#endsars Protest: Southwest Governors Raise Alarm Over Infiltration Of Region

South-West Governors have raised the alarm over the infiltration, destruction and carnage in the region under the guise of #endsars protests.

Chairman, South West Governor's Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in a statement in Akure expressed concern over the hijack of the protests by some people, ostensibly to execute a destructive design.

Akeredolu in the statement said, "The protests started 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 to defend our land and people against the diabolical incursions ravaging our space. What do we stand to gain by 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."

The statement added, "This regression into savagery exposes our land as not only vulnerable but susceptible to vile manipulations by elements keenly anxious to annihilate the South-West and destroy our shared 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. We charge the relevant security agencies to investigate all cases of violence to identify 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."


#saharareporters

Agugu Youths Protect A Police Station From Being Attacked By Hoodlums

A crowd of youths in Agugu town are seen protecting a police station from being attacked by Hoodlums. They were accompanied by the Oba of the town.

#nairaland #endsars

EndSARS: Buhari, Obasanjo, Jonathan, security chiefs, others in crucial meeting

#endsars: Buhari, Obasanjo, Jonathan, security chiefs, others in crucial meeting
The heads of various security agencies like the police and the SSS are also attending the meeting.

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently hosting a virtual meeting with former Nigerian leaders and senior government officials.

Those believed to be in attendance at the closed-door virtual meeting include ex-presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Ernest Shonekan and Yakubu Gowon.

Senior officials physically attending the meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari and National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.

The heads of various security agencies like the police and the SSS are also attending the meeting which commenced at about 9 a.m.

Although details of the meeting, which was ongoing at the time of this report, were not disclosed, it is believed to relate to the #endsars protest for police reform and the violence that has resulted from it.


Dozens of people including protesters and police officers have been killed across Nigeria as hoodlums hijacked protests by young Nigerians which began peacefully.

Two weeks after the protests started, President Buhari Thursday night finally addressed Nigerians on it.

He appealed to protesters to end the protests and called for an end to violence. He, however, did not condemn the attack on peaceful protesters by security officials.

Ondo Youths Set School Shuttle Buses On Fire

Youths in Okitipupa council area of Ondo state again went on rampage by setting school shuttle buses on fire.

Vanguard was informed that the shuttle buses were parked in the premises of the local government.

The youths in their hundreds reportedly invaded the council area and set the buses ablaze.

Also burnt include the prison in Okitipupa, the INEC fence and the private residence of a governorship aspirant under the APC in the state lfe Oyedele.

#vanguard

#endsars Protest: IPOB Denies Involvement In Ebonyi Rifle-Snatching


The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPO has denied involvement in alleged snatching of guns in Ebonyi State. It described the allegation by the Ebonyi State Police Command that its members snatched two AK-47 from Area Commander as unfounded and a total falsehood.

Checks by Orient Weekend reveals that a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Wednesday remanded four persons for their alleged involvement in the attack on the acting area commander of the Ohaukwu police command and snatching rifles of police constables in the community.


The suspects, Okochukwu Onwe, Onyedikachi Onwe, Chinonso Agbo, and Alieze Uchenna, allegedly snatched two police rifles during the attack after a security meeting at the Ohaukwu council headquarters, Ezzamgbo.

They were later arrested by police operatives in conjunction with vigilante members and had long been cooling off at the headquarters of the Ebonyi State Police Command, Abakaliki, until their arraignment on Wednesday.

“The hoodlums disguised as if they wanted to make a complaint to the area commander and used the opportunity to gain access to him. They attacked him, collected his gun and fled the scene,” a source said.

The police had claimed that the suspects were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

The suspects were arraigned on Wednesday on five counts of armed robbery, felony and attempt to commit murder. The police prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Mbam, told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 516A (a); 320 (a); 402 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2010. Their defense counsel, F.M. Nwebo, applied to the court to grant them bail.

But Mbam opposed the application on the grounds that the victims’ were still laying critically ill at the hospital.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.I. Chukwu, said that the court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter and directed that the suspects be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, and their case file forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for necessary decision.



Reacting to the development, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the allegation that the suspects were members of the pro-Biafra group was another fabrication by the police to disrepute the pro-Biafran body.

“The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPO ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to state clearly that we know nothing about the alleged snatching of guns in Ebonyi State. The allegation by the Ebonyi State Police Commissioner that our members snatched two AK-47 from Area Commander is unfounded and a total falsehood.

“This is another fabrication by the police in their usual characteristics of propaganda and blackmail to disrepute IPOB. We dissociate from the alleged attack as we knew nothing about it.

“We have always made it known that our philosophy for Biafra actualization is nonviolent, but any day we want to change that approach we shall make it known. If we want to go into arms struggle we know where to go and source for arms. We won’t defend Biafra with stolen guns from the Nigeria Police. So, linking IPOB with stolen guns in Ebonyi cannot fly. It’s a blatant lie.

