Breaking News Tuesdays 27 October 2020

Taraba Govt Extends 24-hour Curfew

The Taraba State government has extended the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed on Jalingo the state capital till further notice.

In a statement signed by the senior special assistant on Media and Publicity to the state deputy governor, Musleem Aluwa, he said the deputy governor, Engr. Haruna Manu extended the curfew after a careful review of the activities of the irate youths in the state capital.

He said the state deputy governor had reviewed the developments in the last 24 hours with dismay especially the looting of properties belonging to government and individuals and decided to extend the curfew to safeguard lives and properties.

Similarly, the statement said that 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Wukari due to similar break down of law and order.

The deputy governor called on all law-abiding citizens to stay at home and allow security agencies who are under strict instructions to enforce the curfew and equally protect innocent citizens to carry on their duties.

“However, government is not unaware of people on essential duties, who are similarly requested to carry with them official identification cards to show security operatives on demand to avoid embarrassment,” the statement added.

Protesters, lawyers tackle Buratai as Army chief dismisses ICC threat

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, on Monday dared human rights activists, who had threatened to drag him and other officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the International Criminal Court.
Buratai, who stated this while addressing principal staff officers, general officers commanding and field commanders at a meeting in the NA headquarters, Abuja, said the commanders should not be afraid of the ICC while performing their duties.

He also ordered military commanders and troops to go after looters and hoodlums raiding warehouses and vandalising property across the country, adding that sponsors of #EndSARS protests were out to discredit the Army.

There has been outrage over soldiers’ shooting of peaceful protesters on Tuesday last week in Lekki, Lagos, with some of those who condemned the incident threatening to take Buratai to the ICC.

Also, mobs have been looting public and private property besides the burning of police stations and other government buildings.

But on Monday, Buratai did not comment on the allegation that soldiers shot protesters.

But #EndSARS protesters, human rights groups and lawyers, in separate interviews with The PUNCH berated Buratai for alleging that the protests were organised to discredit the Army.

They also criticised his directive to the commanders that they should not be afraid of the ICC.

#EndSARS: Shippers’ Council pushes for demurrage waivers at ports

Following the nationwide protest tagged, #EndSARS, which disrupted port operations, the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, is pushing demurrage waiver for consignments trapped at the ports.



To this end, NSC is in discussion with shipping companies and terminal operators for the actualisation of the demurrage waiver.

In a press statement made available to Vanguard Maritime Report, Head of Public Relations, Rakiya Zubairu, noted that the move by the Council is aimed at easing the hardship occasioned by the disruptions.

Zubairu also noted that the Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Hassan Bello, would soon embark on a working visit to some of the terminals to ensure actualisation of the demurrage waiver.

She also pointed out that with the easing of the curfew by the Lagos State government, normalcy is gradually returning to the ports in Lagos.

According to the statement, “No doubt the activities of the past week caused a lot of disruptions for shippers. Just as it did during the COVID-19 lockdown, Nigerian Shippers Council is working with shipping companies to find ways to ease the hardship occasioned by the disruptions.


Breaking: Several dead as hoodlums engage soldiers in gun duel in Osun

Pandemonium broke out in Ikire, Irewole local government area of Osun state as hoodlums engaged soldiers in a gun duel.

reporter in Osun, Ibrahim Akinola, reports that no fewer than seven persons have lost their lives in battle.

It was gathered that the hoodlums who had wanted to attack the palace of Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi, were initially repelled by the soldiers before they finally forced their way into the palace.

The hoodlums, it was gathered, started hurling stones at the soldiers and later ambushed and snatched their rifles.

According to the report, the hoodlums collected four guns from the soldiers and injured them in the process.

The hoodlums broke their way into the palace of Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi.

It was gathered that the injured soldiers were later rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment, adding that the hoodlums were asked to return the rifles with thirty minutes.

An eyewitness who spoke to Legit.ng on condition of anonymity said that the hoodlums were reportedly working for a prince of the town who wanted to use the EndSARS protests to cause trouble in the town and take over the palace from the incumbent monarch, Oba Olatunde Falabi.


Why We Didn’t Stop Palliative Looters — Police Officer

Across the country, looters have had a field day attacking warehouses and carting away mostly palliatives meant for distribution during the COVID-19 lockdown. The police have looked on as the looting spree continued. In this interview, a police officer (name withheld for fear of being victimised), speaks on why they turned a blind eye and what the #EndSARS protests meant to the average police officer.

