A lawmaker representing Chikun Constituency in the Kaduna state House of Assembly, Madami Garba Madami, is dead.
Madami, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), died on Saturday, June 17, due to an undisclosed illness.
According to a report, the Chikun traditional ruler, Ibrahim Sale, confirmed the incident.
The lawmaker died on Saturday morning in a hospital four days after the inauguration.
The illness had prevented the lawmaker from participating in the inauguration of the state’s 10th assembly earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has extended his condolences to the deceased’s family.
Sani, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Shehu, described Madami as a lawmaker known for promoting peaceful coexistence in the state.
According to the statement, the Governor commiserated with Madami’s immediate family and the people of Chikun constituency,
He also prayed to God to grant the soul of Madami eternal rest and comfort his family, associates, friends, and constituents he left behind.
The lawmaker was once the chairman of Chikun Local Government Area and former Commissioner for Planning and Budget.
He also served as Political Adviser to the late Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State.
On Tuesday, June 13, the newly elected members of the state assembly were sworn in. This was after the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House.
The governor had dissolved the 9th assembly on Thursday, June 8, two days before the inauguration.
THE Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has deployed the new Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), Bala Ciroma and Frank Mba, to their departments.
Baba has also deployed DIG Hafiz Inuwa.
The IGP approved the deployment of the three deputy IGP about 24 hours after Ciroma and Mba were promoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) to DIG.
According to a statement that the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Olumuyiwa Adejobi, issued on Saturday, June 17, Inuwa was deployed to head the Department of Logistics and Supply, and Ciroma to head the Department of Training and Development, while Mba was deployed as the head of Department of Research and Planning.
Adejobi noted that the IGP also approved the redeployment of 17 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to various commands and formations.
“With the recent elevation, Ciroma has become the supervising DIG for the North-East, while DIG Mba assumes a supervisory role over the South-East geo-political zone.
“The Inspector-General of Police has, therefore, charged the senior police officers to continue to entrench professionalism and respect for the rights of citizens in their new places of assignment. He equally tasked them to pursue the task of ensuring public safety and security in their AORs with renewed vigour,” the statement read.
The ICIR had reported that the Police Service Commission (PSC) promoted Frank Mba and Bala Ciroma to Deputy Inspectors-General of Police.
The PSC said Ciroma would replace DIG Ali Janga retired from service and had represented the North-East geopolitical zone in the police management team.
“DIG Mba will represent the South East zone and replace retired DIG John Amadi, who before his retirement represented the zone,” a part of the police statement read.
ON May 29, President Bola Tinubu took the oath of office as the 16th leader of Nigeria after taking over from former president Muhammadu Buhari.
Upon assuming office, he has taken actions that his supporters say are good for the country and signal great things Nigerians will enjoy from his administration.
Today, Saturday, June 17, marks 20 days since Tinubu became president. The ICIR looks at the president’s actions in his first 20 days in office.
Subsidy removal
Delivering his inaugural speech on May 29, the President promised to unify the nation, create opportunities for all, revamp the economy, improve security and create jobs.
His speech delighted many Nigerians until he announced that “fuel subsidy is gone.”
He said his predecessor did not provide funds for subsidy in the budget to enable him continue to support the citizens on what they pay for petrol.
Shortly after announcing an end to the subsidy regime, fuel stations across Nigerians shut their gates to motorists, intending to hike the price immediately.
Two days later, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd.) raised the pump price by about 200 per cent.
The hike triggered a commensurate rise in transport fares and the costs of some basic needs.
In his Democracy Day address on June 12, Tinubu promised to invest gains from the subsidy removal on power, roads, healthcare, education and others for the common good.
Order on DSS to vacate EFCC office in Lagos
The first directive by the President, on May 30, was for the Department of State Services (DSS) to vacate the Lagos office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The DSS had reportedly shut down a building at No. 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, where the two organisations had shared offices for over 20 years.
Reports claimed shutting the premises prevented the EFCC from accessing the facility.
In a statement it shared on its official Twitter Page, the DSS could not explain why it shut the premises. But it said it did not block the EFCC staff from accessing their offices.
The Service also argued that it had no rift with the anti-graft agency.
Appointment of aides
In his first major appointment, on June 2, the President announced the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his Chief of Staff.
He also announced the immediate past minister of Special Duties, and a former governor of Benue State, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Request for 20 special assistants from the Senate
On June 6, the Senate approved the President’s request for 20 special advisers.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, read the President’s letter concerning the request at the Red Chamber.
