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.
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.
“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.
“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
“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.”
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.
Leader of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has said that his men infiltrated EndSARS protesters to cause mayhem, especially in Lagos this week. “I asked my members to infiltrate the #EndSARS protesters and team up with the protesters, so we can make the country ungovernable. Our aim is very clear ” In a monitored phone–in program on Radio Biafra, Kanu pointedly claimed: ”I gave instructions that my members must target Tinubu and his investments. Now, his hotel is in flames.” He vowed to relentlessly pursue Tinubu to anywhere he may be in Europe. ”We will track him down and make him see the anger of IPOB, the largest mass movement in the world. Just track him for me.” Nnamdi Kanu said: “this will continue until we achieve our purpose of breaking the country or until people in the zoo realize that they have to let Biafra be.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the Nigerian youths to resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating the nation’s nascent democracy.
He also appealed to them to take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of his administration, designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, even as he reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
The President, who addressed the nation today, October 22 on the ongoing EndSARS protests in some parts of the country that had degenerated into riots and deaths, assured that his government will continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected but that he would not allow anyone or group of people to undermine national security and the law and order situation.
“Under no circumstances will this be tolerated.”
President Buhari called on the youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions, saying that their voice had been heard loud and clear “and we are responding.
“And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect. Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Here’s the full text of his speech:
Fellow Nigerians,
It has become necessary for me to address you having heard from many concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the Security Chiefs.
I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well – intended protest of some of our youths in parts of the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS.
The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.
As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth.
On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.
Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.
The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the Palace of a Peace Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.
All these executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country.
The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour.
On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how committed this administration has been to the wellbeing and welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Government has put in place measures and initiatives principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in our society. These included our broad plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund, through which government is:
paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small – and medium – enterprises,
paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate Affairs Commission,
giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans; and
guaranteeing market for the products of traders.
These are in addition to many other initiatives such as;
Farmermoni,
Tradermoni,
Marketmoni,
N-Power,
N-Tech and
N-Agro.
No Nigerian Government in the past has methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like we have done.
With regard to the welfare of police personnel, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on the finalization of the new salary structure of members of the Nigeria Police Force. The emoluments of other paramilitary services are also being reviewed upwards.
In order to underscore the importance of education in preparing youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new salary structure and other incentives for our teachers.
Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic process, including through sustained engagement.
We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.
But remember that government also has the obligation to protect lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence.
To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.
In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.
For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated.
I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.
And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect. Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.
I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. I also thank youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands.
This government respects and will continue to respect all the democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation.
Thank you all. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The South-West governors have raised alarm over what they called external infiltration into the region by agents of darkness, hiding under the #EndSARS protests.
Chairman South West Governor’s Forum and the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, who spoke on behalf of the governors in the region, said that the protest that started on the peaceful and purpose-driven note, was hijacked by some people, ostensibly to execute a destructive design.
Akeredolu said that the governors in the region responded positively to the demands of the agitators by setting up a Judicial Panel Inquiry in their various states to look into the alleged violation of people’s rights and incidence of police brutality after the National Economic Council meeting held on October 16, 2020.
“You will recall that the Inspector General of Police issued an order disbanding the special unit formerly known as Special Anti-Robbery Unit (SARS) in the wake of the protests across the country.
“Recent development leaves us with no other option than to believe that there may have been other reasons for the continued protests, well-coordinated and funded.
“The spread of fake news and videos, which followed an allegation of shooting by some soldiers with a claimed heavy casualty figure at the Lekki Toll Gate, Victoria Island, Lagos, is primarily responsible for the subsequent loss of lives and property.
“We commiserate with the families of victims of violence across Lagos State and slain Policemen. We pray that the Almighty grant them the fortitude to bear these avoidable losses.
“We also note, with much pain and sadness, the vast and spreading destruction of property belonging to notable individuals and vestiges of our collective patrimony and pride.
