Crime Facts

‘It was less about ethnicity… the crowd was uncontrollable’ — Alaba traders speak on voter registration brawl

  On Thursday, there were comments on social media claiming that thugs had attacked traders from the Alaba market during a voter registration exercise in Ojo area of the state. The traders were said to have shut their stalls to enable those who had not registered for their PVCs to do so. The move was said to have increased the number of registrants on Thursday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, Igbede, Ojo. Addressing the claims, Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, in a tweet on his official handle, said the situation had nothing to do with ethnicity, saying the people were “simply large in number”. A witness told TheCable that Alaba traders did not represent the entire population present for the voter registration exercise on the day. “I also came to change my name due to marriage,” she said, adding that the issue had less to do with ethnicity and more to do with breakdown of order. “You know, when a fight breaks out, thugs can beat anybody in their way. People should not spread fake news, nobody died but people were injured.” A group of security officers was said to have gone into the INEC office “with someone that looked like a traditional ruler or an eminent person in the society”, leaving the already-tensed crowd — queuing outside the main gate of the INEC office — furious.     “They entered the office at a time when three people were about to be called in for registration. When the wealthy man came out, a guy tried removing his plate number but the wealthy man stopped him. I think somebody slapped the wealthy man from the back,” she said. According to her, a few minutes after the man left the vicinity, thugs arrived on bikes, noting that there might be a connection between both incidents. “Because guys will be guys, instead of handling the issue with patience, they rushed and were injured. In fact, somebody who jumped a fence broke his leg and was rushed to the hospital,” she said. According to her, nobody knew the tribe of the man who confronted the wealthy man but the thugs were said to chant “you won’t register Igbos” as they dispersed the crowd. She, however, said there was a restoration of calm after the police intervened and chased the thugs away. Zubi Mmadueke, a middle-aged trader at the Alaba market, corroborated her claim. “We were waiting for them to start the registration but it didn’t happen. A few moments later, a group of soldiers arrived in a convoy”. Giving a slightly different account, Mmadueke said they “packed the printer inside a Hilux vehicle and went away with it”. “Not too long after, we saw many bikes – more than twenty bikes – with thugs wielding sticks,” he said. “They started chasing Igbo people away, telling us that everybody should leave and asking why we closed the market to register for PVC. Everybody ran away and I don’t think anybody was able to register that day.” Samuel Iyanuoluwa Poopla, another trader, said the traders had been informed that they should register for PVCs, expecting a smooth exercise. However, the traders were said to be disappointed at the handling of the exercise by INEC. “You should see how they were treating humans. Officers stood at the gate as people were being called in. The largest crowd was outside the gate but a number of people were also inside,” he said. Joy Okoronkwo, another trader at Alaba market, said the crowd was “large and discouraging”. She said this prompted her decision to leave the INEC office for a registration centre at Shibiri. “When I got to Shibiri, we still wrote down our names but we were told that anybody who does not live in that area should go home,” she said. When TheCable visited the INEC office, Ojo, on Friday, a group of people, over 20, were seen clustering around an INEC officer, who addressed them on the need to be patient; even as others remained on their seats unbothered, some visibly angry. Speaking on the issue, Olusegun Agbaje, resident electoral commissioner (REC), INEC, Lagos, confirmed the incident to TheCable. “I understand that there was some clash between thugs and area boys but not within our premises. Our work went on smoothly yesterday and even today, there was no problem in our office in Ojo local government,” he said. Reacting to claims by traders that there were only two registration machines at the office, he said it was because others were deployed to other parts of the local government. “The machines were taken to other wards and that started over a month ago,” Agbaje said. “Additional machines have now been sent to Lagos state and by next Tuesday, they are going to deploy them to all the local governments to further support what they have now.” According to him, INEC did not mandate the Alaba traders to close their shops. “It is unfair as they made it look as if INEC is not able to cope. It is not true. There is no way anybody can cope with that large number of people,” he said. “What we are arranging now is that we are discussing with the leadership of the market to let them know that maybe in batches now that we are going to have more machines in the area.”

