Category: Happenings

Authorities of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) have placed sponsors of nationwide End Bad Governance protest on its watchlist.

This was disclosed by the Comptroller-General of NIS, Kemi Nandap, at Defence Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday, August 6.

“We have diaspora sponsors, they are on our watchlist. They are watchlisted, any attempt they make to come into the country, we’ll be notified and they will be picked up and handed to appropriate authority,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Director-General Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, said the agency has uncovered some sponsors but declined to give further information.

The secret police boss, who was represented at the meeting by the DSS’ spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said some bank accounts had already been blocked.

Afunanya said some of the persons operating such accounts are staying abroad, adding that they were being monitored.

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of its personnel who gunned down a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed during the ongoing EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna State.

The young boy was killed on Tuesday when the troops of the Nigerian army stormed the Samaru community in Zaria to despers the protesters.

The security operatives were enforcing a curfew earlier imposed on the ancient city by the Kaduna State Government.

Confirming the incident, the NA in a statement issued on Wednesday morning by its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu said the officer responsible for the incident has been arrested.

The Federal Government has postponed this week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting earlier scheduled for Monday afternoon, August 5.

It was gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will instead meet with service chiefs. The meeting is expected to have in attendance the vice president, the national security adviser, all service chiefs, the inspector general of police, the comptroller generals of customs, and immigration, and the chief of staff to the president.

Sources close to the matter told Channels Television on condition of anonymity, that the urgent meeting with security chiefs may not be unconnected to the ongoing nationwide hunger and hardship protests.

This is coming after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave a nationwide broadcast on Sunday morning, asking protesters to suspend their action and come forward for dialogue.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country following weeks of deadly anti-government protests.

The prime minister, who ruled the country for close to two decades, boarded a military helicopter on Monday, August 5, as huge crowds ignored a national curfew to storm her palace in Dhaka, according to an aide who spoke with Al Jazeera.

Hasina is heading for Tripura, the capital of Agartala in India. Her resignation came after at least 90 people were killed on Sunday in clashes between police and protesters, taking the death toll in recent weeks to more than 300.

The bloodshed is some of the worst the South Asian country has seen since it came into being in 1971.

It would be recall that the student protest began in July with calls to abolish civil service job quotas, but spiralled into demands for Hasina to quit after over two decades in power.

Protesters were seen marching on the streets, carrying Russian flag and chanting slogans, while others held placards with various messages.

The embassy in a statement on August 5, said: “The Embassy has noted the reports in Nigerian media and the circulation of videos and images in digital media depicting protesters in northern states of the country carrying Russian flags and chanting slogans to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Government of the Russian Federation as well as any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way.

As always, we emphasize that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria. These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government in the issue.

The Kaduna State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolitan cities with immediate effect.

The decision was taken after an emergency security council meeting presided by Governor Uba Sani, to review the security situation in the state.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Monday, August 5.

The statement said there was sufficient evidence to clearly indicate that the ongoing protest has been hijacked by criminal elements who have resorted to looting of shops and d£§truction of private and public property.

The State government advised citizens to remain indoors while security forces continue to work to maintain safety and security.

Violent riots grip UK as Far-right mob storm asylum seeker hotel and set fire to the building in Rotherham, immigrants get attacked in other parts of the UK

Over 90 individuals were arrested after demonstrations organized by far-right groups escalated into riots across various UK towns and cities on Saturday.

The unrest spread through Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool, and Belfast, where missiles were thrown, shops were looted, and police officers were attacked.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has assured police forces of the government’s “full support” to take decisive action against “extremists” aiming to “sow h**e”.

Tensions have been high following the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party by alleged knifeman Axel Muganwa Rudakubana.

Unknown Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed two policemen and abd3cted a former female commissioner, Ada Anioma Joan Onyemaechi, in a church in Asaba, Delta State.

The incident happened on Tuesday evening, July 30, 2024. The gunmen invaded The King Jesus and I Church, situated off DBS Road and opened fire on the two policemen providing security at the church premise, killing them instantly.

After killing the officers, the gunmen abducted the former Commissioner, who is a prominent member of the community.

Also in a video making the rounds, a car suspected to be the former commissioner’s car was burnt as some armed men were seen taking the victim away with a boat.

According to reports, the State Police Command have launched a manhunt to track down the gunmen.

The executive governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu has hailed protesters in the state for “announcing an end” to their demonstration following President Tinubu’s address on Sunday

The governor in a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy Gbenga Omotoso said he has opened a new engagement with channels between the government & the people

The commissioner quoted the governor as saying: “Your stoppage of the protest today is a crystal clear affirmation of the fact that you know your collective voice has been heard by the government. What you have done is not only noble but the civilized thing to do.

Bangladesh has banned it’s citizens from using Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube and other social media platforms.

This was disclosed by Global Eyes News on its official X account on Friday, August 2, 2024. The implication is that from Friday, access has been restricted to these widely-used social media apps throughout the country.

This follows a previous shutdown of Meta from July 17 to July 31 which was implemented in response to unrest related to quota reform protests.

This announcement comes hours after Turkey announced it’s ban on Instagram.

Contrary to the demands of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protesters, President Bola Tinubu has ruled out the return of fuel subsidy.

The President in a Nationwide broadcast to Nigerians on Sunday morning, disclosed that even though the decision to remove the fuel Subsidy was painful, it was necessary because it has constituted a noose around the economic “jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.”

The President also told the protesters that law enforcement agencies would continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner, adding that “Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected.”

President Tinubu stated that, “My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.

“For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth. Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.

The ex-Lagos governor who has been at the centre of rallies against economic hardship and high living cost that have reverberated across Nigeria’s 36 states and the nation’s capital Abuja will address over 200 million citizens on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 7:00 am, his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement.

“Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to plug into the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.

