The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tear gas

  • French police fire tear gas in Paris to halt angry protests

    FRENCH riot police fired tear gas and water cannon in Paris yesterday, trying to stop thousands of yellow-vested protesters from converging on the presidential palace to express their anger at high taxes and French President Emmanuel Macron.

    Security officials imposed a lockdown on parts of central Paris, determined to prevent a repeat of the rioting a week ago that damaged a major monument, injured 130 people and tarnished the country’s global image.

    Blue armored vehicles rumbled across cobblestone streets from the Arc de Triomphe across toward eastern Paris as scattered demonstrations spread around the city. Police were mounted on horses and surrounded protesters with trained dogs. A ring of steel surrounded the Elysee Palace itself, as police stationed trucks and reinforced steel barriers in streets throughout the entire neighborhood.

    Many protesters were  hurt in yesterday’s s clashes with police.

    Paris police said 30 people were injured, including three police officers.

    Some stores along the Champs-Elysee had boarded up their windows with plywood, making the neighborhood appear like it was bracing for a hurricane. Angry protesters on Saturday tried to rip the boards off.

    Protesters threw flares and other projectiles and set fires but were repeatedly pushed back by tear gas and water cannon. By mid-afternoon, more than 700 people had been stopped and questioned, and more than 400 were being held in custody, according to a Paris police spokeswoman.

    Despite the repeated skirmishes, yesterday’s  anti-government protests appeared less chaotic and violent than a week ago, when crowds defaced the Arc de Triomphe, set vehicles ablaze and looted high-end stores in the city’s worst rioting since 1968.

    Prized Paris monuments and normally bustling shopping meccas were locked down Saturday at the height of the holiday shopping season. The Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum were among the many tourist attractions that closed for the day, fearing damages amid a new round of protests. Subway stations in the center of town were shut down.

    The yellow vest movement  named after the fluorescent outerwear French drivers must keep in their vehicles  started as a protest against higher taxes for diesel and gas, but quickly expanded to encompass wide frustration at stagnant incomes, the rising cost of living and other grievances.

    Macron on Wednesday agreed to abandon the fuel tax hike, which aimed to wean France off fossil fuels and uphold the Paris climate agreement, but that hasn’t defused the anger.

  • ‘N950m fraud’: Shekarau, others granted bail as police disperse supporters with tear-gas, bullets

    THERE was confusion yesterday around the Kano Federal High Court on Court Road after the former Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau, ex- Director-General of former President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation Ambassador Aminu Wali and Munsur Ahmad were granted bail.

    The trio were arraigned before Justice Zainab Abubakar by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge, bordering on alleged conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.

    But trouble started when Shekarau’s supporters attempted to forcefully enter into the court premises. But the police stopped them by shooting live bullets sporadically into the air to scare them.

    The security operatives later extended their attacks by shooting canisters of tear-gas into the court premises.

    This forced lawyers, reporters and court officials to scamper for safety.

    The security men then went after the protesters, using the butts of their guns as well as flogging them.

    The three accused persons were arraigned on six-count charges, bordering on money laundering, an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011 as amended.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the six charges.

    Counsel to the EFCC J.A. Ojogbane opposed the defence counsel’s bail application.

    Ojogbane insisted that the affidavit submitted for bail application was against Section 155 of the Evidence Act.

    He noted that there was no bail application before the court.

    Counsel to the accused Sam Ologunorisa, SAN, who did not oppose the prosecution counsel’s argument, however, sought the leave of the court for bail application.

    The defence counsel, who relied on Section 163 of the Administrative of Criminal Justice Act in a 10-paragraph affidavit, insisted that the offence is bailable.

    After listening to the arguments of both counsels, Justice Abubakar stood down the proceedings for about 40 minutes.

    The judge, after the recess, granted the accused bail on six conditions.

    She said they should be remanded in EFCC custody pending when they will fulfill the bail conditions.

    The conditions include N100 million naira each and two sureties with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The landed property must have a C-of-O and must be verified by the Ministry of Land and deposited with the court registrar. The second surety must be a civil servant not below the rank of a director.

    The judge added that the accused should submit their international passports with the registrar and two copies of recent passport-sized photographs.

    The case has been adjourned to June 26.

