metro
Soldiers, police take over strategic areas as #EndSARS protesters stay away
The plans by youths to hold another round of protests on Monday failed as military and police personnel took over strategic locations in some states.
President Muhammadu Buhari had threatened to deal with any act of hooliganism under the guise of peaceful protests just as the police warned that any form of demonstration would be crushed.
Organisers of the protests, who had raised awareness on the social media, had planned to mass on the streets to demand the release of all protesters detained during the first protest and unfreezing all accounts of their colleagues suspended by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a result of the earlier protest.
Based on the fallout of the October protests while was hijacked by hoodlums resulting in orgy of killings, massive looting and destruction of property, the police on Sunday warned the organisers of the fresh protests to desist from going ahead with the plans as the country was yet to fully recover from the last incident.
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command and soldiers from 81 Division Nigerian Army were on Monday deployed in strategic areas of the state to enforce the ban emplaced on the second wave of #EndSARS protests.
The security operatives were seen at black spots and known volatile areas.
The deployment of the military and police personnel was a follow-up to the warning issued on Sunday by the state command Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu.
Ogun State Police Command also banned protest in the state, warning prospective protesters to desist from such action or face the full wrath of the law.
A statement by the command spokesperson, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said while the command recognised that it was the right of citizens to protest to express their grievances over issues of governance, “there is, however, nothing at present that calls for such a protest in the gateway state, except for those who see troublemaking as a lucrative business.”
The army said the deployment of soldiers was nothing out of the ordinary but in continuation of their normal routine patrols.
The acting Deputy Director, 81 Division Army Public Relations, Major Olaniyi Osoba, denied claims that soldiers were deployed in Lekki tollgate to abort the proposed protest.
He said, “We have soldiers in that axis on their routine patrol but they are not at Lekki tollgate. Besides, the soldiers you saw were drawn from Operation MESA.”
He, however, noted that the army would show up if they were called upon like they did during the first wave of the protest.
The police also debunked allegations that a protest was held at Lekki tollgate despite the ban.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the viral but fake video of the purported protest was circulated to create tension and destabilise the security network put in place.
He said, “The command wishes to debunk the fake video that has been circulated to create tension and destabilise security network in the state.
“The video was one of the viral videos released during the recent violent EndSARS protest before the Lekki Tollgate plaza was set ablaze by the violent protesters on October 21, 2020.
“The command, therefore, urges the general public to regard the video as baseless and mischievous.”
However, protesters marched on Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to demand good governance.
The protesters, under the auspices of Face of #EndSARS Movement, converged on Ogo-Oluwa area of the state and marched on the state House of Assembly where they demanded an audience with the leadership of the house.
The protesters, led by a man identified as Mr Emmanuel Adebisi, carried different placards with inscriptions such as: “We are not fighting for any political party; #End Bad Judiciary in Nigeria; #End fake judicial panel of Inquiry in Osun; Unfreeze all the frozen accounts; We are Nigerian youths.”
The protesters called for the release of all detainees arrested during the demonstrations in October and asked the CBN to unfreeze the accounts of protesters.
metro
Borno Police Defuse Unexploded Bomb Under Network Mast in Maiduguri
Borno Police Defuse Unexploded Bomb Under Network Mast in Maiduguri
The Borno State Police Command on Monday successfully defused an unexploded bomb planted beneath a network mast in Chuskon, Federal Low Cost Area, Maiduguri, averting a potential security threat to residents.
According to Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Daso, the EOD-CBRN Base 13 unit responded promptly after receiving a report from the Divisional Police Officer, ITE Police Division. The explosive device, featuring two protruding wires, was rendered safe following standard bomb disposal procedures. Items including a hand plier, a T-shirt, and a pair of shoes were recovered at the scene, suggesting deliberate placement by unknown individuals.
READ ALSO:
- Aisha Buhari Key to DSS DG Removal, Thwarts Alleged APC Primary Manipulation
- Dangote Raises Alarm Over Widespread Sabotage Crippling Nigeria’s Oil Sector
- Four Suspected Bandits Killed, 13 Abducted in Kogi Shootout
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, has charged all Divisional Police Officers across the state to intensify patrols and fortify critical infrastructure, especially communication facilities, to prevent sabotage and maintain public safety,” ASP Daso stated.
Following the operation, the police held community sensitization and safety awareness sessions, urging residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious objects promptly, and collaborate with security agencies.
The command assured the public that the situation has been brought under control and that normal activities have resumed in the area. Investigations into the bomb plot are ongoing as authorities continue to strengthen measures to safeguard lives and property across Maiduguri and surrounding communities.
