Police IG Mohammed Adamu

By Oladapo Udom

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, on Tuesday said that 1,590 suspects have been arrested across the country in respect of the EndSars protest which turned violent after it was hijacked by hoodlums.

Adamu said this while addressing police officers and newsmen at the Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja, during a courtesy visit to burnt police formations and injured police officers in Lagos.

The police boss commended his officers for showing professionalism during the protest by showing restraint and not engaging the protesters violently.

When they campaigned against SARS they came up with five demands and after about four days protest, the authorities acceded to those demands because they were demands that could lead to reforming SARS.

Our expectation was that after that, the protesters will all go back and leave the streets, but then they didnt.

Every security agent knows that when people come out to protest without observing the protocol, there is always a tendency for the protest to subsequently turn violent, he said.

Adamu said that 14 states in the country were badly affected as a result of the violent protest with Lagos State the worst hit.

We witnessed the destruction of public properties as well as police stations and businesses.

The attack by hoodlums in this manner has the tendency to provoke the police and when we are provoked we have the capacity and strength to repel these people.

However, we have shown restraint by not using maximum force to repel the hoodlums and criminals that went about destroying properties and killing people.

So, that resilience that you have in showing restrain has shown that no amount of provocation will lead you to give credence to what they have been preaching on police brutality, he said.

Adamu commended police officers for this quality, saying it turned the table around against the protesters.

I am happy to note that not everybody in the country agreed with the violence not everybody agrees that police are bad.

Every organisation and institution in any country breeds few bad eggs just like we have a few in the police that are bad, however, the majority of Nigerian Police officers are good, he said.

The IGP said that President Muhammadu Buhari, in support of the police, said that the vast majority of men and women of the force are patriotic and committed to protecting the lives and livelihood of Nigerians.

We will continue to support them to do their jobs, so, the Nigeria Police have support from the highest authority in this country.

In spite of the fact that we have been attacked, hospitalised and some of our formations burnt, we will still remain committed to our constitutional duties, he said.

Adamu said that the federal government has decided to specially treat policemen through reform initiatives that will enable them to continue to do their constitutional responsibilities across the country.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, requested that the IGP should consider and approve posthumous special promotions for the police personnels who lost their lives during the protest.

This will give sucour to their families and boost the morale of the serving officers and men of the NPF, he said.

Odumosu said that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had promised to take full responsibilities of the bills of police personnel that sustained various degrees of injuries.

The governor also promised to pay compensation to the family of police officers who lost their lives as well as replace police operational vehicles that were burnt during the crises.

He also offered scholarships to the children of police personnel killed until graduation from university, he said.

Odumosu said that provisions had been made to ensure that security is adequately provided for during the ember months in the state.

Source: NAN News

Police IG Mohammed Adamu

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Abuja Grassroots Youths Forum (AGYF) has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to arrest the alleged sponsors of the recent EndSARS protests in the country.

Spokesperson for the group, Mr Akoshile Mukhtar, who gave the advice at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, said this is for their roles in misleading youths into looting and destructions.

Mukhtar noted that youths across the country were lured through Social Media and other platforms to embark on the EndSARS protests.

He said that the protest, however, took an ugly turn and was on the verge of throwing Nigeria into another lockdown.

He stated that members of the forum support any peaceful demonstration by any group, but frowns at unruly behaviour of some unscrupulous characters in the guise of agitation.

While we support any progressive and peaceful demonstration by any group, we are at the same breath adverse to unruly behaviour of some unscrupulous characters in the guise of agitation.

He said that certain identified individuals who are connected with the protest should be arrested to serve as deterrent to others and forestall future.

He maintained that it was hypocritical and deceitful to have informed Nigerians that the protest had no leaders, Even as some persons have come out today to lay claim that they are leaders of the EndSARS protests, which led to loss of many lives and properties.

It is indeed a matter of urgency, that they should be arrested forthwith and held liable for the chaos and mayhem witnessed during and after the protests.

On his part, the leader of Indigenous People of FCT Youths Representatives, Mr Yunusa Yusuf, alleged that the EndSARS protests was hijacked by those who are not happy with the present leadership in the country.

He said that the same set of people have began another set of protest in the territory.

Yusuf maintained that the perpetrators of the EndSARS protests should be brought to book, to account for the destructions during the protests.

He urged the youth not to allow themselves to be deceived by people who are not interested in the in the progress of the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Police logo

By Emmanuel Antsen

The Police Command in Benue said on Wednesday that no flag of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was hoisted in Ado Local Government Area of Benue.

