The Nation Newspaper

Tag: protest

  • Residents protest killings by herdsmen

    Residents of Asaba, the Delta State capital, yesterday protested the alleged killing of some indigenes by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    Commuters were stranded as the protesters occupied the ever-busy Asaba-Benin Expressway, making it difficult for East-bound commuters to continue their journey.

    The protest resulted in a gridlock which stretched some kilometres.

    The protesters carried placards bearing inscriptions: “Fulani herdsmen must leave our state”; “Okowa, intervene now”; “The killing, rape of married women must stop”; “Our crops have been destructed” and “Our women cannot go out again”.

    The protesters, mainly vigilante, were under the auspices of Anioma Security Watch, Delta South Security Network and Urhobo Security Network.

    They said the government failed to protect the residents by allowing herdsmen to kill law-abiding residents.

    A letter by leaders of the protesters – Jacob Godwin, Henry Onwuamalieze and Warri Eric – accused the government of paying more attention to protecting oil facilities or installations at the expense of human lives.

    The letter, titled: “Insensitivity of Government and the Inevitable War Against Fulani Herdsmen”, faulted government’s drafting of security agents during “election to cow perceived enemies and the electorate to win such elections, but failed to address the deadly Fulani herdsmen”.

    Over 63 communities in Delta State have been invaded by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who allegedly raped women and destroyed farms.

    They were said to have killed 23 in six months.

    Police Commissioner Alkali Baba Usman told reporters last week that the command had arrested 23 suspected Fulani herdsmen, who allegedly killed farmers and raped women.

    Though security agents were visible throughout the protest, the situation became charged when they attempted to disperse the protesters.

    Eric Warri, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “We are protesting because Fulani herdsmen have been killing our people. They have raped our people and destroyed our farmlands.”

    Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, urged the residents to be patient.

    He said the menace of the herdsmen was a national security issue.

  • Protest in Markurdi over Fulani killings

    Bushiness and commercial activities were grounded to a halt in Makurdi, Benue state capital following protest against Fulani herdsmen over continued killing of Benue farmers.

    The protesters who were over 300 in numbers took over the busy Makurdi- Gboko double carriage way and brought down Traffic for a halt for several hours.

    There was Traffic gridlock from Wurukum round about to Low level round about.

    Decked in colorful branded T-shirts on top of black jeans, heavy escorted security operatives made up of Mobile and regular policemen including armed men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) match through major streets in Makurdi in the sorting sun.

    The branded T shirts and banners read. No more grazing in Benue, Stop the killings.

    The protesters were made up of students, social media activist, market women, Union leaders and farmers came under the umbrella of “Move Against Fulani Occupation (MAFO) .

    The protests who were peaceful in their conduct came across the 23 local government area particularly the areas which recently came under fulani attacked like Agatu, Tarkaa, Buruku, Logo,Makurdi and Guma local government areas .

    One of the protesters who spoke to The Nation Comradr Edward Dooga said they have decided to draw the attention of the international communities and the world over the continued killings by Fulani herdsmen, who also have occupied farmlands.

    Another social media activist who was among the protesters; Ukan Kulugh said there is eminent danger of food scarcity if the activities of the herdsmen are not checked saying  the herdsmen have  forcefully  occupied  about seven local government area s ,who the inhabitants are peasant farmers.

    Ukan Kulugh noted that why the inhabitants are taking refuge in primary schools as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Fulani herdsmen are grazing on their farm and have completely destroyed whatever crop is planted.

    At press time, the protesters were seen heading towards Government House Makurdi.

  • Two feared dead as UNIPORT students protest

    The management of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) yesterday closed the main campus for a month, following the death of two students during a protest against a new fee policy.

    The students shut down academic activities and blocked the popular East-West Road as they called for the old school fees.

    One of the victims, Peter Ofurum, was said to be a student of Management Science.

    He was allegedly hit by a stray bullet when police officers attempted to stop them from destroying the school’s property during the protest.

    Deputy Registrar Dr. Williams Wodi confirmed the senate’s decision to close the university.

    Wodi, who spoke from hiding last night, said he could not ascertain the level of damage.

    The spokesman said information reaching him showed that the students damaged many things on campus.