Borno Police Defuse Unexploded Bomb Under Network Mast in Maiduguri
metro
Aisha Buhari Key to DSS DG Removal, Thwarts Alleged APC Primary Manipulation
Aisha Buhari Key to DSS DG Removal, Thwarts Alleged APC Primary Manipulation
A new biography, “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari” by Dr. Charles Omole, has unveiled the pivotal role of former First Lady Aisha Buhari in the removal of Lawal Daura, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), amid attempts by influential Aso Rock aides to manipulate the 2023 APC presidential primaries for then Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
The book, launched yesterday at the State House Conference Hall by President Bola Tinubu, details how aides close to former President Muhammadu Buhari presented fabricated “presidential orders” to security chiefs—including the IGP, DSS DG, and DG NIA—to deploy forces in favor of Lawan as the consensus APC candidate.
According to the biography, Aisha Buhari was a major instigator in Daura’s ouster, framing it as an early test of Buhari’s commitment to institutional propriety. When then-acting President Yemi Osinbajo approved Daura’s removal, Buhari refrained from intervening, emphasizing respect for the vice president and institutional authority.
READ ALSO:
- Dangote Raises Alarm Over Widespread Sabotage Crippling Nigeria’s Oil Sector
- Four Suspected Bandits Killed, 13 Abducted in Kogi Shootout
- Man United, Bournemouth Share Eight-Goal Premier League Thriller in Old Trafford Classic
Former IGP Usman Alkali Baba recounted a clandestine meeting ahead of the primaries, revealing how the security chiefs sought clarification from Buhari after being presented with the fake orders. The President reaffirmed his stance that Nigerians should freely choose their candidates, dismissing any attempts to manipulate the party’s process.
The biography also highlights a separate Villa incident where a family dispute escalated to gunfire involving a policeman linked to the First Lady’s office. Buhari’s Chief Security Officer Abubakar Idris arrested the officer, and the President held family members accountable, demonstrating adherence to law over personal ties.
The book launch drew high-profile attendees, including President Bola Tinubu, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nana Shettima, governors, traditional rulers, Aisha Buhari, and aides of the former president.
The revelations shed new light on Aso Rock power dynamics, the safeguarding of electoral integrity in the APC 2023 primaries, and the influence of Aisha Buhari in upholding institutional order within Nigeria’s security apparatus.
Aisha Buhari Key to DSS DG Removal, Thwarts Alleged APC Primary Manipulation
metro
Four Suspected Bandits Killed, 13 Abducted in Kogi Shootout
Four Suspected Bandits Killed, 13 Abducted in Kogi Shootout
At least four suspected bandits were killed during a violent shootout in Ayetoro Kiri, a farming community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State, on Sunday evening, while 13 individuals were abducted, the state government confirmed on Monday.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the attack was part of a series of incursions by criminal elements fleeing bandit attacks in neighbouring Niger and Kwara States, prompting a coordinated security response in Kogi.
Local hunters reportedly fought back bravely, engaging the bandits in a gunfire exchange, neutralizing four suspects while others fled with injuries. Security forces, including soldiers from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, the Kogi State Police Command, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have been deployed to the area to track the escaping criminals and rescue the kidnapped victims.
READ ALSO:
- Man United, Bournemouth Share Eight-Goal Premier League Thriller in Old Trafford Classic
- Aisha Buhari Reveals How Rumours, Missed Meals Triggered Buhari’s 2017 Health Crisis
- Nigeria, Egypt Renew AFCON Rivalry in Cairo Friendly Ahead of Morocco 2025 Showpiece
Fanwo revealed that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is coordinating with service chiefs to secure air support from the Nigerian Air Force to complement ground operations, strengthening the state’s effort to protect lives and property.
“The Governor is steadfast in preserving lives and property throughout Kogi State. Our security network has restricted the bandits’ movements, and we are winning the battle,” Fanwo stated, praising the bravery of local hunters and the cooperation of security agencies.
The recent attack follows another deadly raid less than two weeks ago in Irunda Ile, Yagba East LGA, where suspected bandits killed four people, including two vigilantes, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the state.
The Kogi State Government has reassured residents that a robust joint security team has been established, and continuous efforts are underway to rescue abducted persons and clamp down on criminal activities across the state.
Four Suspected Bandits Killed, 13 Abducted in Kogi Shootout
-
metro2 days agoOoni of Ife Hails Fani-Kayode’s Ambassadorial Clearance as Honour to Ife, Osun State
-
metro2 days ago32 Nigerians Nabbed in Ghana as Cyber Security Authority Raids Kasoa Scam Hub
-
Sports3 days agoMessi Tour Chaos in India: Angry Fans Storm Kolkata Stadium After Football Icon’s Abrupt Exit
-
metro2 days agoFrom Sneakers to Suits: Shettima Recalls NBA Dressing Saga at NIPSS Event
-
metro2 days agoNigerian Troops Repel ISWAP Attack on Borno FOB, Kill Terrorists
-
Health2 days agoBauchi Gov Approves 100% Salary Increase for Doctors, Health Workers
-
Politics2 days ago2027 Presidency: APC Unveils South, North-Central Strategy to Secure Tinubu’s Re-election
-
metro1 day agoEnd Biafra Agitation, Tinubu Has Integrated Ndigbo Into National Development — Umahi
You must be logged in to post a comment Login