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#ENDSARS: “Hacktivist” Anonymous, hacks NBC twitter handle Twitter account in support of #EndSARS campaign
The official twitter handle of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been hacked and allegedly taken over by decentralised international ‘hacktivist’ group “Anonymous”.
The Nation checks revealed activities on NBC’s twitter handle page were tweets and retweets of the #EndSARS protests/campaign against police brutality.
The group after take-over tweeted: “We #Anonymous are out to expose government’s secrets & dirty files Put an #ENDTOPOLICEBRUTALITY #Twitterdown #NBChacked”
“Good morning, great Nigerians. TGIF and it’s also a good day to #ENDSARS and #EndSWAT. Which government website(s) would you want us to play with? Drop your suggestions under this tweet. #TwitterDown #NBChacked.”
Earlier this week, the decentralised international ‘hacktivist’ group claimed to have hacked several government databases, including one which contains names and contacts of operatives of the now-defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).
The group also disclosed via its Twitter handle it had breached some Nigerian government websites.
“Nigeria: Anonymous hacks multiple government websites in solidarity with #EndSARS protestors and retribution for violence by police. #OpNigeria #EndSARS Protest,” it tweeted.
Anonymous is a decentralised group of anonymous hackers widely known for carrying out anonymous cyberattacks against governments and government agencies.
It was formed in 2003.
October 16, 2020
#EndSARS: Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
Protesters on Friday stormed the Magboro area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to continue their demonstration against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
The protesters were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions as they blocked the expressway, causing gridlock.
Speaking with our correspondent, a protester who identified himself as Amaechi, said, “We are all here on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway because there is a nationwide protest for the soul of our country.
“#EndSARS, #Endpolicebrutality, end bad governance, and wickedness to the Nigerian youths. It is time for the youths to take over.”
here have been protests in most parts of the country since Wednesday last week by Nigerians, mostly youths, who called for disbanding of SARS, accusing the police squad of corruption, high-handedness and harassment
On Sunday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, disbanded the squad and on Tuesday, he set up the Special Weapons and Tactics Team to replace the disbanded SARS.
Despite the disbanding of the squad, #EndSARS campaigners presented five demands to the Federal Government, which the later on Tuesday said it had accepted.
The campaigners’ five demands include release of all persons arrested by the disbanded police unit and justice for victims of police brutality; setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct (within 10 days); psychological evaluation of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed, and increase police salary so that they can be adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens.
But the protests took a fresh dimension on Wednesday when hoodlums bearing cutlasses and sticks attacked protesters in Lagos and Abuja.
October 16, 2020
Bajaj auto signs Okocha as brand ambassador
Bajaj Auto – the world’s leading manufacturer of 3-wheelers has partnered with Jay Jay Okocha, to endorse its commercial vehicle range consisting of 3-wheeler and 4-wheeler products.
Jay Jay Okocha is considered as one of Nigeria’s greatest and most skillful sports personality which is why Bajaj Auto is confident that the champion sportsman is a great fit for its modern product lineup, especially the soon to be launched “Superkeke”.
Speaking on his new brand association with Bajaj Auto, Jay Jay Okocha had this to say: “I am elated to be associated with the world’s no.1 3-wheeler company Bajaj Auto.
“They have a great legacy here in Nigeria. I am proud to endorse a brand whose products have been giving employment and fulfilling transportation needs for us Nigerians. I have personally seen how their kekes have been moving Naija forward over the years.”
Shaleen Nayak, Vice-President, West Africa, Bajaj Auto, said: “We are delighted to partner with a legend like Jay Jay Okocha in Nigeria, which is also our biggest international market.
” Who better than Jay Jay Okocha to take the values of our 3-wheeler and 4-wheeler offering forward. Our endeavor has always been to bring superior products to the Nigerian people. We will be launching the most superior keke Nigeria has seen, shortly. This ‘Superkeke’ as we fondly call it, will have the most differentiated features ever seen in the segment,”
Stallion Auto Keke Ltd. (SAKL), Nigeria is the distribution partner of commercial vehicle range for Bajaj Auto. With their assembly plant VON in Lagos, the group is committed towards generating employment and opportunities for the Nigerian economy.
