Category: News
You can add some category description here.
Mob burn Nnamdi Azikiwe’s statue in Anambra
A mob in Anambra state has set the statue of the pioneer President of Nigeria, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, on fire in Onitsha.
The statue was at Denis Memorial Grammar School Roundabout, Awka Avenue, Onitsha, known as Zik Roundabout. While the mob were on a rampage, they doused the statue with petrol before setting it on fire.
As they burnt the statue, the mob were shouting “You put us in this mess by championing one Nigeria,” “You are the cause of our trouble,” amongst other uncomplimentary remarks.
In several parts of the country, hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protest, causing wanton destruction of lives and properties and forcing different state government’s to impose curfew.
#ENDSARS: Senator Wamakko Commends Northern Youths For Not Partaking In #EndSARS Protest
By Ibrahim Muhammad, Sokoto
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence and Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti Corruption, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has commended patriotic youths in the northern parts of Nigeria for refusing to join the violent #ENDSARS protests that had erupted in the southern parts of Nigeria.
This was contained in a release signed and issued to newsmen by his media aide, Bashir Rabe Mani.
It further said Wamakko, who represents Sokoto North Senatorial District, made the commendation at his Sahabi Dange Road, Sokoto, residence on Thursday, when he addressed a mammoth crowd of youths shortly after his return from an official trip in Abuja.Senator Wamakko added:” I am highly elated with the disciplined and peaceful disposition of the northern youths , even in the face of the provocations and altercations occasioned by the protests that turned violent and lost their original focus , as well as intentions.”
The Lawmaker also wondered why the dastardly and destructive protests raged on even when the Federal Government had acceded to the demands of the protesters .
Wamakko said: ” One of the key demands of the protesters was the disbandment of the SARS Unit and it was immediately disbanded .
” Even President Muhammadu Buhari himself had earlier told the youths that they had good intentions, only for them to deviate from the initial noble cause.”
Sen Wamakko described the youths as the beacons of hope in the country, hence should not allow themselves to be used by some disgruntled, unpatriotic , egocentric and disloyal zealots.
He reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to the Nigerian project , as well as ensuring that, the youths fully realize all their budding potentials.
#EndSARS: DJ Switch recounts horrific experience during Lekki shooting
Popular female disc jockey, DJ Switch, who streamed the Lekki shooting on her Instagram Live while it was happening has recounted the horrors she faced when soldiers opened fire on the peaceful protesters at the Toll Gate on Tuesday.
In a video, which she posted on her Instagram account, the DJ claimed that both the Nigerian Army and Police were responsible for the shooting.
She said they aimed and shot at the protesters while they held the Nigerian flag and sang the national anthem.
DJ Switch said, “Yes, there were soldiers there. Another thing people are not talking about is that the Police were also there. The SARS people we are talking about also came about 45 minutes after the soldiers left. We were tear-gassed; the tear gas felt like Cotonou pepper mixed with acid.
“We would run and come back and the only thing we fought with was our flags. We would sit on the floor; raise our hands up singing the national anthem. That was all we had. They put off the lights, even if there was no power supply on a good day, in that axis, there is always light at the Toll Gate. It was pitch-black.”
Amidst tears, the disc jockey recounted how a boy saved her life but was later shot in the process. “A boy jumped on me and kept shouting, ‘cover her, cover her.’ I did not even understand why he did that. They shot that boy while he was on my back,” she said.
In the video, she showed some of the bullets the protester picked up which she referred to as proof. She also showed a bullet that was removed from the lap of one of the victims.
She said, “While the soldiers were picking their shells, we were running around picking their shells too because we wanted proof.
“The military, they were there on Nigerian soil, killing Nigerian citizens. The police and SARS people came doing the same thing. Aiming and shooting; aiming, they were pointing the guns at us and shooting live bullets. Who takes live bullets to a protest? Who does that?”
Switch urged the Nigerian leaders not to insult the intelligence of its people by downplaying the incident. The disc jockey also claimed that the Nigerian army went away with most of the corpses.
“To our leaders, please I urge you not to insult the intelligence of Nigerians and their families. Something I think about now in hindsight is, I wish we had not done it, but we carried the dead bodies and dropped it at the feet of the soldiers so that they could see what they did to us. When I asked their unit commander, ‘Why are you killing us?’ I wish we had not done that because they ended up throwing the dead bodies in their vans. This happened till the next morning,” she said.
While reacting to fake news being peddled in her name, DJ Switch denied stating that 78 people died during the shooting; however, she said she counted about 15 dead people.
“I also want to appeal to the people opening fake accounts in my name; please it is already hard as it is. People risked their lives to get me out of the place I call my home. Please, stop saying things you do not know. I understand things are hard and difficult. In this era of social media, you want to get followership that can help you make some money; I understand but at least copy the truth and put it out. That is all I am asking.
