinterpreted Christians-versus-Muslim narrative.
Members of the United States delegation from Washington DC offered to collaborate with the Federal Government on these issues, a suggestion welcomed by the Vice President hoping that such cooperation will create better understanding of the issues.

A Massacre Without Dead Bodies, By Salisu Na’inna Ɗambatta

Editorial staff

October 23, 2020

The misapplication of media power for the mass distribution of content, enabled by the pervasive nature of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) via the world wide web, has manifested in Nigeria during the so-called EndSars protest.

And Nigeria is not the first country in the world to fall victim to such abuse of the Internet-based capacity to mass-circulate all manner of rubbish, some of it laughable, many of it useless while a portion, which is very dangerous and extremely harmful. So-called citizen’s journalism has ruined relationships, led to bloody conflicts and hatred around the world.

The most recent example of the negative effect of the spread of fake news and incidiary media contents happened in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and richest country by GDP and massive natural resources.
It all started when the organisers of the EndSars campaign used the social media to mobilise participants, deceptively riding on the genuine grievances associated with the recently-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and mixing it with other agendas.

The organisers and their foreign and local backers played on the country’s faultlines to instigate an orgy of killings, arsons, looting and freeing dangerous convicts from correctional centres in some states of the federation. The tactics they deployed in their mobilisation were deceptive, unethical and dangerous to the extent of openly calling for the murder of security personnel and the destruction of public infrastructure. They took hate speech to a new level of irresponsibility.

This irresponsible tactic emboldened mobs to engage in the killing of a few policemen on sight, the destruction of public and private property in Lagos and elsewhere, the looting of goods in commercial warehouses, and spreading the fake news of the decade by falsely telling the world that the Nigerian security forces have massacred an unknown number of protestors at a toll gate in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.

It is on the basis of that fake news, the story of a massacre without dead bodies, because it never happened, that leaders of multilateral bodies, including that of the United Nations, the Governments of the USA, the United Kingdom and others, rushed to comment, make judgement and pronouncement on a massacre that never was. They thus judged wrongly, commented undiplomatically and exposed the weaknesses of their diplomats, especially their security attaches, who could not, or willfully failed to, verify claims in a foggy situation so that they can advise their home governments accurately. Thus, their governments can now be seeing to be believers of massacres without dead bodies even though the massacres never happened.

The incidence of a massacre without dead bodies, or the list and identities of those allegedly murdered by soldiers at a toll gate in Lagos, has equally exposed the degeneration in the quality and worthiness of hitherto powerful and influencial broadcast stations like the BBC, VOA, Aljazeera and a host of other international news agencies as mere hollow outfits that cannot testify to the accuracy and reliability of their own content. This is serious, bad and sad for the tax payers whose money is funnelled to finance the operations of especially the governmen-owned outlets.

The reportage, particularly of the television stations, largely relied on visuals created and supplied to their reporters by the protestors or rioters. Even at this, they could not produce any video clip, even if only the fabricated type, to support their claim of “many civilian protestors were killed at the Lekki Toll Gate.” As a former staff of the BBC World Service in London, I feel tremendously disappointed that the BBC cannot verify stories of the importance of an alleged massacre before dishing it out to the global audiences that held news out of its newsrooms as truthful, reliable and quotable.

As for Aljazeera, the Doha-based International Television broadcaster, I feel it should bury itself in disgraceful shame in desert sand dunes for the falsehood it sold to the world, of a massacre that never was. Its total reliance for video clips and interviews with the errand boys and girls of the protestors exposed the incompetence of their reporters.

Perhaps investigating all the Nigeria-based reporters of all the foreign media outlets involved in filing fake news, may lead to a possible discovery that they were compromised by those behind the protests, riots and creators of the false story of a massacre without dead bodies. They most likely failed to say “no thanks,” the incorruptible standard set by a Nigerian news organisation.

Na’inna Dambatta writes from Kano

We’re Yet To Get Evidence Of Soldiers Shooting At Lekki, Lagos – Nigerian Army

Greenbarge Reporters

October 23, 2020

“We are yet to get any concrete evidence that indicts our troops or clearly shows their involvement in the alleged ugly incident. Please, if you have concrete photos, video or any other evidence, kindly avail us with it.”