2023 Presidency: Yahaya Bello Vows To Mobilise Youths For Tinubu’s Victory

  Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has pledged to mobilise youths for the presidential ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer Bola Tinubu. He made the pledge on Friday when the former Lagos state governor visited him in Abuja “The exercise (APC convention/primary) has come and gone. I am telling you that I will be that general that will be on the field to command the younger generation – because they believe in me in their numbers – that will lead them to the polling units in every nooks and cranny of the country to make sure that we win resoundingly,” the governor said, days after the Tinubu beat him and several others to win the APC presidential ticket. “Never again will PDP lead this country.” He also hailed the Tinubu for his contributions to democracy in Nigeria, saying the APC chieftain’s experience sets him apart from the rest. The governor also donated his campaign office to Tinubu. “Today, I have collapsed my Presidential Campaign Organisation. I am donating my campaign organisation’s secretariat to you,” he said. “I’ve learnt a lot from the little lecture you gave to us. What elders see when they’re in the valley, the younger ones won’t see it.” On his part, Tinubu appreciated the gesture and promised to work for the party and the country’s unity. He described the governor as a “son” and commended him for contesting for the APC presidential ticket despite his youthfulness. “Thank you, all members of Yahaya Bello Campaign Organisation,” Tinubu said. “You all made a mark, you were resolute. But there’s a difference between a tiger and a lion.” Tinubu’s visit to the governor is part of moves to reconcile members of the party following the primary election. He was accompanied by a former National Chairman of the APC Adams Oshiomhole.

Eight Kebbi APC lawmakers defect to PDP

  The Peoples Democratic Party in Kebbi State has gained eight new lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress. The new entrant lawmakers comprised five members of the federal legislature and three members from the state legislature. It was alleged that the procedures to which congresses in the state were conducted by the APC resulted in the mass exit from the party where many members alleged that they were disenchanted. In the federal legislature, the senator representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, Adamu Aliero; Kebbi North Senatorial District, Yahaya Abdullahi; Senate leader, including a member of the House of Representatives, defected from the APC to PDP. Also, members representing Aliero/Jega/Gwandu and Dandi/Arewa federal constituencies, Mohammed Jega and Abdullahi Zumbo, exited the APC for PDP. In the state assembly, Habibu Labbo, Ismaila Biu, and Mohammed Aliero, representing Gwandu, Arewa, and Aliero constituencies, also renounced their membership of the APC for the PDP. State Organising Secretary of the PDP in Kebbi State, Usaini Raha, confirmed the defection of the lawmakers to the party.

Lawan urges striking NASS workers to call off action, embrace dialogue

  The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has urged the striking workers of the National Assembly to call off their industrial action and instead, embrace dialogue for speedy resolution of the disputes. Lawan made the appeal at a meeting which he summoned to find a way out of the lingering issues between the workers and the management of the National Assembly. Workers of the National Assembly under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria(PASAN) had embarked on an indefinite strike from Monday to press home their demands for payment of some allowances. “I want to urge you, whenever we disagree, let’s try to come and sit and talk about it because when we talk, we are able to find some common grounds and solutions. I am very happy that we have been able to deal with this,” Lawan said. In attendance at the meeting were the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi and the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sabi Abdullahi. The NASS management was represented by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Arch. Ojo Olatunde and Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission, Ahmed Amshi and some top officials of the National Assembly. President of PASAN, Comrade Mohammed Usman also led his other colleagues who are officials of PASAN. After the two sides had narrated their positions on the disputes, the Senate President assured the workers that he would reach out to the relevant authourities that would facilitate the speedy resolution of the issues involved. The President of PASAN, Comrade Mohammed Usman, in his final response, said he would communicate the outcome of the meeting to his other colleagues who are members of PASAN.