The commands spokesperson, DSP Catherine Anene, via a text message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said no IPOB flag was hoisted at Ado.

NAN reports that the Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Mr James Oche, had told newsmen that a group hoisted the proscribed IPOB flag at Ekile in the council area on Sunday.

The command spokesperson, however, insisted that no IPOB flag was hoisted in Ado or any part of the state.

Oche had alleged that some politicians plotting to destabilise his administration instigated some people to hoist the IPOB flag in the area.

Oche also alleged that the group invaded a market at Ekile, beat up revenue collectors, claiming that the Nigerian Government and by extension, the council could no longer collect revenue from the market.

They said the revenue from the market will be put into IPOB purse.

When this happened, I sent policemen but they took advantage of the #EndSARS protest, beat up the officers and almost took away their guns but they managed to escape with their lives intact.

I called on Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) military operation, and they were able to make an arrest. I have visited the area and summoned a meeting of the elders of the area, the chairman had said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Flood ravaging a community

By Aminu Daura

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),has donated relief materials to 880 flood victims in Baure Local Government Area (LGA), of Katsina State.

NEMA North West Coordinator, Alhaji Abbani Imam, said this while distributing the materials to the beneficiaries on Wednesday in Baure, headquarters of the LGA.

Imam said that the materials included 880 bags of 10kg maize, 880 bags of 10kg beans,880 cartons of tomatoes paste,880 bags of 10 kg rice,880 mosquito nets,880 jerry cans of cooking oil and cartons of soap.

Other items include cement bags, roofing sheets, timber, nail, textile materials and blankets.

The donation is aimed at supporting the efforts of Alhaji Nasir Sani, lawmaker representing Baure/Zango at the House of Representative towards alleviating the suffering of the people.

We are here to distribute the materials made up of food and non-food items with the hope that the gesture will bring relief to the affected people, he said.

In his comment, Sani commended NEMA for the gesture.

I find it necessary to extend my sympathy to thepeople of Baure who were affected by the flood that damaged houses and farmland, he said.

Sani assured his constituents of more dividends of democracy.

He urged those in charge of sharing the items to be just and fair to all.

Malam Baban-gida Nasamu, Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), lauded NEMA for the donation.

He assured that the state government will also donate similar materials to the victims to further cushion the effect of the disaster. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Illustration: Ongoing Road Construction

By Abbas Bamalli

The Federal Government has embarked on the construction of 65 kilometre access roads in Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure Local Government Areas of Kano State, to encourage agricultural production.

Alhaji Kabir Alhassan-Rurum (APC- Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure Federal Constituency) stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kano.

He said that the projects were being executed under the new Federal Governments agricultural intervention programme to achieve self-sufficiency and security in food production and availability.

The projects, he added, were designed to ease difficulties in the movement of farm produce and also to link farming communities in Kano State with their counterparts in Kaduna, Jigawa and Bauchi States.

He listed the projects to include the 31km Bunkure Road and the 34km Rano-Kibiya Road.

The road projects will ease transportation difficulties, encourage productivity as well as improve the social and economic wellbeing of the people in the areas, he said.

According to him, the Federal Government is supporting year-round farming through irrigation and the construction of 150 tube wells in the area.

Alhassan-Rurum added that the government had concluded plans to distribute water pumps and other inputs to farmers in the area.

The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to establish a Federal Medical Centre and a Federal Polytechnic in the Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure Federal Constituency. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the 22nd virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as Ministries of Transportation, Water Resources and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) make presentations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that others expected to make presentations during the meeting include the Ministries of Works and Housing; Health as well as Finance, Budget and National Planning.

NAN reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the Predsident, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari joined the president at the chamber for the virtual Council meeting.

Others at the chamber are the Ministers of Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Justice, Abubakar Malami; Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; FCT, Mohammed Bello and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and other ministers are participating in the weekly council meeting from their various offices in Abuja, online. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed

The Ethiopia Council of Ministers on Wednesday declared a six-month state of emergency in the countrys northern Tigray regional state.

The decision was made to maintain the countrys peace, the safety and security of its citizens and to prevent acts that may lead to further unrest and instability, the council said in a statement.

The council of ministers has decreed the state of emergency recognising that illegal and violent activities within the National Regional State of Tigray are endangering the constitution.

It is also endangering constitutional order, public peace and security, specially threatening the countrys sovereignty, seriously impeding the Federal Government from discharging its constitutional responsibility in the Region, violating decisions of the House of Federation.

