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FG floods major cities with policemen ahead of final-day one-million-man march of #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria

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FG floods major cities with policemen ahead of final-day one-million-man march of #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria
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Hundreds of policemen and security operatives have been deployed in major cities across the country as organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest prepare for a one million-man march today, Saturday, August 10, 2024.

The protest, scheduled to last for 10 days and expected to climax today, has been marred by killings and attacks on protesters and journalists.

The nationwide protesters are demanding a reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, an increase in the minimum wage to N250,000, and an end to bad governance, among other issues.

Although the protest appeared to have lost steam in some parts of the country, momentum was sustained in states like Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, and Bauchi.

The organising groups threatened to lock down the entire country today (Saturday) to press home their demands, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday speech was not convincing.

Tinubu had, in a televised statewide broadcast, begged the protesters to end the rallies, asking for patience to fix the country’s problems.

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However, the protesters said that they decided to mobilize the one-million-man march to climax the 10-day rally.

In a statement on Friday, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Sanyaolu Juwon, said the August 10 protest would represent a pivotal moment in the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign.

He said, “The Take It Back Movement, along with other organisers and organisations, will lead a one-million-man protest in each of the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on August 10.

“This event will mark a critical juncture in our nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign, which began on August 1, 2024.

“It started as a planned 10-day protest but has evolved into a sustained and widespread movement, drawing participants from every corner of Nigeria and the Diaspora.”

Juwon also demanded the release of the protesters and organisers arrested by security agents.

He said, “On the troubling matter of unlawful arrests, we unequivocally condemn the detention of Michael Adaramoye (Lenin), Babatunde Oluajo, and others who were arrested on August 5, and on previous and subsequent days. Their continued imprisonment by the DSS and the police is a gross violation of their rights. We demand their immediate release and call for an end to these unjust detentions.”

Increased surveillance

One of our correspondents, who toured the Business Central District area in the FCT, observed an increased presence of security agencies, who mounted roadblocks, slowing down vehicular movement.

In addition, our correspondent observed that the number of security operatives at Eagles Square had increased.

Speaking with our correspondent on the arrangement by security agents on Friday, Juwon said the increased presence of security agents and the recent clampdown on protesters would not affect the turnout on Saturday.

He said, “It’s a nationwide one-million-man march. Aside from the fact that we are not prophets, Nigerians have also shown resilience in the face of violent state repression. So, I’d say, let’s meet at the barricades.”

Hundreds of policemen in Lagos

In Lagos, policemen were stationed around major bus stops, including Ojota, Ketu, Obalende, Berger, and other locations where it is believed the protest would take place.

Scores of policemen, led by Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade, accompanied the protesters during a candlelight procession organised to mourn demonstrators who died during the rallies nationwide.

Our correspondent also saw soldiers from Operation Mesa, personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies on the scene.

This is as the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organising Committee called on President Tinubu to compensate families of slain protesters.

The group claimed that more than 40 people lost their lives during the protest.

Recall that the committee, based at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, had declared three days of mourning for those killed nationwide during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests.

In mourning the deceased protesters, the group held a symposium at the Rights House, Adeniyi Jones area, and a candlelight procession to the ShopRite area in Ikeja, amid heavy security presence.

Addressing the protesters, a member of the committee and National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign, Mr Hassan Taiwo, called on President Tinubu to compensate the families of the deceased protesters.

He also demanded the dismissal of the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

“We are here in mourning and to honour all the protesters who lost their lives while protesting against the hardship. We blame Tinubu for what has happened and we are calling for the immediate sacking of the Inspector General of Police,” he asserted.

Also, another activist, Akinola Foluso, stated that protest is a fundamental human right and as such, the people must not be intimidated for exercising it.

Earlier, some police officers deployed by the Lagos State Police Command stopped protesters from carrying out a candlelight procession to the Alausa area, as against their initial plan.

Tension in Kano

In Kano, men of the Nigeria Police Force, soldiers and NSCDC officials, take over several roads in preparation for the one-million-man march.

While monitoring the situation, several stern-looking security personnel were observed patrolling some major streets in the commercial city, mostly from the ever-busy Ibrahim Taiwo Road to both BUK new sites.

Besides patrolling popular streets, there was also a huge security presence on France Road, a strategic artery in the Sabon Gari area of the metropolitan city, linking the popular Abubakar Rimi/Singer market.

Following the hunger protest, which degenerated into violence and looting, traders at the Singer/Abubakar Rimi Market, engaged additional services to prevent the place from being looted by angry protesters.

