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Mob attack Red Cross office in Yobe, burn vehicles

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Mob attack Red Cross office in Yobe, burn vehicles

UNIDENTIFIED youth under the guise of #EndBadGovernance protest have attacked a Red Cross Society’s office in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State. 

Pictures and video seen by The ICIR show how the mob invaded the building, burnt the organisation’s land cruiser vehicle, and destroyed an overhead water tank.

The nationwide protest which began on Thursday, August 1, also turned violent in some parts of the state.

Mob masquerading as protesters also set public buildings on fire, and stole food items and empowerment equipment leading to the arrest of about 18 persons.

Channels TV reported that seven mass transit buses were burnt in the Potiskum Local Government Area of the state on Thursday amid the nationwide protests leading to the imposition of a curfew by the government in three local government areas namely Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru where hoodlums took advantage of the protest to vandalise and loot government and private properties.

The special adviser to the state Governor Mai Mala Buni on Security Matters, Dairy Abdulsalam, urged people in the affected areas to abide by the curfew for peace to reign.

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According to him, security agencies have been directed to ensure enforcement and full compliance with the curfew order.

The ICIR reported that the insecurity, inflation and hike in the cost of living among other reasons in Nigeria have pushed many citizens to plan a 10-day nationwide protest from August 1 to 10.

Since the President took over power on May 29, 2023, there has been unprecedented inflation, with the market prices of food snowballing and more citizens pushed into poverty.

#EndBadGovernance: Treat, report gunshot victims, FCT police urge doctors

Mustapha USMAN
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#EndBadGovernance: Treat, report gunshot victims, FCT police urge doctors

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has appealed to all doctors and other health providers in the city to treat every patient who approaches their facilities with gunshot injuries.

However, they advised that they report such incidents to police stations close to their facilities.

These were contained in a statement by the FCT Police spokesperson, Adeh Josephine, on Friday, August 2, following a clash between the police and some hoodlums around Lugbe, Shehu Musa Yar’adua expressway.

The police claimed their officers engaged the hoodlums in a firefight following distress calls on the activities of the hoodlums who took advantage of the ongoing protests which began on Thursday, August 1, “to embark on a massive robbery and assault of innocent citizens.”

The ICIR had on Thursday night reported how police and thugs clashed in the Lugbe area of the nation’s capital.

Reacting to the clash, the police referred medical practitioners to the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 20017. They advised that any patient who might have suffered a gunshot injury should be treated promptly.

“In line with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017, it is instructive to note that such patients come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention in order to save the life of the patient, and should be accorded all necessary medical assistance. However, the Police division/formation within the jurisdiction of such hospital or health care facility should be informed to interview such patient so as to ascertain their person/roles in the prevailing security situation in the FCT.

“The Commissioner of Police hereby warns unscrupulous elements who may want to hide under the guise of protest to carry out heinous crimes such as armed robbery, shop breaking, rape, assault on innocent citizens and vandalisation of public property to desist from such as police officers and other security agents have been put on red alert to curtail them and maintain law and order,” the statement added.

The statement further noted that the FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, while appreciating residents of the FCT for their continuous cooperation, assured that all relevant measures would be put in place to ensure that the current #EndBadGovernance protests did not cause them losses or damage to their property.

The ICIR reports that the #EndBadGovernace protest has spread to at least 15 states.

The organisers are protesting poor governance and economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The posts and tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.

Nigeria’s economy worsens as inflation squeeze private-sector businesses

Ehime ALEX
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Nigeria’s economy worsens as inflation squeeze private-sector businesses

NIGERIA’s inflation rate which rose to a new 28-year high in June has finally shrunk private sector business activity to the negative territory.

For the first time in eight months, business activity fell amid a nationwide protest against bad governance.

On Thursday, August 1, aggrieved Nigerians trooped to the streets to protest what they have tagged #EndBadGovernance.

The protest, slated for 10 days, gathered momentum across the states. The ICIR is running live coverage and reporting the incident in real time.

In their Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report, released on Thursday, August 1, Stanbic IBTC Bank said the Nigerian private sector moved back into contraction territory in July as steep price pressures hit demand and resulted in renewed reductions in both business activity and new orders.

It indicated that input costs and selling prices continued to rise rapidly as confidence hit a new record low.

In July, business activities recorded a headline PMI of 49.2, down from 50.1 in June and below the 50.0 no-change mark for the first time in eight months.

The ICIR reports that a PMI reading of above 50.0 points signals expansion in business conditions while below 50.0 reflects a contraction.

