President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the #ENDSARS protesters to embrace peaceful talks with the federal government and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating the country’s democracy.
In a broadcast to the nation Thursday on the #ENDSARS protests which caused destruction of lives and property in some parts of the country, especially Lagos state, the president said government would not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of the nation.
“I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.
“For you to do otherwise, will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated.
“This government respects and will continue to respect all the democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation,” he said.
Time to stop
The president said there was the urgent need for the protests to be stopped because the protesters’ voices had been heard and their demands being addressed.
“On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS.
“The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.
“As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth.
“On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.
“Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.
“The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the Palace of a Peace Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.
“All these executed in the name of the #EndSARS protests. I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country,” he said.
Cautions on falsehood
The president also expressed concerns over what he referred to as the spread of falsehood and misinformation on government’s decision on the #EndSARS protests, saying no Nigerian government in the past has methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like the present administration.
“The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour.
“On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how committed this administration has been to the wellbeing and welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Government has put in place measures and initiatives principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in our society. These included our broad plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund…,” he said.
Police welfare
The president also spoke on the welfare of police personnel, saying the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on the finalization of the new salary structure for the Nigeria Police Force.
“The emoluments of other paramilitary services are also being reviewed upwards. In order to underscore the importance of education in preparing youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new salary structure and other incentives for our teachers,” he said.
The president said the federal government is committed to preserving the unity of this country by improving good governance and democratic process, including sustained engagement.
“We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected,” he said.
He said government has the obligation to protect lives and property and the right of citizens to go about their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence.
To international community
The president also thanked neighbouring countries and the international community for their concerns over the #EndSARS protests.
“To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements,” he said.
He also called on Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and enjoined security agencies to protect lives and property of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect.
“Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint.
“I also thank youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands,” he said.
DHQ speaks up
And amidst uncertainty over the identity of the ‘soldiers’ involved in the #EndSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos state Tuesday, the Defence Headquarters asked Nigerians to wait for the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the dastardly act.
The supposed soldiers, as obtained on some videos which had gone viral, were seeing shooting sporadically at the protesters who were on peaceful demonstration.
Prior to Wednesday, the social media was awash with the denial supposedly from the military authority, labelling the report and the accompanying video as fake news.
But in what appeared to be the official reaction from the military authority about 48 hours after the incident, the DHQ said it was waiting for the outcome of the investigation instituted by the Lagos state government.
Coordinator Defence Media Operations Maj. Gen. John Enenche stated this Thursday in Abuja.
He described reports on the killing of the protesters by the soldiers as mere allegations, saying some military analysts had dismissed as untrue, claims that the troops were responsible for the killings.
The media coordinator explained that the military was involved in internal security operations codenamed, ‘Operation MESA,’ in nine states, but declined to disclose further details on the joint security task force.
“The issue is not an operation that I can respond to, but I can tell you that it is an allegation, for now; so let us not set the cart before the horse.
“If the matter was still open-ended, I would have had a response for you but it is no longer open-ended, because immediately, not even up to five hours before midnight, the Governor of Lagos set up an inquiry. So, whatever we say now will not be fair to the commission,” said the army chief.
Enenche said the Operation MESA under the control of the state governments, comprised the Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence and Police personnel.
He said: “So these operations are still standing and running and I am aware that the state governments are using them in all these capacities, that is internal security.
“The level we are now is internal security and that is why the police proactively came out and then deployed their entire force package that are necessary to handle that (violence).”
On the absence of security operatives on the streets during the violence and widespread looting by hoodlums in Lagos state, Enenche said, “they were on the grounds; maybe, they were not visible in all places.”
Tinubu
Also, a former governor of Lagos state and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has denied any complicity in the Lekki killing.
In the outrage that followed the shooting, some suspected hoodlums Wednesday vandalised public properties as well as private business concerns, including TheNationnewspaper and TVC, a television station.
This followed the allegation that the former governor had a hand in the shooting.
Speaking in an interview aired by Channels TV, Tinubu said: “I will never be part of any carnage. The use of live ammunition (against the protesters) is condemnable in totality.”
The APC leader said he did not “order” the shooting of the protesters. “There is a limitation here; I can only control my personal security guards.”
Tinubu, who said he was “extremely shocked” when he heard about the shooting, added that he was ready to “complain to the highest level.”
He said: “It is early hours of the morning, there’s no way I can talk to the authorities or wake them up now. I have tried to reach the NSA; I have tried to reach the head of the army.
“You don’t call the president at this hour, but I strongly condemn the act. There are other means of settling or dispersing protest. Why would they use live bullets? There are rubber bullets.”
The APC chieftain also denied having any business interest in the Lekki Toll Gate where the shooting took place.
The former governor said at the height of the #EndSARS protests, he was falsely accused him of being behind it and that some people reported him to the presidency.
While sympathising with victims of the violence, the former governor urged the federal government to “fish out whoever gave the order (for the shooting) and put them on trial.”
He said the government was slow in bringing to justice officers of SARS whose unlawful actions caused the protests in the first place.
While also saying President Muhammadu Buhari did not authorise the shooting, he said: “I am not even sure yet they are Nigerian army, I am not sure how well the uniforms of the army are controlled. But that is not as critical as the bloodshed that has occurred.”