Managing Director SAKL, Mr. Manish Rohtagi added that, “The Superkeke is a truly innovative and powerful product for the Nigerian roads. The company through its superior product and sharp service offerings and welfare initiatives will establish and forge long term partnership with the channel ecosystem and customers across Nigeria.
“Through these fulfilment partners we envisage providing employment opportunity to 5 million Nigerians directly and indirectly over the next 5 years. Bajaj has always been a trusted and admired brand in Nigeria, so is the case with Stallion, the synergy is going to take market by storm”.
The launch of the new Superkeke is slated for November 4th, 2020.
October 16, 2020
#EndSARS: Twitter unveil special #EndSARS emoji to reaffirm support for the campaign
Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey has revealed special #EndSARS Emoji after endorsing the movement against police brutality and other unlawful crimes in Nigeria.

Recall the tech boss tweeted his support for the #EndSARS protests and called for Bitcoin donations towards the movement two days ago.

Last night, Twitter experienced issues globally with large numbers of users unable to post tweets, access their timelines, or see notifications. After fixing these issues, Jack Dorsey revealed a special #EndSARS emoji, a fist with the colour of the Nigerian flag.
Nigerians have flooded his comment session to thank him for his support and the special #EndSARS emoji he created for the movement.
October 16, 2020
Nasarawa: Gov.Sule signs two investment bills into law.
Abel Leonard/ lafia
Nasarawa State Governor Engr.Abdullahi Sule has signed into law two bills for Nasarawa Investment Development Agency and Nasarawa State Mortgage Foreclosure law 2020.
The signing ceremony which took place at Government House Lafia had in attendance Speaker of the assembly Rt.Hon.Balarabe Abdullahi and other principal officers.
While signing the two bills, Governor Abdullahi Sule said his administration is committed to policies that would develop the investment frontires of Nasarawa State.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensure that the investment potentials in the state are fully utilized for the overall development of the state.
The Governor emphasized that the bills are meant to stimulate, protect and encouraged investors both locally and international into the state and will also provide enabling environment for them to operate.
While appreciating the support of the state assembly to policies and programmes of his administration he added that the proximity of the state to the federal capital placed it on the higher economic advantage.
The Speaker,Balarabe Abdullahi revealed that the bills have passed through all legislative processes noting that the Nasarawa State project is a collective agenda that they most all work together to delivered.
He restated the lawmakers resolved to give the Governor all the necessary support to succeed.
October 16, 2020
Benue students protest prolonged ASUU strike
From Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Disturbed by the prolonged rift between the federal government and the Academic staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Benue students have staged a peaceful protest to demand for the reopening of Universities in the state.
Findings by Day Break showed that the protest which lasted for more than an hour witnessed massive turn out of students from deferent universities who marched on the major streets of Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Day Break learnt that ASUU, had embarked on industrial action on 23rd March, 2020 to protest government’s directive to enroll all members on the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System, IPPIS. The union is also pressing home their demand for the implementation of the pact it had entered into with the federal government on the 2012 universities’ Needs Assessment. A 300 level student of the Benue State University Makurdi who did not want his name published told our correspondent that they are tired of staying at home, hence the need to embark on the protest.
October 15, 2020
No justification for retaining SARS in north – Shehu Sani
…As some kaduna residents frown at SARS Swap
By Ujah Simon, KADUNA
A lawmaker who represented kaduna central at the 8th National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, said the high level banditry, kidnapping and terrorism activities in the north are justification never to retain SARS. Shehu Sani explained that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has never proven to be an effective and reliable force in confronting, containing or combating the acts of criminalities in the area..
The human rights activist, who was reacting to some residents of Borno state, who took to the streets to protest the disbandment of SARS, on his verified twitter handle stated that the pro SARS protesters are Alsatians of the system.
According to Sani, “the dissolution of SARS; is a victory for all the voices of courage who spoke and stood in the defense of the freedom, rights and Justice for all Nigerians.
“A genuine democracy must always balance its security exigencies with its obligations to respect the constitutional rights of its people,” he twitted.
