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Tag: protests

  • Group protests against killings

    A group of men and women yesterday in Lagos protest against what it called the “needless killings” in some parts of the country.

    The protest tagged: “National day of mourning, one death too many” was organised by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and other civil society organisations (CSOs), with the support of MacArthur Foundation.

    Clad in black Tee shirt, the group walked from the Airport Hotel to the Allen Roundabout on Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ikeja, singing dirge.

    Detailing killings in Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos and Edo states, among others, WARDC Executive Director Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi urged the government to bring the killers to book.

    She said: “We say no to these killings. Our people are being killed like animals, they are being slaughtered in their homes on a daily basis; enough of these killing.

    According to her, Nigerians can no longer tolerate these deaths.

    Akiyode-Afolabi: “And that is why we say no to the death of our wives, husbands and children that are being killed by herdsmen. We are saying that we need prompt action from government; this must stop. Our security arm must be investigated, from Boko Haram to herdsmen, who knows what is next.”

    A representative of the Federation of Muslin Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Lagos State, Alhaja Zainab Dawodu lamented that women were mostly the victims of killings by Boko Haram, herdsmen and bandits.

    A representative of the Women’s Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Lagos State, Mrs Elizabeth Bassey, said farmers could no longer go their to farms because of the fear of being killed.

    “We cannot continue like this, we cannot keep quiet because we are in Lagos; it is our business. Many people have lost their lives. It is uncalled for and we say enough is enough. Some of these deaths are preventable; government must find lasting solution,” she said.

    At 11:59 am, a minute’s silence was observed for the dead.

  • Delta results announced amidst protests

    CHAIRMAN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward and Local Government Congress Committee for Delta State Alhaji Sani Dododo has announced the result of last weekend’s ward congress, amidst protests.

    Announcing the results of the 270 wards of the 25 local government areas of the state at the party’s state secretariat in Asaba, Dododo urged Deltans and party faithful to disregard any other result announced or paraded elsewhere as they were null and void.

    “No other result will be accepted outside what we have here,” he stated.

    However, there have been allegations and counter allegations of rigging of the process.

    One of such allegations accused Dododo of conniving with some politicians in the state to manipulate the process, which pitched him against the other five members of the committee.

    However, Dododo, who explained why some of the results were not written on original results sheets said: “Those who perpetrated the heinous crime of stealing, hiding or removing results sheets will be punished by the law.”

    Maintaining that the results represent the will of the people and actual voting, he challenged those who had any grievances concerning the conduct and/or outcome of the last Saturday’s exercise to seek redress in court.

    On the issue of the aspirant who was allegedly stabbed to death in Ughelli South in the course of the exercise, the chairman said: “The party will decide on that and get back to the people.”

     

  • Baptist Church protests Benue killings

    Members of the First Baptist Church Ipaja in Lagos last Sunday protested against killings across the nation by suspected herdsmen, especially in Benue and other North Central states.

    They said the killings were becoming unbearable, calling on the federal government to stop at nothing to bring the perpetrators to book.

    The protest march, in response to a directive by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), spread into surrounding streets of the church.

    Hundreds of worshippers carried placards with various inscriptions, demanding an end to the killings.

    They also demanded the prompt release of Leah Sharibu, the kidnapped Dapchi girl still in the custody of Boko Haram for allegedly refusing to deny her Christian faith.

    Senior Pastor of the church, Rev Michael Abodunrin, accused the federal government of not doing enough in arresting the ugly situation leading to loss of lives and properties in major places of Benue.

    He particularly frowned at the killing of worshippers in a Catholic  Church penultimate week.

    Abodunrin said: “We condemn the activities of the herdsmen that are killing people, herdsmen have no reason to carry gun and the evil they are perpetrating in the Middle Belt is enough.”

    He wondered why Sharibu was still in captivity after government negotiated for the release of over 100 Dapchi girls.

  • Kwara: Buhari/Osinbajo group protests non registration of members

    In Kwara State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congresses took place yesterday across the 193 wards in a peaceful atmosphere.

