Senator Teslim Folarin, representing Oyo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has listed the things he lost after angry youths invaded his home to loot.

The lawmaker revealed in a statement on Saturday, October 24, that over 1,100 empowerment items such as motorcycles, deep freezers, generators, and grinding machines, among others were looted.

The youths attacked his house at the Oluyole Estate extension in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Senator Folarin described the looters as “coordinated hoodlums”, adding that the invasion was evil, barbaric and unfortunate.

He insisted that the invaders and looters were not the same youths protesting against police brutality and calling on the government to End SARS.

He described the incident as pure daylight robbery, adding that the attackers broke down doors to rooms in the house to steal valuable assets.

“The actions of the hoodlums are condemnable, and it is very disheartening that some bad elements in our society are hiding under the guise of #ENDSARS protests to loot and disrupt peaceful atmosphere in Nigeria,” he said.

“I thank God we did not record any fatality, despite the violent invasion of my Oluyole house, looting of materials and vandalisation therein.

“For the sake of clarification, I have just formally taken receipt of the empowerment materials from a federal agency coordinating constituency projects for federal lawmakers.

“Also, I used my personal money to procure additional materials. I took stock of the materials ahead of a mega empowerment programme scheduled to hold in November 2020.

“Looted materials included over 350 motorcycles, 400 deep freezers, 350 generators, grinding machines, sewing machines, hairdressing and barbing salon materials, vulcanising machines and many more.”

Source: Lucky B.

Pope Francis has prayed for peace to be restored in Nigeria following the killings of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki tollgate. 

After reciting the Angelus from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 25, the pontiff said he prayed that peace would be restored “through the promotion of justice and the common good.” 

He said: “I follow with particular concern the news coming from Nigeria about the recent violent clashes between law enforcement agencies and some young protesters.” 

“We pray to the Lord that all forms of violence will always be avoided, in the constant search for social harmony through the promotion of justice and the common good.” 

The Pope also took to Twitter to call for prayers for Nigeria against every form of violence in the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protests.

He tweeted: “Let us pray to the Lord for Nigeria, so that every form of violence might always be avoided, in the constant search of social harmony through the promotion of justice and the common good.”

Source: Jide N.

The Akinshemoyin ruling house of Lagos Island has send warning message to suspected hoodlums that attacked the palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Ridwan Akiolu, while calling on them to return the staff of office of the Monarch or face the consequences.

The ruling house condemned, in strong terms, the looting of the traditional and ancestral heritage of Lagos State and the carting away of the staff of office of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Ridwan Akiolu by hoodlums who invaded the palace on Wednesday.

While describing as shocking and bitter the use of brute force on peace protesters by soldiers at the Lekki Toll gate on Tuesday, the ruling house, in a statement jointly signed by Prince Salami-Abisako and Prince Adeyemi Sarumi said it will not fold its arms and allow miscreants to destroy Lagos State.

The statement reads: “Though we are in total support of the peaceful protest of the Nigerian youths tagged: #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality, we, Lagosians condemn with all sense of responsibility the gruesome murder of Nigerians, the hijack of the peaceful protest by hoodlums, destruction of public infrastructural facilities and property across the nation.

“We also condemn the looting of our traditional and ancestral heritage as it relates to the Oba of Lagos Palace; especially the carting away of the staff of office. We will not allow miscreants to destroy our Lagos ‘Onilu Onije Otu’.

“The acts of these elements are sacrilegious, taboo and abomination to the Yoruba race. These nefarious misfits’ conducts could lead to mayhem in the land if not timely checked and tranquility restored.

“We hereby call on the paramount Apena of Oshugbo, Opa, Akala and other traditional heads and custodians to immediately secure the Oba’s palace from further attack(s) in order to save the face of our traditional stool.

“The royal house, however called for the return of the stolen staff of authority to be deposited at the Apena of Lagos within 24 hours or the deviants will face the consequences of their action. A word is enough for the wise.”

Source: Jide N.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu, NPM, on Saturday October 24, ordered the immediate mobilization of all police operational assets and resources to bring an end to the wanton violence, killings, looting and destruction of public and private property, and reclaim the public space from criminal elements masquerading as protesters in some parts of the country.

