Demonstrators gathered at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on Sunday to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest. The memorial was to remember those who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020. Briefing Channels Television on Sunday, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Olanrewaju Ishola, said the protesters did not write, seeking police clearance and permission before embarking on the demonstration. “Constitutionally, they should write to me as the Commissioner of Police of their intention to do so, they did write to us and as such, any of such gathering is illegal and by extension, no police will not allow it to happen,” the State Police Commissioner, Olanrewaju Ishola, told Channels Television. The CP explained that the police authorities were not unmindful of the constitutional rights of citizens, but stressed that while exercising their rights, they must consider the place of the laws of the land above other considerations. According to him, police operatives have manned strategic parts of the state to avoid any planned breakdown of law and order. “What we had was gotten on social media. There are some people who want to celebrate the fourth anniversary of EndSARS. “We’ve been here since 12 a.m. overnight and all over Lagos, we have taken over the traditional points where protesters can gather. We are not averse to anybody exercising their fundamental rights, but the law of the land must be emplaced. So that’s the very essence of why we are here today. “So far so good, it’s been total non-acceptance of any disruption here and throughout the state in general. Earlier in the day, I went around all parts of Lagos like I said, all the traditional points, Gana Park, Freedom Park, Ikeja Underbridge, Alausa Mall, places of government infrastructure that they may want to unleash me. “We have all the place covered, and we have Lagos undercover, security-wise. I promise Lagos they are going to experience better policing and they have reasons to be Lagosians. It is a state that works, nobody can disrupt the activities of the government here,” he said.

Kenya’s ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday lashed out at his boss William Ruto as “vicious” and cruel, warning that his life could be in danger. Gachagua was impeached by the Senate on five out of 11 charges levelled against him on Thursday, but a court order put his replacement process on hold. “I am shocked by how vicious a man I helped to be president, believed in and was persecuted when I supported could be so vicious against me,” he told reporters. The embattled 59-year-old said his security had been withdrawn and his entire staff sent on compulsory leave. “If anything happens to me or my family, President William Ruto must be held to account,” he said, claiming past attempts at his life. He was speaking after he was discharged from a hospital in the capital Nairobi where he was being treated for severe chest pains. Gachagua fell ill on Thursday barely an hour before he was due to testify in the unprecedented two-day impeachment trial. The upper house proceeded to vote on his removal from his office after his lawyers unsuccessfully bid to postpone the session. He was found guilty on charges including threatening judges and practising ethnically divisive politics, but cleared of corruption and money-laundering. In the fast-moving political drama, Ruto swiftly nominated Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki to replace Gachagua. But a High Court in the capital suspended the appointment process within minutes of parliament voting overwhelmingly to approve Kindiki, a 52-year-old academic turned political heavyweight. A three-judge bench is due to hear the case on Tuesday. “The president in total violation of the court order viciously withdrew security around me,” Gachagua said, despite him still being deputy president. “I don’t understand this level of viciousness… at his lowest moment in life when he is literally struggling to stay alive, you unleash such viciousness against him.” Ruto has not yet given any public comment on the impeachment. Gachagua is the first deputy president to be ousted in this manner since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution.

’ The Ebonyi police command says 10 people sustained various degrees of injury in a gas explosion that occurred at a catering school in the state. Speaking with NAN on Saturday, Joshua Ukandu, police spokesperson in the state, said the incident happened at Orokeonuoha community, Ebonyi LGA. Ukandu said no casualties were recorded in the explosion, adding that it was caused by a cooking gas cylinder in the school’s kitchen. “The police are aware of the incident and it happened on Thursday— the victims were taken to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki,” he said. “At the time the incident occurred, there was no record of death— there were students in the school known as Good Shepherd Catering School, Orokeonuoha, when the incident occurred.” The police spokesperson described the incident as “very unfortunate”. Ralph Ibiam, chief fire officer at the Ebonyi State Fire Service, said the agency did not receive the report of the explosion. “Nobody called or informed the Ebonyi fire service about such an incident— gas explosions are becoming a trend in the state,” he said.