    However, some members of the party, who identified themselves as supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, protested around Government Secondary School (GSS) area in Ilorin, the state capital, against alleged disenfranchisement.

    Confirming the peaceful conduct of the congresses, the APC Chairman, Congress Committee for ward and local government in Kwara State,

    Senator Mohammed Salami Ohiare, said the congress was fantastic.

    Said he, “I am here with my other members to monitor and take stock of the results of the congresses.

    “I think Kwara State, particularly in Ilorin here, there is peace, there is harmony and the congresses are being conducted peacefully. Even if there are some grievances, it is very minimal.”

    Also speaking with reporters, state chairman of the party, Alhaji Shola

    Balogun-Fulani, said that “reports from across the state indicated that party members came out en-mass early in the day to pick their leaders in a free and fair manner.”

    Asked about reports by some party members alleging they were sidelined in the process, the APC chairman denied the claims pointing out that the party had deliberately extended the deadline for purchasing of the forms till midnight.

    Spokesperson of the group, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Saka, had said: “basically, we are here to tell the world that since our defection to APC in 2015, we have not been given membership cards. The last year local government election in the state showed that people really love President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo, but the hands in which our party are in the state have made many politicians to quit our party,” he said.

    The protesters wielded placards, some of which read: ‘They are working against the interest of Buhari;’ Buhari/Osinbajo support group;’ ‘We are being denied membership since 2015,’ “we say yes to internal democracy of our party,’ “No stage-managed congress,’ ‘They know us to be supporters of PMB,’ ‘Legacy members denied both party positions and appointments, etc.’

  • Killings: Protests, prayers in Lagos, Benue, Ibadan

    Anger in Akure

    March on Ekiti Govt House

    Pope prays for harmony, peace

    It was a day of prayers and protests yesterday over the killings in some parts of the country.

    Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Supo Ayokunle called for the protests as a wake-up call to the Federal Government that the bloodletting must stop.

    However, there were no protests in the Southeast. The protests in Lagos, Ibadan, Ado-Ekiti, Akure, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Makurdi, among others, were largely restricted to the Baptist Church. Rev Ayokunle is of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

    Pentecostal churches, which are mostly affiliated to the Pentocostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), did not join the protest.

    In Kano, the state chapter of CAN chose prayers instead of a protest.

    It declared that the killings were the handiwork of mercenaries and urged the Federal Government to treat the killers as terrorists.

    State CAN Chairman Rev. Adeolu Samuel Adeyemo said the prayer was to seek divine intervention to end the killings of innocent Nigerians “after due consultation”

    He said:  ”The alleged herdsmen killers are mercenaries. We demand the Federal Government to declare and treat them as terrorists.

    “The military should confront them as thus to stop the dastardly act of theirs and, as well, demand that Federal Government should look out for their sponsors and bring them to justice.”

    The association praised Governor Aabdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano,  Muhammad Sanusi II, for the peace among residents.

    Rev. Adeyemo said CAN in Kano decided not to protest the killings so as not to give hoodlums the opportunity to hijack it, adding that through prayers, “God in His infinite mercy will intervene and restore peace in those trouble areas”.

    “We demand the need to go the extra mile to free the Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu and all those abducted by the terrorists irrespective of tribe and religion,” he said.

    Christian leaders in Kano gathered at Believers Baptist Church, 6, Zungeru Road where they prayed to God to save Nigerians from killers.

    Rev. Ayokunle led the protest in Ibadan where church members converged on the Oritamefa Baptist Church in the Oyo State capital. The protest was restricted to the church premises.

    Youth groups and women estimated to be about 2,000, walked round the church premises and vicinity. They called on the government to stem the killings.

    The service in the church was also to offer thanksgiving for the success of the just- concluded Annual Baptist Convention, which held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Inscriptions on some of the placards read, “CAN says No to Violent Killings”; “FG, stop this wicked act”; “CAN says No to Religious Killings”; “FG, release Leah Sharibu from Captivity”; “Enough of Bloodshed in Nigeria, CAN rejects FGN poor handling of insecurity”; “Human beings are more valuable than cattle, protect human beings”; “FG be sensitive to families that are mourning”; “No more excuses for mass murder”; and “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, among others.

