Scores of protesters at Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday attacked a van believed to have been sent by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, to deliver water and drinks to protesters.

MC Oluomo, the chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos chapter, was accused by protesters of sponsoring the attack by armed thugs on Thursday.

MC Oluomo, the Lagos State government and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, were accused of sending the armed thugs to attack protesters on Thursday.

They have all denied the allegations. The transport union chief in a video he shared on social media said he supports the protest for police reform and could not have sent the thugs.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how several protesters were injured at Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, after thugs armed with guns, machetes, knives and axes attacked them.

A day after the incident, MC Oluomo attempted to redeem his image in the eyes of the protesters. He sent water and drinks, branded with his name.

Some of the protesters, unaware of who sent the packs, collected and drank from the water and drinks before a protester raised an alarm about the food.

“MC Oluomo sent them, he wants to poison us, don’t drink the water,” he shouted.

Other protesters who also checked the name on the bottles stated throwing the bottles at the white van that conveyed them.

“We don’t want any support from MC Oluomo, they are trying to break us, they want to penetrate again,” some protesters shouted.

Angered by the gesture of the NURTW leader, the protesters threw bottles and other items at the van, as the driver sped from the venue to avoid being mobbed.

The NURTW is arguably the most influential transport union in Nigeria. Its members include private bus drivers and conductors and the thousands of garage boys, popularly called ‘agberos’ who are known to assault bus drivers and commuters to demand money.

Members of the NURTW are also often used as thugs by politicians in each state. In Lagos, MC Oluomo and the NURTW are believed to have a strong relationship with the governing party in the state, APC.

After protesters rejected MC Oluomo’s gift, the #EndSARS protest continued in Alausa, Lagos, as in many states of Nigeria despite various concessions by the government.

PREMIUM TIMES reported hos the government last Sunday disbanded the notorious police unit, SARS, which was the major demand of the protesters.

The government has also pledged to ensure the prosecution of officers who assaulted and killed some protesters and ensure freedom for all arrested protesters.

On Thursday, the National Economic Council headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo approved that state governors set up independent judicial panels to probe police harassment in each state and that committees set up by state governors should have oversighton any new police unit formed.

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Residents and Landlords Association in Egan area of Lagos, have given management of  ‘The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center’, a clean bill over alleged complicity in the rape of a 13 -year – girl, Adepeju Adebayo.

Absolving the hotel management of any wrongdoing, some residents who extolled the stalling qualities of the Chairman of the hotel,  Engineer Gbenga Ajibulu, said he has contributed immensely to the empowerment of youths and development in the area.

A Youth leader and mechanical Engineer, who identified himself as  Kehinde Biodu, argued that from the standpoint of what the hotel owner had done in the training, development and engaging the youths in positive programmes that have helped in curtailing their youthful exuberance,   Ajibulu cannot be accused of creating any room for such dastardly acts perpetrated by Toheeb Mustapha and Sukomi.

This is even as the landlords Association in the area have protested in solidarity of Engineer Ajibulu while vouching on his integrity.

Speaking with our correspondent who visited the area on the investigation, the Chairman of the Landlords Association, Mr Vincent  Ejeh, blamed the suspects who he confirmed are not residents in their area for dragging the name of their peaceful environment into the mud.

” We have seven streets making up our Association and since 2019 when this Center was established,  we have not seen or heard of any untoward activity inimical or detrimental to our residents or youths”.

“The hotel owner has been magnanimous enough to allow us to be using his hotel premises every first Saturdays of each month for our meeting and as parents,  we have not seen or associated his hospitality centre with any criminal or Anti-social behaviours”.

“Besides,  The Management of The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center was instrumental in why bad boys,  criminal elements have relocated from our area.

“This he has done by collaborating with us and has contributed immensely towards security and street lighting of the major street. In fact, Engineer Ajibulu maintains a private security Personnel from  Nelly Securities and some fierce-looking bouncers that tend to ward off criminal elements in our area.

He has also financially assisted our Association greatly in the installation of the security gate and halogen energy lighting around his facility. ”

Corroborating what Mr Ejeh said, vice chairman of the Group, Mr Magnus Nnamdi Ogbue, regretted what he called the unfortunate and Ugly incident that took place on October 6th, 2020.