“Please, I never said 78 people died, I do not know that. I do know that as at the time I was doing the Live video, seven people had died. When my battery died we had counted about 15 people. I don’t know if it was more than that because we had a lot of people that were hit by stray bullets. 78 people? I do not know where you got that information from,” the disc jockey said.
Despite all she went through, she stated that she would still continue with the peaceful protest. She emphasised that the protesters should ensure that the protest is peaceful.
She said, “We must continue to move because if we stop, it might take the next 60 years before we talk about this again. We must continue but we must continue peacefully.
“I condemn any sort of violence. I condemn the burning of buses and the source of people’s livelihood. I know we are angry but the most powerful weapon we have is peace. Let us continue, I cannot wait to come back because I will definitely be back on the street peacefully.”
Why Osun was yet to distribute COVID-19 palliatives —Official
The Osun Food and Relief Committee has said contrary to reports circulating in the public space, it did not hoard COVID-19 palliatives stored in a warehouse in Ede, Osun State.
The scores invaded the warehouse on Friday and looted COVID-19 palliatives majorly foodstuffs before the arrival of security operatives.
Explaining in a statement, the Secretary of the Committee, Bayo Jimoh, said the relief materials were donated to the state government by the Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19 also known as CACOVID.
Jimoh said the food items were not hoarded but his committee had not received the order to distribute the food items as more items were expected from Abuja.
According to the statement titled, ‘Ede Warehouse Attack: Putting the Records Straight,’ Jimoh said, “We are in receipt of information that the warehouse in Ede, where has been attacked and food items carted away.
“It has, therefore, become imperative to put the records straight in view of the falsehood and the misinformation making the rounds about the donated relief items.
“One, it is not true that the food items were hoarded.
“Two, the food items have no direct bearing with the State Government, as they are within the purview of the Food and Relief Committee.
“Three, the items can only be distributed after a formal flag-off by the CACOVID Office, Abuja.
“Four, we do not have the authority to distribute the food items without approval from Abuja.
“Besides, the Committee is still expecting the rice component of the donated items, which is 40, 230 bags of 5kg.
“All these are part of the reasons the items were still in the warehouse up till the time of the invasion.”
The statement added, “The following items were donated: Pasta FMN – 29, 992; Pasta OLAM -10, 282; Noodles- 80, 644; Garri -40, 322; Salt- 40, 320; and Sugar – 40, 227.”
It said “the rice components of the donated items are yet to be delivered up until now” despite a letter written to that effect.
There have been reports of widespread arson and violence in the past few days as rampaging hoodlums loot, raze and destroy public and private assets around the country.
Some persons had also on Thursday plundered a warehouse housing COVID-19 palliatives in the Mazamaza community of Amuwo Odofin Local Government in Lagos State.
#EndSARS: PDP suspends campaign, other political activities
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has put on hold all of its scheduled political and electioneering activities, including campaign, in honour of young Nigerians who lost their lives during the attack on peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll Gate and elsewhere across the country.
This was contained in a press statement titled “#EndSARS: PDP Puts Political, Electioneering Activities on hold,” signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The statement read in part “The PDP has put all its political and electioneering activities on hold as a further mark of honour for Nigerian youths who were killed at the Lekki Toll Gate as well as other killings that have occurred in various parts of our nation over the unfortunate fall-out of the EndSARS peaceful protest.
“The PDP had earlier on Thursday night directed that its flags in all its offices nationwide be flown at half-mast in solidarity with the mood of the nation at this trying time.
“Also our party has been made aware of the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the pending bye-elections in 6 senatorial districts and 9 state constituencies in 11 states of the federation, earlier scheduled for October 31, due to the crisis situation in the country.”
The party noted that although its decision comes at a high cost to candidates and political parties, it believes that its decision was a step in the right direction under the prevailing circumstance.
Lekki Massacre: Ohanaeze warns against ethnicizing End SARS protest
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization has warned against any insinuation of ethnic bias in the ongoing End SARS protest in the country, pointing out that the protest was by youths of Nigeria calling for an end to police brutality including poor governance.
Ohanaeze also noted that the youths of Nigeria have the right to express their feelings over the ongoings in the nation and no security agent has the right to stop such right or brutalise them the more
It warned mischief makers using ethnic or regional bias as an alibi to burn cars and properties of innocent businessmen in Abuja or other places to desist from such, warning that the experiences of the past when national issues were ethnicised and used as an excuse to visit pogrom on a section of the country, will never be tolerated again.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo gave the warning in a statement by its spokesman, Chuks Ibegbu and made available to DAILY POST, on Friday.
According to the Igbo socio-cultural body, “the issues Nigerian youths of all ethnicity are calling for are genuine and the government should address them.