    There was also a protest at the Gospel Faith Mission International International (GOFAMINT) Church, Akanran Road in the Ona Ara Local Government Area.

    The protesters sang and condemned the  killings.

    In Lagos, protests were held at the Shepherded Hill Baptist Church, Obanikoro where congregants protested at the Obanikoro Bus Stop, chanting “no more bloodshed”. They carried placards, with inscriptions such as, “CAN rejects poor handling of insecurity”, “Arrest and prosecute wicked killers in Nigeria”, “Federal Government of Nigeria, take full responsibility for security in Nigeria”, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria” and “Federal Government ensure immediate release of Leah Sharibu from captivity”.

    Senior Pastor Israel Kristilere said the protest was to make Nigerians realise that the church was no longer find the killings palatable.

    “We want the whole world to know that we are against bloodshed in this country and we are not part of them.”

    He said the government must stand up and ensure security of Nigerians.

    “Government must be responsive and responsible. It is their responsibility to ensure the security of lives and properties and whatever it takes to do this can never be too much. If there is need for more gadgets, they should get it,” Kristilere said.

    He noted that many of those troubling the country were no ghosts, adding that if the government spends billions of dollars to tackle insecurity, it is not too much.

    “We are also demanding the release of Leah Sharibu from the custody of Boko Haram,” he said.

    Kristilere urged the government to be serious with insecurity.

    He prayed for the exposure of all those sponsoring bloodshed, adding that God will destroy all the plans of the wicked ones.

    In Ekiti, the protesters took to the streets from about 2.00 pm. Policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) members watching over them.

    This was aside the protest in the early hours by various individual churches, such as Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) and the Baptist Church among others.

    Led by the CAN Chairman Rev. Joshua Orikogbe, the protesting Christians marched from the CAN House at Ori Apata on Adebayo Road in Ado-Ekiti to the Adekunle Fajuyi Memorial Park. They ended the protest at the Government House where they sent a letter to President Buhari through Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The CAN chairman said: “We are for peace in Nigeria but it is like we are being pushed to the wall by these wanton killings of Christians and clerics.

    “To us in Ekiti CAN, the only way to sustain peace is for  the government of the day at the federal level to abandon politics for sometime and focus the needed attention on security and safety of lives,” he said.

    Fayose, whose Special Adviser on Religious Matters, Pastor Seyi Olusola, received the protesters, praised them for being peaceful.

    The Ekiti State Baptist Conference President Rev. Yinka Aribasoye has called on the Federal Government to stop the killings.

    He called for the resignation of the Service Chiefs if they could not guarantee the security of ordinary Nigerians.

     

    The presiding pastor of the First Baptist Church, Okeyinmi, Ado-Ekiti, Reverend Kayode Ayinde, enjoined Christians to pray for Shaibu’s safe return.

    Christian faithful in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, wore black and white dresses as a mark of mourning for the murdered Catholic priests and parishioners of St Ignatius Church, Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area.

    Two Catholic priests  Rev.  Father Joseph Gor and Rev. Father  Felix Tyolaha, as well as  16 worshippers were killed at  mass  on April 24.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round some churches in Makurdi,  reports that most worshippers, regardless of denomination, wore black and white dresses.

    NAN also reports that the worshippers held peaceful protests within their churches to denounce “the acts of barbarism” on innocent citizens.

    They held placards with inscriptions such as  “Enough of the killings”, “We want peace in our state”, “No more bloodshed”, “Lord, what have we done to deserve this?’’  among  others.

    At the NKST church in Iyortyer, Makurdi, the worshippers carried placards, marching peacefully within  the premises.

    Pastor Frederick Ikyaan of   NKST  Church at High Level area of the metropolis said the Christian community was mourning

    “ We are saddened by these killings and we want the world to know our displeasure over these acts,’’ he said.

    Ikyaan said that the dress code was reminiscent of the  tradition of the church in  wearing sack clothes when faced with such calamities.

