Author: Femi Adeniyi

The Security Committee in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT has announced that street demonstrations are prohibited in Abuja as part of efforts to review the security situation to address identified challenges in the city. Rising from its routine meeting held on Tuesday, October 14, the committee expressed satisfaction with the directive issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. According to a press release by its Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, the committee noted that despite the pronouncement by the IGP scrapping the SARS, the #EndSARS protests continued…

The Federal Government has announced that the resumption of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Orientation Camp for prospective Youth Corpers has been approved and opens on November 10th 2020. In a tweet, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare stated that full COVID-19 Protocols will be enforced.

The Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has lost his mother, Abigail Makinde to the cold hands of death in the early hours of Thursday, October 15. Confirming the demise of Mrs. Makinde, the Makinde family in a statement released through Barrister Muyiwa Makinde noted that their 81-year-old mother will be missed. Barrister Makinde said though Mrs. Makinde did not indicate any sickness, she slept peacefully in the Lord at the age of 81 at her Ibadan home, 7B, Oyeleke Street, Ikolaba, Ibadan. He added that the family will miss her counsel, motherly role, impact on the lives of her…

Amidst the #EndSARS protests across Nigeria, the Nigerian Army has threatened to move with force on peaceful protesters in the country as it also pledged its allegiance to President Muhammadu Buhari. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Yusuf Tukur Buratai in a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, described the #EndSARS protesters as trouble makers. The army also said the Nigerian youths are anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity working against the country as it also re-assured law-abiding Nigerians of its commitment to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in…

As the clamour for #EndSARS/ SWAT and police brutality keep gaining momentum across the country, many Twitter users in Nigeria have lent their voices to the call for an urgent review of salaries of National Assembly and House of Representatives members. In a trend tagged #NASSPayCutNow, many of the app users on Thursday condemned what they described as exorbitant salaries and further demand that allowances of members of the National Assembly be slashed by 75%. While speaking on the topic, a Nigerian singer, Paul Okoye, also known as Rudeboy frowned at newspaper allowance and hardship allowance for Nigerian lawmakers given…

Some residents of Kano State who are in support of the newly launched police unit, Special Weapons And Tactics, SWAT and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS on Wednesday trooped out en mass to throw their weight behind the police unit. It was gathered that the Pro-SARS/ SWAT supporters marched to the Kano State government House to deliver a letter of support for SARS and SWAT. Receiving the pro-SARS/ SWAT supporters, the state governor, Umar Ganduje, received the letter and promised to deliver it to President Muhammadu Buhari. You will recall that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had on Monday…

An advocacy group in Lagos, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the #EndSWAT protesters to put an end to their protests since the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu has disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and announced a new police unit, Special Weapons, And Tactics, SWAT. MURIC stressed that any attempt to prolong the protest after the disbandment of SARS is a clear invitation to anarchy. In a statement by its leader, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the group, who commended the #EndSARS protesters however condemned the brutality of SARS operatives against young Nigerians and also warned hoodlums and…

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu has opined that the recent dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS was the first time the Squad will ever be dissolved. In an interview on Wednesday, the IGP said the SARS has not been dissolved until recently when he ordered that the Squad should be dissolved nationwide with immediate effect. “This is the first time, the first time, that a decisive decision was taken to dissolve [SARS]. We’ve never done it before and we’ve never said it before.” According to the IGP, the issue of any police unit going to look into…

SARS/SWAT What is the Difference SARS/SWAT, well as expected, reactions have continued to trail the announcement made by the Inspector-General of Police. The IGP, Mohammed Adamu gave a new name to the SARS. The new name which is Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, will now replace the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. The IGP had ordered that all personnel of the defunct SARS should report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. They were asked to return for debriefing, psychological and medical examination. The officers were expected to undergo the medical examination as a prelude to further training. They will also be re-orientation…

Egbon: ( Clap…, Nawa for this Naija o, we dey shout make dem end SARS, dem say dem don dissolve am, come carry another one con meet us, which kain thing be this now self Mazi: I don talk am before say I no know wetin all these protesters want make the government and the IGP do, abeg shey you no still like this new unit like this Egbon: Wetin i wan like about the SWAT abi naa SWAG dem call am self, shey no be the same officers wey dey harass innocent Nigerians dem go still put there, abi…

