TheNewsGuru

Tag: #EndSARS Protesters

  • #EndSars Memorial: Police release protesters

    #EndSars Memorial: Police release protesters

    Lagos state police command says it has released all demonstrators who were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, during #EndSars commemoration at the Lekki Toll Gate.

    The Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this via a post on his X handle, stating that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, personally oversaw the process.

    “All protesters in our custody have been released. CP Olanrewaju Ishola was on the ground at the SCID to personally ensure this,” Hundeyin wrote.

    A human right lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, also confirmed the release of all those arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate by the police.

    In a post on his X handle, Effiong also confirmed that all the items seized from the demonstrators were returned to them.

    The lawyer wrote, “We have secured the release of all the 22 activists who were arrested this morning at the Lekki Toll Gate while commemorating the 4th anniversary of the Lekki massacre.

    “We had a discussion with the Commissioner of Police who came over to the State CID in respect of the matter. The items seized from the protesters were also returned to them.”

    The demonstrators were arrested as they gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shooting, where peaceful protesters were killed during the EndSARS demonstrations against police brutality.

    The youths were said to have gathered around 8:30 am at the toll gate with several banners and placards.

    They demanded the full implementation of the reports submitted by various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests.

    The police had said that the protesters did not write to seek police clearance and permission before embarking on the rally.

    “Constitutionally, they should write to me as the Commissioner of Police of their intention to do so (protest), they did not write to us and as such, any of such gathering is illegal and by extension, police will not allow it to happen,” the State Police Commissioner, Olanrewaju Ishola, told Channels Television.

    The CP explained that the police authorities were not unmindful of citizens’ constitutional rights but stressed that while exercising their rights, they must prioritise the laws of the land over other considerations.

    ‘Police beat, brutalised us’
    Meanwhile, the demonstrators accused the police of brutalising them during the memorial procession on Sunday.

    “We are protesters who wanted to mark the anniversary of #EndSARS but were apprehended by a group of policemen under the leadership of the commissioner of police,” one of the protesters said in a video earlier posted on X by Inibehe Effiong.

    “I am right here speaking to you from a Black Maria brutalised and beaten by the police, my glasses were taken away from my eyes by a police officer without any provocation.

    “We are asking today when it has become illegal to protest in this country.”

    International rights group, Amnesty International, in its statement on X. earlier, condemned the arrest of protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate.

    “Amnesty International condemns the Nigeria police for the violent attack on people who assembled at Lekki Toll Gate to honour peaceful protesters killed during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020. The reckless use of tear gas and arrests are unacceptable.”

  • US to #ENDSARS protesters: Engage yourselves politically to realise change you desire

    US to #ENDSARS protesters: Engage yourselves politically to realise change you desire

    The United States Mission to Nigeria has advised #EndSARS protesters to take a political approach in achieving the change they desire in their country.

    The US said this in a Facebook post on Wednesday while also expressing support for ongoing police reforms.

    The post read, “Today is a day to reflect on the loss of life and property during last year’s #EndSARS protests. We appreciate the work done by the various judicial panels and look forward to the implementation of recommendations and compensation to victims of police brutality.

    “We support ongoing police reform efforts. We encourage those who demonstrated for change to engage politically to achieve it.”

    Protesters took to the streets of major cities on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests of October 2020.

    While the protests were without hitches in Abuja, policemen in Lagos arrested several protesters at the Lekki toll plaza.

  • No nation in the world will tolerate excesses of #EndSARS protesters as Buhari did – Malami

    No nation in the world will tolerate excesses of #EndSARS protesters as Buhari did – Malami

    The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami on Thursday said no leader in the world would have tolerated the ‘excesses’ of #EndSARS protesters the way President Muhammadu Buhari did in October 2020.

    According to the AGF, that, among other actions of the president is proof of his leniency, despite what he termed as “human rights violations” in the country.

    Mr Malami said this on Wednesday while addressing a number of issues from the government’s reaction to the #EndSARS protests, to the appointment of new service chiefs, the extension of the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police, among others.

    “As far as Human Rights records of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned, the fact speaks for itself, the commendation by the international body which is the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, local compliance with the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, which has been unprecedented, tolerance and indeed, accommodation for the excesses of the #EndSARS protesters were all facts that go to establish a point that the government of President Buhari has shown greater accommodation of the human rights violation and the tolerance to the human rights record as far as the Nigerian State is concerned,” the AGF said on a monitored Channels Television programme on Thursday.

    According to him, “no nation in the world could have tolerated the idea of destruction to its security institutions”.