    “ In the olden days, Christians wore sack clothes when confronted with calamities of monstrous nature but since we no longer have such clothes, we wear black and white to show our grief and anguish.

    “Our concern is to express our displeasure and feelings to the immediate society, our leaders in Nigeria and President Buhari,  without mincing words that we are offended by the ongoing killings in the state and the  country,’’ he said.

    He said that with the killing  of the priests and worshippers,  it was very clear that the invaders were not after the green vegetation but the soul of the state.

    The cleric  said that the killing of the priests had further deepened their faith, adding that no amount of intimidation would stop them from practicing their faith.

    He said that the priests and faithful  killed had become martyrs of the herdsmen invasion in Benue,  adding that they were the seeds  sown by the church.

    Security operatives were patrolling the state capital while the church services were ongoing

    Members of the First Baptist Church in Rivers State staged a peaceful protest within the church’s headquarters.

    A church leader, who declined to be named, said: “It is unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari has not said much since the advent of the herdsmen killing of Christians in Southern Kaduna, parts of the Northeast and recently Benue State.

    ”We are demanding the immediate release of Leah. They want to turn this into a religious war. If the Federal Government does not act now and end this madness, Christians will rise up and defend themselves and Nigeria will be worse than Afghanistan, Mali and  Rwanda,” he said.

     

  • Empty streets, protests as Buhari visits Benue

    Protests, empty streets and distraught residents — Benue State was in no holiday mood yesterday for the President.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit was to condole with the people over killings by herdsmen and reassure them that the administration shared in their grief.

    The President met with leaders of thought, traditional rulers, stakeholders and government officials at the Peoples House, the Government House, before returning to Abuja.

    Family members of some of those killed in the New Year’s Day attacks in which 73 people died staged a peaceful protest in front of the meeting venue.

    The protesters, numbering about 50, carried placards, lamenting the killings and seeking an end to such savagery. Besides, they sought compensation for the families of the deceased.

    Security agents barred the protesters from going into the Government House. They were restricted to the Government House Roundabout where they held up their placards, singing mournful songs and calling attention. They were decked in black apparels.

    Some of the placards read: End the killings or resign, Buhari and Everyone is a Yusuf. Yusuf is Buhari’s son who had an accident while riding a power bike. He was flown overseas for treatment. He has since returned.

    Some of the placards carried photos of those killed.

    There was no crowd to receive the President in Makurdi, unlike when he visited the state to campaign in 2015.

    There was no public holiday. Markets and schools were not closed; pupils did not line the streets and no banners welcome him to the state, except the one hoisted by Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai.

    Most people went about their businesses, showing no interest in the presidential visit. Security agents took over empty streets.

    A resident, James Ogaba, said he had nothing to do with the President’s visit, having lost three members of his family in the Agatu attacks by the herdsmen .

    Armed security personnel were deployed in strategic areas in Makurdi. Others were patrolling streets in armoured tanks and vehicles.

    Siren-blaring police patrol vans conveying security personnel in bullet proof vestments were patrolling the streets.

    Contrary to the itinerary released before the visit, the President did not go to Tor Tiv James Ayatse’s Makurdi residence. He also did not go to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

    During the interactive session at the Government House, the Tor Tiv urged the Federal Government to dualise federal roads in the state to reduce traffic gridlock.

    Elder statesman Paul Unongo urged the President to support the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.

    The law, which was enacted in July 2017, came into effect in November 2017 but its implementation has been controversial because herdsmen vowed to resist it.

    Unongo said: “The Federal Government should insist that the law is implemented because it is the only way to end the clashes between farmers and herdsmen.”

    President, Mzough U Tiv, a Tiv socio-political group, Mr Edward Ujege, called for compensation for victims of the attacks.

    Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi regretted that the response of the Federal Government was “coming too late”.

    Anagbe appealed to herdsmen to accept the anti-open grazing law to reduce clashes between them and farmers.