     

     

     

  • Delta: Policemen teargas nine-month-old baby, two children

    Delta: Policemen teargas nine-month-old baby, two children

    There was anger in Effurun, Uvwie loca government area of Delta State after mobile policemen attached to a politician tear-gassed a nine-month-old baby and two other children.

    The children were bombarded along with their father and mother following a disagreement with between the father and the politician, identified as Chief Michael Johnny.

    The policemen went berserk, attacking Johnbull Cleopas, a former council lawmaker in Bayelsa, beating him and releasing tear gas on him and his entire family inside his car.

    Narrating his ordeal to The Nation in Warri Friday, Cleopas said he was returning home with his family at about 4pm on Monday and decided to stop by at the New Layout Junction market to pick a few things for household use, adding that he was entering his car when one of the mobile policemen, who were clearing the road for the personality they were escorting hit his car, destroying one of the trafficator.

    ”I was asking ‘officer why now’ and before I knew it, because one of my legs was already inside the car, trying to enter the car, the guy had come round to the driver’s side and started punching me; my mouth and all over and injured me.

    ”Thereafter, they began to use their teargas to spray me. I fell inside the car, holding my face and I started shouting ‘my children are inside the car o’, but he continued spraying into the car. It took the intervention of the market women to come and rush my children out of the car and used kerosene and handkerchief to wipe their faces. The small one, who is 9 months, was already foaming from his mouth and nose”, he narrated.

    He said he went on to the Ekpan General Hospital to seek medical attention for his family and and himself and later went to the Warri area command of the state police command to report his experience. He said he could not make the report as many Ijaw people had started calling him, adding that the owner of the convoy, Johnny, had already asked people to prevail on him to drop the idea of making it a police case.

    He, however, said he suffered a worse experience later same Monday evening when he was further pressured by the people sent by Johnny to plead with him to drop the matter to follow them to Johnny’s house, as he (Johnny) desired to see him.

    The story, he said, changed when he go to the APC chieftain’s house and he started shouting at him forever attempting to drag him into a police matter. He said Johnny eventually asked some of the policemen who had brutalised him and his family earlier in the day to drag him out of his compound.

    ”As I said I wanted to go, Michael Johnny said I had insulted him that I was not going to leave he compound. The next thing was he just told the Mopol and they started bundling me, dragged me on the floor to a Hilux parked outside. 8 of them pushed and dragged me into the Hilux and took me to Ekpan Police Station and detained me till yesterday morning. They didn’t tell me my offense”, he explained.

    When reached for his response to the development, Chief Johnny said it was a matter between Cleopas and policemen, which had nothing to do with him, adding that he did not see the victim when he came to his house.

    ”I did not know what happened between Johnbull and the police,  I’m not a policeman and I don’t know what happened between him and them. My own is part is I don’t want any misunderstanding between people and that was why I intervened before, but when I saw that it was purely a police matter, I am a civilian and I cannot into it.

    On the allegation of the second assault on Johnbull in his house, Johnny said ”it’s true, I don’t even know what transpired between him and my police. When he came I didn’t even see him. It’s like the police had already gone to do their own report before so they were already looking for him. I didn’t even see him, it’s just a fabricated story that Johnbull is bringing out”.

    When reached for comment on the detention of Johnbull in his station, the Divisional Police Officer of the Ekpan Police Station, CSP Chris Sogbara, said he was not aware of the matter, promising to get across to his station, as he was not around, and get back with details later. He was yet to respond by the time of filing this report.

  • Sacked VCs: Police tear gas NANS protesting students

    Sacked VCs: Police tear gas NANS protesting students

    Protesting members of the National Association of Nigerian Students were on Thursday dispersed by a team of Policemen around the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

    The protesting students had gathered at the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Education to protest the recent sack of Vice-chancellors of 13 Federal Universities appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The body argued that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, erred in the appointment of new vice-chancellors, adding that the action of the minister was interference on the duties of universities governing councils.

    The students carried placards with inscriptions such as: “ASUU break the silence against this injustice.” “Sack of VCs, an attempt to cripple our citadels.” Say no to injustice,” among others.

    They said: “On February 12, 2016, the Federal Government, without due recourse to the governing councils of 12 Federal Universities and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), removed their vice-chancellors without any clear statement as to what their offences might have been.

