DIVIDE THE SHITHOLE !!! ‘They’ll never repent’ — Ndume asks FG to stop rehabilitating ex-Boko Haram fighters

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, has kicked against the reintegration of ex-Boko Haram fighters into the society. 

The military had in 2016 launched Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram fighters.

The aim of the operation, the military had also said, is to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into society.

About 600 ex-Boko Haram members completed a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration (DRR) programme in July.

But while speaking on a BBC Hausa service programme, Ndume asked the government to stop rehabilitating ex-insurgents because they would never repent.

“This government’s programme is unacceptable to our people. The right thing is to stop it, forthwith,” he said.

“Not that they even apologised to you, they apologised to the government with the thinking that government has failed and that is why they are being pampered,” he said.

“They are like Kharajites. Many among those released have since run away. They will never repent.

“The government should know what to do about them. But not re-introducing someone to you, who has killed your parent, or your relations.

“If there is sincerity of purpose in this, those in the IDP camps should be trained in various trades and vocation so that they could start life again.”

TheCable had reported how Borno residents kicked against reintegration.

Instead of bringing them back to the society, the residents had said they should be taken to the government house.

- THECABLE

Angry mob sets ablaze 3 suspected armed robbers in Oyo town

No fewer than three suspected members of an armed robbery gang who stormed a bank in Okeho, a town in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, were on Wednesday set ablaze by angry mob.

DAILY POST gathered that the armed robbers who went to the bank in an 18-seater bus made entry to the banking hall.

They arrived the bank around 4:58 pm in an attempt to cart away deposits from the bank.

It was, however, learnt that after the operation, the vehicle had an accident and somersaulted.

This made some angry mob to set three of the armed robbers ablaze.

Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Olugbenga Fadeyi confirmed the incident.

Fadeyi in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday added that the armed robbers who gained entrance into the bank used dynamites and AK-47 riffles to blow the bank security door.

Fadeyi in the statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu said, “The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc wishes to state that today 29th July, 2020 at about 1658hrs, there was a bank robbery in which daredevil armed bandits who came with white 18-seater bus invaded First bank Okeho in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State with an intent to rob.

“The armed robbers who gained entrance into the bank used dynamites and AK-47 riffles shots to blow the bank security door. The robbery which was responded to by the Police Tactical teams and collaborative efforts of the Vigilante and hunters yielded results.

“Consequent upon this, three (3) of the robbers who were arrested when the 18-seater bus had an accident and somersaulted, were thereafter set ablaze by the angry mob when they attempted to escape the scene of the accident.

“Immediately the Commissioner of Police got wind of the dastardly acts, he further directed that all the Police Tactical teams including the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mobile Police Force (PMF 72) and Police personnel from Okeho Area Command and nearby Divisions to be on the trail of other members of the fleeing robbers who escaped in different directions.

“The Commissioner of Police while condemning this dastardly act assures the good citizens of Oyo State of the Police preparedness to protect lives and properties before, during and after the Sallah celebrations.

“He urged the good people of Oyo State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation or threat from any quarters as the Police is on top of the situation, while he solicits credible information from members of the public to enable us clamp down on crimes and criminalities in Oyo State”.

- DAILY POST

Police nab nine-man cross border carjackers

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The gang was said to be responsible for snatching over 30 exotic cars at gun point.

It was also blamed for the death of two policemen.

At the head of the syndicate is one Yakubu Hayatu, a 30 year-old from Borno State.

Members of the gang include; Adamu Awalu, 28, from Kano State, Abdulrahman Yakubu,23,from Zaria, Yusuf Adamu, 22, from Zaria, Kamal Japhet, 22, from Katsina.

Others are Abubakar Samaila, Muhammadu Abdulahi, both 20 year-old from Zaria, Yahaya Mohammed, 18, from Kaduna State, Ibrahim Abubakar, 21, from Kwara.

Police said the gang used anti-tracker devices to evade arrest and deliver snatched vehicles to one Alhaji Garba in Maradi, Niger Republic.

Eighteen vehicles have so far been recovered by the Police team from the gang.

The police team is working with the INTERPOL to apprehend the receiver Alhaji Garba and to recover the remaining vehicles, a police statement by spokesman Frank Mba said.

Members of the car-jacking gang were among the 35 paraded by the Police headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday for their active involvement and participation in series of kidnapping, armed robbery and other heinous crimes across the country.