The IGP gave the order to all Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), Heads of Police Operational Units, Squadron and Base Commanders in charge of Zonal/State/FCT Commands, the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and the Special Protection Unit, today.

In addition, CPs/Heads of Police Formations in the various states have also been charged to mobilize their men and work in sync with the Command CPs in the areas where they are domiciled, to dominate the public space and ensure peace and safety in the affected areas.

The IGP, while noting that enough is enough to all acts of lawlessness, disruption of public peace and order and wanton violence which have resulted to indiscriminate looting of shops, malls and ware houses, damage to property and loss of lives in some parts of the country, further directs the Police strategic managers to personally lead and coordinate the operation and use all legitimate means, to halt further slide into lawlessness and brigandage.

The IGP enjoins law-abiding citizens not to panic but rather join forces with the police and other members of the law enforcement community to protect their communities from the criminal elements.

He further calls for the understanding and cooperation of the citizens assuring that the action is geared towards ensuring public order and safety and public security in our communities.

The IGP however warns trouble-makers not to test the collective will of the nation by coming out to cause any further breakdown of law and order.

Source: Jide N.

Nigerian filmmaker, Ideh Chukwuma ‘One Soul’ who claims to be one of those that rushed some victims of the Lekki toll gate shooting to the hospital has stated that he never saw any dead body at the scene. 

The filmmaker in an interview with Premium Times further stated that he has also not seen a family member that has come to cry and say one two or three persons have died. He added that if DJ Switch had seen that, she’s in the best position to say that because she was there. 

One Soul said; 

What I will say is, I have been hearing people say “Lekki massacre, Lekki massacre.” I have to be honest with you if you Google the term “massacre,” massacre is a situation where a group of people were being killed by rebels or the military and going by that particular point, I would have been able to tell you that I saw a lot of dead bodies, this is how they killed them, there were a lot of dead bodies and so it was a massacre. But from the time I came, I didn’t see any dead bodies but I can certainly tell you that there was a shooting, an unauthorised shooting. I will call it a raid, I will call it assault. I am going to term it assault and raid. That is what I would use. It was an assault and I and I may be wrong but because I didn’t see those bodies, and I have not seen a family member that has come to cry and say one two or three persons have died.

If DJ Switch had seen that, she’s in the best position to say that because she was there. I cannot say she’s wrong. I was out of that circle. I was a few meters away. They were at the toll gate and I was a few meters away from them. I wasn’t there, I was at Lekki Phase 1. I can’t tell you what the military’s approach on their arrival was. So, I wouldn’t be able to tell you that they shot one, two, three, four, or five people. But I can certainly tell you that I took a lot of gunshot victims to the hospital.

If I took about 13 people to the hospital myself, minus the ones that the governor confirmed that were injured, he said about thirty, that is forty-something, DJ Switch might not be wrong. I took 13 to the hospital. So, if DJ Switch said she saw 15 dead people, by her own records, because she was there so she can speak on that part. I can’t speak on that and none of the thirteen people that I took to the hospital has died. They are still alive and some of them have been discharged.

He also recounted how the soldiers tried stopping him from helping victims of the shooting. One Soul added; 

For the record, I was not at the protest ground with the crowd protesting when the military came around so I cannot tell you what guns they were shooting. But I knew I heard gunshots and people were running. So, what could have happened when I was not there, while I was in my car, I don’t know. It was when I came back I realised everyone was running helter-skelter and I saw people falling down. I saw blood, people being shot and it was all looking bad so I decided to keep going (driving) and I could see clearly this time that the army had surrounded the protesters. They were gathered together into a circle and the army surrounded them with their guns and they were still singing the national pledge while they were surrounded. They saw my car coming and I was waving the flag and one of the military guys was shouting “ Go back, go back” and I wouldn’t go back and I was like I want to check up on my friends and they shouted that I should “ Go back now!” and then I saw a lady that was shot on the leg and another guy who was shot in the hand.

