Former Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani, has urged those encouraging protests in Northern Nigeria to reconsider, following scores of deaths recorded on the first day of the nationwide hunger protest.
Sani made this appeal in a statement posted on his X account on Friday.
He spoke as protesters continued the hunger protests on Friday in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Lagos, Katsina and other states despite at least ten deaths recorded on Thursday.
Reacting to the continuation of the protest amid bloodshed and destruction of properties, Sani appealed that rioting in the North should be discouraged.
“With scores dead, hundreds injured and properties worth billions of Naira belonging to private businesses and government destroyed by hoodlums, mostly in Northern states, those wishing to encourage the continuation of this protest, especially in the North should reconsider.
“At our end it’s violent protest without visible leadership and must be discontinued,” he said.
Those encouraging protests in Northern Nigeria should reconsider – Shehu Sani
Those encouraging protests in Northern Nigeria should reconsider – Shehu Sani
Mr. Macaroni criticises govt’s response to ongoing #endbadgovernance protests
Prominent Nigerian actor, content creator, and citizen activist Adebowale ‘Debo’ Adedayo popularly known as Mr. Macaroni‘ has taken to social media to criticise the government’s response to ongoing #endbadgovernance protests.
Mr Macaroni in a post shared on his X page (formerly Twitter) while responding to Benjamin Hundeyin’s post stated that the protests in Lagos State have been peaceful thus far.
Mr Macaroni wrote; “This is proof that the protests are always peaceful and with good intentions until state-sponsored thugs are sent to disrupt the protests. The police, in their complicity, will ignore the infiltrators and start to attack peaceful protesters. This is how it happens not only in Lagos but in other states in the country.”
He did, however, use the medium to call out members of the Nigeria Police Force, accusing them of targeting peaceful protesters rather than sponsored thugs.
“At the end of the day, the government will then attempt to rewrite history as if it didn’t happen before our very eyes. This is exactly how it happened with EndSars and the records will forever be there to point at the real enemies of Nigeria who unleashed terror and mayhem in our society,” he added.
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Police fire teargas at protesters, journalist in A’Ibom
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Friday fired tear gas canisters at a group of protesters who had gathered at the Ibom Plaza to continue the nationwide hunger protest for the second day.
A journalist with the New Nigerian Newspapers in Akwa Ibom State was also teargassed while interviewing the protesters.
Over 15 protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions such as “End Bad Governance in Nigeria,” “End Hunger in Nigeria,” and “Reduce Fuel Price to N100,” among others.
Our correspondent reports that the protesters were singing and chanting solidarity songs when the police opened the canisters on them and marched them to Unity Park, along Udoudoma Avenue, where they had been restricted.
One of the protesters who spoke with journalists on condition of anonymity at the plaza, before the police intervened, said they were protesting because life in Nigeria was becoming increasingly unbearable for the average person.
“We are here to protest against the high cost of fuel. In this country, we can do better as a people. We cannot produce crude oil in Nigeria and buy fuel for N900 per litre. This is unacceptable.
“An average person can no longer feed their family because of the current state of affairs. The Federal Government claims to have increased the minimum wage, but it is worthless as it cannot even buy a bag of rice. If you earn N70,000, you need to borrow N20,000 to buy a bag of rice.
We want the price of a bag of rice to be reduced to N10,000 and the price of fuel to drop to N100,” he said.
The protesters were dispersed by security personnel on the first day of the protest following restrictions and heavy rainfall early on Thursday morning, which lasted for several hours.
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SPYRO TO CLERGY: Use your platforms to support ongoing protests
Nigerian musician Oludipe Oluwasanmi David popularly known in music circles as Spyro has taken to social media to urge Nigerians to use their platforms to support the ongoing protests.
The ‘Who Is Your Guy’ crooner who made the call in a post shared on his Instagram page said that he wishes men of God could speak up for the people as they did in the past.