Mr Ogbue, who is a retired Civil servant, praised Ajibulu, for being a humble, gentle and easygoing de-detribalized Nigerian,  who has allowed his cooperate social responsibility  to benefit the entire community.”

In an interview with Engineer Ajibulu, he denied any alleged complicity by his management, describing the incident as a one-off occurrence.

According to him,  ” The  rape gang deceived his staff by using a matured Lodger to book for the said  room,  subsequently,  the  legal lodger sought for permission to be allowed to receive his family members in his  room but unknown to the management,  they had planned to commit the dastardly act.”

“We never heard the girls’ screaming or any suspicious activity and never knew such happened until police invited us. To make matters difficult for us, the victim did not complain or report the incident to our security officers,” he said.

Lamenting, Engineer Ajibulu suspected that the incident was a plot by some of the criminal elements that fled the area after he engaged the police and other security Agencies to route them out,  “they planned the incident to tarnish the good image of his hotel”.

” You know this Egan is backward and inhabited by many questionable characters, I am of the opinion that because of the security arrangements I had put in place in the wake of 2019 when we started operations, which made them flee the area, they are trying to fight back by plotting this crime”.

He assured the Public that the Center have now tightened its security measures and operations,  noting that sure incident would never reoccur again”, he concluded.

It would be recalled that on October 6th, 2020, less than one week after the Inspector General Of Police, IGP Adamu Mohammad, vowed to apprehend fleeing suspects that gang-raped and murdered 12 – year – Old  Favour Ikechukwu at Ejigbo area of Lagos,  Another minor, a 13- year – old JSS 3 student, Adepeju Adebayo, was allegedly subjected to a  brutal and bloody rape, that left her partially paralysed in the hospital.

The said gang rape, which has elicited wide criticism and condemnation from residents,  was said to have been perpetrated at The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center,  Oremeji street,  off Isuti road,  Egan,  Igando, by two suspects,  Toheeb Mustapha and Sukomi, now on the run.

Mustapha was said to have been arrested following resilience exhibited by the Igando Divisional Police Officer,   CSP Taiwo Kasumu,   and his operatives, whose prompt response, some residents said,  led to the early apprehending of the kingpin,  also  known as ” Sir Small ” in the crime world

Our undercover reporter who visited the hotel reported that one of the fleeing gang member named Sukomi, alias “Ikamula or G33, a Motor Mechanic by profession and ex-student of Edu Grammar school,  now residing at  Ita Alhaji street,  Ikotun, had earlier booked a room in the hotel on Monday, October 5th, 2020, to prepare the ground for their dastardly actions.

On Tuesday afternoon,  while the victim’s mother had gone out in search of her family’s daily bread, “Sir Small ” said to be the gang leader and mastermind of the rape, had crept into the victim’s house and lured her into the hotel,  where they were said to have taken turns in raping her,  until she started bleeding profusely, coupled with the excruciating and agonising pain she revealed,  she felt on the lower region of her abdomen.

Sensing danger, the gang was said to have waited until night, as they quickly packaged and dumped their bleeding victim in front of her house.

According to a  resident,  who spoke to our correspondent on the grounds of anonymity,  for fear of reprisal attack, he said,     “When we assisted the Police to arrest the fleeing ”  Sir Small”, the gang leader,  he confirmed that he is a Generator mechanic and a  resident of Alfa  Igonna street,  Odo, Egan.

He claimed to have graduated from Russell Grammar school in 2018, where he said he met the girl they raped. Though he said that they were not friends back then.”

Our source also stated that the 20 years old suspect,  “Sir Small “ who confessed to the crime, denied any ritual connotation or deployment of charms or “juju” in perpetrating the crime.

He claimed he re-established contact with the victim, two years after he left school, through her phone contact that he collected from the victim’s schoolmate.

According to our source, the mastermind of the rape said he regretted his actions while the victim was protesting, however, he denied that the girl was a virgin before the rape.

