Former Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, not to deploy troops against the #EndSARS protesters.
He said any attempt to do such may turn the #EndSARS movement into #EndNigeria campaign, adding that no force will be able to resist or stop it.
In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, Fani-Kayode said that Nigerians had the constitutional right to protest against bad leadership without fear of intimidation and therefore governnent must not attack them.
He said, “We will not wait before more blood is shed before we speak and before we send out this warning.
“We will not wait until there is another mindless and needless massacre and massive shedding of innocent blood by our security forces before we shout out.
“We say this today, we say it without fear or favour and we say it for everyone, both friend and foe, to hear loudly and clearly: the determination to use brute force and to kill innocent young men and women in an attempt to crush this protest comes with a very heavy price tag and butchers bill.
“The plan to deploy soldiers in our streets and to slaughter # EndSARS protesters in the same way that the Shiite Muslims and IPOB youths were once slaughtered by the military and security forces will be Lt. General Tukur Burutai and President Muhammadu Buhari’s biggest mistake and gravest error.
“This must never happen and if it is true that they are seriously contemplating it then they should reconsider and think again!
“If for any reason whatsoever, they go ahead, it will turn the #EndSARS movement into the #EndNigeria movement and no force or power in hell or on earth will be able to resist or stop it.
“We warn again: do not unleash the dogs of war and demons of hell on these protestors.
“The consequences of going ahead and doing so, amongst much else, will be that you will end up in the International Court of Criminal Justice and be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and genocide in the not too distant future.
“These young men and women are fighting for their future: they cannot and will not be intimidated. The threat of mass murder or genocide or its actualisation will not stop them: rather it will embolden them and turn them into martyrs for democracy.”
Leke Adeboye, son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday, led an #EndSARS Sunday Service at the Lagos State Government House in Alausa, Ikeja.
At the service attended by Christian faithful among youths demanding an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings in the country, Leke charged his colleagues to be ready to take over the leadership of the nation.
The cleric’s son also prayed to God to end all the ‘radarada – rubbish’ in the country.
Leke wore a black top branded with the inscription; ‘My Bible Says These Are End Times, We Starting With #EndSARS’.
He said, “This change that we have come for, let it be real change in Jesus name. This reformation, let it be real reformation in Jesus name.
“Father, end all the radarada in our lives in Jesus’ name. End all the radarada in this nation in Jesus’ name. And Lord, please prepare us to be able to take over, to be able to take charge in Jesus’ name.
“This is just the beginning of the first chapter. As we are writing the other chapters, please write it with us in Jesus’ name.
“Soro soke, ko se amin.”
The #EndSARS protests have been taking place across major cities in the country with youths demanding the reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
Major highways across the country have been blocked thereby grounding economic activities.
It had earlier been reported that Leke’s 78-year-old father, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, endorsed the #EndSARS protests rocking the nation when he tweeted, “Our daughters will not be able to prophesy and young men will not see visions if we don’t keep them alive.
“I support the youths in this peaceful protest as they “speak up” to #EndPoliceBrutality #EndSARS #ENDSWAT.”
He had also called for the restructuring of the country at an event to mark Nigeria’s independence on October 3.
West Ham United’s Argentinian midfielder Manuel Lanzini (L) celebrates scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on October 18, 2020. – The game finished 3-3. (Photo by Matt Dunham / POOL / AFP)
Gareth Bale’s second Tottenham debut was ruined by a stunning West Ham fightback from 3-0 down in the final eight minutes to draw 3-3 on Sunday.
Manuel Lanzini’s sensational long-range strike into the top corner capped the comeback after Fabian Balbuena’s header and Davinson Sanchez’s own goal resurrected David Moyes’s men.
Spurs raced to a 3-0 lead within 18 minutes as the free-scoring combination of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min looked to have Jose Mourinho’s side cruising towards a win that would have put them second in the table.
The opener came inside the opening minute as Kane’s sumptuous long pass in behind the West Ham defence picked out Son and the South Korean cut inside to curl into the far corner.
The roles were reversed for Kane’s first goal as the England captain produced a stunning piece of skill with a nutmeg on his marker before firing low into the bottom corner.
Sergio Reguilon also made the move from Real Madrid to Tottenham last month and his rampaging runs from left-back are reminiscent of Bale’s early days at Spurs before the Welshman pushed further up the field.
The Spaniard set up Kane’s second with a pinpoint cross for the striker to head home at the far post.
Only a fine save from Lukasz Fabianski prevented Son also registering a double in a blistering opening quarter from Spurs.
Mourinho lauded Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy as a “genius” for the deals he made in the transfer market to give his manager a depth of squad capable of challenging for trophies.