    “I think over 20 police stations or more — I’m not certain about the number, they can be more — were destroyed during #EndSARS protests and government has a responsibility to ensure the protection of lives and freedom of movement.

    “We are confronted with a situation whereby #EndSARS protesters blocked roads, caused mayhem, caused deaths, caused destruction, and they were significantly tolerated to a certain extent,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the AGF also reacted to the court order on the Central Bank of Nigeria to unfreeze bank accounts of #EndSARS promoters.

    He explained that the law provides the Federal Government with other options which include the right to challenge or exercise further considerations on the matter if the need arises.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier today, ordered the CBN to unfreeze the bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the ruling following the agreement reached by parties in the suit to amicably resolve the matter.

  • Nigerian government covering up for ‘killers’ of 12 #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate – Amnesty International

    Nigerian government covering up for ‘killers’ of 12 #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate – Amnesty International

    Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of covering up those responsible for the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at Alausa and Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State in October 2020.

    The NGO made this allegations in a statement issued 100 days after the Lekki Toll Gate shooting stating that no fewer than 12 protesters died.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Federal Government has consistently denied shooting of protesters by security agencies.

    Amnesty International said that instead of the government bringing suspected perpetrators of the Lekki shooting to justice they have subjected supporters of the protest to intimidation.

    AI noted that the violent dispersal of peaceful protesters have cast a shadow over Nigerian society that lingers to this day.

    The NGO highlighted that since the assault, authorities only targeted supporters of the protest noting that some protesters have had their bank accounts frozen.

    AI’s Director in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, in the statement, demanded justice for victims of the shootings.

    “Instead of bringing suspected perpetrators of #Lekki shooting to justice and prioritizing genuine police reforms, Nigerian authorities have been abusing their powers by subjecting those who supported the protests to intimidation, harassment and smear campaigns.

    “The bloody events of 20 October 2020, when Nigerian security forces killed at least 12 people during the violent dispersal of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki and Alausa, have cast a shadow over Nigerian society that lingers to this day.

    “Since the assault by security forces, which killed at least 12 people, Nigerian authorities have targeted supporters of the protests against police brutality by the disbanded SARS. Some of the movement’s supporters have had their bank accounts frozen.

    “Nigerian government failed to bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the brutal crackdown by security forces on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020 and have brazenly attempted to cover up the violence.

    Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to suspend accused officials, pending investigations, and to ensure that victims access justice and effective remedies.

  • Court frees four out of six arrested Abuja #EndSARS protesters

    Court frees four out of six arrested Abuja #EndSARS protesters

    A Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja has discharged four out of the six men charged with unlawful assembly by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in relation to their alleged participation in the 2020 #EndSARS protesters in Abuja.

    A Chief Magistrate, Musa Eneye, in a ruling on Monday discharged four out of the six Nigerians arraigned before the court late last year by the police.

    The four are: Olutosin Adeniji, Abdusalam Zubarur, Paul Akinwumi and Devour Chomo.

    The police claimed to have arrested them while allegedly engaging in unlawful protest within the facade of the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

    At the mention of the case on Monday, the prosecution was not represented, while the defendants were represented by Henry Akwaji.

    Adeniji, Zubarur, Akinwumi and Chomo were in court, but the other two defendants -Yasidu Bashiru and Kabiru Garzali – were absent.

    Akwaji then applied for the dismissal of the case in view of the non-representation of the prosecution in court.

    He noted that the prosecution was also absent during the hearing of the defendants’ bail application on November 11, 2020.

    Akwaji argued, among others, that by virtue of Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the absence of the prosecution from court showed lack of diligent prosecution.

    On why the other two defendants were not in court, Akwaji said they fell ill and were being attended to by traditional medical experts in Kaduna

    Ruling, Eneye noted that there was no medical report to support Akwaji’s claim that the other two defendants, who are on bail, were ill.

    The Magistrate proceeded to discharge the four defendants,who were present by declaring: the defendants, Olutosin Adeniji, Abdusalam Zubarur, Paul Akinwumi, and Devour Chomo, are discharged and the complaint against them dismissed.”

    He adjourned the case of the remaining two defendants till March 24

    Akawaji told journalists while exiting the court that the court’s decision “was based on law and not emotion”.

    “The police dumped the first information report on the court. Having abandoned and neglected the case, the magistrate was right to dismiss it. The ruling was based on the law and not on emotion,” he said.

    Asked about the fate of the two remaining defendants, he said, “I know the police will not come to court. But when we get to the bridge, we will cross it.”

    The six defendants were arrested by the police on November 8, 2020 while they were demonstrating peacefully at the National Assembly, demanding an end to bad governance and police brutality.