Yes, and they saw me carry wounded people in my car. I saw another guy who was shot in the hand but the bullet did not go into his arm but bruised him so I carried the three of them and drove to Ajah. They rejected them. I got to the government hospital and they said it was only for mother and child. Then Doren Hospital, Ajah, accepted them and I was happy. I told the Director that I was coming back and I then I drove back to tollgate and they were still shooting and I came down from the car raising my hand up and the guy kept shooting and I told them I wanted to help people that were wounded and he said No I should go back and I said, ‘‘Sir, I cannot go back I have to check the wounded people, and he refused then I took off my clothes and I said “ Sir, you have to shoot me” then he cocked a gun and aimed it at me and I was like I will not leave if you don’t allow me to rescue these people. While he aimed his gun at me, his colleague brushed me and hissed then I walked in there and rescued four other people and rushed them to the hospital.

When I was coming back the third time, I came with an ambulance to rescue more people. While I was there, one of the guys told me that the military was keeping the wounded or dead people in their trucks. So what I was told was that the military took some people and that they thought they were taking them to the military hospital. I don’t know if it is possible that it is true or I don’t know. When I came back again, I told the man (soldier) that I wanted to carry more people in the ambulance and I helped more people in the ambulance and they were taken to the hospital.

Source: Lucky B.

The Nigerian Correctional Service says it will be releasing the names and photographs of over 1,500 inmates who escaped from the custodial facilities in Benin and Oko, Edo State, and in Okitipupa, Ondo State, on Monday Octoober 26, and Thursday October 29, respectively.

Following the crisis that has rocked the nation after hoodlums hijacked the End SARS protests, several prisons were attacked and the prisoners were let out of the facilities.

Giving an update on efforts to recapture the prisoners, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional  Service, Austin Njoku, said the service was equally mobilising various security and intelligence resources to recapture the fleeing inmates. While 1,993 inmates broke out of the two custodial centres in Edo State, 58 reportedly escaped from the Ondo correctional facility.

Speaking to newsmen, Njoku said

“We are mobilising the people and the press for information because to inject the number of such people into society is a problem. Imagine over 1,000 criminals injected into society? We are mobilising the intelligence agencies, the police and the DSS (Department of State Services). We are publishing their names and pictures very soon.”

Meanwhile, 25 inmates who escaped from Oko and Sapele Road Correctional Centre when hoodlums broke into the facilities have voluntarily returned to the centres and surrendered themselves to the authorities.

Source: Kingsley U.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that the terms of reference of the Judicial Panel set up by the state government to investigate brutality and rights violation by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has been expanded.

According to the Lagos state Governor, the panel will begin its sitting on Monday October 26 at the Lagos Court of Arbitration International Centre in Lekki. 

Sanwo-Olu also called on residents of the state and the general public to avail the panel with useful information that will help in the effective probe against SARS operatives.

He said; 

“So what we have done is that we have consulted and we are now expanding the terms of reference of the panel that we have set up because it is exactly the same kind of composition. 

“That same panel headed by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi will be investigating all of the issues that happened at the Toll Plaza on Tuesday night. Their terms of reference have been expanded and for emphasis, the sitting will start on Monday at the Lagos Court of Arbitration International Centre in Lekki.

“They will be receiving petitions from Monday. If you need to send the petition via email, their address is [email protected].

“We will expect everyone that has a case or petition or something to pass unto this panel. They have been empowered extensively to determine how they run and conduct themselves at the panel.”

Source: Jide N.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has explained why President Buhari did not speak on the Lekki toll gate shooting in his speech yesterday October 22. 

The Minister in an interview on Arise TV said the President has ordered an investigation into the incident. Dare added that Buhari wants to have all the facts which will be made public. 

He said; 

“For sure, the president has ordered an investigation. He had a national security meeting yesterday. I can tell you that this is already ongoing because the president wants to have all the facts which will absolutely be made public. 

“It is important to get all the facts right before we go forward, in this case. It’s going to be difficult to hide these facts because we live in a multimedia world and we have pieces of evidence and corroboration and I think it is important to get the facts right.

“I think that’s the part the president has towed and I am sure that when the facts are made available, this president – because he has integrity – will level with the Nigerian people about what happened on Tuesday in Lekki.

“Previously, we just had lip service that SARS scrapped. For the first time, you have a presidential pronouncement that SARS has been dissolved followed by the inspector-general and then we saw quick steps thereafter.

“And I think when you look at what has happened in the past and the level of responsiveness and concrete steps, the whole five demands of the youth were wholeheartedly accepted by the president and he set up a process.”

Source: Hajia R.

President Buhari has reportedly revealed that 69 persons were killed in the #EndSARS protest across the country. 