Lawan said, “Because there is no name for special advisers, we will just approve it from here. We feel that that this is something of utmost urgency.”
The Senate approved the request after a voice vote during plenary.
Signing of bill harmonising the retirement of judges’ age
On June 8, the President assented to a bill to increase the retirement age of judicial officers in the country to 70 years.
He said his administration would strengthen the judiciary and empower judicial officers.
Titled ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alteration Bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), 2023’, the bill was the first to be signed into law by Tinubu since he assumed office.
Although legislation already pegged the retirement age of justices of the appeal and supreme courts at 70, the law as well extended the retirement age of High Court judges from 65 to 70 years.
The new law will harmonise the pension rights of judicial officers of “superior courts of record” specified in Section 6(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Suspension of Godwin Emefiele: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
On June 9, the President ordered the suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Tinubu, through a letter from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, directed Emefiele to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who would act as the apex bank governor pending the conclusion of the investigation into Emefiele’s office, and reform of the financial sector.
The ICIR reports that among other policies, Emefiele introduced a money redesign that put millions of Nigerians in huge distress before and post 2023 elections.
Tinubu was among the citizens who kicked against the policy.
Electricity Act 2023
On June 9, the President signed the Electricity Act 2023, which replaced the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005. The new law empowers state and private companies to generate power, which has been the exclusive function of the Federal Government.
Stakeholders had blamed the poor electricity supply in the country on the exclusivity of the right to power generation, which resided with the Federal government.
Democracy Day address
On June 12, dedicated to celebrating democracy, otherwise known as Democracy Day, in honour of the June 12, 1993, presidential election winner, Moshood Abiola, Tinubu addressed Nigerians at 7 a.m. in a nationwide broadcast.
He promised to invest in infrastructures, health, education and other sectors to make life meaningful for Nigerians.
After his Democracy Day broadcast on June 12, the President signed the Student Loan Bill into law.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, sponsored the bill to provide interest-free loans to indigent students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The bill also provides for establishing an Education Bank, which shall have powers to supervise, coordinate and administer student loans in Nigeria.
The Act provides that the loan repayment would commence after a two-year grace when recipients have completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
It also proposes a two-year jail term, a fine of N500,000 or both for students who default in repayment.
Suspension of EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa
The president suspended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, indefinitely, on June 14.
Bawa’s suspension was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey.
Part of the statement reads, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.
“This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him. Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the Commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
The ICIR reports that Buhari appointed Bawa, the commission’s fifth chairman since its creation, in February 2021.
He was booted out of office like all his predecessors who never completed their terms.
Inauguration of National Economic Council
On Thursday, June 15, the president inaugurated the National Economic Council, headed by his vice, Kashim Shettima.
At the inauguration, the president promised to sustain the rejuvenation of the nation’s economy.
He tasked the council to work with other government bodies to propel Nigeria’s economic growth.
Appointment of eight aides
Shortly after inaugurating the National Economic Council on June 15, Tinubu announced the appointment of eight special advisers (SAs).
The ICIR reported how the National Assembly approved the president’s request for 20 special advisers on June 6.
Below are the Special Advisers’ names and designation.
Dele Alake: Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy
Yau Darazo: Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs
Wale Edun: Special Adviser, Monetary Policies
Olu Verheijen: Special Adviser, Energy
Zachaeus Adedeji: Special Adviser, Revenue
Nuhu Ribadu: Special Adviser, Security
John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu: Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment.
Salma Ibrahim Anas (a doctor): Special Adviser, Health
NOTE: 17th in the first paragraph was changed to 16th.
TERRORISTS suspected to be members of Boko Haram beheaded seven farmers in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Monday, June 12.
The farmers were attacked while working on a farm in Molai, a village approximately five kilometres from Maiduguri.
According to Premium Times, a former commissioner for youths and sports and current supervisor of security and protection for local farmers, Sainna Buba, confirmed the killings on Friday, June 16.
According to Buba, an Islamic funeral service was held on Friday morning, and the farmers were buried thereafter.
One farmer was able to escape and raise the alarm despite being shot at, according to Abudulmumeen Bulama, a member of the vigilante group Civilian-Joint Task Force.
Bulama, who recounted the horrific scene when they brought the victims home for burial late on Thursday, June 15 said some of them had their throats slit and others completely beheaded.
Efforts to reach the Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, and Pubic Relations Officer of Borno State Police Command, Sani Mohammed, were unsuccessful.
They did not respond to calls and messages sent to their phones by The ICIR.