Among the suspects was a Pastor Adetokunbo Adenopo, based in Sagamu Ogun state, who was accused of kidnapping a delivery man.

Also arrested was the kidnapping gang said to be responsible for the killing a Nigerian-born U.S. Soldier Chuks Okebata.

Exhibits recovered include: 4 Ak47 Rifles, 1 FMC rifle, 1 Pump Action Gun, 2 double barrel guns, 1 Beretta pistol, 4 AK47 Magazine, 6 cartridges, 378 Rounds of live Ammunition, 1 Network Jammer (anti-tracker device)

- PM NEWS

Afenifere leader, Senator Fasanmi is dead

Senator Ayo Fasanmi  

Senator Ayo Fasanmi, the national leader of Afenifere has died at 94.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain died yesterday night, July 29  after a brief illness in Osogbo.

His death was confirmed by his Personal Assistant, Tope Adebayo on Thursday morning.

‘Don’t jeopardise Nigeria’s unity’— Edwin Clark hits Daura over comment on zoning

Edwin Clark, elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has responded to the comment by Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s older nephew, on zoning the presidency.

Daura, in an interview, had said competence, rather than zoning, should be prioritised for government positions.

However, while featuring as a guest on Democracy Today, a programme on AIT which aired on Wednesday, Clark countered Daura’s stance on zoning.

According to the elder statesman, Daura shouldn’t have a say in such matters as zoning, as he didn’t have much experience in politics.

“I’m not surprised at the principle statement by Mamman Daura. He has no political background; he hasn’t held any office in this country; he doesn’t belong to any political party, so he has not got any political experience,” Clark said.

“The main fact that he is permanently a resident in Aso Rock as adviser to his uncle is not enough for him to make irresponsible statement that could jeopardise the unity of this country.

“To jettison zoning is looking for chaotic situation in this country and there will be no one Nigeria, united Nigeria because no one will be a slave to the others.”

Clark maintained that any move to reject zoning would not reflect positively on ensuring unity in the country.

“I met him (Daura) for the first time in my life, now he has a privilege of residing permanently in Aso Rock, being the leader of the cabal, being the man who is advising. What is he advising?” he asked.

“No one prevents him from being a nephew to his uncle, Muhammadu Buhari, from advising him on family matters. He has no right to stay permanently without any official appointment in Aso Rock and thereby having the privilege of enjoying the government activities.

“Now he doesn’t want rotation to continue. Let me say this: nobody is a fool; who’s fooling who in this country?

“Every region in this country has people with reputation, capable, intelligent and are today wasting away because some people what to be the overlord of this country.

“So, if we want to have a united Nigeria and practise true democracy, there must be a rotation of the presidency between the north and south.

“Who are they now to say that they are rejecting rotation in the favour of competence? Are they more competent than any other Nigerian in one place?

“The solution is that when Buhari leaves, let the rotation go to the south as recommended by the national conference. We must have a united Nigeria based on equality, otherwise there will be no Nigeria.”

Several groups including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex Igbo socio-cultural group, have also rejected Daura’s call to jettison zoning.

- THECABLE

ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT !! Southern Kaduna: Afenifere, Ohaneze slam Buhari Govt over killings

The Southern and MiddleBelt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has criticised the attitude of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on the killings in Southern Kaduna.

The forum in a statement jointly signed by Yinka Odumakin (South West), Chief Guy Ikokwu (South East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), condemned a statement by the Senior Special Adviser to the President, Garba Shehu who claimed the killings are politically motivated.

The group in the statement called on the government to desist from making claims that will further flame the crisis.

“instead of the Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria stepping in to find a lasting solution amid tardiness by the state government, it is unfortunate that it has resorted to provocative statements.

“One of such is the annoying claims credited to the Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to the President of Nigeria, Malam Garba Shehu, on July 21, 2020, that ‘the problem in Southern Kaduna is an evil combination of politically-motivated banditry, revenge killings and mutual violence by criminal gangs acting on ethnic and religious grounds’,” the group noted.

The forum disclosed that 33 persons were killed in Kukum Daji and Gora Gan in recent weeks.

- DAILY POST

Ronaldo dedicates Serie A title to Juve fans, victims of pandemic

Juventus’ super star, Cristiano Ronaldo has dedicated the club’s ninth successive Serie A title to the fans.