    The protesters had planned the protest as a resumption of the #EndSARS protest which was earlier aborted in October after it was hijacked by hoodlums who went on a looting spree, attacking innocent citizens, police posts, stores and homes of prominent persons.

  • #EndSARS protesters’ lawyer ask panel to summon Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, Tinubu’s son, others

    #EndSARS protesters’ lawyer ask panel to summon Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, Tinubu’s son, others

    The counsel for the #EndSARS protesters, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana has asked the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and other matters to summon Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and 12 others.

    He made said this in a December 9 application to panel chairman, Judge Emeritus Doris Okuwobi.

    The application said the proposed invitees could provide information concerning the Lekki shootings of October 20 or its aftermath.

    The Nigerian Army has denied #EndSARS protesters allegations that it shot at, injured and killed several peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate.

    Besides the governor, the others named in the application include Minister of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN; Chief Executive Officer of Loatsad Promomedia Ltd, Mr. Seyi Tinubu; Managing Director, Oriental Hotel; Divisional Police Officer, Maroko Police Station and Lekki Concession Company Officials in charge of information Technology Intelligence and Security.

    Ogunlana also requested that the panel invite officials of seven private and government-owned hospitals.

    They are: Chief Medical Director, Lagos Island General Hospital; Chief Medical Director, Reddington Hospital, Lekki and Victoria Island; Chief Medical Director, Grandville Hospital, Ajah; General Hospital, Ikeja; Chief Pathologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

    The rest are: The Provost, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); The Chief Medical Director, Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

    They “have played certain roles to qualify as being part of those who can give relevant and useful information to the Panel for use to it purpose as regards the ‘LEKKI SHOOTING’.

    “We intend to interview such before the Panel by the kind permission of the Panel,” Ogunlana said in the application.

  • Fight for your rights but know when to pause, negotiate – Fayemi tells #EndSARS protesters

    Fight for your rights but know when to pause, negotiate – Fayemi tells #EndSARS protesters

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has commended #EndSARS protesters that “are beginning to fight for the change they want but advised that they should know when to pause and negotiate with the government.

    According to the former minister, the youths are the larger part of the country’s population, but they need to really rid themselves of a sense of entitlement.

    Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, therefore urged the campaigners and youths in the country to employ stealth rather than brigandage in pushing for social change.

    The governor said this at a virtual symposium organised by the Harvard Kenny School Alumni Association of Nigeria on Friday, with the theme, ‘The Africa Policy Dialogue Series: Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend for Peace, Security, and Productivity through Investments in Youth’.

    Fayemi said youths had a right to demand good governance and an end to police brutality.

    The governor said, “We do owe them (youths) a duty to begin to respond to those reasonable demands that they make for a good education which is a right not a privilege, for accountable governance, for human rights protection and I think this is something that the government must respond to.

    “They are the larger part of the population, but they need to really rid themselves of a sense of entitlement because nobody gives you these things freely, you have to fight for it, and I am glad that they are beginning to fight for it.

    “Ultimately, when they start knocking on that door, and they break the door open, they will be allowed in. But in breaking it open, they can do it by stealth rather than by brigandage.

    “Some of us have spent our time at the barricade. In the better time of my younger days, I was also a #EndSARS protester of sorts as you know. But I knew when to stop and when to start negotiating with those in power and authority and ultimately, we made some progress.”

  • CNN investigation captures moments Nigerian Army Shot #EndSARS Protesters at Lekki Toll Gate

    CNN investigation captures moments Nigerian Army Shot #EndSARS Protesters at Lekki Toll Gate

    An investigation by the Cable News Network (CNN) team has shed more light on the alleged killing of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos last month by Nigerian authorities.

    On October 20, 2020, some soldiers opened fire on young Nigerians seeking an end to police brutality but the Lagos State government, headed by Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, initially claimed no one was killed. He later admitted that only two fatalities were recorded. This was when he spoke with CNN.

    On its part, the Nigerian Army first described the alleged shooting by its men as fake news. It later said soldiers were at the scene of the incident but only shot blank bullets into the air.

    A Nigerian celebrity known as DJ Switch streamed the incident live on her Instagram page on the night the shooting happened, but the army authorities said it could have been photoshopped.

    Thereafter, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, said there was the possibility of those in army uniform seen in the trending video being hoodlums.

    But almost a month after the incident happened, the international news platform has released the outcome of its investigation on the matter, speaking with those involved and their families.

    “They pointed their guns at us and they started shooting,” one of the eyewitnesses, Sarah, whose last name was withheld for her safety, told CNN, adding that, “They were shooting in the air, they were shooting at us, they were shooting everywhere.”