THE AFTERMATH: How Nigerians who escaped Russia-Ukraine war are faring in Europe

  Paul Umuche, a 26-year-old Nigerian student, heard a huge explosion from his apartment in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. He peeked through the window but was not sure where the sound was coming from, so he remained in his apartment. Russia invaded Ukraine the same day and the blast Umuche had heard some hours ago, was from bombing and rockets targeted at different parts of the city. When Umuche read the news and saw that Ukraine was being invaded, he told his roommate, another Nigerian, that they had to leave the city. “The whole building was shaking from the impact of the blast and we became afraid,” he said. “I saw Ukrainians and other people running to different directions and it became clear to me that this has become serious.” As news of the invasion circulated, frantic evacuation efforts across the country started. Umuche grabbed a backpack, packed a few of his stuff and headed to the train station. At the train station, more than 4,000 people – Ukrainians and foreigners – had swarmed around the premises and were waiting to take the train. The chaos of the invasion had caused delays with some services – airports, train stations and taxis shutting down. Umuche and his friend joined the queue and were hoping to take the next available train leaving the city. “Everybody was confused and wanted to leave for safety,” he said. After waiting at the train station for some five hours, none arrived. Two hours later, three 22-seater buses arrived and Umuche and his friend struggled to get in. The buses were headed for Lviv, another Ukrainian city which shares a border with Poland. They arrived at Lviv the next morning after driving for more than 10 hours. With no available means of transportation to the border, Umuche and other refugees had to walk for two days to the Medyka border which has become one of the busiest border crossings between Ukraine and Poland since the war started. Poland was not the only destination. Thousands of refugees fleeing the war were arriving in Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Romania which shares a border with Ukraine. Germany and other European countries also opened their doors to accept the refugees. “It was a treacherous journey,” Umuche recalls the walk to the border. “You don’t know if you would be attacked on the way or if the bombing or gun fires will hit you.” Once at the border, Umuche and other foreigners fleeing the war said Ukrainian border guards would not let them pass through. “They asked us to go back and help their army fight the Russians. But this is not our war,” he said. “Why would they ask us to go back and help them fight for something we have nothing to do with?” Umuche and other refugees refused to go back to Ukraine and instead, decided to fight back. For two days, during the stand-off with the border guards, they slept in the open under freezing temperatures and had no food or water. On the third day, they decided to break the barricade which had been placed at the border and force their way into the Polish territory. “That was how we were able to get in,” he tells me. “If we had not taken any action, they would have forced us to go back and that was not an option.” Umuche’s experience is not isolated. Thousands of foreigners, from mostly African or Asian countries who were fleeing the war, have shared their traumatic experiences of racism and discrimination at the border. “When we wanted to enter the train, they started pushing us out and said it was only for Ukrainians,” said Alexander Orah, another Nigerian student who lived in Kyiv. “I saw that act as racist and discriminating because they were allowing only white people and some of them are not even Ukrainians.” Orah, who was travelling to the Ukrainian-Polish border through Lviv, said the officials later told them that the train was for women and children only. But when women and children from Africa wanted to get in, they pushed them away. “So, it was obvious that they were discriminatory, so I urged people there to speak up against it because if they don’t talk, the practice will continue.” As the discrimination continued, Orah started sharing posts about it on Twitter to raise awareness. The tweets sparked outrage and the next day, Orah and other foreigners were allowed to enter the train after spending a night at the station. But that was not the end: After Orah and other refugees arrived at the border, the guards would not let them in and asked them to go to the Romanian border. “We started shouting again for them to let us pass but they stood their ground,” he said. “We trekked for more than four days to get here and this was what we faced.” At the border, a barricade separated Ukraine from Poland. Orah said the purpose of the barricade was to separate them according to their skin colour. “They separated the Whites from the Blacks,” he said. “They allowed in 100 white people and only two Africans or two Asians. That was when we started protesting. I’d been there for a day and other people had been there for three or four days. So, we decided to break the barricade.” When a scuffle ensued at the border, one of the soldiers pulled out his gun and threatened to shoot anyone who dared to move. “We told him that we were students and we were not in their country illegally to be treated this way,” Orah noted. The border guards called for backup who arrived a few minutes later, pulled out their guns and threatened to shoot them if they did not go back. “We knelt down and raised our hands up,” he said. After the long stand-off, Orah and other refugees decided to break the barricade and started heading toward the Polish border. “They started beating