“The issue of judicial reforms, security reforms, political reforms, economic reforms, social reforms etc must be looked into. The jumbo pay of politicians and the high cost of governance in Nigeria needs to be revisited. The nation is due for a total overhaul for her citizens”.
Ohanaeze, however, advised the protesting youths to maintain decorum, warning hoodlums and miscreants to desist from polluting the protests and loud-mouthed jingoists within or outside the country from stoking the situation.
“Zamfara State needs SARS” – Governor Matawalle Reveals
Governor Bello Matawalle has stated that the recently disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was vital to securing lives and properties in Zamfara state he governs.
The Governor who addressed newsmen after returning from a meeting of Northern Governors in Kaduna, called for deployment of officials of the disbanded police unit to Zamfara.
Matawalle said;
“We have recorded tremendous development in the area of peace building the Zamfara state with the commitment and professional contribution and support of the FSARS of the Nigeria Police.
“I will personally seek audience with Mr President on this issue. We need the FSARS or its equivalent in Zamfara state because we have seen their positive impact in spite their alleged excesses.”
DPO reportedly killed, police officers injured as hoodlums attack police stations in Anambra
A Divisional Police Officer has been reportedly killed and several officers injured on Friday, October 23, as hoodlums attacked various police divisions in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to the Special Assistant on New Media to Nnewi South LGA Chairman, Comrade George Moore, the hoodlums in large number attacked Osumenyi Police Division, set it ablaze, vandalised patrol vehicles and motorbcycles. He said the DPO was killed while an officer was seriously injured and has been rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
He further disclosed that the hoodlums equally attacked Ezinifite Police station, also in Nnewi South. No death recorded.
The hoodlums equally set ablaze Amichi Police Station. They also attacked Amichi Vigilante Commander, injured his son and set all the cars in his compound on fire.
Similarly, the hoodlums attacked another police station in Ukpor, Nnewi South and carted away arms.
Northern Governors against Anti-EndSARS protest.
..Says protest won’t change regime for Nigeria …As Benue State Governor absent
BY Ujah Simon, kaduna
Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) at the end of an emergency meeting held in kaduna said the ENDSARS protesters and hoodlums cannot change the regime for Nigerians.
The Forum made the statement on Thursday in a communique issued and presented by it’s Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong .The meeting extensively deliberated on issues bordering on National Security particularly Endsars Nationwide protest especially the wanton destruction of lives and property in some parts of the country.
It stated the that “Concerned by these development, the Northern States Governors Forum met and deliberated on the matter. The Forum however, expressed worry and concern on why the protests have persisted despite the magnanimity exhibited by the Federal Government and various State Governments calls from well-meaning Nigerians to put an end to the protest.
The meeting which deliberated on the various dimensions of Endsars protest in across the country noted that however acknowledged right to protest.
“While appreciating across constitutional rights of all citizen to express concern even by way of protest”, it however condemned the incessant destruction of lives and properties that ensued in the process.
“Forum commiserates with those who lost their lives, the wounded and those whose properties where destroyed.
“Forum strongly sues for unity and peaceful co-existence of all citizens and groups of people in Nigeria”, and urged all Nigerians to see themselves as equal citizens of the country as the unity of Nigeria cannot be compromised.
“The Forum regrets the diabolical influencers in form of hooliganism, ethno-religious bigots and even political marauders who are bent on pulling the nation down on its knees and pushing for regime change. “Forum also called on all Nigerians to resist these enemies of the nation by supporting Mr. President, the Federal Government and democracy at large.
“It appeal to all citizens to restraint themselves from
unwarranted display of sentiments, harassment and intimidation of other citizens resident in their home states”, noting that these are antics of enemies of the country, pushing violently for regime change outside the ballot box.
“Forum resolve further intensify their strategic engagements among different levels of stakeholders in their respective states.
“Forum also notes the heavy presence of external influencers both locally and internationally. Called on all citizens particularly community leaders and youth groups to be very vigilant and report the presence of such people to security agencies.
“The Forum calls for comprehensive and robust reforms in the Police Force. She supports various Federal Government initiatives put in place by the Federal Government and will ensure that they are fast track and given more impetus by the Nineteen (19) Northern states.
“The Forum advocates for the Constitution of Judicial Commission of enquiry to investigate all levels of destruction and killings during the Endsars protest.
“Calls for greater synergy between the state and the federal government in strengthening the unity, oneness and overall development of the country”, urging Federal Government to explore the possibility of ending ASUU strike. “Most of the youths are idle staying at home. “Forum further restates her commitment in exploring area of reviving the ailing economy of the North with reference to those areas of comparative advantage.
“The Forum is in synergy with other Governors in the South-West, South-South and South-East to address these challenges of nationhood headlong. Together we shall keep Nigeria united and indissoluble.
“The Forum restates its confidence in the unity of Nigeria and support all our colleagues in other states of the Federation in our collective efforts to restore peace and stability.
