• Oyedepo backs protesters, says ‘lives have no value’ under Buhari

• Stop soldiers from dispersing protesters, Falana-led group tells Buhari

• Protests spread to London, Coventry, Edinburgh, Nottingham

• Protesters launch online radio, Soro Soke

Ibe Pascal Arogorn

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the leaders of the National Assembly over the ongoing protests against the scrapped Special Anti- Robbery Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

Those attending the meeting holding inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja with the President are the President of the Senate , Ahmad Lawan; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media , Bashir Ahmad, disclosed this in a message he posted on his Twitter handle , @ BashirAhmaad.
“ President @ MBuhari currently meeting with Senate President , @ DrAhmadLawan and Speaker , @ femigbaja on the ongoing #EndPoliceBrutality protests, ” he wrote .

Oyedepo backs protesters, says ‘lives have no value’ under Buhari

Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide , David Oyedepo , has warned against the shooting of youths protesting against police brutality, extrajudicial killings , and extortion in the country .

He explained that the youths have good justifications to protest, adding that killing them during the protest “ is a sacrilege ” .

He described the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari as the most “ gruesome” in the history of the country .

Oyedepo spoke during the second service of the church , monitored by our correspondent, on Sunday .

He said , “ Every man has a right, legitimately so , to express his displeasure and pains. Everybody has it.

“ I kept quiet for a while because in 2015 I warned this nation , vehemently , consistently… because I saw the dangers ahead and you can tell.

“ The most gruesome season in the life of this nation is in the last five years , where lives have no value , wanton killings here and there .

“ Now , they have faced the youths; and because they don’ t know who is next, they have a right to say enough is enough .

“ Any system that has no value for human lives is irrelevant, if they are killed when they were youths, will they be here today?

“ Now , it would be a sacrilege to shoot the protesters who are not looting , who are not ravaging.

“ When you push a goat to the wall then you will know that goats have teeth to bite.

“ It is a sacrilege to kill youths during a protest, this protest is legitimate. ”

Stop soldiers from dispersing protesters, Falana-led group tells Buhari

The Alliance for Survival of COVID -19 and Beyond, a coalition of labour and civil society groups being led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria , Femi Falana , has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against deploying soldiers to disperse the #EndSARS protesters from the streets .

The human rights activist in a statement on behalf of ASCAB on Sunday in Abuja , also vowed to drag the Chief of Army Staff , Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, to the International Criminal Court , in The Hague if any of the #EndSARs protesters were killed by any soldiers.

The statement is titled , ‘ #EndSARS: Kill protesters , face International Criminal Court , ASCAB cautions Buratai ’ .

The group specifically urged the Federal Government to withdraw plans to use soldiers to quell the protests that have rocked major cities across Nigeria .

The protests against police brutality which began over a week ago in Lagos and Abuja have spread to about 30 states in the country .

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Nigerian Army said it would commence Exercise Crocodile Smile VI from October 20 to December 31, as part of its effort to enhance the safety and security of the country.

But Falana , who is the Chairman of ASCAB , warned , “ Buhari should not invite soldiers to resolve a purely democratic issue that calls for dialogue and constructive engagement. ”

ASCAB noted that protests have common features across the world as seen in Hong Kong , United States , France , South Africa , Belarus and even in Sudan.

It added that in no instance were soldiers deployed to suppress the protesters .

“ Nigeria wants to set another ugly precedence in world history , ” the group said .

It reminded the Federal Government that Operation Crocodile Smile had been declared illegal by a Nigerian Court with competent jurisdiction following legal actions filed by Falana .

It added that efforts by the Chief of Army Staff to challenge the order by approaching the Court of Appeal met a brick wall .

ASCAB recalled that the Federal High Court in July this year , granted a perpetual injunction restraining the Army from such an exercise , in Femi Falana SAN v Chief of Army Staff ( FHV /L /CS/1939/19

The group said it was already monitoring and compiling lists of all extra -judicial killings associated with the protests and that Buratai or any soldier involved in any killings would be held personally responsible at the international court .

ASCAB said peaceful protests remained the only way Nigerians are entitled under the Nigerian constitution to register their grievances against a system that suffocates them .

The statement further read , “ The plan to deploy soldiers is dangerous .
“ It will push Nigeria into the red light district of global reckoning.

“ Sending soldiers after school children and leaders of tomorrow shows what future we anticipate for the teeming population of young men and women who have taken to the streets to protest against a system that buries their dreams and shatter their potentials and aspirations .

“ Nigerian authorities said on Saturday that soldiers will be deployed this week to bring an end to the weeklong demonstration over police brutality.

“ We urge President Mohammadu Buhari not to use soldiers to quell a peaceful , civil protest .

“ The protesters have been lawful. The few cases of violence were associated with armed thugs disrupting the protests coupled with the shooting of protesters by security operatives . ”

Protests spread to London, Coventry, Edinburgh, Nottingham

Protests against police brutality, extortion, and extrajudicial killings have spread to London, Coventry , Edinburgh, and Nottingham .

The organisers of the protests made this known in an awareness image shared on social media.

The message on the image showed that the protests will be organised at several locations on Sunday .