BBC reported that the Nigerian President disclosed this during a virtual meeting with former leaders and security chiefs on Friday October 23.  He said that 51 civilians, 11 police officers, and seven soldiers were killed in the unrest.

Buhari was quoted saying in a statement released by Femi Adesina that the killing came off an “initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths which was hijacked and misdirected”.

It was further gathered that the Nigerian President who stated that his administration will not allow miscreants and criminals to continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country, accused the protesters of refusing to call off the protest in spite of meeting their demands. 

The statement read; 

”Unfortunately, the protesters refused to call off the protest and engage the government to address their grievances. Instead, they became emboldened and gradually turned violent. 

”We shall also continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected. Here, I want to also reaffirm our commitment to preserving the unity of this country. 

“The President thanked the former Heads of State for attending the meeting and their invaluable comments, observations and advice, adding that ‘Nigerians expect nothing less from responsible statesmen’.

“Each of the former leaders commended President Buhari for steps taken so far to restore calm and order to the country and also applauded the presidential broadcast of Thursday as detailed and soothing to the country.

“The former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign investments were critical to checking youth restiveness.

“The former heads of state also condemned the divisive and inciting pronouncements of separatists and were of the opinion that such acts should be stopped.

“Equally, the former leaders commended the actions taken by governors to address the demands of the ENDSARS protesters and their efforts to check the excesses of those who perpetrated violent acts and conduct.

“Finally, they called on youths to pursue peaceful means, in seeking redress through engagement with government and encouraged further conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country.”

Source: Lucky B.

A photo of a student going to school with a kerosene stove to be used as a chair in class has been shared online.

In the photo, the student is seen walking to school, her school bag in one hand and the furnace tank of a kerosene stove in her other hand.

Twitter user Onyeoma Bold shared the photo to Twitter and wrote: “While running this morning I saw this child going to school with this as sitting stool, this is 2020 and this can’t be happening!!”

Twitter users reacted, stating that the incident happened in Ebonyi state and it’s not unusual to see such things in the state.

Below are some reactions.

Source: Kingsley U.

DJ Switch who played a role in saving the lives of many who were present at the Lekki tollgate when security agents opened fire on End SARS protesters, has finally come out to share her experience.

In a video she posted on her Instagrm page, DJ Switch asked the authorities not to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians when giving their own account of what happened on that day.

According to her, the military aimed at endsars protesters as they fired gunshots. She also alleged that SARS officers came in after the military had left and also attacked them. According to Switch she and others present counted over 15 bodies.

”I just want to clear a few things that I have been seeing online. To our leaders, I urge you please do not minimize the suffering of families. Do not insult the grief of Nigerians, do not insult the intelligence of Nigerians. Do not insult the pains the families are facing.

People were falling left and right. Yes there were soldiers there. Another part that people are not talking about is that the police also came. The SARS people we are talking about, they also came, some maybe 40-45 minutes after the soldiers left.

We were teargassed. The teargass was like Cotonou pepper mixed with acid. We were running. We would run and we would come back and the only thing we fought with was our flags. We would sit on the floor and we would raise or hands up, raising our flags and singing the national anthem. That was all we had.

They put off the lights. Even if there was no power in that axis, there was always light at the tollgate. There was no lights. The street lights were off. It was pitch black.”she said

Speaking further, she said 

”A boy jumped on me and was shouting cover her, cover her.  I didn’t even understand why he did that. They shot that boy on my back. I fell and while the soldiers were picking their shells, we were running around and picking their shells too because we wanted proof.”

She showed photos of bullet shells picked from the ground, She showed the one that was fired close to her ears and the one that was removed from someone’s lap. 

The military, they were there on Nigerian soil, killing Nigerian citizens. The police and their SARS like people came doing the same thing, aiming and shooting. They were pointing the gun at us and shooting live bullets. Who takes live bullets to a protest?

To our leaders, I urge you to please not insult the intelligence of Nigerians and the families.”

DJ Switch expressed regrets that she and others allowed the military to take the bodies of the deceased persons.