    According to CNN, from multiple videos, it pieced together a timeline that shows that shooting by the army lasted from 6:43 p.m. until at least 8:24pm.

    It was revealed that evidence of bullet casings from the scene match those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials and that the casings indicated that they were purchased by the army from Serbia.

    Both the Nigerian Army and the Lagos State government declined to react to the CNN investigation as the latter claimed it was waiting for the outcome of the panel it set up to look into the matter.

    You can watch the full report HERE

  • Army speaks on using live ammunition on Lekki #EndSARS protesters

    Army speaks on using live ammunition on Lekki #EndSARS protesters

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday denied using live ammunition on unarmed #EndSARS protesters, during the alleged Oct. 20 shooting at the Lekki Tollgate before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

    The Nigerian Army made the denial before the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.

    Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, who testified on behalf of the Nigerian Army said that the military had fired blank ammunition into the air to disperse protesters on the night of the alleged shooting.

    Taiwo, who gave a presentation to the panel with the use of a projector, played a footage which showed soldiers standing in front of singing protesters and firing their weapons into the air.

    He said there would have been a lot of fatalities if the 600m live ammunition normally used by the military were used to disperse the #EndSARS protesters.

    “I have been in the army since 1986 and you cannot be under fire and be singing.

    “The entry hole for the 600m is thin while the exit is wide, if it hits you in the chest or the bowels, the intestines comes down.

    “I am an expert in ammunition having spent so long in the army. Blank ammunition is slower and can do no damage to the flesh and you have nothing to fear except you take a rifle, put it against your eye and fire.

    “Even if you put it against your skin and fire you will only have burn marks,” he said.

    Taiwo said that troops had managed to disperse most of the #EndSARS protesters, and had even shared drinks from protesters who had remained at the Lekki Tollgate.

    He said he was monitoring the situation on the internet, and that it was after the departure of the soldiers that hoodlums set the tollgate on fire.

    He said that non-kinetic (non violent) means was used in the Army’s rules of engagement during the protests.

    Following his revelation, Taiwo through the counsel of the Nigerian Army, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), presented four spent blank ammunition to the panel as evidence.

    Taiwo told also the panel that there was a lapse in communication between the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Army regarding the imposing and lifting of the curfew.

    “Due to the urgency of the security situation in the state, the governor declared a 24-hour curfew which was supposed to start at 4pm.

    “They wanted everyone off the streets to deal with the hoodlums, but after some observations the timing was shifted to 21:00 hours, but this timing was not communicated to the Nigerian Army.

    “Be that as it may, we the Nigerian Army had already immediately deployed the 65 Battalion under the 81 Division Garrison to forestal all further violence and loss of lives.

    “It is important to note that this deployment of troops contrary to reports, was done throughout Lagos to activate Phase 4 of the Internal Security Operations,” Taiwo said.

    The officer told the panel that the Army had entered the Stabilisation Phase of the Internal Security Operations, and had started recovering looted items when the Lagos State Government lifted the curfew without informing them.

    “We were still recovering a lot of looted items which were given back to the owners on production of receipt or proof of ownership.

    “If the curfew was not lifted we would have recovered a 100 times more than the items we recovered,” Taiwo said.

  • Drama as #EndSARS protesters storm Lagos Judicial Panel sitting

    Drama as #EndSARS protesters storm Lagos Judicial Panel sitting

    Drama ensured after three people identified as #EndSARS representatives stormed the Lagos State Judicial Panel On Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters currently sitting at Lekki Lagos.

    They are Victoria Oniru, Dabira Ayuku, and Perpetual Kamsiyuchukwu.

    A lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana had earlier presented himself as the legal representative of the #EndSARS protesters

    But I. J Okechukwu, a lawyer for the government, opposed representation of #EndSARS protesters, arguing that #EndSARS is not a legal entity and its faceless.

    “There is no entity called “EndSARS protesters”.
    “My learned friend is entitled to represent anybody that is known to law. We cannot have anybody appearing for a body that is not known to law, no leader, no structure.

    EndSARS protesters is a nebulous entity,” said Okechukwu.

    Rotimi Seriki, counsel for the Lekki Concession Company, (LLC), aligned with the government lawyer. He also said the LCC was not an “interested party” in the matter, but invited because “the panel that feels it might have relevant evidence to assist it”.

    We cannot allow every Tom, Dick, and Harry to represent,” he concluded.

    Ogunlana retorted that he did not just appear at the panel without prior instruction of his clients.

    He went on to call out three persons, whom he said were part of protesters and had hired him to represent them.