Juve secured the league title with 83 points, with two games remaining.

Chasers Inter have 76 points, with Atalanta and Lazio tied at 75 points.

Ronaldo scored once on Sunday and then went on to miss a penalty.

But Federico Bernardeschi netted in the second goal for a 2-0 victory over 10-man Sampdoria, to continue Juve’s dominance in Italy.

Ronaldo, who moved onto 35 goals this season, was delighted and paid tribute to Juventus’ fans.

“Done! Champions of Italy,” he wrote in Italian on Instagram.

“Delighted for the second consecutive championship and to continue building the history of this great and splendid club.

“This title is dedicated to all Juve fans, in particular to those who have suffered and are suffering from the pandemic that has taken us all by surprise by overturning the world.

“It was not easy! Your courage, your attitude and your determination were the strength we needed to face this tight final of the championship and fight to the end for this title that belongs to all of Italy. A big hug to you all! # stron9er #finoallafine.”

- PM NEWS

BOLD THIEF !! Magu: I won’t fold my arms any longer… I’ll reply every attack point to point

Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says he will respond to every allegation against him now ”point to point”.

In a statement issued by Wahab Shittu, his lawyer, the suspended EFCC chief denied misappropriating funds recovered for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He said the allegations against him border on matters that were never brought before the panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the activities of the EFCC under him.

He also said the allegations were prejudicial to the proceedings of the panel.

”Take notice that, our client can no longer fold his hands in the face of these sustained malicious attacks to prejudge him in the public space. Our client will henceforth, point by point reply to all false allegations orchestrated against him in the public space on a daily basis as well as present his comprehensive defense for the world to see,” he said through his lawyer.

”This is without prejudice to the willingness of our client to defend himself in the ongoing proceedings at the Presidential Investigation Panel.

“The truth of the matter is that well over N329 billion recovered by EFCC under our client’s watch was remitted directly into NNPC dedicated accounts via Remita under a special arrangement endorsed by NNPC, EFCC and the affected NNPC’s indebted marketers.

“By virtue of the said special arrangement, NNPC had requested formally the EFCC to recover the said amount from the affected NNPC’s marketers who were expected to pay such funds directly to NNPC while NNPC, in turn, confirmed receipt of such payments to EFCC.

“Therefore, EFCC never took custody of any of the recovered funds and so, the question of misappropriation of such funds by EFCC or our client could not have arisen as falsely published,” he said.

He also described the allegations of false asset declaration against him as “gross misrepresentation and blatant falsehood”.

“Our client has never been confronted with any such allegations purportedly arising from the panel’s proceedings. The story attributed to the panel which has become a recurring decimal, is a dangerous attempt to discredit the work of the honourable panel,” he said.

Responding to the allegation that he was shielding some persons in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) from prosecution, Magu said it is “falsehood from the pit of hell”.

“Investigations were painstakingly conducted by EFCC under our client’s watch. The matter has since been referred for prosecution. Charges have been prepared ahead of arraignment in court,” he said.

“Our client has no interest in shielding anyone found culpable from the long arms of the law. At any rate, time does not run against the state in criminal prosecutions. It is tendentiously wicked to suggest that our client excluded major approving authorities from the criminal process.

“As a matter of fact, one Peter Hena, head of the FIRS coordinator support services group, who allegedly authorized the illegal payment is one of those listed to be arraigned. The case was properly investigated and professionally vetted with our client deploying no influence whatsoever on the outcome.

Magu was arrested on July 6 and subsequently suspended as EFCC acting chairman following allegations of corruption brought against him by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

 - THECABLE

Why Nigeria will never change – Pastor Ibiyeomie

Founder and Senior Pastor of Salvation Ministries, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, David Ibiyeomie has given reason why Nigeria will never change.

The popular televangelist, in one of his sermons said Nigeria would never change until the people voted the right people into power.

Ibiyeomie states that the best time to do that was now, lamenting that many Nigerians collected money from politicians to vote them into power at the detriment of their future.

”If a farmer has very small harvest and things are tough and he wants a big harvest but the seed is small, should he plant small or big?

”Everyone who has things tough now, it is not now that things went bad, it was the kind of giving in the past that caused it because seedtime and harvest shall not cease.