We have to understand that this situation has reached a level where it cannot be prevented and controlled through the regular law enforcement mechanism, the statement said.

A State of Emergency Task Force, led by the chief of staff of the armed forces and composed of representatives from pertinent institutions and accountable to the prime minister, has been established, the statement said.

The move came after rising tension in recent weeks between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds Prosperity Party and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, with each side accusing the other of trying to destabilize the country.

Earlier, Ahmed ordered military operations in Tigray in response to deadly attacks by traitorous force on Ethiopian Defence Force personnel stationed in the region. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

NYSC members conducting election

By Fortune Abang

The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has underscored the need for Nigeria and other African countries to adopt the U.S. voting system in elections, to promote democratic growth.

The President of NICASA, Mr Ben Okoli, made this known in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Abuja.

Okoli commended the use of technology in the U.S. voting system, noting that it had contributed to electoral efficiency in that country.

According to him, the Federal Government can equally learn from such experience to achieve the much desired goals for its seemingly nascent democracy.

He said that the American election was a game changer that would define the future of the world, from politics and economy to foreign relations and the stability of the world peace.

Ikoli said; This election will also define the interests and fight against the Coronavirus with China and Russia in the bulls eyes.

It is important that the status quo remain and re-electing Donald Trump is the right thing to do.

The advancement in technology is put to use again by the world power during this election and the electronic mail voting is a testament to the beauty of technology.

Nigeria and Africa can learn from this to improve their voting system and safety during elections; African countries are still lacking peaceful democratic electoral transition.

If we take a look at Cote de voire (Ivory Coast), where Alhassan Quattara is seeking third term as President, we can only but conclude that we are not learning or ready to grow and deepen our democratic gains.

African countries and leaders can do better than what we currently have, therefore the need for fundamental reforms in voting systems to address democratic challenges, Okoli said.

He, however, said that electoral institutions, such as electoral commission, the Judiciary and other enabling laws, needed to be strengthened to produce quality election and leadership in Africa. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ms Esther Agbaje

By Harrison Arubu

A Nigerian, Ms Esther Agbaje, has been elected into the Minnesota House of Representatives in Tuesdays U.S. general election.

She will represent District 59B in the 134-member House on the platform of the Democratic-FarmerLabor Party (DFL), an affiliate of U.S. Democratic Party.

Esther, 35, won by a landslide, polling 17,396 votes or 74.7 per cent of the total ballots cast.

Her closest rival, Alan Shilepsky of the Republican Party, secured 4,128 votes, representing 17.7 per cent of the total.

Elections to the lower chamber of the state legislature hold every two years, and there are no term limits for the lawmakers.

The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Agbaje was born in St. Paul, the state capital of Minnesota.

Her father, Rev. John, an Episcopal Church priest, met her mother, Bunmi, a librarian, at the University of Minnesota where they were studying.

She graduated from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., with a degree in political science.

Esther holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and also a law degree from Harvard University.

She currently works as an attorney in Minneapolis with focus on general civil litigation and medical malpractice.

She once served at the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Affairs Officer, charged with managing rule of law projects in the Middle East.

Her priorities as a lawmaker include affordable housing, environmental justice, police reform, public safety and racial equality.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Some social media logos

Turkey has imposed hefty fines on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and other platforms, for violating a new law that exerts greater control over social media.

The announcement was made, ironically on Twitter, by Deputy Transport and Infrastructure Minister Omer Sayan on Wednesday.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Periscope, YouTube and TikTok, were each fined 10 million lira (1.17 million dollars), Sayan said.

They were penalised for failing to appoint a representative based in Turkey, within the legally mandated deadline.

The law, described as draconian by rights groups and free speech campaigners, was passed by parliament in July and went into effect in October.

It states that foreign social media platforms accessed by more than 1 million daily users in Turkey would have to appoint legal representatives based in Turkey.

Failure to do so would result in heavy fines, advertising bans and gradually having the platforms bandwidth slashed, rendering it unusable.

They will also have to store users data in Turkey, making it easier for the authorities to access.

Turkish authorities often target social media users over content deemed illegal.

In July, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for greater control over social media which he described as a source of lies.

Erdogans anger came after his grandsons birth announcement prompted attacks on Twitter.

Sayan, however, said he had confidence that the social media networks would comply and appoint representatives.

Our intent is not to be in conflict with these providers, which serve billions of people around the world, he tweeted. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News