Similarly, some residents of Kaduna state, have expressed displeasure over the swapping of SARS to Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT), saying that it is a method of bringing back the same product in different brand.
One of the residents who spoke on the issue with journalists said, the swapping will still take the nation back to square one of police brutality.
He opined that holistic reform of the security architecture should be the priority of the Nigerian government than swapping from SARS to SWAT.
In his reaction, Yunus Yahaya said SARS to SWAT is a problem changing name, while the problem remains.
” To me, Nigeria’s SWAT may actually be next- level SARS,” Yahaya explained.
He also called for total reform of the Nigerian security architecture; from Police to Army, Navy and other security agencies.
October 15, 2020
2 killed in a protest against 3 months Curfew in S/kaduna buried – SOKAPU
By Ujah simon, kaduna
Two persons allegedly killed by Nigeria army during a protest by youths against three months Curfew imposed in their community in Sanga local government area of southern kaduna have been buried, Southern kaduna people’s Union (SOKAPU), has said..
Those killed, including Emmanuel Nuhu 20, a 200 level student of Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya and his married cousin, Tina Julius 34, with 4 children, were buried in their separate compound homes “after a grim funeral service at the 1^st ECWA Church, Fadan Karshi, Sanga Local Government Area in Southern part of Kaduna state.
A statement issued and made available to journalists in kaduna on Thursday by the Union stated that the two were shot dead last Sunday (11^th October, 2020) by armed personnel of Operation Safe Haven (OpSH) during a peaceful demonstration staged by the youths of the town against an unofficial curfew imposed on the town by OpSH, made up of the military and paramilitary personnel, since June 2020.
Signed by the national public relations officer of SOKAPU Mr, Luka Binniyat, the statement disclosed that those killed were buried on Wednesday morning,14^th October, 2020, by the community.
“Two were shot dead last Sunday(11^th October, 2020 by armed personnel of Operation Safe Haven (OpSH) during a peaceful demonstration stage by the youths of the town against an unofficial curfew imposed over the town by OpSH made up of the military and paramilitary personnel since June this year”, it stated
SOKAPU stated that their “Findings showed that the curfew was enforced with severe brutality that spared not even elderly and respectable members of the small town who found themselves outside only during the 6pm -6am curfew hours. Yet, there had been no case of any breach of public peace in Fadan Karshi for years now.
“Fadan Karshi, a busy junction town with high commercial activities has been greatly affected by the three and half months curfew and some residents have had to leave the town out of frustration and fear.
“It was based on the negative consequences of the over three months curfew that youths of the town staged a peaceful protest to the palace of the District Head of Fadan Karshi, Very Reverend (Dr.) Joel Galadima (retired), last Sunday afternoon, calling on him to appeal to Operation Safe Heaven, stationed in the area to lift the curfew.
In the process, armed members of Operation Safe Haven appeared at the scene.
“Our investigation showed that about a week earlier, Emmanuel Nuhu was severely brutalized by soldiers of the OpSH during a misunderstanding between him and some other person, after which his dad, a poor farmer, who is hardly literate, treated his son of the injuries he sustained and left the rest to God, as narrated to SOKAPU.
According to SOKAPU, when the OpSH arrived the scene of the peaceful demonstration, a soldier (who residents said, is notorious for his brutality and can identify him any time) sighted Emmanuel Nuhu. He cocked his gun and fired at armless youth.
“The bullet hit him, but he managed to make a dashed to the nearest wall. Before he could scale the wall, another bullet got him on the leg as the youths scampered into safety in panic.
“Tina Julius, on seeing that her cousin was shot, started screaming hysterically. This seemed to have irritated another armed OpSH personnel (a mobile police man) who also cocked his gun and shot the mother of four children in the head and she died on the spot. “Meanwhile the soldier that had earlier shot Nuhu followed him into the compound of late Silas Jamu ( over whose wall he had jumped into) and found him helpless in the pool of his blood, shot him again in the heart and finished him up. The OpSH team then left”, it stated
It further Stated that “After their grisly murder, the youths became livid and became violent.They burnt down the palace of the District Head and a police vehicle and mounted roadblocks in anger, which SOKAPU does not support.
