Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: #ENDSARS

#EndSARS: Nigeria police reacts to protest at Lekki toll plaza
The Lagos State Police Command has reacted to reports that #EndSARS protest was staged in Lekki toll plaza.
The police on Monday, said, contrary to viral video, no #EndSARS protest was staged at the Lekki toll plaza.
According to the Punch, there is no protest or gathering at the Lekki as police officers manned the toll gate.
READ ALSO: Reps rebuke lawmaker’s call to begin Buhari’s impeachment process
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement titled, ‘No Protest, Gathering In Lagos State’, said the police will deal decisively with persons with the intention of staging any protest that could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.
The statement read, “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video of a protest at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos State, purported to have been staged today 7th December, 2020.
“The Command wishes to debunk the fake video that has been circulated to create tension and destabilise security network in the state. The video was one of the viral videos released during the recent violent Endsars protest before the Lekki Tollgate plaza was set ablaze by the violent protesters on 21st October, 2020.
“The command, therefore, urges the general public to regard the video as baseless and mischievous. The command also wishes to appeal to the general public to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses as the police is prepared to deal decisively, within the ambit of the law, with any act of lawlessness that could lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.”
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, said any act of hooliganism in the name of fresh protests in the country will be dealt with.
December 7, 2020
BREAKING: Police withdraw suit against #ENDSARS probe panels
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has applied to withdraw the suit it filed to stop various panels probing allegations of rights abuses and other acts of impunity by police officials, particularly men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020 was filed on November 9, 2020 by the NPF, through its lawyer, O. M. Atoyebi (SAN).
In the notice of discontinuance filed early on Friday by a lawyer to the NPF, Festus Ibude, reads: “Take notice that the plaintiff herein intends to and doth hereby wholly withdraws its suit against all the defendants.”
Listed as defendants in the case include the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the attorneys-general of the states and chairmen of the panels set up by the states.
Details shortly…
RELATED POSTS:
#EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu Gives N10m Each To Wives Of Police Officers Killed In Aftermath Of Protests
Victims of police brutality seek N200m, N100m compensation
Police ID pastor accused of urinating on female Delta passenger: ‘He peed on me!’
December 4, 2020
#EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu Gives N10m Each To Wives Of Police Officers Killed In Aftermath Of Protests
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday presented N10 million each to the wives of six officers killed during the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests.
Sanwo-Olu’s gesture was in fulfilment of his earlier promise during a meeting with police officers at the State Police Command.
“Some of our gallant police officers paid the supreme price for our security and safety during the recent EndSARS protests,” the governor said while presenting the cheque to the wives and children of the slain officers at the 14th Town Hall meeting on security held at Civic Centre on Victoria Island.
“These are the officers deployed to protect our families from hoodlums but they were lynched in the violence. Today, I am happy to announce and present N10 million compensation through LSSTF to each family of the officers. All their children have also be placed on scholarship up to university level, courtesy of the State Government.”
The #EndSARS protests took place in October. Photo: Twitter@FollowLASG
The late police officers are Yaro Edward, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP); Inspector Ayodeji Erinfolami, Inspector Aderibigbe Adegbenro; Inspector Samsom Ehibor, Sergeant Bejide Abiodun and Inspector Igoche Cornelius.
During the event tagged “Lagos Security: Resilience in the Face Adversity” and organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), the Lagos governor also awarded scholarships to the children of the deceased officers up to the university level.
Governor of Lagos State, Mr @jidesanwoolu today presented a sum of N10m to the wives of Police Officers killed during the hijacked #EndSARS protests that turned violent in Lagos.@PoliceNG @rrslagos767 @gbenga_omo #ForAGreaterLagos #HealingLagos pic.twitter.com/Z4A60QcOoa
— Gawat Jubril A. (@Mr_JAGss) December 3, 2020
He also restated that security is a top priority of his administration as Lagos State continues to rebuild after the violence that greeted the aftermath of the protests in October.
