Tag: Nigeria - Page 321 - African News Today

Sanwo-Olu Releases Names of Police Officers Under Prosecution for Right Violation

23Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

Sanwo-Olu Releases Names of Police Officers Under Prosecution for Right Violation

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has released a list of police officers being prosecuted for violation of human rights in the state. Sanwo-Olu who disclosed this in a post on his verified Twitter handle on Friday expressed optimism that the time is right to rebuild the state. The development comes at a time when thousands of youths across Nigeria had taken to the streets to demand for an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Lagos state has been rocked by demonstrations protesting Police brutality and the shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate area by security operatives on Tuesday. Sanwo-Olu said, “Today seems like a good day to get on to the work of rebuild...

Nigerians Passionately Hate Nigeria – Femi Adesina

23Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria

Nigerians Passionately Hate Nigeria – Femi Adesina

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the #EndSARS movement was informed by the hatred of the country by “some of those who live in it”. Adesina who disclosed this on Thursday in a statement he publishes weekly titled, “From the Inside…Fridays with Femi-Adesina” said that the hatred had always been so. The presidential aide said that the protest which began as a genuine agitation against police brutality and excessive use of force by operatives of the Nigerian police was hijacked by individuals with political interest. Adesina said, “How can what began as peaceful protests suddenly turn to incipient anarchy as seen in killings, torching of public buildings and properties, storming of the Bastille and wanton release of hard...

If Nigeria Dies, Hatred Killed Her – Femi Adesina

23Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria

If Nigeria Dies, Hatred Killed Her – Femi Adesina

What a week it has been for our own dear native land! Just at the beginning of the month, as the country turned 60 as an independent entity, President Muhammadu Buhari had charged us to “begin sincere process of national healing, eliminate old and outworn perceptions that are always put to test in the lie they are.” What began about a fortnight ago as “genuine concerns and agitations” by Nigerian youths against the excesses of the Special Anti-robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police (SARS), has suddenly transmogrified into expressions of hate against the land, leading to murder, mayhem and arson. My sympathy and condolence to family and loved ones of the dead, irrespective of how they came to their unfortunate ends. How can what began as peaceful protests suddenly turn to incipient anarc...

#EndSARS: Full Text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Address to the Nation

23Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Violence

#EndSARS: Full Text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Address to the Nation

Fellow Nigerians, it has become necessary for me to address you having heard from many concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the Security Chiefs. I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well-intended protest of some of our youths in parts of the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS. The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to...

Jailbreak in Warri Prison as Inmates Escape amidst Shooting and Fire Outbreak

22Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Crime, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence, Youths

Jailbreak in Warri Prison as Inmates Escape amidst Shooting and Fire Outbreak

A yet-t0-be known number of prisoners have escaped the Nigerian Correctional Centre, commonly referred to as Okere Prison in Warri South council area of Delta State, amidst heavy shooting by security operatives. Flames and thick smoke are also emanating from the premises, fuelling fear among residents, most of whom have locked shops and scampered for safety. The cause of the fire is not clear, but confirmed reports claim that the thick smoke coming out of the premises of the correctional centre is as a result of the burning of tyres. It was learnt that the shootings were to scare hoodlums planning the jail break, away. Residents of Okere Road where the prison is located are panicking over the possible replication of the incidents in Edo, Lagos and other states. An unclear vi...

No Jailbreak in Ikoyi Prisons, fire Contained – Officials

22Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence

No Jailbreak in Ikoyi Prisons, fire Contained – Officials

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Lagos has stated that the fire that broke out in a part of the Ikoyi Correctional Centre has been controlled. The service also dismissed fears there was a jailbreak in the facility, insisting that the fire only affected a part of the centre and did not involve inmates. Spokesman for the service in Lagos, Rotimi Oladokun said there was no cause for alarm, adding that a statement would be issued soon. He said: “There was fire on a part of the correctional centre but it has been contained. It did not affect the inmates in any way. There is no jail break and all is fine. We will issue a statement soon.” Earlier, Ikoyi residents have raised alarm following billowing smoke and gunshots heard from that axis. Armed detachments of police op...

Nigeria: Referendum By Ethnic Nationalities Not Restructuring

22Oct

By Ndidi UwechueNo Comments

Human Rights, News, Nigeria, United Nations

Nigeria: Referendum By Ethnic Nationalities Not Restructuring

So here we are. Sixty years after Independence we are the world’s poorest Black nation. Quoting from Borgen Magazine in August 2020, “Nigeria, a third world country in Africa, is known as the poverty capital of the world. The nation just exceeded India with the largest rate of people living in extreme poverty. In Nigeria, about 86.9 million people live in severe poverty, which is about 50% of its entire population….the nation is failing at lowering the rates of poverty. This is partly due to the mismanagement of the oil business and the presence of corruption. Along with this, the nation is going through a “population boom,” which will make managing poverty rates more difficult. One of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals is to end extreme poverty by 2050. However, Nigeria’s poverty ra...

Ebonyi State Government Imposes Curfew as Violence Erupts

22Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Crime, News, Nigeria, Security, Violence

Ebonyi State Government Imposes Curfew as Violence Erupts

Ebonyi State governor, David Nweze Umahi has declared 24-hour curfew in the state to mitigate the spate of violence in the state. The curfew comes after thugs on Wednesday set ablaze two police stations in Abakaliki. Irate youths burnt the Kpiripiri and Ekeaba Police Stations after setting free cell inmates. African News Today gathered that the youths blocked major roads in the state leading to traffic and restriction of movement. Umahi in a broadcast said the perpetrators of the violent acts were not from the state, adding that several security agents have been injured by the rampaging youths. He said, “These hoodlums and cultists are not Ebonyians but they came from outside because they do not wish us well.” “Security agencies in our state have sustained injuries from the ...

Osinbajo Breaks Silence, Speaks on Lekki Shooting

22Oct

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu1 Comment

Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Violence

Osinbajo Breaks Silence, Speaks on Lekki Shooting

Following the shooting at Lekki toll gate area of Lagos State, Vice President Yemi Osinbjo has condoled with victims of the violent act that took place on Tuesday night. Osinbajo took to his verified Twitter handle in the early hours of Thursday to express his sadness over the deaths that have occurred in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. Security operatives had opened fire on unarmed, peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate area on Tuesday who are demanding for an end to police brutality and a new Nigeria. Several people sustained varied degree of injury with scores reported dead though Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had debunked claims of any fatality. Reacting to the development, Osinbajo said, “My heart goes out to all the victims of the Lekki shootings, and a...

Lagos Shootings Amount to Extrajudicial Executions, Must Be Investigated – Amnesty International

22Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Judiciary, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence

Lagos Shootings Amount to Extrajudicial Executions, Must Be Investigated – Amnesty International

Amnesty International has admitted that security operatives killed scores of peaceful protesters in two locations in Lagos State on Tuesday. This was disclosed in a statement by Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho on Wednesday, noting that the killings occurred at Lekki toll gate area and Alausa where multitude of Nigerian youths have staged peaceful protest against police brutality and demanding for a reform of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). According to Ojigho, their findings which were informed by eyewitness, video footage and hospital reports revealed that the Nigerian military shot at thousands of people who were peacefully protesting as part of the #EndSARS movement in the late hours of Tuesday. “Witnesses at the Lekki protest grounds told Amnesty interna...