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#EndSARS: Suspected leaked DSS document calls for intensified security in Ogun State

Seun DUROJAIYE
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#EndSARS: Suspected leaked DSS document calls for intensified security in Ogun State

A SUSPECTED leaked letter from the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police has instructed that security in the state be intensified, in view of perceived threat in border communities.

Signed by D.D Tuksa, State Director of Security, the letter issued on October 15, stated that some youths in border communities were being mobilised by smugglers to stage protests against closure of the country’s land borders, instructing that security personnel be vigilant.

“Already, youths in border communities, particularly those in Idiroko in Ipokia LGA, Owode-Yewa and Oja-Odan in Yewa South LGA, Ilara in Imeko-Afon LGA and Ijoun in Yewa South LGA are being mobilised by smugglers and their foreign collaborators to stage protests simultaneously anytime soon against the continued closure of the nation’s land borders and activities of security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) at the border points,” the letter read in part.

Tuksa in the letter further noted that residents were being mobilised by agents of opposition to protest against condition of bad roads across the state, adding that the protests are likely to hold in the areas of Abeokuta, Ifo, Ota, Sagamu and major towns in Ijebu axis.

He advised that patrol across the state be intensified and officers remain cautious.

“In view of the palpable threat and its negative impact on national security, it is imperative that patrol of key and vulnerable points (KVPs) and flashpoints/blackspots across the state be intensified among other security measures, while security operatives at border points be extra cautious and vigilant against possible attacks by aggrieved youths from the border areas,” Tuksa noted in the letter.

This is coming on the heels of a nationwide protest by the Nigerian youths who are demanding an end to police brutality and by extension, better governance in the nation.

Already, Feminist Coalition, a pro #EndSARS women group has raised over N62 million through donations by Nigerian youths to support the on-going #EndSARS protests.

Beyond financial donations, the movement has also gained the attention of the international community with founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey tweeting in support and urging for BitCoin donations for the cause.

In an attempt to meet part of the people’s demands, Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Sunday, October 11 announced the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

However, governors of the northern part of the country under the umbrella of Northern Governors Forum have expressed their decision to reject the disbandment of SARS.

“SARS is not made up of bad elements alone as it also includes personnel who are doing their work diligently,” said Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State, who also serves as their chairman.

Obaseki directs police to provide security for ENDSARS protesters in Edo

Lukman ABOLADE
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Obaseki directs police to provide security for ENDSARS protesters in Edo

GODWIN Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State has directed the State Police Command to provide security for the #ENDSARS protesters in the state.

Obaseki said this in a series of tweets on Friday while condemning attacks on the protesters by hoodlums during the protest in  Benin City, the state capital.

“I have just learnt that hoodlums are attacking #EndSARS protesters, who have conducted themselves peacefully in Benin City. I extend condolences to the victims of the attack, including those who lost their lives and others who were injured by the thugs,” said Obaseki.

Speaking further against the attack on the protesters, Obaseki said ‘it is disheartening that anyone would attack a peaceful assembly of young people, who are expressing genuine concerns to #EndSARS, police brutality and intimidation in their own country’.

He stressed that the State Police Command must ensure that the protesters were not harassed during their protest in the state.

“I hereby call on the Police Command in the state to get out on the streets and provide adequate security for the #EndSARS protesters and ensure that no one is harassed in the course of exercising their rights in Edo State,” Obaseki noted.

Many Nigerian youths across the nation have taken to the street for more than eight days in continuous demand for police reforms.

From #ENDSARS, #ENDSWAT to #STOPPOLICEBRUTALITY, many hashtags have continued to spread across the Twitter while physical protests are taken to state government secretariats by the protesters as well as the National Assembly complex.

Adamu Mohammed, the Inspector General of Police had on Sunday in response to the youths agitation for police reforms announced the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

 

REPORT: ASUU strike and deafness of the Nigerian Govt

Samad UTHMAN
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REPORT: ASUU strike and deafness of the Nigerian Govt

ON 23rd of March 2020, Biodun Ogunyemi, the national president of  Academic Staff of Universities Union (ASUU) rose from a press conference in Abuja and declared an indefinite strike after the expiration of its two-weeks warning strike.  