APC gov primary didn’t hold in Akwa Ibom – INEC

  The Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State has revealed that the All Progressives Congress governorship primary did not hold in the state. This is coming as Akanimo Udofia, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic party to APC was declared the winner of the APC governorship primary. Udofia scored scored a total of 1,227 votes to defeat eight other governorship contenders including senator Ita Enang, the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to the President, Major General Mohammadu Buhari (retd), on Niger Delta Affairs. But a report sent to the INEC headquarters in Abuja, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Uyo, maintained that the governorship primary scheduled for Thursday May 26,2022 did not hold at all. The report read in part, “We wish to report that the APC governorship primary scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at the Sheer grace Arena, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State did not hold at all,”. The report further stated that the commission’s monitoring team, led by Mr Igini, in the company of the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Andrew Amiengheme, arrived at the venue of the primary for the third time at 6:45 p.m., without seeing anyone. It was gathered that while a faction of the party loyal to Senator Akpan James Udoedege was conducting its primary at the Sheer Grace Arena, the faction loyal to Senator Godswill Akpabio, was having it own at Okpo Obot street, Uyo, the state capital. Meanwhile, Senator Ita Enang, one of the aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state, has petitioned the National headquarters of the party and the election committee In the petition letter to the chairman, APC Gubernatorial Appeal Panel, Akwa Ibom state titled, ‘An appeal Against a null,void,and illegal gubernatorial nomination process in Akwa Ibom state’, Enang demanded that the entire process be nullified. “That All the processes of nominations of candidates in all elective positions should be called off and the party recalled, since INEC is not monitoring the whole exercise,” the petition partly read. It added, “I strongly appeal, that for the sake of APC having to be on the ballot for all the elections, there is need to come together so we can see how best to conduct our primaries. “My final prayer is that the purported nomination of Akan Udofia as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC be cancelled. “Mr. Akan Udofia is not an APC member. He is a PDP member, having contested and lost the PDP Primaries of Wednesday, May 25, 2022. “And the following day, May 26, 2022, he was purportedly to be on the ballot for the APC illegally declared. He cannot be on the ballot of both parties at the same time.”

Drama As ASUU Reject Intervention Fund To End Strike

  A mild drama ensued on Saturday morning as the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) rejected Berekete Family radio’s intervention to end the ongoing strike by the union. This is as popular radio presenter, Ahmad Isah, popularly known as Ordinary President, hosted the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, and his team, to speak to Nigerians, most especially varsity students, why the strike still lingers. Isah who had set up a bank account with TAJ Bank, to raise money for the union with the view of using the sum to convince ASUU to end the ongoing strike, displayed a sum of N50million cash donated by Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom state. The whole saga seemed not to go down well with the ASUU president as he frowned at it saying the union should not be associated with such. Many Nigerian students who called into the show expressed dissatisfaction with the union, describing them as “insensitive”. Isah who didn’t find the outcome at all threatened to discontinue with the intervention.

Ondo Govt Cancels June 12 Celebrations Over Owo Attack

  The Ondo State Government has canceled this year’s June 12 celebrations in the state following an attack on the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State said this in a tweet on his official handle on Saturday. “In honour of the victims of the terror attack at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the Ondo State Government has canceled this year’s June 12 celebration,” the governor tweeted. “The cancelation is to enable the people of Ondo State to mourn their loved ones who lost their lives in the horrific attack.” In honour of the victims of the terror attack at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the Ondo State Government has canceled this year’s June 12 celebration. The cancelation is to enable the people of Ondo State mourn their loved ones who lost their lives in the horrific attack. pic.twitter.com/5nsyhUO1pQ — Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) June 11, 2022 Earlier, the governor had faulted the Federal Government for blaming the attack on the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), saying the move was hasty. A statement from the governor’s media aide Richard Olatunde quoted his principal as saying that the terrorist group could have taken responsibility for the attack if it was behind it. “The statement is too hasty. I take their conclusion with a pinch of salt. ISWAP don’t hide their attacks,” the governor was quoted as saying during a virtual interaction with a Swiss-based Christian human rights Organisation, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) on Friday. “If they have done it, they would have owned up. We are yet to know their identity and our security people are still on their trail.” As far as the governor is concerned, the attack which left scores dead and many others injured further heightens the need for state police. “A single police command can not guarantee safety in this country. We must have state police now,” he said during the meeting. “We are doing our best with Amotekun. But Amotekun is suffering a lot of limitations in getting all the equipment needed to fight these criminals.”