That was shown as Bale was then introduced as a substitute and showed no lack of confidence by striking a free-kick with his first touch but the ball flew straight into Fabianski’s grasp.
Kane came within inches of sealing his hat-trick with a shot from outside the box that hit the post, but Tottenham’s defensive deficiencies saw a comfortable afternoon completely unravel.
Balbuena’s header from Aaron Creswell’s free-kick started the collapse before Sanchez turned a dangerous ball across the box into his own net.
Bale should have sealed the three points and a dream debut but he flashed a shot wide with just Fabianski to beat as the game entered stoppage time.
And that would come back to haunt Mourinho’s men when a Cresswell free-kick was only cleared to the edge of the box and Lanzini arrowed an unstoppable shot high past Hugo Lloris.
Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun on Sunday said the attempt on his life by assailants during Saturday’s protest against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squard(SARS) in the state was pre-planned.
Oyetola, in a state broadcast on Sunday in Osogbo, said preliminary investigation revealed that the commando style in which the assailants carried out their attack justified his claim that the act was pre-planned.
According to him, the attempt on his life could not have been planned by the youths who constitute over 60 per cent of the voters who elected him into office.
Oyetola, who noted that he was properly evacuted to safety during the incident ,said no life was lost at the scene as no live bullet or cannister of teargas was fired at the “rampaging political thugs.”
” Yesterday evening, political thugs and hoodlums made failed attempts on my life and those of my aides while identifying with our beloved youths who were engaging in legitimate protest against the alleged brutality of the now disbanded SARS.
“My entourage and I joined protesters from Alekuwodo area to Olaiya Junction chanting solidarity songs with them and encouraging them along the way.
“During the course of my address to the protesters to reiterate our cooperation and support, political thugs hijacked the exercise and hurled stones and dangerous weapons at us and vandalised several cars in my convoy,” Oyetola said.
The governor also said the two lives reportedly lost was not during the attack on him.
According to him, one of the said deaths caused by a lone motorcycle accident occurred at about 12noon, long before he got to the protest ground.
He added that the second death was said to have occurred around Ayepe, about five kilometers away from Olaiya where the protest was held.
” We sympathise with the families of the diseased and pray to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the great losses.
“I have directed that the incidents be properly investigated with a view to ascertaining the causes of the deaths,” the governor said.
Oyetola also said that government would be setting up a Judicial Panel of Enquiry in line with the directive of the National Economic Council to investigate all related cases of abuse and brutality by the disbanded SARS and the attack on him.
” What happened on Saturday is objectionable, unacceptable and a blight to the Omoluabi ethos that the state of Osun stands for.
“Osun youths who are the original #EndSARS protesters have travelled the long road of building a better Osun with us and we have been on the lane of delivering a better and prosperous Osun together.
“This assassination attempt could not have come from them.
“The protesters have engaged in peaceful demonstration for the first two days before it was later hijacked in the last five days.
“In fact, we had cause to raise the alarm last Wednesday to the effect that the protest had been hijacked,” Oyetola said.
The governor, however, enjoined all citizens to be peaceful and be law abiding, adding that all efforts would be made to protect them and their property.
Oyetola , who noted that government was on top of the situation, said that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be brought to justice.
“We commit to the cause of our youths and the #EndSARS protesters and shall do everything to ensure that their demands are met.
“We shall not condone any act that will compromise the lives of our people and the hard-won ranking of our state as the most peaceful state in Nigeria.
“As a responsible government, we will do everything in our powers to protect the lives and property of our people,” the governor said.
Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has warned against the shooting of youths protesting against police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and extortion in the country.
He explained that the youths have good justifications to protest, adding that killing them during the protest “is a sacrilege”.
He described the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as the most “gruesome” in the history of the country.
Oyedepo spoke during the second service of the church, monitored by our correspondent, on Sunday.
He said, “Every man has a right, legitimately so, to express his displeasure and pains. Everybody has it.
“I kept quiet for a while because in 2015 I warned this nation, vehemently, consistently… because I saw the dangers ahead and you can tell.
“The most gruesome season in the life of this nation is in the last five years, where lives have no value, wanton killings here and there.
“Now, they have faced the youths; and because they don’t know who is next, they have a right to say enough is enough.
“Any system that has no value for human lives is irrelevant, if they are killed when they were youths, will they be here today?
“Now, it would be a sacrilege to shoot the protesters who are not looting, who are not ravaging.
“When you push a goat to the wall then you will know that goats have teeth to bite.
“It is a sacrilege to kill youths during a protest, this protest is legitimate.”
It was reported that #EndSARS protests continued on Saturday as economic activities were paralysed in some places across the country, including Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.
For instance, hundreds of protesters barricaded the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway in Abuja, grinding traffic to a halt.