    He said the management gave the students enough time to pay the new school fees.

    According to him, it was because some students protested against the new policy that the management sat at 3pm yesterday, with the assistance of the security agencies, and took a decision on the protest.

    Wodi said: “Following the protest and damage done by the students, the senate met at 3pm today (yesterday) and decided that the university be shut. This closure will last one month; we will review the situation.

    “The senate has directed students to pack out of the school before 6pm today (yesterday). The senate has reviewed the role played by the new Student Union Government (SUG) and decided it should be suspended till further notice, including the affiliated unions on campus.”

    On what caused the protest, Wodi recalled that the university’s management, last November, sent memoranda to the students that only those who paid the approved fees would sit for examinations.

    The spokesman noted that despite their effort to give more time to students to pay the fees, some of them refused to pay.

    Wodi said they allegedly stopped examinations, which was to hold yesterday.

    He added: “What led to the protest is that last November, we sent out memos and held faculty meetings where we informed the students that we intended to enforce an existing rule, which made it clear that only those who paid their fees would be allowed to sit for the first semester examinations.

    “Based on that, we thought they would pay. But when we returned on New Year’s Day, the result was poor. We extended the deadline to February 12, and the deadline came and went. We noticed that they were still not complying; so, we extended it till March 11.

    “After that date, we extended it again till March 30 and we decided that it should be lecture-free so that every student could pay. Then, the compliance level was appreciable. Based on the plea by UNIPORT Parent Association, we decided to give more grace – till April 5.

    “Again, we gave them a week, which expired on April 5, 2016. The exams were supposed to start today (yesterday) and 98 per cent of them complied, remaining two per cent, who decided to destroy the exam.

    “I don’t know if they killed two students, but what I know is that a student and a police officer were reportedly killed on Sunday on the East-West Road.”

    Mr. Andrew Osose, the president of Edo State Students’ Union at UNIPORT, said: “The management of the school did not consider the real-life situation before trying to enact the academic policy.

    “They said if we didn’t pay the fees, we wouldn’t sit for the exams. We, the students, pleaded with management to wait till the second semester’s exams. We pleaded that they should open registration till one week to the second semester’s exams because all fingers are not equal. But the school’s management paid deaf ears to our plea.

    “We have consulted and we have consolidated and we are still consolidating because the protest is peaceful. We are not destroying any property and we are not doing anything violent. We are only trying to make the public hear about our plight.

    “What we believe is that even if it is only one student that is yet to pay, the school should give that student the benefit till second semester. If he or she is unable to pay, the students will sit over it and contribute money for the student to pay.

    “We are doing this because of the economic meltdown which the country is passing through. There are students whose parents just lost their jobs. How would they pay? We know the nature of our economy now; how will students meet up to pay.”

    Another student, Mr Adah Andrew, said: “We staged this protest because the management has been extorting the students and giving us skyrocketing fees to pay.

    “The least department in this school pays N45,000 while some others pay N60,000. When you come into the school, there is no facility for learning. Our hostels are in bad shape.

    “They have again come with a new policy that if we don’t pay the fees, we would not sit for the exams. Most of the lecturers went to school on scholarship or through community effort. But our parents are suffering.”

    Police spokesman Ahmad Mohammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the death of a police officer.

    But he denied the allegation that somebody was killed when policemen were drafted to the scene.

    Ahmad said: “Truly, there was an isolated attack on a policeman, leading to his death. As for the UNIPORT protest, what the police did was just the discharge of its mandate of restoring normalcy and orderliness in the university. There was no report of death during the protest.”

  • Ondo Varsity shut over protest

    There was confusion in Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State at the weekend, following a protest by students of the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA).

    It was learnt that the students were protesting poor condition of facilities at the University Medical Centre where a student who was hit by a motorcycle died.

    Sources said the students barricaded the major road linking Akungba to Ikare-Akoko.

    Residents ran helter-skelter as guns boomed. Soldiers and policemen drafted in the community could not quell the protest because of the number of students involved.

    During the melee, many public property were destroyed.

    The Regent of Akungba-Akoko, Princess Toyin Omosowon’s pleas for calm were rebuffed.

