The President of Ghana , Nana Akufo -Addo , has called for dialogue between the Nigerian government and # EndSARS protesters .
He warned that violence was not the solution to the crisis arising from protests against police brutality and bad governance in Nigeria .
Akufo – Addo said he had spoken with his Nigerian counterpart , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ).
The Ghanaian president noted that Buhari is committed to dialogue .
He tweeted , “ I join all well – meaning persons in calling for calm , and the use of dialogue in resolving the # EndSARS impasse in Nigeria . I have spoken with President Buhari , who is committed to this end, and has begun the processes that will lead to reform.
“ Violence , be it on the part of the Police or protesters , cannot be the solution . To the families who have lost their loved ones , I express my sincere condolences , and I wish the injured a speedy recovery. ”
The Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the withdrawal of all police officers attached to Very Important Persons across the country with immediate effect .
The IGP , however , exempted those attached to Government Houses , the Senate President and the Speaker House of Representatives , from the order.
This is coming 10 days after the police authorities disbanded the Special Anti -Robbery Squad , following protests against the squad for high handedness and extrajudicial killings .
The latest directive was contained in a police wireless message dated October 21 , 2020 , addressed to all state Commissioners of Police .
The wireless signal with reference number, CB:4001 / DOPS/ SPU /FHQ /ABU /VOL . / ORDER AND DIRECTIVES , said , “ any commander who violates this order will bear the consequences . ”
The signal , which was signed by the AIPOL, Protect, Force Headquarters , Abuja , read in part, “ Any protect personnel found escorting or guarding any VIP with or without a firearm is deemed to be deployed by the commander and the commander will be sanctioned. ”
It further directed the affected personnel to report to their respective command Commissioner of Police .
Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu , has given directive to lower all the Nigeria flags in all government establishments for 3-days.
This is as he suspended all the state activities for 3-days.
His decision came moment when Nigerians are mourning the death of #ENDSARS protesters allegedly killed by the Nigerian soldiers.
His words:
In sensitivity with the mood of the nation at this time, I have directed the following:
1. The immediate suspension of all State activities for 3-days except those connected with governance of security in the State and the management of the current issue.
2. The lowering of the flags in all government establishments for 3-days.
3. The constitution of a 5-man Fact-Finding Committee into the Rules of Engagement ordered & adopted by the Nigerian Army to be headed by a retired military officer not less than the rank of a General.”
In sensitivity with the mood of the nation at this time, I have directed the following:
1. The immediate suspension of all State activities for 3-days except those connected with governance of security in the State and the management of the current issue.
— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 21, 2020
2. The lowering of the flags in all government establishments for 3-days.
3. The constitution of a 5-man Fact-Finding Committee into the Rules of Engagement ordered & adopted by the Nigerian Army to be headed by a retired military officer not less than the rank of a General
— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 21, 2020
The Presidency has appealed to Nigerians to show understanding with the present regime and remain calm while it tries to implement police reforms .
The call was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , titled, ‘ President Buhari welcomes establishment of judicial panels of inquiry by 13 states to deliver justice for victims of police brutality ’ .
The call for calm came few hours after eyewitnesses claimed armed soldiers opened fire on protesting youths at the Lekki toll gate area in Lagos State .
Reeling out the steps he claimed have so far been taking to address the demands of the protesters , Adesina wrote , “ The Presidency appeals for understanding and calm across the nation, as the implementation of the reforms gathers pace at federal and state levels .
“ The Presidency wishes to reiterate the full commitment of the Buhari administration to the implementation of lasting police reforms in Nigeria . ”
The presidential spokesman claimed that at the last count , no fewer than 13 states have established judicial panels of inquiry as resolved by the National Economic Council to address the question of redress and justice for victims of police brutality across the country.
He listed the states that have done so to include Lagos , Kaduna , Delta , Ekiti , Ogun, Anambra , Enugu , Imo , Plateau , Edo, Nasarawa , Ondo and Akwa Ibom .
The statement added , “ President Muhammadu Buhari welcomes the promptness of these necessary subnational actions , and reaffirms his commitment to supporting the state governments to ensure that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria .
“ Under the Chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Economic Council at its meeting on Thursday October 15 , 2020 resolved to establish state – level Judicial Panels of Inquiry, to investigate allegations of Police brutality and ensure that all erring personnel are brought to justice.
“ Prior to that , the President in June 2019 signed a Bill establishing the Police Trust Fund , to mobilize additional funding for the welfare and equipping of the Nigeria Police Force . Accrual of funding into the Fund , as specified in its enabling Act, has commenced .
“ President Buhari in 2018 approved an increase in police salaries and the police personnel budget has seen a rise from N 288 bn in the 2018 Budget to N417 bn in the proposed 2021 budget ; an increase of 45 per cent .
“ Only on Tuesday , at the commissioning of the Nigerian Police Pension Fund Limited building , the President also reiterated continuous support for both serving and retired police personnel.
