Nothing But Fact
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has announced a dissolution of a subunit of the force, the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).
Adamu made the announcement on Sunday, days after a public outcry and series of protests calling for a scrapping of the unit over allegations of brutality and human rights violations.
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has condemned attack on peaceful protesters by men of Nigerian Police and called for the release of detainees.
This was contained in a statement released today via his official Twitter handle which reads in part:
“Freedom of peaceful assembly and of speech are the inalienable rights of every Ogun State citizen, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, and since governments at all levels are guided by this, the Ogun State Government will not be an exception.
“The use of threat, physical harm or lethal control by any security agency to resist peaceful protests will not be accepted by this Government, and I have given express directives that will be followed to the letter in this regard.
“Sadly, I received reports of daring attacks in Abeokuta by a fraction of people who hijacked the hitherto peaceful #EndSARS demonstrations organised by mostly Ogun State youths originally organised to make the voice of the good people of Ogun State heard. This led to the disruption of public peace; vandalisation of Police stations; damaging of vehicles of innocent citizens, in particular, that of the Ogun State Deputy Governor which was parked while she was attending a function.
“I have however instructed the Commissioner of Police to ensure the quick release of detained protest organisers today, and only investigate those apprehended while directly committing the acts of vandalism.
“I want to plead with the entire Ogun State populace to remain peaceful and calm, and be involved in only peaceful demonstrations, going forward.
“It is for our joint safety that I plead, in addition to this, that citizens should desist from any act of violence, breach of peace, and breakdown of law and order, as this puts even the lives of the citizenry themselves at risk. The State Government will not condone any act that will put the lives and property of its citizens, security agents and the State in danger”.
A group in Ondo State, the United Front (UF), has called on the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde to leave Akure, the Ondo State capital with immediate effect, or be held responsible for any break down of law and order in the capital city.
The group also described Makinde as baby Governor without capacity, saying “he should go and report back to those who sent him to Ondo State that he is a puppet Governor that lacks capacity for anything.”
In a statement signed by the Group Coordinator, Mr. Bolus Oluwaleye, UF, said it was surprising that the PDP could place its hope of winning Ondo State on a baby Governor like Makinde, stating that just as it happened in Kogi State, the Oyo governor will be leaving Ondo State empty-handed.
The statement reads in part: “with the results already declared at the polling units in the ongoing governorship election in Ondo State, it is very clear that the All Progressive Congress, APC, is coasting home to victory.
“We thank the people of Ondo State for their resilience and expression of trust in our party.
“We are also sure that Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde must have seen the handwriting on the wall and he is advised to leave Akure, our State capital now, as he will be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the State.
“Governor Makinde should leave Ondo State now because the game is up. He should go and report back to those who sent him to Ondo State that he is a puppet governor that lacks capacity for anything.
“The “inarobo” (baby) governor should know that a longer stay in Ondo State than necessary will be provocative. Most importantly, if the governor could go as far as setting hoodlums to attack a former governor at the PDP rally, his stay in our State is capable of provoking even members of his party in the State to react and we should not be blamed.
“As for the PDP, we sympathize with the party for building its castle in the air. We wonder how the party could place its hope of winning Ondo State on a baby Governor like Makinde and we thank God that just as it happened in Kogi State, the governor will be leaving our State empty-handed.
“The governor can now return to Ibadan and continue with his showmanship and trial and error governance. He should remember that one day and very soon too, he will be made to account for the billions of Oyo State fund that he has wasted on his quest to extend his political territory to the entire Southwest and North Central as he is currently waging war against the former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu and his Ekiti State counterparts, Ayodele Fayose for the control of their dying party.”
The governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has condemned the killing one Jimoh Isiaka while protesting today against the brutality of SARS operatives in Ogbomosho.
This was contained in a statement released today via his official Twitter handle which reads in part:
“I have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of one of our children, Jimoh Isiaka, who was shot during the ENDSARS protest in Ogbomoso. He later died at Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, earlier today.
“Also, at this same protest, Abdulrasaq Olawale, Oluwadamilare Gbolohunmi, and five other persons sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
“This situation is highly regrettable. I have contacted the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, and other relevant agencies, and investigations into what led to the unfortunate incident are still ongoing. I pray that God grants the parents of Jimoh Isiaka the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
“The ENDSARS protests are a strong indicator of a systemic failure. It is a failure on the part of those who have been constitutionally empowered to protect the citizens. It again calls into question why State Governors are called Chief Security Officers of their state whereas, they do not have the necessary powers to control the police force.
“I will be paying a personal visit to the family of Jimoh Isiaka and I promise to pursue the investigations to a logical conclusion.
“Peaceful protests are a big part of our democratic process. The right to freedom of speech and assembly are guaranteed by our Constitution, and I will never support any attempt to rob citizens of their fundamental human rights.
“I call on all residents of Oyo State to please remain calm. I also call on the Police to allow residents of Oyo State protest peacefully without fear of being assaulted.
“Again, I express my deepest sympathies to the family of Jimoh Isiaka, may his soul rest in peace”.
OduduwaNews has just gathered that men of Nigerian Police Force had arrested a man in Owo area of Ondo State while he was about to be lynched by aggrieved voters who alleged him of attempted vote-buying.
