TheNewsGuru

Tag: Protest

  • Edo govt accepts #EndSARS protesters demand to organise state burial for man killed during protest

    Edo govt accepts #EndSARS protesters demand to organise state burial for man killed during protest

    Edo State Government on Friday granted request for a state burial for the victim of #EndSARS protest who was allegedly shot dead by hoodlums who hijacked the protest in Benin.

    The State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu granted the request when hundreds of the protesters matched to the state’s government house with the corpse of the victim.

    Spokesman for the protesters, David Osayande, had requested that a state burial should be given to the victim who was earlier identified simply as Ikpomwosa.

    “One of us has been killed during this struggle. Sir, we want state burial for that man, we want an end to police brutality, we want the police to stop arresting us without any offence,” Osayande said.

    Responding, the deputy governor disclosed that the state government has given security agencies a 24-hour ultimatum to fish out killers of the victim.

    Shaibu, who walked with the protesters from the government house to the city centre, said the state government supported the protest and did not want either SARS or SWAT in the state.

    According to him, “The police, Department of State Security and others are to bring to book those guys that shot at you, stoned you and the guys that killed that young man to book.

    “Some of you sustained injuries, I can see them from here, they have 24 hours to bring them to book.

    “I have ordered that the victim should be taken to the morgue. We are going to give him a state burial, like the young guy said, because the martyrs of this struggle must be remembered.

    “He will be remembered for being part of this struggle, he is a martyr and by the grace of God he will never be forgotten.

    “When all this reform has taken place, it will be on record that he joined the struggle for emancipation. I want to assure that Edo state government believes in your peaceful protest.

    “No properties was destroyed, nobody was injured, that is what is called peaceful protest and you have been doing that.

    “Those miscreants that want to create problem, I can assure you that we will not fold out hands as a state, to watch them brutalize anyone, that I want to assure you, so, please maintain your peaceful protest.”

  • #EndSARS: Police inspector killed in Lagos protest

    #EndSARS: Police inspector killed in Lagos protest

    A police inspector, Erin Ayodeji, attached to Surulere Anti-kidnapping Unit, and an unidentified passerby have been killed during a protest to end FSARS in Lagos on Monday.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that two other inspectors were critically wounded during the violent attack on their unit.

    Adejobi said that the unidentified passerby died from a stray bullet from the protesters, while Insp. Ekei Joshua and Insp. Peter Agabi were receiving treatment at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

    “The protesters came in their numbers with the intent to break into the station at our Surulere unit and free some of the convicted criminals.

    “They were heavily armed with shot guns and fired shots at the officers on duty who were trying to prevent the incidence and uphold the integrity of the station,” he said.

    Adejobi said that no arrest had been made yet but that investigation was ongoing and the perpetrators would be brought to book.

    He reiterated the resolve of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, to continue to maintain law and order in the state in spite of the unrest created by various protesting groups.

    “Odumosu has called on all police officers to exhibit professionalism and continue to maintain law and order in spite of the ongoing public agitation towards the police.

    “The protest has been hijacked by criminals who have taken advantage of the situation to breach the peace in the society.

    “The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, just disbanded the SARS on Sunday, so the attack on the station was uncalled for,” Adejobi said.

    The police spokesman urged parents and wards to monitor and keep a close eye on their children because anyone caught exhibiting negative behaviour would face the full extent of the law.

    NAN reports that the #EndSars# protest started two weeks ago by civilians against the brutality of the police unit.

  • #EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu meets Buhari tomorrow as violent protests spreads more in Lagos

    #EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu meets Buhari tomorrow as violent protests spreads more in Lagos

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday said he would be meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday present the demands of Lagos youths on the #EndSARS protest.

    Sanwo-Olu had identified with the protests against the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    The Governor braved all odds on Monday to address the protesters in Lekki where crowds of youths camped and blocked the expressway.

    He urged them to be decorous and peaceful while expressing their grievances against the excessive use of force by SARS.

    Sanwo-Olu left the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council and moved to address the EndSARS protesters.

    The Governor told the demonstrators that their protest was legitimate, but pleaded with them not to block the roads while passing on their grievances to the authorities.

    Sanwo-Olu said he identified with the EndSARS campaigners, noting that their agitations touched the essence of democratic freedom. He said citizens must never be denied the rights to protest, but urged the protesters not to employ wrong methods to drive home their message.

    He said: “Your voice has been heard clearly and a clear pronouncement has been made on the activities of SARS. The operation has been dissolved by the police leadership and just a moment ago, Mr. President addressed the nation on the issues you have raised. The President has said all SARS officers that are involved in the killing of innocent people and engaging in human rights abuses will be brought to justice.

