TheNewsGuru

Tag: Protests

  • About 50 people killed in Chad protests – Official

    About 50 people killed in Chad protests – Official

    About 50 people were killed and nearly 300 injured in violence that broke out in Chad on Thursday as hundreds took to the streets to demand a quicker transition to democratic rule.

    Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo, who gave the death toll at a news conference, said the government was still compiling casualties from what he described as an armed insurrection.

    But human rights groups said that unarmed civilians were massacred as security forces brutally cracked down on demonstrations in the capital, N’Djamena, and several other cities.

    The vast, military-run Central African nation has been in crisis since the April 2021 death of President Idriss Deby, who ruled with an iron fist for three decades.

    His son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, seized power in the immediate aftermath and initially promised an 18-month transition to elections, but on Oct. 1 he announced they would be pushed back by two years

    Opposition and civil society groups called for the protests on Thursday, which would have marked the end of an initially agreed-upon 18-month transition period.

    The government banned them, citing security reasons.

    But demonstrators showed up early in the morning, barricaded roads, and torched the party headquarters of the new prime minister.

    “What happened today is an armed popular uprising to seize power by force, and those responsible for this violence will face justice,” said Kebzabo, an opponent of Deby’s regime who was named prime minister of a new “unity government” last week.

    “The demonstrators had firearms and they are considered rebels.

    “The security forces responded only in self-defense,” Kebzabo said.

    The International Federation for Human Rights and its partner organizations in Chad said the protests were violently repressed by security forces and that cases of live gunfire, torture and arbitrary arrests had been reported.

    Amnesty International researcher Abdoulaye Diarra said security forces used live rounds on protesters, based on witness accounts and analysis of photos and video from the day.

    Chadian journalist Oredje Narcisse, who had worked with Reuters in the past, was among the dead, his brother said.

    Other confirmed victims included a policeman who was fatally wounded in clashes, a 28-year-old protester who was shot in the neck, and Chadian musician Ray’s Kim, who died in a hospital.

    “It’s clear that an impartial investigation is needed to determine if protesters resorted to looting and violence and if security forces unlawfully resorted to lethal force across the country,” said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

    Riots have been intermittent in Chad since Deby seized power last year, but Thursday’s appeared to be the bloodiest.

    The government declared a state of emergency and a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., although the president had already declared a state of emergency on Wednesday because of catastrophic floods.

    “I firmly condemn the repression of demonstrations that led to deaths in Chad,” African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is a former prime minister of Chad, tweeted, calling for a peaceful solution to the crisis.

    “We are concerned about the violence in the context of demonstrations in Chad today, which has reportedly led to the loss of lives and injuries,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

    He called on authorities to ensure the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for all Chadians, and for all parties to refrain from excessive use of force and violence.

  • Buhari once took part in protests, shouldn’t disrupt #EndSARS – Falana

    Buhari once took part in protests, shouldn’t disrupt #EndSARS – Falana

    Human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to abide by his oath of office by calling on the police not to disrupt upcoming #EndSARS protests.

    Falana, who is the Interim Chairman, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, said this in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Nigeria Police Force lacks power to ban public protests in Nigeria’.

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, had said the police would not allow anyone to stage another #EndSARS protest ahead of the one-year anniversary of the protests of last year.

    However, Falana said Buhari, who himself took part in protests while he was running for office, should call on the police to respect the rights of citizens.

    He added, “It is public knowledge that General Muhammadu Buhari (as he then was) and other leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress took part in public rallies against fuel hike in January 2012 and protests against insecurity in November 2014.

    “To that extent, the Buhari administration ought to restrain the police from banning peaceful rallies against police brutality on October 20, 2021 in any manner whatsoever and however.”

    Speaking further Falana said that the law guarantees Nigerians the right to hold public meetings, rallies and processions in the country.

    “The threats against peaceful rallies oozing out of the police headquarters and state commands are illegal as they constitute a gross infringement on the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly guaranteed by Sections 38 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution as well as Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act.

    “In view of the fact that the police authorities have been notified of the public rallies scheduled to hold on October 20, 2020 to mark the first year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, the Nigeria Police Force is required to make arrangements for the provision of adequate security for the participants at the venues of the rallies,” Falana said.

     

  • Group protests arrest of Chiwetalu Agu

    Group protests arrest of Chiwetalu Agu

    A group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), which describes itself as the umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South East geopolitical zone, has condemned the arrest of veteran movie actor, Chiwetalu Agu.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Agu had been arrested and later released by the Nigerian Army, in Onitsha, while distributing loaves of bread, dressed in colours suspected to be that of the defunct Biafra Republic.