At the Isuti Road Health Center, where the victim was initially rushed to,  due to what a nurse described as excessive bleeding,  Adepo was seen soaked in her own blood,  while reeling in pains.

She was said to have told her now distraught mother, that she met ” Sir  Small ” on Facebook before the incident.

A hospital source confirmed that despite the bleeding and pain the victim was undergoing, she was stitched three places on her virgina, before she was transferred to Mirabel Medical facility last Friday for further investigations and treatment.

The Igando police Division, on Monday, October 12th, 2020, arraigned Mustapha, before a Lagos Magistrate Court for defilement.

Absolving the hotel management of any wrongdoing, some residents who extolled the stalling qualities of the Chairman of the hotel,  Engineer Gbenga Ajibulu, said he has contributed immensely to the empowerment of youths and development in the area.

A Youth leader and mechanical Engineer, who identified himself as  Kehinde Biodu, argued that from the standpoint of what the hotel owner had done in the training, development and engaging the youths in positive programmes that have helped in curtailing their youthful exuberance,   Ajibulu cannot be accused of creating any room for such dastardly acts perpetrated by Toheeb Mustapha and Sukomi.

This is even as the landlords Association in the area have protested in solidarity of Engineer Ajibulu while vouching on his integrity.

Speaking with our correspondent who visited the area on the investigation, the Chairman of the Landlords Association, Mr Vincent  Ejeh, blamed the suspects who he confirmed are not residents in their area for dragging the name of their peaceful environment into the mud.

” We have seven streets making up our Association and since 2019 when this Center was established,  we have not seen or heard of any untoward activity inimical or detrimental to our residents or youths”.

“The hotel owner has been magnanimous enough to allow us to be using his hotel premises every first Saturdays of each month for our meeting and as parents,  we have not seen or associated his hospitality centre with any criminal or Anti-social behaviours”.

“Besides,  The Management of The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center was instrumental in why bad boys,  criminal elements have relocated from our area.

“This he has done by collaborating with us and has contributed immensely towards security and street lighting of the major street. In fact, Engineer Ajibulu maintains a private security Personnel from  Nelly Securities and some fierce-looking bouncers that tend to ward off criminal elements in our area.

He has also financially assisted our Association greatly in the installation of the security gate and halogen energy lighting around his facility. ”

Corroborating what Mr Ejeh said, vice chairman of the Group, Mr Magnus Nnamdi Ogbue, regretted what he called the unfortunate and Ugly incident that took place on October 6th, 2020.

Mr Ogbue, who is a retired Civil servant, praised Ajibulu, for being a humble, gentle and easygoing de-detribalized Nigerian,  who has allowed his cooperate social responsibility  to benefit the entire community.”

In an interview with Engineer Ajibulu, he denied any alleged complicity by his management, describing the incident as a one-off occurrence.

According to him,  ” The  rape gang deceived his staff by using a matured Lodger to book for the said  room,  subsequently,  the  legal lodger sought for permission to be allowed to receive his family members in his  room but unknown to the management,  they had planned to commit the dastardly act.”

“We never heard the girls’ screaming or any suspicious activity and never knew such happened until police invited us. To make matters difficult for us, the victim did not complain or report the incident to our security officers,” he said.

Lamenting, Engineer Ajibulu suspected that the incident was a plot by some of the criminal elements that fled the area after he engaged the police and other security Agencies to route them out,  “they planned the incident to tarnish the good image of his hotel”.

” You know this Egan is backward and inhabited by many questionable characters, I am of the opinion that because of the security arrangements I had put in place in the wake of 2019 when we started operations, which made them flee the area, they are trying to fight back by plotting this crime”.

He assured the Public that the Center have now tightened its security measures and operations,  noting that sure incident would never reoccur again”, he concluded.

It would be recalled that on October 6th, 2020, less than one week after the Inspector General Of Police, IGP Adamu Mohammad, vowed to apprehend fleeing suspects that gang-raped and murdered 12 – year – Old  Favour Ikechukwu at Ejigbo area of Lagos,  Another minor, a 13- year – old JSS 3 student, Adepeju Adebayo, was allegedly subjected to a  brutal and bloody rape, that left her partially paralysed in the hospital.

