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Tag: protest

Insecurity: NANS declares June 12 National day of protest
The President, National Association of Nigerian Students, Sunday Asefon, on Tuesday, lamented the worsening insecurity in the country and the ripple effects on students who fell victim to kidnapping and banditry at will.
Asefon, who bemoaned the kidnap of over 200 students of Islamiyya School in Rafi Council area of Niger State, said NANS had relocated its national headquarters to the North Central State pending when the students would be released, adding, “Nigerians have to come together to see what can be done on the issue of insecurity”.
The NANS boss, who spoke in a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti, unveiled the students’ body’s national plan to ensure they played their part in ensuring a safer school, including the declaration of days for prayer and protest.
He said, “I hereby declare 11th June as the national students’ day of prayers. Prayers shall be offered for the repose of our students who have died in the hands of kidnappers. Prayers shall be held for the safe return of our students who are still with their kidnappers.
“I hereby declare June 12, 2021, as the National Day of Peaceful Protest to call on the government to act decisively towards addressing insecurity in our schools, campuses and also announce a proactive measure or strategy towards ensuring safer schools.”
Asefon, while responding to a question on the choice of Democracy Day (June 12) for students’ protest, queried, “What are we celebrating as democracy when many of our students are in kidnappers’ den?
“What are we celebrating when people are not at peace, when insecurity is threatening our existence when killings and banditry are the order of the day? Democracy is about people, but what are we celebrating as democracy day when the people are being killed?”
June 1, 2021
Police Station Razed Amid Protest In Niger
A police station has been burnt amid a protest by residents of Gauraka in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.
This followed an attack by gunmen on Angwan-Wazobia community on Monday where six locals were abducted by the assailants.
Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the attack on the community and the station in a statement.
Recall we had reported the demonstration by residents of Gauraka who blocked the Abuja – Kaduna highway to protest the incessant cases of kidnapping in the community.
During the protests, the protesters burned tyres as they called for improved security in the area, as well as an end to incessant attacks on their community.
They lamented that no fewer than 15 locals have been abducted between Saturday and Sunday, and three others have lost their lives.
On his part, Abiodun noted that the command had deployed operatives in the area, but he blamed the protesters for the attack on the police outpost.
“Niger State Police Command wishes to confirm that today being 24th May 2021 at about 0300hrs, unknown gunmen attacked the residents of Angwan-Wazobia in Gauraka area of Tafa LGA where about six persons were abducted.
“Teams of policemen were mobilised to the scene and efforts to rescue the victims are being intensified,” he said.
The command’s spokesman alleged, “However, at about 0635hrs of the same date, some miscreants blocked both sides of Abuja – Kaduna expressway, protesting the recent cases of kidnapping in the community.
“The miscreants later extended the protest to Gauraka Police outpost, vandalised and set it ablaze.”
According to him, efforts are ongoing to disperse the protesters from the highway to ease the flow of traffic on the road.
Abiodun noted that the command has dispatched reinforcement from Minna, the state capital to the Area Police Command in Suleja, as well as a joint task force from the Minna – Suleja highway to restore normalcy on the Abuja – Kaduna expressway.
He called on parents, guardians, and community leaders in the area to caution their children/wards against engaging in acts of public disturbance.
The command’s spokesman gave an assurance that the police would continue the onslaught against criminal elements in the state.
May 24, 2021
Benue Students Protest Over Killings by Suspected Herdsmen
…as West African Students Union Urges African Leaders to Intervene
By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Piqued by continued killing of innocent people in Benue State by Suspected Herdsmen, Benue students on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Makurdi against the dastardly act.
The youths who blocked high ways for several hours, carried placards with various inscriptions such as, ” Governor Ortom keep speaking, On Ranching We Stand and Benue will not be silenced” among others.
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Speaking in an interview with Day Break, the President, West African Students Union, Comr. Peter Rumans, who expressed displeasure over the dasterdly acts called on the Federal Government and other West African Leaders to Intervene.
“We are saddened over the senseless killing of our people. We call on the Federal Government and other West African Leaders to Intervene to save lives otherwise nobody is save in Nigeria and Benue State in particular”.