The index signaled a slight deterioration in business conditions as the second half of the year got underway.

Also, it had worsened the health of the private sector and reflected the first reductions in output and new orders since November last year.

Selling prices continued to increase sharply at the start of the third quarter in 2013 as companies passed higher input costs through to their customers.

According to Stanbic IBTC, three of the four broad sectors covered saw business activity decrease in July, except for the manufacturing sector where production increased.

Nigeria’s headline inflation figure quickened to 34.19 per cent in June and the food inflation to 40.87 per cent, further increasing the purchase costs of goods and services.

The headline inflation peaked in June as the year-on-year effects of President Bola Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal induced higher fuel prices and significant currency depreciation accompanied by the foreign exchange unification fade.

The purchase price inflation also quickened to a four-month high, often due to currency weakness and higher raw material costs.

Although companies expect their output to rise over the coming year, however, there was a scaled-back of business activity, with reduced demand for inputs and prompt payments which led to a further shortening of suppliers’ delivery times.

Commenting on the deteriorating business activities, the head of equity research West Africa at Stanbic IBTC, Muyiwa Oni, said, “The Stanbic IBTC headline PMI declined for the second consecutive month to 49.2 points in July – its lowest level since November 2023.

“Anecdotal evidence continued to highlight the negative impact of sharp price increases on customer demand, resulting in renewed reductions in both business activity and new orders.”

Business activities in the manufacturing and service sectors ended a seven-month sequence of expansion and reinforced a renewed worsening in the health of the private sector, Oni said.

He noted that overall input prices continued to rise sharply in July with the rate of inflation quickening for the third month running and was the fastest since March this year.

“Although output prices continued to rise rapidly during July, the pace of inflation eased from that seen in June and was the slowest since May 2023. Where selling prices increased, panelists linked this to higher input costs.

“This, in addition to the commencement of the primary harvest season in September, is likely to provide some respite for consumers, thereby likely supporting a slight improvement in domestic economic activities in H2:24 (second quarter 2024),” Oni added.

Accountability Lab condemns Tinubu’s moves to stifle dissenting voices in Nigeria

Mustapha USMAN
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Accountability Lab condemns Tinubu’s moves to stifle dissenting voices in Nigeria

THE Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Odeh Friday, has bemoaned President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to stifle dissenting voices by restricting Nigerians to protest only at specific locations.  

Odeh, in a letter addressed to the President, noted that his support for the #EndBadGovernance protest originated from a deep-seated conviction that Nigeria had enormous potential, which he said could only be harnessed by deliberate actions.

Odeh raised concerns about the prevalence of ‘tokenism’ in governance, adding that  over the years, there had been knee-jerk approaches towards government programmes, such as school feeding and cash transfers that created an ‘illusion of progress.’

He added that the country needed meaningful fiscal reforms showing a genuine commitment to tackling the underlying causes impeding its growth. 

“This involves you, the President, being responsible for leading with full commitment to implement zero tolerance for corruption at all levels and sectors of government, particularly the extractive industry, which has been a source of national revenue but is plagued with opacity and mismanagement.

“The cost of corruption is huge – anti-corruption agencies are working hard to prevent procurement fraud in all government agencies, including the presidency and constituency contracting processes, as well as corruption cases involving politically exposed persons leading public institutions (with immunity and impunity). 60 per cent of corruption cases in Nigeria are procurement-related and we have lost ₦2.9 trillion through contract fraud in three years! 

“This not only results in significant losses and mismanagement of government revenues, but it also feeds a cycle of lack of accountability and trust in the executive, judiciary, and legislative. A strong, functional, and independent accountability framework, with key components addressing negative behaviours and social norms, is crucial in guaranteeing that public funds are spent judiciously, and in the best interests of all Nigerians,” Odeh said in his letter.

Commenting on the protest, he noted that the “tokenism of seeking court injunctions to restrict peaceful protesters – a practice used to silence the dissenting voices of those you took an oath to serve – violates fundamental democratic rights.”

He said with Tinubu’s leadership at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigerian courts ought to lead by example to preserve justice and not be used to limit citizens’ freedoms in a democratic country like Nigeria.

According to him, a country like Nigeria, with courts that compromise justice, is on the verge of degeneration.

“The #EndBadGovernance protest calls for justice and equality in government service delivery and decision-making. I want a government that promotes a healthy civic space, respects citizens’ opinions, and prioritises their well-being. The government must uphold the ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people’ and ‘nothing about us without us’ principles. Mr. President, you should collaborate with us, not against us!”