The said gang rape, which has elicited wide criticism and condemnation from residents,  was said to have been perpetrated at The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center,  Oremeji street,  off Isuti road,  Egan,  Igando, by two suspects,  Toheeb Mustapha and Sukomi, now on the run.

Mustapha was said to have been arrested following resilience exhibited by the Igando Divisional Police Officer,   CSP Taiwo Kasumu,   and his operatives, whose prompt response, some residents said,  led to the early apprehending of the kingpin,  also  known as ” Sir Small ” in the crime world

Our undercover reporter who visited the hotel reported that one of the fleeing gang member named Sukomi, alias “Ikamula or G33, a Motor Mechanic by profession and ex-student of Edu Grammar school,  now residing at  Ita Alhaji street,  Ikotun, had earlier booked a room in the hotel on Monday, October 5th, 2020, to prepare the ground for their dastardly actions.

On Tuesday afternoon,  while the victim’s mother had gone out in search of her family’s daily bread, “Sir Small ” said to be the gang leader and mastermind of the rape, had crept into the victim’s house and lured her into the hotel,  where they were said to have taken turns in raping her,  until she started bleeding profusely, coupled with the excruciating and agonising pain she revealed,  she felt on the lower region of her abdomen.

Sensing danger, the gang was said to have waited until night, as they quickly packaged and dumped their bleeding victim in front of her house.

According to a  resident,  who spoke to our correspondent on the grounds of anonymity,  for fear of reprisal attack, he said,     “When we assisted the Police to arrest the fleeing ”  Sir Small”, the gang leader,  he confirmed that he is a Generator mechanic and a  resident of Alfa  Igonna street,  Odo, Egan.

He claimed to have graduated from Russell Grammar school in 2018, where he said he met the girl they raped. Though he said that they were not friends back then.”

Our source also stated that the 20 years old suspect,  “Sir Small “ who confessed to the crime, denied any ritual connotation or deployment of charms or “juju” in perpetrating the crime.

He claimed he re-established contact with the victim, two years after he left school, through her phone contact that he collected from the victim’s schoolmate.

According to our source, the mastermind of the rape said he regretted his actions while the victim was protesting, however, he denied that the girl was a virgin before the rape.

At the Isuti Road Health Center, where the victim was initially rushed to,  due to what a nurse described as excessive bleeding,  Adepo was seen soaked in her own blood,  while reeling in pains.

She was said to have told her now distraught mother, that she met ” Sir  Small ” on Facebook before the incident.

A hospital source confirmed that despite the bleeding and pain the victim was undergoing, she was stitched three places on her virgina, before she was transferred to Mirabel Medical facility last Friday for further investigations and treatment.

The Igando police Division, on Monday, October 12th, 2020, arraigned Mustapha, before a Lagos Magistrate Court for defilement.

theleadnewsreport

BY EMMANUEL EDOM

A 48-years-old Man, Charles Ekwe, who could not control his sexual lust for underage girls, has landed himself into trouble.

Ekwe, who was said to have confessed in part to the crime, admitted that he only ” fondled her virgina and we watched pornography together.”

The gender-based unit of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,  (NSCDC), Lagos State Command,  said it arrested the 48-year-old suspect on the 12th of October, 2020, for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl, Chinyere Everest,  who is his wife’s niece.

Ekwe, who was said to be residing at 1B Surulere Street, Ojo,  Lagos State, was alleged to have started abusing the 13-year-old girl before the Covid 19 locked down but she revealed that she was scared to report to her aunty.

According to NSCDC, Victim In her statement said her uncle who she calls ”daddy”,  started sexually assaulting her early this year and does that when her aunt leaves the house and also at his shop where he trades.

She was said to have revealed that the suspect also exposed her to pornography on his phone, threatening to kill her if she tells anybody.

“This assault has occurred on several occasions that I have lost counts”.

Victim’s Aunty, Mrs Blessing Ekwe, in her own statement, said her niece has been living with them for the past four years after the death of the victim’s father and that she noticed something was wrong three weeks ago which prompted her to interrogate the girl and she opened up by telling her that her husband has been sexually abusing her. She then took her for medical examination and it was confirmed that she has been defiled.