The musician also emphasised in his post on social media the need for tangible action over prayers and also added that even the bible said ‘‘faith without works is dead’’.
READ ALSO: Singer Spyro sends love message to American actress Meagan Good
He wrote; “I wish men of God could speak up for the people now as it was in the days of old… This is not a time to PRAY, it is a time to ACT, even the Bible says FAITH without WORKS is dead. In the Bible days, men of God were strong tools that God used to challenge the government and liberate the people. MOSES, your people need you now.”
Spyro, who rose to prominence after the release of his hit ‘Billing’, stated that he would not be posting anything entertainment-related in solidarity with the demonstrations.
“I personally think it is quite insensitive to post anything entertainment. The Country is bleeding and we are all affected whether or not we agree to that fact. I am very much affected,” he noted.
The post SPYRO TO CLERGY: Use your platforms to support ongoing protests appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
EndBadGovernment Protests: 326 suspects arrested in Kano were not of 2011- Police clarify
The Nigeria Police Kano Command has clarified that the 326 suspects were arrested in the acts of Thursday, #End Bad Government Protests, in and around the city and not 2011 suspects as is being speculated.
The command Police Public Relations Officer, CSP, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa made this known during a press briefing and parading of the suspects which includes old women, underage persons and others, on Friday, at the Police Headquarters, Kano.
Kiyawa noted that “the Command clarifies the recent deliberate false and mischievous news circulating on social media platforms concerning the photos of suspects and exhibits involved in the destruction and looting of public and private properties under the guise of the planned #End Bad Governance Nationwide Protest.”
He explained that, “against the misleading unverified social media reports that some of the images were posted sometime in 2011, and are been reposted now, are false and baseless”, insisting that, “these despicable acts are calculated attempts by enemies of peace to tarnished the reputable image of the Nigeria Police.”
He said, “These images showing suspects and exhibits are linked to the current incidents resulting from the ongoing August 2024 Nationwide Protest and have no relation with any incident in the year 2011.
“Interestingly, the same suspects in the alleged looting and vandalizing who were arrested and paraded by the Police Command on 01/08/2024 are here before the press today, 02/08/2024 for clarity
“On this note, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Police Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba directed the Anti-Cyber Crime Unit of the Command to launch an investigation to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this ungodly act capable of instigating the public against the Police.
EndBadGovernment Protests: 326 suspects arrested in Kano were not of 2011- Police clarify
Community decries land grabbing in Delta
Following the activities of land grabbers, the agrarian Ajaji-Illah community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has cried out over the non-availability of land for farming.
The community which is currently in the state High Court, Akwukwu-Igbo with Delta State Government and Northsworthy Limited over the alleged forcefully take over of land belonging to the community, accused the state government of allegedly leasing out 533.97 hectares of their farmland to a private firm few years ago leading to litigations.
The spokesman of the community, Mr Sunday Chukwurah, narrating their ordeal on Thursday in Asaba, the state capital, said that while they are still battling with the state government and Noteworthy Limited over illegal acquisition, some land grabbers are on the prowl to sell the remaining land left for the community.
Chukwurah said, “We the Ajaji-Illah community are crying out over the invasion of our community land by land grabbers. The community which is about 30 minutes drive away from the state capital, Asaba, is worried that despite the vast land already occupied by Federal and State agencies.
“Some individuals suspected to be government officials and politicians were out to take over what is left of our land. We the farmers are now finding it difficult to farm due to lack of land.
“Ajaji-Illah Community was a food basket of the state, in terms of yam, cassava, vegetables, and even rice farming, but now there is no land to farm which is also contributing to the shortage of food in the state.
“The people of Ajaji-Illah have identified persons in their midst, including an octogenarian, who failed in his bid to covet part of our land. About two weeks ago, this same land grabbers accompanied by some armed policemen were seen pegging a vast portion of our land area at the Ngegwu farm settlement,” he said.
According to him, the community youths raised alarms after spotting the land grabbers only for the land grabbers to write a petition to the police authority in Abuja to accuse prominent men of criminal activities.