These were the words of a senior military officer who does not want his name published in a conversation with PRNigeria today, October 23.

He said that a thorough investigation is already ongoing to find out whether any of its personnel went on any unauthorized operation around Lekki axis on Tuesday.

When contacted for an update on the alleged Massacre in Lekki, the Army Spokesperson, Colonel Sagir Musa declined comments but stressed also: “I have never seen deaths without corpses. Nigerians will soon know the truth.”

Social media reports had claimed that armed soldiers, on Tuesday, allegedly shot sporadically and killed some #EndSARS protesters in the process.

Many protesters, according to the reports, sustained bullet wounds as a result of the attack that suddenly came just after the billboard on the tollgate and the streetlights around the premises were switched off.

Although some media platforms have since changed the narrative from ‘Massacre’ to ‘Shooting’ on the alleged Army’s alleged involvement in the incident, it was however gathered that the Nigerian Army has since launched a discreet inquest to unravel whether any of its personnel were on unauthorised duties during the incident at Lekki Axis.

Yoruba Nation Worried Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Role In Destruction Of Properties In Lagos

Greenbarge Reporters

October 23, 2020

“We are disturbed by the viral audio of one Mr Nnandi Kanu, leader of IPOB urging his supporters to attack Yoruba infrastructure and burn them down. The said Kanu ordered his supporters in Lagos to invade Police Stations in Lagos and seize guns.

“This is an attack on Yoruba values which we shall never fold our hands to allow to continue. Kanu and his collaborators have overstepped their bounds. It is unfortunate this is coming at a time we are exploring possibilities of rebuilding relationships with our Igbo brothers from the East. We warn their collaborators driven by pecuniary electoral interests far from the deepest of Yoruba aspirations, to desist or face the wrath of Yoruba Nation. In the face of these provocations, we urge calm.”

These were contained in a statement today, October 23 by All Yoruba Congress, representing several based in the old Western Region. The statement was signed by Chief Agbekoya Oshodi Thompson and 25 different Yoruba groups across the country and the world.

They include the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC-New Era), Sadam Arogundade; South West Women Nationalist Group (SWWNG), Oodua Students Alliance (OSA), Mikhail Salau; Chief Ibile Diran Obalola; Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC-Reformed), Taofik Adeyemi and Oodua Muslim-Christian Youth Dialogue Group (OMC-YDG), Alao Akintude and Bola Olowokere

Others are Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA), retired Col Sowumi Abiodun; O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC), Ahmed Abiodun and Network for Yorba Alliance, (NENA), Goke Otunla as well as O’odua Revolutionary Coalition, (ORC), Mallam Suleiman Alade, amongst others.

The All Yoruba Congress said that there was no rationale and wisdom in the destruction of any public or private property.

“We feel disturbed by the carnage visited on the Court of Appeal, the Lagos High Court, the City Hall, Guarantee Trust Bank, (GTB), Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA), Lagos State TV, The Nation, BRT buses, TVC. The attackers burn down four Fire Preventing Stations showing a conscious attempt to ensure the Yoruba legacies were brought down.

Worst still, the LTV and City Hall are legacies of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo singled out for attacks. This is sacrilege, disturbing and unacceptable to any responsible group.”

The group regretted that while the properties were set ablaze, the Nigerian state watched and did nothing about it, even as it expressed disappointment with media response of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to the fracas, “which surprisingly failed to condemn the wanton destruction of properties in Lagos and concentrated its attack on a Yoruba group, AOKOYA that had cautioned Kanu.

“The Ohanaeze response lacks wisdom and tack and shows a reckless and insensitive approach to the issues at stake. Ohanaeze was treated the grievous audio of Kanu as a footnote. It was as if the statement was written by their agent and paid consultant in Yorubaland. We will not forget. “This is most distasteful and raises further suspicion about a conspiracy theory against Yoruba Nation. This is most unfortunate.”