His declaration coincides with the directive of the National Universities Commission (NUC) which ordered universities across the country to close for a month beginning from March 23, 2020

After a six-month closure of the schools in Nigeria due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the Federal Government ordered the reopening of all schools in the country. The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, also disclosed that all Unity Schools should open by October 12 “while states and private schools will determine their own modalities of reopening”

Despite the school resumption order, ASUU however is yet to sheathed the sword, six months after.

Almost every year since 1999, university lecturers have been demanding, through a singular channel of industrial strike action, significant funding of Nigerian education amongst other demands.

The strike always starts with a warning strike which will later extend to either weeks or months after the government would have turned deaf ears to the union or they are unable to reach a common ground. 

Though strike action has always produce marginal outcomes, the students have always been on the receiving end, especially those in Federal and state-owned universities who regularly spend longer academic years before graduation.

What is ASUU’s demand?

In 2009 and 2013, the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with the union to improve the state of education in the country.

The 2013 MoU stipulated that public varsities would need the sum of N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation.

The fund was to be paid in tranches of N20 billion in 2013 and N220 billion between 2014 and 2018. 

Some of the demands being made by ASUU are funding for revitalisation of public universities, the release of the forensic audit report on earned academic allowances (EAA), payments of all arrears of shortfall in salaries to all universities that have met the verification requirements of the presidential initiative on continuum audit (PICA), the release of university pension fund operational.

Towards the fall of 2019,  President Muhammadu Buhari ordered all federal workers to enlist on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for the purpose of receiving salaries effective October 31, 2019, as a way of checking the incidence of ghost workers in the government payroll.

But ASUU opposed the decision. The union  protested the compulsory enrolment of federal universities on the IPPIS for the payment of salaries of all federal government workers for the reason that will undermine the sacred autonomy of the university. 

 The differences became tense in January following a threat by the government to stop the salaries of university lecturers who failed to comply with the directive, the latest by December 31, 2019.

In tandem, ASUU issued an ultimatum to the government to reverse the decision or risk a shutdown of the university system through a nationwide strike.

The IPPIS is an information Communications Technology (ICT) project initiated by the government to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of payroll administration for its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

President Buhari intervened and directed that the lecturers be paid pending when issues that affected the enlistment process were resolved.

However, ASUU has continued to oppose the implementation of the IPPIS in the universities, arguing that it does not take into consideration its unique operations.

ASUU also lamented alleged huge deductions from their salaries when their salaries were being paid using IPPIS, even as the accountant general insists the deductions were statutory taxes paid by all salary earners on the government payroll.

During the early days of the IPPIS argument, Theophilus Lagi, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Abuja Zone, said at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, 24th October 2019, that ”there is no clear and convincing evidence that IPPIS can capture remuneration of staff on sabbatical, external examiners, external assessors, and Earned Academic Allowance. The IPPIS does not and cannot cater to the constant movement of staff in the cases of visiting, adjunct, and part-time,” 

He added that IPPIS cannot predict and address the promotion of academics especially, associate professors and professors, which are subject to external assessment and will constitute an impediment in the way of the ability of universities to recruit staff for new programmes as well as replace same, while newly employed staff cannot be paid their salaries until they are enrolled into IPPIS database.

He also quoted section 2AA of the universities Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Act 2003 which stated that universities should be allowed to operate in compliance with enabling laws, statutes, rules and regulations in conformity with due process and within the laws of the land. He said IPPIS lacks the flexibility to address the peculiarities of the university system.

UTAS over IPPIS

However, on October 13th, rightly after a three-hour closed-door meeting with Ahmad Lawan, Senate President Biodun Ogunyemi, the national chairman of ASUU said the union has developed and recommended a new payroll system, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to the leadership of the senate against IPPIS.

According to ASUU, the implementation of UTAS as it is a home-grown platform developed by ASUU, is said to be better than the IPPIS. 

Ogunyemi said it should be used by the federal government to effect transparency and accountability in the process of payments of lecturers’ emoluments.

“What we have started is to open the issues, we will still meet again to continue from where we stopped.

“We have developed what we call University Transparency and Accountability Solution. We have presented it to the Senate today and the Senate President commended it.

“We have shown that we are inventors, we are creators of software and we are also capable of doing what our colleagues are doing in other parts of the world.”

Is Strike the only ‘language’ understood by the govt?

The ICIR looked as far back as 1999 when Nigeria returned to civil rule under the Fourth Republic, to check the many times ASUU has gone on strike till the moment. 

