Breaking: banks shut down, 6 arrested, as police foil hoodlums attempt to invade radio house, warehouse, supermarket, main market in fct.

TEC NEWS

The police on Tuesday foiled attempts by hoodlums to break into Agricultural Development Project Fadama Warehouse, a nearby main market, radio house and a supermarket in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

It will be recalled that three persons including a pregnant woman were allegedly died while 12 people collapsed as hoodlums invaded a warehouse in the same Gwagwalada on Monday.

Hoodlums destroyed a government warehouse in the city to cart away a lot of palliatives materials under a serious unstoppable violent in spite the efforts of security operatives to restore normalcy.

As residents were still counting losses and yet to come out Monday tragedy, the city was woken with another pandemonium on Tuesday morning as hoodlums gathered in their thousands to unleash mayhem on a warehouse and market.

Some groups of youth had moved to invade an Agricultural Development Project Fadama Warehouse close to the main market of the town.

However, because the place was closed to the divisional police headquarters of the council as they were easily alerted, the police moved into swift action to prevent the attack.

The police quickly took over the streets that link the market and the warehouse to resist access by anyone.

The DPO of the Division, Wilson Dankwabo who personally and practically led the team against the hoodlums confirmed the incident and an explanation was given by one of his men who would not want any public exposure that the intervention of the men and officers of the force prevented another vandalism of properties in the area.

He explained that in order to avoid confrontation, they took time and explained to those boys that the place was not a palliative warehouse but FADAMA house.

He said he had to take some of them inside the building and showed to confirm that there was no food or palliative stored in the location.

One of the senior officers also said that the action led to the withdrawal of some of them, adding that few of them however still proved stubborn and wanted to invade the place.

He said six of them were arrested while others were dispersed.

He explained that the Police swiftly moved into action because of their commitment to safe lives and properties.

However, an officer who craved anonymity also lamented the level of discouragement inflicted on the hearts of the police force.

He said that the morales of some officers were down because of the fact that till this moment, the government had not said anything in regard to police stations attacked and destroyed or even the police personnel that lost their lives all over the country.

“No promise that the perpetrators would be brought to book, nothing is promised to be paid but rather, agitation continued by the people against the Nigerian police with accusation of brutality,” he said.

He said that since the people wanted police to be demoralised which he believed it was a criminals’ plot, he said that the hoodlums and other criminals would have field days on the populace.

The officer said the Nigerian Police was the only security outfit that could handle criminals if supported by the government and the good people of Nigeria.

He said the military are trained to kill and defend the government apparatus and the citizens from external aggression but police are trained to handle the affairs of civilians and protect them alongside their properties.

The moment the interview ended, the police received an alert that the hoodlums in their numbers have invaded the premises of the major supermarket in the city along SDP Road in the same Gwagwalada. The police team moved immediately and began to shoot into the air in other to disperse the hoodlums and on arrival, the hoodlums have taken to their heels. It was gathered that the key to the back door had already been destroyed and about to access the building before the police arrived.

The attack was repelled and no casualty recorded as at the time this report is been put together. Gwagwalada is tensed with businesses closed including all banks in the city.

A staff of one of the banks who pleaded anonymous confirmed that they were ordered to shut down when the sound of gun shots filled the air and people running helter skelter. The ‘city mart’ has banks such as Uba, Fidelity, fcmb around it. He further said to resume normal activities, security improvement would necessitate it.

The police confirmed that hoodlums have really been on rampage in the area this week and the police is equal to the task. The hoodlums went to attack Radio Nigeria where the police repelled them and one arrested with power cable.

The hoodlums were also stopped by the police when they began to attempt attack on an area along the army barrack road.

“It was however glaring that civilians are already getting to know that the development is far beyond #EndSars protest but criminality setting in. This is evident in the numbers of civilians that have join the security team to protect the city mart”. Said one of the officers.

He advised that parents etc talk to their ward never to be a part of this criminal act as he is for seeing that the objective of ‘endsars protest’ might be eroded if things continue this way.