    Many people who had ceremonies in Akungba, Ikare-Akoko and other neighbouring towns were disappointed as the protest stalled all activities.

    Travellers coming from Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and other areas could not pass through Akungba-Akoko.

    The university authority has announced the closure of the institution.

    A statement by the Acting Registrar, Sunday Ayeerun, said: “This development followed the destruction of property within and outside the university premises by some students over the death of a student after an accident involving a commercial motorcycle outside the campus on Friday”.

    “The ongoing examination is suspended and all students are to leave the campus and halls of residence immediately.”

    The statement added that students would be informed on when to resume for the completion of their examination.

    It noted that the management has set up a panel to investigate the protest.

  • Passengers groan as LAGBUS drivers protest poor welfare

    Passengers groan as LAGBUS drivers protest poor welfare

    Commuters in Lagos on Friday groaned as drivers of LAGBUS downed tools to protest restrictions preventing them from plying Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lanes in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that tension had been rife since December 2015 when the Ikorodu-Mile 12 BRT corridor was opened and a new operator for the blue buses resumed.

    Some drivers told NAN in separate interviews that the management had failed to address issues relating to the restriction and poor staff welfare.

    When NAN visited the Toll-Gate depot of the LAGBUS on Friday morning, more than 60 drivers had converged at the entrance on its premises.

    Also, the protesting drivers prevented any bus from leaving the premises of the company, while those who returned late to the depot on Thursday were seen parked outside.

    A driver who preferred anonymity said: “our red buses were denied access to use the dedicated lane; and any red bus that plied it was arrested and fined.

    “So, our management asked us to comply with the directive which they said was from the government; we accepted.

    “But only yesterday, Thursday, the restriction was extended from Mile 12 to CMS and we began to experience arrests and harassment by the BRT monitoring task force for using the corridor.

    “Instead, we are being asked to use the service lane which we consider dangerous to our lives because they want us to now compete with yellow-painted buses whose drivers already accuse us of taking all their passengers.

    “So, that’s the reason for the peaceful protest.”

    The driver said apart from posing a security threat, the restriction had defeated the purpose of reducing delays for passengers and exposed drivers to stress.

    He said efforts to have the management of LAGBUS intervene bore no fruit.

    “They refused to act, instead, they told us to comply with the directive,” he said.

    Another source accused the management of paying lip service to welfare issues.

    “As drivers, we earn a salary of between N22, 000 and N42, 000 a month.

    “Our basic salary is actually N22, 000 monthly, but you earn additional N1, 000 for each day you sign in for work, then another N1, 000 if you are lucky to get a bus to drive for the day.

    “We are also given four per cent of our daily revenue, especially when we meet sales target.

    “How can we earn so little each month when our contemporaries working for the blue buses earn as much as N80, 000 monthly without targets?” the source queried.

    Efforts to reach both the managing director of LAGBUS and its spokesperson for reactions proved abortive as calls to their phones did not connect.

    However, a senior staff of LAGBUS who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said the issues would be resolved.

    He said: “It is true that our captains are on strike because of issues concerning the restrictions and management’s inability to carry every staff along.

    “But, I am sure that the issues would be resolved amicably and commuters would begin to enjoy our services once again.”

    Meanwhile, some stranded passengers who spoke to NAN urged the Lagos State Government to intervene in the matter in the interest of commuters and residents of Lagos.

    Miss Caroline Chinedu, a banker, said, “I want to appeal to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to wade into this issue because exposing us (passengers) to the chaotic traffic situation after a hectic day’s would be unfair.

    “The red buses have been life savers, especially during traffic, as they just glide unhindered along the dedicated lane.

    “So, asking them to use the service lane means many of us who work on the Island would arrive home in the dead of the night.”

    Another commuter, Mr. Musiliu Kamoru, a businessman, said: “The drivers and their management should ensure the issues are resolved during the weekend before Monday to reduce passenger hardship.

    “We are still battling with increased transport fare caused by fuel scarcity, and now the LAGBUS issue is rearing its head.”

     

  • One dies in land grab protest

    One dies in land grab protest

    A COMMERCIAL motorcyclist (aka Okada rider) was killed when a protest over the forceful takeover of a farmland in Isiu near Ikorodu, Lagos, turned bloody last Friday.