  • Protests in Ibadan as aggrieved residents sack Chinese workers for damaging utility

    Protests in Ibadan as aggrieved residents sack Chinese workers for damaging utility

    Scores of residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday sacked Chinese construction workers handling the Ibadan-Lagos light rail project.

    The protesters accused the construction workers of damaging utility and the management of insensitivity to the people’s plight.

    The contract for the Lagos-Ibadan light rail gauge was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) by the Federal Government.

    The three-year contract is expected to be completed in December this year.

    There were sounds of gunshots reportedly fired by soldiers and mobile policemen guarding the expatriates.

    But these did not deter the protesters from charging towards the direction of the gun-wielding security agents.

    The aggrieved residents, who were from six communities in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State and Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, besieged the site of the construction company as early as 7.30 a.m, calling on the Federal Government to intervene in the face-off between them and the Chinese company.

    They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to save them from the inhuman operations of the Chinese company by calling its management to order.

    Some of the affected communities include Aba-Oke, Ago Tente, Eleso, Bakatari, Ilupeju and Orile-Ilugun.

    The construction site at Eleso community, on Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway, had soldiers and mobile policemen stationed at its main gate.

    The angry residents were protesting alleged damage of a 33KVA electricity pole and subsequent disconnection of electricity supply to the affected communities for over three weeks.

    Addressing reporters, the Baale of Eleso community, Chief Isiaka Abe, described the attitude of the Chinese workers as inhuman and barbaric.

    He recalled the efforts the communities made to contact the management of the Chinese firm, but wondered how they proved difficult and unfriendly.

    The community leader, who demanded immediate repair of the damaged electric pole, warned against continued use of dynamite to blast rock in thickly populated areas.

    He said: “We want them to come down and see for themselves the buildings they damaged. Let them visit poultry farm owners and see the loss of livestock running into several millions of naira. We want the government to caution them and help them see the need for peaceful relations with their host communities. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to continue to torment the communities. We shall not allow that. That is why we are here today.”

    The protesters urged the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Ameachi, to call the management of the Chinese construction company to order or be prepared to face the wrath of the communities.

    According to the aggrieved residents, the Chinese construction workers have caused serious damage to their homes, destroyed their farms and killed their livestock through their operations.

    “More annoying is their insensitive posture and refusal to take responsibility for their failings. They have continued to use dynamite to blast stones, an action which has caused not only panic but also damaged many buildings and caused the death of hundreds of livestock in the host communities,” a resident, Mr Festus Adewale, told The Nation.

     

  • Protests at NHIS office over reinstated DG

    Protests at NHIS office over reinstated DG

    •Police take over premises 

    •KOWA: Fed Govt has failed to eradicate corruption

    The reinstatement of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Executive Secretary Prof. Usman Yusuf took another dimension yesterday as two factions of the scheme’s workers protested for and against the recall.

    Unlike what happened last Thursday when the anti-Yusuf protest shut activities at the headquarters, the pro-Yusuf protesters yesterday came up to counter their colleagues who were kicking against the reinstatement.

    Yusuf, on his part, played a smart one as he was said to have resumed office at about 6am yesterday, probably to avoid harassment from protesting workers.

    Armed policemen were also on ground at the office premises to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    The police were civil and polite in their handling of the situation.

    However, National Secretary KOWA Party Comrade Mark Adebayo said the Federal Government has failed in its duty to eradicate corruption by reinstating Yussuf.

    Adebayo, at a news conference in Lagos at the weekend, said the reinstatement was an act of favouritism and nepotism.

    He said the suspension was the outcome of a ministerial committee set up to probe his headship of the agency.

    Adebayo said if President Muhammadu Buhari must recover a little bit of his anti-corruption stance, he should sack the NHIS boss and hand him over to the anti-graft agencies for proper prosecution.

    As at the time of filling in this report, normalcy has returned with some workers back at their desk. But others vowed to keep protesting until President Muhammadu Buhari’s action is reversed.

    Yusuf was reinstated through a presidential directive dated February, despite facing allegations of misconduct by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

    Some workers under the aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and the Joint Health Sector Union called on Buhari to reverse the reinstatement, which, according to them, was a smear on the administration’s anti-graft war.