“We must sustain the steady progress Lagos has recorded in the security of lives and businesses. The issue of security is a shared mission. The more we are able to engage the citizens, the better we will become at nipping crimes in the bud. Our Government will continue to proactively engage all stakeholders as part of the ongoing exercise to address all security concerns,” he explained.
“We have taken a proactive measure of making the necessary budgetary provision for security. We will be committing N37.8 billion to Public Order and Safety in 2021 because we fully understand the correlation between development and security. We will stop at nothing to flush out criminal elements whose sole aim is to foment chaos and perpetrate crimes. Lagos will offer no hiding place for bandits and criminals.”
December 3, 2020
Kogi Loss ₦44 Billion To #EndSARS Protests
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chairman of the Committee set up by the State Government to determine the items looted from warehouses in the state, Asiwaju Idris, has said that Kogi State Government lost over #44 billion to End SARS protest in Kogi state.
Asiwaju disclosed this when his committee presented the report of their findings of the looting of both private and government properties from Warehouses in the wake of the End SARS protest in Lokoja.
At the end of its assignment, the Committee also submitted the report of the amount and list of damaged and stolen items and made recommendations on how to replace the items as well as compensation for private citizens whose stores were vandalized.
Kogi State remained calm amidst the End SARS protests rocking some states after Governor Bello addressed youths with a promise to convey their request to President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, hoodlums hiding under the guise of looking for COVID-19 palliatives invaded both public-private properties, carted away relief materials meant for flood victims, medical, and agricultural items.
Governor Bello used the opportunity to counsel the youths on the need to be more responsible in asking for their rights.
The Governor also appealed to security agents to return to their duty posts, assuring them that the President is equal to the task of reforming the police.
November 28, 2020
#EndSARS: Looters Return Items, Seek Forgiveness In Plateau State

Some people who participated in looting of items during the recent vandalisation of warehouses and other public and private properties under the guise of looking for palliatives have returned the items in their possession, asking for forgiveness from the Government of Plateau State.
The repentant persons were led to the new Government House Rayfield Jos led by popular evangelist of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo who explained that they made the confession during a prayer revival orgainsed at the Zang Secondary School Bukuru, Jos South Local Government.

The clergyman said over two thousand people came forward after the hearing the gospel where he preached against the recent looting and vandalism which affected public and private properties in the State.
This action according to him is not just an invitation of the anger of God against the suspects but the entire State. He said the hijack of the ENDSARS protest is a plan of the devil to scuttle the will of God for Plateau State which cannot be left without intercession.

Touched by the message, some of the persons involved in the looting repented and decided to bring some of the items still in their possessions as a mark of restitution and plea for mercy from God and the Government of Plateau State.
Rev. Dachomo appealed to the Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong to temper justice with mercy by granting forgiveness to the repentant persons who voluntarily came forward at the revival meeting with a promise never to partake in such acts again.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Governor, Secretary to the Government of the State Prof. Danladi Abok Atu commended Rev. Dachomo for appealing to the consciences of the affected persons who came forward to ask for forgiveness.

He said the action of the looters was a great disservice to the State as not only food items were looted, but heavy machinery, public infrastructure and businesses worth billions of naira were stolen and also destroyed.
He advised the youths of Plateau State to be wary of listening to incitement by people who are not even from Plateau State, but come into the State purposely to orchestrate the destruction after which they disappear to their places of origin just like during the ENDSARS protest.
He promised to forward the plea of the repentant persons to the Governor for further consideration.
Most of the items returned were food provisions looted from various warehouses.
November 24, 2020
#EndSARS: British Parliament To Debate Petition Against Nigeria On Monday
The British Parliament will on Monday debate a petition seeking to sanction the Nigerian government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over alleged human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protests.
“Parliament will debate this petition on November 23, 2020,” the Parliament posted on its website, explaining that the debate would be led by Theresa Villiers at the Westminster Hall between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. “You will be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.”