    He was, however, said to have been again arrested by the operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), after he had been released by the the military.

    Reacting to this, COSEYL in a press statement by its President General, Goodluck Ibem stated that: “We condemn in strongest terms the manhandling and torture of a professional and prolific actor of Southeast extraction, Chiwetalu Agu in Onitsha by Nigerian Army and arrest by the DSS for wearing a red, green and black clothe that has a drawing of a sun on it.

    “The manhandling and torture by the Army and arrest by the Department of State Security, DSS of an elderly Igbo man like Chiwetalu Agu in broad daylight confirms to the entire world the hatred and disdain the Nigerian Army and the DSS have against Ndigbo.

    “The Nigerian army and the DSS are now agencies for the harassment, intimidation and killing of Ndigbo. What the army did to the Igbo actor is gross ethnic vendetta,” the group said.

    Ibem added that the Nigerian military and the DSS have clearly shown to the entire world their “wicked inclinations towards Ndigbo because on more than one occasion the Kaduna based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi was seen holding meetings and holding briefs for kidnappers, bandits and terrorists.”

    The group said: “The Igbo actor wore just a clothe with a red, green, black and a sun drawn on it, which is by every standard very lawful, but because he is an Igboman, the Army tortured and manhandled him and thereafter handed him over to the DSS for more torture and inhuman treatments and the DSS is now saying that justice would be done.

    “This is travesty of the law and we condemn it in its entirety.

    “We demand the unconditional and immediate release of Mr Chinwetalu Agu by the DSS and we demand that the army and the DSS should pay compensation to him for the injury and inhuman treatments meted out to him.”

     