The President commended the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom over his resilience in defending his people despite threats from different places.
” The Governor has done his best, we have to rise up as students and youths of the state to let the international community hear us”.
Continuing, he noted that ” Nigeria is not capable of defending us so let the international community defend us, we are being killed every day and nothing is being done about it”.
April 30, 2021
Group protest non payment of gratuities of late teachers in A’Ibom
A coalition of widows/next of kins of late primary school teachers in Akwa Ibom on Monday took to the streets to protest alleged government’s failure to pay gratuities of the deceased teachers dating back to 1978 as promised.
The protesters who stormed government house displayed placards of various inscriptions alleged that government in a bid to stop the proposed protest had gone on air to announce commencement of payment today (Monday), adding that government was not sincere about the payment.
Some of the inscriptions read, “we don’t want radio payment again; govt is not sincere about payment of our gratuities and pension” among others.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the protest, Secretary of the Coalition, Mr. Benjamin Benson explained that they came out to protest because government’s information about payment was a defensive strategy.
“We embarked on this peaceful protest today because government has failed to keep to its agreement on the payment of gratuities and pensions to both the living and next of kin of retired Primary School teachers.
“We are here in continued protest to the lingering issue. We know that the information that came out on Friday from the state government about commencement of payment was not premeditated.
“We met with the Police and informed them about our planned protest last Thursday and we told them that our demands are simple, that between that Friday and Monday, failure to pay us that money will lead to embark on a protest.
“And on Friday we got the information that Government will commence payment today (Monday), so we knew where that decision was coming from. Everyday they keep saying they are going to commence payment and nothing has been done.
“Today we wanted to sleep here at the gate of the government House until they Pay. But we want to give Government the benefits of the doubt.” Benson explained.
Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ephraim Inyangeyen who addressed the protesters pleaded with them and promised that payment would be guaranteed in the next 48 hours.
April 27, 2021
Players, officials of Sunshine Stars protest Over Unpaid Salaries
Players and officials of Sunshine Stars Football Club have taken to the streets of Akure, the Ondo State capital to protest the poor handling of the team by the state government.
The protest grounded commercial activities in the state capital as the players and officials marched from the stadium to the governor’s office to register their grievances.
According to the players and officials, they are being owed about six month’s salary and match bonuses.
Led by the Team Captain, Mr Abe Sunday the players also took their protest to the entrance of the Governor’s office in Akure.
They appealed to the government to resolve the issue as it has affected their performance in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who added addressed them assured that their grievances will be addressed.
Players and officials of Sunshine Stars Football Club protest on the streets of Akure, Ondo State capital on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
March 30, 2021
Many feared dead as Military shoot protesting women in S/Kaduna
By Gabriel Udeh, kaduna
At least about four persons have been reportedly shot by the military during a protest against continuous killings in Gan Gora in Zango kataf local government area of Southern kaduna in Kaduna State by herdsmen
Eye witness said the incident occurred around 5pm of Tuesday evening when the Atyap locals mostly women came out in numbers to stage peaceful protest against the continuous killing in their area by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
A video clip from the scene of sound of sporadic gun shot against the harmless protesting women were heard openly.
Bodies of those hit by the bullets were also viewed and the affected people were seen been assisted by others and sympathizers trying to carry the victims out of the troubled areas.
Details later.
March 24, 2021
Kaduna Abduction: Parents Protest, Give Govt 48-Hour Ultimatum To Rescue Students
Parents of the 39 kidnapped students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and security agencies to facilitate the return of the abductees.
They gave the ultimatum at a press briefing shortly before they staged a protest at the premises of the College on Monday.
During the protest, the parents and students blocked the Mando -Kaduna airport road leading to the school, demanding the immediate release of the students from the custody of their abductors.
The aggrieved parents displayed placards with various inscriptions, singing and crying for help. They also lamented why it is taking security agencies too long to rescue the kidnapped students unlike in the previous kidnap incidents in Katsina, Zamfara, and Niger States where the students were released in good time.
The spokesperson of the aggrieved parents, Kambai Sam said the government has not done enough to rescue their children.
“We have put our trust in the government and the school authority to rescue the students in good time and safety but that has not happened.