“When SOKAPU reached out to Sector Commander of Operation Safe Haven in charge of the Area, one Major Ezeigbo, denied that a curfew was imposed over Fadan Karshi.
He said it was “an order of restriction of movement” introduced by him after he discovered that there was too much criminality in the town, according to his claims.
According to SOKAPU, the sector commander said that the town was a fertile ground for criminals and that there were more criminals among the youths of the town than good ones.
“He said that the demonstration by the youths was violent and that they attacked his men and even injured some. He said that the youths were armed and were firing at his men from behind. He denied that Emmanuel Nuhu was chased into a compound and finally shot dead. He said that Nuhu was shot at the scene of the demonstration.
“On the killing of Tina, he said he didn’t know how she got shot. But when the incident was getting ugly, he ordered his men out, according to him.
He later ensured that the road blocks were cleared for traffic to flow, he said.
“SOKAPU wants to make it unequivocally clear that we appreciate and acknowledge the good and risky work that Officers and Men of OpSH, under the command of Major General Chukwu Emeka are doing to secure Southern Kaduna.
“And we have always mobilised for its support from all our communities. But he must rein on his troops to stop the use of crude and brute force on our already traumatized communities.
“For emphasis, we condemned in very strong terms the abuse of power and deployment of cruelty on harmless civilians.
The killings of Emmanuel Nuhu and Tina Julius must not be swept under the carpet. We call on the Minister of Defense, Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and all relevant government authorities to immediately launch an investigation into the killings of these two young Nigerian citizens. “The process and findings should be made public.
We call for the immediate lifting of the illegal curfew foisted Fadan Karshi.
“We are also calling on the Nigeria Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, Civil Liberty Organization all Human Rights groups and all men and women of goodwill to show interest in this case.
We insist on #Justice4Nuhu&Tina”, the statement added.
October 15, 2020
Omo-Agege calls for improved South South economic integration
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege has urged governors of the South-South to foster regional economic integration through massive investments in infrastructure.
Omo-Agege made the call on Thursday in his goodwill message at the second annual general meeting of the Forum of South-South Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(FOSSCCIMA) in Uyo.
The Deputy Senate President who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Godwin Anaughe, encouraged governors of the region to build superhighways and railways to link the BRACED states.
He also tasked the governors on investment in the power and gas sector, adding that such infrastructure and facilities would ginger economic activities, growth and enterprise in the region.
”One important lesson of the COVID-19 debacle is that it can no longer be business as usual. The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global economic downturn have also accentuated the importance of economic integration as engines of growth and development, in many economies of the world.
”For the South-South region, the need for economic growth calls for economic integration that would help set the entire region on a more prosperous growth path. I wish to make it very clear, however, that the economic integration of the South-South is not a short term answer to the current socio-economic problems of the region.
”Rather, it is the long-term answer to the question of South-South economic growth, diversification, competitiveness, enterprise and jobs.” He said.
Omo-Agege, who hailed the coming together of the six States of the region to form BRACED some years back, however, said the idea behind it’s formation has not been achieved due lack to commitment.
”The quest for regional economic integration in the South-South is not new. Over a decade ago, the governors of the region floated the same idea and sought to forge closer economic cooperation and integration among the six states of the South-South geo-political zone namely Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Edo and Delta (BRACED).
”The BRACED states sought to deepen their collaboration in the areas of education, human capacity development, information and communication technology, infrastructure development, agriculture and investment.
”Regrettably however, this bold attempt at regional economic integration aimed at pooling of resources together, stimulating production, trade and investment which would have alleviated poverty failed as the BRACED Commission established to drive the process remained ineffective.” He lamented.
The highpoint of the occasion was the investiture of Dr. Okon Emah as the new president of FOSSCCIMA) who in his acceptance speech called for the diversification of the region’s economy as crude oil revenue could no longer sustain the region.
Emah said the region should revert to tapping the agricultural potentials in oil palm, kernel, mineral resources and the development of its seaports.
October 15, 2020
Gbajabiamila tasks constitution review panel to listen to many voices
…says answer to Nigeria’s development questions lies in new constitution
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has asked the Special Committee on Constitution Review of the House to engage as many voices as possible in the course of its work.