The beheading of seven farmers is the latest in a series of similar attacks by the terrorist group. In recent years, Boko Haram has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, including civilians, soldiers, and aid workers. The group has also displaced millions of people from their homes.
In December 2020, the group, in a daring attack, killed over 70 farmers in the Kwashebe Zabarmari axis of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State because the farmers arrested and handed one of its brothers to the Nigerian Army.
In 2022, about 40 farmers were killed after insurgents invaded farms in Rann, a community in the Kala-Balge Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.
EKITI-based Damilola Adeparusi, widely known as Chef Dammy, has declared her intention to embark on a 150-hour cook-a-thon next month that she enthused would be duly registered with the Guinness World Records (GWR).
In a formal statement she shared on her official Twitter account, Dammy stated that she had received tremendous support from her loyal fans, well-wishers and influential figures in society.
As a result, she has declared her decision to embark on yet another cook-a-thon.
Official statement by Chef Dammy. Source: TwitterOfficial statement by Chef Dammy. Source: Twitter
“After the support I have received from fans, well-wishers and many notable individuals in the society, I, Adeparusi Damilola, popularly known as Chef Dammy, and my team have decided to hold another cook-a-thon programme next month. This time, it will be held for 150 hours and it will be duly registered with the Guinness World Records,” she said.
The 22-year-old chef had undertaken a 120-hour cook-a-thon challenge just weeks after Hilda Baci’s cook-a-thon, aiming to surpass her record. However, there were allegations that she was not adhereing to the rules as she was taking long The endeavour sparked a wide range of positive and negative reactions from Nigerians across various social media platforms.
Initially, the chef had expressed her intention to undertake the 120-hour cook-a-thon with the goal of surpassing Hilda’s record. However, she later clarified that her primary motivation was to challenge her own culinary limits, rather than being solely driven by a desire for a world record.
Additionally, she refuted the circulating rumour regarding her manager and pastor, Jeremiah Adegoke, who is the pastor of Spirit Word Global Mission Church, that he had been pocketing the funds she had received so far.
“There have been many discussions and rumours ongoing about the Pastor of Spirit Word Global Mission Church, who is also my manager, pocketing all the funds that have been coming in to me.”
“People always criticise about the money coming in, but they don’t ask about the money that was used to start the whole programme. The programme was fully funded by my pastor and some few members of the church. I was not involved in anything; the only thing I did was cook,” she stated.
Ajournalist in Cross River state, Agba Jalingo, has accused a member of the state anti-deforestation committee, Anthony Cyril Asuquo, of threatening to launch a violent attack on him.
Jalingo told The ICIR that Asuquo threatened to punish him severely for investigating and revealing the “misconduct of government authorities” in the state and writing a negative statement about him.
According to him, he (Asuquo) had promised to kill him within 30-60 days and end his work as a journalist in the state.
He said, “Asuquo said he would be carrying out a violent attack that would cause me to vomit from the nose and beg for mercy.
“He called me and threatened to kill me. He said he knew the address, my wife, and my daughters. He said I had crossed the line. But this will not stop me from doing my job.”
Jalingo, the publisher of Cross River Watch, a media organisation located in the state, had made a post on Tuesday, June 6 on his Facebook account accusing some members of the recently created Cross River state anti-deforestation committee of contributing to the illegal felling of trees in the state.
He described those he accused as some of the most notorious loggers in the state.
In his post, Jalingo alleged, “Charles Ikpeme, Chairman of the Anti-Deforestation Committee, is a known illegal timber dealer. He operates in the Akamkpa forest.
“Pius Abang, Secretary of the Anti-Deforestation Committee, is also the Secretary of G7 Timber Association, a criminal illegal timber cartel.
“Cyril Asuquo Anthony, member of the Anti-Deforestation Committee, is also an illegal timber dealer operating in Nyaghasang.”
The threat
Jalingo said Asuquo called him on Tuesday night, hurling insults at him and issuing threats.
In an audio recording received by The ICIR, a voice Jalingo said was Asuquo’s vowed to track down the journalist’s location and brutalise him for working to hold the state government and other political office holders to account.
“You have the right to go on social media to write something about me? Agba, Enough is enough, you can do this to other people, but the day I meet you, you will not know I will meet you.
“Don’t worry, I have started asking about you, and I will get all the information I need about you. I know about you; I know where you live.
“You call me a thief? You call me a thief on social media? The day I see you, you go vomit from your nose.
“Must you write everything? Must you write everything you see? I will stop you from writing on social media, don’t worry. I give you 60 days or 30 days, and you will receive the punishment. Let’s all watch out.
