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Regent Abducted In Ondo Community, Palace Vandalized |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Owa Palace

By Ayodele Oni

An orgy of violence took over the restive community of Alade in Idanre Local Government in Ondo state and led to the abduction of the Community’s Regent, and another woman by suspected hoodlums.

It was learnt that the incident, which happened seven days after the demise of the Traditional Ruler of  the Community, Oba Olusegun Ayodele Akinbola, the Aladeokun of Alade Idanre, was the climax of chieftaincy feud between Owa of Idanre and the deceased monarch.

Narrating the ordeal of the Royal family,  a close relation, Mr Zadok Akintoye, explained that “I remember my wife waking up this morning to remind me and discuss the need for one of us to be present in Alade for the customary seventh day prayers and ceremonies (for the late Oba)

“We concluded that one of us should go while the other stays back. I stayed back.

I was just preparing to leave the house when a distress call came through from my sister-in-law informing me of the destruction of the Palace and her current location in a swamp in the forest behind the Palace.

“She also did inform me that the Regent and several people including my wife have been abducted. I immediately made a call through to some friends and came on social media to alert the world of my wife’s abduction and proceeded to Idanre in a haste to find information about my wife’s whereabouts.

“Fortunately, a kind spirited resident of the peaceful Alade bound by the love for truth had taken custody of her. I got her back from this citizen who took the liberty of driving her back to Akure.

“She broke down in tears and was unconsolable. Indeed, the clothes on her were not hers and she had no shoes on.

“Information coming in indicates that the thugs who invaded the palace, abducted people, and proceeded to destroy vehicles, vandalized the Palace, and stole money, personal effects, including telephones, and other properties, were acting on the instruction of the Owa of Idanre kingdom, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, who incidentally is a cousin to the late king.

“I am perplexed at how a peaceful Idanre descended so quickly into an orgy of hatred, not sparring the innocent in their quest. The level of destruction is unbelievable.

“The Regent was beaten, assaulted and abducted under the instruction of the Owa of Idanre. Her injuries are deep and painful.

“At the Owa’s palace, the king after acknowledging that the Regent was his daughter by custom, made two demands; the Alade market must not be closed, and there can’t be a female Regent in Alade.

“Upon these two demands were the destruction, abduction and vandalism based. For these two reasons, a Yoruba king ordered the destruction of the palace of his late cousin, beat and traumatized his family, abducted his daughter and widow, destroyed all personal properties and desecrated the dignity of a family in mourning.

“Let me say without fear, that I will be laying a petition before the police against the Owa of Idanre for the abduction of my wife, and the destruction of our property. It is wrong and terribly unkingly for any leader to authorise and supervise what the king did today.

“Simple diplomacy would have resolved this issue instead of flouting the law to kidnap a citizen.”

However, the media office in Owa’s palace reacted and denied the allegations, which it described as “insulting”

“Nowhere, and under no guise, did Owa authorize anybody or group of people to go and kidnap anybody. Owa, who is known all over the world as a deep rooted pacifist, Justice of Peace and Paramount Ruler of Idanreland, which he had been leading for close to fifty years during which the nation accorded him the National Honour of the Order of Federal Republic (OFR) did not, and could not be party to any kidnap plan.

“The gathering at Owa’s Palace on 23rd October 2020 was meant to resolve the issue of purported intention of some people to come and perform  burial rites of the departed traditional ruler of Alade Idanre inside the Alade Regional Market which was founded by Owa on 1861 and such thing was seen as an aberration, hence the need for the parley.

“The people were also educated that only at the transition of an Owa could the Alade Regional Market be closed or temporarily relocated and no other traditional ruler in Idanreland was given such entitlement.

“In fact, Owa’s personal car was used to take those who came from Alade Idanre back.

“Owa is well recognized as a refined monarch who loves all his subjects to a fault and with special affection and love for departed Aladeokun, who was also junior to him in age.

