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Tag: protest

  • Two policemen, nine others die in pro-Biafra protest in Onitsha

    Two policemen, nine others die in pro-Biafra protest in Onitsha

    Onitsha, the Southeast’s commercial engine-room, was boiling yesterday as pro-Biafra protest turned bloody.

    It was the second day of the planned three-day blockade of the Onitsha Head Bridge – the gateway to the East from the Western part of the country.

    The protests have been raging in Southeast capitals and Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in the last few weeks. The call has been for the release of detained leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) who is also the coordinator of underground Biafra Radio.

    Kanu, who is based abroad, was arrested on arrival in the country in October. He has been charged to court in Abuja by the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

    No fewer than 11 persons, including two policemen, were killed during the fracas that followed a clash between the protesters and the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    The JTF comprises soldiers, policemen, naval ratings and men of the Civil Defence.

    A mosque on Sokoto Road was burnt along with eight trucks marked “Dangote Group” packed within the premises.

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano called for calm in a broadcast as the situation degenerated into a near total breakdown of law and order in Anambra’s biggest city.

    The governor warned mischief makers to steer clear of the state.

    The clash began as the JTF men moved to dismantle the barricade put on the Onitsha Head Bridge.

    The blockage of the bridge on both side Onitsha and Asaba ends started on Tuesday and stalled inter-state travels, crippling economic activities.

    The protesters blocked the highway between 2.pm on Tuesday till 2.30am yesterday, when the JTF moved in.

    They also made bonfires on the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.

    The encounter left about nine people dead, five at the Niger Bridge Head, three at Obodoukwu Road, and a hawker who was said to have been hit by a stray bullet. He died instantly.

    Miscreants, on hearing that some people had been shot dead,  marched on the Central Mosque near Onitsha Main Market and set it ablaze. A Hilux van with Federal Government number was also burnt.

    It was like a war situation, with sporadic shootings and people scampering for safety.

    All markets in Onitsha were shut down, traders took to their heels.

    It was alleged that the killings of the IPOB members got members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to join forces with their colleagues to repel the JTF.

    Commercial motorcyclists banned on the highways by the state government made brisk business and had a field day. Motocycles were the only means of coming in and out of Onitsha.

    IPOB National Coordinator Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe alleged that five of its members were killed; 18 were injured.

    He said, he learnt that more people had been killed in the sporadic shootings at Upper Iweka, but he could only confirm the killing that involved his members.

    The Nation gathered that Chief Rommy Ezeownwuka (Rojeny), the Ogirisi Igbo, who is said to be respected by MASSOB and IPOB youths, was attacked at about 1.35 am when he went to appeal to the protesting youths at the Niger Bridge Head.

    The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South East Chairman, Dede Uzor, said: “IPOB has been peaceful in their protest and there should not be any reason to open fire on them by security agencies.

    “We are also calling for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB and MASSOB members in detention.”

    The former President of Igede Development Association, Anambra State Branch, Chief Patrick Akobo, said the Igbo had built Nigeria and could not afford to abandon what they  built.

    “The only thing they should do is to empower themselves and be like the Japanese that the  world is relying on now, and at the end of the day, the whole Nigeria will rely on them because of their God-given talent.”

    Anambra State police spokesman Ali Okechukwu confirmed the killing of two policemen by the protesters. He said one of them was a sergeant.

    He also confirmed that eight Dangote trucks and the mosque on Sokoto Road were burnt.

    Biafran activists yesterday washed their hands of the burning of the Onitsha Central Mosque and vehicles.

    They, however,  claimed that eight of their members, including two women were shot dead in Onitsha.

    In a statement by the leader of a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of the  Sovereign‎ State of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu, the activists laid the blame at the doorstep of the federal authorities who want to impress that they were violent.

    The statement said: “The setting of Onitsha central mosque, vehicles ablaze and making of bornfires which depict violence are not done by members of IPOB or MASSOB under my leadership. This unwarranted  acts of violence are perfected by hoodlums sponsored by agents of the federal to create the impression that the non-violent  and peaceful pro-Biafran group has turned violent on our agitation for Biafra.

    “With today’s killing of our members and injuring many with bullet shots, we are no longer comfortable with Presidency’s move for dialogue.   Federal Government’s  move  for dialogue is hypocritical and deceitful.

