President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to address issues raised by Nigerians in their protests against police inhuman treatment and extrajudicial killings in the country.
Rights activists, artistes and celebrities have taken to the streets in major cities protesting the actions and demanding the scrapping of the police Special Anti-armed Robbery Squad.
The protests have assumed a global dimension as many Nigerians in other countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, especially celebrities joined the campaign.
Apart from Nigeria, the #EndSARS hashtag has been trending in the UK, Canada, and the US.
British-Nigerian actor John Boyega expressed support for the campaign.
The President said in a statement he personally signed on Friday that he had with the IGP over the issue.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier met with IGP Adamu on the same public outcry against SARS and expressed support for the immediate reform of the police unit starting with a ban on the stop-and-search patrols.
Buhari said, “I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt.”
“I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.”
He said he had ordered the IGP “to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses and ensure erring personnel are brought to justice.”
The President urged the people to exercise patience and be calm, assuring them of adequate protection and stressed that the majority of those in the Nigeria Police Force were patriotic and remained committed to the protection of the lives and property of Nigerians.
Nigerian musicians such as Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Runtown, Falz, Wulrd and DJ Spinal joined the anti-SARS street protests in Lagos
Award-winning actress Nse Ikpe-Etim has also tweeted to join Edward’s protest.
A professional athlete and owner of the first Black-owned cigar line in the UK Mike Edwards has said he would be leading a protest to Nigeria High Commission in London on Sunday.
The protests sweeping through many streets of Abuja and states like Lagos, Osun, Edo and Delta were against the extortion, illegal detention, and extra-judicial killings of Nigerians, mostly youths, by members of the police unit.
Specifically, the protesters are calling for the scrapping of the police’s notorious unit.
The protests followed the footage showing officers from the SARS police unit dragging two men from a hotel in Lagos and shooting one of them in the street.
In the disturbing footage taken by visitors at a hotel and posted on to social media armed officers of the SARS can be seen dragging the victims from the hotel compound into the street before one of the men is shot.
This has prompted the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to announce the ban of SARS and other tactical police units from stop-and-search patrols, nationwide.
Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid
It will be the eighth time there has been an El Clasico in the Spanish Cup final, with the nation’s two most successful club sides set to meet on 26 April in Seville.
Ferran Torres’ first-half effort proved decisive for Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium, with the Spain forward poking the ball past Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso after Lamine Yamal’s superb pass had split the home defence.
It was no more than the visitors deserved, with 17-year-old Yamal a constant source of danger and Raphinha also twice threatening to extend Barca’s lead.
Unlike the thrilling first-leg tie in February, when Diego Simeone’s side twice scored late on in a dramatic 4-4 draw, this was a tighter and more tense affair without the grandstand finish from Atletico.
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The hosts did have opportunities.
Substitute Alexander Sorloth elected to shoot instead of squaring the ball to Antoine Griezmann for a tap-in, while the Norway forward was also ruled offside after rattling in what he thought was an equaliser.
However, in truth, Atletico were second best to Hansi Flick’s side for long periods, with the record 31-time winners always appearing relatively comfortable as they extended their unbeaten run to 21 games across all competitions.
The Catalan club remain the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to lose in 2025 and remain on course for a potential quadruple.
Barca, who have already won the Spanish Super Cup this term, lead the La Liga table by three points from Real Madrid.
They also host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 9 April (20:00 BST).
Meanwhile, the final against Carlo Ancelotti’s team in Seville will come just over two weeks before a potentially pivotal fixture between the clubs in the Spanish top flight.
Wike congratulates Okpebholo on tribunal victory
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has congratulated Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo on his victory at the tribunal.
The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting on Wednesday, affirmed Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of Edo.
A three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, against the election outcome.
The petition challenged the result of the governorship election held on Sept. 21, 2024 but was struck out by the tribunal for lack of merit.
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Reacting, Wike, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, urged the governor to remain focused on delivering good governance.
He advised Okpebholo not to be distracted but to remain dedicated to serving the people of Edo.
Wike described the tribunal’s ruling as a confirmation of the mandate freely given to Okpebholo by Edo voters.
The minister expressed confidence in the governor’s ability to bring relief and development to the state.
“This victory belongs to the people of Edo who elected, as their governor, Okpebholo.
“I believe in him, and with the way he has started, his government will positively impact Edo and its people,” he added.
(NAN)
Teacher arrested in Osun for allegedly molesting 7-year-old pupil
22-year-old male school teacher, Rufai Akorede, has been arrested in Ilesa, Osun State, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly molesting a seven-year-old female pupil.
The NSCDC stated that Akorede is accused of “thrusting his manhood” into the child’s mouth in a classroom after school.
Following a report, the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, ordered an immediate investigation, which revealed the alleged molestation began in 2024, according to a statement signed by the state command’s public relations officer, Kehinde Adeleke.
According to NSCDC, in his confessional statement, Akorede admitted to the crime, explaining that after school hours, he instructed the victim to close the windows in the classroom before assaulting her.
“The second incident happened on March 20, 2025, after school hours. It was only the teacher and the girl who were in the class, and he pressed her buttocks,” Adeleke said.
Akorede was arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Ilesa, Osun State, on March 26, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in the correctional centre. The trial has been adjourned.
In a separate case, 20-year-old Tiamiyu Samuel was arrested for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-year-old girl in Gbongan, Osun State.
Adeleke, the NSCDC spokesperson, stated that Samuel had known the victim for three years and, after she rejected his advances, forcibly dragged her into his room on March 23, 2025, with the help of an accomplice.
The suspect allegedly threatened the victim with a cutlass before assaulting her, causing the victim to bleed. He then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
“The accomplice is currently at large but will be apprehended to face the consequences of his actions. The suspect admitted committing the offence and a medical report confirms that the victim’s hymen was broken,” Adeleke said.
The NSCDC has assured the public that once the investigation is concluded, the suspect will be charged in court.
The Osun NSCDC urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and safeguard their children from such predatory individuals. The Commandant also warned that those engaging in such heinous acts will face severe consequences
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