“We have also erected bold signposts on both Illah-Asaba road up to the Ngegwu farm axis on the same matter,” he added.
The community called on the general public not to engage in any land sale transactions with anyone including her indigenes, decrying the lost of space for farming.
Police nab 320 over Kano protest chaos
The Police Command in Kano State has announced the detention of 320 suspects allegedly involved in vandalising public buildings during the nationwide protests in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, disclosed this during a parade of the suspects at the police headquarters on Friday.
Kiyawa stated that the suspects were apprehended at the premises of High Courts and other public buildings, with various items found in their possession.
He explained that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, had established a comprehensive security network to ensure that the residents could go about their legitimate activities without any let or hindrance.
The police appealed to the residents to support their efforts by providing intelligence information that could aid in apprehending criminals in the state, thereby contributing to a safer and more secure environment.
The Commissioner of Police, Salma Dogo, has praised the state government’s decision to impose a 24-hour curfew in the state.
He also urged the parents to ensure that all the stolen properties from vandalised buildings were returned to the nearest police station.
Dogo warned that the police would not tolerate any acts of vandalism or disruptions to the peaceful atmosphere.
He emphasised that anyone found engaging in such criminal behaviour would face dire consequences, as the police remained committed to maintaining law and order in the state.
NAN.
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Edo CAN admits ownership of controversial looted Rice in Benin
After accusations and counter-accusations between the Edo State Government and the State leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the ownership of looted rice in a truck parked at Urora, a suburb of Benin City, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has claimed ownership of the rice.
TVN reports that the looting of the rice which was contained in a viral video, pitched the state government and APC against each other as they both traded words over the ownership of the product.
Claiming ownership of the looted rice, the State chairman of CAN, Irekpono Omoike, said the vandalized residence where bags of rice were looted by hoodlums in Urora is owned by a vendor contracted by the association’s implementation committee for the Christian Feeding Programme.
“There is a very important issue to correct a wrong notion that is circulating that the rice being distributed by the State Government is rice supplied by the Federal Government and re-bagged. This is misinformation. It is a very wrong notion that needs to be corrected.
“Earlier this year, the Edo State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria had a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki where he shared his concern on how to reach out to vulnerable persons and the poor who are bearing the hardship of the economic downturn in the country.
“After the meeting, an implementation committee for the Christian Feeding Programme was set up where we designed a programme on how to reach out to the poor with food palliatives. The governor released the 1st batch of the funding for the programme, which is N1 billion naira to purchase rice to be distributed.
“This was done and in May 2024 we flagged off the distribution of the first phase at the Baptist Convention Ground in Benin City”, he said.
Omoike noted that the Christian Feeding Programme which is in its second phase of distributing relief materials to vulnerable Christian Groups was funded by the Edo State Government with 2 billion naira.
He said in the First Phase of the Programme 60,000 bags of 10kg rice were distributed.
He gave the breakdown of the senatorial distribution as 27,000 bags for Edo South to be distributed to the seven Local Government Areas through the churches, 18,000 bags for Edo Northande 15,000 bags for Edo Central.
The CAN gave the total bags of rice distributed in the first batch as 60,000 bags of 10kg rice.
He added that for the second phase, another batch of N1 billion was released by the state government to replicate the exercise.
According to him, we purchased another consignment and distributed it through the structure of CAN. This process has been ongoing since July. In the last few days, we have successfully distributed to all the churches that did not receive the 1st batch across the 18 LGAs.
“In this batch, we were able to reach 56,250. There’s another consignment in this last phase, just as we did in the 1st phase, meant for churches not under C, since this was really done in partnership with CAN”, he added.
Earlier, the State Secretary of the CAN Implementation Committee for the Christian Feeding Programme, Osagie Ehrunmwunse, added that the truck in the viral video where bags of rice were looted belonged to a logistic company distributing the rice.