    Shehu said: “What is the reason for the sacking of the four vice-chancellors of Federal Universities and that of NOUN before the expiration of their tenures?

    “We request that the Federal Government, should in the interest of due process, reverse its decision and reinstate the illegally sacked vice-chancellors.”

    He said that the association notified all relevant agencies including the minister of its planned protest. They wondered why the minister could not come to address them.

    The NANS president accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of complicity in the sack of the VCs because of as its silent on the issue.

    However, trouble started when the students smashed the windscreen of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) with registration number FG 23 A31, belonging the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as it drove by.

    The students chanted angrily, threatening to force their way into the ministry if the minister did not come out to address them.

    All efforts by the policemen to ensure that the protesting students retreated were resisted. A situation which resulted in the firing of tear gas at them by the police.

    Journalists, bystanders and the protesting students scampered for safety while the policemen made arrests.

    The NANS President, Mr. Tijani Shehu, and no fewer than five other students, were arrested.

    The Policemen also manhandled a camera man working with the African Independent Television (AIT) and smashed his camera.

    However, the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Anjuguri Manza, (ASP) when contacted on the development said that he was yet to be briefed on the issue.

     

  • Still on ‘tear gas’

    THIS truth no doubt was expressed in recognition of the role of the press in any society, especially one striving towards (for/after) the attainment of democracy.”

    “And as the UN was packing its bags and baggage out of Somalia….”  Standard expression: bag and baggage.

    “…the whole nation hailed and applauded both parties in the protracted ASUU crisis for reaching an agreeable truce.”  Gentlemen of the Press, what is the meaning of ‘agreeable truce’? Students used to make newspapers reference materials for English language studies. I doubt if that happens these days, with oddities like ‘agreeable truce’.

    “Cake is fattening thereby loosing its attraction to….” Correct spelling can’t lose attraction.

    “I and the other Nigerians who had come to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia…” (Daily Newswatch, October 17) Grammatical discipline demands that you put self last: The other Nigerians and I….

    “Kogi workers asked to sign attendant register” ‘Attendance register’, please.

    “…and the partitioning of the country by the clan chiefs and warlords continue.” (Daily Newswatch, October 17) …the partitioning (not the chiefs and warlords) continues.’

    “Another recipient of the award was one of the directors of RayPower, a private electronic media….” If a non-journalist does not know the differences between ‘media’ and ‘medium’, I could excuse the fellow, but a (supposed) colleague of mine writing ‘a media’ amounts to crass illiteracy.

    “They have in most cases remained willing collaborators in the de-politicization of the political system by acquiescing to virtually all the issues….” I cannot acquiesce in the ruination of modern English by some traditionalists.

    “It was a most unhurried journey accomplished well over six hours, from 9 a.m. in the morning till about 2.00 p.m. in the afternoon.” One of these days, somebody will scribble ‘I saw the picture with my naked eyes’! Dear reader, you do not need ‘in the morning or afternoon’ after the abbreviation ‘a.m.’ or ‘p.m.’ ‘A.m.’ means ante meridiem (before noon). Similarly, p.m. refers to post meridiem (afternoon).

    “The effectiveness of these provisions are hampered by ignorance and poverty.” This smacks of language poverty. Ignorance should not be extended to grammatical concord: “The effectiveness…. Is’.

    “Available statistics has revealed that the magnitude of housing problem…” Singular: statistic; plural: statistics. This however does not apply to Statistics as a course of study.

    “Disbursement under the loan scheme are subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions…” All sentences must obey subject-verb stipulation: ‘Disbursement… is’.

    “Students warn” without any ‘kicker’ or ‘rider’—this is a very unscholarly, dull and meaningless headline. I was taught in my first year in the university that headlines must make sense.

    “A reflection into our attitude toward claim settlement would expose….” I give the insurance and assurance that ‘reflection’ takes ‘on’ or ‘upon’, not ‘into’

    “Earlier this year, FEPA officials had argued that they need an interval of raising public consciousness with regards to the environment…” As regards to the environment….”  As regards…or with regard to…. You can also use ‘concerning’ in place of any of the two.