“I’ll use koboko and flog you 20 times and you will beg,” he snarled.
Unperturbed, Jalingo said the threats and attacks that journalists suffered in the state were as a result of government bodies encouraging criminals.
He called for more media organisations in the state, noting that political thugs, among others, were pushing against accountability.
“This is just their first layer of reaction. They are trying to push us back. If they succeed, they will continue, and if not, they will eventually find out that the pen is mightier than the sword.
“There are occasions when I feel scared, particularly for my family. But what is dominating my heart is the feeling that nothing will happen,” he said.
On June 11, The ICIR reached out to Cyril Anthony Asuquo to speak on the subject. However, he did not pick up his calls. Subsequently, text messages were sent but he also did not respond.
THE Lagos state government is set to demolish 17 distressed buildings used for commercial purposes at the Alaba International Market, Ojo.
The general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, disclosed the planned demolition and gave the final warning and vacation notices to the occupants of the affected buildings during an assessment visit to the market on Friday, June 16.
According to Oki, the planned demolition was meant to save lives, adding that the government valued the lives of residents more than the cost of any property.
The LASBCA chief said the occupants had received multiple notices since 2016, but rather than take the required measures, chose to physically harass LASBCA’s officials.
Oki, condemning the spate of harassment, said that seven years’ notification was enough for the occupants of the buildings marked for demolition to have vacated the structures and comply with the notices issued by LASBCA and other government agencies.
He added that the agency had to seek the help of the Lagos State Task Force to avoid further attacks from the occupants.
“These buildings marked within this Alaba International Market would have been included in the list of 349 distressed building earlier published in different national newspapers this year but because the occupants were always harassing our officers, it was impossible to capture the details of the structures and include them in the publication.
“What we have done now is a joint exercise carried out by both the Lagos Task Force officers and the demolition gang of the Lagos State Building Control Agency.
“The demolition of the distressed buildings within the ALABA International Market has become an urgent and essential task due to the potential hazards they present to nearby structures and the safety of the market’s business community.
“We know that this area is a commercial centre and one of the busiest markets in Lagos State, but despite this, we cannot fold our arms and allow irregularities to continue to thrive in the market where lives of innocent persons would be put at risk because of the failure of a few set of individuals who have refused to do the needful,” he said.
Oki pleaded with Lagosians to always inform the relevant government agencies about distressed buildings and infractions noticed in their neighborhoods.
Oki further warned all Lagos residents and property owners to desist from patronising touts and impostors for processing of building approvals in an attempt to subvert due process.
He stressed that LASBCA would not spare any effort in pulling down identified distressed structures.
THE Governorship and House of Assembly election in Lagos witnessed violence; in this report, Bankole ABE tracked and spoke with victims and witnesses across different parts of the state.
The 2023 elections have come and gone, won and lost, but the scars and pains deposited in the heart of many Nigerians linger on.
The sordid tales of blood, tears and lasting pains abound despite the assurances of security in Lagos during the governorship election made by the Police Commissioner, Idowu Owohunwa.
Surulere…
The Presidential election on Saturday, February 25, came with its share of violence. Jennifer Edifi, was attacked at her polling unit in Surulere.
Jennifer Edifi, at her Polling unit, after she was attacked courtesy of Businessday NG
Edifi, a mother of two, who went viral after the incident, went out to vote but was attacked and returned home with a battered face courtesy of political thugs.
However, her courageto return to her polling unit 065 in Surulere to cast her vote despite the attack made many celebrate her as a heroine of democracy.
Like Edifi, many Nigerians were enthusiastic about voting in the governorship election. The reason for their enthusiasm cannot be far-fetched; the Police in Lagos and at the National level have assured that the election will be well secured.
The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) responsible for conducting elections in the country has repeatedly stated that the 2023 elections will differ from previous polls.
With these assurances in mind and armed with their voter’s card, many Lagos residents woke up energised about voting; some of them, voting for the first time, arrived at their polling units, eager to vote, but some ended up disappointed and battered.
Ojo…
The ICIR earlier reported the case of 65 years old John Kadiri* (Not real name), who resides in Iba Town, Ojo area of the state; he was rudely woken up at midnight on Sunday, March 19, a day after the election and was told the Oba of the area wanted to see him.
“At this time of the night? He asked, “Let me quickly put on something,” he pleaded, but according to him, his pleas were rejected.