Officers of the Lagos State Police Command have fired teargas to disperse protesters rallying to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest. Videos seen on Sunday morning showed protesters fleeing as the police fired shots. The protesters had converged around 8:30 am at the toll gate with several banners and placards, calling for the full implementation of the reports submitted by various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests. In October 2020, thousands of youths gathered in major cities across the country to protest against the constant harassment, killings, and extortion by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian police. The protest culminated at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where several youths were reportedly killed and many others severely injured following the intervention of the Nigerian military. In the aftermath of the protests, judicial panels were established across various states to assess and review the protesters’ demands. However, almost four years later, protest leaders have expressed deep regret that many of the panels’ recommendations remain unimplemented. Speaking on Sunday, one of the protesters, identified simply as Excel, said he fell into the gutter while running from the teargas fired by the officers. “They have started firing teargas at us. I fell into the gutter; I was hit on the head,” he told PUNCH Online. Another protester, Bayo Are, said, “I was hit too. I’m not really injured, just a few scratches on my body. Some people have also been arrested.” When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that there was no confrontation, but the police had to disperse the protesters to prevent traffic disruption at the Lekki Toll Gate. “They were told to disperse, but they were adamant; we had to use minimal force to disperse them,” Hundeyin said.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu and his government “to stop the ‘weaponization’ of the country’s security agencies to target Nigerians simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights, and to direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately withdraw the baseless defamation lawsuit by their proxies against our organization and management staff.” Two named DSS officials last week filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, following allegations by the organization regarding the recent invasion of its Abuja office by some officials of the security agency. In the open letter dated 19 October 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We are seriously concerned that your government seems to be weaponizing the DSS and misusing defamation laws as a tool of repression and to target those who defend human rights.” SERAP said, “Rather than addressing the allegations of widespread corruption in the oil sector and the worsening economic situation in the country, and reducing the cost of governance, your government is targeting those who campaign for actions in these areas.” The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken following the receipt and/or publication of this letter.” “If the lawsuit is not immediately withdrawn, we will be prepared to defend our organization and management staff in court, and to join your government and DSS in the lawsuit. This may include calling witnesses to ensure justice, end impunity for rights abuses, and achieve legitimate public interests in this matter.” “We have since 2004 pursued several public interest cases against the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. This is the first time any government will weaponize the country’s security agencies to intimidate and target our organization.” “The defamation lawsuit is brought by two named DSS officials but their names are unknown to our organization. The lawsuit by these officials is apparently instigated and sponsored by the DSS under your watch.” “It is critical for human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other citizens to be able to organize and freely exercise their human rights without the threat of baseless lawsuits by your government or its security agencies and/or their proxies.” “Weaponizing the security agencies to intimidate, harass and silence human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors will weaken representative democracy, deepen impunity and undermine the rule of law.” “Rather misusing the security agencies to crackdown on human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors, your government ought to take steps to thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate the allegations raised by SERAP.” “We are disappointed that your government has so far failed to respond to our recommendations calling on you to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol across its retail outlets.” “Your government has also failed to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury and to prosecute suspected perpetrators.” “Your government also continues to refuse to obey several court judgments obtained by SERAP, including those which ordered the Federal Government to disclose the details of the agreement with X, formerly Twitter, to assess whether the agreement complies with the exercise of Nigerians’ human rights online and to account for payments of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.” “SERAP had on 9 September 2024 also called on you and your government to direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of our organization and our staff members.” “Our call followed the invasion of our Abuja office by some officials of the DSS. SERAP was subsequently served with a defamation lawsuit with number CV/4547/24.” “The country under your government has witnessed an escalating crackdown on human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, as well as socio-economic rights.” “The judicial harassment of those who peacefully defend human rights is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.” “Under your government, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors such as the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) continue to face harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary detention simply for carrying out their legitimate work.” “The judicial harassment of SERAP by your government and its agencies shows hostility towards civil society actors defending the rights of other citizens, criticizing human rights violations, and challenging a culture of impunity for perpetrators.” “SERAP therefore urges your government to end the intimidation, harassment and threats against our organization and management staff and other human rights defenders, activists as well as journalists and other civil society actors, including intimidation, through baseless legal processes.” “SERAP strives to ensure that our human rights and anticorruption work meet the highest standards of analytical rigor devoid of politics. Our work is driven solely by the fundamental principles of justice, impartiality, solidarity and universality of human rights. SERAP believes that no government is beyond scrutiny and accountability.” “SERAP’s non-partisan work in the field of human rights and anticorruption has been widely recognized nationally and internationally. Our organization received the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award in 2014, and was nominated for the UN Civil Society Award and Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award. SERAP was also nominated for the 2024 Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prizes.” “Our organization’s calls on your government regarding the persistent increases in fuel prices and allegations of corruption in the NNPC are based on the constitutional and international responsibilities of your government to Nigerians who are victims of corruption, and your constitutional oath of office.” “SERAP believes that it is through action like this that