While some of the campaigners blocked the Kubwa section of the expansive highway, close to the NNPC Junction, others were said to have also blocked off the Gwarimpa section, causing gridlock in the area.
Human and vehicular movements were also grounded on Saturday on major roads in Nsukka town, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, as a result of the #EndSARS protest.
Also in Benin, Edo State capital, on Saturday, there was gridlock in areas such as Ugbowo, Ramat Park at Ikpoba Hill and Agbor Park.
According to Peoples Gazette, Bola Tinubu has advised #EndSARS campaigners to cease the raging nationwide protests.
Mr. Tinubu “believes the #EndSARS protesters have made their demands, which the Federal Government is studying”, his media aide Tunde Rahman said in a statement, with the ruling party magnate urging the resilient protesters to call a truce as the government begins the process of police reform.
“Asiwaju Tinubu believes it’s now time for our youths to wait, exercise restraint for dialogue and reform to commence,” the statement said
The ex-Lagos governor debunked his alleged sponsorship of the protest, which has taken a toll on the economy of the state.
“Asiwaju Tinubu could not have sponsored the #EndSARS protest that has blocked one of the main entries into and out of Lagos and one of the economic arteries of the Lagos State Government”, his spokesman argued.
#EndSARS protesters were handed a major victory last Sunday following the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, an infamous unit of the Nigeria Police riddled with years of unrestrained corruption and human rights infractions.
The protesters are, however, not backing down until their 5-point demand is implemented by the Federal Government.
It was reported that the presidential panel on the reform of the now-disbanded SARShas approved protesters demands, and efforts are underway towards implementation.
The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Jimoh, has condemned mob lynching of three suspected kidnappers in the Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state.
The mob allegedly set ablaze the suspects on Saturday with a motorcycle conveying them.
It was learnt that their heads were decapitated before they were set ablaze by the roadside. The incident attracted a huge crowd who watched as the suspects were burnt to death
The Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, in a statement titled, ‘Jungle justice and its implications,’ condemned the incident.
It read in part, “The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, Abdulkadir Jimoh, has been drawn to the incessant mob action meted out to criminal elements across the state. It’s because of that, that the commissioner wishes to state unequivocally that no person or group of persons has the right to maim or take the life of another person irrespective of the offence committed.
“Consequently, the ugly incident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Akpabuyo LGA, where three suspected criminals were allegedly set ablaze is barbaric and strongly condemned.”
The command warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, adding that perpetrators when apprehended would face the law.
The Federal Government has warned that it will not allow the country to be thrown into anarchy following the violence that has trailed the #EndSARS protests.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Saturday when he featured on a late night Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news programme, “Weekend File”
The programme entitled, “EndSARS Protest: The Way Forward,” was monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The minister said Saturday’s assassination attempt on the Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, while addressing the protesters was a clear confirmation that the protests had been hijacked by hoodlums and people with ulterior agenda.
He noted that while the original conveners of the protests might have meant well, it was obvious that they were no longer in control of the initiative.
“Peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy and that is why the Federal Government in the last 11 days has treated the protesters in a very civilised manner.
“But, if you look at what happened to the governor of Osun state,it has gone completely beyond peaceful protest against excesses and abuse of power by the police.
“There is no where in the world where a government will folds its arms and allow the country to descend into anarchy.
“We are no longer dealing with #EndSARS but a volatile situation that can lead to anarchy if government does not take some very firm steps to protect the lives and livelihood of innocent Nigerians,” he said.
The minister added that the protests have gone beyond being peaceful because lives have been lost and innocent Nigerians, including workers and students, are passing through harrowing experiences.
Specifically, he said because the protesters are blocking the roads and highway, workers are finding it difficult to get to their offices and back home while many Nigerians are stranded on the roads.
“We have nothing against peaceful protest but there are civilised ways of doing so.
“This is by going to a venue where you are not going to disturb other Nigerians because where your own right stops, other persons’ right begins,” he said.
Mohammed said Nigerians should also see the protests as a smokescreen staged to undermine the administration and destabilise the country because all the demands by the protesters had been met by the government.
He reiterated that after the government had responded and met all the demands of the protesters, they ought to have nothing doing on the streets.
He recalled that the protesters on inception came with five demands including, that all arrested protesters should be released immediately and justice must be given to deceased victims of SARS including adequate compensation to be paid to their families.
The minister said the protesters equally demanded that there should be an independent committee to oversee the investigations and prosecution of any members of SARS found guilty of extra judicial killings.
He said they demanded that all personnel of the disbanded SARS must undergop psyhologicl and medical evaluation as well as retraining before they should be redeployed to other services of the Police.
The protesters also demanded that the salary of the police should be increased in a manner that will be adequately compensate for protecting lives and property of citizens.