“ The President has equally approved the rollout and funding of a new Community Policing Initiative , as part of a larger programme of police reform in Nigeria , aimed at rewriting the rules of engagement between the Force and citizens .
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has called on its members to remain vigilant following reports of violence in some parts of the territory over the #EndSARS protests.
Chairman of Council, Emmanuel Ogbeche, in a statement in Abuja said it has become urgent for journalists to take their safety seriously as few colleagues have narrowly escaped lynching by suspected hoodlums.
“We call on all our members and media practitioners in general in the FCT to take their safety seriously. We have received reports of the near lynching of some journalists but relieved that none was hurt,” the statement said.
According to Ogbeche, journalists should have special numbers of other colleagues and security agencies on speed dial when covering protests and rallies.
He also urged them to wear reflective jackets identifying them as journalists as well as have their identity cards on them.
He advised extreme caution when on live broadcast in tensed areas, stressing that “we must stay alive to report.”
The NUJ FCT Council chairman called on security agencies especially the police to guarantee the safety of journalists at this difficult moment.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu , has extended the statewide curfew imposed on the state to stem the tide of growing violence by three days .
The governor made this known in a live broadcast .
This is coming some hours after eyewitnesses claimed armed uniformed men opened fire on # EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate area of the state on Tuesday evening.
The Senate has asked the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , to address the nation immediately on the current nationwide protests by youths against police brutality and bad governance .
The Senate also directed the police to offer protection to the # EndSARS protesters to prevent hoodlums from hijacking their genuine action .
The Senate decision was sequel to a point of order by Senator Biodun Olujimi , titled , “ # EndSARS : The need for a comprehensive and reform”
The federal lawmakers urged the protesters to stop their agitation on the streets while the Federal Government address their demands.
They also urged Buhari to immediately set up a judicial panel of enquiry made up eminent Nigerians that would be respected by the youths to identify the notorious SARS operatives and ensure their arrest and prosecution
The Senate is currently holding an emergency closed session apparently to appraise the current # EndSARS protests rocking various parts of the country.
No sooner had the senators resumed for the day ’ s plenary , the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan , called for an emergency session .
Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , had over the weekend, met with the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , at Aso Villa in Abuja .
Top discussion at the meeting was the ongoing protests against the scrapped Special Anti- Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force .
Rising from the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa , Abuja, Lawan told State House correspondents that the country and its leaders are passing through a trying time .
He told the protesting youths that it was time for them to stop the protests since the government has already started attending to their demands.
However , the youths have insisted that until there are visible changes , they won ’ t leave the streets .
The # EndSARS protests rocking the country have continued for almost two weeks with youths calling for a lasting reform of the Nigeria Police Force .
All entreaties by politicians and business leaders for the youths to leave the streets failed as they block major highways , thereby , causing gridlock and affecting economic activities.
Suspected hoodlums had also hijacked the # EndSARS campaign in some cities, wreaked havoc on citizens and vandalised public assets in Lagos , Benin , Abuja, amongst other major cities.
The Speaker , Femi Gbajabiamila , has said he will not sign the 2021 Appropriation Bill presently before the National Assembly if provisions are not made for the compensation of the families of victims of police brutality in the last decade.
Gbajabiamila also said he would also not sign the budget if implementation of the agreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government is not captured by the budget .
Both the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate sign bills passed by the National Assembly before they are transmitted to the President for assent .
In his opening remarks at the plenary , the Speaker notes that the # EndSARS protests “ have gotten more serious ” with pockets of violence in parts of the country. According to him , the protests “seem to have hijacked ” by those who have a different agenda .
Gbajabiamila noted that the Federal Government, through the National Human Rights Commission , had set up a panel of enquiry to take complaints from victims of police brutality .
According to the Speaker , none of these have convinced the agitators to suspend the protests .
He pointed out that expectations from the ruling class were high , stating that , “ Our people expect action and we just deliver . ”
Gbajabiamila recalled that the House, after debating the issues with the Nigeria Police Force and the # EndSARS protests, met with the Nigerian Bar Association last week.
He said the President of NBA , Olumide Apata , had also set up a panel led by Prof Deji Adekunle (SAN ) to work with the House on how to amend and create laws to reform the police .
The Speaker also disclosed that the House is considering the establishment of an independent body that investigate and recommends errant security operatives for sanction and prosecution . “ The police cannot be above the citizens … and above the law , ” he stated .
While threatening to withhold his signature to the appropriation bill , Gbajabiamila disclosed that he would be leading a delegation of lawmakers to pay condolence visits to families of some of those killed by the police , stressing that they would be honoured after the visits.
The Speaker , however , urged # EndSARS protesters to be cautious in handling the matter . He partly said , “ Don ’ t let your righteous cause be hijacked … and bring our nation to its needs … This is the time to move your agitation from the streets . ”
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