    “Any Igbo group, organisation and persons negotiating, or meeting with the Presidency on our behalf without our consent or mandate should stop now.

    “MASSOB, led by Comrade Uchenna Madu and IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, have never mandated any person to negotiate for us.”

    Obiano, in his broadcast, said: “I wish to address you on the on-going protest staged in Onitsha by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and MASSOB.

    “The government of Anambra State has been monitoring developments and is greatly concerned about the security of lives and property of residents and visitors to the state.

    “As your Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I am compelled to act to avert any likely breakdown of law and order. In all situations, the preservation of human life comes first and I am determined to enforce that.

    “Since the inception of my administration, we have made the security of lives and property our priority and we are not going to compromise on that.

    “I therefore, sincerely appeal to the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), MASSOB and other aggrieved groups and individuals to maintain the peace and resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilize any part of Anambra State.

    “I am in constant touch with all the security agencies in the state to ensure that what has otherwise been a peaceful protest is not hijacked by trouble makers.

    “All mischief makers are hereby warned to keep off as we will not tolerate any breach of peace under any guise or pretext. You are seriously warned!.

    “I, therefore, wish to assure Ndi Anambra and all visitors to the state to go about their normal business peacefully as the security agencies are on top of the situation to preserve law and order,” the governor said.

     

  • Pro-Biafra protest turns bloody

    Pro-Biafra protest turns bloody

    The peaceful protest embarked upon by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) turned bloody on Wednesday in Anambra, when the protesters were attacked by the Joint Task Force (JTF) that claimed the lives of about nine persons.
    Also eight trucks belonging to Dangote group and a mosque at Sokoto road in Onitsha were burnt.IMG-20151202-WA0046 IMG-20151202-WA0047 IMG-20151202-WA0049 IMG-20151202-WA0050 IMG-20151202-WA0054 IMG-20151202-WA0058 IMG-20151202-WA0059 IMG-20151202-WA0060
  • Pro-Biafra protests shut down Onitsha, Aba

    Pro-Biafra protests shut down Onitsha, Aba

    Activities in the commercial city of Aba in Abia State were yesterday stalled as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) continued its protest  for the release of its leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    Though the protest was peaceful, vehicular movement was grounded as the group marched on double lanes of major roads. The Aba-Owerri Road, Azikiwe Road, Faulks Road, Tonimas, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway and other entry and exit routes were blocked.

    It was gathered that the group, yesterday, went round major markets in Aba and warned traders against opening for business. The order was obeyed except for shop owners within streets who though opened, closed down upon sighting the crowd.

    Most public and private schools opened for business though they said it was a risky gamble owing to the tension in town. Most proproetors said they could not close as they were preparing for the December break.

    Banks witnessed low patronage as only few customers came for business.

    Sources said the protesters blocked the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and prevented vehicles from entering Aba.

    The protesters said  they would not relent in their quest to get freedom for Kanu. 65- year-old Jude Iheme, a pastor, said the actualisation of Biafra was revealed to him in a dream and so he would not relent until Biafra was realised.

    “I don’t believe in violence or arms bandying because I am a pastor. Since I got a revelation about Biafra, I have been preaching about it everywhere I go and always joined any pro-Biafra protest because we need to be free.”

    Another protester said the protest would continue so far the Federal Government refuses to release Nnamdi Kanu, saying that there would be another protest on the next adjourned date of his trial.

    “Nnamdi Kanu is our leader, there is no way we will remain quiet while he is facing trial unjustly. How many of the Boko Haram leaders have they arrested and tried?”

    The protest ,which started at about 7am went on till about 5pm as members of the group were seen on the streets of Aba still protesting.

    Residents have however lamented their loss since the protest started. They said continuing the protest in December, a period regarded as the peak of economic activities would not be in the interest of business owners.

    They urged President Muhammadu Buhari and authorities concerned to seek ways of ending the agitations.

  • OAU closed down indefinitely over students protest

    OAU closed down indefinitely over students protest

    Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has been closed down indefinitely following continued protests by the students.

    The students are protesting alleged poor living condition in their halls of residence.