  • Buhari: Criticisms, protests can’t change him – Ehichioya Ezomon

    Buhari: Criticisms, protests can’t change him – Ehichioya Ezomon

    By Ehichioya Ezomon
    Diehard critics may claim credit for President Muhammadu Buhari finally coming out in the past weeks to “address” the nation. To these Nigerians, it’s victory for their consistent and persistent criticisms, peppered with scattered protests.
    Still, many are disappointed that Buhari didn’t address the issues they’ve canvassed for months and years, or those he addressed didn’t meet their expectations. So, the lampooning of the president and his government continues.
    But keen watchers of the polity can infer that nothing Buhari said or did in a fortnight would change the opposition’s stance regarding his alleged failure to meet the three cardinal programmes of his administration: security, economy and anti-corruption.
    Critics have scored Buhari and his government ‘F9’, as insecurity seems to overwhelm all agencies, the economy in a free-fall notwithstanding official “rosy picture” of same, and corruption perceptively outpaces the deceptions of past governments.
    Outside of or ancillary to the three cardinal programmes of his administration, the public had expected Buhari to tackle many topical issues, not only to ease the haywire tension in the land, but also to pull the nation back from the brink it appears headed.
    Some of the matters are: Restructuring of the polity; agitation for secession from Nigeria; lop-sided appointments in government; inequitable distribution of government projects; herders/farmers clashes; and alleged failure in anti-graft war.
    What comes out of Buhari’s “surprise” address to the nation, via media interviews and a national broadcast on Democracy Day on June 12, is that in six years in the saddle, his positions on issues remain unchanged, despite his posturing to the contrary.
    Buhari, on the campaign trail or in governance since 2015, didn’t support restructuring of Nigeria, such as the advocates want either by an executive fiat, re-amendment of the 1999 Constitution or convocation of a national conference for that purpose.
    So, it’s not hard for the president to pass the bulk to the National Assembly, whose members most Nigerians know only mouth restructuring, but have no liver to deliver for survival of Nigeria.
    Did Nigerians expect Buhari to hug agitators of secession, and give them a free rein to dismember the country he’s sworn to uphold its indivisibility? He said he wouldn’t give them a pass, but lay down his life to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.
    No wonder he had recourse to employing the force of arms, which he’s promised to visit on the “break-up Nigeria” agitators, like the government did to the Biafra secessionists from 1967 to 1970!
    Buhari’s reference to the Civil War is like invoking the Holocaust, the genocide of European Jews during World War II (1941 and 1945), when “Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe.”
    Reminiscing the Civil War, as he did, was insensitive, and even inciting, considering that an estimated three million Igbo lost their lives in the war, and threats of a repeat performance may indicate Buhari’s animus for the Igbo or any tribe, whose even few “deviant members” may agitate for secession from Nigeria.
    For equity, which he preaches, won’t Buhari also extend similar threats of “annihilation” to the roaming killer-herdsmen, who’ve identified themselves as belonging to a particular ethnic group? What’s sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander!
    Rather than debunk lopsided appointments, with high-profile and lucrative positions in the security, parastatals and MDAs held by people from a section of the country, Buhari showcased Permanent Secretaries’ positions filled by promotion of career civil servants.
    On siting of projects, Buhari talked about extending amenities to, and building infrastructure in Niger Republic, a sovereign State, because he’s “relations” there. Is Niger part of Nigeria? What about extending projects to neighbouring countries where Nigerians of different ethnic stocks have their kith and kin in millions?
    Buhari’s reason for deploying Nigeria’s resources to developing Niger Republic is extreme nepotism and parochialism, in the face of his reported failure to equitably service all zones of Nigeria, and, in particular, the Niger Delta, “the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
    On the vexed issue of herders/farmers clashes, Buhari doubled down on re-opening of the “national grazing routes” through populated communities that weren’t there when the tracks were reportedly gazetted for herders to herd their cattle.
    But as reported by the Vanguard on June 17, 2021, Nigeria has only “grazing reserves” created by the National Grazing Reserve Law of 1965. There’re 415 of such reserves, with 141 gazetted, and only two in the South, in Ogun and Oyo states.
    Indeed, the Senate spokesman, Dr. Ajibola Basiru (APC, Osun Central), has declared in a statement that: “As a patriot… and someone sworn to uphold the Nigerian Constitution… it is pertinent to say neither in the North nor in the South is there a law creating grazing routes either as state law or federal law.”
    So, why is Buhari re-litigating “open grazing,” which morphed into “cattle colonies” and “RUGA settlements,” and yet rejected majorly nationwide? Is there a “Buhari hidden agenda” in the fresh push, as conspiracy theorists have advanced?
    The countering of Southern Governors’ ban on open grazing in the South-East, South-South and South-West may infringe the 1999 Constitution that vests land in State Governors. Will Buhari force them to give up lands they hold in trust for their people?
    Buhari reiterated his promise to fight corruption to the last, to ensure that treasury looters do not take over from his regime. How will he achieve in two years what he couldn’t in six years?
    But critics fear the president plans to stop his real or imagined enemies from gaining power in 2023, to favour his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that the opposition wants out.
    As the foregoing has shown, there appears nothing that can change Buhari’s character traits: not criticisms, not protests, not declaring him a failure or a dictator, and not even threats of forced resignation or impeachment “for gross misconduct.”
    Only Buhari can change his persona. But the leopard cannot change its spots, and Buhari cannot change his character shaped in decades by belief, culture, ethnicity, religion and military service.
    If you ask me, I would urge Nigerians to thank Buhari for his steadfastness in showing where he stands on burning issues, his advocacies lacking national consensus or not.
    Because Buhari isn’t a “Maradona” that dribbles the citizens, Nigerians are better-placed, now or the run-up to 2023, to tackle and navigate the issues they have against the president.
    Buhari has pointed the way from his echo-chamber; it’s left for the majority to follow that route or chart a different path that shouldn’t aggravate but ameliorate the country’s current situation.
    Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
  • Kano varsity management warns students against protests as vehicle crushes 200level student to death

    Kano varsity management warns students against protests as vehicle crushes 200level student to death

    Bayero University Kano (BUK), has warned its students against protesting the death of a 200-level student, who was crushed by a moving vehicle.
    The Secretary, Information and Publication of the University, Malam Lamara Garba, issued the warning in a statement on Sunday.
    He said that the deceased, Kamaluddeen Moshood of the department of accounting, died on Saturday at the National Orthopedic Hospital Dala, following injuries he sustained during the accident.
    Garba explained that Moshood was hit by a fast-moving vehicle outside the University on June 8, 2021, at about 10:00 pm.
    The secretary further said that on receiving the report of the accident, the Vice Chancellor directed the Dean of Students Affairs to visit the scene and take all necessary action.
    “The driver of the vehicle was apprehended while the victim was rushed to the hospital under the supervision of the University Director of Health Services for prompt medical attention.
    “While at the hospital, preliminary investigations revealed that Moshood had a severe leg injury and needed to have his leg amputated to save his life.
    “It was in the process of stabilizing his health that he died,” he said.
    “The University did everything possible to save the life of Moshood, so any student(s) caught protesting will be decisively dealt with.
    “All serious-minded students are advised to face their studies and prepare for the forthcoming second semester examination, which will begin soon,” he said.
    Garba said that the University management extends its heartfelt condolences to the deceased family, his associates and the entire members of the University community.
    He revealed that the university has requested the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently construct pedestrians’ bridge near the main gate of the new campus for students to cross over the highway.
  • Photos/Video: Bit-by-bit account of nationwide June 12 protests so far