The suspect while admitting to committing the crime,  insisted he only fondled her genitals and made her watch pornography on his phone.

The Public Relations Officer of  NSCDC,  Bada Kehinde Mary, quoted the Agency’s Commandant, Mr Ayeni Paul, as saying that  ” the suspect will face the full wrath of the law and will be handed over to the appropriate agency for further investigation and prosecution, adding that” this is a heinous crime and all perpetrators of such when caught will be made to pay dearly”.

Reiterating the corps readiness to combat crime in the state, the commandant said the corps will not rest on its oars in ensuring a crime-free Lagos.

Ayeni assured that his gender-based Unit which is saddled with the responsibility of handling rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and defilement as well as child abuse cases, is equipped with well-trained officers to handle such cases. He enjoined the populace to feel free to make such reports.

theleadnewsreport

* Says at least 10 people killed during protests

Amnesty International, Nigeria, said Nigerian security forces must immediately end the intimidation, harassment and attacks on peaceful protesters.

The International Human Right Watch group said at least 10 people had been killed and hundreds injured during ongoing nationwide protests demanding an end to police brutality and corruption.

The group further stated that since 8 October, “Nigerians have been occupying the streets of major towns and cities across 21 states of the country, demanding an end to police brutality, extrajudicial executions and extortion by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian police tasked with fighting violent crimes.”

“These protesters have been met with violence and excessive use of force. Nigerians who took to the streets have had enough of the lawless activities of SARS, and what they deserve is tangible reforms that will protect the human rights of the people.

“Nigerians are skeptical of authorities’ pledge to end police atrocities because the past claims of reforming SARS have turned out to be empty words,” said Osai Ojigho Director, Amnesty International Nigeria.

“That police are still using excessive force on peaceful protesters, leading to injuries and deaths in Lagos, Ughelli, Abuja and Ogbomosho, throws through the window claims of any commitment to ending violations of human rights by Nigeria police.

“Firing live ammunition, water cannon, throwing tear gas into crowds, beating and arresting protesters is contrary to the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and international standards.

“Journalists were also targeted, beaten and their filming equipment was either confiscated or destroyed,” Osai Ojigho stated.

The group added that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly were guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and it was completely unacceptable for the police – whose duty is to protect life and property and uphold the rule of law – to use excessive force against protesters.

Acvording to him “The Nigerian authorities must immediately direct all security forces to protect peaceful protesters and refrain from attacking them.”

In response to the nationwide protests, the Inspector General of Police on 11 October 2020, dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and called for the immediate redeployment of all SARS officers to other units.

Despite the pronouncement and increasingly brutal repression of the demonstrations, thousands of Nigerians continue to protest.

They are demanding the release of all arrested protesters, justice for victims of police brutality and adequate compensation for the victims and their families, as well as prosecution of those suspected to be responsible.

Amnesty International said over the past five years, the Federal Government had promised to reform SARS several times.

Despite these pledges of reform and accountability for violations, Amnesty International’s report shows that SARS officers continue to commit human rights violations with impunity.

Ai added that anyone suspected to be responsible must be brought to justice in fair trials.

Law enforcement officials must comply at all times with international human rights standards on policing, in particular the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, and in particular must respect, protect and ensure the rights to life, liberty, personal security and physical integrity and to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“We call on the Nigerian authorities to listen to the demands of their people and promptly, thoroughly, impartially, effectively and transparently investigate all cases of human rights violations by the police, including the unlawful killings of the #EndSARS protesters,” said Osai Ojigho.

Barely five months after publishing its 2018 Audited Financial Statement, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has released its 2019 Audited Financial Statement with a 99.7% reduction in its loss profile from ₦803bn in 2018 to ₦1.7bn in 2019.

A statement by the Corporation’s spokesman, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the NNPC Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Umar Ajiya, as saying that the 2019 Audited Financial Statement, which was concluded five months after the release of the 2018 Audited Financial Statement, will be published on the Corporation’s website for all to see in keeping with Management’s commitment to transparency and accountability and in consonance with the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) of which it is a partner.