    The anti-Yusuf protest, which continued yesterday, however, met a brick wall as the pro-Yusuf faction countered them.

    The pro-Yusuf faction sang the praises of the reinstatement of the NHIS boss.

    The two groups briefed the media on their positions.

    The anti-Yusuf group claimed that the embattled executive secretary ought to stay away until he is cleared by the anti-corruption agencies.

    But the pro-Yusuf group said his investigation was unlawful and did not follow due process and should be discontinued.

    Its spokesperson, Mr. Uchenna Ewelike, said it was not right for workers to demand for who preside over them. Rather, he said the work of the workers’ union is to fight for their welfare.

    He said: “The NHIS boss, who is just reinstated, is still under investigation by EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). For now, there is no established allegation that is devoid of bias that has said he is found culpable. On that basis, we believe that the reinstatement of Prof. Yusuf by Mr. President is in order and apt.”

    He claimed that the protest against the NHIS boss was as a result of the reform been carried out under his watch.

    The anti-Yusuf faction, led by the Chairman of the NHIS workers’ union, Mr. Razaq Omomeji, vowed that the protests would continue until Buhari reversed Yusuf’s reinstatement.

    He said: “We want to say that our President, we elected him, we have trust in him and that he is a person of integrity. But whatever is good for the gander is also good for the goose. We are calling on the President that this case of Prof. Yusuf Usman needs to be revisited. The President has not been briefed very well. We know him that when the case of Maina came up, he strictly took the necessary action.

    “We are calling on  our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, whom we know is a man of honour, a man of integrity, a man of Justice, to please take a second look at the reinstatement of this Prof. Yusuf.

    Chairman, Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), NHIS Branch Comrade Olawuyi Kayode said: “This man was in EFCC  two days back, his passport was seized and you reinstated him the following day. What is fairness in that? We cannot continue like this.”

     

  • Govt protests harassment of Nigerians in Libya

    Govt protests harassment of Nigerians in Libya

    Nigeria at the weekend protested the harassment of her citizens by Libyans in illegal migrants’ camps.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geofrey Onyeama expressed the Federal Government’s displeasure when he met with his Libyan counterpart in Tripoli at the weekend.

    The minister led a government delegation to the country to facilitate the release and evacuation of more than 5,000 Nigerian illegal migrants trapped in the North African country.

    On the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians, Onyeama said: “We have made our feelings known to the relevant Ministers and we asked the Libyan government to stop it.”

    A member of the delegation, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said: “We got reports of extortion, beating, outright killing in anger, violation of rights and all forms  of inhuman treatment. The delegation protested to Libyan

    “The leader of delegation, Mr. Onyeama, had a session with Libyan Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs where he lodged our protest. Some heads of various detention centres were also there. Although they denied maltreating Nigerians, they were  warned by Libyan senior government officials to desist from such act  if they had been doing it.

    “We extracted a commitment from them that the illegal conduct will stop. We will however be documenting reports relating to misconduct by Libyan officials at the detention centres.”

    Many of the returnees were however crying and begging President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue others in some parts of Libya apart from Tripoli.

    After about 72 hours of talks, a Fact-Finding Committee Federal Government team evacuated 481 out of the estimated first batch of 5,000 Nigerians from Libya. They were flown to Port Harcourt last night.

    The delegation reached a deal with the Libyan Government on how to locate all Nigerians trapped in the Arab country.

    The Libyan Government allowed Nigerian fact-finding team to have access to four detention camps in Tripoli to meet with the trapped Nigerians.

    The camps are Jejura Detention Centre, Sikka Detention Centre, Zanzu Detention Centre and Terie Matar..

    There were indications however that the number of the stranded Nigerians was more than the 5,000 because more of them were sending distress messages to a member of the delegation, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who is the Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora affairs.

    Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Maihaja said: “We have started the evacuation of over 5,000 Nigerians from Libya to the Reception Centre in Port Harcourt.