Nigerian artiste, DJ Switch, who was present when soldiers shot at peaceful protesters in Lekki, Lagos, in Tuesday, has shared her experience.

The artiste said armed soldiers and police officers shot at her and other peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday night.

She said at least 15 people were killed in the shootings and that she and other survivors took the victims’ bodies to the soldiers who took them away.

“Something I think about in hindsights that I wished we hadn’t done was that we carried dead bodies and dropped them at the feet of the soldiers, when I asked their unit commander why they are killing us.

“I wished we didn’t do that because they ended up throwing the bodies into their vans,” she said in a video she posted on social media.

She also displayed spent bullets she recovered from the scene of the shooting.

The attack on the unarmed protesters occurred hours after the Lagos State Government imposed a curfew in Lagos. The protesters continued their sit-in despite the announcement of the curfew which was to start by 9 p.m. in Tuesday.

The shooting started before 9 p.m. with the celebrity live streaming the protest and the shooting until she could not continue.

DJ Switch’s statement appears the clearest explanation yet from a witness about what happened in Lekki. It also seeks to clarify the claims that there was no shooting because bodies of victims could not be found.

The army has denied shooting at the protesters, despite contrary evidence, and Governor Sanwo-Olu has only admitted that two people died from the shooting.

The governor has promised an investigation while President Muhammadu Buhari has kept mum about the Lekki shooting.

The military reports to the president and the governor has said he never authorised the deployment of the soldiers.

Amnesty International has said that at least 12 people were killed on Tuesday at both Alausa and Lekki toll gate.

The Lekki shooting has been condemned by many Nigerians and members of the International Community including the U.S. government.

PREMIUM TIMES

Irate mob on Monday reportedly attacked Oba Olatunde Falabi, the Akire of Ikire, Osun, where they allegedly chased  away the king and sealed off the palace.

Oba Falabi was taken into safety by military personnel who rescued him from the mob suspected to be on a mission to forcefully evict him.

The youths were protesting the non-implementation of a Supreme Court judgement, which declared Oba Falabi’s continued stay the throne as illegal.

The police Spokesperson in Osun, SP Opalola Yemisi, confirmed the development to newsmen and added that no life was lost during the incident.

The battle for the throne had started in 1987 after the demise of the former traditional ruler, Oba Oseni Oyegunle.

When the process of appointing a new monarch started, one of the five ruling houses, Aketula, presented a candidate, Mr Tajudeen Olanrewaju, in line with the Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958.

Before the process of Olanrewaju’s installation could be completed, two ruling houses, Ladekan and Lanbeloye, went to court to challenge the inclusion of Aketula in the ruling houses.

An Ile-Ife High Court, Ile-Ife, where the matter was instituted, consequently stopped Olanrewaju’s installation as the monarch, while the incumbent, Oba Olutunde Falabi, was installed in May 1993.

Even though he lost at the Appeal Court, Ibadan, Olanrewaju proceeded to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment on April 11, 2014, affirmed that Aketula was one of the ruling houses, as provided in the 1958 Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration.

The Supreme Court also held that in view of the evidence on record, “it shows that the 1958 Declaration, in respect of the Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy stool, has not been amended or repealed.’’

Following the judgment, the incumbent monarch approached an Osun High Court, praying it to restrain the state government from deposing him because he had not committed any offence warranting his removal.

He also pleaded with the court to restrain the state governor, the Commissioners for Justice, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, from deposing him while his incumbency subsisted.

Justice Abdulkareem of Osun High Court, in his judgment of June 29, 2020, however, said that Falabi could no longer occupy the stool, based on the 1958 Akire Declaration and the rotational procedure contained therein. (NAN)

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

As the hoodlums continue the looting spree across states in Nigeria, luck ran out of Pastor Sunday Edino and his accomplices, who were arrested with medical equipment in Lokoja by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ede Ayuba and his men on Monday.

Medical equipment worth over N1.2b kept in warehouse in Lokoja were vandalized and looted by hoodlums.