”The earlier you sow for things to change, the better. When dollar moved from 70 kobo to N3 in 1983, Nigerians shouted. It moved to 70, 100…people said Jonathan leave. Now it’s N472 and this is still good morning…I thought they said it will be N1 to $1.

“The problem of Nigeria is Nigerians. You know a man can’t deliver yet you will vote for him because he gave you money. He will collect it both from NDDC and everywhere,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Falana-led group: FG lacks capacity to deal with violence in the north

The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a coalition of 70 labour and civil society organisations (CSOs), says the federal government has shown lack of capacity to deal with the violence in the north.

Reacting to recent killings in Kaduna and other northern states, ASCAB blamed the government for the mayhem, saying the central authority has the constitutional responsibility to ensure the protection of lives and property in the country.

In a statement by Femi Falana, its chairman, ASCAB said it is undoubtedly clear that the government “has shown lack of capacity to deal with the sad events”.

It said the government appears to be running out of ideas in bringing an end to violence and armed brigandage constantly recorded in Kaduna and other affected states.

It warned that the killings have the potential of leading to a round of national crises that may threaten the fabric of democracy in the country.

The coalition said the mayhem in Kaduna “only reflects the community version of the growing culture of brigandage within the political class”.

It said the violence in the north-east has spread to the north-central and the north-west, warning that if unchecked, it might threaten peace and co-existence across the country and set the nation on the path of ruin.

ASCAB said the lack of opportunities, poverty, and the imposition of tough economic measures on Nigerians are partly responsible for prejudices, hate and expression of violence found in many communities in the country.

“Corruption, politics of exclusion, growing unemployment, and lack of creativity continue to fuel public resentment across the country backed by an increasing breakdown of public trust in those holding public officers,” ASCAB said.

“The situation has been compounded by weak institutions and inept leadership both at the state and national levels.

“Nigeria is fast becoming a state of blood where human lives no longer matter. It is unfortunate that while the Federal Government invests billions of naira in the procurement of arms to fight violence, it has failed to develop an appropriate economic roadmap to deal with one of the root causes of violence which is poverty.”

The coalition also warned that unending violence and banditry will help the spread of COVID-19 thereby putting the lives of many people in the north in danger.

“Violence and killings have seen the emergence of several refugee camps and the flee of health workers in vulnerable communities,” it said.

“Territories ravaged by killings will naturally disregard the rules necessary for the prevention of COVID-19. This only means that as long as instability continues, the prospect of livelihood and effective public health protection is dim.”

It said though the government continuously assures Nigerians of the safety of lives and property, the guarantee has become a mirage in the face of ceaseless attacks.

- THECABLE

ODUDUWA REPUBLIC !! Yoruba leaders to army: No harm must befall Adeniyi

Some Yoruba leaders have asked the army authorities to ensure that Olusegun Adeniyi, former theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, is safe in custody.

There are reports that Adeniyi, a major-general, is to face a court-martial.

A court martial is a legal proceeding for military officers. It is similar to a civilian court trial.

Adeniyi was all over the news in March when a video where he complained of the lack of weapons for troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents went viral.

After the video, he was removed as commander of Operation Lafiya Dole and transferred to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.

He was later moved to the Army Headquarters, still in Abuja.

At a meeting on the platform of the Yoruba Summit Group (YSG) in Lagos during the weekend, Rueben Fasoranti, Afenifere leader; Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Yoruba World Congress (YWC), Banji Akintoye, chairman of Voice of Reason (VOR); Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo state, demanded justice for Adeniyi.

Others who attended the meeting are Oye Ibidapo-Obe, former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos; Yinka Odumakin, spokesman of Afenifefre; and Gani Adams, a leader of the O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC).

The leaders said the plight of soldiers on the battlefront is well known, adding that no one should be punished for speaking the truth.

They also demanded an investigation into the death of Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first female helicopter pilot, who died in a freak accident earlier in the month.

The leaders called on the federal government to constitute an independent panel of inquiry to look into the death of Arotile, alleging that there is more to the death of the late Arotile than being reported.

“We are also aware of the initial casual manner Tolulope Arotile’s killing was treated by the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force which is capable of raising suspicion in the minds people. It is better to quickly douse tension and apprehension by coming out in the open,” they said in a communique issued at the end of the meeting.

