TheNewsGuru

Tag: Protest

  • Presidency summons IG over Police protest

    The Presidency on Monday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the reported protest embarked on by police personnel in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday.

    The policemen were said to have protested over non-payment of their monthly salaries and allowances.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the IGP was seen heading towards the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    A source at the Presidential villa, who preferred to remain anonymous, told NAN that the IGP was in the villa to brief the Presidency on the Police protest.

    NAN reports that the Police in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, dismissed the media report, claiming that the policemen only made inquiries on their allowances and salaries before returning to their duty posts.

    According to the statement, the delay in payment is due to late passage of the Appropriation Act, adding that with its assent by President Buhari, the issue will soon be addressed.

  • Force HQ denies Police protest in Maiduguri

    Force HQ denies Police protest in Maiduguri

    The Nigeria Police Force has said no police personnel protested as a result of non-payment of special duty allowance and that police officers and men in the State are on their duty posts ensuring public peace and law and order in the State.

    Force Public Relations Officers, Ag. DCP Jimoh O. Moshood of the Force Headquarters in Abuja stated this in reactions to reports that policemen are protesting non-payment of allowances in Maiduguri.

    “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to media report that Policemen protested in Maiduguri over non-payment of their Special Duty Allowance.

    “The Force wish to categorically state that it is not correct that police personnel protested in Maiduguri today, 2nd July, 2018,” the Force said in a statement.

    According to the Force Headquarters, “Some of the Police Mobile Force personnel on Special Duty in Maiduguri went to the Borno State Police Command Headquarters on enquiry over the delay in the payment of their special duty allowance in the early hours of today and not on protest as reported in some media”.

    “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni promptly directed the Commissioner of Police, Borno State to address and inform them why there is delay in the payment of their special duty allowance, and also assure them that since the budget has been approved, the allowances will be expeditiously processed and paid without any further delay. They subsequently returned to their duty posts.

    “Consequently, the IGP has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force (PMF) to proceed to Maiduguri, Borno State and other States in the North East where PMF personnel are deployed on special duty; to lecture and inform them on the efforts being made by the Force to ensure timely payment of special duty and other allowances to police personnel in the North East of the country.

    “The Police Mobile Force personnel that went on the enquiry are not those attached to Operation Lafiya Dole in the fight against insurgency in the North East but those on the category of visiting Police Mobile Force units deployed in Maiduguri on Crime Prevention and other Police duties in the State,” the statement further read.

     

  • El-Zakzaky: Police arrest 60 Islamic Shiite protesters in Abuja

    Following protest by the Islamic Shiite sect on Monday the federal capital territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 60 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

    TheNewsGuru reports the Shiite protesters to the streets of Abuja, defying warning from the police to stage a violent protest demanding release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been detention since 2016.

    The spokesman of the police in the FCT, DSP Anjuguri Manzah confirmed the arrest to newsmen in an interview on Tuesday at the Garki Hospital.

    Manzah was in the hospital to see how the two personnel of the command, who sustained varied degree of injuries while dispersing the protesters were recuperating.

    They are SP Linus Ogah, who had bruises on his face and could hardly speak or open his eyes, and Insp. Mary Ameh, who sustained injury in one of her hands.

    The spokesman said that bullet had been removed from Ameh’s hand, adding that the protesters also destroyed some police operational vehicles.

    “During the Monday protest, members of IMN or otherwise known as Shiites engaged police and haul stones at police personnel deployed to disperse them.

    “They also smashed some vehicle glasses parked around the Federal Secretariat,” he said.

    On April 16, the police had arrested 115 members of the sect when they embarked on a similar violent protest to demand that their leader be freed.

    Manzah, who said that though citizens had right to protest, advised that they should do that in a “civil manner’’ and not disturb public peace.

    He said that the command had taken proactive measures to check violent protest in the territory.

     

  • Anti-Macron protests to be held in Paris

    Anti-Macron protests to be held in Paris

    Critics of French President Emmanuel Macron and his politics plan to hold demonstrations on Saturday in Paris, including a protest picnic and a march through the city centre, ahead of the first anniversary of Macron’s election.

    Several thousand people have already indicated on the protest action’s Facebook page that they intend to attend the demos, which are scheduled to get under way at noon (1000 GMT).

    Following riots by a hard-left group on the sidelines of the traditional May Day marches by trades unions in Paris earlier in the week, police have said they have beefed up security, with 2,000 officers to be deployed on Saturday.