The checks revealed ASUU is currently on its 15th strike action. 

1999 – 150 days

2001 – 90 days

2002 – 14 days.

2003 – 180 days (ended in 2004)

2005 -14  days

2006- 3 days

2007 – 90 days

2008 -7 days

2009- 120 days

2010- 157 days

2011—59 days, started in December and ended in 2012

2013- 150 days and fifteen days

2014- None

2015-None

2016- none

2017- 35 days

2018- 3 months and 4 days

2020- 6 months, 15 days and still counting

However, if ASUU is yet to reach common ground with the federal government by the 23rd of October 2020, it will make approximately 47 months, which is 188 weeks, 1,373 days or 10, 984 hours (calculated based on 8hrs-per-day-working-hours). 

Between 1999 and 2020 ( 21 years) there is 7,665 days and 61,320 standard working hours

Therefore, between 1999 and 2020, if 10, 984 hours has been lost by each member of ASUU to strike, that means each member has spent an average of approximately 6 hours of their 8-working-hours on strike per day protesting against (mainly) underfunding of Nigerian university education. 

All efforts to get a comment from Professor  Ogunyemi, the national Chairman of ASUU proved abortive as he did not respond to calls and messages.

 

#EndSARS: International cyber hacking group, Anonymous takes over NBC’s Twitter account

Seun DUROJAIYE
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#EndSARS: International cyber hacking group, Anonymous takes over NBC’s Twitter account

ANONYMOUS, the popular international cyber hacking group, has taken over the Twitter account of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the government agency regulating the broadcasting industry in   Nigeria.

As of Friday, the group had shared over eight posts on the NBC Twitter handle, including retweets, to the over 14,700 followers of the page with all posts related to the demand for an end to police brutality in Nigeria – a frontline demand that has driven the #EndSARS protests across the country.

In response, NBC through its Facebook page put out a disclaimer stating that it has indeed been hacked and was working to recover its Twitter account.

“Disclaimer!!!! The general public is put on notice that NBC Twitter account has been hacked into. Please disregard all tweets from our handle for now. We are making efforts to recover it. Thank you,” the post read. 

Anonymous, known as ‘freedom fighters’ and famous for its various cyber attacks against several governments, government institutions, and government agencies, corporations, announced on Thursday that it was joining Nigerians in demanding a just system that serves all.

The group said it has hacked multiple Nigerian government websites and warned that it was out to expose the dirty secrets of the government if they lagged in doing the needful, including prosecuting police officers guilty of gunning down protestors.

Although it did not specify or release the names of the government sites that were hacked, on Thursday, the official website of the Nigeria Police (www.npf.gov.ng) went down, following the group’s release of a list containing personal details including names, addresses, and phone numbers of officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Nigerians have reacted to the moves by Anonymous, with most thanking the group for joining the movement and keeping the government on its toes as they demand better governance.

Anonymous hacked NBC nice one” a tweet by Tejumola read. 

Another tweet user identified as Ugo Mbaise said: “Anonymous now has control of NBC Twitter account and is using it to dish out premium #EndSARS contents. Things I love to see.”

Meanwhile, in one week, Feminist Coalition, a pro #EndSARS women group has raised over N62 million through donations by Nigerian youths to support the on-going #EndSARS protests.

As of October 15, the group disclosed that it had raised a total of N62,643,663.05 and has provided funds for the set up of 100 peaceful protests in 25 states across the country.

It also disclosed that it has paid N759,080 in medical bills for injured protestors, donated N400,000 to the families of victims murdered by police officers while protesting peacefully.

Is SWAT ‘SARS by another name?: Why Nigerians are wary of another police special ‎squad

IHUOMA Chiedozie
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Is SWAT ‘SARS by another name?: Why Nigerians are wary of another police special ‎squad

WHEN Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced the disbandment of the ‎Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force, he‎ must have expected  Nigerians to praise the Federal Government for a ‘prompt’ response to the demands of irate Nigerians protesting against police brutality‎.

The abolition of SARS – an outfit which was the poster boy of police brutality and oppression – was tops on the agenda of the #EndSARS movement and the government would have expected that the protests would cease after it acceded to the populist demand by bringing a formal ‘end’ the loathed and dreaded organisation.