According to the debate pack captioned “E-petition 554150, relating to Nigeria and the sanctions regime,” the Parliament equally referenced the shooting of #EndSARS demonstrators at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October, 2020 as one its press articles.
“On 6 July, the Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018,” the post further noted.
“In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the UK’s new Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to future designations.
“This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses. The sanctions regime is not intended to target individual countries. It will allow for sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations or abuses around the world.”
The petition created by Silas Ojo sought to get 100,000 signatures. It has garnered 220,315 signatures, according to the UK Parliament’s website, crossing the 100, 000 mark needed for a petition to be debated by the lawmakers.
Early last month, thousands of Nigerians thronged to the streets, calling for an end to police brutality and extra-judicial killings by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
A largely peaceful demonstration in several parts of the country, however, later turned violent with arson, looting and killing of security personnel and civilians alike after it was hijacked by hoodlums.
November 23, 2020
Lekki Shooting: Sanwo-Olu must appear before panel – #EndSARS lawyer insists
Mr Adesina Ogunlana, an #EndSARS lawyer has stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will have to appear before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the shooting which occurred at Lekki tollgate on October 20.
Recounting how the Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brigadier General Ahmed Taiwo alleged that soldiers were deployed after Governor Sanwo-Olu reached out to them, Ogunlana stated that it will be important for the governor to appear before the panel, particularly to demonstrate his professed belief in the rule of law.
When asked if the appearance of the governor was important to the case of his clients and whether he would be pushing for the governor’s appearance before the panel, Ogunlana told Punch;
“Of course, that is taken. That person (Sanwo-Olu) will have to come; he’s a factor and he will come. He says he believes in the rule of law, his Attorney General, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), has come to appear before that panel to just make a short speech and to affirm that the Lagos State Government is indeed committed to unraveling the truth about what happened at Lekki on that day; and the military has mentioned him, so, he is a factor.”
November 21, 2020
#EndSARS: Rebuild destroyed structures, Plateau Assembly tells FG
The Plateau state House of Assembly has appealed to the Federal Government to rebuild structures that were destroyed during the EndSARS protest in the state.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Ayuba Abok, made the appeal during a news conference to address issues bothering on EndSARS and COVID-19 in Jos on Wednesday.
“We are calling on the Federal Government with a very loud voice to rebuild what has been destroyed during the EndSARS protest in the state.
“We have lost a lot as a result of it, the items looted and the property destroyed can be summed at over N90 billion.
“Something should be done in ernest so that these ministries and agencies that were looted and destroyed can function again,” he said.
The speaker condemned in totality the destruction and looting stating that bad eggs among the youth were bent on destroying a genuine cause.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Philip Dasun, commended the youth on the EndSARS protest stating that it brought about practical fruition.
Dasun stated that it was the first time youths in the country were holding leaders accountable for their actions and inactions.
“I want to commend the youth as the EndSARS protest has come to practical fruition particularly that the president has disbanded SARS. It is a great achievement.
“We stand with them in this movement particularly the act of ending corruption, bad governance, kidnapping, armed banditry and humongous salaries that legislators and political office holders take home.
“We have never had it good in this country, this time around the youth were well organised, mobilised and highly coordinated to speak about issues concerning this country and we applaud it,” he said.
The Assemblyman encouraged the youth to take lead and charged them to seek political offices at the federal, state and local government levels come 2023 to bring their activities to practical reality.
November 19, 2020
#EndSARS: Lagos Assembly begins 3-day public hearing for victims
The Lagos State House of Assembly has met with some EndSARS victims from the Lagos Central Senatorial district to determine the level of compensation for the victims.
The Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, made this known during a three-day public hearing on the victims of the aftermath of the EndSARS protest in Lagos.
Daybreak recalls that the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, had on Oct. 26, constituted a nine-man Ad Hoc committee headed by Eshinlokun-Sanni.
The committee was to investigate the level of destruction of property and loss of lives with a view to determining compensation for the victims.
The Wednesday’s public hearing was attended by victims in the Lagos Central Senatorial District while Thursday and Friday will be attended by the Lagos East and Lagos West victims respectively.