    “We have heard of people running for office, a running mate, running neck to neck or the race between X and Y being too close to call”. Politicians run neck and neck; not “neck to neck”.

    “Problems of one nation have a remarkable way of spilling into other nations as in refugees fleeing from one troubled spot to safe havens”. Good command of language: trouble spot.

    “That same day, Robinson, his supporters and other Nigerians demonstrated in front of the Nigerian embassy on 16th Street, just a stone throw from Trans-Africa’s office. “Democratic English: A stone’s throw.

    “Criminal investigations into the controversial death of … has run into a hitch. “For a hitch-free sentence, change ‘has’ to ‘have.’

    “The Akabogu family took the hospital to court last year claiming N50 million damage for the death of….”The family claimed damages!

    ELUCIDATION & FEEDBACK

    A fortnight ago, in this column, I magisterially declared that ‘tear-gas’ which I corrected by way of hyphenation, functions equally as a verb—not just a noun. A language pundit faulted the verb application, insisting on its noun exclusivity. The controversial excerpt: “Police tear gas (tear-gas) Hong Kong ‘Occupy Central’ pro-democracy demonstrators” This week, as follows immediately below, two avid readers have thrown their weight behind my assertion. Please, no further contradiction on this obvious incontrovertibility. Take this linguistic notice: no victor no vanquished in dynamic language debates! Now the interventions….

    CONSIDERING the sheer mass of material involved in producing your column, it is a non-issue if one or two errors escape your eyes. Macmillan English Dictionary (International Student’s Edition, 2nd Edition 2007) on Page 1535 says: TEARGAS (verb) (T) to use tear gas to control violent crowds. The Chambers Dictionary (10th Edition, 2006) on 1569 says: TEAR-GAS (VT): To use tear gas on…. (Bola, Ogori, Kogi State, 08058810301)

    ‘TEAR GAS’ is an uncountable noun while ‘tear-gas’ (hyphenated), an intransitive, is its corresponding verb. ‘Tear-gas’ inflects ‘tear-gasses/tear-gassing—gassed/has tear-gassed. Look it up in The Merriam Webstar Dictionary, P. 53 and World Book Dictionary, P. 2153). (Bayo Oguntunase, 08056180046, adoro62@yahoo.co.uk)

    LAST week, a phrase read: “Among items destroyed were textile materials….” ‘Material’ is unnecessary because ‘textile’ is a fabric or woven material’. (Kola Danisa, 07068074257) Wrong: counsels; right: counsel. (RayPower, October 13, 6 p.m. Bulletin)

    THE last contribution is from Dontexas Ekarika, Warri, Delta State, 08076252169: “Okorocha congratulates Obi for (on/upon) dumping APGA” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, October 10)

  • ‘Tear gas’ not verb

    “VANGUARD of October 7 circulated seven blunders: “Atiku commissions (inaugurates) Ekiti’s 300-bed hospital, asks voters to shun PDP in 2015”

    “Lawyers, judges pay last respect (respects) to late Justice Adio” Yank off ‘late’ for obvious reasons

    “FG to fast track (fast-track) oil communities’ development”

    “…the economic potentials (potential or potentialities) of the abundant natural resources”

    “Why Toyota dominates Nigeria (Nigerian) roads”

    “Police shifts ban on use of motorcycles” A rewrite: Police extend ban on motorbike usage”

    “NNPC raises alarm (the alarm) over fake letter of authorisation”

    “Amosun’s wife flags (kicks) off Ogun community health scheme”

    THE NATION ON SUNDAY of October 5 comes next: “…takes a look at the fortunes of the emerging business conglomerate vis-à-vis its strengths, potentials and weakness.” Again, ‘potential’ is uncountable, but ‘potentialities’ (THE GUARDIAN INTERVIEW Page of October 2 contained this same blunder).

    “There were no furnitures and the entire premises were in a derelict state.” Politics: it is unfortunate that an Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice from the South East does not know that ‘furniture’ cannot be inflected!

    “Few (‘A few’ because of context) days ago….”

    “…all stakeholders in an all night (all-night) meeting at the Hilton, Abuja.”

    “…the decision to tow (toe) a different political part from his.”