    Macron’s critics say his economic and social reforms favour corporations and the wealthier in society. The organizers have ironically named their demonstration “Celebration of Macron and his World.”

    The government has criticized the demonstration against the backdrop of the May Day riots, but leftist politician Jean-Luc Melenchon countered that Macron “can’t stand any opposition.”

    It was a member of Melenchon’s La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party that initiated Saturday’s demonstrations.

    Monday marks a year since Macron was elected president.

    dpa

  • Killings: Protest erupts in Delta as CAN begins special prayers

    Members of Calvary Baptist Church in Abraka, Delta state held a peaceful protest against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s inability to bring to an end incessant killings of innocent citizens across the country.

    This follows the directives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) calling on all churches to protest the incessant killings, even as the Kano State chapter of the Association has decided to embark on intense prayers to stop the spate of killings.

    The protesting members in Delta state carried placards with various inscriptions, “No more shedding of innocent blood in Nigeria”, “Release Miss Leah Sharibu and Chibok girls now”, and “Enough is enough”.

    According to the Calvary Baptist Church, over the past two years, available records show that killer Fulani herdsmen have killed over ten innocent farmers in Abraka.

    Reverend Adeolu Samuel, the Kano state chairman of CAN, at a news conference on Sunday explained that there was need for the Federal Government to declare the killers as terrorists and rise against them, while the military should also confront them as such.

    The CAN president also appealed to the Federal Government to go extra miles in freeing Leah Sharibu and the other abducted Chibok Girls by the terrorists.

    According to Samuel, CAN demands that the government look out for the sponsors of such killings and bring them to justice.

    The association, however, commended the Kano Emirate and the state government for ensuring that the state was peaceful and safe for all to live in and worship.

     

  • Christians take to street, protest senseless killings in Nigeria [PHOTOS]

    Christians after the close of church service on Sunday in Akure took to the streets to protest the incessant killing of Nigerians including Christians in the northern part of the country.

    TheNewsGuru reports President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle had earlier directed all Christians in the country to protest across the length and breadth of the nation.

    The directive was contained in a statement signed by the CAN’s President special assistant on media and communication, Adebayo Oladeji, that decried the high rate of killings in the country is slowly turning Nigeria into a state of “anomie”.

    The statement said the protest will be aimed at canvassing government’s increased commitment towards the release of abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls as well as other innocent Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram terror group.

    Today in Akure, the capital of Ondo state, Christians were captured carrying placards in protests asking President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to take more actions to bring to an end the senseless killings happening in the country.

    See photos:

    Christians take to street, protest senseless killings in Nigeria [PHOTOS]
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday…
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday...
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday…
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday

    Meanwhile, the President of CAN, in the statement, had directed that the protests must be peaceful.

    According to the statement, the killings have only persisted because of what the association describes as government’s inability to effectively arrest the situation.

    “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria. The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “It also dedicates same day for prayers for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here.

    “CAN notes that the failure of the government to raise an effective campaign against the killings by herdsmen is the reason they have continued to kill, while there is no visible plan to pacify the aggrieved.

    “The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and a lawless country,” the statement read.

    The association described the killings as inimical to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “Lastly, it reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general election and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voters cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders in Nigeria during next year’s elections who could guarantee their security and safety,” the statement highlighted.

     

  • Benue: CAN frowns at incessant killings, urges Christians to protest across Nigeria

    Sequel to Tuesday’s killing of two serving priests and 13 worshippers of the Catholic Church in Benue State, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Christians to protest across Nigeria.

    In a statement by Adebayo Oladeji, the special assistant on media and communication to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the association said the high rate of killings in the country is slowly turning Nigeria into a state of “anomie”.

    The statement said the protest will be aimed at canvassing government’s increased commitment towards the release of abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls as well as other innocent Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram terror group.

    Recall that over 15 people were killed during an early morning attack at Saint Ignatius Catholic church in Benue State on Tuesday, including two priests.

    According to the statement, however, the Christian association is asking the federal government to increase efforts towards the arrest and prosecution of herdsmen, as a measure for curtailing the problem.

    “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria. The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “It also dedicates same day for prayers for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here. ”

    According to the statement, the killings have only persisted because of what the association describes as government’s inability to effectively arrest the situation.

    “CAN notes that the failure of the government to raise an effective campaign against the killings by herdsmen is the reason they have continued to kill, while there is no visible plan to pacify the aggrieved.

