‘Many killed’ as security operatives attack residents looting COVID-19 palliative store in Kwara

 

Several persons were feared dead on Friday when security operatives opened fire on a warehouse containing COVID-19 palliatives in Ilorin, the Kwara capital, on Friday.

Warehouses in cargo terminal area and Agro mall in Kwara state were looted, with items such as spaghetti, noodles, salt and sugar carted away.

As part of efforts to restore order when one of the warehouses was being looted, security agents opened fire, leading to confusion.

Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin, Kwara commissioner for communications, in a statement on Friday, condemned the looting of the warehouses, and explained why the items were yet to be distributed.

“The remaining palliatives in the terminal, which the hoodlums preyed on until chased away by security agencies, were meant for special vulnerable groups and just one local government where names of the beneficiaries have just been delivered and officials have started distributing when the street urchins breached the wall of the facility,” she said.

“It would be recalled that the CACOVID and the state government had since September 23rd flagged off the distribution of the palliatives. But it was meant for specific households, as dictated by CACOVID, and so names had to be properly generated to allow for transparent and orderly distribution.

“The actions of the hoodlums are condemnable and those already arrested would face the full weight of the law. The government would not tolerate anyone hiding under any guise to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

“The government commends the security agencies for acting with restraint in the face of provocation by the hoodlums.”

Following the incident, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara, has declared a 24-hour curfew beginning at midnight on Friday.

- THECABLE

Looting spree in Osun, as hoodlums raid privates stores, APC secretariat

 

There was massive looting in Osogbo, Ede, Ikirun, Iwo and other part of the Osun State on Saturday.

Earlier, it was gathered that hoodlums on Saturday, forcefully entered a private warehouse at MDS, old garage, Osogbo where they looted motorcycles, television and among others.

The hoodlums with all sorts of dangerous weapons, bursted into a private company owned by Osun business mogul, Chief Tunde Badmus and carted away valuables.

However, it was also gathered that miscreants looted the constituency office of Hon. Bukola Oyewo, representing Irepodun/ Olurunda/Osogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency at Oroki estate, Osogbo.

In a video obtained by DAILY POST, the hoodlums carted away motorcycles, grinding machines, refrigerators, among others.

It was also reported that the miscreants stormed Omoluabi garment factory along Gbongon-Osogbo road, Osogbo and took away showing machines, plastics chairs, among others.

Around 9:49 am on Saturday, the hoodlums invaded into the All Progressives Congress, APC, Secretariat in Osun and took away furniture and electronics.

Another video obtained in Ikirun and Iwo showed how hoodlums carted away valuables from private stores.

Motorcycles store in Ikirun were raided while Iwo Local Government Secretary was also set ablaze.

Others private stores in Osogbo, Ikirun were reportedly looted on Saturday.

On Friday, DAILY POST reported that rampaging youths discovered a warehouse where COVID-19 palliatives were hidden in Ede.

It was gathered that the residents had identified the MDS warehouse as one of the places where COVID-19 palliatives were being kept but could not access the facility due to the military personnel manning the storehouse.

However, National Silo located around Osun-ankara area, Ilesa was on Friday looted as residents reportedly carted away bags of grains.

 - DAILY POST

POLICE BRUTALITY ! Policemen allegedly brutalize Vanguard correspondent in Delta, vandalize his car

 

Policemen from Ovwian/Aladja Divisional Headquarters on Saturday allegedly attacked a journalist working with the Vanguard Newspaper in Warri, Mr. Akpokona Omafuaire Esq.

The Policemen led by one Sergeant Godspower also inflicted bodily injuries with a machete on the former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Warri Correspondents’ Chapel.

In addition, they vandalized the Toyota Camry car of the journalist.

Mr. Akpokona who is also a lawyer said he was driving out of his street when he met the policemen blocking the entrance into street.

He said, “They stopped me and I obeyed. I introduced myself as I tendered my identity card to the Policemen.

“I begged them to allow me pass but Sergeant Godspower refused and harassed me. His other colleagues joined him and he (Sergeant Godspower) cut my back with machete saying we journalists are supporting the #ENDSARS Protesters. They vandalized my car. I don’t know what to do now.”

When contacted for comments, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya in a telephone chat with Our Correspondent admitted that the Journalist, Mr. Akpokona Omafuaire called to inform her of the incident.

She said, “He called me this morning. The Journalists are sometimes becoming our problems and I told him we want to reduce those moving on the road. They should use their legs and not to go too far from their houses.

“You people are supporting the protesters. They were showing on AIT News yesterday. With the supports you’re giving to the protesters, ‘dem no destroy media houses?’ We are trying to contain this thing. You people are adding to it.”

When asked whether the incident actually occurred, DSP Onovwakpoyeya said, “He(Akpokona) was not attacked.

“He told me that they blocked close to their place and I told him we are not only securing the Station, they’re securing other facilities.”

- DAILY POST

Massive crowd storms Tinubu’s residence in London (Video)

 

Nigerians demanding the end to police brutality and bad governance in line with the #EndSARS tagline storm the London residence of APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Saturday.

According to the video posted by African Independent Television, only a few of them carried placards with many chanting derogatory words as they stormed Tinubu’s residence at Duchess Mews, Portland Place.