Giving further insight into the 2019 AFS, the CFO disclosed that general administrative expenses also witnessed a 22% dip from ₦894bn in 2018 to ₦696bn in 2019.

According to Ajiya, majority of the subsidiaries posted improved performance namely, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) which recorded ₦479Billion profit in 2019 compared to ₦179Billion in 2018 representing 167% increase; the Integrated Data Sciences Limited (IDSL) recorded ₦23Billion profit in 2019 compared to ₦154Million in 2018 representing 14966% increase; the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) recorded ₦14.2Billion profit in 2019 compared to ₦9.3Billion in 2018 representing 52% increase; while the Refineries have maintained the same level of losses as in 2018 but which will reduce significantly in 2020 due to cost optimization drive.

The CFO explained that the improved performance in the 2019 financial year was driven mainly by cost optimization, contracts renegotiation and operational efficiency. He said “the 2019 AFS goes further to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the principle of Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) while the outlook for 2020 looks promising in view of the Management’s strong drive to prune down running cost and grow revenues.”

It would be recalled that the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, had promised to sustain the publication of the Corporation’s Audited Financial Statement as part of efforts to deepen transparency and accountability and keep stakeholders abreast of NNPC operations.

The consumer price index (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 13.71 percent (year-on-year) in September 2020.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this on its “CPI and Inflation Report September 2020,” on Thursday.

It said the CPI is 0.49 percent points higher than the rate recorded in August 2020 (13.22) percent.

According to the report, increases were recorded in allClassification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the Headline index.

The report added: “On a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.48 percent in September 2020. This is 0.14 percent rate higher than the rate recorded in August 2020 (1.34) percent.”

NBS said the percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve months period ending September 2020 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 12.44 percent, showing 0.21 percent point from 12.23 percent recorded in August 2020.

The report reads in part: “On a month-on-month basis, said thr report, the urban index rose by 1.56 percent in September 2020, up by 0.14 from 1.42 percent recorded in August 2020, while the rural index also rose by 1.40 percent in September 2020, up by 0.13 from the rate recorded in August 2020 (1.27 percent).

“The urban inflation rate increased by 14.31 percent (year-on-year) in September 2020 from 13.83 percent recorded in August 2020, while the rural inflation rate increased by 13.14 percent in September 2020 from 12.65 percent in August 2020.

“The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index is 13.07 percent in September 2020. This is higher than 12.85 percent reported in August 2020, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in September 2020 is 11.86 percent compared to 11.66 percent recorded in August 2020.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.48 percent in September 2020. This is 0.14 percent rate higher than the rate recorded in August 2020 (1.34) percent.
Increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index.

“The consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 13.71 percent (year-on-year) in September 2020. This is 0.49 percent points higher than the rate recorded in August 2020 (13.22) percent.”

Mr Kwajafa, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service Thursday program, said SARS was formed when the then military head of state Muhammadu Buhari ordered the then Inspector-General of Police, Etim Inyang, to come up with a strategy to fight rampant armed-robbery incidents in the country.

A retired police officer, Fulani Kwajafa, who championed the formation of the now-disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) has said that he regrets creating it.

He also said that the police formation had derailed from what it was created to do at inception

Mr Kwajafa, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service Thursday programme, said SARS was formed when the then military head of state Muhammadu Buhari ordered the then Inspector-General of Police, Etim Inyang, to come up with a strategy to fight rampant armed-robbery incidents in the country.

Mr Inyang served as IGP between 1983 to 1986. He was preceded in office by Sunday Adewusi while Gambo Jimeta succeeded him.

How SARS was formed
Mr Kwajafa said there was an upsurge in violent criminal activities which prompted then military head of state, Mr Buhari, to direct Mr Inyang and his lieutenants to do anything to stem the tide of armed robbery incidents in the country or lose their job.

“The IGP called me that we should do something to save the country from armed robbery incidents; I accepted the offer and requested for time and materials. I then mobilised personnel for the task,” Mr Kwajafa recounted.