In Coventry , #EndSARS “ peaceful protest ” held at Coventry Transport Museum CV11JD at 2. 30pm.
Another protest was organised by All BlackLivesMatter UK March against police brutality at the
Nigeria High Commission – Scotland Yard – Parliament Square – between 2pm and 6pm.

Like it was done across several locations in Nigeria , a candlelight procession would also be held for victims of SARS brutality at Trafalgar Square , Charing Cross by 7pm .

Similarly , #EndSARS protest is organised at Scottish Parliament Building EH 99 1SP, Edinburgh from 1pm to 3pm.
Some Nigerians in Newark , New Jersey also held a protest on Sunday .

“ The police in Nigeria have no boundary. If you have been a victim of police brutality, you will understand. In Abuja , Port-Harcourt , you will understand that the emotional pains have no geography , ” one of the protesters said .

Many Nigerians and sympathisers are also expected to converge on Old Market Square in Nottingham to protest against police brutality in Nigeria by 3 pm.

protesters launch online radio, Soro Soke

Youths calling for a total overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force have launched an online radio , Soro Soke, The PUNCH has learnt.

The channel, through effective and timely communication , is expected to aid the coordination of #EndSARS protests nationwide.

When our correspondent tuned in to the station around 1pm on Sunday, programmes and live reports of missing and found #EndSARS protesters were escalated on the radio , https ://s 4. radio . co/s 99d55c 85b/listen .

Songs calling for a reformed Nigeria were also heard on the station.
Soro Soke , a Yoruba sentence which translates as ‘ Speak Up , ’ had last week become a mantra of the #EndSARS campaign after protesters in Lagos State urged Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu to ‘ soro soke ’ whilst addressing the youths.
Soro Soke is also a metaphor for all Nigerians to speak up against bad governance and resist corrupt leaders .

The Twitter handle of the station, @ Sorosoke247, reads , “ 24/7 update on all things protest. We are for a better nation powered by value for life and good governance . ”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the now -disbanded Special Anti – Robbery Squad approved the five -point demands put forward by the youths protesting against the brutality and extrajudicial killings by ex – SARS operatives.

Over N 80m has been raised for the #EndSARS campaign which has gained the support of well -meaning people at home and abroad .

EndSARS: ‘Youths control the new Nigeria’, says Rudeboy Paul Okoye

Singer Paul Okoye professionally called Rudeboy, has said that the youths are the people controlling Nigeria now.

The music star, formerly of the defunct Psquare with twin brother Peter, said this at the Lekki-Ajah Toll Gate Plaza where #EndSARS protesters are gathered.

Rudeboy while addressing protesters said that the new Nigeria has evolved and urged youths not to back down.

He urged all protesters to remain focused in their fight to #EndSars, #EndSWAT and #EndPoliceBrutality.

He said he was once a victim of SARS harassment before he became popular.

“Should it be like that?

The music star urged all youths to get their PVCs ahead of the 2023 election, saying now we are voting in youths in all political positions from our local governments to the National Assembly.

EndSARS protest is a waste of time, reinvent Biafra — Asari tells Niger Deltans

Ex-Niger Delta warlord, Alhaji Asari Dokubo in a fiery 8:57 minutes video on his Facebook page on Sunday, addressed Niger Deltans participating in the nationwide #ENDSARS protest which he described as a waste of time.

He said: “There is nothing to restructure or remodel about Nigeria. Instead of wasting our (Niger Deltans) time in cooperating with the Yorubas and Igbos in ENDSARS or restructuring protests, the only solution as Niger Delta people is to team together with the Ogonis and the Igbos and Efiks and reinvent Biafra because nobody can oppress the Ijaw man in Biafra.

“What we need to do is to seek ye first the political kingdom and every other thing will be added to you because you will control and hold your oil.

“Anything else is not going to work unless we stand up and fight for Biafra. Anybody talking about restructuring, Niger Delta republic or an Ibo Biafra is an enemy of our people because biafra most surely come whether you like it or not.

He also lamented the poor funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC compared to the North East Development Commission, NEDC stating that regard less of the debit owed the NDDC by multi-national oil companies for the development of the region, the Federal Government has failed to do anything in ensuring that the debts are paid to the agency.

Asari also cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan not to fall for calls by emissaries beckoning on him to run for the 2023 presidential election.

Despite being a strong supporter of Dr Goodluck while in and out of office, Asari who expressed displeasure over his consistent visits to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, used unprintable words on the former president who he lampooned for consistently visiting the Presidential Villa.

He said: “Goodluck Jonathan is now fooling himself running around to Aso Rock thinking that they are going to give him the presidency come 2023.

”They are not going to give you (Jonathan) anything. They will disgrace you and take away that small respect that you have and throw you in the trash can. But we are watching, let them prove us wrong and let us see.”

Senate President Ahmed Lawan Calls For End To Protests

Senate President Ahmed Lawan has called for an end to the protests rocking the country at the moment.

Senator Lawan said the protests have yielded the desired results and that government needs time to address a few of the demands made by the protesting youths.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting between himself, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and President Muhammadu Buhari, today at State House in Abuja.