“The truck supplying down from Ekpoma had a breakdown the previous night. The rice was meant for the Seventh Day Adventist, Latter Day Saints, vulnerable children, orphanages, and widows among others.
“In an attempt for us to take that rice for safekeeping, that was when the products were looted by hoodlums. So that was exactly what happened on Thursday morning.
“Where the incident happened was not exactly a government warehouse. It is the house belonging to one of the suppliers of the rice for distribution.
“We are happy that nobody died in the process, or got injured. But as Mr Chairman said, it’s disheartening to know that people have to twist the information by saying it’s federal government rice”, he added.
Edo CAN admits ownership of controversial looted Rice in Benin
Protest: Viral video doctored to blackmail me, Obi – Senator Kingibe
Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT on the platform of the Labour Party, Ireti Kingibe has denied participation in the ongoing protest which started on Wednesday.
She expressed shock and dismay over what she said was a “misleading viral video”, which the purveyors doctored to portray her and the former presidential candidate, Peter Obi leading a protest on Wednesday.
In a statement that she issued and made available to journalists in Abuja, the female lawmaker described the “video as a malicious and deliberate effort to discredit her and Mr Obi.”
“I am shocked and outraged by the blatant lies and misinformation being spread by mischief-makers!
“The video being circulated is from over six weeks ago, during a Labour Party NWC meeting when the NLC was protesting outside the Labour Party office.
“As stakeholders, including Senators, House of Reps members, and Mr Peter Obi, we went out to engage with the protesters and address their concerns.”
According to her, deceitful individuals were bent on passing off the old footage as current, claiming that, “Mr.@PeterObi and I are leading protests in Abuja yesterday.”
“Let me set the record straight, Mr Peter Obi is not in Abuja, and I haven’t left my house since Wednesday due to illness, much less distributed food and water at the protest grounds, though that would be noble for whoever did.”
She condemned those behind the video, saying they were attempting to cause confusion and label her as a sponsor of protesters, adding that she would sit idly watching her hard-earned reputation being destroyed by hoodlums.
Protest: Viral video doctored to blackmail me, Obi – Senator Kingibe
Atiku praises #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters, urges Tinubu to listen to citizens
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has commended Nigerians who took to the streets to protest against bad governance.
Nigerians are experiencing economic difficulties, making it challenging for many to afford basic necessities.
In response, some youths began protests on Thursday in some parts of the country, calling for an end to hunger and poor governance in Nigeria.
The former Vice President on Friday praised Nigerians for their bravery in a post on his verified Facebook page, while denouncing the hoodlums who hijacked the protest in some states.
He wrote, “To the government, I admonish you to heed the voices of the people and come down from your high horses. It is time to demonstrate a sincere commitment to addressing the demands of the protesters. The nation cannot afford further days of unrest; let this be the moment where leadership listens and acts with integrity and urgency.
“The commencement of public protests across the country yesterday is noteworthy. These demonstrations have opened a vital channel for the public to express disapproval of government policies, furthering the essential conversation about good governance in our nation.
“For the most part, protesters have conducted themselves with admirable peace and must be commended for their restraint and dedication. However, in some isolated instances, there have been reports of violence, leading to regrettable clashes and brutalities by the police.
“I urge the protesters to maintain their peaceful stance and call on more Nigerians to show solidarity and support for the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protest. This is a pivotal moment for our collective voice to be heard, and it must be done with dignity and respect for the law.”
He also called on the police to engage more professionally in managing the protests, adding that killing of innocent citizens by security agencies is unacceptable.
“The police must refrain from the molestation of journalists who are merely reporting the protest. It is imperative that security agencies exercise restraint while enforcing law and order,” he added.
Atiku emphasised that it is time to show genuine commitment to addressing the protesters’ demands.
“Security agencies are encouraged to identify and isolate the minority elements who are resorting to violence and looting, ensuring that the actions of a few do not tarnish the majority of peaceful protesters,” he concluded.