But the disbandment of SARS did not stop the protests, rather, the uprising escalated when the IGP announced the establishment of another police special squad – the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.

While announcing the formation of SWAT, the police authorities had moved to placate citizens who are still nursing grievances against SARS by assuring that personnel of the now defunct SARS would not be part of SWAT. However, what the police authorities and the Federal Government did not realise at that point was that Nigerians do not want a replacement of SARS with another police ‘special squad’.

So, the #EndSARS protests suddenly became #EndSWAT even though the proposed new police outfit was yet to formally take off. Not long after the government disclosed the name of the new special squad – SWAT – messages claiming that SWAT means ‘SARS With Another Title’ went viral in the social media. It became clear that Nigerians, who are hell-bent on getting rid of police brutality are not taking any chances.

‎So, rather than bringing an end to the protests, the IGP’s announcement of the formation of SWAT added fuel to the agitation which had taken on a life of its own.

As it were, the statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, to announce the establishment of SWAT on October 13 did not help matters, as it noted that the new outfit was created to fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of SARS.

“The IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS,” the statement had said, while also disclosing that prospective members of the new team would also undergo a psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.

‎Although the statement reaffirmed the IGP’s “irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the Police reforms”, and “enjoined members of the public, particularly protesting citizens, to exercise restraint and allow measures being put in place to come to fruition and engender a Police Force that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry”, the speed at which the SWAT was set up, barely 24 hours after SARS was disbanded, appeared suspicious, suggesting that the government was only dressing the defunct outfit in new robes.

‎Going by the IGP’s statement, if SWAT survives the ongoing #EndSWAT protests, policemen that are selected to serve in the new unit would commence training at the different police tactical training institutions nationwide as soon as next week. ‎Personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South are to be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, while those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, in Nasarawa State, and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, in Osun State, respectively.

The IGP’s statement also suggested that personnel of the defunct SARS are not going to face any disciplinary consequences for the atrocities committed by the outfit, which have been well documented over the years. Former SARS operatives were only asked to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, and psychological and medical examination, following which they will be ‎redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
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It appears that the statement that announced the formation of SWAT was meant to ‎bring a hasty closure to the longstanding SARS problem and immediately move on from the unresolved issues surrounding the police outfit.
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In a recent ‎report titled ‘‎Time to End Impunity,’ the Amnesty International documented ‎82 cases of torture, ill-treatment, and extra-judicial executions by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.‎ The report, signed by Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, remarkably observed that police authorities are not prosecuting SARS operatives who were found to have committed criminal offences in the discharge of their duties, including murder, torture, and extortion.

‎“The complete failure of Nigerian authorities to bring an end to the gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad or to bring any SARS officers to justice is shocking and unacceptable. Nigerians are outraged by the systemic human rights violations perpetrated by the SARS with impunity.

“The systemic use of torture and other ill-treatment by SARS officers for police investigations and the continued existence of torture chambers within the Nigerian Police Force points to an absolute disregard for international human rights laws and standards.‎

“No circumstances whatsoever may be invoked as a justification of torture. In many cases, the victims are the poor and vulnerable, easy targets for law enforcement officers whose responsibility it is to protect them.

“Impunity sends the message to torturers that they will get away with it. ‎Impunity denies victims and their relatives the right to have the truth established, the right to see justice served and the right to reparations.

“The Nigerian authorities must go beyond lip service to ensure there is real reform within the Nigeria Police Force with an emphasis on SARS. These reforms must translate into holding police officers suspected of torture to account, ending torture, unlawful detention, extortion, extrajudicial execution and other human rights violations that SARS officers have been known for across Nigeria,” parts of the report said. ‎

Had SARS stuck to the mandate it was given when it was established in 1992, many innocent Nigerians would not have died as a result of the extra-judicial activities of its operatives, and in the course of the ongoing ‎protests that led to the outfit’s disbandment. SARS is one of the 14 units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department which was established to detain, investigate and prosecute people involved in crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of crimes.

But by the time SARS was disbanded on ‎October 11, 2020, following a widespread protest from Nigerians worldwide, it has become synonymous with extrajudicial killings, extortion, torture, framing, blackmail and even kidnapping and armed robbery‎.

The #EndSWAT campaign must have been largely informed by the fact that, like SARS, other special police tactical squads that were established to check the escalation of insecurity and criminal activities in the country ended up becoming ‎part of the problem by engaging in the violation of human rights and outright crime.