“The authorities did not imagine that so much noise would be made, and so many questions would be asked. Her death was treated with levity, just as many other cases where the lives of Nigerians do not seem to matter anymore.  

“The Yorùbá nation therefore demands a full-scale independent investigation by an inclusive panel of experts. The Yorùbá nation notes with sadness that on the very day our daughter Tolulope went home, a senior Military officer: Major General Olusegun Adeniyi was court-martialled for daring to voice out the lack of tools and equipment needed to prosecute a Boko Haram war that has become far too prolonged and far too controversial in light of the numerous calls to the Federal Government to change the Military ’Service Chiefs who have failed to provide the highest quality of security, leadership and delivery of forthrightness in their duties.

“We the Yorùbá condemn in strong terms, the cherry-picking of our fighters, soldiers, officers as either cannon fodders easy-targets, operational fall-guys and being used for experimental disciplinary measures, whilst the real culprits, go free!

“Critical to this development are also pieces of news items of friendly fire from soldiers of a particular part of the country using their guns on our fighters who dare carry the battle deep into the Boko Haram held territories.”

The Yoruba leaders also demanded the restructuring of the country ahead of the 2023 general election.

“We the Yorùbá Nation therefore reject the holding of a future general election before Restructuring Nigeria fiscally and structurally. We state that the ship of state is veering off precariously into a precipice, and that Nigeria is at the very edge of a political subsidence,” the communique read.

“We are persuaded that nothing short of Restructuring can save this country. Any attempt to go ahead with elections in 2023 without addressing the issue of Restructuring would spell doom for Nigeria.

“Notwithstanding the interests of some elements in our midst, it would be presumptuous to assume that the masses of the educated Yoruba Nation will dive headlong into being part of the 2023 elections, when all elements of its execution – the military, paramilitary, INEC, the judiciary have been rigged and appropriated by a single very tiny minority ethnic group in a small corner of the country.

“The emerging resolve of the Yoruba not to be part of vassal state that Nigeria has become, is better managed with due accommodation before any further degeneration and obvious consequences. Our quest shall henceforth be to mobilise the masses of our peoples not to participate in any further elections until the goal of Restructuring or Self-determination is attained.

“The Yoruba Nation is therefore making the clarion call for confidence building steps to taken by the Buhari regime immediately, especially as the historic 60th Anniversary of Nigeria as an independent Nation beckons on October 1, 2020.

“Steps towards an urgent meeting of all Nationalities has to be taken now to determine the nature of our relationships. Unless this peaceful step is heeded to, so that Nigeria heads in the right direction thereafter, the clear alternative would be for self-determination quests to proceed rapidly without any further restraint.”

- THECABLE

Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases surpass 40,000

Nigeria’s COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cases have surpassed 40,000 mark after the nation recorded 555 fresh cases of the virus on Sunday.

According to figures released by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Nigeria now has 40,532 confirmed cases.

However, from the new cases, statistics from the NCDC showed that Lagos took the highest share.

Lagos-156 Kano-65 Ogun-57 Plateau-54 Oyo-53 Benue-43 FCT-30 Ondo-18 Kaduna-16 Akwa Ibom-13 Gombe-13 Rivers-12 Ekiti-9 Osun-8 Cross River-3 Borno-2 Edo-2 Bayelsa-1.”

- PM NEWS

ANIMAL TALK !!! Nigeria now safer – Army Chief, Buratai

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has said that Nigeria is safer now than it was five years ago.

He made the remarks on Sunday during a sit-out with soldiers Wounded In Action (WIA).

They are receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

Buratai assured that their efforts in defending the nation will be rewarded.

He hailed the troops for their patriotism, professionalism and sacrifice.

“I am proud you have made the impact that some of our colleagues and Nigerians are safe and I am equally happy that we are living in peace and Nigeria is Safer now than we had five years ago,” he said.

Buratai added that the wounded soldiers will get adequate medical attention.

The Army Chief said recreational facilities and other needs would be provided.

“We will continue to send our officers to see how we can get you rehabilitated through skills acquisition programme so that when you recuperate, you can go back to the field.

“We must develop these facilities here. Those equipment we don’t have we will get, so you don’t need to get surgery elsewhere. This is one of the hospitals we have upgraded,” he added.

He said the facility in Yaba has also been upgraded, while construction of Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Maiduguri and Abakiliki are ongoing.

