TheNewsGuru

Tag: Protesters

  • Okowa, Makinde bar policemen from engaging #EndSARS protesters

    Okowa, Makinde bar policemen from engaging #EndSARS protesters

    Governors Ifeanyi Okowa and Seyi Makinde of Delta and Oyo States has ordered officers of the Nigerian Police Force under their State Command to refrain from engaging or using brute force on #EndSARS protesters.

    Makinde addressed Oyo security chiefs on Monday, stating that citizens had a right to protest.

    He said; “The past few days have been of grief for the people of Oyo State. I cannot imagine the pain and frustration of the parents and families of those who have died or are hospitalized as a result of the actions of the Nigeria Police Force during this #ENDSARS protest.

    “We have agreed that the police should take a backseat as other security agencies take the front line in securing the lives of protesters at this time.

    “Therefore we have deployed members of Operation Burst to the hot spot especially Ogbomosho to ensure that as people protest, they will not be harassed or brutalised.”

    While Governor Ifeanyi urged for peace through his official Twitter account.

    ‘Peaceful protests are a necessary part of the democratic process. As young people across Delta State continue to express their legitimate grievances in this manner, I ask that they remain calm and law-abiding at all times.’

    ‘I also request that the Police allow them to express themselves and refrain from using brute force in responding to these protests.’

    ‘Going forward, we shall continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to reform the Nigeria Police Force in a manner that makes it more professional, disciplined, and accountable to the people’ Okowa concluded.

  • BREAKING: Army, police flog, arrest #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja [PHOTOS]

    BREAKING: Army, police flog, arrest #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja [PHOTOS]

    Several #RevolutionNow protesters were arrested by the police and the Nigerian Army in the Abuja metropolis on Wednesday.

    The protesters carrying placards and banners had set out as early as 8 am to demand good governance.

    Some of the banners read, ‘Nigerians are sick and tired of poverty, corruption, injustice and untimely death’; ‘Say no to injustice’, ‘Yes to a living wage for unemployed youths’.

    The protesters, many of whom wore orange berets, converged on the Unity Fountain, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, and were about to begin their procession when policemen stormed the venue and dispersed them.

    Soldiers and other security operatives also cordoned off adjoining streets including Aguiyi Ironsi Street to prevent the protesters from marching.

    A human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, said he witnessed security agents beating protesters for no just cause.

    Akinyode said, “They arrested about 29 of our people. Security officials made them lie down and beat them. Even as a lawyer I was harassed. They pushed me around. This is very undemocratic.”

    It was learnt that the protests are ongoing in other states including Lagos.

    The #RevolutionNow activists have been having a running battle with the Federal Government for over a year for daring to call for a revolution.

    The leader of the group, Omoyele Sowore, who is a former Presidential candidate, was detained last year for about three months while court orders for his release were ignored.

    He was eventually released following pressure from the international community and human rights organizations.

    Several protesters who were arraigned in court won their cases.

  • Protesters groove to Burna Boy’s ‘Ye’ during Black Lives Matter rallies [VIDEO]

    Protesters groove to Burna Boy’s ‘Ye’ during Black Lives Matter rallies [VIDEO]

    Some videos have surfaced on social media in which activists can be seen dancing to ‘Ye’, a track off ‘Outside’, Burna Boy’s third album, during the Black Lives Matter rallies in the United Kingdom and Germany.

     

    The rallies were due to the killing of George Floyd, a black American who died in Minneapolis, US.

     

    Floyd breathed his last on May 25, after an arrest by a Minneapolis officer, who pinned him to the ground for several minutes by kneeling on his neck.

     

    His demise has since provoked outrage across social media platforms while heated protests on racism and police brutality against the blacks have been held all over the world.

     

    Two of such protests — dubbed the ‘Black Lives Matter’ — were staged in the UK and Germany, with celebrities openly declaring their solidarity.

     

    Video clips however, surfaced online showing the protesters dancing to ‘Ye’.

     

    While a flood of protesters waved their pan-African flags and placards in the air, others formed a circle; took turns to dance; and used the socially conscious track to advance their movement.

     

    Produced by Phantom, ‘Ye’ had shortly peaked at number 26 and 31 on Billboard‘s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop and R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts respectively following its debut.

     

    The song, whose title evokes the imagery of a black man shrieking responsively in pain, would later win the ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Listener’s Choice’ at the 2019 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.