As of the time of filing this report, there were reports of intermittent clashes between law enforcement agents and some protesters who insisted that they would begin the march from Friday.

As the protest raged, the spokesman of the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, told Saturday PUNCH that his life was being threatened for daring to arrest 322 protesters, who looted shops and the warehouse of the National Identity Management Agency.

Police take over Rivers roads, parks

In Rivers, there was an increased presence of policemen at the Federal Secretariat and the Pleasure Park along Aba Road in Port Harcourt ahead of the one-million-man march.

However, the protesters did not gather on Friday at the two venues, which are the usual meeting points.

As our correspondent observed the area on Friday, scores of armed policemen were seen patrolling the area in their vans.

It was gathered from several sources in the area that there would be a final showdown at the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the Government House, Pleasure Park, and major areas like Elelewon, Oyigbo, Rumuokoro, Choba, among others.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development, adding that law-abiding citizens should go about their lawful business.

Iringe-Koko explained that although the deployment had been ongoing, the addition followed credible intelligence that some miscreants were planning to loot and disturb the peace of the state.

She said, “You know before this time we had restricted the protest to the Pleasure Park and Isaac Boro Park. But we got credible intelligence that some individuals are planning a one-million-man march tomorrow. And that some of them are planning to loot and cause security breaches.

“We are saying all genuine protesters should continue to use the two designated places. We will not allow anyone or group to try to loot, steal, or cause any security breach in the name of protest.”

But the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, told Saturday PUNCH that the police were not aware of the one-million-man march.

He said, “We are not aware of any one-million-man march. As we have seen the infiltration of criminally minded elements who have hijacked the protest, if we truly have the interest of the citizens at heart, we should avoid unnecessary gatherings.”

Also speaking, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, said the military would be involved at the invitation of the police. He stated, “The military only gets involved at the invitation of the police. We will remain on standby until invited by the police.”

PUNCH

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NCDC Identifies Two Suspected Ebola Cases In North-East

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Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in the North-East region of the country.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in a post via its official X handle on Saturday, adding that both individuals had been isolated.
It also said contact identification and listing are ongoing, and laboratory testing is underway.

According to the agency, confirmation is subject to laboratory results.
Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in Nigeria’s North-East region. Both individuals have been isolated, contact identification and listing is ongoing, and laboratory testing is being conducted,” the NCDC said.

“Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases; confirmation is subject to laboratory results.

“The public is advised to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance from public health authorities. Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.”

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The latest update by the NCDC came days after it said it identified another contact, an e-hailing driver, linked to the confirmed case of the recent Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, increasing the number of primary contacts to 54.

The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, told Channels Television on October 26 that efforts were ongoing to identify the secondary contacts.

“So we are not out of the woods yet until we are sure that we have all the contacts, and they have been followed up. So we are still not out of the woods; because the index case is out doesn’t mean that we don’t have that,” he said.

The Federal Government had announced Nigeria’s first confirmed case of the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja on October 20, 2026, identifying the patient as a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda, who returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7, but the Ugandan authorities denied reports of an Ebola outbreak in the East African country.

The index patient was later flown to Switzerland along with her husband.

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Troops kill 71 terrorists in Borno, Yobe offensive

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Soldiers kill 964 terrorists in February- DHQ
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Nigerian troops have neutralised no fewer than 71 terrorists in coordinated ground and air operations across Borno and Yobe, while recovering weapons and ammunition and disrupting terrorist logistics networks.

The operations include a five-hour counter-offensive at Buni Yadi, Yobe, which reportedly accounted for 48 ISWAP fighters, as well as separate air and maritime strikes that neutralised 23 terrorists.

An operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, said the Buni Yadi operation followed an attack on troops at the North-East Theatre Training School in Gujba Local Government Area.

The report said the troops repelled the assault and neutralised 48 terrorists during the ensuing counter-offensives, recovering 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four general-purpose machine guns and one 60mm mortar.

It added that other recovered items include 105 AK-47 magazines, two video cameras and thousands of rounds of ammunition of different calibres.

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The report said one soldier was killed during the engagements, while two others sustained minor injuries.

According to the report, the maritime component, supported by an armed unmanned aerial vehicle, had in another operation on Oct. 28, struck terrorist targets across Lake Chad.

“Preliminary battle damage assessment indicates that eight terrorists were neutralised, while 10 others sustained injuries.

“Similarly, an air operation near Ngirmishi settlement, north of Kerenoa, reportedly neutralised about 15 terrorists.

“The operation followed the sighting of suspected terrorists around a structure believed to be a logistics base, which was subsequently struck in a precision attack.”