    The Okada man was reportedly shot dead by some gun-wielding people described as “land grabbers” who stormed the Ikorodu garage venue of the protest.

    His body has been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital morgue.

    The whereabouts of another protester, Kabiru Ayanniyi, is said to be unknown.

    Shops and other business concerns in the community have been shut down out of fear.

    The community has sought Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s intervention for peace to reign there.

    Last Friday, the community gathered at the garage to protest against the “land grabbers”, who were alleged to have been invited to the town.

    According to eye witnesses, during the protest, they suddenly heard gun shots as the “land grabbers” stormed the venue and disrupted the protest.

    A resident, Jelili Hassan, who was allegedly shot on the leg and macheted on the hand, was rushed to a nearby hospital.

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) officers from Sagamu Road Police Station, who were on patrol of the area, were said to have arrested a man with firearms.

    The Nation learnt that the suspect is being detained at Area N Police Command at Ijede near Ikorodu.

    It was gathered that last Wednesday, mobile policemen invaded the town and arrested some members of the families who own land in Ori-Okuta and took them to Alagbon Police Station. Those arrested were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court,  which ordered them remanded in prison custody, pending the determination of their bail applications.

    In anger, some residents were said to have invited RRS from Sagamu Road Police Station and taken them to Ajerogun area of Isiu, the “land grabbers” hideout.

    Five of the “land grabbers” were arrested and 15 motorcycles seized.

    On Thursday, a signal was said to have come from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), in Abuja that the case file be taken away from Sagamu Road Police Station, Ikorodu.

    It was gathered that Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives from Ebute Meta visited Ikorodu and freed those in Sagamu Road Police Station custody, claiming to be acting on orders from above.

    The SARS team was said to have stormed Isiu; arrested six persons in their houses, and took them to Abuja.

    Sources said the town’s peace was shattered last year when the “land grabbers” sponsor, who had been away for long, returned to the town.

    He was alleged to have headed to Ori-Okuta where he and his cohorts chased out the farmers and cut down economic trees and plantations.

    The community’s spokesperson, Opeyemi Taiwo said the police did nothing despite complaints about the “land grabbers” activities.

    The police could not be reached for comment.

  • Students’ protest grounds UNILAG

    Students’ protest grounds UNILAG

    UNIVERSITY of Lagos (UNILAG) Muslim students protested yesterday what they called management’s “clampdown” on their activities since October.

    Under the aegis of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), they marched round the campus, demanding respect for their right to freedom of association.

    They carried placards with inscriptions, such as, “BringBack our MSSN-UNILAG,” “We say no to discrimination;” “Return our original MSSN;” “MSSN is a student body: vested interest, keep off;” “We demand freedom of association, Dr Ismail Musa, keep off from MSSN;” “DSA, Enough is enough; Let our MSSN-UNILAG live.”

    A member of the outgoing MSSN executive committee, Kazeem Abdullahi, said the university acted on an anonymous petition, accusing the society’s leadership of financial recklessness.

    He said: “The university has since looked into the allegations and found out that they were frivolous and unfounded. Yet, instead of lifting the ban placed on our activities, it imposed a staff adviser (Dr Ismail Musa) on us and forced our former staff adviser, to resign.

    “Since las October, we could not conduct tutorial classes for our members, hold Sisters’ Circle, Qur’anic memorisation sessions, among others. In fact, our bus has been abandoned since then degenerating where it is parked. We do not understand why the management is doing this when other religious sects on campus are not being disturbed.”

    Another student, who identified herself as Sheriffah, accused members of the committee set up to review the society’s bye-law and decide on the mode of electing new executives of foul play.

    She said: “Despite turning down the voice of the majority when a congress was called, they still want to impose leaders on us. At that congress which has the presence of Dr Musa and a representative of the Dean of Students Affairs (DSA), a motion for the adoption of the reviewed bye-laws was moved. While 23 voted no to the adoption, 116 voted yes – that the review be adopted. Yet, the two university officials imposed the vote of the 23 students on us. Now, the management is saying 23 is bigger than 116. This is an indictment of our prestigious institution.

