October 20, 2021

[GIST] #EndSARS: Lawless Policemen Fire Teargas To Disperse Protesters At Lekki Tollgate

[GIST] #EndSARS: Lawless Policemen Fire Teargas To Disperse Protesters At Lekki Tollgate

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Operatives of the Nigerian Police on Wednesday fired teargas canisters at the Lekki tollgate to disperse #EndSARS campaigners. 

This comes as the protesters in various vehicles 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. 

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.

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 8 am and 10 am, 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 8am to 10am.

”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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[GIST] Nnamdi Kanu To Stand Trial For Calling Buhari ‘Idiot, Paedophile, Terrorist’ – Lawless Department Of State Services Reveals Seven-Count Charge Against IPOB Leader

[GIST] Nnamdi Kanu To Stand Trial For Calling Buhari ‘Idiot, Paedophile, Terrorist’ – Lawless Department Of State Services Reveals Seven-Count Charge Against IPOB Leader

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The Nigerian government has put forward its amended seven-count charges against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu before a Federal High Court in Abuja. 

The fresh charges border on treasonable felony and terrorism following the pending charges he was facing since 2016.

Amongst the charges, the Department of State Services (DSS) accused Kanu of describing President Muhammadu Buhari as “as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil”.

Meanwhile, the court has issued hearing notice in the case, which is billed to commence on Thursday, October 21.

The full charges below; “Count One: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State being the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in London, United Kingdom, did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, preparations made by you and others now at large for states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue States to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into the Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(c) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“Count Two: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area ot Abia State, on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“Count Three: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State between the month of March and April 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court , a Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L concealed in a container of used household which you declared as used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) of the Criminal Code of Act ,Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“Count Four: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult. of Afaraukwu iIbeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in London, United Kingdom between 2018 and 2021 Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and FCT, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, professed to be a member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16 Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 

“Count Five: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 22th of April, 2021 in London, United Kingdom on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act of terrorism in that you incite the other members (followers) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB}, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria, to look for security personnel, their family members through a Radio Biafra on 102.1FM monitored through the IPOB Community Radio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.

“Count Six: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia Stale on the 16thh of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “In 2 weeks’ time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still, mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

“Count Seven: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 31st of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by issuing a deadly threat that anyone who flouted your sit-at-home order should “write his/her will,” as a result banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses and vehicular movements grounded and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”

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[GIST] How Ghanaian Police Illegally Raid, Harass, Extort Money From Nigerians In Ghana – Activist

[GIST] How Ghanaian Police Illegally Raid, Harass, Extort Money From Nigerians In Ghana – Activist

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A human rights activist, Dr Leo Igwe, has called on Nigerian government to investigate the ongoing harassment and extortions of Nigerian nationals by the Ghanaian police. 

Igwe in an article titled, “Guilty of being Nigerian in Ghana” revealed that the the Ghanaian policemen had constantly raided illegally the apartments of Nigerian communities in Ghana to extort money from them without any intervention from the authorities. 
Leo Igwe

The activist disclosed that his Ghanaian friend revealed to him through a Facebook post of this malicious attacks on Nigerians by security agencies in Ghana. 

Igwe said, "The Nigerian government should look into the treatment of Nigerians in Ghana because there are reports of police harassment and extortion from Nigerians in the country.

"A Ghanaian friend recently shared a Facebook post on some police raids that targeted Nigerians. His post reads: “My apartment has been raided by the Ghana Police 4 times in less than a year. Whatever reason you think for this; it’s worse. The apartment used to be occupied by some Nigerian men who were tired of being harassed by the police. 

"So many Nigerians in Ghana suffer constant harassment by the police. The harassment has gone on for too long that some are tired. Yes, some Nigerians are tired of being targeted, stopped, and arrested by the police in Ghana.

"As the post further reveals, the raids have become a pretext for extortion: “The neighbor told me that they packed and left the day after the final raid; after they had to find 7000 Cedis bribe for the police to bail themselves out. They were not the only Nigerians who packed and left. More than five apartments became available after that raid”.

"So raiding apartments where Nigerians live has become a lucrative business for the police in Ghana. Police officers extort thousands of Cedis from Nigerians, then let them go and later return to raid and extort money from them again. Nigerians have become easy prey for the Ghana police. Nigerians have become a cash cow for Ghanaian authorities. 

“Look, this was not a random raid for illegal occupants. It was a targeted police action. There are nationals from many West African countries who are living in Ghana. When I was in Ghana, I met Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, and Ivoirians who were living in the country and who had taken Ghana as their home. In fact, on one occasion, I met some Fulanis in the Northern region. They entered Ghana on horses through the border with Burkina Faso. They had no travel documents."

He added that the unscrupulous Ghanaian policemen are after Nigerians in their country. 

He said, "The police in Ghana are not raiding apartments asking for Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, or Nigeriens who were illegally staying in the country. No, the police raided apartments asking: “Where are the Nigerians? So, the Ghana police have specifically been instructed to go after Nigerians. 

“The government of Ghana must rise to its responsibility and end this official witch hunt and maltreatment of Nigerian nationals who are living in the country. The government should know that there are at least 500,000 Ghanaians living in Nigeria."

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[GIST] Facebook Plans To Change Parent Company’s Name To Shed Scandals

[GIST] Facebook Plans To Change Parent Company’s Name To Shed Scandals

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Social media giant, Facebook is making efforts to rebrand itself with a new name next week in a bid to distance itself from a series of embarrassing scandals.

The firm's original social media site, Facebook, will likely keep its appellation, but Facebook Inc., the parent company which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, will rebrand.   

The Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, plans to reveal the parent company's new name at its annual Connect conference on October 28, but it could be unveiled sooner, the Verge reported.

The change is expected to position Facebook's social media app as one of many products under a parent company, which will oversee products like Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus and more. 

It will also help dissociate the firm's flagship social media brand from future bad publicity, with recent whistleblower testimony from former worker Frances Haugen managing to contaminate the reputations of Facebook and Instagram. 

The plan could also bring positive results to the company's reputation which has suffered various damages in recent years. 

It was accused of facilitating the spread of misinformation during the 2016 US presidential election, prompting a a series of congressional hearings and policy changes, including the introduction of third-party fact-checkers and further transparency in political advertising.

In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook $5 billion for allowing 87 million US profiles to be harvested for information used for political advertising by British firm Cambridge Analytica.

Some of the advertising was used to help the 2016 campaign of former American President Donald Trump.

Most recently, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen released a trove of documents dubbed the 'Facebook Files' to the Wall Street Journal. 

The internal research suggests that Facebook promoted divisiveness as a way to keep people on the site.  It also showed that the company knew Instagram harmed young girls' body image and even tried to brainstorm ways to appeal to toddlers by 'exploring playdates as a growth lever.'

Haugen, who anonymously filed eight complaints about her former employer with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, told 60 Minutes earlier this month: 'Facebook, over and over again, has shown it chooses profit over safety.'

She claimed that a 2018 change prioritizing divisive posts, which made Facebook users argue, was found to boost user engagement.

That in turn helped bosses sell more online ads that have seen the social media giant's value pass $1trillion. 

"You are forcing us to take positions that we don't like, that we know are bad for society. We know if we don't take those positions, we won't win in the marketplace of social media," Haugen said.

She also blamed Facebook for spurring the January 6 Capitol riot. 

Haugen, who spent two years at Facebook after working at Google, Yelp and Pinterest, testified in Congress on October 5.

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[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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