Picture of John Kadir* after the attack
He was not allowed to put on any cloth or take anything. On the way to the palace, he was stabbed several times. The Oba has, however, deny any involvement. Click HERE for a detailed report on Kadiri.
Somolu…
Also tragic is the case of 68-year-old Simon Maduekwe, who died from a commotion arising from the activities of political thugs during the election.
Gloomy faces greeted The ICIR reporter when he arrived at the residence of the late Maduekwe in Somolu Lagos on Sunday, April 16. Madukwe’s widow, Grace, sat quietly surrounded by her children.
The atmosphere was that of despair and grief. One could not have expected anything different from a family that had just lost their patriarch.
After a few minutes of silence, the son of the deceased, Somtochukwu, summoned the courage to speak. “To take you back, the Presidential election happened on February 25, so the polling unit for the two streets, Fatomi and Nnaemeka, had one entrance and one polling unit, and it was stationed in front of our house,” he explained.
Healing wound on Austin Asuerimen’s head
Somtochukwu said the ruling party has constantly lost the location, which he said might be due to the predominance of non-indigenes in the area.
“So most of the time, the ruling party are constantly losing this particular polling unit, so during the presidential election, they lost this polling unit, so they were unhappy that they lost the polling unit and the others like the senatorial and the rest.
“So they were unhappy about it and even wanted to scatter the place that very day; they just freed it. We already knew that during the governorship election, they might allow the Presidential election to slide but will not allow the governorship to slide. So they were already angry about what happened during the presidential,” the grieving young man said.
Somtochukwu and some of his siblings. Picture by ICIR 16/04/2023
On how his father died, he said the problem started when some thugs invaded the Polling unit stationed in front of their compound with dangerous weapons and noticed that someone was recording them. The person ran into their compound.
“They got angry, rushed him, and he ran into the compound, and they were pushing the gate, then they overpowered him. “
“I went down with my younger brother to meet them. We now met them at the back, where they were threatening him, so someone came and begged them that they should let him delete the video, and he deleted the video in my presence, but they kept threatening him that they would deal with him.”
“So we all left the compound to go outside to resume normal voting; the place was still rowdy because people were still angry about what happened; that was when I heard my dad’s voice. He now called one of them to complain that he didn’t like how they were beating people and running into his compound”.
“It was during that commotion; this was within a split second, the next thing I was seeing my dad was falling on the ground and collapsing so because I removed my eyes after he made that complaint, so I don’t know if someone pushed him during that process; he fell, hit his head on the ground, so people started screaming then I now rushed to him.
“He was looking unconscious, so people tried their possible best to see if they could revive him, but he wasn’t still responding, so we had to look for a vehicle; so one APC guy brought his vehicle, then we drove him to the hospital, Somolu General hospital so the doctor did a CPR on him, checked his pulse and vitals there was none so she told us she now said we brought my dad late. That was what happened to my dad.
“If those boys had not come to start causing chaos here, my father might still be alive.”
“He was okay. He was 68, he had High Blood Pressure that he was managing, and he usually goes to the hospital to manage his BP,” Somtochukwu stated after a brief pause.
Somtochukwu urged on by his siblings, said he cannot ascertain if his father was pushed, “but in the midst of the chaos, that’s when he fell; the way he fell was not normal,” he said.
Invitation card for Maduekwe’s burial
“We took him to the East on Tuesday after the election. The Wake Keep is on April 27 in Lagos; he will be buried on May 12,” he added.
Trade fair…
A party agent with the Labour Party in the Trade fair area in Lagos Onyeka also told The ICIR how his brother was shot and killed by thugs on Saturday, March 18.
Onyeka confirmed the incident but declined further comment on the matter.
Other victims of electoral violence in Lagos
Ojo…
Austin Esuriemen, an agent of the Labour Party at Polling Unit 080 Cele Oluwatedo, Ishashi, Ojo, Lagos, never imagined being attacked and brutalised in his neighbourhood by anyone in the area where he is known.
“I was one of the agents injured during the governorship election at my polling unit.”
Healing wound on Austin Asuerimen’s head
“I was attacked by some political thugs of the APC; they said because I was part of the Labour Party that we should not vote. That anybody they see there, they are going to injure him.”
“Actually, that morning, they came when we were all getting ready to exercise our voting right. They came and told us to leave.”
“Later, they brought some cars and buses with bottles, cutlasses, and jass known as Ibate, and they came and chased everybody with guns, even the police officers they left”.
“They attacked me because one pointed me to them because most of them knew me in the area.”
Austin stated that the thugs came from Igando, another axis.