During the days of military rule, the Mobile Police Force unit, popularly known as ‘MOPOL’, was referred to as ‘Kill and Go’. ‎The nickname illustrated MOPOL’s deadly activities during the period.
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‎Special tactical squads or units in the Nigerian Police Force include the Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, Counter Terrorism Unit, Force Intelligence Unit and the Anti-Cult Unit but, although they all have specific mandates, in reality, their activities overlap each other’s jurisdictions. In fact, as witnessed in the case of the now defunct SARS, operatives of police special squads get involved in petty civil matters and have been known to be enlisted by individuals to settle personal scores against rivals, often with murderous consequences.
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In an apparent move to defuse the nascent #EndSWAT ‎campaign, the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday, October 14, went on a social media platform, Twitter, to specify the mandate of SWAT, its new special squad.

The tweet by the police read, “Mandate of the new TACTICAL team is strictly restricted to: i) response to robbery attacks. ii) response to scenes of weapon-related crimes. iii) rescue operation. iv) special operations involving high profile criminals.” The tweet was signed by DCP Frank Mba, Force PRO, Abuja.

However, some replies to the NPF‎ tweet highlighted why many Nigerians are wary of another police special squad. Replying to the NPF tweet, one Leo tweeted “#SWATMUSTENDNOW them wanna tell us another story, story story.” Another Twitter user, Area_51, replying to the police tweet, ‎asked “You still dey disguise?”. On his part, UNCLE A.K asked the police, “Who killed Jimoh Ishaq????”. Ishag was reportedly shot dead by policemen in Ogbomoso, Osun State, during the ongoing protests against police brutality that culminated in the end of SARS, and the coming of SWAT. In yet another reply to the NPF tweet that stated the mandate of SWAT, one luwaclassiq simply tweeted “#EndSWAT.”‎
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Inflation hits all time high of 13.71 per cent in 31 months

Admin Admin
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Inflation hits all time high of 13.71 per cent in 31 months

By Isah Abdul-Azeez

NIGERIA’s inflation rate for September has peaked at an all-time high rate of 13.71 percent in 31 months, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday.

The CPI measures the average change over time in the prices of goods and services consumed by people for day-to-day living.

The inflation rate for September (13.71) is 0.49 percent points higher than the rate recorded in August 2020 (13.22) percent.

Inflation rate, March 2018- September 2020

According to the NBS report, the urban inflation rate increased by 14.31 percent year-on-year in September from 13.83 percent recorded in August, while the rural inflation rate increased by 13.14 percent in September from 12.65 percent in August.

The report also showed that the highest increases were recorded in the prices of passenger transport by air, medical services, hospital services, pharmaceutical products, passenger transport by road, motor cars, vehicle spare parts, maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, repair of furniture and paramedical services.

Food Inflation

The composite food index rose by 16.66 percent in September compared to 16 percent in August. According to the report, the rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, meat, fish, fruits and oils, and fats.

In September 2020, food inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Zamfara-20.94 percent, Kogi-19.06 percent, and Plateau/Yobe-18.90 percent, while Nasarawa 13.94 percent, Lagos -13.87 percent, and Ondo 13.59 percent recorded the slowest rise.

On a month-on-month basis, however, September 2020 food inflation was highest in Zamfara-3.65 percent, Anambra-3.19 percent, and Kaduna-3.15 percent, while Nasarawa-0.51 percent and Abuja-0.15 percent recorded the slowest rise with Ondo recording price deflation or negative inflation (general decrease in the general price level of food or a negative food inflation rate).

Seyi Kolawole, a Finance and Research Analyst with the NASD Security emphasised that the primary cause of inflation could be related to the border closure.

“The shutting down of international borders which has made us rely on only the goods we have internally is the major cause. This is due to an increase in demand which outweighs supply,” Kolawole said in an interview with The ICIR.

He added that fuel price is one of the key metrics for Nigeria’s growth and increased fuel price will definitely impact the common man.

Kolawole said the fuel price influences transportation cost and as such, an increase in the cost of transported items.

The Federal Government on October 14, 2020, placed a full ban on the importation of goods through land borders. Consequently, this made the local demand for goods that come in through the land borders to outweigh the supply.