“The Governors of the South West States of Nigeria wish to solidarise with the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu, on the unfortunate occurrences of the past few days in Lagos State, which have impacted, negatively, on the whole Region.
“It is disquieting, to assert the least, that a protest, widely acclaimed as peaceful and purpose-driven, has been hijacked by some people, ostensibly to execute a destructive design.
“We commiserate with His Royal Majesty, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, on the sacrilege committed at his palace and condemn in no unmistakable terms the vile attack on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and destruction of businesses where it is believed he has an interest, TVC, THE NATION to mention a few.
“This regression into savagery exposes our land as not only vulnerable but susceptible to vile manipulations by elements keenly anxious to annihilate the South -est and destroy our common heritage.
“We are deeply concerned with the ease with which public buildings, utilities, police stations and investments of our people have been burnt despite the proximity of security agencies in those areas. We call on the heads of all security agencies to be alive to their obligations to defend the country.”
He charged the security agencies to investigate all cases of violence with a view to identifying the culprits.
“We are particularly worried that 48 hours, after the unfortunate incident at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos by persons adorning military fatigue, there has been no definitive statement from the military authorities on the incident.
“Our anxiety becomes heightened by the categorical denial of the Governor of Lagos State concerning the deployment. No Governor has the power to authorise the deployment of military personnel in Nigeria.
“We note, with great relief, the confirmation by the Governor that no fatality was recorded at the Lekki Toll Gate incident based on visits to hospitals, mortuaries, both private and public. There were no doubt different levels of
injury to persons arising from the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“Consequently, we insist that full investigation be conducted to ascertain the veracity of the news items liberally circulated by some local media. It is becoming very clear that the conflagration may have been caused by deliberate deployment “a weapon of mass confusion” apology to Dr Ope Banwo. The attendant damage was extensive and massive.
“The selective application of jungle justice raises suspicion as regards the real motive of the arsonists and vandals. We use this medium to appeal to the youth, especially those of South West extraction, to be circumspect lest they
lend themselves to the evil schemes of those who want to destroy our land.
“The protests started off as genuine, demanding reforms and restitution. The current happenings across the South-West, especially Lagos State, have exposed dubiousness and complicity evidencing malice afore-thought.
“We enjoin our youth to rise up to defend our land and people against the diabolical incursions ravaging our space. What do we stand to gain destroying ourselves?
“We cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our heritage destroyed and our people suffer. We must engage, constructively, all those whose dubious solutions to a social problem is the descent to anarchy. We appeal to them to ‘CALM DOWN’.
“We commend the Governor of Lagos State for his administrative acumen. We note his patience and understanding in the face of unwarranted provocation by agents of darkness. We stand, resolutely, with him at this trying period.
“We should not allow brigandage and wanton destruction of lives and property within our walls in the South-West. As we await reports from relevant agencies and action of Government, we appeal to the young ones again to suspend the #ENDSARS protest, remain calm and vigilant.”
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has rescheduled its examinations scheduled for October 22, 23 and 24 to November 17, 18 and 19, as a result of the insecurity and curfew imposed by some states. In a statement today, October 21, the Head of Information and Public Relations Division of NECO, Azeez Sani said: “this is to inform the general public and especially candidates that the National Examinations Council (NECO) has been constrained by circumstances beyond its control, to reschedule the papers meant for Thursday, Oct. 22, Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24.
”The affected papers are now scheduled for 17th, 18th and 19th November 2020.
”The examination time table for these papers will be made available subsequently.
“These changes were due to the security challenges, which led to the imposition of curfew and closure of schools by some state governments in order to safeguard lives and properties,’’ he said.
Sani said that the development became difficult for the council to move examination materials across the country.
”The Council prays that the examinations will continue on Tuesday, Oct. 27, all things being equal, with the papers as originally scheduled in the examination time table.”
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
The South-West governors have raised alarm over what they called external infiltration into the region by agents of darkness, hiding under the #EndSARS protests.
A Massacre Without Dead Bodies, By Salisu Na’inna Ɗambatta