Look, the general disenchantment against the police is borne out of the [action of] bad eggs in the force and seeming political and ethnic underlining issues. Criminals do not want to see the police for any reason. The first mistake the police authority made was to immediately scrap SARS. This is the Ember period, you don’t sack your fighting organ at a period like this. They ought to have insisted that the protesters identify those who have, in recent times, engaged in violations of fundamental human rights or killings, then subject them to open investigation that will involve representatives of the protesters while you work on reforming the section and the force generally.

Secondly, truth be told, the Nigeria Police Force needs complete retraining of all officers and men from the rank of commissioner downward. Some officers you see these days do not know the rudiments of police duties and the fundamental rights of the citizen. How do you ask a person recruited 15-20 years ago to still be in tune with current policing strategy?

What is the general feeling in the force now?

The morale is very low. Police officers across the nation are so sad. Unfortunately, we cannot go on strike. We would have declared a strike by now to protest our deteriorating condition in the force.

Lekki Massacre: Massive Propaganda To Discredit Military, Govt - Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, said that the reports of the shooting of protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate were "massive propaganda to discredit the military".

He stated this at a conference on Monday with top army commanders in Abuja to chat on the #EndSARS issue.

Soldiers, Who Shot At Lekki Protesters, Barracks Found - Falana

Human rights lawyer and Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 And Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana, has said that the barracks of the soldiers who shot at the protesters at the Lekki toll gate has been found.

Soldiers, last Tuesday, shot at protesters at the Lekki toll gate, leading to a nationwide outrage and dubbing the incident the Lekki massacre.

2023 Election: INEC Explains Why It Is Yet To Resume Voters Registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it is yet to resume the continuous voters' registration ahead of the general election in 2023.

Speaking on reasons why the commission was yet to continue voters registration, Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman said the commission had intentions of resuming the continuous voters' registration exercise in the first quarter of 2020 but was delayed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanwo-Olu Reveals Those Responsible For Lekki Shooting

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed that the Nigerian army ordered men to open gunfire on #EndSars protesters in Lekki tollgate area of the state.

News earlier reported that eyewitnesses said that soldiers were present at the scene, shooting the protesters, as several injured.

#ENDSARS: Sanwo-Olu Missing As FG Constitutes Panel Of Governors To Profer Solution To Issues Raised By The Protesters

President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has set up a committee made up of Governors from the six geo-political zones to address the deeper issues behind the #ENDSARS protest.

Set up during a virtual emergency National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Yomi Osinbajo on Monday, the Council did not name Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State as part of the Governors on the panel.

#ENDSARS: Oyo To Employ 5,000 Youths Into Government Agency Scheme, To Disburse Fifth Phase Of Palliatives This Week

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has revealed that his administration will employ 5,000 youths in government agency schemes within the next few months.

Governor Makinde who made this disclosure during a meeting with traditional rulers, caretaker chairmen of local government and local council development areas, and clerics revealed that the state had set up a N500M fund for the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise in a bid to address the underlying socio-economic issue currently facing the state.

Desmond Elliot Opens Up On Sponsoring Bill To Regulate, Control Speech On Social Media

Desmond Elliot, a Nollywood actor and the member representing Surulere Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has debunked claims that he was sponsoring a bill seeking to regulate and control speech on social media.

News reports that this comes hours after he was heavily criticised on social media.

Ay Comedian Reacts As Nigerians Ask Why No Celebrity Died During #EndSars Protest

Nigerian comedian and movie producer, Ayo Makun aka AY has come down hard on Nigerians seeking to know why no celebrity died during the #EndSARS protest.

In a tweet on his Twitter handle, AY who has also joined in the offline and physical protest recounted how celebrities were bashed for not lending their voices to the campaign against police brutality.

N-Power Youth Congress National Coordinator Sends 'Crucial' Message To Pres. Buhari

The N-Power Youth Congress (N-PYC) has told the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration "to absorb those that want to work with the Federal Government or give them a reasonable exit package to enable them to venture into other enterprises", News reports.

N-PYC’s National Coordinator, Joseph Enan Maigari, made the request at a media briefing in Maiduguri, Borno State at the weekend.

Benue: What Tor Tiv V, Others Said At Monday's Presidential Briefing On Security Situation In Nigeria

In Makurdi, Benue State on Monday, citizens discussed the security situation in Nigeria at the Presidential briefing, AllNews reports.

Present at the briefing were Tor Tiv V, Professor James Ayatse, the Benue State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Abba Yaro; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman Benue State, Rev. Akpen Leva among other dignitaries