Taiwo, Commander of 81 Division of the Nigeria Army, the unit of the army that sent troops to Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on the evening of October 20, 2020 to disperse peaceful protesters, and late Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo, a former military governor of Kwara State, who ordered the killing of hundreds of civilians during the Nigeria-Biafra war and also participated in the plotting and execution of at least two coup d’etats.

The incident at Lekki Toll Gate led to the shooting and killing of at least 12 protesters, according to Amnesty International and other prominent rights groups.

Brigadier General Taiwo, who has been explaining the role the army played in that incident at the sitting of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government to unravel the mystery behind the incident and also hear other cases of police brutality from victims, has been discovered to be the biological son of late Colonel Taiwo.

Brigadier General Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo

Since the incident of October 20, the Nigerian Army, through Taiwo, has given at least seven inconsistent accounts of what truly transpired at the Lekki Toll Gate that fateful night.

The most recent of his narrative came last Saturday when Taiwo told the panel that soldiers deployed to the scene led by Col. S.O. Bello, Commanding Officer of 65 Battalion, and Brig.-Gen. F.O. Omata actually went there with live ammunition – a claim totally in contrast with his earlier position on the issue. 

He, however, said the live ammunition was for backup purpose and not used by soldiers deployed to the scene.

Before then, the Nigerian Army headquarters had lied on the day of the incident that soldiers were never at Lekki Toll Gate to attack protesters as claimed in the media, branding the story as fake news – a position they had since backtracked from.

While Brigadier General Taiwo has made different headlines in recent days following his inconsistent narratives on the incident of October 20 at Lekki Toll Gate, similar infamous acts by his late father during his lifetime are well documented and a subject of scrutiny any day.

Serving as military governor of Kwara between July 1975 to February 1976 under the regime of General Muritala Mohammed, late Colonel Taiwo was famous for his involvement in the overthrow of some military regimes in the country.

Late Colonel Taiwo

As a captain at the Lagos Garrison in Yaba, he joined Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari (incumbent President of Nigeria), 2nd Lieutenant Sani Abacha, Lt Colonel Murtala Muhammed, Major Theophilus Danjuma among others to stage the counter-coup of 1966 over disagreements with General Aguiyi Ironsi’s government, which they claimed was Igbo dominated.

This led to the murder of Ironsi and Lt Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, opening room for Yakubu Gowon to emerge as Head of State.

Taiwo played a leading role in the coup that ousted Gowon and threw up Mohammed as Head of State.

On February 13, 1976, however, he was killed during a failed coup, which also killed Mohammed and led to Olusegun Obasanjo’s emergence as Head of State.

Before his death, Taiwo had in October 1967 after leading some Nigerian troops to Asaba, Delta State, during the war against Biafra, given direct orders for the killing of no less than 700 people including children.

For fear of being killed by the Nigerian Army, local leaders in Asaba assembled their people dressed in the ceremonial white attire to sing, dance and chant “one Nigeria” as soldiers drove by.

But late Colonel Taiwo ignoring this peaceful gesture ordered his men to ransack houses in Asaba and kill civilians, claiming that they were Biafran sympathisers.

He ordered the separation of men and teenage boys from women at an open square in Ogbe-Osowa Village and had his men open fire on them, killing more than 700 on the spot including children.

The massacre continued for days after the Ogbe-Osowa incident, which saw women being raped and others forcibly married to Nigerian troops.

The bodies of the victims were reportedly buried in mass graves in present day Delta State.

Curiously, some 53 years after, son of the same man, who ordered the massacre of civilians in Asaba in 1976, Brigadier General Taiwo, is at the centre of troops deployment to the Lekki Toll Gate on the request of Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on October 20, 2020 to violently disperse peaceful protesters demanding an end to police brutality and bad governance in the country.

Like it happened in Asaba in 1967, soldiers opened fire on Nigerian citizens clad in the country’s flag and singing the national anthem at Lekki Toll Gate, killing many of them in the process and injuring dozens more.