    “Those in the inaugural flight with Max Air were 481. We hope that in the next 19 days, we will be able to complete the evacuation. We are also using Medview Airline.

    “Already, we have many officers on standby in Port Harcourt for profiling, medical examination and other relevant data. There is understanding with affected state governments to receive these returnees at the Reception Centre for rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.”

    Speaking with our correspondent in Tripoli, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Onyeama said: “We have had useful discussions with the Libyan authorities on how to ensure smooth evacuation of Nigerians trapped in Libya.

    “I think the number of those affected could be more than the initial figure of 5,000. This is why we have the technical team here.”

    The returnees were accompanied back home by the minister, Senior Special Assistant to the President on The Diaspora and Foreign Affairs Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Director general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Maihaja and a Director in the office of the National Security Adviser Mr Abba Ibrahim.

  • SARS protests rock cities

    SARS protests rock cities

    There were protests in some major cities yesterday  – for and against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),  the police anti-violent crimes fighting machine.

    The unit has been accused of brutality against innocent citizens.

    A group of people promoting the scrapping of the unit surfaced in the social media recently, using the #EndSARS hashtag.

    Following the massive campaign, Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris promised to restructure and reposition the unit. Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said to end SARS was to leave the field open for armed robbers to operate freely.

    In Abuja, Awka, the Anambra State capital, and  Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, protests erupted yesterday.

    In Abuja, the Concerned Men and Women Association of Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), rejected the call for the SARS to be disbanded.

    The coordinator of the association, Alhaji Sanusi Ajiya, said Nigerians do not support scrapping the unit.

    Ajiya said instead of calling for the scrapping of the unit, Nigerians should seek its restructuring and monitoring of its activities.

    “The recent campaign in the social media calling for the scrapping of the SARS is not in the interest of Nigerians,” he said.

    But a coalition of civil society groups issued a 21-day ultimatum for the scrapping of the SARS, “failing which we will be compelled to resort to other measures to embarrass them (government) into taking action.”The #EndSARS coalition which staged a protest at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, also demanded the investigation of various allegations against operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and prosecution of indicted personnel.

    The convener of the protest, Segun Awosanya said: “We demand thorough investigations into complaints filed against SARS officers. We demand that such officers be identified and immediately brought to justice. In some cases, we will provide video and pictorial evidence against officers who have been seen to be involved in such acts of brutality and extortion.”

    ”We give the authorities 21 days within which to meet these demands, failing which we will be compelled to resort to other measures to embarrass them into taking action.”

    Some protesters also visited the police headquarters in support of SARS activities.

    Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations) Joshak Habila, who addressed them, said: “All allegations against SARS will be investigated, they are being put together by the Force Public Relations Officer. The reason we are doing this is because we believe SARS has something to offer, but anyone found wanting will be taken out of the force.

    “The Police Community Relations Committee has been telling us some of the wrongs we did and today they are saying they won’t want SARS to be thrown away. The IG is rebranding SARS. Those that have violated peoples rights or kill won’t go unpunished.”

    In Awka,  a group of youths staged the peaceful protest to back SARS under the aegis of concerned Anambra citizens and non-indigenes

    Drawn from various local government areas in the state, they converged on Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government, carrying placards with various inscriptions, such as “Removal of SARS, an invitation to kidnapping, robbery”;  “We want crime free Christmas and new year” and “Let SARS be”, among others.

    The convener and the Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters, Okafor Emeka, said the protest was to drive home their warning against the consequences of scrapping the unit.

    He attributed the relative peace in the state to the active and aggressive operations of that arm of the police.

    Police Community Relations Committee Chair Francis Ezenwankwo, said those calling for the scraping of the unit had selfish and ulterior motives.

    Ezenwankwo said: “We have a system where erring officers are disciplined, including redeployment, training and retraining, to bring out the best from them.”

    Obiano’s  aide, who handed over the letter written to the Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar, pleaded with the IGP to use his good offices to ensure that SARS remains in the state.

    The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chris Owolabi, who represented the commissioner of Police, praised the youths for their peaceful conduct.

    He assured that their message would be delivered to the appropriate authorities.