In meeting the demands of the protesters, the minister said on Oct. 11, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) dissolved SARS accross the 36 states Police Command and the FCT.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari, on Oct. 12 addressed the nation, stating that the disbanding of SARS was a first step in the comprehensive reform of the police.
Mohammed said that On Oct. 13, the IGP ordered all defunct SARS personnel to report at Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing as well as psychological and mental examinations.
On the same day, the Presidential Panel on the Reform of SARS accepted the five-point demand of the protesters.
He said the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by the Vice President with the 36 state governors and FCT Minister as members met on Oct. 15 and directed the immediate establishment of state-based Judicial Panels of Enquiry across the country.
The panels as directed by the Council are to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and related extra-judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other Police units.
The NEC also directed governors to immediately establish state-based special security and human rights committee to be chaired by the governor in each state.
The governors are also to supervise the newly formed Police Tactical Unit and other security agencies located in states.
The committee is to ensure protection of citizens’ human rights while members will include representatives of the youths, civil society groups and the head of the Police Tactical Unit in the state.
The NEC also mandated every governor to take control and initiate dialogue with the protesters in their states and the FCT.
The Council directed governors to set up a victim support fund so that those who have been victims of SARS brutality will be compensated.
The minister stressed that with all the steps taken, the government has done more in meeting all the demands by the protesters.
He appealed to Nigerians to be objective in assessing the situation and to see that what is going on is beyond peaceful protest but an attempt by some people to destabilise the country.
The Nigerian Army says it is commencing Exercise Crocodile Smile VI from Oct. 20 to Dec. 31, as part of its effort to enhance the safety and security of the country towards the end of the year.
This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Nigerian army sets to commence exercise Crocodile Smile VI nationwide’, and signed by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, on Saturday.
The Crocodile Smile VI is coming amidst nationwide protests against police brutality, extortion, and extrajudicial killings.
Many youths have expressed anger over abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and have taken to the streets.
The #EndSARS hashtag started on social media after a video showing what looked like a SARS officer attacking a man spread online.
Musa said the exercise was traditionally scheduled in the last quarter of every year to checkmate all forms of crimes and criminality as the end of the year approaches.
He explained that this year’s exercise was intended to be more all-encompassing to include cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track, and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Army is set to start its annual Exercise CROCODILE SMILE which is traditionally conducted in the last quarter of the year. This year’s Exercise CROCODILE SMILE VI is scheduled to commence from the 20th of October to the 31st of December 2020.
“The Exercise is deliberately intended to be all-encompassing to include cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track, and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace. This is the first-ever Cyberwarfare exercise to be conducted in the history of the African Armed Forces.
“Accordingly, the exercise will also include positive identification component aimed at identifying Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the North East and other parts of the country as a result of the ongoing operations in the various theatres of operations especially in the Northeast, North Central and North Western parts of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Army, once again, reassures all well-meaning Nigerians of its commitment to the sustenance of peace and security in Nigeria and urges members of the public for their support and understanding throughout the period of the exercise.”
The Senate has urged the Federal Government to speed up the implementation of the five-point demands of #EndSARS protesters.
Senate Spokesperson, Dr Ajibola Basiru, made this known on Friday night.
Tuesday, it was reported that the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad approved the five-point demands put forward by youths protesting against the brutality and extrajudicial killings by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Although the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, scrapped the police unit last Sunday and announced a replacement, the protesters want the police authorities to carry out psychological evaluation and re-training of all disbanded SARS officers before they are redeployed.
They demand the release of all arrested protesters, justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families. They also want increased salaries for police officers as well as the establishment of an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct.
The government and some business leaders had tried to persuade the youths to leave the streets but the protesters have insisted that until the government implement their demands, the demonstrations would continue.
Speaking on a television programme last night, the senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District said the two chambers of the National Assembly had inaugurated their constitutional review committees on the reformation of the Nigeria Police Force
“Beyond legislative action is the need to take timeous executive action. For instance, stopping the SARS is an executive action because no law actually set up the SARS.
“The 5-point demand of the protesters has been passed to the presidential committee and they agreed to it and we are expecting implementation.
“In terms of implementation, it is faster for the executive arm of government to make implementation,” he said, adding that there was the need for confidence-building between the police and the members of the public, particularly the youths.
Basiru also noted that the #EndSARS protests that have led to gridlocks which have grounded economic activities in most Nigerian cities are proof that the security apparatus of the country should be decentralised.
“Personally, as a senator from Osun Central, I have sponsored a constitutional review bill to have state police. I believe the country is so large, our security challenges are so huge and there is a need for us to marry the rule of law and human rights of our people and it is in this context that we will be able to address the issue,” he added.
