A screengrab from the video that shows Corps Assistant, Illiya Ibrahim, the dismissed NSCDC operative carting away looted food items in Abuja.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dismissed a Corps Assistant, Illiya Ibrahim of the Gwagwalada Division Abuja, who was caught in a viral video carting away some items that were stored in a warehouse as Covid-19 palliatives.
The NSCDC Tuesday night disclosed this In a statement issued by the Media Assistant to the Commandant General NSCDC,
Gbenga Ekunola, and made available to journalists.
According to Ekunola, the NSCDC had punished the officer identified as Illiya Ibrahim by dismissing him from the service in relation to the looting of Covid-19 palliatives discovered in a warehouse in Gwagwalada, Abuja on Monday.
The warehouse containing COVID-19 palliatives was discovered by residents around the area who stormed the facility belonging to the Gwagwalada Council Area to loot the items.
The dismissed officer was seen to have joined the looting spree as the video trending online clearly reveals him carrying away in his hands some items to the cheers of invading crowd.
Ekunola said in the statement that: “The Commandant General Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu has approved the recommendation of the Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee for the dismissal of Illiya Ibrahim of the Gwagwalada Division for joining hoodlums in looting Covid-19 palliatives discovered in a warehouse in Gwagwalada, Abuja. The recommendation was given after the officer was charged under the public service rule which is related to unbecoming conduct of officers.
“This disciplinary measure was taken after series of investigations and deliberations by the junior disciplinary committee and recommendations were made to the management,” Ekunola said.
The Media Assistant also disclosed that the NSCDC Commandant is appreciative of officers and men of the Corps including members of the public for providing useful information that has continued to assist the Corps in identifying unfit individuals within the ranks for appropriate action.
File Photo of Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at his State House office, Abuja, during a virtual roundtable dialogue organised by the Justice Research Institute.
As part of the Federal Government’s Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP), a total number of 333,000 artisans across the country has been paid the sum of N30,000 one-time grant.
This was disclosed in statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, who explained that the payments were made to verified beneficiaries of the Artisan Support Scheme, which is implemented under the MSMEs Survival Fund.
The first stream of payments, which started on Tuesday, included beneficiaries from the FCT, Lagos, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, Kano, Bauchi, Anambra, Abia, Rivers, Plateau and Delta States. The paid beneficiaries from the first batch of the applications for the scheme submitted between October 1 and October 10.
The MSMEs Survival Fund scheme is a component of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), which was developed and implemented by an Economic Sustainability Committee established by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2020, and headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The ESP-Survival Fund is aimed at supporting the vulnerable MSMEs and averting job losses in the face of the coronavirus pandemic that has created critical economic shocks across the globe.
States under Stream 2 include Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Enugu, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Taraba, Bayelsa
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the full resumption of operations of both food markets and non food markets. They are now to open daily.
In a statement announcing this, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, said Mr Governor took the decision to further enhance trade and commerce as well as mitigate the hardship of recent times and ensure that Lagosians can recover fast.
The Federal Government has declared Thursday October 29, 2020 as public holiday to mark this year’s Eidul-Mawlid Celebration in commemoration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
In a declaration, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Muslim faithful at home and abroad for witnessing this year’s occasion.
Aregbesola’s declaration was contained in a statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mohammed Manga, who quoted the Minister to have enjoined Muslim faithful to imbibe the spirit of love, patience and perseverance, which are the virtues of the Holy Prophet.
Furthermore, the Minister admonished Muslims to follow the teaching of the Holy Quran in Chapter 4 Verse 59 which says: “O you who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger, and those from among you who are vested with authority; and if you are to dispute among yourselves about anything, refer it to God and the Messenger, if indeed you believe in God and the Last Day. This is the best (for you), and fairest in the end”.
Minding the situation across the country, the Minister urged Nigerians, particularly Muslims, Eidul-Mawlid Celebration, to abhor violence, lawlessness, and wantonness and daylight robbery.
Ogbeni Aregbesola added that Nigeria is the pride of the black race and should provide responsible leadership for the greatness and development of the African continent and all black race.
File Photo: Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai
The British High Commission (BHC) has expressed concern over the continued looting of private and public properties, including pockets of violence in some parts of the country.
In its statement of concern, which was posted on twitter, the BHC said: “We remain concerned by acts of looting and violence in Nigeria and urge security services use restraint as order is restored. Working with all stakeholders, judicial panel of inquiry must investigate all incidents, including #Lekki and ensure accountability for crimes. #EndPoliceBrutality”
Meanwhile, in an effort to bring back normalcy and stop continued looting in some part of the country, men of Nigerian army have deployed more soldiers on the streets.
The Army High Command decided on Monday stating that troops will prevent the continued looting of public and private properties by miscreants and criminals across the country, a situation that was a fallout of the #EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums.
The decision was taken during a meeting between the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and principal staff officers, General Officers Commanding and field Commanders at the Army headquarters on Monday.