    However, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, refuted the claim that the institution had been shut down.‎

    He said that the authorities only gave the students a mid semester break.
    ‎
    For the two days that the protest had lasted, many students and workers in the university were stranded as there was  heavy traffic at the main gate of the institution.
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    According to some students, ‎epileptic power and  poor water supply had made the OAU campus not conducive for habitation

  • LAUTECH lecturers protest poor welfare, work overload

    LAUTECH lecturers protest poor welfare, work overload

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso branch, has protested “deteriorating health of lecturers due to work overload”.

    It said lecturers work throughout the year without going on leave, thereby affecting academic productivity and scholarly contributions.

    ASUU noted that this recent development, which may result in sudden death, was being done to increase the Internally Generated Revenue due to negligent attitude of the owner-states.

    The union expressed sadness over the attitude of the governors of Osun and Oyo states over 13 months unpaid subvention.

    Osun under Governor Rauf Aregbesola owes 11 months; Oyo’s Governor Abiola Ajimobi owes two months.

    In a statement by its Chairman, Prof. Oyebamiji Oyegoke, titled: “How not to run a public university:  the painful truth on the state of affairs at LAUTECH”, ASUU chronicled the problems facing the university to include poor funding, absence of health insurance for academic staff, non-payment of salaries and pension gratuities.

    Oyebamiji urged the two owner-states to do the needful and rescue the institution from imminent collapse.

  • NOUN students’ protest and matters arising

    It seems that as Nigerians we are always after seeking world-class infrastructure without the desire to make world class-inputs. Nothing echoes this antithetical desire as much as this week’s petition–supposedly signed by students – calling for the sack of the vice chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Professor Vincent Tenebe and other top management of the institution. One has to say supposedly signed by students because the expectation is that genuine students should understand what the issues are and how their interplay affects the running of the system.

    A statement signed by the Congress of NOUN Students accused the management of not responding to their claim that the institution has become a “den of endemic corruption”. Maybe one will also offer no response upon the realization that the entity being described has no relationship with where one presides over. But again, the management should for the sake of reducing ignorance, educate the student leaders and perhaps their sponsors about the reality of the quality of education that NOUN is delivering despite the limited financing available to it. This explanation would be useful for several reasons.

    First, there is that copycat tendency in some people. It could just be that the Congress of NOUN Students is out to replicate its own version of the #feesmustfall protest that recently crippled several South African universities over astronomical rise in school fees. From the Nigerians perspective, a simplistic view would be to conclude that #feesmustfall protest of 10 – 15% hike in school fees for the 2016 academic year but the larger picture is to appreciate that the hike means an average of N700,000.00 for each student. Should NOUN students be looking at replicating the protest going by their recent moves, it is best they also compare their overall fees with what obtains not just in South Africa but in other countries.

    The second reason the management has to consider is the mere fact that the leadership of NOUN, since inception, has been superlative in the discharge of its duties. NOUN moved from being a concept, whose practicality and implementation was earlier doubted, to becoming a reliable institution. It even caught the attention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who became a proud student, finished his degree and remained an ambassador of distance learning in Africa.

    The management has been able to place the institution among Nigeria’s top 25 universities. It has also secured Senate’s approval for its graduates to take part in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. These are achievements the management of NOUN, under Professor Tenebe has to celebrate more than it currently does so that Nigerians and their prospective students can appreciate the efforts they are making to provide quality manpower for the nation.

    Furthermore, the university should create awareness on the relationship between the fees it charges and the quality it turns out. People often desire free education. The reality however is that education is never free. Someone or some entity is paying for or subsidising education whenever students are able to get it for free. Another angle to this is that people should have realised by now that the word “cheap” and “quality” should not occur in the same sentence when they describe education. What the Congress of NOUN Students want, going by their statement and petition, is to either have “cheap” or “free” education. It is interesting to note that they made no reference to the quality of what they are getting out of distance learning, which affords many of them the opportunity to combine career growth with education.

    One of the things the Congress of NOUN Students is not comfortable as indicated in their statement is the increase in the fees charged for research projects. Perhaps, a starting point would have been for the leaders of this congress to take a few minutes to do a Google search with the phrase “project research fees” or “research project fees” and then take a further few minutes to skim over the search results. They would then find that it is not a trend that is only associated with NOUN – other Nigerian universities charge the fee. If these students have the energy and patience to click on the links from the search query, they will further discover that project research fee averages N70,000.00 at institutions that charge them.