The hoodlums carted away some CT/MRI machines and other equipment while others were retrieved from bushes around the warehouse.

The Commissioner of police in Kogi State and his men swiftly launched a manhunt on the criminals which led to the arrest of Pastor Sunday Edino and others.

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello had earlier warned that youths should conduct themselves peacefully while protesting but threatened that his administration will not spare the protesters  engaged in criminal activities.

The #EndSARS protest has been under control in Kogi State owing to the fact that the state governor, Yahaya Bello had earlier lend his voice in support of the youths, who were protesting against police brutality across the nation.

However, hoodlums invaded the Agricultural Development Project office along Lokoja-Okene road in the early hours of Monday and carted away fertilizers and other agrochemicals procured to assist farmers during the dry season farming.

The hoodlums extended the looting to another warehouse where relief materials for flood affected persons were kept.

The rampaging hoodlums broke into the warehouse and carted away materials such as mattresses, roofing sheets, beddings, and other materials meant for victims of flood disasters in the state.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos, Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, yesterday expressed sadness over the social, economic and political unrest in the Nigeria and called for prayers for the country.

The Pope, in his verified tweeter handle @Pontifex, called on everyone, particularly Catholics all over the world to pray against every form of violence brewing in the country in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest.

Amidst tension, killings, looting and vandalism across the country, the Pope in his statement added: “Let us pray to the Lord for Nigeria, so that every form of violence might always be avoided, in the constant search of social harmony through the promotion of justice and the common good”.

CAN Berates Govt for Hoarding Palliatives

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna state chapter, berated government officials for hoarding COVID-19 palliatives that would have been distributed to the citizens.

In a statement signed by the state chairman of CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, yesterday in Kaduna, he said: “Two wrongs cannot make a right.

“Following the event of yesterday 24th October, 2020 in some parts of Chikun and Kaduna South LGA of Kaduna State, where looting and vandalism of public and private properties was reported to have been carried out, which necessitated the enforcement of 24 hours curfew in those areas and later in the entire 23 LGAs of Kaduna State, the leadership of CAN Kaduna State Chapter, held a virtual meeting today 25th October, 2020 with church leaders and other stakeholders in the affected communities to have an objective understanding of the matter, assess it and chart a way forward.

“Against this background, CAN Kaduna State Chapter, condemns in strong terms the vandalisation and looting of public and private properties in Kaduna State by youth.

“We are sad to know that palliatives were discovered in warehouses located in Barnawa in Kaduna, as a result of which the youths fell into the temptation of vandalising the property and looting the said palliatives stored there going as far as searching for other warehouses in other locations within Kaduna. CAN frowns at such actions and condemn it in strong terms.”

Meanwhile, the peaceful protest embarked upon by #EndSARS agitators, but hijacked by hoodlums has now turned to massive looting of government property, warehouses, banks and lawmakers houses.

DAILY ASSET nationwide monitor revealed that places like Kaduna, Cross Rivers , Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Kogi states, were worst affected by the looting. 

We gathered that the hoodlums were particularly about items preserved as COVID-19 palliatives, which include food stuff, provisions and confectioneries.

Lalong Father- in- Law, Dogara’s House Attacked

In Jos, the Plateau state capital yesterday, hoodlums reportedly attacked the residence of Plateau Governor Simon Lalong’s father –in-law’s house at Tudan Wada, and looted the residence of former Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara at Lamingo quarters.

The School of Home Economy, the Local Government Secretariat in Riyom, the warehouse as well as the NSCDC office were reportedly vandalised.

The Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major General, Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, said the suspected looters were apprehended during an operation.

According to him, 13 male and 17 female were arrested at the former Speaker’s residence.

He said Items recovered include five grinding machines, three grinding machine heads, two unassembled Keke NAPEP, 1 Keke NAPEP engine, and one bundle of clothing material.

No fewer than 97 youths were arrested after looting, vandalising and destroying several properties in search of COVID-19 palliatives items.