     

     

  • Racial killings in US: Protest spreads to Nigeria…Lagosians defy rain, march in solidarity with blacks

    Racial killings in US: Protest spreads to Nigeria…Lagosians defy rain, march in solidarity with blacks

    With the gruesome murder of an African-American by a ‘white’ cop still causing widespread outrage across the world, some Nigerians in Lagos, on Monday, staged a walk in condemnation of the dastardly act.

    The Black Lives Matter Movement in Nigeria (BLMMN), stormed the streets of Nigeria’s commercial capital despite the heavy downpour, in total condemnation of the indiscriminate killing of coloured people in the United States of America.

    George Floyd died on May 25th after Derek Chauvin, then an officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, pressed his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes.

    On May 29th Mr Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

    However, African-Americans and other sympathizers worldwide are demanding an end to the killings which is gradually becoming a regular occurrence in the US.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, convener, Josephine Okpara said an end must be put to “white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities by the state and vigilantes”.

    Madam Okpara expressed disgust at the manner blacks are being dehumanised, describing it as “ uncharitable and a gross disservice to our intellectual sense of existence in the world”.

    According to her, the killing of Floyd is another grim example of how black lives have been disregarded by the state and their affiliates.

    The Black Lives Matter Movement in Nigeria, therefore, expressed total solidarity with the global community in condemnation of the indiscriminate killing of black people.

    Okpara said that their thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that have lost their lives by the shenanigans of the US government who have failed address this menace that has indeed put black people all over the United States of America at risk.

    On behalf of the group, she, however, urged President Donald Trump and everyone in government to take up the challenge of making “ Black Lives Matter now and forever in the US”.

  • Trouble in Northern Nigeria (Video): Protesters dare Covid-19, storm Gombe Isolation Center, demand release of patients

    Trouble in Northern Nigeria (Video): Protesters dare Covid-19, storm Gombe Isolation Center, demand release of patients

    Protest against Covid-19 in Gombe – Despite the increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in Nigeria, the poor awareness at the grassroots has continued to mar the battle against the deadly virus in the country.

    In Gombe State, a video has captured the stark display of a dangerous trend in northern Nigeria where people are yet to believe in the existence of Coronavirus.

    As seen in a footage obtained by TheNewsGuru (TNG), hundreds of protesters invaded the Gombe State Infectious Disease Hospital in Kwando and were poised to set Covid-19 patients free while describing the response by the state government to the coronavirus pandemic as a process to siphon state’s funds.

    According to the voices of the protesters in the video (Most spoke in Hausa language), TNG after interpreting, learnt that the protesters were demanding for the release of some persons in the Isolation Centre – labeling the whole activities by the government on Covid-19 as another scheme to embezzle state’s funds.

    One of the protesters stated that about 52 persons, majorly travelers were kept in the Isolation Centre without food and care but the state government alleged that it spent over N10m naira on each patient.

    Watch video:

  • JUST IN: One killed as residents protest death of Remo Stars footballer

    JUST IN: One killed as residents protest death of Remo Stars footballer

    A yet to be identified protester, was on Monday Killed as scores of residents staged a protest in Sagamu, Ogun State, over the death of Remo Stars Football Club player, Tiyamiyu Kazeem.

    The protesters, who took to the streets also stormed the Palace of the Akarigbo and the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, demanding justice for the deceased.

    Details Shortly…

  • JUST IN: Protesters storm Osun Government House, demand Olowu’s suspension

    JUST IN: Protesters storm Osun Government House, demand Olowu’s suspension

    Residents of Ogbagba have stormed Osun State Secretariat, Abere Osun State to protest the alleged beating of their monarch, Agbowu of Ogbagba, Oba Dhikirulahi Olabira on Friday during a peacemaking meeting by the Oluwo of Iwo.

    The protesters bore placards with inscriptions such as: “Justice must prevail“; ” Oluwo destroys traditions: Suspend him!”; “Oyetola save our souls” and “Suspend Rasheed Akanbi now”, among others.

    Details later…

  • Angry protesters storm Lagos marathon venue over Okada ban (Photos)

    Angry protesters storm Lagos marathon venue over Okada ban (Photos)

    Some distraught youths on Saturday stormed the venue of 2020 Lagos Marathon, Eko Atlantic to protest against the ban of motorcycles (Okada) and tricycle (Keke).