Ikeja…
In Ikeja, Queen Ezeogu, was attacked during the governorship election. She sustained a fracture on her arm. She said the victory of the Labour Party (LP) during the Presidential election in Lagos, which was supposed to be a thing of joy, turned out to be a nightmare as it resulted in reorganisation in the ruling party’s camp and created fear in the heart of the opposition parties.
She said, “Even the agent we were supposed to work with, the number was shortened because people were afraid to come out and participate, so during the governorship election, we were short of agents, and because of that me too, I was afraid because I had gotten a threat already before the election. I didn’t take it seriously.”
“I have to handle the two polling units. Polling unit 042 and 077, Ikeja ward E.”
On how she sustained a broken hand, Queen said, “Some corp members came and brought out their ballot papers and were cancelling some things that some of us don’t know.
X-Ray result of Queen Ezeogu’s handResult of test conducted on Queen victim of Electoral violence in Lagos
“So one of us went close to check what they were doing, he saw them and brought his phone out to take evidence to snap, just then they just rushed him and asked him why is he ‘snapping’ them, they collected his phone.
“So the noise was much people were now gathering to see what was happening, so to avoid a problem, he brought out his phone to show them that nothing was there; they checked his trash.”
“Two men came and were asking the man where his phone was. I pleaded with them that there was no problem again; he brought his phone and started recording us; we were three women.”
“I asked him to delete my picture and video on his phone; that was how he slapped me; I was like, why? I threw the phone away; I threw the phone on the floor; the other people at the back rushed me; this one was hitting me, this one punched me, and my eyes were closed that day. I couldn’t see with these eyes.
“They were dragging me on the floor, marching me with on the same hand, they naked me, they naked me there “, she cried.
According to her, she met herself at Saint Leo Hospital, Ikeja, after the incident with pains and her hand badly damaged and was later taken to Igbobi orthopaedic hospital, where she has been receiving treatment since then.
Oshodi…
Another victim, Chidinma, said she almost died when she went out to vote in that election.
Chidinma, who said her husband had warned her not to talk about politics again, said she was attacked and humiliated and saw her life flash before her.
“In my own very eyes, I saw death surround me. Is this the better Nigeria?” she asked.
Chidinma at the hospital after being attacked at her polling unit. Courtesy Chidinma
“At my polling unit at Okota Oshodi / Isolo Balogun Ward 034, the Councillor on the street told his thugs and some of us that he failed to deliver his constituency during the Presidential Election and that if he failed again in this governorship, they will demote him.
“Barely 45 minutes, thugs came and threw all the ballot papers into the gutter.”
“In my hiding, I wept like a child. People were dipping their hands into the gutter to bring out the papers,” she stated.
Ikotun…
Freeman Freeman, a resident of Abaranje in Ikotun, Lagos, was attacked at his Polling unit at the Ola Farm area of Abaranje.
Freeman Freeman, A victim of Electoral violence In Lagos during the 2023 governorship election.
In a chat with The ICIR, Freeman narrated how he was beaten and injured by a group of thugs for coming out to exercise his voting right.
APC, LP and PDP speak
A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ojo area of the state who chooses to remain anonymous for fear of being attacked said the ruling party and its supporters unleashed violence on voters in the state to win the governorship election.
“They came with violence; their winning strategy was based on violence and intimidation. They released all their thugs on us to attack and humiliate our supporters. It was a very serious issue,” he said.
The PDP Lagos State chapter had earlier on Sunday, March 19, condemnedviolence, attacks and snatching of ballot boxes during the State’s Governorship/House of Assembly Elections.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Hakeem Amode, in a statement in Lagos on March 19, said the violence led to the death of some persons.
“The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is using this medium to condemn the spate of violence and attacks that trailed the Governorship/State House of Assembly Elections, which took place in the state on Saturday,” Amode stated.
On her part, the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party in Lagos, Olubunmi Odesanya, said electoral violence in Lagos was rampant during the election.
She said several party members were stabbed and injured during the election.
“That there was electoral violence in Lagos State during the last elections is incontrovertible.
“The election (especially the Gubernatorial election of March 18, 2023) was marred with intimidation/harassment of voters; several of the Labour Party’s supporters were stabbed and injured, while some were killed.”
She added that the violence took place everywhere in Lagos and started very early when the APC thugs told opposition parties’ Supporters not to come out and vote if they won’t vote for APC.
