BREAKING: We won’t condone violent protests, IGP warns – Newstrends
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BREAKING: We won’t condone violent protests, IGP warns

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Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun

BREAKING: We won’t condone violent protests, IGP warns

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, issued a stern warning on Tuesday against any attempts to incite violence under the pretext of emulating the recent protests in Kenya.

The Kenyan protests, which took place last month, were sparked by a series of policies perceived as being against the interests of the common people.

The protests, led by young Kenyans, targeted strategic locations, including the parliament, and resulted in significant reforms, including a cabinet reshuffle.

The success of the protests may have inspired some groups in Nigeria to mobilize for similar demonstrations under the banner #EndBadGovernance.

However, the Inspector-General of Police is cautioning against any attempts to replicate the Kenyan protests in a way that could lead to violence or unrest.

The police chief’s warning comes amid reports of plans by some groups to organize protests against perceived bad governance.

While the right to protest is guaranteed by law, the Inspector-General of Police stressed the need for any demonstrations to be peaceful and orderly, to avoid causing harm to people or property.

But speaking at the Force Headquarters in Abuja during a strategic meeting with top police officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), on Tuesday, Egbetokun advised those planning the protest to jettison the idea, saying the police would not fold their arms watching them engaging in violence.

The police boss said the force’s decision was based on what happened during the last #EndSARS protest nationwide, insisting that the police, particularly has not been relieved of the trauma they passed through.

The top cop said, “Our position is that the proposed violent protests are ill-advised and should be jettisoned fortuitously. We have the responsibility to protect properties and everyone, irrespective of their race, colour, ethnicity, or tribe, who are lawfully embarking on their daily activities.

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“We will, therefore, not sit back and fold our arms to watch violent activities unleash violence on our peaceful communities or destroy any of our national critical infrastructure and assets again.”

According to him, the police have run background checks on many of the organisers and sponsors of the protest, it was found out that many of them are not living in Nigeria, and that they are only out to instigate crisis in the country.

He added, “Before concluding this address, it is important I address an issue of urgent national importance which appears to have gained some momentum, particularly on social media, in the past few weeks.

“Some groups of people, self-appointed crusaders and influencers, have been strategising and mobilizing potential protesters to unleash terror in the land under the guise of replicating the recent Kenya protests.

“While the force acknowledges the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in our constitution, we must ensure that these protests do not snowball into violence or disorder.

“As a nation, we have had more than our fair share of violent protests, with rather dastardly consequences. The last #EndSARS protest led to one-tenth destruction of public assets, including police stations, courts, and transport infrastructure, and the loss of several lives.

“Tales of sorrow, tears, and blood followed what was supposedly intended to be a well-intentioned exercise. Rather than lead to any positive outcome, EndSars merely aggravated crime rates and insecurity in several parts of the country.

“Indeed, we are yet to fully recover from the huge economic losses and deep-seated psychological and emotional trauma inflicted upon our people by these protests.”

Fielding questions from journalists, Egbetokun also said that measures are in place to ensure that any hoodlums attempting to disguise themselves as protesters will be apprehended.

He stated, “We have mapped out plans to ensure that no individual or group succeeds in fostering a reign of terror and anarchy on other law-abiding and dissolving Nigerians.

“Consequently, I want to seize this opportunity to sound the note of serious warning to hoodlums who may want to take laws into their own hands in the name of protests. Do not worry.”

BREAKING: We won’t condone violent protests, IGP warns

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Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

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Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a renowned Islamic Scholar in Kaduna State

Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed allegations that politicians are behind the rising insecurity in northern Nigeria.

In recent months, the North-West region has faced increasing banditry and violence, leading to the deaths of many, including the monarch of Gobir in Sokoto State. The unrest has sparked claims that politicians may be funding the violence for their own gain.

In 2021, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, alleged that some politicians were sponsoring the banditry seen across the country. However, in an interview with Punch, Sheikh Gumi denied these claims, stating that there is no evidence to suggest that politicians are fueling the unrest in the North.

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He said;

“This is an unintelligent allegation. No politician is sponsoring these people. We are all victims. The opposition is not even behind this. This is a natural reaction of people neglected for centuries without education.

“Now they are exposed to the world and they want education. These people are exposed to the Internet and they see how much they are deprived. They want to fight back. This act is not by anybody.”

Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

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152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

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Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba

152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters Friday said troops during the week killed a total of 152 terrorists and arrested 109.

The military high command also stated that the strongholds of two notorious terrorist leaders — the Sadiku enclave at Tsora Hill in Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State; and the Yusuf enclave in Yadi Forest, Giwa LG, Kaduna State, were destroyed.

The Director of Media Operations, Edward Buba, in a statement, said the troops’ achievements were an indication that the military was steadily progressing towards the goal of destroying all criminal elements.

“The war against terrorists, insurgents, violent extremists and others perpetrating insecurity in the country rages, and troops are sustaining the momentum to achieve victory. Indeed, the armed forces are steadily progressing towards the goal of destruction of all these elements.

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“Given recent events, the military learns every day and makes improvements on ways to better deal with threat situations posed by these terror groups. Troops are moving in against the terrorists and denying them freedom of action.

“During the week, troops carried out surgical operations against two prominent terrorist commanders and decimated their strongholds, namely, Sadiku enclave in Tsora Hill in Safana LGA of Katsina State and Alhaji Yusuf enclave in Yadi Forest in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.”

“Overall, troops operations during the week resulted in 152 terrorists neutralised, 109 arrested and 91 hostages rescued,” Buba said.

He noted that during the operations against crude oil theft, products worth N795 million were recovered.

Buba urged the citizens to support the troops to win the war against insecurity in the country.

152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

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Six kidnappers arrested in Delta, N2.3m ransom recovered

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Commissioner of Police, Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda

Six kidnappers arrested in Delta, N2.3m ransom recovered

Six persons have been apprehended in Delta State over their alleged involvement in kidnapping.

The suspects were arrested in Uvwie Local Government Area of the State by police operatives from Ebrumede Division.

They also recovered from them a ransom of N2,344,000 (Two million, three hundred and forty-four thousand naira), with some stolen mobile phones.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda announced the development while briefing journalists in Asaba.

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CP Abaniwonda said, “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of Ebrumede division while on patrol duty intercepted a tricycle conveying six-passengers.

“The suspects on sighting the Police attempted to escape but the operatives chased and arrested them.

“Upon search of the suspects, two million, three hundred and forty-four thousand naira was recovered.

“Some suspected stolen phones were also recovered. Further investigation revealed that the phone belonged to their kidnapped victims and the money was part of the ransom the victims paid for their freedom.”

 

Six kidnappers arrested in Delta, N2.3m ransom recovered

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