    The placard-carrying demonstrators complained that the Okada ban was making life difficult for them.

    Among the inscriptions on their placards are ‘fix bad roads, less traffic’, ‘metropolitan not treko-politan’, and ‘I have not been able to resume in my office at stipulated 08:00 am since Okada ban’, ‘We are tired of trekking’.

  • Protesters besiege Lagos Assembly, demand ex-gov Ambode’s probe

    Protesters besiege Lagos Assembly, demand ex-gov Ambode’s probe

    Scores of protesters under the aegis of Lagos Youth Vanguard (LYV) on Tuesday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex demanding the probe of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The protesters, who chanted solidarity songs, were led by the Patron of LYV, Mr. Rasak Olokooba, and the President of the Group, Mr. Ibrahim Ekundina.

    Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “Ambode, submit yourself for probe,” “Ambode must be probed,” “EFCC, do your job.”

    The LYV stated in its leaflets distributed to journalists that Ambode “deliberately laid landmine through the obvious improper, inappropriate and insufficient content in his handover note that should serve as a guide to the incoming administration in the tradition of every civilised public officer.”

    The group accused Ambode of flouting official procedures, saying that he refused to abide by the procurement laws.

    He was accused of wrong priority in policies and programmes as well as abandoning the track that could bring about development in the state.

    The LYV said: “We call for his probe and investigation with a view to apportioning appropriate penalties.

    “We want to assure the good people of Lagos State, and all the people that care about Lagos that we will continue to pursue every legitimate means until justice is done.”

    The group’s Patron Olokooba said it was good to be fair to every administration.

    Olokooba added that they had watched events for 90 days and that there were clear indications that the former governor had been making attempts to sabotage the current administration.

    He said: “For every government that is going out, you leave a template for the coming government to succeed. Ambode handed over a very rickety handing over note that cannot assist the current administration.

    “If you go round the state today, you will see that there is no governor that would inherit such state and the people of the state would be happy with him, but thank God the goodwill enjoyed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is still intact, if not, by now the people of Lagos State would have been complaining bitterly.”

     

  • Protesters block Federal Secretariat, NASS as Shiites mark third year anniversary of Zaria killings

    Protesters block Federal Secretariat, NASS as Shiites mark third year anniversary of Zaria killings

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria otherwise known as Shittes on Thursday stormed the Federal Secretariat Complex, the National Assembly Complex and the main road leading to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja protesting the immediate release of their leader Sheik Ibrahim Elzakzaky.
    The group protesters numbering over two thousand with uniforms and placards with various inscriptions said that they are protesting the release of the their leader Sheik Ibrahim Elzakzaky as well as marking the third anniversary of the death of over 1200 members of the sect in the hands of military personnel at Zaria Kaduna State three years ago.
    Some of the placards borne by the protesters read thus: “Buhari wants to kill Elzakzaky in detention facility, Today marks three years anniversary of the annihilation of peaceful protesters in Zaria by the military, We won’t be cowed, Buhari is a coward among other boldly written inscriptions.
    The group marched from the Unity Fountain to the Eagles Square and made a detour at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation before heading towards the Aso Rock Presidential Villa chanting different songs in bewilderment
    They called for the immediate release of the Islamic cleric and challenged the military and other security agents to only focus on their professional duties as security officers of the nation instead of dabbling into issues that are purely civil in nature.
    Moreover, the entrance to the nation’s apex legislature-the National Assembly was also today barricaded by security agents notably men of the Nigeria Police as protesters stormed the legislative institution demanding the intervention of the parliament on the crisis at Kuchigoro a sub-urban settlement of Abuja the nation’s capital from the military who they said have turned to land grabbers.
    Spokesman of the group Mr Moses Tanko who addressed journalists on the matter said that the military personnel drafted to ensure security of lives in the area have turned themselves into a menace due to their penchant for land grabbing.
    He alleged that they had killed no less than 12 persons including pregnant women and children in the past two days as they launched an unmitigated onslaught on the residents of the area with their weapons.
    Meanwhile, a scheduled security meeting of some of the top echelon of the Nigeria Police Force with the Inspector-General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu fixed for 10:00 am on Thursday was rescheduled due to the protests at the Federal Secretariat and National Assembly.
    A contingent of senior Police personnel were drafted to the affected areas immediately to ensure the maintenance of peace and order in these areas.