The incident has drawn global outrage with many calling for severe sanctions to be meted on all those, who played roles in the incident. (SaharaReporters)

Co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls movement Aisha Yesufu and LGBTQ+ activist Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim have made the BBC 100 Women list for 2020.

The list was drawn from over 60 countries to celebrate inspiring and influential women who are leading change around the world.

The BBC says “one name on the 100 Women list has been left blank as a tribute” to women in such “an extraordinary year.”

Uyaiedu is the director of Nigeria’s first lesbian movie Ife while Yesufu has been actively demanding good governance and accountability.

Other Africans on the list include singer Angelique Kidjo, Kenyan doctor Jemimah Kariuki, Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan psychiatrist Ethel Nakimuli-Mpungu and Congolese journalist Douce Namwezi N’Ibamba.

Others are South African singer/songwriter Bulelwa Mkutukana, Mozambican social justice activist Josina Machel, South African activist Ishtar Lakhani and Zambian artist and curator Mulenga Kapwepwe.

President Muhammadu Buhari says the construction of modular refineries in Nigeria will make petroleum products available in the country and eliminate importation.

Buhari said this during a virtual inauguration of the 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) Waltersmith modular refinery in Ibigwe, Imo state and ground-breaking ceremony for the second phase to expand the refinery’s capacity to 50,000bpd.

He said deployment of modular refineries was one of the four key elements of his administration’s refinery roadmap rolled out in 2018, adding that its implementation will make Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products.

”The realisation of the refinery roadmap will ultimately lead us to becoming a net exporter of petroleum products not only to our neighbouring countries but to the worldwide market,” Buhari said.

”This is the largest commissioned modular refinery in the country today.

”The role played by the federal government through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in going into collaboration with Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company is novel in concept and superb in delivery.”

WalterSmith Petroman Oil Limited owns 70 percent of the Refinery, while NCDMB holds 30 percent equity on behalf of the Federal Government.

He directed ministry of petroleum resources, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and other relevant government agencies to provide Waltersmith with all necessary support to access crude oil and condensate feedstock for timely delivery of the additional capacity.

He hoped that the construction of the second phase will create bigger additional employment opportunities than the first phase.

He pledged that the refinery will bring prosperity and economic development to the host community.

Buhari commended NCDMB for making the public-private partnership (PPP) a success and Waltersmith for their professionalism and focus in getting the project completed.

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo, and Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, cut the tape on behalf of Buhari at the event.

Others who attended the event on ground, were Mele Kyari, group managing director of NNPC; Simbi Wabote, executive secretary of NCDMB; and Abdulrazaq Isa, chairman of Waltersmith.(TheCable)

A teenager who got 7A1s in the 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has died.

Chisom Chukwuneke made straights A’s in the exam and emerged the best student from her school, Graceland college in Enugu last year. She went on to win numerous academic awards in her school.

Chisom was reportedly ill and was already recovering before she died.

A photo of her as she sat on her hospital bed has been shared online.

Source: Newspot

This world is fast becoming intolerable owing to pervasive wickedness of man against fellow humans. It is as if the fear of God is equally fast eroding.

The case of a 55-year old man, Yesiru Salisu of number 7 Odenusi street Ijebu Igbo, in Ogun State is the talk of the moment.

Dateline Monday, November 23, 2020, the man was arrested by operatives of the State Police Command for being in possession of four human skulls, two dry human hands and three jaws of a human being. .

The arrest of the suspect’ followed a report lodged at Ago Iwoye Police Division that a man was seen with a bag suspected to contain stolen property, and when challenged, he reportedly dropped the bag and ran into a nearby bush.

Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Paul Omiwole, led detectives to the scene where they opened the bag and discovered that it contains dry human parts.

Consequently, the bush he ran into was properly combed and the suspect was subsequently apprehended.

Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed harvesting the human parts from one Christian Cemetery in Oke-Eri area of Ijebu-Ode, alongside one Lekan Bakare who is now at large.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the story.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution. 