- DAILY POST

Partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge begins

At about midnight on Friday, concrete barriers went up at the mouth of the 11.8km Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The barriers signalled the beginning of repairs of the 30 year-old bridge and its partial closure for the next six months.

First to be blocked was the outbound multi-lane at Adeniji Adele, which carries traffic from the Lagos island to the Lagos mainland at Oworonsoki.

The barriers will be in place till noon Saturday, when it will be opened for traffic.

Simultaneously, some other set of concrete barriers will block traffic from Oworonsoki end, going to Lagos.

The blockade will also be in place till midnight, when it will be opened for traffic coming into Lagos

The alternating open and close is a rhythm Lagosians plying the bridge must master in the next six months as the almost 30 year-old bridge goes into repair mode.

The Federal Controller of Works, Olukayode Popoola, explained the rhythm to Channels TV:

“In the morning when you are going to resume your work, right from Oworonshoki, you use the same line that you normally use to go and work.

“By 12 in the afternoon, we close this lane so you can now divert. We have created diversion as you can see it,” he said.

Workss Minister, Raji Fashola explained that the maintenance of the busiest bridge in the country was aimed at replacing damaged components for a better motoring experience.

The maintenance is to be carried out on a length of 3.5 kilometres out of the 11.8 kilometres of the bridge.

- PM NEWS

Almajiris will stir revolution in Nigeria not BBNaija-loving youth

If Nigeria’s young are timid, tractable and apathetic to economic and political issues affecting their country, blame the anvil on which they are forged.

The government, the formative schools, the universities and the predatory politics – all are the forgers of today’s youth. A system which lobotomises the young from nascency has already denied them not only the ability to emote, think, act, but also the power to speak up for themselves, fight for their rights and defend themselves.

There was a time in Nigeria when the youth held the forte. They were unbending to the caprices of the military and to the stimuli of fear and avarice.

I will cite two epochs for emphasis – the dawn of Segun Okeowo, the provocateur of the Ali Must Go uprising of 1978, and the dusk of Omoyele Sowore – the trenchant voice of the June 12 struggle.

In April 1978, the ministry of education led by Ahmadu Ali announced an increment of N1 (from 50 kobo to N1:50) to the cost of the daily meal of students.

But the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) led by Okeowo will not have it down its throat without some justification. The union asked the ministry to revert to the status quo, but it balked shifting responsibility to the Supreme Military Ruling Council. A head-to-head was inevitable.

Students poured into the streets to press home their demands but received police bullets as rejoinders. Eight students were reportedly killed. But this did not stop the righteous movement which engulfed the entire country. The youth held their ground. They made their statement and their power was felt by the military government. I call this epoch the dawn of youth activism in Nigeria.

Only N1 increase in the cost of daily meals for students actuated a nationwide revolt. But today, what has changed? I will explain. Our formative schools and universities are no longer centres of critical learning. They are now robot factories where anyone who goes in as human comes out as a machine with flesh – beaten, broken, pliable and malleable. The mould from which the like of Wole Soyinka was shaped at the University of Ibadan which made him assertive and daring has long been smashed to smithereens.

University administrations in cahoots with scourges in the highest realm of government have over the years sterilised student unionism. Student leaders no longer represent their constituencies but the school leadership which most times select them. Students are stampeded out of reason and seized of the power of independent thought and critical thinking. They are instructed to parrot whatever the lecturer and the school say. In fact, the methods of some universities today are not distant from concentration camps – only that there are no gas chambers.

Another reason why we have a soluble youth population is our predatory politics. I believe student unionism was corrupted from 1999. Youth activism as we know it ended with the epoch of Sowore and the June 12 struggle. It is the reason I regard it as the dusk of student unionism.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is now a club of men battling middle-age crisis. The association is, in fact, a chapter of any ruling party of the day. It is utterly porous of ideas and intellectual grit. There is no shade of difference between today’s NANS and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) – led by MC Oluomo. NANS only thrives for its sheer industry of violence and capacity for noise.

Members of NANS leadership live like the quotidian Nigerian politician in unearned luxury, coursing through cities and towns in convoys labelled with vanity plates. The end of student unionism ensued with the meddling of the political class. Agitators became one with the oppressors.