Obiano sacks aide accused of extra-judicial killings during his reins as OC SARS Anambra State

Vincent Ufuoma
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Obiano sacks aide accused of extra-judicial killings during his reins as OC SARS Anambra State

WILLIE Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, has sacked James Nwafor, his Senior Special Assistant on Security, over alleged extra-judicial killings while he served as Officer Commanding (OC) of Anambra State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

While announcing Nwafor’s sack in a statement on Twitter, the Governor said Nwafor will be prosecuted for his crimes.

“James Nwafor, former OC SARS in Anambra State is sacked and will be prosecuted,” Obiano said.

The Governor, who spoke to protesting youths in the state on Thursday, further noted that he was in support of the ongoing protest by youths across the country demanding an end to police brutality and excesses.

He said he would personally visit all SARS offices across the state to ensure that anyone being held is released immediately, as he promised to communicate with the Federal Government to do the needful to ensure a better life for the youths, for Anambra, and for the nation.

“Today, I joined youths of our dear State to say #EndPoliceBrutality and I support them because they did not only vote and defend their votes in my 21-over-21 victory but all their requests are genuine and germane, and I obliged to honour them all,” the Governor said.

“I felt honoured being in their midst to share in their feelings, and I made it clear that the Federal Government has disbanded SARS but I will personally visit all SARS offices in Anambra State to ensure that anyone being held is released immediately.”

Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had on Sunday, in response to the continuous protest to end police excesses and brutality in the country had announced the disbandment of the dreaded police unit.

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari had also issued a directive, calling for a reform of the police force.
However, the protests have continued, with the protesters issuing a five-point demand which includes the release of all persons arrested and justice for victims of police brutality.

Other demands are “setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct (within 10 days), psychological evaluation of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed, and increase in police salary so that they can be adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens.”

Lagos Governor, Sanwo-Olu names policemen involved in Surulere protester’s death after initially denying police involvement

Amos ABBA
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Lagos Governor, Sanwo-Olu names policemen involved in Surulere protester’s death after initially denying police involvement

BABAJIDE Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State on Thursday revealed the identities of suspected police officers involved in the death of an #EndSARS protester in Area C, Surulere.

The Governor after admitting the police were culpable for the death of a bystander during the protest, according to a report, said the four officers have been arrested. The officers, according to him were two inspectors and two sergeants.

The victim, a 55-year-old Ikechukwu Iloamauzor driver was allegedly killed by a stray bullet on Monday during the #EndSARS protest in Surulere.

The deceased driver was conveying his boss to an event and was stuck in a traffic gridlock when the incident happened.

He stated that the Lagos State Government is taking the issue of police misconduct very seriously, saying “earlier this week, we all recall the incident that happened at the Area C command in Surulere.”

“All the four erring officers whose name I will also mention have also been apprehended and are going through an orderly trial. They are Inspector Bagou Michael, Inspector Ekpoudom Etop, – Sergent Nnamdi Madura, and Sergent Akinyemi Benson,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“We have also set up a panel to look into all cases of police brutality and fatality and have set up an N200 million compensation fund. I will make all announcements shortly. Once again, I apologise to any protester that has faced brutality during any of the protests days.”.

However, this contradicts the earlier statement by the Lagos State Government on its Twitter handle claiming hoodlums stormed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit at Hogan Bassey Street, Surulere, during the protests and shot three officers during their escape including Iloamauzor, a bystander who was hit by a stray bullet.

 

Alausa #EndSARS attack: Lagos State government, Obasa deny sending thugs

Olayinka SHEHU
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Alausa #EndSARS attack: Lagos State government, Obasa deny sending thugs

THE Lagos State Government has denied the claim that it hired and sponsored thugs to attack Nigerians protesting against human rights abuse carried out by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Alausa, Lagos.

A large number of thugs had today attacked protesters stationed at Alausa, injuring scores as they tried to disperse the protesters.

Nigerians across the country had since last week been protesting police brutality perpetrated especially by the SARS unit, calling for a reform of the Nigerian Police Force.

The Lagos State government had in a statement posted on its official Twitter handle said it is untrue the government-sponsored thugs to attack protesters.

It said such wild allegations were obviously concocted by enemies of peace and orderliness to whip up sentiments against the government, which has been doing everything possible to resolve the crisis by identifying with youths fighting for police reforms.