    A suggestion for these students would thus be that they should hold NOUN management accountable to ensure they get quality supervision for their projects upon the payment of the prescribed fees. Also, while at it, they should actively explore the possibility of getting businesses and companies interested in funding their projects by working on viable research problems that have industry applications.

    On the issue of course materials, which the students said they do not get on time, a workable suggestion is for the student body to work with management to have all materials digitized and distributed through the institution’s portal or via mobile apps, since the era of hardcopy study materials has all but fizzled out anyway. Enterprising students should be happy to take up the creation of such platforms as a challenge.

    On its part, the Professor Tenebe-led management of NOUN must realise at this point that succumbing to erroneous demands from students is not an option here. If the management succumbs once, then it will never stop giving in until the progress it has made in recent years becomes eroded. Yes, the students have threatened “peaceful protests” if the management of the school is not fired by President Muhammadu Buhari, but the threat should not derail the school from delivering on its mandate. It should also not force the school to abandon the trajectory that has seen its profile rise to be the first choice for those who desire tertiary education through distance learning.

    • Ibekwe, an educationist, contributed this piece from Enugu.
  • Ekiti tipper owners protest ‘haulage tax’

    Ekiti tipper owners protest ‘haulage tax’

    Tipper owners in Ekiti State have begun an indefinite strike to protest the N1,000 tax per trip and a fine of N50,000 on any defaulter by the Ayo Fayose administration.

    The Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers of Nigeria in Ekiti State described the imposition of the tax as “unacceptable” and the fine “outrageous.”

    Members of the union, after holding a meeting on the development, yesterday staged a mini-protest at their secretariat to denounce the “harsh tax policies” of the administration.

    They claimed Fayose came into office through their votes and his government should not make life difficult for the people.

    The angry union members said: “We voted in the governor and this is supposed to be a government of the masses. This government is turning to something else. We can’t be paying N1,000 per trip.”

    The government, in a November 12 letter signed by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Michael Ayodele,  imposed the tax, which it described as “haulage fee”.

    The letter reads: “The meeting deliberated on the financial position of Ekiti State vis-à-vis the need to provide social amenities for citizens.

    “Consequently, the union is notified that a haulage levy of N1,000 shall be paid on each tipper load of gravel and sand. This covers the entire state.

    “The measure takes effect from November 16. Any defaulter will have his vehicle impounded by a task force and will be released on the payment of a fine of N50,000.”

    The union Chairman, James Olujimi Mokoa, said he told his members to withdraw their services because “we don’t have any N50,000 fine to pay”.

    Mokoa said it was wrong for the government to go on air to impose the tax after which the governor summoned a meeting to discuss the matter.

    He said members had been paying levies to the Ministry of Solid Minerals, including N20,000 annual renewal fee, N9,000 royalty levy and a processing fee of N10,000.

    The chairman said the governor insisted at the meeting that there was no going back on the tax and all entreaties to convince him failed.

    Mokoa said: “The governor told us that he would be charging N1,000 on every trip but we are under Ministry of Solid Minerals where we were registered and we renew this with money.

    “We told the governor that this is double tax and he said his decision is final, he said he can’t change his words.

    “The following day, we heard on the radio that the tax had come to stay and they said we should be paying to the bank, how can we be queuing to pay at the bank?”

    Commissioner for Information Lanre Ogunsuyi said the N1,000 “haulage levy” was for maintenance of road plied by the tippers urging union members “to show understanding and comply because there is no going back.”

  • Pro-Biafra protest rocks Imo

    Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), as well as other pro-Brafra groups, yesterday took over the streets of Owerri, the Imo State capital, crippling economic activities and vehicular movements, as they protested the continued detention of the Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu.

    It will be recalled that Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, in the wake of the protests, absolved the Southeast governors and Igbo leaders of any complicity, adding that the separatists do not enjoy the support of majority of the Igbo.

    The governor also stepped up security to prevent the pro-Biafra groups from holding the protest in the state.

    However, as early as 6am yesterday, IPOB members, who reportedly trekked from Aba in neighbouring Abia State and Port Harcourt, apparently to beat security checks, converged at strategic positions in the state capital, from where they linked up with their members on ground to begin the protest.

    Although there was heavy security presence, including battle-ready soldiers and heavily armed mobile policemen, who drove behind the protesters in their vehicles, there was anxiety among the residents, as shop owners hurriedly locked up their shops, while motorists scampered out of major roads to make way for the long procession.