”Something I think of in hindsight I wish we hadn’t done it but we carried dead bodies and dropped at the feet of the soldiers so that they could see what they did to us. When I asked their unit commander why are you killing us? I wish we didn’t do that because they ended up throwing the bodies in their van. This was up until the next morning.” she said

She dissociated herself from the social media accounts claiming she said 78 persons died. She said she and others counted 15 dead bodies.

”I never said 78 people died. What I do know is that when I was doing the live, 7 people had died. When my phone died, we had counted about 15 people. I don’t know if it was more than that. We had a lot of people stray bullet wound, gunshot wounds, and all that.

People did die. It wasn’t photoshopped. I must be a tech genius to photoshop a livefeed.” she said

She dismissed reports that her cousin died in the incident.

Thanking everyone for their prayers and support, DJ Switch said

”We must continue to move. We must continue. If we stop I fear it will probably be the next 60 years before we talk about this again. We must continue peacefully. I condemn any sort of violence. I condemn the burning of buses and peoples livelihood. ”

Source: Lucky B.

President Buhari will address Nigerians at about 7pm today October 22.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement released this afternoon. It reads

”Following detailed briefing by security chiefs on the current situation in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will make a national broadcast Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 7pm.

Television, radio and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Radio Nigeria respectively for the broadcast.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 22, 2020”

Source: Murtala D.

President Buhari is currently presiding over the National Security Council meeting in the State House, Abuja. 

Present at the meeting include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).

Others are the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

Also present are the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Director General of National, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufa’i and the Directorate of Military Intelligence.

See more photos below…

Source: Murtala D.

A video has surfaced online showing the moment police officers opened fire on young protesters in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

The protesters had made their way to a police station in the state but the officers as part of efforts to ward them off, opened fire on them but the bullets could not penetrate.

The young men who were being shot at, could be seen holding some objects which are said to be ‘bullet proof’ charms.

Police men numbering about 20 stayed at the entrance to the station and engaged the protesters who were standing at a considerable distance.

Watch the video below:

Source: Jide N.

He earlier blamed forces beyond his control for the shotting at Lekki in a tweet in the early hours of Wednesday.

“This is the toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes in our history, but we will face it and come out stronger.

“I’ve just concluded visits to hospitals with victims of this unfortunate shooting incident at Lekki,” he said.

Reacting to the unrest across the state, Nigerians appeared to have run out of patience with the government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Here are some tweets below:

Source: Twitter

Governor of Lagos State, Babjide Sanwo-Olu has apologized for every ‘action and inaction’ that took place yesterday night, October 20, at the Lekki Toll-Gate.

Gunshots were fired at the End SARS protesters who gathered at the Lekki tollgate last night.

The governor on Wednesday afternoon, October 21, took to his Instagram page to apologize for the incident. His post reads:

“Yesterday’s events were no doubt some of the darkest gradients of our history as a State and as a people. As you are aware, I have been engaging the #EndSARS protesters since the protests started.

There are no excuses for the unfortunate incident that took place last night, and as the Governor, I apologize for every action and inaction.

I would like you to know that I am for you, I am with you, and I understand that indeed you’re not happy with the turn of events last night.
I want to once again, and passionately from the depth of my heart appeal to our teeming youths, to our protesters that you should please give peace a chance.
There have been several reported cases of arson, and of destruction of properties this morning.

We want to plead with parents, we want to appeal to guardians, I want to appeal to our citizens, especially our youths. I feel the pain, and I want to say once again that as your Governor, I will continue to ensure that every life does matter.”

Source: Jide N.

CSP James Nwafor, the notorious former Police officer fingered in the killing of many innocent youths at the Awkuzu SARS office in Anambra, has reportedly been arrested in Ghana.

According to reports making the rounds on social media, he was arrested in Kumasi, a region in the West African country.

The former SSA on Security to Anambra state governor Willie Obiano, was reported to be on the run few days ago.

Reports, however, on social media have it that he has been arrested, and efforts are already in place to depot him back to Nigeria

See Video below:

Source: Francisca C.

Nigerians residing in Rome, Texas, Ohio, and Toronto have also staged #EndSARS protests in their various localities, demanding for an end to police brutality in Nigeria as well as a total reform of the police force.

See more photos from their protests below

Source: Murtala D.

#EndSARS protesters in Lagos took their protest to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in the state today October 19.

The protesters who were in their hundreds prevented movement in and out of the airport. They held their banners as they chanted the slogan EndSARS, End police brutality.