Gbajabiamila said the committee, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase, should also consider the expectations of different interest groups among Nigerians.
Inaugurating the committee at the National Assembly on Thursday, the Speaker said the House is determined to come up with a constitution that addresses most of the current challenges facing the country.
“Mr Chairman, Honourable Members of this Committee, I do not envy the enormous amount of work you have in front of you. However, I know you have an abundant capacity to execute this important assignment and deliver on our joint commitments to the Nigerian people.
“I encourage you during this assignment to seek out and listen to as many voices as possible. Engage with as many interest groups as possible, reject misinformation, document the stories of our people, consider their expectations.
“Let the work you do demonstrate that this House of Representatives is fully capable of reflecting the most urgent concerns of the Nigerian people and acting in their best interests. I am confident that you will act judiciously and produce for the consideration of the House of Representatives, a quality report we can implement expeditiously,” he said.
The Speaker said the House is commencing the “constitutional review process at a time of great and ongoing upheaval in our country.
“New challenges emerge daily from every corner. Some of these challenges are of our own making, and others, we could not have foreseen or been prepared for.
“Whichever may be the case, the Nigerian people look up to us as government to proffer solutions that work, to do the heavy lifting of writing a new constitution, one better suited to our current aspirations and reflecting our vision of the future.”
He said when the House updated its Legislative Agenda two months ago, one thing that was made abundantly clear during the preparation of the document was that “the answer to many of our development questions lies in the pages of a new Nigerian constitution.”
“When you ask me what the state of our nation is, the honest answer is this: we are in a fight for the very survival of our country and the continuation of the Nigerian project. Recent global developments have exposed all our systemic weaknesses so that we can no longer pretend to ourselves that things are on an even keel and slow progress is enough to get us to where we ought to be yet are still so far away from.
“This 9th House of Representatives has since committed to the cause of reform. Our commitment must neither waver nor wane on the matter of thoughtful and fair overhaul of our nation’s constitution.
“The reality of our current circumstances and the now certain knowledge that only we can save ourselves imposes on us an obligation to act with greater determination and all the urgency this moment calls for.”
Noting that “the ongoing evolution of our nation’s democracy requires of us that we continually review and update the rules of our engagement,” Gbajabiamila said, “Every election season exposes significant gaps in the process that if left unaddressed, threaten our democracy.”
For this, the Speaker noted, the House would, through the constitution review process, ensure electoral reforms that would address the challenges in the electoral system.
“Electoral reforms are not a party-political issue, they are a matter of loyalty to an ideal that is greater than the party to which one belongs to, or the personal ambitions we may each hold.
“Electoral reforms are a matter of our nation’s future, and the process of setting out systems and protocols for managing how we choose our leaders and representatives begins with the Constitution. We must keep this in mind as we begin this process.”
On the #EndSARS protests going on for over a week in parts of the country, the Speaker said: “In addition to whatever other changes that may be caused by these protests, they have exposed the stinking underbelly of our nation’s policing system.”
With that, he said, “We now understand better why our federal police is often unable to effectively respond to the localised manifestations of insecurity across the different parts of our country.
“The simple truth is that we have a police that doesn’t have the trust of the people, and a policing system that doesn’t make for productive partnerships between the police and the communities they serve. However, for those of us who are out there, we must be careful not to lose the plot.
“The Inspector-General of Police has heard you and he has spoken. The House has spoken, even before now, and continues to speak. The President has been unequivocal and spoke clearly. It is now time to sit back and see what happens.
“I believe the Hand of God is on this Nation. The point has been made, and the Government in all its layers has responded. Let us sit back and see if the Government does what it has committed to do. Which I have all assurances, and as your Speaker I pass these assurances on to you.
“Honourable colleagues, overcoming our overwhelming national security challenges now requires of us all that we be willing to accept new approaches and consider novel ideas. Neither the security institutions nor political leaders can afford to hold on too tightly to a status quo whose frustrating limitations are painfully evident, whilst reflexively rejecting innovations that may improve our fortunes if properly implemented.”
October 15, 2020