The police boss also directed that the fleeing accomplice should be hunted for and brought to justice.

..Applauds CNN on documentaries

Joy Anyim

A Social Commentator and Human Rights Journalist, Jumu’ah Abiodun, has advised the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federal, Mr Abubakar Malami, to resign his position for misleading the world after Lekki toll plaza shootings at #EndSARS protesters by military officers..Jumu’ah via his Instagram handle today berated Malami after Nigerian Army represented by the Commander of the 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, last week, admitted military officers took live and blank bullets to the Lekki toll gate in Lagos the venue where #EndSARS protesters staged a peaceful demonstration against police brutality.“AGF Malami is a disgrace to this country and his office, he misinformed the world on the Lekki shootings by military officers at peaceful #EndSARS protesters, its outrageous. In saner climes, he ought to have resigned by now”“I, therefore, enjoin Mallam Malami to honourably resign his position as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation because he misled the world over Lekki shootings for lying hoodlums were possibly involved in the shootings.”AGF Malami had during an interaction with journalists on Monday, November 3 in Abuja stated that hoodlums were possibly involved in the shootings. “You cannot rule out the possibility of perhaps hoodlums that set in to create a scene…could equally partake in the process,” Malami quoted.The activist also asked the UK, US, Canada and EU to place Malami and his family on a visa restriction ban. “As a further penalty for his blatant lies, I urge the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and European Union governments to take a drastic step and place a visa restriction ban on Mr. Abubakar Malami and his family.”Commenting on Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nigerian Army statements since October 20, 2020, Black Tuesday event, the activist said: “From the very first day after Lekki shootings, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nigerian Army are not consistent with their statements.”“Their first statements read: We were not at the Lekki toll gate – Nigerian Army.Forces beyond our direct control shot at protesters at the Lekki toll gate – Mr Sanwo-Olu.”“Later they said: The CCTV cameras were not shut down, the recordings will be available – Mr Sanwo-Olu.The CCTV did not capture Lekki Shooting – LCC.”“Later, the Nigerian Army told us: We were there, but we didn’t shoot at protesters.Addressing Nigerians, Mr Sanwo-Olu said: #EndSARS protesters were shot at but only got injured, no casualties.”“I don’t have the power to order soldiers, Sanwo-Olu said during a live TV interview.The governor invited us to the Lekki toll gate – Nigerian Army in an official statement.”Jumu’ah showered encomium on American based Cable News Network (CNN) for doing a great job in revealing more details on the Lekki toll gate event. “CNN remains one of the best and credible news platforms in the world. I always participate in the CITIZEN by CNN where we analyze issues with facts, not hypotheses as claimed by the Nigerian government,” he cited.He concluded: “CNN has done a fantastic job with the documentaries, they revealed details of bullets used at the Lekki shootings, the person that died. Nigerian government should prove CNN wrong if they have any other information aside from that, not threatening CNN.”

The coast is almost clear for Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to emerge as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Her only opponent, South Korean Yoo Myung-hee, is set to quit the race.

A report by Washington Trade Daily said that South Korea had decided to withdraw its candidate, Myung-hee, who is its trade minister from the WTO top job.

Washington Trade Daily quoted sources to have said that South Korea had notified the US of its decision and was expected to make it public “in the coming days.”

The report further stated: “Washington refused to accept the recommendation made by the selection panel chaired by General Council Chair Ambassador David Walker that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala is the candidate most likely of the two to attract consensus because she clearly carried the largest support by members in the final round and clearly enjoyed broad support from members from all levels of development and from all geographic regions and has done so throughout the process.

“Yoo from Korea failed to receive enough support from members of all levels of development that is developed, developing and least developing countries, as well as geographically in comparison to the ‘largest’ support received by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala.”

Okonjo-Iweala had secured the popular vote by a wide margin, in fact a vast majority of the 164 member nations, on October 28 but was not named DG because the US opposed her candidacy.