It called on the Lagos State Government to fish out those responsible for the killings of innocent souls in Lagos, adding that such people must be made to face the maximum penalty.

“We call for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the destruction of public properties in Lagos. If the wanton destruction continues, WE SHALL GO INTO THE FIELD TO DEAL RUTHLESSLY WITH THE PERPETRATORS.

“The Yoruba Nation is faced with a twin evil of enemies down and up, fueled by envy and hatred for Yoruba civilisations and history, those who are committed to the destruction of Yorubaland. This will not happen as long as God lives. Rather, these elements and their collaborators will be smitten in our faces and be fed with their own flesh and blood, as long as our God lives.

“We call on Yoruba groups to unite. This is more important than unity with other nationalities. Nigeria offers nothing but deaths and misery.

“We call on the political class in Yorubaland to have a rethink and work in the interest of their people. The continuation of a system that excludes the people and keeps them in penury and misery, while a few live in opulence and ill-gotten wealth is a whirlwind that will eventually consume the political leaders themselves.

“We call on the United Nations, (UN) and the international community to show greater interest in the future of Nigeria before it is too late.

“We assure Yoruba people all over the world, that we shall continue to work in the defense of our Yoruba fatherland. We shall do this with all our strength and all the mental and material resources available to us, to ensure that Yorubaland is not trampled and destroyed by arch enemies. Our only offense is that we have shown much love but in return we have been paid with bile and scorn.”

Signed

1) Agbekoya Chief Oshodi Thompson

2) Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC-New Era) Sadam Arogundade

3) South West Women Nationalist Group, (SWWNG)

4) Oodua Students Alliance, (OSA) Mikhail Salau

5) Ibile, Chief Diran Obalola

6) Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC-Reformed Taofik Adeyemi)

7) Oodua Muslim-Christian Youth Dialogue Group, (OMC-YDG) Alao Akintude and Bola Olowokere

8) Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA) Col (rtd) Sowumi Abiodun

9) O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC) Ahmed Abiodun

10) Network for Yorba Alliance, (NENA), Goke Otunla

11) O’odua Revolutionary Coalition, (ORC) Mallam Suleiman Alade

12) Oodua Nationalist League, (ONL) Sunday Ibukunola

13) Lagos Youth Coalition, Akeem Akerele

14) Oodua Nationalist Congress, (ONC)

15) Oodua Muslim Alliance, (OMA) Alhaji Suleiman Adio

16) All Awori Youth Congress, (AWYC) Mufutau Akerele

17) Itsekiri Youth Coalition, (Shola Oritsebugbemi)

18) South West Professionals, (SOWPROF) Dr Akindele Adeyi

20) South West Okada Riders Association, (SWORA)

22) COVENANT GROUP ( Chief Bello Ajayi)

23) Okun Peoples Alliance, (OPA)

24) Apapo Omo Oodua ( Sola Ajayi)

25) United Self Determination Groups of Oodua (USEGO).

Call Your Rampaging Son, Nnamdi Kanu To Order To Avoid “War,” Abia Youths Warn

Greenbarge Reporters

October 23, 2020

“We therefore, warn the leadership and people of Afara community to call their son, Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travelers to immediate order to avoid a battle they cannot withstand”

These were the word of warning by the youths from the Ukwa-Ngwa area of Abia State to the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu for alleged disrespect to and threat to the life of the Governor of the State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

They alleged that Nnamdi Kanu had in a statement two days ago, told his members to “capture” the Governor, to face trial for the alleged role he played in the killing of #ENDSARS protesters in the state.

“Kanu, is also alleged to have given orders to his IPOB followers to attack the country home of the Governor in Umuobiakwa, Obingwa Local Government area of the state in the guise of #Endsars riots.”

Reacting in a statement, the Supreme Council of Ukwa-Ngwa Youths, an apex umbrella of Youth groups in the nine Local Government areas of the Ukwa and Ngwa in Abia State warned the IPOB leader that they would make life unbearable for Kanu and his cohorts if they do not retrace their steps.