Odeh also demanded immediate action on the over-bloated and unsustainable cost of government, which he said had come with overborrowing to fund the deficits in the budget.

According to him, the national budget has become a dumping ground for excessive expenditure on luxury for political officials, such as expensive refreshments, travel, sports utility vehicles, and houses. 

Odeh noted that the excessive expenditure of political officials was unacceptable, especially when over 70 million Nigerians lived with less than $2 per day and struggled with basic needs. 

He added that the legislators had continued to insert projects in the budgets of the MDAs (such as in the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria), even with allocations for constituency projects in the executive’s budget. 

“Two development commissions signed into law without considering the impact of existing development commissions or the Oransaye report is quite concerning. We must reduce government expenses, and political appointees, and repurpose our limited resources on key sectors that serve the majority of the citizens in a meaningful way.

“Finally, you should draw a clear line between government and politics in your administration – governance focused on policies and procedures in the best interest of the citizens you serve, free of the distractions and divisiveness of political manoeuvring. Tokenism in politics simply serves to appease rather than address and prioritise the actual problems of Nigerians.

“Dear Mr. President, I encourage you to take these issues seriously and try to build a strong Nigeria that is fair, just, and works for everyone. The time for your meaningful impact is now, and we hope your leadership can steer Nigeria in the direction we can proudly hand it on to our children without stain,” he added.

 

Police shoot tear gas as protesters insist on marching on Abuja streets

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Police shoot tear gas as protesters insist on marching on Abuja streets

Police officers are shooting at protesters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as residents trooped out on the second day of the #EndBadGovernance protest also dubbed as a hunger protest across Nigeria against the hardship imposed on citizens by President Bola Tinubu’s government. 

The ICIR earlier reported how the police fired tear gas to disperse protesters around the MKO Abiola Stadium where an FCT High Court had restricted the demonstrators.

However, the protesters insisted on protesting at the stadium area and within the city. Hours later, they marched away from the stadium despite stiff resistance by the security operatives.

As they headed for the streets, police officers started firing teargas and shot live ammunition at them, leaving the protesters running for dear lives in different directions. This happened on the highway around the stadium.

The ICIR team observed that the shooting by the police caused a stampede at the stadium, and a protester was injured.

So far, the #EndBadGovernance protest has spread to about 15 states in Nigeria.

According to the protesters, they are kicking against poor governance and economic hardships inflicted on the nation’s citizens by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

On social media, protests on posts and tweets carry different hashtags including  #RevolutuonNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.

The organisers have said the demonstration, which kicked of on August 1 would continue till August 10.

Police confine Abuja, Lagos protesters to MKO Abiola Stadium, Gani Fawehinmi Park

Mustapha USMAN
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Police confine Abuja, Lagos protesters to MKO Abiola Stadium, Gani Fawehinmi Park

THE Nigerian police have confined thousands of protesters to  specific locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT ) and Lagos State.

The police blocked major roads leading to the MKO Abiola Stadium in the FCT and the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos in attempt to prevent the peaceful protesters from marching towards different parts of the state and the nation’s capital.

While this might not be unconnected with court orders restricting the demonstrators, the protesters became furious and agitated, demanding to know why they must be restricted.

In Lagos, the protesters are insisting on converging and moving on the roads.

One of the protest leaders alleged that there was planned attack on the protesters by thugs allegedly sponsored by the government and the police showed no concern about it.

He further alleged that four of the protesters were attacked by the police on their way home on Thursday, August 1, despite the peaceful protest in the state.

Other protesters corroborated his claims and said whatever happened to them, the state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Commissioner of Police in the state should be held responsible. 

Meanwhile, a legal practitioner, speaking on behalf of other protesters, said they were on the ground to chase away any protesters who might be unjustly manhandled by security operatives or other anti-protesters.

He added that there was already a legal move to reverse the restriction of protest in Lagos State to Gani Fawehinmi and Peace Parks.

Abuja protesters getting agitated 

Similarly, many protesters at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja are getting agitated over police insistence that they must not leave the venue to another part of the city to protest.

The police refusal to allow the protesters to march beyond the stadium has led to several altercations between them and the police officers.

Consequently, the protesters have been blocking vehicles along highways around the stadium.

The police could also be seen stationed on the road, with their vehicles blocking the path the protesters might want to cross from the stadium into the city.

Military and policemen were spotted with heavy equipment at the stadium.

Police helicopter was also seen hovering around protesters at the stadium.

Currently, the #EndBadGovernace protest has spread to about 15 states.