    “The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and a lawless country.”

    The association described the killings as inimical to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “Lastly, it reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general election and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voters cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders in Nigeria during next year’s elections who could guarantee their security and safety,” the statement highlighted.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest attack while insisting that his administration will do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators.

  • Shiite Abuja protest : Police denies reports of deaths, arrest 115

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday, said it arrested 115 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria ( IMN) during a violent protest in Abuja.

    The police also debunked stories in the social media that some lives were lost.

    “No life was lost in the violent protest as the police operatives deployed to quell the protest were professional in handling the situation,” police spokesman,DSP Anjuguri Manzah said.

    The reports that the leader of the sect, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky was arrested by the authorities after a clash with the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff in December 2015.

    NAN also reports that the Shiites had organised several protests across the country demanding the release of their leader.

    DSP Anjuguri Manzah, in a statement, said that the protesters also injured 22 policemen and destroyed government and police vehicles during the protest.

    Anjuguri said that items recovered from them are: Catapults, Iron bars, Stones, Ball bearings and Pink head bands.

    He said that the protesters also attacked innocent citizens, disrupted business activities, obstructed traffic and smashed windscreen of vehicles in the affected areas.

    He said said that a Joint Team of detectives from the command in conjunction with operatives from the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit, have commenced investigation into the incident.

    “The arrested suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation,”he said.

    “The FCT police command hereby warns members of Shiites movement from further disrupting the peace, harmony and free flow of traffic in FCT,” he said.

    He advised members of the public and parents not to allow their children or wards, to be used as instrument of violence in any demonstration by any group.

    The spokesman warned that anyone caught in the act of violent demonstration or any act capable of causing the breach of public peace would be made to face the wrath of the law.

  • Nigerians react as Gov. Obaseki sacks environment commissioner after protest

    Nigerians react as Gov. Obaseki sacks environment commissioner after protest

    Nigerians have aired their opinions about the recent sacking of Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Mr. Reginald Okun by the State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    TheNewsGuru reports the environment and sustainability commissioner was sacked after road sweepers protested delayed and non-payment of salaries and allowances today.

    Governor Obaseki made the sack of Mr. Okun known in a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, and made available to journalists on Wednesday.

    Reacting to the development, @jeffphilips1 said “I have to confess I have never seen what Governor Obaseki just did in Edo state today anywhere in this country before” on Twitter.

    The Edo state governor also directed the re-deployment of the permanent secretary in the ministry, R. E. Obahiagbon and the retirement of the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Aiyamenkue Akonofua.

    According to the statement, the officials are to handover their assignments to the most senior government official in their offices with immediate effect.

    “They are also to handover all government property in their possession to the appropriate authorities,” the statement added.

    Although no reason was given for the government’s action, the state government thanked the disengaged officials for their services to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.

     

  • BREAKING: Muslims protest as reps postpones hearing on Hijab saga indefinitely

    The House of Representatives joint committee on Justice and Judiciary has adjourned its public hearing on the hijab controversy between the Nigerian Law School and a law school graduate, Miss. Firdaus Amasa, due to a court injunction.

    This decision by the lawmaker according to witnesses outraged the Muslim faithful at the hearing as a protest broke out; spearheaded by the president of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ishaq Akintola.Akintola said his organization will resist any attempt to stop hijabs in Law School as an injury to one of them is an injury to all Muslims in the country.

    It was learnt that hundreds of Muslims who stormed the green chamber on Wednesday, were again disappointed that the public hearing scheduled to hold has been postponed indefinitely.

    Among others who joined the protest is the President Muslim Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MMPAN) Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun.

    One of the anxious members of one of the groups that went from Lagos for the hearing said many were surprised that they had travelled long distance to attend the postponed hearing.

    He said, “As at 10.30am, the public hearing did not commence as participants were only seated inside room 236, New Wing, Federal House of Representatives, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

    “The cancellation announcement was made few minutes past 11 o’clock.”

    He said that the postponement may be as a result of a ruling of Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, 28th February.

    He said, “The Justice had ordered that the public hearing be suspended pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

    The source hinted that the two clerks of the public hearing joint committee, Mr. Idris Mora and Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana confirmed the postponement.

    He quoted Mora as follows, “There is a court order served on the National Assembly restraining us. Nevertheless, those who are already around will be informed.

    He added that Ogunlana said, “Yes, court order.”