They allege that Nnamdi Kanu’s minions were responsible for the destruction of property and deaths in the Ukwa-Ngwa Local Government Areas, Aba North and Aba South as “no government property was destroyed while the peaceful #EndSARS protests lasted in Umuahia, the Abia State capital and its environs.”

The statement, signed by Leader of the Council, Comrade Kelechi Nwaogwugwu, the Secretary, Uzochi Ikechi and Comrade Ugochukwu Ubani, read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the plots and threats to attack the private residence of our Leader, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the Executive Governor of Abia State at Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia by the fugitive leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and his cohorts for no just reasons.

“We, by this announcement fiercely warn Kanu and his co-travellers to retrace their steps and have a rethink as we are very formidable and adequately prepared to resist them at all times and further take the war they are fanning to his own Afara community and hide-outs should he and his followers dare us further.

“The on going attacks on the 2 Ukwa-Ngwa Local Government Areas, Aba North and Aba South is a clear confirmation of the ethnic war against the Ukwa-Ngwa nation – hence no government property was destroyed while the peaceful protest lasted in Umuahia, the Abia State capital and its environs.

“It is against this backdrop that we wish to state emphatically that we shall leave no stone unturned in the defence of our Land and to retaliate accordingly within the shortest possible time.”

EndSARS: Some Trouble Makers In Abuja Arrested, Minister Says, As He Tours Troubled Spots

Greenbarge Reporters

October 22, 2020

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has announced the arrest of some of those who participated in the EndSARS protests that resulted in riot in the capital territory.

The minister, who led stakeholders, including the Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, political, religious, community and traditional leaders on an assessment tour of locations within the FCT where ENDSARS unrests occurred recently, confirmed that some arrests have been made by the police over the unrest.

Malam Musa Bello advised residents to volunteer information to the relevant authorities to ensure that appropriate measures are taken.

The FCT Minister asked the residents to work together and commit themselves to peaceful and harmonious living, even as he expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation the administration has received from all stakeholders and called on all to “allow reason to prevail and not to allow a few people that came in under the guise of ENDSARS to really bring disharmony to our city.”

The minister commiserated with victims of the unrest over their losses and assured them that the FCTA would assess the extent of their losses and work towards appropriate compensation.

“For those that have been encountered with destruction of their property, by the grace of God, the FCT Administration will ensure that all that needs to be done to ensure that you get adequately compensated will be done”.

He said that the FCT Administration will do all that it will take to ensure that peace and harmonious co-existence is maintained in the FCT and assured them of the Administration’s determination to protect their lives and property.

He appealed to them not to allow external influences to destroy the peace that has been built and maintained over the years.

“All of us have come here to earn a living, to find what we can do to maintain ourselves and family and I assure you that the FCT Administration will continue to ensure that your lives are protected, your properties are protected and above all, you have a correct environment for you to earn your livelihood.”

Also speaking the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu asked the residents to regard themselves as brothers and sisters regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations.

She reminded all that if the protests were for the betterment of Nigeria, then violence was quite unnecessary.

At Dutsen Makaranta where a customary court and police outpost were destroyed, the Minister of State said: “We feel your pain.

“This is a court established to give justice to the people. We will be wondering what it has got to do with the protests and properties being vandalized. This goes a long way to tell us that it’s just the work of miscreants or hoodlums targeted at government facilities.”

Those who joined in the tour that visited scenes of the unrest at Apo/Waru, Kabusa Junction in AMAC and Dutsen Makaranta in Bwari Area Council included the Senator representing the FCT, Senator Phillip Aduda, House of Representative member, representing AMAC/Bwari, Hon. Micah Jiba, Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Olusade Adesola, and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma.

Others are the Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Muhammed Ngakupi, Chairmen of AMAC Hon Abdullahi Adamu Candido and his Bwari Area Council counterpart, Dr. John Gabaya, FCT CAN Chairman Rev Samson Jonah, Chairman FCT League of Imams Dr. Tajudeen Adigun, the Executive Secretary, FCDA Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin, and the Chief of Staff to the Hon Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu.

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