    “We will not allow that to happen this time around. The association is meant for students and not management.”

    Another student, identified as Akeem wondered why the management wanted a worker to be a signatory to the account of a students’ association, noting that would forfeit the essence of having the society as a training ground for future leaders.

    “The situation here is terrible. It is unfair for anyone to attempt to impose leaders on students. A congress should be called for us to decide what we want. Dr. Musa should stop forcing people on us as our leaders,” he said.

    Speaking with The Nation, the group’s spokesman, Mukaila Tajudeen,  said: “We were asked to submit and handover all necessary things to the staff adviser which we did on last November 9, with the DSA promising us that by January, a new set of executives would be constituted; but to our dismay, the reverse was the case. We did not get any information as regards the election; neither did we get any information as regards the conference or any information at all about the ongoing process. It is like we were just kept in the darkness not knowing what is going on and that is why we felt we were being taken for granted because we have been quiet all this while.

    “We do not want a situation whereby the leadership of MSSN would be imposed on us like the staff adviser and members of the committee were imposed on us. Majority of those in the committee were not active members of MSSN. I cannot imagine why people who do not know about the constitution of a society would be asked to review the society’s constitution. We were all in the school when the University of Lagos Students Union (ULSU) was to be reinstated and a committee was constituted. Those that were in that committee were all student activists on campus. Since the committee is lopsided, I am very sure the review they are going to give us will also be lopsided.”

    Reacting, Dean, Students Affairs (DSA) Prof Tunde Babawale said the students’ agitations were based on falsehood.

    Babawale said management did not clampdown on MSSN’s activities, but has been trying to help the society resolve its internal crisis since last year.

    He said: “There is no truth in that allegation because the school respects the right of students to associate, although it provides guidelines to regulate their activities. The MSSN had internal crisis in 2015, so the management had to intervene to curb the crisis.

    “A panel approved by the Vice-Chancellor (Prof Rahamon Bello) was set up and it traced the root of the crisis to problems contained in the constitution of the MSSN. Consequently, the VC directed that we set in motion an all-inclusive machinery for a review of that constitution. A meeting was held with all stakeholders of MSSN, including all the students and the decision to set up the committee was made.

    “That review committee started its work in January and submitted its report only last Wednesday. Now, the procedure is to submit that report to the VC after a review by the Students Affairs Office to pave the way for election of the new executives.”

    Babawale called for calm, saying: “The report of the committee was submitted to me last Tuesday and Wednesday. The January deadline cannot be met if the reports are not submitted in time. The management of this university is not interested in stampeding MSSN activities”.

    He said a congress would be called on or before Thursday.

  • Protest in Ile-Ife over appointment of new Obalufe

    Protest in Ile-Ife over appointment of new Obalufe

    •Ooni to protesters:let peace reign

    There was a protest in Ile-Ife yesterday against the appointment of Comrade Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura as the Obalufe of Ife.

    Aggrieved members of the Aga Orunto ruling family marched on the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to complain about Adediwura’s alleged imposition.

    Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters  alleged that the Ooni was misinformed by some traditional rulers in appointing Adediwura as his deputy.

    They said it was wrong not to have appointed someone from their family to replace the late Oba Folorunso Omisakin, who died last October.

    According to them, the  appointment should be in the order of Ajagbusi, Ado Gbodo, Aga and Jaojo.

    They said the late Oba Omisakin hailed from the Ado Gbodo ruling house.

    They requested that the candidate who emerged victorious during the screening of candidates from the Aga Orunto family should be appointed.

    They said a screening was conducted for 10 candidates on December 31, last year.

    Speaking on their grievances,  Prince Oluwasegun Olayade from Aga family said: “We are protesting because my family has been deprived of the Obalufe position that we are entitled to based on the order of the gazette.

    “Four ruling houses are entitled to it  based on that existing arrangement and there was no disorder, until it was our turn.

    “When the issue was getting hot, the Ooni called us to present candidates and that if we do not present the names on time, he will choose for us.

    “We submitted the names on time but he refused to honour us.

    “Suddenly, we heard that he has appointed some one  who is not from our Aga ruling house, which is the next house to be appointed Obalufe.