    Photos/Video: Bit-by-bit account of nationwide June 12 protests so far

    Defiant protesters across major states of the federation made good their intention to embark on nationwide protests today, Saturday, June 12 set aside as Democracy Day by the Federal Government.

    While some were peaceful, others were violent as police fire teargas to disperse protesters in Abuja and Lagos.

    Meanwhile, the protesters were in two factions; for and against President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government. However, TheNewsGuru.com, TNG observed that the anti-Buhari protesters outnumbered those in solidarity with the president.

    See photos from the protests below as compiled by TNG’s social media team:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CQBKbOajuNs/?utm_medium=copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQA77XLjLZ9/?utm_medium=copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CQA-aNPjbfG/?utm_medium=copy_link

  • June 12: Tension mounts over planned nationwide protests today

    June 12: Tension mounts over planned nationwide protests today

    Security forces are on the alert across the country following threats by some activists to stage protests today on the occasion of Democracy Day.

    There is a heavy presence of soldiers, police personnel and their counterparts in the Department of State Security (DSS) on the streets.

    The police and several state governments have warned troublemakers to keep off the streets with the Zamfara State Government, in particular, canceling celebrations for the day.

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which was originally part of the protests, backed out on Friday, citing fears of hijack by miscreants, although the Southwest zone of the association said it remains firmly committed to the rally.

    The opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) alleged plan by the federal authorities to clamp down on protesters today.

    The Lagos Police Command on Friday urged residents to disregard the sit-at-home campaign by some groups over alleged bad governance in the country.

    The police asked people to go about their normal businesses.

    Fearful of possible violence and attack on their persons and businesses, some traders, artisans and commercial drivers in Lagos and other parts of the country had indicated that they would not operate today.

    Some churches in Lagos are also understood to have cancelled their programmes and meetings originally fixed for today.

    But Lagos State Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu appealed to the public to “disregard any sit-at-home order called by certain groups, which is being circulated in the social media, and go about their lawful businesses as the police and other security agencies have made necessary arrangement to maintain law and order across the state.”

    The command also said a special squad was in place to contain traffic robbery and rid the state of miscreants.

    He said the squad was empowered with crime fighting equipment and modern communication gadgets for better service delivery, adding that identified hotbed for traffic robbers were Eko Bridge, Apongbon, Cele, Ijora, Ojota/7up, Mike 12 and Surulere, among others.

    The police in Cross River, Ondo, Kwara, Imo and Delta states have also warned residents against embarking on any protest today.

    The Delta State Police Command said it would not allow any protest “being staged by criminally minded individuals hiding under the guise of peaceful protest thereby causing havoc in the state.”

    It said on no account “should any group be seen gathering or carrying placards in the name of protest, as such will not be allowed in the state.”

    The police in Imo State said it had “uncovered plans by members of IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) to hijack civil protests today” and therefore will “not tolerate any attempt by hoodlums to destabilise the state, and anybody or group that insists on disrupting the fragile peace in the state will meet his/her waterloo.”

    The Kwara State Police Command said it has not placed restrictions on movement in the state today and assured residents the June 12 holiday is observed in the state without any fear of attack or molestation.

    The Police Command in Cross River State warned that it would not allow anyone under any guise either politically or activism to destroy the peace of the state.

    It advised residents to shun all forms of unlawful procession, protest and gathering.

    The command arrested Calabar-based activist and newspaper publisher Agba Jalingo, said to be the coordinator of the planned protest in the state.

    He was arrested at the police headquarters, Calabar, yesterday when he went to honour an invitation by the police.

    But the police claimed Jalingo was arrested because “there was a petition against him that he is a member of drug dealers.”

    “He is still writing his stuff (response to the petition). When he finishes, we’ll let him go if we find him not wanting,” police spokesperson in Cross River State, Irene Ugbo, told Premium Times.

  • Protesting parents of abducted Kaduna students denied entry to National Assembly

    Protesting parents of abducted Kaduna students denied entry to National Assembly

    Parents of the abducted students of the College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka in Kaduna State on Tuesday took their grievances to the National Assembly complex in Abuja but were denied entry into the facility.