In a chat with newsmen after the meeting, Acting Director of Army Public Relations Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed that Gen. Buratai recalled that “the events of the past few days in our dear nation have shown the determination of some unscrupulous individuals and groups to destabilise Nigeria by all means having hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protest marches resulting to widespread violence, acts of wanton destruction and looting of public and private properties in many parts of the country. These acts led to the imposition of curfew in many states”.
Musa stated further that Gen. Buratai directed its men and officers to respond “quickly and decisively” to any attempt by “elements or destabilising agents” to cause a breach of the law and order.
In a charge, the Army attempted to disabuse its personnel not to fear being reported to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as they are performing their constitutionally-assigned duty of defending the nation and its citizens.
For the avoidance of doubt, the army gave assurance that it remains committed to democratic governance “as the only panacea for development and progress.”
Gen. Buratai said the military had lost 10 AK-47 rifles and personnel to the violence, adding that the Army was aware of efforts to drag it into the protests with a view to “discredit” it and the government.
The Chief of Army staff was said to have also warned that troops on internal security or on guard duties outside the barracks to know that they must be at maximum alert at all times in order to be able to ”deal decisively with any attack on their duty locations.”
”Any act of arson or attempt to kill or maim any military or security personnel and other law-abiding civilians must be responded to quickly and decisively,”
He alerted them of potential security threats resulting from the burgling of security armouries by the hoodlums, adding that”the recent activities of the “unscrupulous elements have shown their desire to acquire arms and ammunition at all cost from security personnel.”
“No less than 10 AK-47 rifles have been lost to these miscreants in the past two weeks across the country with attendant loss of lives of personnel,” the COAS warned.
“Right from the onset of the #EndSARS protests, the NA has been aware of the grand design by the sponsors of the protests to draw it into the crisis.
“The plan was to embark on massive propaganda to discredit the military and the government so as to set the people against the NA once it is called out to aid the civil authorities.
“The NA being aware of the devilish plan was careful not to be dragged in and issued the initial warning through a press release on October 14, 2020 of our resolve to secure and safeguard a united Nigeria.
“Now, the detractors alongside their local and international collaborators have mischievously and deliberately misrepresented troops’ efforts to ensure compliance with the curfew imposed by legitimate civil authorities in Lagos and other states.
“These agitators are falsely accusing the NA of being responsible for the activities of the miscreants despite glaring evidence to the contrary. They have continually threatened to report the NA to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also threatened various forms of sanctions against personnel and their families.”
Buratai said: “despite all these, the NA has continued to exercise restraint by applying all the Principles of Internal Security Operations and fully abided by the internationally recognised rules of engagements….
“The Nigerian Army is determined to ensure democratic stability in Nigeria. The best system of governance is democracy and we must all ensure that Nigeria’s democracy remains stable and steady. We will not allow any force, elements or destabilising agents in or outside our country to set our beloved country on fire.
“We remain resolute in doing everything possible to ensure that subversive elements, detractors and other enemies of this great nation do not achieve their aims and objectives of destabilisation.”
“There is no choice between a democratically united, strong and prosperous Nigeria and a nation disunited in a state of anarchy and retrogression.”
“We must all strive for a united, strong, stable and progressive Nigeria,” he admonished.
He also visited the Bode Thomas police station where he met with men of the Nigeria Police.
Describing the sad events as a harrowing experience, the Speaker said: “I will support all steps of the Lagos state Government to help ensure we rise above this ugly episode”.
File Photo: President Buhari presides over Federal Executive Council Meeting in State House on 23rd Sep 2020
President Muhammadu Buhari warmly felicitates with veteran journalist and author, Oloye Lekan Alabi, the Agba Akin Olubadan of Ibadanland, on his 70th birthday, October 27, 2020, joining friends and family to celebrate with the renowned writer, whose contributions continue to inspire.
The President salutes the foremost journalist, who served five governors with his astute communication skills as a Press Secretary, and continues to project the diversity of the country as a Cultural Ambassador of the National Museum, Ile-Ife, working variously as a consultant to private and public institutions.
As a journalist, with experience in both print and broadcast journalism, President Buhari commends Oloye Alabi for also extending his interest into development and educational issues, chairing many foundations that work for the improvement of the lives of Nigerians, like Adegoke Adelabu (Penkelemesi) and Yusufu Olatunji (Baba l’ Egba) Foundation.
The President congratulates Oloye on the launch of a biography to mark the milestone, believing that the material will go a long way in contributing to knowledge in the country.
President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will grant the Agba Akin Olubadan of Ibadanland longer life, good health and wisdom to keep serving the country.
In another development, the president had sent his heartfelt condolence to leading industrialist and business entrepreneur, Chief Eugene Nzom Ojukwu, on the loss of his wife, Fanny, aged 70.
The President urges the Chairman of E. Ekesons Group to take heart at the passage of his long-time companion, who kept the home front, while the husband toiled to build his business conglomerate, ensuring that the children were well nurtured into successful professionals that they are in different walks of life today.
President Buhari enjoins the Ojukwu family to find comfort in the fact that the departed lived a quality life, and positively touched all that came in contact with her.