The group also accused police of orchestrated harassment and intimidation of its members and Ebonyi indigenes since the beginning of the ongoing #endsars protest, warning that such acts should stop.

“We, therefore call on the Police hierarchy in Ebonyi state as well as Gov. Dave Umahi, to immediately halt all the harassment and intimidation of our members and Ebonyi indigenes since the beginning of the ongoing #endsars protest. The security agents have been abducting the youths and tagging them armed robbers.

“We are particularly upset by the recent arrest of innocent and Peaceful IPOB members and tagging them armed robbers by Dave Umahi and Police Commissioner in Ebonyi state.

“IPOB members are not armed robbers and do not indulge in arms struggle right from inception. On Friday of October 2020, the Nigeria Police and Ngbo Central Security Vigilante arrested Mazi Alieze Uchenna, Mazi Agbo Chinonso, Mazi Onwe Okechukwu and Onwe Onyekachi and forced them to admit to allegations of being robbers. They were subsequently charged for robbery. “This continued illegal abduction and kidnapping of innocent people in our land must stop. The Nigeria government and her security operatives should stop testing our will.

“We therefore, call on Ebonyi State Governor Eng.Dave Umahi and his counterparts in the South East and South South to release Biafra agitators arrested in their respective states without hesitation.

“We also call on the UK high Commission in Nigeria, Amnesty International in Nigeria, UK, US Embassy in Abuja, UNDP in Nigeria and other countries high commissions and embassies in Nigeria to prevail on Nigeria Government and these governors to release our people abducted illegally before it becomes too late.”

#orientdailynews #endsars

Strike: FG, ASUU Disagree On Payment Platform

The meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities deadlocked again on Wednesday, following the disagreement over the payment platform that would be used in disbursing the salary arrears and the N 30 billion Earned Allowance of the university lecturers .

The FG team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment , Chris Ngige , had offered to pay the salary arrears and the N 30 billion Earned Allowances of the university lecturers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform pending the roll - out of ASUU ’ s preferred platform , the University Transparency and Accountability Solution .

But the ASUU delegation led by its National President , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, reportedly insisted that the university lect would not enrol on the government salary platform .

The spokesman , Ministry of Labour and Employment , Mr Charles Akpan , explained that the meeting adjourned till Monday to enable the union leaders to get across to their members on the mode of payment.

The parley is expected to reconvene on Monday to decide on the platform for the disbursement of the funds pledged by the FG .

Among other things, the government had agreed to pay N 40 billion , being the pending Earned Academic Allowance of the university teachers overdue since November 2019.

Out of the amount , N 30 billion would be paid on or before November 6, while the remaining N 10 billion would be spread equally over two tranches to be paid in May 2021 and February 2022.

The two parties equally agreed to the planned release of N 30 billion for the revitalisation of the education sector.

The government offered to pay N 20 billion as funding for the revitalization of public universities, by January 2021, as well as, seek sources of alternative and additional funding for the university system, among other conclusions.

Horror in Ikotun as police kill 5 looters, arrest scores

Pandemonium broke in Ikotun, Alimosho area of Lagos State following the killing of about five hoodlums who were shot dead by Mobile Police, Mopol, after attacking a popular supermarket and looted various items in the process.

Earlier, a Mopol officer and another person believed to be a police informant were allegedly killed by hoodlums in Idimu-Ikotun road, Egbe-Idimu Alimosho Local Council Development Area, LCDA.

According to an eyewitness, Mr Ayo Akinwale, “At about 2 pm some hoodlums who invaded Ikotun Police Station but found no policeman on ground proceeded to a nearby supermarket, called Twins Faja and looted various items such as computers, households items, wristwatches, foodstuff, among other expensive items.

“While the looters were still operating, a team of Mobile Policemen who arrived the scene following a distress call, started shooting at the looters killing at least five persons, while several others were arrested with various gunshot wounds.

“The bodies and those arrested were later taken away in the police vans to an unknown destination.”

When Vanguard visited the crime scene, the shattered glasses and other looted items which could not be taken away littered the ground.

It was also gathered that earlier, a mob had lynched a Mopol while walking along the road in College area of Ikotun, while another unidentified man believed to be police informant was also beaten to death in the presence of his infant daughter while having a stroll.

“Some of the hoodlums who recognised him as police informant raised the alarm before others descended on him and beat him to death in the presence of his daughter, about 7 years old.

“The body of the deceased was later recovered by the Mopol who have been patrolling this area,” Akinwale narrated.

Amid the curfew and following the ugly incidents the entire area was like a ghost town as the road was totally deserted with several Mopol in their vans seen patrolling the area at the time of filing this report, 6.30 pm.

#vanguard