October 20, 2021

[GIST] BREAKING: Tension As Police, Army Clash With #EndSARS Memorial Protesters In Abuja

[GIST] BREAKING: Tension As Police, Army Clash With #EndSARS Memorial Protesters In Abuja

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Armed security operatives have blocked Nigerians youths protesting in memory of those killed and brutality at Lekki tollgate in Lagos State and around the country during the #EndSARS protest on October 10, 2020.

The protest tagged #EndSARSMemorial kicked off from the unity fountain with demand for  end in police brutality in the country.

The protest, led by the human rights activists, Omoyele Sowore, Deji Adeyanju, and Pelumi Olajengbesi, was abruptly disrupted shortly after take-off  in front of Ministry of Justice by a combined security operatives including; the Nigerian police, the army and the Department of State Services.

The protesters insisted on marching to the National Assembly and the demand for justice for the victims of Lekki massacre but they were prevented by the security operatives led by the FCT Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Ben Igweh.

The police and security operatives asked the protesters to return to the Unity Fountain and continue with their protest leading to an altercation as the protesters stood their ground.

As at time of filing this story the stand-off continued as protesters remained on the road and vowed not to leave until their demands were met.

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[GIST] Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Convicts Civil Defence Officer Over Certificate Forgery

[GIST] Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Convicts Civil Defence Officer Over Certificate Forgery

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An Ogun State High Court has convicted and fined an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Idowu Olamide, for forging a certificate to secure employment upgrade. 
The convict was charged before Justice A. A. Akinyemi, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for using a forged National Diploma Certificate to secure an upgrade in his office.


This was stated in a release issued and signed by the ICPC spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, which was made available to SaharaReporters, on Wednesday. 
According to the anti-graft commission, Idowu was convicted and accused of “knowingly making false statement which is contrary to Section 25(1) of Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 25(1) (b) of the same Act."
The court was told how the convict presented a forged National Diploma Certificate in Automobile Engineering from Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, to NSCDC to be upgraded to senior cadre.
He had earlier entered a "Not Guilty plea" when the charge was read to him in June 2021 when he was first arraigned.
Idowu however changed his plea during the prosecution by approaching the Court with a prayer for plea-bargain which was granted by the trial judge. The charge was then amended from two-count to one, which centered on making false statement with the intent to deceive a government agency.
Delivering judgment, Justice Akinyemi found the NSCDC official guilty, and following a passionate plea by his Counsel, the Court convicted him on a non-prison committal sentence of a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) in line with the provisions of Section 25 of the ICPC Act 2000.

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[GIST] BREAKING: Police Arrest Five At Lekki Toll Gate As Protesting Nigerians Defy Security Operatives

[GIST] BREAKING: Police Arrest Five At Lekki Toll Gate As Protesting Nigerians Defy Security Operatives

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Some protesters on Wednesday defied the presence of policemen at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos to honour those killed by Nigerian soldiers at the venue on October 20, 2020.

The protesters were demanding for justice for those killed by soldiers at the plaza on October 20, 2020.

“How many people soldier go kill? How many people soldier go kill? Them go kill us tire,” the protesters chorused.

About five protesters have been attacked and arrested by the police.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had on Wednesday said the command would deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests to mark #EndSARS anniversary. 

Odumosu, in a statement issued by the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesman, Adekunle Ajisebutu, had said the attention of the command had been drawn to a post being circulated on the social media insinuating that the police in Lagos had agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of the one year EndSARS anniversary on 20th October, 2021.

A car procession in honour of those who lost their lives at the tollgate when soldiers dispersed #EndSARS protesters on October 20, 2020, is also holding at the tollgate.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the #EndSARS campaigners in various vehicles flooded the Lekki tollgate despite the heavy police presence. 

SaharaReporters had observed that the campaigners, in several vehicles, held on to the Nigerian flag and chanted #EndSARS while driving past the stationed police vehicles. 

The organisers of the #EndSARS anniversary protests in Lagos had on Tuesday said they would embark on a two-hour car procession through the Lekki Tollgate.

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, had said, “We will commence the protest at the Unity Fountain, Abuja by 8am in the morning.” 

Adeyanju, who confirmed that the protests would begin from the Unity Fountain, added, “I don’t think we need to inform the police about the protests.”

Two of the organisers — Folarin Falana and Adebowale Adedayo — had also lent their voice to the protests via social media posts.

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[GIST] Release #EndSARS Protesters Immediately – Civic Group, SERAP Warns Nigerian Police

[GIST] Release #EndSARS Protesters Immediately – Civic Group, SERAP Warns Nigerian Police

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Nigerian Police authorities to immediately and unconditionally release a journalist and other protesters arrested at the Lekki Tollgate. 

The group made the call in a post on its Twitter handle on Wednesday.


The tweet reads, “Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release two protesters including a journalist reportedly arrested this morning by the Lagos State Police Command at the Lekki tollgate where the #EndSARSMemorial protest is scheduled to hold. Protest is a right.” 

SaharaReporters had earlier reported how a journalist with Legit TV who identified himself as Abimbola was arrested by policemen of the Lagos State command at the Lekki Toll gate during the memorial #EndSARS protest. 

The police also arrested a young man clad in a white attire who had come to the venue with an #EndSARS banner. 

From a video shared, Abimbola was dragged by his belt to the police van parked nearby. 

He confirmed to his colleagues that he had misplaced his Identity card in transit but had his car parked somewhere around with a driver’s licence in it. 

Abimbola also alleged that the officers hit him inside their van. 

The police warned that anyone coming to the Lekki tollgate must come with a form of identification.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, on Wednesday said the command would deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests to mark #EndSARS anniversary.

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[GIST] #EndSARS Protesters, Campaign Vehicles Flood Lekki TollGate Amid Heavy Police Presence, Arrests

[GIST] #EndSARS Protesters, Campaign Vehicles Flood Lekki TollGate Amid Heavy Police Presence, Arrests

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#EndSARS campaigners in various vehicles have flooded the Lekki tollgate despite the heavy police presence. 

SaharaReporters observed that the campaigners, in several vehicles, held on to the Nigerian flag and chanted #EndSARS while driving past the stationed police vehicles. 


This is despite the heavy presence of policemen stationed in at least 30 vans at the tollgate. 

The organisers of the #EndSARS anniversary protests in Lagos had on Tuesday said they would embark on a two-hour car procession through the Lekki Tollgate.

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, had said, “We will commence the protest at the Unity Fountain, Abuja by 8am in the morning.” 

Adeyanju, who confirmed that the protests would begin from the Unity Fountain, added, “I don’t think we need to inform the police about the protests.”

Two of the organisers — Folarin Falana and Adebowale Adedayo — had also lent their voice to the protests via social media posts.

Nigerian rapper, Falana, more commonly Falz, and Adedayo, a comedian known as Mr Macaroni, used their various platforms to share fliers about the programme billed to hold between 8am and 10am, explaining that the decision was to prevent security forces from harassing participants.

A text on the flyer reads: “In memory of the lives lost on 20-10-20, there would be a memorial car procession on Wednesday 20, October 2021 taking place at the Lekki toll gate by 8 to 10 am.

”We should all endeavour to stay in our vehicles all throughout the procession and also in groups for safety reasons. Please ensure to arrive on time so we can proceed in unity together.”

One of the organisers on Tuesday said, “This is an advisory for designated locations in Nigeria for #EndSARS Commemoration and Memorials for Wednesday, October 20, 2021.”

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