The rampaging youths broke into State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) warehouse located along Bukuru express way and carted away assorted food items donated to the state government by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Disaster and Social Development Management recently.

DAILY ASSEY gathered that about 73 trucks loaded with grains stored in the warehouse had been emptied by youths who became united for the free for all exercise.

The office of the Plateau State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA) along Vom Road in Zawan, was not spared either as documents scattered all in the name of search for palliatives.

The head office of the Plateau Publishing Company, publishers of The Nigerian Standard Newspaper, came under attack even as the Sunday morning incident led to wonder the re-enacted 24 hours curfew on Jos North and Jos South LGA by Governor Simon Lalong.

The rampaging youths also looted the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP) and made away with bags of fertilizers, deferent types of machines, amongst other things.

Meanwhile, security operatives repelled hundreds of youths, Sunday morning with gun shots, teargas, who matched to the Federal Secretariat with the aim of loot offices,

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police (CP Edward Egbuka through the Command’s PPRO ASP Bonbey Peter said “97 suspects were arrested by STF personnel from Dutse Uku who entered PADP and looted properties.” 

Governor Simon Lalong had earlier on explained why the reinstatement of the 24 hours curfew became eminent considering the fragile nature of the state.

In his State broadcast of Saturday he said, “Today, some hoodlums broke into the warehouses where palliatives delivered to the State by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development last week were stored awaiting distribution and carted them away.

“This looting has spread to other facilities and is gradually degenerating thereby threatening the peace and security of the State.”

He added, “To avoid further escalation, I hereby direct the immediate reinstatement of the 24-hour curfew earlier relaxed from 4pm today 24th October 2020 in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas till further notice.

“By this, security agencies are directed to enforce the curfew and ensure that all violators are arrested and prosecuted.  

I call on all citizens and stakeholders to continue to cooperate with Government in ensuring the peace and progress of Plateau state.”

Protesters Cart Away Palliatives  in Kogi

No fewer than 500 unidentified persons invaded the warehouse , housing the COVID-19 palliative materials  in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital..

The warehouse located along the Murtala Mohammed way, very close to Kpata market in Lokoja were invaded as early as 7 am on Saturday  by mostly women waiting for the door to be opened.

Although , it was learnt that the  state government had last week commenced the distribution of the COVID-19 palliatives to all the 21 local government Councils, but it was not clear wether  the items burgled were part of the ones the government  had directed its distribution

In a shift reaction ,  the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said contrary to insinuations that the items were burgled, the items were distributed under the watchful eyes of security operatives monitoring the exercise.

“The crowd you saw  there were in response to the governor’s directive that the remaining items should be given out to the people and the exercise have been going on without any hitch” the commissioner told our correspondent.

Lagos Needs N1trn for Re-construction — Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that Lagos state alone will require  a minimum of N1trillion to reconstruct the damaged properties by hoodlums across the state.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke with state house correspondents, said: ” We stand in solidarity with Lagos state government and the people of the state. This is indeed a difficult period. This is not Lagos of our dream. It’s indeed very sad. I don’t want to take ethnic dimension. but I urge us to shut our ears to ethnic conspiracy theory. Nation building is a joint task.

“Whatever the House can do in rebuilding Lagos and other states it will do. We are now in a state of reconstruction. What must be done will be done.

“You have fought a good fight, government, National Assembly have listened. It’s time to take stock and ensure it would never happened again. What has happened has happened.

“However, we want to know what exactly happened at the Lekki Toll Gate. The judicial panel must reveal this. However, I want to encourage Nigerians to allow peace to reign.

 “I learnt from the governor of Lagos State that it will take N1trillion to rebuild what had been lost and asked him what’s the budget size of the state, he said about N1trillion. You can see we are moving backward.