After the October 28 meeting, WTO also said Okonjo-Iweala had the best chance of getting a consensus.

A November 9, 2020 general council meeting scheduled to consider the appointment of the next DG was postponed.

Another general council meeting has been scheduled for December 17 to finalize the process.

Nollywood Actress, Adesua Etomi-Wellington has hit hard at Lauretta Onochie, social media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari after she posted a picture of some kids who used cartons as their nose mask for protection against coronavirus.

Lauretta Onochie who posted the picture had included a caption for the picture which she used to pass across the message that Nigerians still need to protect themselves from the virus by wearing masks.

She wrote: ”WEARING A MASK IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT. IT’S NOT PUNISHMENT BY GOVERNMENT PROTECT YOURSELF. Wear one. These have made efforts with masking where those of us who are more vulnerable & susceptible to COVID-19 are still swearing that it’s a scam. God bless their efforts.”

However, her position didn’t sit well with actress Adesua who reacted angrily to the picture and the approach used by the presidential aide to pass across her message.

The actress noted that rather than what Onochie shared, she could have spoken about how to protect the vulnerable children from the virus by tackling poverty.She submitted that the picture is very insensitive and has brought tears to her eyes.

She wrote: “You are a disgrace. Both home & abroad. You should be ashamed that these children have to do this with cardboards. Instead of talking about how to tackle poverty so they can be protected adequately against the virus, you’re spewing this nonsense.

This picture made me so angry and brought tears to my eyes. They are so small, so vulnerable and so unprotected. Arghhhhhh.

THIS COUNTRY I am finally accepting the fact that some human beings, really are dead on the inside. Didn’t understand how that could be even possible. I’m realising every day that it is.

See the screenshot of the exchange.

The Senate on Tuesday approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari’, seeking a refund of N148,141,969,161.24 to Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River states meant for projects they executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

The approval was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts led by Senator Clifford Ordia.

Ordia in his presentation stated that most of the federal highways in the beneficiary states where the projects were executed, “were in a deplorable state before the intervention of the state governments.”

He said, “Series of visits were carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on all Federal Roads completed by the States and ascertained that the quality of work done met the required standard.”

The lawmaker however noted that states like Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondo States embarked on the highway projects execution as far back as 2005 to date.

He added that while the state governments have completed all projects, as well as paid all contractors, the Bureau of Public Procurement on its part certified that due process was followed accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of Benedict Umeano (Anambra – South East); Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo – South South); and Olayinka Babatunde Balogun retd (Ogun – South West) as members of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The confirmation of the nominees followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

In a related development, the upper chamber on Tuesday referred Buhari’s request seeking the confirmation of nominees to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Tribunal to its Committee on Trade and Investment.

The nominees who are expected to appear for screening before the Committee include: Mrs. Sadatu Mama Shafi, (North Central), Chairman;

Others are George Chukwuma Mbonu, Member (South East); Thomas Okosun (South South); Umar Dauda Duhu (North East); Ibrahim El-Yakubu (North West); Mrs. Sola Salako Ajulo (South West); and Kenneth Tersoo Gyado (North Central).

Some Ghanaian youths have reportedly helped a man to regain his strength for round two of beatings after being beaten over a suspected case of theft.

According to reports, some young men in Takoradi, Ghana gave an energy drink to the thief so he can regain himself to receive another round of beating.

An eyewitness who shared the story online said the hoodlum was caught right in the act of stealing.

Instead of handing him over to the Police, the area boys took the matter into their hands and gave him the beating of his life. Noticing that he’s weak from the beatings, the thief was given Rush Energy to recover so that the beatings can resume.

The eyewitness posted a photo of the moment the alleged thief was seen taking the energy drink as youths surrounded him.

The picture had an inscription which read; ”Welcome to Takoradi Ghana, where subsequent to beating a criminal, we offer him a container of surge caffeinated drink so we can beat him once more. You perceive how kind we are. No spot like Taadi”.

See photo below;