You’ve Abandoned Lagosians For Tinubu’s Campaign, Adegboruwa Hits Sanwo-Olu

  Foremost Lagos-based legal practitioner, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to return to the state and face governance, saying governance in Lagos is “in recess.” Adegboruwa noted that since Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declared his presidential aspiration, Sanwo-Olu has abandoned governance in the state. According to him, Sanwo-Olu “is the unofficial campaign manager of Tinubu, his media strategist and personal anchorman. The Governor has hardly been in office.” In a statement posted on his Facebook page, the senior lawyer said after declaring a total ban on Okada in the state, the governor has not been on ground to monitor the aftermath of the ban. He added that crime has been on the increase in Lagos. He said, “It was the Governor that declared the ban on motorbikes but he is not on ground to monitor the daily crisis occasioned by the declaration, though commendable but needs careful enforcement. “The rainy season in Lagos is always a bitter experience for Lagosians in flooding, heavy traffic and other casualties, but the Governor has not been on his seat to address issues related to this. Crime has been on the increase in Lagos lately. “No doubt state resources will be involved in these campaign activities and most government officials will cash in on the absence of the Governor to also abandon their responsibilities, either to pursue their political other business interests. “There are many more grave consequences attendant upon the decision of the Governor to abdicate his constitutional responsibilities in pursuit of the political ambition of the APC presidential flag bearer. “From all the foregoing, I do hereby appeal to Governor Sanwoolu to return to Lagos and assume his constitutional responsibilities of functional governance. His Excellency was not elected as Campaign Manager of politicians but as an administrator.”

One die, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community

  The Plateau Police Command has confirmed one person killed by gunmen at a community in Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area. The attack, which happened on Friday, was rumoured to have been carried out around Government Science School Kuru, leaving one student dead and two students and a middle aged man sustaining gunshot wounds. The gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen attacked Kuru community on Friday Night with sporadic gunshots heard ringing throughout the area. The attackers were alleged to have been resisted by some community local forces who engaged them in a duel to forestall further casualties. Other reports claimed that the victims where on their way back to the school premises when gunmen opened fire on them. The body of the deceased student is said to have been deposited at Plateau specialist hospital while the injured have been taken to Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment. However in a swift reaction, the Police Command debunked there was an attack on the Science School Kuru. A statement by Plateau Police spokesman DSP Alabo Alfred, reads: “The attention of the Plateau State Police Command has been drawn to news making the rounds in some sections of the media space alleging erroneously that Science School Kuru, Jos is under attack by some groups believed to be terrorists. “The Command wishes to set the records straight that on 10/06/2022 at about 200hrs, information was received at our end that some unknown hoodlums were firing along Mararaban Jama’a, Riyom road not Science School Kuru Jos as it is reported by cross section of the media. ” Upon receipt of the report, a high powered team of Policemen and other security agencies responded swiftly mobilised to the scene of the incident but on reaching the scene, the gunmen had fled leaving behind one person dead and three others injured. “The injured persons were conveyed immediately to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile the Police are still on the trail of the fleeing suspects. “The Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew N. Onyeka, psc (+) advised members of the Public to go about their lawful business as normalcy has already been restored in the area. “He also assured that his men are on ground to contain any further disruption of peace. “The CP further advised members of the Press to always cross check their facts before reporting such issues of high security importance to members of the public in order not to mislead them.”