“Hence, we must consider the consequences of our actions before embarking on any venture. I, therefore, appeal to the youths to allow peace to reign. I still believe in unity of Nigeria”.

dailyasset

China Quietly Tips The Scales In Nigeria’s Favour As EU, US Hit Deadlock…

•WTO’s Council To Officially Announce  Okonjo-Iweala’s Choice Today, Tuesday

•South Korea’s Candidate, Yoo Myung-hee To Formally Accept Decision Today

ABUJA – Nigeria’s former finance minister and a former managing director of the World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as the  first  female Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), shattering the glass ceiling.

Okonjo-Iweala broke the glass ceiling, emerging as the first African and the first female to attain the position of DG of WTO by emerging as the finalist after eliminating South Korea’s current  trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee in a fierce  battle for the coveted job on Monday night.

The New Diplomat Europe’s outpost office gathered that with the EU nations and the United States moving in opposite direction, a move that triggered a deadlock between the two powerful geo-political allies for the first time in many years, it was the decisive and quiet support of China that finally tipped the scales in Okonjo-Iweala’s favour.

The WTO’s Ambassador Walker-led General Council, the overall organ responsible for picking the organisation’s  next DG, would officially announce the choice of Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr Okonjo-Iweala today, October 27.

Diplomatic sources confided in The New Diplomat that an official announcement  to this effect would be formally made today by New Zealand’s Ambassador Walker’s led WTO General Council.

The race for the coveted job of DG of WTO has been fierce with Nigeria’s  Okonjo-Iweala and  South Korea’s serving Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee,  running neck-and-neck in the intense jostle and game of global diplomatic intrigues.

Indications had emerged that influential global trading countries including the United States (US), the European Union (EU) nations, China, Japan and the BRICS countries were strongly divided on who should be the candidate to lead the WTO.

High-level sources confided in The New Diplomat’s Europe’s outpost operations that it “took serious negotiations and prolonged talks to get China to go along with Nigeria with its decision to support Okonjo-Iweala.” China controls about 12.4% of the global trade.

The influence of the United States on global trade is reportedly huge as well  given that it single-handedly controls about 12% of global trade just as China holds about 12.4% of the global trade statistics.

Diplomatic sources hinted that East Asia countries with the exception of China went along with Myung-hee in preference. These include Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macay, Mongolia and South Korea.  Japan, a US ally is another strong international player in global trade with an estimated $705.7 billion worth of goods globally in 2020.

However, on Okonjo-Iweala’s side apart from  the EU and 55 AU nations were 24 solid ACP countries that reportedly expressed preference for her candidacy. The CP countries in this regard include Bahamas, Cuba, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica Republic, Dominica, Greneda, Fiji, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Timor-Lester, Parpua New Guinea, etc.

A combination of this preponderance form about 79 block countries that solidly stood behind Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala. However, it was the quiet and deft diplomacy of China that sealed the deal in Okonjo-Iweala’s favour.

A top diplomat in Geneva told The New Diplomat in confidence: “China quietly changed the game. They said nothing openly but silently they, deftly China voted in Nigeria’s favour.”

Okonjo-Iweala, 66, served as Nigeria’s first female finance and later foreign minister, and has a 25-year career behind her as a development economist and international finance expert at the World Bank, eventually becoming its number two. She is also on Twitter’s board of directors and is a special envoy for the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 fight.

Thus, Okonjo-Iweala has successfully edged out South Korea’s Myung-hee. Yoo Myung-hee 53, is the serving South Korea’s trade minister, following a long career in trade, diplomacy, law and foreign affairs. She had previously served as South Korea’s foreign Affairs minister, among others. A lawyer and diplomat, Myung-hee holds degrees in Law, Public Policy and was called to the New York Bar.

One major implication of this is that China has somewhat stamped its feet on the global diplomatic and economic dynamics as an indispensable power, having deftly supported Okonjo-Iweala  to victory as the US and EU purportedly cancelled themselves in a diplomatic deadlock.

Already, China is the biggest economy in the world in terms of P3, the Purchasing Power Parity. Thus, the consequence of this on the global scale, according to diplomats, is quite telling. (The New Diplomat)

▪︎State to employ 5,000 youths across ministries

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Monday, announced that his administration has set aside packages totaling the sum of N1 billion to cover for compensation for victims of police brutality and injustice and a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
scheme, for youths.

