Arrest Abuja, Anambra palliative organisers or set those in Ibadan free — MURIC

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern, has told the Nigeria Police to arrest the organisers of palliative distribution in Abuja and Anambra State or set those of the event in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, free.

The Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, condemned the different treatments for the same incidents.

The group therefore demanded the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested in Ibadan over the disaster.

Akintola said in the statement on Tuesday morning: “Three tragic events took place in the last few days as the distribution of palliatives in Ibadan, Oyo State, Abuja and Okija in Anambra State led to uncontrollable stampede which claimed the lives of about 50 people, many of them children.

“MURIC is interested in knowing why it was only the organisers of the Ibadan event that were arrested while those in Abuja and Okija were allegedly left free. We therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of the organisers of the Ibadan event.

“Queen Naomi Silekunola in particular is well known for her philanthropic activities and nobody in his or her right mind will assume that she deliberately planned a massacre.

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“By the same token, the arrest of the principal of Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, was quite unnecessary because the alumni of that school has confirmed that the venue was approved by the Oyo State Ministry of Education and not by the principal acting unilaterally (https://dailypost.ng/2024/12/21/ibadan-stampede-oyo-govt-not-principal-approved-venue-alumni/).

“The Obi Jackson Foundation led by Chief Ernest Obiejesi had good intentions as usual but things still went wrong. However, Anambra police did not haul him into detention the way Oyo police detained Queen Naomi and Mr. Fasasi, the school principal.

“In the same vein, there has been no report of arrests by the Abuja police formation over the palliative-induced stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday, 21st December, 2024.

“The Nigeria Police has left many questions unanswered regarding its handling of the three tragic episodes. A stampede is a stampede. One should not be differentiated from the other. Ditto for the issue of deaths. Homo sapiens died in all the events, not goats, not dogs.

“All the organisers should have been treated equally. But as things stand, it appears the sledgehammer descended on Ibadan organisers alone while Abuja and Okija merely vowed to investigate the calamities.

“There is only one way to go, viz, arrest the organisers of the Abuja and Okija events or set the Ibadan organisers free. The honourable thing the Oyo State Police Command can do is to set those detained free immediately and unconditionally while the state government sets up a panel to investigate the tragedy. The police should not blow hot and cold at the same time.

“We condole with the bereaved families and we pray that Allah will give them the fortitude to bear the loss. Finally, we align with the position of the police concerning the need for organisers of future events which are likely to draw large crowds to involve the police for security measures and crowd control modalities.”

Arrest Abuja, Anambra palliative organisers or set those in Ibadan free — MURIC

A 10-year-old boy, Tasi’u Abdullahi of Rikkos community of Jos North LGA of Plateau, was gruesomely killed by his abductors, after collecting N150,000 as part payment of ransom from his parents.

The body of the deceased was abandoned in a sack in the community five days after he was abducted.

Tasi’u’s body was found in a sack on Friday morning beside his house in Rikkos.

The victim’s uncle, Aliyu Abubakar Muhammad, narrated that the deceased was kidnapped in front of his family house on Monday afternoon when he was lured by the kidnappers.

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He said that five days after the incident, the kidnappers called them at night and demanded N50,000 for the boy’s feeding, plus a ransom of N1 million. However, after negotiations, they eventually agreed to collect N300,000 out of which they were paid N150,000.

He said, “After paying N150,000 through a bank transfer, as instructed by the abductors, we were shocked to receive a call from a woman the following day, informing us that our child had been killed and abandoned near our house. Upon examining the body of the deceased, we observed that our son had been strangled, with blood coming out of his nose and mouth.”

Though efforts to reach the state’s police spokesman proved abortive as of the time of filing this report, our correspondent gathered that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

[UPDATED] I never lied, truth is my weapon against injustice – Dele Farotimi declares after release

Dele Farotimi, activist lawyer and author of the controversial book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, has doubled down on allegations he made against Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola, maintaining that his claims are truthful.

Farotimi, who addressed journalists on Tuesday following his release from the Ekiti State Correctional Centre, stated, “I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know. The truth is enough—it is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria.”

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Farotimi was granted bail by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, December 20, with conditions including a bond of ₦30 million, two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner, submission of his passport and a prohibition on granting media interviews once released.

He met the conditions and was subsequently freed from detention, where he had been held since his arrest earlier this month over allegations of defamation against Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).

Farotimi was arrested over statements in his book, which accused Babalola of unethical practices within Nigeria’s criminal justice system. Despite being accused of defamation, the lawyer insists his claims are based on facts.

“I understand the challenges that come with fighting entrenched powers, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to the truth,” Farotimi stated.

[UPDATED] I never lied, truth is my weapon against injustice – Dele Farotimi declares after release