See more photos and videos showing the protesters at the airport below.

Source: Jide N.

Former Governor of Lagos state and National Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has told #EndSARS protesters to call of the demonstration to allow government implement their demands. 

Tinubu is his statement averred that the Buhari administration has acted with commendable dispatch by not only scrapping SARS, but also accepting the five-point demand that triggered the protests.

He further stated that the intent of the organizers of the protests is to achieve stated objectives on police reform, and certainly not to cause generalized anarchy or effect regime change.

The statement read; 

For the past twelve days, our country has witnessed massive protests by youths in different cities, which were ignited by widespread disenchantment with the gross human rights abuses including torture, extortion, harassment intimidation and even extra-judicial killings of Nigerians by members of the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

“to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign”. Justice as one of our greatest writers has memorably noted is “the first condition of humanity”. The demands for fundamental police reforms by the protesting youths are in pursuit of our aspiration in our national anthem. 

A society where those who are paid from the public purse to protect the lives and property of the people become themselves threats to the liberty, safety and dignity of the people; where human life is difficult to distinguish from Thomas Hobbes ‘State of Nature, solitary, poor, nasty and brutish’ is not one fit for free and decent people to live in. Such impunity and lawlessness are incompatible with the values and tenets of a democratic society governed by the supremacy of the rule of law.

Society confronts challenges such as injustice, impunity, corruption, dictatorship and are forced to respond in resistance and struggle for emancipation.

The result is the triumph of justice over injustice, liberty over tyranny and right over wrong thus enabling the society to be elevated to a higher level of good, accountable, responsible and responsive governance.

It was through this process that colonialism, apartheid, and all forms of dictatorship, misrule and tyranny have been overcome across time and space. Our current democratic dispensation was borne of struggle in response to the challenge of military dictatorship.

The impunity of SARS was thus a challenge that the youth have responded positively and courageously to and has triggered the commencement of the fundamental reform of the country’s policing system.

The protesters must admit that the President Buhari administration has acted with commendable dispatch by not only scrapping SARS but also accepting the five-point demand that triggered the protests. This shows a laudable sensitivity to the grievances of the youths.

It is only fair that government must be given the chance to implement the reforms demanded by the protesters. This can certainly not be done instantaneously by the waving of a magic wand.

If government had not implemented promised reforms in the past, the swiftness with which it has responded to the demands of the protesters this time around shows that that there is a positive change by government both of attitude and of a new sense of urgency.

The protesters have made considerable gains within a very short period. But they should also be careful not to fritter away such gains due to lack of moderation and strategic thinking. For instance, it is unfortunate that hoodlums, thugs and assorted criminals have seized on the protests to perpetrate violence, disrupt civil life and harass, intimidate and assault innocent persons going about their lawful business.

The intent of the organizers of the protests is to achieve stated objectives on police reform, which the government has in principle accepted. It can certainly not be their motive to cause generalized anarchy or effect regime change.

If they give the impression that that is their goal, then any government will necessarily have to act with the requisite decisiveness and force to restore law and order and preserve constitutional rule.

The vigour and vibrancy of the protests are an indication of the growing strength of the democratic culture in Nigeria. It is a demonstration of the beauty of democracy and its promotion and protection of people’s power.

However, the protesters must be careful not to set the stage for the erosion or destruction of the same democratic process that gives them the freedom and right to protest in the first place.

Their democratic right to protest must not be exercised in such a way that impedes the democratic right of other citizens to freedom of movement, expression and the liberty to pursue their livelihoods.

The fight for police reforms is surely to promote and protect the wellbeing of millions of Nigerians. It is a contradiction for the protesters to act in ways that will further worsen the economic well being of the very people they are fighting for.

The protests have forcefully demonstrated the reality and potency of people’s power and the new energy must be tapped and channeled to strengthen, not weaken the country’s democracy. Surely, the country cannot remain the same after this.

It is a good sign that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos and a number of other state governments have speedily set up judicial panels of inquiry into acts of police brutality over the years. I urge the state governments which are yet to do so to emulate this example.

Let me commend all our religious leaders, Christians and Muslims for their patriotism and high sense of responsibility at this sensitive time. I appeal to them to call on their teeming followers to call of the protests for now and give peace a chance.