“So Owa could not be a party to any scheme that will make things tough or hard for his immediate family or the people of Alade Idanre who he left behind.”

The Media office, however, reminded the people of Alade that the tradition is that the second in command to the Monarch is recognized as a Regent, and not the daughter of the deceased monarch.

President Buhari Says 69 People Died In #EndSARS Protest |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Muhammadu Buhari

By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally opened up on the casualty figure no thanks to the nationwide #EndSARS  protest.

He revealed that no fewer than 69 people were killed after hoodlums hijacked the protests embarked upon by youths to against brutality and extra-judicial killings by the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a branch of the Nigerian Police.

The President disclosed this at a meeting he had on Friday with Former Nigerian Presidents and Heads of States. It was an emergency meeting held to find a way to pull Nigeria back from the edge of collapse. And to show the seriousness of the meeting, all of them, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida, attended the meeting.

Obasanjo, disgusted by the Buhari Government, had stopped attending State functions, unlike in the early days of Buhari administration when he was a regular face at the Aso Rock Villa. In the case of IBB, health challenges kept him away had kept him away from the Villa. But  all of them were at the virtual meeting.

Speaking, Buhari said it was unfortunate that the initial genuine and well-intended protest by youths in parts of the country against former SARS was hijacked and misdirected, causing the violence experienced across the country.

The fatalities recorded include civilians and law enforcement agents who  were preventing arson and breakdown of law and order.

President Buhari assured the ex-leaders that the administration would not allow further breakdown of law and order, even as it had decided to meet the demands of the #EndSARS protesters. He stated that efforts have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property.

Giving a breakdown of the fatalities,  he said about 51 civilians, 11 police officers and seven soldiers had been killed in the unrest, though, it was not immediately clear whether these figures include the protesters allegedly killed by security forces at the Lekki tollgate.

Buhari lamented the destruction of number of public and private properties worth Trillions of Naira that had been completely vandalized by the hijackers, saying this would not be tolerated.

Speaking after the meeting   Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, declared said all the leaders, without exception, commended the President’s address to the Nation on  Thursday.

Business Activities Resume In Ondo As Gov Akeredolu Lifts Curfew |The Source

By
The Source
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By Ayodele Oni

Normalcy has returned to Ondo state as the State Government announced the suspension of the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed in the wake of the #EndSARS protests.

This was contained in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Donlad Ojogo.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday, announced the curfew following the escalation of the protest which led to massive looting and the burning of some public buildings, as well as political parties secretariat.

The decision to lift the curfew, according to the statement, followed consultations between the Governor and security chiefs in the State after a preliminary assessment of the situation in the State.

Governor Akeredolu, while giving approval for the lifting of the curfew, said the decision was, mostly, encouraged by the relative peace in Akure, the State capital.

“The relative peace in the State capital, Akure, appears very encouraging just as the people, especially the youths, resolved not to allow brigandage under any guise is equally palpable.

“It is, therefore, only normal that law abiding residents are allowed to go about their legitimate businesses.”

Government, however, reiterated the need for all to be vigilant and law-abiding.

This is more so, that security agencies deployed to strategic areas of the State capital are under strict directives to enforce law and order for the enforcement of permanent peace.

The state had, as did other states, imposed a curfew over the destruction of police stations,  public and private businesses, including the campaign offices of the Governor and the PDP Secretariat.

Epidemic Looms In Ekiti, As Hoodlums Loot Poisonous Grains |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Poisonous Grains in Ekiti

By Ayodele Oni

True to their threat, and despite the imposition of curfew, hoodlums still hiding under the #EndSARS protest in Ekiti state, invaded some stores Friday evening, and carted away goods worth millions in Naira.

Stores invaded include the federal government silo, Ekiti state Agricultural Development Project store, and the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) store all in Ado Ekiti.

Items carted away according to reports, include bags of fertilizer which they mistook for rice, processed grains meant for planting, packs of indomie and salt.

However, a Government announcement has warned the people against eating the grains as they are poisonous as they are not fit for consumption.