Eshinlokun-Sanni, Chairman of the committee, said the terms of reference of the committee included to interface with all the victims, relevant stakeholders and community leaders and to ascertain the level of destruction.
The Deputy speaker said the purpose of the public hearing was also to ensure it brought succour and compensation by the government to the victims of the crisis.
“The committee has sent forms to the victims of the destructions across all the 40 constituencies in the state
“The House has been accepting submission of the forms, which will be the foundation of our consideration.
“We shall be leveraging on the knowledge and experiences of the experts such as architects, insurance, just to mention a few.
“They are to assess the details and make decisions on how to assuage the pains of our people,” he said.
Eshinlokun-Sanni said that the House was making a giant stride to complement other efforts and the House was garnered to display its indomitable resilience.
He said that the House had shown such character before and it was in its gene and would show it again when the need arose.
According to him, Lagos didn’t falter, instead, we rose and shone. This is another phase, another challenge, another setback, Lagos State shall rise again and shine brighter than ever.
Eshinlokun-Sanni clarified the difference between the House’s committee with that of the judicial panel set up by the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-olu.
He explained that the judicial panel was meant to unravel the brutality by the police and what transpired during the shootings at Lekki.
He said: “After the Lekki incident, we cannot leave our people, we should find ways and means of mitigating their losses.
“The primary purpose of the government is to secure lives and property. When such happens, the government must take control and mitigate the suffering of the people.
“The work of our committee is to see how the events after the Lekki shootings affected our people and how we can put them back to work so that they will not suffer more losses.
“Already, we had COVID-19 pandemic in the nation and in the state during the year,” he said.
The deputy speaker explained further that where the victims had insurance cover, they would be compensated and if they didn’t have they would still be compensated.
A victim, Mr Olugbenga Oresajo, whose shopping mall was destroyed urged the committee to give timeline that would stipulate when the whole process would end.
Shade Salami, a community leader, advised that the perpetrators of the carnage should be brought to justice to serve as deterrent to others who might have such sinister motives.
Adeola Alaka from Bode Thomas said the areas that were affected should be barricaded to distinguish them from other parts in the same vicinity not damaged.
November 19, 2020
ActionAid Nigeria tasks FG on downward trend of governance
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, has tasked the Federal Government on the downward trend of governance by the current administration particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic as it affects Nigerians in areas like hike in electricity tariffs by 100 percent, ASUU continual strike, increase in rape, food crisis and the #EndSARS protests.
The Board of trustees of ActionAid Nigeria made these observations and gave recommendations after a virtual 42nd meeting to review the State of the Nation on the 14th November 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
After the virtual meeting AAN observed the downward trend of governance which has led to lack of proper accountability mechanism for the Police Special Anti- Robbery Squad, SARS and government responsiveness which snowballed into #EndSARS protests as a result of harassment of innocent citizens, extortion at gunpoint and extrajudicial killings of suspects as well as decadence in other sectors of the economy.
AAN Nigeria recommendations to the Government of Nigeria includes definite timelines for response to youths demands with investigations into what transpired at the Lekki Tollgate, sponsored hoodlums attack to disrupt peaceful protests. They also called on government to ask the Central Bank to unfreeze the accounts of #EndSARS promoters.
AAN urged government to declare a State of Emergency on the Education sector to end the already deteriorating educational sector, adding that government should review it’s stand on the IPPIS, pay salaries of ASUU members and inject proper funding into the sector.
That government should strengthen the health sector and investigate problems associated with COVID-19.
They called on government to reverse the price and 100 percent hike in electricity tariff and provide meters to electricity consumers.
To mitigate and prevent sexual Gender Based Violence services in the country by ensuring access to reproductive health services for survivors, especially for rape victims and other SGBV survivors.
AAN also called on government to avert the looming food crisis by through increased access to low interest credit by the small-scale farmers, especially smallholder women farmers who produce over 70% of food consumed in the country.
November 18, 2020