Finally, I also strongly appeal to the protesters – YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT. GOVERNMENT HAS MADE ITS COMMITMENT TO YOU. PLEASE, PLEASE AND PLEASE, CALL OFF THE PROTESTS. GIVE GOVERNMENT A CHANCE TO IMPLEMENT YOUR DEMANDS. GOD BLESS YOU.

Murtala D.

At least 234 million Naira that would have been generated from the Lekki tollgates was lost due to the closure of the tollgate as the #EndSARS protests continue.

Today, October 19, is the 11th day of the protests.

On Saturday 3 October 2020, a video started trending on social media showing a SARS police officer shoot a young Nigerian in front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli, Delta State.

On Thursday, October 8, 2020, nation-wide protests on ENDSARS began after weeks of outcry against police brutality in Nigeria.

On Sunday, October 11, the Inspector General of Police announced that SARS has been dissolved. But this did not deter protesters and they continued to gather at key locations in different states across the country to demand an end to police brutality.

One of the protest locations is the Lekki tollgate. Protesters gather there round the clock, including the ones who stay overnight, making it impossible for vehicles to pass the tollgate.

As a result, at least 234 million Naira that would have been generated from commuters at the tollgate has been lost. However, the state has continued to generate money from adverts at the toll plazas.

The figure was obtained from the daily and monthly targets set for the tollgates by the government, which owns the tollgates managed by the Lekki Concession Company, Punch reports.

A Lagos State commissioner, who wished to remain anonymous, told the publication that the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge was expected to generate about N10m daily, while the Admiralty Circle Plaza along the Lekki-Epe Expressway was not expected to generate less than N16.6m a day.

The commissioner said the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge was not expected to generate less than N300m monthly, while the Admiralty Circle Plaza generates about N500m monthly.

“At least 80,000 cars use the tollgates every day. The figure could be higher or lower depending on the day of the week. However, since the protests started, the Lekki tollgate has been completely shut, while the Ikoyi one has been left permanently open for people to use without payment,” he said.

Source: Lucky B.

A video making rounds on social media captured moment some policemen shot directly at people. 

The incident which occurred in Mushin area of Lagos state has led to an outcry online. The number of casaulties as a result of the shooting, is still unclear at the time of filing this report. 

Here is the video below; 

Source: Kingsley U.

Former presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore has adviced End SARS protesters on what to do if a curfew is declared in their states.

He gave this advice after the Lagos State governor declared a 24-hour curfew in Lagos following days of End SARS protests.

Yele tweeted: “#Endsars Please if any state or city declares a curfew, as #Lagos just did, just go to a designated protest ground with enough supplies. Let the “curfew” meet you at a place of righteousness. Stay there protesting until the curfew is lifted. Thank you! #Revolutionnow.”

However, some Twitter users did not agree with his advice and they’ve slammed him.

Source: Jide N.

The Speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has stated that Nigeria is struggling to survive. 

Gbajabiamila who said this while speaking at the inauguration of the house ad hoc committee on constitution review in Abuja on Thursday October 15,  blamed the “struggle” on  “systemic weaknesses”. 

The Speaker noted that Nigeria’s development lies on the new pages of the constitution as he called for a hastened constitution review. 

Gbajabiamila said; 

“When you ask me what the state of our nation is, the honest answer is this: we are in a fight for the very survival of our country and the continuation of the Nigerian project. 

“Recent global developments have exposed all our systemic weaknesses so that we can no longer pretend to ourselves that things are on an even keel and slow progress is enough to get us to where we ought to be yet are still so far away from.

“This ninth house of representatives has since committed to the cause of reform. Our commitment must neither waver nor wane on the matter of thoughtful and fair overhaul of our nation’s constitution.

“The reality of our current circumstances and the now certain knowledge that only us can save ourselves imposes on us an obligation to act with greater determination and all the urgency this moment calls for.”

The Governor, who disclosed this on Thursday, October 15th, 2020, while addressing the #ENDSARS protesters at the Government House, Awka, said that effective tomorrow, all illegal detainees in various SARS formations in the state will be released, while officers found wanting will be prosecuted.

He addressed other issues raised by the protesters asking them to open up the expressway which has been blocked.

