Safety

#ENDSARS: Edo State Government Declares a 24-Hour State-wide Curfew
Breaking News, Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Youths

#ENDSARS: Edo State Government Declares a 24-Hour State-wide Curfew

A 24-hour curfew has been declared by the Godwin Obaseki led Edo state government. This curfew is to commence from 4pm today, the 19th of October across the state. According to a statement released by Osarodion Ogie Esq., Secretary to the Edo State Government, this was necessitated as a result of the "the very disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on private individuals and institutions by hoodlums in the guise of #ENDSARS protesters." The statement continued by stating that "While the government of Edo State respects the rights of its citizens to undertake legitimate protests, it cannot sit idly when hoodlums have taken laws into their hands to cause mayhem on innocent citizens and the state." He further stated that "by the directive, schools and businesses are to shut do...
Inside Story: How Plainclothes Policemen Wounded, Abandoned a Commercial Motorcyclist in Kubwa, Abuja
News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Youths

Inside Story: How Plainclothes Policemen Wounded, Abandoned a Commercial Motorcyclist in Kubwa, Abuja

At a time when thousands of youths have taken to the streets to protest police brutality and alleged extrajudicial killings of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), it appears the infamous unit does not have autonomy of dishing out violence to the citizens it ought to protect. African News Today  has gathered a story of how men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in plainclothes, chased a commercial motorcyclist popularly known as "okada" into a life-threatening road accident that led to severe injuries in Shelter Farm Byazhin, Kubwa, a suburb in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, last week. The FCT administration had announced a ban on okada in Kubwa area due to alleged reckless driving and reported cases of some heinous activities allege...
#EndSARS: Hold Enugu Govt. if We are Hurt – Singer Flavour
Human Rights, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Youths

#EndSARS: Hold Enugu Govt. if We are Hurt – Singer Flavour

  Nigerian musician, Flavour, has expressed concerns over threats to his life. The singer who led the #ENDSARS protest in Enugu with fellow entertainers KCee, Phyno, Masterkraft and Zoro took to his verified Twitter account to state that if anything happens to him or other #ENDSARS protesters, the Enugu State Government should be held accountable. Flavour tweeted : “Today, our peaceful protest in Enugu from Ogbete Market to the Enugu State Government House was going well until we reached the government house. Along the way, we noticed a group of thugs joined the protests. Flavour continued, “The governor came out but refused to speak up and address the protestors, instead he addressed the thugs. The thugs tried to fight us but we maintained peace because we recognized thei...
#EndSARS: NYCN Condemns Attack on Protesters
Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence, Youths

#EndSARS: NYCN Condemns Attack on Protesters

  The Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Lekan Biliamin-Oba, has condemned the attack on #EndSARS protesters by thugs. Biliamin-Oba disclosed this during a press conference held on Friday. The chairman described the actions of the thugs who have been reported to attacked protesters at the Secretariat bus stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, on Wednesday and Thursday as shameful. He urged the officers of the Nigeria Police Force to protect the protesters while commending the efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in setting up a panel to look into cases of police brutality in the state. Biliamin-Oba said, “The NYCN have followed and joined in the agitations and solidarity of the Nigerian youths in demanding total overhauling of the Nigeria...
#EndSARS: Super Eagles Forward Lends Voice to Protest
Human Rights, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

#EndSARS: Super Eagles Forward Lends Voice to Protest

  Super Eagles and Napoli forward, Victor Osihmen has joined the growing number of youths protesting against police brutality in Nigeria. The forward was on target for Italian outfit Napoli when they hosted Atalanta in a Seria A game on Saturday. He scored in the 30th minute and used the opportunity to brandish a white shirt with the now popular "#EndPoliceBrutality" hashtag. The match would later end 4-1 in favor of Napoli who are now fourth on the table after four league matches. Napoli coach  Gennario Gattuso had nice words to say about the Nigerian forward who joined his side at the beginning of the season from French side Lille. "Osihmen is a player who is giving us many game solutions. The way he moves scares teams against us. I'm happy for the goal."
NUC, FME to Undertake Safety Standards Verification Visit to Varsities
Covid-19, Education, News, Nigeria, Safety

NUC, FME to Undertake Safety Standards Verification Visit to Varsities

A joint inspection team made up of staff of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), is set to embark on verification visits to monitor the compliance of universities with Quality Assurance/Safety standards. The visit Follows the reopening of universities after the COVID-19 lockdown and ahead of the resumption of academic activities in view of the imminent suspension of the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). A letter by the office of the Executive Secretary NUC, to all Vice-Chancellors obtained by African News Today titled, “Fresh directives for the safe re-opening of Universities for academic activities during the covid-19 pandemic”, informed the management of tertiary institutions of a visit to ascertain ...
Creation of SWAT Hasty, NGF Tells IGP
Human Rights, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Youths

Creation of SWAT Hasty, NGF Tells IGP

  The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday described the creation of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team as replacement for the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as hasty move by the Nigeria Police Force. They urged Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu to “immediately convene a meeting of all stakeholders”. The governors who made their position known on the raging protests across the country against the brutality by operatives of the defunct SARS, in a communiqué signed by NGF chairman Dr. Kayode Fayemi. The communiqué captured the proceedings of the meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) meeting which was held on Wednesday in Abuja and also confirmed that the IG briefed the meeting on the steps being taken. However, they said: “Even...
ENDSARS: Anonymous Hacks NBC Official Twitter Handle
Human Rights, Justice, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Youths

ENDSARS: Anonymous Hacks NBC Official Twitter Handle

  Decentralised international ‘hacktivist’ group “Anonymous” has hacked and taken over the official twitter handle of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as at Friday morning. African News Today observed that activities on NBC’s twitter handle page were tweets and retweets of the #EndSARS protests/campaign against police brutality. The group tweeted: “We #Anonymous are out to expose government’s secrets & dirty files Put an #ENDTOPOLICEBRUTALITY #Twitterdown #NBChacked” “Good morning, great Nigerians. TGIF and it’s also a good day to #ENDSARS and #EndSWAT. Which government website(s) would you want us to play with? Drop your suggestions under this tweet. #TwitterDown #NBChacked.” The group had earlier  claimed to have hacked several government databases, includin...
#EndSARS: Army Declare Readiness to Step in as Protests Persist
News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence

#EndSARS: Army Declare Readiness to Step in as Protests Persist

The Nigerian army has expressed its readiness to move in against troublemakers as nationwide protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings rage on. Thousands of Nigerian youths have taken to the streets over the past week to protest against the actions of operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and demanding for immediate police reform. At least 10 people have died and scores injured during protest, which have been resisted by the police. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had responded to the demands of the protesters by disbanding SARS. The IGP subsequently announced the formation of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to fill void left by the disbandment of SARS. Despite the move, protests have continued unabated. Reacting to the violence t...
Oyo State Govt Releases ₦1 Million Each To Families Of Isiaka, Other Slain Victims
Crime, Human Rights, Justice, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Youths

Oyo State Govt Releases ₦1 Million Each To Families Of Isiaka, Other Slain Victims

  The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday paid a condolence visit to the family of deceased Jimoh Isiaka and two other victims of the violence that started during the ENDSARS protests. Makinde entourage included the Speaker, Oyo state House of Assembly, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, and some lawmakers explained that beyond the EndSARS protest, most Nigerians have become frustrated over prevailing harsh economic reality in the country and warned that if government fails to address youth idleness with gainful employment there might be a future disaster. He noted that while his government was not against peaceful protest, youths embarking on protesters must be responsible enough to voice their concerns as the state government would work more at ensuring youths in the state wer...