The secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has been set ablaze, it has been confirmed.
The secretariat located along Alagbaka area was razed on Wednesday evening by armed thugs, who also set some vehicles parked inside the secretariat on fire before attacking security men stationed at the premises.
This came shortly after an angry mob also attacked the secretariat of the governing All Progressives Congress in Akure, the state capital.
Kenny Peretie, spokesperson for the PDP in Ondo, confirmed the attack in a statement.
He said, “The hoodlums came in large numbers and set all the properties in the office on fire including the coaster bus and vehicles parked within the premises.”
The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has given the escapees from the Benin Medium Security Correctional Centre and Oko Medium Security Correctional Centre till Friday midnight to return voluntarily or face the wrath of the law.
The Nigerian Correctional Service disclosed on Wednesday that 1,993 inmates escaped from the facilities.
The governor, who, in company with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, and other top police and military officers in the state, inspected the affected correctional centres and the police stations that were burnt in Benin City by hoodlums, who hijacked the #EndSARS protests, lamented the extent of destruction.
The governor said, “You will agree with me that this is not in the spirit of the #EndSARS protest. This is sheer criminality. The real protesters were focusing on the reform of our policing system and not to destroy government property, break into prisons and release inmates.
“So, you can tell that there were some criminal intentions behind these acts and the #EndSARS protest in Edo was hijacked by criminals and they used the opportunity to release their colleagues who were held in our correctional centres.”
He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for sending a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Celestine Okoye, to Benin to put the situation under control.
He said, “We know that some of the inmates may have been released by their friends and others used the opportunity to get out of the facilities. We are using this opportunity to appeal to all inmates in our correctional services who have escaped to come back on their own before the close of business on Friday this week.
“If they come in and go to the Nigeria Police Force Command headquarters in Benin City, nothing will be done to them. However, those who do not report back after Friday night, we have all their records, we will go after them and appropriate sanctions will be meted against them.”
Earlier, the Controller of Correction, Edo State Command, Babayo Maisanda, said 182 of the 1,993 fleeing inmates had been returned to the facilities.
“Currently, 10 officers who sustained varying degrees of life-threatening injury are receiving treatments at various hospitals in Benin City,” he added.
Former Nigeria’s President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has written yet another letter to President Muhammadu Buhari ask him to act on the demands of #EndSARS protesters before it is too late.
The protest which started across the country two weeks ago took a violent turn this week.
On Tuesday, the Lagos state government imposed a 24-hour curfew to keep the attacks in check.
However, soldiers opened fire on some protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
Despite video evidence, the military has denied being behind the incident which has sparked a global outrage.
The president is yet to comment on the incident but Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has condemned the attack which he blamed on “forces beyond his control”.
In his letter, Obasanjo said the president and the military did not exhaust the avenue for dialogue before applying force on the protesters.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced the suspension of all activities in the state for the next three days.
This comes as a result of violent activities across the state after about 12 days of peaceful protests against police brutality spiraled into chaos.
The governor made the announcement during a live broadcast on Wednesday morning, adding that only essential workers will be allowed to move.
There have been many cases of violence all over Lagos since the shooting of protesters at Lekki tollgate last night.
Hoodlums have set the Oyingbo Terminal Bus on Lagos Mainland on fire. According to The Nation there were over 20 buses in the terminal as at the time it was set on ablaze.
It was further gathered the hoodlums were protesting killing of two of their members by the police.
Meanwhile, angry thugs have attacked Television Continental TVC believed to be owned by a former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu.
According to Sahara Reporters, “thugs besieged the entrance of TVC in the Ikosi-Ketu area of Lagos and attempted to break in to the broadcast station.
Also, in related news, the family house of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been vandalized by thugs. According to PUNCH, “one of the youths holding a jerry can of petrol was seen soaking the house in petrol but was quickly stopped by residents for fear that the fire could spread uncontrollably.
“The eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Around 7.45am, angry youths gathered around Sanwo-Olu’s family home on Omididun Street, Lagos Island, throwing stones and shattering glasses.
“One of the youths poured petrol on the building but was immediately prevented from setting it ablaze because the fire could spread and lead to loss of lives.”
THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) HAS CONDEMNED THE ATTACK ON #ENDSARS PROTESTERS BY SECURITY OPERATIVES AT THE LEKKI TOLL GATE IN LAGOS STATE.
António Guterres, UN secretary-general, in a statement by Stephane Dujarric, his spokesman, asked the federal government to probe the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.
Some protesters were reportedly killed and several others injured on Tuesday night after security operatives opened fire on protesters agitating against police brutality.
Guterres noted that the UN is abreast the situation while calling on the government to bring the unrest to a stop.
“The Secretary-General is following recent developments in Nigeria and calls for an end to reported police brutality and abuses. He condemns the violent escalation on 20 October in Lagos which resulted in multiple deaths and caused many injuries. He expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” the statement on the UN website read.
“He calls on the Nigerian authorities to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable.
‘The Secretary-General urges the security forces to act at all times with maximum restraint while calling on protestors to demonstrate peacefully and to refrain from violence.
“The Secretary-General encourages the authorities to swiftly explore avenues to de-escalate the situation. He reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to support national efforts towards finding a solution.”
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, had earlier claimed that there were no casualties in the attack.
He, however, later confirmed the death of one person at Reddington Hospital.
The governor also denied any involvement of the state in the incident, blaming it on “forces beyond his direct control”.
The United Kingdom parliament has also said it will consider a petition asking the country to sanction the federal government for human rights abuses over the #EndSARS campaign.
As of Wednesday morning, the petition has garnered over 133,000 signatures — less than 24 hours after it was created.
Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has given directive to lower all the Nigeria flags in all government establishments for 3-days.
