- Despite curfew, ban, #EndSARS protesters remain at Alausa, Lekki toll gate
- Three dead as hoodlums burn down police station, church in Abuja
- Ekiti declares 24-hour curfew
Ibe Pascal Arogorn
President Muhmmadu Buhari on Tuesday, held a closed -door meeting with the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi ( retd . ) , and the Chief of Defence Staff , General Gabriel Olonisakin.
The meeting was held inside the Presidential Villa , Abuja .
The meeting ’ s agenda was not made public .
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has yet to issue a statement on the meeting.
The meeting was however held at a time there are protests in parts of the country against the scrapped Special Anti – Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
The protests have turned violent in Abuja and some states leading to the declaration of curfew in Edo and Lagos States .
Although there was no official information confirming the agenda of the meeting , as at the time of filing this report , sources within the Statement House, suggested it was all in the bid to tame the escalating violence trailing the #EndSARS protests.
Despite curfew, ban, #EndSARS protesters remain at Alausa, Lekki toll gate
Some youths on Tuesday continued their #EndSARS protests at Alausa and Lekki toll gate in Lagos State despite the curfew imposed on the state.
Apart from the curfew imposed by the Governor , Babajide Sanwo- Olu, the Lagos State Police Command also banned protests in the state.
A few hours after the curfew took effect , the youths continued to agitate for their demands peacefully.
Though policemen and soldiers were deployed in the venue of the protest at Alausa , they did not use force on the protesters .
Some of the protesters guarded the vehicles of the policemen to prevent them from being attacked by hoodlums .
When the military personnel got to the venue of the protest , the youths formed a ‘ guard of honour’ to welcome them and later rode on their vehicle as a form of solidarity.
Also , the protesters failed to vacate the
Lekki toll gate.
Instead, they sat on the floor as a symbol that they were not ready to vacate the venue of the protest.
Earlier, the Lagos State Police Command had banned protests in the state.
This was contained in a press statement by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer , Muyiwa Adejobi, on Tuesday.
The police ban came a few hours after the Lagos State Government imposed a 24- hour curfew on the state, starting from 4 pm.
Before the declaration of the curfew, at least two police stations were burnt in Lagos State by hoodlums .
The statement read in part, “ Due to the new development of violent attacks on police officers and men and formations including innocent Nigerians in Lagos State , and the 24- hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4 pm today October 20; the Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the public that henceforth no protest or gathering or possession , under whatever guise, is permitted within Lagos State .
“ In light of the above, all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.
“ The command regrets to confirm the setting ablaze of Orile Police State today at about 10am , where some of our policemen were critically injured and unconfirmed reports state that one of them is dead . ”
The PPRO regretted that the #ENDSARS protests have been hijacked by hoodlums .
“ It ’ s crystal clear that the #ENDSARS protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state and the police command will resist such a state of anarchy , unrest , and brouhaha with all powers within the ambit of the law.
“ While the command is resolute in the sustenance of human rights and democratic tenets, the public is hereby warned to comply with the curfew and desist from any act of violence in the state as the command will resist such in totality, ” he added .
Three dead as hoodlums burn down police station, church in Abuja
The Dutse Makaranta Police Station, Kubwa , Abuja , has been set ablaze by suspected hoodlums .
The station and a church were said to have been razed during a clash between security operatives and hoodlums on Tuesday.
The incident was also said to have led to the death of three persons.
This is happening as the Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the deployment of riot policemen nationwide to protect lives and property .
The IG also deployed police operatives to strengthen security around custodial facilities nationwide.
A statement on Tuesday, by the force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, titled, ‘ Attacks on police facilities , others : IG orders deployment of anti – riot police officers, ’ explained that 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack on two custodial facilities and a police station in Edo State , on Monday .
Five rifles allegedly stolen from the police station were also recovered.
The statement read , “ The Inspector- General of Police, M . Adamu, has ordered immediate nationwide deployment of anti -riot police unit – the Police Mobile Force to protect lives and property of all Nigerians and secure critical national infrastructure across the country.
” The IGP has also ordered massive deployment of police operatives to strengthen security around correctional facilities nationwide.
“ Consequently, the Commissioners of Police in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT are to identify and isolate law -breakers from peaceful protesters ; immediately arrest and diligently prosecute such perpetrators of violence in their respective commands . ”
The police enjoined the members of the public to avail the force with useful information that can lead to the re- arrest of the fleeing inmates, unlawfully released from the correctional facilities .
The IG advised parents /guardians to prevail on their children/wards to steer clear of acts of violence and criminality “ as the Force will henceforth , exercise the full powers of the law to prevent any further attempt on lives and property of citizens. ”
Ekiti declares 24-hour curfew
Ekiti State Governor , Dr Kayode Fayemi, has imposed a 24- hour curfew on the state effective from 10pm on Tuesday ( today) .