The package, he said, included an initial deposit of N500 million for MSMEs and another N500 million as compensation to victims of police brutality and injustice.

Governor Makinde, who made the disclosure while addressing traditional rulers, local government chairpersons, security operatives and other stakeholders at a meeting on Monday, said that the state government would equally employ 5,000 youths across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in order to address the challenge of youth unemployment in the state.

He added that the state would also ensure that “the 2021 budget captures a Direct Labour Agency that will allow youths with prerequisite skills to have access to jobs whenever projects are awarded.”

A statement by Mr Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Makinde, indicated that the governor stated these at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, while meeting with the traditional rulers, security chiefs, religious leaders and chairmen of the 68 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.

Some of those in attendance included the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso1; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, and other traditional rulers across the state; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Kwara and Delta States, Alhaji Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola; the State’s Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Joshua Akinyemi; the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Leye Oyebade, and Service Commanders in the State.

He stated that apart from the platforms already put out by the government for victims of police brutality to report their experiences, the state would inaugurate the judicial panel of inquiry within the next one week, adding that his government would continue to live up to its mantra of putting the people first.

Governor Makinde, who expressed sadness at the news of the kidnap of an LCDA chairman, said the government would do everything within its powers to get him freed, but that “local government chairmen also have work to do within the localities – and quickly too.:

The governor further said that the police would have to return to playing its role, noting that traditional rulers and other stakeholders had a role to play in ensuring that “the police come back and perform their duties diligently.”

He maintained that the state would begin the process of rebuilding police stations that were razed or vandalised, warning residents of the state to, however, be vigilant and watchful about external people coming to attack facilities in the state, as, according to him, killing, arson were not parts of Oyo State, a state of Omoluabi.

Similarly, the governor decried the attacks on Lagos, saying they were targeted attacks and not particularly mob action, stating that “traditional rulers have a lot of work to do in their localities to ensure that security and peace continue to reign.”

He said: “This is the first time we will be meeting like this after the events of the past two weeks. We are not here to apportion blame or do a post-protest analysis.

“I can see that those who spoke earlier were commending me. I appreciate you all for the kind words but I have to say that there is nothing extra. I am doing the job that you gave me in Oyo State.

“I want to reassure the good people of Oyo State that all criminal elements that engaged in wanton destruction of lives and properties will be dealt with.

“I can give you that assurance because killing, arson, destruction of means of livelihood are not part of us. They are not the things that we stand for as a people. Yes, I supported the protest and I did not have any regret for supporting the protest.

“I had a serious exchange with the Commissioner of Police. This is also true for the Police hierarchy. They were losing men and police stations and they needed to act.

“But I said we have to act with caution. It is difficult to understand what I was trying to say in the heat of things but he did in the end. And we agreed and proceeded with caution. That is why the situation did not really go beyond what we saw.

“I also want to urge members of the Nigeria Police Force working in Oyo State to step up to their responsibilities to protect lives and properties. Just like the DIG said, there is no agency that can take the duty of the Police.

“They are to maintain internal order. So, we have to give the Police the opportunity to carry out their constitutional responsibilities and functions.

“We know that trust is low right now, but you can quickly regain public trust through your professional conduct. Even among the leaders, there is a trust-deficit.

“We definitely have to proceed from this point forward with caution. We must not read ethnic, religious or political coloration to the challenges we are faced with.

“Let me also state that we have set up an initial Five Hundred Million Naira (N500million) Compensation Fund for victims of injustice. So, I encourage everyone who has suffered any form of injustice in the past or as a result of the #EndSARS protests, to please take advantage of the platforms we have provided to log their cases.

“We have an email service and a direct reporting portal on the Oyo State Government website. A judicial panel for Oyo State will be inaugurated in the next one week to look into cases of injustice.

“We know that the protests have been as a result of simmering anger among the youths. We are aware of the economic situation, especially the reduced income of many due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also the general unemployment situation in the country.