According to the statement, “Governor  Sanwo-Olu has been preaching peace, so has the Deputy Governor, who addressed the protesters last Friday. The Governor has addressed them twice – at the Lekki Toll Gate and at the House of Assembly.

“Besides, the governor visited the president to tender their five-point demand, assuring that all the protesters arrested by the police were released unconditionally.

“The enemies of progress, who are not happy that Lagos is not on fire, are the ones fueling the infernal lies that the government was sponsoring thugs to attack our protesting youths.

It also said the claim that the thugs were transported by a bus belongs to the Lagos Bus Service Ltd. (LBSL), was incorrect.

“They have been posting on the social media pictures suggesting that a Lagos Bus Service Ltd. (LBSL) vehicle was conveying thugs. The bus in question was on its normal operation when it ran into a group of protesters. The passengers, who felt endangered, rushed out of the bus. They returned to continue their journey after the charging crowd had left,” the statement further read.

“As a government, we will never encourage thuggery or any act of violence that may put the lives and businesses of Lagosians at risk. We are strongly committed to ensuring that our youths, who have taken to the streets to air their views, are well protected.”

Also, Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly denied the claim that he was behind the action of the thugs.

Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore had earlier tweeted that the thugs were brought from Agege and sponsored by the Lagos Speaker.

He said, “Large contingent of armed thugs brought in from Agege, sponsored by Lagos Speaker, Obasa and @OfficialAPCNg operatives are attacking #EndSWAT protesters at the Lagos State Assembly’s premises. Many have been injured!”

But Obasa, in response to a tweet by Oby Ezekwesili, Nigeria’s former Minister of Education who condemned the attack, said he supports the #EndSARS movement and did not send thugs to disrupt the peaceful protest.

Multiple times Lauretta Onochie, Buhari’s aide declared she is APC member

Lukman ABOLADE
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Multiple times Lauretta Onochie, Buhari’s aide declared she is APC member

AS debate continues over the controversial nomination of Lauretta Onochie, the Special Assistant to Nigerian President on Social Media as a commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), The ICIR shares posts where she demonstrated partisanship and her affiliation for All Progressives Congress (APC).

Before the emergence of Buhari as Nigerian President in 2015, Onochie has been a regular campaigner and supporter of the APC and the President.

On January 13th, 2015, Onochie tweeted: “issues in Nigeria. hope is here. vote Buhari/Osinbajo. vote APC. improved infrastructure, reduce poverty, equip school.”

Two days later, she dissociated herself from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while campaigning for Buhari to emerge as president.

In a response to the tweet, she added that she has spent many years campaigning for an opposition party against the PDP.

“We’re not pleased that the elections were postponed, but no matter how long we have to wait, we will still vote Buhari, Atiku had hoped that his agony would end yesterday. Now there’s still one more week of excruciating pain for him and PDP before they go into oblivion. #SaiBaba,” Onochie posted.

On the same day, she also tweeted that, “There is nothing that has a beginning that has no end including PDP. The end of PDP is here. But more important (sic), change is here. Vote Buhari.”

On June 6th, 2018, while campaigning for Buhari’s second term, Onochie declared on her verified Twitter profile that she is a ‘Buharist’.

In Nigeria, the term ‘Buharist’ is used to qualify an ardent supporter of Muhammad Buhari or his political ideology.

“For once, since 2010, I’m speechless. I feel like My vote on June 12, 1993, has just been validated. If I wasn’t already a Buharist, I would become one today. What is there not to like about President Buhari and his commitment to do what’s right. Our MKO can now rest peacefully,” Onochie posted.

In multiple tweets, Onochie also campaigned for the re-election of Buhari seeking Nigerians to vote for the president and the party.

Apart from her tweets campaigning for the APC and Buhari, Onochie on June 24, 2020 declared that she belongs to APC.

Onochie said this while the APC was facing an internal crisis before the intervention of Buhari. “There is definitely an APC e-NEC meeting tomorrow. We are going through a growth process. Thank you, everyone,” she posted with the APC flag.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, the word ‘we’ is a pronoun ‘used as the subject of a verb to refer to a group including the speaker and at least one other person’.

Though the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Paragraph 14 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule as amended by Section 30, Act No 1 of 2010, clearly stated that a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission “shall be non-partisan,” the president nominated a loyal party member to be a member of the election umpire.

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