He prays that God will accept the soul of Mrs Fanny Ojukwu, and give those she left behind fortitude to bear the loss.
Premises of the looted COVID-19 warehouse belonging to the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Abuja
Three women have been feared dead, as a result of stampede while several others suffered suffocation during a looting spree that occurred at a huge warehouse located in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Abuja.
Reports had it that some who were suffocating were helped out of the building and being assisted with sachets of water.
The looting spree was the climax of restiveness which started at about 8:43am when some youths gathered within the routes to the warehouse.
The restiveness heightened when the youths, who were later joined by commercial motorcyclists, gathered in hundreds, shouting and expressing anger over the sufferings in the land. The motorcyclists might have fueled the raid as they came with stories of looting and raid incidents from other parts of the country, the Nation Newspaper reported.
At about 9am when personnel of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC), the Nigeria Police and the Brigade of Guards of the Nigeria Army, who arrived the venue early, blocking the roads with their vehicles, could no longer control the crowd and being were overpowered, the youths and women forced their ways into the warehouse, broke the doors and part of the wall and began looting all items inside the building, including COVID -19 palliatives.
The warehouse, said to have been built within five months by the Gwagwalada Area Council for the purpose of storing the COVID-19 palliatives was further damaged when some hoodlums climbed fences from adjacent compounds near WAEC office while others fought their ways through the back of Fidelity Bank premises, breaking parts of the roofs to gain entry.
The crowd of looters grew even larger as youths from the surburbs of Angwa Dodo, Wazobia Parks, Tipper garrage, Passo and surrounding areas of Gwagwalada markets also stormed the warehouse of COVID-19 palliatives.
According to videos circulating on the internet, the crowd of looters were heard saying: “This is our money, these people are wicked to have hidden these products and refused to share them.”
In a report by The Nation items looted were listed as bags of rice, cartoons of indomie noodles, spagetti, macaroni, bags of fertilisers, Indorama products, brand new motor bikes, grinding machines, bags of salt, bags of Sugar, and cartoons of soaps.
However, by 11.23am, some reinforcements of security operatives forced their ways into the massive warehouse, which had COVID 19 written on it and shut it down without the use of tear gas or fire any shots, which could lead to stampede and more deaths.
Director General Of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of Nigeria, Aduku Armstrong Idachaba.
A legal and advocacy group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to sue the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over sanctions imposed on three national television station, AIT, Channels TV and Arise TV for airing images attributed to the alleged Lekki Shooting of unarmed #EndSARS protesters.
In a swift reaction to the sanctions by the regulatory body, NBC on Monday, SERAP in a statement said it condemned the action, which it described as illegal fines.
“We condemn the illegal fines of N9m reportedly imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission on Channels TV, AIT and Arise TV [N3m each] over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests. We’ll sue the NBC if the unconstitutional fines are not rescinded within 48 hours.
“This action by the NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices. The NBC should drop the fines and uphold Nigerian constitution and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom.
“The fines are detrimental to freedom of expression and the media, and access to information in Nigeria, and the NBC must withdraw the decision”, SERAP stated.
SERAP in its reaction to NBC’s sanction affirmed that media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information.
It said: ‘”The ability to practice journalism free from undue interference, to cover peaceful protests, and critical views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.
“The media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role.
“The NBC should stop targeting and intimidating independent media and voices”, SERAP ordered.
Recall that on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, hours before the alleged shooting of unarmed peaceful protesters, an incident the Nigerian army has denied, the NBC had issued a press statement containing guidelines on how broadcast media firms in Nigeria should cover the #EndSARS protest, with specific instructions not to embarrass the government.
However, Nigerians have began to kick against the sanctions on AIT, Channels TV and Arise TV. Minutes after the announcement of the sanction by NBC, some Nigerians took to twitter to Twitter to vent their anger, describing the fine as illegal and an attempt to gag the media even when the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of speech.
Since the federal government can’t gag TV stations like @ARISEtv or make them do its biddings,it has resorted to using sanctions from the NBC to intimidate those professional TV stations.
One of the strongest signs of a dictatorship is putting a gag on the media. The sanction that NBC just put on Arise TV, Channels TV and AIT and the social media bill that they’re proposing is political tyranny. The government should not control media.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has sanctioned three major broadcast stations over their alleged roles in escalation of violence across the nation .
The regulators fined Arise TV, African Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television between N2million and N3million.
The broadcast regulator had accused the stations of escalating the unrest that followed the #EndSARS protest in Lagos and some other parts of the country by airing unverified images of the alleged shooting.
The #EndSARS protest, championed by youths from across the divides, was peaceful until Sunday, October 18, 2020 when thugs, alleged to have been sponsored unknown powerful people began to attack protesters, which later peaked at Tuesday night’s alleged shooting of unarmed peaceful protesters by men of the Nigerian army.
Although, authorities in the Nigerian army had denied shooting at protesters, the wide reports of the alleged shooting triggered widespread violence, looting and arson in Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ibadan.
Many states experienced wanton destruction and looting of public and private properties.
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