    “This has never happened before; the position of Obalufe is a prominent one that cannot be bathed with injustice.

    “The Ooni cannot overrule our choices when it is not the case that we are fighting dirty within the family.

    “The previous method has always been peaceful using the gazette; this one may result in crisis.

    “The Ooni should return the position to the Aga Orunto family for peace to reign.”

    The Director of Media and Public Affairs,Ooni’s palace,  Moses Olafare, said Adediwura’s appointment followed due process.

    He advised the people of Iremo community and Ile-Ife to join hands with the Ooni in “his dedicated moves to ensure  peace, progress and unity of Ile-Ife.”

    The appointment of the Obalufe is in order and followed the right process.

    The appointment was done after wide consultations with the appropriate quarters and followed laid down procedures.

    “We urge the few aggrieved people to allow peace to reign. The new Obalufe is capable.”

  • Nnamdi Kanu: No plans to invade court – MASSOB

    Nnamdi Kanu: No plans to invade court – MASSOB

    The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) faction led by Uchenna Madu has denied the allegation by the Department of State Service (DSS) that some Biafra agitators plan to invade the Court and forcefully free their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
    Madu said that both Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and MASSOB have no plans to invade any court in the country during the façade trail of Kanu with the intention to free their leader.

    MASSOB in a statement issued by the factional leader, Comrade Madu described the allegation as ‘rattling of a confused and drowning people’, as the two groups are non violent in any form.

    The statement reads, “How can a non-violence and armless organization like IPOB and MASSOB invade a courtroom located on the 3rd floor of the Federal High Court surrounded by heavily armed combine team of
    Nigeria security agents and modern technological security gadgets.

    “MASSOB and IPOB have no such intention, plan or agenda as we know that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others committed no offence against Nigeria.

    “We depend and focus on the divine justice of God (as) Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest and detention has revived the conscientiousness of Biafra to a higher dimension which can never be quenched.

    “The insistence of the Federal Government to hide the identity of their witnesses against Nnamdi Kanu and others is a sign of cowardice and unsteadiness.

    “They have no genuine witnesses now because the contracted ones have been exposed. It remains only the staff of DSS who will appear with Igbo names to create negative impression that Ndigbo are against
    Nnamdi Kanu.

    “FG has shot itself on the leg. For a soft landing, MASSOB advises President Buhari to immediately reach the principal Igbo leaders the Federal Government delegation led by the Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) met, with some representatives of IPOB and MASSOB on 22nd of December 2015 at Enugu, and release Nnamdi Kanu to them.

    “The continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu will bring more devastating diplomatic doom for Nigeria. Biafrans are ready for the trial.”

  • Pensioners protest in Ibadan

    Hundreds of University of Ibadan (UI) retirees at the weekend protested the non-payment of their January pension in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    They accused Wema  Bank and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) of withholding the pensions.

    The angry pensioners expressed their grievances at the State Correspondents’ Chapel, Mokola.

    Led by their Chairman, Abel Akinyemi Olupita, they said their January pension  was yet to be paid by their bank.

    They said they were tired of the excuses given by the bank and PTAD.

    Olupitan and his colleagues exonerated UI management.

    They said a senior staff of the institution had helped  trace the unpaid pension to their bank.

    Olupitan said: “We use Wema Bank. Our January pension ought to have been paid since the first week of February.

    “The PTAD management in Abuja said it had released our money but we have been unable to access it in Wema Bank.

    “Other banks being used for payment are First, Union, Eco and Skye banks.

    “What is bothering us is that the pensioners using the other banks have been paid.

    “The PTAD is saying it has paid but our bank is saying our accounts have not been credited by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “We don’t know who is telling lies now? Some of us are sick; we don’t have money for drugs.

    “We have been to Wema Bank, Mokola Branch, four times but they directed us to their regional office at the Secretariat. We called PTAD all to no avail.

    “This was what they did last year. They did not pay  August and September allowances but after we raised the alarm they paid  us.

    “You can see us; we are old people. We don’t have the strength to go up and down.

    “They should please release our money. We can’t feed ourselves, no money to buy our drugs. They should let us know what is happening.”