“Violence occurred in Surulere, Apapa, Amuwo, Ikorodu, Lekki, Ajah, Epe Shomolu, Ojo, Mushin, Ikeja Etc. There was violence, harassment and intimidation in all the Local Governments and LCDAs in Lagos.”
“Labour Party recorded several casualties. More than 10 of our Supporters were stabbed and recorded various degrees of injuries, which led to death,” she added.
Speaking on the matter, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Gboyega Akosile, disagreed with the PDP and LP; he said that although there was violence, it was not widespread.
He described what happened in Lagos as a pocket of skirmishes in a few polling units.
“There was no “spread” of electoral violence in Lagos. They’re a pocket of skirmishes in some polling units. In fact, from the police reports, the violent units represented less than 1 per cent of the 13,325 polling units that spread across Lagos.
“So in your judgment, would you describe that as widespread as being promoted by the opposition, which some media outlets are also reporting? No, 1 per cent can’t be “widespread”, so there wasn’t anything like that in Lagos. The election was free, fair and credible,” Akosile said.
Witness accounts
Somolu…
A Resident of Somolu, Lagos, Dokun Ojumo, said that though his area was peaceful, he witnessed voters’ intimidation and harassment.
“The polling booths were crowded by APC followers who wanted to see whom you were voting for; hence there was little privacy.”
“Also, Yoruba people in the area threatened not to rent houses to Igbos and non-indigenes if they refused to vote APC,” Ojumo stated.
Igando…
Another resident of Lagos, Christopher Olalekan, who spoke to The ICIR in the Igando axis of the state, said he witnessed violent attacks on some polling units in his area.
“There was not much crisis at the Presidential election, but there was a serious issue in the Governorship election on March 18.
“It was so bloody; all those thugs came to the Igando area, scattered everywhere, injured many people with cutlasses, and chased everybody away,” Olalekan said.
Police intervention
Many people who spoke blamed the police for their inability to curtail the activities of the thugs that went on a rampage during the election.
Some, however, absolved the police of blame, claiming there was nothing the police could do about the level of thuggery and violence unleashed on the residents.
According to Ezeogo, who was attacked in Ikeja, the police were nowhere to be seen during the attack.
“The Police were not there; it was later that the CSO came was asking me what the problem was, then I was already beaten. Police have not reached out since then,” she said.
Olalekan quoted earlier, said that with what he saw, there was nothing the police could do.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa
“The Police were not able to contain them; they were more than the police in numbers. The ones there were just looking. You can’t blame them,” he said.
In his view, Somtochukwu, who lost his father to the election, said the police wanted to take up the case, but the family was not interested in pursuing the matter for peace to reign.
“We reported to the police; actually, the police wanted to take the case up, but we wanted to avoid pursuing the case. The family just felt we needed to let peace reign because of the kind of area we stay we don’t want to start making issues.
In the case of Asuriemen in Ishashi, the police absconded when the thugs arrived.
“We believed the police were going to help us out to secure us. We stood there and said we were going to vote, they came, and the police people left,” Asuriemen stated.
The Lagos CP, Owohunwa, in an interview with Channels TV after the election in March, said cases of violence in the governorship elections within the state were anticipated.
Owohunwa confirmed the attacks on voters and electoral officers at some Lagos polling units, saying, “It is true that we’ve recorded instances of violence in some areas within the state.”
He, however, added that the incidents were “not as widespread as to affect the general dynamics of the process”.
The State Police Command said 17 persons were arrested during the elections in the state for various offences.
In a chat with The ICIR, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the force attended to all cases recorded and reported nationwide.
“Every case brought to our notice officially has been handled. We have more than 400 suspects arrested and investigated in more than 700 incidents. These cases will be prosecuted by INEC according to the EA, 2022,” Adejobi said.
CSO’s view
Head of the Election program of the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), Paul James, said the purpose of electoral violence is to disrupt and undermine the electoral process.
“The general election, especially the 2023 general election, was signposted with electoral violence, vote-buying, ethnic profiling, and voter suppression.
“Election violence is bad because it is broad; I am going to provide details.
“What these politicians do is to disrupt the stronghold of their political opponents.
“We need to begin to review the aspect of the election as we begin to go forward,” James said.
He insisted on punishment for perpetrators of electoral violence to serve as a deterrent to others.
THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said close-circuit television (CCTV) can not checkmate the activities of ‘one-chance’ criminal gangs in the city.