    Meanwhile, the protesters, numbering over 10 thousand, marched through major streets in the state capital, displaying the Biafra flag and placards with various inscriptions, such as, ‘FG free Nnamdi Kanu now’, ‘Kanu is Biafra and we are Kanu’, ‘we need Biafra now’ , among others and chanting  war songs.

    One of the protesters, Emmanuel Onyema, said that the protests will spread to other parts of the country and sustained until Kanu is unconditionally released by the Federal Government.

    The factional MASSOB   Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, said that they were in solidarity with IPOB because Kanu is a true Biafran.

    According to him, “the protest will continue as a platform to send the massage across that we need Biafra, we are not secured in Nigeria, we are feeling that our future is not secured in Nigeria. Our demonstrations shall remain non violent. Today we are in Owerri and by the time we finish in the Southeast and Kanu is not released, we will match to Abuja so that we can all be detained because we are ready to die for what believe in.

    “We are tired of being slaves in Nigeria, what is happening now shows that Biafra is ready to go so let them give us Biafra and release our leader immediately.”

    At the Government House, there was heavy security presence apparently as part of the security measures to prevent the protesters from gaining entry.

     

  • Pro-Biafra protest rocks Imo

    Pro-Biafra protest rocks Imo

    Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), as well as other pro-Brafra groups, at last penetrated Owerri, the Imo State capital, crippling economic activities and vehicular movements as they protested the continued detention of the Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu.

    It would be recalled that the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha,  at the wake of the protests, absolved the Southeast Governors and Igbo leaders of any complicity,  adding that the separatists does not enjoy the support of majority of the Igbo. Also the Governor had stepped up security in the state to prevent the pro-Biafra groups from holding the protest in the state.

    However, as early as 6am Friday, IPOB members who reportedly trekked from Aba in neighbouring Abia state and Port Harcourt, apparently to beat security checks, were converged at strategic positions in the state capital from where they linked up with their members on ground to begin the protest.

    Although there was heavy security presence, including battle ready soldiers and heavily armed mobile Policemen who drove behind the protesters in their vehicles, there was obvious anxiety among the residents as shop owners hurriedly locked up their shops, while motorists parked out of the road to make way for the long procession.

    Meanwhile the protesters numbering over 10 thousand, marched through major streets in the state capital, displaying the Biafra flag and placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘FG free Nnamdi Kanu now’, ‘Kanu is Biafra and we are Kanu’, ‘we need Biafra now’ , among others and chanting  war songs.

    One of the protesters, Emmanuel Onyema, said that the protests will spread to other parts of the country and sustained untill Kanu is unconditionally released by the Federal Government.

    The factional MASSOB Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, said that they were in solidarity with IPOB because Kanu is a true BIafran.

    He said that “the protest will continue as a platform to send the message across that we need Biafra, we are not secured in Nigeria, and we are feeling that our future is secured not in Nigeria. Our demonstrations shall remain non violent, today we are in Owerri and by the time we finish in the Southeast and Kanu is not released we will match to Abuja so that we can all be detained because we are ready to die for what beljeve in.”

    According to him, “we are tired of being slaves in Nigeria, what is happening now shows that Biafra is ready to go so let them give us Biafra and release our leader immediately.”

    At the Government House, there was equally heavy security presence apparently to forestall any attempt to invade the Government House.

  • Activists protest governor’s policies

    A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs), under the aegis of the Joint Action Force (JAF), has staged a peaceful protest against what they called the harsh policies of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    The protesters said Oshiomhole’s policies were insensitive to the economic plight of Edo residents. They described such policies as anti-people.

    Their spokesman Kola Edokpayi said they wanted the governor to revamp ailing industries and reverse some of his administration’s policies.

    The spokesman noted that governance would be meaningless, if its policies were detrimental to the people.

    He said the CSOs opposed recent increase in the tuition fees of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma and the “deplorable” state of roads. They called for the resuscitation of the Edo Line Transport Company.

    Their other demands are: revamping the Edo State Pharmaceutical Company, Bendel Brewery, Ethiope Publishing Company, Ehor Fruit Juice Factory, Uromi Cassavita, among others.

    House of Assembly’s Speaker Victor Edoror, who was represented by Chris Okaeben, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Sports, Chris Okaeben, assured the protesters that their demands would be addressed.