The unidentified man, who claimed to be an election observer at Ward 4, Polling Unit 15, Shagari Market along the Owo-Benin Highway, was accused of approaching voters to sell their votes when he was reportedly attacked.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Owo and Ose Local Government Areas, Abutu Yaro, told reporters that the man was rescued while his accomplice fled the scene.
Yaro said, “The man was arrested by the mob and the mob was even trying to lynch him, they had already torn his clothes, you can see him looking tattered already.
“Then, we ran into them. That was when they stopped the attempt to lynch him.
“In fact, at the time we picked him, his second, who was in another car, took off.
“The proactive measure adopted by the members of the public was what saved the situation.
…. says no violence at Governor Akeredolu’s Polling Unit, the First Lady is fine.
The rumour making the rounds in the media space on purported violence at Governor Akeredolu’s unit and physical bruising of the First Lady is untrue.
This was contained in a statement released today by her Special Adviser on Media, Oluwatobi Fademi.
Recall that governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier warned against tendencies of violence during the election, hence, he is committed to peaceful election.
The First Lady, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has voted peaceably, now relaxing at her country home with her family.
Members of public are enjoined to discountenance the impression of violence whatsoever. The rumour sprouted only from the imaginations of indecorous minds.
OduduwaNews has just gathered that a fatal accident just occured at Boluwaji Garage, along Lagos/Ibadan expressway claiming five lives including a mother, two kids along with two other persons. Details shortly.
It has just been confirmed to OduduwaNews that the #EndSARS protest has turned violent in Owode Area of Ogbomosho, Oyo State. It was reported also that one person had been shot by Police. Details later.
Again, the attention of the Deputy Governor and candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Agboola Ajayi has been drawn to a forged resignation letter from the Governorship Election holding today, Saturday- 10 October, 2020.
Ondo State Governor and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and his Media hirelings will not stop at nothing to peddle fake news. The latest is a forged letter posted by a pseudo account which Leke Akeredolu, Special Media aide to the governor is behind.
This fake news being sponsored by the outgoing Governor and his cohorts. It’s not different from the earlier ones sponsored and paid for that the Zenith Labour Party’s Candidate, Agboola Ajayi is working with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede SAN.
Nothing can be farther from the truth.
For the umpteenth time, and for the purposes of clarity and emphasis, the Deputy Governor and candidate of ZLP, Agboola Ajayi will not resign or back out from the race he’s winning ultimately.
The general public, members of our great party and most importantly the electorate should therefore disregard this latest antics of the drowning party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rather than moving around with the false news. Governor Akeredolu should be courageous enough to accept defeat in good faith.
Comrade Allen Sowore
Media Adviser to the Deputy Governor
Hamzat Conveys State’s Position On Police Brutality
The Government of Lagos State has advised youths protesting alleged brutality by operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – an operational outfit in the Police Force – to be civil, as they demonstrated in the State to express their grievances.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, on Friday, shelved official engagements and obliged the request to address aggrieved #EndSARS protesters who besieged the State House in Alausa.
As the Deputy Governor arrived at the scene, some of the demonstrators engaged in intense arguments with the Government House police guards deployed to keep the peace. The operatives did not harass any of them.
Dr. Hamzat said the demonstrators’ outrage and grievance were in order and within their rights as citizens, but the Deputy Governor advised them to eschew violence and not to be unruly as their concerns would be pushed to the police authorities for action.
Hamzat, who urged the protesters to leave the roads, said the State Government would not condone brutality and violation of citizens’ rights by security operatives, pointing out that the position of the State on the matter had already been communicated to the appropriate quarters by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Deputy Governor said the State Government would continue to engage the police leadership and the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the citizens and bring about needed change in the police operations.
He said: “The tenet of the police operation is to protect the citizens. Security operatives don’t have the right to trample on the rights of law-abiding citizens, because of their unfamiliar looks, or because they are carrying laptops or iPhones. It is wrong for any police officer to expressly accuse or pronounce someone, irrespective of age, guilty because they have dreads or ride luxury vehicles.
“As a Government, we support evidence-based investigations and actions driven by intelligence. The procedure of arrest and prosecution must be followed through. We are equally aggrieved like every other law-abiding Nigerian. If a young man or woman who is legitimately doing his or her job is attacked or maimed by police officers for no reason, we will never support that. We condemn police brutality in whatever guise and we will continue to engage their leadership for change.”
Dr. Hamzat advised some of the demonstrators, who were chanting “dissolution of the police”, stressing that it would be counterproductive to pull down the entire operation of the police because of the infractions committed by a few bad eggs in the system.
He told the protesters that SARS was a special operational outfit in the police, adding that there were processes to be followed in calling for change in its operations.
Dr. Hamzat said: “We fully understand the reasons for your anger but this demonstration must also carried out in line with the law. If we employ violence or destruction to drive home our grievances, we will also be hurting ourselves. The protest must be orderly, so that those concerned will get the salient point of the message.
“You can’t block the road, disrupt free flow of traffic and prevent other people from embarking on their lawful duties, especially the emergency responders. As citizens, it is within your rights to express your grievances but let us exercise caution and eschew violence. The authorities have heard your voice and I hope we all leave the roads with the understanding that drastic changes will be effected.”
As the Deputy Governor left the scene at 1:15pm, the protesters continued to chant anti-police songs, calling for disbanding of SARS. But, Dr. Hamzat instructed security operatives at the scene no to harass or exchange words with any of the demonstrators.
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