”Four months after the formation of SARS in 1984, the unit flushed out the criminals and there was peace all over following the successful operation,” he said.

Regrets
The retired police officer said he was disturbed by the stories he heard about how the disbanded SARS operatives violated the rights of Nigerians and even killed some of them.

“The stories I am hearing about the activities of SARS is damaging; I ruled that even among the SARS there are armed robbers,” Mr Kwajafa said.

“This is not the SARS we formed in the 80s, I use to be ashamed that I am the person that created the SARS because of their activities, had it been I knew such things will happen, I could not have created the unit, Mr Kwajafa added.

He said those that knew the activities of initial SARS will say it’s Mr Kwajafa that formed it.

he said the controversial police unit had derailed from its official rules of engagement and responsibilities.

Endless #EndSARS protests
There have been several protests across some cities in the country calling for extensive police reforms, end to police brutality, extortion, intimidation, harassment, among other vices, levelled against the Nigeria Police Force.

The protests have created some casualties. The Amnesty International conservatively put the figure of those who have died so far, at least as, 10.

In their separate reactions to the ongoing protests, the IGP, Mohammed Adamu, has disbanded SARS and replaced it with SWATS while President Muhammadu Buhari has acceded to the Five-Point Demand of the protesters.

Mr Buhari also promised extensive police reforms but yet to spell out the details of how the reforms will go and when.

As of the time of filing this report, the protests were still ongoing.

– The House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that Nigerians have a police force which lacks the trust of the people.

The Speaker, who stated this at the inauguration of the Special Adhoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, also called on the #EndSARS protesters to sheath their swords and allow the authorities to do what is required, just as they have promised.

Details later…

Falana Folarin also known as Falzthebahdguy has written an open letter to President Buhari on the issue of the reconstitution of the Human Rights Commission Governing Council.

This is contained in a letter written to the President which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, titled “REQUEST FOR RECONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR THE DISCHARGE OF ITS FUNCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CASES OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN NIGERIA.”

Recall that President Buhari has, via the statement of his Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adesina, accepted the 5-point request of the #ENDSARS protest including setting up an independent panel to investigate human rights abuses.

Falz said the panel is unnecessary. He said, “Section 5 of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act 2010 empowers the Human Rights Commission itself to receive complaints and investigate all alleged cases of human rights violations in Nigeria and make appropriate recommendations to the president.

“The detailed and concise provisions of this Section adequately empower the Human Rights Commission to look into these cases by itself. The Commission need not set up another panel for the exercise of its functions.”

Furthermore, Falz quoted section 2 of the Human Rights Commission Act, saying that the Commission ought to have a Governing Council to include:

“(a) a chairman who shall be a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or the Court of Appeal or a retired judge of the High Court of a State;
(b) a representative each of the following Federal Ministries—
(i) Justice;
(ii) Foreign Affairs;
(iii) Internal Affairs;
(c) three representatives of registered human rights organisations in Nigeria;
(d) two legal practitioners who shall not have less than ten years post qualification experience;
(e) three representatives of the media, at least, two of whom shall be from the private sector;
(f) three other persons to represent a variety of interests; and (g) the executive secretary of the Commission.”

According to him, the Commission has been without a Governing Council since 2015 contrary to the above provision leading to “the aggravation of human rights abuse.”

Falz added that by section 7(3) of the Act, the Executive Secretary lacks the power to Act without a Governing Council.

He, therefore, called on President Buhari to immediately re-constitute the Governing Council without bias so as to restore the confidence of young Nigerians in his proposed police reform. According to him, failure to do that will force young Nigerians to believe that his efforts to reform the police is not genuine.

“in the light of the foregoing, I hereby call on Your Excellency to immediately re-constitute the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission and to do so publicly as well as transparently in order to restore the confidence of young Nigerians in your proposed police reform process.

“Failure to do this would force young Nigerians to believe that the continuous refusal to re-constitute the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission is a deliberate attempt to mislead us into thinking genuine efforts are being made at reforming the Nigerian Police when in truth the opposite is the case.

“I am confident that Your Excellency will grant my humble request to guarantee the protection of the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians.” the letter reads