#EndSARS Protests
Governor El-Rufai: Killing of policemen evil
Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State on Monday described the killing of policemen by protesters in some parts of the country as evil. El-Rufai, who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna after the meeting of the Northern Governors Forum and traditional rulers as well as other key stakeholders in the region, said that the police must be supported to discharge their duties. He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had briefed the meeting on the #EndSARS protest and its aftermath. “We support the police, we believe that there may be some bad eggs in the police just as there are bad eggs in any organisation, but it is no excuse to destroy or kill policemen. “We hope to expand the footprints and the effectiveness of the Nigerian police in accordance with their mandate. “We have discusse...
Northern governors back social media regulation
The Northern Governors Forum on Monday expressed support for proposals to regulate the social media to check the spread of fake news in the country. The Forum expressed its support in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong. This followed the governors meeting in Kaduna, which was attended by traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region. The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and called for major control mechanisms andcensorship of social media practice in Nigeria. It also expressed support for the reform of the police to strengthen their capacity. “Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course. “The meet...
#EndSARS: Why Nigerian government didn’t shut down social media during protests – minister
File Photo Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has said the Federal Government had the option of shutting down the social media space during the #EndSARS protests but chose not to tread the path. Dare, who spoke on Monday while featuring on Channels Television’s programme Sunrise Daily, said the government did that to allow freedom of expression. He said other countries had taken certain measures to exercise some level of restraint over the cyberspace but Nigeria has not done so. The minister, however, said the internet and the social media have tremendous benefits but “as a country, we must start to think of how to curtail fake news. There must be some level of responsibility and some level of punishment to those that create chaos out of mischief in our country.” He sai...
Lagos government lifts curfew
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has lifted the curfew he imposed on the state after the #endsars protest was hijacked by looters and hoodlums. Lagos residents are now free to go about their businesses without any restriction or hindrance. The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat announced this in a statement posted on Twitter on Saturday, October 31, 2020. However, the 12 am to 4 am curfew imposed by the Federal Government to curb the spread of COVID19 remains. The statement reads, “The curfew imposed on Lagos State after the hijack of the peaceful #EndSARS protests has been lifted immediately. The 12 am to 4am curfew imposed by the Federal Government to curb the spread of COVID19 remains. “Lagosians are free to go about their businesses with...
#EndSARS: No plan to dismiss police officers who fail to resume work – PSC
The Police Service Commission (PSC) says contrary to media reports, it has no plans to dismiss any police officer who fails to return to work after the #ENDSARS protests which turned violent following the hijack of the otherwise peaceful protests by hoodlums, leading to wanton looting as well as the destruction of lives and properties across the nation last week. Recall that near breakdown of law and order in some parts of the country last week led to the gruesome murder of 22 policemen with 26 others critically injured while a total of 205 police stations and formations were also attacked and razed by hoodlums who hijacked the protests. Many police officers across the country, fearing their lives and those of their families and loved ones, stayed away from their duty posts to avoid becomi...
Adamawa government relaxes curfew
The Adamawa government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed on the state. Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, who stated this in Yola on Thursday, said that the curfew would be from 8 am. to 6 pm., beginning from Oct. 30. Newsmen recall that the 24- hour curfew was imposed on Oct. 25, following the destruction and looting of government and private warehouses in the state by some hoodlums, hiding under EndSARS protest. “We shall review the timing as situation warrants. Meanwhile, checkpoints will be mounted at all the entry and exit points in the state. “This is a measure taken to stop any attempt by the thieves to escape from the state with the looted items,” he said. The governor appealed to the people of the state to bear with the government, saying the measures were in their collective inter...
Abia asks looters to return stolen medical equipment
Abia State Government has appealed to suspected hoodlums who looted the medical equipment at the Abia State Dental Center, Aba, and Primary Health Authority office in Aba South Local Government Area to return them within seven days. A statement by the Commissioner for Information in the state, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, stated that the hoodlums who hijacked the otherwise peaceful #EndSARS protests took away vaccines, X-ray machines, sterilizers, air conditioners, fans, and other equipment as well as disposables and consumables carted away. The statement directed the looters to return the stolen items to the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Mr Joe Chinwendu, with information on the location of the items. The statement read, “Kindly note that most of the Primary H...
Governor Bello: Disbandment of SARS dampened police morale
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has said the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force dampened the spirits of police officers across the country. The governor was reacting to the nationwide violence and looting by hoodlums in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests. Many Nigerians have wondered why rampaging hoodlums are having a field day destroying lives and properties in the country despite the presence of security operatives. There have been reports of hoodlums overpowering police officers to burn down police stations and other infrastructure they guard. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday which was monitored by newsmen, Bello explained that the pronouncement by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, affected...
Hoodlums attack Complete Sports head office
Hoodlums on Sunday attacked the head office of Complete Sports newspapers in Okota, Lagos. This was made known in a statement by the Group Managing Director of the company, Dr Mumini Alao. The hoodlums capitalised on the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government in the wake of the violence and looting that rocked the state in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in the country, to carry out the attack. According to Alao, the suspected hoodlums forced their way into the company and ransacked the offices. “The hoodlums came very early on Sunday morning, October 25, 2020. They attacked our office security guards, tied them up, and proceeded to ransack several offices in the building,” Alao said. “Luckily for us, one of the guards escaped to raise the alarm, thus forcing the fleeing hoodl...
Official: No fire outbreak at CAN national secretariat
File Photo The Christian Association of Nigeria has described as untrue, reports that its National Secretariat and National Ecumenical Centre had been set on fire by hoodlums who have hijacked the #EndSARS protests against police brutality. The General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, stated this in a chat with newsmen on Saturday night. He said, “Nothing happened. It’s not true, I’m just coming out of the office. The time now is 08:27pm. I’m just in my car driving back to my house. They said it came from AIT.” The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Cornelius Omonokhua, also clarified that the report was “a false alarm.” “It’s not true, it’s a false alarm. As I speak, the General Secretary of CAN is in the office; there’s nothing like that. It’s a false alarm, th...