This is as he suspended all the state activities for 3-days. His decision came moment when Nigerians are mourning the death of #ENDSARS protesters allegedly killed by the Nigerian soldiers.
His words: In sensitivity with the mood of the nation at this time, I have directed the following:
The immediate suspension of all State activities for 3-days except those connected with governance of security in the State and the management of the current issue. The lowering of the flags in all government establishments for 3-days.
The constitution of a 5-man Fact-Finding Committee into the Rules of Engagement ordered & adopted by the Nigerian Army to be headed by a retired military officer not less than the rank of a General.”
Pope Francis has endorsed same-sex civil unions for the first time since taking the papal role.
The approval came midway through a feature-length documentary, titled Francesco, which had its premiere at the Rome Film Festival earlier today.
The film delves into issues Francis cares about most, including the environment, poverty, migration, racial and income inequality, and the people most affected by discrimination.
‘Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,’ Francis said in one of his sit-down interviews for the film.
‘What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.’
While serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis endorsed civil unions for gay couples as an alternative to same-sex marriages.
However, he had never come out publicly in favor of civil unions as pope until now.
Director Evgeny Afineevsky had remarkable access to cardinals, the Vatican television archives and the pope himself.
He said he negotiated his way in through persistence, and deliveries of Argentine mate tea and Alfajores cookies that he got to the pope via some well-connected Argentines in Rome.
The United Kingdom has ordered the closure of its embassies in Nigeria over the crisis as a result of #EndSARS protests across the country.
The demonstrations, which began as a peaceful march two weeks ago, have degenerated into crisis in various states, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties.
Over the past three days, attacks have been launched on government-owned institutions and private businesses, leading to deaths and properties being razed.
On Monday, police stations were set on fire in Edo, while two prisons were broken into, leading to the escape of inmates from custody, and the state government declared a 24-hour curfew.
On Tuesday morning, police stations and other properties were also destroyed in Lagos, and the governor declared a 24-hour curfew which took effect at 9pm.
Events, however, took a major turn on Tuesday evening when persons dressed in military uniform opened fire on protesters who were at the Lekki area of Lagos.
By Wednesday morning, hoodlums launched attacks on locations across the state, setting fire to buildings and buses.
According to a statement issued on its website on Wednesday, the UK noted that the closure of its offices is to ensure the safety of staff and visa applicants.
The closure will be maintained for an initial 48 hours, while applicants who have already booked appointments have been advised to reschedule.
“Due to the ongoing protest in Nigeria and for the safety of both staff and applicants, our Nigeria centres will be closed for 48 hours at a minimum,” the statement read.
“For applicants with booked appointments within this period, please you will need to reschedule your appointment for next week, from 26th October 2020.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”
Although the peaceful demonstrations have been suspended in some states, hoodlums have taken to the streets to launch attacks on government-owned institutions.
The Presidency on Wednesday appealed to Nigerians to show understanding with the present regime and remain calm while it tries to implement police reforms.
The call was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled, ‘President Buhari welcomes establishment of judicial panels of inquiry by 13 states to deliver justice for victims of police brutality’.
The call for calm came few hours after eyewitnesses claimed armed soldiers opened fire on protesting youths at the Lekki toll gate area in Lagos State.
Reeling out the steps he claimed have so far been taking to address the demands of the protesters, Adesina wrote, “The Presidency appeals for understanding and calm across the nation, as the implementation of the reforms gathers pace at federal and state levels.
“The Presidency wishes to reiterate the full commitment of the Buhari administration to the implementation of lasting police reforms in Nigeria.”
The presidential spokesman claimed that at the last count, no fewer than 13 states have established judicial panels of inquiry as resolved by the National Economic Council to address the question of redress and justice for victims of police brutality across the country.
He listed the states that have done so to include Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Plateau, Edo, Nasarawa, Ondo and Akwa Ibom.
The statement added, “President Muhammadu Buhari welcomes the promptness of these necessary subnational actions, and reaffirms his commitment to supporting the state governments to ensure that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria.
“Under the Chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Economic Council at its meeting on Thursday October 15, 2020 resolved to establish state-level Judicial Panels of Inquiry, to investigate allegations of Police brutality and ensure that all erring personnel are brought to justice.
“Prior to that, the President in June 2019 signed a Bill establishing the Police Trust Fund, to mobilize additional funding for the welfare and equipping of the Nigeria Police Force. Accrual of funding into the Fund, as specified in its enabling Act, has commenced.
“President Buhari in 2018 approved an increase in police salaries and the police personnel budget has seen a rise from N288bn in the 2018 Budget to N417bn in the proposed 2021 budget; an increase of 45 per cent.
“Only on Tuesday, at the commissioning of the Nigerian Police Pension Fund Limited building, the President also reiterated continuous support for both serving and retired police personnel.
“The President has equally approved the rollout and funding of a new Community Policing Initiative, as part of a larger programme of police reform in Nigeria, aimed at rewriting the rules of engagement between the Force and citizens.
“President Buhari’s commitment to extensive Police reforms should never be in doubt. The President in September 2020 signed the new Nigeria Police Act, the first comprehensive revision of the Police Act in decades.”
Adesina added that as Buhari declared, the immediate dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad was the first step in a set of reform policies that will deliver a police system accountable to Nigerians.
He said the President had also approved full implementation of the report of the 2018-2019 Presidential Panel on Police Reform.
“Indeed, the National Human Rights Commission and the Police Service Commission have now commenced the implementation of the report,” he added.
According to reports making rounds online and a footage on AriseTV network, the headquarters of the Nigerian Port Authority is currently on fire in Apapa Lagos.
Pockets of rampaging youths have taken to the streets in direct protest of the killing of Nigerians on Tuesday by the army in Lekki.