The Senate Arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS has impeached the President of the Association, Danielson Akpan, who was accused of diverting Student’s COVID-19 palliatives. It was gathered that Akpan was impeached during an emergency Senate meeting which held on Tuesday, October 13 after he was indicted of financial impropriety and concealing information relevant to help the growth of the Association. The former NANS President was accused of receiving and diverting huge sums of money meant for student’s COVID-19 palliatives from some government agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Also, Akpan was accused of abusing…

Nigerians have reacted to the recently announced newly formed police unit, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) which was to replace the recently-dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Announcing the new police unit, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday said Prospective members of the SWAT will undergo a psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the assignment. Reacting to the formation of the new police unit, many Twitter users noted that the move is not an assurance that there won’t be police brutality or harassment as they reiterated the need for total overhauling of…

The Presidential Panel on Police reforms has swung into action as it okayed the #5for5 demands of the #EndSARS protesters. In a tweet by Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant on new media to President Muhammadu Buhari, it was stated that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has convened a meeting with Stakeholders following directives by President Buhari on the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. Bashir said the IGP during the meeting agreed to meet the demands of #EndSARS protesters which include halting the use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested protesters. It was gathered that…

The Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday joined the #ENDSARS protesters in Alausa where he also received a letter of their demands and reiterated his support for them. In a tweet, the governor said he was on his way to Abuja to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the issue of police brutality with him. Sanwo-Olu added that his administration would immediately set up a trust fund to compensate the families of police brutality in Lagos state adding that though no amount of money can reduce their pain. He said the trust fund will be supervised by a…

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday read a Letter From President Muhammadu Buhari seeking the confirmation of four nominees for Appointment as Commissioners of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. According to the letter, Buhari nominated his aide on Social media, Lauretta Onochie (Delta State), Professor Muhammad Sani (Katsina State), Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti State) and Seidu Ahmad (Jigawa State). Also, during the Tuesday plenary, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele presented the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the Screening of the Nominations of (8) Justices of the Court of Appeal for Appointment as Justices of…

The National Assembly on Tuesday resolved to observe a minute silence in honor of Jimoh Isiaka and other Nigerians who lost their lives to Police brutality. During the Tuesday plenary, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai cited Order 43 to seek the leave of the Senate to present a Motion on the death of a member of his constituent, Jimoh Isiaka, and attack on the Palace of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Also, Senator Rochas Okorocha cited Order 43 to seek the leave of the Senate to request the immediate release of all the people arrested as a result of the #EndSARS protest…

The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service in Osun state, Mrs. Adijat Basiri, has confirmed that nine road users lost their lives in multiple accidents that occurred along the Ilesa-Akure highway, Osun State on Monday, October 12. According to the Fire Service image-maker, one person sustained severe burns and had been hospitalized while the fire affected 11 vehicles. It was gathered that the multiple accidents occurred at Erin-Ijesa, a town in the Oriade Local Government Area of the state after a diesel-laden tanker spilled its content on the highway which resulted in explosions that affected many vehicles. Speaking…

Despite the order banning the #EndSARS protesters from staging protests in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, protesters on Tuesday gathered in their numbers to stage the #EndSARS protest opposite pleasure park. Though they planned to gather at the pleasure park for the protest. According to some of the protesters, who spoke with journalists at the venue of the protest, they decided to organize the #EndSARS protest as a way to fight for their fundamental human rights. Earlier, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has warned that all forms of protests have been banned throughout the State noting that all…

Owners of the DStv, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited has explained that the recent hikes in its subscription tariffs were due to the increment of Valued Added Tax, VAT, increment in fuel pump price, and poor power supply. Reacting to allegations that the company did not give palliatives to its subscribers, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. John Ugbe said the DStv supported the Federal Government with N1bn to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. While speaking before the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee, Ugbe stated that MultiChoice was also facing economic hardships like the average Nigerians. It…

A Nigerian Cleric and the Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi has penned a message to President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the National Assembly, Nigerian Governors, and all parents as regards the clamor that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS should be scrapped. In a tweet on Tuesday, the Cleric noted that many people who are at the helms of affairs in Nigeria had the opportunity to protest about 27 years ago after the annulment of a free and fair election, noting that the heroic acts of the protesters birthed the current…

Nigerian Singers, Bankole Wellington, also known as Banky W and Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz among other Nigerian celebrities have announced a plan to stage a Nationwide peaceful March on Tuesday, October 13 by 9 am. According to a tweet by both Singers, there will be a coordinated Nationwide Peaceful March to present their response to President Muhammadu Buhari via all the State Governors and Police Leaders. Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has on Monday announced that security agencies in the state have been deployed to maintain law and order as well as secure lives and property. The…