“Let me reassure you that we will continue to prioritise actions that will positively impact the youths.

“For this reason, we have taken the following immediate actions to address some of the issues raised by the youths during the protest: I have directed that a 500 Million Naira MSME fund be set up. This fund will be disbursed to youths who have bright entrepreneurial ideas that will provide further employment and improve the economic landscape in Oyo State.

“I have directed the employment of 5,000 young persons across all government agencies over the next few months. We have been talking to Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYOWMA, before now. We have been talking to AMOTEKUN. We have to, immediately, wrap some of those recruitments up and put these people off the street. The criteria for employment and the dates for assessment will be announced by the agency authorities.

“Going forward, starting from 2021, there will be provisions made for the Direct Labour Agency in the budget. This will ensure more employment opportunities for residents who have requisite skills when projects are awarded.”

Addressing the menace of looting warehouses across the country, the governor decried how a contractor in the state, who got a contract to supply palliatives on behalf of CACOVID, lost millions to hoodlums who looted his warehouse.

He stated that the government would proceed with the fifth phase of the distribution of palliatives by the end of the week, having completed the verification of the individuals who qualified for them, saying “Yes, we still have few CACOVID items left. We have done palliatives in phases. The first phase was for the poorest of the poor among us. In the second phase, we took care of the farmers.

“In the third phase, we took care of civil servants and political office holders. In the fourth phase, I believe we took care of the vulnerable within our environment. We are waiting for the rice promised by the CACOVID. It has not gotten here but we have now decided to go ahead with the fifth phase of palliatives distribution.

“We will be proceeding with the fifth phase distribution of palliatives by the end of this week having completed the verification of the individuals who qualify for them.”

The governor maintained that his administration would continue to run an open-door policy and that it would always be happy to dialogue with everyone for the economic good and development of the state.

“Finally, this is a period where we are saying there is peace but will the peace endure? We want peace that will endure in Oyo State and to have peace that will endure, every one of us has to contribute.

“All of us must go back and organize structures in our different localities. We also need to bring the vigilantes in and I believe in the days and weeks to come, they will come and study how we are ensuring peace in Oyo State,” the governor added.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi, charged the government to listen to the youths, stating that the recent challenge faced by the country was not only as a result of police brutality but also the failure of those in authority to rise to the occasion.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland, who spoke through their representatives, also echoed similar lines.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, said the government would not hesitate to implement all that had been agitated for, especially in the area of Police reform and reform in the constitution, as well as provision of gainful employment, among others.

“At this juncture”, he said, “let me urge us all to put an end to vandalization of public properties in the name of protest. Let us say NO to the destruction of lives and properties so that, together, we can jointly build the Nigeria of our dream.

“As a lawmaker, and as lawmakers here present, we will do everything possible to give the legislative support to mount pressure on Governor Makinde to implement reforms to make life comfortable for the people of Oyo State, most especially the youth, which is our future.”

The Garrison Commander, 2nd Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Brigadier Soji Ogunsugba, also called for concerted efforts to help bridge the trust deficit between the police and the populace, adding that the police have a constitutional role to protect the people.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Oyebade, maintained that all stakeholders must work together to chart a way forward and make the Police better, saying that vandalization, destruction of Police facilities and killings must stop, because it will not take the society anywhere.

He said: “I know that our leaders of today are not just talkatives. They are going to match their talks with actions. So, I want to ask that the vandalization should stop, destruction should stop, and the arson should also stop. The killings should stop. It will not take us to anywhere good. It will not take us to the promised land.

“I am saying this because the person you have killed will not be coming back but the family will suffer for that loss. Let us think deep. I want us to go back and let us hold ourselves together as one. Let us remember how our forefathers started. Let us keep faith with the present and have hope for a better tomorrow.

“We have spoken together. All the security agencies represented here were in a very exhaustive meeting and we are on the same page. I am here to announce to you that it is going to be a new dawn. Let us accept what has happened as history. The way forward is to hold ourselves together.