It insisted that the state government had no Palliatives’ store anywhere in the state as all the food items had been distributed during the lockdown.

The hoodlums invaded the SEMA store located at Adebayo area of the state capital, drove away the security man, forced the door open, and looted various items meant for victims of natural disasters.

Soldiers were, however, drafted to the area to restore normalcy.

Governor Kayode Fayemi, in a broadcast on Friday, had extended the curfew till Monday morning, to enable government monitor developments on the #EndSARS protest.

Hoodlums Raze Ile Iwe Police Station In Lagos, Kill Police Officer |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nigeria Police Force

By Akinwale Kasali

A policeman was killed and a police station take-down Friday evening, when hoodlums attacked yet another Police station  and razed it down.

Pandemonium reigned at Ile Iwe, Meiran Command Road, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, for the period the attack lasted.

There were sporadic gun shots by the Police to scare the hoodlums, who remained defiant.

In the process, a policeman was killed, while one of the Hoodlums was shot at close range, before the remaining policemen took to their heels.

Policemen from Ile Epo Police Command came in their numbers for backup, and  to salvage the situation, chasing the hoodlums away, and putting off the fire.

An eyewitness told the magazine that the attack on the Police Station and its men was staged by the Hoodlums, who had barricaded the Ile Iwe/Ekoro road in solidarity with the #EndSARS campaign and the killing of youths at Lekki Toll Gate few days ago.

He stressed that the Policemen were caught  unawares as the hoodlums carried out the attack in a commando style.

Since the #ENDSARS protest started, not less than  six police divisional headquarters have been razed in Lagos. And so have banks, private business premises and Government agencies and offices, courts,  running into trillions of Naira in losses.

PSC Goes For Broke, Asks IGP To Handover Ongoing Recruitment Constables To The Commission |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Police Service Commission
Police Service Commission

By Adesina Soyooye

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has, officially, asked the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, for two things:

*An immediate handover of the on-going 2020 recruitment exercise of police constables.

The admission of Police ASP Cadets into the Nigeria Police Academy Wudil, Kano.

In a release in Abuja on Friday, Ikechukwu Ani, PSC’s Head of Information and Public Relations, said the direction to the IGP is in compliance with the Order of the Court of Appeal.

According to Ani, the Commission’s directive is contained in a letter to the IGP signed by the Chairman of the Commission, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police. The letter was dated October 20th, 2020.

In 2019, the PSC haf dragged the IGP and others to the Federal High Court  Abuja  over the recruitment of 10,000 police constables into the Force, hijacked by the FHQ, contrary to the Constitution of of Federal Republic of Nigeria, which deposited the power to recruit on the PSC.

But the court ruled in the defendants’ favour, saying it was the duty of the IGP to carry out the recruitment.

The Commission headed to the Court of Appeal, which on September 30, 2020, overturned the Lower Court’s decision, saying it was the Commission’s responsibility, thereby nullifying the ongoing process of the recruitment into the Force.

The IGP has headed for the Supreme Court.

How NGF Impressed It On Buhari To Make A National Broadcast – Fayemi |The Source

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

More details are emerging on why President Muhammadu Buhari finally succumbed and made a Broadcast to the Nation on Thursday, October  22, 2020.

In the wake of the #EndSARS protest by Youths which engulfed the nation, leaving death and destruction on its trail, the President had kept a deafening silence, resisting every pressure to talk to the Nation, including from well meaning individuals, CSOs and the Senate of the  Federal Republic.

But in the afternoon of  October 22, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a terse statement said the President would address the Nation by 7.00pm.

Earlier, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, had told State House Correspondents, after the President’s meeting with all his Security Chiefs, that the President would make far-reaching pronouncements on the security situation in the country “in a few hours time.”

Many had wondered about the President’s sudden change of mind after 14 days of silence. They had attributed it to the pressure from the International Community and high profile citizens of the world, including the UN, US, EU, UK,   Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, the Senate of the Federal Republic, and Wole Soyinka.