Recall that Nwafor, who served as commander of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu, Anambra State has been accused of atrocious acts, extra-judicial killings and human rights violations.

Source: Jide N.

The Nigerian Senate has called on President Buhari to urgently address the nation so as to douse the tension in the country.

This comes as hoodlums continue to carry out various attacks on #EndSARS protesters and others in some parts of the country.

The Senators made the call for President Buhari to speak to the Nation after a motion was moved by Senator Biodun Olujimi and co-sponsored by all Senators on the ongoing nationwide protests believed to have been hijacked by hoodlums.

Part of the resolution of the Senators after deliberation include

-Urge all tiers of government to put in place and sustain policies of social economic reforms that raise the standard of lives of our people;

-Call upon the Police to operate strictly in accordance with the rules of engagement appropriate in a democratic environment;

-Urge the Inspector General of Police to ensure a holistic comprehensive reforms of the police to increase the overall welfare including training and medical insurance of all members of the Nigeria Police Force

-Appeal to all Nigerians to resort to use of legal institutions to resolve disputes and conflicts;

-Urge the Nigerian youths and the Nigerian citizens to approach the National Assembly Committees Constitution and Reforms in order to secure far-reaching holistic amendments that are vital to the restructuring of our federation

-Urge the Federal Government to faithfully and comprehensively implement all the five demands of the #EndSARS movement and protesters with necessary timelines to rekindle confidence in government

-Appeal to #EndSARS movement and protesters to kindly in the interest of everyone stop their actions and embrace genuine dialogue; 7. Urge Mr. President to address the nation as soon as possible on these issues.

-Police should make it a duty to accompany protesters and should be involved in protecting genuine protesters.

Source: Kingsley U.

35 operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force have been indicted for various misconducts as confirmed in a report submitted by the National Human Rights Commission to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Monday October 19. 

Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu who revealed that the list was an extract of the full report of the Special Presidential Panel on SARS earlier submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari on June 3, 2019, said the list of the indicted operatives was accompanied with the full report of the panel to guide the prosecution of the indicted operatives.

The document which covered reported infractions of SARS operatives in Lagos, Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Enugu, FCT, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun and Rivers State, also recommended the payment of compensation ranging from N500, 000 to N20million, to some of the identified victims, as well as to families of deceased victims. The NPF was directed to by way of Newspaper publications, tender apology to some of the victims.

Ojukwu said; 

 “In line with mandate of the panel, the commission is here today to submit the list to you, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the list of all officers who have been indicted in the report.

“The list contains the names of all those who are to be prosecuted for various offences by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

“We have also brought the original copy of the full report which will also guide the office of the Attorney-General in looking at the details for the required prosecution, because the summary will not have all the documents.

“We brought the full report which will guide the prosecuting officers.”

The AGF on his own part said his office would do justice to the list through prosecution and taking associated incidental administrative steps. 

Malami said; 

“Our responsibility as a government is to establish and entrench a constitutional program to take care of the collective interest that will incorporate the interest of the victim of crime, the interest of the nation and the interest of the individual involved.

“This government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed demonstrated effective consciousness of these factors with particular reference to perhaps the Police.

“The government has taken steps, inclusive of having in place the Police Act 2020, which is indeed a piece of legislation established with a view to ensuring that necessary reforms are brought into then operations of the Police. Far-reaching indeed, with a wider approach.

“Approach that has to do with the welfare of police officers and the welfare of the society as it relates to having in place community policing and indeed having necessary checks and discipline that will ensure that the Police as an institution and not necessarily a unit of it is brought inline with the best practices for the purpose of the discharge of their responsibilities.”

Source: Lucky B.

The Department of State Services on Tuesday October 20, invited the General Overseer of the Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries Prophet Isa El-Buba to its office in Jos, Plateau state’s capital. 

Punch reported that the invitation of El-Buba is not unconnected with his participation in last Sunday’s prayer walk organised by #EndSARS protesters in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

It was gathered that during the prayer walk held between the Old Airport Roundabout and the Secretariat Junction which attracted a large number of people mostly youths, the cleric insisted that Nigeria must be freed from bad leadership.

A member of the church told the publication; 

“The DSS asked him to appear at their Jos office today (Tuesday). He is yet to be freed after he arrived at their office around 10 am.”

Source: Lucky B.