    “My stance on this EndSARS is unmistakable and I have told you that we identify with this protest because you have legitimate concerns. I am saying it again here that this protest is in good faith. But, we must not be unruly when going out on a protest like this. We want you to be peaceful and decorous in expressing yourselves.”

    Sanwo-Olu said he spoke with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, on Monday to outline the position of the Lagos State Government on police reforms, adding that he would visit President Buhari on Tuesday (tomorrow) and present the demands of Lagos youths on the issues.

    The Governor praised the courage of the protesters and urged them not to block the key road.

    The protesters were largely uncoordinated. They rebuffed pleas to open the road and demanded the physical presence of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The protesters remained unruly but the Governor made his point – they should not allow their legitimate campaign hijacked by hoodlums who may have another agenda.

    Sanwo-Olu agreed with the demand of the protesters on reforms in the operations of law enforcement agencies, adding that the State Government would work with the police leadership on compensation for the family members of victims of SARS brutality in Lagos.

  • #ENDSARS: Protest turn violent in Ogun, angry youths vandalise police station [Video]

    #ENDSARS: Protest turn violent in Ogun, angry youths vandalise police station [Video]

    Some irate youths on Friday invaded a police station in Imoru, Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

    The youths were seen in a video vandalising and looting the police station.

    They were seen destroying the patrol vehicle, as window glasses and doors were broken.

    It was observed that the youths took advantage of the incident to cart away items from the police station, while daring the officers to come out.

    Watch the video here:

    The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola confirmed the incident.

    Oyeyemi, while speaking to newsmen, condemned the incident in its entirety.

    “We have warned them that we will no longer tolerate any act of violence against our facility and our men. Because we have had fruitful discussions with most of the youths across the state in the wake of this crisis.

    “The incident that triggered this crisis did not happen in Ogun State, so we don’t see any reason somebody will be unleashing violence on our men and attacking our men.

    “We have called on traditional rulers and political leaders to warn their children not to participate in any violence that would lead to wanton destruction of property because the command will no longer tolerate that,” Oyeyemi warned.

    Asked, the PPRO said none of the policemen in the station sustained any injuries as a result of the incident.

  • BREAKING: #BuhariResign trends as #EndSARS assumes new dimension

    BREAKING: #BuhariResign trends as #EndSARS assumes new dimension

    The demand for the government to #EndSARS on Friday assumed a new dimension as protestors have insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari should address the situation on the ground or resign.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the hashtag #EndSARS has been trending number one worldwide on Twitter today as protestors continue to demand the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    “If @MBuhari fails to address us on national TV today, we will match down to the airport tomorrow and shut the place down. By then, we won’t only be demanding #EndSARS, we will be demanding #BuhariResign. We are not going back on this,” one of the protestors tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/akeula_trendy/status/1314490267953762305

    https://twitter.com/Dr_savage12/status/1314530727866888193

    https://twitter.com/Swaveboy_IDC/status/1314532164147589120

    https://twitter.com/Swaveboy_IDC/status/1314541885847932928

    https://twitter.com/Dr_savage12/status/1314541416324923393

    https://twitter.com/OvieSheikh/status/1314558380141359105

     

  • End SARS: Stop relying on celebrities for protests – Tiwa Savage knocks Nigerian youths

    End SARS: Stop relying on celebrities for protests – Tiwa Savage knocks Nigerian youths

    Popular songstress, Tiwa Savage has urged Nigerian youths to stop relying on celebrities and join the ongoing End SARS protest which is taking place at different parts of the country.

    TheNewsGuru had reported that Nigerian celebrities, including Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz and pop star, Runtown joined other Nigerians in a protest in Lagos calling for an end to police brutality and extra-judicial killings.

    In the same vein,, another group of protesters who were led by Deji Adeyanju, convener of Concerned Nigerian, were seen marching to the Force Headquarters, in Abuja, to protest the brutality and alleged killings by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad holding different placards.

    Following the development, Tiwa who is also one of the Protesters in a video shared via her Instagram account on Thursday told Nigerian youths to join the protest and let the government know that they are tired of bad governance.

    She also counseled youths to stop relying on celebrities adding that the country’s problem is for all and should be solved by all.

    According to her, “If Nigerian youths don’t come out to protest they will think that we are jokers and that’s why they don’t take us seriously.”

    “Please nobody should put on any stupid comments on my timeline.

    “This is not a day for stupid comments, everyone is out here protesting.

    “We are protesting for our own benefits. This is serious and it is no time to joke around.

    “Nigerian youths you guys need to wake up. There are people out there that have lost children.

    “This is not a time to joke because there’s nothing funny about this.