Fayemi said the curfew followed the state governrment ’ s observation “ with growing concern how the ENDSARS protest, which started as a peaceful protest against police brutality by youths in Ekiti State , has been hijacked by some hoodlums . ”
He said , “ The hoodlums have capitalised on the ENDSARS protest to rape , assault , rob and extort innocent citizens across the State .
These are in addition to the wanton destruction of properties , particularly private properties . ”
The governor , in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government , Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday titled , ‘ Fayemi imposes 24- hour curfew on Ekiti , said , “ Government is concerned that if this state of affairs is allowed to continue unabated , it will lead to a breakdown of law and order thereby threatening the wellbeing of the people of Ekiti State . ”
“ In the past 48 hours there have been incidents of gang-rape , robberies, physical assaults on innocent people , looting and burning of a police station.
These acts of brigandage are not in consonance with the legitimate aspirations of the protesters . It cannot be logical to seek to remedy impunity with impunity.
“ Government , therefore , cannot afford to watch a deliberate enthronement of anarchy by some bad elements who have hijacked the protest for some clandestine reasons. Consequently, the Governor of Ekiti State , Dr Fayemi, hereby imposes a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State starting from 10 pm tonight, Tuesday, October , 20, 2020.
“ Only essential workers and service providers with valid means of identifications are allowed to move around during the period of the curfew. Any person found on the street that does not belong to this category, would be promptly arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of Ekiti State , ” Fayemi explained .
Hoodlums gangrape three girls at Ekiti EndSARS protest – AG
Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice , Olawale Fapohunda , said on Tuesday that no fewer than three girls were gangraped at the Fajuyi Park area of the state capital on Sunday by hoodlums who had hijacked the EndSARS protest.
Fapohunda, who frowned at the development, said , “ Rape and robbery cannot be the values of EndSARS protesters . It may now be necessary to alert all those participating in the protests, specifically girls and women to note that there exists hoodlums in their midst whose agenda is to rape and rob .
“ it is regrettable that the legitimate protests against impunity by SARS has now been hijacked by undesirable elements who rape , assault and rob innocent citizens .
“ It is becoming obvious that government cannot continue to allow the good people of Ekiti State suffer in this manner . ”
He spoke in Ado Ekiti while receiving the mothers of the three victims of the gangrape , where he advised them to immediately take the assaulted girls to the Ekiti State Sexual Assault Referral Centre – the Moremi Clinic , located in the Ekiti State Teaching hospital for medical check – up.
Fapohunda said , “ The rapists will be apprehended . The first step is to seek medical support for the girls. The girls will then be debriefed for the purpose of police investigation. ”
The mother of one of the girls , who spoke on behalf of the three mothers of the victims , said that their daughters joined the protests out of conviction of the cause and said they had appealed to the girls several times to be careful .
She said that the embattled mother had decided to visit the Attorney- General rather than the police because of the campaign by the state Ministry of Justice against sexual violence in the state.
The woman said , “ We are horrified that our daughters could be raped by those they with who they were fighting the same cause. We hereby plead with the Attorney-General to ensure that the rapists were apprehended and prosecuted” .
Five feared killed as hoodlums attack Ibadan police station
There are reports that five persons have been killed in the Ojoo area of Ibadan on Tuesday as the #EndSARS protest turned bloody in the city .
Our correspondent gathered that the police fired at the youths, when they attacked the police station in the area .
Although the killings could not be confirmed independently by our correspondent, shops and offices along the UI- Ojoo road were hurriedly shut and commuters trekked from Ojoo towards University of Ibadan area and beyond.
Tension started brewing in the area in the morning when some youths mounted roadblock right in front of the police station at Ojoo and started mocking the police.
Another set of protesters also blocked the Ojoo end of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway
The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State , Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi , did not answer the repeated calls placed to his telephone by our correspondent.
He had yet to reply to the text message sent to him as at the time of filing this report .
However, when contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor , Mr Taiwo Adisa, said the governor had yet to impose curfew on the state.
He said he learnt of the attack on the police station but could not say if lives were lost or not.
Senator: If dialogue fails, govt should use any means possible to stop #EndSARS protests
Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, has asked the federal government to do everything possible to stop the #EndSARS protests.
Speaking on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday, Aliero said the demonstrations have been hijacked by hoodlums who have unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens.
The Kebbi senator spoke while contributing to a debate on a motion sponsored by Biodun Olujimi, senator representing Ekiti south.
Across the country, citizens have taken to the streets to call for an end to police brutality and a reformation of the force.
“I want to suggest very strongly that dialogue should be used to get the youths to suspend the #EndSARS protests. Where dialogue fails, we should use whatever means possible otherwise it could lead to anarchy,” he said.
“Already a number of properties have been burnt, a number of people killed and no responsible government will lawlessness to take place when it is in power.
“For that reason government should use whatever means necessary to ensure that it ends the #EndSARS movement.