Describing himself as an “unapologetic protester,” Tinubu appealed for calm, even as he assured he was ready to “face all inquiries” over the incident.
“We have lost our sleep, we have lost our peace of mind, (and) we just have to deal with it,” Mr Tinubu added.
Ikoyi failed jailed break
Meanwhile, several inmates were shot as a combined team of correctional officers and soldiers foiled a revolt and attempted jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison in Lagos, Blueprint has gathered.
This is coming some 72 hours after hundreds of prisoners escaped from the Benin prison.
It was further gathered that troops of the Nigerian Army were called in to assist correctional officers trying to suppress the attempted jailbreak.
The assistant comptroller of prison, Tosin Akinrunjomu, however, assured that the Service was on top of the situation.
He said the inmates set the facility on fire to facilitate their escape, saying however, heir plot was foiled.
Thugs break into Ondo prison, free inmates
Similarly, suspected thugs reportedly broke Wednesday into the National Correctional Service Centre in Okitipupa, Ikale local government area of Ondo state.
It was also learnt that some 58 inmates were forcefully exited from the facility with some vehicles burnt in the process.
Besides, the hoodlums also vandalised several properties within the facility and also inflicted varying degrees of injuries on the staff.
Spokesman of the state police command, Mr Tee Leo Ikoro, confirmed the development, but did not add if inmates were forcefully released.
He added that immediately men of the police force quickly moved to the scene to curb the situation, as some police officers were wounded, saying no casualty.
Ikoro said the hoodlums later launched attack on the area police command in the area, destroying properties and injured the police officers on duty.
Imo
And from Imo state, Blueprint reports that twenty four hours after setting the Nworiebu police station in Mbaitoli and that of Orji in Owerri North local government areas ablaze, hoodlums Thursday set the Orlu and Nekede police stations in Orlu and Owerri West local government areas on fire.
Also set on fire were the Orlu branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Orlu local government council headquarters, thus giving the impression that the state government’s 24-hour curfew does not matter.
Earlier, the Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma had justified the curfew, saying the security agencies had been directed to enforce it.
He regretted that the peaceful protests of the youth had been turned into violence by hoodlums and lamented that huge amount of money would be spent in rebuilding the structures.
The governor made it clear that henceforth, there would be no movement of persons or vehicles as anybody caught would be regarded as sponsor or perpetuator of those heinous acts.
NUJ cautions, calls for compensation
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the South West has called for adequate compensation for all journalists and media houses affected by the attacks carried out recently by hoodlums in the region.
The union also decried the attack on some media houses in the region by hoodlums, describing the act as barbaric and unfortunate.
Besides, the NUJ called on the federal government and well-meaning individuals in the society to give palliatives to the affected media establishments in order to bounce back to life in no distant time.
The corporate headquarters of Television Continental (TVC), The Nation newspaper, Lagos TV, Eko FM and Traffic Radio, all in Lagos were attacked Wednesday by hoodlums.
Also, the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Osogbo was attacked, while Channels TV and OSBC reporters were also victims of attacks carried out by the hoodlums.
Condemning the attack in a statement issued by its vice president, Cosmas Oni and zonal secretary, Bamigbola Gbolagunte, the NUJ said the media contributed immensely to Nigerian democracy and should therefore not be target of attack.
Describing the attack on media as ill-motivated and wrong signal to the international community, the NUJ called for immediate stop to any form of attack on the media or journalists carrying out their legitimate duties.
“The media have always identified with masses and together with other human rights activists; we fought for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. it therefore baffles our minds why we should be victims of attack in a democratic setting.
“It’s unfortunate that the media establishments affected by the attacks are all located in the South West region, which is the hub of journalism in Nigeria. It is on this note that we call on the federal government to come to the rescue of the affected media establishments by providing relief funds for them.
“While calling for a thorough investigation into all the attacks carried out against media houses and Journalists in the last few days, we call for adequate compensation for all our members affected by the attack,” the statement added
ICC speaks
Amidst all this, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has spoken on the Lekki shooting, saying it’s keeping an eye on developments in the country.
“My office has been closely following the events around the current protests in Nigeria and the reaction of Nigeria’s law enforcement and security agencies,” the ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said in a statement posted on Twitter Thursday by the ICC (@IntlCrimCourt).
“Any loss of life or injury is concerning. We have received information alleging crimes and are keeping a close eye on developments, in case violence escalates and any indications arise on that Rome Statute crimes may have been committed,” she said even as the statement called for restraint.
US
Also, the United States has strongly condemned the use of excessive force by the military authorities against unarmed demonstrators in Lekki, Lagos.
The Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, in a statement Thursday, asked the Federal Government to hold those responsible accountable.
He said the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are essential human rights and core democratic principle.
Pompeo, therefore, admonished the security services to show maximum restraint and respect fundamental rights.
He also enjoined the demonstrators to remain peaceful.
“We welcome an immediate investigation into any use of excessive force by members of the security forces. Those involved should be held to account in accordance with Nigerian law.
“The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are essential human rights and core democratic principles.
“We call on the security services to show maximum restraint and respect fundamental rights and for demonstrators to remain peaceful. We extend our condolences to the victims of the violence and their families.”