    The protesting parents were joined by members of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution as well as civil society organisations.

    They lamented negligence of State and Federal Government in securing the release of their children.

    They blocked the entrance to the Federal Secretariat axis of the complex as they were not allowed entry through the one kilometer drive way leading to the main gate of the National Assembly.

    They carried placard and chanted songs of solidarity for the immediate rescue of the students.

    “Education is our right! Safety is our right! Freedom is our right!, Free Afaka 29, ” they chanted.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that on March 11, 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were kidnapped from their hostels by bandits dressed in military uniforms.

    Ten of the students have been released with 29 still with their abductors.

    Meanwhile the Governor Nasir El-Rufai led Kaduna State Government has said it will never negotiate nor pay the bandits a kobo from the state coffers as ransom.

  • [Photos/Video] Police deploy heavily armed operatives to Lekki ahead of planned protests today

    [Photos/Video] Police deploy heavily armed operatives to Lekki ahead of planned protests today

    Less than 24 hours to the planned protest at the Lekki Toll Gate by some aggrieved youths, police authorities in the state have launched a show of force exercise to express its disapproval of the protest.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that policemen from the Rapid Response team staged a walk round the toll gate on Friday as they prepare to take positions in the area and other parts of the state on Saturday.

    This is also coming less than 24 hours after the Federal and State governments warned youths not to embark on the protest, as they raised concerns that it may be hijacked by hoodlums and lead to lawlessness.

    https://twitter.com/Darlordzson/status/1360329004859940868?s=20

    The planned protest is in reaction to the decision of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to return control of the Lekki Toll Gate plaza to its owners, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

    The toll gate had been one of the major converging points for the protesters in Lagos last year and was also the location for the infamous #LekkiShootings, masterminded by security operatives particularly men of the Nigerian Army.

    During the proceedings last Saturday the Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, gave a ruling allowing the LCC to repossess the toll gate

    But many Nigerians believe that the toll gate should remain closed in honour of those who lost their lives to the incident, hence sparking the new movement, #OccupyLekki.

    Meanwhile, a counter-group promoting the hashtag #DefendLagos also scheduled its protest at the same venue.

  • Anambra community protests against attempt to impose traditional ruler

    Anambra community protests against attempt to impose traditional ruler

    The people of Awa Town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra has urged Gov. Willie Obiano to save the community from an impending crisis over an attempt to impose a traditional ruler on them.

    The people, on Wednesday at the Government House, Awka, cried out against the proposed traditional ruler election slated for Feb. 13.

    The protesters bore placards with varying inscriptions ‘Awa Is On Fire’, ‘Gov Obiano We Need Your Intervention In Awa Now’ and ‘Your Excellency Sack Vera Queen’.

    Others were ‘Awa Community Says No To Feb. 13 Election’, Your Excellency Awa Community Is Boiling’ and “Hon Emeka Aforka Should Leave Awa Alone“, among others.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chief Ambrose Egwuonwu, an elder in the community, said ascendancy to the traditional stool was hereditary and not open to the entire community or election.

    Egwuonwu said Awa was a small and peaceful community but wondered why some influential people would want to throw the community into a perpetual crisis.

    He said the government should intervene and stop the election from going on because it was not a decision of the majority in view of the fact that every issue surrounding the emergence of a new traditional ruler had yet to be addressed.

    Chief Paul Nwafor, a former President-General of the community, said they were told to prepare for an election on Feb. 13 based on a letter from government “a copy of which we have not seen.’’.

    Nwafor said the community needed a traditional ruler but it must follow due process.

    He said it was the duty of the community to elect a traditional ruler and not for the government to impose anyone, adding that there was unhealthy political undertone behind the desperate effort to conduct an election in Awa.

    Responding, Mr Henry Nwasike, the Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Town Union Affairs, said that the protesters grievances were well noted.

    Nwasike, who spoke on behalf of the commissioner, said the administration of Gov. Obiano would do all that was necessarily to ensure that there was peace in every community.

    He said government did not conduct traditional ruler election for community but supervised it, assuring that their grievances would be communicated to the appropriate authorities.

    Dr Ray Ofor, President-General of Awa, said the protesters had contradicted themselves by claiming they were not aware of the election notice but had gone ahead to protest against it.

    Ofor, however, said they were waiting for further directive based on government’s reaction to the protest on whether to proceed with the election.