    Lastly from THE NATION under review: “Japan to invest N2.8b on (in) health, education”

    THE GUARDIAN Editorial Page of October 2 takes over from THE NATION ON SUNDAY: “The losers in these (this) façade are the….”

    “Firm launches campaign to sensitise public on (to)) chemicals”

    “IPI condoled his family….” The institute condoled with his family or consoled his family

    “The capacity of women to raise funds for recognition have been further….” The capacity…has’.

    “The human greed has now reached its highest peak.”  This amounts to tormenting functional items. ‘Peak’ abhors any intensification.

    “The Senegal summit was an important landmark enroute (sic) the fourth world women conference in Beijing, China.” Two things are wrong in the preceding sentence: do we have an ‘unimportant’ landmark? And ‘enroute the…’ Standard register: ‘en route to or for…’ And ‘en route from.….’  ‘En route’ is a French phrase which means ‘on the way’.

    “Picturesque Tinubu Square, the business hub of the city will be revived back to its glory.” Why do we like being severe on words? ‘Revive’ can’t accommodate ‘back’ (or ‘front’) glorification.

    “The perspective is neither alarmist or fantastic.” It seems some writers don’t give a damn about grammatical inappropriateness. If they do, they won’t scribble ‘neither… or’ in place of ‘neither….nor’ (either…or).

    “The individual common man has little access to the press, so the injustices the common man suffers atimes do not merit media attention.” (SUNDAY VANGUARD, October 5) ‘Atimes’ is Nigerian English. Standard expression: ‘at times’.

    “He had defiled (defied) all odds at the end of the Nigerian Civil War….”

    “These kind of write-ups drive journalism into irrelevance.” Correct form: This kind of or these kinds of.…

    “Since such may not come into reality.” Right expression: “Since such may not come to reality.”

    “The budget planned originally to be a surplus usually result into a huge deficit.” Approved form: result in.

    “Definitely, the wounds which the recent political crisis have distributed across the nation… “ It is not ‘the wounds’ that should determine the verb to be used here, but ‘crisis’ (singular) or ‘crises’ (plural).

    “Formulation of past budgets have more often been hailed but their implementation….” Concord problem in an editorial:

    ‘Formulation…have….’? Gentlemen, I am blushed.

    “The top flight accountant assured that if the government can provide the pensioners with good things (comma, please) there will be minimal of embezzlement and its….” (NIGERIAN TIDE, October 10) ‘Minimal embezzlement’, please.

    “…with a view to meeting (sic) out appropriate sanctions on all those found to have been involved in any way.”  The (formal) phrasal verb is ‘meting out to’ (not ‘on’).

    “Israel moves to diffuse tension with Egypt” Who is the sub-editor diffusing illiteracy? Let us always distinguish between ‘diffuse’ and ‘defuse’.

    “At a stage, the total of 23 presidential aspirants that sought for power under the platform of all the parties….” I seek grammatical power on the platform….

    “All through our long years under colonialism, the cost of books and other materials were never beyond the reach…” ‘Cost’ is what should inform the verb used here; not ‘books and other materials’.

    “Among items destroyed were textile materials, jewelleries, television and radio sets….” ‘Jewellery’: plural unchanged.

    “Nigerians pay last respect to Dimgba Igwe” ‘Last respects’, please.

    FEEDBACK

    MR. Kola Danisa (07068074257) contributed the next two extracts: “Has there been a change of mind by the APC or is the Comrade warming (worming) his way to the PDP….”

    The phrase ‘sticking point’—not ‘sticky point’—is grammatically correct. ‘Tear gas’ is a noun, not a verb.

    FROM the columnist: I thank Elder Danisa for his telephonic admonition/counsel/chastisement/rebuke/reprimand (choose one!) on the need for me to be more forensically clinical as much as possible before going to press having corrected the preceding paragraph a long time ago only to inadvertently allow the same slips uncorrected last week! Is it printer’s devil, slip-shoddiness, ancestral/generational language witchcraft, amnesia or mid-age senility? This is certainly not ignorance. Whatever it is, I take therapeutic responsibility and apologise.

    “Get on (in) a taxi.”

     

    CONDOLENCES

    MAY the gentle souls of Dimgba Igwe, Mike Akpan, Remi Oyo and Nnate Amogu—all of the pen fraternity—rest in peace. Sleep well!