It has just been confirmed to OduduwaNews that some armed thugs laden in a bus have unleashed terror on protesters this morning in Lagos State.

Details later.

The Government of the State of Osun is shocked to find out that the #EndSARS Protest in the State has been hijacked by some criminal elements.

This was contained in a statement signed and released today by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Wole Oyebamiji which reads in part:

“Today, Wednesday, some hoodlums shot into the air several times at the gate of the State Secretariat and held workers hostage for hours. They then drove dangerously through the State capital in unmarked cars.

“Peaceful protest is a fundamental human right of citizens in a democracy, and Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration totally supports any expression that does not hurt the people or jeopardize the peace of the State.

“Unfortunately, elements with ulterior motives and evil intentions have infiltrated the ranks of peaceful protesters of the State.

“We hereby appeal to parents and guardians to keep an eye on their children and wards.

“We do not want these armed people with criminal intents harming the peaceful protesters in the State.

“The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, and would not fold its hands while hoodlums take over the streets of Osun”.

Armed thugs on Wednesday attacked #EndSARS protesters in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, injuring some of them and disrupting their peaceful demonstrations.

The thugs, who stormed the venue around 2pm on Wednesday, reportedly attacked the protesters with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

The protesters had blocked a section of the Alausa road and were singing solidarity songs when their attackers suddenly appeared and disrupted their demonstrations.

However, no life was lost as the protesters repelled the assailants.

Thousands of youths across the country have in the last one week been protesting against the harassment and extrajudicial killings perpetrated mainly by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.

The police authorities have since disbanded the unit and announced the Special Weapons and Tactics unit as its replacement.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has condemned the killing of ENDSARS protester and the hasty setup of, Special Weapons and Tactics Team, SWAT as a replacement of the scrabbled Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS by the Inspector General of Police, noting that the entire police force needs complete overhaul to redeem its image.

The State lawmakers during its Wednesday plenary in Ibadan commended the federal government through the Inspector-General of Police for listening to the voice of Nigerian youths by scrapping SARS.

In a motion of matter of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Wunmi Oladeji representing Ogbomoso North, which calling for urgent need to investigate killing of Jimoh Isaika during “END-SARS” protest in Ogbomosho and invasion of Soun’s palace by yet-to-be identified hoodlums.

According to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, SARS officer should be a unit to face armed robbers and other tactical operations that could put lives of citizens in jeopardy by men of the underworld. Unfortunately, Nigerians are more scared of the SARS men than even armed robbers until they were disbanded recently.

He said, “the major problem of the youths with default SARS officers is consistent wrong profiling. When I was younger, I had access to exotic cars, maybe because of the privilege I had, and that did not make me or other legitimate young entrepreneurs or professionals out there fraudsters.

“As lawmakers, we may have different positions or opinions about SARS, but we have to consider the demand of the people. They have giving us the mandate and we have to represent and protect their interest absolutely.

“Many people have lost they lives to SARS, many were molested and extorted. Even as a speaker, I and other honourables have had encounter with SARS if not for the maturity we displayed.

“The federal government is too big, the power within and responsibility is too wide. Maintenance of federal roads, hospitals, agencies and other infrastructures are suffering because they are too big to handle. The exclusives list need to be reconsidered, there is obvious need for restructuring.”

Describing the killing of Jimoh Isiaka in Ogbomosho as further confirmation of brutality of so many bad eggs in the Nigerian Police, Hon. Olawunmi Oladeji lamented the news of police extortion, harassment and extra-judicial killings dominating pages of newspapers, social media, radio and television.

According to her, the lack of proper monitoring of police activities generally and SARS in particular has earned the country a bad reputation globally.

“World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) ranks Nigeria’s Police Force as the worst, just below Congo, Kenya and Uganda in 2016.

“We are urging the IGP to ensure the monitoring procedures are put in place for any new police arrangement that is to replace SARS while any officer that is guilty of professional misconduct should face due punishment without delay so as to serve as deterrent to others,” she added.

Hon. Adebayo Babajide representing Ibadan North Constituency II while commending Governor Seyi Makinde for his prompt intervention over the unfortunate killing of Jimoh Isiaka and ordering immediate investigation, urged the State to ensure the culprits are prosecuted so as too serve as deterrent to others.

He said, “Not all Police Officers are bad, because every section of the society has its own good and bad eggs. We are calling for total reform of the Nigerian Police Force.

“Let the government look into their recruitment process, the training and retraining schemes for police officers. Discipline required and also improved remuneration for the hard tasks expected from them.”

The State Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya has urged secondary school students in the State to grow into a more productive agricultural labour force as adults.

Olusanya made the call today in Lagos at the School Quiz Competition organised by the State Ministry of Agriculture as part of activities marking the Y2020 World Food Day Celebration in Lagos State.

She explained that the call became imperative because of the rampant unemployment, the vacuum being created by aged farmers, who are retiring from active farming, and the possible effects of the global food crisis.

The Acting Commissioner noted that the importance of the Agricultural Quiz Competition cannot be overemphasised as it aims to further stimulate the interest of students in Agriculture as a subject.

“The importance of this Agricultural Quiz Competition cannot, therefore, be overemphasised as it aims to further stimulate the interest of students in Agriculture by assisting them to recall and imbibe information on various aspects such as improved agricultural techniques and innovations”, Olusanya opined.

She pointed out that the State Government is committed to the attainment of sustainable food production, wealth and job creation through youth and women empowerment with significant private sector involvement, adding that the State Development Plan in Agriculture is to move the present local food production from 18% to 25% of the State’s food demand by the year 2025.

“It is our desire to provide food security and an enabling environment for our people to have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and hygienic food to maintain a healthy life. We have to imbibe the lessons learnt from the dwindling return from oil to encourage the participation of everybody in agriculture so that most of our basic needs could be met locally and we would be independent of others to feed ourselves”, the Acting Commissioner explained.

She stressed the need for adequate food supply and proper storage of food for emergencies is very important, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic reaffirmed the need for adequate reserves of food.

The World Food Day is celebrated worldwide every year on the 16th of October to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945, hence the grand finale would be celebrated in the State on Friday, October 16th, 2020.

The Schools’ Quiz Competition was won by Ansar-ud-deen Senior High School, Surulere while Ajara Senior Grammar School, Badagry came second and Abibat Mogaji Millennium Secondary School, Dopemu came third.

Miss Mary Aluko of Comprehensive Senior High School, Ketu, Alapere emerged the overall best student at the Competition.

The theme for this year’s World Food Day Celebration is “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together. Our actions are our future”.