“The broadcast will be repeated on the network services of the NTA and the FRCN at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the same day,” Ngelale said.

The Lagos police command has revealed it has detained ARM Pensions’s executive director identified as Abisola Onigbogi accused of rape by a female employee.

According to Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos police spokesperson, “Onigbogi is in police custody and that investigations are ongoing.”

According to the female employee who requested for Onigbogi’s arrest in a report to the company’s management, the director had taken her to a hotel after a team-bonding event in Lagos instead of her house, which was said to be the initial plan.

“On the evening of the office party, just like every other staff member at the party I had food and drinks. I had mixed a small amount of Jameson whiskey and coke. This whiskey bottle was opened by a colleague on the table I was seated at with other colleagues.

However, being part of the planning committee I had to stand up from my table at intervals to coordinate the serving of food and at such times left my drink, food and other personal effects in the care of another colleague (name withheld) who is a colleague and one I am very friendly with.

My last memory of the party was at about 7.30/8ish. However, this my close friend/colleague claimed that I mentioned to her that I was tipsy and could not drive. So, she offered to find a way for me to go home and then approached Abisola Onigbogi to drop me off since he lived around the same axis as me. I live in. Lekki. Along with the Jameson whiskey, which was like ¼ of a plastic cup, I had one cocktail from the bar that is the last I remembered.

I lost total memory of every conversation and activity as my last memory of the night was from 7.30pm. My entire memory was wiped out which was very unusual even for someone who might have drunk excessively which I didn’t and have quite a good alcohol tolerance from precedent. Next thing I know I wake up and realize I am in a room fully undressed. I look around and I realize it was a hotel.

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service has announced that it sealed the Kaduna Electricity Company Plc (Kaduna Electric) office over unpaid taxes amounting to N600 million.

The State Internal Revenue Service disclosed this on its X page on iFriday, August 2, 2024.  It revealed that the decision is in line with Section 104 (1) & (4) of the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011, and Section 37 (3) & (4) of the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law, 2020, which empowers the service to enforce tax compliance.

According to Zakari Jamilu Muhammad, the service’s Head of Corporate Communications, its officials had to seal the business premises of Kaduna Electric due to significant established tax liabilities.

Furthermore, he stated that the development was based on a court order. “The Service secured a court order for the immediate closure and taking over of the company’s property until all unpaid taxes are settled,” the statement partly read.

As the nationwide protests enter the 2nd day, human rights lawyer & SAN Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has asked youths to suspend the demonstrations & embrace dialogue with the government

In a statement on Friday, Adegboruwa said the purpose of the protest was defeated when some “sponsored agents” hijacked the demonstration

“Though the intention of the organisers was to achieve peaceful & well-coordinated protests, it would seem that 5th columnists & some angry persons infiltrated the ranks of the protesters to derail their laudable mission, he said in a statement on Friday

I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds & to suspend the protests immediately & indefinitely, to give room for meaningful dialogue & engagement with the government

“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses & casualties. The organisers of the protests & their representatives should embrace dialogue with the government,” he said

The #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest which commenced on Thursday, August 1, 2024, is scheduled to end on August 10.

Some traders and buyers at Ile-epo food market at Alimosho/Agege area of Lagos state, confirmed the development in separate interviews with NAN on Friday in Lagos.

NAN reports that local food markets across the area witnessed less activities than usual due to the ongoing nationwide hunger protests.

A tomato trader at Ile-epo market, Agege area, Mr Rabiu Aliu, said the price of some perishable  food items ranging from tomatoes, chilli pepper and others dropped to minimise loss due to low patronage caused by the protest.

Aliu said: “A 50kg basket of tomatoes now sells for between N40,000 and N50,000 as against N80,000 to N100,000 two weeks ago. A 25kg basket sells between N18,000 and N19,000 as against N30,000 to N40,000 two weeks ago.

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, August 1, called on people protesting against President Bola Tinubu’s administration ( protesters) to embrace dialogue.

Wike said the government is ready to listen and also walk them through some governance issues that they may not have been privy to.

He said Abuja as the nation’s capital remained a precious asset to the country, noting that if the FCT is destroyed, it will have negative consequences on the entire country.

Wike said: “Let me take this opportunity to commend the people, the youths of Abuja for not being v-olent. We have said severally that it is better to dialogue with the government and keep the peace. He who makes peace will at the end of the day enjoy the dividends of peace.

I still want to talk to our people that we are still ready to sit down and dialogue with them and let them know things that they may not know because information is power.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that security agencies have identified a senator as one of those sponsoring the protest against the Bola Tinubu-led administration.

Wike stated this after an emergency FCT Security Council meeting on Thursday night in Abuja.

According to the former Governor of Rivers State, the senator called some security operatives to accompany a truckload of food for the protesters.

He said in due time, relevant agencies would invite the senator for questioning.

The minister, who admitted that protests are allowed in a democracy, said the protesters owe it a duty to democracy to respect the court order restricting their activities to the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

“we have intelligence that protesters are coming out tomorrow to destr%y property that will lead to loss of lives. The security agencies will not allow that. Every protester, please, go to the MKO Abiola stadium and do your protest. That is what the court said

WhatsApp a leading messaging platform in Nigeria may soon suspend its services in the country

This potential move follows the imposition of a $220 million fine on Meta Platforms for allegedly breaching data privacy laws

According to TechCabal, Meta is considering withdrawing certain services in Nigeria in response to the recent regulatory demands. Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that the company is evaluating the impact of the new order

A WhatsApp spokesperson addressed the situation stating: “We want to be really clear that technically, based on the order it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally

This order contains multiple inaccuracies & misrepresents how WhatsApp works. WhatsApp relies on limited data to run our service & keep users safe & it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally without Meta’s infrastructure. We are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users.”