“We as parents have not received any positive message from either the school management or the Minister for Environment under whose ministry the school is or the Kaduna State government under whose territorial jurisdiction the school is located.
“This silence is unacceptable as it only feeds our hopelessness with each passing day,” Sam said.
One of the parents of the victims, Lynda Abu, was in tears as she displayed a placard saying, “Bring Back Our Children.”
She said her late husband paid the ultimate sacrifice through his service in the country’s Armed Forces and wonders why her daughter is not safe in the same country.
The Kaduna State Government and Security agencies are yet to respond to the ultimatum given by the parents.
March 22, 2021
Benue Workers protest against plans to remove National Minimum wage from Exclusive List
By Isaac Kertyo Makurdi
Members of the organized labor in Benue State today staged a peaceful protest to press home their demand against the planned removal of the National Minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List.
The protest started from the high level to the Benue State House of Assembly Complex, Makurdi where the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Godwin Anya, handed over to the Speaker a protest letter to that effect.
The NLC Helmsman implored Members of the assembly to reject the proposed Bill for the removal of the National Minimum wage from the Exclusive Legislative List.
Receiving the protesters at the assembly’s Complex, the Speaker of the house, Mr Titus Uba assured Benue workers that the house under his leadership would leave no stone unturned on ensuring that the 9th assembly makes Laws that would have positive impact on the lives of the masses.
Uba who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the house, Mr Christopher Adaji maintained that the assembly would continue to work with the Executive to ensure that the welfare of Benue workers is accorded top priority.
He assured Benue workers that the assembly would look into the proposed Bill if sent to it with the view to arriving at a decision that would be beneficial to them.
March 11, 2021
It’s shameful to arraign protesters but pamper terrorists -PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party has described the arrest, humiliation, and trial of #OccupyLekki protesters on Saturday, as a sad reminder of what Nigerians went through in the hands of military dictators.
The Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, Adedeji Doherty, reacted to this sad occurrence, in a release on Sunday, titled, ‘#OccupyLekki: Lagos PDP slams Sanwo-Olu over arrest, humiliation of protesters, demands discontinuation of their trial’.
The chairman said, “It is a shameful irony that a government that is pampering terrorists could send policemen armed to the teeth against civilians who only expressed their displeasure over a government decision.
“Lagosians will never believe that a time will come in the State when citizens’ rights to peaceful protests will be muscled by a supposed democratic government.”
“It is now clear that all that matters to the APC government of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the billions of naira generated at the Lekki Toll Gate, and not the welfare of the people.
He also demanded explanations on whether or not it was part of the mandates of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to investigate cases of police brutality in the state to order the commencement of operations at the toll plaza.
“When did it become the duty of a judicial panel of inquiry to order the resumption of collection of tolls at a Toll Gate, which was shut down owing to the alleged killing of youths whose only offence is that they demanded that SARS policemen should stop killing them?
“The Lagos State Government and most especially, the members of the House of Assembly from Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe LGAs should open up a public hearing or Referendum on the reopening of this controversial tollgate to show the world that democracy is really the order of the day in Lagos State, instead of trying to crush a peaceful protest without presenting any kind of alternative medium of diplomacy as it concerns the tollgate issue.
“As for those who were arrested among the protesters, we wish to tell them to remain strong, committed, and resolute in their quest for a Nigeria where the government does the right thing and citizens are allowed to ventilate their grievances against government freely,” the PDP chairman said.
February 14, 2021
BREAKING: Suspected ’Yahoo Boys’ protest in Osun over incessant arrest by EFCC
Some suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as ‘Yahoo Boys’, on Tuesday protested their incessant arrest by the security agencies.
They blocked Osogbo/Ilesa expressway in the State.
They were said to have stormed the Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat, Ilesa and made bonfire on the road, therefore halting the free flow of traffic along the busy road.
The bonfire was made exactly at the entrance of the Ilesa Council office.
The protesters, were protesting their recent arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They alleged that the EFCC officials recently stormed the hotel they lodged in and arrested some of their colleagues.
It was gathered that owing to the road blockage, motorists plying the expressway were said to have been stranded.
Some of the road users, who know the terrain, had made u-turn for other routes.
February 9, 2021