The organisers are protesting poor governance and economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The posts and tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.





Atiku Abubakar demands arrest, prosecution of ‘Igbo Must Go’ promoters in South-West

Harrison EDEH
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Atiku Abubakar demands arrest, prosecution of ‘Igbo Must Go’ promoters in South-West

FORMER Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called for the arrest and prosecution of ‘Igbo-Must-Go’ promoters in the South-West, warning against the negative consequences of such divisive comments in the country.

The former Vice President made the call on his official X account on Thursday, August 1.

He decried the government’s silence, days after such divisive comments were made by @lagospedia which urged Lagosians and Southwest stakeholders to prepare for the massive protest of #IgboMustGo scheduled for August 20 to 30, 2024.

“They have one month from now to leave and relocate their businesses from all South-West states. We urge Yorubas living in the South-East to return home,”@lagospedia said in the tweet.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 poll regretted that such rhetoric was not only divisive but endangered the harmonious coexistence of Nigerians to live and work freely in any part of the country.

Abubakar noted that Nigeria was not cut out for any genocidal war, which often has negative consequences on national unity.

“The recent call on X(formerly @twitter) for a protest under the hashtag #IgboMustgo’, demanding the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other South-West states, is deeply troubling and fundamentally opposed to the principle of unity and coexistence that define our nation.

“History has shown us the consequences of allowing hatred and bigotry to fester, as seen in Rwanda. What began with inflammatory rhetoric led to devastating outcomes. We must learn from these lessons and act decisively,” he added.

According to the Adamawa State-born politician, the rule of law must prevail, and those found guilty of incitement should face the full wrath of the law.

He also noted that Nigeria’s strength lied in its diversity, and urged every Nigerian to resist any attempt to sow the seed of discord..

He also noted that Lagos State and the entire South-West region had accommodated people of other cultures to further bolster national unity, growth and development, adding that such must be sustained by the region.

“The government and security agencies must act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution.

The ICIR has reported that the former Vice President advised President Bola Tinubu to resign if he could not handle the economic and insecurity challenges bedeviling Nigeria.

Abubakar said this in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, January 30.

He decried the numerous incidents of kidnapping and other attacks that had occurred across Nigeria in the past months.

The ICIR reports that such challenges, worsened by the Tinubu administration’s reforms, have culminated in the hunger and #EndBadGovernance protests currently ongoing across the country.

Police fire tear gas at peaceful protesters in Abuja

Mustapha USMAN
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Police fire tear gas at peaceful protesters in Abuja

AS residents of the Federal Capital Territory head out on the Day 2 of the #EndBadGovernace protest to continue with their demonstration, security operatives have opened tear gas on them in some part of the nation’s capital.

The police used teargas to disperse protesters around the MKO Abiola Stadium, where the the FCT High Court had restricted the protesters.

The ICIR learnt that some protesters, who gathered at Berger, along Wuse road, were planning to march to Eagle Square when heavily-armed security operatives in the area responded by shooting teargas at them.

This led to a confrontation between the security operatives and the protesters.

Some demonstrators were injured in the process.

The ICIR reports that this was exactly the case in Abuja when the protest kicked-off on Monday, August 1, when the protesters marched towards the Eagle Square.

The protesters were shot with teargas by the security operatives who were stationed at the facility to repel the protesters, while expressing their grievances with solidarity songs and placards at the road leading to the Eagle Square.

The officers also blocked other popular places leading to the area.

The ICIR’s team observed that the police fired dozens of canisters into the crowds, affecting not only the protesters but also the media practitioners.

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has blamed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for harassment of protesters and journalists at Berger, Friday morning.

At the MKO Abiola were dozens of protesters who were demanding that the government end bad governance and reverse policies that have brought hardship to many Nigerians.

Currently, the #EndBadGovernace protest has spread to about 15 states.

The organisers are protesting poor governance and economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The posts and tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.

Police may seek Army’s support if violent protests persist – Egbetokun

Mustapha USMAN
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Police may seek Army’s support if violent protests persist – Egbetokun

AS the #EndBadGovernance protest advances into Day 2 across Nigeria today, Friday, August 2, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has said the Nigeria police might seek the Army and other security agencies’ support, to maintain the peace in the country.

Egbetokun said the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protests escalated beyond peaceful protest, devolving into mass uprising, looting and attempts to take over government buildings among others in some parts of the country.

In a live broadcast, on Thursday, August 1, the police boss stated that there were destructions in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, FCT Abuja, Niger, and Jigawa, adding that several warehouses and shops were looted and destroyed.