This is coming after the APC leader was accused of ordering security forces to open fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate area of Lagos State – a claim he has denied.

Tinubu responded by stating he will never be part of any carnage.

He condemned the action allegedly perpetrated by the Nigerian Army, saying, “Why will they use live bullets?

“I will never, never be part of any carnage. I will never be part of that.”

The former Lagos state governor also denied having any investment in the Lekki Concession Company, the firm which manages the tollgate.

He said: “I have no dime, no kobo investment in the tollgate.”

“We are about 13 to 14 days into the protests now. Before now, I was being accused and reported to the Presidency that I was behind the protests, that I was a sponsor of the protests.”

Tinubu had also “appealed to the youths” and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to respond to the demands of the protesters.

“That was why he (Sanwo-Olu) set up the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. The governor has gone to the home of one of the victims to appeal to them.

“He has put N200m together as part of restitution and compensation for those attacked.”

- PM NEWS

NDDC chairman, Ndoma-Egba’s house vandalised, set ablaze in Calabar (Video)

 

The house of the Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has been vandalised and set ablaze in Calabar, Cross River State by hoodlums.

Ndoma-Egba was a threr-time senator who represented Cross River Central Senatorial District of Cross River State in the Nigerian Senate from 2003 to 2015.

Hoodlums unleashed mayhem in Calabar on Saturday, vandalising properties and setting some ablaze in the aftermath of #EndSARS protests in the country.

The hoodlums had vandalised a warehouse in Calabar and made away with COVID-19 palliative materials.

Videos showed arsonists set ablaze the house of Ndoma-Egba after vandalising it. A car in front of the house was burning as well as the property itself.

Despite the 24 hours curfew declared in Cross River State, Government, hoodlums came out to loot and destroy both government and private properties.

Some of the buildings already vandalised include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office along Marian Road, Cross River State Transport Regulatory Agency (CRTRA) office and banks along Mayne Avenue and 8-Miles Calabar.

- PM NEWS

Motorcycles, freezers carted away as ‘hoodlums’ invade senator’s house in Oyo

 

The Ibadan home of Teslim Folarin, senator representing Oyo central, has been invaded by hoodlums who carted away brand new motorcycles, freezers, grinding machines and other items.

The lawmaker is said to have travelled out of the country.

An aide of the senator who preferred anonymity told TheCable that about N250 million worth of empowerment items were stolen from the house.

“I can confirm to you that senator Folarin’s house in Oluyole estate area of Ibadan was invaded this morning by hoodlums,” the aide said.

“They took away items worth N250 million. It was daylight robbery. We could not engage them so they had a field day. The senator was not at the property when the looting happened. It is sad this is happening.”

The invasion of Folarin’s home is the latest in a series of looting of properties across the country.

Suspected hoodlums have targeted homes of influential persons — including monarchs — and warehouses where COVID-19 palliatives are kept.

The palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso was vandalised on October 11, 2020, during the #EndSARS protest.

On Friday, a warehouse where COVID-19 palliatives were kept in Ibadan was looted by hoodlums, with more than 1,000 bags of rice stolen.

However, the Oyo government, in a statement, said the warehouse and items looted belonged to a private company.

- THECABLE

Odi leaders to Obasanjo: You can’t preach on peaceful protest — apologise for massacre

 

The leaders of Odi, a community in Bayelsa state, have asked ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to apologise for the killing of their people by the military 21 years ago.

Obasanjo had reportedly ordered the military into Odi in November 1999 following a conflict in the Niger Delta region over the control of resources.

In some accounts, the military claimed that it was ambushed on its way into the community. However, lives and property were lost in the process.

The Odi leaders asked for the apology in reaction to a statement credited to Obasanjo

The former president had asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to use “brute force” against citizens protesting against police brutality.

But in a statement on Saturday, the leaders said the former president is not qualified to talk about how to disperse peaceful protesters without violence.

“While you have the right and freedom to express your opinion, we believe that, even for you there should be issues that are off-limit. Better not said. Not least the issue of violence on peaceful protesters,” they said.

“Odi people are not qualified to judge current happenings in Nigeria, but as the saying goes: an old woman becomes uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb. The trauma that Odi went through under President Obasanjo is still fresh in living memory.

“The Nigerian Army moved in tanks, the Nigerian Navy moved in warships and the Nigerian Air force was overhead. All the force of the Nigerian Federation was unleashed on the sleepy and unarmed rural community of Odi. All because some young people dared to ask for their rights. It was a time no-one in Odi wishes to recall. Definitely, there are some lectures that professor Obasanjo may not be qualified to deliver, especially a lecture on how to disperse a peaceful protest without violence.

“On November 20th 1999 under President Obasanjo’s watch, the whole Odi community was razed down. Countless people were killed, old and young women, girls, boys and children. Our women and girls were raped.

“Times like these in our National history provide opportunities for reflection. What we expect from President Obasanjo is an unreserved apology to the Odi people. Delivering a sermon at this time, on how to dialogue and peacefully disperse unharmed protesters, is like adding salt to injury.”

Goddey Niweigha, CDC chairman Odi; Ebimoweni Kemepade, women leader Odi; and Prenus Ogboin, deputy king; were some of those who signed the statement.

- THECABLE