Speaking on Thursday, June 15 at The ICIR Twitter space dialogue titled, ‘One-Chance: Abuja, Hotbed for Crimes on Commuters’, Aruwa Thomas, Head of Abuja Intelligent Integrated Traffic Information System (AIITIS), a department of Traffic Management, FCT Transportation Secretariat, said the police had tried the CCTV system for tracking criminals, but thieves carted the cameras away.
Thomas said, “You remember the time past when the police mounted CCTV. You recall that all of a sudden, these CCTV got missing. Those CCTV were very expensive. We thought that as beautiful as CCTVs are, you have to hide them to provide security.
“I know that the government is working on something. I might not talk much about that. Even the Transport Secretariat is bringing up something that if you even need to steal it, it will be useless.”
He disclosed that the FCTA was making efforts to integrate all commercial vehicles in the city and give them codes so they could be easily tracked.
He blamed overpopulation for the transportation crisis in the city.
Sharing his experience, Investigations Editor, HumAngle, Kunle Adebajo, said it was unfortunate the one-chance menace persisted in the city four years after he published an investigation into the problem.
Adebajo said that given the techniques criminals deploy in their trade, the transport system was no longer safe in the country.
“When the victims are lucky enough to be taken to the hospital, the hospital will ask for a police report, he said, adding, “I don’t think the police is doing enough. There are a lot of ways to deal with these problems.
“When I talked to the police, they said they had a rapid response. Sometimes, these guys will drive by, the police will not arrest them. Even the victims will scream, and help will not come their way from the police. The police can do more.”
A reporter with The ICIR, Theophilus Adedokun, shared his experience on how he fell victim to one-chance, including his investigation which exposed the strategies the criminals use, the pains they inflict on their victims, and the losses the victims suffer, including being killed when they protest being robbed of their possessions.
One of the contributors, Ogechi Odegbunam, narrated how challenging it is for the robbers’ victims to engage security agents to track their items.
Odegbunam said she once attempted to obtain a police report after falling victim to one chance, and the police demanded N80,000 from her.
The spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, a deputy superintendent of police, failed to show up at the meeting, despite getting an invitation from The ICIR.
THE Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has opened up on the killing of 38 people said to be innocent herders in Rukubi community, Doma local government area of Nasarawa State, in January.
The ICIR had reported how the Nasarawa State police command said it did not know the herders’ killers after the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) accused the Air Force of carrying out the attack.
According to the group, the deceased were returning from Makurdi, Benue State, where they had gone to retrieve their cattle seized by the state’s livestock guards.
On Friday, June 16, the Air Force, through its spokesperson, Ayodele Famuyiwa, an Air Commodore, said at a bi-weekly media briefing that the deceased were planning an attack to kidnap schoolchildren in a secondary school in the area.
He said the troops eliminated the deceased after much surveillance on their activities for days.
Famuyiwa challenged MACBAN and others who supported the group’s claim on the killing to provide pictorial evidence that the Air Force killed innocent herders.
He also said since those killed were eliminated, there had never been any issue of insecurity, including terrorists attack in the area.
He assured that the military had the evidence of killing the “terrorists” but would not make it public.
“The position with the Nigerian Air Force is that terrorists were struck that day and whether it is Miyetti Allah or whatever group that thinks they were innocent people, let them provide the evidence.
“If you think the military is going to give you the evidence of that operation for now, you won’t get it because there are some pieces of information that cannot be declassified now, but let’s put the burden on the people. If they came there to collect their cow, where are the cows? Where is the picture of the truck that was struck? How did those people die?” he asked.
Famuyiwa explained that before January 24, there had been intelligence from several reliable sources on the activities of terrorists in the area.
He noted that there had been an ongoing operation in the state – the Operation Whirl Stroke – adding that the intelligence with the security forces from several sources, including the operation’s commander was that there was a plan by the terrorists within the area to carry out “massive attacks.”
He added, “There was a secondary school in question where they also planned to kidnap students, too. To that extent, the Air Force carried out surveillance. Remember there had been several intel that built up to that. But this particular intel, there was surveillance and the surveillance confirmed terrorists. I mean terrorists!
“And how did we know that they were terrorists? Because they have tactics they adopt; you see them coming on bikes in triples, converging at a location and after that, they disappear hiding under the forage. That surveillance continued almost throughout the day until later in the evening when a truck appeared on that scene.”
He said the truck was suspected to have brought logistics to the “terrorists,” claiming that was why the approval was given by the appropriate authority, leading to a surveillance on the truck, and the resultant onslaught from the military.
“If you say people died, where is the truck? Where are the cattle? There was a truck. Where is the photograph of the dead bodies?” he queried.