    “They think Nigerian youths are lazy and that’s why they don’t take us seriously.

    “None of us wants to die as a joke. You don’t have to rely on celebrities because you don’t call on them when you are voting for Big Brother Housemates.

    “Everyone should better come next week Tuesday and join in this protest,” she said.

     

  • Nigerians react as Naira Marley bows to Buhari govt’s plea

    Nigerians react as Naira Marley bows to Buhari govt’s plea

    The cancellation of #EndSARS planned protest organised by Naira Marley has elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Naira Marley, on Tuesday morning canceled the protest after persuasion from Buhari’s government and the Nigeria Police.

    The Minister of Youths, Sunday Dare, on Monday urged the singer not to protest, adding that the government is addressing the grievances expressed by Nigerians, especially youths.

    In the same vein, the Nigeria police urged the rapper to be patient, adding that the force is working with the Minister of youths to seek reform and address all issues pertaining to operations of SARS.

    However, the cancellation of SARS protest has led to condemnations from some Nigerians while other applauded Naira Marley for taking the bold step which got the attention of the government and the Police.

    Read some of the comments below:

    @Toslaa “So the police wants to have an Instagram live chat with Naira Marley and requested that the protest be held down for a week. In a week, we know the number of lives that can be affected. Clearly, they’re scared of the international bodies sharing the news!

    @Dondekojo “Why are they so scared of protests? Good that Naira Marley’s proposed protest got their attention, with the minister of youth and now the Police Tagging him, I guess that is what they’d have achieved with the protest.”

    @Jharmo “The Buhari regime is not scared of Naira Marley but only afraid of the revolutionary forces that would rally round him, galvanize the people with ideological inputs which will in-turn gives this protest a direction towards people’s emancipation & liberation.”

    @IamOkon “Naira Marley is truly the Fela of our time. Man not only went to prison and came back but now the Nigeria police is begging him not to lead a protest plus having an Instagram Live session with him by 11am. Naira Marley aka the people’s president! Marlians!

     

  • #EndSARS: Buhari’s Minister begs Naira Marley to halt planned protest

    #EndSARS: Buhari’s Minister begs Naira Marley to halt planned protest

    The minister of Youths and Sports development, Sunday Dare, on Monday night urged popular Nigerian singer, Naira Marley, to stop mass action scheduled to protest the excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    In the past 72 hours, many Nigerian celebrities have lent their voices to the campaign for the total dissolution of the police unit.

    This is owing to reported cases of extra-judicial killings, extortion, harassment and other vices perpetrated by the operatives.

    Following the agitations on social media, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, banned some police units, including SARS from operating on the roads.

    Meanwhile, Nigerians seem to be unsatisfied with the ban because similar restrictions and the disbandment of the police unit announced before Sunday have not been implemented.

    Naira Marley, during an Instagram live session on his official handle on Monday, opposed calls to disband SARS. Instead, he called for a protest.

    The 26-year-old argued that ending SARS is not the problem just because of a ‘‘few bad eggs’’.

    ‘‘I don’t think EndSARS is the problem. It’s not about EndSARS, what are you talking about EndSARS? If you end SARS, the police are going to shoot or someone else with a gun is still going to shoot,” he said.

    “You need to stop the shooting, it’s not about ending SARS. Like to be honest, there are actually a lot of SARS that are actually doing their work. Not all police are bad.”

  • Nigeria@60: Sowore, Adeyanju, Yesufu, others take #RevolutionNow protest to US embassy in Abuja

    Nigeria@60: Sowore, Adeyanju, Yesufu, others take #RevolutionNow protest to US embassy in Abuja

    As Nigeria marks 60th independence anniversary, democracy activists, Omoyele Sowore; Aisha Yesufu, Deji Adeyanju among others on Thursday besieged the Embassy of United States in Abuja to protest against bad governance.

    The protesters, numbering over 100, lamented that 60 years after the country gained independence from Britain and over 20 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, Nigeria’s socio-economic development has been mired by bad leadership.

    According to reports, similar protests took place in Area 1, Life Camp, Jabi, Kuje, Kwali, Kubwa and Lugbe all in the Federal Capital Territory.

    See video + Photos:

  • BREAKING:30 arrested as #RevolutionNow protest kicks off in Lagos

    BREAKING:30 arrested as #RevolutionNow protest kicks off in Lagos

    Hundreds of protesters on Thursday were on the streets of Lagos to express their displeasure over bad governance and leadership in Nigeria.

    The protesters marched from the streets of Ojota to Maryland in Lagos.

    They were seen singing songs of solidarity.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that no fewer than 30 protesters have been arrested by security operatives.