Fundamentally, if there was to be a revolution in Nigeria; it would not come from the BBNaija-loving Nigerian youth on social media. They are already seized of the mental alacrity for action. I believe the biggest uprising in the country will come from hard-pressed young Nigerians insulated from the disempowering academic system and its corollaries. It will come from boys on the streets like we witnessed in Katsina when some protesters burnt the billboard of President Muhammadu Buhari.

I hate to say it, but Nigeria’s revolution (protests for change) lies in the hands of the Almajiris – even though they themselves are exploited for political gains. But they are the outliers of the system. It is the reason I see no point haranguing young people taken over by the reality show — BBNaija. They are victims of the situation themselves.

And why am I mulling protests for change in Nigeria? With the shocking revelations from the NDDC probe and the mindboggling disclosure of sleaze across all sectors of the economy, I believe we cannot make any progress as a country this way. Something must give.

It will happen. That change that Nigerians seek will come by the hands of the forgotten.

*Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist. Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo

Family demands justice as man ‘detained illegally’ dies in police custody

Kehinde Omotosho, a trader at Gbagi market in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, has died after being “detained illegally” at the state criminal investigation department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo state, for five days.

According to a complaint lodged in Flag’IT, a crime-reporting app launched by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Omotosho was arrested in lieu of Jelili, his nephew who was allegedly involved in a fight.

After his arrest, the police reportedly nabbed Jelili but still refused to released Omotosho, who was said to have fallen ill on the fourth day after he was cramped into a small cell which had between 136 and 140 persons inside it.

“Mr Omotosho was kept in Police detention under very inhuman conditions. He and Jelili Rasak Olaotan were detained in a 16 x 16 cell said to be filled already with between 136 and 140 suspects, under very asphyxiating and abhorrent condition,” Akin Fadeyi Foundation said in a statement.

“Between these days, Mr. Kehinde had no access to any of his relatives and could not feed. He and his fellow detained relative, Jelili depended on begging for miserly portions of bread from fellow inmates.

“He could not sleep because they were all standing all night days after days upon days inside this dingy cell. By Monday night, 4 days after a very horrendous experience, Mr. Omotosho had developed so much discomfort that he became ill at ease and very ill.
“Rather than have him access medical treatment, the Police Authorities at Iyaganku had him tightly tied up with ropes like a lunatic and made him lie face down all through Monday night.

“By 5am, Tuesday, Tuesday, 21st day of July 2020 morning, Mr. Omotosho gave up in the cell of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku. Immediately after this, Jelili who was also illegally detained alongside Mr. Omotosho started screaming for attention for his Uncle. He was prevented for long until other Detainees under the Leadership of a Cell Leader called “State” lent their voices before the Police came to ferry Mr. Omotosho to their Police Clinic. Mr. Omotosho of course was dead. Even after this, the Police prevented Jelili from calling the relatives till much later at 12 noon to inform them of such tragic development.”

The foundation said after the death of Omotosho, the police got an extended family member of the deceased to sign an affidavit that there would be no case against the police over the incident.

“To cover up its tracks and absolve itself from responsibility, on Friday, 24th of July 2020, the Nigerian Police, State CID, Iyaganku got an extended family member of the late Kehinde Omotosho, who had no authority on behalf of the family to swear to among other things an affidavit of ‘No case’,” the statement read.

“The affidavit also stated that the family would not be interested in the autopsy of the late Omotosho who was unlawfully arrested and illegally incarcerated. It was curious that the Nigerian Police with all its exposure to professional capacity strengthening and best global practices, would even conjecture cajoling an uneducated family into picking up the corpse of an illegally detained man without autopsy. Why is a supposedly innocent police department also demanding for the signing of a “no case” affidavit?”

But Khadijat, the eldest child of Omotosho, reportedly told the foundation that the family is not in support of the affidavit sworn to by an extended relative.

“This extended relative did not have the authority of the biological children of the late Omotosho, and they insist on demanding for investigation, as to why the Nigerian Police would unlawfully arrest their breadwinner and keep him till he died in their custody,” the foundation said in a statement.

“We have a hand written letter of Khadijat sent to our organization. Needless to say that Khadijat, her siblings and other members of the family have remained inconsolable, traumatized, horrified and in a state of shock.”

Gbenga Fadeyi, police public relations officer in Oyo, neither responded to calls or text messages at the time this report was filed.

- THECABLE