But it does seem that in addition to that, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, through its Chairman, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi,  impressed it, on President Buhari to talk to Nigerians.

Fayemi revealed this Friday afternoon during a broadcast to Ekiti people on why the curfew he imposed on the State will not be lifted until Monday morning.

President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

Fayemi said he impressed it on the President, after  consultations with his Governor-colleagues.

It is not known, however, if the Governors contributed to the contents of the broadcast.

But during the broadcast, the President had told Nigerians that: “It has  become necessary for me to address you having heard from many concerned Nigerians, and having concluded a meeting with all the Security Chiefs.”

Since the President’s address, during which he asked the Youths to stop the protest, there has been relative calm, except for minimal protests here and there. The curfews imposed on some States, however, remain effective.

#EndSARS: PSC Says It Will Deal With Erring Officers, Condemns Killings And Burning Of Police Facilities |The Source

By
The Source
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Police Service Commission
Police Service Commission

The Police Service Commission has called for restraint as miscreants hijack the “EndSARS” protests to unleash terror and havoc across the country. The Commission has followed recent developments and is shocked at the level of destructions visited on innocent Nigerians, public facilities and businesses in the country by miscreants.

A statement by the Commission’s Head of Information, Ikechukwu Ani, said the PSC  “Wishes to reiterate its commitment to holding  Police Officers, whether of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) or conventional, accountable for their actions and inactions and will continue to ensure instant due punishments for misconducts.

“The Commission only recently dismissed ten senior Police Officers including an Assistant Commissioner of Police and reduced the rank of nine others following established cases of misconduct.

“The Commission will process and punish all Policemen found culpable by the Presidential Panel on Reform of the defunct SARS. The Panel had concluded its assignment in 2018 but submitted its Report to theCommission on Friday, 16th October 2020.

“The Commission is still awaiting the white paper on the Report from the National Human Rights Commission so as to quicken its disciplinary mechanism and ensure that those to be dismissed are immediately flushed out from the system.

“The Commission will, however, like to condemn the unprovoked killing of Police men and women across the country and the burning of Police stations, stressing that the action was barbaric and unfortunate.”

The Commission noted that Police Officers are also Nigerians that have sacrificed their lives and comfort for the safety of the citizens and their properties and deserves nothing but commendation, support and encouragement.

The Commission warned that any attempt to force the country into a state of lawlessness will be an ill wind that will blow nobody any good.

“We will ensure that the Police that will emerge in the nearest future will meet the expectations of Nigerians. Nigerians are therefore urged to extend to them the required cooperation and support while Government attends to the basic inadequacies facing the Institution.”

Meanwhile the Commission has directed the Inspector General of Police to handover the on-going 2020 recruitment exercise of Police Constables into the Nigeria Police Force and Cadets into the Nigeria Police Academy in compliance with the Order of the Court of Appeal.

The Commission’s directive was contained in a letter to the IGP signed by the Chairman of the Commission, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police and dated October 20th, 2020.

Gov. Fayemi Extends Curfew, Says There Is Still Tension |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has insisted that curfew imposed on the state in the wake of the #EndSARS protest would not lapse until Monday morning.

Fayemi, in a state broadcast,  Friday afternoon, explained that the extension was necessary to monitor developments in the state during the weekend, and douse any possible tension.

He disclosed that in the wake of the protest, he met with President Mohammadu Buhari, as Chairman, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, (NGF) and impressed on him the need to address the nation.

The presidential address came up Thursday evening after prominent Nigerians had insisted that the President must address the nation.

Harsh criticisms has, however, trailed the speech as people felt it fell short of expectations of Nigerians.

“Although, violence relating to the protest in Ekiti has been limited due to the proactive steps taken by government, the experience in other parts of the south west, especially Lagos has been horrendous and deplorable.

“On Monday, 19th October, 2020, I met with the President in my capacity as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to deliver a clear message from my colleagues on the need for a broadcast and careful handling of the protest which was degenerating in many States..