The report said that in Borno, army troops of 5 Brigade arrested seven suspected terrorist collaborators, informants and logistics suppliers at Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area, on Oct. 28.

Items recovered, according to the report include mobile phones, food supplies, drinks, blankets, cooking oil and other household materials, alongside N483,550.

It added that troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, working with Hybrid Forces, also ambushed suspected terrorists attempting to cross the Mafa-Ajiri road at Kassasewa, Mafa Local Government Area, on Oct. 27.

The report revealed that the suspected terrorists fled, abandoning five rocket-propelled grenade bombs and 175 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

The report added that in another development, troops of 202 Battalion apprehended a suspected terrorist informant and logistics supplier attempting to infiltrate Bama town.

“The troops also intercepted a suspected member of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) who reportedly escaped from a terrorist enclave in Bama and was on his way to surrender.

“Meanwhile, troops of 403 Amphibious Brigade, working with the Multinational Joint Task Force and Civilian Joint Task Force, discovered an improvised explosive device along the Baga-Cross road in Kukawa Local Government Area on Oct. 29,” it said.

In Plateau, the report said troops of Operation Enduring Peace foiled a kidnapping attempt at the ECWA Staff Quarters in Jos North Local Government Area in the early hours of Friday.

It said that the troops responded to a distress call and forced the suspected kidnappers to abandon their operation and flee.

According to the report, troops also arrested a suspected kidnapper at Akwaba, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa, during a joint operation with the Department of State Services.

“The suspect and N200,000 recovered during the operation were handed over to the DSS for further investigation.

“In Ondo, troops of 322 Artillery Regiment, working with the Nigeria Police, raided a suspected criminal and ritualists’ hideout at Kajola Camp.

“Three suspects were arrested, while counterfeit United States dollars and other foreign currencies were recovered.

“The suspects and recovered items were handed over to the police in Ore for further action,” it also said. (NAN)

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29-Year-Old Nigerian Man Dies After Tree Crushes Car in London

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Late James Abiwon
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A 29-year-old Nigerian man, James Abiwon, has died after a tree fell on his car during Storm Boelo in Mill Hill, north London.

According to Metro UK, Abiwon was driving along Dollis Road at about 12:30 p.m. on Sunday when the tree fell amid strong winds.

Emergency services, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics and an air ambulance, rushed to the scene. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Abiwon’s cousin, Tyrrell Okolo, described him as “a master of everything” and a devoted family man.

The deceased worked as a technology sales executive and held a degree from the University of Essex. He was also a semi-professional footballer who played for Aldershot, a musician whose YouTube channel had about 40,000 viewers, and a mentor to many people, according to his cousin.

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Abiwon had been preparing to celebrate his 30th birthday with a padel tournament. Following his death, the event will go ahead in his memory, with proceeds expected to support his family.

His close friend, 29-year-old Kwame Affum, said they had played padel together just two days before the fatal incident.

“I’m trying hard to get my head around this,” Affum told Metro UK.

He said a friend had messaged Abiwon shortly before the accident about money owed to him for the court booking, but he did not respond, prompting concern.

Affum described Abiwon as a sports enthusiast, a talented footballer and an Arsenal supporter. He also said the deceased had graduated with a first-class degree and recently received an award at work.

“He was full of energy and talent,” Affum said.

“He was going to celebrate his 30th birthday in two weeks. It just seems impossible this has happened.”

A witness who laid flowers at the scene told Metro UK that she heard a helicopter and went outside to discover that a fallen tree had blocked the road, with a car trapped beneath it.

According to the witness, Abiwon’s girlfriend and best friend arrived while rescue operations were still underway. They were reportedly shaking as they waited, hoping he would be rescued alive.

The witness said his aunts and other relatives arrived later and were inconsolable over his death.

She described Abiwon as someone who was clearly loved by many, adding that the community had lost one of its own.

Traffic on Dollis Road was reportedly heavy at the time of the incident, as roadworks on a nearby street had diverted more vehicles onto the road.

A neighbour whose home overlooks the scene expressed concern about the circumstances, saying: “If it had been 10 minutes later, it could have been me.”

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Dollis Road at about 12:40 p.m. on Sunday following reports that a tree had fallen onto a moving car.

The police said they were working with the local authority and coroner to establish the circumstances surrounding Abiwon’s death.

Storm Boelo brought wind gusts of up to 84 mph across parts of the United Kingdom over the weekend.

A 60-year-old man was also killed by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, while other people were injured in incidents linked to the storm.

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