He also noted that a police officer was killed while some were injured in their bid to sustain peace.

“The motive of the rioters was basically two: loot and destroy both private and government property. The destruction so far has been mind-boggling. There has been destruction in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, FCT Abuja, Niger, Jigawa. Police stations have been destroyed. There have been attempts to take over government houses, loot government infrastructures, several warehouses and shops have so far been looted, and, in several instances, completely destroyed,” the IGP said.

Egbetokun further noted that despite a court order mandating that protests in Abuja be confined to the National Stadium, protesters took to the streets, stressing that nevertheless, the police provided security for them.

“In spite of the refusal of the protesters, for instance in FCT, to adhere to a court order requesting that protest in Abuja should be at the National Stadium, they trooped into the streets, and yet the police provided security for them. At no point did we breach their fundamental rights even as they breached court order.

However, The ICIR authoritatively reports that in major places in Abuja, including Eagle Square and Asokoro where protesters had later converged after initially moving from MKO Abiola Stadium, the police fired tear gas at the peaceful protesters before some of them started returning the canisters.

The IGP stated there were incidents of unprovoked attacks on security personnel, where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured in places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others.

He explained that in Lagos, the police EOD team responded swiftly and rendered safe what turned out to be an improvised explosive device (IED) at Bank Anthony Way.

“Today in Borno State, we recorded one incident of an explosion which occurred in the crowd of protesters killing four instantly and severely injuring 34 others, many of whom are presently on the danger list,” he added.

Egbetukun further warned the citizens to heed warnings by the police and other security agencies which he said were based on credible security intelligence.

He added that the Nigeria police had placed all units on red alert, with its officers fully mobilised and prepared to respond to any further threats to public safety and order.

“The Police is equipped to respond appropriately to the unfolding situation and will get assistance from other security agencies, including the military if the need arises,” the IGP said.

#EndBadgovernance: South-East states residents opt for sit-at-home, ignore protest

Bankole ABE  and  Harrison EDEH
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#EndBadgovernance: South-East states residents opt for sit-at-home, ignore protest

THE #EndBadGovernance protest which kicked off across Nigeria on Thursday, August 1,  witnessed a low turn of people in the South-East.

People in most parts of the five states in the region often embark on ‘sit-at-home‘ on Mondays to press home their demands for good governance and the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, a prominent figure in the region.

In major cities namely Aba, Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Owerri, and Umuahia, monitored by our reporters, residents opted for sit-at-home on the first day of the protest.

Most streets were empty until about 1 pm when people started coming out for their lawful businesses.

Checks by The ICIR showed that heavy downpours in both Owerri and Abia state also affected the turnout of possible protesters.

Commenting on the development, a convener of “The Office of the Citizens in Enugu, Igbokwe Onyebuchi, said,” Although there’s a low turnout, the security outfits were professional in managing few people who are going about their respective business.

A media practitioner and the Abia State Bureau Chief for AFIA Television, Emmanuel Nwazue, who spoke on the protest said,” Umuahia, the capital of Abia State and Aba, the commercial city, did not witness any protest as people went about their normal business.”

He, however, noted that corporate businesses were under lock and key to guard against possible exploitation of the situation by hoodlums to unleash mayhem.

He also disclosed that heavy downpours in several parts of the state might have influenced people’s decision not to come out en masse for the protest.

Also speaking on the development in the South-East, a youth leader in Abia State, Daberechi Ekejuba, blamed the low turnout partly on apathy towards political issues and hunger currently affecting the people.

According to him, the people are already drained by the economic situation and lack the strength to go out and protest.

“I think the high rate of inflation has affected the people of the South-East. The average Nigerian is going through a lot. This is the same in the South-East. So to even go out and protest is such a big deal.

“And some of them believe that the protest will not solve anything and quickly want to return to their business,” Ekejuiba stated.

He however suggested that things might still pick up in the region on day two of the protest.

In Enugu State, checks showed that people went about their lawful businesses, disregarding the#Endbadgovernance protest.

In Anambra State, a resident, Sunday Elon, said there was no protest in the state capital, Awka.

“I have moved around but business and vehicular movement are going normal,” he said.

Regarding the security situation in the state, he said police deployment was normal with just a few security operatives vehicles patroling without interfering with people’s movements or businesses.

It would be noted that the protest was called to raise concerns about bad governance and the rising cost of living under President Bola Tinubu.

Since the President took over power on May 29, 2023, there has been unprecedented inflation, with the market prices of food snowballing and more citizens pushed into poverty.

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