“Now that the President has spoken acknowledging the demands and explaining what government is doing about them. I want to thank the leadership of the protest movement in Ekiti for calling off the protest. The import of the protest has been largely achieved.

“The Federal Government has banned the SARS department in response to the five demands made by the EndSARS movement and those held in SARS detention centres have been released.  In Ekiti, as in many States of the Federation, a Judicial Panel of Enquiry to look into the cases of abuses, extra-judicial acts and general misconduct which led to the protest, has been set up.

“A restitution fund to compensate for the losses of the victims of such abuses is also established while other demands like increase in salaries of police officers  is being attended to.

“I urge our youths who want nothing but a nation that serves and benefit all to show restraint in the way they pursue their demands. I fully understand and endorse the far-reaching message that the EndSARS protest articulated.

“It is generally a protest not just against brutality by police officers, but a wakeup call to all of us in positions of responsibility and the entire citizenry to have a new direction in the manner we handle the governance of the nation.

“It is a collective reminder to us that the urgency to act more decisively on how to improve the lot of our people is now. We must not let this seed to be emasculated in the crevice of violence that has attended the protest. This message has been well made.

“It is time for meaningful engagement. To this end, I am announcing the expansion of the mandate of our Youth Development Council with a view to deepening the State’s engagement  with our youths and ensuring speedier implementation of the Ekiti Youth Agenda in partnership with all critical stakeholders  in the youth constituency.

“As a result of those who unleashed mayhem and brigandage on private and public property, the state government was compelled to impose a 24 hour curfew on the State. While calm has been restored  in most parts of the State, we have decided to watch development over the weekend before deciding on next steps.

“It is for this reason that I have extended the 24 hour curfew on the State until 0600hrs on Monday, 26th October 2020. This painful action was taken in the best interest of ourselves to ensure that the crisis does not escalate since criminals enjoy mimicking violent occurrences in other places.

“It is my hope that we will not have cause to extend the curfew any further. I want to urge all our traditional institutions, religious bodies, politicians and community leaders to use this weekend to engage the youth in their respective communities to give peace a chance.

“To this end, the curfew will allow an exception for Friday Jumat and Saturday and Sunday worship in churches.

In the meantime, security agencies have been instructed to exercise judicious restraint in response to the tense situation. The intention of Government is to ensure peace, under no condition should indiscretional responses be allowed to escalate the situation.

“I therefore appeal for the cooperation of our people and the security personnel who are doing a tremendous job to ensure that we live in peace.”

EndSARS: Buhari Chides International Community, Accuses Them Of Ignorance |The Source

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
Muhammadu Buhari
By Gideon Njoku
In his first national broadcast since the beginning of the ENDSARS protest two weeks ago, President Muhammadu Buhari has accused the International Community of ignorance.
Nigerian Youths had embarked on a nationwide peaceful protest, which turned violent, against the brutalities and humiliation of Nigerians, especially the Youths, by operatives of the now defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
All entreaties to Buhari to address the youths in a national broadcast, as a way to douse the tension were unheeded.
On October 20, the protest went awry when soldiers shot at the protesters, at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, where they had camped out for days, protesting. Blood flowed. There were fatalities. And many were injured.
The International community  –  United Nations, European Union, US, UK, Ghana –  as well as high profile individuals – Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton – and a number of celebrities, condemned the action, asking Buhari to put a stop to the killing of the youths.
On Wednesday, Buhari chose, belatedly, to address the nation.  In the process, did not fail to chide the International Community for speaking out against Nigeria, “out of ignorance.”
He accused them of speaking without facts. He accused them of making  hasty judgement, and pronouncements. And advised them, to know the truth of any matter before dabbling into it.
Said the President, while thanking them for their concern: “To our neighbours in particular, and members of the International Community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you, and urge you all to know all the facts available before taking a position, or rushing to judgement  and making hasty pronouncements.”
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