“The function of the Nigerian Police can never be given to any other organization. If you destroy the Nigerian Police, there cannot be a replacement. Let us work together and make the Police better.”

▪︎Says govt did ‘excellently well’

▪︎Distribution ongoing until hoodlums struck

Claims that the Kwara State Government diverted or hoarded the palliatives meant for the vulnerable households in the state are false and unsubstantiated as no less than 15 of the 16 local governments had benefited before the store was looted, the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 Foundation said on Monday.

The palliatives, which were majorly foodstuffs, were donated across the country including Kwara State by the CACOVID Foundation as part of its support for the Nigerian governments to cushion the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq flagged off the official distribution of the palliatives on August 11, 2020, following the handover of the goods by the private sector-led body.

Speaking on a live programme on Midland FM in Ilorin, CACOVID representative in Kwara State, Taoheed Adewale Fasasi said: “In terms of distribution of the palliatives, it’s been an excellent performance for Kwara State especially in terms of three key things.

“One, identification of the beneficiaries. We’ve always feared that this could be where there will be problem because we don’t want it to get to the wrong hands.

“But they (state government) have been able to come up with lists that come directly from the grassroots. And, with this, we know how many families that were given. We have recordings of how many families that were given.

“We were in Jebba (Moro, Kwara North), for instance, and it was not just about distribution, we saw the families. We know where they are and what they do and things like that. The distribution was not hidden. It was more or less like CACOVID handing over to the beneficiaries. The assistance from the (state) committee has been wonderful.”

Fasasi said the monitoring and evaluation team of CACOVID was on the field to ensure that the palliatives got to the right persons across the state, asserting that its reports did not support the claims that the government hoarded the palliatives.

“It is not just about handing over to the state but ensuring that it gets to where it is supposed to get to. We always have a monitoring team.

“Apart from being a member, I have a monitoring team that’s also checking me at every point in time. It is CACOVID’s way of doing things.

“As the state committee was getting it out, we were interacting with the beneficiaries. We have the videos. We went there based on those identified,” he added.

Architect Kale Belgore, Counsellor to Kwara State Governor and State Government Focal Person on the palliatives, explained that beneficiaries across least 15 of the 16 local governments had collected as of Friday, October 23, 2020, when the hoodlums attacked the Cargo Terminal where the palliatives were warehoused.

He added: “We were loading the one for Offa (the 16th and last local government to get theirs) on Friday when the hoodlums attacked the place. In fact, some trucks containing palliatives had left for Offa.

“So, the hoodlums vandalised the trucks and made away with the remaining palliatives for Offa and what was to be distributed for some umbrella bodies of some physically challenged people, the blind colony, orphanages, and correctional centres, among others.”

The state government meanwhile has said the palliatives that the Federal Government handed to it on October 13 were meant for victims of the recent rainstorm and flood in at least eight local government areas of the state.

The government said the distribution, which was being done by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had been carried out in Asa, Ilorin South, Ilorin East, and parts of Ilorin West before the hoodlums looted the warehouse in Ilorin.

The remaining palliatives that were looted were meant for the victims in Edu, Moro, Patigi and Ifelodun local governments, according to the government, insisting that no palliatives were diverted or hoarded.

ABAKALIKI – Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Government House staff, journalists and contractors were trapped in the old Government House as hoodlums invaded the state in search of COVID-19 palliatives in a warehouse close to the Government House.

Tribune Online reports that Governor Umahi was meeting contractors handling the rehabilitation of the 13 general hospitals in the state when he received a report of the activities of the hoodlums.

The meeting was cut short as the governor was relocated to the presidential lodge at the old Government House by his security detail.

It was gathered that the hoodlums mobilised themselves in the early hours of Monday and targeted warehouses where palliatives were stored. One of the warehouses is located beside the old Government House.

Tribune Online also reports that armed policemen and soldiers have mobilised to protect lives and properties in the state capital following an attack on the State Central Police Station on Monday.

The attack of the State Central Police Station is the fifth of such attack in less than one week.